NEWSLETTER

Walk to Parliament Square to hear notable speakers such as Lord Alton & Wesley J. Smith. Mass at Westminster Cathedral at 5.30pm

11 May - Sunday, 10.30 am: Bring and Buy cake and video sale, Lenten Project

- Wednesday, 19th March, Feast of St Joseph, Low Mass and
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, 7.30 pm.

- Wednesday, 28th May, (Eve of the Ascension - fulfilling the Holy
Day Obligation) Sung Mass 7.30pm.

- Wednesday, 18th June, (Eve of Corpus Christie - fulfilling the
Holy Day Obligation) Sung Mass and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 7.30pm.

- Thursday, 14th August, (Eve of the Assumption - fulfilling the
Holy Day Obligation) Sung / Low Mass, 7.30pm.

- Saturday, 1st November, feast of All Saints, Mass at 4pm. (This
would also fulfil the Sunday Obligation).

eucharistic new year vigil - NEW YEAR'S EVE

jesus i trust in you

In this vigil, we cross over the old year and into the new with Jesus the Lord of Life. We repent of any sins that we may have committed in the past year and we ask the Lord’s blessing on the New-Year, as we consecrate our families, loved ones and ourselves to Him.

Sung Requiem Mass - With permission of his Grace, the Archbishop of Southwark, there will be at St Raphael's a Tridentine Requiem Mass on Saturday 23 November, 3.00 pm, in honour of the Holy Souls. Cars may be parked in the TA centre car park, fifty yards from the church on the left side as you face the church. All welcome. [11/11/02]

Hannah O'Gorman, new head teacher of St Joseph's. We warmly welcome the new head teacher of St Joseph's, Miss Hannah O'Gorman. Her induction Mass of welcome was celebrated at St Raphael's Church on Sunday 3 November at 5.30 pm. Bishop Tripp presided, and Fr Vincent Flynn and Fr Dominic O'Sullivan concelebrated with the Bishop. The Mayor Councillor Don Jordan and his wife Ann, the Lady Mayoress, were honoured guests of the parish, attending the induction Mass and a buffet reception afterwards. [6/11/02]

Parish Council - A new parish council has been appointed - see Newsletter for details. The first meeting of the new parish council will be on Tuesday 8 October, 8.00 pm at 104 Maple Road.

First Friday of the month - 4 October - please come to our adoration and praise of God. [29/9/02]

Family Fast Day - 4 October - any money you save on this day should be placed in the special envelopes provided and placed in the Sunday collection bags as a donation to CAFOD. [29/9/02]

St Joseph's School Harvest Festival - 2 October - parishioners are most welcome to attend our school's Harvest Festival at 1.00 am. [29/9/02]

First Holy Communion - there will be a meeting next Saturday at 12.00 noon in the Small Parish Hall next to the church, for all parents of those children now eligible to begin preparing for their first Holy Communion and First Confession. [29/9/02]

New events for your diaries - please note the dates for your diaries for a number of important fundraising and social events:

The sick, the elderly and the housebound - there are people in our homes and hospitals who have no visitors all week. Would you have time to give up just one hour a week? Contact Fr Vincent. [15/09/02]

Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness - the annual general meeting of the KCAH will take place on Tuesday 1 October at the Cavendish Hall, United Reformed Church, Cavendish Road, New Malden at 8.00 pm. The Guest speaker is the Hon. Edward Davey MP. [15/09/02]

St Joseph's School Governors - there is now a vacancy for a foundation governor at our parish primary school. The role of a foundation governor is to uphold the Catholic ethos of the school. I have decided not to assume the role of governor this year (too much to do), but I will attend meetings as a guest and of course will be active in the school as Chaplain. [15/09/02]

CAFOD - Friday 4 October is CAFOD Harvest Day - a day when we who have so much share with our brothers and sisters who have so little. 20,000 people in the developing world die from hunger every day. Harvest Fast Day is not, however, just about raising money; far more important is the raising of awareness to the sufferings of so many people. And Fr Vincent would encourage you to make a sacrifice and deny yourself something and place the money you save in the green envelope at the back of the church. It might be a pack of cigarettes, a meal or some daily treat. It is particularly important for children to learn the concept of caring about others and giving with generous and joyful spirit. [15/09/02]

Encourage - "Encourage" is a Catholic group approved by the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales that supports Catholic gay men in their struggle to live a chaste life in accordance with the teachings of the Church. The group offers support and friendship in total confidence. If there are men in the area who are interested in starting such a group, please speak to a priest of the parish. It is important that the parish reaches out to all who may feel marginalised or rejected, especially when they are doing their best to live the Christian life. [15/09/02]

