PARISH NEWSLETTER FOR ST. JOSEPH’S (MAIDENHEAD)
& ST. ELIZABETH’S (COOKHAM)
The Most Holy Trinity, Year A
Holy Trinity Sunday 2023
This Sunday is called Trinity Sunday, and it is really the culmination of all we have been celebrating during the liturgical year.
Jesus comes into the world not simply to tell us that there is a God or indeed to tell us things about God. He comes into the world to bring us into the very heart of God so that we can know and love God and live in communion with God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
This communion of divine love who lies at the centre of all reality teaches us that fundamentally all is good. In a world threatened by violence and terrorism, insecure in its very existence by global warming, today’s feast is most important for it teaches us that love not hatred is the real force in the world and that life not death is the calling of all that is.
This is fundamentally good news. You and I are meant to live in love, to be known and understood.
A person becomes a Christian when they choose to witness and proclaim that “God is love”. God is not indifferent and insensitive to human affairs. God is close to us, always beside us, walking with us to share our joys and sorrows, hopes and struggles. The reason Jesus came into the world was not to condemn it but to save it (cf. Jn 3:16-17). Through the love of Jesus, humans came to know the love of God.
A person who loves others for the very joy of love is a reflection of the Trinity. A family in which each person loves and helps one another is a reflection of the Trinity. We as Christians, a community of believers have the vocation to reflect the Trinity on earth.
Readings:
1st Reading: Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9. The Lord God, ruler of all, merciful and loving.
Responsorial Psalm: Dan 3:52-56 R/ To you glory and praise for evermore.
2nd Reading: Corinthians 13:11-13 Try to grow perfect. Help one another. Be united.
Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, the God who is, who was, and who is to come. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 3:16-18 — God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved.
We congratulate Carolyn Seet on being appointed as our new Administration and Finance Officer. Carolyn will start her new role on Monday 5th June. I hope you all look after her well!
The Parish Team wishes to invite all our volunteers from St Elizabeths and St Joseph’s Churches to a lunch party on Sunday 4th June after 11am Mass in the Parish Centre. With the help of the Vision Group, we are organising this special event as our way of saying thank you for all of your help. We very much appreciate it. This party is fully catered. Please come join us and relax!
Love the Stranger – Monthly Talk for June by Fr Kevin: ‘Every migrant has a name, a face and a story’ Pope Francis. See the Events page for dates and times.
Pilgrim Walks: The Vision Groups of St Edmund Campion and St Joseph’s are offering opportunities for all in the Maidenhead area to meet those who pray in the various churches of St. Edmund Campion, St Joseph’s or St. Elizabeth’s.
The first of these encounters will take place on Sunday 9th July with a walk from St Joseph’s Church after the 11am Mass. There will be an opportunity to meet over refreshment and for those of you who would like to, to join us for a walk to St Elizabeth’s.
Refreshments on 9th will be very special as it is also Shauna’s farewell party before leaving the parish and moving to Ireland.
The second walk is 30th July. After the 9.15am Mass at St. Elizabeth’s, to walk to St. Edmund Campion church. Hospitality from 12.15am onwards.
The third walk is 3rd September. After the 11.15am Mass at St. Edmund Campion Church, walk to St. Joseph’s. You are welcome to attend Mass in your own church or join in the Mass of the hosting Community. Details can be obtained from Carolyn Foster: [email protected]
PILGRIMAGE to Our Lady’s Shrine, Banneux, Belgium 90th anniversary of the Apparitions, 70th Anniversary of ‘Pilgrimage GB’) and for the Feast of the Assumption, 11th-16th August 2023. A coach will leave from St. Edmund Campion Church, Maidenhead SL6 4PY.
Accommodation and full board (including travel and excursions): staying at the Hospitalité is £420. (Single room supplement +£100). The Hospitalité is very spacious and can accommodate all pilgrims, especially those who are sick, disabled or elderly. It also includes a full catering and medical staff. (There is a hotel next door for £650 sharing and single room supplement +£200). Fr. Liam Cummins (St. Edmund Campion Parish) will be the Spiritual Director for this pilgrimage and has been going to Banneux since 1996.
If you are interested and you would like more information or to reserve a place before June 30th, please contact Lisa Pirie, pilgrimage director, on 07500288384; [email protected] or Father Liam, on 07776580596 (email him on [email protected] ).
The GB pilgrimage has been going for 70 years and it looks like this will be the last official trip from England, so get on board!
Lyford Grange Mass: Sunday June 25th. A coach has been organised to take parishioners of St Joseph’s Parish and St Edmund Campion Parish to the Lyford Grange Mass. As usual it will leave at 11.30am from outside Altwood School and travel to Lyford, stopping for a carvery lunch on the way. We expect to be home at 6.45pm. Signup sheets are on the church noticeboard. Any problems getting to Altwood school or other enquiries please contact John Lynn 07931292934
First Friday Healing Mass
Each First Friday will see a ‘Healing Mass’ being celebrated alternatively at St. Joseph’s Church and St. Edmund Campion Church for 2023. We bring together all our needs and especially asking God’s healing spirit upon people and situations in our parish. You are very welcome. Sacrament of Reconciliation and Anointing with Holy Oil will be available.
7th July 10am and 7.30pm Mass celebrated in St Joseph’s Church.
4th August 10am and 7pm Mass celebrated at St. Edmund Campion.
Baptismal Course:
The Baptismal Course is available for all Parents whose child is being Baptised at either St Joseph’s, St Elizabeth’s or St Edmund Campion. The course is a 90-minute preparation and guidance, held at St Joseph’s the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm. See also events
UCM Meeting Tuesday 6th June at 7:30pm, in St Elizabeth Room. The guest speaker will be Martin Pring who will give a talk on recycling. Please join us – everyone welcome!
Children’s Liturgy: There will be no Liturgy sessions at the 11 a.m. Mass on 28th May and 4th June during the holiday as we know many of you will be away. We look forward to seeing you all again after the break on Sunday 11th June.
Children’s Choir – Next Meeting is Sunday 11th June at 10.30am. See more here.
19th Maidenhead (St Joseph & St Edmund Campion) Scout Group currently have a few spaces in Beavers for boys or girls aged 6 – 7 1/2. Find out more and contact information here.
Deceased:
Giuseppe Vullo, RIP, Funeral Service will take place on Friday 16th June at 11.30am in St. Joseph’s Church.
Eternal rest grant unto them, 0 Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Bereavement Support Group Many thanks to all who joined the Bereavement Support group meeting on Sunday, 21st May 2023. We hope to repeat these meetings monthly (dates allowing) and would very much like to meet with you all again. The group is open to new members who couldn’t make the initial meeting. Please join us. You will be very welcome. Future dates will be printed in the church bulletin.
Safeguarding Course on Saturday 17th June in St Edmund Campion School. See events page.
1000-1200 for Child Protection
1300-1500 for working with vulnerable Adults.
To book a place on this course please email [email protected]
St Joseph’s Vision Group: Table Top Sale
On Sunday, 18th June there will be a Table Top Sale in St Joseph’s Parish Centre, after 11am Mass. “Buy” a table, for only £10, to sell your no-longer-used household, craft or garden items. See how much money you can make! (At this sale, no foodstuffs or clothes to be sold, thank you.)
Book your table from Trisha Ray, [email protected] Light refreshments will be on sale, too! Shoppers – bring your money and your bags! All proceeds will go to supporting our Parish in its valuable work. Thank you.
St Vincent de Paul Society: Next meeting is 5th June in St Edmund Campion Church at 7.30pm. All are welcome and, yes, we can make a difference!
SVP Friday 6th October 2023 Musical Evening Fundraiser
SVP Maidenhead will be holding a musical
evening on Friday 6th October from 7.30pm at St Edmund Campion. Proceeds from the evening will be split equally between the local branch of Care4Calais, a volunteer-run asylum seeker charity and SVP Maidenhead – to help sustain and expand the support given by SVP to those in need, including local people who are lonely, sick, housebound or just struggling to cope.
Tickets will be £7 per person and available from July.
This is a cash only event and drinks and snacks will be available to buy from a Donations Bar
In the meantime, we would love to hear from anyone who would like to take part, whether you’re a singer or if you play an instrument, solo or part of a group – this informal event is about getting local people involved and giving those who are interested a chance to perform while raising funds for a worthwhile cause.
For event planning, interested musicians (instrumentalists or singers) who get in touch will have a place reserved in the programme and we’ll need to do this on a first come first served basis until we have a full programme (likely to be around one hour each half plus interval).
If you would like to take part, please contact Peter (St Edmund Campion) on 07976 625 813 or Siobhan (St Joseph’s) on 07816 445 416. Thank you for your support.
Class teacher vacancy for September 2023 (Full time or part time considered).
At St. Mary’s Catholic Primary school, we are committed to providing an inspiring educational experience that is aspirational for all our children. Our belief is that with God at the centre of everything we do, we aim to nurture our children to become the best possible version of themselves and of whom God intends them to be, ‘learning and loving on our journey with Jesus’.
If you are a creative and reflective practitioner with high expectations for children’s achievement; if you are looking for a new challenge and want to be part of something special; then we would love to meet you and find out more about you. Please go here for more information about this vacancy.
Vacancies – Portsmouth For all job descriptions and how to apply, please contact: [email protected]
Other information & links
Missio If you have a Red Box which is ready to be emptied, please bring it in over the coming weeks. It is hoped that we can send Missio a cheque by the end of May with all your contributions. Thank you.
If you’re away from your church or the Diocese, you can still keep in contact with all the latest news from the Bishop or the Diocese via: E- News (subscription service available)
Twitter @PortsmouthRC
Facebook @PortsmouthRC @StJoMaidenhead
Library We have a parish library located in the corridor of the Parish Centre. This is dedicated to Theology/Religious books. Please feel free to borrow/swap.
Magnificat: Did you know? This is one of the best publications around for following scripture readings for daily Mass and every Sunday. There are also many interesting articles to help you in your spiritual life. If you would like a copy please get in touch with Shauna in the Parish Office to arrange. We can leave in the sacristy or post out to you. The Magnificat is only £5 per month.
Day by Day: Available in the church at all times. Please leave the £1 in the candle box.
Are You New To Our Parish? Thank you for your interest in our parish. Whether you’re just visiting us for a brief time, looking for a new parish home, returning to the practice of your Catholic faith or are interested in finding out more about the Catholic Church, we are happy to answer your questions, listen to your comments and help you in any way that we can. We are a parish of the Diocese of Portsmouth, and are a very vibrant community, made up of ‘old’ Maidenhead families and relative “newcomers” from all walks of life.
We hope that you find our Catholic parish a caring community that is loving, welcoming and supportive of all. Our mission is to grow in the image of Christ through the Holy Spirit, to be formed by the Word and our prayer, to use our gifts to welcome those who are here and reach out to those who are not. We invite you to join us as partners in the mission. Together, let us get to know Christ better and to make Him better known. May God Bless you wherever you are and thank you for exploring our website and newsletter. Please stop by the parish office to introduce yourself! We would love to meet you.
Code: SI: Special Intention, RIP: Rest in Peace, A: Anniversary, FM: Foundation