SUNDAY 15th December 2024

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR C

Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18, Psalm: Isaiah12:2-6, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:10-18.

 

Sat      14th Dec          17.30      Confessions

18.00        Collette Hunt RIP (Fogarty) 

 

Sun     15th Dec        THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C – Gaudete!

                                    08.30         For the Parish 

                                    10.30         Margaret Leech RIP (Lyons) 

 

Mon    16th Dec            09.15   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00          Collette Hunt RIP (Sheehan)

 

Tues   17th Dec           09.15     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                   10.00           Patrick McQuaid (McQuaid)  

 

Wed    18th Dec          09.15     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00           Agatha Sant (East)

                                    

Fri       20th Dec           09.15     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00           Franki RIP & Jacki Jones (Larkin)

 

Sat      21st Dec          17.30      Confessions

18.00           Patrick Corcoran (Rogers) 

 

Sun     22nd Dec       FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C 

                                     08.30           For the Parish 

                                    10.30           Hollis Family

                                    16.00      CAROL SERVICE 

 

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    Last Week:    £ 1106.26 incl S.O.  

                                                

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 foyer. OUT OF ORDER – Sorry for the inconvenience!

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 weekdays, £40 per hour weekends

 

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

 

Dear Parishioners,

      “A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people” Lk 3:15, in today’s gospel.

We surely recognise that feeling as we get closer and closer to Christmas. Imagine though, being Syrian. For 50 years many have lived in hope of freedom from the regime that has now finally ended. The trouble is that no one knows what might happen next and few agree on what should happen next. Let us all pray that a way ahead can be found that will bring much peace and some joy to all Syrians, several million of whom are refugees abroad. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they could return home and if those families, communities and countries who had offered them sanctuary could then share that joy with them, proud to have fulfilled their Christian mission of love. One can be hopeful – even if not optimistic. 

                                           God Bless,                                       Fr Doug 

 

CAROL SERVICE:   Our Carol Service will be on Sunday 22^nd December at 16.00. The children will remind us of the Christmas Story and we will anticipate the great day itself as we sing our Christmas carols. Children (young or old) are welcome to dress up as shepherds, kings, angels etc. are very welcome. All are welcome! Refreshments of a traditional nature to follow in the hall.

 

SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION

Our celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation will be on Monday 23^rd December at 7.30.   Fr Luke from Bexleyheath and Fr Oliver from Blackfen will be joining us. 

 

BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE :  Saturday 25^th January 2025 9.30am – 4.30pm at St Stephen’s parish hall, Welling, 

A day in which married couples can privately explore their relationship more deeply and gain valuable insights into the communication and the call of the Church to the married. There is no charge for this course.  Booking is essential – please contact Carole on mflkent@rcaos.org.uk  or phone 07983 524 727 Refreshments will be provided but please bring a packed lunch.

 

ST PETER CHANEL PRIMARY SCHOOL:  We are open for 2025 Reception applications for children born between 1^st Sep 2020 and 31^st Aug 2021. The deadline for applications is 15^th January 2025. We also have places in our outstanding Pre-School available, with an immediate start, for children from the age of two. 

Please contact 0208 302 6029 or email admin@st-peterchanel.bexley.sch.uk.

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2025:   Application forms are in the foyer for the 2025 First Holy Communion programme, commencing in January. Children in year 3 or above can apply.  Completed forms must be returned by 31st Dec. 

SOUTHWARK ARCHDIOCESE ROSARY PRAYER PROJECT
Everyone is warmly invited to join this Archdiocese-wide prayer initiative, praying a decade each day for priests and parishes in Bexley deanery. Details from southwarkrenewal@gmail.com

 

FESTIVE PARTY – SATURDAY 28^TH DECEMBER 2024
Please join us from 1pm for an afternoon of Music and Games for all the family., £5 Adults / £3 Under 12’s. Children’s Games / Face painting / Music throughout and live singer to finish. Free Pizza for those on Santa’s good list.  Tickets are on sale after mass 



 

ST CATHERINE’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL Support/ Mentor

January to July 2025. Salary: Bexley Scale 5 Closing date: Tuesday 17th December 2024 at 9am Interviews: Week commencing 17th December 2024. email info@stccg.co.uk

 

SUNDAY 8th December 2024

 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR C

Readings: Baruch 5:1-9, Psalm 125/6, Philippians 1:4-11, Luke 3:1-6.

 

Sat   7th Dec        17.30   Confessions

18.00              Vernon Rogers RIP (Rogers) 

 

Sun  8th Dec     SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C 

                            08.30                     For the Parish 

                            10.30               Choir members RIP (Anderson) 

 

Mon  9th Dec        09.15  Immaculate       Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00   Conception       Private Intention (Bosser)

 

Tues 10th Dec     09.15           Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00                     John Terry (Terry)  

 

Wed  11th Dec      09.15           Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00                      Christine Tellus RIP (Stanton)

                    

Fri    13th Dec       09.15    Lucy    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00                       Bridie Haylett RIP (Friends)

 

Sat   14th Dec      17.30            Confessions

18.00                     Collette Sheehan RIP (Fogarty) 

 

Sun  15th Dec   THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C – Gaudete!

                            08.30                    For the Parish 

                            10.30                  Margaret Leech RIP (Lyons) 

 

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 Last Week:                         £ 844.68 incl S.O.     

                                     

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 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 weekdays, £40 per hour weekends

 

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

 

Dear Parishioners,

In Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming Messiah, he says:
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
With fresh allegations about genocide being committed in Gaza, this time by Amnesty International, we might be prompted to renew our efforts to at least pray for an end to the killing. There doesn’t seem to be much scope though, for Jesus to fulfil his messianic role as Prince of Peace. Perhaps we should ponder what he meant when he said that the peace he brings is a peace that the world cannot provide (John 14:27). What peace does he bring into our lives?

                                                      God Bless,                                  Fr Doug 

 

CONGRATULATIONS:

To Freddie Phillips who will be received into the Church this Sunday at the 10.30 mass. He will be baptized and confirmed and then begin receiving Holy Communion. May God bless him and all who have guided him to this day especially our parish catechist.

 

SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION

Our celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation will be on Monday 23^rd December at 7.30.  Fr Luke from Bexleyheath and Fr Oliver from Blackfen will be joining us. 

 

READERS AT MASS

The ministry of reading is a most worthy one. Please can we have some more readers! Give it a bit of thought and approach Fr Doug or, better still, Angela Gillespie directly. 

 

SPIRITUALITY COMMISSION ADVENT REFLECTIONS. 

The Spirituality Commission will be sending daily reflections during Advent featuring Scripture, thoughts and prayers. You can still sign-up to receive them directly into your inbox each morning here: tinyurl.com/adventreflections2024  

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2025:  Application forms are in the foyer for the 2025 First Holy Communion programme, commencing in January. Children in year 3 or above can apply.  Completed forms must be returned by 31st Dec. 

 

SCAM EMAILS TARGETING PARISHIONERS. These emails impersonate the parish priest, often using a similar email name and masking the real email address. They typically request the recipient to purchase Amazon or other gift cards for the priest. This is a SCAM. Don’t be caught. Report any such scams to Fr Doug and/or the police. 

 

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN OLD BEXLEY INVITE YOU TO JOIN: 

Carol Singing, Wed 11 Dec, 5:30-7pm. Singing outside Flowers of Bexley, High Street,

Advent Course, at Bexley United Reformed Church (opposite War Memorial), 10-12, Tuesdays. 

Kathy Fogarty, Parish Christian Unity Contact, k.fogarty@ntlworld.com  

 

SOUTHWARK ARCHDIOCESE ROSARY PRAYER PROJECT
Everyone is warmly invited to join this Archdiocese-wide prayer initiative, praying a decade each day for priests and parishes in Bexley deanery. Details from southwarkrenewal@gmail.com

 

FESTIVE PARTY – SATURDAY 28^TH DECEMBER 2024
Please join us from 1pm for an afternoon of Music and Games for all the family. Tickets are on sale after mass.

 

SUNDAY 1st December 2024

ADVENT 1 YEAR C

Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16, Psalm 24,Thess 3:12-4:2, Luke 21:25-36. 

 

Sat   30th Nov      17.30   Confessions

18.00      Andrew Vedanayagam (Satchi) 

 

Sun  1st Dec     FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C 

                            08.30          John Hollis (Hollis)  

                            10.30          Pam & Ernie Sarton RIP (Sarton) 

 

Mon  2nd Dec      09.15  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00      Celine Family RIP (Bosser)

 

Tues 3rd Dec      09.15  Francis Xavier   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00        Tess Truman RIP (Wheatley)  

 

Wed  4th Dec       09.15    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00               Reg Hewett RIP (Grainger)

                    

Fri     6th Dec        09.15   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00 Nicholas    Christine Brown & Robert Mantle RIP (Mantle)

 

Sat    7th Dec       17.30   Confessions

18.00      Vernon Rogers RIP (Rogers) 

 

Sun  8th Dec     SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C 

                            08.30       For the Parish 

                            10.30       Choir members RIP (Anderson) 

 

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 Last Week:                         £1002.84 incl S.O.    

Catholic Youth Service:     £ 196.25

                                     

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 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 weekdays, £40 per hour weekends

 

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

 

Dear Parishioners,

I came upon this lovely prayer that expresses a welcome to the Lord this Advent:

 

Come into my loneliness with your friendship

Come into my weariness with your strength

Come into worries with your peace

Come into my sufferings with your joy

Come into my sorrows with your comfort

Come into my sadness with your consolation

Come into my heart with your love

Come into my life with your compassion

Come Lord and show me your loving care. Amen.

 

                                                                 God Bless,                                  Fr Doug 

 

READERS AT MASS

The ministry of reading is a most worthy one. Please can we have some more readers! Give it a bit of thought and approach Fr Doug or, better still, Angela Gillespie directly. 

 

SPIRITUALITY COMMISSION ADVENT REFLECTIONS. 

The Spirituality Commission will be sending daily reflections during Advent featuring Scripture, thoughts and prayers. You can sign-up to receive them directly into your inbox each morning here: tinyurl.com/adventreflections2024  Many of you already receive this. Recommended for all.

 

REFLECTION DAY – “Waiting For God”

Saturday 7^th December – 11am to 3pm, led by Trudy Kilcullen.

Sanctuary, 8 Hotham Close, Swanley Village. Bring a packed lunch. 

For more information or to book – please email tkilcullen@live.co.uk or call 07977978536

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2025

Application forms are in the foyer for the 2025 First Holy Communion programme, commencing in January. Children in year 3 or above can apply.  Completed forms must be returned by 31st Dec. 

 

SCAM EMAILS TARGETING PARISHIONERS. 

These emails impersonate the parish priest, often using a similar email name and masking the real email address. They typically request the recipient to purchase Amazon or other gift cards for the priest. This is a SCAM. Don’t be caught. Report any such scams to Fr Doug and/or the police. 

 

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN OLD BEXLEY INVITE YOU TO JOIN: 

Carol Singing, Wed 11 Dec, 5:30-7pm. Singing outside Flowers of Bexley, High Street,

Advent Course, at Bexley United Reformed Church (opposite War Memorial), 10-12, Tuesdays. 

Kathy Fogarty, Parish Christian Unity Contact, k.fogarty@ntlworld.com  

 

ADVENT TEA PARTY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS 

at St Catherine’s Catholic School, Friday December 6^th 1.30- 3.00pm

Free of charge but RSVP dcunningham@stccg.co.uk

 

SOUTHWARK ARCHDIOCESE ROSARY PRAYER PROJECT
Everyone is warmly invited to join this Archdiocese-wide prayer initiative, praying a decade each day for priests and parishes in Bexley deanery. Details from southwarkrenewal@gmail.com

 

FESTIVE PARTY – SATURDAY 28^TH DECEMBER 2024
Please join us from 1pm for an afternoon of Music and Games for all the family. Tickets go on sale after mass next week.