PARISH NEWSLETTER FOR ST. JOSEPH’S (MAIDENHEAD)
& ST. ELIZABETH’S (COOKHAM)
4th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B
The Power of Evil
Jesus was very aware of the power of evil that can be around us. Jesus named the spirit whatever that meant. This gave him power over the spirit. He knew evil when he met it and he overcame it, with love, power and with kindness for this man he encountered in today’s gospel in the synagogue at Capernaum. In Jesus the good and the evil of the world met.
One big evil in us is the ‘it’s mine’. We learn it from childhood. We take the plate of cakes or a packet of sweets and say “all mine”. We normally get over this but not always. We need the conversion from it’s mine to it’s ours. That’s the Christian way. The environment is not ours, but for us. We have no right to kill off livelihood all over the world for our paper, our oil and our greed. Any abuse of people is the ‘you are mine’ syndrome. Nobody owns anyone in this earth, and we belong only to God in a free way.
Evil will never win out to the end. It has been conquered on the Cross, with love. Somehow this man was possessed. Evil came into him and maybe it was not his fault. He left clean and whole, with a kindness in his heart he would never forget. The people were amazed not just at Jesus but at the change in the man who had been possessed.
What are evil desires in myself?
For control of others, for greed, for whatever leads me away from love.
Imagine the light of God filling the darkness in me.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
1st Reading: Deuteronomy 18: 15-20
Psalm: Psalms 95: 1-2, 6-9 R/ O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 7: 32-35
Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20
Announcements:
27 Jan & 10 Feb 4.30pm Confirmation at St Edmund Campion Primary School
4 Feb 9.30am FHC in the Parish Hall
6 Feb Baptismal Course at St Joseph’s: For all parents whose child is being baptised in M’head. Please meet one of the parish priests before attending the class
11 Feb, 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
10-18 Mar Novena to St Joseph. After Mass 10am weekday & Sun 11am. Zoom 6pm millhillmissionaries.co.uk/novena/
Toddlers Group Every Friday in termtime, 8.45am-10.45am St Edmund Campion Hall
Magazine We need writers, contributors, photographers for our upcoming Parish Magazine. Please contact the office if you’re interested in helping or advertising!
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!
LENT
A LENTEN PREPARATION TALK
by Kevin Hughes. Lent is a time of grace given to us by the church to help us focus on the Passion & Resurrection of Jesus. This talk is a reflection aimed at helping us get the most out of this time of Grace and Reconciliation.
Sat 3 Feb 10am St Mark’s Church, Windsor
Mon 5 Feb 10am St Edmund Campion Church ¦ 7pm St Thomas More Church, Twyford
Wed 7 Feb 6:30pm St Joseph’s Church, Maidenhead
14 Feb Ash Wednesday Masses: 10am in St Joseph’s and 7pm in St Elizabeth’s
Reconciliation services: 9 Mar 11am St Edmund’s 20 Mar 7pm St. Joseph’s
Stations of the Cross: Every Friday after 10am Mass in St Joseph’s
Lenten Project: To 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 “+Lent” as reference, to earmark your contribution.
Check newsletter for regular updates
Dates for your Diary
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 .
@ Rio Cafe in the Library. Buy a coffee and make new friends! The tables are free for anyone to join!
All are welcome!
is hosted by High Street Methodist Church. Focus of prayer: Women of Palestine. Please join this ecumenical church service and stay for refreshments afterwards. More details available from St Joseph’s WDP representative, Bel Flynn.
Courses & Talks
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.