SUNDAY 2nd February 2025

PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

Readings: Malachai 3:1-4, Psalm 24,1 Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-32, Page 306

 

Sat      1^st Feb            17.30      Confessions

                                   18.00                             Holy Souls (Jeyaseelan) 

 

Sun     2nd Feb         PRESENTATION OF THE LORD 

                                   08.30                            Maureen Oram RIP (Oram)

                                   10.30                            Ken Crump RIP (Crump)

 

Mon    3rd Feb            09.15 Laurence of       Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                   10.00  Canterbury            Colette Hunt RIP (Sheehan)

 

Tues   4th Feb            09.15                       Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                   10.00                            Peggy Lawlor (Kilcullen)

 

Wed    5th Feb           09.15  Agatha Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

                                  10.00                            Margaret Gillis (Hughes)

 

 Fri       7th Feb          09.15                        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament  

                                  10.00                           Sylvie and Victor Jeyaseelan (Jeyaseelan)

 

Sat      8th Feb          17.30       Confessions

                                 18.00                            Catherine Fitzpatrick (Norton) 

 

Sun     9th Feb          FIFTH SUNDAY Year C 

                                 08.30                            Dr Sheila Santamaria RIP (Santamaria)

                                 10.30                            Maureen Fitzpatrick (Hughes)

 

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  the website.

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection           Last Week:                           £ 1003.03 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. Very easy to use!

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 on weekdays, £40 per hour at weekends

 

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

 

Dear Parishioners, 

Help Shape the Future of Our Archdiocese

The Archbishop invites you to reflect on the 6 themes in the Called to Bear Fruit booklet. He suggests that you try and meet up in small discussion groups. 

Use any groups you are in OR form your own groups OR form groups by signing your details on the sheet in the foyer, indicating whether you’d like to meet in the morning, afternoon, evening or on “zoom”. If you can host such a meeting please say so. If the hall is available at times that suit you, feel free to book it. Respond to as many or as few of the themes as you want. Any group reflections should then be submitted to the diocese. The deadline is currently April 6^th. 

OR as individuals or couples use the booklets at home and offer any reflections to the parish council, c/o parish office, by March 23^rd and these will be collated and submitted as if from a discussion group! 

                             God Bless,                                                Fr Doug 

LENTEN REFLECTIONS

We invite you to take part in reflections each week during lent. We will focus on the Sunday Gospel so it will be a great way to prepare for each Sunday mass, devoting time to the Word of the Lord in this way.

Meetings will be on Monday evenings 6.30-7.30

            March 10, 17, 24, 31, April 7

And also Tuesday lunchtimes 1.00-2.30

            March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8

Each reflection will be guided by members of our spirituality committee.

 

“LIVE SIMPLY” … so that others simply, may live

Our other big Lenten project will be to try and commit to the Cafod campaign to live simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the poor and marginalized. More information will follow.

 

A YEAR OF HOPE: INTRODUCTION TO THE JUBILEE YEAR

How can we respond to Pope Francis’ call to be “tangible signs of hope” in this Jubilee Year? Find out by watching this inspirational event at cafod.org.uk/jubilee). Discover how we can act in faith and in love as pilgrims of hope this Holy Year. 

 

PAUL GRUBER, MAUREEN WATKINS, JOHN KILNER, FR PADDY CANNON RIP

May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

Paul Gruber’s funeral will be on Tuesday 18^th February at 12.00

Maureen Watkins’s funeral will be on Monday 24^th February at 10.30.

No news yet of the other funerals.

 

CAR PARK PERMITS

It is time to renew car park permits. Please take a form from the foyer. 

Thanks to all those who have responded already.

 

WELCOME

To Benjamin McCarthy who will be baptised at 6.00 mass this weekend.

 

SWANLEY AND DISTRICT FOODBANK 

Swanley and District Foodbank are looking for people to join the team of trustees, particularly with skills in Secretarial Work, Finance including payroll, Health & Safety or Safeguarding. Contacts: Manager Emma on 07798872 573, or Chair John Kahan – John.Kahan@hotmail.co.uk 

 

THE ROMERO ROSARY – a new book by Archbishop John Wilson 

Reflections on the traditional mysteries of the rosary (Joy, Light, Sorrow & Glory) and the NEW Romero Mysteries (Charity, Compassion and Mercy, & Justice and Peace) 

It is available from Pauline Bookshops and online at www.paulineuk.org. 

BOOK LAUNCH Wed 12 Feb 2025 at 6.00 at Amigo Hall, St George’s Cathedral, SE1 7HY.

SUNDAY 26th Jan 2025,

THIRD SUNDAY, YEAR C

Readings: Nehemiah 8:2-10, Psalm 19,1 Cor 12:12-30, Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21 

 

Sat     25th Jan         17.30   Confessions

                       18.00        Matthew Bhalla (Bhalla)

 

Sun   26th Jan THIRD SUNDAY YEAR C 

                                   08.30      Molly Henebry RIP (Wilkes)

                                   10.30      Antony Moffat RIP (Moffat)

Mon    27th Jan          09.15 Angela Merici Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                        10.00      For the Parish

Tues   28th Jan          09.15 Thomas Aquinas Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                  10.00       Colette Hunt RIP (Sheehan)

Wed 29th Jan             09.15  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                  10.00        Des & Alice Mulligan RIP (Fitzpatrick) 

  

Fri 31st Jan               09.15 John Bosco Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

                       10.00           Harrington & Sheehan Families (Sheehan)

Sat      1^st Feb           17.30   Confessions

                       18.00          Holy Souls (Jeyaseelan)

 

Sun 2nd Feb   PRESENTATION OF THE LORD 

                                  08.30         Maureen Oram RIP (Oram)

                                  10.30          Ken Crump RIP (Crump)

 

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: £ 1214.10 incl S.O.

                                      Pax Christi                             £ 124.00

                                                

 

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. Very easy to use!

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 on weekdays, £40 per hour at weekends

 

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

Dear Parishioners, 

 Help Shape the Future of Our Archdiocese

The Archbishop invites you to play a vital role in shaping the future of our Archdiocese. He encourages everyone to reflect on the 6 themes in a Called to Bear Fruit booklet which is now available for everyone and if possible to participate in small group discussions. Any group reflections can then be submitted to the diocese. The deadline is currently April 6^th, 2 weeks before Easter. We invite you to take your booklet and having looked through it during the week decide if and how you might like to participate in the consultation. 

• Next weekend we will offer the opportunity to sign up for a discussion group – daytime or evening.
• Existing groups might like to take on the task and others might like to spontaneously form groups for the purpose. 
• Individuals or couples might like to use the booklets at home and offer any reflections to the parish council, c/o parish office, by March 23^rd (8 weeks from now) and these will be collated and submitted as if from a discussion group!
• We have been planning (since October) for there to be meetings during Lent to reflect on the Sunday gospels and there may be an opportunity after those meetings for some discussions on “Called to bear Fruit”. 

We will update you as plans develop.  

                            God Bless,                                              Fr Doug

 

CHRISTIAN UNITY SERVICE

Churches Together in Old Bexley invite you to a service on Sunday 26 January at 3pm at United Reformed Church, Hurst Road. Kathy Fogarty, Parish Unity Contact k.fogarty@ntlworld.com 

 

MAUREEN WATKINS, JOHN KILNER, FR PADDY CANNON RIP

May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

No news yet of Fr Paddy Cannon’s funeral.

 

CAR PARK PERMITS

It is time to renew car park permits. Please take a form from the foyer. 

Thanks to all those who have responded this week already.

The income is valued by the parish and the facility is great value for car owners!

 

GIFT AIDERS

Thanks as ever for your wonderful support in St. John Fisher. 

The archdiocese seems to be a little concerned that it is holding up to date information. 

If you did not fill in a form regarding your details last year, then please pick up a form in the foyer as you leave mass and return it when you can. Many thanks. 

 

SWANLEY AND DISTRICT FOODBANK 

Can you spend a few hours of your time to help out at the Swanley and District Foodbank? If so, we are looking for people to join the team of trustees, particularly with skills in Secretarial Work, Finance including payroll, Health & Safety or Safeguarding. We are part of the Trussell Trust. Contacts: Manager Emma on 07798872 573, or Chair John Kahan – John.Kahan@hotmail.co.uk 

 

THE ROMERO ROSARY – a new book written by Archbishop John Wilson 

With introductory chapters about St Oscar Romero and the rosary, this book contains reflections on the traditional mysteries of the rosary (Joy, Light, Sorrow & Glory) and the NEW Romero Mysteries (Charity, Compassion and Mercy, & Justice and Peace) – all illumined for reflection and prayer by the words of St Oscar Romero. The book is available from Pauline Bookshops and online at www.paulineuk.org. 

Archbishop John invites everyone to a BOOK LAUNCH on Wednesday 12 February 2025 at 6.00 for 6.30pm at Amigo Hall, adjacent St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, South London. SE1 7HY.

SUNDAY 19th Jan 2025

SECOND SUNDAY YEAR C – Peace Sunday

Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 96,1 Cor 12:4-11, John 2:1-11.

