Nuntius

2 February 2024 Nuntius

SUNDAY 4^th February 2024

FIFTH SUNDAY, YEAR B

Readings: Job 7:1-4, 6-7, Psalm 146, 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23 Mark 1 29-39:

Sat 3^rd Feb 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Pet & Brendan Kilcullen (Long)

Sun 4^th Feb FIFTH SUNDAY (B)

08.30 Karl Baynham RIP (Gillespie)

10.30 Kenneth Crump RIP (Crump)

Mon 5^th Feb 09.15 St Agatha Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 For the Parish

Tues 6^th Feb 09.15 ss Paul Miki & Comp. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Fr Gerry French RIP (Kilcullen)

Wed 7^th Feb 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Eileen Wheatley (Hughes)

Fri 9^th Feb 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Deceased Relatives & Friends (Mantle)

Sat 10^th Feb 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Foundation: Virginia Bolton RIP

Sun 11^th Feb SIXTH SUNDAY (B)

08.30 Petronella Family RIP (Jeyaseelan)

10.30 Sonny Sheehan RIP (Sheehan)

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 £1033.02

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,

LENT is only a few weeks away – Feb 14, Valentine’s Day! Think ahead about how you will use the season to grow closer to the Way to the Father that Jesus has shown us. I recommend the Scripture Days of course, but if that’s not possible, what about attending an extra mass or giving a little more time to prayer, or doing some spiritual reading? Word of Life leaflets are in the foyer along with Matthew Kelly’s easy to use Rediscover Jesus books of 40 reflections.

God Bless, Fr Doug

SCRIPTURE STUDY FOR LENT – for EVERYONE

A scripture course led by Brian Purfield over 2 Saturdays.

1) Bringing the Old Testament to Life Sat 24^th Feb 10am-3.30pm

The main sections of the Old Testament are identified and outlined.

2) Bringing the New Testament to Life Sat 9^th March 10am-3.30pm

We meet disciples, communicating with us, sharing their beliefs, their fears and their hopes.

Brian Purfield wants to deepen a knowledge and love of the Scriptures for people, young and old, at a level that they can understand and seek to apply to their daily lives.

An opportunity not to be missed!

CATECHISTS – March 2nd

All catechists are invited to a Day of support and reflection with other catechists from our deanery of Bexley. You may be involved in Baptism, Holy Communion, Children’s Liturgy, or Confirmation. (This is not a follow-up to the Southeast Area event of last October for all ministers.)

Our day will be at Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen, on Sat March 2^nd, starting with mass at 10.00 and ending at 3.45. Canon Ed Perera and I will be leading the day. If you need a lift, just say!

A poster with more details is or will be in the foyer in the Catechist section.

PARKING 2024

Please renew your car parking permit for 2024. Applications forms are in the foyer.

GOOD COUNSELLING NETWORK

“On Saturday 10^th February, the Vigil of the Feast Our Lady of Lourdes, please pray and fast for the end of abortion in this Country. Through God’s grace we have seen thousands of Mothers in our counselling centre continue their pregnancies in very difficult circumstances. Please help us to help save lives with your prayers, fasting and support. www.GoodCounselNetwork.com”

FR PATRICK MOLONEY RIP

Fr Patrick’s funeral will be on 5th February at 10.30 at Little Sisters of the Poor, 2a Meadow Road.

SR ANGELA WOOTTON RIP

Please pray for the repose of her soul.

VOCATIONS WEEKEND FOR WOMEN (20S & 30S)

16-18 February in Liverpool, run by the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ). If you would like to find out more why not come along? You are welcome to stay for the weekend or just on Saturday.

