News for the week beginning 28th February 2010
A Martyrs Life and Death
On 24th Match 1980 Oscar Romeo, the Archbishop of San Salvador in Central America, was shot dead whilst celebrating Mass. He paid the ultimate price for having preached the Christian Gospel, speaking on behalf of the poor in his native El Salvador.
In his preaching, radio broadcasts and writing, Archbishop Romero called for Salvadorans to live in peace, for the government to defend the rights of the poor and marginalised, and for the military to behave justly. His prophetic message provoked the ruling classes, and he received numerous death threats. In March 1980 those threats became a reality.
Thirty years after his martyrdom Christians around the world will be marking Romero’s witness to Christ through his life and death. We shall be celebrating the anniversary at Immaculate Conception with a special Mass of Thanksgiving and commitment at 7pm on 24th March.
This week in Lent
· Stations of the Cross: Today at 4pm
· Meditation: Tuesday at 7.30pm; Fr Antony’s series continues; please bring a floor mat or blanket.
· Lent Lunch: Friday from 12 noon-2pm in the church hall. All welcome, supporting Christian Aid.
· Early morning Mass : there is one at St Edmund’s at 6.30am on Wednesdays
First Sunday: Today is the first Sunday in March. There will be the usual CAFOD and Traidcraft stalls in the hall after both Masses. Please go along to the hall after Mass to support the work of CAFOD and Fair Trade, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a chat.
R.I.P.: Many of you will know by now that John Whitcher died peacefully at home on Tuesday evening. He has for many years been our Gift Aid organiser as well as a reader, cleaner and supporter of the parish in many ways. He was much loved and will be missed by his many friends. Please remember him and Wendy and his family in your prayers. The Requiem will be on Thursday 11th March at 11am.
Roselands: The next meeting of the Roselands House Group is this coming Tuesday 9th March at 7.30pm at 24 The Parkway, home of Brenda and Peter Street.
Mothering Sunday: 14th March (next Sunday). At the 10.30 Mass we hare having a special celebration with our children participating, and thoughts and prayers in thanks for our mothers. Please dress brightly (like our spring daffodils) – and bring
· flags or other banners of your mother’s country or something which celebrates her life
· symbols or gifts from our mothers
· a short sentence which begins ‘my mother is/was special because . . .’
Penitential Services in Lent for the Pastoral Area
· Thursday 18th March at 7pm in St Patricks
· Friday 19th March at 11am at Immaculate Conception (followed by our Lent Soup Lunch)
Little Black Book: a 'day by day' compilation of thought provoking Lenten reflections, and simple meditations based on step by step extracts from St Mark's Passion. Each daily reflection calls for no more than 6 minutes of our time - and practices a traditional form of prayer, called 'Lectio Divina' (holy reading). The booklet is customised for Lent 2010, and there are several left in the bookshop. Don't let the booklet go to waste, or let a wonderful opportunity pass by - please take a copy!
Gift Aid: The Gift Aid envelopes for the new year starting in April will be available today and next Sunday, 14th March. Please collect your box in the porch at either the 8.30 or 10.30 Mass.
First-Aiders: If you are a doctor or nurse or qualified first-aider, please could you sign the list in the porch so that Fr Antony knows who to call on in case of need.
Association for the Propagation of the Faith: Members are asked to have their boxes ready and weighty for the Spring collection, which is about to start and will continue to the end of March. If you would like to be a box-holder and help people in the Third World, please ring Dennis Wilson on 8032 1822 or see him after 10.30 Mass.
Parish ‘Who’s got Talent’ Show: Our IC Cools Youth Group wish to present the show next Saturday 13th March in our Parish hall from 6.30 to 9.30pm. They need people to offer to perform, people to buy tickets - £3 adults, £1 children, and people to give raffle prizes. Many parishioners have agreed to bring and share food – thank you - but we need a hall full of parishioners and friends, young and old, for a fun night. Please share your time, energy and talents, and encourage our youth! Tickets after Masses or ring Steve or Sue on 8046 2524. All proceeds to the Hannah Memorial Academy.
Next Sunday’s 10.30 Mass: A reminder to our instrumentalists that the rehearsal is this coming Thursday 11th March at 7.30pm. The instrumental Mass for April will be on Sunday 11th April
Sharing God’s Word: An opportunity for youth leaders and catechists to explore how we can introduce young people to scripture and different ways of using scripture for prayer and reflection.. Thursday 11th March 7.30-9pm in our church hall. To book, contact estephenson@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk (Sorry – the wrong date was given in last week’s newsletter)
Choosing the Common Good: The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have launched a pre-election document Choosing the Common Good to present key themes in Catholic Social Teaching as a contribution to the wide-ranging debate about the values and vision that underpin our society. A summary copy is in the porch. The full text is available on www.catholicchurch.org.uk
Lourdes Pilgimage: The annual Lourdes Pilgrimage with Bishop Crispian takes place from 20th-27th August this year. Travel by Eurostar, coach or plane. Brochures etc available from Mgr Vincent Harvey (St Edmunds, Rockstone Place, SO15 2EQ) or vincent.harvey@gsy.org.uk or the diocesan website.
Celebrating Marriage 2010: On 12th June there will be a special Mass at St Bede’s, Basingstoke for couples in our diocese celebrating significant wedding anniversaries during 2010. If you are celebrating your 25th, 40th, 50th anniversary during 2010, or any anniversary over 60 years, please let Rosemary know as soon as possible so that Bishop Crispian can send you an invitation. Attendance will be by invitation only and numbers are limited. For more information contact: Katja Babei, kbabei@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk. Tel: 01329 835583
World Youth Day: the next International Gathering will be in Madrid on 9-23 August 2011. If you would like to be part of the Diocesan group or want to find out more about WYD, contact dhill@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk or 01329 835533 or visit www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/youth Deadline for applications is 31st March
Choir Practices for Easter: Tuesday 30th March at 7pm for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and Saturday 3rd April at 9.30am for the Easter Vigil. Anyone who can sing will be very welcome.
CAFOD Lent Fast Day Collection; Thank you to everyone who gave to our Lent Fast Day collection. Our parish raised £918.18 for CAFOD’s work all over the world. Elisias who lives in Zambia used to have to walk 4 hours just to get water. Now, thanks to donations from parishes like ours, the village has a water pump. As well as not having to travel for hours, they can now grow vegetables and other crops so they have enough to eat and are able to make a little extra money by selling what they don’t need at market.
Thank you from the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre for our crib collection of £123.52. They will use the funds to support the Christians in the Holy Land.
Second collections
· The collection next week is for Clergy Assistance
· There is no second collection today
Thank you: Gordon and Nina Cox wish to thank Fr Antony and all at last Sunday’s 8.30 Mass for all the help and prayers they received.
Singing Day with Southampton Choral Society: Saturday 13th March, 10am-4pm at St James Road Methodist Church, to study John Rutter’s Magnificat. All singers welcome. Cost £10. Email jmd178@talktalk.net or phone 8063 0008.
Could you be a CAFOD MP correspondent? - Are you passionate about global issues? Could you help make sure that they stay at the top of the political agenda? CAFOD is looking for MP correspondents to contact their MPs regularly (about 3 times a year) via letter/email or face to face. Training and support provided. For more information please contact the CAFOD Portsmouth Office: portsmouth@cafod.org.uk or 01252 329385.
Safeguarding Training Sessions: The sessions at IC on 20th March are full. If you had hoped to attend, there will be further sessions at St Boniface church on Saturday 8th May (10.00am - 12.30pm for Child Protection and 1.30pm - 4.00pm for Vulnerable Adults). Please give your name to the Parish Office or email: soraya@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk