Category: Weekly Newsletter

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK:

Saturday 6 January     9.00am NO MORNING MASS
                                       6.30pm Deceased Parents, Brother & Sister of the Henry Family

Sunday 7 January     8.30am Parishioners
Epiphany                 10.30am In thanksgiving David Shaw (The Choir)

Monday 8 January     9.00am Parishioners

Tuesday 9 January     7.00pm Wellbeing of Anne Comiskey (Tony Frake)
     Followed by Adoration & Our Lady & St Pio’s Prayer Group

Wednesday 10 January     10.00am Bill Keefe RIP (Maureen Fitzpatrick)

Thursday 11 January     9.00am Eucharistic Service

Friday 12 January       9.00am Fr Ernest Akorsou RIP (OLPG)

Saturday 13 January     9.00am Belinda Coutinho RIP (Sylvia Coutinho)
                                       6.00pm Mae Moynihan RIP (Eileen Sheehan)

Sunday 14 January     8.30am Parishioners
                                       10.30am John & Rebecca Harris (Carole Hughes)

Reconciliation Times: Sat. 9:30am-10:30am and Sat. 7pm-8pm (Following Masses).

Sick:
Christine White, Kevin Harper, Ed Jones, John Bird, Gail Noel, Chris Neal, John Edwards, Tony Speed, Geoffrey Hildebrand, John Underwood, Mary Stubbs, John Harrington, Norma Brooker, Nina Szredski, Ann McDonald, Eileen Weald, Maureen Fitzpatrick, Eric May, Wendy Bowman, Gracie Maddox, Anne Hastings, Tom Barrett, Joann McIntosh, Timmy Lenihan, John Clarey, Marlene Burt, Tess Truman,
Anne Comiskey, Irene Gannaway.

Anniversaries:
Kathleen Russell, Pat D’Silva, Barry Haddock, Mary Rose Romeril.

Feast Days: Monday: The Baptism of The Lord. Friday: St Aelred of Rievalux Saturday: St Hilary.

ROTAS: Readers: Saturday 6pm Peter Harris, Sunday 8.30am Les Thomas, 10.30am Katherine Benarte.  Photocopying of Newsletter: Emma Fox.  Newsletter Typist: Venus Bernarte.  Collection for 8.30 Mass Mr T Lee.  Parishioner Attending To Front of Church on Saturdays: Ken Crump.  Flower Arranging: Doune & Theresa.  Eucharistic Ministers Saturday 6 pm: Kathy,  Sun 8.30am Peter W. Sun 10.30am Carole (5) Marleen (6) Patricia (7) Rob (8) Dorothy (9).  Washing of Purificators: Norma Brooker.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: 31/12/17:
GIFT AID: £ 354.00 LOOSE: £ 235.87 TOTAL: £ 589.87
XMAS OFFERING: GIFTAID: £ 150.00 LOOSE: £ 10.00 TOTAL: £ 160.00

BEXLEY DEANERY DEVELOPING WORLD GROUP: Thank you for your kind donation of £101.38 on Sunday 10th December. Please contact our Parish Representative, Maria Ward, on 01322 555 553 if you have any queries.

WHITE FLOWER APPEAL: The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) will be holding its annual appeal next weekend. SPUC is currently campaigning to stop the decriminalisation of abortion, which means taking abortion outside the law. This is the most dangerous threat to unborn children and their mothers in decades. Please be as generous as you can to help us defeat this latest attack on unborn babies and their mothers, and to stop abortion getting even worse in this country by decriminalisation.

GOA ORPHANAGE: Eileen and John Hollis will be returning to Goa at the end of this month, visiting an orphanage where the children have HIV. They have had your support for many years, please contact them if you can help. Thank you. 0208 303 4136.  

OUR LADY’S FILM EVENING: Wednesday 24th January (Christian Unity Octave): documentaries on a) Shroud of Turin, & b) St Augustine of Hippo, influential Father & Doctor of Church (as background to April & May’s 2-part movie). Bar open, all welcome, 7pm for 7.30pm start. SPECIAL EVENT: Friday 26th Jan: fish-n-chips social evening, bar and testimony of radical conversion of Mr Robin Mace. Details and £10 tickets at: film evening or Rebecca on 07956 111 909 or rebeccaluton@yahoo.co.uk

THREAT TO CATHOLIC EDUCATION: The Government may be about to renege on its manifesto commitments to remove the 50% cap on Catholic admissions to Free Schools. It appears that lobbying and letters to MPs have not worked. The Bishops have therefore put an online letter on their website which all Catholics are asked to consider signing. It takes around 3 minutes. Follow the link: http://cbcew.org.uk/education-cap and then follow the two steps. If each member gets 3 to 4 people to sign in addition to themselves, then we will begin to approach the kind of numbers that would make a difference. Best wishes, David O’Mahony, Chairman Catholic Union.

YOUTH MEETING: There is a meeting on 20th January to anyone interested in forming an ecumenical youth group (18-28) to engage in charitable or spiritual pursuits. If interested, please contact Joe Ebare on j.jebare@gmail.com

PARISH SOCIAL EVENTS: Parishioners have identified a number of activities that they would enjoy. The Events Team has suggested that these might be spread through the year. Two of these are relatively fixed: June/July St John Fisher Feast Day and BBQ and 31 December – New Year’s Eve Disco. Others that were well liked and could be planned for each quarter: Quiz, 60/70s Night, Variety Night, Dinner and Dance. Each event needs a small team to plan the event. All parishioners are invited to a meeting in the hall on Friday 19 January to see what might be involved and become part of one of the teams. If there is no team for an event, that event will not take place. Bar will be open, light refreshments will be provided.

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

We  celebrate that Holy Family of Nazareth which is the model for all who fear the Lord and walk in His way.

 MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Saturday 30^th Dec        No Morning Mass
                                    6.00 pm    John and Joy Hubbard RIP (Eileen Sheehan)

Sunday 31^st Dec        8.30 am       Carmel and Henricus Ferdinando and De        
New Year’s Eve                          Fonseka Family (Anne De Silva)
                                        10.30 am       Don Walch RIP (Marie Sullivan and Family)

Monday 1^st January 10.00 am       Tony Lobo RIP (Alvira and Donald Almeida)

Tuesday 2^nd January    No Mass, No Prayer Group

Wed 3^rd January     10.00 am Bill Keefe RIP (Carole Hughes)

Thursday 4^th January   No Eucharistic Service

Friday 5^th January        9.00 am     Wellbeing of Margaret Bates (Bridie)
No First Friday Adoration as we are supporting the Deanery 24-hour Adoration at St John Vianney, Bexleyheath                                          

Saturday 6^th January                     No Morning Mass
                                    6.00 pm       Deceased Parents, Brother and Sister of the Henry Family
                                    (Mary and Jim)

Sunday 7^th January    8.30 am       Parishioners
Epiphany                   10.30 am In Thanksgiving: David Shaw (The Choir))

Reconciliation Times: Saturday 9.30am-10.30am, 7pm-8pm (following Masses).

ANNIVERSARIES: Amanda Johnson, Joseph McKinley, Bemvinda Fernandes, Dick Fitzpatrick, Gerry Clark, Marilyn Mullins, Jamie Cowdell, Vernon Bunce.

FEAST DAYS: Monday, Mary, The Holy Mother of God. Tuesday, SS Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church. Wednesday, The Most Holy Name of Jesus. Saturday, Our Lady.

OFFERTORY:  Gift Aid £351.39 Loose £207.85. Total £559.24.
Christmas Collection:  Gift Aid £1397.00 Loose £1032.23. Total £2429.23.

PRAY FOR THE SICK: Christine White, Kevin Harper, Ed Jones,  John Bird, Gail Noel, Chris Neal, John Edwards, Tony Speed, Geoffrey Hildebrand, John Underwood, Mary Stubbs, John Harrington, Norma Brooker, Nina Szredski, Ann McDonald, Eileen Weald, Maureen Fitzpatrick, Eric May, Wendy Bowman, Gracie Maddox, Anne Hastings, Tom Barrett, Joann McIntosh, Timmy Lenihan, John Clarey, Marlene Burt, Tess Truman and Ann Comiskey.

ROTAS: Readers: Saturday 6pm Carol Anderson. Sunday 8.30am Bridie Haylett; 10.30am Paul Gannaway. Eucharistic Ministers: Saturday 6pm: Peter W. Sunday 8.30am Ann H. 10.30am Kathy (5) Eileen (6) Peter (7). Mary (8)  Patricia (9). Collector 8.30am Mass: Mr V Jeyaseelan. Front of Church: Giovanni Aletta. Typing Newsletter: Graziella Highland. Photocopying Newsletter: Calen Delpaul. Washing of Purificators: Patricia McQuaid. Flower Arranging: Mary J and Sue.

CHURCH FLOWERS: Thank you for all your kind comments about the flowers in the church at Christmas, I hope you all enjoyed them. Could I take this opportunity to thank two parishioners who made generous contributions towards the cost and could I also thank all parishioners who have helped throughout the year by putting donations in the wall box for flowers at the end of the church. During the year we collected just over £135.   Sue Murphy

ST JOHN FISHER NEW YEAR FAMILY DISCO – TONIGHT – YOUR LAST CHANCE FOR ANOTHER YEAR – DON’T MISS IT!!. £10 per Adult, £2 per child. 8pm to 1am. Licensed bar but bring your own nibbles. Please contact Noel McCarthy for tickets – 07813 890556 or 020 8301 2479. E-mail: noel.mccarthy60@outlook.com Or see Noel in the hall.

NEW YEARS DAY LUNCH 2018 (Volunteers needed) Fr Christian, on behalf of the Parish, has invited  a number of people from various parishes and faiths, including our own, to a New Year Lunch in the hall on 7 January 2018. This is an opportunity to celebrate all we hold in common within our communities and the gift of the New Year. Each of the parish groups have been asked to put forward two names from their group to come to the lunch.
We would like some volunteers to assist on 7 January. If you can offer one or two hours or more on this day, please call Tony Creed on 01322 315755 or Michael Adenuga on 07892 800404, or e-mail Kathy Fogarty k.fogarty@ntlworld.com. Please note  there will be no coffee served after the 10.30 am Mass on this day in order to prepare for this lunch. Thank you.

PARISHIONERS’ BIRTHDAYS: Reminding all our parishioners that our quarterly birthday blessings for those born in October, November and December comes up on the last Sunday of this month 31st December 2017 after the 10.30am Mass in the hall.  Everybody is invited..

OUR LADY’S FILM EVENING –  Wednesday 24^th January (Christian Unity Octave): Documentaries on a) Shroud of Turin and b) St Augustine of Hippo, Saint, Father and Doctor of the Church (as background to April and May’s two-part movie). Bar open, all welcome, 7pm for 7.30pm start. SPECIAL EVENT – Friday 26^th January: fish-n-chips social evening, bar, and testimony of radical conversion of Mr Robin Mace. We hope that all past, present and future attendees of film evenings will attend. Details and £10 tickets at film evening, from Rebecca 07956 111909 or rebeccaluton@yahoo.co.uk, or from Tim Bowman.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Mary, The Ark of God’s Covenant

Today’s Mass is a great song to the everlasting love of God revealed in his covenant with his people. We praise the mystery of his love kept secret for endless ages, but now revealed through a new ark of the covenant, Mary of Nazareth.

MASS INTENTIONS FOR WEEK 23 – 31 DECEMBER 2017

Sat 23 Dec –    No morning Mass
                           6.30pm Terry Frogley RIP: Birthday (Margaret & Family)

Sun 24 Dec    8.30am Rita & Bertram De Silva RIP (Gregory De Silva)
Christmas Eve 10.30am Wellbeing of Maureen & David Watkins (Tony Frake)
                           6.30pm Vigil Mass: Tony Sullivan RIP (Marie & Family)
                           11pm Christmas Night Mass: Douglas Dennehy RIP (Paddy Dennehy)

Mon 25 Dec     8.30am Parishioners
Christmas Day    10.30am Wellbeing of Joan & Ron Aspeek (Tony Frake)

Tues 26 Dec    – No Masses and No Prayer Group

Wed 27 Dec     10am Elvira Vaz RIP (Eileen Sheehan)

Thu 28 Dec –     No Eucharistic Service

Fri 29 Dec    10am Foundation Mass for Jamie Cowdell RIP: Birthday

Sat 30 Dec –     No morning Mass
                           6pm John & Joy Hubbard RIP (Eileen Sheehan)

Sun 31 Jan    8.30am Carmel & Henricus Ferdinando + De Fonseka Family (Anne De Silva)
New Year’s Eve    10.30am Don Walch RIP (Marie Sullivan & Family)

Reconciliation Times: Sat 7pm-8pm (following Mass)

Prayers for the Sick: Christine White, Kevin Harper, Ed Jones, John Bird, Gail Noel, Chris Neal, John Edwards, Tony Speed, Geoffrey Hildebrand, John Underwood, Mary Stubbs, John Harrington, Norma Brooker, Nina Szredski, Ann McDonald, Eileen Weald, Maureen Fitzpatrick, Eric May, Wendy Bowman, Gracie Maddox, Anne Hastings, Tom Barrett, Joann McIntosh, Timmy Lenihan, John Clarey, Marlene Burt, Tess Truman, Anne Comiskey, Irene Gannaway

Anniversaries: Mary O’Sullivan, Ronald Andrews, May Williams, Patrick McQuaid, Charlotte Seekings, Jamie Cowdell

Feast Days: Monday: The Nativity of the Lord, Tues: St Stephen, the first martyr Wed: St John, Apostle Thursday: The Holy Innocents, Martyrs Friday: St Thomas a Becket, Bishop and Martyr Sunday: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

ROTAS For w/c Mon 25/12
Readers: Christmas Day: Midnight Mass: volunteers please;  8.30am Ann Wilkes; 10.30 Lota Emeka-Onah;   30-31 Dec Sat 6pm Kathy Fogarty;  Sun 8.30am Larissa O’Halloran;  Sun 10.30am Ryan Benarte. Copying of Newsletter: Mollie Hobson.   Newsletter Typist: Molly Robins.   Collection for 8.30am Mass: Mrs T Li/Ray.   Parishioner Attending To Front of Church on Saturdays: Mark Vaz .  Eucharistic Ministers: Saturday 6 pm Ivan, Sun 8.30am Marlene, 10.30am Volunteer (5) Mary (6) Patricia (7) Margaret (8) Paul (9).   Washing of Purificators: Molly Robins.    Flower Arranging Sue

OFFERTORY COLLECTION 17/12/17
Gift Aid: £445.35 Loose: £239.17 Total: £684.52
Bexley Deanery retiring collection: £101.38
This week’s 24/25 Dec collection: Christmas Offering

THE CHRISTMAS TREE in the church this year has been given in memory of Kathleen Murphy but the family would like all parishioners to join in decorating it with ‘Memory Stars’. Write the names of anyone you’ll be missing this Christmas, not just those who have died but also those who perhaps live too far away, on one of the gold or silver stars and hang them on the tree. There is a box of stars by the tree and hopefully some pens.

24 HOUR ADORATION FOR JANUARY 2018 This will begin on the first Friday 5th January and will be held at St John Vianney, Bexleyheath. Please support if you can.

ST JOHN FISHER NEW YEAR FAMILY DISCO! 31st December 8pm to 1am. Tickets – Adults £10, Children £2. Licensed bar. Bring your own nibbles. Please contact Noel McCarthy with your ticket requirements on 07813 890556/ 020 8301 2479, e-mail noel.mccarthy60@outlook.com – or see him in the hall.

PARISHIONERS BIRTHDAY Reminding all our Parishioners that our quarterly birthdays for those born in the months of October, November and December comes up on the last Sunday of this month 31 December 2017 after the 10.30am Mass in the hall. Everybody is invited.

NEW YEARS DAY LUNCH 2018 (Volunteers needed) Fr Christian, on behalf of the Parish, has invited a number of people from various parishes and faiths, including our own, to a New Year Lunch in the hall on 7 January 2018. This is an opportunity to celebrate all we hold in common within our communities and the gift of the New Year. Each of the parish groups have been asked to put forward two names from their group to come to the lunch. We would like some volunteers to assist on 7 January. If you can offer 1 or 2 hours or more on this day, please call Tony Creed on 01322 315755 or Michael Adenuga on 07892 800404, or e-mail Kathy Fogarty k.fogarty@ntlworld.com. Please note there will be no coffee served after the 10.30 am Mass on this day in order to prepare for this lunch. Thank you.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2018: Application forms are now available for the First Holy Communion Programme 2018. Children eligible for First Communion must be in Year 3 or above and should attend mass regularly at St John Fisher Bexley. Application forms can be collected from the back of the Church or please see Angela Underwood.

OUR LADY’S FILM EVENING Wed 24th Jan: documentaries on a) Shroud of Turin, and b) St Augustine of Hippo. Bar open, all welcome 7pm for 7.30pm start. SPECIAL EVENT: Fri 26th Jan: fish-n-chips social evening, bar, and testimony of radical conversion of Mr Robin Mace. Details & £10 tickets at film evening from Rebecca (07956 111909) or rebeccaluton@yahoo.co.uk, or from Tim Bowman.