The Pharisee's boast
This is one of those stories of people who didn't like each other and brought the worst out of each other. The Pharisee was strict on religion, and the tax man was a greedy sinner. Each made the other feel awful about themselves, especially before God. The Pharisee started boasting about his religious fervent observance. The tax man just swallowed his prejudice and admitted to God that he was a sinner. The Pharisee would look good in any religious line-up, and the tax man would look like the guilty one of the line-up, almost cowering in the back of the prayer- place, hoping nobody would see him. Jesus comments on the story that everyone would recognise, and we recognise ourselves in both people: the proud and arrogant person at times, and at other times, the one who feels a total failure. He just says - in admitting who you are, you are high in the sight of God and high at God's table. Just to be oneself before God can be difficult. Many gospel stories are about this reality. We need to give those few silent moments each day to an awareness of being loved by God. In that we are humbled, that one as good as God could love us so totally, and so we are exalted. We are gifted by God's grace and if we can enjoy our identity as a child of God we will find happiness in life.
Lord teach me to know you more,
to love you more and serve you faithfully in my life.
| First Reading | Sirach/ Ecclesiasticus 35:15-22 | The prayer of the humble will reach to the clouds. | |||
| Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 32:2-3, 17-19, 23 | R./: The Lord hears the cry of the poor. | |||
| Second Reading | 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 | Paul has fought the good fight and will receive the crown of glory. | |||
| Gospel | Luke 18:9-14 | Two men went up to the temple to pray; two contrasting approaches to God. |
| Saturday 25th October | 6:15pm | Margaret O'Donnell | RIP | ||||
| Rohan de Mel | RIP | ||||||
| Francesco & Ines Mazza | RIP AN | ||||||
| Fr Jim Joyce | RIP | ||||||
| Sunil & Reena | SI | ||||||
| Sunday 26th | 9:30am | Fr Jim Joyce | RIP | ||||
| Sunday 26th | 11:15am | Fr Jim Joyce | RIP | ||||
| Andrew Donald McCabe | RIP | ||||||
| Saturday 1st | 6:15pm | Maura O'Connor | RIP AN | ||||
| Sunday 2nd November | 9:30am | Trisha Rice | RIP | ||||
| Sunday 2nd | 11:15am | Nuala Hirth | RIP AN |
| Saturday 26th October | Hamish | Son of Simon and Bryher |
HOUSE BLESSING: House blessings (also known as house healings, house clearings, house cleansings and space clearing) are rites intended to protect the inhabitants of a house or apartment. It is also there asking God’s protection and blessing upon each member of the family. In Christianity, house blessing is an ancient tradition dating back to the early days, that is usually performed by a priest who sprinkles holy water and blessed salt as he walks through every room of the house, accompanied by the occupants of the house, whilst praying for the occupants. If you would like your home/apartment/room blessed, then please contact one of the priests and a time and date can be arranged. The blessing ritual takes about 20 minutes, and it is lovely if all occupants of the home are present.
ARE YOU NEW TO OUR PARISH? Thank you for your interest in our parish. Whether you're just visiting us for a brief time, looking for a new parish home, returning to the practice of your Catholic faith or are interested in finding out more about the Catholic Church, we are happy to answer your questions, listen to your comments and help you in any way that we can. We are a parish of the Diocese of Portsmouth, and are a very vibrant community, made up of ‘old’ Maidenhead families and relative “newcomers” from all walks of life. We hope that you find our Catholic parish a caring community that is loving, welcoming and supportive of all. Our mission is to grow in the image of Christ through the Holy Spirit, to be formed by the Word and our prayer, to use our gifts to welcome those who are here and reach out to those who are not. We invite you to join us as partners in the mission. Together, let us get to know Christ better and to make Him better known. May God Bless you wherever you are and thank you for exploring our website and newsletter. Please stop by the parish office to introduce yourself! We would love to meet you.
FIRST FRIDAY: The First Friday of the month is traditionally a time when a priest visits a home to anoint anyone who is house bound, with holy oil, and to administer the sacrament of Holy Communion. The parish has several people on this list. If indeed, you or someone you know would like a visit from a priest, then please contact Fr. Liam, Fr. Ephraim or Fr. Tom.
FIRST FRIDAY HEALING MASS These special Masses will take place on:
Friday 7th November 10am at St. Joseph’s; 7pm at St. Edmund Campion Church; 10am St Thomas More, Twyford
Friday 5th December 10am at St. Joseph’s; 7pm at St. Edmund Campion Church; 10am St Thomas More, Twyford
WHAT IS A HEALING MASS?
Healing Masses are opportunities to directly seek physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual healing. These Masses include a homily that is focused on healing, prayers of the faithful that are directly asking God to heal us, and prayers after communion that are prayed by the Priest to help facilitate greater healing in our lives.
The Mass is the most powerful way that we can seek healing as Christians. Jesus is present in the Mass through the Scriptures, through giving Himself to us in His Body and His Blood, and through our worship of Him. He is the one who heals us. The Mass helps to facilitate the healing that Jesus wants to give to all of us.
BAPTISMAL COURSE The Baptismal Course is available for all Parents whose child is being Baptised at either St Joseph’s, St Elizabeth’s or St Edmund Campion. The course is a 90 minute preparation and guidance. It is held at St Joseph’s the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm. The next meetings are:
DIOCESAN NEWSLETTER: The Diocesan Mailing is produced every week and contains news, training opportunities and events from around the diocese and wider Catholic Church. The weekly newsletter is designed to bring you the latest information and events, straight to your email inbox. We try to keep it short and sweet (though, occasionally we can't help but get carried away with a great story or a brilliant opportunity). Click or go to the following site to sign up: www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
House Masses/Blessings: Father Liam is more than happy to celebrate a House Mass or a House Blessing for any family or group of families who would like it. If you are interested, then please email Father Liam or telephone the Parish Office.
Contact: If you wish to speak to Father Liam in confidence on any matter, please contact him for an appointment. He is always happy to visit your home if so desired. Email: lcummins@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk Telephone: 07776580596
Hospital: If you are going into hospital or know or someone that is, please inform the hospital chaplain on arrival. Please also let Father Liam know so that arrangements can be made for a visit. Please note that under the Data Protection Act, hospital staff cannot disclose patient information. We rely on Parishioners to keep us in the loop.
Housebound: If you know of anyone who is sick and/or housebound please let Ruth (Parish Office) or Father Liam know so that a visit can be arranged.
ALL SOULS SERVICE - Wednesday 5th November, 7pm St Edmund Campion, where we will remember those dear to us who have died. If you would like the name(s) of your deceased family and friends (who have died in the past 12 months) recorded in the Book of Remembrance, you can either use the signup sheet in the church porch, or send an email to swilliams30034@gmail.com if you prefer. Please print names clearly. Closing date for registering names is Sunday 2nd November.
BLESSING OF THE GRAVES In some places and cultures, people go to the cemetery to visit and pray at the graves of their loved ones. This blessing of graves we will do on Sunday 9th November at Braywick 2pm, and Cookham at 3pm.
PARISH COLLECTION Please continue to support your parish, its activities and outreach programmes by contributing to the weekly collection via the 'baskets' and/or Contactless. It is very positive that a lot of our parishioners, over the course of the pandemic, switched their contribution from cash to Bank Transfer.
NB: If you want to set up a direct debit or standing order (or even make a one-off donation) the account details are:
Account name: CDP MAIDENHEAD ST EDMUND CAMPION
Sort code: 30-93-04
Account number: 00882551
CHARITABLE DONATIONS Due to your generous contributions last year, we had £5,000 to donate to charity. The following amounts have been allocated to some of the nominated charities:
- Alzheimers Dementia Society £700 - TARGET ovarian cancer £300
- Thames Valley Adventure Playground £700 - Allsorts £300
- Baby bank £700 - Endometriosis UK £300
- Cox Green Luncheon Club £700 - Thursday Group £300
- Stroke Club £500 - Baobab £300 https://www.baobabsurvivors.org/about/about-baobab/
- St Edmund Campion School £200
THE SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH reflects the question “how do we live out our Christian faith in a world where the clash between the values of the Kingdom and the values of the World are often in conflict?” These sessions take place on the Wednesdays of October St Joseph's Church @ 7:00pm with Fr Kevin Hughes. All are welcome.
BREAKFAST CLUB Saturday 15th November 8am-9:30am Tickets £10 for full English breakfast unlimited tea, coffee and toast. Tickets available after Sunday Masses on 2nd November and 9th November or via Ruth in the Parish office. Only 30 tickets available. Cash only. Book by Wednesday 12th November.
SVP are in need of donations of men’s clothes and old mobile phones - all data will be cleared before being allocated. Please leave donations outside the church office marked for the attention of SVP. Thank you.
MUSICAL & OPERA NIGHT Saturday 8th November Four professional opera singers, with piano accompaniment, will perform a mixture of Arias and songs from Musicals and operas at the 36th Annual evening organised by the Catenians. Interested but not sure what it’s like, please take a look at the short promotional film on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXUWrbuRs6I Profits from the event go to CAFOD. This event takes place at Clare's Court School, Maidenhead at 7.30pm on Saturday 8th November. Tickets £30 pp. Tickets available from Jonathan Holder via manorcott@outlook.com
PARKING Please park in marked parking bays only. If there is no parking available on site, then please park on the road. There should be no parking on yellow lines or by the fence. Thank you for your cooperation.
PRAYER: During Autumn why not enjoy a spiritual journey from the comfort of your home on 'Prayer'. This is an amazing website that offers various courses and studies in the whole area of Prayer and Spirituality. Have a look! www.epiphanygroup.org.uk www.epiphanygroup.org.uk/training-courses/introduction-to-ways-of-praying/
ROAD CLOSURE If you are planning to visit St Joseph's on Sunday 26th October, please note that there is a road closure on Cookham Road from 08.30am – 12.20pm
ART EXHIBITION St Joseph’s Parish Centre: A group of local artists will be holding an art from Friday 31st October until 2nd November at the following times: Friday 31st October: 7pm - 9.30 pm; Saturday 1st November: 10.30 am - 7.30 pm; Sunday 2nd November: 9am - 1.30 pm. Refreshments will be served throughout the exhibition, and there will be a chance to meet the artists throughout the weekend. Paintings - including religious works - ceramics, greeting and Christmas cards will all be on sale at this event, with at least 20% of the proceeds going to support the work of Thames hospice.
ST JOSEPH'S CHURCH by Fr Brian Oswald Pre-order your cards now! Single cards @ £2 or pack of 3 for £5. https://stjosephsparish.co.uk/shop See sample outside Parish Office (on the door). All proceeds to support Thames Hospice. See/ Buy the original painting at an art exhibition being held at St Joseph’s on the weekend of the 1st/2nd November this year
THE ST EDMUND CAMPION VISION GROUP is preparing for a forthcoming musical show and would be grateful for assistance from anyone with experience in sound or lighting. If you are able to offer your support, please contact church office for further details.
SCHOOL HALF TERM Monday 27th October - Friday 31st October.
REMEMBER….. clocks change this Sunday morning. Clocks will go back an hour in the early hours of Sunday 26th October. An extra hour in bed!
QUENCH BOOKSHOP will be here on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th November.
GOSPEL POWER 2026 are now available to purchase. £6.50 per book. Cash payments to the repository box in the wall or via Dona machine
ADVENT CALENDAR APPEAL 2025 The Holy Family Parish will be supporting Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice by collecting Advent Calendars from Sunday 26th October - Sunday 23rd November. Please place in the box provided in the church porch. Thank you.
MISSALS We have a small number of daily missals and weekday missals available. Daily missals - £70; Weekday - £55. Please contact the office if you would like to purchase one.
MASS INTENTIONS: There is a long and venerable tradition in the Catholic Church that the faithful ask their priests to celebrate Holy Mass for particular, specified intentions. An individual may ask a priest to offer a Mass for several reasons: for example, in thanksgiving, for the intentions of another person (such as on a birthday, good health, peace in family life), or as is most common, for the repose of the soul of someone who has died or on their anniversary. This custom, which was well-understood in generations past, is increasingly being forgotten. Since the practice is of immense spiritual benefit to both the living and the dead, and because it also helps to support your clergy and parish, we would encourage you to request that Masses be offered for your intentions. Please contact Ruth in the Parish Office, if you wish to have a Mass celebrated for your intentions. Pope Paul VI said, “The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!” It has immense power and countless miracles and conversions have occurred throughout the centuries by offering Masses for a specific intention or person. Mass intentions are a great treasure of the Church and have a spiritual weight that is incalculable.
YOGA CLASSES Tuesday 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th November 11am-11:45am. No yoga 28th October. Everyone is welcome. No charge for the class, just a small donation to charity if able. For more information contact Rachel: wellhappyyoga@gmail.com or the parish office.
TODDLER GROUP Every Friday in termtime, 8:45am-10:45am in the Parish Centre.
LOSS AND BEREAVEMENT GROUP Sunday 9th November 2:30pm-4:30pm in the Parish Centre
LEGION OF MARY GROUP Fridays 6pm in St Joseph's Church contact Fr Ephraim 07785 727951 or Thereza 07878117907
Thursdays (starting 11th September) : Zoom www.tinyurl.com/2hz5axvp 2pm Rosary; 6pm Journey together through Holy scriptures
INTERESTED IN PRACTICAL ART? Join U3A untutored Art Group. Bring your art materials and join in the fun every first & third Tuesdays 2-4pm in SJ Hall. Contact Peter 01628 674097 for more info
AGE UK has a series of support clubs/events in the community for older people. https://www.ageuk.org.uk/berkshire/activities-and-events/whats-on---windsor--maidenhead/ or see the church noticeboard for posters
GIFT AID: If you have a standing order or direct debit donation to the Parish and gift aid your donation, please complete a new Gift Aid form. These will need to be completed for all existing Gift Aid Declarations. New Direct Debit and Gift Aid forms are available in the church porch and in the drawers outside the Parish Office. Please return all completed forms to the Parish Office. Thank you to everyone who has completed a form over the last few months.
DONA CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS are now available in the church porch. You can Gift Aid your donation to the church and Second Collections. You only need to put your details in once and all future donations using the same card will be Gift Aided. Donations, Repository, Candles, Mass Intentions can all be paid for using the machine– just select the option on the screen.
WELCOME A very warm welcome to all parishioners and visitors who join us, whether in our Churches of St. Joseph’s, St. Elizabeth’s, St. Edmund Campion or via the live-stream. If you are new to the area, please register as a member of our Parishes. The parish offices are situated at St. Joseph’s Church, Cookham Road and St. Edmund Campion, Altwood Road. Carolyn or Ruth can send you a soft copy of the registration form if you so wish, or pick up a hard copy at the church. The parish office details are available on the website and in the church porch.
CHILDREN’S SUNDAY LITURGY - 9:30am Mass Children from the age of 4 can attend. Please put your child’s name on the register as you go into the church.
REPOSITORY Please see our repository for cards & Mass cards for all occasions. Cash payments in the box on the wall or via the Dona contactless machine (minimum £1 payments).
PARISH COMMUNICATION We have reduced our newsletter to one two-sided A4 sheet. In order to make sure you are receiving up to date communications, please consider signing up to receive information by email. Parishioner registration forms are available in the church porch and in the drawers outside the Parish Office – please complete one and return it to the Parish office.
SCHOOL PLAYGROUND The Reception area playground is not for use at the weekends. Please make sure that children are not entering this area before or after weekend Masses. The staff prepare the area on Friday afternoon so that it is ready for learning on Monday morning. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
FOOD IN THE CHURCH The church is cleaned every Friday afternoon. Recently there appears to be a lot of food debris on the Church floor after weekend Masses. If you or your child needs to eat during Mass, can we request that you please use the Parish Centre. Thank you for your cooperation.
FOODSHARE Are you an NHS, Emergency services or a Blue Light worker. Foodshare is now operating a shop, so if you're struggling to make ends meet, for a cost of £10 per visit you can "buy" a trolley of food. Call 01628 262711 for fast and fuss free support.
VACANCIES - For job vacancies in the Diocese please see Diocese website https://www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/
We have activities planned for later this year and would be happy to hear from you if you would like to get involved or have an idea of your own. Please contact Sarah Bowden (bowden.sarah@googlemail.com).
LIBRARY We have a parish library located in the foyer of the Parish Centre. One bookcase is dedicated to Theology/Religious books, another bookcase to Fiction/Non-Fiction and a third smaller bookcase to children's Bibles/Bible stories etc. Please feel free to borrow/swap.
If you would like to donate, we can only accept books that are in excellent and clean condition. Thank you and enjoy.
FOODSHARE We are a collection point for Foodshare. Our collection area is just inside the porch doors, but if you leave food outside, out of hours (in a bag or other covering) the building is regularly checked. Foodshare are currently really in need of tinned vegetables and tinned meat, amongst all the regular donations.
APPOINTMENTS If you wish to speak to Fr Liam, Fr Ephraim, Fr Kevin or Fr Tom in confidence on any matter, please contact either one for an appointment. They are happy to visit your home if so desired, adhering to social distancing guidelines.
HOUSEBOUND If you know of anyone who is sick and/or housebound, please let Ruth (Parish Office), Fr Liam or Fr Ephraim know so that a visit can be arranged.
FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES, FOR THE COMING MONTHS
Father Ephraim is the ‘link person’ for pastoral matters concerning the parish of St. Joseph’s and St. Elizabeth’s. He is also chaplain to St. Mary’s school.
Father Liam will be the ‘link person’ for the parish of St. Edmund Campion and will be chaplain to St. Edmund Campion school.
Fr. Ephraim and Fr. Liam are on call each day and will serve our community as best they can. You can call either of them on their mobile numbers, contact them via email or visit them at St. Joseph’s Presbytery.
THE WELCOMING MINISTRY (Mass Rep) is dedicated to helping all parishioners and visitors enhance their worship experience at Mass by making them feel welcome and included in our Eucharistic celebration, helping them connect with our parish, and participating in the numerous ministry opportunities offered at St. Edmund Campion. The Mass Rep is the ‘overseer’ in ensuring that the various ministries during Mass are fulfilled. Further, they are there to help you with any queries.
We thank our mass reps:
6:15pm Saturday: Reena K. 9:30am Sunday: Elvira E-M 11:15am Sunday: Julie C.
ADMISSION INTO ST EDMUND CAMPION SCHOOL AND NURSERY is based on Mass attendance for some categories. In our parish, we have an attendance card available from the table in the church lobby. Every time you come to Sunday Mass please get your card stamped. For information on the current Admissions Policy see the school's website, www.st-edmund.org.uk.
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