We welcome Fr Xavier Savaria Pitchai, whom the Diocese has sent to New Malden as our Supply Priest for two months form Simla Chandigarh diocese in Punjab, India.

Fr Xavier has been Bishop’s Secretary, a Parish Priest and School Manager, and returns in November to be Cathedral Administrator in his home diocese.

Fr Xavier’s day off is Tuesday (from Monday afternoon, to give opportunity on his first time in England to visit friends and places of interest). Please feel free to invite him to coffe, lunch, tea or supper on other days (with 48 hours notice, please!). He is ‘On Call’ to the Hospital during Thursdays and Fridays.

Deacon John Sampson (aged 58)
died at 2pm on Friday 16th July – the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
fortified by the Rites of Holy Church.
His Funeral details will be announced within the next few days.

Deacon John (Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate on 10th June 2006) had been ill since February 2008, incapacitated for much of this year, and in a coma in Kingston Hospital for the past fortnight where he was well cared for, and with his Wife, Maureen, constantly at his side.  Maureen thanks the many Parishioners of St Joseph’s for their very practical and prayerful support – providing a rota of meals, shopping, dog-walking Juno, and visiting them at home and in hospital.

UPDATED!  19th July… Funeral Arrangements:

Thursday 29th July: 7.30pm, Reception of the Body and Requiem Mass
(Eucharistic Adoration will finish at 7pm on this Thursday only)
Friday 30th July:
- 7am, Requiem Mass (ad orientem)
- 10am, Funeral Mass and Commendation  (Bishop Paul Hendricks)
- 11.40am, Committal at Kingston Crematorium

Refreshments in St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre from 11.15am.

As I leave St Joseph’s to take up my new appointment in Mortlake, I would like to say a very sincere and heartfelt ‘THANK YOU’ to the many, many people who have made my three and a half years here such happy and fulfilling ones. I have spent longer in this parish than any other, thus far, and I know it will always have a particular place in my affections.

Sadly, since my move is happening so quickly, I will not be able to say a personal word to all of you (there may be more time for that on June 13th!), but please do know that I am very grateful for all I have received here.

Lastly, the one person I must thank above all is Fr Peter, who has guided and encouraged me throughout my time in the parish. His great commitment, sincerity and zeal are gifts I very much hope to emulate. I know that you will keep us both in your prayers during the busy months ahead!

Today, Sunday 25th, is Fr Richard’s last Sunday in the parish. He moves over the next few days, and his final weekday Masses in St Joseph’s are this Wednesday 28th at 7am and 10am, and then on Thursday 29th at 10am.

He returns as Guest of Honour for a celebratory buffect luncheon on Sunday 13th June which will be the occasion to thank him for his Priestly ministry in New Malden.

Shortly before Easter we were informed that Bishop John Hine (Diocesan Administrator during the vacancy of the Archbishopric of Southwark), in consultation with other Auxiliary Bishops, has appointed Fr Richard to the Parish of St Mary Magdalene, Mortlake, where he will be Parochial Administrator (awaiting confirmation as Parish Priest, when the Pope appoints a new Archbishop of Southwark).

He moves at the end of this month, so that Sunday 25th April will be his last Sunday here. Fr Richard will be our Guest of Honour at a celebratory buffet luncheon (as is usual after priests move) on Sunday 13th June. This will be the occasion to thank him for his Priestly ministry in New Malden. Meanwhile, as he prepares to take up this well-deserved preferment, we pray for him and wish him well in his new parish.

Future Priestly Staff for our Parish

While we had hoped that such a move would not happen until the summer recess (his predecessor’s age and illness has necessitated this more urgent move), there is no suitable priest available in the diocese or an immediate replacement at St Joseph’s. Our Area Bishop has said that there should be some availability for the new academic year, and recognises that someone competent and reliable is needed not only for our parish, schools and hospital duties, but also to assist Fr Peter while he continues with his diocesan, regional and national responsibilities. During the months that Fr Peter is the only priest in the parish we trust that parishioners will accept inevitable adjustments, rather than expecting him to perfect the art of bilocation!!

On Wednesday 3rd March, His Eminence John Cardinal Foley conferred the Ministry of Acolyte on our Seminarian Alan Burgess, along with six of his second-year colleages from the Pontifical Beda College.

Unlike temporary commisioning of Extra-ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, this is a permanent ‘minor order’ authorising Alan to “aid the deacon and minister to the priest in liturgical celebrations … to distribute Holy Communion as an auxiliary minister (in the usual circumstances) … to expose and depose the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration” and to instruct altar servers and others in their temporary liturgical duties.

Alan is excited about his Acolytate and looks forward to his second pastoral placement this coming summer (elsewhere in our diocese). While visiting us at his diocesan base here in New Malden, he will now be able to assist in these ways and in taking Communion to the housebound and hospitalised.

The next major step for Alan, God willing, is his Candidacy for Ordination to the Diaconate which normally takes place in November of the third year of semiary formation (ie. 2010).

The Parish congratulates Alan on this second step on the road to Priestly Ordination. We continue to pray for him, and for our resident potential seminarian, Philip Andrews who is away from us this weekend, in Retreat at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, in preparation for attending the Selection Conference next month.

