Newsletter - 13/14 March
Our parish Newsletter is published weekly and carries our parish news plus items from around the Deanery and Diocese, along with the weekly Mass intentions and rotas. There are always copies available at the back of the church.
Extracts from this weeks newsletter, 13/14 March.
17th March, St. Patrick’s Day, our Patronal Feast Day – a great opportunity to interrupt Lent
Patrick’s own story is one of hardship and troubles, but he perseveres. As a young boy, he had a fairly privileged life until he was snatched by raiders, taken to a strange land and sold into slavery. Herding animals in cold conditions was not an easy task. He was cut off from his family, friends, his wealth – he had nothing. But Patrick was not bitter. He made a choice to escape slavery, to make a change in his life. Not only that, he then decided to return to those who had enslaved him to preach a message of love and forgiveness.
Although we may see this Feast day as a separate event during Lent, Patrick’s life has a lot to show us. We are all in some sort of slavery. Like Patrick, we can chose to do something to make that change. Patrick brought an entire nation to share in the gift of faith in Jesus Christ. When we celebrate this great saint today, will we be true to his message? We should celebrate the Christian message that a courageous Patrick brought to us, a message that was preserved and passed on. We celebrate and ask ourselves: "What has this Christian message to say to the modern world?"
Jane Mellett "Intercom"
We wish all our Mothers a happy and relaxing Mother’s Day on Sunday
Baptism Our next Baptism Preparation will take place on Sunday, 2nd May, 5 – 6 pm in the Prayer Room. If you would like your child baptised, please see Fr. Martin
First Holy Communion Our next session is on Saturday, 20th March between 11 am and 12 noon.
Confirmation A reminder our next session is on Monday 15th March at 7 pm in the Parish Centre. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Fairtade Shop Please visit our Fairtrade Shop in the Church Foyer and see what we have on sale. Our shop is well stocked and every purchase helps producers in the poorer countries support their families and make a living.
S. Patrick's Day – Wednesday 17th March. We are looking for volunteers to help with the catering and refreshments at the "get together" after Mass. If you would like to help, please see Father Martin or Mary in the Church Office.
We are also looking for donations for our raffle to be held at the St. Patrick’s Dance and also after the Mass on St. Patrick’s Day. Do you have any unwanted gifts lying around? If so, would you like to donate them as a raffle prize? All donations can be left at the Presbytery.
The collection taken at the St. Patrick’s Day Mass will go towards our new accessible toilet.
Wednesday, 17th March Watermead Apostolate: "Twlight Retreat" at St. Joseph’s, Leicester. "ST Patrick in Len". Talks on the theme by Fr. John Daley IC. Our monthly evening retreat begins at 7 pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (located at the side of St. Joseph’s Church) and finishes at 9 pm with a hot drink. All are welcome. No booking is necessary but it would be helpful if people let us know they are intending to come by telephoning 0116 220 7881 or e-mail watermead-apostolate@hotmail.co.uk. A donation of £2 is asked to cover expenses.
We wish you all a very Happy Feast Day on St. Patrick’s Day
| Day | Date | Time | Meeting | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 15 March | 7 pm – 8.15 pm | Confirmation – Service of Reconciliation | Church |
| Monday | 15 March | 7.30 – 8.30 pm | RCIA | Prayer Room |
| Tuesday | 16 March | 7 pm | Legion of Mary | Prayer Room |
| Thursday | 18 March | 7.30 pm – 9 pm | Youth Group | Parish Centre |
| Friday | 20 March | 11 am – 12 noon | First Holy Communion | Prayer Room |
| Monday | 22 March | 2 pm | Communications mtg | Presbytery |
| Wednesday | 24 March | 7.30 pm | Liturgy meeting | Prayer Room |
| Thursday | 25 March | 7.30 pm | Justice & Peace Meeting | Prayer Room |
| Wednesday | 31 March | 2 – 4 pm | Afternoon Club: Robert Gregory – Leicester Castle | Parish Centre |
| Wednesday | 7 April | 7.30 pm – 8.30 pm | Our Faith Journey | Prayer Room |
| Thursday | 15 April | 7.30 – 9 pm | Youth Group | Parish Centre |
| Wednesday | 28 April | After 7 pm Mass | Spirituality Group | Prayer Room |
| Sunday | 2 May | 5 pm – 6 pm | Baptism Course | Prayer Room |
| Wednesday | 5 May | 7.30 pm | Parish Pastoral Council | Prayer Room |
| Wednesday | 19 May | 7.30 pm | Parish Centre Meeting | Prayer Room |
Parish AGM We had a very successful Parish AGM last week with many discussions and important issues raised. Out of the meeting, the following points were raised:- Our Parish Council is composed of members representing the various groups within our Parish and it was suggested that we invite two members of the Parish who do not belong to the groups to join the Parish Council. If you are interested in joining the Council, please see Father Martin. There was also a discussion as to how issues or questions could be raised by Parishioners. If you have any points you would like to bring to the attention of the Parish Council, please see Father Martin or Robert Murphy. It was also agreed to start a Spirituality Group to look at ways of exploring and deepening our spiritual life in the Parish. If you would like to be a member of this group, please see Father Martin, Jo Bradbury or Mary Fortey. There will be a meeting on Wednesday, 28th April after Mass to discuss ideas and plan a way forward.
Coffee Morning Towards Flowers at Easter On Sunday, 28th March after the 10.30 am Mass, we will be having a Coffee Morning and sale of cakes. There will be a raffle after all Masses to raise funds towards the decoration of the Church and the flowers for Easter. If you feel you can support us in any way by baking cakes or selling raffle tickets, all help will be gratefully received. We thank you for all the support you continue to give us. Mary M, Kath and Linda.
Abbey Connunity Meeting Stocking Farm Youth Community & Healthy Living Centre, Marwood Road, Leicester. 18th March at 6.30 pm. Please see notice board for further details.
Easter Services Would you like to participate in any of our Easter Services or have your “feet washed” on Holy Thursday? If so, please sign the list at the back of Church.
"The Death of the Messiah" Reflections on the Passion Narratives in the four Gospels led jointly by Fr Eddy Jarosz and Rev. Chris Oxley. 7.30 pm – 9 pm (tea/coffee at 7 pm onwards) on Thursdays - 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th March at St. Anne’s, Letchworth Road, Leicester. Please see poster on notice board for further details.
Nottingham Pilgrimage To Lourdes – July 2010 If you are interested in joining this Pilgrimage, please see Mary in the Church Office for further details and a booking form.
28th March – Palm Sunday United Service Meet at 6.30 pm at St. Luke’s to proceed to
St. Patrick’s for service at 6.40 pm. 2nd April – Good Friday - Christ in the Centre 10 am – 12 noon St. Peter’s Square, Highcross and Humberstone Gate
St. Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham. Come and Sing Morning. Saturday, 20th March, 10.30 am – 12.45 pm, Cathedral Hall. You are invited to “come along and sing” with the Nottingham Diocesan Choir and members of the Cathedral Choir preparing music for the Chrism Mass. All that is required is your voice and bags of enthusiasm. Please see poster for further details. All musicians welcome
St. Patrick's Day Dance in the Parish Centre, 100 Beaumont Leys Lane, Leicester Tel: 0116 235 3329 Saturday, 13th March 2010 8 pm – late
Dancing to the sound of Cassidy’s Showband Admission by ticket only – price £7 Tickets available from Jo Edwards or the Church Office
St. Patrick's Day Mass Wednesday, 17th March at 11 am Celebrant: Fr. John-Joe Maloney. Afterwards refreshments and music by Con Ferns in the Parish Centre until 2.30 pm
Pilgrimage to Iona: 10th – 15th October 2010. If you would like to join the Blessed Sacrament Parish’s Pilgrimage to Iona this year, staying at the Columba Hotel in Oban, the cost will be £300 (single supplement £75). Travel will be by coach and there will be daily outings. Please ring 2858 795 for a booking form or speak to Fr. Maloney.
Big Church Clean: The third of our ‘big cleans’ will be on Saturday, 20 March from 10.30 am. With so many volunteers we should be finished by midday. Thank you to all those people who volunteered and thanks in anticipation of your help. If you didn’t sign up and you would like to come along, you would be more than welcome. This is an equal opportunity venture so gentlemen would be very welcome.
Pilgrimage to Poland – 17th – 21st October 2010 Fr. Eddy Jarosz will be leading a Pilgrimage to Poland between the above dates. Flying from Stansted Airport to Krakow and staying 4 nights’ half-board in a 3 star hotel in the centre of the City. Full pilgrimage programme, including Daily Mass and visits to Chestochowa, Auschwitz, city tour of Krakow, Lagiewniki (Basilica of the Divine Mercy) and other places of interest. The cost will be approximately £500 (depending on of price of flight at time of booking). Single supplement £100.For further details and a booking form, please contact Fr. Eddy at St. Peter’s on: Tel 0116 251 9802.
Wanted Volunteers to help paint the inside of our Parish Centre. Can you wield a paint brush? Would you like to help? If you can’t spare the time – could you donate towards the cost of the paint? Please see Father Martin.
For Sale – Gloves, Hats and Bedsocks: £1 per pair. Knitted by members of the Afternoon Club. All proceeds will go to their charity of the year which is in aid of Alzheimers. Please see Kay Shorten or Mary Fortey (in the Church Office).
Stolen Dog - Beaumont Police are appealing for help in finding a Staffordshire Bull Terrier stolen last Sunday from the New Parks area. She is 19 months old, white with black spots. They say any information, no matter how small, could help their investigations. Please contact PCSO 6540 - Scott Cank – on 0116 222 2222.
