Statue of St. Francis of Assisi (photo copyright David Hudson)

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY - MARCH 2008

Saturday 1 March
10.00 Posy making in the church lounge, in preparation for tomorrow. All help welcome.

Sunday 2 March FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT: MOTHERING SUNDAY As we give thanks for the gift of motherhood, we shall be joined at the 10am Parish Mass by the young people of our uniformed organisations and their families. The Brownies are to play a special part in the service. There will be the usual distribution of flowers, cards and simnel cake.
6.30pm Stations of the Cross and Benediction

Monday 3 March
7.00pm Monthly mass of requiem.
7.30pm Meeting of PCC Standing Committee

Tuesday 4 March
7.00pm Stations of the Cross at St Alban’s Church. All are welcome and CBS members are specially invited.

Wednesday 5 March
7.00pm Mass, followed by Lent Course (on the Lord’s Prayer) part 4.

Friday 7 March Women’s World Day of Prayer
This year the service will be at S. Edmund Campion RC Church, Castle Lane, at 2.30pm, followed by refreshments. All are welcome. Betty Allen has been our representative on the local organising committee and chairman of it for at least 25 years. We thank her for all her dedication and hard work as she now steps down. We are pleased that Justine Marley has agreed to be our new representative.

Sunday 9 March FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Masses as usual.
6.30pm Stations of the Cross and Benediction.

Wednesday 12 March
9.30 - 10.30am and 10.45 - 11.45am Queens Park Infant School Year 1 in church.
7.00pm Mass, followed by Lent Course part 5.

Friday 14 March
3.00pm Palm Cross making in the church lounge. All help welcome.

Saturday 15 March
11.00am Regional Chrism Mass (Mass of the Oils) at Winchester Cathedral. The principal celebrant and preacher will be Bishop Keith. This is the occasion when the clergy renew their ordination vows and oils for use in the church’s sacraments are blessed. It is also an opportunity for us to affirm our unity with Bishop Keith and with Christians from parishes like our own in the dioceses of Winchester, Portsmouth and Guildford. It is therefore something which we should support as a church family, and I do hope that many ordinary lay members of S Francis will want to accompany their clergy to Winchester on this important day. Further details from Fr Paul. We shall try to arrange transport/lifts for those who are car-less and want to go.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER 2008

Sunday 16 March: PALM SUNDAY
8.00am Low Mass;
10.00am Blessing of palms, procession in honour of Christ the King, and Solemn Mass;
6.30pm Stations of the Cross and Benediction

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Holy Week
7.00pm Low Mass and address

Maundy Thursday
8.00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper, procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose, and watch until midnight.

Good Friday
9.00am Morning Prayer;
9.30am Activity session for children, followed by
10.30am Stations of the Cross for children;
1.00pm Stations of the Cross;
2.00pm Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion.

Holy Saturday
9.00am Morning Prayer;
9.00pm The Easter Vigil Liturgy

Sunday 23 March EASTER DAY
8.00am Low Mass;
10.00am Procession and Solemn Mass;
6.30pm Solemn Evensong and Benediction

Fr Thomas Seville CR, of the Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield, will give the address at Mass on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, and will preach on Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday morning. He will also be available to hear confessions and give spiritual counsel. We are delighted to welcome him to the parish and to re-affirm our links with the Community of the Resurrection, who are Patrons of the parish.

CONFESSIONS BEFORE EASTER
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Holy Week and Maundy Thursday at 6.15 pm; Good Friday at 11.15am; Holy Saturday at 12 noon and 6.30pm, and by arrangement.

Thursday 27 March
11.00am Mass for healing, with the laying on of hands and sacrament of anointing.

Sunday 30 March SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER Services as usual

Monday 31 March THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD (transferred)
7.30pm Solemn Mass

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH - MARCH 2008
1 Sa S. David7.30 amThe Church in Wales
2 Su FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT8 & 10 amPARISH & CONGREGATION
3 M Of Requiem7.00 pm (NB)The departed
4 Tu Ferial10.00 amPrama-care
5 W Ferial7.00 pmA good use of Lent
6 Th Ferial11.00 amAdditional Curates Society
7 F Ferial7.30 amThe ministry of women
8 Sa Ferial7.30 amThe anxious and depressed
9 Su FIFTH SUNDAYOF LENT8 & 10 amPARISH & CONGREGATION
10 M FerialNo massPeace and justice
11 Tu Ferial10.00 amFr Thomas Seville CR
12 W Ferial7.00 pmThe work of education
13 Th Ferial11.00 amBishop Keith
14 F Ferial7.30 amMission Direct
15 Sa S. JOSEPH*11.00 amParents and foster parents
16 Su PALM SUNDAY8 & 10 amPARISH & CONGREGATION
17 M Monday of Holy Week7.00 pmSorrow for sin
18 Tu Tuesday of Holy Week7.00 pmGod’s people the Jews
19 W Wednesday of Holy Week7.00 pmReconciliation
20 Th Maundy Thursday8.00 pmThe gift of love
21 F Good Friday2.00 pmThanksgiving for our redemption
22 Sa Holy Saturday9.00 pmThe Guild of All Souls
23 Su EASTER DAY8 & 10 amPARISH & CONGREGATION
24 M Easter Monday7.30 amJoy in the resurrection
25 Tu Easter TuesdayNo massAll baptized at Easter
26 W Easter Wednesday7.00 pmWitness to the risen Christ
27 Th Easter Thursday11.00 amThe ministry of healing
28 F Easter Friday7.30 amThe renewal of the Church
29 Sa Easter Saturday7.30 amThose who care for the sick
30 Su SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER8 & 10 amPARISH & CONGREGATION
31 M THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD7.30 pmThe Shrine of OLW
* on 15th: This is the regional Chrism Mass at Winchester Cathedral. There will be no mass at S. Francis today.

Please check the current news-sheet or porch notice for any changes to the mass arrangements.

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