The last two gifts given to us by Jesus are the Holy Eucharist as our spiritual food on Holy Thursday, and Jesus’ mother Mary as our spiritual Mother on Good Friday.
Corpus Christi is the celebration of the abiding presence of a loving God living with us in the Eucharist.
The feast also encourages us to value the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Eucharist as we adore and receive him in the Sacrament.
Masses at 8.30am and 11.00am
Prayer for the Holy Spirit at Pentecost:
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created
and You shall renew the face of the earth. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Tea and coffee will be served in the church after the 8.30am & 11am Masses
If you would like to join the rota for tea/coffee preparation, please sign up on the sheet in the hall or let Fr Michael know.
Monday 8th June: Feria of 10th Week of Ordinary Time No Mass today
Tuesday 9th June: Feria of 10th Week of Ordinary Time
Mass at 10.00am.
Wednesday 10th June: Feria of 10th Week of Ordinary Time
Mass at 10.00am.
Thursday 11th June: St Barnabas, Apostle, memorial. N.B. No Mass at 10.00am – Requiem Mass at 11.30am for Theresa O’Sullivan RIP.
Friday 12th June: THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS, solemnity
Mass at 10.00am.
Saturday 13th June: Feria of 10th Week of Ordinary Time, or, St Anthony of Padua
Mass at 10.00am followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions.
AND A FINAL THOUGHT: …
Many people spend so much time worrying about how the future is going to play out, and not nearly enough time admiring the precious perfection of the present.
If you would like to receive a copy of this newsletter by email each week, please contact the parish office. office@stjosephsnewbury.org.uk
Thursday 11th June: 10.30am - Grand/Mothers’ Prayers every Thursday at Newbury Grove Care Home, 370 London Rd, Newbury RG14 2QH.
For more information, speak with Fr Michael or Elizabeth Matias after Mass
Thursday 11th June: N.B. No Mass at 10.00am – Requiem Mass at 11.30am for Theresa O’Sullivan RIP
All parishioners are welcome.
Thursday 11th June -11.00am: Free NHS Health Checks for those aged 30 to 74 years are being offered once again in Saint Joseph's Parish Hall by ‘Solutions for Health,’ i.e. checks for blood pressure, diabetes, heart and kidney disease etc. and personalised lifestyle advice is offered. Referrals to your GP if required.
Friday 12th June: Solemnity of THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS – Mass at 10.00am.
Friday 12th June2.30pm: Film Matinée in St Joseph’s Hall. ‘Come September’ with Gina Lollobrigida, Rock Hudson, and Bobby Darin.
Comedy set in Italy. All welcome.
Friday 26th June: 7pm St Joseph’s Parish Quiz Night (Doors open 6.30pm), in the parish hall, £8 per player, maximum 6 persons to a team, with Raffle. Bring own refreshments; tea, coffee and scones available.
To book, email kaylbinns@gmail.com
Open Church: Many thanks to Rosie Byrne for kindly arranging and supervising the weekly Open Church sessions over the past few years.
If you would like to volunteer to take over this important role, please speak to Fr Michael. For the time being, there will be no Open Church sessions on Wednesdays.
CENTENARY of St Joseph’s Church 2027: Next year will see the centenary of the building of our parish church in 1927! Clearly, we wish to mark this milestone with events, celebrations and initiatives next year.
Thoughts and ideas are encouraged, and it is hoped to then form a Centenary Committee to plan our celebrations. Please share your interest and ideas with Fr Michael and the Parish Office!
St Joseph’s Hall: If you are interested in hiring St Joseph’s Hall for an occasion or a class, please contact the parish office to enquire about availability, and to book.
A provisional cost of £25 per hour has been set at present, subject to confirming the new heating and utility costs following the hall’s major refurbishment.
Office Tel: 01635 40167; E-mail office@stjosephsnewbury.org.uk
NEURODIVERSITY AND OUR FAITH RESEARCH: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales and Birmingham Newman University are conducting research into Neurodiversity and our Faith. They would like to hear from any adult neurodivergent Catholics or caregivers of neurodivergent Catholics as their experiences will help the Conference become more inclusive and responsive to their needs.
To find out more and to complete the short surveys,
please visit: www.godwhospeaks.uk/neurodivergent-catholic-surveys
NEW DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH WEBSITE! Our diocese has this week launched its new website. Please go to –https://portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
MAY – Mary’s Month: May is known traditionally among Catholics as ‘Mary’s Month,’ a specific month of the year when devotions are made in honour of the Blessed Mother. In ancient Greece and Rome, the month of May was dedicated to pagan goddesses connected to fertility and springtime. This, combined with other rituals commemorating the new season of Spring, led many to view May as a month of life and motherhood. In some parts of the early Church, there was a major feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrated on the 15th May, but it was not until the eighteenth century that the month of May received a particular association with Our Lady. In 1945, Pope Pius XII classed May as a Marian month when he established the feast of the Queenship of Mary on 31st May. After Vatican II, this feast was moved to 22nd August, but 31st May became instead the Feast of the Visitation of Mary.
This May, let us frequently call on the help of Mary’s prayers, especially by attending Mass and by reciting the Rosary.
‘The Six Holy Habits’: Bishop Philip recommends the following to us all:
1) Spend at least 5 minutes a day in prayer;
2) Attend Mass every Sunday;
3) Keep Friday as a Day of Penance;
4) Pay a fortnightly visit to the Blessed Sacrament;
5) Go to Confession once a month;
6) Join a small group for prayer, formation, and fellowship.
‘YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES’ A version of the Diocese of Portsmouth’s 10-year mission plan, called You will be my Witnesses is now available.
Phil Hobb’s outlined four ways you can donate to the parish, plus an easy way to boost your donation:
(i) Standing Orders;
(ii) Contactless giving on one of the two Digital Collection Pads in church;
iii) Planned Giving envelopes (boxes for the new tax year for those already donating via this method are available to collect from the sacristy); and
(iv) donations by cash in the collection plate.
To start donating by either Standing Order or Planned Giving envelopes, please ask Fr Michael or Phil Hobbs for the relevant form to complete.
If you are a UK taxpayer, the Gift Aid scheme allows us to claim back the tax you have already paid on your donation.
To do this, we need your permission, your name and address – that’s all – please ask Fr Michael or Phil Hobbs for a Gift Aid declaration form.
Your generosity is very much appreciated.
By clicking the link below it is now possible to make a secure direct donation to the parish via the website in addition to
using the ‘Touch Giving Digital Collection Plates’ in the church on Sundays.
St. Joseph's Parish feedback following consultation on the Diocesan draft 10 Year Plan - Click Here to View
Link for our Parish School - St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and Nursery - Click here
Now Accepting Contactless Donations
You will find our new DIGITAL COLLECTION PLATE, contactless terminal in the church. Just use your contactless debit/credit card or smart phone/ device to make a donation.
Simply choose the amount you wish to donate and hold your card onto the reader.
Contactless donations are simple to administer, secure and convenient.
Your Diocese: To keep up to date with the news of the Diocese of Portsmouth and the Bishop please follow on:
