Catholic Community in Cheltenham
Served by the Diocese of Clifton Registered Charity Number 233977
First Sunday of Lent
Psalter Week 1 & Proper of Season
22nd February 2015
Page No. 148
Jesus was tempted by Satan, and the angels looked after him (Mark: 1:12-15)
St Gregory the Great 10 St James Square, GL50 3PR 01242 523737
St Thomas More Princess Elizabeth Way, GL51 7RA 01242 573128
www.40daysforlife.com
Daily Prayer
Fasting
Witness
Parish Priest:
Canon Bosco MacDonald VF
Assistant Priest: Fr Frank Wainwright
Fr David McDonald
Deacon:
Rev. Robin Littlewood
Parish Websites:
www.stgregorys.org.uk, www.stthomasmorechurch.org.uk
Schools:
St Gregory’s RC Primary School, St James Square GL50 3QG
St Thomas More RC Primary School, Lewis Road, Hesters Way GL51 OHZ
All Saints’ Academy, Blaisdon Way, Cheltenham GL51 OWH
Sacred Hearts Moorend Road, Charlton Kings, GL53 9AU
01242 524932
of Jesus and Mary
Parish Priest:
Fr Paul Brandon Parish Website: www.sacredhearts.org.uk
Mass Times this Week
22nd Sunday
5.00pm (Sat)
5.30pm (Sat)
8.15am
9.30am
10.30am
11.15am
4.15pm
6.00pm
23rd Monday
9.30am
24th Tuesday
11.30am
25th
26th
27th
28th
First Sunday of Lent
St Thomas More World Peace
Sacred Hearts
Maura McNulty RIP
Sacred Hearts
Daphne Garman RIP
St Gregory
People of the Parish
Sacred Hearts
People of the Parish
St Gregory
Margaret MacDonald RIP
Sacred Hearts
Mass in Polish
St Gregory
Private Intention
Weekday of Lent
St Gregory
Paul Mason RIP
Weekday of Lent
St Gregory
Requiem Mass for
Patrick Donovan RIP
Wednesday Weekday of Lent
9.30am
St Gregory
Jack & Delia Kirwan RIP
10.00am
Sacred Hearts
Maureen McCabe
Thursday
Weekday of Lent
9.30am
St Gregory
Frank Hill RIP
7.00pm
Sacred Hearts
Sue Ball RIP
Friday
Weekday of Lent
7.00am
St Thomas More Intentions of Bernie Warner
9.15am
Sacred Hearts
Francesco Di Paola RIP
12noon
St Gregory
Requiem Mass for Sue Ball RIP
Saturday
Weekday of Lent
9.30am
St Gregory
Therese Edsforth RIP
10.00am
Sacred Hearts
Private Intention
Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Prayer before the
Blessed Sacrament at St Gregory’s: Saturday 10.00am-11.00am; Thursday
10.00am-3.00pm ending with Benediction; Sacred Hearts: 1st Friday of the
month, 9.15am-12.30pm.
Sacrament of Reconciliation: St Gregory’s Saturdays 10.00am; St Thomas
More 4.15-4.45pm. 1st Thursday at St Thomas More 5pm Confessions in
Polish. Sacred Hearts Thursdays 7.30pm and Saturdays 10.30am. Also by
arrangement with the priests.
RCIA Journey in Faith: Every Thursday, 7-9pm in the Presbytery.
Baptisms: By arrangement with the Parish Office.
Cheltenham Catholic Adults: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. Contact
Margaret 07515 805015 or Damian 07908 105787.
55 Club: After 9.30am Mass, in Old Priory (alternate Thursdays). Next
meeting: 5th March. Talk by Mr David Armstrong (Head Ranger, National
Trust). “The Management of National Trust Countryside in the Cotswolds”.
Choir Practice: In Church, Thursdays at 7.00pm. New members welcome.
Contact John on: 07769 675323.
NEVER SINK SO LOW?
Everyone has temptations. Some are small, like the
urge to finish off all the chocolates in the box. Others
are great, like the tendency to get so wrapped up in
myself that I fail to see the needs of others. Most of
us will admit to certain weaknesses, but there are
some temptations that we are really ashamed of and
would not like the person next to us to know about.
We feel so demeaned by this sort of temptation. If
people knew about it they would surely change their
opinion of me? And we wish we didn’t have it. Lent
teaches us three important lessons about
temptations. The first is that no one can escape
them. However much we might like it to be
otherwise, every one of us suffers temptations. It is
part of our human nature that we have urges and
desires to do things that we know to be wrong, know
to be harmful to us in the end. It can be so hard for
us to make a right judgement about the long term
effects of our actions, rather than giving in to what
seems to be good for us at the moment. Lent’s
second lesson is hard to grasp, and it seems
incredible at first sight. It is that Christ, when
tempted by Satan, experienced the depths of our
temptations. The temptation which we are ashamed
to talk openly about, the one we don’t want
broadcasting, that one was put before Jesus. It had
to be if he was going to redeem it. If the only
temptation Jesus ever suffered was the one about
the chocolates in the box, then he would be
powerless to know our real human nature and to
conquer it. He had to sink lower. He had to be
tempted at the very depths of human existence, to
be brought to rock bottom. We begin Lent every
year by reminding ourselves that Christ has
conquered the very worst of sin and evil. The good
news, and the third lesson, is that temptations are
not sins. To be tempted is not to do wrong. However
repulsive we may find temptations, if we do not give
into them, then we have nothing to blame ourselves
for. On the contrary, by examining carefully the sort
of temptations we face, we can come to understand
those areas of our life that need attention. By
becoming spiritually aware of our danger areas, we
can begin to work on our behaviour to change it for
the better. The best thing to do with a temptation is
to face it. The worst thing is to pretend it is not there.
so Lent is a time for doing penance for our sin. But it
is also a time for rejoicing in the fact that sin can no
longer have any permanent hold over us if we live
our lives for Christ.
Finance
Last week’s offertory collection came to: £1,083.73
(STG); £335.96 (STM); Bingo £105. Thank you all for
your support.
Lenten Alms
During the season of Lent, Lenten Alms are offered for
distribution by the Bishop. Please place your offerings in
the box marked Lenten Alms.
CAFOD Lent Fast Day
Envelopes for next Friday’s Fast Day will be collected
next weekend. For storm, drought and flood relief.
Baptism
Congratulations and welcome to Liliana Anna Pyplowska
who was baptised at St Thomas More recently. We
welcome her into the Church, and offer our love and
prayers to Liliana and her family.
Stations of the Cross
During Lent, Stations of the Cross will be on
Wednesdays at 7pm & Sundays at 5pm at St Gregory’s.
Parish Pastoral Council
If any parishioner wishes to raise any matter for
discussion at the meeting, next Tuesday evening, they
will be most welcome to speak to a PPC member at the
end of the end of Mass this weekend.
Caritas
New edition out today! Lots of parish news and great
Lenten reading! Pick up your copy from the table by the
side door or from the back of church for just £1.50.
Lent Contemplative Prayer
Mondays in Lent, starting February 23rd, join us
between 2-3pm at 54 Alstone Croft, GL51 8HA, for quiet
prayer, followed by a period of reading the Sunday Lent
gospels as Lectio Divina. Phone Maryse on 01242
237605 for details.
40 Days for Life
The Cheltenham team will hold vigil in front of the
Cheltenham General Hospital between 8am-6pm on
Fridays during Lent. Please support us with your
prayers, any form of fasting that is appropriate for you,
and if possible come and pray with us in front of the
hospital. By persevering in this, we plead with God to
convert our nation's heart and to make us respect every
human life from conception to natural death.
The Gloucester team will be at the West Entrance of
Gloucester Royal Hospital every day in Lent. For more
info, contact James Tranter (07796 511375 or
40daysforlife.com/gloucester).
Heart2Heart Walk
Raised £3795.02 for “help4heroes” and computers for
the “Serendip Children's Home” in Sri Lanka. Many
thanks from Steve and Johannes.
Prayer Breakfast
The March breakfast meeting will be on Saturday, 7th
March 9.30-11am. Jacob Holbrook (Youth Team) will
come and give a talk. All welcome.
Church Flower Arranging
Our flower teams have been depleted recently. Would
anyone be interested in joining us once a month? If
interested, please contact Shirley on 238345.
First Confessions
Will be held on the 7th & 21st March. On those days
approximately 25 children will receive this Sacrament
from 10am, ahead of regular parishioners. Please pray
for our children as they take this important step.
Newman Association
Rev Canon Richard Atkins will speak on Collar and Mic
– an Odyssey. Tuesday 3rd March at 7.45pm, Sacred
Hearts Parish Hall. £3 (members & students free).
Enquires to Stephanie Jamison (01242 539810).
Charity Work Talk
Serryth Colbert is a cleft lip and palate specialist and he
is giving a talk about the charity work he does with NHS
consultants and nurses in India. This talk will be during
Proteen at 7.30pm on Sunday 1st March. Parents,
teachers, families are all welcome.
St Thomas More Catholic Primary
To celebrate the school's 40th birthday, we are looking
for people who have had a connection with us over the
past 40 years. Anyone who has a story to share, or
especially photos, should email:
[email protected]
or write to Mrs June Little, by 14th March 2015.
Lourdes Easter Pilgrimage
A group will be travelling to Lourdes via Jumbulance on
Thu 2nd – Sat 11th April. Anyone interested in joining
please contact [email protected] or
phone 07973115268.
Traidcraft
As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, we are selling cards and
cakes after the 9.30 and 11.15 Masses on March 1st.
Lenten Reading
Instead of giving something up for Lent, why not take up
a book from the Parish Library? There is a good
selection of books on spirituality, travel in the Holy Land
and biographies of saints. The Library is on the top floor
of the Old Priory, open after every Mass.
Calling All Singers for Easter
We're going to sing some traditional Polish music and
pieces by Tallis, Allegri and Mozart. There will be one
practice per week in the Old Priory on Saturday
afternoons (2-4pm). The first is on 28th February. All
singers are welcome!
Women’s World Day of Prayer
On Friday 6th March, you are warmly invited to the local
service at 10.30am in Cheltenham Minster (St Mary’s
parish church). This year’s service has been written by
the women of the Bahamas, and will be followed by
refreshments and a taste of the Bahamas.
Proclaim ‘15
A big new initiative in England & Wales inspired by Pope
Francis’ vision for the Church. Includes free materials for
small groups, local events, prayer vigils and a national
conference on 11th July. Search online for ‘Proclaim 15’.
Prayers are asked for:
Sick: Liz Sawaf, Claire Young, Sean Murphy, Helen
Stanbury, Grace Stevens, Bruce Francis, Jenny
Dabrowska, Teresa Patterson, Bernie Warner, Deirdre
Kelleher, Helen Dorothy Gorry, Denise Ellis, Kevin Dunn,
Christopher & Clifford Brown, Margaret Ellis, Julia & Danny
Barr, Teresa & Paddy O’Kelly, Bridie
Ruck, Angela
Savidge, Pauline Crosbie, Emily Cousins, Rey Lluisma,
Bridget Garvey, Maddie Read, Dan Perry, Pete Thacker,
Mary Costello, Adrian Davis, Lisa Partridge, Dillon Bright,
Sheila Deneher, Margaret Byrne, John Flood.
Anniversaries: Kathleen Evans, Andrzej Dabrowski, Betty
Etheredge, Frank Hill, Rosa Bugesa, Esther Lidbury, Aldo &
Ginetta Bondioli, Anna O’Sullivan, Ian (Mervyn) Vaughan,
Margaret Gibbons, James Fletcher, Audrey Tyler, Gerard
David Keenan, William (Billy) Martin, Olive Whelan.