The Roman Catholic Parish of St. Charles Borromeo

St. Charles Borromeo RC Church

8 Ogle Street, London, W1W 6HS Tel: 020 7636 2883

Saturday Vigil Mass: 6pm and 8:30pm with the neo-catechumenal communities

Sunday Mass: 9am 11am 6pm

Monday to Friday Mass: 12.30pm and 6pm

Confession: after masses or on call

FATHER ALAN FUDGE RIP

I am totally delighted to be here in Ogle Street as your new Parish Priest. The Lord has blessed me to play some small part in the story of Saint Charles Borromeo; the church (both building and parish family)!

Though sad to leave Saint Paul’s Wood Green, I arrive in Ogle Street conscious of the immense spiritual legacy of dear Father Alan.

We were in the seminary together in the late 1960’s and remained good friends. I loved him as a dear brother in the Lord and, with you, I continue to love him and ask now for his intercession and help. I have no inside information of arrangements on the other side of physical death, but I have absolutely no doubt that Father Alan remains close to his beloved Ogle Street.

I like the “geography” of today’s Gospel – “The Kingdom of God is close at hand” God’s kingdom is possible! Reachable! Touchable! Surely those who have gone before us are not far away? In fact, they are particularly close when we celebrate the Mass. At every Eucharist in and around Saint Charles, Father Alan Fudge is near.
Given Father’s immense ministry as a pastor and preacher, perhaps in any other walk of life, there would be talk now of a “closing down sale”, but this is never true in the life of faith, instead……

Christmas Liturgies

Saturday 24th December Christmas Eve First Mass of Christmas 8:00pm

Sunday 25th December Christmas Day Mass 9:00am 11:00am

Monday 26th December St. Stephen (Boxing Day Bank Holiday) Mass 10:00am

Tuesday 27th December St. John the Evangelist (Bank Holiday) Mass 10:00am

Wednesday 28th December The Holy Innocents Mass 6:00pm

Thursday 29th December St. Thomas Becket Mass 6:00pm

Friday 30th December Holy Family Mass 6:00pm

Saturday 31st December St. Sylvester, Pope Mass 10:00am for Fr. Alan [his Birthday] Vigil Mass 6:00pm

Sunday 1st January New Year's Day 2012 Solemnity of the Mother of God Mass 9:00am 11:00am 6:00pm

Monday 2nd January Ss. Basil + Gregory Naziansen (Bank Holiday) Mass 10:00am

Welcome to Canon Michael

Canon Michael preaching at Fr Alan’s Funeral

Our new Parish Priest, Canon Michael Munnelly, arrives in the Parish this week. We wish him a very warm welcome to Ogle Street. We pray that he will have a fruitful ministry here.

MARRIAGE COURSE

This Thursday 19th January at 8PM a course of instruction for those who are intending to get married will begin. It lasts for eight weeks – about an hour each evening. There is no need to register and there is no fee. The catechists are married couples.

Please note that there will be no 12.30pm Mass on Tuesday or Thursday this week.

Work on the Presbytery

As you are no doubt aware, building work has been going on in the presbytery since early November. We will do the work in two stages. The necessary work includes installing central heating and two new bathrooms. In such an old house we would obviously have to do a lot of redecoration afterwards, so we took the decision to do some more renovations at the same time. They include replacing dangerously worn carpet, roof insulation, and creating a division between the public and private areas of the presbytery. This meant that the disruption could be minimised and the presbytery would be ready for Canon Michael to move here, as he planned, in the middle of January. So far the work is on schedule apart from the carpeting, which cannot all be supplied on time.

However, when work began it was soon apparent that other things required attention. All the gas and water pipes needed to be replaced, as did the inadequate drainage at the rear of the presbytery. We now estimate that the first stage will cost £80.000. The Diocesan surveyor and accountant have agreed that the works are both necessary and good value for money and have given their approval. They have also agreed to bridge the gap between what money we have on hand and the total cost with a loan - at almost no interest.

Thanks to your generosity we already had £48,000 on hand – some of which has been spent – which means that we will borrow £32, 000 from the Diocese. We are confident that we will be able to pay this back well within the time they allow us. All the money that has been gifted for the Crypt extension, and any more that we receive, will be reserved for that purpose and not spent on the presbytery.

Vincent Harrington

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