Newsletter

SUNDAY 27^h November 2022 

1^st SUNDAY of ADVENT, YEAR A 

Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 121, Romans 13: 11-14 Mark 24: 17-44

 

Sat    26^th Nov   17.30          Confessions

                          18.00          John Rayer RIP (Staden)

 

Sun  27^th Nov  1^ST SUNDAY of ADVENT 

                          08.30         Private Intention (Sullivan)

                          10.30         Mrs O’Callaghan RIP (Lyons)

 

Mon  28^th Nov   09.15  St Catherine Laboure   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                         10.00          John Rayer RIP (Wheatley)

 

Tues  29^th Nov   09.15  St Cuthbert Mayne+Comp. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                          10.00          For the Parish

 

Wed 30^th Nov   09.15   St Andrew, Scotland    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                         10.00         Tess Truman RIP (Truman Family)             

 

Fri     2^nd Dec    12noon       Funeral Mass for Trisha Kelly RIP           

 

Sat    3^rd Dec     17.30            Confessions

                          18.00           Hammond Macaulay RIP (Cannon family)

 

Sun  4^th Dec    2^nd SUNDAY of ADVENT                   

                          08.30           Thanksgiving Gillespie Family (Gillespie)

                          10.30           Meade Family RIP  (Sullivan) 

 

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:                £903.66        Incl. S.O.s 

Retiring collection for Catholic Youth Service:                             £184.28

 

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”, select the amount you wish to donate, and 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 advisable. 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 thank God with me this weekend for the gift of priesthood as I celebrate my 40th anniversary.

Thank you

God Bless,           

 

FR DOUG’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION – 27^th NOVEMBER

Thank you to everyone who helped with our parish celebration to mark Fr Doug’s anniversary both in the church and hall.   We haven’t seen such a large number gathering together here in the parish since before lockdown! We were a bit worried we might have forgotten how to celebrate but everyone rose to the occasion!  

Thank you. Carol Anderson.

 

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 would also like to recruit members to our Conference as age is catching up with us!  If you can help with visiting and fund raising to support the more vulnerable in our area, please contact the Parish Office.

 

SPIRITUALITY PROGRAMME CONTINUES

Our spirituality committee have organised our programme: Ways into Prayer. Meeting at: 7.30 – 9 on Monday, Nov, 28, and repeated at: 1 – 2.30 on Mondays, Dec 5. 

 

CAROL SERVICE

Date for the diary: Our service of carols and readings will be on Sunday 18^th December

 

ST JOHN FISHER NEW YEARS EVE FAMILY DISCO

8pm to 1am, tickets £10 per adult & £2 per child 

Please see Noel McCarthy in the hall after 10.30 Sunday mass or call him on 07813890556.

 

CLASS TEACHER REQUIRED FOR HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, SE3 9YX

Applications invited from NQT or experienced colleagues.  For information pack contact Samantha Lawrence – SAO via email sao@hfprimary.org  Closing date 2^nd December 2022.

 

SALSA LESSONS – Starting November 21^st – Doors open at 7.45 with Salsa lessons starting at 8.30.  Cost £10 per session.  See flyer on notice board.

 

ADVENT CALENDARS – Available through the Universe Catholic Weekly – Contact Michelle at : michelle.jones@universecatholicweekly.co.uk

 

CAROL SERVICE – REJOICE, REJOICE EMMANUEL SHALL COME TO YOU

Christmas Carol Service for the Parishes in the deaneries of Bexley; Bromley; Camberwell; Greenwich; Lambeth and Lewisham. On Sunday 11th December, Gaudete Sunday at 7.30 pm at St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 103 Woolwich New Road London, Woolwich, SE18 6EF. Principal Celebrant: The Reverend Canon Victor Darlington, Episcopal Vicar for the South East;

 

ALL NATIONS CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC GROUP (ANCCG) – are organizing a “Day of Healing” on Saturday, 26th November at Our Lady of Annunciation, Addiscombe, Croydon from 10am to 4 pm. The programme will start with the Eucharistic Celebration, followed by Word of God, Holy wounds novena, rosary, healing prayer, adoration, confession and praise and Worship.

 

A FREE SHORT REFLECTION BROUGHT TO YOU EACH DAY OF ADVENT

Advent can be such a busy demanding time, but we encourage you to make some space to reflect and pray this advent. Sign up for our free Southwark Diocesan Spirituality Commission ‘daily advent reflections’ to aid your prayer.

Every day during advent you will receive an email with a very brief thought for the day based on the daily reading. It is an opportunity to listen to Gods invitation to you this advent. All you have to do is sign up and then set aside a couple of minutes each day to reflect!! Sign up directly here:

https://southwarkdsc.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a3e1dce7f8f666e9d64edd867&id=4f880b3b9c 

or via

http://www.southwarkdsc.org.uk/ clicking on the Advent Reflection box.

 

SUNDAY 20^th November 2022

 CHRIST THE KING 

Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-3, Psalm 121, Colossians 1: 12-20 Luke 23: 35-43 PAGE  167

 

Sat   19^th Nov    17.30                    Confessions

                          18.00                    Sean King RIP (King)

 

Sun  20^th Nov       CHRIST THE KING 

                          08.30                      Deceased Members of the Li/Sparkes Family

                          10.30                       Tony Speed RIP (Speed)

 

Mon  21^st Nov   09.15  Presentation of the    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                         10.00           BVM       Alvira & Donald Almeida (Almeida Family)

 

Tues 22^nd Nov  09.15  St Cecilia     Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                         10.00                       For the Parish

 

Wed 23^rd Nov   09.15                        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                          10.00                       Teresa Gilby (Wheatley)                 

 

Fri    25^th Nov    09.15                       Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                         10.00                       Celine Family RIP (Bosser)

 

Sat   26^th Nov   17.30                       Confessions

                         18.00                       John Rayer RIP (Staden)

 

Sun  27^th Nov       1^st SUNDAY of ADVENT               

                         08.30                        Private Intention (Sullivan)

                         10.30                         Mrs O’Callaghan RIP  (Lyons) 

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

Although we hope that all masses are once again being streamed live we have encountered a new intermittant problem with the St John Fisher channel on YouTube.  Wednesday’s Mass was fine but Friday’s did not appear.  Twenty minutes later it worked perfectly with cleaners and flower arrangers busy at work!  Hopefully we can resolve it  if so this is the link:

               

The Sunday sermon is still available on the website in printed form.

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection last week:               £1082.98        Incl. S.O.s 

Retiring collection for Archbishop’s Appeal Fund:                   £375.08

This week’s retiring collection is for the Catholic Youth Services 

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”, select the amount you wish to donate, and 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 advisable. 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,

I received this mail from Archbishop John, who is in a Bishops’ Conference Meeting in Leeds:

“Dear Doug, I spoke with one of the bishops here who said a member of his family attended Mass recently at St John Fisher’s in Bexley. They were full of praise … for the liturgy and for the parish community. I just wanted to say an enormous thank you. I was very proud to hear this wonderful testimony. Well done.” 

We should all feel affirmed by such a blessing from a visitor; it should lift our spirits and remind us how good it is to welcome visitors to our parish.

God Bless,                  Fr Doug

 

FR DOUG’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION – 27^th NOVEMBER

Thanks for the offers to help with the food for the buffet lunch on 27^th November.  May I ask that the food be brought into the hall from 9.30-10.15 on the day or after Mass, i.e. 11.30.  If you wish to provide food and haven’t yet put your name down, please contact Kay Lyons on 07817494111.  Thank you. Carol Anderson.

 

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 would also like to recruit members to our Conference as age is catching up with us!  If you can help with visiting and fund raising to support the more vulnerable in our area, please contact the Parish Office.

 

SPIRITUALITY PROGRAMME CONTINUES

Our spirituality committee have organised our programme: Ways into Prayer. Meeting at: 7.30 – 9 on Monday, Nov, 28, and repeated at: 1 – 2.30 on Mondays, Nov 21, Dec 5. 

 

RED WEDNESDAY, – 23^rd NOVEMBER – ORGANISED BY AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED

Support suffering and persecuted Christian communities worldwide, by attending Mass at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, 21-22 Binney Street, W1K 5BQ on 23 November, Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary at 5.45pm, Holy Mass 6.00pm in the Greek Catholic rite (practicing Catholics may take Holy Communion).  Talk at 7.45pm – 9.00 pm – Persecuted and Forgotten?.  Or attend Mass in your local parish.  See website www.acnuk.org/redwednesday and poster in the foyer.

 

CAROL SERVICE

Date for the diary: Our service of carols and readings will be on Sunday 18^th December

 

ST JOHN FISHER NEW YEARS EVE FAMILY DISCO

8pm  to  1am , tickets £10 per adult & £2 per child 

Please see Noel McCarthy in the hall after 10.30 Sunday mass or call him on 07813890556.

 

CLASS TEACHER REQUIRED FOR HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, SE3 9YX

Applications invited from NQT or experienced colleagues.  For information pack contact Samantha Lawrence – SAO via email sao@hfprimary.org  Closing date 2^nd December 2022.

 

SALSA LESSONS – Starting November 21^st – Doors open at 7.45 with Salsa lessons starting at 8.30.  Cost £10 per session.  See flyer on notice board.

