CATHOLIC PARISH OF OUR LADY, STOWMARKET

www.ourladys-stowmarket.co.uk

R.C. Diocese of East Anglia:  Registered Charity No. 278742   

Parish Newsletter for the Week beginning Sunday, 5th February 2012

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday Readings: Year B, Weekday Readings: Year II

Psalter: Week 1

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MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION THIS WEEK:

Save us, Saviour of the world,
for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

Welcome to Mass of the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.  The Proper prayers and readings begin on Page 134 in the Parish Mass Books.
This is Education Day and there will be RETIRING COLLLECTION TODAY for the CATHOLIC EDUCATION SERVICE, the chief negotiating and advisory body on all matters regarding Catholic Education in England and Wales.
10.15 am Mass today is a Children’s Mass. There will not be any Coffee after Mass because it’s our International Food Day. Come along down to the Cedars Hotel for coffee and cake and stay for our lunch.

FAIR TRADE STALL: After all Masses next weekend.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL: Tuesday, 7.15 pm in the Church Centre.

HCPT CHARITY SUPPER

Come and join the Charity Supper on Saturday 11th February, 7.00pm at the Cedars Hotel. You will enjoy a two-course dinner with excellent company, a selection of fine ales and drinks from the bar, a Promise Auction, music, dancing and quiz.  All proceeds to the funding of children on the HCPT Lourdes Pilgrimage this Easter. If you can offer a promise for auction, that would be most welcome. This is a ticket only event at £15 per head. Please contact Jane on 01449 615902 or Simon on 01359 242475 for tickets or to offer a promise.

HALF-TERM HEAVEN ON ICE 
An opportunity for those in years 7,8,9 and 10 to go ice-skating at a heavily discounted rate. Held at Planet Ice, Norwich on Monday 13th February and Planet Ice, Peterborough on Tuesday 14th February. Further information at the back of the church or go to www.catholiceastanglia.org.uk and click on 'young people'.

CAFOD SUPPORT GROUP

The CAFOD Support group will meet next on Tuesday 14th February at 7.15 pm in the Parish Centre.

CATHOLIC CERTIFICATE IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES (CCRS)

The CCRS is a two-year course in Catholic theology run at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge on Saturdays from 10 am to 3.30 pm.
You’ll find full details on the notice board or contact Deacon John Morrill on jsm1000@cam.ac.uk or course director, Dr Philomena Cullen, on pc458@cam.ac.uk as soon as possible. Application forms: contact Ela Wolbek, the Institute Administrator on ew263@cam.ac.uk or 01223 – 741039.

2012 EAST ANGLIA DIOCESAN YEARBOOKS - £3.50
Please put your payment in the Books Wall Box (or in the Papers Bag at Woolpit).
PARISH DIARIES for 2012 Please take a free Diary with our compliments.

A SPECIAL WORD OF THANKS
Amanda Arrowsmith would like to thank everyone who prayed for her late brother Simon and his family in November and she and Jill would like to thank all those who offered help when they moved to their new home at Underhill, where they are now safely installed.

FAITH TODAY FOR FEBRUARY: Only £ 1.95 for a very worthwhile read.

LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTIONS:
Parish - Woolpit: £ 217, Stowmarket: £ 467; Parish Fabric Fund: £ 236. 
Thank you all for your generosity.

HELP AVAILABLE!

Members of the New Life Family Church are offering assistance to those less able, physically or financially, to help themselves.  For instance, in February, there is an offer to do some decorating.  Just provide the paint and the labour comes free.  At other times of the year assistance is offered with gardening, grass cutting and simple DIY tasks.  If you’re interested please fill in a form, to be found in the porch and get it to the address on the form or telephone the number given.

ST BENEDICT’S TOPS SUFFOLK LEAGUE TABLES: CONGRATULATIONS!

As we mark Education Sunday, it’s good to hear that for the first time St Benedict’s Catholic School has topped both the A Level and GCSE league tables in Suffolk.
Please remember all our Catholic School communities in your prayers.
  

DAY OF RENEWAL: RENEWAL IN THE SPIRIT

The first Diocesan Renewal Day of 2012 will take place on Saturday 10th March at The Worship Centre, Bowthorpe, Norwich NR5 9AA, 10.00 am to 4.30 pm.

Fr Augustine Conner will lead the Day. See poster for full details.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SICK

Saturday is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of Prayer for the Sick. Mass in the morning will be at 10.00 am.

MESSAGE OF THANKS FROM THE SANTAL MISSION
I received a letter by e-mail this week from Father Claudio Tauro, the Jesuit Provincial in Dumka-Raiganj, India, to thank us for ongoing generosity to the Santal Jesuit Mission, £820.26 last year and £ 1,315.12 in 2010. He asks you to continue with your support through prayers and donations. The letter can be seen on the notice board along with the usual letter of thanks from Frank and Rosa Fitzpatrick, appeal organisers in this country, received last month.

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MASSES THIS WEEK (FIFTH WEEK OF THE YEAR)

Saturday: 6.00 pm (St Mary’s, Woolpit), Patricia Day RIP (Barber)

SUNDAY: 8.30 am, Joseph Mather RIP (Griffin); 10.15 am, Parish

Monday – St Paul Miki & Companions.: No Mass today

Tuesday – Feria: 6.30 pm, Esther and Thomas Duffy RIP

Wednesday – Feria: 8.00 am, Brian Mould – in sickness (Shorter)

Thursday –Feria: 10.00 am, Pereira, Pestana and Petterson Families RIP (Shorter)

Friday – St Scholastica: 8.00 am, Abad RIP (Lucy)

Saturday – Our Lady of Lourdes 10.00 am, Dr Chit’s Intention (Lucy)

6.00 pm (St Mary’s, Woolpit), Private Intention

SUNDAY – 6th OF YEAR: 8.30 am, Michael Conlon RIP; 10.15 am, Parish

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (CONFESSIONS)

Saturday, 10.30 – 11.00 am or by arrangement.

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT THIS WEEK

Thursday, 9.25 – 9.55; Friday, 2.00 – 3.30 pm (Benediction at 3.15 pm)

DIOCESAN CYCLE OF PRAYER: Felixstowe, Woodbridge.

OUR SICK AND HOUSEBOUND: Amanda Arrowsmith, Eva Bersanetti, Joan Cage, Michael Chilvers, Bridget Conlon, Elaine Devlin, Evelyn Donohoe, Tony Duggan, Charles & Patricia Egerton, John & Diana Emeney, Bob and Marra Emmett, Faith Finegan, Helen Forbester, Ian Forbester, Ann Foster, Louis Gillespie, Edward Gorman, Mary Harper, Gina and Frank Hewitt, Ann Hewlett, Angela Hurst, Geoffrey Johannes, John Laney, Josephine Mizzi, Terrence Mizzi, Lidia Monai, Bryan Moore-Smith, Catherine Neuman, Ellen O’Sullivan, Miles Rogers, Stella Parkinson, Barbara Phillips, Molly Punchard, Moira Reeve, Veronica Ritzema, Alan Rowe, Len Scott, Josephine Scrivener, Marielle Scully, Andrew Simler, Vicky Simler, Etty Smith, Peggy Smith, Betty Stephenson, Peter Stephenson Wall, Jane Thorpe, Pat Tierney, John Tomlinson, Melanie Vickers, Brian Walsh, Tony Wass and Anne Wilce.

ANNIVERSARIES OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED: Patricia Day, Agnes Keane, Michael Henry, Silvio Camilleri, Marjorie Griffin, Jeremy Clover, Betty Cytacki, Mary Wynn-Williams, Jane Whiting and Brian Pearmain R.I.P.

Parish Priest: Rev. David Finegan: Tel: 01449-612946

E-mail: ourlady.stowmarket@btinternet.com

The Presbytery, 29 Lockington Road, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 1BQ

P.P.C. Chairman: Mrs Josephine Lea, Tel: 01449-721544

C entre Bookings: Mrs. Diane Wilson, Tel: 01449-672527

or e-mail: dijesse@hotmail.co.uk