Mass Times :

Saturday
Vigil Mass: 18.00

Sunday
8.30, 10.00, 11.30, 18.00

Monday –Saturday
10.00

19:00 (Tues&Thurs)

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: 10.30 – 12.00

Sacrament of Reconciliation:
10.30 – 11.30
17.15 – 17.30

Collections

Envelopes    £ 1506.95
Loose          £   935.98

Easter Offertory Envelopes

Easter is in just two weeks.  At the back of the Church you will find Easter Offertory Envelopes.  These are for your gifts to the priests of this parish at Easter.  If you are going away it can be dropped in the presbytery or the collection box the weekend before.

RCIA

Please pray for those in the RCIA who will be received fully into our Church at Easter – for Daniel; Jenny; Melvin; Nathan; Paula; Pat and Stuart.

Mass of St. Patrick

Next Saturday 15th March at 10.00 am we celebrate the Mass of St. Patrick.  On Saturday evening we have our Irish Social Night.  This is because when a feast falls in Holy Week it is either cancelled or brought to the week before.

Help Needed

Could anyone give a lift to an elderly lady to 8.30 am Mass.  Please telephone her  if you can help.

200 Club Winners

Congratulations to the recent 200 Club winners:
January - May Black - £50; February - Mrs R O'Leary - £50; March - Susan Condon - £100.

Fr. Michael’s Pilgrimage 2008

I have organised a pilgrimage to mark the 90th anniversary of the apparitions at Fatima from 10th – 17th June 2008 to Fatima and Braga.  Full cost £649.  If numbers exceed 40 cost is £634.  Brochures on table in porch; application forms from Fr. Michael.  Would those with application forms please return them to Pax Travel with deposits as soon as possible.  Anyone else interested should contact Fr. Michael.  We have just 4 places to fill to reach 40.

Dear Friends

PARISH FINANCES.

It is five years now since I last spoke about our parish finances and I do so now in this letter, because of changes in the law which will affect us.

As I am sure you are aware, the basic rate of income tax will be going down to 20% at the beginning of the new financial year on 6th April.  But what you may not know is that one of the results of this change is the amount of tax that we can reclaim with Gift Aid will also go down – from 28p for every £1 that you give to 25p.

This is a cut of 10% in the income we receive from Gift Aid which last year was £ 20 000.00.  At the same time our running costs are on the increase.  You don’t need me to tell you what is happening to gas, electricity, water and other bills apart from repairs and maintenance.

I am all too aware of the financial pressure on so many people and of the generosity so many of you show, but if we all slightly increased what we give then our income would continue to meet the vast expense needed to run this large parish.

For your consideration, I make the following suggestions:-

• Maybe those who are not part of Planned Giving would consider taking a box of weekly envelopes.
• Those who gift aid might increase their contribution.
• Those who do not gift aid would consider joining by signing a form and paying a regular amount by either envelopes or Bankers Orders.
• Many more might consider paying by monthly Bankers Order.

On the table in the porch and at the end of the benches are forms for the above ways.  These may be returned next week and placed in a box in the porch.

Whatever you decide, could I simply say how grateful I am for your support.

With every good wish and blessing.

Fr. Michael Johnston

Parish Priest: Fr. Michael Johnston

Assistant Priest: Fr. Agustin Conesa

E-mail: michael.johnstonruislip@btopenworld.com

..............Fr.Agustin@mostsacredheartruislip.co.uk

YCAP

The Parish Youth Group will meet this Sunday 9th to plan and discuss a special youth based event in Holy Week.  If you are between the ages of 13 & 18 please come along and join them in the Coffee Lounge between 7.00 pm and 8.30 pm.  

Confirmation

Session 8, takes place on Tuesday 11th March at 7.30 pm.  Candidates are expected in the Hesdin Hall at 7.25 pm.  We remind our candidates to bring back the consent form signed by your parents authorising you to watch the 35 minutes segment of the film.  Those candidates who will not watch the film will take part in the Stations of the Cross while the film is shown.

Easter Reconciliation Service

This Thursday 13th March at 7.30 pm we have our Easter Reconciliation Service.  We welcome Bishop John Arnold and eight priests from our Deanery who will hear confessions.  We do urge as many people as possible to come along to this Service and tell members of your family and friends.  It is the best preparation of all for Easter.

Altar Servers

This year, as school holidays do not coincide with Easter we hope that many servers will not be going away for Easter and will be available to serve at this special time.  In order that a roster can be arranged will those who will be away during Holy Week please put the details on the list in the sacristy this weekend.

