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CATHOLIC SCHOOL VACANCIES

 

This week w/c 15th April it was brought to our attention that this year St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School had some places which were not taken up by Catholic children.

St. Bernadettes is 7.2 miles (15minutes) from Holy Angels Church and 5.5 miles (13 minutes) from Holy Family Church according to the A.A.

If you have difficulty getting a place for your child you might like to try St. Bernadettes.

 

 

EASTER PICTURES OF HOLY ANGELS CHURCH TO FOLLOW SHORTLY

(watch this space)

 

 

 

WEEKDAY MASS

Feel like you need a break from the pressure of work, school or what is going on at home during the week? Our WEEKDAY MASSES at Holy Angels (Wednesday 9.30 am and Friday 12 noon) are proving very popular. They are short and celebrated in a carpeted side chapel which is proving ideal for young mums with little children. Coffee and Tea (sometimes also soup) are served after the Masses for anyone who would like to stay on for a chat amongst friends.

 Why go to Mass?

(An article written by Father Oscar Lukefahr, CM)

Recent polls indicate that some Catholics don’t think that going to Mass every week is important.  Perhaps you have friends or relatives who feel they can be good Catholics without going to Mass.  If they asked why you go to Mass, how would you respond?

A good place to begin is the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  The Catechism teaches that the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life,” for “in the blessed Eucharist is contained … Christ Himself”

“For to me,” St. Paul wrote, “living is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). To be truly Catholic is to know Christ as our Lord and God and to follow Him in our thoughts, words, and actions.  Jesus gave us the Mass to unite us to Himself and offer the grace to think, speak, and act like Him.

Jesus says in John 6:56, “Those who eat My Flesh and drink My Blood abide in Me, and I in them,” so the Mass is essential to us as Catholic Christians.  These are the first and most important reasons for going to Mass!  Here are others.

Mass and the meaning of life

Most people wonder about the meaning of life.  How did life begin?  What happens to us at death?  Is there a God?  If there is no God, we are accidents that ultimately came from nothing and are going nowhere.  If there is a God, we have been created as God’s beloved children who are destined for eternal happiness.

God tells us an essential way to express this faith in the Third Commandment:  “Observe the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”  Those who carelessly miss Mass erode any faith they may think they have, just as the refusal of acts of kindness erodes love between spouses.  If we believe in God, we must obey the third Commandment.  We must participate in the Mass to express our faith in Christ’s teachings about the meaning of life.

Jesus asked us to

Another reasons for going to Mass and another proof of its importance is that it is the only thing Jesus asked us to do for Him.  Jesus asked us to do many things for others and for ourselves, but only one thing for Him:  “This is My Body, Which is given for you.  Do this in remembrance of Me”.  (Lk.22: 19).  How can we be loyal followers of Jesus if we fail to do this one thing?

“I can be a good Catholic without going to Mass.”  This statement is false.  We cannot be good Catholics unless we do what Jesus asks of us.

“I can pray at home, or in the woods.  I don’t need to go to Mass.”  It is true that we can pray at home or in the woods, but it is not true that we don’t need to go to Mass.  We are not the ones to decide what sort of worship God desires. God is, and God tells us that private prayer is not enough.

We need to pray in private (Mt. 6:6) but we must also pray with others (Mt. 18:20).  Private prayer is essential to our spiritual growth, but essential also is prayer with others, especially the prayer mandated by Jesus.

Personal witness

“Mum, Dad, why do I have to go to Mass?”  When children as this question, they are really asking, “Mum, Dad, why do you go to Mass?”  The best answer to a question about the Mass is peronal witness.

A person might argue about whether or not God’s commandments include Sunday worship, but no one can argue with your personal experience, so you might respond to your children, “I want to begin by saying that Mass has been a great blessing for me.  Jesus has touched me in so many ways though Scripture, Holy Communion, and our Catholic community that I can’t imagine life without Mass.  I want you to have such blessings.”

God asks so little of us

A good reason for going to Mass is that God asks so little of us.  On average, if we live to be 80 years old, we will spend about three and a half years reading, five years talking, six years getting an education, six years riding in a car, seven years eating, 11 years watching television and in recreation, 14 years working, and 27 years sleeping.

If we live to be 80 and spend an hour attending Mass every Sunday and five minutes praying every day, it adds up to six months! How can we refuse so little to a loving God who has given us so much?

[Among the reasons we attend Mass is that it is the only thing Jesus asked us to do for Him.  At the Last Supper He said, "This is My Body, Which is given for you.  Do this in remembrance of Me."]

 

Why do we Baptise Children who cannot speak for themselves?

The birth of a child often encourages parents to look anew at the things they value in life and their relationship with God.

Loving Parents will seek to share with their child all that they have found to be of value in their own lives:  respecting others, seeking to learn about the world and developing talents.  Christian Parents will especially want their child to know that it is loved by God and that God cares for them as a loving Father as they care for their children and prepare them for adult life.

