MASS DURING LOCKDOWN

There will be no physical attendance at Masses from, and including Thursday 5th November, until the regulations for this second period of lockdown are lifted. Please check for updates on this page. Masses will continue to be live streamed, but please note that on Sundays there will only be one Mass at 10.15am.

PARISH OFFICE OPENING HOURS

Please note that during this second period of lockdown, and until further notice, the Parish Office opening hours will be from Tuesdays to Fridays from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Outside of these times, Fr Jamie will respond to urgent phone messages as soon as he can.

THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

DOUBLE THE LOVE! - A BIG THANK YOU

THANK YOU so much to everyone from the parish who have been so generous in supporting our Mary’s Meals fundraiser. I am delighted to report a running total of £5686.54. The boost from the Government has been a great help but that does not demise the fantastic contribution you have all made. God Bless you all. Sue.

THANK YOU - AND AN INVITATION

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• Firstly, A BIG THANK YOU to all who purchased Christmas cards. We have raised over £500 plus donations so far. We have some cards left, so if anyone would like any please ring Mary on 534873 or Anne on 520171.

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• Friends of the Holy Land also invite you to join them via Zoom on two occasions: 7.00pm on Wednesday 9 December when Peter Rand, FHL’s Vice Chairman, would like to share with you and take questions on the reality of life with COVID for our Christian brothers and sisters in the West Bank, Gaza, Israel and Jordan, as we approach Christmas – a very different experience to ours in the UK. Peter has visited the Holy Land frequently in the last 10 years and is in regular contact with the FHL Bethlehem office and other partners. Please email Peter at and he will send you the link to access the meeting.

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• Also, at 10am on Saturday 5 December, FHL are organising a live cookery demonstration of a traditional Palestinian Christmas meal, prepared by the ladies at St. Martha’s House, a Day Care Centre in Bethlehem. Again, please email Peter who will send you the link.

PARISH MISSION - EPISODE 4

Sr. Veronica OP from the Formation for Mission Team shares information on a new series of short videos to help parishes understand the Mission of a parish in the Light of the New Evangelisation. There will be a total of six short videos (about 10-15 minutes long) helping parishes to gain a better perspective of the role and purpose of a Parish; how to develop a parish vision in a variety of practical ministries such as youth, marriage and family, and areas such as the sick and housebound also especially recognising those who are marginalised members of the wider parish community. Click on the video image above to watch Episode 4:  Ministry of Compassion.

If you missed earlier episodes, you can still access them below:

• Episode 1: The Parish - the Mission of the People of God

• Episode 2: What is a Parish?

• Episode 3: Creating a Parish Vision

• Episode 4: Ministry of Compassion

TEACHING VACANCY

Key Stage 2 Teacher Vacancy (Fixed-Term)

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We are looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic and committed teacher, who would be supportive of our school mission statement and the Catholic ethos of our school, to teach a Year 6 class from January 2021 to July 2021. Calls to discuss this position further with our Headteacher, Mrs Maria Delany-White are encouraged and warmly welcomed.

Please contact The School Business Manager (01235 521558 or ) to request an application pack. Closing date: Friday 27th Nov. 2020 at 4pm

OLA SCHOOL - ONLINE OPEN MORNING

Our Lady’s Abingdon is holding a virtual live Open Morning on Wednesday 25 November from 9.30-10.45am.  During this 75 minute session you can hear live from our Principal, OLA teaching staff, Admissions, and enjoy a pre-recorded tour of our school. There will also be the opportunity for you to ask questions that you may have about OLA. Pre-event registration is required – please register online here.  Full details about the programme and how to join this event will be provided 48 hours before the event begins. We look forward to talking to you about our happy, successful school.

HELPING THE DOMINICAN SISTERS

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Since February, the Dominican Sisters' guest house, which is their principal source of income, has been frozen and they have had to seek income from different sources. Please consider shopping at their online shop, which you can access here. 

Their talented sisters have been working very hard during this last six months, building up their stocks for Christmas. Sr Lucy and Sr Catherine have built up a beautiful stock of original watercolours and calligraphy cards. In this time of lockdown when you cannot go out to do normal Christmas shopping you may find something special for Christmas here, and be able to support their community in a very special way, perhaps by purchasing their cards! 

CHRISTMAS LUNCH

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Sadly, we cannot host a lunch in our parish centre this year. However, Peachcroft Christian Centre are offering to deliver festive hampers (edible and non-edible items) on Christmas day to those who would otherwise be alone or are in need of help. If you would like this help – or know anyone that would – please can you let them know as soon as possible by either emailing: or phoning 07379 469311.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE

This Sunday, the final week for this liturgical year, we mark the feast of Christ the King. It is one of many opportunities the Catholic Liturgical Church year offers to each of us to consider the creature which is called time, receive it as a gift and begin to really live differently. Our actually choosing to live the Christian year, in a compelling way, can become a profoundly important form of missionary activity in an age which has become deluded by the barrenness of secularism.

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Jesus Christ is King and we are the seeds of His Kingdom scattered in the garden of a world which is waiting to be born anew. The Church really IS the Mystical Body of the Risen Christ. That Body is inseparably joined to the Head. Jesus Christ is alive, he has been raised, and he continues His redemptive mission now through the Church, of which we are members. (extracts from www.catholic.org)

NATIONAL YOUTH SUNDAY

National Youth Sunday 2020 (NYS) takes place on Sunday 22nd November, the feast of Christ the King. It represents an opportunity to explicitly recognise young people - their gifts, talents and uniqueness. It also provides the Church with an opportunity to thank them for and affirm their contribution to the life of the local and universal Church.

The Catholic Youth Ministry Federation has produced a host of resources to help facilitate the celebration of National Youth Sunday in school, parish and at home. Please look here to have a look. Resources are split into four categories; For You; For Parish; For School; and For Family. They include Prayers of intercession, a Children’s liturgy pack, and a Family five minutes video. 

Youth ministry teams and organisations will also lead a nine-day Novena to Christ the King starting on Friday 13th November. The Novena will be live on Instagram. The text will be available on social media to pray the Novena at a time that suits. Keep up to date with developments and resources by following @NationalYouthSunday on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

DONATIONS TO THE FOODBANK

Urgently needed are:

• Tinned meat (ham, corned beef, meatballs, stew, curry)

• Tinned vegetables (carrots, potatoes) or Instant potatoes

• Tinned fish (tuna, salmon, mackerel, sardines, pilchards)

• Jam, marmalade and honey

• Tins or long life cartons of custard Small (500g) bags of sugar

Christmas donations:

Last Christmas the foodbank gave out hampers to over 200 households. This year it is more important than ever to help. They are asking for donations of the items below by 11th December, and making sure that the ‘best before dates’ on all items are 26th December or later. If you cannot deliver yourself, email   with your name and postal address and we will pick up from you - if you live in the Abingdon area....

SCOUTS & GUIDES CHRISTMAS POST

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Due to the pandemic situation, this year’s operation of the Abingdon Scouts and Guides Christmas Post has been cancelled.

CAROL ON YOUR DOORSTEP

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Another date for your diary.... To celebrate Christmas together – socially distanced - you are invited to join in with your community and sing the carol Silent Night from your own doorstep on Thursday 17 December at 8pm. Abingdon Town Council are supporting this event. You can view and/or download the lyrics for this carol here.

ALTON DAY OF RENEWAL

Alton Day of Renewal (ADoRE) Saturday 28 November 10.00-12.45. A mini conference for spiritual renewal with Mass, Adoration, praise, prophecy, and an inspiring talk “Do whatever He tells you” from Catholic evangelist Ros Powell.

Please register in advance for Zoom by following this link here: bi
For more information go to the ADoRE website here.

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ADoRE is also offering prayer for healing by telephone Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and now additionally on Thursdays and Fridays 4-8pm. Ring 07579 824523 and leave a message. Experienced prayer ministers will pray with you for your needs.

24 HOURS WITH THE LORD

Bishop Philip invites all of us to keep with him a special Day of Prayer and Fasting for an End to the Coronavirus Pandemic. The Day is called “Twenty-Four Hours with the Lord” and will take place on Friday 27th November 2020. This is the last Friday of the Church’s Liturgical Year before we enter the new Year with the First Sunday of Advent (29th November). We can pray earnestly for:

• a speedy end to the pandemic,

• the protection of all, especially our family and friends,

• the health of the sick and those who care for them,

• those suffering financially or in other ways,

• patients in hospitals and the residents of care-homes,

• all medical staff and key workers,

• government leaders, scientists and advisors,

• the discovery of an effective, ethically-sourced, vaccine,

• patience, perseverance and mental well-being

• all who have died and those who mourn them.

You can see the programme scheduled for Portsmouth Cathedral here, and you are invited to join in as much as you can by live-stream. You can also read or download the booklet for the day here (the programme is on page 3).

In our parish, you are invited to join in praying the Rosary at 8pm on Zoom. Email, well in advance, to get the joining in details.

CiA NEWSLETTER

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You can read the latest newsletter here.

PARISH BLOG

Please visit our Parish Blog on this section of our website for regular snippets of information and updates.

BE PREPARED

We spend much of our lives living our faith and so preparing for God’s Kingdom when we die. Why not also make sure that our loved ones know our wishes for our funeral when we die? There is a form to help you to do this, which can download here.