Category: Uncategorized

 

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus, The Light of the World

The Good News we have heard is like a beacon light which draws men irresista bly to Christ.   We must not be content with lesser lights.

MASS INTENTIONS FOR WEEK 21 – 29 JANUARY 2017

Sat 21 Jan     9am Deceased Members of the Dunne Family (Bridie Haylett)
                      6pm Marnie, Sonny & Tim Anderson (Eileen Sheehan & Family)

Sun 22 Jan     8.30am Parishioners
                    10.30am Wellbeing of Maureen Fitzpatrick (Tim Bowman)

Mon 23 Jan     9am Noel McDonough RIP (Bridie Haylett)

Tues 24 Jan     7pm Josie Keeley RIP (Tim Bowman)
                     Followed by Adoration and Our Lady & St Pio’s Prayer Group

Wed 25 Jan     10am Thomas Harrington RIP (Eileen Sheehan & Family)

Thu 26 Jan     9am Eucharistic Service

Fri 27 Jan     9am Julia Mansell RIP (Anne Harris)

Sat 28 Jan     9am John Stanley (Stanley Family)
                     6pm Peter O’Neill (Eileen Sheehan & Family)

Sun 29 Jan     8.30am Parishioners
                    10.30am Kathleen Murphy RIP: Anniversary (The Murphy Family)

Feast Days: Tues 24 Jan St Francis de Sales, Bishop Wed 25th Jan The Conversion of St Paul, Apostle, Thurs 26 Jan SS Timothy and Titus, Bishops Sat 29th Jan St Thomas Aquinas, Priest

Sick
Audrey O’Hara, Christine White, Kevin Harper, Ed Jones, John Bird, Gail Noel, Chris Neal, John Edwards, Tony Speed, Elvira Vaz, Geoffrey Hildebrand, John Underwood, Mary Stubbs, Una Carpenter, John Harrington, John Larkin, Norma Brooker, Nina Szredski, Nora Lenihan, Angela Gillespie, Ann McDonald, Eileen Weald, Geoff Birch, Maureen Fitzpatrick, David Shaw, Clare Kent, Liam Gray, Arthur Moss

Anniversaries
Fr Vincent Ryan, Michael Dooley, Maudie Thompson, Chris Symmonds, Patrick Stanley, Tom Johnson, Christopher Lynch

ROTAS For w/c Mon 23/1: Readers: Sat 6pm Kathy Fogarty; Sun 8.30am Ann Wilkes; Sun 10.30am Paul Gannaway.   Copying of Newsletter: Mollie Hobson.  Newsletter Typist: Molly Robins.   Collection for 8.30am Mass: Mr T Lee.   Parishioner Attending To Front of Church on Saturdays: Ken Crump.   Eucharistic Ministers: Saturday 6 pm Patricia McQuaid (1) Ivan Pereira (2);  Sun 8.30am Peter Whiffin (3) Ann Hyde (4);  Sun 10.30am Paul Rowland (5) Marlene Burt (6) Peter Hammond (7) Dorothy Speed (8) Carole Hughes (9).   Washing of Purificators: Kathy Connolly.  Flower Arranging: Mary J

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: Sunday 15 January 2017:
Gift Aid:  £427.00       Loose:  £171.41.    Total:£598.41
Retiring collection Bexley Deanery Developing World Group:   £157.10

IDA LEITAO RIP Sadly we have received the news that Ida has died. Please can you remember her daughter Thelma and son Roland and family and friends in your prayers.

NEW ROTA FOR EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS. Please collect your rota (Feb-May) from the Sacristy.

BETHLEHEM NATIVITY GROUP HOLY LAND will visit and give a talk on 4th Feb (6pm mass) and 5th Feb (8.30am and 10.30am masses) to sell olive wood carvings from the Holyland after the mass.

SPUC WHITE FLOWER APPEAL The SPUC Group would like to thank all parishioners for their support during the White Flower Appeal held on 8th January. The amount raised was £240.09.