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament - Every Thursday we have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 10.00 am Mass until 12.00 noon in St Raphael's Church. Please do come and join us. It is an opportunity to spend some quiet time before the Lord, go to Confession, sing and praise God and just enjoy being in the presence of the Master living amongst us. [8/09/02]

Our University Chaplaincy - the parish extends a very warm welcome to all our students who are beginning their course at Kingston or who are continuing their studies. Please register at the Chaplaincy by contacting the Chaplain, Fr Vincent. [8/09/02]

Confirmation and First Holy Communion - follow the links for details about how to register for Confirmation and First Holy Communion preparation. [8/09/02]

Church repairs - As you are aware, there are major repairs needed to the outside of the Church, and redecoration required inside. Being a Grade 2 listed building, work cannot begin until the whole site has been surveyed and we have received a licence from the Historic Churches Committee to begin. Having contacted the committee a few weeks ago, Fr Vincent is currently awaiting their recommendation for an architect/surveyor. [8/09/02]

Priests' House and Claremont Hall - An initial survey has now been carried out of the presbytery at 102/104 Maple Road and of Claremont Hall and Fr Vincent is currently awaiting the surveyor's report on both, and an electrical report on the presbytery. [8/09/02]

Woodworm in the Church? - Having been advised that a least one bench in the Church had woodwork, we called in the experts. We are pleased to to tell you that we have a clean bill of health and the benches should last another hundred years or so.

First Friday of the month - Eucharistic adoration and praise - 6 September: thank you Fr Vincent for holding this extensive and beautiful programme of liturgy. [8/09/02]

Parish Council: the Council ceased to exist when the parish became vacant. Fr Vincent, however, would like all former members of the Parish Council to attend the scheduled meeting on 17 September at the presbytery at 8.00 pm. [01/09/02]

Parish Finance Committee: this ceased to exist when the parish became vacant, and Fr Vincent would again like the former members to attend a meeting at the presbytery on Wednesday 9 October at 7.00 pm. [01/09/02]

Catechists and Helpers: if you are a catechist (teacher of the Catholic Faith) or a helper or interested in becoming one, then please contact Fr Vincent so that preparations for Sacramental programmes and adult formation can begin. [01/09/02]

Contact details for Fr Dominic: Fr Vincent Flynn moved into the Presbytery on Monday 12 August 2002. On the same day, Father Dominic moved to 24 Milner Road, Kingston (Tel 020 8 287 0067) to begin his retirement, but will be close at hand to say Mass during the week and to help as necessary.

A great day for Fr Dominic's Golden Jubilee: some 300 people packed St Raphael's Church on Sunday 16 June to attend Fr Dominic's Jubilee Mass at noon. Fr Dominic concelebrated Mass with Father Anthony Ford, former parish priest of Our Lady Immaculate, Tolworth, and Father Michael Gwinnell, former Dean and parish priest at St Ann's, Kingston Hill. Father Gabriel Okoye from Nigeria assisted, along with ten altar servers. The St Raphael's Choir sang the Missa de Angelis. Fr Gwinnell, who was ordained in the same year as Father Dominic, gave the homily. He spoke about Fr Dominic's service to God and the community in two parishes: Sevenoaks and Surbiton. As a teacher in Sevenoaks, he was an inspiration to a number of young men who subsequently became priests. One of those men was Father Anthony Ford who spoke of the help and example Fr Dominic had given him in those early years.

After Mass, people gathered in the gardens of the Church to eat and drink and congratulate Father. Short speaches focused on respect and love for him and his dedication over many years. Father Dominic was presented with a Papal Blessing which had been obtained by his brother, Nigel, in the form of a framed photograph of Pope John Paul II. Nigel had travelled to Rome to collect it. Parishioners presented Fr Dominic with a framed photograph of the beautiful stained glass windows above the High Altar, champagne and a cheque.

A photographer from the Surrey Comet was there to capture the occasion. The weather was perfect: no rain and not too hot.

The statue of St Joseph has been brought down from the alcove high above the Lady Altar. For the present it will remain on the Lady altar. The alcove was becoming unsafe and needs to be checked. This is a temporary measure for the safety of parishioners and to help preserve an important part of the fabric of our Church. It will also provide an opportunity for parishioners to see the statue at close quarters.

Sunday 29June 2003

eucharistic new year vigil - NEW YEAR'S EVE

jesus i trust in you