This group of parishioners will offer help and support to families that have suffered the death of a loved one. The process of Bereavement experienced by such families is a very difficult one that cannot be avoided. It is a time when they need all the support and help that they can get from relatives, friends and the wider community. The task of the Bereavement Group is to offer this support and help on behalf of the Parish community. We see the need and would like to set up a group. If you wish to know more, please add your name to a list at the back of church .  Thank you.

The Holy Souls  They are the souls in Purgatory who are going through purification. But Purgatory is not just a waiting place for the Holy Souls to go to Heaven, because they do suffer, you may seen burning fire in a lot of images which artists portrayed Purgatory, but how is it like? As St John Henry Newman's poem mentioned 'the flame of Everlasting Love doth burn ere it transform...', it also said the two most painful sufferings for those poor souls are the longing and yearning for God but could not see Him; and at the same time the shame of self at the thought when seeing Him because their being as been so vile and want to hide themselves from His sight. The period in Purgatory is different for each Holy Souls, it could be days, months or even years. And the worse thing is, they can no longer help themselves as they cannot gain any merits once their lives ended. However, we could help them to leave Purgatory earlier by offering our prayers for them, and the best prayer is the Holy Mass - the Eucharistic Sacrifice. We are also encouraged to almsgiving, gain indulgences and do works of penance on their behalf. What is more, Our Lord is also very pleased that we do so, because His Love urges Him to release the Holy Souls. Jesus once explained to St Gertrude that if a merciful king's friend was found guilty and sent to prison because of justice, the king will be longingly waiting for a noble to beg for him and give some offerings for his freeing. So the king will then happily, release him. Likewise, Our Lord is extremely pleased to accept what is offered to Him for the Holy Souls, since He has such great desire to have those souls whom He has paid with such a great price to be close to Him again. (Sources & References: The Dream of Gerontius, St John Henry Newman, 1865. Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraphs # 1032 http://www.catholictradition.org/Gertrude/saintgertrude7.htm)

Today 17th November “I was hungry, and you gave me food” (Matt Chap 25) Please remember that Pope Francis asks us: ● Join our prayers with those of the poor ● Listen to the poor and become more aware of their needs ● Reflect on what we can do for the poor ● Support those groups and volunteers who are helping the poor  Many thanks for all your very generous donations

“...they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen…”  (Mark 13:26-27)

In the face of the Assisted Suicide Bill being brought before Parliament at the end of this month, please pray for the dignity of human life during our Parish’s Adoration from 10.30 -11.30am on Wednesday 13 November .

Venerable Fulton Sheen on Purgatory Why is there a Purgatory? Venerable Fulton Sheen explained it is there for two reasons: so that the Love of God tempers the Justice of God, and the love of man tempers the injustice of man. So what is that mean? Let us look at the first reason. When we reach that moment to stand in front of God's Judgement Seat, will we be certain that we are pure and spotless enough, that our souls are not stained with any venial sin? Unless we are Martyrs or Saints, how many of us would bold enough to say that our white garment which we received in our Baptism is as white as snow that we may have Everlasting Life? Because God is all pure, so Justice demands that no unclean souls can enter Heaven and stand before the face of God but only the pure of heart, as in the Book of Revelation: '...there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie...' (Rev 21:27). If Purgatory does not exist, souls with any imperfections must be rejected mercilessly by God's infinite Justice, as well as those who have not paid their debts down to the last penny...Therefore, Purgatory exists because God's Love, because God forgives. He plunges them into this purifying place where they can wash their robes white again, into this cleansing flames where 'He can resurrect them like the phoenix of old from the ashes of their own sufferings', to enter into the City of Pure - Heaven. Second reason, the Venerable Archbishop said most of us are quite unconscious of the injustice and the ingratitude and the thanklessness of our lives until death touched our loved ones. Then we realised, and regret, and some may shed bitter tears for those unsaid words and undone deeds, but all seems too late. Maybe not. Because we believe there is Purgatory. And he encouraged us: "... for it enables hearts who are left behind to break the barriers of time and death, to convert unspoken words into prayers...unoffered flowers into alms, and undone acts of kindness into help for Eternal Life...enables us to atone for our ingratitude, because through our prayers, modifications and sacrifices, it makes it possible to bring joy and consolation to the ones we love. Love is stronger than death and hence there should be love for those who have gone before us." (Source: Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, "Catholic Catechism - Lesson 45: Purgatory", recorded in 1965)

On this day we remember all those who gave their lives for their country, all who suffered and died through acts of war and those who were left behind to grieve and mourn. (CBCEW) O God, merciful and strong, who crush wars and cast down the proud, be pleased to banish violence swiftly from our midst and to wipe away all tears, so that we may all truly deserve to be called your children. Roman Missal

‘...this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; ...she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.’ (Mark 12:43-44)

A plenary indulgence, applicable to all souls in Purgatory, is granted to any of the faithful who (1) on one of the days from 1-8 November visit devoutly a cemetery or simply pray mentally for the dead; (2) on All Souls' Day visit a church or chapel with devotion and there recite the Our Father and the Creed.  A partial indulgence, applicable only to the souls in Purgatory, is granted to any of the faithful who (1) visit devoutly a cemetery or who simply pray mentally for the dead; (2) recite devoutly Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer of the Office of the Dead, or the invocation 'Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord...