Sunday March 18th, 2021

3^rd SUNDAY OF EASTER

Readings: Acts; 3:13-15. 17-19  Psalm 4, 1 John 2:1-5, Luke 24:35-48   

 

SERVICES FOR WEEK 17^th – 25^th April 2021 

Sat      17 Apr           11.00                                      Confessions

                                 18.00                                      Sarah Ward RIP (Ward Family)

Sun     18 Apr          3^rd SUNDAY OF EASTER

08.30                                      Krystyna Witulska RIP (Jeyaseelan/Connolly)    

                                       10.30                                      Jamie Roth RIP (Morris)

            Web – available anytime:

https://youtu.be/OK4-308qH4g   

                     For the Parish

Mon    19 Apr                                                             PKM

Tues   20 Apr           09.30                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00                                      Margaret McQuaid RIP (McQuaid Family)

Weds 21 Apr            09.30  St Anselm                   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00                                      Tess Truman (Truman Family)

Fri       23 Apr           09.30  St George                   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00                                      Danny Lyons RIP + Kay (Frake)

Sat      24 Apr           11.00                                      Confessions

                                 18.00                                      Chris White RIP (Connolly)            

Sun    25 Apr           4^th SUNDAY OF EASTER             

            08.30                                      For the Parish

                                         10.30                                      Sarah Ward RIP (Hughes)

            Web – available anytime    Tony Speed RIP (Keefe) 

 

 

FINANCES 

Direct Bank Payments to RCAS St John Fisher – Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763

Please put your name and if you use envelopes, your envelope number, as the code

Thank you all so much for your Easter Offering which is your personal gift me.

This week there is a special collection to help pay for our flower displays at Easter 

            

CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS

The weekly Catholic newspapers can be obtained directly (postage free) by subscription:

Catholic Universe and Catholic Times Go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com or ring 0161 820 5722 and they will arrange for you. £99.00 per year or just £55 for the digital version

The Herald has a similar offer: Ring 0207 448 3607 or go to http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/subscribe

All papers are Covid safe and packed in a sterile component.

 

A little more from the Friends of the Holy Land Poem:

Then it happens. 

From nowhere, without a bolt loosened,

a handle turned or roofing removed, 

Jesus appears,

standing before them 

radiant, risen, real? 

Ecstasy and agony. Shock and awe. 

Fresh fragrant air

flooding the fetid fractious lair. 

Before any can speak,

he raises his hand in blessing and prayer 

and softly says the word they need to hear 

Shalom. Peace be with you. 

 

And again Shalom, 

the gift they most urgently desire:

Peace from guilt and shame, 

peace from never knowing hope again.

Once more his Shalom drenches 

and softens their broken, beaten hearts.

Moving closer, mercy-eyed,

he shows them his hands and his side. 

Healing miracle-making hands,

now punctured and torn by hammered iron nails

and his side gashed and gouged,

but now somehow glorious, victorious. 

God Bless           

 

OFFERTORY COLLECTION ENVELOPES

A huge thank you to Edna and Brian who organise the planned giving envelopes for us all. It is a huge task and with the Covid restrictions it has meant that most of the envelopes have had to be delivered. With the assistance of Patricia this has also been achieved. Again, thank you.

 

FLOWERS AT EASTER

I thanked on everyone’s behalf, those responsible for the outstanding flower displays that celebrated Easter in our church. Normally there is the opportunity to support this through the wall box in the weeks before. We didn’t have the same opportunity this year so we have the collection box available in the porch for those who might like to contribute to the costs. Many thanks.

 

SPREAD THE WORD.

The Catholic Press strive to provide readers with the information they need by speaking up for the poor, helping the young in faith grow closer to Christ and explaining how Catholics should navigate the politics, conflicts, temptations and other vagaries of daily life. Details of how to gain access to the Catholic newspapers is overleaf.

 

HEAD TEACHER VACANCY

Following the retirement of our Head Teacher, the Governing Body of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Old Road, Crayford, DA1 4DZ, wish to appoint an inspirational and dedicated new Head Teacher for this happy and Ofsted rated ’good’ school. Number of children on roll 213, salary range L13 to L21 (£60,073-£71,666), starting in September 2021. Application details and are on the school website www.st-josephs.bexley.sch.uk  Closing date Friday  23^rd April 2021 at noon.

Please print off this newsletter, using the screenshots below, and post it through the door of any parishioner you know without electronic access and make sure everyone feels okay and feels connected.

2^nd SUNDAY OF EASTER

Readings: Acts:4:32-35 Psalm 117, John:5:1-6, John 20:19-31     

 

SERVICES FOR WEEK 10^th – 18^th April 2021 

Sat      10 Apr           11.00                          Confessions

                                 18.00                          Foundation Mass for Fr Tom Power

Sun     11 Apr          2^nd SUNDAY OF EASTER

08.30                          Margaret Bates RIP (Haylett)                     

                                       10.30                           Rommel Bernarte RIP (Bernarte)

            Web – available anytime

 

                 For the Parish

Mon    12 Apr                                              PKM

Tues   13 Apr           09.30  St Martin           Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00                           Foundation Mass for Virginia Bolton

Weds 14 Apr            09.30                          Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00                          Alison Ede RIP (Hollis)

Fri       16 Apr           09.30                           Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00                          John Robins RIP (Robins)

Sat      17 Apr          11.00                           Confessions

                                18.00                           Sarah Ward RIP (Ward Family)                 

Sun    18 Apr           3rd SUNDAY OF EASTER                        

            08.30                          Krystyna Witulska RIP (Jeyaseelan/Connolly)

                                         10.30                          Jamie Roth RIP (Morris)

            Web – available anytime For the Parish 

 

 

FINANCES 

Direct Bank Payments to RCAS St John Fisher – Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763

Please put your name and if you use envelopes, your envelope number, as the code

Thank you all so much for your Easter Offering which is your personal gift me.

This week there is a special collection for St. George’s Cathedral – Maintenance Fund

            

CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS

The weekly Catholic newspapers can be obtained directly (postage free) by subscription:

Catholic Universe and Catholic Times Go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com or ring 0161 820 5722 and they will arrange for you. £99.00 per year or just £55 for the digital version

The Herald has a similar offer: Ring 0207 448 3607 or go to http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/subscribe

 

Several of you appreciated the extract from the Passion and Easter poem that I put in the newsletter last week so I thought I would just include two more verses relevant to this week’s gospel :

In the wounds of death, they see new life, 

the defeated Jesus becomes the risen Christ, 

who now holds them with his eyes and says: 

“As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.

No more locks doors, no more hiding in fear, 

your mission is to the world, spreading out from here, 

and not in your own power,

but in my Spirit’s way, 

to bring to all the mercy,

I have shown to you this Resurrection day. 

Break through the doors of sin and shame,

and forgive others in my name.” 

 

With this he breathes on them,

igniting the Spirit’s fire,

sparking to life in each disciple and apostle’s desire. 

Filled now with their Lord’s peace, purpose and power,

these men run towards the bolted door, 

and with one pull burst out into the street, 

no longer afraid, no longer in retreat, 

but bold and hungry for souls,

themselves risen from the dead, a radical rebirth,

sent out, empowered, 

to renew the face of the earth.   

God Bless            

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. – Archbishop John Wilson

On behalf of the Catholic Community of the Archdiocese of Southwark, I wish to express my profound sorrow at the news of the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
In union with the entire nation, we mourn the loss of not only an esteemed and respected member of the Royal Family, but also a man who exemplified the very best qualities of courage, fortitude and loyalty. Although born into a very different world, his example and witness leave us, here in this present age, with a lasting and enduring legacy of the timeless paradigm of duty and service.
In this season of Eastertide, when we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and his victory over death, we pray that His Royal Highness will rest in peace and rise in glory. We also remember in our prayers Her Majesty the Queen and all members of the Royal Family at this sad time, offering to them our sincerest condolences.

Archbishop John

HEAD TEACHER VACANCY

Following the retirement of our Head Teacher, the Governing Body of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Old Road, Crayford, DA1 4DZ, wish to appoint an inspirational and dedicated new Head Teacher for this happy and Ofsted rated ’good’ school. Number of children on roll 213, salary range L13 to L21 (£60,073-£71,666), starting in September 2021. Application details and are on the school website www.st-josephs.bexley.sch.uk Closing date Friday  23^rd April 2021 at noon.

Please print off this newsletter using the screenshots below and post it through the door of any parishioner you know without electronic access and make sure everyone feels okay and feels connected.

EASTER SUNDAY

Readings: Acts:10;34.37-43 Psalm 117, Colossians 3:1:4, John 20:1-9  

 

SERVICES FOR WEEK 3^rd – 11^h April 2021 

Sat      3 Apr        20.00                  Easter Vigil For the Parish

Sun  4 April     EASTER SUNDAY

                              08.30                 Fiona Boome RIP (Howie)         

                                    10.30                  Dorothy Speed & Tony Speed RIP (Choir)

    Web – available anytime  https://youtu.be/19f_slV6L4I

 

Bob & Margaret Morris (Frake)

Mon   5 Apr                                                     PKM

Tues   6 Apr         09.30                  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00                   Vincent Jeyaseelan RIP (Keefe)

Weds  7 Apr         09.30                  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00                  Seamus McDonagh RIP (Haylett)

Fri     9 Apr           09.30                  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                             10.00                  Eida Family (Eida/Connolly)       

Sat   10 Apr          11.00                  Confessions

                            18.00                   Foundation Mass Fr Tom Power                          

Sun 11 Apr      SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (Divine Mercy)                        

    08.30                      Margaret Bates RIP (Haylett)

                            10.30                         Rommel Bernarte RIP (Bernarte)

    Web – available anytime   For the Parish 

EASTER SUNDAY MASS ON THE WEBSITE

 

FINANCES – 

Please note the slight change in our bank account name.    .

Direct Bank Payments to RCAS St John Fisher – Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763

Please put your name and if you use envelopes, your envelope number, as the code

 

Easter Offering: This Collection is your personal gift to your Parish Priest                         

       

CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS

The weekly Catholic newspapers can be obtained directly (postage free) by subscription:

Catholic Universe and Catholic Times Go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com or ring 0161 820 5722 and they will arrange for you. £99.00 per year or just £55 for the digital version

The Herald has a similar offer: Ring 0207 448 3607 or go to http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/subscribe

 

Dear Parishioners,

Happy Easter, Everyone!

 

What a joy it is, this year to celebrate Easter in Church. There have been several features of our liturgies that have had to be curtailed because of Covid, but we have been able to journey with the Lord on the Way that led for him through suffering and death to joy and new life, but which also describes our path and our calling through difficulties, through suffering and yes, even through death to joys and to new life.

 

Let me be the first to thank everyone involved: The stewards, the readers, the cleaners, the altar servers, the sacristans, those who have led the Stations of the Cross and the catechists who led them for the children, those in the music ministry, the filmer and producer of the liturgies for the website, and of course those responsible for the wonderful celebration of Easter through the floral display.

I also offer my personal thanks for your Easter offering, your gift to your priest.

 

Talking of being the first, who was the first to witness and pass on the Good News of Christ’s resurrection? It was Mary of Magdala, and I share a few verses from a poem that takes its title from her name:

 

“I am sending you from this garden of graves,

as the first witness of my power to save,

to heal wounds, defeat death, take sin away

and transform deepest night into radiant day.

Risen and redeeming,

I will be with you always in a new life of grace,

no longer in a human body, limited by time and place,

but alive in the Spirit, God’s gift from above,

who will guide and inspire you in this new way of love.”

 

So Mary of Magdala, faithful and true,

persistent and passionate through and through

arose and dried her eyes,

then leaving behind grief and pain,

she set out as the first to proclaim:

“May heaven be praised,

may God be adored.

Everything is changed 

for I have seen the Lord!”

 

She may well have been the first to say such words but today the challenge is for all of us to be able to say them, as well. 

 

God Bless,             Fr Doug

Please print off this newsletter and post it through the door of any parishioner you know without electronic access and make sure everyone feels okay and feels connected.