Weekly Newsletter
Masses, Services and Intentions
Saturday 18th March
10.30-11.30 Exposition, Confession & Benediction
12.05 Jacqueline Duff
Sunday 19th March
9.00am People of the Parish
11.00am Tibor Draskovic
3.00pm Ukrainian Mass
Monday 20th March
11.55am Novena
12.05pm In thanksgiving
5.00pm Mass at Royal Stoke Hospital
Tuesday 21st March
8.25am Exposition & Simple Benediction
9.30am For the sick
Wednesday 22nd March
6.30pm For the isolated
Thursday 23rd March
11.00am Exposition & Simple Benediction
12.05pm In thanksgiving
Friday 24th March
12-1pm Confessions
12-12.30pm Exposition
12.35-1pm Stations of the Cross
1.05pm Aldona Korolenko RIP
7.30pm Stations of the Cross
Saturday 25th March
10.30-11.30 Exposition, Confession & Benediction
12.05 John Peter Harborn RIP
Sunday 26th March
9.00am Mary Richards RIP
11.00am Don Fallows
PARISH NOTICES 19th March 2023
Cessation of the Sunday 9am Mass The Sunday 9am Mass began back in the middle of May 2021 as an “overflow” and “covid-safe” Mass. Social distancing measures meant that we could not accept more than roughly 80 people in church at any one time and the 11am Mass had reached capacity. Now that such restrictions no longer exist, and the 9am Mass has an average attendance of only around 30, the decision has been taken that the last 9am Mass will be on Sunday 30th April. This will enable me to be be available for hospital calls for an extra 2 hours on a Sunday morning (not an easy time to find a priest) and be able to supply in other parishes, eg Tunstall, Birches Head and Trent Vale. I realise this decision will cause disappointment and inconvenience and I thank you for your understanding. Fr Michael
Pro-Life at Sacred Heart Prayer Group 10.00-10.40am Every Wednesday in the Presbytery Chapel. All welcome. For further details, please see Simon Plant our SPUC Rep.
Penance, Prayer, Pints 23rd March, 7.00 p.m. at St Teresa’s, Trent Vale. A prayer retreat for men including Adoration and followed by refreshments. See poster at the back of the church or @CatholicTrentV on Facebook for more information.
An Ecumenical Service for Lent, with a performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion, which will take place at St Wulstan’s Wolstanton on Sunday 26th March at 4pm. The service will be followed by light refreshments. All welcome.
North Staffs Vocations Promotion Group Evening of Prayer and Reflection for Vocations.Tuesday 28 March 7pm at Our Lady & St Werburgh, Clayton, led by Fr Marco Egawhary. All welcome.
2022 Parish Accounts are displayed on the notice board in the church foyer. The parish made a surplus of £56,926 of which £55,000 is part of a legacy left to the church for the maintenance of the church building. This money will be used for remedial work to be carried out later this year as specified in the recent Quinquennial Report. Gas and Electricity bills received and paid in January 2023 for October-December 2022 totalling £7,985 are not shown in these accounts. Any questions, see Fr Michael
Helping the Homeless and Those in Need The Compassion Kitchen would like to prepare a special Easter treat for the homeless and those in need. They are looking to provide a turkey dinner, small hot water flasks, drawstring bags, toiletries and an Easter Egg. If you can help, there are donation envelopes at the back of the church or you can transfer a donation to: Account Name: Compassion Kitchen Sort code: 30-98-90 Account Number: 16778360
Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Bernard Longley will be read out in parishes this weekend. The Letter will include an update on the Diocesan Vision: Unfolding God's Plan. The Pastoral Letter will also be available on the Diocesan website this weekend. www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/vision There are a few paper copies available at the back of the church for those parishioners without access to the internet.
Music for Easter Project. Rehearsals for this exciting 5 week project will be every Thursday 7pm – 8.15pm in the Presbytery Chapel. Singers and musicians all welcome.
Sacred Heart Choir is open for everyone, especially the youth of our parish. We meet at 10am every Sunday at the Parish Centre.
Pilgrimage to Walsingham 13th May 2023 Mass of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Principal Celebrant – Bishop David Evans. Pilgrims are invited to arrive at the Shine from 11am. There will be time to visit the Slipper Chapel and Chapel of Reconciliation, as well as the Shrine shop and cafe before Mass at 1.30pm, in the Chapel of Reconciliation. The procession to the Priory ruins in the village will begin at 3pm and will conclude with a time of prayer at the site of the Holy House. For further information please contact the pilgrim organiser Fr Philip Griffin 01384 395308 or email olas.stourbridge@rcaob.org.uk
Lourdes: time with the Lord, time with one another, in the company of Mary. Archbishop Bernard invites us to this year's Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes in a new video. He says: "Every pilgrimage to Lourdes is very special for the individuals who come here, but to be here as a group is also really important because it’s a place where we can witness to our faith to one another and also draw inspiration from all the other pilgrims who come here from around the world. "Our Lady has invited us to come here to be close to Jesus Christ to strengthen our own mission as we go back to our homes and our churches. "So here in Lourdes we never know exactly what we will encounter but the important thing is that it’s time with the Lord, it’s time with one another in the company of Mary." The pilgrimage runs from Saturday 27 May to Friday 2 June. Tickets are selling quickly: don't miss your chance to join this very special trip. www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/lourdes-pilgrimage
Archdiocese of Birmingham Newsletter. Sign up for the Diocesan e-newsletter at www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/Pages/News/Default.aspx This months newsletter includes news about: Love the Stranger – a publication by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales. Harvington History Festival July 25-30
Mothering Sunday 19th March On this day, as we give thanks for our mothers, let us pray a special prayer to Our Lady, Untier of Knots and ask her to intercede on behalf our mothers: may those aspects of their lives that they are carrying, often silently, be gently teased open by the Lord. May those aspects of their lives that are a burden be taken by Our Lady and offered at the feet of Jesus that our mothers may be released of them. (Part of the reflection by Deacon Paul O’Connor. See the full refection: www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/news/mothering-sunday-19-march).
Holy Mary, Mother of God and ours,
with your maternal heart,
untie the knots that upset our lives.
We ask you to receive in your hands …
(mention a person or your prayer request here)
… and deliver us from the chains and confusions that have us restrained.
Blessed Virgin Mary, through your grace,
your intercession, and by your example,
deliver us from evil and untie the knots
that keep us from uniting with God,
so that once free of every confusion and error, we may find Him in all things,
have Him in our hearts and serve Him always
in our brothers and sisters.
Amen.
Gift Aid Envelopes 2023/24 The new tax year gift aid envelopes are at the back of the church. If your circumstances have changed and you no longer pay UK tax (on income/pension) please give your envelopes to Maureen Hall (Saturday) or Barry Ford (Sunday).
Petitions One of our parishioners will be going to Lourdes at Easter. Put your petitions in the box provided at the back of the church and she will gladly take them with her.
Come and See Weekends 2023 The cistercian nuns at Holy Cross Abbey (Whitland, Pembrokeshire, SA34 0QX) invite single Catholic women aged 25-45 who are discerning a vocaton, to experience monastic life during one of the following weekends: Friday 28th April to Monday 1st May, Firday 11th August to Monday 14th August and Friday 20th October to Monday 23rd October. www.hcawhitland.co.uk
Any enquiries and registration, please email comeandseehca@gmail.com
Holy Father’s prayer intentions for March That all who have suffered harm from members of the Church may find within the Church herself a concrete response to their pain and suffering.