Contact Sr Lynne fcJ at fcjvocationeurope@gmail.com or visit our website www.fcjsisters.org

FIRST FRIDAYS AT SANCTUARY QUIET GARDEN, SWANLEY VILLAGE

Open for ‘winter hours’ 12 noon to 4pm on Friday 2^nd February. Just call in – The side gate is open. For more info call 07977 978536

PART TIME FOODBANK MANAGER REQUIRED FOR SWANLEY – Trussell Trust affiliated

Tuesdays 10:30 – 3:00, Fridays 10:30 – 12:30 and remainder of16 hrs per week is flexible. Min £12.15 per hour. To apply please forward your CV with a hand-written letter detailing your suitability for the role to: John Kahan Chair of the Trustees, at 26 Wallis Close, Wilmington, Dartford. DA2 7BE. Email: john.kahan@hotmail.co.uk . Closing date: 20^th February

26 January 2024 Nuntius

SUNDAY 28thJanuary 2024

FOURTH SUNDAY, YEAR B

Readings: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 94, 1 Corinthians 7 32-35 Mark 1 21-28:

Sat 27^th Jan 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Mary Connolly RIP (Eida/Connolly)

Sun 28^th Jan FOURTH SUNDAY (B)

08.30 Mabel Antony Family RIP (Jeyaseelan)

10.30 Danny Lyons RIP (Lyons)

Mon 29^th Jan 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Ronnie Aspeek RIP (Speed)

Tues 30^th Jan 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 For the Parish

Wed 31^st Jan 09.15 St John Bosco Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Maureen Fitzpatrick (Hughes)

Fri 2^nd Feb 09.15 Presentation of the Lord Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Harrington Family RIP (Sheehan)

Sat 3^rd Feb 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Pet & Brendan Kilcullen (Long)

Sun 4^th Feb FOURTH SUNDAY (B)

08.30 Karl Baynham RIP (Gillespie)

10.30 Kenneth Crump RIP (Crump)

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 £842.52

Retiring Collection this week: AIC £635.41

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,

LENT is always a special time for us wherein we are inclined to look deeper into our faith. For the last 3 years we have offered the opportunity to take part in a retreat with others in our diocese and last year, even with other churches in Bexley. Lent is only a few weeks away – Feb 14!

This year we are offering something different:

SCRIPTURE STUDY FOR LENT – for EVERYONE

We offer a straightforward scripture course over 2 Saturdays. Our Spirituality Committee will offer a follow-up to both days with an opportunity for reflection and prayer in the 2 subsequent weeks.

We have engaged a top-class lecturer, Brian Purfield to lead us in:

1) Bringing the Old Testament to Life Sat 24^th Feb 10am-3.30pm

The main sections of the Old Testament are identified and outlined.

2) Bringing the New Testament to Life Sat 9^th March 10am-3.30pm

We meet disciples, communicating with us, sharing their beliefs, their fears and their hopes.

Brian Purfield has been a team member at the London Jesuit Centre since 2001. Prior to that he taught at the International Franciscan Study Centre in Canterbury. He studied theology at the Gregorian University, Rome and at St. Bonaventure’s University, New York. His interest is in deepening a knowledge and love of the Scriptures for people, young and old, at a level that they can understand and seek to apply to their daily lives.

I am so much looking forward to it myself. It’s a fantastic opportunity, not to be missed!

God Bless, Fr Doug

CATECHISTS – March 2^nd: All catechists are invited to a Day of support and reflection with other catechists from our deanery of Bexley. You may be involved in Baptism, Holy Communion, Children’s Liturgy, or Confirmation. (This is not a follow-up to the Southeast Area event of last October for all ministers.)

Our day will be at Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen, on Sat March 2^nd, starting with mass at 10.00 and ending at 3.45. Canon Ed Perera and I will be leading the day. If you need a lift, just say!

A poster with more details is or will be in the foyer in the Catechist section.

AIC SATURDAY FRIENDS

Thanks so much for your contribution last weekend to our rehabilitation work with homeless people – over £600. It will bring some enjoyment and encouragement to an otherwise hard-to-bear life. (to know more, please see passage.org.uk and/ or aic-international.org.)

PARKING 2024: Please renew your car parking permit for 2024. Applications forms are in the foyer.

SR ANGELA WOOTTON RIP: Our former parish Sister died on Tues 16^th Jan. No word yet on her funeral. Please pray for the repose of her soul.

FR PATRICK MOLONEY RIP: Fr Patrick died on 4^th January. His funeral will be on 5th February 2024 at 10.30 at Little Sisters of the Poor, 2a Meadow Road. SW8 1QH. Please pray for the repose of his soul.

