Newsletter

SUNDAY 17th September 2023

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY,YEAR A

Readings: Ecclesiasticus 27:30-28:7 Psalm 102 Romans 14:7-9, Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

 

Sat     16^th Sep   17.30  Confessions

18.00                                      Anita Rowland RIP (Morris)

 

Sun    17^th Sep        TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY       

                            08.30                                      Kay Gillespie RIP (Gillespie)

10.30                                      Sergia Balaqui RIP (Bernarte)

 

Mon   18^th Sep    09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00  St Edith                         For the Parish

 

Tues  19^th Sep     09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00                                      John & Helen Evans RIP (Evans)

 

Wed   20^th Sep     09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00  SsAndrew Kim+ Paul Chong  Mary Connolly RIP (Eida/Connolly)    

 

Thurs  21^st Sep    08.00 St Matthew                   Priest’s Intention

 

Fri      22^nd Sep    09.15                                     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00                                      Olga Bowman RIP (Bowman)

 

Sat     23^rd Sep   17.30                                      Confessions

18.00                                      Noreen Collyer RIP (Anon)

 

Sun      24^th Sep        TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY 

08.30                                     Margaret Hagen RIP (Anon)

                            10.30                                      Lance Grainger RIP (Hewitt/Grainger)

 

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            £840.27

Last week: Catholic Education Service.                                                           £182.61

This week: Evangelii Gaudium Sunday (PTO for details)

Next week: Libya Relief Fund

                                                                        

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.

 

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 the previous Wednesday

Dear Parishioners,

Thank you to those attending the 6.00 and 8.30 mass who expressed an opinion in the consultation exercise last week regarding music. These are the results:

At the 6.00 mass      For no music: 6%     As it is: 71%             With hymn singing: 21%

At the 8.30 mass      For no music: 5%     As it is: 65%             With hymn singing: 30%

At both masses it seems we are generally happy that there should be organ music for suitable hymns played during the course of the mass. There might be the odd occasion where we would singing along – perhaps on special feast days. Anyway, it is good to know what people think!! 

 

I am very pleased that this weekend (and possibly next weekend) we will be enrolling altar servers in the Guild of St. Stephen and awarding medals to new entries and different medals to the more experienced!! Well done, Team, and especially our M.C., John Stanton.

 

                                   God Bless,                        Fr Doug

 

PETER HAMMOND

Please pray for Peter who died last Sunday. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

His funeral will be on October 6^th at 10.30 

 

FAITH AWARDS

Bexley Interfaith Forum and L. B. Bexley invite submissions of any project that has a positive impact on residents of the borough, for a FAITH AWARD. The presentation evening will be in the Civic Offices on Wed 15^th Nov at 7 p.m. Submissions to bexleyinterfaith@gmail.com by 1^st Oct. 

 

ALL READERS AND SPECIAL MINISTERS

Called to Pray: A Formation Day for Ministers of the Word of God and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion There are two sessions – 14 October in Welling or 21 October in Streatham.

Please let Fr Doug know, if you wish to attend.

 

QUIET MORNING AT SANCTUARY, in Swanley Village BR8 7UX 

16^th September 11-1pm “Free from all Distress”. Come and reflect on the words and meaning of this prayer from our mass. Contact: Trudy on email tkilcullen@live.co.uk or 07977978536

FIRST FRIDAYS: the garden is open and free for you to recollect and rest between 10 and 4 

 

BEXLEY INTERFAITH FORUM POP-UP SYNAGOGUE: 

On Tuesday 19th September, the Bexley Interfaith Forum will be hosting a Pop-Up Synagogue in the Church Hall at St John’s (7pm start). Developed by members of local Jewish communities, this is an opportunity to experience and learn about Jewish worship in company and fellowship with members of a range of faiths from across the Borough. St John’s Church is next to Golden Acre Park on Parkhill Road in Bexley village. 

 

EVANGELII GAUDIUM – Preparing for the Jubilee Year in Faith and Prayer 

Evangelii Gaudium Sunday calls us to be joyous in proclaiming our faith. “Evangelii Gaudium” is Latin for “Joy of the Gospel”. The day supports the work carried out by the Mission Directorate on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference. 

A key focus of work for the next few years is responding to Pope Francis’ calling of a Jubilee Year in 2025 with the theme Pilgrims of Hope. The Holy Father has invited the whole Church to prepare for the Jubilee in the two years prior through:

·       Reflecting on the four Constitutions of the Second Vatican Council in 2023.

·       Deepening our prayer life, with a special focus on the Lord’s Prayer, in 2024.

SUNDAY 10th September 2023

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY,YEAR A

Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-9 Psalm 94 Romans 13:8-10, Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

 

Sat       9^th Sep         17.30  Confessions

18.00                                      Ann Turp RIP (Turp)

 

Sun      10^th Sep        TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY            

                                 08.30                                      Jim Docherty (C&K Fitzpatrick)

10.30                                      Geoff Hinton RIP (Wheatley)

 

Mon    11^th Sep       09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00  St Ambrose                   Funeral Mass for Nina Szredski RIP

                                                (3.15 Committal at Eltham Crematorium) 

 

Tues    12^th Sep       09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                 10.00  Holy Name of Mary       For the Parish

 

Wed    13^th Sep        09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00  St John Chrysostom      Anton Jeyaseelan RIP (M.Fitzpatrick)    

 

Thurs  14^th Sep        08.00 Exaltation of the Cross      Priest’s Intention

 

Fri        15^th Sep       09.15                                     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00                                      Wedding Anniversary (B&E Fernandes)

 

Sat       16^th Sep       17.30                                      Confessions

18.00                                      Anita Rowland RIP (Morris)

 

Sun      17^th Sep        TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY 

08.30                                     Kay Gillespie RIP (Gillespie)

                                10.30                                      Sergia Balaqui RIP (Bernarte)

 

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            £1080.51

This week Catholic Education Service. Next week Home Mission

                                    

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.

 

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 the previous Wednesday

 

Dear Parishioners,

It is a generous part of our tradition that we remember those have died, both those recently deceased and those whose anniversaries occur at this time. Our memorial rose garden also reflects our faith in the Communion of Saints and our love for those who have gone before us. But I would also like to add a phrase to the prayer we pray at mass, so from now on:

Eternal rest give unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace AND RISE IN GLORY. Amen.

Also, I did promise that I would do some consultation about music at the 6.00 and 8.30 masses. Please take and return a brief questionnaire. Thank you.    

 

                                                                       God Bless,                        Fr Doug

 

PETER HAMMOND

Please pray for Peter who died last Sunday. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

 

FAITH AWARDS

Bexley Interfaith Forum and L. B. Bexley invite submissions of any project that has a positive impact on residents of the borough, for a FAITH AWARD. The presentation evening will be in the Civic Offices on Wed 15^th Nov at 7 p.m. Submissions to bexleyinterfaith@gmail.com by 1^st Oct. 

 

ALL CATECHISTS

There will be a day for all catechists of Bexley Deanery on Saturday 16^th September to be held at St. Stephen’s, Welling.  The day will offer reflection, support and training. 

Tea/Coffee and refreshments will be available from 9.30am. The programme begins at 10.00am and will end at 4.00pm.  

During the day there will be three reflections(talks) and three interactive workshops.  The day will begin and end with a short liturgy. Please bring a packed lunch.

Please let Fr Doug know that you are going to attend. 

 

ALL READERS AND SPECIAL MINISTERS

Called to Pray: A Formation Day for Ministers of the Word of God and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion There are two sessions – 14 October in Welling or 21 October in Streatham.

Please let Fr Doug know, if you wish to attend.

 

QUIET MORNING AT SANCTUARY, in Swanley Village BR8 7UX 

16^th September 11-1pm “Free from all Distress”. Come and reflect on the words and meaning of this prayer from our mass. Contact: Trudy on email tkilcullen@live.co.uk or 07977978536

FIRST FRIDAYS: the garden is open and free for you to recollect and rest between 10 and 4 

 

CATHOLIC EDUCATION SERVICE

The CES acts on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference to support Catholic education. Catholic schools make up 10% of the national total of maintained schools. This week’s 2^nd collection is for the CES.

 

BEXLEY INTERFAITH FORUM POP-UP SYNAGOGUE: 

On Tuesday 19th September, the Bexley Interfaith Forum will be hosting a Pop-Up Synagogue in the Church Hall at St John’s (7pm start). Developed by members of local Jewish communities, this is an opportunity to experience and learn about Jewish worship in company and fellowship with members of a range of faiths from across the Borough. St John’s Church is next to Golden Acre Park on Parkhill Road in Bexley village. 

SUNDAY 3^rd September 2023

 TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY, YEAR A

Readings: Jeremiah 20:7-9 Psalm 62 Romans 12:1-2, Gospel: Matthew 16:21-27

 

Sat       2^nd Sep      17.30  Confessions

18.00                                      Thanksgiving (Fernandes)

 

Sun      3^rd Sep          TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY       

                              08.30                                      Kay Gillespie RIP (Gillespie)

10.30                                      Tony Frake RIP (Choir)

 

Mon    4^th Sep        09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00  St Cuthbert                   John Taylor RIP (Stanton)  

 

Tues    5^th Sep       09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00                                      Foundation: Beatrice Walliser RIP

 

Wed    6^th Sep        09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                               10.00                                      Nina Szredski RIP (Y.Szredski)    

 

Thurs  7^th Sep         08.00                                      Priest’s Intention

 

Fri        8^th Sep        09.15                                     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

 10.00  Nativity of the BVM        Gloria & Tony Laws (Connolly)

 

Sat       9^th Sep       17.30                                      Confessions

18.00                                      Ann Turp RIP (Turp)

 

Sun      10^th Sep        TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY 

08.30                                     Jim Docherty (C+K Fitzpatrick)

                              10.30                                      Geoff Hinton RIP (Wheatley)

 

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            £885.94

Next week Catholic Education Service

                                    

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.

 

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 the previous Wednesday

 

Dear Parishioners,

Like many others, I enjoy walking around our local area – in and around Bexley. But I very rarely meet anyone I know. Perhaps people walk and shop and so on at different times, I don’t know – or perhaps go out of their way to avoid me!  So, when I see in films or in TV series, characters bumping into each other in the least likely places or scenarios, I think that it is all just too far-fetched and it detracts from the drama. I was much heartened therefore, by a good news story this week about one of the last naval veterans of World War 2. He died at the age of 102 recently but part of his story was that as a naval man he was involved in the evacuation of allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, only to meet there, his two brothers who were both in the army, fleeing from the enemy forces. They returned to England with him, in his ship. What a joyous experience that must have been in all that terror and chaos. It certainly lifted my heart.    

 

                                  God Bless,                        Fr Doug

FAITH AWARDS

Bexley Interfaith Forum and L. B. Bexley invite submissions of any project that has a positive impact on residents of the borough, for a FAITH AWARD. The presentation evening will be in the Civic Offices on Wed 15^th Nov at 7 p.m. Submissions to bexleyinterfaith@gmail.com by 1^st Oct. 

 

ALL CATECHISTS

There will be a day for all catechists of Bexley Deanery on Saturday 16^th September to be held at St. Stephen’s, Welling.  The day will offer reflection, support and training. 

Tea/Coffee and refreshments will be available from 9.30am. The programme begins at 10.00am and will end at 4.00pm.  

During the day there will be three reflections(talks) and three interactive workshops.  The day will begin and end with a short liturgy. Please bring a packed lunch.

Please let Fr Doug know that you are going to attend. 

 

QUIET MORNING AT SANCTUARY, in Swanley Village BR8 7UX 

16^th September 11-1pm “Free from all Distress”. Come and reflect on the words and meaning of this prayer from our mass. Contact: Trudy on email tkilcullen@live.co.uk or 07977978536

Also, on FIRST FRIDAYS: the garden is open and free for you to recollect and rest between 10am and 4pm every month – wander in, find a place to sit, bring your prayer book and take your own personal space for reflection.  

 

CAFOD: VOLUNTEER SPEAKERS

If you can spare one or two weekends a year to visit parishes in your area to speak at Mass about CAFOD’s work please get in touch.  Contact Celeste and Sarah at southwark@cafod.org.uk.

 

“PROMOTING RACIAL AND CULTURAL INCLUSION” 

A Seminar at the Amigo Hall, St. George’s Cathedral, Southwark, from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm on Saturday, 28^th October 2023.  For registration, please use this link.

https://www.rcsouthwark,co,uk/mission/commission-for-promoting-racial-and-cultural-inclusion/what-we-do/.   Or write to us: racialjusticecommission@rcaos.org.uk

 

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.

 

CATHOLIC EDUCATION SERVICE

The CES acts on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference to support Catholic education. Catholic schools make up 10% of the national total of maintained schools. Next week’s 2^nd collection is for the CES.