The National Office for Vocation has an exciting event coming up!

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Thursday 5th May at 7:30pm – 9pm ‘The Conversation’
Listen in and ask our panel of guests key questions on vocation, discernment and their work within the Church.
Discerning your vocation? Want to hear others talk and discuss theirs? Join us for The Conversation, where we have a panel of guests to discuss how they live out their vocation and the work they carry out in the Church.
Our panel of guests include:
Helena Judd (Radio Maria)
Deacon Toby Duckworth (Transitional Deacon at the VEC)
Richard Mills (Catenians)
Elliot Vanstone (Mission Adviser - Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales)
Annabel Ward (Youth 2000)
Catherine Wiley (Catholic Grandparents Association)
And more to be announced...
This event takes place on Zoom and live on Radio Maria England. It is free to join, come with burning questions and submit them in the chat.
To book on free of charge visit EventBrite
We look forward to welcoming you and joining in ‘The Conversation’.

Newman Association:  There will be a talk on Tuesday 3 May at 2.30pm, in the lounge of Sacred Hearts' Hall, Moorend Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, GL53 9AU.

Fr Andrew Pinsent, a physicist and the Research Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, University of Oxford will talk to us on Can Faith be reconciled with Science?

All are welcome. Admission: £3 (members & students free)

Enquires to Stephanie Jamison, tel: 01242 539810.

Every Wednesday in St Thomas More Church prayers are being said for Ukraine.

18:00 for about 45 minutes: a short service of reading and reflections followed by a decade of the Rosary.

Hallo fellow parishioners,

As we approach Holy Week I find myself recalling the wonderful Easters that I have spent in Zambia. The Palm Sunday processions through town. Joining with other Christian Communities people walk together, then peal off at each church, with a friendly wave of the palms picked from local trees. The beauty of the solemn Tridium services, culminating in the lovely outdoor Easter Vigil mass with its joyous singing, dancing and clapping. After which the parishioners carry the candles to take Christ's light back to their homes.

The parishioners at Our Lady of the Wayside have worked very hard by creating income generating projects to try to keep going and look after those extremely vulnerable – see the field of Soya which they will harvest in a month or so - but they need our help. They have specifically asked if we could help them by funding a large fish pond and stock it with Tilapia (“St. Peter's fish”).

I am sorry I am not around at church at the moment – maybe I can return after Easter. I would be grateful if you would spread the word and give a final push to help our friends in Monze this Lent.

There are Parish Projects envelopes in church and I am happy to deliver to anyone wanting one. Donations should be placed in the envelopes and posted through the presbytery letterbox.

Thank You,

Chris Barrell 01242 513992

Ania and Marta, parents of first holy communion children in our parish, are amongst those collecting food and other essential supplies to be shipped direct to refugee Ukrainian families in Poland.

They say:

The Parish is praying for peace in Ukraine.

Wednesday evenings, in Church or On Facebook live, Ecumenical Prayers from 18:00 to 18:45. Contact Sheila Mander or Bill Flynn for details.

Sunday Evenings, at 17:00, the Stations of the Cross are being said. We welcome volunteer readers for this. Please click here to offer your help. This is NOT being streamed live, unless this is asked for. Please contact John Andrews if you would like this.

The Department for Adult Education and Evangelisation is offering a six-part series on Laudato Si’, the Papal Encyclical promulgated by Pope Francis in 2015. Jason Charewicz, the Caritas and Environmental Officer, will lead the sessions. The first three parts, called Laudato Si: Into the Wilderness take place in Lent. The final three, called Laudato Si: A New Creation, take place during Eastertide. Each session will focus on a single chapter of Laudato Si’ tied in with the liturgical season, providing an overview and invitation to dive deeper into the sections which call to you specifically. The encyclical will act as a focus for prayer and reflection to help discern the Lord’s call in your life.

This series is perfect whether you have never read Laudato Si’ and want a prayerful introduction, or if you have read the document many times and seek a spiritual refreshment and refocus.

Send them an email to register.

After a long COVID break, extended by the flooring issues in the old priory, we are delighted that the youth group starts again on Sunday 27th February. After 09:30 Mass, come upstairs to meet Tom and Christine. Leave parents and guardians downstairs to enjoy their coffee after Mass. Youth group includes games and art, prayer and discussion and is open to al young people.