Newsletter Sunday December 24th, 2017

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Mary, The Ark of God’s Covenant

Today’s Mass is a great song to the everlasting love of God revealed in his covenant with his people. We praise the mystery of his love kept secret for endless ages, but now revealed through a new ark of the covenant, Mary of Nazareth.

MASS INTENTIONS FOR WEEK 23 – 31 DECEMBER 2017

Sat 23 Dec –    No morning Mass
                           6.30pm Terry Frogley RIP: Birthday (Margaret & Family)

Sun 24 Dec    8.30am Rita & Bertram De Silva RIP (Gregory De Silva)
Christmas Eve 10.30am Wellbeing of Maureen & David Watkins (Tony Frake)
                           6.30pm Vigil Mass: Tony Sullivan RIP (Marie & Family)
                           11pm Christmas Night Mass: Douglas Dennehy RIP (Paddy Dennehy)

Mon 25 Dec     8.30am Parishioners
Christmas Day    10.30am Wellbeing of Joan & Ron Aspeek (Tony Frake)

Tues 26 Dec    – No Masses and No Prayer Group

Wed 27 Dec     10am Elvira Vaz RIP (Eileen Sheehan)

Thu 28 Dec –     No Eucharistic Service

Fri 29 Dec    10am Foundation Mass for Jamie Cowdell RIP: Birthday

Sat 30 Dec –     No morning Mass
                           6pm John & Joy Hubbard RIP (Eileen Sheehan)

Sun 31 Jan    8.30am Carmel & Henricus Ferdinando + De Fonseka Family (Anne De Silva)
New Year’s Eve    10.30am Don Walch RIP (Marie Sullivan & Family)

Reconciliation Times: Sat 7pm-8pm (following Mass)

Prayers for the Sick: Christine White, Kevin Harper, Ed Jones, John Bird, Gail Noel, Chris Neal, John Edwards, Tony Speed, Geoffrey Hildebrand, John Underwood, Mary Stubbs, John Harrington, Norma Brooker, Nina Szredski, Ann McDonald, Eileen Weald, Maureen Fitzpatrick, Eric May, Wendy Bowman, Gracie Maddox, Anne Hastings, Tom Barrett, Joann McIntosh, Timmy Lenihan, John Clarey, Marlene Burt, Tess Truman, Anne Comiskey, Irene Gannaway

Anniversaries: Mary O’Sullivan, Ronald Andrews, May Williams, Patrick McQuaid, Charlotte Seekings, Jamie Cowdell

Feast Days: Monday: The Nativity of the Lord, Tues: St Stephen, the first martyr Wed: St John, Apostle Thursday: The Holy Innocents, Martyrs Friday: St Thomas a Becket, Bishop and Martyr Sunday: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

ROTAS For w/c Mon 25/12
Readers: Christmas Day: Midnight Mass: volunteers please;  8.30am Ann Wilkes; 10.30 Lota Emeka-Onah;   30-31 Dec Sat 6pm Kathy Fogarty;  Sun 8.30am Larissa O’Halloran;  Sun 10.30am Ryan Benarte. Copying of Newsletter: Mollie Hobson.   Newsletter Typist: Molly Robins.   Collection for 8.30am Mass: Mrs T Li/Ray.   Parishioner Attending To Front of Church on Saturdays: Mark Vaz .  Eucharistic Ministers: Saturday 6 pm Ivan, Sun 8.30am Marlene, 10.30am Volunteer (5) Mary (6) Patricia (7) Margaret (8) Paul (9).   Washing of Purificators: Molly Robins.    Flower Arranging Sue

OFFERTORY COLLECTION 17/12/17
Gift Aid: £445.35 Loose: £239.17 Total: £684.52
Bexley Deanery retiring collection: £101.38
This week’s 24/25 Dec collection: Christmas Offering

THE CHRISTMAS TREE in the church this year has been given in memory of Kathleen Murphy but the family would like all parishioners to join in decorating it with ‘Memory Stars’. Write the names of anyone you’ll be missing this Christmas, not just those who have died but also those who perhaps live too far away, on one of the gold or silver stars and hang them on the tree. There is a box of stars by the tree and hopefully some pens.

24 HOUR ADORATION FOR JANUARY 2018 This will begin on the first Friday 5th January and will be held at St John Vianney, Bexleyheath. Please support if you can.

ST JOHN FISHER NEW YEAR FAMILY DISCO! 31st December 8pm to 1am. Tickets – Adults £10, Children £2. Licensed bar. Bring your own nibbles. Please contact Noel McCarthy with your ticket requirements on 07813 890556/ 020 8301 2479, e-mail noel.mccarthy60@outlook.com – or see him in the hall.

PARISHIONERS BIRTHDAY Reminding all our Parishioners that our quarterly birthdays for those born in the months of October, November and December comes up on the last Sunday of this month 31 December 2017 after the 10.30am Mass in the hall. Everybody is invited.

NEW YEARS DAY LUNCH 2018 (Volunteers needed) Fr Christian, on behalf of the Parish, has invited a number of people from various parishes and faiths, including our own, to a New Year Lunch in the hall on 7 January 2018. This is an opportunity to celebrate all we hold in common within our communities and the gift of the New Year. Each of the parish groups have been asked to put forward two names from their group to come to the lunch. We would like some volunteers to assist on 7 January. If you can offer 1 or 2 hours or more on this day, please call Tony Creed on 01322 315755 or Michael Adenuga on 07892 800404, or e-mail Kathy Fogarty k.fogarty@ntlworld.com. Please note there will be no coffee served after the 10.30 am Mass on this day in order to prepare for this lunch. Thank you.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2018: Application forms are now available for the First Holy Communion Programme 2018. Children eligible for First Communion must be in Year 3 or above and should attend mass regularly at St John Fisher Bexley. Application forms can be collected from the back of the Church or please see Angela Underwood.

OUR LADY’S FILM EVENING Wed 24th Jan: documentaries on a) Shroud of Turin, and b) St Augustine of Hippo. Bar open, all welcome 7pm for 7.30pm start. SPECIAL EVENT: Fri 26th Jan: fish-n-chips social evening, bar, and testimony of radical conversion of Mr Robin Mace. Details & £10 tickets at film evening from Rebecca (07956 111909) or rebeccaluton@yahoo.co.uk, or from Tim Bowman.