An interesting posting from Clerk of Oxford that may be read from here.

The statue of St. Bartholomew is found in our Retro Chapel.

Happy St. Bartholomew's Day!

Many congratulations to one of our younger parishioners, Jonathan Vasallo, who completed the near 900-mile cycle ride from Lands End to John O'Groats in only 11 days, riding in memory of his beloved Grandparents, whilst raising £1224.00 for the Alzheimer's Society. Well done Jonathan! A terrific achievement!
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Further donations in support of Jonathan's superb achievement can be made online from HERE. 

Archbishop John welcomes the news that St. John Henry Newman is to be a Doctor of the Church. The Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV will declare St. John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Catholic Church.

Responding to the news, Archbishop John said:

"The announcement that St. John Henry Newman will become a Doctor of the Catholic Church will fill the hearts of English Catholics with so much joy. It will also be welcomed by Catholics around the world for whom St. John Henry is an inspiring theologian and apologist for the Catholic faith." Read more>>>

Our Social Committee are organising the following events and would be delighted to see you there!
 
• Saturday 20 September - Quiz Night in the Church Hall at 19:30
 
• Saturday 18 October - International Mass at 19:30, followed by International Food in the Church Hall
 
• Saturday 22 November – Bingo Night in the Church Hall at 19:30
 
Please add the dates in your diary, and further information will follow.

Click/tap on the words above to find out more about the development of our Parish Plan.

click/tap on the pic for a larger image

Click/tap on the image above to read this most important statement.

Click/tap on the image above for a reminder, or to find out what went on!

Join Christopher West and Mike Mangione on 11 September for an evening of beauty, reflection and Eucharistic revival Read more and book>>>

Archbishop John has written a Pastoral Letter to be read at all Sunday Masses on the weekend 17/18 May 2025.

The full text may be read from here.

From Archbishop John Read more>>>>

From the Catholic Herald Read more>>>>

From the CBCEW Read more>>>

From the BBC Read more>>>

Click/tap on the pics for larger images - click HERE for a printable version

​The Archbishop asked “Catholics across the Archdiocese of Southwark to pray for Pope Francis and for our priests to offer Mass for the repose of his soul.”

Archbishop John is offering a Mass at St George’s Cathedral for Pope Francis on Tuesday 22 April at 12.30pm. All are welcome. Livestream link.

Please pray for Pope Francis. Read more>>>

The wonderful music our Polyphony Choir will be singing for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.

If you'd like to join them, then do pop up to the gallery on Tuesday 29 April just before 20:00 to say hello. Enter through the side door in Ellison Road. Find out more here.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ
 
Following my pastoral message in March 2024, I wish to speak to you again about the process by which Parliament is currently considering legalising assisted suicide through the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. As I made clear previously, concerning this grave matter, as Catholics we maintain a principled objection to this change in law, because we recognise that every human life is sacred: a gift of God, bearing a God-given dignity. We are, therefore, clearly opposed to this Bill in principle, elevating, as it does, the autonomy of the individual above all other considerations.
 
The passage of the Bill through Parliament, as originally proposed, would lead to a vote in late April on whether it progresses further. This will be a crucial moment and I, together with all the Bishops of England and Wales, am writing to ask your support in urging your MP to vote against this Bill at that time.
 
There are serious reasons for doing so. At this point we wish not simply to restate our objections in principle, but to emphasise the deeply flawed process undergone in Parliament thus far. We wish to remind you that it is a fundamental duty of every MP to ensure that legislation is not imposed on our society which has not been properly scrutinised and which will bring about damaging consequences.
 
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will fundamentally change many of the key relationships in our way of life: within the family, between doctor and patient, within the health service. Yet there has been no Royal Commission or independent inquiry ahead of its presentation. It is a Private Member’s Bill. The Bill itself is long and complex and was published just days before MPs voted on it, giving them inadequate time to consult or reflect upon it. The time for debate was minimal. The Committee examining the Bill took only three days of evidence: not all voices were heard, and it comprises an undue number of supporters of the Bill. In short, this is no way to legislate on such an important and morally complex issue.
 
One consequence of this flawed process is that many vital questions remain unanswered. Can MPs guarantee that the scope of the Bill will not be extended? In almost every country where assisted suicide has been introduced the current scope is wider than was originally intended. What role, if any, will the judiciary have in the process? We were told that judicial oversight was a necessary and vital part of the process; now we are told it isn’t needed at all. What will protect the vulnerable from coercion, or from feeling a burden on family? Can the National Health Service cope with assisted suicide or will it, as the Health Secretary has warned, cause cuts elsewhere in the NHS? Can MPs guarantee that no medical practitioner or care worker would be compelled to take part in assisted suicide? Would this mean the establishment of a ‘national death service’?
 
In contrast to the provisions of this Bill, what is needed is first-class, compassionate palliative care at the end of our lives. This is already provided to many in our society but, tragically, is in short supply and underfunded. No-one should be dispatched as a burden to others. Instead, a good society would prioritise care for the elderly, the vulnerable, and the weak. The lives of our families are richer for cherishing their presence.
 
It is sad reflection on Parliament’s priorities that the House of Commons spent far more time debating the ban on fox hunting than it is spending debating bringing in assisted suicide.
 
I am sure that you will share these concerns. Despite recent events, this measure is still being rushed without proper scrutiny and without fundamental questions surrounding safeguards being answered. This is a deeply flawed Bill with untold unintended consequences.
 
Every MP, and Government, has a solemn duty to prevent such legislation reaching the statute book. This, tragically, is what may happen. So, I appeal to you: even if you have written before, please make contact now with your MP and ask them to vote against this Bill not only on grounds of principle but because of the failure of Parliament to approach this issue in an adequate and responsible manner.
 
In his Letter to the Philippians, from which we heard in the Second Reading, St Paul reflects on the difficulties and responsibilities of life. He speaks of ‘pressing on’ and ‘striving’ for the fulness of life promised in Christ Jesus. Yet he is totally confident in his struggles because, as he says, ‘Christ Jesus has made me his own’.
 
We too have many struggles. We too know that Christ Jesus has made us his own. So, we too press on with this struggle, so important in our times.
 
With an assurance of my continued prayers and blessing.
 
Yours devotedly in Christ,
 
+John Wilson
Metropolitan Archbishop of Southwark

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