Newsletter

SUNDAY 21^st January 2024

THIRD SUNDAY, YEAR B

Readings: Jonah 3:1-5,10  Psalm 24, 1 Corinthians 7 29-31 Mark 1 14-20

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Sat   20^th Jan         17.30         Confessions

18.00         SVP Members RIP (SVP Group)

 

Sun 21^st Jan    THIRD SUNDAY (B)          

                               08.30         Alfred Family RIP (Jeyaseelan) 

10.30         John Hughes RIP (Hughes)

 

Mon  22^nd Jan        09.15         St Vincent, Deacon  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00          In Thanksgiving (Bosser)

 

Tues 23^rd Jan          09.15         Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                               10.00           For the Parish 

 

Wed 24^th Jan          09.15      St Francis de Sales  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00           Eamon Dunning (Wheatley)  

 

Thurs 25^th Jan         08.00         Conversion of St Paul        Priest’s Intention

 

Fri     26^th Jan          09.15      Ss Timothy & Titus   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament  

                              10.00           Funeral Mass for Bridie Haylett RIP

 

Sat   27^th Jan         17.30             Confessions

18.00             Mary Connolly RIP (Eida/Connolly)

 

Sun  28^th Jan    FOURTH SUNDAY (B)

                            08.30                Mabel Antony Family RIP (Jeyaseelan)

                            10.30                Ronnie Aspeek RIP (Speed)

 

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                 £926.62

Retiring Collection 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.  

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms are at the back of the Church. For every £1.00 donated the Parish receives 25p from the Tax Office. Standing Orders are best for us. Thank you.

 

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 was very heartened last week when after mass, a couple who attended said that while no one would have known who they were, 3 different parishioners welcomed them and so they felt very much at home and were now looking forward to attending mass here on a regular basis. Not so long ago (!) we heard The Baptist inviting 2 disciples to go and be with Jesus and then one of them, Andrew inviting Peter and now we hear of our parishioners inviting and welcoming others. These things matter a great deal.

Inviting others to, as Jesus said, “Come and see” is a mission we should all take seriously. These days many people do research on the internet before making decisions, checking for instance on Google what the reviews are like. Now on Google Reviews of St John Fisher, we currently rate 4.6 out of 5, but many visitors who come to us say we are 5 star!  Some of the reviews relate to parties or other events in our hall that are nothing to do with us and there is little we can do about that, but it would be nice if we could push our rating higher by weight of numbers of good reviews in the parish, and have some comments about the spiritual life of the community. If you enjoy something about the life of the parish why not review us! Just search for SJF on Google maps and leave us a review. You never know – your good review might lead someone to find us! 

 

Oh, and by the way, someone asked me about my choice of eucharistic prayers each Sunday. Most will know that I use Prayer 2 on even numbered Sundays and Prayer 3 on odd numbered ones so on this 3^rd Sunday of Ordinary time we will use Prayer 3. On occasion I will pick a different one but always announce the change, and the reason why.

                                                          God Bless,                 Fr Doug

 

UNITY SERVICE SUNDAY – TODAY Sunday 21^st January, 3p.m.

As part of the The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which takes place (each year) from the 18th to 25th January, there will be a service for all the Christian churches, at St Mary the Virgin, Manor Road, Bexley, DA5 3LX. This has been organized by Churches Together in Old Bexley and everyone is welcome.            Kathy Fogarty, Parish Unity Contact – fogartyk@ntlworld.com 

 

AIC SATURDAY FRIENDS 

This weekend, we are making our annual appeal for homeless people who are clients of The Passage Day Centre in central London and who use our “Saturday Friends” rehabilitation service.  

We are very grateful for your ongoing generosity.

 

BRIDIE HAYLETT RIP:  Please pray for the soul of Bridie who has died. Her funeral will be on Friday 26^th January at 10.00 

 

SR ANGELA WOOTTON RIP:   Our former parish Sister died on Tues 16^th Jan. Sr Angela reached 98 years old on 13th Dec. Please pray for the repose of her soul.

 

FR PATRICK MOLONEY RIP:  Fr Patrick, known to many of you from his days as parish priest of St. Stephen’s Welling, died on 4^th January. Please pray for the repose of his soul.

 

FIRST FRIDAYS AT SANCTUARY QUIET GARDEN, SWANLEY VILLAGE

Open for ‘winter hours’ 12 noon to 4pm on Friday 2^nd February. All are welcome to call in, use the garden and prayer cabin for your own personal quiet and reflection. Just call in – The side gate is open. For more info call 07977 978536 

 

PARKING 2024

Please renew your car parking permit for 2024. Applications forms are in the foyer.

SUNDAY 14^th January 2024

SECOND SUNDAY,YEAR B

Readings:1 Samuel 3:3-10 19, Psalm 39, 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20, John 1 35-42

 

Sat   13^th Jan         17.30  Confessions

18.00                     Harrington & Sheehan families RIP (Sheehan)

 

Sun  14^th Jan         SECOND SUNDAY (B)      Peace Sunday

                              08.30                    Phil Heavey (Traynor) 

10.30                    Eileen Wheatley (Hughes)

 

Mon  15^th Jan        09.15         Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00                   For the Parish

 

Tues 16^th Jan         09.15        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00                   Kilcullen & Slater Families RIP 

 

Wed  17^th Jan        09.15         Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00                   Moira Morris RIP (Ellis)  

 

Fri     19^th Jan         09.15        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament  

                               10.00                  Harrington Family (Sheehan)

 

Sat    20^th Jan        17.30   Confessions

18.00                    SVP Members RIP (SVP)

 

Sun   21^st Jan          THIRD SUNDAY (B)           Sunday of the Word of God                    

                              08.30                   Alfred Family RIP (Jeyaseelan)

                              10.30                    John Hughes RIP (Hughes)

 

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                     £1023.50

Over Christmas:       Crib Appeal:                                                                                      £535.41         

Next 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.  

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms are at the back of the Church. For every £1.00 donated the Parish receives 25p from the Tax Office. Standing Orders are best for us. Thank you.

 

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,

 

Pope Francis’ theme for this year’s World Day of Peace (Peace Sunday) is ‘Artificial Intelligence and Peace’. This is a highly relevant theme as governments across the world, including our own, wrestle with the ethics and consequences of significant and potentially dangerous developments in technology. Pope Francis’ overriding concern is that artificial intelligence should be used in the service of humanity and the protection of our common home and not to further injustice and inequality or to fuel division and violent conflict.

 

Meanwhile, the Church continues to advocate for a “just peace” in Palestine and Israel. At this time the United Nations Court of International Justice in the Hague is grappling with accusations that Israel is perpetrating a war of genocide against the Palestinian people. The hope is that at least while deliberations continue, Israel might be pressurised into a ceasefire. This might also slow down the escalation of the war throughout the Middle East. That Israel of all nations should have to defend itself against accusations of genocide is quite extraordinary. Anyway, while we thank God that our prayers for international intervention in the war are slowly being answered, we must continue to pray for peace and for the justice that will be needed to truly end the conflict.

 

                                                               God Bless,                        Fr Doug

 

 

UNITY SERVICE SUNDAY – Sunday 21^st January, 3p.m.

As part of the The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which takes place (each year) from the 18th to 25th January, there will be service for all the Christian churches, at St Mary the Virgin, Manor Road, Bexley, DA5 3LX. This has been organized by Churches Together in Old Bexley and everyone is welcome. The whole Octave of prayer provides an opportunity to pray for deeper Christian unity and to experience Christian unity personally in Bexley.  

Kathy Fogarty, Parish Unity Contact – fogartyk@ntlworld.com 

 

BRIDIE HAYLETT RIP:   Please pray for the soul of Bridie who has died.

We still do not have a date for Bridie’s funeral.

 

FRIENDS OF THE HOLY LAND: In the Crib Collection Basket you donated £535.41, a marvelous amount.   It has been sent and the response:

“Friends of the Holy Land want to thank all parishioners who raised this amount through your Crib Collection, for Christians in the holy land. Conditions continue to be extremely challenging. Please continue to remember Friends of the Holy Land and those we support in your prayers. 

Yours sincerely         Brendan Metcalfe CEO

 

AIC SATURDAY FRIENDS:  Next weekend 20/21 January our AIC Saturday Friends group will make their annual appeal on behalf of homeless people.  We hope to explain what, with your generous help, has been achieved and what, with continued help, can be done this year.   

 

PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK & CO MAYO – 3^rd March 2024.  

£899.00 pps.  Price includes flight, 10kg hold luggage, 5 nights in 4* Castlecourt Hotel, Westport with Dinner, Bed & Breakfast. Lunch on three days.  All entertainment, excursions and transport included.  Visit Knock, Galway City, Kylemore Abbey, Croagh Patrick & Ashford Castle.  Single supplement on Enquiry.  Contact Patricia or Natali on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.

SUNDAY 7^th January 2024

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD, YEAR B, Page 115

Readings: Isiah 60:1-6, Psalm 71 Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12

 

Sat   6^th Jan         17.30  Confessions

                            18.00                      For the Parish

 

Sun  7^th Jan           THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD 

                            08.30                     Victor Jeyaseelan (Jeyaseelan) 

10.30                     David Brailsford (Brailsford)

 

Mon  8^th Jan        09.15  BAPTISM OF THE LORD Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00                     Pet Kilcullen (Kilcullen)

 

Tues 9^th Jan        09.15                Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00                     Bernie King (M.Fitzpatrick) 

 

Wed 10^th Jan       09.15                Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00                      Tony Speed RIP (Speed)  

 

Thurs 11^th Jan          tba

 

Fri    12^th Jan        09.15               Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 

                             10.00                     Souls in Purgatory (B.Gillespie)

 

Sat   13^th Jan        17.30      Confessions

 18.00                    Harrington & Sheehan families RIP (Sheehan)

 

Sun     14^th Jan          SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 

                             08.30                    Phil Heavey (Traynor)

                             10.30                    Eileen Wheatley (Hughes)

 

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                     £1001.38

                                                                                                                                                            

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.  

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms are at the back of the Church. For every £1.00 donated the Parish receives 25p from the Tax Office. Standing Orders are best for us. Thank you.

 

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,

As the new year gets underway, it is traditional to make new year resolutions. What about this one:

Do all the good you can

By all the means you can

In all the ways you can

In all the places you can

At all the times you can

To all the people you can

As long as ever you can

                                                                 John Wesley

 

Maybe something less ambitious? How about resolving to keep the main church quiet after mass for people to pray, and instead take conversations into the foyer or the porch or even the hall? 

 

In this coming year, our parish resolution is to give our parish hall a makeover, and in particular we want to renovate the toilet facilities there and, in the church, too. A first class parish should have  first class facilities.

 

                                              God Bless,                        Fr Doug

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS:  To Oliver McAlpine who is being baptized at our 10.30 mass. He will then go on to receive Holy Communion for the first time later in the mass. Congratulations as well to his family and we welcome any guests attending the ceremony.

 

FESTIVE PARTY :  Congratulations to all those who organised and ran our Parish Festive Party. It was an excellent event, enjoyed by all who came along – to whom we also say, “thank you.” Apart from all the enjoyment, the event raised £500 towards our hall refurbishment project.

 

HOLY COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION 2024

Both these programmes are getting underway, and no more applications can be accepted.

 

BRIDIE HAYLETT RIP:  Please pray for the soul of Bridie who has died.

We still do not have a date for Bridie’s funeral, sad to say.

 

CHURCH CLEANING:  A big THANK YOU to the parishioners who give up time to help keep our church clean. The rota for 2024 is now available from our cupboard. We would be grateful if more came forward to either join an existing group or make up a new one.  Currently, each group cleans once every 10 weeks for about an hour.  If you might be able to help, ring Carole Hughes on 07762 731303.

 

WWW.GOODCOUNSELNETWORK.COM

“On Friday 12^th January, the eve of the 27^th anniversary of the founding of The Good Counsel Network, please pray and fast for the end of abortion in this Country. Through God’s grace we have seen thousands of Mothers in our counselling centre continue their pregnancies in very difficult circumstances. Please help us to help save lives with your prayers, fasting and support. www.GoodCounselNetwork.com