PARISH NEWSLETTER FOR ST. JOSEPH’S (MAIDENHEAD)
& ST. ELIZABETH’S (COOKHAM)
3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B
The Ordinary Things
There’s something very ordinary for a fisherman about washing nets. Daily work, done with some drudgery but knowing that it is essential for a good catch of fish which would feed the family at this time Jesus called his first apostles.
There is something sacred about the ordinary. About bathing a child, loving a spouse, daily employment, family time and all that goes to make up our days.
In the middle of all this God can surprise us and call us into his service. Our expectation is sometimes different – that we need long times of prayer to find God, or read about him, or do big things for him. But just as the smallest things are done out of human love, God is found in the ordinary.
The old Irish spirituality (and I am sure from lots of our home cultures in our parish) had blessings for everything – for milking a cow, cleaning and dusting a room, visiting the sick and many more; there were prayers for meals, for a safe journey and a happy death. Our old spirituality found God as much in mountains and people as in the church, and often more so.
Maybe the disciples remember in difficult times the way they were called in their ordinary work and found their ongoing call to follow the Lord in the ordinary of their lives for the rest of their lives.
Give me O Lord a love for the ordinary;
remind me often how ‘ordinary’ you were for so much of your life. Amen.
1st Reading:Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm: Psalm 24 R/ Lord, make me know your ways
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:25-31
Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! The Kingdom of God is close at hand; believe the Good News. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20
Second Collections this month. Please Gift Aid if you can!:
21st Cathedral
28th Racial Justice
Announcements:
Baptisms:
20th Aidan & Alonzo
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Memorials/Funerals:
25th 1200h in Church Pasqualina Sellitto
St Mary’s Catholic Pre School: apply now for a space if your child will be 2 by Sept 2024. Email the Pre School to book a visit and complete an application form. See https://www.stmarys-maidenhead.org.uk/pre-school/
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!
PT Youth worker needed. Contact Fr Ephraim/ office
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
is observed in the octave of St Peter and St
Paul. 2024 theme is ‘You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself’ (Lk 10:27). Resources for each day can be found on: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024 (ctbi.org.uk)
after 11am Mass. Table top sale in aid of the Closer to Christ Campaign. If you have unwanted Christmas gifts or any other items to sell, please contact office and pay £10 per table. Profits from sales are yours. There will also be a parish table for any single items you wish to donate. We will be running a raffle too.
All are welcome!
meets on 2nd Sun of each month at St Edmund Campion Hall. If you are bereaved and would find it helpful to talk or share with others who are also grieving, join us over a cup tea and cake .
@ Bakedd the Artisan Bakery in town. Buy a coffee and make new friends! The tables are free for anyone to join!
Courses & Talks
In Chertsey, book: https://coretlumenchristi.churchsuite.com/events/rgck3kfl
with Fr Bernie Zoom: ID 82806901794 Password 312990 or: https://tinyurl.com/2hz5axvp
Sessions will be held every Thursday thereafter unless notified.
CAFOD meetings Come find out about the difference that your donations make. simple lunch will be provided. Please book so that we have an idea of numbers: Jo on [email protected] or phone 07710 094447
27 Jan, 10.30am – 1.30pm Corpus Christi Church Hall, 60 Sturges Road, Wokingham RG40 2HE
3 Feb, 10.30am – 1.30pm St Philip Howard Church Hall, Bishopsfield road, Fareham PO14 1ND
6-week introduction to ways of praying. Online, see http://www.epiphanygroup.org.uk/training-courses/introduction-to-ways-of-praying/
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.
Virtual event. Call or text: 07887 296983 / 07973 380443 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.retrouvaille.org.uk
Winchester. £20 Book https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ e/what-does-it-mean-to-be-human-medical-ethics-and-social-care-today-tickets-773097012977
For Lower Sixth/Year 12. Do you want to help build a Christian society? The programme offers stimulating and high-quality intellectual content, spiritual nourishment, personal development, inter-personal skills, team-building, with expert academics and professionals. Bursaries available as needed. See more at www.christianleadershipformation.com
Divine Renovation will be holding the Catholic Parish Summit next June 12th – 14th in Harrogate. The Summit, entitled ‘Where is your parish going?’ will feature Archbishop Mark O’Toole, Sr Miriam James Heidland, and Fr James Mallon, among others. Come along to see what’s behind a growing movement of parishes coming to new life and learn how your parish can do it too. Save your spot today at catholicparishsummit.com and be part of this impactful gathering of parish leaders.
Plus!: Use the Diocese of Portsmouth’s exclusive promo code 25OFFCPS ˟ to save on your ticket before they sell out.
˟ This code will provide 25% off basic tickets and is available until 1stDecember. Please also note the young adults code to promote for anyone under 30: YA@CPS
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.
Double your donations – until 22nd Jan, £19.15 will feed TWO children for a year. Here’s a video of St Mary’s Meals impact on the community, and the link to donate.
Help us buy a reliable speedboat for the Missionary work in Basankusu, Congo. Donations to CDP Maidenhead St Josephs Church Ac 00882667 / 30-93-04. Please include your name and “+Congo” as reference, to 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
PILGRIMAGES/ WALKS/ RETREATS
£899.00 pps. Price includes flight, 10kg hold luggage, 5 nights’ in 4* Castlecourt Hotel, Westport with Dinner, Bed & Breakfast. Lunch on three days. All entertainment, excursions and transport included. Visit Knock, Galway City, Kylemore Abbey, Croagh Patrick & Ashford Castle. Single supplement on Enquiry. Contact Patricia or Natali on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email [email protected].
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.