Newsletter

SUNDAY 26^th March 2023, 

FIFTH SUNDAY of LENT, YEAR A 

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

 

Sat    25^th Mar    17.30         Confessions

                           18.00                             Marie Lenergan RIP (Staden) 

 

Sun  26^th Mar   FIFTH SUNDAY of LENT 

                          08.30                                     For the Parish

                          10.30                             Madeline Grainger (Choir)

 

Mon  27^th Mar    09.15                                     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                           10.00                                    Joe Nazareth RIP (Almeida)

 

Tues  28^th Mar   09.15                                     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                          10.00                             Marie Sullivan (Sullivan)

 

Wed  29^th  Mar   09.15                                     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                           10.00                                     Pam Sarton RIP (Fitzpatrick) 

 

Thurs   30^th Mar  08.00                                     Priest’s intention

 

Fri   31^st Mar       09.15                                    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                           10.00                                 Wedding Anniv:John & Margaret Bird RIP (Bird)

                           10.30                                     Stations of the Cross

 

Sat    1^st Apr       17.30                                    Confessions

                           18.00                                     David Watkins RIP (Morris)

 

Sun  2^nd Apr     PALM SUNDAY                  

                           08.30                                    Juliet Benedict RIP (Jeyaseelan)

                           10.30                                     John Larkin RIP (Larkin)

                               

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 £907.40

Last week: Poor Parishes                                                          £135.11

 

 

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. Select a donation amount by pressing one of the amounts.  The screen will read “Please Tap”, and you tap your card or phone on the card reader.  

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms are at the back of the Church. For every £1.00 donated the Parish will receive 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 previous Wednesday

 

Dear Parishioners,

In celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation, Pope Francis asks us to renew the act of consecration to Our Lady that took on March 25 last year. Here are the key words of the consecration which we will use in masses this weekend:

 

Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine.   Grant that war may end and peace spread throughout the world.  We trust that, through your heart, peace will dawn once more.  To you we consecrate the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, and the hopes of the world.                                             God Bless,                   Fr Doug 

 

DIOCESAN LENTEN RETREAT: “Renewed in Hope”

It is coming to am end now but feel free to join in any session remaining

Mondays, 1.30 – 3.00 St. John Fisher Hall. 

Tuesdays 10.30 – 12.00 URC 

Wednesdays 7.30 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. St John’s Church

 

MAUNDY THURSDAY

We remind you that we hope to be able to resume receiving Holy Communion “under both kinds” if we wish to, starting at The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday. It will depend of course on there being sufficient numbers of our Eucharistic Ministers being happy to administer the Chalice. Let us be clear that no one is obliged to receive Holy Communion from the shared chalice and that Jesus Christ is received sacramentally, whole, and entire, under one kind.  The totality of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord is received in either or both species. 

 

DAVID WATKINS RIP

Please pray for the soul of David Watkins. His funeral will be in church at 11.00 on April 4^th

 

PAT LIDDIARD RIP

Please pray for the soul of Pat Liddiard who has died

 

PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES 

Boxes of Planned Giving Envelopes are now available in the foyer.

Please take your box for the year 2023/2024. Thank you. Edna Fernandes, Gift Aid Organiser

 

LOST PROPERTY

Ear ring found in Church on 18/19 March. 

Please see Fr Doug if it is yours

 

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY  

We can be contacted by leaving a message with the Parish Office, a note through the Presbytery Door or using the Parish email address as above.

 

WORLD YOUTH DAY LISBON –

31st July to 7th August 2023 The Archdiocese of Southwark is taking a group of pilgrims (aged 18-35) to World Youth Day. For info visit https://bit.kinsly/WYDSouthwark and www.lisboa2023.org/en/.

 

SUNDAY 19^th March 2023 

FOURTH SUNDAY of LENT, YEAR A 

Readings:1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7.10-13, Psalm 22, Ephesians 5: 8-14, Gospel: John 9:1-41

 

Sat       18^th Mar     17.30  Confessions

18.00                                      For the Parish 

 

Sun      19^th Mar        THIRD SUNDAY of LENT 

                               08.30                                      Delia Willis RIP (Wilkes)

10.30                                      Michael Power RIP (Ellis)

 

Mon    20^th Mar        09.15  St Joseph                     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00                                     Vernon Rogers RIP (Spicer/Connolly)

 

Tues    21^st Mar       09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

 10.00                                      Rex Wheatley RIP (Wheatley)

 

Wed    22^nd Mar       09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00                                      Deacon Michael Baldry RIP (Friends)

 

Thurs  23^rd Mar        08.00                                      Priest’s intention

 

Fri        24^th Mar        09.15  St Oscar Romero          Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                 10.00                                      Peter & Sheila Sinclair (Kilcullen)

                                 10.30                                      Stations of the Cross

 

Sat       25^th Mar        17.30                                      Confessions

                                  18.00                                      Marie Lenergan RIP (Staden)

 

Sun      26^th Mar        FIFTH SUNDAY of LENT               

                                  08.30                                     For the Parish

                                  10.30                                      Madeline Grainger (Choir)

                                       

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

We hope the recent problems with the live stream have now been solved.  Click on the link:

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection last week       Incl. S.O.s      £1030.00

Last week:     AIC                                                                                         £484.39

This week:     Poor Parishes of the Diocese

 

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. Select a donation amount by pressing one of the amounts.  The screen will read “Please Tap”, and you tap your card or phone on the card reader.  

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms are at the back of the Church. For every £1.00 donated the Parish will receive 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 previous Wednesday

 

Dear Parishioners,

We have been told by Archbishop John that we can resume receiving Holy Communion “under both kinds” if we wish to, starting at The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday. I propose therefore that we, in this parish, begin to offer the Precious Blood from the chalice at this time. It will depend of course on there being sufficient numbers of our Eucharistic Ministers being happy to administer the Chalice. Also, given post-pandemic sensibilities and concerns about the spreading of disease, let us be clear that no one is obliged to receive Holy Communion from the shared chalice and that Jesus Christ is received sacramentally, whole, and entire, under one kind. 

Again, the totality of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord is received in either or both species. It is a matter of your own disposition before the Sacrament. 

If it feels more reverent to you, then take the opportunity to receive the Precious Blood from the Chalice.  If it makes you feel less reverent, then don’t! 

We have a few weeks to think things over.

                                                                    God Bless,               Fr Doug       

 

DIOCESAN LENTEN RETREAT: “Renewed in Hope”

It isn’t too late to sign up to receive the weekly Reflection (video) each Monday.  https://www.southwarkdsc.org.uk/renewedbyhope

Alternatively, you can participate with other Christians in Bexley in 3 different church locations with the video projected onto a ‘large screen’ and with a time for shared reflection.

Please note that the lunchtime session here is using the readings for the Sunday following but the morning and evening sessions reflect on the previous Sunday’s readings.

Mondays, 1.30 – 3.00 St. John Fisher Hall. 

Tuesdays 10.30 – 12.00 URC 

Wednesdays 7.30 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. St John’s Church

 

AIC SATURDAY FRIENDS: APPEAL FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE

We are very grateful for last week’s wonderfully generous response.

You can be sure that every penny will be spent directly on our homeless Friends’ rehabilitation.  On display in the porch, you will see how the resources you provide are spent – and some of the touching thank you cards received.  May God richly bless your kindness.  AIC “Saturday Friends”.

 

DAVID WATKINS RIP

Please pray for the soul of David Watkins. His funeral will be in church at 11.00 on April 4^th

 

PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES 

Boxes of Planned Giving Envelopes are now available in the foyer.

Please take your box for the year 2023/2024. Thank you. Edna Fernandes, Gift Aid Organiser

 

A QUIET DAY FOR HOLY WEEK

Saturday April 1st from 11am to 3pm at Sanctuary, Swanley Village. Come away for a time for space, prayer and reflection as Holy Week approaches. For more information or to book – please email tkilcullen@live.co.uk or call 07977978536

 

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY  

We can be contacted by leaving a message with the Parish Office, a note through the Presbytery Door or using the Parish email address as above.

 

WORLD YOUTH DAY LISBON 

31st July To 7th August 2023 The Archdiocese of Southwark is taking a group of pilgrims (aged 18-35) to World Youth Day. For info visit https://bit.kinsly/WYDSouthwark and www.lisboa2023.org/en/.

 

 

SUNDAY 12^th March 2023 

THIRD SUNDAY of LENT, YEAR A 

Readings: Exodus17:3-7, Psalm 94, Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8 Gospel: John 4:5-15, 19-26, 39-42

 

Sat    11^th Mar   17.30         Confessions

       18.00         Trish Kavanagh RIP (Fitzpatrick) 

 

Sun  12^th Mar   THIRD SUNDAY of LENT 

                          08.30         Richard Sweetland RIP (Cannon)

       10.30         Mary Malin RIP (Hollis)

 

Mon  13^th Mar    09.15        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                          10.00         For the Parish (Sullivan) 

 

Tues 14^th Mar    09.15         Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

       10.00          Sisters+Brothers Meade family (Sullivan)

 

Wed 15^th Mar     09.15          Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                          10.00           Lavender Costa Fernandes RIP (Almeida)

 

Thurs 16^th Mar   08.00           Priest’s intention

 

Fri      17^th Mar   09.15    St Patrick,Bishop   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                          10.00            Deceased Kilcullen + Slater families

                          10.30           Stations of the Cross

 

Sat    18^th Mar   17.30            Confessions

                          18.00            For the Parish

 

Sun  19^th Mar   FOURTH SUNDAY of LENT               

                          08.30          Delia Willis RIP (Wilkes)

                          10.30          Michael Power RIP (Ellis)

                            

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

Owing to a fault in one of the components in the system we are not able to stream anything at present.  We hope to be back as soon as possible!

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

 

FINANCES       

Many thanks for your offertory collection last week    Incl. S.O.s £992.89

Last week: CAFOD                                                                    £259.07

This week: AIC

 

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. Select a donation amount by pressing one of the amounts.  The screen will read “Please Tap”, and you tap your card or phone on the card reader.  

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms are at the back of the Church. For every £1.00 donated the Parish will receive 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 previous Wednesday

 

Dear Parishioners,

Archbishop John is about to launch CARITAS Southwark. Caritas is the Latin word for love and CARITAS Southwark will be our Archdiocesan network to co-ordinate our practical loving service of others, putting faith into action. He writes to tell us that CARITAS will work with our parishes and schools to support us in serving those in need:

“The Church has always served the poorest and the weakest. This happens today through our parishes, schools and social and charitable projects and organisations. In such challenging times, it is important that we strengthen and enhance our charitable outreach, rooted in our faith in Christ. This will build on the excellent work already taking place and provide encouragement and support for new initiatives. CARITAS is about facilitation and collaboration, building up our common bond of charity through a more considered identity whereby our Archdiocese can promote and recognise faith in action.  Many parishes already have projects in place. Others, as yet, do not have any specific or developed formal outreach. This is a time for all of us, clergy, religious, and lay faithful, to pray and reflect on the Scriptures, strengthened by the Eucharist, so as to discern how we live out the call to see and serve the Lord Jesus in our brothers and sisters in need. To all who already give their time and effort so generously in voluntary service to the Church’s social mission, I extend my heartfelt gratitude.”                                ✠ John Wilson

 

We need to consider how we as a parish will engage with CARITAS. – A major item for our next Parish AGM.                                                                    

                                            God Bless,                      Fr Doug 

 

DIOCESAN LENTEN RETREAT: “Renewed in Hope”

It isn’t too late to sign up to receive the weekly Reflection (video) each Monday.  https://www.southwarkdsc.org.uk/renewedbyhope

Alternatively, you can participate with other Christians in Bexley in 3 different church locations with the video projected onto a ‘large screen’ and with a time for shared reflection.

Please note that the lunchtime session here is using the readings for the Sunday following but the morning and evening sessions reflect on the previous Sunday’s readings.

Mondays, 1.30 – 3.00 St. John Fisher Hall. 

Tuesdays 10.30 – 12.00 URC 

Wednesdays 7.30 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. St John’s Church

 

AIC “SATURDAY FRIENDS” 

We are making a short appeal for our rehabilitation work with Homeless Folk who use the Passage Resource Centre in London. (AIC is the Association International des Charites/International Association of Charities founded by Saint Vincent de Paul to be good news to poor people.) Please also see the display in the porch and on the right as you go into the hall.

 

PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES 

Boxes of Planned Giving Envelopes are now available in the foyer.

Please take your box for the year 2023/2024. Thank you. Edna Fernandes, Gift Aid Organiser

 

A QUIET DAY FOR HOLY WEEK

Saturday April 1st from 11am to 3pm at Sanctuary, Swanley Village. Come away for a time for space, prayer and reflection as Holy Week approaches. For more information or to book – please email tkilcullen@live.co.uk or call 07977978536

 

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY  

We can be contacted by leaving a message with the Parish Office, a note through the Presbytery Door or using the Parish email address as above.

 

WORLD YOUTH DAY LISBON –

31st July To 7th August 2023 The Archdiocese of Southwark is taking a group of pilgrims (aged 18-35) to World Youth Day. For info visit https://bit.ly/WYDSouthwark and http://www.lisboa2023.org/en/.