PARISH NEWSLETTER FOR ST. JOSEPH’S (MAIDENHEAD)
& ST. ELIZABETH’S (COOKHAM)
5th Sunday of Lent, Year B
My mother, in her 60’s, fought cancer to the end, and she took to every type of possible healing. We all had been told it wouldn’t work. A friend just opened himself to it all and wouldn’t even take chemo. These are different approaches to suffering. One fought it and the other accepted. I admired and loved both of them.
Many people go into hospital wondering about their illness, and that death might be close. That’s part of life. As for Jesus, it is a fearful time, confusing and sometimes draws us into more faith. We can transform our pain into suffering and find some great graces in it. There is the challenge of finding new life in it. Pain becomes suffering. Jesus doesn’t want the chalice of the garden, but he allows it to become fully part of him so that his inner strength is big! It doesn’t mean a simplistic approach. But it means an acceptance of darkness in life.
Jesus found in his passion that God the Father is near. This can be our way, and we can find that through helping each other. We can help people at times of suffering – listening, being present. We find this in our hearts, not in books – that we can grow through suffering, and we realise on a bad day that peace invades the soul, or that there is a bright light in the darkness.
~ Fr Liam
St. Patrick’s Feast day: it falls on a Sunday this year!
We pray in a special way today for our family and our community. Patrick, due to the amazing missionary outreach of the Irish people in West Africa over many years, is also officially the patron saint of Nigeria;
Patrick is also patron saint of diversity – so today is one of those days where we appreciate the diversities of our community and of our society, here in Maidenhead, anchored in God.
As we gather to celebrate the feast of St Patrick let us remember also the many people who are far from home. Let us give thanks for the gifts that each of us have received and we ask the Spirit to help us to be generous in using our talents for the good of the community.
Attende refrain : Hear us O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinn’d against thee
1st Reading: Jeremiah 31: 31-34
Psalm: Psalms 50: 3-4, 12-15 R/: A pure heart create for me, O God
2nd Reading: Hebrews 5: 7-9
Acclamation: Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! If a man serves me, says the Lord, he must follow me; wherever I am, my servant will be there too. Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Gospel: John 12: 20-30
Communion Antiphon: I tell you solemnly: Unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Holy Thursday 28 Mar 8pm Mass of The Lords Supper (St Joseph’s)
Good Friday 29 Mar
11am Walk of Witness (Providence Place)
11.30am Walk of Witness (St John the Baptist Church, Cookham Dean)
3pm Solemn Liturgy for Good Friday in St Joseph’s
Holy Saturday 30 Mar
10am Swieconka: Blessing of Easter baskets (St Joseph’s)
8pm Easter Vigil in St Joseph’s
Easter Sunday 31 Mar Usual Sun mass times
VACANCIES
WANTED: Part Time Youth Ministry Worker / Coordinator
to join our team and help us achieve future growth in the parish in the spirit of ‘Let us Dream’. See noticeboard or stjosephsparish.co.uk/newsletter/ for more info
St Mary’s School Business and Finance Officer Term time + 3 weeks (37 hrs/week) pro rata £35,838 – £44,232 www.stmarys-maidenh ead.org.uk/vacancies
Office Support / Administrator (Cover Only) up to 4 hours / wk – Up to £13/hour
Others www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/about-us/other/jobs/Portsmouth
What's happening in Church:
Order of Mass – in the new hymnbooks, pg 4-10
10-19 Mar Novena to St Joseph 6pm In church and Zoom (millhillmissionaries.co.uk/novena/) + after mass (see Mass times)
14 Apr, 2.30-5pm, Bereavement Support Group St Edmund Campion Hall. Come for a cup tea and cake to talk or share with others who are also grieving
17 Mar & 21 Apr , Filipino Mass All are welcome!
Mar Magnificat: The publishers have given us some extra books for samples. Please take one if you will use it. Do consider subscribing or let the office know if you want a regular supply!
Magazine We need writers, contributors, photographers for our upcoming Parish Magazine. Please contact the office if you’re interested in helping or advertising!
BABY AND CHILDREN PROGRAMMES
16 Mar 4.00pm Confirmation session at St Edmund Campion Primary School
23 Mar 11am FHC reconciliation session in Church
2 Apr Baptismal Course at St Joseph’s. Parents: if your child is being baptised in M’head. Please meet one of the parish priests before attending.
We have a new contactless machine that will accept Gift Aid! You only have to input your details ONCE and ALL future donations with the same card will be Gift-Aided!
To reduce repeating information in the printed newsletter, we have printed hand-bag/ wallet-friendly information packs and placed them at the entrance/exits of the church. Please keep this with you for future reference. Thank you for helping us save the environment by reducing paper waste!
LENT
- Lenten Project: This year, our Parish Lenten Project supports Basankusu Missionary Charity in The Congo by raising funds to provide a Fast River Ambulance. In addition, any other individual Alms Giving for the River Ambulance will be appreciated by Father Philip. Donations to CDP Maidenhead St Josephs Church Ac 00882667 / 30-93-04. Please include your name and “+Lent” as reference. Other projects:
- 17 Mar Bake Sale After 11am mass. Bake one, bring one, buy one! Please contact Teresa Osborne 07947 020393 / Margaret Curran 07548 215260 about how you can donate!
- Every Tues 7.30pm Choir Practice in Church. Lend us your voice and talent! We welcome new voices and musicians to join us this season and also for Sun 11am Mass. Please talk to Joanna or Claire.
- Reconciliation services: 9 Mar 11am St Edmund Campion 14 Mar 7pm St Thomas More 16 Mar 11am St Edward’s 20 Mar 7pm Joseph’s
- 23 Mar Lent Reflection Day email [email protected]
- Stations of the Cross W: Every Friday after 10am Mass in St Joseph’s and every Wed 7pm in St Elizabeth’s. Kindly DO NOT remove the Stations of the Cross books left in the church for this service.
- Please be reminded we will not have flowers at the altars during Lent.
Dates for your Diary
- 7 Mar 2pm Rosary (No Bible study) Zoom: ID 82806901794 Password 312990 or: https://tinyurl.com/2hz5axvp
- 16 Mar Bishop Philip’s Symposium 2024 on medical and social ethics entitled ‘What does it mean to be Human? In Winchester. Tickets at £20 can be purchased from: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-does-it-mean-to-be-human-medical-ethics-and-social-care-today-tickets-773097012977
- Holy Week & Easter 2024 Walking Pilgrimage (104 miles over 7 days) to Walsingham, Norfolk. More info/ sign up here: https://pilgrimcross.org.uk/event/oxford-leg-24/ or call Marguerite on 07505 368 218. Join us to deepen your faith, find fellowship with friends or just to take some time to think.
- 6 April 10- 4:30pm Preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday Retreat at Aylesford Priory, Aylesford, Kent on. All welcome. Call Millie on 07957594646 for more information. Coaches from Ealing Broadway and Victoria
- 19 Apr 7.30pm Bingo Night at St Joseph’s Hall. Tickets on sale from 17 Mar, at £5 per person. Please bring cash for the bar & raffle. Contact Siobhan 07816445416 for more info. Proceeds to Maidenhead SVP.
- 20 Apr Resurrection in Art & Poetry workshop led by Fr Oliver Holt. Contact [email protected]
Can you help?
Inspire and empower children & young people in your local Catholic schools by delivering an assembly or a workshop. CAFOD will provide training and all resources. Contact Jo Lewry [email protected] or phone 07710 094447 for more info.
If you want to donate directly to SVP for helping refugees who are facing homelessness & destitution, you can do so via CDP Maidenhead St Josephs Church Ac 00882667 / 30-93-04. Please include your full name and “+SVP” so we can earmark your contribution.
A steering group of religious and other groups are trying to establish three new initiatives under the auspices of the Brett Foundation. One is temporary hosting for refugees through a Gift-a-Room scheme. The second is a temporary Winter homeless shelter for all rough sleepers.The third is a Drop-in Centre to provide basic support for all people living on the streets, such as food and shower facilities. We are asking for any or all of:-
*Offers of a room for a refugee for up to two months – references will be taken for both host and refugee and a mentor provided to help both with any issues
* Volunteers to help with the homeless shelter for all rough sleepers for a variety of tasks, such as cooking, cleaning up, welcoming people and/or occasional overnight stays either once a week or once a month
* Volunteers at the Drop-in Centre for all rough sleepers for tasks such as making teas/coffees and making guests feel welcome either once a week or once a month.
We have created the following material to explain the schemes on The Brett Foundation website: there is a full page devoted to each of the streams, as well as an introductory page with links to each of the streams: https://www.brettfoundation.charity/homeless-project
This is a link directly to the Gift-a-Room scheme: https://www.brettfoundation.charity/homeless-project/gift-a-room-scheme
If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate call us on 07749 917134
3 hours per week on to include youth club session on Thursday evenings and prep beforehand.
For details please contact Ros Webb on 07500766947.
appeal for volunteers. Would you enjoy meeting and helping all kinds of people on Saturday and pay-day Friday nights? Come try a taster session around Maidenhead town centre with a small friendly group. Contact: [email protected] or see facebook.com/maidenheadstreetangels
PILGRIMAGES/ WALKS/ RETREATS
Holy Week & Easter 2024 Walking Pilgrimage (104 miles over 7 days) to Walsingham, Norfolk. More info/ sign up here: https://pilgrimcross.org.uk/event/oxford-leg-24/ or call Marguerite on 07505 368 218. Join us to deepen your faith, find fellowship with friends or just to take some time to think.
RESOURCES
Magnificat: 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 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.
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.
St Joseph’s Church Repository: is open after 11am every Sunday. We have lots of cards, candles, rosary beads, statues and many more religious gifts on sale. If a Sunday does not suit to visit, then please phone the office on 01628 783988 and we can arrange a time that best suits.
Vacancies: We currently have some exciting opportunities across the Diocese for an Estate Manager, IT Manager, Choral Director, and Parish Administrators.
All vacancies posted here.
Other information and links
Rosary Group via Zoom every Thursday at 2pm (See here for joining instructions) ►
Last session for December will be on Thursday the 14th of December at 2pm
Rosary will resume on Thursday the 11th January 2024 at 2pm
Missio If you have a Red Box which is ready to be emptied, please bring it in over the coming weeks.
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
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
We would like to get the newsletter distributed on time and are grateful for understanding in the deadline for submissions of announcements and mass intentions. Please send all contributions no later than Thursday 10am.