OUR LADY AND ST. CHRISTOPHER’S
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Serving Romiley, Bredbury, and Woodley
52 Barrack Hill, Romiley, Stockport, Cheshire. SK6 3BA
Tel: 0161-430 2704 www.ourladyandstchristophersromiley.org.uk
e-mail: [email protected]
PARISH PRIEST:
ASSISTANT PRIEST:
Canon Michael Gannon VG
Fr. Tony McGrath
SUNDAY 22 MARCH 2015
MESSAGE FROM FATHER MICHAEL
We are now over halfway through Lent and it important to continue doing those things that this holy season asks of
us: prayer, fasting and charitable giving, by way of preparation for Holy Week & Easter. Let our focus be on our
relationship with God and others in imitation of Jesus himself whose example we are called to follow. This week we
welcome the Year 4 children from our primary school to church to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Fr
Tony and I will also be celebrating this sacrament with the young people at Harrytown Catholic High School. We will
have our own parish celebration of Reconciliation on Wednesday next week. May God bless us all in the week ahead.
SACRED LITURGY THIS WEEK
The month of March is dedicated to St Joseph.
Sunday Readings: Cycle B. Weekday Readings: Cycle I. Psalter: Week III Parish Mass Book 1 Page 169
The Pope’s intentions for March that those involved in scientific research may serve the well-being of the whole human person.
That the unique contribution of women to the life of the Church may be recognised always.
MASS TIMES and INTENTIONS (this week)
Vigil Mass of the following: 6.30 pm
9.00 am
11.00 am
feria
9.15 am
feria
7.30 pm
THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD
9.15 am
feria
9.15 am
feria
12 noon
People of the Parish
Michael Wilson RIP
Winifred Mills RIP
Evelyn Mitchinson RIP
Int. of C. & D. Caldwell
Mary Birch
Lilian O’Neill RIP
Dorothy White RIP
28
feria
29th
Vigil Mass of the Following
PASSION SUNDAY (PALM SUNDAY)
Private Intention
People of the Parish
Raymond Brown RIP
Neville Jackson RIP
nd
Sunday
22
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
23
th
24
th
25
th
26
th
27
Saturday
Sunday
rd
th
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
SACRAMENTS and OTHER LITURGIES (usual schedule)
Adoration of the Holy Eucharist
Mon, Wed, Thurs
Tuesday
Saturday
Sunday
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Mon – Fri
Saturday
Sunday
Liturgy of the Hours
Mon, Tues, Wed.
Tuesday
Saturday
Sunday
9.15 am
6.30 pm
9.00 am
11.00 am
8.15-8.55 am
6.30 – 7.25 pm
5.30 – 6.20 pm
8.00 – 8.50 am
upon request after Mass
5.45– 6.20 pm
10.20 – 10.50 am
8.55 am Morning Prayer
7.10 pm Evening Prayer
9.00 am Morning Prayer; 5.30 pm Evening Prayer
8.00 am Morning Prayer
REQUIESCANT + IN PACE
PRAYER & LITURGY
STATIONS OF THE CROSS FOR LENT today at 3.00pm
and on Friday at 7.30pm. Please come to this moving
traditional devotion and remember to pray for all who
suffer in any way in our world today.
RECONCILIATION SERVICE FOR LENT in church on
Wednesday 25 March at 7.00pm with the opportunity for
individual confession. Why not avail of this opportunity to
experience the mercy and forgiveness of God in this
wonderful sacrament as we approach Easter.
CHRIST OUR Light; how to make the most of the
Triduum
A 25 minute talk in the Church by Fr Tony immediately after
12 noon Mass on Friday 27th March. All welcome
HOLY WEEK & EASTER READERS
VOLUNTEERS FOR FEET WASHING
and
If you are already a reader at Mass & are available to read
during Holy Week/Easter, please add your name & phone
number to the sign-up sheet at the back of church. We also
need 12 parishioners to volunteer to have their feet
washed at the Maundy Thursday service (evening): it is
always difficult to find this many people, so please consider
putting your name on the list. Thank you.
MUSIC FOR HOLY WEEK
th
On Monday 30 March at 7.30pm there will be a practice in
church to run through the music for Holy Week Triduum
Services. You are most welcome to attend the practice
which will last for about one hour.
ORDINATION PRAYER CARDS Fr Tony has left a
number of prayer cards at the back of church for people to
collect. Please take one and remember to pray for him
especially at the start of his priestly ministry in our parish.
Thank you..
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2015 The Year 3 children in St
Christopher’s RC Primary School and a smaller number of
Catholic children in local non-Catholic schools will be
enrolled at the 11.00am Mass next Sunday (Palm Sunday).
They will make their First Holy Communion all together at
the 11.00am Mass on Easter Sunday. Parents and
guardians are encouraged to bring the children to the Holy
Week services so they can participate in them as part of the
parish community gathered to celebrate the great
mysteries of our faith. Due to the large numbers expected
to be at the First Communion Mass on Easter Sunday, could
I ask that parishioners who normally come to the 11.00am
Mass please consider coming to the Easter Vigil Mass or the
earlier Mass on Easter Sunday instead? This will help to
ease congestion in the church and also make it easier for
car parking arrangements. Thank you.
Those who have died recently: Elsie Edwards, Lilian O’Neill
and Raymond Brown.
Those whose anniversaries occur around this time: Joan
Cooper, Ednarda Assabay Sancrabay, Emma Gilleney, Jack
Burke, Ernest Chappelow, Christina Storan, Mary Gilleney,
Francis Maher, Colin Sinclair, Jessie Norman, Gerard Hicket,
Kathleen Tracey, Thomas Ball. May they rest in peace
MARRIAGE MATTERS
(www.twoinoneflesh.org.uk)
Fifth Sunday of Lent (Jeremiah 31:31-34 Hebrews
5:7-9 John 12:20-33)
Unconditional love
Love is called to be unconditional, not ‘counting the
cost’, not 50/50, but both giving 100%. Today’s
Gospel reminds us a rich harvest is only possible
when a single wheat grain falls on the ground and
dies. Our loving efforts, trials and difficulties in
marriage are ways of ‘dying’ to a lifestyle contrary to
what God is calling us to.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
PLANNED GIVING & GIFT AID We welcome back
Mike Russell from the Planned Giving & Gift Aid Service at
the Diocese who will be speaking at each of the Masses this
weekend. He will talk about the different ways to help our
Parish through Planned Giving, and there will also be an
opportunity to join the Gift Aid scheme
GENERAL ELECTION 2015 The Bishops have written a
joint letter to all Catholics in England and Wales
encouraging us to participate and vote in the election and
offering some key issues and questions for reflection on
where candidates stand. Copies are available at the back of
church or may be obtained with other information, at that
time,
from
the
Bishops’
Conference
website
www.catholicnews.org.uk.
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 28/29th
July – August 4/5th 2015
The annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes takes place this
th
th
th
year from July 28 – August 5 overland and July 29 –
th
August 4 by air. Booking forms are available from St
Alban’s Wallasey and St Peter’s Hazel Grove as well as from
the pilgrimage website www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk.
The pilgrimage is led by Bishop Davies and in recent years
some 900 people from the diocese and of all ages have
joined in making the pilgrimage to this special place. All are
welcome to join the pilgrimage and we look forward to
receiving applications from those who have never been to
Lourdes. We particularly look forward to welcoming nurses
and healthcare professionals to assist in the care of the sick
and less able. Full details are available on the website. Fr
Michael is happy to answer any questions .
FAMILY WEEKEND SAVIO HOUSE 1-3 MAY 2015
HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY
This is the last weekend for returning completed
application forms for those wishing to go on the family
weekend.
If a relative or friend is in hospital please ensure that you
contact the chaplaincy office to let them know that they
will need that spiritual care and support, and if they are
catholic, to receive Holy Communion, and if necessary the
Sacrament of the Sick. You can do this directly by calling the
chaplaincy on 419-5889.
HOUSEBOUND AND THE SICK
Please pray for: Fr Peter Coyle, Philip Smith, Brian Rogers,
Christine Beswick, Hillary Rustage, Kieran O’Brien, Fr. Jim
Farrell, Theresa Travis, Debbie Sainsbury, Dorothy Cornelly,
Lionel and Jenny Rawlings, Anna Maria Bolton, Matthew
Norman, Billy Lingard, Patricia Kelly, Winnie Monk, Jadar
Jones, Michael Christie, Sonia Faure, Wilfred Hartley,
Mandy Keane, Joyce Osbourne, Michael O’Sullivan, Bob and
Mary Parker, Katelyn Reilly, Margaret Smith, Matthew
Swallow, Amy Harris, Audrey Wilson, Christine Colley,
Elizabeth Brown, Charlie Pigram, Bridget Robertson, Eileen
Powell, Michael Walsh, Valerie Gahan, Christopher
Wilkinson, Michelle Wright,Roger Armistead, Joshua
Goddard, Ann Platt, Monica Jackson. Deirdre Nausen,
Audrey Tynam, Gerard Davies, Gloria Flynn, Ronald Evans.
Irene Daughney, David Moss, KIrsty Czyzewsky, Albert
Perris and Baby William We commend them all to the
prayers of our Lady and St Christopher.
FINANCES
EASTER FLOWERS
Boxes are out on the tables in church. Any donations ,large
or small towards the cost of the flowers for Easter will be
gratefully received. Many thanks.
GIFT AID REMINDER
The Diocese claims a tax repayment of 25p for every £1
donated under the Gift Aid Scheme. If you are a Gift Aid
donor, you must pay at least as much UK Income Tax and /
or Capital Gains Tax as the amount reclaimed in respect of
your donations by the Diocese and any other charities that
you give to. If you no longer pay enough tax to cover 25%
of your donations please contact Dominic Berry (Parish Gift
Aid Organiser) on 0161 494 1174.
JUSTICE & CHARITY
WEEKLY FINANCE
VOLUNTEERING
SOUP(ER) LUNCHES IN LENT
There will be portions of soup available every Friday in Lent
th
(except March 6 which is Women`s World Day of Prayer)
at the 12 noon Mass.
Portions of soup will be available in containers and we ask
for a donation for CAFOD. This year every pound raised for
CAFOD during Lent will be matched by the Government. It
is a great opportunity for us to show solidarity with the
poor.
Please rinse and return empty soup containers as soon as
possible. Thank you.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Our industrious knitters would be very pleased with your
donations of nice chunky wool to knit hats for poor
children. Wool can be placed in the wool box in the church
porch.
EXPLORE 2 – WORLD YOUTH DAY 2015 with
Tenten Theatre company. Sunday 29th March, 2 - 5.30 pm.
St Chad's College, Runcorn. Event poster in porch. See Fr.
Tony for more details.
SUPPORT AND CHAPLAINCY
MARRIAGE CARE
If you are going through difficulties in your relationship
Stockport Marriage Care offer a confidential Counselling
service. You can contact them on 0800-389-3801.
Last week’s collection: £786.77
CAFOD:
£29.50
Standing Orders for February:
£2004
Thank you for your generosity
CARD SALE Many thanks to Philippa and all who
supported the Card Sale last weekend. £226 was raised
towards the Building Fund.
NEWSLETTER & WEBSITE
N.B. PARISH WEBSITE Please note that there has been
a slight change to the parish website address. The site
address now has '.uk' on the end so it now reads:
www.ourladyandstchristophersromiley.org.uk. My thanks
to Matthew Standing for maintaining the website for us
and
seeing
that
it
is
regularly
updated.
EASTER EGGS ..152 Easter Eggs were delivered to the
Methodist church…many, many thanks for such a generous
response.
ROMILEY METHODIST LADIES SOCIETY
The Ladies Society has invited Mr Arthur Cross to present
his film entitled”Camino de Santiago” (Pilgrimage to
Santiago) in Romiley Methodist Church on Wednesday April
15, starting promptly at 7.30pm.
Local parishioners, ladies, gentlemen and clergy from
surrounding churches are very welcome to attend and
refreshments will be served during the short interval. A
charge of £2 per person will be payable at the door. In the
th
absence of Maurice & Glenys before April 9 please make
any enquiries to Jean Browningon 430 5876 or Joan Donald
on 430 6994.
JOB VACANCY An Assistant Director of Primary Schools
is required by the Diocese of Shrewsbury. Salary circa
£52,000 - £62,000. Please see the noticebaord for further
information. Further information and an application form
are also available from the diocesan website
www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org
ORIGINAL CANON INK CARTRIDGES TO GIVE
AWAY (CLI-521bk,c,m,y & PGI-520BK). Please see
Christine in the parish office.
CLOCKS
th
Go forward one hour next Saturday, 28 March.
We `Spring` forward to British Summer Time.