to the current edition of `Talkabout`

Issue # 109
St. John Fisher Parish Magazine
Cover:
The newest saint of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis acknowledged at her canonisation on 5 September
that although her formal title is now St Teresa of Calcutta - to many she will always be “Mother Teresa”, the
“nun of the gutters” who was a champion for the poor, the dying and the unborn.
CONTENTS
Your Prayers are Requested
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Deacon Fred Carter - Silver Jubilee Mass ..
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Farewell & Welcome!
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Talkabout Mass ..
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First Holy Communion June 2016 ..
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Sr Catherine
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Teresa Pollard
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Parish Pilgrimage to St George’s Cathedral
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Scout & Explorer Trip to Kandersteg
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Deborah Carter ..
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‘From Mother to Saint’
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Fr Anthony Plummer - Golden Jubilee Mass
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National Citizen Service
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Daniel Haynes
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A-Z of Saintly Place Names
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Julie Sheahan
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Care Ministry in South Africa
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Catherine Dooley
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Justice & Peace in St John Fisher Parish
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Justice & Peace Group
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Book Review: The Lightless Sky
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Friday Fare: Mushroom Risotto & Pear Cake
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Prayer of Mother Teresa ..
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Be Grateful God Doesn’t Have Voicemail! ..
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Guardian Angels
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P.W. McVey
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Cycle of Prayer: Autumn, Advent & Christmas Intentions
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Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist Rota
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Weekend Mass Readers’ Rota
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Rota for Collectors of Offertory Collection
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Parish Groups
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Parish Details
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Ask the Clergy
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Liturgical Calendar for 2016 - 2017
Getting to Know Jesus
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Deadline for articles to be included in the next edition of Talkabout
must be with the Editorial Team before
28TH NOVEMBER 2016
talkabout@blueyonder.co.uk
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YOUR PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED FOR
All those recently Baptised
Lara Sophia Van Gaever
Gabriel James Crew
Kiera Marina Goldberg
Cassius Osbourne
Ciara Maria Morrison
Reuben Hartman
Jude Brook Gorman
Isabella Catherine Williams
Evelyn Rose Baker
Rowan Dale Lockwood-Knight
Jasmin Maria Rigg
Clementine Dillingham
Clarissa Juliette Barnbrooke
All those recently called home to Heaven
Patrick Francis O’Brien
Patricia Titchner
Michael Bruton
Grant them eternal rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them.
And for the following who recently celebrated their
First Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
Antonia Attwood
Callum Gardor
Leonardo Mortimer
Lacey Bates
Rose Gleeson
Lauren Moussard
Natalia Beln
Cian He Gung
Sienna Mpiiara
Stephanie Bisco
Freddie Hector
Declan Newman
Daniel Boguckas
Julia Hojcherska
Julia Owen
Joshua Brierly
Daniel Hyatt
Elizabeth Partridge
Niamh Browne
Elena Hyland
Jonty Patterson
Karolina Caires De Viveiros
Micah Ihenacho
Edward Pedropillai
Hanna Casati
Alba Jessin Pereda
Emily Phillips
Joshua Chubb
Sienna Kearney
Maxmilian Prevela
Millie Cox
Gabriella Kisiel
Callum Coyne
Maja Kohoz
Oliver Santiago
Ojedo-Sierra Garcia
James Cracksfield
Aaron Kudzaishe Mateman
Jessica Craughwell-Jones
Stephanie Lee
Maya Curzimkowka
Eleanor Leon
Sasha Delaney
Emma Letstarkey
Cara Dooley
Nicholas Lynch
Coral Duckworth-Crowe
Isabella Malveiro
Echezina Ekebi
Sofia Marsriv
Ahamefuk Ekobi
Neveah Martins
Eliza Finn
Mac McKenna
Beau Gallagher
Cyprian McManus
Max Gancez
Esther Mirandola
Sofia Mitchell
3
Patrycja Say
Toby Scfapour
Leanna Sexton
Jovai Soares
Dominic Sochowka
Gabriel Spear
Rocco Stefka
Ryan Sutton
Julia Swider
Edgar Thiollier
Christina Walsh
DEACON FRED CARTER
Thanksgiving Mass on His Silver Jubilee of Ordination to the Deaconate
‘You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give’
Kahlil Gibran
Canon Colm Acton preached the homily:
"In the passage just read from St John's Gospel,
(John 12, 44-50) Jesus is emphasising his
relationship with the Father. It is a relationship of
undivided unity, a total oneness. Jesus tells us in
another passage that he and the Father are one.
He tells his followers several times that the Father
has sent him into the world as a Saviour and not to
condemn the world. He is the Light and his Word
will remove the darkness of the old beliefs with the
light of his teaching.
On Wednesday 27th July, 2016, Mass was celebrated
by Bishop Howard Tripp to mark the 25th Anniversary
of the Ordination to the Diaconate of Deacon Fred
Carter. Concelebrating were many priests known to
the parishioners of St John Fisher, Frs. Uche &
Matthias, Canon Colm Acton, former assistant priests:
Canon John O'Toole, Frs. Michael Sileshi and Ignatius
Edet, as well as Monsignor Matthew Dickens, Vicar
General of the Diocese of Southwark, representing the
Bishops of our Diocese who were at World Youth Day
in Krakow.
Today as we mark the occasion of Deacon Fred's
Jubilee these words are particularly relevant. When
a person is called to the Sacrament of Holy Order
whether as Bishop, Priest or Deacon, he is invited
to share the inner life of God more closely. It is a
Call to a life more united with Jesus and the Father,
so that the person ordained can represent the
message by his life and his teaching, which should
be configured to Christ. Powerfully he should be a
Light, a facilitator of the Word, a mediator of the
Word for others. Fred you share in this vocation, in
this Call, in union with the Bishop and priests. All
who are baptised are called to holiness of life. In
addition those who receive the Sacrament of Holy
Order are called, chosen and given a special
4
Character and grace to live up to their calling and
fulfil their roles in the Church.
But you embraced this challenge, this Calling with a
joyful heart.
The Diaconate is not a promotion or an extension of
Lay Ministry in the Church. The Diaconate is not the
same as priesthood, it is complementary to it, a
Ministry apart which enables the recipient to have a
close relationship with Christ and the Church, and
unites him very closely with the Bishop and his
priests.
It would be wrong to think that your involvement
with the Church started on the 27th July 1991. You
were actively involved in this parish during all of
your years here, training the Mass servers, helping
with the youth club and the youth, taking the
handicapped to Lourdes, the lay apostolate in its
many forms, quite often helped by a good gin and
tonic. I'm not sure if that was out of a glass or out of
the bottle.
The Diaconate has three key elements or
ministries; they are the Ministry of the altar or the
liturgy, the ministry of the Word and the Ministry of
Charity and service. The scope of these ministries
gives the Deacon a very wide-ranging role in the life
of the Church and parish. It involves assisting at the
altar in all liturgical rites and celebrations, preaching
the Word and carrying the Gospel message to all.
The Deacon has the role to be of service to all and
of course his model in this is Jesus whose life was
one of service. In reality the Deacon acts as helper
in all manner of ways, in the service of the parish
and the people of God, but always under the
direction of the Bishop and his priests.
As parish priest in this parish for 34 years, I can
compliment you Fred for all your service to the
parish, it has been quite outstanding. You have
fulfilled your role as a deacon faithfully with
commitment, dedication, enthusiasm and steadfast
devotion. You have given generously of your time,
thanks to your wonderful wife Pat and your family
who have supported you and made this possible.
You have always been willing and ready to respond
to all requests. You have always been available to
all, you have participated in the instruction and the
preparation of people for the sacraments. You have
been involved in the pastoral care of the
parishioners. You have assisted at all Eucharistic
and Liturgical celebrations and regularly preached
the homily. You were always present for the
Morning Prayer of the Church. You have been an
example, a witness and a strength to the people of
this parish. Your openness to the Holy Spirit has
made all of this possible, and today you rejoice and
give thanks to God for his gifts and his graces. We
as a parish thank you for great service, we rejoice
with you and pray that God will continue to pour his
blessings on you and your family for many years to
come."
The Diaconate was reinstated into the life of the
Church by the Second Vatican Council. On today's
date 25 years ago the 27th July, you were ordained
with nine others to the Diaconate, it is great that
one of those, Fr. Geoffrey Smith, is here this
evening. In that ceremony, Archbishop Michael
Bowen laid his hands on you, and praying over you
called on the Holy Spirit to strengthen you to carry
out the work of this Ministry. He prayed that you
would excel in every virtue, in self-discipline, in
holiness, in concern for the sick and the poor
having a sincere and genuine love for all. This was
very challenging and many would be daunted by it.
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Following the Mass there were refreshments in the
hall, where tributes to Deacon Fred's service to the
Parish continued and were marked with a presentation
to him. Fr Uche expressed his thanks to all who had
made this such a special occasion, especially Sister
Catherine, without whom there would be no such
celebration.
Monsignor Dickens thanked Fred on behalf of the
Bishops of the Diocese for his service to us all.
Deacon Fred expressed his thanks to all:
"Over the past 25 years I have shared friendship
with many parishioners and tonight I want to thank
you for all the support that you have given me. To
Canon Colm Acton for his guidance over many
years and to Canons John O'Toole and John Clark,
who both suggested I should be a deacon. To
Archbishop Michael Bowen for accepting me and
most of all to my loving wife Pat who puts up with it
all. My gratitude to the choir, (who sang all my
favourite hymns), the servers and my fellow clergy
for their presence here this evening."
Canon John O’Toole proposed a Toast
The Carter family (after the cake was cut)
Deacon Fred with the Knights of St Columba group
(Photos by John Golden & Adrian Mass)
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FAREWELL & WELCOME!
Father Uche Njoku left St John
Fisher parish on Monday 5th
September to join the parish of St
Joseph’s in New Malden as their
Parish Priest. We thank Fr Uche for all
his help while he was our Parish
Administrator and offer our prayers for
a successful ministry at St Joseph’s.
Father Uche invites the parish
community of St John Fisher to his
Induction Mass at St Joseph’s on
Monday 10th October at 7.00pm.
This month also saw the arrival in St
John Fisher of our new Parish Priest,
Father David Gummett. Father
David has joined us from the parish of
St Joseph’s in Roehampton, where he
was Parish Priest. We are sure that
everyone in the parish will extend him
a very warm welcome.
Eternal God,
please bless our priests who
represent you on this earth.
Make them more greatly aware
of the grace
that you pour out through them
when they minister the sacraments, and help them to fall
more deeply in love with You
after each and every Mass that
they celebrate.
Please strengthen our priests,
who shepherd your flock, when
they are in doubt of their faith,
that they may be examples of
your Truth and guide us always
on the path to you.
We ask these things of You our
Eternal Priest.
Fr David Gummett
Our Parish Priest
Amen.
TALKABOUT MASS
God will never
leave you empty.
If something is taken away,
He will replace it
with something better.
If He denies your request
in a certain area,
it is because
He wishes to give you
what is best.
The Talkabout Team held their annual Mass, on Thursday 30th June,
which was celebrated by Fr Uche at Belinda’s home. It was, as usual,
a very pleasant event and the meal afterwards was excellent. Thank
you to Charlie for barbecuing and to everyone for singing
unaccompanied with such enthusiasm and for the tasty dishes they
brought to share.
If He asks you to put
something down,
it is so you can pick up
something greater.
God is not the great deniar,
but the great giver.
He is not a robber,
but the bestower of every
good and perfect gift.
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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
JUNE 2016
First Holy Communion in any parish is a wonderful
occasion, a time of great grace not only for the
children and their parents but for the whole parish
family.
As I watched these
little children singing
and doing the actions
to "His Banner over
Me is Love", I prayed
that they will always
remember
this
wonderful time and
remember especially
that the Banner is
always over them.
Our preparation began with the parents attending four
sessions on the Holy Communion Programme. I must
congratulate them on their attendance and their lively
participation.
The children attended regularly and did their work well.
We always combine our programme with various
Liturgies at 9.30 Mass for parents and children. These
begin with a service of commitment. During this
service, children make a promise to do their best to
pray and attend sessions. Parents also make a
promise to help their children. We give the children a
little book about the Miracles of Jesus, which we call
the Presentation of the Gospels.
The children had a
little celebration in the
hall, a time of joy and
sharing.
I thank the clergy, the
catechists and the choir. The choir are great, they are
very supportive. They turn up for the Mass practices,
the Masses and the Procession of the Blessed
Sacrament.
Shortly before Holy
Communion we have
the Rite of Election,
which
involves
parents, children and
the whole parish.
Before the Mass
prayer cards are at
the back of the
church
and
parishioners
are
asked to pray for the
children who will
make their First Holy
Communion during
the month.
St John Fisher School is also very supportive. Many
staff members are present for all the Masses and the
children mime "Here I am."
The catechists really do a great job in helping and
supporting these children. They willingly give up their
time and open their home to welcome the children for
their lessons. We are really blessed in this parish.
May we always love and serve Jesus and each other.
I would like to thank Kate who always makes the
Church look so beautiful; this beauty helps us to pray a
little better. Thank you Kate. I would also like to thank
the coffee and tea makers who do a great job on those
three Sundays.
As Holy Communion is the Sacrament of love, we
collect gifts for the housebound and distribute them
after the Corpus Christi procession. These little tokens
of love are greatly appreciated by the housebound.
Sister Catherine
Each Holy Communion group has a practice for an
hour on the Thursday of their First Holy Communion.
We do this so that the Holy Communion Mass will be
as prayerful and peaceful as possible and something
the little ones will remember for ever.
“ The good you do today, will
often be forgotten. Do good
anyway. “
After the last Sunday of Holy Communions we had the
Corpus Christi procession. We had a full Church and I
must say the First Holy Communicants looked very
angelic.
Attrib. Mother Teresa
8
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO
ST GEORGE’S CATHEDRAL
On Saturday 9th July, in this Jubilee year of Mercy, a
trip to St. George's Cathedral was organised by
Deacon Tom and attended by Fr. Mathias and around
thirty parishioners. Our main reason for this short
pilgrimage was to go through the Holy Door, a symbol
of God's Mercy.
A Holy Door reminds us of the prodigal son returning
to an open door and the welcoming arms of his
anxious father. This is what the Holy Door of this
Jubilee year means for us. It symbolises the openness
of God towards us and His desire to forgive all and
everything, welcoming us with open arms with a
promise of a banquet
prepared for us in
heaven when the time
comes. Pope Francis
reminds us that "the
Holy Door will become a
door of Mercy through
which
anyone
who
enters will experience
the love of God who
consoles, pardons and
instils us with hope
(Misericordus Vultus).
On the left side of the cathedral there is a beautiful and
moving statue of St. Frances Cabrini. She is a very
appropriate Saint for our time when many people are
displaced and seeking refuge far from their own
country. She was born on 15th July 1850 in Northern
Italy to a family of farmers. She was a very capable
and hard working woman. She founded a religious
order of Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus when she was aged thirty. She longed to go to
China but was urged by Pope Leo Xlll to go to America
where millions of migrants were arriving from Europe
in search of work, hope and a better life.
On arriving at the cathedral we were greeted by
several clergy who introduced us to the concept of
Mercy and what the Jubilee and Hold Door means for
us all. We then processed through the specially
prepared Door and after some prayers attended mass
after which we had exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament. Many of us were struck by the devotion of
those who attended both the mass and exposition. As
we left the cathedral, to go to lunch, we were even
more aware of how devoted some were to prayer as
we witnessed a blind man, unaware of anyone in the
cathedral, who having removed his shoes went
through the Holy Door on his knees and proceeded to
move slowly like that up the front aisle of the church.
There were many disappointments and obstacles in
the way of her work but she was so devoted to the
needs of migrants that she worked hard setting up
schools, orphanages, hospitals and social centres in
many countries where the need arose including South
London. While she worked in South London she
worshipped in the cathedral.
She was Beatified in 1938 and Pope Pius Xll made her
Patroness of Migrants in 1950. At her shrine you can
find out much more about her work.
The trip was valuable for many reasons both from a
spiritual point of view but also for the enjoyment of
great company with members of our parish
community.
Teresa Pollard
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SCOUT AND EXPLORER
TRIP TO KANDERSTEG.
Twenty two Scouts and Explorer Scouts (from
the parish 5th Morden Scout Troop and the
Flying Penguins Explorer Unit) travelled to
Switzerland in July to visit the International
scouting centre in Kandersteg. The trip was
organised and lead by Deborah Carter with
assistance from 9 adult leaders and parent
helpers from the 5th Morden and 23rd Mitcham
groups.
During the 10 day trip the Scouts and Explorer
Scouts undertook a range of challenging
activities including advanced white water
rafting, advanced canyoning that included a 150
foot abseil into a deep ravine, and paragliding
off an 800 foot high cliff.
A particular high light for the Explorers, was the
via ferrate, a rock climb up a vertical 500 foot
cliff that included a 50 meter high wire tight rope
walk and zip wire over an 300 foot drop. Not for
the faint hearted!
The troop also visited the roof of Europe, the
Jungfrau, which at 4,158 meters is the highest
peak in the Bernese Alps. This was the third
visit to the top of Europe by 5th Morden over
the last ten years and at last the weather was
just right with magnificent views of the glaciers
and the Eiger.
The visit coincided with Swiss National day and
our boys and girls joined the other 2500 scouts
at Kandersteg that week to march into the
centre of the town making as much noise as
possible! A spectacular fireworks show finished
of the evening. A slide show of the activities will
be presented at the next 5th Morden AGM in
2017.
To finance the trip required considerable fund
raising and we would like to thank the 5th
Morden executive for all their help in raising
funds and to the boys and girls who took part in
fund raising activities. A special thanks goes to
Sainsbury's at North Cheam for allowing us to
do bag packing activities and carol singing in
their store. We would also like to thank all the
adult helpers who gave up their time and
energy to travel to Switzerland with the Scouts,
without their help the trip could not have taken
place.
Deborah Carter
10
“FROM MOTHER TO SAINT”
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“Live _ _ _ _ _ _ (18D) so others may simply _ _ _ _ (21A)” ~
_ _ _ _ _ _ (6D) Teresa was born Anjezë Gonxhe
Bojaxhiu on 26 August 1910 in Kopje (in present day
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (26A)) She first heard the call to a
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (23A) life at the age of 12 and left home
at the age of 18 to become a _ _ _ _ _ _ (16D) _ _ _
(2D). Her _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (13D) started in _ _ _ _ _ _ (8A),
Ireland where she took the name Sister _ _ _ _ _ _ (7A).
In 1929 she arrived in Kolkata, India to become a _ _ _
_ _ _ _ (5D) at St Mary’s School.
_ _ _ _ _ (22A) Teresa of Calcutta
She used the _ _ _ _ _ (24A) received from the _ _ _ _
(19A) John XXIII Peace Prize to build a leper colony
and in 1979, she was awarded the _ _ _ _ (3D) Peace
_ _ _ _ _ (25A).
Ill health forced her to _ _ _ _ (22D) down as the head
of her _ _ _ _ _ (10A) in March 1997, and she died six
months later on 5 September.
Mother Teresa was _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (9D) by Pope
John Paul II in 2013 and was made a _ _ _ _ _ (1D) on
Sunday 4 September 2016, and 5 September (the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (15A) of her death) was made her
feast day.
In 1950 she founded the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (11D) of
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ (12A) with 12 other Sisters after getting the
green light from the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (4A). Mother Teresa
became known globally for her Order’s work with
_ _ _ _ _ _ (17D), and the first _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (20A) outside
India was opened in 1965 in _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (14D).
Mother Teresa was BEATIFIED by Pope John Paul II in 2013 and was made a SAINT on Sunday 4 September 2016, and 5 September (the
ANNIVERSARY of her death) was made her feast day.
She used the MONEY received from the POPE John XXIII Peace Prize to build a leper colony and in 1979, she was awarded the NOBEL Peace
PRIZE. Ill health forced her to STEP down as the head of her ORDER in March 1997, and she died six months later on 5 September.
In 1950 she founded the MISSIONARIES of CHARITY with 12 other Sisters after getting the green light from the VATICAN. Mother Teresa
became known globally for her Order’s work with LEPERS, and the first MISSION outside India was opened in 1965 in VENEZUELA.
MOTHER Teresa was born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu on 26 August 1910 in Kopje (in present day MACEDONIA) She first heard the call to a
RELIGIOUS life at the age of 12 and left home at the age of 18 to become a LORETO NUN. Her TRAINING started in DUBLIN, Ireland where
she took the name Sister TERESA. In 1929 she arrived in Kolkata, India to become a TEACHER at St Mary’s School.
“Live SIMPLY so others may simply LIVE.” ~ SAINT Teresa of Calcutta
11
GOLDEN JUBILEE OF
FR. ANTHONY PLUMMER
Fr Anthony Plummer recently celebrated his Golden
Jubilee (a half century milestone since his ordination
in 1966). Fr Anthony grew up in our parish and went
to high school at nearby Wimbledon College. He
celebrated his first Mass at St John Fisher church 50
years ago and is now Parish Priest at Christ the King
in Wimbledon Park, after a series of other
appointments.
NATIONAL CITIZEN
SERVICE
Are you 15-17 years old? Wondering what to do with
the long summer holidays next year - once your
GCSEs are over? Why not consider NCS?
A dozen of his school contemporaries attended the
celebration as well as several John Fisher
parishioners and clergy, including Canon Colm
Acton.
National Citizen Service (NCS) is a once-in-a-lifetime
experience you really don't want to miss. If you're 15 to
17 years-old, this is your chance to embark on
exhilarating challenges, make your mark and build skills
for work and life.
NCS is a 2-4 week programme which takes place
outside of term time in your local community in the
spring, summer and autumn holidays. During this
summer I followed the 4 week programme, met new
people and had a great time!
Week 1 - Adventure (A week at a residential outdoor
activity centre, getting to know the group who you’ll be
working with over the next few weeks. We had fun
kayaking, rock climbing and hiking on Dartmoor.)
Chris Conway carries our
parish banner in the
offertory procession
Week 2 - Skills (In our second week we stayed
together in student accommodation at Kingston Uni and
we had to budget for and cook our own meals each
evening! During the day we developed our team working
and communication skills, and learnt new ones which
were centred on a group skill that we had selected like
media, art, sport or drama.)
Fr Anthony Plummer
Weeks 3 & 4 - Social Action (This is the time when
our team met up again and planned our very own social
project - fundraising for a local charity based in Kingston.
We also had great fun dragon-boat racing on the
Thames!)
Thanks to government backing, the most you ever
pay for this unbeatable experience is £50, but it
could cost less or even be free depending on your
circumstances and the local NCS provider.
Register now at
https://bookings.ncsthechallenge.org/
Deacon Fred (who knew the Plummer family well)
reading the Gospel, with Bishop Paul Hendricks
in the background
(Photos by John Golden)
12
ASK THE CLERGY
Is it wrong to make the Sign of the Cross with your left hand?
Since we make the Sign of the Cross before and
after all of our prayers, many of us forget that the
Sign of the Cross (Signum Crucis) is not simply an
action but a prayer in itself. Like all prayers, the
Sign of the Cross should be said with reverence;
we shouldn't rush through it on the way to the next
prayer.
chest, and then from right shoulder to left shoulder
with the right hand. The thumb, forefinger, and
middle fingers were originally held together to
symbolize the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy
Spirit) and in such a way that the fingers
represented the Greek abbreviation I X C (Iesus
Christus Soter, Jesus Christ Savior): This practice
was universal for the whole Church until about the
12th century, when Pope Innocent III indicated a
shift in the Latin Rite practice of the Catholic
Church: "The sign of the cross is made ..: from
above to below, and from the right to the left,
because Christ descended from the heavens to
the earth, and from the Jews (right) He passed to
the Gentiles (left) … Others, however, make the
Sign of the Cross from the left to the right,
because from misery (left) we must cross over to
glory (right), just as Christ crossed over from
death to life, and from Hades to Paradise.” So for
centuries since, the faithful in the Western Church
have imitated the priest imparting the blessing,
going from the left shoulder to the right shoulder
with an open hand.
How Do Roman Catholics
Make the Sign of the Cross
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.“
With your right hand, you should touch your
forehead at the mention of the Father; your lower
middle chest at the mention of the Son; then your
left shoulder on the word "Holy" and the right
shoulder on the word "Spirit.
Eastern Catholics (and Eastern Orthodox) reverse
the order, touching their right shoulder first on the
word "Holy".
Why do we make the
Sign of the Cross?
Why do we use our right hand?
The sign of the cross is a beautiful gesture which
reminds the faithful of the cross of salvation while
invoking the Holy Trinity. The Sign of the Cross is
sacramental, a sacred sign instituted by the
Church which prepares a person to receive grace.
Furthermore, it is also a public witness and sign of
participation in the life of Christ. Hence, this
gesture has been used since the early Church in
the administration of all holy things, in every
blessing, at the beginning and end of prayers and
the Mass.
Most people are right-handed, and so traditionally
the right hand is used in blessing and greeting in
many cultural settings, a convention found in
scripture and tradition. (e.g. Jesus sits at the “right
hand of the Father”, Jesus is depicted in sacred
images raising his right hand in blessing and
today we shake hands in greeting with our right
hand.) The left hand has, in contrast, been
associated in many cultures with a very different
set of negative traditions (e.g. the word sinister is
derived from the Latin for left-handed; etc.).
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 386) in his Catechetical
Lectures stated, "Let us then not be ashamed to
confess the Crucified. Be the cross our seal, made
with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in
everything; over the bread we eat and the cups
we drink, in our comings and in our goings out..."
Gradually, the sign of the cross was included in
different acts of the Mass, such as the three-fold
signing of the forehead, lips, and heart at the
Gospel reading or the blessing and signing of the
bread and wine to be offered.
For these reasons, it is natural that the Sign of the
Cross has traditionally been made with the right
hand. However, while it is customary to sign with
your right hand, it is much more important to
ensure you make the Sign of the Cross with
purpose and precision - being mindful of the Holy
Trinity, and not being hasty or careless - than to
worry about which hand is used.
If you have a question on our faith which you’d like
answered in Talkabout by a member of our Clergy
please e-mail talkabout@blueyonder.co.uk or send
it to the Presbytery for the attention of ‘Talkabout’.
The earliest formalised way of making the Sign of
the Cross in the 5th century was from forehead to
13
A-Z OF SAINTLY
PLACE NAMES
K
imprisoned on the island of Hirta, the largest island in
the St Kilda archipelago, on the western edge of
Scotland, by her husband in 1734–40.
is for … some more saints to be
discovered around the British Isles
The archipelago of St Kilda, the remotest part of the
British Isles, lies 41 miles west of Benbecula in
Scotland's Outer Hebrides.
L
is for St Leonard's, of which there are three
in England and a further two in Scotland.
Perhaps the best known to us is St Leonard's on Sea,
to the west of central Hastings.
An original seaside Regency New Town, beautiful St
Leonards-on-Sea has a wonderfully vintage feel about
it today with its mile long promenade affording
magnificent coastal views. The town was a purpose
built resort, one of the first, built by the famous
Regency architect and planner James Burton who
worked alongside the great John Nash on projects
such as Regents Park.
St Leonards was the childhood home of Alan Turing,
the man who cracked the Enigma code during WWII,
and who was arguably the father of modern
computing.
The entire archipelago is owned by the National Trust
for Scotland. It became one of Scotland's six World
Heritage Sites in 1986 and is one of the few in the
world to hold joint status for its natural and cultural
qualities.
Its islands with their exceptional cliffs and sea stacs
form the most important seabird breeding station in
north-west Europe. The evacuation of its native
population in 1930 brought to a close an extraordinary
story of survival.
There have been people on St Kilda since prehistoric
times. Excavations in 1995 revealed a possible burial
structure dating from the Bronze Age. There are
records of early chapels, and two incised stone
crosses of Early Christian style have been found.
St Leonards-on-Sea
Leonard (died 559 AD), is a Frankish saint closely
associated with the town and abbey of Saint-Léonardde-Noblat, in the Limousin region of France. He lived
as a hermit at Limoges and was rewarded by the king
with all the land he could ride around on a donkey in a
day for his prayers, which were believed to have
brought the Queen through a difficult delivery safely.
He founded Noblac monastery on the land so granted
him, and it grew into the town of Saint-Leonard. He
remained there evangelizing the surrounding area
until his death.
In the 18th century ministers or missionaries were
sent to the islands on a regular basis. A church and
manse were built in the early 19th century for a
resident minister, and there was a school from 1884.
The origin of the name St Kilda is a matter of
conjecture. Various theories have been proposed for
the origin of the word Kilda, which dates from the late
16th century. No saint is known by the name
St Leonard is the patron of political prisoners,
imprisoned people, prisoners of war, and captives, as
well as women in labour, because of the legend that
Clovis promised to release every captive Leonard
visited. His feast day is November 6.
Parties of volunteers work on the islands in the
summer to restore the many ruined buildings that the
native St Kildans left behind. They share the island
with a small military base established in 1957.
On the other side of the world, St Kilda is a suburb of
Melbourne, named after a schooner Lady of St Kilda,
named in honour of Lady Grange, who was
Julie Sheahan
14
CARE MINISTRY
IN SOUTH AFRICA
Michael and I have just returned from a spell with our
daughter, Siobhan, in South Africa and having caught
up on all her Care Ministry news we thought we would
share some with you.
Siobhan, the Director of Care Ministry, is responsible
for the day to day running of the charity as well as the
funding and financing. Like so many charities, they
are constantly fighting the battle of funding and much
of Siobhan’s time is taken up with submitting reports
to organisations looking to fund groups within the
country. Competition for this funding is intense.
While we were there the care givers took part in a day
retreat and we were very privileged to join them for the
afternoon prayer session. What a warm reception we
were given, hugs all around and many photos taken.
There was hymn singing with dance, and prayers were
offered up for individuals in need, names written on
pieces of paper and taken up to the table by everyone
singing praise and stepping in time as they did so; and
they can sing, with harmony - what a wonderful gift the
voice is.
The Care Ministry is a faith-based non-profit
organisation that strives to provide a high standard of
emotional, spiritual and physical care and support to
those affected by HIV/AIDS/TB/Chronic Illnesses and
to offer emotional, health and social support to OVC
(Orphaned and Vulnerable Children) within targeted
under-resourced communities of the Eastern Cape.
There are currently
eleven groups of
volunteers overseen
by a small group of
retired nurses. This
band of volunteers
live
within
the
communities
they
support and have
themselves
been
affected by AIDS/HIV
directly or indirectly.
The caregivers meet weekly to receive support,
ongoing training and debriefing as well as meeting for
regular Spiritual Retreats and Stress Relief activities.
It is always very humbling meeting with them, these
care givers live within the poorest of the world’s
communities where every day is a challenge, that we in
the UK can’t even begin to contemplate, but with
support and training they are becoming empowered and
slowly, slowly over time things do improve.
The
office
staff
consists of Siobhan,
her
administration
Assistant Beauty and
Beauty’s son Lwando
who works part-time
to
assist
with
accurate
data
capturing.
Aside from the Care Ministry Siobhan now plays the
organ for the Saturday evening Mass in the Parish
church she first attended twenty years ago. She is very
grateful for the hymn book given to her by our 9.30
group. Local churches mainly use a screen at the front
of the church for the words, as there are very few hymn
books to be found.
They are supported
by an active Board of
Management, which
includes the charity’s Chaplain Father Thembalethu
Mana who has also recently been commissioned by
the Pope for this year of Mercy as a Minister of Mercy.
Please continue to remember them all in your prayers.
Catherine Dooley
15
JUSTICE & PEACE
IN ST JOHN FISHER PARISH
www.sjf-justiceandpeace.org.uk
sjf.justiceandpeace@gmail.com
Southwark J & P Charity Commission
Autumn Assembly 2016
now re-gathering after the summer break and planning
the next few months' activities. We are pleased to be
able to help Feed the Hungry and Homeless thanks to
the regular monthly food collections, which are shared
between three local charities: Christian Care, Faith in
Action and Wimbledon Foodbank. We have received
letters and messages of thanks for the generosity of
St John Fisher parishioners from them all.
The Refugee Crisis: Practical Action
Saturday 5th November 2016 from 10 am to 4 pm
At 'The Pavilion', CAFOD, Romero House
55 Westminster Bridge Road,
London SE1 7JB
In June we held a Coffee morning for the Jesuit
Refugee Service, our Charity of the Year.
Join us to find out new ways of addressing the refugee
crisis and the different positive, practical actions we
can take in our parishes, schools, local groups and
organisations.
Collection for Faith in Action
Homeless Drop In Centre
The Justice and Peace Group continue to meet on the
second Tuesday of each month usually in
Eastway, and welcome all those interested to our
meetings. We are now planning our annual sending
Christmas cards to prisoners and our New Year
service. Please keep an eye out for news of our
meetings and other activities in the Fisherman’s
Herald newsletter and our noticeboard (now located
by the church door)
The weekend of the 1st/2nd October we will be
collecting the following items for Faith in Action:
For details of our next meeting, visit our website
www.sjf-justiceandpeace.org.uk or
To book a place please email:
office @southwarkjandp.co.uk
or call 010 7928 9742
 Jam
Follow us on Twitter
@sjfJusticePeace
 Sugar
 Coffee
Follow us on Facebook
SJF Justice and Peace
 Tins with ringpulls (especially
fish, meat,
spaghetti, fruit,)
Contact us by Email
sjf.justiceandpeace@gmail.com
Members of the Justice and Peace Group are very
grateful to Fr. Uche and Fr. Matthias for their support
and encouragement over the last few months. We are
PARKING NEAR THE CHURCH
Please
remember
to
be
considerate of our neighbours
when parking your car for Mass at
the weekends. Do not obstruct
driveways or park on grass
verges; and please also keep the
church entrance clear.
“ People are often
unreasonable, irrational, and
self centred. Forgive them
anyway. “
Attrib. Mother Teresa
Thank you.
16
BOOK REVIEW:
“THE LIGHTLESS SKY: My Journey to Safety as a Child Refugee”
by Gulwali Passarlay
What must it be like to leave your home as a
refugee and try to reach a safe place in
Europe? And even more so if you are only
twelve. This question is answered by Gulwali
Passarlay in this amazing book, The
Lightless Sky: My Journey to Safety as a
Child Refugee.
and achieve his potential. He now works to
improve other young people's lives and to help
the public understand the plight of refugees and
asylum seekers. He wants to tell his story - to
bring to life the plight of the thousands of men,
women and children who risk their lives to leave
behind the troubles of their homelands.
Fearing for his life, Gulwali's mother sent
him away from Afghanistan at the age of 12,
with his 13 year old brother, after his father
was killed in a gun battle with the US army.
Separated almost immediately from his
brother, he began a 12 month journey alone
across Asia and Europe, spending time in
prisons, suffering hunger, cruelty, brutality,
nearly drowning in a tiny boat on the
Mediterranean. Many times he felt like giving
up but remembered his mother's last words:
"Don't come back".
At a time when some of the media and some
politicians foster such negative attitudes to
refugees, this shows the true story. As the
author says, it is ‘more than anything a book
about faith, hope and optimism’.
Read it, pass it to your friends, give it to your
teenage children/grandchildren. As refugees
arrive in this country, we need to be informed.
An extraordinary and sobering account of a
journey of escape no one should have to make “The Lightless Sky” is available in hardback,
paperback and kindle format
At the mercy of traffickers, somehow he
survived, and made it to Britain, no longer an
innocent child but still a boy of 13. But his
troubles did not end here; officials in Kent
refused to believe he was only 13, treated
him as an adult and threatened to deport
him.
Publisher: Atlantic Books
ISBN: 9781782398479
Finally through sheer determination he
managed to get to school, find foster parents
17
FRIDAY FARE
MUSHROOM RISOTTO & PEAR CAKE
MUSHROOM RISOTTO
6. Continue stirring until the rice is cooked. If the
rice is still undercooked, add a splash of water.
Take the pan off the heat, add the butter and
scatter over half the cheese and the parsley.
Ingredients (Serves 4)











50g dried porcini mushrooms
1 vegetable stock cube
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic clove, finely chopped
250g chestnut mushroom, sliced
300g risotto rice, such as arborio
1 x 175ml glass white wine
25g butter
handful parsley leaves, chopped
50g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
7. Cover and leave for a few mins so that the rice
can take up any excess liquid as it cools a bit.
8. Give the risotto a final stir, spoon into bowls
and scatter with the remaining cheese and
parsley.
CHRISTINE’S PEAR CAKE
A beautifully moist pear cake - a perfect autumn
treat at teatime..
Ingredients (per person)








Method
1. Put the dried mushrooms into a large bowl and
pour over 1 litre boiling water. Soak for 20
mins, then drain into a bowl, discarding the last
few tbsp of liquid left in the bowl. Crumble the
stock cube into the mushroom liquid, then
squeeze the mushrooms gently to remove any
liquid. Chop the mushrooms.
6oz butter, softened
6oz golden caster sugar
3 eggs, size 3, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
3 Rocha pears, peeled, cored and chopped
6oz self raising flour, sifted
2oz deluxe, dark chocolate
1 teaspoon icing sugar, sifted
2. Heat the oil in a shallow saucepan or deep
frying pan over a medium flame. Add the
onions and garlic, then fry for about 5 mins
until soft.
3. Stir in the fresh and dried mushrooms, season
with salt and pepper and continue to cook for 8
mins until the fresh mushrooms have softened.
Method
o
o
1. Preheat oven to 160 C, 325 F or Gas Mark 3
2. Cream together the butter and sugar until pale
and creamy.
3. Gradually beat in the eggs, mixing well
between each addition. Stir in the vanilla
essence and pears.
4. Fold in the flour, then spoon the mixture into a
lightly greased, 1 litre ring tin, or a deep 8in
cake tin.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 50mins 1 hour until golden and firm to touch.
6. Allow to stand in the tin for 5 minutes, then
turn out onto a wire rack until cold.
7. Melt the chocolate and drizzle over the cake.
When set, dredge with icing sugar.
4. Tip the rice into the pan and cook for 1 min.
Pour over the wine and let it bubble to nothing
so the alcohol evaporates. Keep the pan over
a medium heat and pour in a quarter of the
mushroom stock.
5. Simmer the rice, stirring often, until the rice has
absorbed all the liquid. Add about the same
amount of stock again and continue to simmer
and stir - it should start to become creamy,
plump and tender. By the time the final quarter
of stock is added, the rice should be almost
cooked.
Christine Davis
18
PRAYER OF MOTHER TERESA
Dear Jesus,
help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly
that our lives may only be a radiance of yours.
Shine through us and be so in us
that every soul we come in contact with
may feel your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus.
Stay with us and then we shall begin to shine as you shine,
so to shine as to be light to others.
The light, O Jesus, will be all from you.
None of it will be ours.
It will be you shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise you in the way you love best
by shining on those around us.
Let us preach you without preaching,
not by words, but by our example;
by the catching force the sympathetic influence of what we do,
the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to you.
Amen.
BE GRATEFUL GOD DOESN'T HAVE VOICE MAIL!
Imagine praying and hearing the following:
Thank you for calling My Father's House. Please select
one of the following options:
To find out if a loved one has been assigned to
Heaven, Press 5, enter his or her social security
number, then press the hash key. (If you get a
negative response, try area code 666.)
Press 1 for Requests
Press 2 for Thanksgiving
For reservations at "My Father's House," please enter
J-O-H-N, followed by 3-1-6.
Press 3 for Complaints
For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs,
the age of the earth and where Noah's Ark is, please
wait until you arrive here.
Press 4 for Confessions
Press 5 for All other inquiries.
I'm sorry, all of our Angels and Saints are busy helping
other sinners right now. However, your prayer is
important to us and will be answered in the order it was
received, so please stay on the line.
Our computers show that you have already prayed
once today. Please hang up and try again tomorrow
so that others may have a chance to get through.
If you would like to speak to:
This office is closed for the weekend to observe a
religious holiday.
God the Father, press 1
Please pray again Monday after 9:30 am.
God the Son, press 2
The Holy Spirit, press 3
19
GUARDIAN ANGELS
Tradition
Augustines at Canterbury, or even a hermit. He said
that every soul was assigned a guardian angel at the
moment it was put into a body.
A heavenly spirit, or Guardian Angel, assigned by God
to watch over each of us during our lives, has always
been a part of the tradition of the Church. The role of
the Guardian Angel is to guide us in thoughts, works
and deeds, and to preserve us from evil. Our Blessed
Lord, when talking about the little children said,"
Beware lest ye scandalize any of these little ones, for
their angels in heaven see the face of My Father
"( Mat. 18: 10 ). The existence of Guardian Angels is
now believed by all the faithful. Not only young
children, but all mankind, every individual, has an
Angel for protection from evil and danger. We also
believe that countries, towns, and even buildings have
angelic protection .
St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090- 1153) said "We
should thank The Lord for sending those blessed spirits
to serve us, assigning them as our guardians and our
teachers. He has given his angels charge over you to
guard you in all your ways."
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), author of the
famous Summa Theologiae, was in agreement with
Honorius, he also considered that guardian angels
came from lowest order of angels. It is thought that
there are nine orders, or choirs, starting with Seraphim,
down to just angels. He stated that men were
wayfarers on an unsafe road, and that angels were
there to guard them on that road.
The Concept of Guardian Angels
I have read that some of the Pagan (Greek)
writers such as Menander and Plutarch
were acquainted with the belief of
guardian angels although I have no
first hand knowledge of this.
However the concept in the Old
Testament is very well marked,
describing God's angels as His
ministers who carried out His
behests and who were at times
given special commissions. With
special regard to guardian angels , one
of the psalms (Psalm, 90:11-12) states
"For he hath given his angels charge over
thee to keep thee in all thy ways. In their hands they
shall bear thee up; lest thou dash thy foot against a
stone" . Catholic belief would appear to point to Adam
and Eve not having guardian angels. Pope Francis, in
one of his sermons, said that, when they were
expelled from the Garden of Eden, God could have
left them to fend for themselves. Instead, as an act of
love and mercy, the Lord sent them both an angel to
guide and protect them.
Saint Basil (329-379), wrote that "every one
of the faithful has an angel at his side as
educator and guide, directing his life.
Saint Gregory the Great Pope from
590 to-604, noted that every country,
city, town, village, and even family,
had its own special Guardian Angel.
St. Padre Pio (1887- 1968) had a
long relationship with angels and
guardian angels. It is said that he
knew his own guardian angel as a
youngster and occasionally received
counsel from him. Padre Pio frequently
sent his angel to people who needed help, and
he encouraged his friends to send their angels to him if
they could not come themselves.
St. John Vianney (1786- 1859), said that "Our
guardian angels are our most faithful friends, because
they are with us day and night, always and everywhere.
We aught often to invoke them. Again he told us " What
joy it is to know that when we go out of the house, we
are never alone."
