Saturday 15th - Sunday 23rd November 2025
- bostallpark
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THIRTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE C
SUNDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 2025
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
Monday 2nd NOVEMBER 2020
Job, defeated, or rather, at the end of his life due to illness, with his skin stripped away, nearly at the point of death, almost without flesh, Job has a certitude and he states it: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth” (Jb 19:25). At the moment in which Job is at his very lowest, there is that embrace of light and warmth that reassures him: I will see the Redeemer. I will see him with these eyes. “I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another” (19:26-27).
This certainty, precisely at nearly the final moment of life, is Christian hope. It is a hope that is a dream: we cannot have it. It is a gift we must ask for: ‘Lord, give me hope’. There are many bad things that lead us to despair, to believe that all will be a definitive loss, that after death there will be nothing... And Job’s voice returns; it returns: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth... I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side”, with these eyes.
“Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5), Paul told us. Hope draws us and gives meaning to our life. I do not see the afterlife, but hope is God’s gift that draws us toward life, toward eternal joy. Hope is an anchor that we have from the other side, and we, grasping the rope, sustain ourselves (cf. Heb 6:18-19). ‘I know that my Redeemer lives, and I shall see him’. And repeat this in times of joy and in bad times, in times of death, let us say this.
This certitude is a gift of God, because we can never have hope by our own efforts. We must ask for it. Hope is a freely given gift that we never deserve: it is given; it is offered. It is grace.
And then, the Lord confirms this, this hope that does not disappoint. “All that the Father gives me will come to me” (Jn 6:37). This is the aim of hope: to go to Jesus. And “him who comes to me I will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me” (Jn 6:37-38). The Lord who welcomes us there, where the anchor lies. Life in hope is to live like this: grasping, with the rope in hand, strong, knowing that the anchor is below. And this anchor does not disappoint; it does not disappoint.
Today, in the thoughts of many brothers and sisters who have passed on, it will do us good to look at the cemeteries and to look heavenward. And to repeat, like Job: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives, and I myself will see him. My eyes shall behold him, and not another’. And this is the strength that hope gives us, this freely given gift that is the virtue of hope. May the Lord give it to all of us.
PARISH NOTICES
FOOD BANK.
Just a reminder that we always need donations for the Bexley Food Bank. Donations can be placed in the porch. There is a sign where you can check what items are needed along with details of how you can make a financial donation if you wish. Please do not leave any perishable items. Donations are delivered to the food bank on Friday mornings.
COLLECTION COUNTERS APPEAL.
This small team of volunteers are looking to recruit additional counters to help count and record the weekly parish collections. Some cash handling and administration experience would be desirable but is not necessary; training will be provided. Counters work in teams of 2 on a 6-week rota basis and on average each shift lasts about an hour.
Please email the parish office if you are interested.
NEW PARISHIONERS WELCOME.
The parish will be welcoming all new parishioners at all Masses on the weekend of the 7th December. New parishioners will receive a special blessing and will be given a welcome booklet.
PARISH DAY OF REMEMBRANCE.
The parish will be holding a day of remembrance at 3pm this Sunday. The day will include a bereavement talk followed by light refreshments, and the parish remembrance service. All are welcome.
FHC & CONFIRMATION 2026.
Application forms are still available from the parish priest after Sunday Mass.
MONTH OF THE HOLY SOULS.
November is the month where the Church especially prays for all Holy Souls. Please take an envelope from the porch & place the names of all those who have died whom you wish pray. Please place sealed envelopes in the Holy Souls box.
DEATH.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Allison Jolly. Alison was a regular parishioner here and usually attended the 9am Mass on Sundays. Her funeral will be on the 21st November at 11am at Kemnal Park Cemetery & Crematorium.
RCIA & ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASSES - every Wednesday, till Easter 2026. Venue: Church Porch. Time: 7:15pm. Anyone can join to learn and/or refresh one’s knowledge and faith in God.
ALTAR OF REMEMBRANCE.
During the month of November, parishioners are invited to bring photographs of their dearly departed to be placed on the Lady Altar. Please place your photographs in a clearly labelled envelope into the wooden box in the porch or hand them to the parish priest.
UPCOMING EVENTS
JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY.
The Junior Youth group will be having a Christmas party on the 14th December at 10am in the church hall.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY CHRISTMAS PARTY.
The children’s liturgy group will be having a Christmas party on the 21st December at 10am in the church hall.
BLESSING OF GRAVES, CEMETERY VISITS.
Sidcup - 16th November @2pm
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR.
The parish will be having a Christmas Bazaar on Sunday 7th December in the hall. Entry is free and there will be a free gift for anyone wearing a Christmas Jumper/outfit. There will be lots of stalls, festive food & drink and Santa will be here in his Grotto. We are looking for donations of gifts in a good/like new/brand new condition that can be sold. Examples would be new toiletries sets, new toys, like new books, unused candles, cuddly toys etc. Please leave items with the parish office or the parish priest. If you would like a stall please email the parish office. Also, if you are able to volunteer in any way, please speak to the parish priest or email the parish office. Flyers and posters are available in the porch and keep an eye out for raffle tickets soon.
ADVENT 2025 BIBLE STUDIES.
This is a free programme starting on the 26th November which will focus on the Advent Sunday Gospels. It is designed to help you experience Mass in a new way and be beautifully prepared to celebrate the great feast of Christmas.
Each session will be online on Wednesday’s at 7pm. To register for free go to www. comeandsee.org/advent-bible-studies/register.
Please see the poster in the porch for more information.
ALTAR SERVERS’ DAY.
Our day for Altar Servers on Saturday 6th December at 2.30pm is for all current servers and is open to new servers. Please speak to the parish priest for more information.
PARISH GROUPS NOTICES
UCM MEETING.
The next meeting of the UCM will be on Saturday 29th November in the Church Porch at 11.30am. Hot drinks and light refreshments will be available. New members are welcome.
LUNCH CLUB.
The next lunch club will be on the 20th November at 12.30pm in the hall. New members always welcome.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
THIRTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Saturday 15th November
W The Blessed Virgin Mary
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Bisi Asuen TG on her Birthday
G THIRTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
6.30 p.m. Deceased members of the Olaj & Prela families RIP
Sunday 16th November G
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Hannah Pereira TG on her birthday
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Stephanie Cooray RIP
3.00 p.m. Parish Day of Remembrance
Monday 17th November
G Feria
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 18th November
G Feria
7 p.m. Daily Rosary
7.30 p.m. Blasco & Milla Goes TG
Wednesday 19th November
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Aaron Castanha TG
Thursday 20th November
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Priests & Priestly Vocations
Friday 21st November
W The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9.30 a.m. Rosary for the Dead
10.00 a.m. Octavia’s 4th Birthday TG
8.00 p.m. Vocations Cenacle Prayers Webinar
Saturday 22nd November
R St. Cecilia
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
W OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE
6.30 p.m. Jacob & Helen Fernandes RIP
Sunday 23rd November W
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Holy Souls
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls