MASSES AND OTHER INFORMATION
Please visit the Mass Times page for more information on Mass times and other events, or click here.
PARISH OFFICE OPENING HOURS
The parish office opening hours are from 8.15am to 12.15pm Tuesday to Friday. Closed on Bank Holidays. The office will be closed on Wednesday 20th May.
REFLECTION
Today is the Sunday between Ascension and Pentecost. We are gathered here to do what Christ asked his apostles to do, namely, to wait in prayer for the coming of the Spirit. We can be certain that Mary is with us, as she was with the apostles in the upper room. We too need the grace, power and love of the Spirit of Jesus. “I am neither a man of letters nor of science, but I humbly claim to be a man of prayer. It is prayer that has saved my life. Without it I would have lost my reason long ago. If I did not lose my peace or soul, in the midst of my many trials, it is because of the peace that came to me through prayer. One can live several days without food, but not without prayer. Prayer is the key to each morning, and the lock to each evening. It is a sacred alliance between God and us. It delivers us from the clutches of the devil. We have to choose either to ally ourselves with the forces of evil or with forces of good. Let everyone try this experience, and they will find that daily prayer will add something new to their lives, something which cannot be found elsewhere. This is my sacred teaching”. Mahatma Gandhi.
ESSENTIAL ONLINE CATECHISTS TRAINING
Thank you to those who have kindly responded to the request for volunteer catechists. If you would like to volunteer to serve as a catechist and have not yet done so, there is still time. In order to support you, and catechists already serving, there will be a short essential catechist training course offered online, by ‘Light of Truth’ – Dominican Sisters of St Joseph, on three consecutive Saturday mornings, 16th, 23rd and 30th May, 9am-12 noon. If you would like to take this opportunity and register for the course, please contact Pauline Hanley at: pehanley@hotmail.com Tel: 07506 753085.
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGES
Our Diocese is offering two pilgrimages:
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The pilgrimage to Lourdes from Monday 6th July until Friday 10th July will give the opportunity to pray for the Church, for Vocations to the priesthood, for the world, for peace, for the sick of our Diocese and all visitors and pilgrims to the Sanctuary. Information is available here, and the booking form is available here.
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The pilgrimage to Turin and Assisi in Italy from Monday 20th July until Sunday 26th July will give the opportunity to learn about and experience the lives of our two newest saints - St Carlo Acutis and St Pier Giorgio Frassati. Information is available here, and more details and the booking form is available here.
You can also contact Canon PJ Smith directly by emailing: fatherpj@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
PARISH DAY
Our Parish Day this year will be on Sunday 5th July. Keep this date in your diary. More details later.
GIFT AID GIVING IN THE NEW YEAR
If you give regularly through gift aid Please collect a blue box or a white envelope from the back of church. Any queries please email: accounts.abi@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk or drop a note into the parish office.
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In the last 6 months we received £14,156 for Gift Aid from HMRC, representing about 20% of our total income as a parish. Thank you. However, as a result of changes to Diocesan record keeping and a change to our charity number we need to obtain an updated Gift Aid declaration from you. Without this we will be unable to continue to claim Gift Aid on your donations.
The diocese have developed an online form to make the process of obtaining valid Gift Aid Declarations easier. You can access the form here, or on the diocesan website, where the form can be found on the Support Us tab by choosing Gift Aid from the drop down menu. Filling in the form takes only a few minutes.
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If you prefer, to fill out the paper-based Gift Aid Declaration, send a request to accounts.abi@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk and, once completed, return it to the Parish Office.
If you have any questions or need any help completing the form please contact Carole Sawyers on accounts.abi@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk or contact the Parish Office with your name and phone number.
UPCOMING SECOND COLLECTIONS
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The second/retiring collection on Sunday 17th May is for the Catholic Communications Network.
CAKES & ALES FESTIVAL
To celebrate the special 850th anniversary of St Edmund of Abingdon on 16th May this year, a small group from our local churches and town have come together to arrange a celebration. Information on the programme is available by clicking on the image above or here, and there is a box of at the back of church with the ‘pick and choose’ programme for the day - these will also be handed out on the 18th April. In addition, there is extra information on the piano recital happening on the day, which can be seen here. Please save this date in your diary, and do come along and enjoy something special and unique. For further information, contact Clare on 07810 192267.
SUPPORT THE FOODBANK
We cannot miss the fact that food prices have risen and are still rising. As a parish, we encourage you to please continue to support those who cannot afford enough food - through the Abingdon Food Bank. For practical reasons, and because nearly all supermarkets now have collection points as you leave their premises, it is easier for you to place your donations there, so please do not leave your contributions in our church. You can find out what is needed, the location of collection points, and also make a money donation, here. Thank you.
CATECHISM IN A YEAR
Fr Mike Schmitz from Ascension Press has produced a 365-day podcast entitled "The Catechism in a Year". Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, providing insight, explanation, and encouragement as the Church's teachings are explored, following a reading plan inspired by Ascension's "Foundations of Faith" approach. Listeners can follow along with any recent version of the Catechism and can find the reading plan on the Ascension website. More information is available here.
Abingdon Community Fridge fights food waste by redistributing surplus food from local businesses and members of the community. The Abingdon Community Fridge is open to all. For more information visit their Facebook page here, or email info@abingdoncommunityfridge.org.uk
They are located at Hadland Road Community Centre, OX14 3YH and open on:
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Mondays: 4.00-4.30pm
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Thursdays: 1.00-2.00pm
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Saturdays: 10.30-11.30am
The Community Fridge is in need of funding to continue its work (hire of hall, insurance, food safety training for volunteers, etc.). To donate, please use this link here, or contact margaretdhancox@gmail.com
PARISH NEWSLETTERS
Items for the newsletter should be sent to the parish office (abingdon@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk) by the Wednesday of each week please. Copies are available in the church and on this website here. Please keep contributions as brief as possible and please take newsletters home with you. Thank you.
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DIOCESAN NEWS
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To keep up to date with the news of the Diocese and the Bishop please follow on:
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E- News: use the link here. (subscription service available)
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Facebook: @PortsmouthRC
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Twitter: @PortsmouthRC
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The Diocese website: https://www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/
If you would like to share news with the rest of the Diocese, please contact: communications@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
JOB VACANCIES IN OUR DIOCESE
All current vacancies in the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth can be viewed here.
NEW TO THE PARISH? OR CHANGED ADDRESS?
We warmly welcome all new parishioners who have joined our parish in the last year. Please do make yourselves known if you have not already done so, and also let us know if you would like to contribute to parish life in any way. If you have already registered with us, but have changed your address or contact details, please also let us know. Forms and other information are available on our website here to register. Forms and other information are also available in the porch at our church. You can view and download our welcome booklet here. You can also view our latest annual report here.
ARE YOU IN NEED OR WANT TO HELP OTHERS?
For nearly two centuries the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) has been seeking and finding those in need and responding in love. As well as visits, we can offer practical and financial help where possible. We always maintain confidentiality. Our SVP members meet every fortnight on a Wednesday evening. If you are in need or know someone who is, do contact our parish SVP group via the parish office and we will see what we can do to help. Equally, if you would like to get involved in any way, please do contact us.
NEW CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL
Since the closure of OLA School last August, a core group of parishioners have been working diligently to acquire the site to enable the re-establishment of a Catholic Secondary school. The school has to be independent until the education system enables a transition to a state funded school. The full proposal for the school can be read in the Prospectus which can be found here. More briefly, Bishop Philip's, and other endorsements of the proposal can be read separately here.
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The group is now looking to recruit benefactors who will support the project financially which is a major undertaking. Please keep them and their work in your prayers so that the objectives can be achieved.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
God our Father, You have created for us some definite purpose. Grant us the grace to know the path You have planned for us in this life and to hear you call. May we respond with a generous “Yes.” Bless our Diocese, our parishes, and our families and mould hearts to be fruitful and receptive ground for Your gift of vocations. May our young people respond to Your call with courage and zeal. Stir among our men a desire and the courage and strength to be good and holy priests. Bless us with consecrated religious, permanent deacons and those called to a chaste single life. Gift us with faithful husbands and wives, who are a sign of Christ’s love for His Church. We commend our prayer for vocations to You, Father, through the intercession of Mary our Mother, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYING WITH POPE LEO DURING MAY
Pope Leo’s prayer intention for MAY invites Catholics to pray that everyone might have food, as he highlights how millions of brothers and sisters continue to suffer from hunger while so much food is wasted. Pope Leo's initiative called Pray with the Pope can be viewed here and also his worldwide prayer network for Scotland, England and Wales is available here. Pope Leo also told a group of journalists that we should “Work for peace and seek solutions without weapons.” He said: “Pray for peace, work for peace, less hatred. Hatred in the world is constantly increasing.” “Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain, and death, but only through a reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue,” he said. His prayer for peace can be followed here.
EVENTS AT BOARS HILL
This July the Carmelite Priory at Boars Hill are hosting three gatherings to mark the 300th anniversary of the canonisation of Saint John of the Cross and the 100th anniversary of his proclamation as Doctor of the Church. The events are open to all Catholics and available both in person at the Priory and online.
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Saturday 11th July: Within God - A Music Concert on the writings of St John of the Cross. You can view the programme and book a place here.
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10th to 11th July: Contemplative Creativity & Human Flourishing - Exploring the mystical wisdom of St John of the Cross for our times. You can view the programme and register here.
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12th to 16th July: Spirituality Summer School - Exploring the Sayings of Light and Love - a treasury of spiritual insight from St John of the Cross. You can view information and register here.
TYBURN MARTYRS WALK
The Tyburn Martyrs Walk will take place on Sunday May 17th. We will meet at 1.30pm in the churchyard of St Giles-in-the-Fields (nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road) and will walk to the site of Tyburn gallows, honouring the courageous Catholic martyrs who met their deaths there in the 16th and 17th centuries. We will finish with Benediction and Tea at Tyburn Convent. To help with arrangements, please let the organisers know that you are coming by emailing: info@tyburnmartyrswalk.co.uk
For more information, visit: www.catholichistorywalks.com
PRAYER IN MAY
This May, our parish is invited to join Mary’s Meals UK in their annual Pray in May campaign, praying for children worldwide who rely on a daily meal at school. Mary’s Meals UK has produced a range of free prayer resources, which can help us reflect on how prayer can lead to hope and practical action for those most in need. These resources are available using the link here.
PRAYER FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
God our Father, we thank you for all our young people who are preparing for their First Holy Communion or the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding and fill them with a sense of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
CAR PARKING PLEA
​The residents of Penlon Place and Radley Road are having increased issues with parking within their street and road when services in our church are being held. Poor parking has also made it incredibly dangerous to enter and exit their road due to the junction being blocked. Please use the public car park near Waitrose (free parking on Sunday) or other public car park, and leave the church car park for those who are genuinely unable to walk the short distance to church. Thank you for your understanding and support.
YOUTH MINISTRY GAP YEAR OPPORTUNITY
Are you aged 18-25 and looking for a new challenge? The Diocese of Lancaster has a Youth Ministry team based in Keswick in the Lake District. They run retreats at Castlerigg Manor and also work in Churches and schools around the area. The ‘Youth Ministry Internship’ scheme comes with high quality training, experience, and recognised qualifications and gives young people the chance to join a welcoming community and a vibrant team doing some amazing work. Interested? Visit their website here or email: director@castleriggmanor.co.uk or .
PRAYER FOR CHRISTIANS IN AREAS OF CONFLICT
Pope Leo invites the faithful to pray that Christians living in the midst of war may be seeds of peace. You can watch his video above, and here is the text of Pope Leo’s prayer intention:
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God of peace, who through the blood of Your Son has reconciled the world to Yourself, today we pray for Christians living amidst wars and violence. Even surrounded by pain, may they never cease to feel the gentle kindness of your presence and the prayers of their brothers and sisters in faith. For only through You, and strengthened by fraternal bonds, can they become the seeds of reconciliation, builders of hope in ways both small and great, capable of forgiving and moving forward, of bridging divides, and of seeking justice with mercy. Lord Jesus, who called blessed those who work for peace, make us Your instruments of peace even where harmony seems impossible. Holy Spirit, source of hope in the darkest times, sustain the faith of those who suffer and strengthen their hope. Do not let us fall into indifference, and make us builders of unity, like Jesus. Amen.
BIBLE STUDY SESSIONS
Bible study sessions resume for another six sessions which will be running on Tuesday afternoons from 2pm to 3.30pm in the parish centre, beginning on Tuesday 6th January. For more information please email: evangeliseabingdon@outlook.com
'YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES' PRAYER
O Lord, graciously look down upon us your servants and upon our work to build Your Holy Church here in this place. Enlighten our minds and lead us into all truth as we seek to do Your will. Abundantly bless our labours, that Your Holy Church may serve You ever more faithfully to the glory of Your Holy name. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
OPEN DOORS
Open Doors takes place on Mondays from 11am to 2pm in the Parish Centre and runs every Monday, except Bank Holidays. We offer tea/coffee, lunch (served at 12.15pm) and friendly conversation to anyone in the Parish or local community who is on their own or would like more company. ​​​​
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​Please note that there will be no Open Doors on Monday 4th May and Monday 25th May as sessions do not run on Bank Holidays.
LITURGY WEBSITE AND UPCOMING COURSES
The Diocese now have a Liturgy website, which provides reflection, guidance and a chance to ask questions. You can access by clicking on the image above.