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.
REFLECTION - FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples.”
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Jesus calls us to a life that values others, serves others, and loves others. Not only does he call us to live this way, he modelled it for us. It is important that we understand and live out his command. But the love that Jesus calls us to isn’t any kind of love; Jesus tells us we are to love as he loved. We follow a God that gave up his life, not because we deserved it, but because we needed it. But today many of his followers would rather give people what they deserve. We’ve got some work to do! If we are a follower of Jesus, then people should be able to look at how we love and know who we follow. We love because we were first loved. Loving people is hard. They are difficult and messy. But let’s not forget… we are too. And despite our own brokenness Jesus still loved us and went to the cross for us. When we love people, particularly difficult and messy people, we are showing those around us that the love of Christ is in us. It’s how we set ourselves apart from the world.
KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please pray for the 30 children who made their First Holy Communion last weekend, and please pray for their families as well.
JUBILEE REFLECTION
The Jubilee Year 2025 is a special time of grace and renewal, particularly within the Catholic Church, with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope". It's a call to pilgrimage, prayer, and reconciliation, encouraging individuals to deepen their relationship with God and others, and to be signs of hope in a world facing various challenges. This year is also a time for reflection on one's faith and how to better live out one's faith in the world, specifically by focusing on justice and compassion, and by working towards a fairer world. Prayer is emphasized as a crucial part of the Jubilee experience, inviting individuals to reflect on their relationship with God and seek His guidance in their journey. The Jubilee Year also provides an opportunity for individuals to reflect on their lives and how they can better live out their faith in the world, including acts of service and compassion towards others.
CHILDRENS' MASSES - CALLING ALL FAMILIES
We will be celebrating our next Children's Mass at 10.15am this Sunday - Sunday 18th May.
VACANCY AT ST EDMUND'S SCHOOL
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We are looking to employ a KS2 Class Teacher (Full Time, Permanent) at our school, to commence in September 2025. Calls to our Headteacher, Mrs Kirwan, to find out more about our wonderful school are encouraged and warmly welcomed. Please contact the School office (Tel: 01235 521558) or email us at 3856@st-edmunds-rc.oxon.sch.uk to request an application pack - or visit our website here for more information. Applications must be made on the CES Application form. The closing date for applications is 19 May.
PREPARATION FOR PENTECOST
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The Vicariate for Evangelisation is hosting an online novena to the Holy Spirit 8pm from Friday 30th May with two additional talks on Saturday 31st May and Wednesday 4th June. Everyone is welcome to join in as we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Vicariate is also working with Charis Portsmouth to host a Holy Spirit day on Saturday 7th June at English Martyrs Church, Reading starting with a 9:30am Mass and finishing with lunch. All are welcome. To register, you can use the link here, or email: ffm@portmouthdiocese.org.uk
PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY ISLAND
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Ten members of our parish went on a pilgrimage to Holy Island, Lindisfarne this week. This is the cradle of Christianity in England, and St Aidan and St Cuthbert played an important role in this area. Mass was celebrated on each day and there was time to both explore and to have some quiet reflection. We were blessed with magnificent weather and ended our pilgrimage with a visit to St Cuthbert's shrine in Durham Cathedral.
REFLECTION DAYS AND WORKSHOPS
Douai Abbey are offering a number of reflection days and workshops, and a list of what is available for the next few months can be viewed and downloaded here.
As a parish, we encourage you to please continue to support the Abingdon Food Bank. However, for practical reasons, and because nearly all supermarkets now have collection points as you leave their premises - making it easier for you to place your donations, please do not leave your contributions in our church. Other collection points are at:
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
THE MONTH OF MAY
Traditionally, this month is known as 'Mary's month'. In 2020, Pope Francis wrote a Letter to the faithful about the Month of May: “Dear Brothers and Sisters, The month of May is approaching, a time when the People of God express with particular intensity their love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family... I want to encourage everyone to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home in the month of May." In our parish we also pray the rosary before all weekday Masses. do join us.
We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen.
VOCATIONS PRAYER
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.
JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE
The Holy Father has designated that 2025 is a year of Jubilee, something which happens every 25 years. This is a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. The theme for this jubilee is “Pilgrims of Hope” and is a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of COVID-19 pandemic, and a climate crisis. The following shrine churches have been chosen by Bishop Philip as particular places of pilgrimage within our diocese: St Thomas, Jersey; Bournemouth Oratory; St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth; St Edmund’s, Southampton; St James and St William of York, Reading; St Joseph’s, Guernsey. You can find information and resources for the year from CAFOD here and from the Bishops Conference of England and Wales here.
EXPLORE THE CHURCHES IN OUR TOWN
You can view and print a map to explore the 11 Churches of Abingdon Town here. The document is in two pages and is colour coded, so if printing, do so in colour. We are also fortunate to have 5 new church communities who worship in various town venues, and there are a further 13 churches or chapels in the villages that surround the town to be explored too - so, there are 29 church communities within a very small radius of the town. Our Grandparents' Association have been working on this map for quite a while with Mike Martins’ brilliant expertise, help and time.
SECOND / RETIRING COLLECTION
The second/retiring collection on Sunday 1st June is for the Catholic Communications Network.
ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting on Saturday 7th June will be in-person and on Zoom. The speaker will be Oliver McTernan, co-founder and director of Forward Thinking. Copies of the annual report of Pax Christi are on the table at the back of church together with details of the AGM. Further information from Anne Dodd 07938 526762
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
The pilgrimage begins on Monday 7th July and is £879 per person for a shared room; youth pilgrims can travel at £825. To find out more and to book a place please email: lourdes@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk or phone 07780 221686 or write to Canon PJ Smith at St Edmunds House, Bishop Crispian Way, Portsmouth PO1 3QA.
'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.
SUMMER CAMP FOR BOYS
The Diocesan Don Bosco Boys' Camp will once again be held this summer for boys who are currently in Year 6 Primary school to Year 11 Secondary school. It will take place at St. Cassian’s, Kintbury. There will be plenty of sport, outings, competitions and fun and games to ensure that boys will have a fantastic time. This will continue to take place within the context of the celebration of the Catholic Faith, including daily Mass and morning prayer. The cost of the camp is £230 (part bursaries may be available on application). For more information please see here or email dbcamps@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
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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There will be no Open Doors sessions on 26th May (Late May Bank Holiday).
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Can you spare a few hours on a Monday on a rota basis to support our parish Open Doors initiative? We need volunteers to help at the sessions or to cook lunch. If you can help, please contact Berny Pratt on 01235 525257. Thank you.
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.
GIFT AIDING YOUR MONETARY DONATIONS
If you aren't doing so already, please consider gift aiding your donations – it makes them all the more worthwhile, because if you tell us that you pay tax in the UK, then we can claim back 25% from the Government - that's 25p for every £1 you give! You can do so by filling in the yellow form available at the back of the church or online on our website here. Thank you.
JOB VACANCIES IN OUR DIOCESE
All current vacancies in the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth can be viewed here.
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.
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.