Modern Popes
Early Theologians and Saints
In his Regina Caeli address on 31 March 1997, Pope
John Paul II spoke of the concept of guardian
angels saying in conclusion "Let us invoke the Queen
of angels and saints, that she may grant us, supported
by our guardian angels, to be authentic witnesses to
the Lord's paschal mystery.”
The first Christian theologian to have a specific
scheme for guardian angels, Honorius of Autun, in
Burgundy, lived in the first half of the 12th century. He
has been described as one of the most mysterious
personages of the medieval period. Honorius wrote a
large number of works between the years 1106 and
1135. Although he styled himself as a priest and head
of a school of Autun. It has been suggested that he
had been a Benedictine monk, a monk of St.
Pope Francis, during the Mass for the Feast of the
Holy Guardian Angels on the 2nd October 2014, told
those gathered to be like children who pay attention to
20
their "travelling companion". "No one journeys alone
and no one should think they are alone.' Later, in a
further discourse, in the chapel of Santa Marta, he
noted that often we have the feeling; I should do this,
or this is not right, or be careful. "That", he said "was
the voice of our guardian angel.”
hit the windscreen probably killing all in the car. As it
was, no one was hurt but the car was a write-off .
During the war, a neighbour's daughter walking home,
heard a bomb whistle down and curled up in the
entrance to a shop. The bomb landed in the middle of
the road where she was hiding. The blast from the
explosion went in the direction opposite to the girl and
blew down half of the Police Station.
The Pope reminded us that, according to Church
tradition, "we all have an angel with us, who guards
us." "Do not rebel, follow his advice." He also told us
not to consider this doctrine "a little imaginative" but
that it was one of "truth".
The girl was not hurt. Saint Paul's Catholic Church in
Dover was in the line of sight of one of the big guns in
Calais during the German occupation. These were
massive railway guns. Like the ones we were using,
they would be kept in a tunnel when not in use. If we
were out cycling and saw one in the cutting, we were
pretty sure that our guns were to shell Calais that
night and the Germans would probably reply in kind.
To alter the distance the shell went, the barrel of the
gun would be raised or lowered. As many as 19 shells
fell within 50 yards of the church, not counting the
bombs which were dropped nearby. All of the beautiful
plaster on the ceiling was brought down and much of
the coloured glass windows smashed to pieces. The
house on the opposite side of the road to the church
was blown to bits, as were numerous houses near the
church. The area opposite is now a" Peace Garden."
The church however had no major damage. After the
war the many pieces of coloured glass were saved
and used to re- constitute new windows. One of these
windows contained seven angels. These pictures of
angels, if I remember rightly, were part of the window
decoration above the High Altar.
Pope Francis asked each person to examine their
conscience regarding their relationship with their
guardian angels. "Do I listen to him? Do I bid him good
day in the morning? Do I ask him to guard me while I
sleep? Do I speak with him? Do I ask his advice?”
The above quotations are just a few of the many,
regarding guardian angels, that these saints, and
others have made throughout the years.
Prayer to our Guardian Angel
There have been many prayers written for us to praise
guardian angels and ask for their assistance. The one
following was taught to me at school before the war,
and I have said it many times since then.
Angel of God, my guardian dear
to whom God's love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side
to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.
My Guardian Angel
Almost everyone I know learned it at school, however
nobody appears to know who composed it. The Mass
for 2nd October in the Roman Missal contains an
Introit (a Collect) and other prayers, all of which are
very similar to the prayer. My St. Andrew daily missal
seems to hint that Saint Bernard may have had a hand
in its composition . These prayers have been omitted
from the translation now being used.
My angel and I go back quite a way now. He must be
a most patient person, I always think of him as a
person. He has looked after me throughout the war,
during my time in the army, several years in Egypt and
Palestine. The middle of the desert is not the world's
most pleasant place, on guard duty at one o'clock in
the morning. He has also spent considerable time with
me on the various motor ways around the south. I
never went on any journey without a prayer to Our
Lady, or my guardian angel. Looking back on those
days, when I was younger, I have come to the
conclusion that, on the M25 He did the praying while I
did the driving.
We were told to try and incorporate this or similar
prayers in our morning and night prayers, and when
we were travelling.
Angelic Intervention
I suspect that most of us have had a near miss in the
car, some would put it down to good luck or
coincidence. Others that there was angelic
intervention. One of the family, driving through the
country, suddenly saw some branches. He also had an
urge to accelerate. A second afterwards a trunk of a
tree smashed onto the back part of the car. If he had
not accelerated the tree would almost certainly have
I hope that when the day comes for me to "pop my
clogs" my angel will shake me by the hand and tell me
that I did not do too badly. No long white robe, but
probably a B-minus. They might let me sing in the
choir sometimes. We would meet later and have a
nice glass of the New wine.
P.W McVey
21
Liturgical Calendar for 2016-17
Calendar of Feasts and Fasts:
CYCLE OF PRAYER
In the Cycle of Prayer, the liturgical
year has been divided into six periods.
Please pray for the intentions stated in
the Cycle, not only on a particular day,
and not only at Mass, but throughout the
current period, especially in your own
private prayers.
Tue.
1st Nov.
First Sunday of Advent (Sunday Cycle: A)
Sun.
27th Nov.
The Nativity of Our Lord - Christmas Day
Sun.
25th Dec.
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Fri.
30th Dec.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God
Sun.
1st Jan. 2017
The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ *
Sun.
8th Jan.
The Baptism of Our Lord
Mon.
9th Jan.
The Presentation of Our Lord (Candlemas)
Thu.
2nd Feb.
Ash Wednesday **
Wed.
1st Mar.
Saint Patrick
Thu.
17th Mar.
especially on Home Mission Day
(Sunday 17 Sept) & on World
Mission Day (Sunday 22 Oct.)
Saint Joseph
Mon.
20th Mar.
The Harvest
The Annunciation of the Lord
Mon.
25th Mar.
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Sun.
9th April
The Fruits of Human Work, and
the Reverent Use of Creation
Maundy Thursday
Thu.
13th April
Good Friday **
Fri.
14th April
Holy Saturday
Sat.
15th April
Easter Sunday
Sun.
16th April
Saint George, Protector of England
Sat.
24th April
especially on Remembrance
Sunday (Sunday 12th Nov.)
The Ascension of Our Lord *
Sun.
28th May
Young People
The Feast of Pentecost, Whit Sunday
Sun.
4th June
especially on Youth Day (Sunday 26
Nov.)
The Most Holy Trinity
Sun.
11th June
Prisoners and their Families
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ *
Sun.
18th June
St John Fisher & St Thomas More
Thu.
22nd June
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Fri.
23rd June
The Nativity of John the Baptist
Sat
24th June
Saints Peter and Paul, apostles
Thu.
29th June
The Transfiguration of Our Lord
Sun.
6th August
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tue.
15th Aug.
All Saints
Wed.
1st Nov.
First Sunday of Advent (Sunday Cycle: B)
Sun.
3rd Dec.
The Nativity of Our Lord - Christmas Day
Mon.
25th Dec.
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Sun.
31st Dec.
Autumn
All Saints
Students and Teachers
especially on Education Day
(Sunday 10 Sept.)
The Spread of the Gospel
especially on the World Day of
Prayer for Creation (Friday 1 Sept.)
Justice and Peace in the World
especially on Racial Justice Day
(Sunday 10 Sept.)
All Victims of War
especially on the Day of Prayer for
Prisoners and their Dependents
(Sunday 8th Oct.) and during
Prisons Week (3rd week in Nov.)
Advent & Christmas
Openness to the Word of God
especially on Bible Sunday
(10 December)
Migrants & Refugees
especially on Migrants’ Day
(3 December)
Expectant Mothers
especially on 24 December
Bold entries above denote Holydays of Obligation (and every Sunday
also).
* In 2006, the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales transferred the
celebration of three Holy Days of Obligation which are Solemnities of the Lord to
Sundays: the Epiphany, the Ascension of the Lord and Corpus Christi.
** Days of Fasting and Abstinence.
www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/calendar/
22
REN
APPROVED DRIVING
INSTRUCTOR
L
WILLIAM SANSUM
PLUMBING
1 Woodlands,
Raynes Park, SW20 9JF
My name is Ren & I am an Approved
Driving Instructor giving driving tuition
in the local area.
020 8540 4824
I am fully CRB checked as I also drive
a school minibus for special needs
children on behalf of Surrey County
Council.
For plumbing repairs:





I am patient, honest, reliable and
trustworthy & I charge compatible fees.
If I can be of service to any
parishioners seeking driving tuition
please contact me on:
07957 577145
Taps
Pipe leaks
Blockages
Ball valves
Stopcocks and most
plumbing problems
ESTABLISHED LOCALLY
SINCE 1963
or
07894 883629
FULLY EQUIPPED
FUNCTION ROOM
FOR HIRE
The Ursuline Preparatory School has a superb small hall which is now available for
lettings outside of school hours, weekends and during school holidays.
The room is well equipped to support Birthday Parties, Baptisms, First Holy Communion
celebrations, social gatherings and club meetings.
Please contact us to discuss a viewing and our rates of use.
The Ursuline Preparatory School
18 The Downs
Wimbledon SW20 8HR
Tel: 020 8947 0859 or E-Mail: lettings@wups.co.uk
23
Caremark Merton – Respected Provider delivering quality home
Care Services to the highest professional standards exceeding the
individuals requirements of Our Community
“We as a family have
peace of mind”
Person centred care and
support in your own
home
Services we offer:









Personal Care & Support
Domestic Help
Companionship
Live-In Care
Night Sits
Bathing Service
Meal Preparation
Medication Prompting
And more…
Caremark (Merton)
Tel: 020 8687 6633
Peel House, 32-44 London Road
Morden Surrey SM4 5BT
merton@caremark.co.uk
www.caremark.co.uk/locations/merton
Coffee, tea, squash &
biscuits are served in
the Hall after 9:30am
and 11:00am Mass each
Sunday.
The mark of excellent care
“ An eye for an eye
makes the whole
world blind “
Mahatma Gandhi
Everyone welcome!
24
D&M
ANNA MARIA
GAY
DESIGN &
CONSTRUCTION
M.A.R.
REFLEXOLOGIST
Reduces Stress Related
Ailments & Toxins.
Improves Immune System
& Circulation.
Drives, Patios, Foundations,
Bases & Fences
Introductory Offer
£19.80 - 1 hour Treatment
All Garden Requirements
DEEP TISSUE BACK, NECK
& SHOULDER MASSAGE
INTRODUCTORY OFFER
£11.25 - 30 mins. Treatment
For a free estimate
and advice
MONDAYS & TUESDAYS
phone Jack on
8.30 A.M.—4.30 P.M.
Telephone
020 8540 3824
HOME: 01737 485406
MOBILE: 07944 835 069
We are recruiting a dedicated and professional
team of Care Workers, who will be comprehensively
trained to deliver high quality care and support to
individuals in their own home.
In return we offer:
 Excellent Rates of Pay
 Ongoing Training & Support
 Flexible Hours
 Full Support in your Role
 Free Uniform
If you are interested in becoming part of our
dynamic team, please call us today for an
immediate interview on:
Formation
Formation for life as a Daughter of Our Lady of the
Sacred Heart is concerned with the whole person and
includes the human, spiritual, intellectual, pastoral,
community and mission dimensions of our life.
Prior to joining, we offer women an opportunity to
discern their vocation in an Accompaniment process.
You can contact us if you wish to search for God’s will
regarding your vocation, through this process.
For more information contact Sr. Catherine Mulcahy
48 Monkleigh Road Morden SM4 4EW
020 8687 6633
merton@caremark.co.uk
020 8542 5052
www.olshgen.org or www.cornovum.com
25
ST JOHN FISHER
CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
The best start in education - for pupils, parents and staff.
The school, in partnership with parents and with the parish of St John Fisher offers to each
one of its children, a Catholic education centred on Christ, which enables them to develop their
talents in accordance with Christian values and principles and which throughout all aspects of
school life presents Christ’s ministry of love and reconciliation.



Boys and girls from 3 to 11 years
Strong academic performance profile
Wide range of extra curriculum
provision

Outstanding behaviour and strong
community ethos


Nurturing the needs of individuals
Large school site and extensive grounds
The school holds tours for prospective
parents once each half term; please visit the
school website or contact the school office:
St John Fisher RC Primary School
Grand Drive
West Wimbledon
London SW20 9NA
Telephone: 020 8540 2637
Email : school@st-johnfisher.merton.sch.uk
Website: www.st-johnfisher.merton.sch.uk
Heat-Tec
Plumbing, Heating and Gas Services
Boiler Installations
Maintenance
Breakdown
Landlord Certs
Power Flushing
07973 563 230
020 8286 3293 (m)
26
St John Fisher
Over 60s Club
DRIVING LESSONS
******************
KEITH GAY
Are you free on Thursdays 1–3 pm?
ADI , IAM , PASS PLUS
Do you and your friends like
playing Bridge?
FULLY QUALIFIED AA
FRANCHISEE DRIVING
INSTRUCTOR
Are you good at words and like
playing Scrabble?
BASED IN RAYNES PARK
Or do you just want to relax, chat
and play Bingo?
£25 per 1 hour lesson
We offer all these activities,
together with tea, coffee, cakes
and sandwiches.
2 HOUR LESSONS RECOMMENDED
DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
FOR BLOCK LESSONS
So, why not come along to the
Church Hall – you will be sure of
a warm welcome.
( Min. 10 )
( BOOKED & PAID FOR IN ADVANCE )
Phone:-
07738 797 790
email:-keith.aa@btinternet.com
HARRIER
To advertise in
TALKABOUT
HEATING AND PLUMBING SERVICES
Please contact:
INSTALLATION
&
MAINTENANCE
Marina Bowyer
020 8542 1349
talkabout@blueyonder.co.uk
BATHROOMS KITCHENS
CENTRAL HEATING
Speak to Marina about what you would like
worded or illustrated in your advert.
We aim to please!
(020) 8542 9328 (020) 8544 9682
Prices (per issue)
07976 952656 (Mobile)
Quarter Page
£12.50
Half Page
£20.00
Full Page (inside)
£28.00
(back cover) £36.00
Registration
No. 39334
27
28
29
Term time only
Childcare for children aged 2 – 5 years
Various session times available
From 7.45 am to 4.30 pm
We provide wrap-a-round care for
Hatfield and St John Fisher Primary schools
Please ring for a visit on
020 3007 4460 (local)
0750 3213848 (mobile)
www.bowlanepre-school.co.uk
We are based in the Scout hut in Bow lane, Morden
which is next to Hatfield Primary School
30
ST JOHN FISHER
PARENT & TODDLER
GROUP
Do something different in 2016!
Volunteer with Christian CARE
We are looking for Befrienders, Shoppers &
Furniture Project Helpers
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO
RUN THE GROUP!
---------
We also urgently need your unwanted furniture,
fridges, etc.
---------
For more information visit
The Parent and Toddler Group usually meet
one morning during the week, in the Parish
Hall (term time only.) It is a wonderful
opportunity for pre-school children and
their parents to come along and create new
friendships within our church community.
www.christiancaremerton.org.uk
----------
To enquire about helping or to donate unwanted
furniture items contact us on
020 3302 0181
or 07932
628840
Interested in getting involved?
Please speak to a member of the
Clergy.
or email: christiancaremerton@gmail.com
Got An IT Or Computer
Problem? Just Call Theo
CAN YOU READ?
WOULD YOU READ FOR
THOSE UNABLE TO?
Do you have niggly issues with your laptop, computer,
smart phone, WiFi network or even gaming console?
Are you fed up of slow running computers, viruses
and other tech problems that just give you a
headache?
Are you willing to join the team of volunteer
newsreaders and take your turn in recording
the local news - that is recorded and
circulated to visually impaired and blind
residents in Merton each month.
I offer IT support services for individuals, small
businesses, charities and senior citizens.
If you are willing either to read
or else to help technically please contact
I cover most of South West London and parts of
Surrey as well as areas that can be easily reached by
the Northern Line and District Line tubes.
MERTON
TALKING
NEWSPAPER
I can also collect laptops/portable equipment from
central London locations and deliver them back to
you.
by phone
Call Theo on 07504 109641 or email
theo@justcalltheo.com I’ll sort it out for you,
saving you time, money and stress!
020 8544 0551
or by email
mertontalkingnewspaper@hotmail.com
www.JustCallTheo.com
31
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION ROTA
ST
FROM 1
OCTOBER 2016
Date
6.00pm
8.00am
9.30am
11.00am
6.30pm
1-2
Oct
Della Deen
Magdalen Spooner
Bill D’Sa
Ursula O’Byrne
Aileen Douglas
Deacon
Michael O’Brien, Menalus Burt
Bernadette Bridges, Malcolm Stevenage
Margaret Birch
Breda Conway
8-9
Oct
Deacon
Tony Walsh
Deacon
Deacon
Delia D’Aguiar
Deacon
Felicity Berry,Talissa Pothunnah
Evelyn Chiejina, Victor Villalobo
Deacon
Peter Gunn
Unfortunately the Eucharistic Ministers Rota was not available at the time of going to print.
The new Rota will be in the Sacristy ready for collection on Sunday 2nd October.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT
Guiding Children & Young People
hrough Life’s Storms
Rainbows is an international, not-for-profit
organisation that fosters emotional healing among
children grieving a loss from a life-altering crisis.
