The Archdiocese of Birmingham - The Parish of the Immaculate Conception

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The Parishes of Immaculate Conception, Bicester and Holy Trinity, Hethe.

Parish news this week

Beginning Sunday, 17th October 2021 - The Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Lectionary - Sundays Year B, Weekdays Year 2.

 

Please refer to the Weekly Newsletter for further information.

BAPTISMS: Please contact the Parish Office through email or phone to make necessary arrangements.
CONFESSIONS: Every Saturday from 10.30 am to 11.30 am. (Masks compulsory)
HOLY HOUR: Every First Friday from 6.00pm to 7.00 pm (not during Lent & Advent)
WEDDINGS: Please contact the Parish Office through email or phone to make necessary arrangements.
ROSARY: During weekdays 25 minutes before Mass starts.
URSULINE LAY ASSOCIATES MEETING & HOLY HOUR: 2nd Wednesday of every month at 2.00 pm.

Pastoral Letter from His Grace Archbishop Bernard Longley.

WHY NOT THINK ABOUT COMING BACK TO HOLY MASS.

A warm welcome awaits you!

RPope’s Prayer Intention for October: An Environmental Sustainable Lifestyle: We pray that every baptised person may be engaged in evangelisation, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavour of the Gospel.

REQUEST To speed up entry into church for Mass please bring along a slip of paper with your name and contact number and place it in the container provided in the entrance. (Write it at home and bring it) Alternatively if you have a smart phone, register by using the NHS TRACK AND TRACE QR Code which is displayed on the notice boards in the entrance. This applies to both churches. As we enter a gradual relaxing of restrictions may we still remind you:

Not to come if symptomatic or self-isolating.

That masks are compulsory.

To observe social distancing at all times, and tempting as it is, you must not mingle with anyone outside of your household or support bubble when you attend Mass.

Please refer to the bulletin for our Mass times if you are able to attend.

We are grateful to all of you who faithfully comply with the Government’s regulations and we must continue to do all we can to keep every-body safe in church.

LET US PRAY FOR THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND: K Cashman, Tim Charles, Joyce Thornley, Mary Ashley, John Dunn  Marie Olive and Helena Nowak

COVID Although we seem to be gradually moving on from the COVID pandemic I respectfully request that for the foreseeable no gatherings/ chatting etc, takes place before or after Masses within the church or indeed on the church premises. I am still of the opinion that we need to remain cautious, therefore please vacate the church in silence. We will continue to sanitise the church immediately after Masses for all our safety. Thank you for your cooperation with this.

OFFERINGS I am extremely grateful to everyone who has transferred to standing orders to place their offerings. I was touched by how many of you did during the height of the pandemic when Mass attendance was low and limited, your offerings assisted the parish funds enormously. I am now appealing to everyone who is currently not donating via standing order, to please place your offerings into the collections bags as they come to you. We heavily rely on all offerings, fundraising and donations to maintain our church. With grateful thanks in advance.

MASS INENTIONS: My sincere thanks to those who continue to have Masses offered for families and loved ones. We are currently very short of Mass intentions, so please continue to request.

BAPTISMS: If you have any children who are not yet baptised, please get in touch with the Parish Office as soon as possible and make necessary arrangements. You can download a Baptismal Form from our website.

ALTAR SERVERS: I am happy to see some of our servers who have already started serving at weekend and weekday Masses. Now I would like to encourage all the remaining servers to start serving at Masses on a more regular basis.

CAKE SALE: Our next Cake sale is on Sunday 17th October after 9.00 am and 11.00 am Masses. Please support our fundraising efforts.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP: Our next meeting is on Monday 18th October at 7.00 pm in St John Paul II Centre. For more information please speak to Janet Marshall.

MONDAY FILMS AT HETHE will recommence on Monday 18th October after 9.30 am Mass with the showing of Season 1 Episode 4 of The Chosen. There will be no films this Monday, as the village coffee morning is held.

ROSARY during October, the month of the Rosary, will be at 4.00pm on Sundays

COFFEE MORNING, HETHE There is a Coffee Morning to be held on Monday 11th October at St. Philips Hall at 10.00 am, all are welcome.