 

Sat      18th Jan          17.30        Confessions

      18.00          Cath Fitzpatrick RIP (O’Brien) 

 

Sun     19th Jan         SECOND SUNDAY YEAR C – Peace Sunday 

                                  08.30          Anne Maxted RIP (Wilkes)

                                  10.30          John Hughes RIP (Hughes)

 

Mon    20th Jan         09.15    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                 10.00  FUNERAL MASS Cath Fitzpatrick RIP

 

Tues   21st Jan         09.15  Agnes      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                 10.00          For the Parish

Wed    22nd Jan       09.15  Vincent  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament  

                                 10.00          Eileen Wheatley (Hughes)

                                       

Fri       24th Jan        09.15 Francis de Sales      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

                                 10.00          Danny Lyons RIP (Lyons)

 

Sat      25th Jan        17.30   Confessions

                                 18.00          Matthew Bhalla (Bhalla) 

 

Sun     26th Jan         THIRD SUNDAY YEAR C 

                                 08.30          Molly Henebry RIP (Wilkes)

                                 10.30          Antony Moffat RIP (Moffat)

 

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:        £ 887.84 incl S.O.

                                                                            Crib                    £ 554.97

                  Retiring Collection   This Week:    Pax Christi

 

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. Very easy to use!

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 on weekdays, £40 per hour at weekends

 

Dear Parishioners, 

 Help Shape the Future of Our Archdiocese

The Archbishop invites you to play a vital role in shaping the future of our Archdiocese. In today’s pastoral letter, he encourages everyone to reflect on the themes in a Called to Bear Fruit booklet which is to be available for everyone. Ours have not yet arrived so we can’t really plan anything! The idea WILL be though, to participate in small group discussions. Without sight of the booklet we cannot formulate strategies but the Archbishop’s intention is that we form small groups suitable to discuss the 6 themes that are being put forward. Any group reflections can then be submitted to the diocese.

We will return to this after we get sight of the booklets!

                                 God Bless,                                                Fr Doug 

 

 CRIB COLLECTION

Friends of the Holy Land would like to thank all parishioners who raised £1554.97 for Christians in the Holy Land. Conditions continue to be extremely challenging. Please continue to remember FHL and those we support in your prayers.’ Now, more than ever, the small Christian community in the Holy Land needs our help to bring them hope and healing. The focus of our work is providing practical help directly to the most needy and vulnerable of our Christian brothers and sisters through a balance of funding immediate relief of emergency needs and practical small projects to help create a sustainable future.  

 

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – 18-25 January.  Churches Together in Old Bexley invite you to a service on Sunday 26 January at 3pm at United Reformed Church, Hurst Road.  We are all invited to celebrate, draw encouragement and strength from the gift of our shared faith. In these turbulent times, we can take heart from the endurance of that faith.       Kathy Fogarty, Parish Unity Contact k.fogarty@ntlworld.com 

 

MAUREEN WATKINS, CATHERINE FITZPATRICK, LESLEY DOYLE, FR PADDY CANNON RIP

May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

Cath’s funeral will be in church at 10.00 on Monday 20^th January

Lesley’s funeral will be at Eltham Crematorium at 1.00 on Wednesday 22^nd January 

No news yet of Fr Paddy Cannon’s funeral.

 

CAR PARK PERMITS:  It is time to renew car park permits. Please take a form from the foyer.  The income is valued by the parish and the facility is great value for car owners!

 

THE ROMERO ROSARY a new book written by Archbishop John Wilson 

With introductory chapters about St Oscar Romero and the rosary, this beautiful and creative new book contains reflections on the traditional mysteries of the rosary (Joy, Light, Sorrow & Glory) and the NEW Romero Mysteries (Charity, Compassion and Mercy, & Justice and Peace) – all illumined for reflection and prayer by the words of St Oscar Romero. The book is available from Pauline Bookshops and online at www.paulineuk.org. The Archbishops warmly invites everyone to the BOOK LAUNCH on Wednesday 12 February 2025 at 6.00 for 6.30pm at Amigo Hall, adjacent St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, South London. SE1 7HY.

  

BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE: A fulfilling and enjoyable day for married couples. 25th January at St Stephen’s, Welling. The day is hosted by the Marriage and Family Life Team. To celebrate this Jubilee year, why not take the opportunity to explore how blessed you are in your marriage – not to mention how blessed the Church is with your dedicated love to one another. These days are popular and fill up quickly so please book your place. Please contact Carole on 07983 524 727 or email mflkent@rcaos.org.uk