Weekly Newsletter

22 September 2023 Nuntius

SUNDAY 24th September 2023

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY,YEAR A,

Readings: Isaiah: 55:6-9 Psalm 144 Philippians 1:20-24, 27 Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

Sat 23^rd Sep 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Noreen Collyer RIP

Sun 24^th Sep TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY

08.30 Margaret Hagen RIP

10.30 Lance Grainger RIP (Hewitt/Grainger)

Mon 25^th Sep 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 For the Parish

Tues 26^th Sep 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Ss Cosmas+Damian Margaret Gallagher (East)

Wed 27^th Sep 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 St Vincent de Paul The Homeless (Saturday Friends + SVP)

Thurs 28^th Sep 08.00 Priest’s Intention

Fri 29^th Sep 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Archangels Private Intention

Sat 30^th Sep 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Anne Frances Burton-Bowen RIP (Wood)

Sun 1^st Oct TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY

08.30 Priest’s Intention

10.30 Rex Wheatley RIP (Wheatley)

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 £1097.85

Last week: Evangelii Gaudium Sunday £62.70

This week: Libya Relief Fund

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,

Next weekend sees the start of October, traditionally a month of devotion to Our Lady. We will, as is our custom, use the hail Holy Queen in our bidding prayers instead of the Hail Mary. The words can be found on page 219 of the Parish Mass Book.

Also, for the 4 Saturdays in the month, we will offer an opportunity to pray the Rosary together with commentaries on the scriptural refences to the mysteries. Check it out:

We are calling it “A Doorway Into Prayer”.

We begin on Saturday 7^th October at 10.00 with the joyful mysteries. All are welcome.

Also, I am away next weekend. Be nice for Fr Peter!

God Bless, Fr Doug

PETER HAMMOND

Please pray for Peter who died last Sunday. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

His funeral will be on October 6^th at 10.30

THE HARVEST & CAFOD FAMILY FAST

Friday 6^th October is Family Fast Day. You are invited to fast on the day and offer the money saved to the work of CAFOD. We will have a retiring collection on Sunday 8^th to harvest your savings and to give everyone the chance to contribute. Also, on that Sunday we will celebrate at 10.30 mass Our Harvest Festival. We will be collecting food donations (non-perishable only please) and other essential items for the Manna Day Centre at London Bridge. For a list of most needed items please visit the Manna Society website: http://www.mannasociety.org.uk. So please bring in your food items (nothing fresh that can go “out of date”) from next Sunday onwards and place them on the sanctuary. Harvest Festival gifts provide the Manna Centre with 70% of their foodstuffs for the year and are therefore critically important to them. Please give if you are able.

HARVEST CAKE SALE

Following our Harvest Festival Service, the Children’s Liturgy Group we will be holding a cake sale in the parish center. All money raised will be donated to CAFOD’s Harvest Appeal. Please come along and support us. All donations welcome. Thank you

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2024

Application forms are now available for the First Holy Communion programme 2024. Baptised children in year 3 or above are eligible to apply. Forms can be collected from the entrance porch or please speak to Father Doug or Angela Underwood after mass. Completed application forms must be returned by 1st December 2023. The programme will commence in January 2024.

FAITH AWARDS

Bexley Interfaith Forum and L. B. Bexley invite submissions of any project that has a positive impact on residents of the borough, for a FAITH AWARD. The presentation evening will be in the Civic Offices on Wed 15^th Nov at 7 p.m. Submissions to bexleyinterfaith@gmail.com by 1^st Oct.

ALL READERS AND SPECIAL MINISTERS

Called to Pray: A Formation Day for Ministers of the Word of God and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion There are two sessions – 14 October in Welling or 21 October in Streatham.

Please let Fr Doug know, if you wish to attend.

15 September 2023 Nuntius

SUNDAY 17th September 2023

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY,YEAR A

Readings: Ecclesiasticus 27:30-28:7 Psalm 102 Romans 14:7-9, Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

Sat 16^th Sep 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Anita Rowland RIP (Morris)

Sun 17^th Sep TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY

08.30 Kay Gillespie RIP (Gillespie)

10.30 Sergia Balaqui RIP (Bernarte)

Mon 18^th Sep 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 St Edith For the Parish

Tues 19^th Sep 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 John & Helen Evans RIP (Evans)

Wed 20^th Sep 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 SsAndrew Kim+ Paul Chong Mary Connolly RIP (Eida/Connolly)

Thurs 21^st Sep 08.00 St Matthew Priest’s Intention

Fri 22^nd Sep 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Olga Bowman RIP (Bowman)

Sat 23^rd Sep 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Noreen Collyer RIP (Anon)

Sun 24^th Sep TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY

08.30 Margaret Hagen RIP (Anon)

10.30 Lance Grainger RIP (Hewitt/Grainger)

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 £840.27

Last week: Catholic Education Service. £182.61

This week: Evangelii Gaudium Sunday (PTO for details)

Next week: Libya Relief Fund

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,

Thank you to those attending the 6.00 and 8.30 mass who expressed an opinion in the consultation exercise last week regarding music. These are the results:

At the 6.00 mass For no music: 6% As it is: 71% With hymn singing: 21%

At the 8.30 mass For no music: 5% As it is: 65% With hymn singing: 30%

At both masses it seems we are generally happy that there should be organ music for suitable hymns played during the course of the mass. There might be the odd occasion where we would singing along – perhaps on special feast days. Anyway, it is good to know what people think!!

I am very pleased that this weekend (and possibly next weekend) we will be enrolling altar servers in the Guild of St. Stephen and awarding medals to new entries and different medals to the more experienced!! Well done, Team, and especially our M.C., John Stanton.

God Bless, Fr Doug

PETER HAMMOND

Please pray for Peter who died last Sunday. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

His funeral will be on October 6^th at 10.30

FAITH AWARDS

ALL READERS AND SPECIAL MINISTERS

Called to Pray: A Formation Day for Ministers of the Word of God and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion There are two sessions – 14 October in Welling or 21 October in Streatham.

Please let Fr Doug know, if you wish to attend.

QUIET MORNING AT SANCTUARY, in Swanley Village BR8 7UX

16^th September 11-1pm “Free from all Distress”. Come and reflect on the words and meaning of this prayer from our mass. Contact: Trudy on email tkilcullen@live.co.uk or 07977978536

FIRST FRIDAYS: the garden is open and free for you to recollect and rest between 10 and 4

BEXLEY INTERFAITH FORUM POP-UP SYNAGOGUE:

On Tuesday 19th September, the Bexley Interfaith Forum will be hosting a Pop-Up Synagogue in the Church Hall at St John’s (7pm start). Developed by members of local Jewish communities, this is an opportunity to experience and learn about Jewish worship in company and fellowship with members of a range of faiths from across the Borough. St John’s Church is next to Golden Acre Park on Parkhill Road in Bexley village.

EVANGELII GAUDIUM – Preparing for the Jubilee Year in Faith and Prayer

Evangelii Gaudium Sunday calls us to be joyous in proclaiming our faith. “Evangelii Gaudium” is Latin for “Joy of the Gospel”. The day supports the work carried out by the Mission Directorate on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference.

A key focus of work for the next few years is responding to Pope Francis’ calling of a Jubilee Year in 2025 with the theme Pilgrims of Hope. The Holy Father has invited the whole Church to prepare for the Jubilee in the two years prior through:

· Reflecting on the four Constitutions of the Second Vatican Council in 2023.

· Deepening our prayer life, with a special focus on the Lord’s Prayer, in 2024.

8 September 2023 Nuntius

SUNDAY 10th September 2023

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY,YEAR A

Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-9 Psalm 94 Romans 13:8-10, Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

Sat 9^th Sep 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Ann Turp RIP (Turp)

Sun 10^th Sep TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY

08.30 Jim Docherty (C&K Fitzpatrick)

10.30 Geoff Hinton RIP (Wheatley)

Mon 11^th Sep 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 St Ambrose Funeral Mass for Nina Szredski RIP

(3.15 Committal at Eltham Crematorium)

Tues 12^th Sep 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Holy Name of Mary For the Parish

Wed 13^th Sep 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 St John Chrysostom Anton Jeyaseelan RIP (M.Fitzpatrick)

Thurs 14^th Sep 08.00 Exaltation of the Cross Priest’s Intention

Fri 15^th Sep 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Wedding Anniversary (B&E Fernandes)

Sat 16^th Sep 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Anita Rowland RIP (Morris)

Sun 17^th Sep TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY

08.30 Kay Gillespie RIP (Gillespie)

10.30 Sergia Balaqui 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 £1080.51

This week Catholic Education Service. Next week Home Mission

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,

It is a generous part of our tradition that we remember those have died, both those recently deceased and those whose anniversaries occur at this time. Our memorial rose garden also reflects our faith in the Communion of Saints and our love for those who have gone before us. But I would also like to add a phrase to the prayer we pray at mass, so from now on:

Eternal rest give unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace AND RISE IN GLORY. Amen.

Also, I did promise that I would do some consultation about music at the 6.00 and 8.30 masses. Please take and return a brief questionnaire. Thank you.

God Bless, Fr Doug

PETER HAMMOND

Please pray for Peter who died last Sunday. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

FAITH AWARDS

ALL CATECHISTS

There will be a day for all catechists of Bexley Deanery on Saturday 16^th September to be held at St. Stephen’s, Welling. The day will offer reflection, support and training.

Tea/Coffee and refreshments will be available from 9.30am. The programme begins at 10.00am and will end at 4.00pm.

During the day there will be three reflections(talks) and three interactive workshops. The day will begin and end with a short liturgy. Please bring a packed lunch.

Please let Fr Doug know that you are going to attend.

ALL READERS AND SPECIAL MINISTERS

Called to Pray: A Formation Day for Ministers of the Word of God and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion There are two sessions – 14 October in Welling or 21 October in Streatham.

Please let Fr Doug know, if you wish to attend.

QUIET MORNING AT SANCTUARY, in Swanley Village BR8 7UX

16^th September 11-1pm “Free from all Distress”. Come and reflect on the words and meaning of this prayer from our mass. Contact: Trudy on email tkilcullen@live.co.uk or 07977978536

FIRST FRIDAYS: the garden is open and free for you to recollect and rest between 10 and 4

CATHOLIC EDUCATION SERVICE

The CES acts on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference to support Catholic education. Catholic schools make up 10% of the national total of maintained schools. This week’s 2^nd collection is for the CES.

BEXLEY INTERFAITH FORUM POP-UP SYNAGOGUE: