Fifth Sunday of Lent
Please click this link to watch the video of last Sunday’s Mass
FROM Fr Doug
My Dear Parishioners
What a difficult time this is. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I have this week sent a brief message to about 70 people on an email list. It is my hope to be able to do this regularly. If you did not receive it and would like to then please contact me and I will add you in.
Let me share a thought for the week: It’s about the weekend!
I write this short note to you all on Friday morning.
The days this week have seemed so similar. I am out of touch with the normal rhythm of my week which is in itself, a little disconcerting. But Friday is Friday.
We look forward on a Friday to the Feast of Sunday to come – the Feast of Resurrection. That’s why on a Friday we try to ‘place’ ourselves in Good Friday and do some penitential act to recognise that reality.
I have been saying mass and praying each day for our parish – that’s my job!! It occurred to me today though, that I have been reaching out in prayer primarily to the God who can keep us all safe, but God has other guises (and I don’t mean disguises).
I have also, therefore been thanking the God who works his caring and healing power through the medics and it was a privilege to go out onto the door step last night at 8.00 with so many others and applaud those brave people.
But today I concentrate in prayer on the God who died on the cross and therefore suffers alongside all the victims of Corona and their families. We must see in them and those suffering alongside them the face of Christ. Part of our calling as Christians is to see and then give witness to God being in all things. The shape of the week, like the shape of the year helps us spread our gaze and see God’s presence all around – all the way round. So give emphasis to the weekend in your outlook and let Friday be Friday so that Sunday can be Sunday!
Friday’s context is to be found in Sunday, just as Good Friday’s context is to be found in Easter Day and death’s context is to be found in resurrection.
Let’s all try to keep safe and keep everyone we know in contact, far away from any fear or loneliness.
Before I sign off, a few things.
You might like to sign up to the diocesan Spirituality Commission Website to receive a daily thought for the day by email http://www.southwarkdsc.org.uk/
And/or sign up to ‘Pray As You Go’ https://pray-as-you-go.org/ for a fuller daily prayer. This is on the web or you can download a free phone app
Other useful sites are listed elsewhere on this site.
As you know, in addition to the Sunday Mass which you can engage with through the youtube link listed on this newsletter, or if you don’t feel able to do that you can at least read the Sunday Sermon elsewhere on this site. I also say daily mass and while it is not possible to join in Holy Communion in a physical way you are invited to make a spiritual communion.
This prayer of St. Alphonsus may be helpful:
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in this Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come spiritually into my soul so that. I may unite myself wholly to You now and forever. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
God Bless,
Fr Doug
CHURCHES TOGETHER in Bexley have appealed for help during the coronavirus emergency to assist in keeping Food Banks supplied. They provide help to some of the neediest people in our community. For more information please see the “Appeals” page on this website. There is also information from Bexley Council on help for the housebound and others in need as well as an appeal for volunteers.<a
MASS INTENTIONS FOR WEEK 28 Mar – 5 April 2020
Sat 28 Mar Mavis Maher RIP (Fogarty)
Sun 29 Mar Jim Henry RIP (N&J McCarthy)
Mon 30Mar Delia Willis RIP (Wilkes)
Tues 31 Mar Rosa Colaco RIP (Family)
Wed 1 Apr Intentions of Colin Anderson (Keefe)
Thurs 2 Apr Jim Henry RIP (Haylett)
Fri 3 Apr Peggy Whiteside RIP (Mary Lee)
Sat 4 Apr Maria Nucera RIP (Graziella & Family)
Palm Sunday
Sun 5 Apr Jim Henry RIP (Greenwich Irish Pensioners)
stjohnfisherbexley.org 
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