Interesting that Jesus says we don't need much faith - only the size of a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds in his time. Does he really mean this?
He seems to be saying that faith does not depend on us. It is a gift from God, which grows throughout our lives 'fanned into a flame', as in the second reading.
We need to have confidence in the faith we have rather than always berating ourselves that it is little. In our parish and community there is often more faith than we realise.
We have people among us who serve the sick and the poor; we have those who pray a lot and those who worship; we have those who reflect on faith and question. There are the families where faith is expressed in many different ways. Every moment where we come in touch with the world beyond ourselves, whether directly religious or not, is a moment of faith.
We can trace the history of our own faith and remember personal moments that strengthened the faith. These can be varied - prayer, love, works of justice, the beauty of creation, times of illness and death, sacramental life. What is important is that they are personal moments between us and God, which are privileged times of the growth of the mustard seed of faith.
We need the faith community. We need to work together for the just world recognised in the first reading as the prophet 'denounces violence, contention and discord’. We need the leadership of the community, clerical and lay, to point out ways of faith for our culture and our times. In this way God grows the mustard seed, which is the beginning of faith.
In the end faith grows in surprising ways. God is at work all the time, supporting our faith in varied and heartfelt ways.
Lord, I believe, strengthen my belief.
READINGS
1st. Habbakuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4. When the prophet mourns injustice, God promises a day of justice.
Responsorial: Psalm 94:1-2, 6-9. R./: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
2nd. 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14. Like his teacher Paul, Timothy must make sacrifices for his ministry.
Gospel: Luke 17:5-10. Faith the size of a mustard seed can achieve great things.
BAPTISM
9th. Sunday. Frederick and Ivy, children of Matthew and Claire Kirkpatrick.
FUNERAL We continue to pray for the repose of the soul of dear Father Kevin Jones RIP. His funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Edmund Campion church at 11am on Saturday, October 1st. You are very welcome to come.
Mass will also be celebrated at The Immaculate Conception Church on Monday 3rd October at 10.15am followed by cremation at Easthampstead at 11.30am.
MASS AT QUARR ABBEY for Fr Kevin Jones. One of our Parishioners has arranged for a Mass to be said for Fr Kevin Jones, at Quarr Abbey on the 12th October at 11.30. If you would be interested in going, please let Sarah know on office@stedmundcampion.org.uk by Wednesday 8th of October, transport has been arranged. https://quarrabbey.org is the website if you need further details of where it is.
Overwhelmed by Climate Change? Not sure what you can do?
MISSIO Magazine. Please pick up a copy of the Autumn edition of the Red Box magazine Mission Today, now available in the Church Porch.’
RUBY JUBILEE RUBY JUBILEE CELEBRATION A new date will be announced as soon as it is agreed.
HOSPITALITY I'm appealing for 2 people to help with "tea & biscuit hospitality" after 9.30am mass. You'll be on the rota approx every 8 weeks and it's a great opportunity to meet lots of people in your parish community. You are normally done by 11am and everything will be explained upfront. If you have any questions or can offer your services pls email Karen dkryder897@aol.com
CHILDREN’S SUNDAY LITURGY We’re asking you, as a member of our community and over 18 years of age, to consider the possibility of being a catechist/helper during ‘Sunday School’. For more information, please contact Tricia Opalko on patricia.opalko@st-edmund.org.uk
MOTHER’S PRAYER GROUPThe first Mothers’ Prayer Group began three years ago in St. Edmund Campion Church. You are warmly invited to attend, as and when you can. The meetings are held every Friday from 8.50am to 9.45, at the Church, and if you can, stay on for Mass at 10am. Tea/Coffee and chat afterwards!
Meetings begin with a relaxed welcome and greeting. Prayer follows, primarily for our children, Godchildren, children of the parish and children of Maidenhead. The peace it brings is tangible.
If you are interested in joining this group or finding out more, then please contact Noris on 07714990696, or Nancy on 07708094409. Or indeed, just turn up any Friday morning!
CAFOD HARVEST FAST DAY is on Friday 7 October and children from the school will be speaking at the Masses on 1-2 October. Millions of families in northern Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan are facing a food crisis that could be the worst in living memory. Your donations can help CAFOD’s local experts to provide emergency food supplies to families in the worst affected countries in East Africa and support communities around the world working hard to put food on the table. Thank you in advance for your generosity this harvest – envelopes will be available and the collection will be taken on 8-9 October. For more information visit cafod.org.uk/fastday
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME: 2022 – 2023 Prayer Service and Introduction for Reconciliation and First Holy Communion will take place at St. Edmund Campion Church at 5pm, on Saturday the 24th September, followed by the Vigil Mass at 18.15. For those applying at St. Joseph’s a similar meeting will be held at 9.45am on Sunday the 25th September, followed by Mass at 11am.
The programme is a ‘3-step-programme’.
Step 1: 14 weekends from initial meeting in September to end of December. The candidate is required to attend at least 10 weekend Masses with family members. This step is called: ‘Come And See’. (John 1: 39-41). An invitation from Jesus.
Step 2: ‘Sat at the feet of Jesus’. (Luke 10:38-42). 10 input/teaching classes between January and April. This will be done on alternative Saturdays/Sundays. Each input will comprise of 80 minutes. Candidates are expected to attend Mass every weekend during this period.
Step 3: ‘Jesus sent them out’. (Luke 10:1). During May, the candidates will do a missionary assignment in the Church and Community.
May 2023 will see the Sacraments being bestowed upon the candidates.
SQUIRRELS Our very active parish Scout Group is opening a new section, a Squirrels Drey, for 4 and 5 year olds, girls and boys, early next year. This will allow younger children to join in the adventure which is Scouting.
With this young age group we will, of course, be needing a number of new leaders and helpers, with the support of our current leaders.
If you enjoy working with this age group and would like to hear more about us or would like to add your child's name to our waiting list please contact Loz on lozzermarchant@yahoo.co.uk
CLOSER TO CHRIST CAMPAIGN Please see the attached update. There are copies printed in the Church too.
TODDLERS GROUP Every Termtime Friday 8.45-10.45 in the Parish Centre.
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
Maidenhead STREET ANGELS are back on the streets again on Friday and Saturday nights and are hoping to recruit more Angel volunteers. Please see the attached poster with details.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS (RCIA) We are all on a journey of faith, which is unique and personal, and yet a journey that we know is greatly enriched when we are able to come together and share with others.
Maybe you are a non-Catholic Christian accompanying your family to Church and now feel drawn to become part of this community of faith. Maybe your “roots” are in another religion, or in none. Maybe you are a Baptised Catholic but never received, as a young person, the Sacrament of Confirmation.
This programme is widely used in many parishes throughout the Diocese. RCIA is both a learning and teaching programme that aims to help those who would like to know more about the Christian faith from a catholic perspective and might be thinking about becoming a Catholic.
To be a full member of the Catholic Church you need to complete the process of Christian Initiation, which is when you have been Baptised, Confirmed and have made your First Holy Communion. The RCIA Programme will begin with the completion of the ten-step programme of the Alpha course run at Windsor.
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
CHILDREN’S SUNDAY LITURGY Children from the age of 4 can attend. Please put your child’s name on the register as you go into the church for Safeguarding purposes. Restarts 10th September.
YOGA CLASSES Yoga Tuesday at 11.45am. Classes are free but if possible, a donation for charity will be appreciated. Come to all the classes, come to some, try a class...you’ll be welcome! Yoga mats will be available. Bring your own if you have one. Mat cleaning spray and wipes will be available. No class 11th October. ( Sorry about this :)) Contact Rachel at wellhappyyoga@gmail.com or the parish office.).
CLIMATE CHANGE This planned course, has been postponed. A new date will be advertised as soon as it’s available. Thank you to Eric and Sarah who put so much work into the planning of the course.
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 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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