PARISH NEWSLETTER FOR ST. JOSEPH’S (MAIDENHEAD)
& ST. ELIZABETH’S (COOKHAM)
5th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B
The first reading is tough to hear, and we have to admire Job. We talk of ‘the patience of Job’. Job is the example and the hero of depression. He just had it bad. All had gone wrong, and he felt no good, no hope, no meaning. His family collapsed, his wealth disappeared, and he cursed the day he was born. He went through all of the depressions people have, but somehow kept that glimmer of light alive. He never totally lost God, and God never lost him. Depression is a huge illness. Many suffer; many are affected.
Treatment can be of help, and the listening times of friends as well as therapy is healing. There are many helps on the human level. There is the help also of faith and prayer at times. And the help of someone who, listens, empathises, doesn’t judge nor give easy cures. Love from God never ends even though it may not appear near just now. This is the Jesus of the gospel – bringing the grace of healing, of freeing from any evil, of constant love.
Imagine a time of darkness in your life; picture it in its colour, and imagine the bright light of Jesus penetrate that darkness. Ask for help and give thanks for help.
Give light, Good Lord, to all who live in the valley of darkness and the shadow of doubt.
1st Reading: Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Psalm: Psalm 146:1-6 R/ Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23
Gospel: Mark 1:29-39
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ministry of Reader and Ministry of Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion:
The Church in Maidenhead is giving a workshop for those in our community who feel called to be Ministers of Word and/or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and Ministry to the Sick and Housebound. You are welcome to attend a 90-minute session on either 7pm Fri 16 Feb or 11am Sat 17 Feb at St. Joseph’s Church, but it is open to all Christians in the Maidenhead area.
Please let either parish office know, if this is something that you feel called to do, as a service to our community. Both Ministries are essential, and we need more people to serve in these roles. At present, we are very short of both. Father Liam will guide these two meetings.
4 & 25 Feb 9.30am FHC in the Parish Hall
10 Feb 4.30pm Confirmation session at St Edmund Campion Primary School
See Fr Liam’s letter on the 10-year mission plan here:
Chinese New Year:
This falls on Saturday, 10 Feb, & celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on 24 Feb.
As we have a number of families who are Chinese or of Chinese descent, we as 
a parish community, wish you every joy and blessing as you celebrate your new year. May your year be filled with peace, prosperity and love. May God’s blessings shower upon you and bestow upon each of you a bright, healthy and peaceful new year.
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 2024
What is Lent? Lent, the solemn 40-day period before Easter, holds profound significance in the Catholic Church and other Christian traditions. Starting on Ash Wednesday and concluding on Holy Thursday, it is a season of penitence and preparation. Throughout Lent Catholics engage in the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These practices serve to deepen our connection with God, our awareness of Jesus’ sacrificial love, and to prepare our hearts and minds for the Paschal Mystery—the journey of Jesus’ passion, death, & resurrection. Lent is an invitation to reflect, repent, and renew one’s commitment to living a life of
faith, ultimately leading to the joyful celebration of Easter.
This year 2024, Lent begins on 14 February with Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy
Thursday, 28 March. The evening of 28 March we begin the Holy Season of the Easter
Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday.
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.
A LENTEN PREPARATION TALK by Kevin Hughes. This talk is a reflection aimed at helping us get the most out of this time of Grace and Reconciliation:
5 Feb – 10am St Edmund Campion Church & – 7pm St Thomas More Church, Twyford
7 Feb 6:30pm St Joseph’s Church, Maidenhead
14 Feb Ash Wednesday Mass:
- 10am & 7pm St Joseph’s
- 9.30am & 7pm St Edmund’s
- 7pm St Elizabeth’s
Stations of the Cross: Every Friday after 10am Mass in St Joseph’s
Fri 23rd Feb CAFOD Family Fast Day This Lent, your donations to CAFOD’s Family Fast Day appeal will help hardworking people like James the fisherman in Liberia with resources, tools and training to feed their families for good. Give using the envelope or online at cafod.org.uk and please join us in praying with James that our sisters and brothers around the world have what they need to feed their families.
Reconciliation services:
- 9 Mar 11am St Edmund’s
- 20 Mar 7pm St. Joseph’s
Please be reminded we will not have flowers at the altars during Lent.
In our community
- SVP please refugees who are facing homelessness & destitution. If you want to donate clothes, please leave them by the Sacred Heart Altar for collection. Alternatively, you can donate to CDP Maidenhead St Josephs Church sort code 30-93-04 A/C 00882667 with your name and +SVP” as reference
- Every Tues, 3.30-4.30pm: Talkin’ Table at Rio Cafe in the Library. Buy a coffee and make new friends!
- ACTION FOR ROUGH SLEEPERS IN MAIDENHEAD project See: https://www.brettfoundation.charity/homeless-project Questions or suggestions: call 07749 917134
- Every 2nd & 4th Mondays 30am-12pm. Riverside Christian Fellowship’s free tea/coffee-mornings St. Luke’s Road – next to the Territorial Army Centre. (Access via St. Luke’s roads or Kidwell’s Park)
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 .
Food and drinks after. All are welcome!
After Mass 10am weekday & Sun 11am.
Zoom 6pm millhillmissionaries.co.uk/novena/
Toddlers Group St Edmund Campion Hall
PILGRIMAGES/ WALKS/ RETREATS
TRIPS 3rd Mar 24 Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock & Co Mayo, £899pp. Please see Notice board/ online newsletter for more information.
Courses & Talks
See section on Lent
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.
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.