In circumstances such as these it is natural for Christian Parents to wish to share their Faith and their love for God with their Child from the very earliest moment, and so a child who cannot choose for itself is promised in love by the parents and Godparents the opportunity to grow in Faith and in the love of God.

Every Child as we know will choose for itself when it comes of age and that choice is expressed in a positive way in Confirmation when a young person accepts for themselves the promises that were made on their behalf at their Baptism.

A real and genuine choice is only possible if a child has been given the knowledge and experience to make a choice.  In the Baptism of an infant or small child that is the very special gift promised by the Parents and God Parents for the child entrusted to their care.

God our Heavenly Father, we ask you to bless those of us called to be Parents or Godparents.
We will be the first teachers of the child entrusted to us in the ways of the Faith and the knowledge of God’s love.
May we be the best of Parents and Godparents bearing witness to the love of God in all we do and say.
Through Christ our Lord Amen.

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A Personal Way of the Cross

Dear Jesus, I ask you to share my journey in life as I seek now to share Your final journey of love for me.

Station 1 – Jesus is condemned to Death                                                                                                

Dear Jesus,                                                                
You were condemned unjustly                                                
Give me the courage to seek                                                                               
Out the truth when I am troubled                                                                                             
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.                                               

Station II – Jesus takes up His Cross                                                                                                                              

Dear Jesus,                                                                      
You accepted the burden of the Cross.                                                                        
Help me with those difficulties in my                                                                 
life which I have not chosen but                                                                             
which I cannot avoid.                                                                                                                                          
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.                                  

Station III – Jesus falls the first time under the cross                                                                            

Dear Jesus,                                                                    
You fell beneath the weight of the Cross.  
When I am weak or tempted and my                                                        
standards fall, give me faith in myself                                               
so that I may put my mistakes behind me.                        
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.                                                                          

Station IV – Jesus meets his afflicted Mother                                                                                   

Dear Jesus,
Your Mother Mary knew both joys and                               
sadness as a parent.  Bless all parents                              
and support them in the challenges                                   
they face in caring for their children.                               
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.

Station V – Simon of Cyrene is forced to take up the Cross                                                                                         

Dear Jesus,                  
Simon shared your burden                                                             
May I not take for granted the value of                                          
good friends and may I be ready to help                                        
my friends and neighbours in time of need.                                   
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.                                              

Station VI – Veronica wipes the face of Jesus                                                                                         

Dear Jesus,
Veronica wiped the sweat and grime                                   
from Your face.  May I never underestimate                         
how much small acts of kindness can mean                          
to the neglected and those in pain.                                     
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.                                   

Station VII – Jesus falls a second time                               

Dear Jesus,                                                                       
The weight of the Cross caused you to fall                          
several times.  When I seem to be loosing                           
ground and failing in my achievements                               
give me the wisdom to accept help from others.                
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.                                  

Station VIII – Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

Dear Jesus,
The Women of Jerusalem felt helpless at
the sight of so great an injustice.
Be close to those who suffer bullying or
injustice at home, in the work place or school.
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.

Station IX – Jesus falls a third time

Dear Jesus
As I think of your third fall beneath
the weight of the Cross I ask you to be close
to me if ever I should face despair in life and
can find no source of hope but you.
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.

Station X – Jesus is stripped of his garments     

Dear Jesus,
The soldiers stripped you of your clothing but  
they could not strip you of your dignity.
I pray for those who have unjustly suffered   
the pain of gossip or false rumour by others. 
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.     

Station XI – Jesus is nailed to the Cross    

Dear Jesus, 
As I recall the nails that went through your   
hands and feet, I pray for peace in the world.
and all victims of physical violence.  
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.

Station XII – Jesus dies on the Cross

Dear Jesus,   
Your arms are stretched out upon the Cross
Are for me a sign of your love for me and all
people.  May I never be embarrassed of my faith
and my love for you.
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.

Station XIII – The body of Jeus in placed in the arms of his mother

Dear Jesus,  
As I recall Your lifeless body being taken
down from the cross and laid in the
sorrowful arms of your Mother, Mary, I
pray for all who have lost someone dear to them.
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.

 Station XIV – Jesus is laid in the tomb

Dear Jesus,
Your mother and friends laid your body in
the tomb with love and respect.
I pray for all who have died, that they too
may share in the joy of Your resurrection.
Lord, in your mercy hear my prayer.

At the Altar

Dear Jesus,
The Altar, a symbol of your tomb, is the place where I today can experience your resurrection in the Holy Eurcharist.  May the joy of your presence in Holy Communion always remind me that you are with me on my journey in Life. Amen

 

 Two Parishes Newsletter

The Parish Newsletter will in future be published on this website on a Friday in time for the forthcoming Sunday Mass.Items for the Newsletter need to be submitted no later than Wednesday middday for publication on the following Sunday.

Tea and Coffee @ Holy Angels

On the first and third Sunday of the month tea and coffee will be served.
Why not come and join us for a chat and perhaps make some new friends?

 

Holy Angels Gift Shop

Gifts available at very reasonable prices for Christenings, Birthdays, Weddings, First Communions, St. Patrick’s Day, and other special occasions.  The Gift Shop is open as advertised on selcted Saturdays after the 5.30pm Vigil Mass and selected Sundays after the 11am Mass.  The Gift Shop also has a Catalgoue Order Service.  When you have a special ocassion to celebrate, why not see if the Holy Angels Gift shop can supply you with something special fort he ocassion.  The Gift Shop is run by Brenda and Peter with the help of friendly volunteers.

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HARVEST FESTIVAL 2012

 

Holy Angels Church, Ash

Our grateful thanks to Peter Sawyer for taking the picture below of the beautiful Harvest Festival display which was created and built by Maggie Batchelor and Chris Michie.  We would like to thank both Maggie and Chris for the great deal of time and effort that they put into this wonderful Harvest Display which we as a Parish were very proud of. The display was full of detail and was enjoyed by all of our Parishioners and those who visited Holy Angels Church.

 

 

 

 

   

Holy Angels Mother and Baby Group

Our Mother and Baby Group is held every Tuesday from 10am until about 12.00pm.  We had four Mums and their babies who have attended since the Mother and Baby Group started, although some will be returning to part-time work when their Maternity Leave comes to an end.

We are grateful to some of the lovely toys which have been donated for our young babies to play with.

Below are a few pictures of our young babies with our latest adition being the one taken with her Mum:-

 

 

Our First Holy Communion Children from Holy Angels and Holy Family Church

Holy Angels First Holy Communion children – 23rd June, 2012

Holy Family First Holy Communion Children – 16th June,  2012

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Baptisms – 2013

 

 

 

 Weddings

 Marriage – A Gift from God for life

 

Congratulations if you are planning a Wedding

It is a great joy to us to be able to share with a couple their preparations for their wedding day and their future married life together. We want it to be a special event in their lives that they can draw strength from in the future. Our parish team will do everything we can to work with the bride and groom in making their wedding day as good as it possibly can be.

Lots of people tell us that Holy Angels is a very attractive Church and that it has a special atmosphere for weddings; we are glad that people feel this way about the church because it helps people to focus on the presence of God at weddings.

Catholics and non Catholics marrying a Catholic are made equally welcome and no distinction is made in the help and support we give to both partners. Non Catholics will not be asked to become Catholics but they will be asked to respect their partner’s Freedom of Conscience and to support them in the practice of their faith.

Both partners will be asked to attend a marriage course run by Marriage Care. The courses for Hants and Surrey are held on Saturdays and there is usually a choice of at least seven different dates in the year.

As part of your own personal preparation in deciding if you want to marry in church we recommend that you obtain copies of ‘Your Wedding’ (ISBN 0 85231 0935), available on line from Redemptorist Publications, Tel: 01420 83255. You will also find useful and a little amusing a copy of ‘How to survive being married to a Catholic’ also available on line from Redemptorist Publications.

For the necessary administration to be completed you will need to book your wedding no later than six months ahead and preferably longer if you can. If there are very serious reasons why you need to marry earlier than before the minimum notice time the priest or deacon and the registrar will do all they can to help you.

When you have made your decision where to marry and obtained any delegations or references that may be necessary the priest or deacon will be happy to help you plan the wedding of your choice. You will also have the opportunity to meet with the Organist and Choir leader and the team that arranges flowers in the church or you may invite a friend or a firm to arrange your flowers.

Photographs and videos may be taken in church during the ceremony. It will be your responsibility to cover any copyright licences for the hymns, but we can tell you how to do this easily.

Who can get married at Holy Angels Church, Ash and Holy Family, Heath End, Farnham?

1: A Catholic who lives in the parish of Holy Angels, Ash or Holy Family, Heath End, Farnham and is free to marry.

2: A non Catholic who lives in the parish of Holy Angels or the parish of Holy Family and who is marrying a Catholic from any other part of the world and is free to marry.

3: A Catholic or non Catholic who lives outside the parish of Holy Angel or Holy Family and who is free to marry and can show good cause to the local parish priest of the Catholic Partner and the civil registrar why they wish to marry at Holy Angels or Holy Family in preference to their local catholic parish. Before any arrangements can be made at the Holy Angels Church, Ash or Holy Family, Farnham, written delegation for the marriage to take place from the priest of the parish where the Catholic partner lives must be delivered to the Priest or Deacon at Holy Angels or Holy Family Church.  We also need to know that your local registrar has no objection.

The Perfect Church

If you should find the perfect church
Without a fault or smear,
For goodness sake don’t join that church
Lest you spoil the atmosphere.

If you should find the perfect church
Then don’t you ever dare
To tread upon such holy ground
You’d cause such disturbance there.

But since no perfect church exists,
Made of perfect people,
Let’ cease on looking for that church
And love the church we’re in.

Of course it’s not the perfect church,
That’s simple to discern.
But you and I and all of us
Could cause the tide to turn.

What fools we are to flee the past
In that unfruitful search
To find, at last, where problems are
God proudly builds his Church.