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CATHOLIC PARISH CHURCH OF ST EDMUND OF CANTERBURY, BECKENHAM
PARISH NEWSLETTER
18 April 2010, 3rd SUNDAY OF EASTER (Psalter week 3)
The Presbytery, 20 Village Way, Beckenham BR3 3NP
Parish Office Telephone 020 8650 0970 Fax 8650 4124 Email [email protected]
Website http://stedmunds-church.org.uk
Canon Jack Madden Parish Priest 8650 3390
Fr Ashley Beck Assistant Priest 8650 4117
[email protected]
Deacon Dennis Barratt
[email protected]
Deacon Sean Murphy 8289 3043
[email protected]
Fr Victor Akongwale Assistant Priest 8650 7533
[email protected]
Deacon Robert Higgs 8663 6906
[email protected]
Handmaids of the Sacred Heart
25 Village Way BR3 3NA
8650 6313
Missionary Sisters of St Peter Claver
89 Shortlands Rd BR2 0JL
8313 3915
DECIDING HOW TO VOTE
IN LAST WEEKEND’S NEWSLETTERS we included as
an insert the statement issued by our bishops about the
forthcoming General Election and questions they have
suggested to be put to candidates and canvassers. Next week
we will look at these and at others you may wish to raise, but
this weekend I want to address some wider issues about the
‘mechanics’ of how we decide which way to vote. I know
most of us live in constituencies which are (at least in one
case) even less marginal than they were in 2005, but voting
is still, unless we espouse the whole Catholic Anarchist
position, an important duty (as the bishops have pointed out).
I am going to concentrate on three sets of attitudes over
voting which from the Christian point of view need to be
discarded and ruled out before we can do anything else.
Please remember that guiding people about how to vote is
not the same thing as guiding them about who to vote for.
The first approach to the election which we should rule out is
the viewpoint that the bishops, and the Church, have no
business intervening in it all; the implication is that we
should concentrate on ‘spiritual’ issues. Illogically people
who criticise our pastors generally do feel they should speak
about certain issues (a narrow selection of some ‘life’ issues
and Catholic schools) but not others (almost everything
else). Back in late 1996 when the pre-election document The
Common Good came out people in this category who had
never encountered the Church’s social teaching (because no
one had ever told them about it) were astonished, and in
some cases perturbed; but over the years we have done quite
a lot to dispel this ignorance. This negative attitude to what
the bishops have tried to do stems from a determination to
kept the different parts of our lives in sealed and separate
compartments; so some Catholics are quite open in claiming
that they don’t allow their faith to affect their attitudes
towards politics, or business life, personal morality, or
whatever. This outlook is in some ways on the wane – but
the cult of the private individual in our culture means that it
is still a danger. Surely if our faith is so limited and reduced,
why should we profess it all? I do wonder why people in this
position claim to be Christians and bother to come to church.
If our faith is genuine, then it has to be about the whole of
our lives – as the bishops said back in 1996, ‘nothing is
beyond the scope of faith.’
I now want to reject two sets of reasons which often
determine how people vote. The first is really what can be
called tribalism – and I am not using the term perjoratively
in itself. What I mean by this is that we may vote in a
particular way simply because we are part of a particular
group or community – our parents always voted in a
particular way, all the people I know vote in a particular
way, or so on. If this is my outlook I don’t think about the
issues or policies as such – I simply do what I have always
done. Extreme examples of what this means in democracies
can be seen in Ireland, north and south: the biggest political
groupings both in Eire and Northern Ireland have little to do
with policy or ideology – they simply reflect historical
divisions, either between different sides in the Irish Civil
War or the gulf between Catholics and Protestants. In Britain
the ‘tribal’ tendency is much less marked in the past and
larger numbers of voters are less tied by what their parents
did and change their votes: but perhaps you do still see it in
constituencies which seldom if ever change hands.
The second thing we should reject is simply self-interest. If
we vote according to self-interest, or if we do anything in life
according to self-interest, we are being selfish, ‘end of
story’. Self-interest, which is never enlightened, is about
putting ourselves first, and that is sinful. Christianity teaches
us that we should rather be motivated by the common good,
the well-being of the whole community; we are also
exhorted to give a special place in our priorities to the needs
of the poor and most vulnerable. It may be that our selfinterest coincides with the common good (and we often like
to tell ourselves that this is so) – but self-interest must never
be our motivation and if we behave in that way we let the
Church down and set a bad example to young people.
Unfortunately in elections politicians often appeal to our
self-interest in order to get us to vote for them – perhaps this
cynicism, which often works, is why we have the politicians
we deserve. The Christian faith teaches that we are not made
to be self-centred: rather God wants us to live for him and to
show his love for other people in all that we do. Self-interest
turns us in ourselves – it closes us off from other people and
from our relationship with God; it’s so far removed from the
life and teachings of Our Lord.
Next week I will look at what the bishops have said and at
other issues which can be raised.
OUR PARISH THE PARISH OFFICE
Is open for business on Mondays and Fridays between 9.30am
and noon and 2.30 and 5pm and on Tuesdays and Thursdays
10am to 12noon.
INTERFAITH INFO
Tuesday May 4th 7.30 for 8pm
Christians and Jewish people will be sharing some of
their respective music in St Edmund’s Hall
~~~~~~~~~
Monday May 17th 7.30 for 8pm
in the series “Hot Topics”
Chris Hewer, perhaps THE Christian speaker on
Understanding Islam is doing a Q&A session at Avenue
Road Baptist Church. If you wish to submit a question
beforehand please take the A4 flyer from the ‘missallet
tables’.
~~~~~~~~~
I wish to thank Mary Deering for so many years work of
keeping our CTS book shelves so up to date. In the field
of Interfaith she has copies of “Catholicism and other
Religions”, I recommend this pamphlet: the author has
the knack of explaining the background thinking for
several guidelines issued in the past by both the Vatican
and our own Bishops’ Conference. The latter is in the
process of producing a new guideline “Meeting God in
Friend and ….”
Any enquiries to Jo Harvey: 020 8650 6313
ST VINCENT DE PAUL
We continue to visit housebound and elderly people in
their homes, also people in residential care homes and
sick people in hospital. We offer both practical and
financial help where needed and also ongoing support.
On May 9th we are holding our Annual Luncheon for
elderly, lonely and housebound people in our Church
Hall. This occasion provides the opportunity for people
who have not seen each other for some time to meet and
share their news. If you would like to come or know of
someone who would like to be invited please let me
know. There will be some transport available.
The second collection this weekend is for the ongoing
work of the S.V.P. We greatly appreciate your support
and generosity. Our collection in February totalled £978.
Thank you very much.
Kate Marshall Tel. 8650 0190.
REFUGEE FOOD COLLECTION
Next weekend there will be a collection of non-perishable
food and toiletries for refugees in need of our help in this
area. Boxes will be at the back of the Church at all
Masses to receive your gifts. Please donate such items
as tins of fish, meat and vegetables; packets of short and
long grain rice, pasta, pulses and biscuits; tea bags,
coffee and cooking oil. Also toiletries and kitchen
cleaning materials are needed.
Thank you in anticipation of your continued help with this
parish work.
RED MISSION BOXES
Please bring you red boxes to the presbytery. DO NOT LEAVE
FULL boxes in the church. They will be emptied and counted,
and then left for you to collect at the back of the church. Any
problems please ring Cathy Denne. 0208 650 0051
THERE WAS A WEDDING AT CANA IN GALILEE
A quiet day for young people at the Claver Convent
89 Shortlands Rd, Bromley BR2 OJL
1ST May 2010 for young adults (late teens & 20’s)
From 10am to 4pm
Bring a packed lunch
Tea, coffee & hot soup will be served
Registration fee £2 – Contact 8313 3915
ST EDMUND’S SPRING FAIR
SATURDAY 15TH MAY
We are looking for your donations and support NOW for
this most important social and fund-raising event in the
church’s calendar.
If you missed the full page insert that was printed in a
recent newsletter, it is now on the parish website. Follow
the web link to see how you can help:http://st-edmunds-church.org.uk/events.html
If you have any luxury items which we could use for the
main raffle, do contact me on the number/email below.
Also, we need as many volunteers as possible to get
involved with the fair. Please do lend us your support. Even a
couple of hours of your time will go a long way. If you can
help in any way please call Christina Carr – 020 8658 4293
or email: [email protected]
Our next planning meeting will be on Wednesday 21st April,
8pm at 11 Village Way. If you are a stallholder or want
to get involved in any way please come along.
WEDDING FLOWERS
If you are getting married in St Edmund’s this year please
let me know the date and time of your wedding so I can
include you in the rota for the flower arrangers. It is
never too soon to do this and I look forward to hearing
from you!
Cathy 020 8658 1560
THE HOLY FATHER
has announced his forthcoming visit to the UK possibility
some time in September 2010. Sadly there is already
opposition headed by the Secular Society of Great Britain
to this visit. The Secular Society have an online petition
which has already attracted over 20,000 signatures yet a
petition supporting the visit has less than 6,000
signatures. You are asked to visit the website and sign
the supporting petition as we welcome the Holy Father to
our country:
www.petiononline.com/PopeinUK/petition.html
HALL GARDEN If you & your children go over to the Hall after Mass, please make sure that the children are properly supervised so that they do not cause any damage to the new flower beds. AN ODE FOR THOUGHT
(As the new tax year starts)
As I look at the collection
My mind makes a connection.
