Category: Weekly Newsletter

SUNDAY 3^rd December 2023

 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

Readings: Isaiah 63:16-17, 64:1, 3-8 Psalm 79 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Gospel: Mark 13:33-37

 

 

Sat      2^nd Dec         17.30  Confessions

18.00                                      Margaret Morris (Anderson)

Sun     3^rd Dec          FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT       

                                 08.30                                     Doune Robinson (Jeyaseelan) 

10.30                                      Tess Truman RIP (Truman)

Mon    4^th Dec          09.15  St John Damascene         Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

                          10.00                                      Sonny Sheehan RIP (Sheehan)

Tues   5^th Dec          09.15                                     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00                                      For the Parish 

Wed    6^th Dec          09.15  St Nicholas                     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                 10.00                                      Tess Truman RIP (Wheatley)  

Thurs  7^th Dec          08.00  St Ambrose                    Priest’s Intention

Fri       8^th Dec          09.15  Immaculate Conception   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament                              

                                 10.00                                      Sheila Jones RIP (Connolly)

Sat      9^th Dec          17.30                                      Confessions

18.00                                      Patricia Liddiard RIP (Watson)

Sun     10^th Dec        SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT   

08.30                                     Paul Smith RIP (Cannon) 

                                10.30                                      Arsenia Mencias RIP (Bernarte)

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed live and can be viewed via the link: 

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

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection last week:            Incl. S.O.s                     £791.63

Last week:     Catholic Youth Services                                                                             £173.11

                                                                                                                                                                        

Direct 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 porch, is easy to use.  

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms are at the back of the Church. For every £1.00 donated the Parish receives 25p from the Tax Office. Standing Orders are best for us. Thank you.

 

OUR PARISH HALL

Our hall is available for hire. Please email bexley@rcaos.org.uk at ANY time for enquiries and our hall secretary will get back to you. 

 

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

 

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

Dear Parishioners,

Happy New Year! – new church year, anyway, as we enter Advent today. 

Our thoughts do now of course turn toward celebrating Christmas, but not without enjoying the wonder-filled season of Advent. Why not take time to reflect each day, even perhaps as you open an Advent Calendar window. Thousands of people accept the offer below:

Southwark Diocese Spirituality Commission will send a brief daily reflection to your own email! It is focused on the readings of the day, short and relevant to daily life! Sign up at https://www.southwarkdsc.org.uk/ and click on the box for Advent reflections – or email spirituality@rcaos.org.uk 

Our Parish Spirituality team are focusing on those who do not use the internet. Each Advent Friday morning after 10.00 mass we will use paper copies of one of the reflections, to lead some reflection and if desired, some sharing. We will not be more than half an hour. 

                                      God Bless,                        Fr Doug

CONFIRMATION 2024:  Application forms are now available for our Confirmation programme. Young people who are 13/14 and in year 9 or above can join. Application forms can be found in the foyer of the church.  Please submit all completed forms to Father Doug by 20th December.  Please contact Father Doug for any queries you may have.                          Barbara Assam

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2024

Application forms are now available for our First Holy Communion programme. Baptised children in year 3 or above can join.  Forms can be collected from the foyer after mass.  Completed forms must be returned by 1st December 2023.  The programme will commence in January 2024. 

 

THE ANNUAL ADVENT TEA PARTY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

St Catherine’s Catholic School on Friday 8^th December from1.30-3.00pm. You are most welcome, but, RSVP 01322 556333 dcunningham@steeg.Cco.uk Watling Street, DA6 7QJ

 

PARISH CAROL SERVICE:  Sunday 10th December at 16.00 with refreshments in the hall afterwards. All children, from 0-100 years old, are very welcome whether dressed as kings, shepherds, angels, stars or normally! Come and enjoy the festive season.

 

CAROL SINGING

The Christian Churches of Bexley will together, be bringing festive cheer to Bexley High Street with carol-singing outside Flowers of Bexley (formerly Cherry Blossom), 36 High Street, on Wed 20 Dec, 5-7pm.  ALL are welcome to join for as little or long as possible.  We are not fundraising – just reminding everyone of the meaning and joy of Christmas.  Kathy Fogarty, 07963 454480.

  

FESTIVE PARTY:  Friday 29th Dec 2-5pm. £5 Adults, £3 primary school children. Please join us to celebrate the festive season with entertainment for young and old. Please bring yourselves / children / grandchildren.  Children’s games / face painting /Raffle (unwanted Christmas gifts gratefully received) / Live singer / Open bar. Please bring your own nibbles. Free Pizza for those who are on Santas ‘good list.’ 

