Sunday 16th August 2020. THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (Year A)

fixed on Jesus: in the midst of this pandemic, our eyes on Jesus; and with this faith embrace the hope of the Kingdom of God that Jesus Himself brings us. A Kingdom of healing and of salvation that is already present in our midst. A Kingdom of justice and of peace that is manifested through works of charity, which in their turn increase hope and strengthen faith. Within the Christian tradition, faith, hope and charity are much more than feelings or attitudes. They are virtues infused in us through the grace of the Holy Spirit (see CCC, 1812, 1813): gifts that heal us and that make us healers, gifts that open us to new horizons, even while we are navigating the difficult waters of our time. Jesus’s ministry offers many examples of healing: when He heals those affected by fever, by leprosy, by paralysis; when He restores sight, speech or hearing. In reality, He heals not only the physical evil – which is true, physical evil – but He heals the entire person. In that way, He restores the person back to the community also, healed; He liberates the person from isolation because He has healed him or her. In the next few weeks, I invite you to tackle together the pressing questions that the pandemic has brought to the fore, social ills above all. And we will do it in the light of the Gospel, of the theological virtues and of the principles of the Church’s social doctrine. We will explore together how our Catholic social tradition can help the human family heal this world that suffers from serious illnesses. It is my desire that everyone

On the Feast

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says (CCC, 974) that ‘the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son’s resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his body’. We also ‘believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ (ST Paul VI, Credo of the People of God 15).’ (CCC, 975.)

This privilege given to Our Lady, was the result of her complete gift of herself to the Lord. By pronouncing her fiat at the Annunciation, and giving her consent to the incarnation, Mary was already collaborating with the whole work her son was to accomplish. She is mother wherever he is Saviour and head of the Mystical body. (CCC, 973).

From the Holy Father

The pandemic continues to cause deep wounds, exposing our vulnerability. On every continent there are many who have died, many are ill. Many people and many families are living in a time of uncertainty because of socio-economic problems which especially affect the poorest. Thus, we must keep our gaze firmly

Maresfield Gardens London NW3 5SU Tel: 020 7435 1388

Parish e-mail: swisscottage@rcdow.org.uk

Web page: parish.rcdow.org.uk/swisscottage

Web camera: www.churchservices.tv/swisscottage

Parish Priest: Fr Stefan Hnylycia stefanhnylycia@rcdow.org.uk

Assistant Priest: Fr Paul Diaper pauldiaper@rcdow.org.uk

St Thomas More − Parish Newsletter

a mask. Entry/Exit via the Car Park entrance

Payments to the parish

The bank account details for donors wishing to make a bank transfer are: Sort Code: 40-05-20 Account Number: 61302116 Account Name: WRCDT Swiss Cottage For enquiries contact our Finance Officer, Yolaine, at: swisscottagefin@rcdow.org.uk

Collections

Last Sunday’s collection: £824 (Envelopes: £619 and Loose: £205

Beirut Disaster collection: £277 and $100

Many thanks.

Keeping in touch

During the pandemic there are a number of ways to keep in touch:

Sign up to e-Alerts on the parish website.

St Thomas More WhatsApp Group. Contact the parish mobile phone (07572 577800) saying that you would like to be added to the Group.

First Holy Communions 2021

Some parents will have been planning for their children to receive this Sacrament in 2021. Even though we don’t know what things will look like in September, I would ask those parents who are thinking of next year, to get in touch with the First Holy Communion catechists. Please send an email to: swisscottagefhc@rcdow.org.uk

Guidance on Baptisms

According to the guidelines received on 9th July infant baptisms can be carried out. Please contact Fr Stefan as soon as possible via email: stefanhnylycia@rcdow.org.uk

The registration forms for infant baptism can be downloaded form the parish website: https://parish.rcdow.org.uk/swisscottage/sacramental-prep/baptism-children/

Planned Giving Envelopes

These can be collected from the Presbytery. Please contact Fr Stefan to arrange for the collection of the boxes.

reflect and work together, as followers of Jesus who heals, to construct a better world, full of hope for future generations.

Audience 5th August, 2020

Beirut Explosion

Today we collect again for the relief fund for the people of Beirut. As I said last week, any money will go to support the aid work of Aid to the Church in Need and will target poor families worst affected by the blast which devastated the port area of the Lebanese capital.

To donate, go to the donation page on the ACN website: Donate to the Lebanon

Covid Guidelines

If you (or someone you live with) are vulnerable or have COVID-19 symptoms, then please do not enter the church.

Please be aware of social distancing at all times (2m in this church).

