Saturday 17th February – Saturday 24th February 2024
- jonathonrouth
- Feb 17, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Feb 22, 2024
Saturday 17th February – Saturday 24th February 2024
FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY FAMILY
First week of Lent
CAFOD LENT APPEAL 2024
HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE A FAMILY CAN EAT TODAY AND TOMORROW?
We welcome Shanti to our parish this weekend to tell us about this year’s Lent Appeal.
Thousands of men and women around the world face the same question without a way of getting enough food throughout the year, how do you makes sure your family can eat today and tomorrow? This was the question that James, a fisherman in Liberia, found himself asking. And he wasn’t alone.
James family hadn’t eaten for two days. Their neighbours had helped them through hard times in the past, but there was nothing to give now. He risked losing everything to go out onto the water. Five fishermen a month –many he called brothers – were dying in storms at sea. Just like him, they couldn’t afford the life jackets, compasses and other equipment needed to stay safe and get a good catch.
When the storm comes, it empowers the ocean, says James. I can remember a storm not long ago, when we lost a lot of friends. The ocean was very rough. We got swept out far to sea. It took our friends from us. We survived by the grace of God. When he came home 16 hours later, aching, exhausted, hungry – he would be empty handed. James knew, his family knew, it was becoming more difficult to survive.
Thanks to support from people like you, James has the tools and training he asked for do fish safely. Continued support has bought him not just a compass, but a life jacket and a GPS fish-tracking system to find the best fishing spots and make his way home with an even bigger catch.
Now, James wants more people like him to get the chance to feed their families safely throughout the year and to achieve their plans and dreams.
Your urgent support for CAFOD’s LENT APEAL can help hardworking people like James get the tools they need to feed their families for good.
DONATE:
You can make your donation to this year’s Lent Appeal by picking up an envelope after mass and returning it next Sunday or by contactless payment in the porch and by the Lady Chapel or online.
Lenten Reflections at STM begin begin on Friday 23rd of February after the 10.00 am mass. All are very welcome.
FEBRUARY DEVOTIONS: This Sunday, 18th February at 4.00 p.m. An hour with the Lord, celebrating the Holy Family with Vespers followed by Adoration and Benediction. All welcome.
FAMILIES GET –TOGETHER Come and share! Event open for children and adults to learn about how bring fraternity and peace through music amade together – a fun afternoon for all! SUNDAY 25th FEBRUARY 2024 2.30 p.m. -4.30 p.m. in St. Thomas More Church Hall.
Lenten Scripture Course at St John Fisher, Bexley.
1. Bringing the Old Testament to Life Saturday 24th February 10am-3.30pm. The aim of this parish day is to help participants gain a sense of the Scriptures as a whole and the Old Testament in particular. The main sections of the Old Testament are identified and outlined as we journey through the Old Testament. The day will end with a fresh look at a familiar story….
2. Bringing the New Testament to Life Saturday 9th March 10am-3.30pm.In the New Testament we meet real people communicating with us, sharing their beliefs, their fears and their hopes. On this parish day participants will be offered an overview of the New Testament, an introduction to the various writings and the background of the New Testament: the Roman and Jewish World.
Led by Brian Purfield.
Brian Purfield is a team member at the London Jesuit Centre and has worked alongside the Jesuits since 2001. Prior to that he taught at the International Franciscan Study Centre in Canterbury. He studied theology at the Gregorian University, Rome and at St. Bonaventure’s University, New York. His particular interest is in deepening a knowledge and love of the Scriptures for people, young and old, at a level that they can understand and seek to apply to their daily lives.
CLERGY SUPPORT FUND SECOND COLLECTION The Clergy in our Archdiocese have given us so much. They have been there for us in our happiest moments and comforted us when we have lost loved ones. Supporting priests in their retirement is one way to show your appreciation for all they have done for parishes. You make supporting our clergy in retirement possible, find out how to donate to the Clergy Support Fund at www.rcaos.org.uk/donate/CSF or scan the QR code. You can also donate via telephone. Office hours Mon-Fri 020 7960 2504 or by using the Clergy Support Fund Envelopes at the back of the Church. Please continue to keep our priests in your prayers.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2024.Half term break. Classes resume on Saturday 24th February at 10. 30 a.m. for session 6.
CONFIRMATIONS 2024.Anyone who would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this year, speak to the parish priest after Sunday mass and ask for an application form. All applications should be returned by the end of February.
CHILDRENS’ LITURGY OF THE WORD SUNDAY 9.00 A.M. take a break for half term this Sunday and return on the First Sunday of Lent 18th February, with Lent booklets for infants and juniors. Thanks as ever to our catechists for the good work they do for our parish children.
LENT STATIONS OF THE CROSS. The Traditional Stations of St Alphonsus Liguori, every Friday in Lent from Friday 23rd February at 7.30 p.m. concluding on Good Friday, 29th March.
DIVINE MERCY AFTERNOON OF REFLECTION: on Saturday 24 February 2024 from 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm at St. Lawrence Church, 1 Hamilton Road, Sidcup DA15 7HB. The Reflection will include teachings on the Message of Mercy, Holy Mass, Way of the Cross, Hour of Mercy with Adoration and Benediction and Veneration of the Image of Merciful Jesus. All Welcome. Please call Millie on 07957594646 for more information
LENTEN REFLECTIONS. MESSAGE FROM THE AGENCY FOR EVANGELIZATION.
1. 5-week small group resource ‘We Dare to Say’ based on the Our Father. We still have copies for sale and more information can be found here - https://aec.rcaos.org.uk/prayer2024. They are £2/book when directly contacting the Agency for bulk orders and £3/book via our website for individual orders.
If anyone would like to lead a group in this, please let the parish priest know.
2. We have launched a new website called inspire - https://inspire.rcaos.org.uk/ - which highlights various programmes and resources for the parish. We hope that this a useful tool to serve you and those in your local community.
BOOK LAUNCH Wednesday 6th March 2024 6.00pm for 6.30pm
Amigo Hall, adjacent to St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, South London
Pondering and Praying Vatican II
Archbishop John Wilson
Have you heard about Vatican II, and want to know more, but are not sure where or how to begin? Then this little introduction is for you. It will help you start a journey of discovery by pondering and praying some essential themes. Please do not be daunted. This resource requires no previous or specialist knowledge. It has been written for easy access to what the Church said at Vatican II, and what this means for our life of faith in the Body of Christ.
Although many people have heard of Vatican II, few have actually read or considered the documents, not even the four key Constitutions. This resource offers an introduction to these main texts and their themes.
Hopefully, Pondering and Praying Vatican II will encourage more people to read the full documents for themselves. Significantly, it will help readers ask themselves what the teaching of the Second Vatican Council might mean for them and how they might pray in light of it. Anyone can begin these reflections and see where the journey leads.
There will be refreshments and a short presentation
Books for sale on the evening, also available at
SHIBASHI with Kathy. Looking for something different? Try this new relaxing class at St Thomas More Church Hall. Shibashi is a set of 18 gentle flowing exercises derived from Tai Chi and breathing exercises from Quigon. Suitable for all ages and abilities, seated or standing. It can improve your mobility, flexibility and is very relaxing. LAUNCH DATE 10.00 A.M. -11.00 A.M. MONDAY 26TH FEBRUARY. Only £5.00. Call Kathy to reserve your place. 07443 578860 or email kathyleaf@yahoo.co.uk
NURSERY 2024 ADMISSIONS If your child was born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 and you would like to apply for a place at St Fidelis Nursery for September 2024, it is important that you submit your application soon. Parents and carers will need to collect and return a
supplementary form to the school office by the closing date of Wednesday 27th March 2024. The open mornings for admission to Nursery for
September 2024 will take place at the following times:
● Thursday 25th January 9:30am
● Wednesday 7th February 9:30am
● Thursday 29th February 9:30am
● Wednesday 20th March 9:30am
Each open morning tour will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m.for approximately 30 minutes) and will provide visitors with an opportunity to view the Nursery during a normal working day. Parents and carers will be taken
on a guided tour of our Nursery where we will be delighted to show you what our Nursery is like and what we think makes our school Nursery unique.
Contact: admin@st-fidelis.bexley.sch.uk tel: 01322 227752
DAY WITH MARY
1.Our Lady Help of Christians, Mottingham Road, Mottingham. Saturday 17th February 2024 9.30a.m.- 5.00 p.m. 2.St Elphege, Stafford Road, Wallington. 24th February 2024 8.45 a.m.-4.15 p.m. Bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee provided.
‘DAY WITH MARY’ PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA 7th to 14th June 2024 If interested contact Trevor Downs ‘A Day With Mary’ Tel: 020 8641 6418
E-mail: adwmary.uk@gmail.com
Parish family pilgrimage to Walsingham.
Spend some joyful time together in the beautiful surroundings of the Norfolk countryside at England’s National Shrine of Mother Mary.
29th – 31st May 2024. Please see poster in the porch for further information or contact the parish office.
Deadline for interest 31st March.
THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB meets again on Thursday 29th February 2024 at 12.30 p.m. No lunch club this week.
FOOD BANK. You can make your donations before any mass in the crates in the Church Porch (narthex) and they are taken to Bexley Food Bank on a Monday morning.
Bexley Food Bank Requirements:
Food UHT Milk Tinned Meat (Hotdogs, Meatballs, etc.) Tinned Fish Tinned Fruit Sponge/Rice Puddings Coffee (small jars) Long-life Juice Pasta Sauce Spreads Tinned Meals (Spaghetti, Chicken or Veg Curry’s Chilli) Tinned Soup Jam and Spreads
Non-food Items Shower Gel Shampoo Conditioner Deodorant Toilet rolls Washing Up Liquid Laundry Detergent Pods Shower Gel
Bexley Food Bank currently particularly requests (please notice the new items at the end: Please follow the link below to view the food donations page of the Bexley food bank. See: https://bexley.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/
DEATHS
Brian William Wilson, after receiving the sacraments of Holy Church, died on Sunday 7th January 2024, aged 76. His funeral requiem was on Wednesday 31st January 2024.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS
FIRST WEEK OF LENT
Saturday 17th February Lenten feria [TC]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Low Mass [Latin 1962] Robert Leon P.I.
+ 6.30 p.m. Said FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (B) Teresa Crump R.I.P.
Sunday 18th February
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. Sung (no children’s liturgy this week: resumes next week) K.G. George R.I.P.
+11.00 a.m. Solemn Latin Mass (in Latin with English Readings. Missa Quadragesimae) The people of the parish.
4.00 p.m. February Devotions to the Holy Family. One hour with the Lord. Vespers of the Holy Family, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction.
7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in Church Hall. All welcome.
Monday 19th February Lenten feria.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Tuesday 20th February Lenten feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 p.m. Ann Moloney P.I.
Wednesday 21st February St Damian, bishop & doctor of the church.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Thursday 22nd February The Chair of St Peter, the Apostle, feast.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Phil Hickey R.I.P. (John Caheney’s sister)
No Thursday Lunch Club this week
Friday 23rd February St Polycarp, bishop & martyr. CAFOD FAST DAY
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Jeanette Oldfield R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Choir Practice.
7.30 p.m. Stations of the Cross
Saturday 24th February Ember Saturday of Lent [TC]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Low Mass [Latin 1962] The Souls in Purgatory (‘Holy Souls’)
+ 6.30 p.m. Said SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (B) Sabrina Townsend W.B.