Consiglia Johnson R.I.P

Assisted Suicide Bill: The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales have issued a statement, copies of which can be found at the church entrances and also at: Catholic Bishops of England, Wales, and Scotland unite in compassionate action to oppose Bill on assisted suicide - Catholic Bishops' Conference additionally, you can scan the QR code on the posters in the church. You’ll also find in the church postcards from ‘not dead yet’ to send to your MP requesting that they oppose the Bill, and you are encouraged to send the post card to your MP. In regard to the Church’s teaching on the sanctity of life do look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 2258 through to 2301, under ‘The Ten Commandments’. That we should have an informed conscience is found in paragraph 1783. There are copies of the Catechism in the parish library at the main entrance to the church. Remember that there will be powerful and highly resourced lobby groups which will be influencing media and promoting celebrities to push this culture of death along, rather than promoting a Gospel of Life! You may be aware that the Canadian Government were grateful to have ‘saved Can $26 million’ on their health care budget one year, by introducing assisted suicide. As you will note from our Bishops there is every ability to greatly improve palliative care, and this is one of the many things which should be promoted. We should also give thought to the manner in which dispositions towards abortion laws and their application have changed since 1968, and, in light of those changes, any considerations and pressures which could be brought to bear by 2080, when our First Holy Communion children will be grandparents who may well feel social pressures being imposed by then!! See also:- Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17 and Cardinal Nichols on ‘youtube’ at Cardinal calls for prayer to uphold the dignity of human life

 Diocesan Pastoral Plan: Having also had opportunity to digest your own ‘jottings’ etc. people have sent in and an initial meeting with Fr. Chris Bergin, who has been appointed as the Moderator for the new ‘super parish’ could we have a parish discussion on the 8th December after the 10 am Sunday Mass? Having a meeting at that time would create a natural finishing time for lunch, i.e. 12.30 Diocesan Pastoral Plan: Having now had opportunity to give thought and consideration to the Pastoral Plan, a summary of your ‘jottings’ to find a way forward locally, are now available in paper printed format only at the entrances to the church. Our thanks to all those who contributed to the process and to those who collated and summarized the jottings for your consideration. Having also had opportunity to digest the ‘jottings’ etc. we would hope to have a parish discussion on the matter towards the end of November; would a good time be after the 10 am Sunday Mass? Having a meeting at that time would create a natural finishing time for lunch, i.e. 12.30

Youth Group:- For those of secondary school age on Friday from 4 pm in the hall. Tea & toast will be provided and we finish with the night prayer of the Church at 5.45

ROSARY CIRCLE FOR PRIESTLY VOCATIONS :- There is a new ‘Rosary Circle Chart’ to encourage us all to pray for vocations to the Priesthood. The ‘Chart’ lists the 20 decades of the Rosary and a number of columns for people to put their initial or a tick in a box to indicate they will commit to praying the particular decade each day for the month of November, and hopefully, this will create a number of ‘circles’ praying for this intention. This is a very simple spiritual exercise many of us could join in with; at least 20 people praying one decade of the Rosary each day, so the whole of the Rosary is prayed for this particular intention, thus creating a ‘Rosary Circle’. Let it be said, however, that anyone can join the Rosary Circles at any time. Thank you.

Adult Formation / RCIA Our programme gets underway this Monday, 17th Nov at 7 pm. For our first session we will make a guided tour of the church building, not so much architecturally as theologically. On Monday 24th we’ll look at the evidence for God.. Adult Formation / RCIA A number of adults have requested to be received into the Church, so to facilitate an initial discussion and outline of a programme, there will be a meeting for anyone interested in knowing more about our faith on Monday 11th November at 7.30 in the small hall.

ST JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, DORKING: ADMISSIONS TO RECEPTION CLASS - ACADEMIC YEAR 2025/26 A reminder to parents of children born between 01.09.2020 and 31.08.2021 that applications for admission to our Reception Class for September 2025 are open from 4th November 2024 and must be completed by the 15th January 2025. Prospective parents are warmly welcomed to book a visit to see our school in action. Regular, small group tours can be booked throughout November, please contact Lisa Cook in the school office to arrange a visit: 01306 883934 or office@stjosephs-dorking.surrey.sch.uk Please do pass this information on to anyone who may be interested in joining our parish school.

Parish Christmas Buffet Lunch will take place on Saturday 14 Dec at 1pm. No charge but donations welcome. Please fill in a form found at back and side of Church so that we get an idea of numbers.

Christmas Voices from the Holy Land You are invited to join us in St Joseph’s Parish Hall at 11.00am Tuesday mornings from 5th November or 7.00pm Tuesday evenings to ‘journey towards Christmas’. Using poems by Fr. Richard Nesbitt based on scripture readings from St Luke and St Matthew, we will journey with the Holy Family towards Christmas. We will also hear testimonies from Christians living in the Holy Land. Meetings will last around 75 minutes.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation / Confession is available after the Saturday morning Mass and from 5.15 to 5.45 Saturday afternoon. Each Saturday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & the Rosary follow on from Mass until 11.00am. Christmas