1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

 Catholic Parish of Our Lady and All Saints, Stourbridge
13, New Road, Stourbridge DY8 1PQ
Tel 01384 395308 E-mail: olas1@tiscali.co.uk
Parish website: www.olas1.co.uk
Parish Priest: Mgr. Canon Patrick McKinney, STL, Deacon: Rev. Mr. Tom Tranter
The parish is part of the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham:
Registered as a charity No. 234216
Sat Sun
21st & 22nd March 2015
Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year B)
Mass Times & Intentions
5.00pm
8.30am
10.30am
Edmund & Isabella Davies, RIP
George Hendren, RIP (Anniv)
Beatrice Breen, RIP
Sat
Mon
9.00am
Sun
Tue
12.30pm
Wed
7.30am
Thu
12.30pm
Fri
7.30pm
John Boyle, RIP
Weekday In Lent
Dot McNally, RIP
Weekday in Lent
James McCooey, RIP
The Annunciation of the Lord
Vincent Lyons, RIP
Weekday in Lent
Ints of the SVP
Weekday in Lent
10.00am
5.00pm
Ints of Andrew Neale
Weekday in Lent
Keith & Anne Preston, RIP
8.30am
10.30am
People of the Parish
Stanley Fernandez, RIP
MORNING PRAYER: Mon. 8.45am
STATIONS; Friday 7.00pm
CONFESSIONS:
Saturday 10.30am – 11.00am
& 4.30pm– 4.50pm.
PRAYER BEFORE THE BLESSED
SACRAMENT: Sat 9.30am
LENTEN DEVOTIONS : Sun 5pm
WELCOME: please introduce yourself to Fr Pat or Deacon Tom if you are new to the parish, and
complete
& return the new update of Parish Records sheet in the porch.
LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION: £517.78 and £519.00 gift aided.
SYMPATHY & PRAYERS: please pray for the repose of the souls Cissie Smith, whose Funeral Service
takes place on Thursday 26th March
Crematorium,
at 11am
at Stourbridge
Tony Burgess, whose
th
Funeral Service takes place on Friday 27 March, 1.30pm at Stourbridge Crematorium & Charles
McCartan
who died recently. His funeral details are not yet known. Please keep their families in your
prayer.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERVICE CARDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
These cards have details of the times of services. Please pick up a copy today.
NEXT WEEKEND – We celebrate Palm Sunday & the palms will be blessed at each Mass. Please note
will only be enough palms for one each for the people who come to Mass. Please kindly bear this
there
in mind.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION & RECONCILATION PROGRAMME Next Parents session is Monday 23rd
7pm in the Parish Centre. Please keep all the children in your prayers as they prepare for their
March
first celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday 28th March.
DEEPENING OUR REVERENCE FOR THE EUCHARIST DURING LENT
Our Bishops have suggested that we might try to be especially quiet in church before Mass begins, so
that everyone can be helped to prepare prayerfully. Please do also be conscious of those people who
wish to remain in church to pray at the end of Mass.
A PORTRAYAL OF THE ‘ROAD TO CALVARY’ BY YEAR 5
All parishioners are invited to a special Assembly, performed by the children of Year 5 at St Joseph’s
7pm in the School Hall. Primary
School, next Thursday 26th March,
GIFT AID & NON GIFT BOXES for 2015/2016 are available this weekend. Please ensure you use the
correctly dated envelopes. For gift aiders please pick up your named box today. EVENTS IN OUR PARISH THIS LENT
Lent is a time when the Church encourages us to walk more closely with the Lord in prayer, and to
grow
in a deeper personal relationship with God. Please try & support some of the helpful Lenten
events taking place. EARLY BIRD ADORATION IN THE ASSISI ROOM OF PARISH CENTRE This takes place during Lent on Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays between 6.45am and 7.30am. It is a
time of quiet prayer before Jesus present in the Monstrance, and you are welcome to pop in for as
long or as short a time as you have available before setting off for work & the rest of your day.
STATIONS
OF THE CROSS: Friday 7pm. LENTEN DEVOTIONS: half an hour of quiet prayer before
the Blessed Sacrament, followed by Evening Prayer – Sunday 5pm in the Parish Centre Assisi Room.
