Church of the Most Sacred Heart

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

Collections
Envelopes   £1729.55
Loose         £905.90
Total         £2635.45

Lenten Alms Collection: £588.12 + £1000.00 Donation from Jubilee Trust

Many thanks

.Fair Trade Fortnight – 23rd February – 8th March 2009
To mark Fair Trade Fortnight and to support our application to become a Fair Trade Parish, a tasting session of Fair Trade products will take place after the 10.00am Mass this Sunday 8th March in the Coffee Lounge. Please sample our Fair Trade tea and coffee (now regularly served at our parish events) as well as snacks, including chocolate, fruit and biscuits. We look forward to seeing you there!

New Leaders Needed
We are looking for 2 Beaver Leaders to run the 5th Ruislip Beaver Colony at the Most Sacred Heart Church for boys aged 6-8 years. We meet once a week (term time only) in the Scout Hut for 1 hour. Unless a new leader is found, the colony will close by the end of the summer term. No previous experience necessary as training and uniform are provided If you are interested contact Steve Talbot, or Sarah Healy  or any of the Cub/Scout leaders

Planned Giving Boxes

This weekend the new boxes of envelopes for planned giving are available in the porch. They should NOT be used until the weekend of 11th/12th April which is Easter Sunday. I know that there are some people whose jobs are in jeopardy at this time but there are many who may wish to take this opportunity to reflect on what they give to the Church.

For what it is worth the late Cardinal Hume suggested that everyone might consider the equivalent of one hour’s income as the basis for deciding how much to give. Many still give loose change. As you can imagine the bills for our buildings for repair, maintenance, electricity and heating are enormous and those buildings are here for you. May I ask everyone to consider how much they are giving to the Church and whether some could not give a little more and:-

1. Make a regular donation at the Offertory of the Mass

To urge you if you do not have a box of envelopes to sign up for a box today and pledge to give a regular amount each week or if you do have envelopes and wish to increase your donation please continue to use your existing box.

1. Make a regular donation by Bankers Order

To consider signing up to give by Direct Debit. We can give you the form to complete and then take from you the worry of remembering your donation every week.

c)   Adding 28p to every £1.00 that you give through Gift Aid

To sign up to Gift Aid if you do not already do so. If you are a tax-payer or make a regular donation, we can get back the tax, which will add an extra 28p to every £1.00 at no cost to yourself. It only involves a simple form.

Please tell the person with the clipboard today and we will arrange your request or complete a form at the end of the bench and place it in the box on the table in the porch.

I am all too aware of the financial pressures on so many of you with more and more people being affected by our increasingly uncertain economic situation. But I also recall how St. Paul considered it a simple obligation that every member of the community should contribute according to his or her means:- “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”.

.

Parish Priest: Fr. Michael Johnston
Parish Administrator: Nicola Burke

E-mail: Fr.Michael@mostsacredheartruislip.co.uk

..............nicolaburke@rcdow.org.uk

Preparation for Lent
We are now in the Second week of Lent. If, so far you feel you have not begun or have failed miserably, do not worry, just begin again. Here again are some suggestions:-

1. Weekday Mass – 10.00am daily. Why not try to attend Mass each day during Lent?
2. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament – Takes place in the Church each day from 10.30am-12.00 noon. Why not take the time to pop into Church, even for a few minutes to keep company with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament?
3. Rosary – Every morning at 9.30am in the Church, the rosary is recited. The rosary is a lovely way to pray and to start the day.
4. Thursday Night Prayer Group – Every Thursday at 8.00pm in the Warrender Room, open to all who wish to develop their prayer life in a group.
5. Stations of the Cross – Take place every Friday of Lent at 7.00pm in the Church.
6. Confessions – Takes place every Saturday from 10.30am-11.30am and 5.15pm-5.30pm. Reconciliation Service with Bishop John Arnold on Monday 6th April at 7.30pm.
7. Lenten Fast Day – Took place last Friday 6th March when we were asked to fast and give our profits to CAFOD’s retiring collection at Masses today.

CAFOD
CAFOD Lent Fast Day took place on Friday. Please give generously to CAFOD in the retiring collection this weekend. Please use an envelope if you can Gift Aid your donation and bring hope to those people living in poverty. Phalla is a 58 year old foster mother who cares for eight children orphaned by AIDS, with support from CAFOD. She asked CAFOD to pass on this message: “I grew up on my own so I know how hard it is to have no family. Orphan children need security and love but many are left in the cold, out on the streets. Please help children who have nobody else to rely on”. You can read more about Phalla’s family in the CAFOD Fast Day leaflet

Congratulations & Prayers
Congratulation to Reuben Daniels who will be baptised into our Church at 11.30am Mass today.

Thanks from Fr. Agustin
Thank you very much for the lovely farewell party we had last Sunday, I really enjoyed it, it was great to see you all again and I was delighted with the gift I received. Thank you to all those who brought food and refreshments and gave me cards, your generosity and support was very kind.

Sacred Heart 70th Anniversary
Please keep free Friday 12th June at 7.30pm when Bishop George Stack will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the 70th Anniversary of the opening of our present Church which was opened and consecrated on 15th June 1939.

Sainsburys Active Kids Vouchers
The 4th Ruislip Windmill Guides are once again collecting Sainsburys Active Kids Vouchers, currently being given out in Sainsburys. Last year, with the Parish’s help we managed to get a good deal of games equipment from this scheme. A box is in the Church Porch by the newspapers for any vouchers to be put in, thank you.

Lenten Alms
Please see the wall box under Stations of the Cross II to put spare change during Lent. Alms collection will go to support the St. John Southworth Fund for the Poor in our Diocese and for the school building project in Bangladesh for Catholic schools. Both are projects which the Cardinal has chosen for Lenten Alms.

RCIA
Please pray for those in our RCIA who will be received fully into the Church at Easter:- David Ayres; Ryan Fox; Brad Ryan; Gemma Carter; Barry Dunne; Amy Etherington; Sarah O’Malley; Douglas Smith and Steve Verity.

Eucharistic Ministers
We are looking for 10 more Eucharistic Ministers. If you can help with this important ministry, please sign your name and telephone number on the clipboard in the porch.

Sunday Group Helpers
We need two more helpers for the Sunday Groups. These are for the children who go to non-Catholic schools. It is an important group which takes place during term time from 9.10am to 9.50am. If you can help, please see Fr. Michael as soon as possible.

Young Adults in the West – “Believe & Live”       
A Young Adults in the West  Mass will be held at the Carmelite Church, Kensington on Sunday 29th March at 6.00pm with Bishop Alan Hopes. More information available from davidburke@rcdow.org.uk.

Deanery Mass
A Deanery Mass for Bishop Alan Hope’s Deaneries has been arranged at Ealing Abbey on Wednesday 1st April at 7.30pm. The Mass will be celebrated by the Cardinal as a farewell Mass to him as he comes to retirement and to thank God for his years of ministry. All are welcome to come along.

New Vestments
As we approach the 70th Anniversary of the opening of our Church, I would like to buy a new set of vestments. The present vestments are now old and some worn. A vestment costs £460.00 each, therefore the set would cost £2300.00. If anyone would like to make a donation towards the cost, I would be most grateful.

Justice & Peace Group
There will be a meeting on Tuesday 10th March at 8.00pm in the Coffee Lounge. All are welcome.

Please Pray
For Alice Cullen and Helen Brady from St. George’s Church, Sudbury and their families who both tragically lost their lives on Thursday 19th February taking Holy Communion to the sick.

UCM Donations Needed
The Passage, run by the Sisters of Charity for the homeless of London are looking for donations of soap, shampoo, shower-gel, towels and single bed linen. If you can help donations will be collected on Sunday 15th March in the Porch and then taken to The Passage after 11.30am Mass.

The Beginning Experience
The Beginning Experience are holding a weekend for those who find themselves alone again through bereavement, divorce or separation. This will take place from March 27th-29th at the Emmaus Centre, West Wickham. For details, telephone Mary on 01296 487634.

Catholic Singles
This is an organization which helps single practicing Catholics to meet up, either one to one or through social events. For more information please telephone 0161 941 3498 or visit the website – www.catholicsingles.org.uk or e-mail info@catholicsingles.org.uk

Lenten Booklets
These are available in the porch – ‘Lord, Giver of Life’, cost £1.00 each. Please put money in newspaper slot at back of church.

Eucharistic Ministers
An afternoon of Recollection will take place for all Eucharistic Ministers on Saturday 23rd May from 2-5.00pm in Hesdin Hall. Fr. John O’Leary, former parishioner of our parish will give the talks.

LENT TALKS
Churches Together in Ruislip are holding a series of Lent Talks - “Conflict & Forgiveness” at Ruislip Manor Methodist Church, Torrington Road at 8pm on Tuesdays 17, 24 and 31 March. The speakers are Fr. Nick Barry, Chaplain to RAF Air Command, Fr. Paschal Ryan RC, Chaplain at Heathrow Airport and Fr Richard Barnstaple at St. Martins Church. All  are welcome