RECENT NEWS: 12 January 2025 BLESSED SACRAMENT PARISH
Mass Times This Week and Next:
Sunday: 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday: 12:30 p.m.
This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of Jesus.
Thank you! Fr Rajiv, Fr Jakub and Sister Miriam would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to all parishioners and visitors for generosity and gifts throughout the Christmas season. Thanks to all who helped in any way to make our Christmas and New Year celebrations, beautiful and meaningful. We continue to celebrate God With Us!
Confirmation candidates and parents meeting Monday 13th January 2025 and it is the first session. It’s for the confirmation candidate AND their parents or carers. It’s at 6.30pm in the Crypt at St. John’s, 39 Duncan Terrace. Please go straight to the crypt. (Far right door of the church) You will need to bring your completed registration form, baptism certificate and £60 (cash or contactless) which just about cover costs. If you’ve already given us your registration form or a copy of your baptism certificate then you don’t need to bring this. For more information including meeting dates beyond this one, please go to our website. We look forward to seeing you all at 6.30pm on Monday 13th in the Crypt.
Alpha follow-up: If you took part in the Alpha programme, please come this Wednesday, 15 January, 7:00 p.m. This will be an opportunity to reconvene, share the fruits of the experience and discuss options for follow-up.
Free to take! If you want to increase your knowledge of the Bible readings that have been specially selected for Sunday Masses then next Sunday January 19th, you’ll have the opportunity to take the old Missals. On Sunday January 26th, we’ll be introducing the new missals with the ESV. As mentioned before, England, Scotland and Wales are changing Bible translations from the Jerusalem Bible to the English Standard Version (ESV). For more information about the change, https://rcdow.org.uk/news/the-new-lectionary-whats-changing-and-why-it-matters/ If you can stay this Sunday after Mass to help package the books to be received next Sunday, please give a hand.
Pax Christi The Bishops of England and Wales have asked parishes to mark Sunday 19th January as Peace Sunday. They have asked Parishioners to pray on the 19th for Peace and Reconciliation in our families, communities and places in our world suffering war, division and strife. We are also asked to reflect on how we can work for Peace and Reconciliation, especially in this Holy Jubilee Year. On the 19th January please feel free to take one of the special Peace Sunday prayer cards from the table in the vestibule. The card has been produced by Pax Christi, a catholic international peace organisation that works for Peace and Reconciliation in the world. There will also be envelopes should you wish to make a donation. You may like to consider membership of Pax Christi during this Holy Year.
Do you want more from your life? Are you feeling stuck in your faith and not sure if God has a plan for you?You might find these answers in an exciting retreat weekend we will be hosting at Bl. Sacrament church, between 7-9th February, 2025. It’s titled ‘Radical Conversion of our Hearts’. It will be led by Patrick and Joy Campbell (www.CrossofStBenedict.com) who are much sought after missionaries, who have changed countless lives through their breakthrough healing workshops. For more information and registration, use QR code, https://bit.ly/400v071 or email cenaclecharismatic@gmail.com See poster by stairs.
The Holy Year of Jubilee, 2025 began on Christmas Eve with the opening of the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome and on the 29th December, at Westminster Cathedral. The Church first declared a Holy Year in 1300 and has continued ever since. Jubilees are occasions of renewal, to undergo a ‘reset’. And this Holy Year invites us to deepen and renew the place of hope in our lives with its theme, ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. Our world suffers today greatly from a lack of hope; and for many people life is simply endured, without much ground for hope. The pilgrimage of life is harsh and unrelenting. Yet, in the midst of these realities we have an anchor in the person of Jesus. There are many graces to be received in a time such as this. Try to participate in some of the events happening for this year in the Diocese. Do not let this pass you by!
A Year of Hope: An Introduction to the Jubilee Year with CAFOD
2025 is a Jubilee year, but what does that mean? Catholic talk show host and author Nana Churcher, and CAFOD’s Simon Giarchi will be hosting Fr Jan Nowotnik (Director of Mission for the Bishop’s Conference), Christine Allen (CAFOD’s Director) and Kayode Akintola (CAFOD’s Head of Africa) and more for a lively start to the Jubilee. With a special appearance by Catholic band Ooberfuse. Saturday 18 Jan, 10:30am-midday, online. All welcome. Register here for free: cafod.org.uk/jubilee
What would help you? We are barely out of Christmas, but Lent looms around the corner! There are always lots of spiritual activities in Churches for Lent and it’s a time when we look for some new way of engaging with our spiritual life. We have done different things in the past – but are there some things you would like to see happen/be involved in/find helpful to grow in your faith? Let us know! Speak to us or mail us at the office.
Certificate of Catholic Practice If you wish to request this certificate because you are applying for a place in a Catholic School for your child, please email the parish office for a priest information form.
Prayers for the Sick: Please continue your prayers for Fresly Sangalang, Joseph Kamara, Frances O’Donnell, Maria Castillo, Sharon McDonnell, Phuong Quach, Stanley, Linda and Samantha Russell, Glorea Tejan-Jalloh, Albert Boateng, Inita Roberts, Irene Bryan, Maria Carrano, Anne Taylor, Bridie Collins, Sabrina Cross, Eileen Bailey, and Elizabeth, John Wise
Prayers for the Dead: We pray for the recently deceased and all whose anniversaries occur around this time
To Contact Father Rajiv or Father Jakub: 020 7226 3277 or email: copenhagenstreet@rcdow.org.uk To contact Sister Miriam: Telephone: 020 7837 8378; email: ssnd27@yahoo.co.uk Web Site https://parish.rcdow.org.uk/copenhagenstreet