DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS - SEE SEPARATE HEADING FOR STATEMENT FROM ARCHBISHOP JOHN WILSON
Following the death of Pope Francis there is an in-person book of condolence which is open to the public at the Apostolic Nunciature in Wimbledon (54 Parkside, Wimbledon, London, SW19 5NE) from 10.30 am to 12.30pm on Tuesday 22, Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 April.
TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA - SATURDAY 17TH MAY
Held over 3 settings - 12pm 2pm and 4pm. This will be held in the Church hall and cost £7.50 per person. Any money left over will be used for further social Parish events. Tickets will be available from the office. Cash only please!
JUBILEE DAY AT AYLESFORD PRIORY - SATURDAY 7TH JUNE
This day will be the centrepiece event of the 2025 Jubilee in the Archdiocese of Southwark.
We will gather at The Friars, Aylesford for a day of prayer, reflection and celebration. As a Parish we have reserved a 53 seater coach for those who wish to attend. Please complete the sign up sheet at the main Church entrance as soon as possible as places are limited. The day itself is free and there will only be a charge for the coach of approximately £20. It will no doubt be an extremely rewarding day for all.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY CRAFT MARKET FUNDRASING UPDATE
Thank you to all who came and supported the Children’s Craft Market - the two markets have raised an amazing £446!
All money raised will be for the Rainbow Trust who support families with children aged 0-18 with life threatening or terminal illness.
YOUTH MASS DATES: SATURDAY 10TH MAY
Please come and join in with these increasingly popular Masses. If your young person wishes to participate with reading, taking up the offertory or playing music please let Johanna or Johanne know or contact the Parish Office.
GARDENING GROUP
Thank you to all of the gardening group who have worked hard to brighten up the entrance to the Church with planters and flowers.
If you enjoy gardening and meeting new people and would like to get involved please check here and in the newsletter for details of the next meeting.
CONSIDERATE PARKING PLEASE!
Parishioners are reminded to only park in marked bays whilst using the car park. Please ensure that the disabled bays to the left of the main church entrance are left with plenty of access. We have had issues with people unable to get back into their vehicles due to inconsiderate parking. In addition no vehicles should be parked by the main entrance to the church. This is to ensure that Parishioners and emergency services, if required, can access the church quickly and easily.
ASSISTED DYING BILL
Parishioners are reminded that Cardinal Vincent Nichols has asked Catholic to contact their local MP to lobby against these changes. Please use the link below to find out more and ways to oppose the bill.
www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/news-events/news/how-to-oppose-the-assisted-suicide-bill
PARISH LEADS—AN OPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOUR PARISH
Parish Leads will be key members of their parish community who have accepted their Parish Priest’s request to be a principal point of contact in their parish for either Evangelisation (proclaiming Christ and his gospel by word and example), Catechesis (handing on the faith to children and young people) or Adult Formation (supporting continuing growth and development in the faith). Information about the role of Parish Leads is available from the Sacristy, and to find out more about ‘Some Definite Service’, the Archbishop’s vision to develop and grow as a missionary archdiocese, please visit https://aec.rcaos.org.uk/sds
ST RAPHAEL’S WELLBEING CENTRE
Have you been diagnosed, or are you caring for someone with a life limiting, progressive or chronic illness or are you recently bereaved?
The Wellbeing Centre offers social, therapeutic and advisory support for residents of Merton and Sutton, over the age of 18.
Come along to our bright, modern centre based in St Bede’s Conference Centre located in the same grounds as St Raphael’s Hospice.
We are open for morning and afternoon activities on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Our sessions are fun and friendly and are designed to empower you to live well with your diagnosis, offer peer support, promote independence and offer respite and relaxation.
The services are free of charge although donations are most welcome.
To find out more or to have a look around our Centre please call our Wellbeing Centre Team on 020 8099 1722 or email us on wellbeingcentre@straphaels.org.uk
You can also visit our website
for further information www.straphaels.org.uk/wellbeing-centre
Diocesan Directory
A searchable PDF of the 2025 Diocesan Directory can be found here: https://www.rcaos.org.uk/diocese/diocesan-directory/
Mass Online & Daily Liturgical Resources:
A weekly schedule of live-streamed Masses can be found on Church Services tv
Each day, Vatican News live-streams Pope Francis' 6am (GMT) Masses at Casa Santa Marta on
Facebook and YouTube
The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham’s schedule of live-streamed Masses and services
The Bishops' Conference of England and Wales’ directory of churches streaming Catholic Mass on line can be found at cbcew.org.uk
Children's Liturgy can be watched on CAFOD’s website