Newsletter

SUNDAY 4^th January 2^nd

Sunday after the Nativity Year A

Readings: Ecclesiasticus 24:1-12, Psalm 147, Ephesians 1:1-18, John 1:1-18

                

Sat      3^rd Jan       17.30  Confessions

                              18.00                   Holy Souls (Jeyaseelan)     

 

Sun     4^th Jan       2^nd Sunday after the Nativity  

          08.30                 Alan Harrison RIP (Bowman)

                             10.30                   Jacqueline Downey (Downey)

 

Mon    5^th Jan        09.15       Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10.00              Selia Willis RIP (Wilkes)

 

Tues   6^th Jan       09.15   Epiphany    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                             10.00                    Maureen Fitzpatrick RIP (Sarton)

                             19.30                   Maria Nucera (Highland)

 

Wed    7th Jan      09.15                      Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                             10.00     Patrick & Mary Sheehan, Dan & Julia Harrington (Sheehan)

Please join us in the Hall for refreshments after the 10.00 mass in the Meeting Place

 

Fri       9^th Jan        09.15       Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament                                 

                             10.00                     Catriona Keenan RIP (Laley)

 

Sat    10^th Jan      17.30          Confessions

                            18.00                     Tracy Andrews (D Andrews)          

 

Sun   11^th Jan       Baptism of the Lord

08.30                    John Hollis RIP (Jeyaseelan)

                             10.30                    David Brailsford RIP (Brailsford)

Please join us in the Hall for refreshments after the 10.30 mass.

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed via the link:

Recordings are available. The Sunday sermon is also in print on the website.

 

MASS INTENTIONS

Do have masses said for your intentions. Use the envelopes in the foyer to name the intention and to enclose an offering. Give them to Fr Doug or post them through the presbytery door.

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection                                                                       £ 806.84

Bank Payments to RCAS Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763

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 on weekdays, £40 per hour at weekends

 

Newsletter: Please copy notices to Fr Doug by the previous Wednesday

 

Dear Parishioners,

Happy New Year to you all. I wish you good health every joy.

With regard to New Year Resolutions, I think there was much in the Archbishop’s letter last week to offer a challenge. Let us resolve to welcome any new members in our parish and to reach out to those we don’t know. We were urged to ensure that everyone who comes to mass feels that this is where they belong. 

 EPIPHANY – A Holyday Of Obligation

God Bless,                                                Fr Doug 

 

JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE:  We will be closing the Jubilee Year formally on the Feast of the Epiphany. The closing prayers are to be said in all the churches of our deanery on that day. We have much to celebrate as we look back through the year, especially to our deanery pilgrimage back in the summer.

 

FLOWERS:  As always, the flowers in the Church are beautiful and give great honour to the Festival of Christmas. Is this something you’d like to be involved in?

If not would you like to support the work financially. A collection is taken through the box in the wall at the back of Church, on your right as you leave.

 

CRIB COLLECTION:  This year we are collecting for Friends of the Holy Land. This charity, endorsed by Cardinal Vincent Nicholls, actually has workers based in Bethlehem and is therefore able to help the Christians there survive even under the current siege conditions imposed by Israel. They assist with emergency aid, with counselling and with a limited amount of development.

 

NEW AUXILIARY BISHOP FOR OUR ARCHDIOCESE OF SOUTHWARK. 

Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Canon Gerard Bradley as Auxiliary Bishop for our Archdiocese of Southwark. Bishop-Elect Gerard’s Episcopal Ordination will be on Monday 2 February in our Cathedral. The Holy Father has assigned him the Titular See of Beverley, the birthplace in Yorkshire of St John Fisher, loved by us all as a former Catholic Bishop of Rochester. 

 

CHURCH CLEANING:  A big THANK YOU to the small group of parishioners who give up their free time to help keep our church clean. The rota for 2026 is now available for collection from the cupboard.

We would be grateful if more volunteers came forward to either join an existing group or make up a new one.  Currently, each group cleans once every 12 weeks for about one hour.  If you think you might be able to help, please ring Carole Hughes on 07762 731303.

 

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – 18-25 January

Churches Together in Old Bexley invite you to a service on Sunday 18 January at 3pm at URC, Hurst Road.  We are all invited to celebrate, draw strength and encouragement from the gift of our shared faith. In these turbulent times, we can take heart from the endurance of that faith.

 

PAX CHRISTI:   The work of Pax Christi is based on the gospel and inspired by faith. Our vision is of a world where people can live in peace, without fear of violence in all its forms. Rooted in Catholic Christianity, we work with all who share our values to abolish war and create communities of peace and justice.

Peace Sunday Collection Jan 18  

SUNDAY 28^th December

Holy Family Year A

Readings: Ecclesiasticus 3:2-14, Psalm 127, Colossians 3:12-21, Matthew 2:13-23       

 

Sat      27^th Dec       17.30                                      Confessions

                                18.00                                      Zoe Baker (Duff)      

 

Sun     28^th Dec       HOLY FAMILY  YEAR A 

                               08.30                                  Margaret Northover (Cannon)

                               10.30                                    Tony Speed RIP (Speed)

 

Mon    29^th Dec      09.15 Thomas of    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                              10.00 Canterbury                    Sean Staden (Staden)

 

Tues   30^th Dec     09.15               Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                             10.00                                  Tony and Margaret Deacon (Staden)

 

Wed    31^st Dec    09.15               Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                            10.00                                    Kathy Connolly  (Wheatley)  

 

Thu     1^st Jan      09.15  Mother of God Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                           10.00                                      The Back Family

 

Fri      2^nd Jan     09.15 Basil & Gregory  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament      

                           10.00                                      Holy Souls (Jeyaseelan)

 

Sat     3^rd Jan     17.30                                      Confessions

                           18.00                                      Des Mendes (Jeyaseelan) 

 

Sun    4^th Jan       2^ND SUNDAY AFTER THE NATIVITY   

                         08.30                                            Alan Harrison RIP (Bowman)

                         10.30                                    Jacqueline Downey (Downey)

Please join us in the Hall for refreshments after the 10.30 mass.

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed via the link:

Recordings are available. The Sunday sermon is also in print on the website.

 

MASS INTENTIONS

Do have masses said for your intentions. Use the envelopes in the foyer to name the intention and to enclose an offering. Give them to Fr Doug or post them through the presbytery door.

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection                                                                       £ 1135.66

Bank Payments to RCAS Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763

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 on weekdays, £40 per hour at weekends

 

Newsletter: Please copy notices to Fr Doug by the previous Wednesday

 

Dear Parishioners,

As we prepare to begin a New Year let me look forward and wish you and your families every blessing and look back to the year past and thank everyone who has given so much to the parish: 

To the parish council, and to all the groups and activity that they lead or coordinate – including our AIC, our altar servers, the teams for baptism, first holy communion, confirmation, and children’s liturgies, our hard working finance team, our premises officer; our offertory collection counters, our welcome teams at masses, our coffee morning organisers, our events committee, the SVP team who will be sadly missed in the future, the liturgy committee, the mass intention coordinator, our newsletter team, the representatives for diocesan and national charities, our hall staff, our meeting point helpers, the church care team, the flower arrangers, the crib and Easter garden builder, the Christmas tree team, the organist, the choir and their leader, our Eucharistic ministers, our shop staff, our sacristan, the parish secretary, our readers, the safeguarding leader, and the person who runs our website and offers other technical support, and indeed everyone who has taken part in our parish activity and helped to carry our mission forward. On behalf of the whole parish I say a big thank you to you all.

   Let me also, on my own behalf, thank you all for the generous Christmas Offering that you gave me along with all the Christmas Cards and gifts. I am humbled, touched and grateful.

God Bless,                                                Fr Doug 

CRIB COLLECTION

This year we are collecting for Friends of the Holy Land. This charity, endorsed by Cardinal Vincent Nicholls, actually has workers based in Bethlehem and is therefore able to help the Christians there survive even under the current siege conditions imposed by Israel. They assist with emergency aid, with counselling and with a limited amount of development.

 

CHURCH CLEANING   

A big THANK YOU to the small group of parishioners who give up their free time to help keep our church clean. The rota for 2026 is now available for collection from the cupboard.

We would be grateful if more volunteers came forward to either join an existing group or make up a new one.  Currently, each group cleans once every 12 weeks for about one hour.  If you think you might be able to help, please ring Carole Hughes on 07762 731303.

 

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – 18-25 January

Churches Together in Old Bexley invite you to a service on Sunday 18 January at 3pm at URC, Hurst Road.  We are all invited to celebrate, draw strength and encouragement from the gift of our shared faith. In these turbulent times, we can take heart from the endurance of that faith.       

 

NEW AUXILIARY BISHOP FOR OUR ARCHDIOCESE OF SOUTHWARK. 

Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Canon Gerard Bradley as Auxiliary Bishop for our Archdiocese of Southwark. Bishop-Elect Gerard’s Episcopal Ordination will be on Monday 2 February in our Cathedral. The Holy Father has assigned him the Titular See of Beverley, the birthplace in Yorkshire of St John Fisher, loved by us all as a former Catholic Bishop of Rochester. 

 

POPE LEO XIV, AMOR SED AMOR, (LOVE BUT LOVE) – a new book

This book explores today’s most pressing questions—from AI and LGBTQ+ issues to individualism, relativism, and more.  

A clear Catholic response for our time. In a world shaped by Artificial Intelligence, individualism, and moral relativism, this book presents Pope Leo XIV’s compelling call to the Church: to love with truth, to evangelise with courage, and to remain faithful to Christ in a changing culture.

 

HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS

A reminder that if you (or a family member) are admitted to hospital, you need to ask that your record indicate you are a Roman Catholic if you would like a visit from the Chaplaincy or to receive Holy Communion. The Chaplaincy cannot approach you unless your religion is recorded.

