News Bulletin St John the Baptist Parish Tamworth. Fourth Sunday of Lent (C) 2013 Psalm Response: Taste and see that the Lord is good

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1 News Bulletin St John the Baptist Parish Tamworth Main Office: Sacred Heart Church, Silverlink Rd, B77 2EA Fr Michael White Fr Noel N Tungu noel@stjohnrctamworth.org.uk Rev Brian & Nora Cox brian.cox8:tiscali.co.uk Tel Wendy Quinn office@stjohnrctamworth.org.uk Fourth Sunday of Lent (C) 2013 Psalm Response: Taste and see that the Lord is good Saturday 9 th March Feria am (S.J.) 6.30 pm (S.J.) Gladys New Margaret Bird Kitty Browne Sunday 10 th March 9.00 am (S.H.) Mick Lavalle & Paddy Caine Sue Firkin Fourth Sunday of Lent am (S.J.) noon(s.h.) Win Dunleavy James O Reilly John Farr Eammon Deegan Monday 11 th March Feria am (S.J.) James O Reilly Tuesday 12 th March Feria 7.00 am (S.H.) am (S.J.) Stanley Davis Anthony Wilcox Wednesday 13 th March Feria am (S.J.) Ann Collins Thursday 14 th March Feria 7.00am (S.J.) am (S.J.) Friday 15 th March Feria pm. (S.J.) 7.00 pm (S.H.) Saturday 16 th March Feria am (S.J.) 6.30 pm (S.J.) Sunday 17 th March 9.00 am (S.H.) Fifth Sunday of Lent am (S.J.) noon(s.h.) Confessions: St John s: Sat till 11.30a.m.and pm John Pullen Funeral Mass for Ireen Lowry Mass for the Sick and housebound of the Parish Kathleen Brilly Holy Souls & Marie Simmas Derek Brotherhood Peggy & Charlie Standen Paddy Maher Teresa Mary Williams (nee Bird) Stanley Davis Special Intentions Please pray for the sick: Joyce Anderson, Bill Heffernan, Irene Petricca, Marian Smith, Mick Evans, Marion Cook, Sam Davies, Stephen Morley, Linda Kaley, Chad Williams, Steve Brindley, Pat Whitting, Ruth Faulds, John Williams, Irene Shakespeare, Anne Gaughan, Cerys Edwards, Ann Whitting, Geraldine McGuigan, Emma McCabe, Vera & Tommy Bradley, Elizabeth Murden, Lawrence Sullivan, Dympna Devlin, Susan Spencer, Phyllis Carey, Finn Lynch, Ann Gillen, Bernadette Sims, Cyril Payne, Eric Stevenson, Teresa Woodcock, Ann O Donnell, George Rowlands, Mike Bolger, Baby Jude Russell, Catherine Dudfield, Vincent Jones, Patricia Morrisroe, W.G Verghese, George Mander, Ann Bernes, Sheila Brown, Gill Horsley, Rhona Flower, Margaret Thompson, Jean Hill, Gerard Wylie, Phil Crook, Ann James, Doris Edwards, Mary Peaple, Jill Myatt, Michael Croke, Keith Waterhouse, Diane Spalding, Patricia Waleczek, Gladys Cuffe, Barbara Czernuszka, Clyde Hirondo, Simon Welch, Irene Edwards, Irene Lowry, Anthony Wilcox, Grace Lydon, John & Niamh Stone. If there is anyone that you know, or if you are going into hospital please let us know by ringing the parish office on Reflection: The Gospel today is about humanity in general and each of us in particular. Maybe our departure from Gods house has not been as dramatic as the prodigal son. There are degrees in which we alienate God from our lives each day. But God, our Father, takes risks with us, just as the father in the Gospel did. It's a risk he takes because, despite all our imperfections, he never gives up one believing drukowane in us and co tydzien trusting I us wystawione to come through, w przedsionku if not right kosciota. away, Mitej then I owocnej lektury! Zaczynamy eventually. That's Polskie why he ttuma gives <>czenie us Lent, as czytan a time i Ewangelii to reflect and na the Kazda, sacrament niedziele. of Bedzie. reconciliation to repent.

2 Please pray for those whose anniversaries occur around this time: Arthur Pallett, Mary Weir, Ernest Cope, Mary Burke, Peter Shakespeare, Patrick Callaghan, Annie Cuffe, Molly Seedhouse, Reginald Slates, Mrs. Davis, Mr. Beardsley, Helen Lilly, Susan Bradley, Francis Fellows, Mary Quinn, James and Marlene Robinson, David Knowles, Frank Newby, Salvatori Pascalis, Pearl Tarpey, Tom Coleman, Eileen McCormack, Doris Nunan, Katherine Perchanycz, Phyllis Luckett, Patrick Fitzsimmons, Joan Moore, Winifred Fitzpatrick, Martin Weir, Peter Peacock, John Davis, Edna Wedgbury, Margaret Whalley, David Ryan, Doreen Smith, Mary Johnson, Stanley Sharratt, Patrick Egan, Agnes Kemble, Bernadette Sheldon, Pauline Cadman, James O Reilly. Deaths Sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of Margaret Simpson who s funeral took place during the week. May Margaret rest in peace. Happy Mother s Day to all mums everywhere. In a special way today to let us thank God for our mothers and if we have the opportunity let us show them how much they are loved. Lent Retreat Day: We are planning ahead for Lent and, rather than having evening talks, we are going to have a retreat day on Saturday 23 rd March and led by Fr John Udris who led one of our evenings last year. It will run from 10 am till 4 pm and will lead us into Holy Week. Please sign up for it at the back of Church so that we can get an idea of numbers. be an interesting hour. Justice and Peace ~ CAFOD Emmaus meal - Please note the next Emmaus meal will be on Sunday 17th March, at the Sacred Heart 6pm - 7pm. We are fortunate to have Fr Noel in the Parish and he will be joining us for the last Emmaus meal when we will be reflecting on problems faced in Fr Noel's country, the People's Republic of the Congo. Fr Noel will be talking about his home country and we will also have the opportunity to taste a staple food of the Congo. Please try and join us for what should The Garment of Suffering and Hope. Our Lenten garment of Suffering and Hope can symbolise suffering in our own personal lives, in our community and in our world. During Lent we ask you to bring a small piece of cloth of any colour about four inches square and place it in the baskets provided under the altar in St. John s or Sacred Heart. Your piece of cloth will represent your own pain, anxiety or burden. During Lent the bereavement group will take them away & sew them into a beautiful garment. On Good Friday the garment will be placed at the foot of the Cross and for the Easter Vigil the garment will be used to decorate the Cross which will then become the Tree of life. Exposition: During Saturday morning confessions (11.00 to 11.30) we will be having exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (Holy Communion that is reserved ) as a focus for quiet prayer. Please come and join us for some of this time. It will not be structured so you can come and go when you want noon Mass at Sacred Heart Pianist/Organist(s) needed to accompany the singing at the 12noon Mass on Sundays from March, as Matt, after many years of services has decided to retire at the end of Feb. We thank Matt for his dedication over the years. If you can help out even if only on a rota, please speak to Fr Michael or phone Alex on Music Practice for the Easter Celebrations: Practice for Maundy Thursday Mass in St John s will be on Sunday 17th March at 7pm The Easter Vigil Saturday 30 th March 8pm there will be two choir practices to prepare music for the Easter Vigil. These will take place at the SH Tuesday 12 th March & Tues 26 th March 7.30 m Easter Sunday 12 noon Mass Sacred Heart - Pianist/Organist needed. If you are able and could consider playing the music at this Mass please contact Fr Michael, the Parish office or Alex on

3 Born For This we will be dramatizing the Passion starting at the Bandstand near the castle, following the Way of the Cross to St Editha s Square. We plan to use some of the songs from Born For This (C.J.M Music). We need lots of people to learn some of the songs to create maximum impact during crowd parts. Important notice Mondays rehearsals will now start earlier at 7.00pm at Sacred Heart Church. Refreshments will be available from 6.45pm Excellent progress was made again last week with both singing and drama. Well done to all those involved. If you would like to take part and get to know the songs before Good Friday, please come along and join us. There are three more rehearsals on Mondays 11 th, 18 th and 25 th March. We also plan a walk through the town centre on Palm Sunday afternoon 24 th March. Easter Vigil Following the vigil there will be a reception for all attending to celebrate Easter together and toast those who have come into the Church. Can you help with food preparation by volunteering for something on the list in the porch please? Fr Hudsons Society is the social care agency of the Diocese, working with community projects, people with learning difficulties, dementia care and old people. In your almsgiving this Lent, if you would like to donate to Fr Hudsons, there will be envelopes at the back of Church. Walk for LIFE on Saturday 23 rd March. If you are interested pick up a leaflet at the back of church for more information. Birmingham Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 25 th 31 st May 2013 