Nuntius

12 January 2024 Nuntius

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.

6 January 2024 Nuntius

SUNDAY 7^th January 2024

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD, YEAR B, Page 115

Readings: Isiah 60:1-6, Psalm 71 Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12

Sat 6^th Jan 17.30 Confessions

18.00 For the Parish

Sun 7^th Jan THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

08.30 Victor Jeyaseelan (Jeyaseelan)

10.30 David Brailsford (Brailsford)

Mon 8^th Jan 09.15 BAPTISM OF THE LORD Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Pet Kilcullen (Kilcullen)

Tues 9^th Jan 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Bernie King (M.Fitzpatrick)

Wed 10^th Jan 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Tony Speed RIP (Speed)

Thurs 11^th Jan tba

Fri 12^th Jan 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Souls in Purgatory (B.Gillespie)

Sat 13^th Jan 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Harrington & Sheehan families RIP (Sheehan)

Sun 14^th Jan SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

08.30 Phil Heavey (Traynor)

10.30 Eileen Wheatley (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 £1001.38

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,

As the new year gets underway, it is traditional to make new year resolutions. What about this one:

Do all the good you can

By all the means you can

In all the ways you can

In all the places you can

At all the times you can

To all the people you can

As long as ever you can

John Wesley

Maybe something less ambitious? How about resolving to keep the main church quiet after mass for people to pray, and instead take conversations into the foyer or the porch or even the hall?

In this coming year, our parish resolution is to give our parish hall a makeover, and in particular we want to renovate the toilet facilities there and, in the church, too. A first class parish should have first class facilities.

God Bless, Fr Doug

CONGRATULATIONS: To Oliver McAlpine who is being baptized at our 10.30 mass. He will then go on to receive Holy Communion for the first time later in the mass. Congratulations as well to his family and we welcome any guests attending the ceremony.

FESTIVE PARTY : Congratulations to all those who organised and ran our Parish Festive Party. It was an excellent event, enjoyed by all who came along – to whom we also say, “thank you.” Apart from all the enjoyment, the event raised £500 towards our hall refurbishment project.

HOLY COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION 2024

Both these programmes are getting underway, and no more applications can be accepted.

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

We still do not have a date for Bridie’s funeral, sad to say.

CHURCH CLEANING: A big THANK YOU to the parishioners who give up time to help keep our church clean. The rota for 2024 is now available from our cupboard. We would be grateful if more came forward to either join an existing group or make up a new one. Currently, each group cleans once every 10 weeks for about an hour. If you might be able to help, ring Carole Hughes on 07762 731303.

WWW.GOODCOUNSELNETWORK.COM

“On Friday 12^th January, the eve of the 27^th anniversary of the founding of The Good Counsel Network, 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

29 December 202330 December 2023 Nuntius

SUNDAY 31st December 2023

HOLY FAMILY, Year B

Readings: Genesis 15:1-5, 21:1-3, Psalm 104, Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19, Luke 2:22-40

Sat 30th Dec 17.30 Confessions

18.00 For the Parish

Sun 31st Dec HOLY FAMILY of JESUS, MARY and JOSEPH

08.30 In Thanksgiving (Li/Sparkes)

10.30 The Choir

Mon 1st Jan 09.15 Mary, Mother of God Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Harrington Family & Relatives RIP (Sheehan)

Tues 2nd Jan 09.15 Ss Basil & Gregory Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Anita Rowland RIP (Connolly)

Wed 3rd Jan 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Eilish Melen RIP

Fri 5th Jan 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Sue Johnson RIP (Kilcullen)

Sat 6th Jan 17.30 Confessions

18.00 For the Parish

Sun 7th Jan THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

08.30 Victor Jeyaseelan (Jeyaseelan)

10.30 David Brailsford RIP (Brailsford)

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 £995.67

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,

More of a letter than a newsletter this week!! As we begin this New Year, let me look forward and wish you and your families every blessing but 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 finance team, our gift aid organiser, our premises committee; our offertory collection counters, our welcome teams at masses, our coffee morning organisers, our events committee, the mass intention organizer, the SVP team, the liturgy committee, our newsletter team, the representatives for diocesan and national charities, our hall manager, our meeting point helpers, the church care team, the flower arrangers, the Christmas Crib and Easter garden builders, the Christmas tree team, the organists, the choir and their leader, our Eucharistic ministers, shop staff and sacristans, the parish secretary, our readers, 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.

At this time, I also want to say a huge THANK YOU to you all, for all your cards and gifts and your wonderfully generous Christmas offering. I am humbled by your sincerity.

Fr Peter has also asked me to thank you for all your kindness to him. I am sure it means a lot, when you are retired, to know that you are still valued.

Our Parish Finance Committee carries a big workload that continues to grow in complexity. At its heart has been Brian Fernandes who has been Chairman as well as covering a number of other tasks, and Edna Fernandes who has been dealing with all the gift-aided contributors. I, and we, should be so grateful to them for all that they have done over many years. They have recently been gifted with a grandchild… and also gifted with the weekday responsibility for childcare. Wonderful (?!) for them but not so good for our finance team, as they can no longer spend time during the week in our office! Again, thank you, so very much, Brian and Edna, for everything.

I am very pleased though to inform you, that new team members have stepped forward, so now the committee is as follows:

Chair: Shane Howie; Accountant: Sandeep Monteiro; Gift Aid: Richard Gillespie;

Financial Secretary: Errol Colaco; Counters Organiser: Patricia McQuaid

Data Managers: Madeline Grainger, Amyas Mascarenhas, Errol Colaco

In this coming year we hope to give our parish hall a makeover, and in particular we want to renovate the toilet facilities – in the church too. A first class parish should have a first class hall.

So, I wouldn’t be doing the new finance committee justice if I didn’t ask at the beginning of a new year, that you examine your financial contribution to the church and see if you can’t afford a little more to match our increasing challenges caused by fuel inflation in particular.

I for one, found the Parish celebration of Christmas quite moving. There were many beautiful touches, but none more than the improvements to our crib. (Thank you Peter.) How ironic that this sign of peace and goodwill should be in such contrast to the situation in the Holy Lands. As you know the crib offerings this year will be going out to the Holy Lands to try to keep people alive. Your offerings so far have been remarkable. Christmas continues till the feast of The Baptism Of The Lord, so the Crib Offerings Basket will remain in place till then.

God Bless, Fr Doug