Many family groups have expressed concern at the undermining of the rights of families in the Children, Schools and Families Bill which is currently before Parliament. If made law this bill will make Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE, including sex education) part of the National Curriculum.

“Too Much, Too Soon – The government’s plans for your child’s sex education” is one of the excellent commentaries on this bill which can be downloaded at www.famyouth.org.uk, where Norman Wells gives information about the pressure groups which have been involved in campaigning for the bill. In the section “Parents’ views not sought”, he reaches the conclusion:

The government’s decision to make PHSE, including SRE [Sex & Relationships Education] a statutory part of the National Curriculum was therefore made without any consultation with parents (page 35).

Concern over this bill is not just a religious issue:

• It is about parents having the right to bring up children according to their own values
• It is about school governors (accessible to parents) losing their powers over PSHE
• It is about protecting young people from being exposed to materials which are inappropriate for their age.

Concerned parents are encouraged to check the website mentioned above.

Eventually on the fourth try, I succeeded in flying from London to Rome on Saturday [9th]. The experience of three cancelled flights was frustrating but taught me perseverance and patience. I would like to thank all those parishioners who sent Christmas cards and gifts: all were very much appreciated. I enjoyed seeing everyone on my two brief visits to New Malden, one of which included the splendid parish luncheon. Having missed one day of classes, I resumed classes on Monday [11th] and will soon have examinations beginning 27th January. Time passes quickly and I will soon return for the summer vacation. I wish you all the very best for 2010.

Alan Burgess will be with us again for the weekends before and after Christmas, during his short vacation from the Bede College in Rome where he began his 2nd year (of 4) of formation for the Priesthood after completing his Pastoral Placement at St Joseph’s last summer.  As an instituted Lector he takes precedence over our commissioned Readers.

Philip Andrews, whom many of you met a few months ago, will be living with us from January 2010 until the autumn (when, like Alan, he will continue to have a base here). Philip is scheduled to attend the annual Selection Conference at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh in April and, if accepted for Priestly Forma-tion, will begin his time at Seminary in September, Deo volente.

My dear People,

I am writing to you today to inform you personally, that Pope Benedict has accepted my resignation as Archbishop of Southwark. As many of you will readily realise, the reason for this decision is my state of health. In communicating this to you, I wish, first of all, to express my heartfelt thanks for your prayers and your understanding over the last two years when my health problems have been particularly severe. Needless to say, this was a very difficult decision to make and it is with great sadness that I write this letter.

Visiting our parishes, like visiting our schools, has been one of the greatest joys of being Archbishop and something that I have missed very much over the last two years when I have been less mobile. I know that there are some parishes that I have been unable to visit and this is a matter of real regret. It has nonetheless been wonderful to share in parish life and to experience the real devotion and sense of community that we have in our parishes.

Please do continue to pray for me as I await further surgery. I can assure you that you will alll be very much in my thoughts and prayers both now and in the future.

With my warmest greetings, I am your sincerely in Christ,

+Kevin McDonald
Archbishop of Southwark

The Press Release

Pope Benedict XVI has today accepted the resignation of Archbishop Kevin McDonald of Southwark in accordance with Canon 401.2. The Archbishop has submitted his resignation to the Holy Father having taken account of medical advice. The Archbishop has had a triple heart bypass and also suffers from severe osteo arthritis. This has already necessitated surgery and the Archbishop envisages
further surgery in 2010.

Archbishop McDonald said:

I feel great sadness at having to relinquish my post as Archbishop of Southwark. Although I have had to contend with illness over the last three years, this appointment has been a great grace. It has been a privilege to lead this great Diocese and I have received a wonderful response to everything I have tried to do. I have also been very appreciative of the prayers of so many people while I have been ill. The Diocese will continue to be very much in my thoughts and prayers in the time ahead.

A Diocesan Administrator will be appointed soon and he will be in charge of the Diocese until a new Archbishop takes possession of the Diocese.

I have reached the end of my first Pastoral Placement as well as first summer at St Joseph’s and return to Rome on Wednesday 23rd September to commence the second year of studies. I am grateful to everyone at St Joseph’s for their support and many kindnesses, especially those who spent time with me explaining how they and their fellow catechists interact with newcomers to their groups (eg. First Holy Communion, Confirmation), and others who went through the minutiae of safe-guarding the young and the vulnerable. I am more than ever thankful to the families who invited me to their homes for dinner: It was very much appreciated and a joy to meet spouses and children.

My time here was made smoother because of the advice of two individuals in particular, Agnes Vella and David Roberts: both were extremely patient in illuminating how the parish functions administratively and financially. Without any hesitation, I am indebted to Fathers Peter and Richard for the pastoral support and didactic advice, the placement planning and the priestly leadership, as they have proved an invaluable, infinite source of information and inspiration. When I have confronted difficulties – pastoral, vocational, and liturgical! – our priests have unstintingly guided my thoughts so that I could assimilate the correct decisions myself. Notwithstanding my gratitude for the pastoral placement here, I am truly thankful for the accommodation and hospitality offered by Frs Peter and Richard during the summer of 2009 and for the next two summers.

May our Almighty God and Father bless you all. St Joseph pray for us.