HINKSEY CATHOLIC PARISH OXFORD
Churches in the Parish
Our Lady of the Rosary, Botley
Holy Rood, Abingdon Road, Oxford
Good Shepherd, Kennington
St Thomas More, Boars Hill, Oxford
Masses in our Parish
Deacon Richard's Sermons
Parish Newsletter
Fr Paul's Sermons
Easter at Our Lady of the Rosary
Parish First Communion Mass
WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008
Personal Safety Evening
Fairtrade in our Parish
Links for HINKSEY CATHOLIC PARISH
Message Board
Guestbook
Event Calendar
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The Apostleship of the Sea
The Apostleship of the Sea is the official welfare agency of the Catholic Church, whose mission is to provide pastoral outreach to over one million seafarers a year who work away from home, and loved ones for up to a year at a time in gruelling and often dangerous conditions.
In our Diocese we have a Chaplain and volunteers working in the Port of Southampton with seafarers.
The second collection today for the Apostleship of the Sea is vital, as it is an independent charity, which relies solely on your contributions to continue its work.
Please be as generous as you can. |
Waltzing Matilda
Heathrow Airport was buzzing with the sound of young pilgrims; all very distinctive in their red sweatshirts specially printed for the occasion. The long flight ahead was barely mentioned – just excitement about the adventure ahead. They arrived safely in Melbourne and were met by their host families. Chris has visited the museum and also St Patrick’s Cathedral, which was stunning. On Friday he will be attending the Commissioning Mass in the Telstra Dome, a massive sports stadium, with an expected congregation of 50,000 people! The weekend will be spent in the host Parish of Rowville where the group will be interacting with local people in all aspects of faith and culture, plus I'm sure a barbecue was mentioned somewhere! They then travel to Sydney where the main focus will be on the actual World Youth Day Festival, leading up to the arrival of Pope Benedict on Thursday.So please continue to keep Chris, Sebastian and the rest of the group in your prayers as they continue their journey in faith and shared experiences which I'm sure they will never forget. More updates next week,
Monica White |
World Youth Day on the Parish website
If you want to see what Chris White is doing during his time in Australia, just look at our Parish website, and follow the link to World Youth Day. |
The Travelling Deacon
Since our Diocese implemented its Pastoral Plan in September 2006, which includes working in Pastoral Areas, Deacon Richard has - in theory - been available to minister in any of the Parishes in our Thames Isis Pastoral Area.
Fr Tom Taaffe, the Parish Priest of Abingdon, has invited Deacon Richard to minister as Deacon and preach at all four Masses, and participate in a celebration of Baptism, in Abingdon on Sunday 3 August; this means Deacon Richard will not be in our Parish that weekend.
After the packed programme at Abingdon he will no doubt need a gin and tonic, a lie down in a darkened room, and the rest of the week off!
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CALL Outing
Representatives from all areas of the Parish who work with our young people, met last Friday for a First Aid refresher course led by Melanie Calnan, and then adjourned to The Fishes for a meal together. It was a most enjoyable evening and offered an opportunity for sharing experiences and problems of working with children and young people in the Church.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Melanie for her contribution to CALL over the years. Not only was she a leader of Children's Liturgy for many years, but she also inaugurated our Safety Evenings for young people, and was the driving force behind our Family Harvest Mass and brunch. Now that her children are older, Melanie is moving on to other commitments, and the Safety Evening this Sunday will be her last contribution as an active member of CALL. |
‘My Day by Day’ for July
These booklets are now available in the churches price £1.00. Each month several more people in the Parish are realising the value of having the scripture readings for each day available in a handy form for reflection and prayer. Please do take one, and let Fr. Paul know if they have run out. We can always obtain further copies! |
Forthcoming Parish Pastoral Council Meeting.
Please note that the next PPC will take place at Holy Rood Church on Tuesday 22nd July, at 7.30pm. Matters to be discussed include World Youth Day, the work of the Parish Finance Committee, and the Catholic Neighbours’ Scheme. |
Accommodation Request
An engineering student from Mauritania, currently studying in Paris, is seeking accommodation for a further month, from July 18th, to complete his English course. He is prepared to pay up to £50 a week, and comes with good references from Fr Paul and Elizabeth with whom he has been living for the past month. He is a devout Muslim, fluent in French, less fluent so far in English.
Please see Fr Paul if you feel you may be able to help. |
Thames Isis Pastoral Area Baptism Policy
On Monday 31st March, a new Baptism Policy, which has been agreed by all the Parishes in our Pastoral Area comes into effect. Because Baptism is so important, the Pastoral Area Clergy and Laity Leadership Team has decided the preparation offered to parents seeking Baptism for their children should be undertaken by a group in the Pastoral Area rather than in individual parishes. This will emphasise our unity as the Church – the Body of Christ.
Parents who wish to have their child baptised will be asked to participate in a Baptism preparation session. These will be run by lay catechists. The preparation sessions will take place on the first Wednesday of the month at Our Lady and St Edmund’s Parish Centre, Abingdon.
Parents should first contact the Clergy in their local area or parish, who will give them a baptismal application form. This will be returned to Deacon Richard who is co-ordinating Baptism preparation for the Pastoral Area. When he has received the application form, Deacon Richard will contact the parents to arrange for them to attend a preparation session. Baptisms celebrated outside Mass will take place on the fourth Sunday of the month in the local Parish. Baptisms within Mass can be celebrated on any Sunday agreed with the local clergy.
Please pray for, and continue to keep in your prayers, the team of dedicated catechists, the Clergy, and the parents bringing their children to the Church for Baptism.
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'Ride and Stride’ Saturday, 13th September
Oxfordshire Historic Churches Ride and Stride takes place on Saturday 13th September. Last year our Parish received a special letter of commendation from the organisers, as the sponsored cyclists raised over £1,000, half of which returned to the Parish. It would be marvellous if we could equal or even exceed this sum this year, particularly as it has been an extremely expensive year for the maintenance of our many church buildings. Cyclists – please put this date in your diaries. Fr. Paul hopes to be riding again; do consider joining him! A very valuable role is also played by those who keep our churches open during the day, and welcome the many visitors, showing them around and offering them refreshment. |
Oxford Catholic Young Professionals
This is a group of Catholic men and women (22+) who meet twice a month to share their faith, pray together and reflect on what it means to live as Christians in the workplace. They also organise social events and retreats. They meet on Wednesdays at 7.30 p.m. at 14 Norham Gardens and are currently discussing Catholic morality based on the Ten Commandments. For more information: oxcyp05@yahoo.co.uk. |
Our Lady’s Senior School is to welcome boys!
Our Lady’s Senior School, Abingdon is to welcome boys from September 2009. From that date boys will be admitted at Year 7 (age 11) and year 12 (the first year of the sixth form) so that the whole school will be co-educational by September 2013. Patrick Tobin, the Chairman of the Governors writes: ‘This will give Catholic parents a choice that they do not currently possess. Abingdon has not had a Catholic secondary school for boys, Maintained or Independent. Boys will now have the same entitlement as their sisters to top quality Catholic education. We will increase our provision of bursaries to meet this need.’ |
From ‘The Mass and the Saints’ by Thomas Crean OP
On the Eucharistic Fast (formerly the practice was to fast from midnight; the present rule is to fast for one hour before Holy Communion).
‘It is clear that when the disciples first received the Body they did not receive it fasting. Would it therefore be right to blame the whole Church for this, that it is always received fasting? No: for it has pleased the Holy Spirit that in honour of so great a sacrament, no other food should enter the mouth of a Christian before the Body of Our Lord. This custom is observed throughout the whole world. Our Saviour himself gave no precept about this; he left it to the Apostles to arrange.’
St. Augustine |
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