By air 6 nights in Lourdes from Birmingham International Airport 734 By Coach 5 nights in Lourdes from various points in the Diocese via a very short sea crossing Dover to Calais 426 Booking forms and brochures can be downloaded from: or or from the Pilgrimage office on PROUD2PROFESS as part the program for the Year of Faith, Archbishop Bernard Longley is inviting all young adults (16 30) to make a real commitment to explore their faith, and to refocus at the start of Holy Week by spending a day in prayer, reflection, discussion, fellowship and celebration. The Proud2Profess day will take place on Saturday, 23 rd March at Oscott College, starting at 11am and concluding with Mass at 5.30pm. Information can be found on the BCTS website St Patrick s Night: One or two have asked about an Irish night for March 16 th at the parish centre. Bands cost a lot for that night ( 1,000) but the Katie Martin Irish Dancing school said they would perform; we can set up a bar, good Irish C.D. s & dance. Tickets just 3 ( 2 for children) or better still if someone could DJ for us? If there is enough support we could book a band for next year. Tickets available at the back of Church. Culture Evening - We would like to hold a Culture Evening in September and we invite all nationalities who are interested to attend a meeting on Tuesday 12 th March at Sacred Heart at 7.30p.m. to discuss details. If you would like to take part but are unable to attend the meeting please speak to Bill Hogan or Bridie Spicer after mass. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to promote the foods from their country

4 Heart of Tamworth Heart of Tamworth Community Project: Do you remember this? It is an organisation established by a small group of parishioners to develop more charity work in the parish using volunteers and parish facilities. It is through the Heart of Tamworth that we have been organising the Starfish Project, the Christmas meal, the summer-scheme and liaising with charities over use of our buildings for work with homeless people, young mothers and others. The group has also raised over 30,000 towards installing the lift, and kitchen facilities in the parish centre. Community Project If you would like to help us develop our charitable activities as part of this group, then please let us know. We have a constitution that helps us when we are approaching funding bodies or collaborating with other charities. There is huge potential within our parish community to do even more work to help people in need. HOT gives us a framework that makes it easier for us do that. We are now in a position where we need to develop our capacity if we are to move forward. If you have a passion for this sort of work or some particular skill, please talk to us by contacting the parish office. Saturday Evening Mass Times: A few weeks back a parishioner suggested we change the Saturday evening Mass from 6.30 to 6.00 pm. It was suggested on the basis that in spring and autumn we have a little extra light, it may help families with young children and we are not out quite so late in cold winters. We asked for your comments; the reaction was positive and there seems no evidence of a problem with transport. Unless anyone else can see a good reason and subject to parish council approval (April 9 th ), a change could take place in May. Parish Council and AGM will take place on Sunday April 14 th at 1.00 pm (after the noon Mass) in the parish centre. A few months back we issued a draft framework document which explained that, as well as ex officio members there would be elected members too (up to 6). This means that we need people who feel they have a passion for the faith and the parish to consider coming forward. a) Nominations for elected membership must be signed by two fellow parishioners and receive the approval of the parish priest. In the event of an excess of nominations over vacancies there will be a ballot at the AGM. b) Nominees require to be baptised practising Catholics, members of the parish and participating in parish life especially mass and the sacraments. If you have any queries about being a member of the parish council then speak to one of the clergy or, if you know someone, a present member. This will take place in just 4 weeks so please think and pray about it. Prior to the AGM, we will publish an annual report which will be distributed giving people time to read it and ask questions. Jumble Sale: This will take place next Saturday March 16 th from am till 1.00 pm in the parish centre. Please bring in your jumble this week to Sacred Heart. We are confident you will be discerning and not over burden us with things that will not sell! Can you also please support it on the day? There will be refreshments available. Volunteers to help would be welcome. Summer Fayre: We are keen to print the tickets this month. It may seem very early but we need to plan ahead with our raffle for the summer fayre which will take place on Saturday June 15 th. Can anyone help us with some good lead prizes? The sorts of things we need are: A week or two in a holiday home Someone who can persuade a hotel in London to give a weekend for two Maybe an I.T. prize like a tablet? Please give it some thought since the offer of prizes now will make all the difference in a few months.

5 Money Matters Envelopes Standing Order Loose Total: nd Collection Donation Gift Aid: If you would like to have your name added to the Gift Aid Scheme please contact the Gift Aid Organiser, Wendy Quinn on office@stjohnrctamworth.org.uk Soon we reach the end of the financial year. Thank-you for your generous support last year. It was fantastic. We have been improving our financial position without asking people to give more money. This has been mainly through cutting costs and we have been successful, as you will soon see in the published accounts. At the same time there has been substantial outlay on buildings to make us more efficient for the future. We need to be prudent in how we give too. If you are not giving through standing order or envelopes please consider because the Government give an additional 23% of all Gift Aided donations but this has to be proven donations from tax payers (hence the Standing order or envelopes). So 1. If you do not already do it, can you give through a standing order or envelope. Standing orders are more helpful since it is more secure, saves time and outlay on envelopes. There are forms in the porcj for both. 2. Can you afford to increase what you give maybe it has stayed the same for a few years and now would be a good time to do that. 3. Please remember that if your circumstances change, then cancelling an standing order or envelopes is easy to do (it s not like a direct debit). Please help us to serve you. There are simple forms at the back of Church. If you use envelopes, then new sets of envelopes are ready in the porch. If yours is not there it may have been sent to the other church so please let us know. However you choose to give, thank-you for expressing your faith in this way and for the sacrifices you make. The Fair Trade shop in St Editha's is back for Fair The Parish Office has now moved and the old number (62161) is no longer in use. The new Parish Office number We apologise for any inconvenience caused to you. Fr Michael and Fr Noel are now living in the new presbytery but will, as usual, be at St John s every morning. Masses and cards can be got after any Mass. Please remember that if you want to book Masses the easiest way is to use envelopes that are available in the Church porch, writing names and details on the front and placing the offering inside. If you need to discuss dates this can always be done by phone which will make life easier. trade fortnight - Monday 25th to Saturday 9th We would like to encourage people to buy something fair trade that they haven't tried before. There will be 20% off Tea & Coffee plus a Food Hamper prize draw if you spend over 5. A.A. meeting at St John s upper room on Mondays at 8.00 pm. Al-anon is a group for families of those with alcohol problems. They meet in St John s upper room on Tuesdays at 8.00 pm. Other Groups like Senior Citizens, YOSH, Brownies, Guides, meet as usual.. Leasing 8 St John Street: While we are considering how best to use the old presbytery we would like to let it out on a short term lease (6 months)? If you know of anyone who might be interested then please let us know.

6 Spanish Exchange: We have been asked by a Spanish family if there are any families wishing to join in an exchange with four Spanish girls this summer. We are informed that they are good Catholic girls aged 11, 14, 16 and 17. They would like separate families so that they can concentrate on their English and are happy to welcome English students over to Spain (Madrid we think). It would be an arrangement made between families but there would be a chance to meet a representative of theirs to ask questions and see if each family is a suitable match. If interested please or phone Fr Michael. Registered Charity