This coming Thursday, November 1^st- is All Saints Day and is a Holy Day of Obligation.  We should all be at Mass - 9.30am on Thursday, OR 8pm on Wednesday (vigil).  The church should be full on both occasions.  If you are away this week make sure you know where and when to go to Mass.  A few of you, of course, may go to Mass near your places of work.  The absence of just one member weakens the whole Body.  Please think on this- and parents, please make this a priority with your children.

Convalidation of Marriage:

Catholics are required, by the Church, to be married according to Catholic form  (i.e. in a Catholic ceremony before a Catholic priest.) unless a dispensation has been granted.

If you are a Catholic and were married in any other ceremony (civil or religious) your marriage is not recognised by the Catholic Church and needs to be convalidated (Canon 1160).

This is a serious matter because until your marriage is recognised by the church you should not receive Holy Communion.  Receiving communion is a sign (among other things) that you are in communion with Christ through his church - that you accept its teaching and try to live by it.

Providing there are no impediments, convalidation is a straightforward process. It is encouraging that so many couples have seen me about this matter, and I do urge others who may be in this situation to contact me urgently.  There are flyers about this on the porch table.

Today- (Sunday) – Taizé service this evening at 7pm- in memory of Fr. Ben Grist (38 yrs) whose funeral was last Thursday in St. John’s Cathedral, Norwich.  Fr. Ben was known to some of our younger parishioners.  He was a priest (for just a few months) of the diocese of East Anglia, and a regular visitor to Taizé .

Monday:

Planning meeting for the Week of Accompanied Prayer (March 2013)- meeting room, 8pm. 

CWL –‘Mercy Ships’- visiting speaker. All welcome (NB 7.30.pm.)

Tuesday:

Journey in Faith - for non-Catholics- meeting room, 8pm-9.30.pm.  There is still time/room for others who may wish to come along – with no obligation.

Wednesday: Vigil Mass of All Saints at 8pm.

Thursday: Mass of All Saints at 9.30am.

Friday-:

All Souls - Commemoration of the Faithful Departed.  Mass at 9.30am as usual but with some special music. Come and light a candle for a loved one. It would be good to see the church full of children as this occurs (like All Saints) during half term week.

Mass attendances last Sunday were 653.
Sunday 28/10/12	Thirtieth Sunday (B) 6pm – John Jagger RIP (Sharon Jagger and Family) 9.15am – People of the Parish 11am – Anthony Blackman (Gloria Ortiz-Tejonero and Christopher Blackman)
Monday 29/10/12	Feria 9.30am – Recovery of Liz Thompson (CWL)
Tuesday 30/10/12	Feria 9.30am – Mary Casartelli
Wednesday 31/10/12	Feria 9.30am – Angela Denman RIP (Sue & Stephen Knowles) 8pm – Vigil Mass of All Saints
Thursday 1/11/12	All Saints 9.30am – Peter Heffer RIP (Gaynor Whitley)
Friday 2/11/12	The Commemoration of all the faithful departed 9.30am – Peter Taylor RIP (Chris & Doreen Hairs)
Sunday 4/11/12	Thirty First Sunday (B) 6pm – People of the Parish 9.15am – The Cotta Family RIP (Sofia Cotta) 11am – Desmond Kelly RIP (MT Kelly)
The hall roof work is going well!  Please use church to access the hall for most activities.
Eucharistic Ministers and Readers.  Day of recollection, Saturday November 17^th (11am-4pm) at Bishop Thomas Grant School, Streatham (including Mass with Bishop Pat). Please write your name on list on porch Table TODAY and I will post the form- thanks. (no doubt there can be car sharing etc.)
Parish Sale - of Christmas cards, repository goods, second hand books and Christmas items, special refreshments (including cupcakes!) after the 9.15am and 11 am Masses on Sunday November 18^th.  Items welcome - please bring in next weekend, thanks.
Special Mass to pray for the Departed on Sunday, November 18^th at 3pm (fulfils the obligation).  If you would like a name presented at the altar, please write it clearly on the list on porch table. We have tried to contact the families of all who have been buried from St. James’ in the past 6 years or so.  This is a new initiative - many thanks to the Bereavement Group.  Refreshments after Mass in the hall.
Just a reminder....there should be absolute silence and stillness in church (and its surrounding area) before and during Mass.  If children are disruptive (and I have brought up three) they should be taken immediately to the back corridor.  Hopefully this should be rare.  Come in good time to Mass, settle, pray on your knees and your children will imitate you. And please no food or inappropriate toys during Mass. As the psalm says, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’
Mass for the deceased clergy of our Bromley Deanery.  St Joseph’s, Bromley on Thursday 8^th November at 12 noon.  It would be good to see parishioners at this Mass.
Please look at the porch boards for notices, and please move the publications (including the Year of Faith Diaries (£2) and the Doorway to Faith booklets (£1.50) (monies in CTS slot in main porch.) The diaries go from now until the end of 2013- I hope every family has a copy. Please also look at our website which is updated regularly!
‘The Saints of God’- a poem by Ian M Fraser. The saints of God are down our street and round God’s throne of light. there’s some with formidable minds and some in crafts delight; together in God’s family their different gifts unite. They serve at check-outs, empty bins, they teach and make and mend; they feed the hungry back from school, the victimised defend; to voiceless folk they lend an ear and immigrants befriend. Their efforts gain no accolades, they simply earn that grace which heals this world of many sores, renews its battered face- through such, who live and love and care in their own time and place. When death comes knocking at their door they’ll look at Christ askance- how could such ordinary lives his Kingdom ends advance? But Christ will say, ’It’s party time- Come, friends, and join my dance.’ Every blessing to children, young people and families on half-term week. Fr Bryan.