PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED: We pray for Michael Patrick O’Brien, Patrick Lavery, Brendan Nolan,

Rosa Costa Barros, Linda Nee, Lolita Soriano and Jose Lopez who have died recently and remember also Josephine ‘Joyce’ Thomson, Brian

Lawrence and all the faithful departed. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

OUR SATURDAY MORNING MASS IS OFFERED FOR THE SICK AND THE HOUSEBOUND

CHURCH OF ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY 60 Rylston Rd, Fulham, SW6 7HW: 020 7385 4040

Email: fulham@rcdow.org.uk Parish Priest: Fr. Dennis Touw-Tempelmans Plat

Asst. Priest: Fr Linferd Fernandes Parish Deacon: Rev Wayne O’Reilly

Parish Administrator: Gerald Daly Esq. Catechetical Co-ordinator: Rev Wayne O’Reilly Email address: fulhamcatechist@rcdow.org.uk

Safeguarding Representative: Mr David Belcher Website: https://stthomasfulham.com

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Sat 24th 12.30 pm The Sacrament of Baptism 5.30 pm All health service workers. Sun 25th 9.00 am Pro Populo SEVENTEENTH 10.30 am Michael Patrick O’Brien (RIP - LD) SUNDAY OF 12.00 pm Linda Nee (RIP - LD) THE YEAR 6.00 pm Lolita Soriano (RIP - LD) Mon 26th 9.30 am Rosa Costa Barros (RIP - LD) Ss Joachim and Anne Tue 27th 9.30 am Josephine ’Joyce’ Thomson (RIP) 2.30 pm St Anthony Prayer Group Wed 28th 9.30 am Jose Lopez (RIP - LD) 2.00 pm Westminster Cathedral - Lourdes Mass (all welcome) Thu 29th 9.30 am Friends of the Holy Land ST MARTHA Fri 30th 9.30 am Patrick Lavery (RIP - LD) Sat 31st 10.00 am The Sick and the Housebound St Ignatius Loyola Pr 12.30 pm Holy Baptism 5.30 pm Brendan Nolan (RIP - LD) Sun 1st August 9.00 am Stephen McGeever (RIP) EIGHTEENTH 10.30 am Pro Populo SUNDAY OF 12.00 pm Brian Lawrence (RIP - anniv) THE YEAR 6.00 pm Patrick Lavery (RIP - LD)

ALL MASSES ARE ONLINE AT: www.stthomasfulham.com THE PARISH OFFICE IS OPEN MON / WED / THURS / FRI

FROM 11.00 AM UNTIL ABOUT 3 PM

READERS AT HOLY MASS. A number of our regular readers have moved away recently, but this does mean that we are very, very short of readers. This is a truly wonderful ministry; please

think and pray about this and do not hesitate to get in touch. CLEANERS

We are also in desperate need of people to help clean the church. Once again, please, please consider helping out with this work. At present the work is being done by just a few and we really do need to give them our support.

Young Christian Climate Network Relay – from the G7 in Cornwall to COP26 in Glasgow, 13th June - 1st November.

Ecumenical relay for climate justice led by young Christians (18-30s.) Older adults and accompanied children can join in support. Events taking place in 10 cities "Residencies"

along the way. Overnight stops in Ashford and Twickenham 2-3 August, climate events in London 5-8 Aug, overnights in Muswell Hill, Hemel Hempstead, Tring and Watford 9-13 August. Join us and other walkers along the route for a day or more while the Relay is in

the Diocese! More details at: - https://www.yccn.uk/

200 CLUB - JULY WINNERS 68 £137.50 Elizabeth Mariano

97 £27.50 Fergal O'Sullivan 175 £27.50 Julien Mghabghab 3 £16.50 Lydia Paul 19 £16.50 Pierce Ryan

148 £16.50 Mary Boyle Congratulations to all our winners

ST ANTHONY PRAYER GROUP This weekly devotion has begun again - Tue afternoons at 2.30 pm

ALL ARE WELCOME BIBLE STUDY GROUP

Tuesday afternoons at 5.00 pm at 62 Rylston Road ALL ARE WELCOME

Monday of this week if the Feast of Ss Joachim and Ann, the parents of Our Lady. The Holy Father has instituted the nearest Sunday as the World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly and has written a beautiful reflection for this day. This is not the full text, that may be accessed via the Diocesan Web Page.

