We are now in the period when the Church asks us to fulfill our Easter duties (Ash Wednesday to Trinity Sunday). One of those duties is to make a confession and receive the Sacrament of Reconcilliation. With that in mind please see our guide to making a confession.
Latest News
Praying the Rosary During Lent
The Knights of St Columba are organising a rosary service at St Mary’s on Fridays in Lent, starting tonight at 7pm. The services are being broadcast via zoom for anyone who wants to watch but doesn’t feel able to attend. The access codes are:
Meeting ID: 840 8142 6950
Passcode: 429686
The same codes can be used every week up to Good Friday, April 2nd.
Morning Prayer and Mass this week
The Church will be open between 8am and 10am each morning until January 26th, for private prayer only.
Fr David is saying Mass in the presbytery each day. The 10.30am Mass on Sunday will be broadcast via zoom in the usual way. The normal schedule of Masses will resume on Wednesday 27th January at 9.15am.
Cancellation of Masses at 8.30 and 10.30 THIS MORNING
Fr David has been notified that he has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. He has been asked to self isolate until Jan 26th. This means that this mornings Masses at 8.30 and 10.30 will not take place with a congregation. The 10.30 Mass will be broadcast via zoom as usual.
Further information will be posted as it becomes available, both here and on Facebook.
Online booking for Christmas Masses
As promised in the newsletter, the online booking system to register your attendance at Masses over the Christmas and Holy Family period is now available. Click here for the page, or select it from the menu above.
Resumption of Public Services
Holy Mass with a congregation will resume from Tuesday 8th December at 9:15am “by the Grace of God”.
Holy Mass this Sunday 6th December (Feast of St. Nicholas, the original Santa Claus) at 10:30am will be by ZOOM ONLY from the Priest’s House.
There is still Private Prayer in Church every morning and our nearest Catholic Churches are:-
Our Lady of the Angels, Bexley Road, Northumberland Heath, Erith;
St. John Fisher, Thanet Road, Bexley Village;
St. John Vianney, Heathfield Road, close to the Broadway in Bexleyheath.
Note: Mass on Monday 7th will be said by Fr David in the Presbytery.
Christmas Poster
The Knights of St Columba have kindly provided a downloadable poster called “Keep Christ in Christmas”.
Our Church is OPEN for Private Prayer
St Mary’s Church is OPEN for Personal and Private Prayer, and Visits to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle, between 8.00am and 10.30am every day except Sunday (8.00-9.30am) and Tuesday (8.00-9.00am).
Fr David will celebrate Holy Mass without a congregation shortly after private prayer finishes at 10.30am. On Sunday the Mass will be broadcast via zoom for parishioners to join in. On Tuesday it is broadcast via zoom to St Joseph’s school. Please see the weekly newsletter for details on how to get the zoom access codes.
Parish Social Room Re-opens
No sooner was this posted then the government changed the rules. Re-opening postponed for now.
The Community Club will be re-opening on Friday 6th November. Times are amended to Friday and Saturday 19:30-22:00, Sunday opening remains as 12:00-16:00. Members must read and follow all social guidelines. Entrance to the club is through the brown glass door near the lift. Please do not use the main church doors as they are exit only.
Folk Group Returns
The folk group will join us again at 10.30 Mass on 27th September. The current rules prohibit congregational singing, but musicians and singers are allowed to provide music from behind a plastic screen. No hymn sheets will be provided because we must not encourage singing in the congregation, but you are welcome to join in silently in your heads.