Four contrasts are referred to in the gospel of today (The Beatitudes) – poverty/riches; hunger/fullness; sorrow/laughter; and defamation/commendation. Jesus upturns the values we would normally consider desirable. He asks us to realise that we are not living simply to be happy in this life but we should ask ourselves the deeper value of our ways of life in the light of what we can bring with us to eternal life.
The Christian view of life is that we should never forget that things cannot be brought with us into eternal life. Rather, we only take with us the things we have given away – even if it’s only a cup of water given in the name of Jesus (Matthew 10:42).
God’s mercy means doing justice for the poorest and the most humiliated. Jesus meets families on his travels who are barely surviving and are defenceless against powerful landowners. We too see poor and powerless people today. Are we, his followers, defenders of the poor?
What meaningful action will I do today to bring a smile to the lips of someone who is poor or broken?
Christian living is neither an armchair occupation nor a spectator sport.
1st Jeremiah 17:5-8. Trust in human resources is like a withering shrub in the arid desert
Psalm (from Psalm 1). Response: Happy are they who hope in the Lord
2nd 1 Corinthians 15:12,16-20. Pauls clear reply to some who were sceptical about resurrection
Gospel Luke 6:17,20-26. Luke has just four Beatitudes, and four corresponding ‘woes’
MASS VIA YOUTUBE Mass is streamed live on Wednesday (9.30am) and Sunday (11.15am). To join, just click on the YouTube icon on the parish website shortly before Mass starts. Due to demand, this service will continue for the foreseeable future.
NEW WEBSITE! We have switched to a new home on the Internet: stedmundcampion.org.uk. You will be switched over automatically, but please update your bookmarks so that you can still find us when the old site goes away. Many thanks to Jonas K and Mike Q for all their efforts.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER Friday 4th March 2pm at St Joseph’s Church. Everyone is welcome. This year England, Wales and Northern Ireland are hosts. This will probably not be our honour for another 100 years.
FIRST FRIDAY Each First Friday will see a ‘Healing Mass’ being celebrated alternately at St. Joseph’s Church and St. Edmund Campion Church for 2022. We bring together all our needs and especially asking God’s healing spirit upon people and situations in our parish. You are very welcome.
The First Friday of the month is also 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 you, or someone you know would like a visit from a priest, then please contact Fr. Liam or Fr. Ephraim.
FACE COVERINGS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING Please, It is encouraged, from a moral and respectful point of view, to continue wearing face masks during Public Worship. This indeed, is not a legal requirement, and several of our parishioners have an exemption from wearing masks.
If you wish to continue adhering to social distancing in the Church, then please arrive at least 10 minutes before Mass, and a section in the church will be reserved for you. Please, please respect the distancing in this area so that people can worship in peace and comfort. If you do not arrive before the Mass starts it will not be possible to guarantee a place in this area.
“SHIELDING” for those in our community who continue to join at the Eucharist via YouTube on a regular basis, but for one reason or another, cannot physically come to the Church, and would like to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion, please let Fr. Liam or the parish office know. Fr. Liam will bring the Holy Sacrament to you whilst adhering to social distancing and a safe environment.
WALKING TOGETHER “Synod” simply means “journeying together”. Pope Francis, following on from his invitation in 2013 for us to become “missionary disciples”, has called a Universal Synod which is taking place in every Catholic diocese across the world. The Synod is themed: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission”. This two-year journey’s (2021-23) goal is for all members of the church to be heard.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR DIOCESE? In our Diocese, we are asked to submit our responses and observations. Eventually, after Diocesan, National and Continental gatherings, the Synod of Bishops will gather in Rome in 2023 to reflect on what has been heard.
The Holy Father is inviting us to listen deeply to one another; to discern what God is saying to the Church, and to enter into a dialogue about how we can journey together into the future. He has also asked us to think about how we can invite those on the margins and those searching for faith to walk with us in communion.
HOW CAN I TAKE PART? We want to hear how you think we can best live out Pope Francis’s vision of a participatory, responsible, evangelising church. You can participate in the first stage of the Synod collectively or individually by providing your feedback to us. We encourage you to pray and discern about the following:
A synodal Church, in announcing the Gospel, “journeys together.” How is this “journeying together” happening today in your local Church? What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our “journeying together”? (PD, 26).
Pope Francis has provided us with a set of Reflection Questions to address, both personally and in group meetings.
You can submit your feedback individually online via email to the parish email address or by writing and leave your submissions in the Suggestion Box found in the church. Please feel free to answer as many or as few questions as you like. You can download the Synodal Questions here.
Your contribution is invaluable and will make a considerable difference to the future of the church in our diocese and across the world.
On Friday 18th and 25th February you can join a discussion group in the Parish Centre at St Joseph’s Church at 10:30am; you will be welcomed and have the chance to discuss these questions face to face.
SIF FORMS FOR SCHOOL APPLICATION Fr Liam is available by appointment to sign SIF Forms, please remember to bring your stamp cards showing Mass attendance.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES & SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION CLASSES As you are aware, the First Holy Communion and Confirmation journey is in three stages. Stage One, was simply coming to Mass for the last number of months and participating in the prayers and singing, and being comfortable with the journey of liturgy.
At the end of each Mass, the candidates for First Holy Communion and Confirmation received a stamp to show their attendance. This will continue. We have entered Stage Two.
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION STAGE 2 4:40pm on Saturday 12th February at Joseph’s Parish Centre.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASS 4:45pm on Saturday 12th February, both at St. Edmund Campion School.
RCIA Session 5 is at 7:15pm on Thursday 17th February at St. Edmund Campion Parish Centre.
FIRST FRIDAY ADORATIONS FROM JANUARY TILL SEPTEMBER St Edmund Campion Church Ruby Jubilee Celebrations are taking place in September 2022. In order to prepare for this, we are hosting a novena of 9 first fridays to pray, to meditate, to fast and to give joy for everything to all that our church community has offered us over 40 years of service and the faith and support it has given to our families. If you can come for an hour or 2 hours or even whole evening starting on the first Friday of January (7th) from 7pm until 8am Saturday morning. We would love to start a rota, where a number of people could do this on the first Friday of each month from January through to September in preparation for prayer and our celebration. During this time the church will be open through the night and everyone is welcomed to come and stay with the Lord. Please contact or text Agnieszka on 07871 258181 or email gnieszka@gmail.com.
THE COWSHED The Cowshed is a new charity which provides support to people of all backgrounds in Berkshire experiencing hardship. The aim of The Cowshed is to provide good quality clothes and other essentials to anyone in need. They offer their services to people from all faiths and none.
We would like to ask you to look at their website and donate whatever you can from their list. New Year is a good time to de-clutter and start afresh and perhaps pass on gifts that you have received and will never use. We will be accepting donations this weekend (15th & 16th January 2022). There will be labelled boxes available. Please find more information about The Cowshed on their website: www.thecowshed.org.
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: St. Edmund Campion Maidenhead
Sort code: 30-93-04
Account number: 00882551
JOHN PAUL II AWARD This is a faith achievement award for young people between the age of 16 and 18. It is non-competitive, inclusive, flexible and voluntary.
The Award enables participants to take an active part both in the life of their Church and in the life of their community and society. For further details, contact Jonathan on manorcott@outlook.com or 01628 626527.
WEDNESDAY BRIDGE CLUB All past bridge players and parishioners who would like to learn the game are invited. Please contact John Lynn for more information.
THURSDAY CLUB Meets every other Thursday (next is 17th February). Open to everyone, of all ages. A chance to meet up, have a coffee and a chat. We also organise occasional speakers and days out. Please contact Angela for more information.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY If you, or anyone you know, are in need, or would appreciate a friendly chat, in person or over the phone, from one of our number, please call 07749 917134 for further details.
YOGA CLASSES Every Tuesday at 12 noon in the parish centre. For more information contact Rachel at wellhappyyoga@gmail.com or the parish office. Now on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wellhappyyoga) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wellhappyyoga/).
YOGA FOR MEN Class at 9am on Saturday 26th February. For more information contact Rachel at wellhappyyoga@gmail.com or the parish office.
COX GREEN LUNCHEON CLUB For more information contact Ruby Doughty on 01628630703 or rubydoughty@yahoo.co.uk.
TODDLERS GROUP Every Friday from 8:45 to 10:45am in the Parish Centre. Contact Jenny on jennyoliver51@hotmail.com for more information.
PARISH HALL The Parish Hall is available to hire, for parties, celebrations, meetings, training, classes and anything else you can think of. It’s a great community space, and is available for £25 per hour.
BURCHETTS GREEN PARISH ADMINISTRATOR The Parish of Burchetts Green is looking for an efficient and conscientious Parish Administrator to commence as soon as possible. The role will require the individual to work independently and with the Vicar, volunteers, professional bodies, the Diocese and contractors.
Applicants should be competent in the use of Microsoft Office and financial software. Training can be provided. Good communication skills and the ability to deal with sensitive situations are essential.
Hours of work - 20 per week, preferably across 5 mornings, but there is some flexibility for the right person. The parish office is based in the Soltau Centre (behind St James the Less church) in Stubbings.
For further details contact the Parish Office by phone: 01628 820077 or email: office@burchettsgreenparish.org.
SUSTAINABILITY Nest boxes are becoming increasingly important for breeding birds as natural nest sites, holes in trees and old buildings, disappear due to building repairs or manicuring gardens. If you want to encourage more birds to start a family in your garden, then you can order a nest box like the ones you see on the drive from Bisham Nest Box Group. Your nest box will then be available to collect from the Parish Centre after masses on the weekend of 12th/13th February. You can order yours at www.bnbg.org.uk.
You will have seen the 'Wildlife at Home' display along the driveway that was created by the Delacour and McColgan families with support from the Bisham Nest Box Group, Rafter Design and Wild Maidenhead. In March, these homes will be moved to their final sites on the church grounds to encourage and support our wildlife.
If you want to find out more about our Eco-Church projects please contact Sarah Bowden (bowden.sarah@googlemail.com). We are still looking for volunteers to join the team.
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 or Fr Ephraim 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 Sarah (Parish Office), Fr Liam or Fr Ephraim know so that a visit can be arranged.
FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES, FOR THE COMING MONTHS
Father Ephraim will be the ‘link person’ for pastoral matters concerning the parish of St. Joseph’s and St. Elizabeth’s. He will also be 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. As we enter a new liturgical year, the four or five weekends of a month will see the same priest celebrating Mass in that particular parish. So, for January, Fr. Liam will preside at weekend Masses at St Joseph’s & St. Elizabeth’s and Fr. Ephraim at St. Edmund Campion. The following month they will swap around.
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 & Shirley F. 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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