My dear elderly friends, “I am with you always” is the promise the Lord made to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. They are the words that he repeats to you today, dear grandfathers and grandmothers, dear elderly friends. “I am with you always” are also the words that I, as Bishop of Rome and an elderly person like yourselves, would like to address to you on this World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. The whole Church is close to you – to us – and cares about you, loves you and does not want to leave you alone! I am well aware that this Message comes to you at a difficult time: the pandemic swept down on us like an unexpected and furious storm; it has been a time of trial for everyone, but especially for us elderly persons. Many of us fell ill, others died or experienced the death of spouses or loved ones, while others found themselves isolated and alone for long periods. The Lord is aware of all that we have been through. He is close to those who felt isolated and alone, feelings that became more acute during the pandemic. Tradition has it that Saint Joachim, the grandfather of Jesus, felt estranged from those around him because he had no children; his life, like that of his wife Anne, was considered useless. So, the Lord sent an angel to console him. In these months of pandemic, the Lord continues to send angels to console our loneliness and to remind us: “I am with you always”. He says this to us. That is the meaning of this Day, as a long period of isolation ends and social life slowly resumes. May every grandfather, every grandmother, every older person, especially those among us who are most alone, receive the visit of an angel! At times those angels will have the face of our grandchildren, at others, the face of family members, lifelong friends or those we have come to know during these trying times, when we have learned how important hugs and visits are for each of us. The Lord, however, also sends us messengers through his words, which are always at hand. Let us try to read a page of the Gospel every day, to pray with the psalms, to read the prophets! The Scriptures help us to understand what the Lord is asking of us today. For at every hour of the day and in every season of life, he continues to send labourers into his vineyard. I was called to become the Bishop of Rome when I had reached, so to speak, retirement age and thought I would not be doing anything new. It makes no difference how old you are, whether you still work or not, whether you are alone or have a family, whether you are still inde-pendent or need assistance. Because there is no retirement age from the work of proclaiming the Gospel and handing down traditions to your grandchildren.

Thomas Becket murder and the making of a saint The British Museum Marking the 850th anniversary of his brutal murder, this exhibition presents Becket's journey from merchant's son to archbishop, from revered saint to a 'traitor' in the eyes of Henry VIII. Get up close to the man, the murder and the legend through an incredible array of objects associated with Becket; from illuminated manuscripts, some of which include eyewitness accounts of the murder, to jewellery and sacred reliquaries.

NOTICES: SOCIAL DISTANCING: Although the tapes have been removed not everyone will feel comfortable, so please do not crowd into the benches. Should you not wish anyone to sit next to you please take one of the small laminated cards and place it on the seat beside you - return it to the basket at the end of Mass. MASKS: The wearing of masks is, as stated in law, not obligatory. But the wearing of a mask will help many to feel more confident, so, alt-hough it must be a voluntary decision we encourage people to do so - especially whilst moving around the church. The Sacred Ministers will wear masks at the distribution of Holy Communion. TRACK AND TRACE: The opportunities for Track and Trace will remain in place and people are encouraged to maintain this discipline.

GEL: PLEASE CONTINUE TO GEL YOUR HANDS OFFERTORY: The collection during Mass will be taken up in the traditional manner. We are also awaiting the installation of an electronic touch mechanism at the door. ALTAR SERVERS: We are very much looking forward to welcoming our young Altar servers back they will continue to wear facemasks.

At this crucial moment in history, you have a renewed vocation. You are needed in order to help build the world of tomorrow: the world in which we, together with our children and grandchildren, will live once the storm has subsided. All of us must “take an active part in renewing and supporting our troubled societies”. Among the pillars that support this new edifice is prayer. Pope Benedict, himself a saintly elderly person who continues to pray and work for the Church, once said: “the prayer of the elderly can protect the world, helping it perhaps more effectively than the frenetic activity of many others.” Your prayer is a very precious resource: a deep breath that the Church and the world urgently need. I ask the Lord that through his example, all of us may open our hearts to the sufferings of the poor and intercede for their needs. May each of us learn to repeat to all, and especially to the young, the words of consolation we have heard spoken to us today: “I am with you always”! Pope Francis