Rainbows now offers six programmes: Rainbows
is an international, not-for-profit organisation that
fosters emotional healing among children grieving
a loss from a life-altering crisis.
Rainbows offers training and programmes for
establishing peer support groups in communities,
schools, churches, and social agencies. The
programmes are available to children, young
people and adults of all ages who are grieving a
death, family change or any other significant loss.
It provides an opportunity for healing to take place
after a painful loss over a 13 week programme.
Sunbeams
Rainbows
Spectrum
Kaleidoscope
Prism
Silver Linings
For further information contact:
Lyn and Tom Coyle
01622 204160
Ecoyle41@blueyonder.co.uk
www.rainbowsgb/org
32
(Nursery/Reception & Year 1)
(Year 2 & Key Stage 2)
(Adolescent- Key Stage 3, 4 & 5)
(College / Adult Edition)
(Single Parent / Stepparent)
(Crisis Response) for ages 5-18
WEEKEND MASS READERS’ ROTA
Saturday 6.00 pm (Vigil Mass)
Sunday 8.00am
Salomé Humanes
1st Oct
12th Nov
24th Dec
Devina Paul
2nd Oct
13th Nov
25th Dec
Tony Walsh
8th Oct
19th Nov
31st Dec
Manda Bell
9th Oct
20th Nov
1st Jan
Peter Gunn
15th Oct
26th Nov
Graham Bennett
16th Oct
27th Nov
Teresa Pollard
22nd Oct
3rd Dec
Anne Booth
23rd Oct
4th Dec
Paul Spooner
29th Oct
10th Dec
Barbara Desmier
30th Oct
11th Dec
Jane Gracias
5th Nov
17th Dec
Barbara Morgan
6th Nov
18th Dec
Sunday 11.00 am
Sunday 6.00pm
Thomas Davis
2nd Oct
13th Nov
25th Dec
Mark Eaden
2nd Oct
13th Nov
25th Dec
Carol Pringle
9th Oct
20th Nov
1st Jan
Liz Pierson
9th Oct
20th Nov
1st Jan
Christine Davis
16th Oct
27th Nov
Ann Vaz
16th Oct
27th Nov
Mark Lobo
23rd Oct
4th Dec
Julie Sheahan
23rd Oct
4th Dec
Robert Sierra
30th Oct
11th Dec
Tracey Eaden
30th Oct
11th Dec
John Golden
6th Nov
18th Dec
Sophie Poole
6th Nov
18th Dec
Please arrange to swap with another Reader if you cannot read on the day allocated. Thank you.
If you would like to read at Sunday Mass, please speak to a member of the Clergy
ROTA FOR COUNTERS OF OFFERTORY COLLECTION
Sean
Breda
Dick
Ann
John G.
Tony S.
Sandy
Mark
Rita
Gavin
Shirley
Yvette
Neville
Barbara
Rosie
Ciaran
Angela
Patricia
Peter
Fay
Louise
Tony
Maura
Tim
25 Sept
2 Oct
9 Oct
16 Oct
23 Oct
30 Oct
6th Nov
13 Nov
20 Nov
27 Nov
4 Dec
11 Dec
18 Dec
1 Jan
8 Jan
15 Jan
22 Jan
29 Jan
Notes

If you know that you won't be able to make it one Sunday please try to organise a replacement and tell
John Golden (020) 8540 5775 or jeg245@talktalk.net. If you can't organise a replacement tell the person at
the head of your team list. He or she may decide to continue without you that week.

If you would like to join the group please contact Father David.

The rota is administered by John Golden - please tell him if you need any permanent change.
33
PARISH GROUPS
Who for?
When?
Where?
Run by?
Contact Details?
Robert Roy
srhroy@sky.com
Altar Servers
Parishioners
(post-First Holy
Communion)
Choir
11am Mass
Church Choir
Practice:
Wednesday
8.00-9.30pm
Church
Choir Loft
Kevin Deegan
kevin.deegan@blueyonder.co.uk
Crusaders
Post-First Holy
Communion
Young People
First Tuesday
each month
4.00-5.00pm
Day Chapel
Sister Catherine
020 8542 6484
Folk Group
9.30am Mass
Singers and
Musicians
Family Mass Mary Farrell
mary@tarmon.co.uk
Guild of Our
Lady
Post-Confirmation Monday
Young People
evening
Day Chapel
Sister Catherine
020 8542 6484
Justice &
Peace Group
Parishioners
Once a month Venue
varies
J&P Team
sjf.justiceandpeace@gmail.com
Thursday
1.00-3.00pm
Parish Hall
Sister Catherine
020 8542 6484
Over 60s Club Parishioners
RCIA
Anyone wishing
Tuesday
to learn more
8pm
about Catholicism
257 Cannon
Hill Lane
Sister Catherine
020 8542 6484
Readers
Please speak to
Mass
the Clergy if you
would like to read
Church
Clergy
207 Cannon Hill Lane
Talkabout
Parishioners
Editorial Team Venue
meet quarterly varies
Editorial Team
talkabout@blueyonder.co.uk
Teams of Our
Lady
Parish Families
Each Team
Homes of
meets monthly members
Davide Buttaci
Toddler
Group
Children
(birth - 4 yrs)
Thursday **
Term Time
9.30-11.30am
Parish Hall
VACANCY
**
The Toddler Group is closed
until new volunteers can be
found to help run it
Youth Group
Parish children
(Year 6 & above)
Friday
7.30– 9.00pm
Parish Hall
VACANCY
**
The Youth Group is closed
as new leaders are needed
UNIFORMED GROUPS
Rainbows
Girls
(5-7 yrs)
Friday
4.30-5.30pm
Parish Hall
Sue Green
Rainbow Leader
020 8544 1167
Brownies
Girls
(6-9 yrs)
Monday
5.30-7.00pm
Parish Hall
Pip Alder
Brown Owl
Pipstery@yahoo.co.uk
Guides
Girls
(10-14 yrs)
Tuesday
6.15-7.45pm
Parish Hall
Sandy Brown
Guide Leader
san.brown8@hotmail.co.uk.
Beavers
Boys & Girls
(6-8 yrs)
Friday
5.45pm
Parish Hall
Tracy Sterlini
Squirrel
tracy@sterlini.plus.com
Cubs
Boys & Girls
(8-101/2 yrs)
Wednesday
6.00-730pm
Parish Hall
John Line
07906 844749
Scouts
Boys & Girls
(101/2-14 yrs)
Wednesday
7.30-9.30pm
Parish Hall
Deborah Carter
Scout Leader
dtjambo@yahoo.co.uk
Explorers
Boys & Girls
(14-19 yrs)
Tuesday
7.45-9.30pm
Parish Hall
Deborah Carter
ESL
dtjambo@yahoo.co.uk
34
PARISH DETAILS
St John Fisher Parish
Parish Priest
Fr David
Address:
Assistant Priest
Fr Matthias
Deacon
Fred Carter
Deacon
Tom Kavanagh
The Presbytery
207 Cannon Hill Lane
Merton Park
London SW20 9DB
Mass Times:
Weekdays:
9:00 am
First Fridays:
8:00 pm
Telephone:
020 8542 6355
Holydays:
6:00 pm (Vigil), 9:00 am & 7.30 pm
E-mail:
sjf.merton@gmail.com
talkabout@blueyonder.co.uk
Saturday:
9:00 am & 6:00 pm (Vigil)
Sunday:
8:00 am
Website:
www.stjohnfishermerton.co.uk
Parish Business:
7.00 pm
Mondays
Baptism:
3:00 pm
First Sunday of the
month by prior
arrangement
Reconciliation:
Saturday
9:30 am (Family Mass)
11:00 am (Sung Mass)
6:30 pm
Repository:
10:00 - 11:00 am
5:30 - 5:50 pm
Open after the 9.30am Mass on
Sundays, until 11am, and after the
6.00pm Vigil Mass on the first Saturday
of the month All occasion cards,
Baptism, Holy Communion and
Confirmation items available.
“Those who have a true encounter with Christ find their lives
filled with happiness. This is a deep happiness that brings inner
emptiness to an end because these Christians are set free from
selfishness. They are saved.
I want to encourage everyone who experiences this to spread the
word, beginning a new chapter in the history of the Church.”
Pope Francis
The Joy of the Gospel
Getting to know Jesus
Small groups have formed in the parish to pray together ~
discussing Scripture, Sunday Readings, the Joy of the Gospel etc.
The aim is to get to know the person of Jesus better
and bring him into every part of our lives
so that we can share this with others.
We are looking for new people to join us all the time.
Ask the clergy or Sr Catherine for further information on the meetings.
Do join us if you can.
35