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
Mohammad Ali used to ask, “who is the greatest?” And the answer he used to give was “I am”. In today’s gospel we find the apostles arguing over the same question. Jesus was not pleased with them. He did not want to see jealousy and false ambition among them. He wanted them to live in peace and harmony. By the way we act we too sometimes put ourselves first, causing hurt to other people. God’s inspiration is at work in everyone. However, there seems to be more people in whom it has no effect. People who commit crimes in cold blood and who never rejoice at the sight of the true and beautiful. Even if they may seem to prosper, their punishment is assured even in this world. The anxieties and fears that avail them make their prosperity a bitterness to them. As for the just, even though their passage through life is often dogged by misfortunate, obeying the divine is inward satisfaction and strength.
HOPE AND ACT WITH CREATION
The Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development has published the Holy Father’s message for the Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 2024. This is celebrated every 1st September and the Season of Creation extends from this date to 4th October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi. The message is entitled “Hope and Act with Creation” and you can access resources for the day and the season here. You can also access the message from Pope Francis here or even here.
SECOND/RETIRING COLLECTION ON SUNDAY
The second collection for Sunday, 22nd September is for the work of our parish St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP), who very quietly do a lot of work in our parish and wider community to support those in need. Without your contributions, a lot of their work would not be possible. You can donate through the red boxes as you leave Mass, or using the card system at the back of the church, or online using the link here. Foreign currency is also accepted! Thank you for your generosity.
ALPHA COURSE
Alpha is for everyone. If you want to know more about Jesus, this might be the course for you. It will take place in the Parish Centre on Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 9.30pm for 11 weeks, beginning on 24th September. The format of the evening will begin with a sit-down dinner, followed by a short video (approx. 30mins) and then a very relaxed small group discussion. Everyone is welcome and it is free! The full programme can be seen on the poster on our parish noticeboard, in the parish centre, and can also be viewed and downloaded here. Flyers are also available at the back of the church.
We are looking for a team of people to cook, to serve food, setting up and clearing up the parish centre during the Alpha course please. We have a small group of willing volunteers already but would like more names on our list. If you have any questions or can let us know that you will volunteer your help, please email either Jimena: jimena.belmonte@gmail.com or Sandar: sandarwade@yahoo.co.uk
LIGHT FOR THE BLIND
Father Thomas is making a short visit to the UK and will be in Abingdon, celebrating all three Masses on Sunday 13th October. He is not seeking to raise funds on this occasion, but he will provide an update on the work of the charity and the current situation in India.
MISSIO RED BOXES
It is that time of year when we need to collect and count the MISSIO Red Boxes. If you have a box and it is full, please call Clare on 01235 524861 or Wendy on 01235 534873, and they will arrange collection. Thank you.
CELEBRATION OF OUR LADY
Fr Claro and the parishioners of Blessed Hugh Faringdon, would like to invite you to join them for a celebration of Our Lady, on Saturday 12th October, with Marian hymns in the church followed by a shared dinner. More information is available on the poster here.
SYNOD WORKING DOCUMENT RELEASED
The Holy See Press Office has released the Instrumentum laboris – or working document – that will guide the work of the second session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod that will be held in Rome from 2 – 27 October. You can download the document here. The two key focal points of the document are the need for transparency and accountability, and the role of women in the Church.
DAY OF FORMATION FOR READERS
On Saturday 19th October from 10.30 am to 2.00 pm, there will be a Diocesan Formation Day for Readers. The day will be led by Fr. Anthony Fyk, the Director of Liturgical Formation, and it takes place at St Bede’s Church/Hall, Basingstoke. If you are a reader at Mass, regularly or occasionally, this day is for YOU! You can see the poster here and registration for the day is by email: liturgy@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
CHILDRENS' MASSES - CALLING ALL FAMILIES
We will be celebrating the first Children's Mass of this academic year at 10.15am on Sunday 6th October. We will be asking children to help us with welcoming, the offertory procession, the collection and singing the final hymn, and would also like some children to read the First and Second Readings (taken from the Lectionary for Masses with Children) and the Bidding Prayers. If your child would like to do a reading or prayer at this Mass then please email Fiona Semple and she will send you the words so that your child can practise.
reception@st-edmunds-rc.oxon.sch.uk
Thank you in advance for your support!
We will continue holding a Children's Mass on the first Sunday of every month during school term-time. We hope to see many of you there!
Please continue to support the Abingdon Food Bank. However, please do not leave your contributions in our church. The collection points are at:
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.
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.
DIOCESAN NEWS
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
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
O God, Father of all mercies, provider of a beautiful harvest, send your graces on those you have called to gather the harvest. Preserve and strengthen them in their life by serving you. Open the hearts of us all that we may discern your Holy Will, inspire in them a desire to surrender themselves to serving others in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Teach all your faithful to follow their respective paths in life, guided by your divine Word and Truth. And through the prayers of your Mother grant your Church’s needs Amen.
YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES - UPDATE
Following Bishop Philip’s Pastoral Ten Year Plan and the meeting held in our parish on 10th September to hear what our Pastoral Area “Design” group are suggesting is the best way forward for us in English Martyrs Vale of White Horse, a copy of the very positive presentation given for the approach is now available for you to view here.
MASSES AND CONFESSIONS THIS WEEK
Please note that as Fr Jamie will be away, there will be no Masses on Monday 16th, Wednesday 18th and Friday 20th September. There will also be no Confessions on Saturday 21st September. No Mass also on Monday 23rd and Wednesday 25th September. Back to normal after that.
TALES OF THE FIRST DISCIPLES
LAMPS Collective invite you to Lake Galilee, AD 30, and in the little fishing community of Capernaum, rumours of miracles and healings abound. Five members of one family struggle to make sense of the radical new teacher walking their shores. Who is this man? What is he? And what might it mean for them and their lives? Join us around the campfire for shanties, stories and spoken word – the tales of the first disciples. This event is suitable for age10 and upwards and takes place on Thursday 3rd October at 7.30pm at the Peachcroft Christian Centre. Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for children aged 10-18, and are available here. You can also view the poster here.
HOLY FATHER'S MESSAGE FOR SEPTEMBER
The Pope’s September prayer intention: is “For the cry of the earth”. Pope Francis prays that "each of us might listen with our hearts to the cry of the earth and of the victims of environmental disasters and climate change, making a personal commitment to care for the world we inhabit." n his message the Holy Father notes that it is the poor who suffer most from these disasters, pointing especially to those forced to leave their homes due to floods, heat waves, or drought. Our response, he continues, must be comprehensive, involving not only ecological but also “social, economic, and political” action - and making a personal commitment to care for the world we inhabit.
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 and friendly conversation to anyone in the Parish or local community who is on their own or would like more company.
We need more volunteers to help at our Open Doors sessions. If you can spare a few hours on Monday on a rota basis please contact Berny Pratt on 01235 525257.
NEW FEAST DAY
Currently in England and Wales, the feast of Our Lady of Walsingham on 24th September, is ranked as an Obligatory Memorial. But now the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments has agreed to the request of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales to raise the status of this day from an Obligatory Memorial to a Feast in England and Wales. You can find out more about this Catholic national shrine here.
WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
On Saturday 12th October there will be a training and formation day for the Eucharistic Ministers in our pastoral area. This will take place at English Martyrs, Didcot. The day will be led by Sr Judith. Please register with Fr Dominic in Didcot by email: office@didcotandwallingfordcatholicchurches.org.uk
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.
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.
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
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.
JOB VACANCIES IN OUR DIOCESE
All current vacancies in the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth can be viewed here.