Catholic Parish of Ash

Liturgy

19^th April, 2014: 8pm at Holy Family – Easter Vigil

Outside: Lighting of the fire ceremony
See the leaflet provided for Masses

Information

FUN DAY:  Holy Angels and Holy Family FREE Parish Fun Day will take place on Sunday, 6^th July, 2014 from 1pm until 5pm.

Adult Confirmation sessions:  Will take place between Easter and Pentecost. On Wednesday’s 7th & 21st May & 4th June starting at 7:30 pm at Holy Angels Ash. All are welcome to come, even just to refresh your faith. More information from Deacon John.

Youth Group

Come and Listen to one of the most spiritually inspiring people – Fiona Hendy – Holy Angels 6.15 for 7pm start

Our Youth Group have invited Fiona to talk to us on Saturday 10^th May after evening Mass but please note this talk is not just for the young – come along and be inspired.  We will provide drinks and nibbles prior to the talk starting at 6.15pm.   We would like to charge a nominal £5 for a ticket BUT any small donation will be very helpful.  All monies raised will go to the orphanage and the work still to be done.

The title of Fiona’s talk will be “Follow your Dreams” – from childhood she saw herself in Africa but life took her elsewhere.  She says “the Lord himself has done it”.  Come and here how Fiona has set up an orphanage in Tanzania and future plans for the orphanage along with staff and volunteers.  Fiona is developing a video on her return to the UK so we should be able to see firsthand, via the video, the fruit of her labours.

Please do come along and support our Youth’s invitation – I promise you will not be disappointed by this lovely lady.  Any questions please contact Gloria Benson: email: Gloria.benson@chyp.com or Hilary Gray: moboffive@hotmail.com

Prayer Requests

For the sick:  Deacon David Morgan, Newton Abrew, Paul Gibson’s Mother, Judy.

For peace in all those places in the world where there is unrest and threats of war.

Holy Angels

Prayer Group for Holy Angels and Holy Family Churches takes place once a month on a Tuesday.  The next date is Tuesday, 6^th May.  Coffee at 7.30pm for 7.45pm start. To be held in the Parish Office

Holy Family

Lenten Lunch: Thank you to all who supported the Lenten Lunch last Friday.  A good time was had by all and a magnificent sum of £125 was raised.

Mother and Toddler Group – Thursday morning from 9.30am until 11.30am in the Church Hall during school term times.

Father David’s Message

If you are ambitious, want to make the most of your life, you may be tempted to enrol for one of the Life Programmes or Business Training Courses that are available.  They are not cheap and you may say, “If they work they are worth it”.  Those who run the courses will tell you that they need your complete attention and commitment or you will not benefit from the course.

Jesus 2000 years ago gave us a personal development plan, which if you follow the instructions, has never been bettered and never will.  The success of his personal development plan for you and me can be seen in the lives of people like St. Francis and Mother Teresa.  Sadly the failure of his plan can also be seen in the lives of those both in the Church and outside it who do not commit themselves to the course as Jesus gave it to us.  This may at times put us off the Course but it is us who would be the losers – loosing out on the best ever human development plan because of those who failed to understand Christ’s course or to put in the necessary effort.

We only have one life so let’s make the most of it with a course that is free.  Why is it free – because God loves us and wants us to be the best we can.  That is why he sent his son Jesus.  That is why Jesus died on the Cross.  That is why he rose from the tomb. That is why we are here at Mass this Easter Sunday.

Are we getting the most out of Christ’s human development course?

Wishing you every Blessing and happiness for Easter and with thanks and appreciation for your kindness and support.

Your Parish Priest, Father David.

Thank you and God Bless

Father David.

He is Risen – Alleluia

O risen Lord, who in your first appearance to Mary was mistaken for the gardener:

be present with us, and show yourself to us in all our mistakes and uncertainties.

O risen Lord, who appeared to your dejected disciples on the road to Emmaus, and opened to them the scriptures, so that their hearts burned within them:

be present with us, and set our hearts on fire with love for you.

O risen Lord, who gave to your distraught followers the assurance of healing and forgiveness:

be present with us and bring together all Christians in peace and harmony.

O risen Lord, who mindful of the needs of your disciples, prepared a meal by the Sea of Galilee:

be present with us, and make yourself known to us in all acts of hospitality and sharing.

O risen Lord, who in your final appearance on the Mount of Olives, lifted up hands of blessing on all people:

be present with us, and grant that our prayers today may be taken up into yours on behalf of the whole world.

(Taken from a Book of a thousand Prayers)

Liturgy

13^th April 2014 – Palm Sunday
Blessing of Palms: HA: 721  HF: 568 How great thou..
Procession into Church:  HA: 722   HF: 190 Sing Hosanna
Offertory:     HA:  320  HF:  239 Hail Redeemer
All depart in silence

Gospel Acclamation: Glory and praise to you, O Christ (3 times)
Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.  But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all names.  Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

Information

Chrism Mass at Arundel Cathedral:  

Will take place on Wednesday, 16^th April at 6pm.

FUN DAY:  Holy Angels and Holy Family free Parish Fun Day will take place on Sunday, 6^th July, 2014 from 1pm until 5pm

Adult Confirmation sessions:  Will take place between Easter and Pentecost. On Wednesday’s 7th & 21st May & 4th June starting at 7:30 pm at Holy Angels Ash. All are welcome to come, even just to refresh your faith. More information from Deacon John.

Come and Listen to one of the most spiritually inspiring people – Fiona Hendy – Holy Angels 6.30 for a 7pm start on Sat. 10^th May. Our Youth Group have invited Fiona to talk to us on after evening Mass this talk is not just for the young – come along and be inspired.  (a Poster will be on display shortly with more information)

Prayer Requests

For the sick:  Deacon David Morgan, Newton Abrew, Paul Gibson’s Mother, Judy.

Holy Angels

Prayer Group for Holy Angels and Holy Family Churches takes place once a month on a Tuesday.  The next date is Tuesday, 6^th May.  Coffee at 7.30pm for 7.45pm start. To be held in the Parish Office

Holy Family

Special Collection: There will be a Special Collection on Good Friday, 18^th April at HolyFamilyChurch for the Holy Places.

Lenten Lunch: Holy Family J&P team will be holding a Lenten lunch on Friday 11th April at 12.30pm. All are most welcome. Please pencil this date in your diaries.

Father David’s Message

Christian Gifts at Holy Family  A number of Parishioners have asked if we could have a Gift Shop at Holy Family like the one at Holy Angels.  In principle there would be no objection, but finding the space and the person to run it and the expense of the stock for half an hour a week are all factors that need to be considered.  I put the proposal to Judy D’sa who runs the Gift Shop at Ash and she gives a lot of voluntary time to making it attractive and well stocked.  Judy has offered to supply a catalogue and order anything Parishioners from Holy Family want on the Holy Angels account until we make other plans at Holy Family.  The Catalogue is now on the Table at the back of Church with Judy’s contact details.

 The Relic of the True Cross

On Good Friday there will be a very special opportunity for us to be present when a unique Christian artefact on loan to the parish for the day is available for parishioners to see at Stations of the Cross at Holy Angels Church, Ash.

After the body of Jesus had been taken down from the cross, Soldiers were put on guard at the tomb where Jesus had been buried and the Cross was thrown into a cave on the hill of Calvary and covered with earth.  The Jewish Leaders were concerned to do all they could to ensure that the followers of Jesus would not be able to use the body of Jesus or the Cross as a focus for what they saw as political ends.

When the emperor Constantine became a Christian his mother, Helena, in 326 AD was given permission to excavate the site of Calvary.  During the excavations three crosses were discovered, one of which had a wooden plaque with the inscription ‘Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews’ in Hebrew, Latin and Greek as ordered by Pontius Pilate.  During it’s long history this Cross has been split into many thousands of fragments to satisfy the demand of Christian Communities throughout the world to have even a small fragment of the Cross on which Jesus died.

This year we are very privileged in having been able to negotiate the loan of a very small fragment of the Cross discovered by Helena in Jerusalem in 326 AD for Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at Holy Angels.  The fragment is protected behind glass in a small gold cross within a silver casket.  At Stations of the Cross at Holy Angels this year we will be able to view the tiny fragment of the Cross and spend a few moments in private prayer in the presence of this very special and rare piece of Christian history.

The Easter offering – Envelopes are available with the Newsletter this Sunday for those who wish to use them for the Easter Offering for the Priest.  In the Catholic Church in England and Wales as many of you know the Celibate Priests are volunteers and receive no salary.  Your kind offerings at Easter and Christmas provide them with a holiday fund and a car for pastoral work.

Thank you and God Bless

 Father David.

Second Collection

The Second Collection at all Masses TODAY is for flowers for the Altar.  If you wish to donate a flower in memory of a loved one, please write their name on the List at the back of the Church today and this List will go on the Altar for Easter Sunday.

Liturgy

6^th April 2014 – 5^th Sunday of Lent
Theme:  Christ the Resurrection and the Life
Ent:              HA:  907  HF:  9  Abide with me
Offertory:     HA:  629  HF:  272  I am the Bread of Life
Final Hymn: HA:  764  HF:  118 Colours of Day

1^st Station:  Kyrie Eleison (3times)
2^nd Station: Christe Eleison (3 times)
3^rd Station: Kyrie Eleison (3 times)

RESPONSORIAL PSALM:  5^th Sunday of Lent: A

Gospel Acclamation: Glory and praise to you, O Christ (3 times)
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die.

Information

Chrism Mass at Arundel Cathedral:  Will take place on Wednesday, 16^th April at 6pm.

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday – Palms will be Blessed at every Mass

Prayer Requests

For the sick:  Deacon David Morgan, Newton Abrew, Paul Gibson’s Mother, Judy.
Please pray for: The repose of the soul of John Flack who sadly passed away recently. John’s Funeral (Requiem Mass) will take place at Holy Angels at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 15^th April.

Also David Taraszek who sadly passed away recently.  David’s Funeral (Requiem Mass) will take place at Holy Family Church at 10.30am  on Wednesday, 16^th April.

Holy Angels

Prayer Group for Holy Angels and Holy Family Churches takes place once a month on a Tuesday.  The next date is Tuesday, 8^th April and 6^th May.  Coffee at 7.30pm for 7.45pm start. To be held in the Parish Office

Holy Family

Lenten Lunch: Holy Family J&P team will be holding a Lenten lunch on Friday 11th April at 12.30pm. All are most welcome. Please pencil this date in your diaries.

Father David’s Message

We have been asked several times to put the following information in our Newsletter sometime:

The Stone Altar is a symbol of the tomb of Christ and during The Mass the Holy Eucharist is lifted up above the Altar to remind us that in Holy Communion we share in the life of the risen Christ.

Relics of Saints Lucentis and Gratiae who lived in the 2^nd Century A.D. were brought from the Catacombs in Rome and sealed in the Altar at Holy Family Church on 30^th May 1956 by Archbishop Cyril Cowderory.

Their relics remind us of our Christian heritage and signify a bond between the Church Community at Holy Family and the early church of the 2^nd Century.  They also remind us that for people of Faith the family of God includes both those in Heaven and those on Earth.

Hymn Story:  When I survey the Wondrous Cross

Is a very popular Lenten Hymn.  It was written by a Hampshire man, Isaac Watts.   He was a very bright preacher’s son who grew up in England.  At that time, music in the church consisted primarily of crude adaptations of the Psalms – poorly written and poorly sung.  When Watts complained to his father about the music, his father invited him to write something better.  Watts did so, composing his first hymn that very night.  During his lifetime, he wrote hundreds of hymns, many of which are among our favourites yet today – Joy to the World and O God, our help in Ages Past.

One of his finest hymns is “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” written originally as a communion hymn.  It focuses on the Cross of Christ, and calls us to devoted discipleship in response to Christ’s love.  “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Choir Practice for singers from both Churches on Palm Sunday, 13^th April at 2.30pm at Holy Family Church for the music for Maundy Thurs. Good Friday & Easter Vigil.

God Bless you all,

Father David

Annual General Meetings for both Parishes:

Holy Angels:  11^th June at 7.30pm
Holy Family: 12^th June at 8pm

EASTER SERVICES

The Maundy Thursday Mass, Good Friday Passion and Easter Vigil alternates each year between Holy Angels and Holy Family.  For these three very special services neither of the Churches takes precedence and the singers for the Choir, Readers, Ministers of the Eucharist and Candidates for the Mandatum (foot washing ceremony) ideally come equally from both churches.  The principle services for these three days this year will be at Holy Family.

Maundy Thursday – 17^th April 2014

Holy Angels: 9.30am –  Morning Prayer & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
Holy Family: 7.30pm – Mass of the Last Supper

Good Friday – 18^th April 2014

Holy Angels: 9.30am – Children’s Good Friday Service
Holy Family: 3pm – Liturgy of the Passion
Holy Angels: 7.30pm – Stations of the Cross

Easter Vigil (Saturday 19^th April 2014)

Holy Family:  8pm – Vigil and Mass of Easter
Holy Family: 9.15am – Mass of Easter children’s Mass
Holy Angels: 11am – Sunday Mass of Easter
Holy Angels: 5.30pm – Easter Sunday Evening Mass

PLEASE NOTE:

The Parish Office will be closed from Friday, 28^th March and will re-open on Friday, 4^th April.  If you have anything urgent please kindly contact Deacon John Edwards or Father David Buckley. Thank you.

Collections for 23/3/2014

Holy Angels: £244.24 + Standing Orders
Holy Family: £211.90 + Standing Orders

FUN DAY:  Holy Angels and Holy Family FREE Parish Fun Day will take place on Sunday, 6th July, 2014 from 1pm until 5pm. (Informal meeting after Stations next Fri. 4^th April for anyone who is free)

Annual General Meetings for both Parishes:

Holy Angels:11^th June at 7.30pm
Holy Family: 12^th June at 8pm

EASTER SERVICES

The Maundy Thursday Mass, Good Friday Passion and Easter Vigil alternates each year between Holy Angels and Holy Family.  For these three very special services neither of the Churches takes precedence and the singers for the Choir, Readers, Ministers of the Eucharist and Candidates for the Mandatum (foot washing ceremony) ideally come equally from both churches.  The principle services for these three days this year will be at Holy Family.

Maundy Thursday – 17^th April 2014

Holy Angels: 9.30am –  Morning Prayer & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
Holy Family: 7.30pm – Mass of the Last Supper

Good Friday – 18^th April 2014

Holy Angels: 9.30am – Children’s Good Friday Service
Holy Family: 3pm – Liturgy of the Passion
Holy Angels: 7.30pm – Stations of the Cross

Easter Vigil (Saturday 19^th April 2014)

Holy Family:  8pm – Vigil and Mass of Easter
Holy Family: 9.15am – Mass of Easter children’s Mass
Holy Angels: 11am – Sunday Mass of Easter
Holy Angels: 5.30pm – Easter Sunday Evening Mass

PLEASE NOTE: The Parish Office will be closed from Fri. 28^th March and open again on Friday, 4^th April.  Please kindly contact Father David Buckley or Deacon John if urgent.  Thank you.