PARISH OF THE SACRED HEART
www.sacredhearthenley.co.uk
31 Vicarage Road, Henley-on-Thames
Oxon, RG9 1HT
Tel: [01491] 573 258
E-mail: [email protected]
Registered as a Charity – No 234216
Parish Priest – Mgr Anthony Wilcox
Associate Priest – Dr Michael Doyle
Newsletter No 2332
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
www.shoodle.co.uk
Greys Hill, Henley-on-Thames
Oxon, RG9 1SL
Tel: (01491) 572796 Fax: (01491) 413838
E-mail: [email protected]
Headteacher – Mr Gerald Davis
TWENTY EIGTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
PSALTER
Sundays –Cycle A
WEEK THREE
Weekdays – Cycle 2
12TH October 2014
weekday mass helping to give out Holy
Communion or (weekdays) giving the chalice
with the precious blood.
There is a much more important work and
service that they do. We have some twenty
parishioners who are visited nearly every week.
They take them Holy Communion, pray with
them, and spend time with them. This is really
the corporal work of mercy of visiting the sick
being put into practice. When I came to the
parish twenty two years ago, there was just one
person on the sick list, I don’t think the 2000%
increase means more sickness, but that we are
now looking after people better.
As we commission them over the three masses,
remember them and the work they do in your
prayers.
Sat
Sun
[for Sun] 6.00 pm ) Harry Littlefair (Cassell)
8.30 am
10.30 am
Mon No Mass Today.
Tue 11.00 am Funeral Mass for Denis O’Mahony
Wed 9.15 am Morning Prayer
9.30 am Mass
Thurs 9.15 am Morning Prayer
9.30 am Javier Astrada (Schwarzenbach)
Fri
9.15 am Morning Prayer
9.30 am Mass
Sat
[for Sun] 6.00 pm
Sun
8.30 am & 10.30 am .
Confessions
Saturday 5.00 -5.45 pm or at a call
My dear parishioners,
This weekend we are commissioning the
Special Ministers of the Eucharist for our
parish. We often see them on a Sunday or
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I had a wonderful week in Rome, helping at the
College the first few days, looking after
important guests. They called me in because all
the students and staff were away on pilgrimage
to the Holy Land. I was invited too to take part
in the ceremony where Cardinal Vincent took
possession of his titular church (St Alphonso,
where you will find the icon to Our Lady of
Perpetual Succour). Technically he is now
“parish priest”. The idea is over a thousand
years old. The parish priests were the ones who
elected the Bishop of Rome, the pope. I joked
with the cardinal for this was the first time he
was ever a parish priest, but there was one
thing missing: they didn’t give him the parish
cheque book!
On Monday I was joined by four of the Christian
ministers of Henley (Revv Martyn Griffiths and
John Raitings of St Mary’s, Duncan Carter of
Trinity, Roger Cole of the Baptist Church). It
was good to be together, and see Rome at her
best. The weather was great, and we enjoyed
the city and more importantly, each other’s
company. One of the highlights was the papal
audience on Wednesday. Pope Francis was at
his best. As he drove through the crowds (and
they were huge), he beckoned to two young lads
to join him. He told them to sit down and
behave, just like anyone would do. They were
so full of smiles, and I am sure their parents
were very proud. The security guards were
insistent though: when they got down, they had
to kiss the pope!!
He spoke about Christian Unity, which was
fortuitous for us all, and I have printed the text
elsewhere. He said something very personal
too, starting with “I shouldn’t but I will”. He
was overjoyed that he was celebrating the 70th
anniversary of his First Holy Communion. Which
gives me the lead in to remind those to whom it
concerns, that the First Communion
Programme for children not at Sacred Heart
School starts this weekend?
Whilst in Rome I was able to get four sets (one
for each of the liturgical colours) of vestments.
We have purchased them to commemorate the
150th anniversary of the re-establishment of
catholic life in Henley (see the notice
elsewhere). I am pleased to announce that
three of them have been sponsored. I look
forward to hearing from another family who
would like the last set to be dedicated in the
name of their loved ones.
I am still compiling list of dates for parish
functions. Has anyone got anything? The
Mass for deceased spouses will be Friday
21st November at noon. And don’t forget
November 1st a very big day for the parish. See
the note elsewhere. And can YOU help? Thank
you those who so far have advised they can help
Continue to pray for the work of the Synod in
Rome; an important part of the life of the
church.
Bless you all,
Father Anthony
Parish Priest
Your prayers are asked for Denis O’Mahony,) who
has died. His funeral will take place 11.00 am Tuesday
14th October.
Lord, in your mercy, grant to our brother peace and joy
in your kingdom. May he rest in peace.
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Mass Attendance 201/21 Sep
6 pm (Sat)
8.30 am
10.30 am
2014
72
37
89
261
2013
93
48
99
240
PARISH ROTA for weekend 20th 21st September 2014
Twenty Ninth Sunday
in Ordinary time
Saturday 6 pm:
Karen Edwards, Jill Allen
Eucharistic Minister
(10.30 Mass)
Flowers
Children’s Liturgy
Church Cleaners
See page 141 in the parish
Mass book.
Sunday 8.30 am Philippa
Kelly & Luke Thompson
10.30 am: Jan French &
Laura Kilduff
Morag Stewart
Mary Heath
Matt Richardson & Kasia
Gwiarzda
Jan French, Eric & Frances
Lefebure, Eli Bradford
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REESTABLISHMENT OF MASS
Date for your diary
6 pm Saturday November 1st 2014
On this evening Archbishop Bernard will be coming
to the parish to celebrate Mass. The date is exactly
150 years after the celebration of the first Mass in
Henley after the Reformation.
It was celebrated by Fr Walshe, chaplain to Charles
Scott Murray, The latter was the server.
We will need help in organising a reception:
please let me know if you can help. This is
urgent.
This marks an very important event in parish history.
The faith that our forebears cherished was being reestablished here in Henley. I would like to draw your
attention to the wonderful informative History of the
Parish, entitled “A Pugin Legacy” copies of
which can be obtained at the back of church.
To commemorate this event, We intend to purchase
a set of vestments in the various liturgical colours
which will serve as a reminder and add to the
heritage of our parish. I am looking for volunteers to
sponsor these sets. One has already been. Would
your family like to do so in honour of the faith? Do
let me know.
We are still looking for helpers at the reception.
Please contact me or Julie Green on 01491 577977.
THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND
OF OUR PARISH
Below are listed the
names of parishioners
who are regularly visited
by our Eucharistic
Ministers, most of them
receiving Holy
Communion every week.
required would be attending a Committee
meeting every 6 weeks (or thereabouts) and
working with the Secretary and Treasurer as and
when required on aspects of management of the
setting. If you know somebody who you think
would be interested in the role please ask them to
contact Louise Earl [email protected] or
Andrea Tsoi (Secretary team)
[email protected] or 07968 237574 for
more information.
Mary Belson, Barbara Brogan, Ralph Kearns,
Halina Seligman, Melanie Clifford, Madeleine
Molenkamp, Monica Loder, Eileen Crane, Danny
Newbury, Ralph Kearns, Judith Skinner, Gillian
Engbers, Dee Preston, Jane Murray, Anne Wood,
Jean Knight, Kay O’Sullivan, Eithne Johnson,
Caroline Miecowska.Lilian & Gerard Brady.
Remember too the following sick or housebound:
Arthur Evans (brother-in-law of Margaret), Rita
Good, r, Mary McKenna (sister of Eleanor
Bradford), David Harrison (husband of Ann), Katie
Curtis (friend of Anne Sandars), John Grantham, Liz
Denneny and Bridget Mackey (sisters of Ann
Harrison) Dagmar Grenfell (sister-in-law of Caroline
Mieczkowska), Eileen Frewin, Josephine Faulkner
(mother of Anthony), James McNichol (3 year old
nephew of Mairead Cassel), Steven Nicol (7 year old
grandson of Margaret Evans who has leukaemia.)
Jackie Tidsbury. and Colin Burgess (relative of
Millie Deverell) William Handford age 22 who has
terminal cancer (friend of Eileen Preston)., Barry
Reynolds.
Most of these are from outside the parish, please do let
me know of corrections
All powerful and ever-living God,
the lasting health of all who believe in you,
hear us as we ask you loving help for our brothers and sisters.
Give them security and peace of mind;
may they rejoice in your gifts of kindness.
We ask this though Christ our Lord
CHAIRPERSON REQUIRED FOR SACRED HEART
PRE-SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Sacred Heart Pre-school is looking for a
Chairperson to head its Management Committee.
The role involves overseeing the management
and running of the Pre-school.
The role is voluntary as the committee is made up
of volunteer Pre-school parents. The commitment
C:\Users\Jill\Downloads\2332 Twenty Eight Sunday 121014.doc
Pope Francis on Wednesday in St Peter’s
Square.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Good morning,
In recent catecheses, we have tried to highlight the
nature and the beauty of the Church and we have
asked ourselves what it means for each of us to
belong to this people, the People of God, which is the
Church. We must not forget, however, that there are
so many brothers and sisters who share with us the
faith in Christ, but who belong to other confessions or
to traditions different from ours. Many have resigned
themselves to this division — even within our Catholic
Church many are resigned — which, in the course of
history, has often been the cause of conflict and of
suffering, also of war and this is a disgrace! Today
too, relations are not always characterized by respect
and courtesy.... But, I wonder: we, how do we feel
about all this? Are we too, resigned, if not actually
indifferent, to this division? Or do we firmly believe
that one can and must walk in the direction of
reconciliation
and
of
full
communion?
Full
communion, that is, for everyone to be able to
partake together in the Body and Blood of Christ.
Divisions among Christians, while they wound the
Church, wound Christ; and divided, we cause a
wound to Christ: the Church is indeed the body of
which Christ is the Head. We know well how much
Jesus had at heart that his disciples should remain
united in his love. It suffices to consider his words,
written in the 17th Chapter of the Gospel according
to John, in the prayer to the Father when his passion
was imminent: “Holy Father, keep them in thy name,
which thou hast given me, that they may be one,
even as we are one” (Jn 17:11). This unity was
already threatened while Jesus was still among them:
in the Gospel, in fact, it is recorded that the Apostles
argued among themselves about who was the
greatest, the most important (cf. Lk 9:46). The Lord,
however, emphatically insisted on unity in the name
of the Father, allowing us to understand how much
more credible our proclamation and our witness will
be if we are first able to live in communion and to
love each other. That is what his Apostles, with the
grace of the Holy Spirit, would then deeply
understand and take to heart, so much so that St
Paul would reach the point of imploring the
community of Corinth with these words: “I appeal to
you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions
among you, but that you be united in the same mind
and the same judgment” (1 Cor 1:10).
During her journey in history, the Church has been
tempted by the Evil One, who seeks to divide her,
and unfortunately it has been marked by deep and
painful schisms. They are divisions that at times,
have been long and drawn out in time, up until today,
which is why it is now difficult to reconstruct all the
motivations and especially to find possible solutions.
The reasons which have led to the fractures and
schisms may be the most diverse: from disagreement
on dogmatic and moral principles and on theological
concepts and pastoral differences, to political motives
and convenience, to disputes caused by dislikes and
personal ambition.... What is certain is that, in one
way or another, arrogance and selfishness have
always been behind these lacerations, rendering us
intolerant, incapable of listening and accepting one
with a vision or a position different from ours.
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Now, faced by all of this, is there something that
every one of us, as members of the Holy Mother
Church, can and must do? Certainly, there must
never be a shortage of prayer, in continuity and in
communion with that of Jesus, prayer for the unity of
Christians. And together with prayer, the Lord asks
us for renewed openness: He asks us not to be closed
to dialogue and to encounter, but to welcome all that
is valid and positive which is offered even by
someone who thinks differently from us or who takes
a different stand. He asks us not to fix our gaze on
what divides us, but rather on what unites us,
seeking to know and love Jesus better and to share
the richness of his love. And this means a concrete
adherence to the Truth, together with the capacity for
reciprocal forgiveness, to feel a part of the same
Christian family, consider oneself a gift for the other
and together to do many good things, and works of
charity.
It is grievous but there are divisions, there are many
divided Christians, we have split amongst ourselves.
But we all have something in common: we all believe
in Jesus Christ, the Lord. We all believe in the Father,
in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit, and we all walk
together, we are on the journey. Let us help one
another! You think this way, you think that way.... In
all communities there are good theologians: let them
debate, let them seek theological truth because it is a
duty, but let us walk together, praying for one
another and doing works of charity. And like this, we
are in communion on the journey. This is called
spiritual ecumenism: to journey on the path of life,
everyone together in our faith, in Jesus Christ the
Lord. They say that one should not talk about
personal things, but I cannot resist the temptation.
We are speaking about communion... communion
among us. And today, I am so thankful to the Lord
because 70 years ago today, I made my First
Communion. To make our First Communion we must
know what it means to enter into communion with
others, in communion with the brothers and sisters of
our Church, but also in communion with those who
belong to different communities but who believe in
Jesus. Let us thank the Lord for our Baptism, let us
thank the Lord for our communion, in order that this
communion become joint communion with everyone,
together.
Dear friends, let us therefore proceed toward full
unity! History has separated us, but we are on the
path toward reconciliation and communion! And this
is true! And we must defend it! We are all on the path
toward communion. And when the goal seems too
distant, almost unreachable, and we feel gripped by
despair, let us be comforted by the idea that God
cannot close his ears to the voice of his Son Jesus or
fail to grant his and our prayer: that all Christians
may truly be one.