Newsletter

20 March 2026 Nuntius

SUNDAY 22nd March

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A

Readings: Ezekiel 37:12-14 Psalm 129, Romans 8:8-11, John 11:1-45

Sat 21^st Mar 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Peter Beaver RIP (Staden)

Sun 22^nd Mar FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

08.30 Jay Maskell (Cannon)

10.30 John Hughes RIP (Hughes)

Mon 23^rd Mar 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10:00 Kathleen Horan (O’Donnell)

Tues 24^th Mar 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Thanksgiving (Bosser)

Wed 25^th Mar 09:15 The Annunciation Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 of The Lord Dunning & Wheatley Families RIP (Wheatley)

Please join us in the Hall for refreshments after the 10.00 mass in the Meeting Place

Fri 27^th Mar 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Benito D’Souza (Coutinho)

Stations of the Cross

Sat 28^th Mar 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Eileen Barry RIP (Hagon)

Sun 29^th Mar PALM SUNDAY

08.30 Rosaleen Cruist RlP (Woodcock)

10.30 Alice Howie RIP (Howie family)

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.

MASS INTENTIONS: Do have masses said for your intentions. Use the envelopes in the foyer to name the intention and to enclose an offering. Give them to Fr Doug or post them through the presbytery door.

FINANCES

Many thanks for your offertory collection £1031.03

Retiring collection this Sunday for Poor Parishes

Bank Payments to RCAS Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763

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 on weekdays, £40 per hour at weekends

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

Dear Parishioners,

On Wednesday we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation. The Archangel Gabriel spoke to Mary:

“You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus… The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow.”

Mary said: “Let what you have said, be done to me”.

Nine months later the Son of God would be born in Bethlehem, a wonderful event, but in a way not as awe-filled as the conception that the angel was announcing. This truly was a magic moment, a moment when the Son of God entered humanity. And Mary agreed to it, submitting to God’s will.

During Lent we are training ourselves to be submissive to God’s will. Maybe Mary can help.

God Bless, Fr Doug

HOLY WEEK 2026:

In addition to the usual morning masses on Mon, Tues, & Wed,

Tuesday 31^st March 7.30 Service of Reconciliation

Thursday 2^nd April 8.00 Mass of The Lord’s Summer

Friday 3^rd April 3.00 Solemn Commemoration of the Passion of the Lord

Saturday 4^th April 8.00 Easter Vigil – The Proclamation of Christ’s Resurrection

Sunday 5^th April 8.30 Easter Sunday Mass

Sunday 5^th April 10.30 Easter Sunday Mass

What happened in that first Easter is fundamental to our Faith – to how we understand ourselves and how we understand God, how we see our lives and how we see our lives to come. If you can, try to participate in the liturgies with a view to internalizing and deepening your grasp on these vital truths.

SANCTUARY QUIET DAY: A Day of Reflection for Lent on NEXT SATURDAY, 28^th March 11-3 at “Sanctuary”, 8 Hotham Close, Swanley Village. All are welcome. Bring a packed lunch. Bookings at tkilcullen@live.co.uk

PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES: Please collect your envelopes from the foyer.

ALSO, if you contribute by S.O., there are envelopes for special collections for you.

RETIRING COLLECTION THIS SUNDAY FOR POOR PARISHES

There are some parishes in the diocese that are thriving in many ways but just can’t make ends meet. Not us, thankfully, but we can help the Archbishop support such parish communities until they can get themselves afloat.

SOUTHWARK DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES: 21 to 28 August 2026 An opportunity to refresh our relationship with the Lord Jesus, with the help of Our Lady’s prayers. Details for booking travel and accommodation can be found at

https://www.catholicassociation.co.uk/join2026 or edwardperera@rcaos.org.uk

ARCHBISHOP’S CERTIFICATE

The Archbishop’s Certificate (ArchCert) is a two-year online course for all who wish to understand their faith in a more profound way and be able to share it with both confidence and joy.

The 2-year course will commence on 10 October 2026 and the cost will be £400 per year. In addition, registration must be completed in advance and there is a non-refundable registration fee of £50. Further details can be found here: https://aec.rcaos.org.uk/archcert

13 March 2026 Nuntius

SUNDAY 15th March

FOURTH SUNDAY OF Lent Year A

Readings: Samuel 1 16:1-13 Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41

Sat 14^th Mar 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Dave Woolsgrove RIP (Staden)

Sun 15^th Mar FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

08.30 Ian D’Silva RIP (Keenan)

10.30 John Hughes RIP (Hughes)

Mon 16^th Mar 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10:00 Hema Anton RIP (Jeyaseelan)

Tues 17^th Mar 09.15 St Patrick Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Sabrina Bosser, Susan & Wallace D’Monte

Wed 18^th Mar 09:15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Rex Wheatley RIP (Wheatley)

Please join us in the Hall for refreshments after the 10.00 mass in the Meeting Place

Fri 20^th Mar 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Thanksgiving St Anthony (Fogarty)

Way of the Cross

Sat 21^st Mar 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Peter Weaver RIP (Staden)

Sun 22^nd Mar FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

08.30 Jay Maskell (Cannon)

10.30 John Hughes RIP (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 on the website.

FINANCES

Many thanks for your offertory collection £963.57

Retiring collection for AIC £615.36

Retiring collection next Sunday for Poor Parishes

Bank Payments to RCAS Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763

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,

We reflected last year especially about life being a Pilgrimage from one place to somewhere better, somewhere holy, perhaps. Many of us follow The Way (or Stations) of the Cross as a devotion privately or as a family or in Church. We think of Lent as being a Journey in Faith. This dynamic often focuses our thoughts on where we are going or trying to get to. It is sometimes worth looking back though, and reminding ourselves that we have actually been moving! If we look back we will be able to see that we have developed or grown in some ways. Maybe this growth has followed a difficult situation or challenge, maybe it’s just down to some change in our lives. Whatever, look until you see and then give thanks to God.

God Bless, Fr Doug

LENT 2026:

At most masses we will greet the gospel by singing:

Praise To You Lord Jesus Christ, King of Eternal Glory.

We are offering the opportunity each week to reflect on the following Sunday’s Gospel:

Mondays, 6.00 Exposition, 6.30 Gospel Reflection and/or…

Tuesdays, 1.00 Refreshments, 1.30 Gospel Reflection.

ALSO, as ever, we recommend the Southwark Spirituality (daily) reflections, arriving as emails. All you have to do is ask! Go to www.southwarkdsc.org.uk and click on LENT REFLECTIONS.

ALSO, Churches Together “40 Days in the Desert”: Biblical reflection and prayer Tues 10 a.m., Bexley URC, Hurst Rd, Thurs, 7 p.m., Baldwyns Park Baptist Church, Dartford Rd.

SANCTUARY QUIET DAY: A Day of Reflection for Lent on 28^th March 11-3 at “Sanctuary”, 8 Hotham Close, Swanley Village.

All are welcome. Bring a packed lunch. Bookings at tkilcullen@live.co.uk

AIC PASSAGE FRIENDS:

A big Thank you for your generous donation last week of £615.36 Your support will enable us to continue our monthly outings with homeless friends – to London locations in the winter; in the summer via SVP minibus to Kent and East Sussex. God richly bless your almsgiving this Lent.

PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES

Please collect your envelopes from the foyer.

ALSO, if you contribute by S.O., there are envelopes for special collections for you.

RETIRING COLLECTION NEXT SUNDAY FOR POOR PARISHES

There are some parishes in the diocese that are thriving in many ways but just can’t make ends meet. Not here, thankfully, but we can help the Archbishop support such parish communities until they can get themselves afloat.

JOB OPPORTUNITY AT JESUIT MISSIONS – ‘Campaigns & Outreach Officer’

Remote working, with travel across the UK. Can you engage and motivate others to act on campaigns involving those in the Global South? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

For more information about Jesuit Missions, the Job Description/Person Specification go to: https://jesuitmissions.org.uk/vacancies/ or scan the QR code Closing date: 9am, Friday 20^th March

SOUTHWARK DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES: 21 to 28 August 2026 An opportunity to refresh our relationship with the Lord Jesus, with the help of Our Lady’s prayers.

Details for booking travel and accommodation can be found at

https://www.catholicassociation.co.uk/join2026 or edwardperera@rcaos.org.uk

6 March 2026 Nuntius

SUNDAY 8th March

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT Year A

Readings: Exodus 17:3-7 Psalm 94, Romans 5:1-8, John 4:5-42

Sat 7^th Mar 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Holy Souls (Jeyaseelan)

Sun 8^th Mar THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

08.30 Thomas Kilvarry RIP (Deal family)

10.30 Angela Carroll (Cowdell family)

Mon 9^th Mar 10.30 FUNERAL MASS Owen King RIP

Tues 10^th Mar 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Helen & Brendan Rutledge (Kilcullen)

Wed 11^th Mar 09:15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Michael & Kate Dunning RIP (Wheatley)

Please join us in the Hall for refreshments after the 10.00 mass in the Meeting Place

Fri 13^th Mar 09.15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00 Donald Almeida RIP (Almeida)

Sat 14^th Mar 17.30 Confessions

18.00 Dave Woolsgrove RIP (Staden)

Sun 15^th Mar FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

08.30 Ian D’Silva RIP (Keenan)

10.30 John Hughes RIP (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 on the website.

MASS INTENTIONS

Do have masses said for your intentions. Use the envelopes in the foyer to name the intention and to enclose an offering. Give them to Fr Doug or post them through the presbytery door.

FINANCES

Many thanks for your offertory collection £1047.40

Retiring collection last week CAFOD £560.13

Retiring collection this week AIC

Bank Payments to RCAS Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763

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 on weekdays, £40 per hour at weekends

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

Dear Parishioners,

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for March is “for disarmament and peace.”

He asks us to pray for peace: he begins his prayer by recalling that the Lord has shaped every human being in His image and likeness and that He created us “for communion, not for war, for fraternity, not for destruction. You who greeted your disciples saying, “Peace be with you,” grant us the gift of your peace and the strength to make it a reality in history. Today we lift up our prayer for peace in the world, asking that nations renounce weapons and choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy. Lord help us disarm our hearts of hatred, resentment, and indifference, so we may become instruments of reconciliation. Help us understand that true security does not come from control fuelled by fear, but from trust, justice, and solidarity among peoples.”

God Bless, Fr Doug

LENT 2026:

At most masses we will greet the gospel by singing:

Praise To You Lord Jesus Christ, King of Eternal Glory.

We are offering the opportunity each week to reflect on the following Sunday’s Gospel:

Mondays, 6.00 Exposition, 6.30 Gospel Reflection and/or…

Tuesdays, 1.00 Refreshments, 1.30 Gospel Reflection.

ALSO, as ever, we recommend the Southwark Spirituality (daily) reflections, arriving as emails. All you have to do is ask! Go to www.southwarkdsc.org.uk and click on LENT REFLECTIONS.

For those who don’t use email, there are printed copies available in the foyer.

ALSO, The Way of the Cross: Devotional prayer after the 10.00 mass, (approx. 10.20) each Friday. If you like to lead one session, with help, please see Carol Anderson or Angela Gillespie.

ALSO, Churches Together “40 Days in the Desert”: a 5-week course of Biblical reflection and prayer exploring the Book of Exodus, drawing parallels between the Hebrews’ 40 years in the wilderness and Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. Tues 10 a.m., Bexley URC, Hurst Rd, Thurs, 7 p.m., Baldwyns Park Baptist Church, Dartford Rd.

SANCTUARY QUIET DAY

A Day of Reflection for Lent on 28^th March 11-3 at “Sanctuary”, 8 Hotham Close, Swanley Village.

All are welcome. Bring a packed lunch. Bookings at tkilcullen@live.co.uk

AIC PASSAGE (FORMERLY SATURDAY) FRIENDS:

This weekend our AIC Passage Friends group will make their annual appeal on behalf of homeless people who are clients of The Passage Day Centre in central London and use our Passage Friends rehabilitation service. We hope to explain what, with your generous help, has been achieved and what, with continued help, can be done this year.

JOB OPPORTUNITY AT JESUIT MISSIONS – ‘Campaigns & Outreach Officer’

Remote working, with travel across the UK. Can you engage and motivate others to act on campaigns involving those in the Global South? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

For more information about Jesuit Missions, the Job Description/Person Specification go to: https://jesuitmissions.org.uk/vacancies/ or scan the QR code Closing date: 9am, Friday 20^th March

SOUTHWARK DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES: 21 to 28 August 2026 An opportunity to refresh our relationship with the Lord Jesus, with the help of Our Lady’s prayers.

Details for booking travel and accommodation can be found at

https://www.catholicassociation.co.uk/join2026 or edwardperera@rcaos.org.uk