Newsletter

SUNDAY 26^th May 2024

TRINITY SUNDAY, YEAR B

Readings: Deut 4:32-40, Psalm 32, Rom 8:14-17, Matt 28:16-40 

 

Sat      25^th May     17.30        Rosary

17.30        Confessions

18.00                                     Thanksgiving (Fogarty)

 

Sun     26^th May         TRINITY SUNDAY (B)  

                               08.30                                     Shirley Large (Cannon)   

                               10.30                                     Phyllis Daniele RIP (Murphy)

 

Mon    27^th May      09.15  St. Augustine of        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                               10.00  Canterbury                Selvi Jeyaseelan (Jeyaseelan)

 

Tues   28th May      09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                               10.00                                     For the Parish

 

Wed    29th May     09.15                                    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00                                     Families of Michael & Anne (Wheatley)

 

Fri       31st May     09.15  The Visitation            Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

10.00                                     Kathleen Bowman RIP (Bowman)

 

Sat      1st June     17.30         Confessions

18.00                                      Bob & Margaret Morris (Anderson)

 

Sun     2nd June       CORPUS CHRISTI (B)  

                               08.30                                      TG Gillespie Family (Gillespie)   

                               10.30                                      John Ellis RIP (Ellis)

                               12.00 PARISH AGM in the Hall

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed, view 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:                           £975.01

            Retiring Collections                         This week:                             SVP                

                                                                                                

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 

 

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,

I am on holiday in Spain, but I will be back midweek

 

Last week we celebrated the beginning of the Church. The Church’s mission and purpose is of course to help souls find and reach God, but because God offers to share his life in and through the Church, our mission does involve drawing people into membership of the church and supporting them. All of us need support in many areas. This includes a personal need to belong. Social events that build up our community thus become important and significant. They can be a lot of fun too! The celebration of mass will always be the source and summit of our activity but other elements of church life are not just add-ons. By coming together and participating in different areas of church life we do offer support to fellow travellers in ways that we may not even notice.

 

Next week we have our Annual General Meeting of the parish. The various committees (listed in the foyer above their own section of the notice boards) will be reporting on what they have been doing in this past year and hoping that you will help shape their plans for the year ahead. 

            God Bless,                                                Fr Doug 

 

PARISH FEASTDAY BBQ

The Feast of St. John Fisher is June 22^nd so we will feast on the Sunday 23^rd June at our BBQ

It was a great day last year for ALL, and not to be missed this year!  There will be a singer providing entertainment for the adults and a face painter and a bouncy castle for children.

We do need everyone to chip in a little help though. Volunteers needed for:

Sharing salads and sweets, setting up, clearing up, supervising the children’s activities etc. 

Signing up lists will be in the foyer.

 

AGM 2024

Our parish annual general meeting will be next Sunday, June 2^nd at 12.00 in the Hall. Please make space in your diary for this event. It is a good thing to take an interest in the affairs of our church and indeed to support the leadership teams with your considered scrutiny.

 

SVP.

St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVP). Our local Conference of the SVP is available to visit or call

those who are feeling lonely, and would love a chat or visit. Please call the Parish Office 

01322 524813 and leave your details and we will get back to you. 

We would also like to hear from anyone who would like to join us in supporting the more 

vulnerable in Society and help with visiting and fund raising.

 

PET KILCULLEN RIP

From Brendan Kilcullen: My family and I would like to thank parishioners for your thoughts and prayers. We have asked for a mass to be offered for your intentions. Thank you

 

QUIET DAYS AT SANCTUARY (in Swanley Village)

It helps if you let me know you are coming. email: tkilcullen@live.co.uk or phone 07977978536 

FIRST FRIDAYS – The garden is open and free for you between 10am and 4pm on the first Friday of the month. Wander in, find a place to sit, bring your prayer book and enjoy some reflection time.

 

STELLA MARIS

Stella Maris is grateful for your prayer and financial support on Sea Sunday last year.  We invite you to join an online update webinar on Tuesday 28th May from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. You will hear about the impact of your generosity on the lives of seafarers, fishers, and their families over the last year. To register for this virtual event, please visit www.stellamaris.org.uk/thankyou2024

There will free copies of the Stella Maris Annual Review in the vestibule from Sunday 26th May

 

ST CATHERINE’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL- Vacancy for p/t Teacher of Religious Education 

We want to appoint a Part-time Teacher of Religious Studies for September 2024 or earlier.

info@stccg.co.uk Apply by Monday 3rd June 2024 at 9am. Interviews: W/c Monday 3rd June 2024 

LOURDES PILGRIMAGE:  Experience the unique spirituality of Lourdes, along with people from parishes around the Archdiocese.

Archbishop John warmly invites you to join him as he leads the Southwark Archdiocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage, from 23^rd to 30^th August 2024. Details of this can be found on the Archdiocesan website: rcaos.org.uk or using the direct link: https://rcaos.org.uk/news-events/news/archbishop-john-to-lead-pilgrimage-to-lourdes/)

SUNDAY 19^th May 2024,

PENTECOST SUNDAY, YEAR B

Readings: Acts 2:1-11, Psalm 103, 1Cor 12:3-13, John 20:19-23 

 

Sat     18^th May     17.30     Rosary                       

                             17.30         Confessions

 18.00             Pet Kilcullen RIP (Long)

 

Sun    19^th May         PENTECOST (B)  

                              08.30                   J V D’Mello (Keenan)   

                              10.30                  Serse Cima RIP (Cima)

 

Mon   20^th May      09.15  Mary, Mother of   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00  the Church      Josephina Bilotto (Hughes)

 

Tues  21st May     09.15              Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00                  John Bowler (Harris)

 

Wed   22nd May    09.15                   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

  10.00                  Tony Frake RIP (Newton)

 

Fri     24th May      09.15                  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

                             10.00                   Forgotten Souls in Purgatory RIP (Gillespie)

 

Sat     25^th May     17.30     Confessions

 18.00                     Thanksgiving (Fogarty)

 

Sun    26^th May         TRINITY SUNDAY (B)  

                              08.30                   Shirley Large (Cannon)   

                             10.30                   Phyllis Daniele RIP (Murphy)

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed 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:                           £1058.38

            Retiring Collections Last week:     Communications Sunday   £    98.40       

                                            Next week:    St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) 

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 

 

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’s a privilege and an honour to be invited by His Holiness the Pope to his home in Vatican city. I feel blessed. This is the most nervous I have been for some time. I’m not normally nervous but I didn’t sleep at all last night.” 

“I’m excited, I’m nervous, it’s a huge privilege – I recognise there are more than a million Londoners of Catholic faith who would give their right arm to spend time with His Holiness. He has invited me and that is a big responsibility for me.” 

This was our mayor Sadiq Khan speaking about his visit this week to our pope!

Prior to flying to Rome, Mr Khan spoke with the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who asked him to convey to the Pope, “love, respect and prayers”, from more than a million Catholics in London.

 

Please note that I am on holiday for a week starting Tuesday.   

                                 God Bless,                                                Fr Doug 

 

PARISH SOCIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE

Many thanks to all who organized last week’s Abba  night. Thanks too to those who attended and to those who donated raffle prizes. We raised £420

Our next event is…

 

PARISH FEAST DAY BBQ

St. John’s Feast Day is June 22^nd so we will have a great feast on the Sunday 23^rd June at our 

It was a great, great day last year for ALL, and not to be missed this year!  Barbecue. There will be a singer providing entertainment for the adults and a face painter along with a bouncy castle for the younger attenders.

Tickets will be on sale from next week onwards.

 

MAY, a month with Mary

Apart from the wonderful opportunity of the day with Dr Eugene, described above,

1)    As usual, at Sunday masses during the month, we are saying the “Hail Holy Queen” instead of the “Hail Mary” during our prayers of intercession.

2)    We want to invite those who are not used to praying the rosary to try it out as a Way Into Prayer. Join us in Church at 5.30 each Saturday evening in May – or go it alone at home!

 

AGM 2024

Our parish annual general meeting will be on Sunday June 2^nd at 12.00 in the Hall. Please make space in your diary for this event. It is a good thing to take an interest in the affairs of our church and indeed to support the leadership teams with your considered scrutiny.

 

SVP

Our St. Vincent de Paul Society members do much work in our part of the borough but as they act on our behalf, they need our support. They will be making an appeal next week.

 

CAFOD’S BIG PILGRIMAGE

Saturday 1^st June at St. George’s Cathedral, Southwark, 12 -5.

The day will offer a short (walking) pilgrimage, refreshment, entertainment and interactive activities for all ages. Sign up at cafod.org.uk/thebigpilgrimage. Take a flier from the foyer. 

 

FORMATION FAYRE – “Made for More”

Saturday 8th June at Amigo Hall, St. George’s Cathedral, 9.30 – 4.30  

An day of faith development with Archbishop John Wilson. The event promises breakout sessions, times of prayer, and opportunities for spiritual reflection. A chance to deepen your understanding of Catholicism.  Register now at aec.rcaos.org.uk and be part of this transformative event.

SUNDAY 12^th May 2024

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B

Readings: Acts 1:15- -26, Psalm 102, 1John 4:11-16, John 17:11-19 

 

Sat      11^th May   17.30    Confessions

                             18.00                    Thanksgiving (Bosser)

 

Sun     12^th May         SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (B)  

                             08.30                  Gregory Family (Jeyaseelan)   

                             10.30                  Relatives & Friends Lyons Family RIP (Lyons)

 

Mon    13^th May     09.15            Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                             10.00               For the Parish

 

Tues   14^th May     09.15  St. Matthias      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00              Barry Ryan (Harris)

 

Wed    15th May    09.15  St. John Stone  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

  10.00               John Branch RIP (Fitzpatrick/Connolly) RIP

 

Fri       17th May    09.15               Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

 10.00                 Pet Kilcullen RIP (Spirituality Committee)

 

Sat     18^th May     17.30   Confessions

                             18.00                Fiona Boome RIP (Howie)

 

Sun     19^th May         PENTECOST (B)  

                             08.30                  J V D’Mello (Keenan)   

                             10.30                  Serse Cima RIP (Cima)

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed 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:                           £ 978.07

                        Retiring Collections                         This week:     Catholic Communications Network                                               

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 

 

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,

At last, an embargo on weaponry from the U.S. for use on the people of Gaza. We have been praying for this for months. We thank God for this small, but significant mercy.

 

Again a huge THANK YOU to the volunteers who have helped remove the weeds from the patio area under our porch and the from the car park, as well as sprucing up the garden area beside the church. They join our regular volunteers who look after the grounds so well. All to the glory of God!

                                                   God Bless,                Fr Doug 

 

PARISH SOCIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE

Our next event celebrates our Feast Day with a BBQ party – 23^rd June

It was a great, great day last year for ALL, and not to be missed this year! 

But, to be great, it takes a great number of volunteers. If you think you can help, don’t be shy! 

 

MARY DAUGHTER OF ISRAEL: A Day of Reflection & Study, led by Dr. Eugene Curran C.M.

10.00 – 3.30   Sat 18^th May. Bring a packed lunch!                                                             

Mary saw herself as a daughter of Abraham and Israel – a successor to the women of Scripture.  The day will allow us to reflect on some of these women, their role in Mary’s formation as a woman of faith and our own sacred history.

Fr. Eugene is currently parish priest of Sacred Heart Church, Mill Hill, London and a member of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) – part of their retreat and parish missions team. 

He lectured for many years at All Hallows College, Dublin, and undertook doctoral studies in Chicago, in Adult Education and Faith Formation.  He is “Dublin born and a Harry Potter fan”.

 

MAY, a month with Mary

Apart from the wonderful opportunity of the day with Dr Eugene, described above,

1)    As usual, at Sunday masses during the month, we are saying the “Hail Holy Queen” instead of the “Hail Mary” during our prayers of intercession.

2)    We want to invite those who are not used to praying the rosary to try it out as a Way Into Prayer. Join us in Church at 5.30 each Saturday evening in May – or go it alone at home!

 

AGM 2024

Our parish annual general meeting will be on Sunday June 2^nd at 12.00 in the Hall

 

STOP DIY ABORTION UP TO BIRTH

There are amendments tabled to the Government’s Criminal Justice Bill that would decriminalise abortion. They would essentially legalise DIY abortion up to birth, for any reason. There would be no law against women self-inducing abortion at home, at any stage of pregnancy – a scenario that will risk women’s lives and strip any remaining rights from unborn babies. 

Please contact your MP, asking them to oppose these proposals. You can do this using SPUC’s webtool, at https://www.spuc.org.uk/abortionamendments. The Bill will be debated on 15 May. 

 

CAFOD’S BIG PILGRIMAGE

Saturday 1^st June at St. George’s Cathedral, Southwark, 12 -5.

The day will offer a short (walking) pilgrimage, refreshment, entertainment and interactive activities for all ages. Sign up at cafod.org.uk/thebigpilgrimage. Take a flier from the foyer. 

 

FORMATION FAYRE – “Made for More”

Saturday 8th June at Amigo Hall, St. George’s Cathedral, 9.30 – 4.30  

An day of faith development with Archbishop John Wilson. The event promises breakout sessions, times of prayer, and opportunities for spiritual reflection. A chance to deepen your understanding of Catholicism.  Register now at aec.rcaos.org.uk and be part of this transformative event.