SUNDAY 21^st  December,

Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14, Psalm 23, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-24

Sat     20^th Dec     17.30      Confessions

                             18.00                     Kathleen Fitzpatrick RIP (Fitzpatrick)       

 

Sun        21^st Dec       FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT YEAR A 

08.30                     Kathy Connolly (Gillespie)

                           10.30                   John Kilner RIP (Connolly)  

 

Mon  22^nd Dec    09.15        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                  10.00                Kathleen Fitzpatrick RIP(Fitzpatrick)

                           19.00        RECONCILIATION SERVICE

 

Tues 23^rd Dec    09.15        Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                          10.00                      Catherine Fitzpatrick (Staden)

 

Wed 24^th Dec         No Morning Mass 

18.00 Vigil Mass    Kay & Bernard Gillespie RIP (Gillespie)

22.00 Christmas Night    John Robins RIP (Robins)

 

Thurs 25^thDec      08.30   Nativity                    Mrs O’Callaghan RIP (Lyons)

                    10.30   Nativity      Robert Lasrado RIP (Lasrado) & TG (Laviado & family)

 

Fri     26^th Dec      09.15       Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament                                 

                             10.00   St Stephen              Donal Dowal (Staden)

 

Sat   27^th Dec      17.30              Confessions

                             18.00                                      Zoe Baker (Duff)      

 

Sun     28^th Dec       HOLY FAMILY  YEAR A            

                            08.30                                     Margaret Northover (Cannon)

                            10.30                                     Tony Speed RIP (Speed)

Please join us in the Hall for refreshments after the 10.30 mass.           

 

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES ON THE WEBSITE

All masses are streamed, view via the link:

Recordings are available. The Sunday sermon is also in print on the website.

 

MASS INTENTIONS

Do have masses said for your intentions. Use the envelopes in the foyer to name the intention and to enclose an offering. Give them to Fr Doug or post them through the presbytery door.

 

FINANCES   

Many thanks for your offertory collection                                                                       £ 887.83

Bank Payments to RCAS Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763

Card Payment: Machine located in the foyer.

Gift Aid Please join the GIFT AID scheme – Forms available in the foyer. 

            

OUR PARISH HALL

To hire: email bexley@rcaos.org.uk at ANY time and our secretary will get back to you. 

 

Newsletter: Please copy notices to Fr Doug by the previous Wednesday

 

Dear Parishioners,

  We have received the very generous gift of two brand new candle stands. They will be blessed and dedicated on Christmas eve. The one in front of our Sacred Heart statue is already in use this weekend. We hope to continue recycling the residual wax in the candles we use on the sanctuary.

The minimum donation remains at 40p per candle.

   The Jubilee Year of Hope will be coming to an end. All the churches in the deanery will be using the same concluding prayers on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6^th

    We are able once more to live stream our masses so on your behalf, I thank those involved in the work involved in making the repairs.

    To those who are travelling away over Christmas, I wish you safe journeys and a very happy Christmas.

God Bless,                                                Fr Doug 

 

ARCHBISHOP JOHN WILSON 

In his annual Christmas message, he says: “The beautiful truth of Christmas is that because of God in Christ we are never lost. God chose to be near us, to stay close to us always, to draw us to himself, always. In his endless mercy, the Lord Jesus chose to love us, so we could know and believe that “God is love” (1 John 4:16). In turn, all the Lord Jesus asks of us is to not be afraid and to say yes to him, to draw close to him, to love him”. You can watch and read the full message at rcaos.org.uk/christmasmessage2025. 

 

BISHOP RICHARD MOTH FOR ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER – note from AB John:

“I am delighted that Bishop Richard Moth will be the next Archbishop of Westminster and congratulate him most warmly on the appointment. Bishop Moth is a man who has a deep love of the Lord Jesus. Originally a priest of the Archdiocese of Southwark, he has led the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton prayerfully, with a focus on formation and mission. I know he will bring that love of the Lord, along with his zeal for evangelisation, to Westminster, and I look forward to working further with him and my brother bishops as we strive to lead more people to Christ.

Above all, please join me in praying for Bishop Moth as he prepares for this new challenge, may the Lord continue to guide him and bless him.” (Archbishop John Wilson)

 

CHRISTMAS SERVICES:

Monday 22^nd December:                19.00 Reconciliation Service

Wednesday 24^th December           18.00  First mass of Christmas

                                                       22.00 Night time Mass of Christmas

Thursday 25^th December                08.30  Christmas Day Mass

                                                       10.30 Christmas Day Mass

Friday 26^th December                     10.00 St. Stephen’s Day Mass

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2026

Application forms are available in the foyer. Baptised children in year 3 or above are eligible to apply. Feel free to discuss with Fr Doug or Angela Underwood after mass.  Completed forms must be returned by 31st December 2025.  The programme will commence in January 2026. 

 

HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS

A reminder that if you (or a family member) are admitted to hospital, you need to ask that your record indicate you are a Roman Catholic if you would like a visit from the Chaplaincy or to receive Holy Communion. The Chaplaincy cannot approach you unless your religion is recorded. 

ST COLUMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOR BOYS

Wish to appoint CRiBS School Worker – 35 hours per week (job-share considered) – Term time only (41 weeks) – Annual Salary – £24,171 – Closing date – 9th January 2026 – Start Date – ASAP