FIRST FRIDAYS AT SANCTUARY QUIET GARDEN, SWANLEY VILLAGE

Open for ‘winter hours’ 12 noon to 4pm on Friday 2^nd February. All are welcome to call in, use the garden and prayer cabin for your own personal quiet and reflection. Just call in – The side gate is open. For more info call 07977 978536

19 January 202419 January 2024 Nuntius

SUNDAY 21^st January 2024

THIRD SUNDAY, YEAR B

Readings: Jonah 3:1-5,10 Psalm 24, 1 Corinthians 7 29-31 Mark 1 14-20

Sat 20^th Jan 17.30 Confessions

18.00 SVP Members RIP (SVP Group)

Sun 21^st Jan THIRD SUNDAY (B)

08.30 Alfred Family RIP (Jeyaseelan)

10.30 John Hughes RIP (Hughes)

Mon 22^nd Jan 09.15 St Vincent, Deacon Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 In Thanksgiving (Bosser)

Tues 23^rd Jan 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 For the Parish

Wed 24^th Jan 09.15 St Francis de Sales Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Eamon Dunning (Wheatley)

Thurs 25^th Jan 08.00 Conversion of St Paul Priest’s Intention

Fri 26^th Jan 09.15 Ss Timothy & Titus Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Funeral Mass for Bridie Haylett RIP

Sat 27^th Jan 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Mary Connolly RIP (Eida/Connolly)

Sun 28^th Jan FOURTH SUNDAY (B)

08.30 Mabel Antony Family RIP (Jeyaseelan)

10.30 Ronnie Aspeek RIP (Speed)

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 £926.62

Retiring Collection this 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,

I was very heartened last week when after mass, a couple who attended said that while no one would have known who they were, 3 different parishioners welcomed them and so they felt very much at home and were now looking forward to attending mass here on a regular basis. Not so long ago (!) we heard The Baptist inviting 2 disciples to go and be with Jesus and then one of them, Andrew inviting Peter and now we hear of our parishioners inviting and welcoming others. These things matter a great deal.

Inviting others to, as Jesus said, “Come and see” is a mission we should all take seriously. These days many people do research on the internet before making decisions, checking for instance on Google what the reviews are like. Now on Google Reviews of St John Fisher, we currently rate 4.6 out of 5, but many visitors who come to us say we are 5 star! Some of the reviews relate to parties or other events in our hall that are nothing to do with us and there is little we can do about that, but it would be nice if we could push our rating higher by weight of numbers of good reviews in the parish, and have some comments about the spiritual life of the community. If you enjoy something about the life of the parish why not review us! Just search for SJF on Google maps and leave us a review. You never know – your good review might lead someone to find us!

Oh, and by the way, someone asked me about my choice of eucharistic prayers each Sunday. Most will know that I use Prayer 2 on even numbered Sundays and Prayer 3 on odd numbered ones so on this 3^rd Sunday of Ordinary time we will use Prayer 3. On occasion I will pick a different one but always announce the change, and the reason why.

God Bless, Fr Doug

UNITY SERVICE SUNDAY – TODAY 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 a 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. Kathy Fogarty, Parish Unity Contact – fogartyk@ntlworld.com

AIC SATURDAY FRIENDS

This weekend, we are making our annual appeal for homeless people who are clients of The Passage Day Centre in central London and who use our “Saturday Friends” rehabilitation service.

We are very grateful for your ongoing generosity.

BRIDIE HAYLETT RIP: Please pray for the soul of Bridie who has died. Her funeral will be on Friday 26^th January at 10.00

SR ANGELA WOOTTON RIP: Our former parish Sister died on Tues 16^th Jan. Sr Angela reached 98 years old on 13th Dec. Please pray for the repose of her soul.

FR PATRICK MOLONEY RIP: Fr Patrick, known to many of you from his days as parish priest of St. Stephen’s Welling, died on 4^th January. Please pray for the repose of his soul.

FIRST FRIDAYS AT SANCTUARY QUIET GARDEN, SWANLEY VILLAGE

PARKING 2024

Please renew your car parking permit for 2024. Applications forms are in the foyer.