Author: Nuntius

SUNDAY 19th Jan 2025

SECOND SUNDAY YEAR C – Peace Sunday

Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 96,1 Cor 12:4-11, John 2:1-11.

 

Sat      18th Jan          17.30        Confessions

      18.00          Cath Fitzpatrick RIP (O’Brien) 

 

Sun     19th Jan         SECOND SUNDAY YEAR C – Peace Sunday 

                                  08.30          Anne Maxted RIP (Wilkes)

                                  10.30          John Hughes RIP (Hughes)

 

Mon    20th Jan         09.15    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                 10.00  FUNERAL MASS Cath Fitzpatrick RIP

 

Tues   21st Jan         09.15  Agnes      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                 10.00          For the Parish

Wed    22nd Jan       09.15  Vincent  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament  

                                 10.00          Eileen Wheatley (Hughes)

                                       

Fri       24th Jan        09.15 Francis de Sales      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

                                 10.00          Danny Lyons RIP (Lyons)

 

Sat      25th Jan        17.30   Confessions

                                 18.00          Matthew Bhalla (Bhalla) 

 

Sun     26th Jan         THIRD SUNDAY YEAR C 

                                 08.30          Molly Henebry RIP (Wilkes)

                                 10.30          Antony Moffat RIP (Moffat)

 

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

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed via the link:

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

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection           Last Week:        £ 887.84 incl S.O.

                                                                            Crib                    £ 554.97

                  Retiring Collection   This Week:    Pax Christi

 

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 foyer. Very easy to use!

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms available in the foyer. 

            

OUR PARISH HALL

Our hall is available for hire. Please email bexley@rcaos.org.uk at ANY time and our secretary will get back to you. Prices: £35 per hour on weekdays, £40 per hour at weekends

 

Dear Parishioners, 

 Help Shape the Future of Our Archdiocese

The Archbishop invites you to play a vital role in shaping the future of our Archdiocese. In today’s pastoral letter, he encourages everyone to reflect on the themes in a Called to Bear Fruit booklet which is to be available for everyone. Ours have not yet arrived so we can’t really plan anything! The idea WILL be though, to participate in small group discussions. Without sight of the booklet we cannot formulate strategies but the Archbishop’s intention is that we form small groups suitable to discuss the 6 themes that are being put forward. Any group reflections can then be submitted to the diocese.

We will return to this after we get sight of the booklets!

                                 God Bless,                                                Fr Doug 

 

 CRIB COLLECTION

Friends of the Holy Land would like to thank all parishioners who raised £1554.97 for Christians in the Holy Land. Conditions continue to be extremely challenging. Please continue to remember FHL and those we support in your prayers.’ Now, more than ever, the small Christian community in the Holy Land needs our help to bring them hope and healing. The focus of our work is providing practical help directly to the most needy and vulnerable of our Christian brothers and sisters through a balance of funding immediate relief of emergency needs and practical small projects to help create a sustainable future.  

 

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – 18-25 January.  Churches Together in Old Bexley invite you to a service on Sunday 26 January at 3pm at United Reformed Church, Hurst Road.  We are all invited to celebrate, draw encouragement and strength from the gift of our shared faith. In these turbulent times, we can take heart from the endurance of that faith.       Kathy Fogarty, Parish Unity Contact k.fogarty@ntlworld.com 

 

MAUREEN WATKINS, CATHERINE FITZPATRICK, LESLEY DOYLE, FR PADDY CANNON RIP

May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

Cath’s funeral will be in church at 10.00 on Monday 20^th January

Lesley’s funeral will be at Eltham Crematorium at 1.00 on Wednesday 22^nd January 

No news yet of Fr Paddy Cannon’s funeral.

 

CAR PARK PERMITS:  It is time to renew car park permits. Please take a form from the foyer.  The income is valued by the parish and the facility is great value for car owners!

 

THE ROMERO ROSARY a new book written by Archbishop John Wilson 

With introductory chapters about St Oscar Romero and the rosary, this beautiful and creative new book contains reflections on the traditional mysteries of the rosary (Joy, Light, Sorrow & Glory) and the NEW Romero Mysteries (Charity, Compassion and Mercy, & Justice and Peace) – all illumined for reflection and prayer by the words of St Oscar Romero. The book is available from Pauline Bookshops and online at www.paulineuk.org. The Archbishops warmly invites everyone to the BOOK LAUNCH on Wednesday 12 February 2025 at 6.00 for 6.30pm at Amigo Hall, adjacent St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, South London. SE1 7HY.

  

BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE: A fulfilling and enjoyable day for married couples. 25th January at St Stephen’s, Welling. The day is hosted by the Marriage and Family Life Team. To celebrate this Jubilee year, why not take the opportunity to explore how blessed you are in your marriage – not to mention how blessed the Church is with your dedicated love to one another. These days are popular and fill up quickly so please book your place. Please contact Carole on 07983 524 727 or email mflkent@rcaos.org.uk

SUNDAY 12th Jan 2025,

BAPTISM OF THE LORD YEAR C

Readings: Isaiah 42:1-7, Psalm 29, Acts 10:34-38, Luke 3:15-22.   

 

Sat    11th Jan          17.30                                      Confessions

18.00                                      Colette Hunt RIP (Linthorn) 

 

Sun   12th Jan         BAPTISM OF THE LORD YEAR C 

                                 08.30                                      Delia Willis RIP (Wilkes)

                                 10.30                                      Maureen Fitzpatrick (Wheatley)

 

Ordinary Time – Week 1 Year 1

Mon  13th Jan           09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00                                      Denis Bourke RIP

 

Tues  14th Jan          09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                 10.00                                      Vince Kilcullen RIP (Kilcullen)

 

Wed  15th Jan          09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00                                      Norman Pearson & Jim Miller RIP (Meeting Place)

                               

Fri     17th Jan          09.15 Anthony                     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00                                      Bridget Head RIP (Kilcullen)

 

Sat    18th Jan          17.30                                      Confessions

18.00                                      Cath Fitzpatrick RIP (O’Brien) 

 

Sun   19th Jan         SECOND SUNDAY YEAR C – Peace Sunday 

                                 08.30                                      Anne Maxted RIP (Wilkes)

                                 10.30                                      John Hughes RIP (Hughes)

 

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

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed via the link:

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

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection           Last Week:                           £ 974.84 incl S.O.

                                                Retiring Collection   Next Week:                           Pax Christi

 

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 foyer. Very easy to use!

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms available in the foyer. 

            

OUR PARISH HALL

Our hall is available for hire. Please email bexley@rcaos.org.uk at ANY time and our secretary will get back to you. Prices: £35 per hour on weekdays, £40 per hour at weekends

 

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

Dear Parishioners, 

As Christmas comes to an end today, we face the year ahead and firm up on any resolutions we might have made about making our lives better – some serious ones alongside other trivial ones.

Every year I suggest that a simple resolution might be about socialising in the church foyer or outside under the porch rather than in the church itself, so that the church can be a sacred space for prayer and worship – but in the last 6 years there hasn’t been much change, I lament! It may just be my hobby horse!

Another possibility though, might be to make use of our “library bookshelf” and our CTS publications. A few of us recently put a little effort into examining what’s there. I am now fairly confident to recommend any of the material. Why not resolve to borrow and read a book or a pamphlet. Some of it concerns spirituality, prayer and the lives of the saints, some is more concerned with the teachings of the Church. It is certainly better than Mr Musk’s “x” material. 

So I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:


“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”.


And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.


That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way”.


So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.


And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East. Minnie Louise Haskins

 

Sadly, we heard the news this week that Fr Paddy Cannon has died. Through his missionary work in Peru, he gained a certain “edge” in his pastoral ministry and he exercised that ministry very generously here in Bexley as Parish Priest between 1992 and 1996. He has, I know, been held in great affection ever since. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

              God Bless,                                                Fr Doug 

 

CRIB COLLECTION:  This year we are collecting for Friends of the Holy Land.

This charity, endorsed by Cardinal Vincent Nicholls, actually has workers based in Bethlehem and is therefore able to help the Christians there survive even under the current siege conditions imposed by Israel. They assist with emergency aid, with counselling and with a limited amount of development.

 

MAUREEN WATKINS, CATHERINE FITZPATRICK, LESLEY DOYLE, FR PADDY CANNON RIP

May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

Cath’s funeral will be in church at 10.00 on Monday 20^th January

Lesley’s funeral will be at Eltham Crematorium at 1.00 on Wednesday 22^nd January 

 

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – 18-25 January

Churches Together in Old Bexley invite you to a service on Sunday 26 January at 3pm at Albany Park Baptist Church, Stansted Crescent, DA5 3JB.  We are all invited to celebrate, draw strength and encouragement from the gift of our shared faith. In these turbulent times, we can take heart from the endurance of that faith.        Kathy Fogarty, Parish Unity Contact k.fogarty@ntlworld.com 

  

BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE 

A fulfilling and enjoyable day for married couples. 25th January at St Stephen’s, Welling. The day is hosted by the Marriage and Family Life Team. To celebrate this Jubilee year, why not take the opportunity to explore how blessed you are in your marriage – not to mention how blessed the Church is with your dedicated love to one another. These days are popular and fill up quickly so please book your place. Please contact Carole on 07983 524 727 or email mflkent@rcaos.org.uk

 

 

 

SUNDAY 5th January 2025,

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD YEAR C

Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72, Ephesians 3:2-6, Matthew 2:1-12.

 

Sat      4th Jan     17.30                                      Confessions

18.00                                      Catherine Fitzpatrick RIP (Staden) 

 

Sun     5th Jan           EPIPHANY OF THE LORD YEAR C 

                            08.30                                      Rhona McIlfatrick (Cannon)

                            10.30                                      David Brailsford RIP (Brailsford)

 

Mon    6th Jan     09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00                                      Maria & Bianca Nucera RIP (Highland)

Tues   7th Jan     09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00                                      Veronica & Paddy (Kilcullen)

 

Wed    8th Jan     09.15        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

                            10.00                                      Maureen Fitzpatrick (Hughes)

                                       

Fri     10th Jan     09.15     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00                                      Sadie McLaughlin RIP (Hagen)

 

Sat    11th Jan     17.30                                      Confessions

18.00                                      Colette Hunt RIP (Linthorn) 

 

Sun    12th Jan         BAPTISM OF THE LORD YEAR C 

                            08.30                                      Delia Willis RIP (Wilkes)

                            10.30                                      Maureen Fitzpatrick (Wheatley)

 

The Last day of Christmas!!! “Ordinary time” from now till Lent.

 

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

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed via the link:

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

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection           Last Week:                           £ 1078.22 incl S.O.

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 foyer. Very easy to use!

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms available in the foyer. 

            

OUR PARISH HALL

Our hall is available for hire. Please email bexley@rcaos.org.uk at ANY time and our secretary will get back to you. Prices: £35 per hour weekdays, £40 per hour weekends

 

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

 

Dear Parishioners, 

                                     HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

As we begin this New Year together, let me look ahead and wish you and your families every blessing and also look back to the year past and thank everyone who has given so much to the parish: 

To the parish council, and to all the groups and activity that they lead or coordinate – including our AIC, our M.C. and altar servers, the teams for baptism, first holy communion, confirmation, and children’s liturgies, our hard working finance team, our premises committee; our offertory collection counters, our welcome teams at masses, our coffee morning organisers, our events committee, the SVP team, the liturgy committee, the representatives for diocesan and national charities, our hall staff, our meeting point helpers, the church care team, the flower arrangers, the crib and Easter garden builder, the Christmas tree team, the organists, the choir and their leader, our Eucharistic ministers, shop staff and sacristans, the parish secretary, our readers, the parish registers keeper, the safeguarding team and the person who runs our website and offers other technical support, and indeed everyone who has taken part in our parish activity and helped to carry our mission forward. On behalf of the whole parish I say a big thank you to you all. 

 

On a personal note, I also wish to thank you for all the Christmas cards and gifts that I received and especially for your very generous Christmas Offering. I am most grateful. 

 

And oh yes, hasn’t our sanctuary looked spectacular over this Christmas period. We hope to repurpose the Christmas tree later in the year when we hope to join a Cafod campaign to “Live Simply”, but more about that in due course.   

                                                       God Bless,                                       Fr Doug 

 

CRIB COLLECTION:  This year we are collecting for Friends of the Holy Land.

This charity, endorsed by Cardinal Vincent Nicholls, actually has workers based in Bethlehem and is therefore able to help the Christians there survive even under the current siege conditions imposed by Israel. They assist with emergency aid, with counselling and with a limited amount of development.

 

MAUREEN WATKINS, CATHERINE FITZPATRICK, LESLEY DOYLE RIP

May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

Cath’s funeral will be in church at 10.00 on Monday 20^th January

Lesley’s funeral will be at Eltham Crematorium at 1.00 on Wednesday 22^nd January 

 

FESTIVE PARTY :  Huge congratulations to all those involved in the event – to the organisers and to the participants. An enjoyable festive time was enjoyed by all and £230 was raised for parish funds.



 

CHURCH CLEANING:   A big THANK YOU to the parishioners who give up time to help keep our church clean. The 2025 rota 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 12 weeks for about one hour.  Please ring Carole Hughes on 07762 731303.

 

MARLENE BURT:  Congratulations to Marlene who has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours List for her services to education.