PARISH LENTEN SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION – This takes place on Monday 30th March at
7.30pm
in church. There will be 3 visiting priests to assist Fr Pat with confessions. Please put the date
in your diary TODAY – it’s a good way to prepare ourselves spiritually for the ceremonies of Holy
Week and the joy of Easter. EVANGELII GAUDIUM (Joy of the Gospel) - the document issued by Pope Francis “We incarnate the duty of hearing the cry of the poor when we are deeply moved by the suffering of
others. Let us listen to what God’s word teaches us about mercy, and allow that word to resound in the
life of the Church. The Gospel tells us: “Blessed are the merciful, because they shall obtain mercy” (Mt
5:7). The apostle James teaches that our mercy to others will vindicate us on the day of God’s
judgement: “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For
judgement is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy, yet mercy triumphs over judgement.”
(Jas 2:12-13)” (193)
BUILD
UP TO THE OCTOBER SYNOD ON THE FAMILY – TODAY’S SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
(www.twoinoneflesh.org.uk)
Unconditional love
Love
is called to be unconditional, not ‘counting the cost’, not 50/50, but both giving 100%. Today’s
Gospel reminds us a rich harvest is only possible when a single wheat grain falls on the ground and
dies.
Our loving efforts, trials and difficulties in marriage are ways of ‘dying’ to a lifestyle contrary to
what God is calling us to.
SYNOD OF THE BISHOPS ON MARRIAGE & FAMILY LIFE
In October of this year, Pope Francis will preside over a second synod meeting dedicated to family life.
The theme of this will be, “The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and the
Contemporary
World.” For Pope Francis, family life, just like your family, has an important part to play
in the life of the Church. The weeks and months before the Synod are to be a special time of
discernment
when we weigh-up and reflect on family life both in the Church and in the world. Pope
Francis
and our Bishops want to hear your views. There is an online document addressed to all
families with reflection on the Church’s mission and teaching on family life. The document is called,
Call, The Journey, and the Mission.” Copies are available at the back of church. There is an
“The
online survey also. This can be found at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/laity/EW2015. The closing date
for replies is Sunday 31st May 2015. Thank you for taking part in this important task.
PARISHIONERS FAVOURITE PRAYER
St Michael the Archangel,
Defend us in battle; be our protection against the snares and wickedness of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of
God, thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who
wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Do you have a favourite prayer we can print in the bulletin? PARISH GROUPS & SOCIETIES
CHILDREN’S LITURGY this Sunday 22nd March at 10.30am Mass.
SENIOR
CITIZENS LUNCHEON CLUB Thanks to May Sweeney & all the team who kindly prepared,
cooked and served lunch last Wednesday. Also thanks to the Children & Staff of Year 6 at St Josephs
who
helped
to
serve
&
to
clear
the
tables.
Their
next
lunch
will
be
held
on
Wednesday
15
th School
April at 1pm in the Parish Centre. Lunch will cost £3, which is excellent value for money. Please feel
free to come along & bring a friend – you will receive a warm welcome.
SENIOR CITIZENS COFFEE GROUP – A speaker is coming to the Senior Citizens Coffee Group
on Wednesday 1st April. He will be giving a light hearted talk about income tax and ways to manage
our money. Do come along if you can and bring a friend. We open for coffee at 10.30 but he will
begin his talk at about 11 o'clock. We will finish at 12 noon.
MASS IN CELEBRATION OF ARCHBISHOP OSCAR ROMERO,
Celebrated by The Right Reverend David McGough, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham.
Tuesday 24TH March 2015,1pm, St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham.
Reception afterwards in the Grimshaw Room
With refreshments and talk by Clare Dixon of CAFOD and the Romero Trust.
Please call CAFOD on 01922 722 944.
EASTER FLOWERS - MESSAGE FOR CHURCH FLOWER ARRANGERS
A Meeting will be held in church this Sunday 22nd March, after 10.30am Mass to discuss the
arrangement
of the Easter Flowers.
CONGRALUTATIONS to Jacinta & Geoff Gibbons who celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary on
the 31st March, they will renew their Wedding Vows at 5pm Mass next Saturday. Please keep them in
your prayer & all who celebrate significant birthdays and anniversaries around this time.
NIGHT OF LIGHTS – SATURDAY 28TH MARCH – THE EVE OF HOLY WEEK
Following
on from the successful ‘Night of Lights’ held during our Parish Mission and on Friday 31st
October,
another such evening will take place in church on Saturday 28th March, the Eve of Palm
Sunday. The programme is as follows:
7.30pm Evening Prayer
8.00pm Short talk, followed by Adoration in church & outreach in town
10pm
Simple Benediction
People
of all ages are asked to go out in two’s into the town with unlit candles, to invite people in town
that night to come & light a candle in church and say a prayer for loved ones. If you would like to do
this, but have no experience, you will be given the opportunity to accompany someone with
experience. Please sign the sheet in the porch this weekend.
Meanwhile it is so important that we have people in church throughout the evening, who pray for those
out with candles and for those who choose to come into church to light a candle. This prayer
going
ministry is so crucial. These evenings are very gentle in outreach to the wider town, but can be so
prayerfully helpful to those who respond. Please do come and give it your prayerful support, even if
you can’t manage the whole evening. You will be surprised at the response. For further information
speak to Fr Pat, or through the Parish Office on 01384 395308. Those who are willing to take part in
this ‘Night of Lights, please sign your name against a half hour slot on the sheet in the porch. Thank
you for supporting this parish outreach to the wider town. Maryvale
Institute, Kingstanding, Birmingham wishes to appoint a graduate as full time academic
administrator for its MA program in Catholic theology. Proficiency with IT for administration is
essential,
salary negotiable. For further information and application details contact Fr Eddie Clare,
Institute Director, on 0121 360 8118 or director@maryvale.ac.uk Closing date for applications 17th
April 2015.
WANT THE LOAN OF A BOOK FOR LENT?
We have received, courtesy of Klair at the Robin Woods Library, a lending box of spiritual books for
Lent. If you wish to borrow a book fill out a slip in BLOCK LETTERS with your name, address, Tel. No
& the date, and leave it with the rest of the slips. If you have never borrowed a book from this library
before,
(based at New Road Methodist Church) please tick the ‘new borrower’ box. 400 CLUB MARCH 2015 WINNERS
£75 - K J Hartley, Pam Perry, Gwen Carey, Geraldine Nokes.
- S Homer, T Morrisey, Mrs Croydon, Mr & Mrs Love
£25
£10
– Miss R Doran, Mrs Blamire- Brown, Ian Reed, Mr P Doran, Teresa Parry, Mary Cole,
Sally Sargent, M Morris, J E Farr, A J Trafford, Michael Smith, Mrs Grosvenor, A Jones,
Paul Jackson, Dorothy Bill, Joy Roberts.
If you would like to join the 400 Club please pick up an application form at the back of church today or
contact Ken Baker on 01384 375835. If you’re not in, you can’t win! ST JOSEPH’S PTA ST GEORGES DAY FESTIVITIES
SATURDAY 25TH APRIL 6.00PM – 8.30PM, at St Joseph’s Primary School
Professional Fireworks (on the field) /Medieval performance by ‘The Mummers’/Morris Dancing
Display/BBQ/Bar/Live folk music/Face Painting Tickets £5 each, children’s tickets include a hotdog or
burger & a drink. Tickets are available from Amanda Compton 07974 688851.
Admission to this event is by pre-paid ticket only.
CHURCHES
TOGETHER IN STOURBRIDGE
A DISCUSSION EVENING WITH
THE REVD INDERJIT BHOGAL
“I was a stranger...” This Thursday 26th March,
7.30pm Stourbridge Quaker Meeting House
Scotts Road, Off Forge Road.
EASTER CONCERT– MAGNIFICAT.
Wonderful sacred music by Bach & Handel will
be performed by Birmingham Bach Choir, the
London Baroque Sinfonia and five impressive
soloists conducted by Paul Spicer on March 28th
at 7.30pm in Birmingham St Philips Cathedral.
The Baroque music was composed as the
cathedral was built (originally as a parish
church) and the concert makes its tercentenary.
Flyers are available at the back of church.
For more details & tickets from £10 call Hilary on
01562 884821
or visit the website
www.birmingham.bachchoir.com CHILDRENS WORDSEARCH DAY OF RENEWAL SATURDAY 28TH MARCH
Oscott College, Chester Road. B73 5AA
9am Registration,
10am Praise and Worship,
Talks Fr Chris Thomas,
4pm Celebration of Mass.
Recommended Cost £10.
For further details please contact Ray Russell on
0121 603 3842 or visit www.bccrc.org.uk
CLUTCHING AT STRAWS
Charity Evening in aid of Stourbridge Life Debt
Advice Centre at Vines Restaurant,
High Street, Stourbridge.
Thursday 26th March 7.30pm – 9.30pm
£8 per person refreshments included.