Newsletter

SUNDAY 18^th December 2022

4^th SUNDAY of ADVENT, YEAR A 

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14, Psalm 23, Romans 1:1-7 Mathew 1:18-24 

 

Sat       17^th Dec      17.30            Confessions

  18.00            Patrick McQuaid RIP (McQuaid)

 

Sun     18^th Dec       4^th SUNDAY of ADVENT   

                                 08.30           For the Parish

  10.30            Deceased Members of the Choir

                                16.00            Carol Service

 

Mon    19^th Dec        09.15            Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00             Michael Power RIP (Ellis)  

 

Tues   20^th Dec        09.15            Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00            Edward Przydrozny RIP (Haygart)

  19.30             Penitential Service

 

Wed    21^st Dec       09.15  St Peter Canisius  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00             Bernie King (M Fitzpatrick) 

 

Fri       23^rd Dec        09.30  St John of Kanty   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00             John White RIP (Gillis/Connolly)               

 

Sat       24^th Dec       18.00  Christmas Eve  Kay Gillespie RIP (J.Gillespie)

                                 22.00             For the Parish

 

Sun     25^th Dec       NATIVITY of THE LORD               

                                08.30 Christmas Day   Gerry Lambe RIP (Friends)

                                10.30              Tony Sullivan RIP (Sullivan)

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed live and can be viewed on the website, via the link. 

 

Recordings are available. The Sunday sermon is also on the website in printed form.

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection last week:                £803.58  Incl. S.O.s 

 

Direct Bank Payments to RCAS Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763

Please put your name and if you use envelopes, your envelope number, as the code.

Card Payment Machine – located in the porch, is easy to use. Select a donation amount by pressing one of the amounts.  The card reader screen will read “Please Tap”, select the amount you wish to donate, and tap your card or phone on the card reader.  

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms are at the back of the Church. For every £1.00 donated the Parish will receive 25p from the Tax Office. Standing Orders are advisable. Thank you

 

OUR PARISH HALL

Our hall is available for hire. Please email bexley@rcaos.org.uk at ANY time for enquiries and our hall secretary will get back to you. 

 

Please join us in the Hall for refreshments after the 10.30 mass

 

Newsletter: Please copy notices to Fr Doug by previous Wednesday

 

Dear Parishioners,

I can’t remember a winter this one where the snow has fallen before the leaves have fallen from the trees. The result has been quite spectacular. Last week we were all admiring the beauty of the iced up cobwebs on the railings outside our church. Everything has its own beauty, even though we might not usually see it. And so it is with us. It would be wonderful if we could stand back and see the beauty of someone that we usually see as an enemy or at least as someone difficult to get along with. And maybe we can identify ourselves as persons through whom God’s beauty can shine. Let ‘my soul glorify the Lord’, as Mary prayed.    

                           God Bless,                  Fr Doug

 

PENITENTIAL SERVICE

Our service will be on Tuesday evening at 7.30. Canon Peter and myself will celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. All are welcome.

 

CAROL SERVICE

Our service of carols and readings is today Sunday 18^th December at 4.00 p.m.

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2023

Application forms are now available for the First Holy Communion Programme 2023.  Children eligible for First Communion must be in Year 3 or above.  Application forms can be collected from the church foyer. The programme will commence late January/early February 2023.  Completed forms are to be returned by January 9^th 2023

                                                                       Angela Underwood

 

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

Members of the St. John Fisher Conference would like to make parishioners aware that anyone who is feeling lonely and would like a visit or a phone call can contact the Parish Office. One of us will then contact you.  We’d also like to recruit new members. If you can help with visiting and fund raising to support the more vulnerable in our area, please contact the Parish Office.

 

CHURCH CLEANING         

A big THANK YOU to the small group of parishioners who give up their free time to help keep our church clean.  The rota for 2023 is now available for collection from the cupboard.  We would be grateful if more volunteers came forward to either join an existing group or make up a new one.  Currently, each group cleans once every 10 weeks for about one hour.  If you think you might be able to help, please ring Carole Hughes on 07762731303.

 

PARISH FESTIVE OPEN HOUSE

Join us between 11am-3pm on Wednesday 28th December for a cuppa and chat in the church hall. Enjoy good company, tea, coffee and biscuits and a touch of soft jazz.  Feel free to bring along any Christmas nibbles/tipples for our ‘sharing’ table.  Look forward to seeing you there. Elaine 07941 264011

 

ST JOHN FISHER NEW YEARS EVE FAMILY DISCO

This event will not be going ahead

 

FUNERAL OF VERNON ROGERS (Mary Rogers’ husband).  

Vernon Rogers died on 7 December after a long illness.  For those wishing to attend, the funeral will take place at Eltham Crematorium at 11.45 am on Monday, 9^th January.

Please pray for the repose of his soul.

 

OUR LADY OF GRACE SCHOOL – TEACHING ASSISTANT REQUIRED

Please see noticeboard and www.ourladyofgracecatholicprimaryschool.co.uk 

Required for January 2023. Interview date to be confirmed. Grade: APT&C Scale 2 (£21,783 p-r