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STM-Programme for Holy Week
- PROGRAMME FOR HOLY WEEK 2025:
- April 13th – PALM SUNDAY,
- – PASSION OF THE LORD –
- – with Blessing of the Palms before Mass in front of the Church
- – PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT HALF OF OUR CAR PARK WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE
- April 17th – HOLY THURSDAY
- – Mass at 6.30 pm followed by ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT in the side chapel
- April 18th – GOOD FRIDAY
- – STATIONS OF THE CROSS – 12 noon,
- – Liturgy at 6.30 pm
- April 19th – HOLY SATURDAY
- EASTER VIGIL MASS at 9 pm
- PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT HALF OF OUR CAR PARK WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE
- EASTER AGAPE IN OUR RECTORY after Mass.
This will be a simple agape meal of bread, eggs and wine in the meeting room of our rectory (agape means love in the sense of giving of oneself, like Christ’s sacrifice on the cross). In our own case it means sharing ourselves with one another in spite of our individual differences and thereby radiating the same love and joy for which Jesus Christ gave himself for us.
Hopefully you will all be able to join us for these special celebrations.
- April 20th – EASTER SUNDAY
- THERE WILL BE NO MASS IN OUR CHURCH
Thank You
A truly heartfelt THANK YOU for your generous donations.
The Frauenhaus Maria Königin set out to gather about 100 individual gift boxes for the homeless women of Bonn this Christmas.
We are delighted to share that our community at St Thomas More has contributed significantly to this, with a total of 35 boxes donated this week.
We would like to express our deep gratitude to everyone who generously gave to this charitable call.
Wishing you all a very happy third Advent.
“We would like to thank all donors for their great commitment to women and children in emergency situations. Wishing you all a happy advent and Christmas. ”
Frauenhaus Maria Königin
Women’s Shelter (Frauenhaus) Bonn
Christmas at Haus Maria Königin:
At Haus Maria Königin in Bonn, 120 women, some with their children, are currently receiving socio-educational care in different care concepts with the aim of resuming an independent living situation and participation in social life without outside help.
In addition to full inpatient care for 60 women and children in accordance with § 67-69 SGB XII, 50 women and children receive outpatient care in their own homes.
All sorts of women come to us from all different backgrounds: refugees, ex-prisoners, pregnant women, mothers with children, mentally ill women, women with addiction problems,…
All those affected have one thing in common: they have no place to live.
Until a few years ago, they were people without work or perspective.
These days more and more women who are employed are coming to us who can no longer find a home and are reaching their existential limits.
Unfortunately, the places available in the house have long since ceased to be able to offer all the help that is needed.
As a provider of assistance for the homeless we now rent external accommodation to give at least some women and children a bit of normality again.
Every day, despite all our best efforts, we receive new calls for help from women with children who we cannot accommodate due to lack of space.
The number of requests has increased significantly since the coronavirus era.
This year, we will continue to need donations and try to make Christmas a wonderful time for all those in our care and especially for the children.
Your parcels make a significant contribution.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your solidarity with homeless women and children in Bonn and we are already looking forward to handing over the lovingly wrapped parcels.
Bonn, 3.12.2024
E. Bergmann
Einrichtungsleitung Haus Maria Königin
Choir / Music
Children’s Advent Mass on 22nd December
This special Mass will be our first children’s Mass at St Thomas More. We are delighted that so many of the children and young adults of our community will be here and have signed up to participate.
The children will lead the readings, prayers of the faithful, gifts and collection. They will also treat us to some beautiful songs! Practice with the children will continue after Mass today and next Sunday, 15th December.
We hope that you can join us for this special celebration. You are also invited to the rectory for some snacks after Mass on the 22nd December.
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Unlike other ways of getting involved in the community, this is a ministry that requires specific skills in order to be able to take part. Since the group is small, each individual singer needs to be able to hold a tune while singing in parts. In order to keep up with the pace of 3-4 “new” songs most weeks and because of the way the choir works, you do need to have a basic understanding of music theory and be able to read sheet music.
Time commitment
Choir practice is every Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. plus a short run-through before Mass (which usually means 9.00 a.m. on Sunday).
However, there are many choir members who are not in Bonn every week/weekend, so that what the commitment boils down to is attending the Friday practice if you are going to sing at the following Mass on Sunday.
It is not necessary to be available to sing at every Mass in order to join the choir.
If you are interested in joining the choir – either as a singer or as a musician – please contact either our choir leader Markus or our parish secretary Martina.
Social Team
For a long time now, STM has not had a permanent social team, although we are fortunate to have two individuals who we can call on to prepare social events and we usually manage to find helpers to clear up afterwards. We would, however, like to establish a permanent social team again if possible.
The main events that we have each year are:
Easter agape, 1st Communion, summer picnic, welcome back reception, advent party.
Time commitment:
The time commitment is fairly flexible, but it is more practical for someone who lives nearby or at least in Bonn to help out with these tasks.
Coffee after Mass:
In addition to the “big” events throughout the year, on most Sundays we also invite people to stay after Mass for coffee etc. in the parish meeting room. This is a self-service activity and we ask everyone taking part to contribute to the preparations and to clearing up afterwards and making sure that the room is ready for weekday Mass.
Please contact Martina, our parish secretary, if you would like to become part of the social team.
Lectors
To serve as a regular lector you must be a practising Catholic who meets certain requirements (please ask for further information). The coordinator for this ministry is Eugénie. Training sessions are organised at intervals. Lectors should aim to arrive at church at least 15 minutes before Mass starts in order to have time to prepare: make sure the lector’s book and prayers of the faithful are in place and that the microphone is switched on and working. Right now we have quite a large group of lectors made of 15 people, therefore, each lector gets scheduled to read about twice every quarter
Ushers
This ministry is open to everyone, whether individuals or family groups. It is a very good way to take the first steps in serving your community. Currently there is no formal coordination – perhaps someone would like to take on this task (organising the schedule, showing new ushers the ropes, making sure that everything is prepared and cleared away).
Time commitment – arrive early / stay for a while after Mass
The church is open 30 minutes before the service starts, at the latest (9.00 a.m. on Sundays, usually 6.30 p.m. on Holy Days of Obligation).
Duties
Before people start arriving the ushers make sure that everything is in place: trolleys with Gather books as well as the box with children’s books on both sides at the back of the church, welcome sign and holy water in the entrance. As people arrive they greet them and hand out the books and bulletins; if someone is new, they should show them where to find the prayers and readings in the Gather book and our bulletin, offer a registration form and answer any questions the newcomers might have. During the service they stay by the trolleys to help latecomers; the Ushers pass the collection baskets and take the collection to the front; they coordinate the procession of people to the altar for Communion. Before the offertory Mass participants are to be counted, including priest and altar servers. The total is to be filled in on the participation sheet in the blue folder on the trolley and then put into the collection basket. After the service the ushers collect all books (Gather books and children’s books) put away the trolleys, welcome sign, check for cushions in the church etc.
Please contact Martina, our parish secretary, if you would like to volunteer for this service
Altar Server
This ministry is open to all children and youth who have made their First Communion. Training is provided by our priests, Father Gregory and Father Stephen. There is no schedule; everyone who is part of this ministry is invited to serve. It is important to arrive at least 15 minutes before Mass starts (or earlier in the case of special services) in order to get ready and receive any instructions that may be necessary. Parents can help by making sure that their children find the right size gown – touching the ground without the cord – and the right color cinture: the priest’s vestments are a helpful indicator if anyone is unsure!”