St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Parish Monthly Newsletter August 2023

Welcome to St. Anthony’s Church

We kindly ask that you respect our Parish Church guidance:

¨ Please turn off your mobile phone when you enter the Church.

¨ Please remember that many parishioners like to pray before/after the mass so please be respectful and keep talking/noise to a minimum.

¨ People displaying any symptoms of Covid should stay at home and not travel to church or participate in person.

¨ Hand sanitiser is available near the entrances to the Church.

¨ The use of face masks is a personal choice.

¨ Holy Communion can now be received on the tongue or on the hand and The Sign of Peace can now be carried out with handshakes (if you so wish).

Mass times:

Mondays to Saturdays: 9.30am (and 7.30pm on Tuesdays).

Sunday Masses: 6pm (Saturday evenings);  9.30am; 11.15am and 5.30pm.

Every Friday at 7:30pm: Adoration and Benediction.

Please note that after week day masses The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for 30 minutes so that parishioners can pray for world peace.

The parish website www.stanthonyofpaduaanerley.com has details of the weekly Mass Intentions.

Sunday Teas: Sunday teas and coffees will not be served during the holiday month of August.

The next Sunday teas will be served in September by the following groups:

3rd September:  The Knights of St Columba

10th September: The Parish Pastoral Council

17th September: The Union of Catholic Mothers

Parish Pilgrimage:

Date: Saturday 9th September

Time: Departing by coach at 9.00am sharp from St Anthony’s church and returning for approx 4.00pm.

Stop 1: Visit to St Frances De Sales church. Hartley, Longfield DA3 8BL. This is the only thatched church in the diocese and contains beautiful artwork. Here we will have Mass celebrated for us before departing.

Stop 2: Aylesford Priory: The Friars, Aylesford ME20 7BX. We will arrive around 12.30pm before spending the the next few hours exploring the site. There are breath taking grounds and stunning medieval buildings, enjoyable walks down the Peace Garden and Rosary Way and you can even feed the ducks on the pond. If you love history then the priory won’t disappoint and you won’t regret spending time experiencing the amazing work of art by Polish artist Adam Kossowski and the local artisans at work in the pottery.

For some religious inspiration or some quiet space you can visit the chapels ranging from the simple, medieval Cloister Chapel to the awe inspiring St Joseph’s Chapel. And when all the exploring is over and you’re hungry, pop into the Tea Room for the home-made cakes and snacks.

Price is £30 per person to include coach travel and gift contributions at the two sites. Spaces are limited so please book up as soon as you can at the end of masses or contact Michael on 07931991605.

Recently Deceased: Please remember Denzil Errol Anthony Ryan in your prayers.  The funeral will be at St Anthony’s Church at 11am on Tuesday 15th August followed by the committal at Beckenham Crematorium at 12.30pm.  May his soul rest in peace.

Choir Practice for 9.30 Sunday Mass: The date for choir practice is the 13th August from 3 – 4pm at the Church.  All are welcome.

Holy Day of Obligation – The Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary: On Tuesday 15th August there will be a procession leaving the Church at 6.45pm, returning to the Church for Mass at 7.30pm.  Please meet outside the Church at 6.35pm so that the procession can leave promptly at 6.45pm.  Thank you.

First Holy Communion 2024: Please note that application forms for the sacrament of First Holy Communion are now available at the Church entrance.  If your child is 8 years old or in Year 3 and you would like them to receive the sacrament of First Holy Communion next year then please complete a form and return it to Father Sunith.

Parish Pilgrimage: The Parish Pilgrimage on Saturday 9th September to two wonderful spiritual sites in Kent. Come and join other parishioners young and old for a relaxing and reflective day out.  Please see all the details and further information on the back of this newsletter.

Deanery Youth Day: Registration is open for our own Bromley Deanery Youth Day being held in St Edmunds Church Hall on Saturday 12th August 6-12pm. It’ll be a great day of fun and engaging activities put on by the Catholic Youth Ministry team of Bromley. There will be videos and updates on what Pope Francis will have been saying in Lisbon about the theme RISE UP AND GO IN HASTE, just as Mother Mary did when accepting Angel Gabriel’s message in the Annunciation! Together, young people will explore actions we can take around Ecology – care for our common home, Social Friendship – coming together across Christian faith and indeed all faiths and God’s wondrous Love for us all.  There will be exciting games, art & craft activities including glass mosaic art, painting, cupcake making, pizza lunch, poem and prayer writing, and preparing for Youth Mass, that evening. It can’t be missed!  There will be a small voluntary donation of £5.00 on arrival – please see the poster on the notice board and scan the QR code for email lollybell@rcaos.org.uk for more information and to register before the form closes on the 10^th August.

Gift Aid Envelopes: Please collect your box from the back of the Church.  Please note that if you are a basic rate UK tax payer, and are not yet a member of the Gift Aid Scheme, completing a Gift Aid envelope (at the back of the Church) will help to support the Church even further.  Donating through Gift Aid means that the Church can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give.  It will not cost you any extra.

Financial Support: We appreciate your continued care and support for our parish Community.  Parishioners can contribute directly to the Parish bank account: Natwest Bank Beckenham Branch, Sort Code 60-02-12 and Account Number 46000208. Tax payers, please join the Gift Aid programme allowing our parish to increase the value of every donation it receives from tax payers by 25%. We value your assistance in maintaining our wonderful Parish community.  Please note that the name of the Parish Bank Account is RCAS St Anthony of Padua Anerley. 

Mass in Celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage, Sept. 23^rd , 3pm, at St George’s Cathedral:  If you are celebrating your 1^st/10^th/25^th/40^th/50^th/60^th + wedding anniversary this year, please get in touch with us, no later than the end of July, at mflse@rcaos.org.uk, writing your parish location in the title of your email, eg. Anerley.  Please also provide the following details:  your names in the format John and Mary Smith, your home address, the anniversary you are celebrating, so you can receive an invitation from the Archbishop for the renewal of vows during Mass.  Spaces are limited.     

Southwark Justice and Peace Commission Autumn Assembly: 23^rd September 2023 at St Edmund Catholic Church, Beckenham.  Mass 10am continuing 10.20am in the parish hall.  Entitled ‘The Right to Stay: Free to Choose’.  Entrance free. Lunch provided.  Everyone welcome. Keynote speaker Bishop Paul McAleenan. To reserve a place email justiceandpeace@rcaos.org

“Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion in Our Parishes, Schools and Communities”. This seminar will take place at the Amigo Hall, St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, from 9.30am to 4.00pm on Saturday 28 October 2023. You are all welcome to this archdiocesan initiative by the Commission for Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion chaired by Canon Victor Darlington, Episcopal Vicar for the Southeast. On the day there will be contributions from a range of speakers, including the Most Reverend John Wilson, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Southwark. For more information and registration, please use this link or scan the QR Code above; https://www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/mission/commission-for-promoting-racial-and-cultural-inclusion/what-we-do/ or write us: racialjusticecommission@rcaos.org.uk. Please join us for a stimulating and hope-filled day of discussion. Registration is FREE.

Unsettled/Upset Young Children: If your child becomes unsettled or upset during the Mass, you are welcome to use the porch area of the Church.  This area has a speaker system and a bench that you can sit on to help comfort/soothe your child/children while still being able to follow the Mass.

Notice Board: Please take time to read the latest information on the notice boards.

If you would like to book a Mass, there are envelopes at the back of the church.  At present, there are plenty of dates available.