CHURCH FLOWERS:   I hope you all enjoyed the flowers in the church over Christmas. Those of you who buy flowers regularly will have noticed how prices have risen lately. Unfortunately, this is more than the usual seasonal increase and is a result of the falling pound against the euro and the ending of Dutch Government subsidies to their flower producers. During the winter, most of our flowers are imported and even though prices will fall when home-grown varieties are again available they are still expected to be higher than last year. As a result, Fr Christian has agreed that we should once again have a collecting box in the church for those who wish to make a contribution towards the costs. We are using the box mounted in the wall on the left-hand side as you come into church. It is clearly marked “FLOWERS”. Donations for the Holy Souls should be made in the box on the right-hand side as you enter.
Thank you – Sue Murphy

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY On Sunday 22 January at 3pm St John Fisher is hosting the annual service for the Week of Prayer. The service is rotated among the different churches of Churches Together in Old Bexley. It is 8 years since we last hosted the service and two new churches will be joining St John Fisher for the first time – Albany Park Baptist Church and St James North Cray. Cakes for the refreshments afterwards and help in the hall serving tea and coffee would be most welcome. Thank you. Kathy Fogarty, Parish Unity Contact (01322 553993).

OUR LADY’S FILM EVENING Wed 15th Feb: movie on St John Baptist de la Salle, the 17th Century French priest and educator of poor children. All welcome. 7pm for 7.30pm start.

 

CAMINO DE COMPOSTELA SOCIAL EVENING:
Fri 27 Jan illustrated presentation of The Camino (The Way of St James) and his own 4 different walking pilgrimages to Santiago by Tim Bowman. All welcome, admission free, bar open, arrivals in Hall from 7pm for 7.30pm start.

JOB VACANCIES Please see noticeboard for job vacancies.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Lamb of God

We celebrate the Servant of God who came to do the Father’s will in perfect obedience.
Yet he was more than a servant. John the Baptist calls him the Lamb, the chosen one of God.

MASS INTENTIONS FOR WEEK 14 – 22 JANUARY 2017

Saturday 14 Jan 9.00am Wellbeing of Audrey O’Hara (Tony Frake)
                          6.00pm Bridie, Michael & Brendan Houlihan (Eileen Sheehan & Family)
Sunday 15 Jan 8.30am Parishioners
                       10.30am Wellbeing of Alicia Sconcia (Carole Hughes)
Monday 16 Jan 9.00am Mr R Gray RIP (The Morris Family)
Tuesday 17 Jan 7.00pm Sean Coogan RIP (Mary & Vincent Jeyaseelan)                                                    Followed by Adoration and Our Lady & St Pio’s Prayer Group
Wednesday 18 Jan 10.00am. Fr James Dudley MSc (Eileen Sheehan & Family)
                              1.00pm Funeral Mass for Russell Gray RIP
Thursday 19 Jan 9.00am Eucharistic Service
Friday 20 Jan 9.00am Mrs J Keeley RIP (The Morris Family)
Saturday 21 Jan 9.00am Deceased Members of The Dunne Family (Bridie Haylett)
                           6.00pm Marnie, Sonny & Tim Anderson (Eileen Sheehan & Family)
Sunday 22 Jan 8.30am Parishioners
                           10.30am Wellbeing of Maureen Fitzpatrick (Tim Bowman)

Feast Days:
Tue: St Anthony, Abbot, Memorial Thurs: St Wulstan, Bishop,  Fri: St Fabian, Pope & Martyr. St Sebastian, Martyr,  Sat: St Agnes, Virgin & Martyr

Sick:
Audrey O’Hara, Christine White, Kevin Harper, Ed Jones, John Bird, Gail Noel, Chris Neal, John Edwards, Tony Speed, Elvira Vaz, Geoffrey Hildebrand, John Underwood, Mary Stubbs, Una Carpenter, John Harrington, Ida Leitao, John Larkin, Norma Brooker, Nina Szredski, Nora Lenihan, Angela Gillespie, Ann McDonald, Eileen Weald, Geoff Birch, Maureen Fitzpatrick, David Shaw, Clare Kent, Liam Gray, Arthur Moss, Alicia Batey

Anniversaries:
Erwin Janota, Carol Brooker, Jim Smerdon, Avril D’Silva, Mary Clancy, Anne Ryder, Anthony Gray, Charlotte Seekings

ROTAS:    Readers: Saturday 6pm Christine Hand Sunday 8.30am Peter Wilkes 10.30am Sarah Finlay.   Copying of Newsletter: John Stanton.   Newsletter Typist: Ruth Powers. Collection for 8.30am Mass: Mr V Jeyaseelan.    Parishioner Attending To Front of Church on Saturdays: John Stanton.    Eucharistic Ministers: Saturday 6 pm (1) Carole Hughes (2) Paul Rowland Sun 8.30am (3) Bridie Haylett (4) Peter Whiffin Sun 10.30am (5) Kathy Connolly (6) Eileen Wheatley (7) Patricia McQuaid (8) Molly Robbins (9) Margaret Gillis .   Washing of Purificators: Norma Brooker.   Flower Arranging: Sue Murphy & Mary Kevan

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: Sunday 8th January 2017
Gift Aid:  £ 377.90;  Loose:  £ 175.30;   Total:  £ 553.20
This week’s retiring collection is for: Bexley Deanery Developing World Group

RUSSELL GRAY, RIP:   The Funeral Mass for Russell Gray will be held on Wednesday 18th January 2017 at 1.00 pm at St John Fisher.

CHURCH FLOWERS:   I hope you all enjoyed the flowers in the church over Christmas. Those of you who buy flowers regularly will have noticed how prices have risen lately. Unfortunately, this is more than the usual seasonal increase and is a result of the falling pound against the euro and the ending of Dutch Government subsidies to their flower producers. During the winter, most of our flowers are imported and even though prices will fall when home-grown varieties are again available they are still expected to be higher than last year. As a result, Fr Christian has agreed that we should once again have a collecting box in the church for those who wish to make a contribution towards the costs. We are using the box mounted in the wall on the left-hand side as you come into church. It is clearly marked “FLOWERS”. Donations for the Holy Souls should be made in the box on the right-hand side as you enter.
Thank you – Sue Murphy

OUR LADY’S FILM EVENING: Wednesday 18th January (Christian Unity Octave): Inspirational movie on St Teresa of Calcutta, the selfless missionary who brought hope, love and salvation to the poorest of the poor. Her life and service transcended hardships and ultimately earned her international acclaim, including the Nobel Peace Prize. Bar open. All Welcome 7.00pm for 7.30pm start.

CAMINO DE COMPOSTELA SOCIAL EVENINGS: 1) Fri 20 Jan: Entertaining movie about pilgrims walking the Camino (The way of St James) – their encounters, struggles and how they learn to love strangers and share each other’s hurts. 2) Fri 27 Jan: Illustrated presentation on The Camino and his four walking pilgrimages to Santiago by Tim Bowman. For both events: all welcome, admission free, bar open, arrivals in Hall from 7.00pm for 7.30pm start.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY: On Sunday 22nd January at 3.00pm, St John Fisher is hosting the annual service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The service is rotated among the different churches of Churches Together in Old Bexley. It is eight years since we last hosted the service and two new churches will be joining us at St John Fisher for the first time – Albany Park Baptist Church and St James North Cray. Cakes for the refreshments afterwards and help in the Hall serving tea and coffee would be most welcome.   Kathy Fogarty, Parish Unity Contact, 01322 553993

THE NEW YEARS DAY LUNCH: To share our love for one another within the community and to celebrate the gift of a New Year was enjoyed by about 50 people from the Parish and other churches in the Deanery in the church hall. A welcome glass of wine, home prepared cooking, a talk by Father Christian on the history of our Parish and meeting those from other churches, all contributed to the day.

Many thanks to the coordinating team and the teams that cooked the food, prepared the hall and cleared away – all well organised at fairly short notice.

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD (A)

Today’s Theme: The Revelation of Christ To The World.

We join all the people of the world in worshipping the infant King of the Jews.

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Saturday 7 January    9.00am Wellbeing of Nicola & Family (Anne Harris)
                                    6.00pm Stan Jeremiah RIP (Mary & Vincent Jeyaseelan)

Sunday 8 January    8.30am Foundation Mass for Jamie Cowdell RIP
Epiphany                10.30am Tony Sullivan RIP (Marie & Family)

Monday 9 January    9.00am Wellbeing of Juliette & Family (Anne Harris)

Tuesday 10 January    7.00pm Wellbeing of Liam Gray (Tim Bowman)
                      Followed by Adoration & Our Lady & St Pio’s Prayer Group

Wednesday 11 January    10.00am Kit & Hugh O’Reilly RIP
                                   (Eileen Sheehan &Family)

Thursday 12 January    9.00am Eucharistic Service

Friday 13 January    9.00am Raul Fernandes (Alex & Dahlia Fernandes)

Saturday 14 January    9.00am Wellbeing of Audrey O’Hara (Tony Frake)
                                   6.00pm Bridie, Michael & Brendan Houlihan                                                            (Eileen Sheehan & Family)

Sunday 15 January    8.30am Parishioners
                                   10.30am Wellbeing of Alicia Sconcia (Carole Hughes)

Feast Days: Sunday 8th, The Epiphany of the Lord.  Monday 9th, The Baptism of the Lord; Thursday St Aelred of Rievaulx, Abbot; Friday St Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the Church; Saturday Our Lady.

Sick: Audrey O’Hara, Christine White, Kevin Harper, Ed Jones, John Bird, Gail Noel, Chris Neal, John Edwards, Tony Speed, Elvira Vaz, Geoffrey Hildebrand, John Underwood, Mary Stubbs, Una Carpenter, John Harrington, Ida Leitao, John Larkin, Norma Brooker, Nina Szredski, Nora Lenihan, Angela Gillespie, Ann McDonald, Eileen Weald, Geoff Birch, Maureen Fitzpatrick, David Shaw, Clare Kent, Liam Gray, Arthur Moss, Alicia Batey.

Anniversaries: Jamie Cowdell, Kathleen Russell, Pat D’Silva, Barry Haddock, Vernon Bunce, Mary Rose Romeril.

ROTAS: Readers: Saturday 6pm Carol Anderson Sunday 8.30am Doune Robinson 10.30am Ryan Bernarte. Photocopying of Newsletter: Emma Fox Newsletter Typist: Venus Bernarte Collection for 8.30 Mass Mrs T Li/Ray Parishioner Attending To Front of Church on Saturdays: Paul Rowlands Flower Arranging: Graziella & Lynn Eucharistic Ministers Saturday 6 pm Mary Henden (1) Molly Robbins (2) Sun 8.30am Peter Hammond (3) Patricia McQuaid (4) Sun 10.30am John Stanton (5) Marlene Burt (6) Carole Hughes (7) Rob O’Halloran (8) Eileen Wheatley (9). Washing of Purificators: Patricia McQuaid.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: Sunday 1st January 2017:
Gift Aid – £349.50 ; Loose – £196.02 ; Total – £545.52

SPUC – WHITE FLOWER APPEAL: 50th Anniversary 2017 will take place this weekend.

RUSSELL GRAY, RIP: The Funeral Mass for Russell Gray will be held on Wednesday 18th January at 1pm at St. John Fisher.

MAY JONES, RIP: Sadly we have received the news that May Jones has died. Please remember all her family and friends in your prayers.

OUR LADY’S FILM EVENING: Wednesday 18th January (Christian Unity Octave): Inspirational movie on St Teresa of Calcutta, the selfless missionary who brought hope, love and salvation to the poorest of the poor. Her life and service transcended hardships and ultimately earned her international acclaim, including the Nobel Peace Prize. Bar open. All Welcome 7.00pm for 7.30pm start.

THE NEW YEARS DAY LUNCH: To share our love for one another within the community and to celebrate the gift of a New Year was enjoyed by about 50 people from the Parish and other churches in the Deanery in the church hall. A welcome glass of wine, home prepared cooking, a talk by Father Christian on the history of our Parish and meeting those from other churches, all contributed to the day.

Many thanks to the co-ordinating team and the teams that cooked the food, prepared the hall and cleared away – all well organised at fairly short notice.

CAMINO DE COMPOSTELA SOCIAL EVENINGS: 1) Fri 20 Jan: Entertaining movie about pilgrims walking the Camino (The way of St James) – their encounters, struggles and how they learn to love strangers and share each other’s hurts. 2) Fri 27 Jan: Presentation on the Camino by Tim Bowman. For both events: all welcome, admission free, arrivals in Hall from 7pm for 7.30 pm start.

THANK YOU: To the Catenians from our local circle for all their help in making St John Fisher’s New Year disco such a success, especially Cliff Thomas in rallying the troops and who did so much behind the scenes. Noel McCarthy.