St.Edmund's - Activities

For Your Diary

Journey in Faith
begins again Tuesday 29th January

For full list of events please read details in the newsletter

PRESENTS FOR FATHER

It is now an active tradition of our parish that, while we are away on holiday and have to buy presents for the family and neighbours, we buy a 'Present for Father' which becomes an item in the parish's pre-Christmas bazaar. Whenever you go away on holiday - please remember that your parish is here, on the Isle of Dogs, and still needs your support, whether you are here or not. So, please. don't forget your 'Present for father'.

1st Holy Communion Programme will begin with a Parents' meeting on the evening of February 14th. Parents will also be expected to attend meetings on the evenings of the following dates: 28 Feb, 13 March, 27 March, 10 April, 24 April, 8 May, 29 May. You and your child will be expected to be at Mass EVERY Sunday, especially during this preparation season. On the Sunday after each Parents' Meeting there is a special Celebration Mass and your child will need to come to Mass half an hour early on those days for a special class. There will be Reconciliation Services on 29 March and 10 May which you must attend as a family. 1st Communion at St Edmund's: 24 May afternoon; at Our Lady's: 25 May afternoon. The Thanksgiving Mass will be on Sunday 1 June.

If you would like your child to be considered for 1st Communion, please, in person, collect a form from Fr Peter after Mass. As last year, the first half of the course will take place at Our Lady's, the second part at St Edmund's so that everyone can share the travelling. When your registration has been accepted, you will be sent full details. Children should be 8 years old and/or be in Year 3 at their School. All applications must be with Fr Peter by Sunday 3rd February. Any applications after this time WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

PARISH ACTIVITIES

Baptism Preparation Programme - see newsletter for dates & times

Journey in Faith/RCIA - see newsletter for details

Readers & Communion Ministers Training - contact Fr. Harris

Alter Servers - Anyone wishing to be trained to serve the Mass please contact Fr. Harris

For actual dates and times read the newsletter

A headline in the East End Advertiser newspaper recently proclaimed that Catholicism has come to Docklands. But Catholicism had been on the Wharf long before this.

Father Adrian Walker of St Edmunds church in Millwall used to celebrate a monthly Mass.

The new parish priest, Father Peter Harris, and American priest Father Robert Nugent wanted to expand a Catholic presence on the Wharf. In October, they met with Catholic Wharfers and Westminster's Bishop Bernard Longly.

This resulted in the initiation of the 12:30pm weekly Mass in the Inter-Faith Canary Wharf Prayer Room, at 3 Westferry Circus.

The Mass attracts between 18 to 25 people and continues to grow as the Canary Wharf Catholic Community (CWCC) expands.

For the first time in Wharf history Ash Wednesday services were conducted in Cabot Hall for an overflow congregation of more than 100 people.

A weekly Mass in the heart of the business world is a golden opportunity for spiritual refreshment, according to the priests. "We will be nourishing the Catholic community at Canary Wharf in a way the world of business never can," said Father Harris.

Father Nugent also says that a planned Thursday lunchtime theology gathering for tea, talks and discussions on topics and subjects, which are pertinent to Christians in the professional world, will only serve to further enhance the ministry.

Father Nugent said the Church has a rich tradition of teachings on social justice, which can help Christians in the workplace face certain moral and ethical questions.

What's on at St. Edmund's

Canary Wharf Catholic Community