People are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings in enclosed public spaces where there are people they do not normally meet, such as a church.

The door will open 15mins before Mass, Please use hand gel on entering and

leaving the church. Please follow the indications given by

the stewards. The toilets, kitchens and sacristies

remain closed. The obligation to go to Mass on

Sunday is suspended. Do consider coming to Mass on a weekday instead

Communion is given standing and in the hand

After Mass is finished, please leave the church, quietly and as soon as possible

Confessions: Saturdays: 11am– 1pm. In the St Thomas More chapel. Please wear

Track and Trace

The stewards will ask courteously if you would like to leave your name and a contact number, for the purposes of “track and trace”. We are required to ask. Nobody is obliged to give their details. I would hope though, that the stewards receive a similarly courteous response.

Church COVID cleaning and stewarding

I have mentioned several times, that the church being able to open for Mass, depends on our capacity to clean after Mass to the required standards. I understand that people are away these weeks. I also understand that people may be a bit reticent about volunteering. At the same time. I have to say that I am immensely proud of the level of professionalism and dedication that the volunteers have shown in stewarding and cleaning. We get better at this all the time.

As things stand we need, for Masses:

Sundays 11am: 3 stewards; 4 cleaners Mondays 10am: 1 steward. Thursdays 10am: 1 steward; 3 cleaners Fridays 10am: 1 steward; 3 cleaners

Saturdays. For Confessions 11am-1pm: 2 stewards; 2 cleaners after Confessions We are already close to the limit of people we can fit in at the 11am Mass on Sunday. Without the commitment of volunteers we run the risk of reducing even further the Masses we currently offer. Worse still, there would be no possibility of offering a second Mass on Sunday, once the new school year gets under way. If you think you can help, then please contact Nicole who has kindly offered to organise the stewarding and cleaning rota: 07917 330043 Please try to be in good time for Mass, especially on Sunday. God bless you all. Fr Stefan

MASS TIMETABLE Monday 7am Streamed Mass

10am Mass (with a congregation) Tuesday 7am Streamed Mass Wednesday 7am Streamed Mass Thursday 7am Streamed Mass

10am Mass (with a congregation) Friday 7am Streamed Mass

10am Mass (with a congregation) Saturday 10am Streamed Mass

11am – 1pm Confessions

Infant baptisms will take place in the afternoons, in accordance with the new guidelines on baptisms.

Sunday 11am Mass (with a congregation). [Note the change of time. The number of places available at this Mass is now 60].

6.30pm Streamed Mass

ST THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC CHURCH FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION

16th August – 22nd August 2020

MASS OTHER ACTIVITIES

SUN 16th August

ASSUMPTION OF THE

BLESSED VIRGIN

MARY

(Readings. Year A)

No 10am or Noon Mass

11am Mass

Cecilia and family (intentions)

6.30pm Mass (no congregation)

People of the parish

MON 17th August

feria

(Week 20; Year 2)

7am (no congregation)

Priest’s intention

10am Mass

Angella Nwandison (special

intention)

TUE 18th August

feria

7am (no congregation)

Living and Deceased members of

the Debnam family

No 10am Mass

WED 19th August

feria

7am (no congregation)

Teri Darice Gamble (intentions)

No 10am Mass

THU 20th August

St Bernard, Abbot &

Doctor

7am (no congregation)

Priest’s intention

10am Mass

Catherine Pearson (thanksgiving)

FRI 21st August

St Pius X, Pope

7am (no congregation)

Priest’s intention

10am Mass

Gary Brown (RIP anniversary)

SAT 22nd August

The Queenship of

the Blessed Virgin

Mary

10am (no congregation)

Iris Moore (intentions)

11am-1pm: Confessions

available

Prayer Intentions: Recently deceased: Peter Monaghan; Philip Pittack; Jean de Chantilly; Mensah

Edgar Wilson; Bill O'Connor; Jerry Kelly: Marie Rose Glackin: Pierluigi Cervi; Teresa

Alberti; Lucas Borges Freire

Anniversary: Sheelah Wilson; Emma Malin; Emma and Mario Cervi; Lucinda

Greymore; Philip Jordan; Lala O’Mara; Maj-Lis Karlsson; Charles William Malin;

Josephine Tayar-Tabet; Maria Natale; Kristan Okonkwo; Sam Boodoosingh; Gary

Brown

Confessions: Saturdays: 11am – 1pm

Forthcoming Events:

Monday 31st August: Is a Bank Holiday Monday.

Thursday 3rd September: ST GREGORY THE GREAT, Pope and Doctor