PARISH NEWSLETTER FOR ST. JOSEPH’S (MAIDENHEAD)
& ST. ELIZABETH’S (COOKHAM)
Pentecost Sunday of Easter, Year B
The effect of the Holy Spirit at the first Pentecost was to create unity – the incident of people understanding different languages should not be taken literally, but that some deep divisions among people can be overcome by the Spirit of God. Many of the gifts of the Spirit in the second reading are about a deep unity among us – trust, love, patience. These and other gifts of the Spirit bring unity at a deep level in families, friendships, all kinds of relationships and communities.
The effects of disunity can lead in the end to murders, violence and wars. No wonder Jesus prayed so often for unity, and his Spirit would unite us.
Disagreements may happen in the best of relationships and lead often to peace in the end. Dividedness never leads to peace and is never from God.
Another unity of Pentecost was the reconciliation between Jesus’ natural family and the new family of the apostles. Another gospel account says that in the upper room were people like James, his family ‘brother’, and Mary his mother, who was the uniting love of all Jesus’ followers.
On the inbreath, breathe in the Spirit of God,
the wind that blows where it wills.
Come Holy Spirit;
Fill our hearts.
Bring your peace and unity to our world.
May your kingdom come and your will be done.
Amen.
1st Reading: Acts 2:1-11 They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak.
Psalm 103 R/ Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the Earth.
2nd Reading: Gal. 5:16-25 If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you.
Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 20:19-23 As the Father sent me, so am I sending you: receive the Holy Spirit.
14 Jul 2024: St Joseph’s Church will be celebrating our 140th Anniversary. Save the date!
GIFT AID APPEAL
Boost your contribution by 25% via Gift Aid! Contribute to the Parish (instead of HMRC). Please use our contactless machine or pick up a form in church/ from the website. Please note that we do NOT have access to any of your tax information!
Last week’s collections:
Gift aid: £72 -> we get £90
Non GA: £645.23 -> we have lost out on £161.31 of HMRC money
2nd Collection for Catholic Comms:
Gift aid: £35 -> we get £43.75
Non GA: £519.96 -> we have lost out on £129.99 of HMRC money
What's happening in Church:
BABIES TO TEENS PROGRAMMES
- 18 May 4.30pm Confirmation Reconciliation
- 25 May 4.30pm Confirmation session St Ed Pri
- 4 Jun Baptismal Course at St Joseph’s. For parents whose child is being baptised in M’head. Please meet one of the parish priests before attending.
- Fridays 8.45-10:45am Baby & Toddler Group in St Edmund Parish Centre (term time only)
REPOSITORY
Buy Confirmation gifts, cards, rosaries, candles, etc now!!
New Sunday Missal will be available in the repository from September! If you want to secure your early bird discount order, please put your name down at the repository or office, together with payment of £19.95 by 26 May. We regret we are unable to hold reservations without payment
CHURCH EVENTS
- 19 May Filipino Mass All are welcome!
- 23 May 2pm Rosary + 6pm Journeying together through Holy Scripture with Fr Bernie https://tinyurl.com/2hz5axvp
- 7 Jun 10am Healing Mass followed by a short awareness talk about the caring needs for people affected by dementia, and the impact on their social and family’s wellbeing. Talk will also cover benefits that you are entitled to after being discharged from hospital. Talk & hospitality sponsored by Heritage Healthcare
- 9 Jun 2.30-5pm, Bereavement Support Group St Edmund Campion Hall. Come for a cup tea & cake to talk or share with others who are also grieving
- 22 Jun 10am Tabletop sale £10 a table. Book a table by emailing: [email protected] More info here: https://stjosephsparish.co.uk/the-vision-group/!
- 14 Jul 2024 St Joseph’s Church will be celebrating our 140th Anniversary Save the date!
- 23-30 Aug Lourdes Pilgrimage Contact Fr Tom: 07908213034 to find out more
- Weekly Badminton (Mondays 7.30pm) & Taichi (Weds 5pm) in Hall. All levels welcome! Contact Peter 075477 42578 if attending for first time.
CHURCH NOTICEBOARD
- Thank you to those who have returned the talents challenge envelopes. Please submit your envelopes to The Vision Group this weekend! We will update the Ambulance collection next week!
- Sabbatical: From 11 May until beginning of July, Fr. Ephriam will be following a sabbatical course and studies in Scotland. We wish him well and during those weeks that he is away, those in St. Joseph’s can contact Fr. Liam or Fr. Noah.
Magazine We need writers, contributors, photographers for our upcoming Parish Magazine. Please contact the office if you’re interested in helping or advertising!
We have a TWO 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!
Walks and Talks
- 21 May 7pm Online Dementia Friends Information Session by Caritas Portsmouth. For anyone interested in supporting people with Dementia in their parishes, community or family. Everyone welcome. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/4ysur27w
- 23 May 7 -9pm Divine Will – An introduction by Derek Williams at St Ethelbert’s, Slough. All welcome!
- 6 Jun 7.30-9pm Life in the Spirit’ course via Zoom starts. 7 sessions + session at St Bede’s Church in Basingstoke on 29 Jun 9.30am-1pm. Tea and coffee provided afterwards, bring packed lunch. Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlf–trDwjGNAuzzyTiLVcwy7lzHwq87dG
- 8 Jun Pilgrimage to Walsingham Bishop David will be the chief Celebrant for the midday mass. Optional Holy Mile Walk will start at 3pm from the Slipper Chapel and proceed along the ancient pilgrim route to the Priory Grounds, with a short service at the site of where the original Holy House was built. Our Lady of Peace and St. Ethelbert’s are organising a coach to this event and tickets are £30 leaving at 6:45 AM from OLP, and 7:00 AM from St. Ethelbert’s . To book: Edward 07802 753575 / Natty 07397 149269 / Martha 07789 443517
- 15 Jun 8.30am Catholic Miracle Rally with Miracle Healing Service at 7pm. Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ. See www.tinyurl.com/3dwn8rd7
Can you help?
Marriage Care is a Catholic organisation specialising in relationship support. We are looking for Marriage Preparation Course Facilitators to prepare couples for the Sacrament of Marriage (full training is provided for this role), Qualified Relationship Counsellors to support couples in distress and Trustees to provide governance and strategic direction for the organisation. For more information please visit: www.marriagecare.org.uk or email: [email protected]
partnered with market-leading solicitors and will-writing providers to offer a basic simple or mirror Will for free. In-person, online or by phone. There is no obligation to leave our Parish a gift in your Wills. https://www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/support-our-work/make-your-free-will/
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.
There are new arrivals at the local asylum seeker hotel and we need the following: new packs of underwear, socks, summer clothes in medium size for women and men. If you can help please drop any donations to Sacred Heart altar in church. We are also always looking for hosts for homeless refugees. If you would like to talk about what might be involved in hosting please contact us on 07749 917134.
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
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 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.