Dear friends,
Our parish pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham has been a great joy. It has been a privilege to pray at the feet of Our Lady, commending each one of you to her loving care and seeking her powerful prayers of intercession. Although we have been away, you have all been very much in our prayers, and we look forward to gathering again this Sunday to worship the Lord together.
There is something about August that has always struck me as both restful and restless. It is often a season when the pace of life slows a little, giving us space to rest and be renewed. Yet at the same time there is a holy restlessness, as though the Holy Spirit is gently stirring our hearts, preparing us for all that God has in store in the weeks ahead.
As we continue through this season, I encourage you to keep seeking the presence of the Holy Trinity in your daily life—in prayer, in worship, in the Scriptures, and in the ordinary moments of each day. God is always at work among us, often in the quiet places where we least expect him.
May God bless you all, and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.
With every blessing,
Fr Sean
How to help our foodbank
Our foodbank has been awarded a grant by Tesco. The value of the grant is between £500 and £1,500 and is decided by public vote. If you are shopping in Tesco, please pick up a blue token when you go through the till. You can use this to vote for our foodbank in a clear display box near the tills. You can vote in various Tesco stores in the Croydon area not just Thornton Heath.
Notices
Fr Luke Demetri
Keep Fr Luke in your prayers as he continues medical care for cancer treatment. Fr Luke, before ordination, was pastoral assistant here for several months.
150th Anniversary of the Mothers’ Union – Sunday 9th August, 10am
We are celebrating 150 years of the MU this year and we look forward to praying and giving thanks for our own MU and it’s members during the Parish Mass.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Sunday 16th August 10am
Healing Pilgrimage to Walsingham – Monday 31st August
One of the major pilgrimages of the Shrine’s year. Weather permitting, all aspects of the pilgrimage day are held in the Shrine gardens. The 12 noon Mass is followed by lunch – most pilgrims picnic in the gardens – and then Sprinkling, Laying-On of Hands and Anointing. Coach departs from St. Alban’s 6.45am Leaves Walsingham 4.45pm Cost £35 per adult £28.00 per child (under 18 and accompanied by an adult) Please return completed booking form/s with payment at the end of the 10am Mass on Sundays to the people at the back of church.
Sponsored Pilgrimage Walk – Saturday 13 September
To mark the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (which we celebrate the following day), we will be making a sponsored 10-mile pilgrimage walk from St Alban’s Church to Chislehurst, where Fr Charles Lowder, the founder of the Society of the Holy Cross (SSC), is buried.
All sponsorship money raised will go towards our Brickwork Project. Sponsorship forms will be available shortly, and there will also be an option to donate online.
If you would like to join the walk, please speak to Fr Sean. We’d love to have you with us!
This Week at St Alban's
Contact
Vicar:
Fr Sean Gilbert SSC (020) 8653 6092
Churchwarden:
Jenny Sturtevant 07745 017607
Safeguarding Officers:
Shelley Leckey (020) 8240 9188
Margaret Earle 07972647007
Hall Hire:
Tammy Sprosen 07944435013
hmalbanse25@gmail.com
