Newsletter Sunday March 28th, 2021

PALM SUNDAY

Readings: Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalm 21, Philippians 2:6-11, Mark 14:1-15:47

SERVICES FOR WEEK 27th March – 4th April 2021

Sat 27 Mar   11.00 Confessions
                      18.00 John Gerard Lowney RIP (Sheehan)

Sun 28 March    PALM SUNDAY
                      08.30 For the Parish
                      10.30 Sergia Balaqui RIP (Bernarte)
                      Web – available anytime
https://youtu.be/S75gcRELfgg
                      Joan Aspeek @ 90 (Choir)

Mon 29 Mar    PKM
                      19.30 Reconciliation Service

Tues 30 Mar    09.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
                      10.00 Alice Howie RIP (Howie)

Weds 31 Mar    09.30 note earlier time Danny Lyons RIP (Keefe)
                      10.00 Stations of the Cross

Thurs 1 Apr    20.00 Maundy Thursday Tony Sullivan RIP (Sullivan)

Fri 2 Apr    10.00 In Hall Childrens’ Stations of the Cross
                      15.00 Good Friday Solemn Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord

                      Also available on the Web at 15.00.
                      https://youtu.be/qj2btKwsO4g

Sat 3 Apr    20.00 Easter Vigil For the Parish

Sun 4 Apr    EASTER SUNDAY
                      08.30 Fiona Boome RIP (Howie)
                      10.30 Dorothy Speed & Tony Speed RIP (Choir)
                      Web – available anytime Bob & Margaret Morris (Frake)

FINANCES –
Please note the slight change in our bank account name. .
Direct Bank Payments to RCAS St John Fisher – Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763
Please put your name and if you use envelopes, your envelope number, as the code
Easter Offering: This Collection is your personal gift to the Parish Priest

CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS
The weekly Catholic newspapers can be obtained directly (postage free) by subscription:
Catholic Universe and Catholic Times Go to http://www.thecatholicuniverse.com or ring 0161 820 5722 and they will arrange for you. £99.00 per year or just £55 for the digital version
The Herald has a similar offer: Ring 0207 448 3607 or go to http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/subscribe

This is Holy Week, the week of the Church’s most sacred liturgies that celebrate the great mysteries of Easter, and in particular the resurrection to New Life of Jesus.

Today, Palm Sunday, we recall Jesus entering Jerusalem in an air of triumph, with supporters cheering and waving palms as he passed by on a donkey. This was the way the prophets had foretold that the Messiah would arrive. Jesus certainly got the attention of the Jewish authorities! We go on to listen to the events of his Passion and death.

On Wednesday the Chrism Mass will be celebrated by the Archbishop and clergy of the diocese in our Cathedral. It isn’t open to everyone this year due to Covid. At the mass, which manifests the communion of the clergy with the Archbishop, Priestly Promises are renewed.
Also, the oil of Catechumen for baptism and the oil of the sick for the Anointing of the Sick are both blessed and the oil of Chrism for confirmation and ordination is consecrated. These three sacred oils are then sent to every parish in the diocese for use during the year ahead.

On Holy Thursday, we commemorate Jesus celebrating the Last Supper with his disciples and instituting it as the mass we have come to be familiar with. We will hear that by washing the feet of his disciples he indicated the importance of service to others in the mission of the Church.
After mass we may stay for a while as the Sacrament remains on the altar so as to feel close to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he went after the Last Supper and before his arrest.

On Good Friday, we recall the events of that terrible day in Jerusalem and we marvel at the love Jesus offered us by giving up his life on the cross. We take the opportunity to venerate the cross as a sign of our acceptance of his wonderful gift, and we pray for the needs of the world.

On Holy Saturday, at our Easter Vigil we proclaim the Resurrection of Christ with the singing of the Exsultet before the Easter Candle. We look back, through a vigil of readings at the events that define our history and we read about the day of Easter. We also bless the new baptismal water.

On Easter Sunday we celebrate simply in the masses the resurrection of the Lord!
We anticipate that a large number may wish to be present at least on Good Friday and at the 10.30 mass on Easter Day. We would appreciate it if you could let us know if you do intend to be there, but ONLY FOR THESE 2 SERVICES so that we can take care to space people carefully in the church. The other services should offer plenty of space. Many thanks.
God Bless

THANK YOU To:
The parishioner who has kindly begun to clean and smarten up our grounds. Check the car park!

RECONCILIATION SERVICES
We celebrate a Service of Reconciliation on Monday of this week. It begins at 7.30 p.m. with a reflection on scripture and then after an examination of conscience, confessions will be heard by a visiting priest and Fr Doug. There will be a similar service on Tuesday evening, in Swanley at 7.30

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
In private, use a prayer book or follow the service on the website.
Communally, we will follow the Way of the Cross after mass on Wednesday morning.

HEAD TEACHER VACANCY
Following the retirement of our Head Teacher, the Governing Body of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Old Road, Crayford, DA1 4DZ, wishes to appoint an inspirational and dedicated new Head Teacher. Salary range L13 to L21 (£60,073-£71,666), starting in September 2021. Details are on the school website http://www.st-josephs.bexley.sch.uk Closing date Friday 23rd April 2021 at noon.

Please print off this newsletter, using the screenshots below, and post it through the door of any parishioner you know without electronic access and make sure everyone feels okay and feels connected.