Planned Giving Envelopes

Next weekend the new boxes of envelopes for planned giving are available in the porch.  They should not be used until the weekend 5th / 6th April.  Please take a few minutes to collect your box.  If you are new to the parish or would like a box of envelopes, or to join the Gift Aid scheme, or would like to pay by Banker’s Orders, please tell the person with the clipboard and we will arrange your request.

Washing of Feet on Holy Thursday

We need 12 young people for the washing of feet at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday at 8.00 pm.  There is a clipboard out on the table in the porch for you to write your name.

Parish Council Meeting

This Monday at 7.45 pm in the Coffee Lounge there is a meeting of the Parish Council.

Justice and Peace Meeting

There will be a meeting on Tuesday 11th March at 7.30 pm in the Warrender Room.  All are welcome.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill

Letters from the Cardinal and the Bishops Conference are still available in the foyer.  If you do not feel able to write do complete and send one of the protest post cards and make sure that your support is recorded.  For those with a computer there is also an on-line petition to Downing Street on http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/embryovote and further information on www.catholicunion.org. 

Helpers Needed

The Repository needs two new helpers when there are five weekends in a calendar month.  One is needed for the 6.00 pm Mass on the 5th Saturday and one is needed for the 10.00 am Mass on the 5th Sunday.  If you can help, please phone Mary Vecchione

CAFOD

Thank you once again for your generous donations to CAFOD, which enables us to work with the poor in over 50 countries around the world.  CAFOD works with people regardless of faith working for social justice and an end to poverty.  If you would like to know more about CAFOD's work and perhaps get involved in volunteering you are invited to a Supporters Day in our London office in Stockwell on Tuesday 11th March from 10.00 am – 4.00 pm.  If you would like further details or wish to reserve a place please contact your local office or e mail westminster@cafod.org.uk

Friends of Douay Martyrs School
                                                                                                         
The Friends of Douay Martyrs School would like to thank everyone who came along to their recent Bingo Evening.  Your support is greatly appreciated by all at the school.  All are welcome to join us at our Irish Evening on 28th March and Music Quiz on 16th May.
Ceilidh (Irish Music and Dance) – 28th March 2008
The Friends of Douay Martyrs School will be holding a Ceilidh on Friday 28th March from 7.30 pm onwards in the Main School Hall, Edinburgh Drive, Ickenham.  All are welcome to join us for music and dancing by the Wraggle Taggle Band.  Licensed Bar and Food Available.  Raffle.  Tickets can be purchased on the night £ 5.00 each or £ 15.00 for a family ticket (up to 3 children).  No experience of Ceilidh is needed, there will be a mixture of Ceilidh, Country, Barn and ordinary dancing.  Something for everyone, come and join us for an enjoyable evening.

Ruislip Windmill Rangers

Ruislip Windmill Rangers would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who sponsored us in our recent Marathon Disco.  Together with members of our sister unit (2nd Rangers), we disco danced for a maximum of 550 minutes – that’s 10 hours with a 5 minute break each hour!  In total we’ve raised over £ 700.00 for two children’s charities chosen by the group.  These are Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and Orchyd, a Ruislip-based charity who run an annual disabled children’s holiday at which several of our members help.

Parish Administrator

A Parish Administrator is required to support the Parish Priest of Ruislip parish with his busy workload.  Duties including handling general correspondence, general office administration tasks, greeting visitors, distributing post, producing the weekly parish newsletter, arranging appointments and meetings, ordering supplies and other ad hoc duties as required.
The successful applicant will be experienced in office organisation, and must be a good team player with excellent communication and IT skills.  Experience in a similar role would be preferred but is not essential.
It is important, however that all applicants are motivated, organised and able to work to their own initiative within this role.
Hours of work: 20 hours per week 9.00 am – 1.00 pm (neg) Monday to Friday. 
Salary:              £ 10.00 per hour.
Closing Date:    24th March 2008.
Interview Date:  14th April 2008.
Please note that cvs will not be accepted, an application form must be completed.
For full job description and application pack please visit our website at www.rcdow.org.uk or apply in writing to:  juliedauncey@rcdow.org.uk

Fairtrade

The Westminster Diocese has asked that all Parishes take an active interest in Fairtrade.  The Fairtrade Mark was established specifically to support the most disadvantaged producers in the world by using trade as a tool for sustainable development.  It is awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation (a registered charity set up by CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Traidcraft Exchange and the World Development Movement) to UK products as a guarantee that the producers have been given a better deal. 
We are looking to set up a small team of people to help us make the commitment to become a Fairtrade Church.  If you would be interested in this role please contact Fr. Michael.  For further information on Fairtrade visit www.fairtrade.org.uk or see the green leaflet on the notice board at the back of the Church.