 

FRIENDS OF THE HOLY LAND – Christmas Concert

With the London Welsh Male Voice Choir. Thurs Dec 14th at Our Lady of Victories Church, Kensington. Buffet from 6pm (£50) or concert-only ticket to start at 7:30pm (£30)Buy your tickets through Eventbrite:  Info at friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/christmas-concert-2023

We will be donating this year’s Crib Offerings to Friends of the Holy Land

 

ST. BARNABAS – SAT 2nd Dec, 7:00pm: Music, Readings and Carols. Tile Kiln Lane, DA5 2BB, Audience participation and Christmas jumpers essential!  Tickets £10.00  Poster in porch.” 

SUNDAY 26^th November 2023

 CHRIST THE KING, YEAR A

Readings:Ezekiel 14:11-12,15-17 Psalm 22 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

 

Sat   25^th Nov      17.30  Confessions

18.00           Jim Docherty RIP (K&C Fitzpatrick)

 

Sun  26^th Nov        CHRIST THE KING             

                            08.30           For the Parish 

10.30           Mrs O’Callaghan RIP (Lyons)

 

Mon  27^th Nov      09.15    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

                            10.00           Dennis Eagle RIP (M Fitzpatrick)

 

Tues  28^th Nov     09.15    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00           Sean Staden (Staden) 

 

Wed   29^th Nov    10.45         Funeral Mass Desmond Kennedy  

 

Thurs 30^th Nov    08.00  St Andrew, Apostle       Priest’s Intention

 

Fri      1^st Dec      09.15  St Edmund Campion +      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

                           10.00             In Thanksgiving (Bosser)

 

Sat     2^nd Dec    17.30  Confessions

18.00            Margaret Morris (Anderson)

 

Sun      3^rd Dec          FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT   

08.30           Doune Robinson (Jeyaseelan) 

                           10.30           Tess Truman RIP (Truman)

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed live and can be viewed via the link:

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

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection last week:            Incl. S.O.s                     £1148.27

This week:     Catholic Youth Services                                                                                                                                                   

Direct 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 porch, is easy to use.  

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms are at the back of the Church. For every £1.00 donated the Parish receives 25p from the Tax Office. Standing Orders are best for us. Thank you.

 

OUR PARISH HALL

Our hall is available for hire. Please email bexley@rcaos.org.uk at ANY time for enquiries and our hall secretary will get back to you. 

 

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

 

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

 

Dear Parishioners,

So, we come to the last Sunday of the Church Year. Much has happened since this time last year! Next week we begin the new year, starting at the first Sunday of Advent. On Sundays during the course of the year we shall, where possible, be reading through the gospel of St. Mark.

 

Meanwhile we continue to pray for the non-combatant citizens in Gaza who are being bombed and starved, and we pray for the 13,000 who have been killed. The Church condemns this wicked action in Gaza, just as it condemns the taking of innocent hostages in Israel. Pray for Peace. 

                                    God Bless,                        Fr Doug

 

CONFIRMATION 2024

Application forms are now available for our Confirmation programme. Young people who are 13/14 and in year 9 or above can join. Application forms can be found in the foyer of the church.  Please submit all completed forms to Father Doug by 20th December.  Please contact Father Doug for any queries you may have.                                                                                                      Barbara Assam

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2024

Application forms are now available for our First Holy Communion programme. Baptised children in year 3 or above can join.  Forms can be collected from the foyer after mass.  Completed forms must be returned by 1st December 2023.  The programme will commence in January 2024. 

 

DEANERY MASS FOR DECEASED CLERGY

Tuesday 28^th November at 11.00 in St. Lawrence’s, Sidcup. All are welcome.

 

ADVENT REFLECTIONS

Why not try to make space for spiritual reflection this advent. Southwark Diocese Spirituality Commission will send a brief daily reflection to your own email! It is focused on the readings of the day, short and relevant to daily life! Sign up at https://www.southwarkdsc.org.uk/ and click on the box for Advent reflections – or email spirituality@rcaos.org.uk 

Our Parish Spirituality team are focusing on those who do not use the internet. Each Advent Friday morning after 10.00 mass we will use paper copies of one of the reflections, to lead some reflection and if desired, some sharing. We would expect it to last about half an hour. 

 

CAROL SINGING

Churches Together in Old Bexley will be bringing festive cheer to Bexley High Street with carol-singing outside Flowers of Bexley (formerly Cherry Blossom), 36 High Street, on Wednesday 20 December, 5-7pm.  ALL are welcome to join for as little or long as possible.  We are not fundraising – just reminding commuters and passers-by of the real meaning and joy of Christmas.  Kathy Fogarty, 07963 454480.

 

FRIENDS OF THE HOLY LAND – Christmas Concert

This concert features the London Welsh Male Voice Choir with renowned soloists too. Thursday December 14th at Our Lady of Victories Church, Kensington. Palestinian-themed buffet from 6pm (£50) or concert-only ticket to start at 7:30pm (£30)Buy your tickets through Eventbrite: Search ‘FHL Christmas Concert’ or for more details: friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/christmas-concert-2023

We will be donating this year’s Crib Offerings to Friends of the Holy Land

 

SAVE THE DATE 

The Parish events committee will be hosting the following events in the upcoming year. 

