Category: Weekly Newsletter

SUNDAY 1st December 2024

ADVENT 1 YEAR C

Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16, Psalm 24,Thess 3:12-4:2, Luke 21:25-36. 

 

Sat   30th Nov      17.30   Confessions

18.00      Andrew Vedanayagam (Satchi) 

 

Sun  1st Dec     FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C 

                            08.30          John Hollis (Hollis)  

                            10.30          Pam & Ernie Sarton RIP (Sarton) 

 

Mon  2nd Dec      09.15  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00      Celine Family RIP (Bosser)

 

Tues 3rd Dec      09.15  Francis Xavier   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00        Tess Truman RIP (Wheatley)  

 

Wed  4th Dec       09.15    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00               Reg Hewett RIP (Grainger)

                    

Fri     6th Dec        09.15   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00 Nicholas    Christine Brown & Robert Mantle RIP (Mantle)

 

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) 

 

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:                         £1002.84 incl S.O.    

Catholic Youth Service:     £ 196.25

                                     

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,

I came upon this lovely prayer that expresses a welcome to the Lord this Advent:

 

Come into my loneliness with your friendship

Come into my weariness with your strength

Come into worries with your peace

Come into my sufferings with your joy

Come into my sorrows with your comfort

Come into my sadness with your consolation

Come into my heart with your love

Come into my life with your compassion

Come Lord and show me your loving care. Amen.

 

                                                                 God Bless,                                  Fr Doug 

 

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 sign-up to receive them directly into your inbox each morning here: tinyurl.com/adventreflections2024  Many of you already receive this. Recommended for all.

 

REFLECTION DAY – “Waiting For God”

Saturday 7^th December – 11am to 3pm, led by Trudy Kilcullen.

Sanctuary, 8 Hotham Close, Swanley Village. Bring a packed lunch. 

For more information or to book – please email tkilcullen@live.co.uk or call 07977978536

 

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. 

 

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  

 

ADVENT TEA PARTY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS 

at St Catherine’s Catholic School, Friday December 6^th 1.30- 3.00pm

Free of charge but RSVP dcunningham@stccg.co.uk

 

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. Tickets go on sale after mass next week.

 

SUNDAY 24th November 2024

CHRIST THE KING YEAR B

Readings: Daniel 7:13-14, Psalm 92, Apocalypse 1:5-8, John 18:33-37.

 

Sat         23rd Nov   17.30    Confessions

     18.00      Barbara Lenergan (Staden) 

 

Sun   24th Nov        CHRIST THE KING YEAR B 

                          08.30      Peggy Lawlor (Kilcullen)  

                          10.30      Mrs O’Callaghan (Lyons) 

 

Mon   25th Nov    09.15    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

 10.00              Forgotten Souls in Purgatory RIP (Bosser)

 

Tues  26th Nov    09.15    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                         10.00             Jean Murray (Kilcullen)  

 

Wed 27th Nov  14.00 FUNERAL MASS     Catherine Fenner RIP

                                    

Fri     29th Nov    09.15     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00      Holy Souls in Purgatory RIP (Gillespie)

 

Sat    30th Nov    17.30     Confessions

 18.00        Andrew Vedanayagam (Satchi) 

 

Sun    1st Dec          FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C 

                          08.30             John Hollis (Hollis)  

                          10.30             Pam & Ernie Sarton RIP (Sarton) 

 

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:                         £893.67 incl S.O.

This Week:                           Catholic Youth Service

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

 

  Dear Parishioners,   

READERS beware! 

From next Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, we have to use a different translation of the Sunday readings. The prayers and other parts of the mass will not be changed. Those of you using the Universalis app. on your phones will be able to read the altered translation. You can still prepare for mass using the more familiar Jerusalem Bible translation, but readers should check the lectionary before reading at mass for the slight variations.

Readings in your parish mass books will be slightly different from the ones read out and those of you with missals will be equally inconvenienced. We discussed this in the parish liturgy committee and agreed that throwing away all our parish mass books and buying new ones would not be ethical and so we ask that you manage the slight discrepancies. Sorry, once again. 

                                     God Bless,                                                Fr Doug 

 

WORLD YOUTH SUNDAY 

This is World Youth Sunday. The retiring collection will support youth work in the Archdiocese and beyond, especially the work of the Southwark Catholic Youth Service, which provides a variety of activities for youth and young adults. For more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/scys1 or join the Southwark Catholic Youth network for regular updates at www.tinyurl.com/scysnetwork

 

SPIRITUALITY COMMISSION ADVENT REFLECTIONS. 

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

 

REFLECTION DAY – “Waiting For God”

Saturday 7^th December – 11am to 3pm, led by Trudy Kilcullen.

Sanctuary, 8 Hotham Close, Swanley Village. Bring a packed lunch. 

For more information or to book – please email tkilcullen@live.co.uk or call 07977978536

 

PRAYING THE MASS WITH ARCHBISHOP JOHN. 

Some may be returning to Mass. For others Mass, is the cornerstone of their spiritual lives. To help people, wherever they are on their spiritual journey, Archbishop John has recorded a message (tinyurl.com/prayingthemass) which guides us on how to pray through the Mass. 

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2025

Application forms are now available for the 2025 First Holy Communion programme. Baptised children in year 3 or above can apply.  Forms are available in the church foyer.  Completed forms must be returned by 31st December 2024.  The programme will commence in January 2025. 

 

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. 

 

CHRISTMAS IS COMING 🎄 Churches Together in Old Bexley invite you to join: 

·      Carol Singing, Wednesday 11 Dec, 5:30-7pm. Singing outside Flowers of Bexley, High Street, or meet for hot drinks in Bexley URC Church doors open from 5pm and afterwards.

·      Advent Course, hosted by Bexley United Reformed Church (opposite War Memorial), Hurst Road, DA5 3JN.  10am-12noon Tuesdays 26 Nov, 3 Dec, 10 Dec, 17 Dec. 

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

 

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 fromsouthwarkrenewal@gmail.com

 

SUNDAY 17th November 2024

THIRTY THIRD SUNDAY YEAR B

Readings: Daniel 12:1-13, Psalm 15, Hebrews 10:11-18, Mark 13:24-32.

 

Sat    16th Nov    17.30        Confessions

18.00              Fr Paul Rout OFM (Morris) 

 

Sun   17th Nov        THIRTY THIRD SUNDAY YEAR B 

                              08.30             Frederick Stewart RIP (Cannon)  

                             10.30              Deceased Members of the Creasy Family 

 

Mon  18th Nov     09.15         Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00                       Mary, Jude and Brian Doyle RIP (Doyle)

 

Tues 19th Nov     09.15        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00                     Mick Minihane (Sheehan)

 

Wed  20th Nov     09.15       Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00                      Edward Stringer RIP (Grainger) 

                                    

Fri     22nd Nov      09.15 Cecilia    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

                            10.00                   Tony Speed RIP (Speed)

 

Sat    23rd Nov    17.30        Confessions

                            18.00             Barbara Lenergan (Staden) 

 

Sun   24th Nov        CHRIST THE KING YEAR B 

                              08.30                    Peggy Lawlor (Kilcullen)  

                             10.30                  Mrs O’Callaghan (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:                           £1209.47 incl S.O.   

Last Week: Archbishop’s Appeal Fund    £133.51                                             

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,

We are approaching the end of the Church Year. Next Sunday, the Feast of Christ the King is the last. Advent will be on us the week after, and the first Sunday of Advent opens our new year. From then on, the readings at Sunday Mass will be slightly altered. A different translation will be used and the ones we are used to hearing will be banned. READERS beware! I can only apologise for this. It means that the readings in your parish mass books will be slightly different from the ones read out at mass and those of you with missals will be equally inconvenienced. We discussed this in the parish liturgy committee and agreed that throwing away all our parish mass books and buying new ones at huge cost would not be ethical and so we ask that you manage the slight discrepancies in the readings. The prayers will remain as they are. 

                                God Bless,                                                Fr Doug 

 

THE TERMINALLY ILL ADULTS (END OF LIFE) BILL 

Kim Leadbeater MP is introducing a bill to introduce assisted suicide, which will be voted on by MPs on the 29 November. If you are opposed to it, please contact your MP to express your view by visiting www.livesworthliving.org.uk or…

USE THE CARDS that are available in the foyer.

Watch actor and disability rights advocate Liz Carr’s BBC documentary on assisted suicide, Better Off Dead? where she examines the impact of one of the assisted suicide laws in Canada. Watch for free online righttolife.org.uk/betteroffdead

 

BISHOPS OF ENGLAND AND WALES STATEMENT

The Bishops’ Conference have prepared a statement about this important issue of life and death. Copies are available in the foyer

 

SPIRITUALITY COMMISSION ADVENT REFLECTIONS. 

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

Many of you already receive this. Recommended for all.

 

REFLECTION DAY – “Waiting For God”

Saturday 7^th December – 11am to 3pm, led by Trudy Kilcullen.

Sanctuary, 8 Hotham Close, Swanley Village. Bring a packed lunch. 

For more information or to book – please email tkilcullen@live.co.uk or call 07977978536

 

PRAYING THE MASS WITH ARCHBISHOP JOHN. 

Some may be returning to Mass. For others Mass, is the cornerstone of their spiritual lives. To help people, wherever they are on their spiritual journey, Archbishop John has recorded a message (tinyurl.com/prayingthemass) which guides us on how to pray through the Mass. 

 

OUR BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE is available throughout the month of November for you to once again prayerfully enter the names of your own deceased family members. The book of names will be brought up in the offertory procession at each Sunday Mass.

 

PRAYING THE OUR FATHER

The final one of our series of presentations on the Lord’s prayer will be on this Friday Nov 22nd

7.30.- 8.30. in our hall. Teas and coffees from 7.00 p.m. 

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2025

Application forms are now available for the 2025 First Holy Communion programme. Baptised children in year 3 or above can apply.  Forms are available in the church foyer.  Completed forms must be returned by 31st December 2024.  The programme will commence in January 2025.