SUNDAY 12^th February 2023

 SIXTH SUNDAY, YEAR A 

Readings: Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20 Psalm 118 1 Corinthians 2:6-10, Gospel: Matthew 5:17-37

 

Sat       11^th Feb   17.30  Confessions

 18.00                                Mrs Zoe Baker RIP (Duff) 

 

Sun      12^th Feb        SIXTH SUNDAY      

                             08.30                               Victor Weeks RIP (Weeks)

 10.30                               William Dawson-Asaam RIP (Asaam)

 

Mon    13^th Feb    09.15                               Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                             10.00                               For the Parish

 

Tues    14^th Feb    09.15  ss Cyril & Methodius      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

 10.00                                Rose Swink RIP (Bowman)

 

Wed    15^th Feb     09.15                               Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                             10.00                               Vernon Rogers RIP (Crump)

 

Thurs  16^th Feb     08.00                               Priest’s intention

 

Fri       17^th Feb    09.15                                Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00                                Deceased Relatives Mantle family (Mantle)

 

Sat       18^th Feb  17.30                                 Confessions

                            18.00                                 In Thanksgiving (Kevan)

 

Sun      19^th Feb        SEVENTH SUNDAY                       

                            08.30                                 For the Parish

                           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       £989.89 Incl. S.O.s 

This week:     Parish St Vincent de Paul Society

Next Week:   Earthquake Emergency 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. 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,

The scale of the disaster in Turkey and Syria is hard to comprehend, it is baffling. All we can see is darkness – well nearly all! There was a glimmer of light in those pictures of the newborn baby who was rescued. We must find a way to reach into the darkness and find the hand of God, who is there with all those who are suffering. One way for us is to offer, along with our prayers, some financial support. So next week we will have a retiring collection for the emergency fund.

God Bless,                Fr Doug

P.S. I still have a purse that was left in the church 2 Sundays ago. Come and get it!

                                                                                    

DIOCESAN LENTEN RETREAT: “Renewed in Hope”

The retreat format will be similar to last year’s one. There will be a video and then points to ponder along with a written summary. The theme this year is “Renewed in Hope” and it is based on the Sunday readings of Lent. Anyone can sign up to receive it. You will then receive an email each Monday with the “video” input and points to ponder. Use this link: https://www.southwarkdsc.org.uk/renewedbyhope 

ALTERNATIVELY, you can participate with others in 3 different church locations and share the experience with other Christians in Bexley. (The ‘video’ will be projected onto the ‘large screen’ and there will be time for reflection, prayer and sharing)

Mondays, 1.30 – 3.00 St. John Fisher Hall, beginning 20^th February

Tuesdays 10.30 – 12.00 URC (opposite the war memorial) beginning 28^th February

Wednesdays 7.30 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. St John’s Church beginning 1^st March 

 

YOUNG ADULT (18-35) MONTHLY MEETINGS

Facilitated by Sr Anouska fcJ, at FCJ Spirituality Centre, near Euston Station 7-8.30pm

A time of input, prayer and sharing on a new topic each month.  

This month: 16 February – Renewal: What’s the point of Lent?

Each year we live the Lenten season and try to turn our hearts and minds to God by acts of prayer, fasting and good works. But what’s the point? Why does the church give us this time of renewal?

To attend this evening please email: bookings.fcjcentre@fcjhouse-somerstown.co.uk

 

GROWING IN FAITH TOGETHER

Sycamore is an online course exploring our Catholic faith and suitable for individuals and couples alike.  Weekly one-hour session take place through Lent on Tuesday evenings from 8-9pm starting on February 28.  For more details or to register, visit the website:  Growing in Faith Together – Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis (rcaos.org.uk)

 

CELEBRATE PARENTING FOR FAITH

A new online course for those with babies and toddlers, 5 weeks from February 23 – March 23. 8pm, 45 mins.  https://www.celebratetrust.org/-

Marriage preparation courses are available by emailing mflse@arcos.org.uk.

 

A FOUR WEEK INDIVIDUALLY GUIDED RETREAT  

Sun 26^th Feb to Sun 26^th March 2023 Each week, you are invited to meet with your spiritual accompanier at any of the following: Lewisham, Brockley, Sidcup, West Wickham, Bexley, Swanley, or online.  You can find information about the retreat at welcome@sisters-of-st-andrew.com. Contact us via email or the website. 

 

LENTEN QUIET DAY

Sat, 4 March 10– 4 , at Srs of St Andrew, Belmont Hill, Lewisham – with Sr. Sigrun.

 

WEEKEND RETREATS. 

