Kevin Hale
Fourth Sunday in Lent— Lætare Sunday

Dear friends in Christ

This Sunday we hear Saint Luke narrate the story of the Prodigal Son, a parable so well known to us. In this story we hear Jesus describe the tragedy of what happens when we separate ourselves from the love of God.

Fourth Sunday in Lent— Lætare Sunday
Kevin Hale
Third Sunday of Lent

Dear friends in Christ

Now that we have completed our days of Parish Mission, we give thanks to God for the opportunity we have had at the start of this Lent to be renewed in faith.

Third Sunday of Lent
Kevin Hale
Second Sunday of Lent

Dear friends in Christ

This week we begin our Parish Mission.

Second Sunday of Lent
Kevin Hale
First Sunday of Lent

Dear friends in Christ

We have begun Lent in the traditional manner: with a day of penance on Ash Wednesday and we are now on the annual pilgrimage towards Easter.

First Sunday of Lent
Kevin Hale
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends in Christ

This Sunday is the last before the start of Lent—in the traditional calendar Quinquagesima Sunday—fifty days until Easter!

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Sunday of Lent

Liturgy:
Readings of Year C
The Apostles’ Creed
Preface of First Sunday Lent

Saturday 8
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
5.30pm Vigil Private Intention (MS)
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession

Sunday 9 March
First Sunday of Lent
8am Mass Intentions of Bob Sighe (MR)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Joseph Swann, RIP (Anniv) (MW)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

Monday 10
Monday of the First Week of Lent
 9am Mass Madeleine Selvini, RIP (FrS)

Tuesday 11
Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
9am Mass Charles & Alice Whitefield, RIP (FM)

Wednesday 12
Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
9am Mass Vincent & Sheila Harrison, RIP (JC)

Thursday 13
Thursday of the First Week of Lent
9am Mass Tadeusz Warcmoł, RIP (BF)

Friday 14
Friday of the First Week of Lent—Family Fast Day
12Noon Mass Bobby Newman, RIP (AS)
7pm Way of the Cross & Benediction

Saturday 15
Saturday of the First Week of Lent
10am Mass Intentions of Dr Tony Bullock (90th Birthday) (R&GD)
10.30-11.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession

5.30pm Vigil The People of the Parish
6.30-7.30pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession

Sunday 16 March
Second Sunday of Lent—START OF PARISH MISSION
8am Mass Maria Horlock, RIP (Anniv) M-GMcC)
9.30am Mass John, Pat & Peter Moon, RIP (SM)
11.30am Mass Mervyn Calton, RIP (Anniv) (RC)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction

We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries

Fr Thomas Lawton, Fr John Gordon, Fr Edmund Meyer, Fr Maurice Roche, Mgr Canon David Michael Corley, Fr William Luby, Canon Martin Horkan, Peggy Choppin, Vincent Ingham, Christopher Tyler, Joe Swann, Tom O’Callaghan, Therese Ketterer, Joseph Collins, Lionel Clarke, Richard Young, Margaret Houston, Leo King, Edith Smith, Eileen Greaves, George Burnham, Lydia Upton, Maura Harley, Eric Wilding, Stefan Gyms, Frank Keenan (Sir), Philip Hale, Eleanor Hayes, June Hazel White, Bridget Morris, David McGowan, George Conway, James Kennedy & Kathleen Hosford.

We pray for our sick

The Sick List is available on the website main menu, under Worship.

We pray for the sick of our parish

“Father,
by the power of your Spirit
you have filled the hearts of your faithful people
with gifts of love for one another.
Hear the prayers we offer for our relatives and friends.
Give them health of mind and body
that they may do your will with perfect love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.”
— Roman Missal: For relatives and friends

Gift Aid Envelopes

The Gift Aid boxes containing Offertory and Charity envelopes for the financial year 2025/2026 are available for collection at the back of the Church.

Special collection boxes are also available for donors who contribute by Standing Order. They contain only charities designated by the Diocese, including Christmas and Easter offerings.

OLOL Ladies Group

Our next meeting is on Thursday, 13th March at 10am in the Parish Centre when we look forward to welcoming Gina Marshall on a return visit. Gina will be speaking to us about her experiences travelling in America.

All ladies are very welcome to come and relax in good company over tea or coffee; £1 subs per meeting, plus a Raffle.

Fairtrade—Sunday 9th March—8.30am-11.30am

The Fairtrade stall will resume this sunday—9th March.  Please come and support this initiative, helping our brothers and sisters around the world who struggle to survive. Fairtrade products are sold to give the farmers, together with other projects a fair price for their work. Products are produced in a sustainable way, helping to look after our common home. The Pope is asking us to be 'Pilgrims of Hope' to others and this is a great way of demonstrating that.  Thank you for all the support you have given us to date.

Dates for your Diary

Monday, 10th March—Journey in Faith (RCIA) 8pm Parish Centre

Saturday 15th—Friday 21st March 2025—Parish Mission led by the Redemptorists

Saturdays 10th & 17th May 10.30am—First Holy Communion Masses

Sunday 1st June 2025—Visitation & Confirmation

Sunday 22nd June—Corpus Christi Procession 4pm

Saturday 5th July—Flower Festival

Monday 21st—Friday 25th July—Lourdes Pilgrimage

Monday 8th September Centenary of the Opening of our Church

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham—24th May 2025

Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House.

If you would like transport to and from Walsingham please leave your name and contact details at the Parish office, as Sacred Heart are organising a coach.

Coach leaving Sacred Heart at 7:30am
Pick up at Our Lady of Lourdes at 7:45am
Arrival Walsingham 11am
Depart Walsingham 5pm
Arrival Our Lady of Lourdes 8:15pm
Arrival Sacred Heart 8:30pm
£24 per adult - Children under 16 go free

Assisted Suicide Bill update

Last year, MPs narrowly voted to support Kim Leadbeater’s dangerous assisted suicide Bill at Second Reading.

There’s still time to stop it.

The Independent newspaper, shows that at least 36 MPs who supported the Bill made it clear they did so only to allow time for further debate or they have concerns that mean they won’t commit to supporting the Bill at Third Reading.

With the vote passing by a margin of 55, just 28 MPs switching their stance to oppose the Bill would ensure it is defeated at Third Reading.

With more awareness of the serious risks, arising from the committee stage, many MPs could change their position.

If enough do, we can defeat this Bill at Third Reading and stop it from becoming law.

You can make a difference right now, by contacting your MP, to say, vote NO, at Third Reading.

It only takes a couple of minutes of your time, using our easy-to-use tool, which you can access by clicking the button below.

https://righttolife.org.uk/news/week-two-wrap-up-critical-issues-revealed-during-scrutiny-of-assisted-suicide-bill

JOURNEY OF FAITH—RCIA

This continues on Monday, 10th March and is specifically for those who are not Catholics but who are enquiring with a view to finding out more about the Catholic Faith and Reception into the Church. These evenings begin at 8pm, are held in the Newman Room of the Parish Centre (the door is beside the Memorial Garden) and usually last just over an hour. Names may be given in advance to Fr Kevin or the Parish Office.

Feast of St Joseph 19th March 2025

The National Novena to St. Joseph will take place from the 10th—18th March 2025 at St. Josephs Church in Maidenhead, for the intentions of all those who support their work. Masses are at 10am every day of the Novena, except Sunday when it is 11am. These Masses will be available to Zoom via the Mill Hill website.

See Poster at the back of the Church for website details and to request a Novena prayer booklet.

Thank you. Joan Caunce, Secretary.