PARISH NEWSLETTER FOR ST. JOSEPH’S (MAIDENHEAD)
& ST. ELIZABETH’S (COOKHAM)
Easter, Year B
Our Easter Celebration
If we have a look around the Church we notice colour, nature, icons, water and oil. We hear joyful music and uplifting prayer. This is our Easter – our celebration. The next bit of Easter is to ‘go and tell’. Like he appeared in an ordinary garden and appeared to unexpected women. Who would have thought he would do that? He would still do the same! The divine Jesus also looks ordinary. They take a while to recognise it is the same Jesus, the one they knew and loved. We sometimes meet people who got a promotion (or something big happened to them) and deep down they are still the same person. Jesus was new but then they realised that for now and forever he would still be the same, finding us and loving us in the ordinary, on our good days and bad days, in goodness & weakness.
On our bad days he can bring out the best in us. Like his bad days brought out the best in him. When we can say little, he sings Alleluia in us. He is doing us a world of good in us so that we can do the world a world of good.
His words of resurrection echo today in all that is in this church, its colour, sounds, and above all in the humanity here. We will always have the echo of Jesus, he is risen today: alleluia, alleluia!
Allow the joy of Jesus to fill your heart as your breath fills your body.
Risen Jesus, be joyful in me, in all.
1st Reading: Acts 10:34, 37-43
Psalm: Psalms 118 R/: This day was made by the Lord; we rejoice and are glad
2nd Reading: Colossians 3:1-4
Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Christ, our passover, has been sacrificed; let us celebrate the feast then, in the Lord. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 20:1-9
Easter Collection for our clergy supports Fr Ephraim & Fr Liam and is both an important opportunity for us to express our gratitude to them for their service, care and guidance – and our Priest relies on this offering to make up a large part of his income for the year. Give via Dona or https://tinyurl.com/yukndymw
The Easter Vigil Mass 8pm, also called the Paschal Vigil or the Great Vigil of Easter, is a liturgy held in as the first official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Historically, it is during this liturgy that people are baptised and that adult catechumens are received into full communion with the Church. It is held in the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Day – most commonly in the evening of Holy Saturday or midnight – and is the first celebration of Easter, days traditionally being considered to begin at sunset. The Easter Vigil is the most important liturgy of public worship and Mass of the liturgical year, marked by the first use since the beginning of Lent of the exclamatory “Alleluia”, a distinctive feature of the Easter season.
This year, through the sacraments of Initiation, we receive a number of people into our Church, and we pray for them.
Letter from Fr Liam
Holy Week Schedule
Holy Thursday 28 Mar 8pm Mass of The Lord’s Supper
(St Joseph’s) During the Offertory Procession members of the congregation are welcome to bring non-perishable food/gifts to the altar for those who are poor. A basket is placed at the front of the altar and in the Choir loft
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
Good Friday Collection: for Christians in the Holy Land. The Pontifical Good Friday Collection supports the Christian community in the Middle East. This last year has been particularly challenging for this small
community which seeks ‘to be the salt, light and leaven of the Gospel’ in the region, often living in difficult circumstances.
Give via Dona or with link below: https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/good-friday-collection-for-christians-in-the-holy-land
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
Easter
Collection: The Easter
Collection for our clergy supports Father Ephraim and Father Liam and is both an important opportunity for us to express our gratitude to them for their service, care and guidance – and our Priest relies on this offering to make up a large part of his income for the year. Give via https://tinyurl.com/yukndymw or Dona
Easter Monday 1 Apr 3pm Mass in St Joseph’s
What's happening in Church:
- Order of Mass – in the new hymnbooks, pg 4-10
- Easter & April Magnificats on sale now
- 5 Apr First Fri Healing Mass 10am St Joseph’s + 7pm at St. Edmund Campion
- 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
- 19 Apr 7.30pm Bingo Night at St Joseph’s Hall. Tickets at £5 from Siobhan 07816445416. Please bring cash for the bar & raffle. Proceeds to Maidenhead SVP.
- 21 Apr Filipino Mass All are welcome!
Magazine We need writers, contributors, photographers for our upcoming Parish Magazine. Please contact the office if you’re interested in helping or advertising!
BABIES TO TEENS PROGRAMMES
CHILDREN’S LITURGY Team hopes that all the children and their families have a wonderful Easter holiday. We look forward to seeing you for the new term (starts on Sun 21st Apr 11 a.m. Mass.) LITURGISTS – Please pick up your new rotas from the top drawer of the filing cabinet in the kitchen lobby. Contact Tricia: [email protected] for more details – or offers of help!
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.
21 Apr 9.30am FHC Ch 8 & 9 in Hall
27 Apr 4.00pm Confirmation session at St Ed Pri
Buy your FHC & Confirmation gifts from the Repository now!!
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!
Planned giving envelopes: These are now available for the coming tax year 2024/25. Please collect from the Sacristy. Contact the office if you want to sign up!
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!
LENTEN PROJECT UPDATE
Lenten Project: Fast River Ambulance for Congo’s Basankusu Missionary Charity. CDP Maidenhead St Josephs Church Ac 00882667 / 30-93-04. Pls include your name and “+Lent” as reference.
Dates for your Diary
- 6 Apr 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
- 10 Apr 6.30pm (In St Joseph’s) Talk on the Dignity and Immense Value of Women by Dr Judith Thomas. Also 6 Apr 10am St Edward’s Windsor; 8 Apr 10am St Edmund’s/ 7pm St Thomas More Twyford
- 13 Apr 1- 4:30pm Divine Mercy Reflection St Mary’s R C Church, 157 Aldershot Road, Guildford GU2. Holy Rosary, teachings on Message of Mercy, Stations of the Cross, Mass, etc. Millie 07957594646 for more info.
- 20 Apr Resurrection in Art & Poetry workshop led by Fr Oliver Holt. Contact [email protected]
- 23-30 Aug Lourdes Pilgrimage with Fr Tom. More details to follow/ contact Fr Tom
- 1 May 8pm Meet TV presenter Sean Fletcher Talk about his life, religious journey, deep Christian faith, passionate causes and media roles. Maidenhead Synagogue SL6 8QX (parking onsite). Limited spaces – email [email protected] to book
23-30 Aug Lourdes Pilgrimage with Fr Tom. More details to follow/ contact Fr Tom
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
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 in St Joseph’s & St Edmund’s!
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.
~~~ Have a blessed Easter. There’ll be no newsletter next week ~~~
