IT Expertise? As we need to modernise our parish web-site, Fr Michael welcomes hearing from anyone with knowledge of web-building, web-development,
or a wish to further develop their skills in this area
with the help of someone more experienced.
All ages welcome!
REFURBISHMENT OF THE PARISH HALL: The building works are well underway. Since parking spaces are now fewer, please allow priority for older parishioners, the disabled and families with young children.
N.B. If attempting to park in Hawthorn Road, opposite the church, you may be subject to parking fines (please check parking signage carefully).
Tuesday 24th June: 7.3pm Parish Finance Committee meeting in the Church Sacristy.
Wednesday 25th June: The church will be open today for quiet prayer during the usual Wednesday times of 12.30 – 2pm.
All are welcome to drop in.
Wednesday 25th June: 6.45pm – 8.45pm ‘Come and Sing’ Choir Session in church. The Choir is looking to expand. Have you ever wanted to try singing, but too scared?! Unsure?!
Don’t worry – singing is a joy for anyone, and choirs don’t bite. Music is a vibrant way to express one’s heart and articulate one’s faith. Everyone has a voice -
use that voice, enjoy its strength. Come along to our Come and Sing! Session. Lots of good fun, good people, and very good for your mental wellbeing. Everybody is welcome.
We look forward to seeing you there. Any questions?
Please email the office and Carl will respond, or catch him after 11am Sunday Mass.
Remember: Anyone can sing
Saturday 28th June: SAFEGUARDING TRAINING. A morning session covering both children and vulnerable adults is being held at St. Francis de Sales’ church hall, Wash Common on Saturday 28th June from 10 am until 12.30.
Registration is from 9.30 and you will be welcomed with a hot drink and a croissant.
This is an opportunity for those who have not done any safeguarding training since September 2023 when a full day’s training was held in our hall.
The diocese requires training to be done every two years so this is an ideal opportunity to attend locally.
The training will be delivered by the safeguarding ministers from Wash Common, Woolhampton and St. Joseph’s.
Please let Mary Barnard know that you are attending.
Volunteering: Volunteering is central to the Catholic Church. Pope Francis said that “volunteering is a grace from God” and that “volunteers are the strength of the church”. Across the UK, however, the volume of people who volunteer has been in long term decline. The sense of well-being derived from volunteering is profound for recipients and volunteers alike. It helps recognise the dignity and gifts of every human being; and it builds a sense of community. It can unify people of all ages. When asked why they do not volunteer, over a third of people say they are concerned about making a long-term commitment. Many projects do not ask of this.
Would you please consider volunteering in some aspect of our parish life?
June - Month of the Sacred Heart. June is customarily dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Friday 27th June is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart and a Day of Prayer for Priests.
As the parish of the Sacred Heart Newbury (in formation) comprising also Wash Common, Thatcham and Hungerford, let us pray too for the ongoing work of uniting our church communities.
A PRAYER FOR POPE LEO:
Lord of life, love and hope, we thank you for the election of our new Pope. Watch over, protect and bless Pope Leo XIV.
We pray that, led by the Holy Spirit, his faithful witness will be a beacon of hope in our fragile and often divided world.
May the joy of the Gospel inspire him with compassionate understanding so that, together, we can be peacemakers and life-givers.
May Pope Leo XIV be a good and courageous shepherd, concerned for “the least, the last and the lost” of “every tribe and tongue and people and nation”.
Guide him to be a leader after your own heart, which is more loving than we can possibly imagine.
We ask you, Lord, to surround our new Pope with people of pastoral wisdom as he adjusts to his new role.
Fill him with confidence in the power of prayer. Help us to help him. Amen.
FROM POPE LEO: In a video on the Vatican website, Pope Leo XIV explains his choice of name. He said: “I chose to take the name Leo XIV.
There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our day,
the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.”
‘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:
