The beatitudes offer a summary of Jesus' teaching. They are the condensed gospel and need some teasing out to apply them to life. We are aware of political manifestos, statements of what a party stands for, what they intend to achieve if you elect them. This gospel is Jesus' manifesto. It is a manifesto that he promises will bring us nearer to God.
People who are detached and show gentleness to others, are blessed. Even if they are rich, their money does not make them boastful or proud. Grief is the price we must eventually pay for having loved. If you are determined never to cry at a funeral, don't ever love anyone. The meek and the gentle are the most resilient of people. Good people deeply respect justice and fair play, and try and win them for others. As you treat others, so you will be treated. If we want to receive mercy and compassion, we must show mercy to others. A pure heart is not devious, deceitful, selfish or cunning. Jesus did not say we should be passive. Rather he usrges us to build bridges of peace with others.
Jesus warns those who follow him will be treated as he was. There is a cost in Pentecost, and following him means sharing his cross. Right from the beginning when Simeon saw him in the temple, he said that Jesus would be a sign of contradiction. Everything he said and did was a challenge to this world's values. Those in power, prestige and control felt undermined by his message. The religious leaders who were the arbiters of right and wrong, were so threatened by him that they planned his death.
There is a cleansing power in the beatitudes. They are about letting go of things that are not life-giving, and about becoming truly free. They offer guidelines for living, for inner peace and happiness. Formal religion can be too tied to rules and regulations and be authoritarian. Spirituality is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is about letting go, so as to be free in God's sight.
1st. Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13. For I will leave among you a people humble and lowly.
Responsorial: Psalm 145:7-10. R./: Happy the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
2nd. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12. The spirit of the Kingdom: the Beatitudes.
The Church in Maidenhead is giving a workshop for those in our community who feel called to be Minsiters of the Word and/or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. You are very welcome to attend on of the sessions, either on Wednesday 1st February at 7pm or Saturday 4th February at 11am. Both seminars will take place at St. Edmund Capion Church, but it is open to all Christians in the Maidenhead area.
Please come along if you want to enjoy a reflective 'mini-retreat', if you want to develop your approach to listening scripture, if you are thinking about possibly becoming a reader in Church.
Through the gift of ministry, the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, is commisioned to serve Christ's Church through bringing the gift of Jesus Christ himself to his brothers and sisters, joining him in a life poured out in loving service of his kingdom.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass - The minister serves Christ present in the assembly by ministering his Body and Blood to their brothers and sisters.
Ministry to the Sick and Housebound - Eucharist ministers also serve the unity of the worshipping community by taking Communion to those members who are prevented by sickness, old age, or other cause from taking part in the gathering for Mass
Both Ministeries are essential, and we need more people to serve in these roles. At present, we are very short of both.
Father Liam will guide these two meetings.
We pray for the repose of the soul of Pam Cooper, former teacher at St Mary's, parishioner at St Edmund Campion. We offer our condolences to her husband Doug, and her daughters.
BAPTISMAL COURSE The Baptismal Course is available for all Parents whose child is being Baptised at either St Jospeh's. St Elizabeth's or St Edmund Campion. Please contact the office of the appropriate Church for further details. Sessions are held at St Joseph's Church on Sunday 5th February at 1pm, Minday 6th February at 7pm and Monday 27th March at 7pm.
INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE What is interreligious Dialogue? Dialogue implies speaking and listening, giving and receiving, mutual growth and enrichment.
It is based on witness to one's faith as well as openness to the religion of another. It is not a betrayal of the mission of the Church, nor is it a new method of conversion to Christianity. Dailogue includes promoting respect, mutual understanding, and collaberation between Catholics and the followers of other religious traditions; encouraging the study of religions; and promoting the formation of persons dedicated to dialogue. The ecumenical dimension of interreligious dialogue is an important aspect of the Vatican Council's approach. Our Catholic community in Maidenhead wishes to have an ongoing relationship with the Local Council of Churches and continue to collaborate on initiatives in study and promotion of interreligious dialogue.
The document Nostra Aetete (In Our Age) provides Catholics with principles for engaging in interreligious dialogue.
If this is something that interests you and you would be willing to form part of a team from the Diocese of Portsmouth to have study days and reach out and dialogue with other religions please let Father Liam know soon, and the Diocecse are in the process of setting up a group to further Inter-Religious Dialogue.
TEN-YEAR MISSION PLAN - "You Will Be My Witnesses" (from Heather Hauschild)
Thank you to all the parishes and individuals who responded to the consultation about the mission plan. We have had over 60 parish responses and 46 individual responses, of which 5 were from priests, 38 from laypersons, and 3 from groups of parishioners. The feedback will now be analysed to inform the final shape of the plan. A group of clergy and lay people are helping us with this so that the detail can be further tested and refined. The work will include a small number of meetings and comment on the material as it is developed. If any of you have an interest in helping with this aspect of the plan, please let us know via missionplan@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
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 HEALING MASS Each First Friday will see a ‘Healing Mass’ being celebrated alternatively at St. Joseph’s Church and St. Edmund Campion Church for 2023. We bring together all our needs and especially asking God’s healing spirit upon people and situations in our parish. You are very welcome.
CHRISTMAS STARS Thank you all for your very generous contributions to our Christmas Stars appeal. There were 76 stars and the total collected for W.O.R.K. was the amazing sum of £1043.44. Well done everyone.
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
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES As you are aware, the First Holy Communion 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 candidate for First Holy Communion received a stamp to show their attendance. This will continue. However, the family/child will need to show their attendance by showing the priest or catechist their Mass Attendance Card. If there is consistency, then the child will be invited into Stage Two of the programme, which are the classes. If not, and there seems no interest in Mass attendance, then the child and family will be asked to postpone the reception of the Sacrament for another year.
STAGE 2 The next class for the First Holy Communion Programme is on Saturday 4th February, at 4:45pm at St. Edmund Campion School. We continue to pray for them.
A REFLECTION ON LENT Come and listen to Fr Kevin Hughes MHM as he gives a reflection on this season, which starts on Ash Wednesday 22nd February. There are 2 opportunities available:
All welcome - start your Lenten preparation early!
FLOWER ROTA We are very short of flower arrangers at the moment, the new rota is coming out as soon as possible. Please could you contact Carolyn on candrfoster@btinternet.com if you can help. While you do not need to be a professional, some flower arranging experience would be helpful. Only three weekends a year are required.
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.
YOGA CLASSES take place on Tuesdays at the new time of 11am in the parish centre. Everyone is welcome, new to yoga or with some experience. Whoever you are, you are welcome. The start of the year may be a good opportunity to try something new! Mats, props and cleaning wipes available. Classes are free but, if possible, a donation for charity will be appreciated.
Contact Rachel at wellhappyyoga@gmail.com or the parish office.
SVP are still looking for donations for the Asylum Seekers please. If you have any of the following we would be very grateful for them. Namely new underwear for men, women or children; men's clothes and shoes/ trainers particularly joggers and warm tops (small, medium or large but no bigger please); any deodorant, moisturiser or perfume for men or women; suitcases. Please bring them to the parish office or ring 07749 917134 for collection. If you would like to help or find out more please get in touch. Thank you to everyone who has helped so far with the appeal for phones and laptops. These are still needed too.
TODDLERS GROUP every termtime Friday 8:45-10:45 in the Parish Centre.
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. .
PILGRAMAGE TO WALSINGHAM for over 75 years the UCM (Union of Catholic Mothers) has made an annual Pilgramage to Our Lady's Shrine in Walsingham, Norfolk. This year, the Pilgramage takes place on Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th July.
We are panning to organise a coach from St Joseph's Church car park for parishioners to join UCM members from around the country in Walsingham. This is open to any adult parishioner of any churches in our Parish area.
At this early stage I am only asking for names and contact details of any parishioners interested in joining this Pilgramage. Costs are likely to be around £200 per pilgrim, but will depend on the final cost of the coach hire.
To find out more about the shrine, please go to walsingham.org.uk and look at the website (Mass is live-streamed from the Basilica every day at 12noon). NOTE: There is an Anglican Walsingham website as well as the Catholic one.
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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