Monday, 13 March, ‘Nothing can be loved at speed’ – 10.30 am for 11.00 start and ends 3.30pm, with Sr. Christiane and/or Sr. Regula. Further information at welcome@sisters-of-st-andrew.com 

SUNDAY 5^th February 2023

FIFTH SUNDAY, YEAR A 

Readings: Isaiah 58:7-10 Psalm 111 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Sat   4^th Feb        17.30  Confessions

                         18.00       John & Joy Hubbard RIP (Fogarty) 

Sun  5^th Feb          FIFTH SUNDAY, Racial Justice Day        

                         08.30       For the Parish

                         10.30       Edward Przydrozny RIP (Przydrozna)

Mon  6^th Feb        09.15  ss Paul Miki + Comp.     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                         10.00       Private Intention (Jones)  

Tues  7^th Feb       09.15       Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                         10.00       Harrington family (Sheehan)

Wed    8^th Feb     09.15  ss Jerome + Josephine  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                         10.00       John Rayer RIP (Morris)

Thurs  9^th Feb     08.00       Priest’s intention

Fri     10^th Feb     09.15  St Scholastica   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                        10.00        Foundation: Virginia Bolton RIP

Sat    11^th Feb    17.30        Confessions

                        18.00       Mrs Zoe Baker RIP (Duff)

Sun   12^th Feb        SIXTH SUNDAY                  

08.30       Victor Weeks RIP (Weeks)

                        10.30       William Dawson-Asaam RIP (Asaam)

                                    

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.

 

               *************PURSE FOUND. SEE FR DOUG********************

 

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection last week       £1020.44 Incl. S.O.s 

Next week     Parish St Vincent de Paul Society

  

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 card reader 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 are so blessed to have a wonderful church and there is abeautiful atmosphere of prayer and devotion before mass on weekdays and on Sundays. We are further blessed with a wonderful foyer and also a covered apron outside. Those are great areas to undertake the very important tasks of meeting and greeting. At the moment, many of us – me included – use the church itself to socialise. As we approach Lent might we all make a resolution to leave the church in silence after mass for those who wish to pray and instead, chat with others in the foyer or on the apron.  

God Bless,                  Fr Doug

                                                                                    

DIOCESAN LENTEN RETREAT: “Renewed in Hope”

The retreat format will be similar to last year’s one. There will be a video and then points to ponder along with a written summary. The theme this year is “Renewed in Hope” and it is based on the Sunday readings of Lent. Anyone can sign up to receive it. You will then receive an email each Monday with the “video” input and points to ponder. Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/hVT7Dv or via https://www.southwarkdsc.org.uk/.

ALTERNATIVELY, you can participate with others in 3 different church locations and share the experience with other Christians in Bexley. (The ‘video’ will be projected onto the ‘large screen’ and there will be time for reflection, prayer and sharing)

Mondays, 1.30 – 3.00 St. John Fisher Hall, beginning 20^th February

Tuesdays 10.30 – 12.00 URC (opposite the war memorial) beginning 28^th February

Wednesdays 7.30 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. St John’s Church beginning 1^st March 

 

YOUNG ADULT (18-35) MONTHLY MEETINGS

Facilitated by Sr Anouska fcJ, at FCJ Spirituality Centre, near Euston Station 7-8.30pm

A time of input, prayer and sharing on a new topic each month.  

This month: 16 February – Renewal: What’s the point of Lent?

Each year we live the Lenten season and try to turn our hearts and minds to God by acts of prayer, fasting and good works. But what’s the point? Why does the church give us this time of renewal?

To attend this evening please email: bookings.fcjcentre@fcjhouse-somerstown.co.uk

 

BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE – This Saturday morning online session on – February 18 is aimed at couples with average-to-good marriages who would like to improve their relationship further and gain insights into their communication and the call of the Church to the married.  No personal sharing!  Email – Carole on mflkent@rcaos.org.uk or phone 07983 524 727.

 

GROWING IN FAITH TOGETHER – SycamOre is an online course exploring our Catholic faith and suitable for individuals and couples alike.  Weekly one-hour session take place through Lent on Tuesday evenings from 8-9pm starting on February 28.  For more details or to register, visit the website:  Growing in Faith Together – Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis (rcaos.org.uk)

 

CELEBRATE PARENTING FOR FAITH – A new online course for those with babies and toddlers, 5 weeks from February 23 – March 23. 8pm, 45 mins.  https://www.celebratetrust.org/-

Marriage preparation courses are available by emailing mflse@arcos.org.uk.

 

A FOUR WEEK INDIVIDUALLY GUIDED RETREAT  

Sun 26^th Feb to Sun 26^th March 2023  Each week, you are invited to meet with your spiritual accompanier at any of the following: Lewisham, Brockley, Sidcup, West Wickham, Bexley, Swanley, or online.  You can find information about the retreat at welcome@sisters-of-st-andrew.com. Contact us via email or the website. 

 

LENTEN QUIET DAY

Sat, 4 March 10– 4 , at Srs of St Andrew, Belmont Hill, Lewisham – with Sr. Sigrun.

 

A RESIDENTIAL SILENT RETREAT 

Fri 17 – Sun 19 March: Stepping Stones into Silence, a retreat for beginners with personal accompaniment by a sister (self-catering).  

 

WEEKEND RETREATS. 

Monday, 13 March, ‘Nothing can be loved at speed’ – 10.30 am for 11.00 start and ends 3.30pm, with Sr. Christiane and/or Sr. Regula. Further information at welcome@sisters-of-st-andrew.com 

SUNDAY 29^th January 2023

 FOURTH SUNDAY, YEAR A 

Readings: Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 Psalm 145 1 Corinthians1:26-31, Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

 

Sat    28^th Jan      17.30         Confessions

                18.00          Maire O’Donnell RIP 

Sun   29^th Jan         FOURTH SUNDAY  

                           08.30         Private Intention (Wilkes)

        10.30          Wellbeing Andrew Hubble (Hughes)

Mon  30^th Jan       09.15         Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                          10.00          Wellbeing Fr Michael Jones (Friends)  

Tues  31^st Jan       09.15  St John Bosco  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00           In Thanksgiving (Sullivan family)

Wed   1^st Feb        09.15         Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                           10.00         Jacqueline Downey (Downey)

Thurs 2^nd Feb        08.00 Presentation of the Lord    Priest’s intention

Fri     3^rd Feb         09.15  St Laurence of Canterbury Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                           10.00           Ken Crump RIP (Jones)

Sat    4^th Feb         17.30          Confessions

                            18.00          John & Joy Hubbard RIP (Fogarty)

Sun   5^th Feb          FIFTH SUNDAY, Racial Justice Day                    

                            08.30          For the Parish

                            10.30          Edward Przydrozny RIP (Przydrozna)

                                    

 

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       £973.86 Incl. S.O.s 

 

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 card reader 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

Please notice that Fr Peter is offering mass on Thursday mornings at 8.00. This offers a chance for some to go to a weekday mass before going to work. Others may in any case be ‘early birds’.           

Time passes very quickly and as we enter February, we know that Lent is not far away. That means it is time to look to our diaries and think about how we might prepare for Easter. So…                                                                                     

DIOCESAN LENTEN RETREAT:  “Renewed in Hope”

The retreat will be of a similar format to last year’s one. In the ‘video’, The Archbishop provides an introduction, Chris Chapman offers the main reflection and witness is given by a selection of people, including Fr Doug. There are points to ponder along with a written summary. 

The theme this year is “Renewed in Hope” and it is based on the Sunday readings of Lent.

Anyone can sign up to receive it (via a link in the newsletter or on the website that we will publish nearer the time). You would then receive an email each Monday with the “video” input and prompts for discussion and prayer.

ALTERNATIVELY, you can participate with others in 3 different church locations and share the experience with other Christians in Bexley. (The ‘video’ will be projected onto the ‘large screen’ and there will be time for reflection, prayer and sharing)

Mondays, 1.30 – 3.00 St. John Fisher Hall, beginning 20^th February

Tuesdays 10.30 – 12.00 URC (opposite the war memorial) beginning 28^th February

Wednesdays 7.30 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. St John’s Church beginning 1^st March 

God Bless,               

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

Members of the St. John Fisher Conference would like to make parishioners aware that anyone who is feeling lonely and would like a visit or a phone call can contact the Parish Office. One of us will then contact you.  We’d also like to recruit new members. If you can help with visiting and fund raising to support the more vulnerable in our area, please contact the Parish Office.

 

SCRIPTURE STUDY

‘The Bible in a year programme’ has just begun. It is led by Fr Michael Schmitz. This is freely available on YouTube or Spotify as a Podcast. It follows the format of Jeff Cavin’s Bible Timeline which many of us followed a year or two ago and is in 20-minute daily episodes. 

This year Fr. Michael Schmitz has also started:

“Catechism in a Year (with Fr Michael Schmitz) ” – about 15 minutes daily episodes. Just do a search in YouTube.

 

PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK

Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 15^th March 2023.  £699.00 per person sharing.  Price includes flight, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full board.  All entertainment and excursions included.  Day trips to Westport, Ballintubber Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Fr. Peyton Centre & National Museum.  Special St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations.  Single supplement £150.00.  Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.