20 December 2024 Nuntius

SUNDAY 22nd December 2024,

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR C

Readings: Micah 5:1-4, Psalm 80, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45.

Sat 21st Dec 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Patrick Corcoran (Rogers)

Sun 22nd Dec FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C

08.30 For the Parish

10.30 Hollis Family

16.00 CAROL SERVICE

Mon 23rd Dec 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 TG Jordan Biott (Biott)

7.30 RECONCILIATION SERVICE

Tues 24th Dec CHRISTMAS EVE – No Morning Service

18.00 Kay Gillespie (Gillespie)

22.00 Robert Lasrado RIP (Lasrado)

Wed 25th Dec CHRISTMAS DAY

08.30 Colette Hunt RIP

10.30 O’Neill Familly (O’Donnell)

Fri 27thDec 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Helen & Family (Morris)

Sat 28th Dec 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Tony Speed RIP (Speed)

Sun 29th Dec HOLY FAMILY of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, YEAR C

08.30 Matthew Bhalla (Bhalla)

10.30 Jamie Cowdell (F)

Please join us in the Hall for refreshments after the 10.30 mass.

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed via the link:

Recordings are available. The Sunday sermon is also in print on the website.

FINANCES

Many thanks for your offertory collection Last Week: £ 1026.87 incl S.O.

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 foyer. OUT OF ORDER – Sorry for the inconvenience!

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms available in the foyer.

OUR PARISH HALL

Our hall is available for hire. Please email bexley@rcaos.org.uk at ANY time and our secretary will get back to you. Prices: £35 per hour weekdays, £40 per hour weekends

Newsletter: Please copy notices to Fr Doug by the previous Wednesday

Dear Parishioners,

I look forward to celebrating Christmas with you during the week but if you are

travelling may I wish you every blessing and especially, a safe journey.

God Bless, Fr Doug

MASSES AT CHRISTMAS – straightforward this year!

CHRISTMAS EVE – Tues 24th Dec: 6.00 p.m. and 10.00p.m.

CHRISTMAS DAY – Wed 25th Dec: 8.30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m.

CAROL SERVICE:

Our Carol Service will be this Sunday at 16.00. The children will remind us of the Christmas Story and we will anticipate the great day itself as we sing our Christmas carols. Children (young or old) are welcome to dress up as shepherds, kings, angels etc. All are welcome! Refreshments of a traditional nature to follow in the hall.

SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION

Our celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation will be on Monday 23^rd December at 7.30.

Fr Luke from Bexleyheath and Fr Oliver from Blackfen will be joining us.

MAUREEN WATKINS RIP

Maureen died during the week. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE

Saturday 25^th January 2025 9.30am – 4.30pm at St Stephen’s parish hall, Welling,

A day in which married couples can privately explore their relationship more deeply and gain valuable insights into the communication and the call of the Church to the married. There is no charge for this course. Booking is essential – please contact Carole on mflkent@rcaos.org.uk or phone 07983 524 727 Refreshments will be provided but please bring a packed lunch.

ST PETER CHANEL PRIMARY SCHOOL

We are open for 2025 Reception applications for children born between 1^st Sep 2020 and 31^st Aug 2021. The deadline for applications is 15^th January 2025. We also have places in our outstanding Pre-School available, with an immediate start, for children from the age of two.

Please contact 0208 302 6029 or email admin@st-peterchanel.bexley.sch.uk.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2025

Application forms are in the foyer for the 2025 First Holy Communion programme, commencing in January. Children in year 3 or above can apply. Completed forms must be returned by 31st Dec.

SOUTHWARK ARCHDIOCESE ROSARY PRAYER PROJECT Everyone is warmly invited to join this Archdiocese-wide prayer initiative, praying a decade each day for priests and parishes in Bexley deanery. Details from southwarkrenewal@gmail.com

FESTIVE PARTY – SATURDAY 28^TH DECEMBER 2024 Please join us from 1pm for an afternoon of Music and Games for all the family., £5 Adults / £3 Under 12’s. Children’s Games / Face painting / Music throughout and live singer to finish. Free Pizza for those on Santa’s good list. Tickets are on sale after mass   

CHURCH CLEANING

A big THANK YOU to the parishioners who give up time to help keep our church clean. The 2025 rota is now available for collection from the cupboard. We would be grateful if more volunteers came forward to either join an existing group or make up a new one. Currently, each group cleans once every 12 weeks for about one hour. Please ring Carole Hughes on 07762 731303.

13 December 202413 December 2024 Nuntius

SUNDAY 15th December 2024

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR C

Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18, Psalm: Isaiah12:2-6, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:10-18.

Sat 14th Dec 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Collette Hunt RIP (Fogarty)

Sun 15th Dec THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C – Gaudete!

08.30 For the Parish

10.30 Margaret Leech RIP (Lyons)

Mon 16th Dec 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Collette Hunt RIP (Sheehan)

Tues 17th Dec 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Patrick McQuaid (McQuaid)

Wed 18th Dec 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Agatha Sant (East)

Fri 20thDec 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Franki RIP & Jacki Jones (Larkin)

Sat 21st Dec 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Patrick Corcoran (Rogers)

Sun 22nd Dec FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C

08.30 For the Parish

10.30 Hollis Family

16.00 CAROL SERVICE

Please join us in the Hall for refreshments after the 10.30 mass.

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed via the link:

Recordings are available. The Sunday sermon is also in print on the website.

FINANCES

Many thanks for your offertory collection Last Week: £ 1106.26 incl S.O.

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 foyer. OUT OF ORDER – Sorry for the inconvenience!

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms available in the foyer.

OUR PARISH HALL

Our hall is available for hire. Please email bexley@rcaos.org.uk at ANY time and our secretary will get back to you. Prices: £35 per hour weekdays, £40 per hour weekends

Newsletter: Please copy notices to Fr Doug by the previous Wednesday

Dear Parishioners,

“A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people” Lk 3:15, in today’s gospel.

We surely recognise that feeling as we get closer and closer to Christmas. Imagine though, being Syrian. For 50 years many have lived in hope of freedom from the regime that has now finally ended. The trouble is that no one knows what might happen next and few agree on what should happen next. Let us all pray that a way ahead can be found that will bring much peace and some joy to all Syrians, several million of whom are refugees abroad. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they could return home and if those families, communities and countries who had offered them sanctuary could then share that joy with them, proud to have fulfilled their Christian mission of love. One can be hopeful – even if not optimistic.

God Bless, Fr Doug

CAROL SERVICE: Our Carol Service will be on Sunday 22^nd December at 16.00. The children will remind us of the Christmas Story and we will anticipate the great day itself as we sing our Christmas carols. Children (young or old) are welcome to dress up as shepherds, kings, angels etc. are very welcome. All are welcome! Refreshments of a traditional nature to follow in the hall.

SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION

Our celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation will be on Monday 23^rd December at 7.30. Fr Luke from Bexleyheath and Fr Oliver from Blackfen will be joining us.

BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE : Saturday 25^th January 2025 9.30am – 4.30pm at St Stephen’s parish hall, Welling,

ST PETER CHANEL PRIMARY SCHOOL: We are open for 2025 Reception applications for children born between 1^st Sep 2020 and 31^st Aug 2021. The deadline for applications is 15^th January 2025. We also have places in our outstanding Pre-School available, with an immediate start, for children from the age of two.

Please contact 0208 302 6029 or email admin@st-peterchanel.bexley.sch.uk.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2025: Application forms are in the foyer for the 2025 First Holy Communion programme, commencing in January. Children in year 3 or above can apply. Completed forms must be returned by 31st Dec.

ST CATHERINE’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL Support/ Mentor

January to July 2025. Salary: Bexley Scale 5 Closing date: Tuesday 17th December 2024 at 9am Interviews: Week commencing 17th December 2024. email info@stccg.co.uk

6 December 20247 December 2024 Nuntius

SUNDAY 8th December 2024

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR C

Readings: Baruch 5:1-9, Psalm 125/6, Philippians 1:4-11, Luke 3:1-6.

Sat 7th Dec 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Vernon Rogers RIP (Rogers)

Sun 8th Dec SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C

08.30 For the Parish

10.30 Choir members RIP (Anderson)

Mon 9th Dec 09.15 Immaculate Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Conception Private Intention (Bosser)

Tues 10th Dec 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 John Terry (Terry)

Wed 11th Dec 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Christine Tellus RIP (Stanton)

Fri 13thDec 09.15 Lucy Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Bridie Haylett RIP (Friends)

Sat 14th Dec 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Collette Sheehan RIP (Fogarty)

Sun 15th Dec THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C – Gaudete!

08.30 For the Parish

10.30 Margaret Leech RIP (Lyons)

Please join us in the Hall for refreshments after the 10.30 mass.

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed via the link:

Recordings are available. The Sunday sermon is also in print on the website.

FINANCES

Many thanks for your offertory collection Last Week: £ 844.68 incl S.O.

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 foyer.

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms available in the foyer.

OUR PARISH HALL

Our hall is available for hire. Please email bexley@rcaos.org.uk at ANY time and our secretary will get back to you. Prices: £35 per hour weekdays, £40 per hour weekends

Newsletter: Please copy notices to Fr Doug by the previous Wednesday

Dear Parishioners,

In Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming Messiah, he says: For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). With fresh allegations about genocide being committed in Gaza, this time by Amnesty International, we might be prompted to renew our efforts to at least pray for an end to the killing. There doesn’t seem to be much scope though, for Jesus to fulfil his messianic role as Prince of Peace. Perhaps we should ponder what he meant when he said that the peace he brings is a peace that the world cannot provide (John 14:27). What peace does he bring into our lives?

God Bless, Fr Doug

CONGRATULATIONS:

To Freddie Phillips who will be received into the Church this Sunday at the 10.30 mass. He will be baptized and confirmed and then begin receiving Holy Communion. May God bless him and all who have guided him to this day especially our parish catechist.

SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION

Our celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation will be on Monday 23^rd December at 7.30. Fr Luke from Bexleyheath and Fr Oliver from Blackfen will be joining us.

READERS AT MASS

The ministry of reading is a most worthy one. Please can we have some more readers! Give it a bit of thought and approach Fr Doug or, better still, Angela Gillespie directly.

SPIRITUALITY COMMISSION ADVENT REFLECTIONS.

The Spirituality Commission will be sending daily reflections during Advent featuring Scripture, thoughts and prayers. You can still sign-up to receive them directly into your inbox each morning here: tinyurl.com/adventreflections2024

SCAM EMAILS TARGETING PARISHIONERS. These emails impersonate the parish priest, often using a similar email name and masking the real email address. They typically request the recipient to purchase Amazon or other gift cards for the priest. This is a SCAM. Don’t be caught. Report any such scams to Fr Doug and/or the police.

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN OLD BEXLEY INVITE YOU TO JOIN:

Carol Singing, Wed 11 Dec, 5:30-7pm. Singing outside Flowers of Bexley, High Street,

Advent Course, at Bexley United Reformed Church (opposite War Memorial), 10-12, Tuesdays.

Kathy Fogarty, Parish Christian Unity Contact, k.fogarty@ntlworld.com

FESTIVE PARTY – SATURDAY 28^TH DECEMBER 2024 Please join us from 1pm for an afternoon of Music and Games for all the family. Tickets are on sale after mass.