 

ADVENT CALENDARS – Available through the Universe Catholic Weekly – Contact Michelle at 

michelle.jones@universecatholicweekly.co.uk

 

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL – UPCOMING EVENTS

22^nd November: Katharine Parr: The Sixth Wife.  Talk by Alison Weir – 7 pm Cost: £10

23^rd November: Cathedral Quiz: with fish and chip supper – 7pm Cost £18

 

CAROL SERVICE – REJOICE, REJOICE EMMANUEL SHALL COME TO YOU

Christmas Carol Service for the Parishes in the deaneries of Bexley; Bromley; Camberwell; Greenwich; Lambeth and Lewisham. On Sunday 11th December, Gaudete Sunday at 7.30 pm at St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 103 Woolwich New Road London, Woolwich, SE18 6EF. Principal Celebrant: The Reverend Canon Victor Darlington, Episcopal Vicar for the South East;

 

SUNDAY 13^th November 2022

 33^rd SUNDAY 

Readings: Malachi 3:19-20, Psalm 97, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 Luke 21:5-19 PAGE 164

 

Sat       12^th Nov        17.30                                      Confessions

                                  18.00                                     James King RIP (King)

 

Sun     13^th Oct        33^rd SUNDAY,                      Remembrance Sunday     

                                 08.30                                     Queen Elizabeth II RIP (Cannon)

                                10.30                                      Jim Henry RIP (Henry)

 

Mon    14^th Nov       09.15                                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00                                      Vincent Jeyaseelan (F)

 

Tues    15^th Nov         No Mass today at SJF as     11.00 Mass at St Mary of the Crays, Crayford for

                                                                                    Deceased Clergy of the Deanery

 

Wed    16^th Nov        09.15                                   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                 10.00                                   Barney O’Neill RIP (O’Neill)                       

 

Fri        18^th Nov       09.15                                  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                                10.00                                   Joseph Yellop RIP (Kennedy)

 

Sat       19^th Nov      17.30                                      Confessions

                                18.00                                      Sean King RIP (King)

 

Sun     20^th Nov       CHRIST THE KING                         

                                 08.30                                      Deceased Members of Li/Sparkes Family

                                 10.30                                      Tony Speed RIP (Speed family) 

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

Apologies to those who have missed the live stream over the past six weeks but at last we are back!  Just click on this link as usual to find our YouTube channel: 

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection last week:                              £ 941.16        Incl. S.O.s

This week’s retiring collection is for the Archbishop’s Appeal

   

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 MACINE, – 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”, select the amount you wish to donate, 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 advisable. 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 conference, COP27, taking place in Egypt is another moment of great importance in the history of our planet. When I was at university, 45 years ago (!!) I was studying the probable consequences of our consumption of the planet’s resources, namely global warming. No-one seemed to be listening then. At least now, world leaders are expressing an aspiration to do something about it. We must pray that they will at last take action to match their fine words and we, for our part, must be prepared to pay what it costs.   

God Bless,                  Fr Doug

 

CEMETERY BLESSING OF GRAVES: 
Sunday 13th Nov 12noon St. Paulinus (Crayford) 
Sunday 13th Nov at 2pm: Sidcup Cemetery 
Sunday 13th Nov at 2.30pm: Bexleyheath Cemetery 
Sunday 13th Nov at 3pm: Brook St Cemetery (Erith) 

 

MASS FOR DECEASED CLERGY OF THE DEANERY

Tuesday 15^th November at St Mary of the Crays, 111 Old Road, Crayford at 11.00. All are welcome. This will replace our own 10.00 parish mass that day.

 

FR DOUG’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION 

This will be on Sunday 27 November.  After the usual 10.30 mass and coffee, we, the parish, will celebrate with a buffet lunch and social.  Please put the date in your diary and if you would like to contribute with a donation of food or help in other ways please contact Kay Lyons on 07817 494111 or Carol Anderson on 07913 698912 respectively. 

 

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 would also like to recruit members to our Conference as age is catching up with us!  If you can help with visiting and fund raising to support the more vulnerable in our area, please contact the Parish Office.

 

AUTUMN SPIRITUALITY PROGRAMME CONTINUES

Our spirituality committee have organised our programme: Ways into Prayer. Meetings at: 7.30 – 9 on Mondays, Nov 14, 28, and repeated at: 1 – 2.30 on Mondays, Nov 21, Dec 5. 

 

CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC SIXTH FORM warmly invite you to a CELEBRATION MASS OF THANKSGIVING on the occasion of the 30^TH ANNIVERSARY since its founding, in the presence of Canon Victor Darlington, Episcopal Vicar for the South East Pastoral Area at 2 pm on Wednesday 16^th November at St George’s Cathedral.  Refreshments will be served in the Amigo Hall afterwards.  RSVP l.harrison@ctksfc.ac.uk 

 

ST JOHN FISHER NEW YEARS EVE FAMILY DISCO

8pm  to  1am , tickets £10 per adult & £2 per child 

Please see Noel McCarthy in the hall after 10.30 Sunday mass or call him on 07813890556.

 

CAROL SERVICE – REJOICE, REJOICE EMMANUEL SHALL COME TO YOU

Southeast Area Christmas Carol Service for the Parishes in the deaneries of Bexley; Bromley; Camberwell; Greenwich; Lambeth and Lewisham. On Sunday 11th December, Gaudete Sunday at

7.30 pm at  St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 103 Woolwich New Road London, Woolwich, SE18 6EF Featuring: St Peter’s Choir, Voice of Africa Choir, St Paul’s Thamesmead Choir, Principal Celebrant: The Reverend Canon Victor Darlington, Episcopal Vicar for the South East;

 

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