Today, Jesus’ baptism by John, was a special moment – the real coming of God’s spirit upon him. It was the same Spirit who had come upon Mary at the moment of Jesus’ conception, and would come to Jesus at his last moment on the Cross.
The spirit brings him new energy. The feast marks that something new is happening, and that Jesus is the beloved and son; from eternity and into time.
The Spirit came upon him – but not just for himself.
He would send the Spirit later to us – of forgiveness and of perseverance in doing good.
Today is about energy. Jesus found a new spirit in himself after his prayer and he heard words he would never forget. Maybe you have heard words of love from someone you will never forget. They give energy to the heart and soul, making us people always on the go, ready for new life within us.
The Spirit pours the energy of God into bread and wine and they are changed forever.
He sends himself forever. It is sending the love and presence and energy of God.
We know that we can get stuck. We know that this pandemic of Coronavirus is eating away at us. Who will be infected next? How many more to die? Can we live ‘normal and routine lives’ side by side with the latest variant of Covid, Omicron?
We need new infusions of the Spirit to give new energy.
We are beloved sons and daughters of a God who loves us and cares for us.
Can we be the type of people who others think it’s good to meet and encounter?
Can we be open to the spirit of God, open to new life, new love, being really fully the person I can be?
May the waters of baptism, O Lord, bring us the new life of your love.
1st Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11. He will feed his flock like a shepherd
Psalm (from Psalm 103). Response: Bless the Lord my soul! Lord God, how great you are
2nd Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7. Purified through the water of rebirth and renewal
Gospel Luke 3:15-16, 21-22. The Baptist points to Jesus the Saviour, whom God calls “my Son, the Beloved”
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 on the weekend of 15th & 16th January 2022. There will be labelled boxes available. Please find more information about The Cowshed on their website: www.thecowshed.org.
BAPTISMS
FUNERALS
May their souls, and the souls of all the departed, rest in peace.
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.
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 It is now a legal requirement to wear face masks during Public Worship, unless you have an exemption.
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.
As we move into 2022, Father Ephraim, and I want to thank you all for your kindness and care over the past year – indeed, a very tough year for all of us. We thank you for your support and encouragement. We belong to an amazing community and despite this long season of Covid-19, we continue to stand strong and proud as people of hope, love, joy and peace.
This Christmas we celebrated the Masses with limited numbers, but many of you watched via the livestreaming. The liturgy was beautiful and so many of you got involved in setting the scene within and outside the church.
I must say, I am deeply touched by your abundant generosity of donations, well wishes and gifts over the Christmas period.
For your spirit of solidarity and being such fantastic witness of living a life of faith, I say thank you.
I pray this prayer for you:
New Year's Prayer
As the dawn breaks on a new year, let us give thanks for all we hold dear: our health, our family, our friends and our parish community of St. Edmund Campion.
Let us release our grudges, our anger and our pains, for these are nothing but binding chains.
Let us live each day in the most loving ways, the God-conscious way.
Let us serve all who are in need, regardless of race, colour or creed.
Let us keep God of our own understanding in our hearts and to chant God's name each day.
Let us lead the world from darkness to light, from falsehood to truth and from wrong to right.
Let us remember that we are all one, embracing all, discriminating against none.
May your year be filled with peace, prosperity and love.
May God's blessings shower upon you and bestow upon each of you a bright, healthy and peaceful new year.
God bless you all,
Liam
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 candidate for First Holy Communion and Confirmation, 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.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION STAGE 2 Class one is at St. Edmund Campion Church, starting at 4:45pm on Saturday 8th January, followed by Mass and official enrolment for First Holy Communion.
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION STAGE 2 Class one is at St. Edmund Campion Church, starting at 4:45pm on Saturday 15th January, followed by Mass and official enrolment for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
RCIA We are blessed with having twelve candidates join the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). These are made up of people from the three church communities of St. Joseph’s, St. Elizabeth’s and St. Edmund Campion. They are all involved with our church community. Some desire to be baptised, others to be received into the church from another church, and some are Catholics who desire to complete their Initiation process by the Sacrament of Confirmation. All we be fully initiated at the Easter Vigil, April 16th. Classes begin on January 13th. We continue to pray for them.
ST MARY’S SCHOOL It is with great joy we welcome Mrs. Rosemary (Rosie) Akehurst, as our new head teacher to St. Mary’s school. It is a great school and we know she will enjoy her many years to come there. She herself writes: ‘…..“I am delighted to be joining St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School in January 2022 as Headteacher and I view it as a privilege to be chosen to lead the further development of this wonderful school. As a former pupil of St. Mary’s myself, I have always been aware of the unique culture, Catholic values and ethos which permeates throughout the school. I am excited about being part of this again…’.
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.
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
SUSTAINABILITY Please contact Sarah Bowden (bowden.sarah@googlemail.com) to find out more or express your interest in joining the team.
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.
COX GREEN LUNCHEON CLUB For more information contact Ruby Doughty on 01628630703 or rubydoughty@yahoo.co.uk.
YOGA CLASSES start again on Tuesday 11th January at 12 noon in the parish centre. For more information contact Rachel at wellhappyyoga@gmail.com or the parish office.
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.
TODDLERS GROUP restarts on Friday 14th January.
Calling All Parents with preschool babies & children! Toddler Group will resume in the Parish Centre from 8:45 to 10:45am on Fridays. Contact Jenny on jennyoliver51@hotmail.com for more information.
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.
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.
Enter your User ID and password to login: