PARISH NEWSLETTER FOR ST. JOSEPH’S (MAIDENHEAD)
& ST. ELIZABETH’S (COOKHAM)
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
A common image for Jesus is the garden or the vineyard, with comments on wasteland and fruitful land. In this story, he looks at stones and points out that a rejected stone, if looked at again, could become the cornerstone of a building. He is referring to prophets who were rejected, and to himself. He would be, through his weakness and death, the essential stone of the new temple, the energy through death of the new community.
We live in a throwaway culture. Much of what could be used again is dumped to destroy the earth and the sea. We waste a lot of the daily food of the people. Jesus asks us always to look again, to see the value of what we may throw aside, especially in our treatment of each other.
Everyone has a value in the eyes of God.
Pope Francis noted: ‘When adolescents feel unloved, they may turn to violence, hatred or delinquent behaviour. There is no such thing as bad children or evil adolescents, he said, but there are unhappy people.’ (June 2107).
He is asserting that with love and a community of acceptance, everyone has a place and has something to offer, like every stone is valuable to a new building, especially some we may first throw away.
Thank you for taking part in Stewardship month. We’ll be in touch soon!
Readings:
1st Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm: Ps79:9.12-16.19-20 R./ The vineyard of the Lord is the House of Israel
2nd Reading: Philippians 4:6-9
Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! I chose you from the world to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last, says the Lord. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43
Announcements:
Baptisms:
8th: Sienna, d/o Daniele & Sarah
21st: Henry, s/o Linda & Philip
22nd: Iris d/o Diego & Jennifer
Weddings this month:
21st: Amy & Scott
Funerals in October:
2nd: Giuseppe Gabriele Aronica
12th : Pauline Neal
12th : Josephine Marie Brown
19th : Patrick Gorrigan
The families welcome your support. See mass intentions.
2nd Collections
CAFOD Fast Day this weekend. Please use the envelope to Gift Aid where possible.
22nd World Mission Sunday (Missio)
UCM Meeting Tuesday Oct. 10th at 2.30pm. Discussion on a charity for the environment followed by pictorial quiz.
Thank you to the family of Carl O’Donovan for the lovely Memorial Garden. This is for all parishioners to enjoy & remember and pray for their loved ones
Registration Open:
Confirmation (closing date 4 Nov) : Find out more here
See also forms at the church entrances
Christmas Shoppe at the repository will be open mid Oct! Come prepare for advent!
Advent & Christmas: We need volunteers to help with the Advent and Christmas programmes. Contact the office!
Betty Hutley says a big thank you all the donations and well wishes for the 10K run last week. She has raised over £400 for Uganda Hands for Hope. Find out more here Uganda Hands for Hope – GlobalGiving
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!
Dates for your Diary
Everyone experiences grief in their own way. As well as experiencing feelings of overwhelming sadness, it is perfectly natural to feel lost, confused, isolated and even angry. Or you may feel numb and emotionless as you try to grasp what has happened. You may feel regret for things you did or did not say or feel somehow to blame. Sadly, bereavement is something that we will all experience at some point in our lives, but we can support one another.
Every second Sunday of the month there is a Bereavement Support meeting at St. Edmund Campion Centre at 2.30pm. You are very welcome to come along to join us for tea, coffee and cakes.
Food and drinks after. All are welcome!
See website and forms in the church.
7.30pm: Clare’s Court School – OPERA NIGHT in aid of the Church in Need Charity. 4 professional opera singers will perform a mixture of Arias and songs from Musicals at the 34th Annual evening organised by the Catenians. Tickets £25 pp with ‘early bird’ price of £22.50pp before end of September. Tickets available from Jonathan Holder via [email protected] or ring 07740 430599
Concert in aid of SVP and the Widows and Orphans of Rural Kenya. St. Edmund Campion Church. Tickets @ £12 includes a glass of wine /soft drink, ½ price for 12-18 years old, free for children under 12. Tickets available from https://rmvc.net/october/ or from John Carr. Both charities are close to the hearts of the St. Edmund Campion parish community.
At St Bede’s Church, Popley Way, Basingstoke RG24 9DX
RSVP by 7th Nov: [email protected] or call 02392 00759
We have come around to that time of the year when we advertise for the above event. It will take place on Friday 1st December starting at 7.30 pm. Tickets will be available from next week at £25 each. This will include the cost of a 3 course meal, a live performance of a Filipino Band (The SoulMates Family) and of course the company of Mill Hill Missionaries! All proceeds will go to support our new mission in Cambodia, which has an outreach to the floating village. If you would like to reserve or buy tickets, please contact Millie on 07957594646
Fr Brian Oswald MHM
PILGRIMAGES/ WALKS/ RETREATS
During the weekend, Young Catholic Adults and the Traditional English Association of Catholic History will be organising a pilgrimage to York and will visit the shrine of St. Margaret Clitherow, York Oratory, the Bar Convent and St. Mary’s Abbey.
This event is aimed at Young Catholic Adults and Catholics interested in history.
For details of how to book onto this free weekend and for more info see:- https://bookwhen.com/youngcatholicadults-yorkpilgrimage2023.
The Divine Mercy Apostolate, London, is hosting a Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock, Co Mayo from November 9 to 14 to Pray for the HolySouls. It will by the Marian Fathers. Package includes: Return flights by Aer Lingus from Heathrow Airport, half board, 5 nights, accommodation in en suite twin rooms, hand-luggage (10 kgs), all transfers and Airport Development fee. The Retreat will include daily Mass and Hour of Mercy and retreats at Glendalough and Kylemore Abbey. Cost £800. All Welcome. Please call Millie on 07957594646 for more information
Courses & Talks
Online course – sign up via links
4th Oct: Introduction to the Sacred Scriptures https://tinyurl.com/bdeva9t4
11th Oct Theology of the Liturgy of the Word https://tinyurl.com/s9thupb9
A 1-hour talk by Kevin Hughes mhm
10am St Edmund Campion
7pm St. Thomas More, Twyford
11th Oct 6:30pm St Joseph’s
21st Oct 10am St Edward’s Church
Non-residential retreat in Winchester. Contact Aba 07387 645 211
6-week Zoom course following the Ignatian Way of prayer. It is an ideal opportunity for those who desire to deepen their prayer life and attend from home. It is free of charge and only 20 participants for each course. See An Introduction to Ways of Praying (epiphanygroup.org.uk)
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. It is held at St Joseph’s the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm.
IRD conference
St Bede’s Church https://shorturl.at/mvFOY
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
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.