FIRE EXIT DOOR: I have asked the contractors to go ahead with the Fire door, which is going to cost us £3560.19. (Proper aluminium door) I have received a couple donations. Any more donations towards the door will be much appreciated.

SECONDARY SCHOOL APPLICATIONS Year 6 parents are reminded to complete their applications for secondary school by October 31st 2021. If you put Blessed George Napier School as any preference, please complete the supplementary information form and return it to Admissions Officer, Trudy Boyle, 01295 264216. Email TBoyle@bgn.oxon.sch.uk

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY: Save the date! World Mission Sunday – the one day in the year when the entire global Church comes together in support of mission - will happen on Sunday, 24 October 2021. Coordinated by Missio, the Pope’s charity for world mission, World Mission Sunday is an opportunity to support every mission diocese and faith community which are in need of our help. It is one of only three Papal collections and has been especially chosen by the Holy Father to support the mission of the Church in the world via Missio. Second Collection is for the Missions.

MASS FOR THE DECEASED CLERGY OF OUR DEANERY: Will take place on Tuesday 9th November at 11.00 am. All Clergy from our Deanery will join us. All parishioners are invited to participate in Mass.

BLESSING OF GRAVES

  • Saturday, 6th November: After 4.00 pm Mass—Hethe
  • Sunday, 7th November: After 11.00 am Mass—Foynes Memorial Garden
  • 3.00 pm—Vespers followed by blessing of graves in Bicester Cemetery

The Prayer

Soul of Christ, sanctify me;

Body of Christ, save me;

Blood of Christ, fill me;

Water from the side of Christ, wash me;

Passion of Christ, strengthen me;

O good Jesus hear me;

Within your wounds hide me;

separated from you, let me never be;

From the evil one protect me;

At the hour of my death, call me;

And close to you bid me; That with your saints,

I may be praising you forever and ever.

PRAYER BEFORE GOING TO HOLY COMMUNION

O my God, help me to make a good Communion.

Mary, my mother, pray to Jesus for me.

All you holy Angels and saints, pray for me.

My dear Angel Guardian, lead me to the altar of God.

RCIA: The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Course for those wishing to become a Catholic is going to start on Tuesday 16th November. (From 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm). If you are interested, please speak to me or contact the Parish Office. For more information, please visit our Parish website. I look forward to meeting those who have already expressed their interest at our first meeting.

CHURCH CLEANERS We have a few wonderful teams of Church Cleaners, however, some are looking to retire. Could you replace them? Only a few hours every 5-6 weeks. Contact the Parish Office for more details.

WELCOMERS: We need more welcomers at all three weekend Masses, If you and your family wishes to join the rota, please contact the Parish Office.

Dates to remember

  • Monday 18th October Environmental Group Meeting at 7.00 pm
  • Monday 25th October Finance Council Meeting at 7.00 pm
  • Monday 15th November Pastoral Council Meeting at 7.00 pm
  • Saturday 4th December: Day of Prayer (Filipino Community)
  • Monday 20th December: Penitential Service/Confessions
  • Saturday 5th March 2022: Sacrament of Confirmation
  • Saturday 14th May 2022: First Holy Communions
  • Saturday 21st May: First Holy Communions
  • Sunday 19th June 2022: Eucharistic Procession to Garth Park
  • Sunday 3rd July 2022: Family Day & Presentation of Certificates

SPONSORING SANCTUARY LAMPS These lamps burn perpetually on the sanctuary (Blessed Sacrament) and in the Lady Chapel. Would you like one of these to burn in memory of a loved one, or for a particular intention? (Please note: one person/couple/intention per candle) If so, we are asking for a donation of £10 per week, which will go towards the costs of running the sacristy: candles, hosts, wine and other necessities for the celebration of Mass. Please hand in to Parish Clergy, post through Henley House letter box or to Parish Sisters in an envelope marked ‘Sanctuary Lamp Donation’ together with a note stating your particular intention. The intentions will be placed in order as they are received and published in the weekly bulletin.

This week we pray for…  For Syron Jeffers family- SANCTUARY Mark Mackenzie (RIP) - OUR LADY’S LIGHT 

APF/MISION BOXES: If you haven’t done already, Please empty your boxes and deliver your donations to the piety shop or parish office.

PARISH COMMUNICATIONS: Office: tic.bicester@rcaob.org.uk

 Gift Aid: ga.tic.bicester@rcaob.org.uk

 For Confidential matters: canonjohn.batthula@rcaob.org.uk

THE CHURCH IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have issued a reflection titled The Day of the Lord on post-pandemic recovery and the challenges faced by the Church in encouraging people back to the Church and her Sacraments. “At this moment, then, we need to have in our sights the need to restore to its rightful centrality in our lives the Sunday Mass, encouraging each to take his or her place once again in the assembly of our brothers and sisters. “We face the task of seeking to nurture the sense of Sunday as ‘a weekly gift from God to his people’, and something we cannot do without; to see Sunday as the soul of the week, as giving light and meaning to all the responsibilities we live out each day; to see the Sunday Eucharist as food for the unique mission with which we have been endowed.” This beautiful document can be downloaded in full, from the Bishop’s Conference website: www.cbcew.org.uk

LATEST GUIDANCE

  • Baptism: – 30 people at a stand-alone celebration.
  • Marriage – 30 people.
  • Funerals – capacity of church (80 People)
  • Holy Communion remains under one kind. Communion on the tongue allowed, but those who wish to receive in that way should wait until the end of communion and hands should be sanitised.
  • Face masks continue to be worn.
  • Sanitising hands on entry to churches and before liturgies as in current church guidance reduces risk.
  • Singing: Indoor, congregational singing remains prohibited although small group singing is allowed, if essential, limited to groups of no more than 6.
  • Catechetical Groups– may resume.
  • Servers and Assistants: Those needed for the celebration of Mass
  • Holy Water Stoups: Unfilled

WE USE LIVE STREAMING TO ENABLE:

  • • Housebound parishioners to engage with mass from home
  • • Relatives/friends who cannot attend a baptism/ wedding/funeral to engage with it
  • • The tabernacle to be used as a focus for prayer for those who cannot get to church
  • • Evangelisation: enabling those who cannot or do not attend church for any reason to engage with acts of worship

All of these reasons are necessary in the legitimate interests of the church. The images are made available live over the internet, and can be accessed by anyone who wishes to do so.

Live streaming is carried out during services and a camera focussed on the sanctuary may be live streaming all the time. There is no public access to the sanctuary area.

Go the website and follow link

https://mcnmedia.tv/iframe/e8896647923e089406131a3b96e45994de4a89c4

Those who do not wish to have their image live streamed are ad- vised to go to Holy Trinity church (Hethe) where there are no cameras.

STEWARDS NEEDED: We urgently need more stewards for weekday & weekend Masses. Please email Parish Office if you are able to assist. Without stewards, it will not possible to celebrate Mass safely.
 
FORTHCOMING WEDDINGS:
• 25th September at 2.00 pm - Barbara Pilewska & Pawel Sajduda
(Invited guests) Whose names are on the list will be permitted entry in to the Church. Covid guidelines to be followed.

APF/MISION BOXES Now is the time to please empty your boxes and deliver your donations to the piety shop or parish office. Thanks.

WAYS YOU CAN FINANCIALLY SUPPORT YOUR PARISH: Join the 100 club £5 a month; Set up a regular Standing Order; Gift Aid any of your donations; Sponsor a Sanctuary lamp £10; Buy a Commemorative brick £250; Purchase from the Piety shop

ARCHDIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTER To keep up-to-date with all the latest news, information and online events from across the Archdiocese and beyond please sign up to the newsletter, is-sued every few weeks via email. Please visit www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/e-news to sign up..

WELCOME VISITORS & NEW PARISHIONERS: If you have moved to the area, or have recently joined our Church Community, please speak to Canon John and take one of the welcome leaflets from the back of the Church. There is also a Registration Form (which also includes a Gift Aid registration form) which we hope you will complete for the Parish records. We hope you will enjoy our lively and inclusive parish, and participate in our worship and activities

HELPFUL WEBSITES For care givers or those working in the mental health sector: https://www.welcomemeasiam.org/resources/resources-forcarers

Webinars are on 13 Feb & 13 Mar: https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/spiritmind body/

 Marriage Preparation: Marriage Care offer online courses.   https://www.marriagecare.org.uk/ptwebcam-course-availability/

Engaged Encounter - Booking link https://engaged-encounter.org.uk/book-aweekend/