Newsletter

SUNDAY 14^th January 2024

SECOND SUNDAY,YEAR B

Readings:1 Samuel 3:3-10 19, Psalm 39, 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20, John 1 35-42

 

Sat   13^th Jan         17.30  Confessions

18.00                     Harrington & Sheehan families RIP (Sheehan)

 

Sun  14^th Jan         SECOND SUNDAY (B)      Peace Sunday

                              08.30                    Phil Heavey (Traynor) 

10.30                    Eileen Wheatley (Hughes)

 

Mon  15^th Jan        09.15         Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00                   For the Parish

 

Tues 16^th Jan         09.15        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00                   Kilcullen & Slater Families RIP 

 

Wed  17^th Jan        09.15         Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00                   Moira Morris RIP (Ellis)  

 

Fri     19^th Jan         09.15        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament  

                               10.00                  Harrington Family (Sheehan)

 

Sat    20^th Jan        17.30   Confessions

18.00                    SVP Members RIP (SVP)

 

Sun   21^st Jan          THIRD SUNDAY (B)           Sunday of the Word of God                    

                              08.30                   Alfred Family RIP (Jeyaseelan)

                              10.30                    John Hughes RIP (Hughes)

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed live and can be viewed 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:            Incl. S.O.s                     £1023.50

Over Christmas:       Crib Appeal:                                                                                      £535.41         

Next week:                AIC                                                                                                                                                                             

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.  

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

 

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

 

Newsletter: Please copy notices to Fr Doug by the previous Wednesday

 

 

Dear Parishioners,

 

Pope Francis’ theme for this year’s World Day of Peace (Peace Sunday) is ‘Artificial Intelligence and Peace’. This is a highly relevant theme as governments across the world, including our own, wrestle with the ethics and consequences of significant and potentially dangerous developments in technology. Pope Francis’ overriding concern is that artificial intelligence should be used in the service of humanity and the protection of our common home and not to further injustice and inequality or to fuel division and violent conflict.

 

Meanwhile, the Church continues to advocate for a “just peace” in Palestine and Israel. At this time the United Nations Court of International Justice in the Hague is grappling with accusations that Israel is perpetrating a war of genocide against the Palestinian people. The hope is that at least while deliberations continue, Israel might be pressurised into a ceasefire. This might also slow down the escalation of the war throughout the Middle East. That Israel of all nations should have to defend itself against accusations of genocide is quite extraordinary. Anyway, while we thank God that our prayers for international intervention in the war are slowly being answered, we must continue to pray for peace and for the justice that will be needed to truly end the conflict.

 

                                                               God Bless,                        Fr Doug

 

 

UNITY SERVICE SUNDAY – Sunday 21^st January, 3p.m.

As part of the The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which takes place (each year) from the 18th to 25th January, there will be service for all the Christian churches, at St Mary the Virgin, Manor Road, Bexley, DA5 3LX. This has been organized by Churches Together in Old Bexley and everyone is welcome. The whole Octave of prayer provides an opportunity to pray for deeper Christian unity and to experience Christian unity personally in Bexley.  

Kathy Fogarty, Parish Unity Contact – fogartyk@ntlworld.com 

 

BRIDIE HAYLETT RIP:   Please pray for the soul of Bridie who has died.

We still do not have a date for Bridie’s funeral.

 

FRIENDS OF THE HOLY LAND: In the Crib Collection Basket you donated £535.41, a marvelous amount.   It has been sent and the response:

“Friends of the Holy Land want to thank all parishioners who raised this amount through your Crib Collection, for Christians in the holy land. Conditions continue to be extremely challenging. Please continue to remember Friends of the Holy Land and those we support in your prayers. 

Yours sincerely         Brendan Metcalfe CEO

 

AIC SATURDAY FRIENDS:  Next weekend 20/21 January our AIC Saturday Friends group will make their annual appeal on behalf of homeless people.  We hope to explain what, with your generous help, has been achieved and what, with continued help, can be done this year.   

 

PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK & CO MAYO – 3^rd March 2024.  

£899.00 pps.  Price includes flight, 10kg hold luggage, 5 nights in 4* Castlecourt Hotel, Westport with Dinner, Bed & Breakfast. Lunch on three days.  All entertainment, excursions and transport included.  Visit Knock, Galway City, Kylemore Abbey, Croagh Patrick & Ashford Castle.  Single supplement on Enquiry.  Contact Patricia or Natali on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.