Parish Notices

Dear Brothers & Sisters

Praise God for the hard working & capable teachers at Our Lady of Compassion school. Two weeks ago the school had its Catholic Schools Inspection, and on Wednesday we got news that the school had passed with flying colours! (Details on the school website). So congratulations and thanks be to God for the dedication & hard work of Mr.Emery & OLC staff and all those who support them.

We give thanks too for the generosity of so many parishioners who supported the appeal last Sunday for Christians in the Holy Land. Over £3000 was raised for FHL! So praise God for your generosity. (See next column for more details)

St.Patrick’s feast would normally fall today March 17, but is eclipsed by the Sunday this year. All the same I wish a happy feast to all the Irish people in our Friary parish. I am finding more & more that many Catholics in the UK have some Irish roots of which they are very proud.

Last weekend our parish Irish Night was hugely enjoyed by everyone present and raised nearly £1500 for the Friary building fund. A hearty thanks to those who organised and those who took part.

Christ in the Home took place in different houses around the parish last week, and nearly 100 people took part. Many thanks to those who offered hospitality, and blessing on those who came to pray

We have  Penitential Service Wednesday but not in our parish. It’s at Corpus Christi Stechford, a joint service for our new cluster of parishes, March 20th at 7.00pm.

May our Mary our Mother, who was with her Son to the end, watch over us during these final days of lent

 

Fr.Biju scj Parish Priest

SCJ NEWS

Ivory Coast On Saturday 9 March, the diaconate ordination of Br. Hyacinthe N'Cho Akpa SCJ took place in the Ivory Coast, through the laying on of hands of Mgr. Salomon Lezoutié, Bishop of the Diocese of Yopougon. Our brother was surrounded by the Fathers and brothers of the Vicariate as well as  relatives, friends & parishioners who came to thank God. At the end of the mass, Fr. Jean Paul Kissi SCJ, Regional Vicar in Ivory Coast, thanked the Lord for the gift of the diaconate entrusted to Br. Hyacinthe and the Bishop for presiding over the ceremony.

Friary snippets

CWL Monthly meeting to take place this Thursday 21st March at 2pm in the Friary.

FRIENDS OF THE HOLY LAND:  Peter Rand who made last week’s FHL appeal wrote: “I thank all the parishioners for your wonderful generosity. Appeal raised £2436.63 cash plus £376.50 by card reader.” (Gift Aid raises the total to over £3k)

“This will have a significant impact on many families in Gaza, West Bank & Israel as they recover from the challenges of the current conflict.”    

Like to volunteer with Parish FHL Group? Call Steve Roper 0121 705 1737 or email: steve.roper@oltonfriary.org.uk To become a Friend of the Holy Land see www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk

IRISH NIGHT : Thanks to all who took part in the Irish Night last weekend. The final amount raised was £1484, which will go towards the Friary Building Fund.

Holy Week starts next Sunday, and palms will be blessed & distributed at all masses. Please feel welcome to take a palm for a neighbour, and give them a copy of our Holy Week programme with all our services and prayer times.

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Marriage matters: fifth Sunday of lent Jer 31:31-34 Heb 5:7-9 John 12:20-33 Love is called to be unconditional, not ‘counting the cost’, not 50/50, but both giving 100%. Today’s Gospel reminds us a rich harvest is only possible when a single wheat grain falls on the ground and dies. Our loving efforts, trials & difficulties in marriage are ways of ‘dying’ to a life-style contrary to what God is calling us to

Big thanks to the secret army of cleaners who unseen keep our church tidy during the year: Week beginning March 17 Group F

Please pray for  David Wood RIP -funeral march 18; Kenneth Hastie RIP -funeral March 19; Mervyn Darling RIP-funeral March 25.   May they rest in peace.

Journey in Faith next March 18: 7.30pm

Meditation at Holy Souls meeting room: tomorrow March 18 1.00pm. Come join to be still & know how we are loved by God

Blessed are those who mourn… for they shall be comforted --Matt 5:4 Bereavement Support group is a monthly gathering for those seeking support after a loss. All welcome, regardless of how long ago the loss or what kind of loss. We meet on 1st Sunday of the month for prayer con-versation & encouragement of each other as we continue our grief journey. We are not a counselling group but promise good listening, respect for confidentiality plus of course a cuppa. Next group:7 April 3- 4.30pm in Friary lounge. For more info, see Bro. Gerard or call Noleen Walsh 0121 706 5184

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS Please remember: Eucharistic Ministers to renew promises at Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7.30pm. Please report to the Sacristy before Mass.

Memorial Pebbles  Jesus said ‘I am the resurrection & the life’ (John 11.25). Basket at back of church has pebbles &  pens for you to write the name of your deceased loved one, & place in our lent garden. All names gathered & prayed for by our bereavement prayer group & community.

St.Wilfrid’s Primary School seeks Admin Officer.  Please see WM Jobs & OLAAS MAC (olaas.co.uk)

St Paul’s Girls School seeks RE Teacher to cover maternity leave, asap. For details see www.stpaulgl.bham.sch.uk  0121-4540-895

OLAAS job vacancies 2 Class Teachers full time, 1 permanent and 1 fixed term, Our Lady of Compassion Primary School. These vacancies are advertised on WM Jobs and OLAAS MAC website with associated documentation Current Vacancies | Our Lady and All Saints Catholic MAC (olaas.co.uk).

SVP urgently seek furniture for family that are being rehoused. Contact SVP members or Parish Office if you can help.

GIFT AID: Please inform Parish Secretary of any changes to your address/tax situation so that accurate records may be kept. If you wish to join the Gift Aid Scheme, just call the Parish Office on 0121 706 0505.

NEW GIFT AID ENVELOPES due to begin on Sunday 7th April. Soon as they’re received, they’ll be available to collect after Mass Sunday from Welcomers or from Sacristy.

200 CLUB MARCH 1st £125 65 Mrs S.Allsop; 2nd £50 12 Mrs R Sherman; 3rd £25 73 Mr & Mrs P Gray.

Deanery Penitential Service. There is a cluster group Penitential Service at Corpus Christi on Wednesday 20th March at 7pm Saints and sinners all welcome.

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REGULAR ACTIVITIES IN OUR PARISH HALL

Monday Zumba 1.30 to 2.30 & 7 to 8pm

Tuesday Latin & Ballroom Dancing 10 -12 noon & 7.30 - 9.30pm. Kung Fu. 6 - 7pm Tuesday U3a 2nd Tuesday monthly

Wednesday Stroke Club 9am - 1.30pm (starts 4 Oct) Slimming World 2.30 - 8.30

Thursday Zumba 11am to 12 Noon U3A Quiz 2nd Thursday monthly Fitness Pilates (term time) 6.30 - 8.30pm

Friday Yoga 10.45am - 12.15pm

Saturday monthly Menofit 10am -12 noon

PARISH CENSUS: Please fill in details online or manually. Info? Email:

martin.hayden@oltonfriary.org.uk or call office 0121 706 0505.

https://forms.office.com/e/dHWqGN3HG2

Safeguarding: Our Parish follows correct safeguarding policy & practice at all times. Safeguarding Parish Reps: Carol Foster & Maureen Treanor: sg.oltonfriary.solihull@rcaob.org.uk Diocese Rep: Claire Reay: safeguarding@rcaob.org.uk Call 0121 230 6240 for any concern or query

The Parish operates in accordance with Statutory Safeguarding Guidance and the National and Archdioceses policies & procedures at all times. Our Parish Safeguarding Representative is Carol Foster and  Maureen Treanor. They can be contacted at: sg.oltonfriary.solihull@rcaob.org.uk or alternatively the Diocesan Safeguarding team can be contacted on 0121 230 6240

safeguarding@rcaob.org.uk if you have any concern.

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Security Please do not leave any belongings unattended in the benches while receiving Holy Communion as there has been a recent incident.

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PARISH GROUPS—Please check your information posted on the Parish website.  Any updates/corrections/alterations, please email the parish office.

SOLIHULL/HEARTLANDS HOSPITAL Please ask hospital Switchboard for on-call Catholic Priest 0121 424 2000, & they will call the duty Priest. Catholic Chaplain at Solihull & Heartlands is Fr Roger Raven. Data Protection law means visit from  priest must be actively sought. He doesn't have access to patient files.

CAR PARK - Please be considerate when parking/manoeuvring your car and please note the disabled parking bays are for the use of those with disabled badges, there is no parking in either the Community and Staff designated areas and the front & rear of The Friary Residential block.  When parking on a Sunday, please do not park on or drive over the grass adjacent to the gate leading into the graveyard.  Only authorised cars to park at other times, by arrangement with the Parish Priest.

HALL BOOKINGS from external groups, particularly regular users are a useful income toward the upkeep of the Church. If access is needed to hall or kitchen during these times, please liaise with the Parish office or Community first.

CREMATION PLOTS (newer area) Following previous notes re- borders & stones barred for H&S danger to graveyard volunteers; please also note that plots are set out in vertical strips, in plots for two.  So borders & stones added around memorial tablets are encroaching on the space of a loved one, and should be removed.

GOING TO HOSPITAL -Please let your parish priest know if you’re going into hospital. On admission ask for the Catholic chaplain as Chaplains no longer receive names of Catholic patients unless they opt in.

SECURITY NOTICE - Please ensure Friary doors are kept closed & locked when necessary.  If you attend a meeting please make sure that the last one out has secured the outside doors.  The front door should not be left on the hook unattended.  Besides Church security, the Friary is home to priests & brothers who need to know they are safe.

CHARITY COLLECTION BOXES for SVP and St Basil’s charities are built into the left and right hand sides, at the back of the Church.  Built-in boxes can be found in the narthex for St Anthony’s bread (used to help the poor in the local area) and Holy Souls (used for Mass intentions for Holy Souls).

FLOODLIGHT DEDICATION—You are able to have the Church floodlit in memory of someone.  A suggested donation is £10 a week, the name of the person in whose memory it is in would appear in the newsletter.  Forms are available in  narthex, or from parish office.

THE SICK OF OUR PARISH - If your name or the name of a friend or relative was on the parish list of prayers for the sick, and you would like that name to remain on the list, would you please contact the Parish Office on 0121 706 0505.  Data protection law obliges us to ensure that you or your friend or family member has consented to being on the list, as it can be seen by many, (e.g. church notice board) and is available for anyone to pick up.  We make great efforts to ensure the church abides by new data protection and privacy law.

VISITORS - If you wish to gift aid your offertory donation, white visitor envelopes are available in the narthex.

VEHICLE CRIME ALERT - The neighbourhood Policing Team would like to draw your attention to an increase in vehicle crime in the area.  5 crime reduction tips—ALWAYS close the windows and doors in your vehicle, DON'T leave any valuables on display and where possible do not leave ANY valuables in the vehicle such as Satnavs, Mobile Phones, Wallets, Purses, Bags or iPods, ENSURE your registration plates are fixed using 'anti tamper screws', KEEP your car keys in a safe place in your house.

SAFEGUARDING - In this parish there have been strict guidelines in place for several years for the protection of children and vulnerable persons.  Anyone with a concern about safeguarding issues should ring the Diocesan Safeguarding Office on  0121 230 6240.

KEEP YOUR VALUABLES SAFE - Please do not leave bags unattended in Church, even at Communion time.  Bags and valuables should not be left on display in cars as this can present a target for thieves.

OPEN HOUSE GROUP - Are you new to the Parish and aged 30+? Do you want to get more involved in Parish Life, but don't know where to start? The Open House Group has recently celebrated its tenth anniversary and its members are involved in various parish activities such as Traidcraft, Christian Aid, the Fast Supper, Welcome and Coffee Bar rotas.  We also have regular meetings in parishioners' homes for spiritual reflection and discussion of topical issues.  If you are interested in joining us please contact the Parish Office for more information.

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