Newsletter

SUNDAY 19^th March 2023 

FOURTH SUNDAY of LENT, YEAR A 

Readings:1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7.10-13, Psalm 22, Ephesians 5: 8-14, Gospel: John 9:1-41

 

Sat       18^th Mar     17.30  Confessions

18.00                                      For the Parish 

 

Sun      19^th Mar        THIRD SUNDAY of LENT 

                               08.30                                      Delia Willis RIP (Wilkes)

10.30                                      Michael Power RIP (Ellis)

 

Mon    20^th Mar        09.15  St Joseph                     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00                                     Vernon Rogers RIP (Spicer/Connolly)

 

Tues    21^st Mar       09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

 10.00                                      Rex Wheatley RIP (Wheatley)

 

Wed    22^nd Mar       09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00                                      Deacon Michael Baldry RIP (Friends)

 

Thurs  23^rd Mar        08.00                                      Priest’s intention

 

Fri        24^th Mar        09.15  St Oscar Romero          Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                 10.00                                      Peter & Sheila Sinclair (Kilcullen)

                                 10.30                                      Stations of the Cross

 

Sat       25^th Mar        17.30                                      Confessions

                                  18.00                                      Marie Lenergan RIP (Staden)

 

Sun      26^th Mar        FIFTH SUNDAY of LENT               

                                  08.30                                     For the Parish

                                  10.30                                      Madeline Grainger (Choir)

                                       

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

We hope the recent problems with the live stream have now been solved.  Click on the link:

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection last week       Incl. S.O.s      £1030.00

Last week:     AIC                                                                                         £484.39

This week:     Poor Parishes of the Diocese

 

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 screen will read “Please Tap”, and you 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 best for us. 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,

We have been told by Archbishop John that we can resume receiving Holy Communion “under both kinds” if we wish to, starting at The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday. I propose therefore that we, in this parish, begin to offer the Precious Blood from the chalice at this time. It will depend of course on there being sufficient numbers of our Eucharistic Ministers being happy to administer the Chalice. Also, given post-pandemic sensibilities and concerns about the spreading of disease, let us be clear that no one is obliged to receive Holy Communion from the shared chalice and that Jesus Christ is received sacramentally, whole, and entire, under one kind. 

Again, the totality of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord is received in either or both species. It is a matter of your own disposition before the Sacrament. 

If it feels more reverent to you, then take the opportunity to receive the Precious Blood from the Chalice.  If it makes you feel less reverent, then don’t! 

We have a few weeks to think things over.

                                                                    God Bless,               Fr Doug       

 

DIOCESAN LENTEN RETREAT: “Renewed in Hope”

It isn’t too late to sign up to receive the weekly Reflection (video) each Monday.  https://www.southwarkdsc.org.uk/renewedbyhope

Alternatively, you can participate with other Christians in Bexley in 3 different church locations with the video projected onto a ‘large screen’ and with a time for shared reflection.

Please note that the lunchtime session here is using the readings for the Sunday following but the morning and evening sessions reflect on the previous Sunday’s readings.

Mondays, 1.30 – 3.00 St. John Fisher Hall. 

Tuesdays 10.30 – 12.00 URC 

Wednesdays 7.30 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. St John’s Church

 

AIC SATURDAY FRIENDS: APPEAL FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE

We are very grateful for last week’s wonderfully generous response.

You can be sure that every penny will be spent directly on our homeless Friends’ rehabilitation.  On display in the porch, you will see how the resources you provide are spent – and some of the touching thank you cards received.  May God richly bless your kindness.  AIC “Saturday Friends”.

 

DAVID WATKINS RIP

Please pray for the soul of David Watkins. His funeral will be in church at 11.00 on April 4^th

 

PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES 

Boxes of Planned Giving Envelopes are now available in the foyer.

Please take your box for the year 2023/2024. Thank you. Edna Fernandes, Gift Aid Organiser

 

A QUIET DAY FOR HOLY WEEK

Saturday April 1st from 11am to 3pm at Sanctuary, Swanley Village. Come away for a time for space, prayer and reflection as Holy Week approaches. For more information or to book – please email tkilcullen@live.co.uk or call 07977978536

 

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY  

We can be contacted by leaving a message with the Parish Office, a note through the Presbytery Door or using the Parish email address as above.

 

WORLD YOUTH DAY LISBON 

31st July To 7th August 2023 The Archdiocese of Southwark is taking a group of pilgrims (aged 18-35) to World Youth Day. For info visit https://bit.kinsly/WYDSouthwark and www.lisboa2023.org/en/.