Newsletter Sunday March 12th, 2017

Second Sunday of Lent (A)

Our Transfigured Lord

Our natural inclination is to stay where we are, to make a tent and settle comfortably. But God is continually urging us on to a land he will show us. We follow our transfigured Lord in faith, putting our trust in him and bearing his hardship for the sake of the good news he has brought us.

MASS INTENTIONS FOR WEEK 11 – 19 MARCH 2017

Saturday 11 March     9.00am Annie O’Brien RIP (John & Eileen Stanton)
                                    6.00pm Matt Rudden (Noel Stanley)
Sunday 12 March     8.30am Parishioners
                                  10.30am Ken Stroughair RIP (Kay & Danny Lyons)
Monday 13 March     9.00am Russell Gray RIP (Kathy Connolly)
Tuesday 14 March     7.00pm Ida Leitao RIP (Eucharistic Ministers)
                                   Followed by Adoration and Our Lady & St Pio’s Prayer Group
Wednesday 15 March     10.00am The Dunning Family Living & Deceased (Eileen Wheatley)
Thursday 16 March     9.00am Eucharistic Service
Friday 17 March     9.00am John Bowman RIP (Tim Bowman)
                                   7.00pm Stations of the Cross
Saturday 18 March     9.00am Josie Keeley RIP (Marlene Burt)
                                   6.00pm Holy Souls
Sunday 19 March     8.30am Parishioners
                                   10.30am Geoff Bignall RIP (The Bignall Family)

Sick: Audrey O’Hara, Christine White, Kevin Harper, Ed Jones, John Bird, Gail Noel, Chris Neal, John Edwards, Tony Speed, Elvira Vaz, Geoffrey Hildebrand, John Underwood, Mary Stubbs, Una Carpenter, John Harrington, John Larkin, Norma Brooker, Nina Szredski, Nora Lenihan, Angela Gillespie, Ann McDonald, Eileen Weald, Geoff Birch, Maureen Fitzpatrick, David Shaw, Clare Kent.

Anniversaries: Bobby Marshall, Bill & Edie Squirrell, Victor Weeks, Irena Trembaluk, Rita Donnelly, Hazel Birch.

Feast Days: Fri: St Patrick, Bishop, Patron of Ireland. Sat: St Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

ROTAS: Readers: Saturday 6pm Carol Anderson Sunday 8.30am Ann Wilkes 10.30am Lota Emeka-Onah.  Copying of Newsletter: John Stanton.   Newsletter Typist: Ruth Powers. Collection for 8.30am Mass: Mrs M Weeks.   Parishioner Attending To Front of Church on Saturdays: John Stanton.   Eucharistic Ministers: Saturday 6 pm (1) Kathy Connolly (2) Ivan Pereira Sun 8.30am (3) Bridie Haylett (4) Peter Whiffen Sun 10.30am (5) John Stanton (6) Eileen Wheatley (7) Patricia McQuaid (8) Dorothy Speed (9) Margaret Gillis.   Washing of Purificators: Kathy Connolly.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION Sunday 5th March 2017: Gift Aid Loose Total
Gift Aid:    £429.30.   Loose:    £184.12.   Total:    £613.42
This week’s 2nd collection is for CAFOD
Next week’s 2nd collection is for the SVP

BEXLEY DEANERY DEVELOPING WORLD GROUP: Thank you for your kind donation. We have now completed 4 projects so far. If you have any queries, please contact Maria Ward on 01322 555553.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS PLEASE: To be a reader at Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 7.00pm. Also Apostles for Washing of Feet at Maundy Mass and also Eucharistic Ministers over Holy Week. Please see Volunteers List in Sacristy.

REMINDER: Safeguarding Team Meeting: Has been rescheduled to Monday 20th March 2017 at 7.30pm in the Presbytery.

FOOTPATH CLOSED: The footpath at the side of the church hall will be closed for maintenance work from 08.00am this Thursday 16th March. The work will involve filling-in the gap between the paving slabs and the wall of the hall with cement to make it safer and easier to keep clean. One of the slabs also has to be replaced or re-seated. Hopefully the main part of the work will only take a day and the path will be open on Friday but it all depends on the weather.

OUR LADY’S FILM EVENING: Wednesday 15th March: Outstanding movie on the amazing life of St Anthony of Padua, the beloved miracle worker and one of the most popular saints in Christian history. Anthony became renowned for his powerful preaching and miracles that won countless souls to Christ. Film employs subtitles. Bar open and charity stall. All welcome, 7 pm for 7.30 pm start.

JAZZ NIGHT: Friday 7th April at 7.30pm in the hall. Come and listen to young band, Sixth Sense. Bar will be open, bring your own nibbles/snacks. Charity auction (donations welcome). Suitable for teenagers and adults. Tickets £5 available from the Truman girls in the hall after 10.30 am Mass each week or ring 07941 167 771.

CHURCH FLOWERS: Now we are in the season of Lent, it is traditional for the flowers in the church to be cleared away. Can I take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed towards the cost of flowers, using the box at the back of the church. With your continued help, we can ensure that in five weeks’ time, the floral decorations will be back as we celebrate the great feast of Easter. In the meantime, our small band of flower arrangers are taking a short break. If there is anyone would like to join us when we return – no experience is necessary – please contact me on 01322 528 224. Sue Murphy

CAR PARK BARRIER: As you may have noticed, the church car park barrier has now been replaced and is now back in use. Could we remind all key holders and anyone else who opens the barrier that there is a bolt to secure the pole when it is in the upright position. It is important to ensure the bolt is used to prevent the barrier closing accidentally. Thank you, The Premises Committee