THE CHURCH OF THE
SACRED HEART OF JESUS
& SAINT JOSEPH, WARE
e.mail: Parish Priest: Fr. John Gray
website: www.sacredheartware.com Parish Deacon: Rev. Adrian Cullen
telephone: 01920 462140 Pastoral Assistant: Mary Hallett
Parish Secretary: Tracy Moloney
24th January 2016
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
TIMES OF SERVICES & GROUP MEETINGS THIS WEEK
MONDAY25thThe Conversion of St Paul the Apostle / 11.00 a.m.
8.00 p.m. / MASS at Carmel
Prayer Group at Leaside Hall
TUESDAY
26th
Sts Timothy & Titus / 11.00 a.m. / MASS at Carmel
WEDNESDAY
27th
St Angela Merici / 11.00 a.m.
8.00 p.m. / MASS at Carmel
RCIA
THURSDAY
28th
St Thomas Aquinas / 11.00 a.m.
7.30 p.m. / MASS at Carmel
Missionary Core Team (Proclaim) Meeting in Presbytery
FRIDAY
29th / 11.00 a.m.
7.30 p.m. / MASS at Carmel
Follow up meeting for Fund Raising Ideas people.
SATURDAY
30th / 6.30 p.m. / FIRST MASS OF SUNDAY
SUNDAY
31st
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time / 8.30 a.m.
10.30 a.m. / MASS
MASS
Mass Book Page 129
Response to today’s Psalm
“Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.”
READINGS NEXT WEEK
Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19, Psalm 70:1-6, 15, 17 response v. 15
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13, Gospel Luke 4:21-30
MONEY COUNTING TEAM NO 4 THIS WEEK
CHURCH CLEANING
This week Sharon Selfe & Ita Bevan, thank you.
A REMINDER
On Friday 29h January at 7.30 p.m. there will be a follow up meeting for the Fund Raising Ideas people in the Presbytery.
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FR. JOHN’S SPONSORED SLIM
Touched 1 stone loss at the beginning of the week. What will I be like when I come back next week? As I will be at the seaside – will I be able to resist the
‘fish & chips’? Only time will tell! Thank you for all your support. Fr. John
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URGENT -GARDENERS NEEDED
Fr. John still needs one, two or more volunteers to take over caring for the flower beds on either side of the presbytery doors as the previous gardeners are no longer able to continue. If anyone could spare some time, always at your convenience, please speak to either Fr. John or Jean McAleer. Thank you.
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Cardinal’s Mass of Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of Matrimony
Westminster Cathedral, Saturday 14th May 2016 at 3.00 p.m.
The Archbishop will be inviting to this Mass all couples in the Diocese who are celebrating their 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th (and every year over 60) wedding anniversary of Catholic marriage in 2016. If you are celebrating an anniversary, please give Fr John the following details: husband and wife’s names, wedding date, full postal address and email (or telephone number, if no email) by the 7th March 2016.
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CHRISTMAS CRIB OFFERINGS
The amount collected at the crib over the Christmas season was £101, which will be given to the Catholic Children’s Society, Westminster; who support vulnerable families through their family centres and counselling & therapy service. Thank you for your generosity.
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MISSIONARY PARISH MEETING
7.30 p.m. Thursday 28th January in the Presbytery
As part of the year of Mercy and growing our Missionary Parish you are invited to come and help identify and plan ways in which we can improve our
Welcoming to the Parish – building a loving and caring parish community where we better know and support each other
Visiting the house bound and those in Care Homes – showing Gods Love and Grace to the lonely and those in need
Provision of Marriage and Family Support – Marriage Preparation, enrichment and support
Growing in Faith through meeting in small groups – using “At your word Lord” and other materials as well as catechesis
For more information please speak to Deacon Adrian or Jean and Tony Stavrou (01920 411658).
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LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS IN LENT 2016
We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity, and peace. Our salvation depends on it (Pope Francis).
Inspired by Pope Francis’ constant efforts to highlight mercy, the Lent 2016
“At your word Lord” small group resource will explore mercy's roots in the love of the Father, Christ’s crucifixion and the work of the Holy Spirit within each one of us. Lift up your Hearts will help us to reflect on the parables devoted to mercy as well as the Gospel accounts of personal encounters with Jesus, who embodied Divine Mercy. We will consider how Jesus Christ modelled mercy and invites us to turn to his healing embrace with a contrite heart. In turn, we are to imitate Christ through the course of daily living in our homes and communities, to be disciples and missionaries of mercy.
Lift up your Hearts is comprised of six sessions in Lent, each of which includes prayers, Scripture, a reflection and questions plus a work of art, included as a key feature of each session. Children's pages simplify the theme for children and/or grandchildren. Please consider joining a small group this Lent. Details of days, times and venues will follow shortly.
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MASS IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES:
WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL
This year’s Mass will take place at 2.00 p.m. on Saturday 6th February. Cardinal Vincent Nichols will preside, and the Mass will include the Sacrament of the Sick. All are welcome and there are no seat reservations or tickets. If you are taking a wheelchair, please advise us so that we can arrange a reserved space.
FAITH IN POLITICS
This excellent internship scheme provides recently graduated Catholics with an intensive experience of political and social action in a spiritual context. This year they are looking to offer up to eight internships, including placements with Christian MPs at Westminster; a parliamentary support role within the Bishops’ Conference Secretariat; with the Catholic Agencies CAFOD and CSAN in social action and public policy roles, and a media and communications internship in Archbishop’s House Westminster. There's still time to apply so if you fit the bill or know someone who does, please apply now. Visit faithinpolitics.org.uk
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IF YOU GO IN TO HOSPITAL:
Catholics in hospital are unlikely to receive an automatic visit from the Catholic Chaplain, as this information is now systematically withheld from Chaplains. If someone is sick in hospital, please let us know here at the presbytery, or ask the staff on the ward, so that your loved one can be visited whilst in hospital, and receive Holy Communion and any other Sacraments from the Chaplain.
The Lister & QEII Catholic Chaplaincy 01438-285518 or 07884-187463; Princess Alexandra, Fr Leszek Gamracy 01279-426017
I BELIEVE IN ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH
144. Q. What is the task of the bishops?
A. Bishops have responsibility for the local Church that is entrusted to them and a share in the responsibility for the whole Church. They exercise their authority in communion with one another and for the benefit of the whole Church under the leadership of the Pope. Bishops must first of all be Apostles – faithful witnesses of Jesus, who personally called them to follow him and then sent them, so they bring Christ to mankind and mankind to Christ. This happens through their preaching, the celebration of the sacraments and their governance of the Church. As a successor of the apostles, a bishop exercises his ministry by virtue of his own apostolic authority; he is not an agent or a sort of assistant to the Pope. Yet he acts with and under the Pope.