Young parishioners cycling to Rome

Three young parishioners, Anna-Marie, Joseph and Gregory Treloar, are planning to cycle from Sidcup to Rome this summer by way of holiday and pilgrimage. The distance is approximately 1200 miles. As you can see from the above map, they have planned the route meticulously.

The intrepid three have raised the money for the cost of the trip and want to use the opportunity to raise additional money for two excellent charities: the Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative which is run by the Sisters of the Gospel of Life and Mary's Meals. They have set up a Facebook group for the event: Anna-Marie, Gregory and Joseph Treloar cycle to Rome. They also have a blog to give news about the trip: Via Romea.

The description is as follows:

This summer, we're cycling from our home in Sidcup to Rome, a total distance of 1200 miles, passing through France, Switzerland, and Italy before we finally arrive in Rome.

The trip is a holiday and a pilgrimage, but we'd like to take the opportunity to raise money for two fantastic charities. We're funding the trip ourselves, so all monies raised will go directly to the charities, in equal proportion.

Mary’s Meals provides a staple, daily meal in schools for children in some of the poorest countries in the world, thus fighting poverty through tackling malnutrition and encouraging education. The Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative provides non-judgemental practical, spiritual and emotional support for mothers in the UK, struggling with crisis pregnancy and the prospect of bringing up a child alone.

So please give generously- £1, £5, £10... Whatever you give will make a difference; Mary's Meals can feed a child for a year from just £6.15.

Thank you very much! We're very grateful for your support, it will get us up those mountains! We will keep all our sponsors in our prayers en route.

Here is the Fundraising page where you can make a donation. You wouldn't really want not to.

Thank you

Cathy writes to thank you for your help in raising £431 for Breast Cancer Care last week. The first prize in the raffle, a flight over Kent, has not yet been claimed. The winning ticket is pink 125 (serial number: AN2T TE4R)

Cheese and Wine tasting in aid of Breast Cancer Care

A Cheese and Wine tasting afternoon will be held in the Large Hall on 5 December 2-5pm. £5.00 per ticket. Mulled wine, mince pies and hand made Christmas Cards will also be on sale (soft drinks will also be available) All proceeds to go to Breast Cancer Care. Tickets on sale after all Masses weekends of 21st and 28th November.

Raffle tickets are available with some amazing prizes.

• 1st prize: Aeroplane flight over Kent with own pilot!
• 2nd prize: a London Walk of your choice for you and up to 20 friends conducted by a Blue Badge Holder
• 3rd prize: fitness assessment and one to one session with personal trainer.

The draw will be conducted at the Cheese and Wine tasting . Tickets £1 each or 10 for £5.00.

Cathy Edwards will be selling tickets after Masses this weekend.

Race Night

The Parish Social Club are holding a “Big Screen Race Night” in the Large Hall on Saturday 18 July, starting at 8.30pm. Entry £2 for non-members.

The evening will raise funds for the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity which provides practical and emotional support to families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness.

Marathon for Demelza

Julie Walford will be running the London Marathon and asking for sponsorship in aid of Demelza Hospice for Children. There will be a bucket collection after all Masses next weekend. If you will be away and would like to make a donation, please put it in an envelope marked “Demelza” and put it through the presbytery letterbox.

Sponsored Cycle Ride

Two children from the parish are doing a ten mile Cycle ride along the Thames Path this weekend, in order to raise money for the Manna Centre. There will be a “bucket collection” after Mass or, if you prefer, you can drop a donation into the presbytery letterbox during the week, marked “Sponsored Cycle Ride.”

Please give generously to help the Manna Centre and to encourage our young people in their generosity.

Parish Family Fast Day

I would like to propose this Friday 13 March as a Lenten “Family Fast Day” when, as a parish, we try to go without some of the food we would normally eat. There are envelopes for you to use to make a donation, perhaps proportionate to the cost of the food you forego.

The proceeds of the Family Fast Day will be sent direct to the Holy See’s Agency Cor Unum for use throughout the world to help those in most need.

Manna Centre appeal

At this time of the year, the homeless especially need our support and generosity. The UCM have been organising various donations for the Manna Centre and have raised over £700 so far.

If you would like to make a donation, please put it in an envelope marked “Manna Centre” and post it in the presbytery letterbox. (If you write a cheque, please make it payable to "Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen" and I will send a single cheque to the Manna Centre from the parish.)

Michael Hobson's diary

Michael is one of our young parishioners and is hoping to compete in the Olympic Games in 2012. The BBC London website carries his diary which has recently been updated, telling, among other things, of his work with young people with intellectual disabilities. See: Michael Hobson's Diary.

Holy Souls box

Just a reminder about the Holy Soul box at the back of the Church. The money collected in this box is sent away to priests as stipends for Masses to be said for the Holy Souls. Although we particularly remember the Holy Souls during November, we should not forget them during the rest of the year.

Garden Party for Sunshine International

It was rather worrying this morning when the sky turned a very murky grey and we had a thunderstorm. Thanks be to God, the weather was lovely between 3pm and 5pm for the Garden Party for the Sunshine International Project was a great success. Many thanks to Shiela and Pat for their kind hospitality and to all those who helped. Here are some photos:

Your generosity

Over the past five weekends, in addition to the offertory collections to keep the parish going, you have given:

• £434.29 for the Day for Life to support Life and the Linacre Centre
• £362.68 for Peter's Pence to support the charitable work of the Holy Father
• £216.97 for the Bexley Centre for the Unemployed
• £724.92 for the Little Sisters of the Poor
• £969.97 for the presentation to Deacon Braz Menezes on his silver jubilee
• £405.22 for the Apostleship of the Sea

Many thanks for your unflagging generosity.

Parish Family Fast Day

This Friday, 16 March, is our parish Family Fast Day. As a parish, we try to go without some of the food we would normally eat. There are envelopes for you to use to make a donation, perhaps proportionate to the cost of the food you forego. You may also use an envelope of your own, marked clearly "Family Fast Day."

The proceeds of the Family Fast Day will be sent direct to the Holy See’s Agency Cor Unum for use throughout the world to help those in most need.

UCM Coffee morning

This wonderful array of home made cakes was prepared by the Union of Catholic Mothers for their fundraising coffee morning today. The UCM are currently raising money to make a contribution for the new stained glass window at the Shrine of Walsingham.

Garden party for Sunshine International

With the thermometer showing 33.9 degrees this afternoon, the Garden Party for the Sunshine International Project was a great success. Many thanks to Shiela and Pat for their kind hospitality and to all those who helped. Here are a couple of photos (click to enlarge):



Everyone was pleased that Katy and Danny won the teddy bear and the chocolates in the raffle!

Union of Catholic Mothers

The UCM have their monthly meeting this Tuesday 4 July at 7.30pm in the Large Hall. All ladies of the parish are welcome to come. Members are also encouraged to come to the 9.30am Mass on that day if they can.

Coffee morning for CRY

This Friday from 10am to 12noon in the Large Hall, there will be a coffee morning to raise funds for Cardiac Research in the Young (CRY). We remember especially Adam Donnelly, a young man who died of sudden heart failure while on holiday with his family. Tickets are £2 each from Jed and Julie Donnelly or pay at the door.