Newsletter

PALM SUNDAY

Readings: Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalm 21, Philippians 2:6-11, Mark 14:1-15:47

SERVICES FOR WEEK 27th March – 4th April 2021

Sat 27 Mar   11.00 Confessions
                      18.00 John Gerard Lowney RIP (Sheehan)

Sun 28 March    PALM SUNDAY
                      08.30 For the Parish
                      10.30 Sergia Balaqui RIP (Bernarte)
                      Web – available anytime
https://youtu.be/S75gcRELfgg
                      Joan Aspeek @ 90 (Choir)

Mon 29 Mar    PKM
                      19.30 Reconciliation Service

Tues 30 Mar    09.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
                      10.00 Alice Howie RIP (Howie)

Weds 31 Mar    09.30 note earlier time Danny Lyons RIP (Keefe)
                      10.00 Stations of the Cross

Thurs 1 Apr    20.00 Maundy Thursday Tony Sullivan RIP (Sullivan)

Fri 2 Apr    10.00 In Hall Childrens’ Stations of the Cross
                      15.00 Good Friday Solemn Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord

                      Also available on the Web at 15.00.
                      https://youtu.be/qj2btKwsO4g

Sat 3 Apr    20.00 Easter Vigil For the Parish

Sun 4 Apr    EASTER SUNDAY
                      08.30 Fiona Boome RIP (Howie)
                      10.30 Dorothy Speed & Tony Speed RIP (Choir)
                      Web – available anytime Bob & Margaret Morris (Frake)

FINANCES –
Please note the slight change in our bank account name. .
Direct Bank Payments to RCAS St John Fisher – Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763
Please put your name and if you use envelopes, your envelope number, as the code
Easter Offering: This Collection is your personal gift to the Parish Priest

CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS
The weekly Catholic newspapers can be obtained directly (postage free) by subscription:
Catholic Universe and Catholic Times Go to http://www.thecatholicuniverse.com or ring 0161 820 5722 and they will arrange for you. £99.00 per year or just £55 for the digital version
The Herald has a similar offer: Ring 0207 448 3607 or go to http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/subscribe

This is Holy Week, the week of the Church’s most sacred liturgies that celebrate the great mysteries of Easter, and in particular the resurrection to New Life of Jesus.

Today, Palm Sunday, we recall Jesus entering Jerusalem in an air of triumph, with supporters cheering and waving palms as he passed by on a donkey. This was the way the prophets had foretold that the Messiah would arrive. Jesus certainly got the attention of the Jewish authorities! We go on to listen to the events of his Passion and death.

On Wednesday the Chrism Mass will be celebrated by the Archbishop and clergy of the diocese in our Cathedral. It isn’t open to everyone this year due to Covid. At the mass, which manifests the communion of the clergy with the Archbishop, Priestly Promises are renewed.
Also, the oil of Catechumen for baptism and the oil of the sick for the Anointing of the Sick are both blessed and the oil of Chrism for confirmation and ordination is consecrated. These three sacred oils are then sent to every parish in the diocese for use during the year ahead.

On Holy Thursday, we commemorate Jesus celebrating the Last Supper with his disciples and instituting it as the mass we have come to be familiar with. We will hear that by washing the feet of his disciples he indicated the importance of service to others in the mission of the Church.
After mass we may stay for a while as the Sacrament remains on the altar so as to feel close to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he went after the Last Supper and before his arrest.

On Good Friday, we recall the events of that terrible day in Jerusalem and we marvel at the love Jesus offered us by giving up his life on the cross. We take the opportunity to venerate the cross as a sign of our acceptance of his wonderful gift, and we pray for the needs of the world.

On Holy Saturday, at our Easter Vigil we proclaim the Resurrection of Christ with the singing of the Exsultet before the Easter Candle. We look back, through a vigil of readings at the events that define our history and we read about the day of Easter. We also bless the new baptismal water.

