SUNDAY 24th December 2023
FOURTH OF ADVENT,YEAR B
Readings: 2 Samuel 7, Psalm 88, Rom 16:25-27, Luke 1 2-38
Sat 23rd Dec 17.30 Confessions
18.00 Ron Aspeek RIP (Morris)
Sun 24th Dec FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
08.30 Marie Sullivan RIP (Kennedy)
10.30 Hollis Family (Hollis)
FEAST OF CHRISTMAS
Vigil Mass 18.00 Kay Gillespie RIP (J.Gillespie)
Christmas Night 22.00 Maria & Giuseppe Nucera RIP (Highland)
Mon 25th Dec 08.30 Barry Southgate RIP (Cannon)
10.30 Ron Aspeek RIP (M.Fitzpatrick)
Tue 26th Dec 09.15 St Stephen Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
10.00 Peggy Lawlor RIP (Kilcullen)
Wed 27th Dec 09.15 St John Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
10.00 Harrington & Sheehan Families RIP
Thurs 28th Dec 08.00 Holy Innocents Priest’s Intention
Fri 29th Dec 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
10.00 Foundation: Jamie Cowdell RIP
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
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 £996.59
Sunday Collections are for the parish.
The Collection on Christmas Day is your gift to your Parish Priest
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,
And so we reach the 4th week of Advent, but not for very long! Christmas begins Sunday evening at 6 p.m. mass. So let me jump right ahead and wish you all a very happy Christmas.
I, like many others, enjoy being with family at this time but I can’t celebrate without in some way being alongside our brothers and sisters in Gaza. I have for many years supported “The Friends of the Holy Land”, a charity in Bethlehem, and I will be proud to support them again this Christmas, with funds I will set aside from your Christmas Offering (to me). Here is part of a letter I received from Brendan Metcalfe, CEO, Friends of the Holy Land:
Dear Father Doug, Like all of us at Friends of the Holy Land, I know you’ll be heartbroken and appalled by the siege of the Holy Family parish in Gaza. We know first-hand, that civilians sheltering in the Church last Saturday have been killed by Israeli forces and the sisters’ home for children and young people with severe disabilities has been heavily damaged after being targeted with tank fire. Pope Francis has condemned the attacks as “terrorism” and our patron Cardinal Vincent Nichols has denounced the “cold blooded killings”. Both have called for a ceasefire.
We have sent over £90,000 so far, so that some of those sheltering in churches and the hospital can survive. Bethlehem is in turmoil and all celebrations have been called off in solidarity with those suffering. The situation for our Christian family in the Holy Land has gone from very difficult to critical, and it is possible that there will be no Christians left in the homeland of our faith.
So, please donate freely to the crib offerings basket, or use our parish account (mark it clearly) or contribute directly: Friends of the Holy Land. Account: 24591211. Sort Code: 60-05-41
God Bless, Fr Doug
FESTIVE PARTY for everyone! : Friday 29th Dec 2-5pm. £5 Adults, £3 primary school children. Please come and celebrate the festive time with entertainment for young and old – you, your children and grandchildren. Children’s games / face painting /raffle (re-gifted Christmas presents gratefully received) / Live singer / Open bar. Please bring your own nibbles. Free Pizza for those who are on Santas ‘good list!’
CONFIRMATION 2024: Application forms are now available in the foyer for our Confirmation programme. Young people who are 13/14 and in year 9 or above can join. Please submit all completed forms to Father Doug
BRIDIE HAYLETT RIP: Please pray for the soul of Bridie who has died.
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.
FLOWERS AT CHRISTMAS: We always enjoy the wonderful floral arrangements that grace our Church at Christmas. If you wish to be involved by offering financial support, feel free to donate using the donation box in the wall at the back of church on the right-hand side, or use an envelope, suitably marked.
SR ANGELA WOOTTON : Our former parish Sister sends warm Christmas greetings to all her friends here. She still lives at 83 Watling Street, Bexleyheath and is delighted to receive visitors provided her care staff are forewarned (tel: 01322-528408). Sr Angela reached 98 years old on 13th December.
stjohnfisherbexley.org 
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