1) 29th Dec 23                      Festive party

2) 13th April 24                     Spring Cinema Singalong

3) 22nd June 24                   Summer Garden Party

SUNDAY 19^th November 2023

THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY, YEAR A

Readings: Proverbs: 31:Psalm 127 1Thessalonians 5:1-6 Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

 

Sat    18^th Nov        17.30         Confessions

18.00         Marie Sullivan RIP (McQuaid)

 

Sun  19^th Nov   THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY          

                               08.30        In Thanksgiving (Bosser) 

10.30          Jim Henry RIP (Henry)

 

Mon  20^th Nov        09.15        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00           Tom Feeney (Staden)

 

Tues  21^st Nov       09.15  Presentation of the BVM     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                               10.00           In Thanksgiving (Bosser) 

 

Wed 22^nd Nov        09.15  St Cecilia       Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                               10.00             Tony Speed RIP (Speed)  

Thurs 23^rd Nov       08.00             Priest’s Intention

 

Fri     24^th Nov       09.15  St Andrew Dung-Lac Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                             10.00             Joanne Rogers RIP (Dowswell)

 

Sat    25^th Nov      17.30          Confessions

                             18.00            Jim Docherty RIP (K&C Fitzpatrick)

 

Sun  26^th Nov   CHRIST THE KING   

08.30            For the Parish 

                             10.30             Mrs O’Callaghan RIP (Lyons)

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed live and can be viewed via the link:

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

 

FINANCES       

Many thanks for your offertory collection last week:            Incl. S.O.s                 £927.24

Last week:         Archbishop’s Appeal                                                         £291.60

Next week:        Catholic Youth Services                                                                     

                                                        

Direct 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 porch, is easy to use.  

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms are at the back of the Church. For every £1.00 donated the Parish receives 25p from the Tax Office. Standing Orders are best for us. Thank you.

 

OUR PARISH HALL

Our hall is available for hire. Please email bexley@rcaos.org.uk at ANY time for enquiries and our hall secretary will get back to you. 

 

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

 

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

Dear Parishioners,

Congratulations: To the three groups operating within our parish who gained awards at the Bexley Faith In The Community celebrations this week at a mayoral reception. Mayor Ahmet Dourmoush gave awards to:

1 The Meeting Place

2 Saturday Friends

3 Children’s Project in Ukraine                     Well done to everyone involved!

 

Welcome: to the families and friends of loved ones who have died in the course of last year, and whose funerals were hosted here in our parish church. We will be prayerfully reading out each of their names and lighting a candle for them on the sanctuary. We will also be lighting one large candle for everyone else that we want to remember, many of whose names have been prayerfully written in this year’s Book of Remembrance which is on the sanctuary today.

 

Thank you: to all who participated in our Parish Quiz Night last weekend. Everyone seemed to agree that it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. So, we must also offer our gratitude to the Events Committee who organised it, to bar staff who catered for us and of course to the small team who ran the actual quiz. The event raised over £600 for the parish which is most welcome at the moment as we are planning to refresh our wonderful parish hall facility – we need a lick of paint and quite a lot more besides. 

 

Meanwhile we continue to pray for the non-combatant citizens in Gaza who are being bombed and killed. The Church condemns this wicked action in Gaza, just as it condemns the taking of innocent hostages in Israel. 

                    God Bless,                               Fr Doug

 

CONFIRMATION 2024

Application forms are now available for our Confirmation programme. Young people who are 13/14 and in year 9 or above can join. Application forms can be found in the foyer of the church.  Please submit all completed forms to Father Doug by 20th December.  Please contact Father Doug for any queries you may  have.

.                                                                      Kind regards, Barbara

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2024

Application forms are now available for our First Holy Communion programme. Baptised children in year 3 or above can join.  Forms can be collected from the foyer after mass.  Completed forms must be returned by 1st December 2023.  The programme will commence in January 2024. 

 

DEANERY MASS FOR DECEASED CLERGY

Tuesday 28^th November at 11.00 in St. Lawrence’s, Sidcup. All are welcome.

 

FRIENDS OF THE HOLY LAND – Christmas Concert

This concert features the London Welsh Male Voice Choir with renowned soloists too. Thursday December 14th at Our Lady of Victories Church, Kensington. Palestinian-themed buffet from 6pm (£50) or concert-only ticket to start at 7:30pm (£30)Buy your tickets through Eventbrite: Search ‘FHL Christmas Concert’ or for more details: friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/christmas-concert-2023

We will be donating this year’s Crib Offerings to Friends of the Holy Land

 

SAVE THE DATE 

The Parish events committee will be hosting the following events in the upcoming year. 

1) 29th Dec 23           Festive party

2) 13th April 24          Spring Cinema Singalong

3) 22nd June 24        Summer Garden Party