On Easter Sunday we celebrate simply in the masses the resurrection of the Lord!
We anticipate that a large number may wish to be present at least on Good Friday and at the 10.30 mass on Easter Day. We would appreciate it if you could let us know if you do intend to be there, but ONLY FOR THESE 2 SERVICES so that we can take care to space people carefully in the church. The other services should offer plenty of space. Many thanks.
God Bless

THANK YOU To:
The parishioner who has kindly begun to clean and smarten up our grounds. Check the car park!

RECONCILIATION SERVICES
We celebrate a Service of Reconciliation on Monday of this week. It begins at 7.30 p.m. with a reflection on scripture and then after an examination of conscience, confessions will be heard by a visiting priest and Fr Doug. There will be a similar service on Tuesday evening, in Swanley at 7.30

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
In private, use a prayer book or follow the service on the website.
Communally, we will follow the Way of the Cross after mass on Wednesday morning.

HEAD TEACHER VACANCY
Following the retirement of our Head Teacher, the Governing Body of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Old Road, Crayford, DA1 4DZ, wishes to appoint an inspirational and dedicated new Head Teacher. Salary range L13 to L21 (£60,073-£71,666), starting in September 2021. Details are on the school website http://www.st-josephs.bexley.sch.uk Closing date Friday 23rd April 2021 at noon.

Please print off this newsletter, using the screenshots below, and post it through the door of any parishioner you know without electronic access and make sure everyone feels okay and feels connected.

5th SUNDAY OF LENT

Readings: Jeremiah; 31:31-34 Psalm 50, Hebrews 5:7:9, John 12:20-33

SERVICES FOR WEEK 20th – 28th March 2021

Sat 20 Mar   11.00 Confessions
                        18.00 Miriam Hayward RIP

Sun 21 March   FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
                        08.30 Fred Robinson RIP (Robinson)
                        10.30 Rex Wheatley RIP (Wheatley)
                        Web – available anytime

                        Danny Lyons RIP (Hughes)

Mon 22 Mar   PKM

Tues 23 Mar 9.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
                        10.00 Ann Tichmarsh (Tichmarsh)

Weds 24 Mar   9.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
                        10.00 Tony Speed RIP (Dorothy & Tony’s 60th Wedding Anniversary)

Fri 26 Mar   9.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
                        10.00 Philomena Connolly RIP (Choir)
                        10.30 Stations of the Cross

Sat 27 Mar   11.00 Confessions
                        18.00 John Gerard Lowney RIP (Sheehan)

Sun 28 March   PALM SUNDAY
                        08.30 For the Parish
                        10.30 Sergia Balaqui RIP (Bernarte)
                        Web – available anytime
                        Joan Aspeek at 90 (Choir)

Mon 29 Mar   19.30 Reconciliation Service

FINANCES –
Please note the slight change in our bank account name. .
Direct Bank Payments to RCAS St John Fisher – Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763
Please put your name and if you use envelopes, your envelope number, as the code
Extra Collection This Week: Deanery World Development Project

CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS
The weekly Catholic newspapers can be obtained directly (postage free) by subscription:
Catholic Universe and Catholic Times Go to http://www.thecatholicuniverse.com or ring 0161 820 5722 and they will arrange for you. £99.00 per year or just £55 for the digital version
The Herald has a similar offer: Ring 0207 448 3607 or go to http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/subscribe

Easter is nearly here, and unlike last year, we will be able to celebrate the greatest of all Christian feasts here in church, albeit with a number of restrictions and limitations to our liturgies:
Palm Sunday: Our normal masses with the distribution of palm crosses on the way into church, the blessing of those crosses, and then the commemoration of Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem
Chrism Mass: Not open to parishioners this year
Holy Thursday: The commemoration of the Last Supper is at 8 p.m. We cannot participate in the Washing of feet this year and we are not allowed to move the Blessed Sacrament to an ‘altar of repose’ for adoration until midnight. Instead we will leave the Sacrament on the main altar for adoration by those wishing to remain in their places in church.
Good Friday: The celebration of the Easter Triduum continues with the celebration of the solemn Passion of the Lord at 3 p.m. There is a Liturgy of the Word including St. John’s Passion. Then there are the solemn intercessions, the same prayers being said in every church around the world. The next part is the Veneration of the Cross. We are not permitted to kiss the cross but there will be a procession (socially distanced) and everyone will be invited to bow before the cross instead. Finally Holy Communion, consecrated at the Holy Thursday Mass will be offered to anyone wishing to receive it. This service may be well attended and so there may be no kneeling down so that good distance can be maintained between everyone, for safety reasons.
There will be Stations of the Cross for children in our Hall in the morning at a time to be agreed.
Holy Saturday: The Easter Vigil begins at 8 p.m. (no 6 p.m. mass). There can be no Service of Light so we will begin by processing and then placing the Easter Candle in the sanctuary and proclaiming the Resurrection of Christ with the singing of the wonderful Exsultet. We will hold a vigil of readings as usual and then after the Gospel and homily we will bless the new baptismal waters and bless ourselves with them as we renew our baptismal promises.
Easter Sunday masses are at 8.30 and 10.30 as usual but depending on numbers indicating that they wish to attend, it may well be that there can be no kneeling down at the 10.30 mass. We would appreciate it therefore, if you can assist us by indicating on the lists in the porch if you will be attending that mass. Many thanks.
God Bless

RECONCILIATION SERVICES
We will be celebrating a Service of Reconciliation on Monday of Holy Week, 29th March. It begins at 7.30 p.m. with a short reflection on scripture and then after an examination of conscience confessions will be heard by a visiting priest and Fr Doug. You are free to go to either and make your Easter Confession. There will be a similar service on Tuesday evening, in Swanley at 7.30

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
To follow the Way of Jesus to Calvary – and to allow him to join us in our life journeys, is a popular and appropriate devotion during Lent. In private, use a prayer book or follow the version on the parish website. Communally, we will be follow the Way of the Cross after mass on Friday morning.

DIOCESAN RETREAT FOR LENT – “Follow Me”
– introduced by Archbishop John Wilson, and led by the Spirituality Commission.
It is STILL not too late to get on board!!! This is a retreat which you can follow at home. Using the link below, you can watch a short video reflection and then download prayer materials and other resources for the week ahead. Simply click on http://www.southwarkdsc.org.uk/followme

HEAD TEACHER VACANCY
Following the retirement of our Head Teacher, the Governing Body of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Old Road, Crayford, DA1 4DZ, wish to appoint an inspirational and dedicated new Head Teacher for this happy and Ofsted rated ’good’ school. Number of children on roll 213, salary range L13 to L21 (£60,073-£71,666), starting in September 2021. Application details and are on the school website http://www.st-josephs.bexley.sch.uk Closing date Friday 23rd April 2021 at noon.

Please print off this newsletter, using the screenshots below, and post it through the door of any parishioner you know without electronic access and make sure everyone feels okay and feels connected.

4th SUNDAY OF LENT

Readings: 2 Chronicles; 36:14-16 .19-23, Psalm 136, Ephesians 2:4-10 John 3:14-21

SERVICES FOR WEEK 13th –21st March 2021

Sat 13 Mar   11.00 Confessions
                        18.00 For the Parish

Sun 14 March   FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
                        08.30 Martin Gilligan (Fitzpatrick)
                        10.30 Arsenia Rencias RIP (Bernarte)
                        Web – available anytime

                        Kitty Murphy RIP (Kilcullen)

Mon 15 Mar   Funeral Mass for Philomena Connolly

Tues 16 Mar   09.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
                        10.00 Marie Sullivan (Sullivan Family)

Weds 17 Mar   09.30 St Patrick Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
                        10.00 Sonny Sheehan RIP (Sheehan)

Fri 19 Mar   09.30 St Joseph Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
                        10.00 John Larkin RIP (Larkin)
                        10.30 Stations of the Cross

Sat 20 Mar   11.00 Confessions
                        18.00 For the Parish

Sun 21 March   FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
                        08.30 Fred Robinson RIP (Robinson)
                        10.30 Rex Wheatley RIP (Wheatley)
                        Web – available anytime
                        Danny Lyons RIP (Hughes)

FINANCES –

Please note the slight change in our bank account name. .
Direct Bank Payments to RCAS St John Fisher – Bexley, Sort code 51 70 14, Account 01831763
Please put your name and if you use envelopes, your envelope number, as the code
Extra Collection This Week: Peter’s Pence
Next Week: Deanery World Development Project

CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS
The weekly Catholic newspapers can be obtained directly (postage free) by subscription:
Catholic Universe and Catholic Times Go to http://www.thecatholicuniverse.com or ring 0161 820 5722 and they will arrange for you. £99.00 per year or just £55 for the digital version
The Herald has a similar offer: Ring 0207 448 3607 or go to http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/subscribe

  
I am sure it made good ratings for the television companies involved, but I thought it very sad to hear about the problems of the Royal Family through the media. Important issues for public debate were raised, such as racism within public institutions, mental health and so on and with the public accusations that were made I am sure too that the institution of the monarchy has many issues to reflect upon. However, much was made of family differences as well, and I would hope that if it were my family that was involved, we would be allowed to heal and deal with the issues privately and not have our differences dragged through such a public domain. I think the Queen has said as much herself and while not shying away from the issues that are in the public interest, I pray that we can avoid indulging in some of the private family matters that many of the public have an unhealthy interest in! There is a difference. We might simply pray for that family instead.

Families everywhere have had to face a great deal in this past year. All have had increased pressures. Many have thrived as a result of the experience, some have not. It may take time for the dust to settle, for reflection and evaluation to take place, and for conclusions about the year past and the years ahead, to be drawn. We hold family life in the highest regard and so we keep families in our prayer. We also congratulate families for their best efforts in witnessing to God’s love, present in our society.

We have prayed for the safe return of students and teachers, but the return to school affects many others too. On Tuesday morning Bourne Road was closed and an emergency helicopter was heard, loud and proximate. Tragically, Gordon, the “Lollipop Man” for Old Bexley School was going to work on his bicycle and lost his life in a traffic accident. We pray for him, for his family and friends and for all the children who will miss him greatly. May he rest in peace.

God Bless

  
DIOCESAN RETREAT FOR LENT – “Follow Me”
– introduced by Archbishop John Wilson, and led by the Spirituality Commission.
It is STILL not too late to get on board!!!
This is a retreat which you can follow at home. Using the link below, you can watch a short video reflection each week and then download prayer materials and other resources for the week ahead. Simply click on http://www.southwarkdsc.org.uk/followme
If anyone wants to join our Monday evening ‘zoom’ meeting to share reflections just email Fr Doug.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
To follow the Way of Jesus on his journey to Calvary – and to allow him to join us in our life journeys – is a popular and appropriate devotion in which to participate during Lent, both in private and in public. In private, use a prayer book or follow the version Fr Doug has put on the parish website. Publicly, we will be ‘following’ the Way of the Cross after mass on Friday mornings.

PETER’S PENCE
We do appreciate your support for the parish weekly collection, which many pay by standing order, but for everyone else, it is taken through the baskets by the doors as you enter or leave mass.

The extra collection is taken through the box that is in the lobby. Thank you for your support with these extra collections. We have been catching up on those missed last year through Lockdown, but today is the last one of those official collections.

This week’s extra collection is for Peter’s Pence. It supports The Holy Father and Apostolic See to exercise works of mercy and charity, and generally to service the Universal Church in a wide variety of projects such as helping refugees and other victims of war, supporting poor dioceses especially in missionary areas, supporting Catholic education and so on.

Please print off this newsletter, using the screenshots below, and post it through the door of any parishioner you know without electronic access and make sure everyone feels okay and feels connected.