All those five and ten pound notes
Each in the basket floats.
If we were not so lax
We’d claim back so much tax
Just sign a form and say
We’ll let the tax-man pay.
Just think. If those notes were in a Gift Aid envelope
each £5 would become £6.40 and £10 would be £12.80.
On a weekly basis the £5 would total £260 in one year. If
‘Gift Aided’ it would be £332.80. The £10 total of £520
would become £665.60.
At no extra cost to the donor!
If you pay income tax and would like to join the scheme
contact Don Dunning on 020 8460 8244.
GIFT AID
If you have signed a Gift Aid form in the last few months there
is a box of envelopes for you in the porch.
If you do not put your donation in your envelope I cannot
record it.
LIFTS TO MASS
A number of parishioners who come to Mass by car have
kindly offered to give lifts to other parishioners who would
otherwise be unable to come. If you know of anybody
who would like to be given a lift to Mass by car, would
you please contact our Parish SVP or Deacon Sean
CHURCH HALL GARDEN
JOIN THE CIRCLE
Sales of stones for the garden have been steadily coming
in and we have now sold over half of the circle. Join the
circle and help us to complete the garden by purchasing
an engraved stone for your family, your group or in
memory of a loved one. Engraved stone samples are
available to view in the parish office now.
For further information contact Susie Job on 07906 550
747 or Anne Williamson on 8650 5527.
CHURCH SHOP
We have a good and reasonably priced selection of First
Communion and Confirmation cards and gifts, as well as
our usual stock of rosaries, statues, etc and general
cards.
IRISH DANCING LESSONS
New Beginners Class for Children
A new beginner’s class for children aged between 5-10
years will be starting after the Easter Holidays in St
Edmund’s Hall, Village Way. For further information
please contact Mrs Thornton on 0208 676 9253.
WANTED
A shopping trolley in good order for an OAP. Contact the
Parish Office 8650 0970 Xt 1
OTHER NOTICES PREMIERE OF SCHOLA MISSA DE ANGELIS
a new plainsong mass setting by Roxanna Panufnik
Friday 7th May 2010 at 7.30pm
at St James’s Church
Spanish Place, George Street, London W1
The London Oratory School Schola; Director: Lee Ward
Tickets are available through See Tickets at
www.seetickets.com, tel. 0871 230 0010 (£10, £15, £20).
More performance details available on the poster on the
notice board at the back of the church.
Written especially for The London Oratory School Schola
and brass octet by the distinguished British Catholic
composer, Roxanna Panufnik, Schola Missa de Angelis
retains the melodies of the original 9th century plainsong
mass but invests them with Panufnik’s own new harmonic
language. The Schola Foundation is presenting the
concert, in candlelight, in the beautiful neo-gothic space
of St James’s Spanish Place, with its renowned resonant
acoustic.
Pope Benedict has often addressed the subject of
liturgical music, and has constantly called for modern,
Catholic composers to seek inspiration in the musical
heritage of the Church. At a time of greatly renewed
interest in Gregorian chant, we hope that Schola Missa
de Angelis will prove to be a welcome contribution to the
repertoire. You may be particularly interested to know
that in addition to the mass setting for performance,
the composer is currently working on a simplified
and accessible congregational version for parishes,
so that the new mass will be available to all.
COLOMA CONVENT GIRLS’ SCHOOL
Upper Shirley Road, Croydon CR9 5AS
www.coloma.croydon.sch.uk
The Governors are seeking to appoint a
SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
with relevant experience
(Full-time / part-time negotiable – term time only)
For an application form please contact
Mrs S. Dawson on: 020 8654 6228
DEEPEN YOUR FAITH
In the Parish of St. Andrews, 45 Brook Rd, Thornton
Heath, there is an 8 week course starting on Sunday, 18th
April called All Nations Life in the Spirit (information
leaflets in the porch). This is recommended for all those
who would like to deepen the knowledge of the work of
the Holy Spirit in daily life. The course is long established
and has been running successfully in parishes throughout
the country for over 20 years. Some parishioners from St.
Edmunds have followed it previously with great benefit to
their knowledge of the faith and its practical application in
daily life. You are warmly invited to ‘come and see’.
Contact: Simon 07947 493683 or
E-mail: [email protected]
PLEASE PRAY FOR…
MASSES AND INTENTIONS
FOR THE COMING WEEK
Saturday 17th April – Feria
8.15 Claver
In honour of St Patrick
10.00 Church
Betty Hassell RIP
6.00 Church
Monica Ann Jacob RIP
Confessions
10.30 -11.30
&
5.00 – 6.00
Sunday 18th April – THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (C)
Acts 5:27-32,40-41. Ps./29. Apocalypse 5:11-14.
John 2:1-19.
8.00 Church
Patrick O’Dwyer
9.30 Church
Pro Populo
11.00 Church
Intention of James & Cathy
5.30 Church
Sally & Bill Loftus RIP
7.00 Church
Philomena Ryan RIP
Monday 19th April – St Alphege
8.15 Claver Claude Whalley RIP
10.00 Church Anthony McGilloway
Tuesday 20th April – Feria
8.15 Claver
The Forgotten Holy Souls
10.00 Church Margaret Murphy RIP
Wednesday 21st April – St Anselm
8.15 Claver Monsignor Pat Keaveney RIP
10.00 Church Pia Orsi RIP & Family
7.30 Church Welfare of Sheila Isaaks RIP
Thursday 22nd April – Feria
8.15 Claver
Jacob Fey
10.00 Church Welfare of Patricia & Roger Wilson
Friday 23rd April – St George
8:15 Church
John Mulhern RIP
9.10 St Mary’s
Patricia Hayes RIP
10.00 Church
Donal Lynch RIP
Saturday 24th April – St Justus & St Mellitus
8.15 Claver
Joanne Jones RIP
10.00 Church
Maev Caughy RIP
6.00 Church
Brendan Hickey RIP
Confessions
10.30 -11.30
&
5.00 – 6.00
th
Sunday 25 April – FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
(C)
Acts 13:14. 43-52. Ps.99. Apocalypse 7:9. 14-17.
John 10:27-30.
8.00 Church
Pro Populo
9.30 Church
Breda Doyle RIP
11.00 Church
John James Edet RIP
5.30 Church
Repose of the Souls of Joy Francis
& Philip Martin RIP
7.00 Church
Frank Johnson RIP
Rosary prayed Mon–Sat 9:40 am in the Church.
The sick, their families and all who care for them
including: Mary Bamford, Reg Baskett, Margaret
Belinger, Elijah Biggs, Martin Blackmore, Mary Box,
Lesley Boxal, Fr Nigel Bryan, Bridget Byrne, Brian
Cashman, Maria Clifford, Clare Comrie, George Corrigan,
Dorothy Crowley, Matthew Cronin, Carol Demery, Kate
Dillon, Trajko Dimitrievski, Frank & Lesley Dos Santos,
Mr Drayton, Bridie & Michael Duignan, Mary Duignan,
Ivan Farnon, Doris Fletcher, Mary Flood, David & Violet
Fuller, Ewa Gacka, Peter Gould, John Paul Harvey,
Joyce Harvey, Marie Hayock, Jean Ingram, Noel Keeley,
Eva Knapp, Michael Lavender, Neil Laws, Miss Chan
Poh Lim, Margaret Luck, Jean Marchant, Brendan Moran,
John Mooney, George Newlands, Marisa Nicole Sheila
North, Anne Louise O’Connell, Eileen O’Sullivan, Cenza
Oldini,Agnes Owusu-Gyuwu, Maureen Postans, Betty
Preston,Agnes Read, Rosie Reed, Deacon John
Sampson, Gionna Santin, Horst Seibert, Rebecca
Sexton, Baby Frank Patrick Shaw, Rosaleen Talbot,
Theo and Monica, Priscilla Thornton, Barbara Tucker,
George Turnbull, Linda Tyler, Mary Uden, Nee Uden,
Martin Vaux, Sharon Waldron, Shirley Wallis, Mr & Mrs
Weal, Benedict Williamson, Suha Wright and Jean
Couper-Johnston., and Sheila North.
The Late Ministers of Communion who take the Holy
Eucharist to the Sick.
The recently deceased…
Those whose anniversaries occur about this time:
Violetta Gladwyn, Elizabeth O’Neill, Anthony McGilloway,
Jack Armfield, James William Martin, Pier Franco Nella,
Edward Coales, Ray Gilbert, Violet Garwood and Fr
Joseph Nee.
SUNDAY COLLECTION
The collection last Sunday came to £2111.25.
Thank you very much.
200 CLUB
This weeks winner is Mrs B. Ferrando with No.26.
The 2009/10 season is now over.
MEMBERS SHOULD NOW RENEW THEIR
SUBSCRIPTUIONS FOR THE 2010/11 SEASON
WITHOUT DELAY.
Cheques should be made payable to St Edmund’s
Church and sent to The Presbytery, 20 Village Way,
Beckenham Kent. BR3 3NP. Please include a note of
your name, address and telephone number with your
cheque so that we know where to send your winnings.
Membership only costs 50p a week or £26 for the year.
The weekly prize is £20 and there are three quarterly
prizes of £120 and the end of season £600. There are a
few vacancies for new members. Let us know if you are a
new member when you send in a cheque for £26 for each
new number you require and you will be advised of your
new number/s ASAP. Contact Michael on 8650 1502 for
more information.