Dear Brothers & Sisters
Tomorrow night we have our penitential service at 7:00pm in church, our chance to prepare a way for the Lord and make his paths straight through the sacrament of confession.
The parable of the prodigal son is a favourite for many of us as an image of God's forgiveness. Like the father in the story who receives his son with tender love after he has led wayward life, our Father in heaven welcomes us with open arms no matter what our history.
On Tuesday at weekday mass we hear from St Matthew about Jesus’ ancestry with the phrase ‘so-and-so was the father of so-and-so’ repeated over and over. It was so important in Jewish tradition to know the identity of your father's father and your father's father's father's father.
This gospel passage a bit tedious for some and challenging for the priest (who has to pronounce all the strange Hebrew names) repeats the word ‘father’ 42 times!
In advent as we focus on Mother Mary, the role of Joseph as guardian or foster father can easily be overlooked. But modern psychology tells us that good fatherhood is so important for young children, and children miss it if it is not there.
So today we ask a blessing on all fathers and grandfathers in our parish. Some like Saint Joseph have also taken on the role of foster-father or stepfather, and we ask God's blessing on this important ministry.
As Christmas draws closer we ask Mary and Joseph who both protect the Christ-child, to bless us, protect us and keep us safe.
Fr.Biju scj Parish Priest
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SCJ News: Christmas in Bethlehem: Fr.Gustavo our Superior General plans to make an official visit to our community in Holy Land (Bethlehem and Nazareth) from December 18 to 29. Though the situation in the West bank is volatile to say the least, our Novices are placed in Bethlehem with Fr.Stervin and Fr.Gaspar, and he is determined to show them fraternal support.
Fr.Gustavo will go to the Vicariate of India from January 15 to February 9, 2025. and the Council of the Congregation will be held in Bangalore from Jan 28 to Feb 9.
A visit to the Vicariate of Thailand-Vietnam will follow from February 11 to March 8. By God’s sense of humour, these places are all in the same Regional Province as England.
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FRIARY SNIPPETS
Grateful thanks to our parish choirs for the carol concert in church yesterday. Such a beautiful beginning to Christmas and such enthusiasm from the musicians. Our three parish choirs work so hard throughout the year to add joy and dignity to our liturgy.
Thanks also to Solihull Choral Society who gave a carol concert the week before.
Parish Christmas Calendar – please collect copies of Christmas dates leaflet in Narthex Churches Together Christmas card there too
2025 Parish Diaries are available for £1.
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS events coming up
* Penitential Service Monday 16 Dec 7.00pm
* Inter-Church Carol singing Thurs 19 Dec
outside Olton Station 4.30-6.00pm
* Confessions Saturday 21 Dec 9.30-10.15
* Guild of St.Stephen Mass 26 Dec 10.15
* Feast of the Holy Innocents 28 Dec 10.15
Special blessing for infants & children
* Feast of the Holy Family 29 Dec 11.00
Celebration of wedding jubilees
* New Year’s Eve 31 Dec 9.00pm- Prayer
Vigil; 10.00 Mass of Mary Mother of God
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Marriage matters: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Zephaniah 3:14-18; Phil 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18
Today we are invited to ‘Rejoice’ and recognise ‘God is in our midst’. This theme of celebration is manifest in our love and acceptance of each other. Though our life will fade with the passing years, the love we have for each other will continue to grow. We are always God’s delight, His gift to His people.
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Holy family Sunday 29th December 2024 There will be an 11.00am Jubilee Mass for couples who’ve marked a major Wedding Anniversary in 2024: If you had a 1st, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th, 55th, 60th ...etc
Please call Fr Biju, or the Wedding Team – weddings@oltonfriary.org.uk we’d love you to attend & receive a special blessing.
Big thanks to the secret army of cleaners who keep our church tidy during the year: Week starting December 15 Group C
Please pray for our dead Jean Sherman, Henry Graham Thomas. Mary Gilligan, Sheila Ratcliffe, William Gaffey & Rafael Lee (funeral 10.15 Our Lady of Wayside Dec 24) Special prayers too for Jane Farrell former parish secretary who died on Dec 6.
+++++ May they rest in peace ++++++
200 Club renewal see poster in narthex with QR code taking you to renewal form.
Memorial Tree Come & share, lifting up memories of loved ones who have passed away, by giving them a heart on our Christmas memorial Tree. Please write the name of your loved one on a heart and we’ll remember them together at Christmas time. Available at back of church after all Sunday masses.
Alternative to Prison: Restorative Justice
* Restorative Justice helps people who’ve been harmed share the impact of their ex-perience, & holds harmers accountable for their deeds in a non-shaming way, aiming to allow victim & harmer to move forward
* A Glasgow pilot project (lottery funded) is branching out to Solihull and seeks to train volunteers. Focus is on hate-crime.
* Interested? Contact Mahmooda Qureshi mahmooda@faithbeliefforum.org
Pilgrimage to Knock Tour to Westport & Knock 10th March 2025. 4 nights in 4 star Castlecourt Hotel £799.00 includes flights, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast & Lunch, coaches,
excursions & entertainment. Visit Knock, Galway City, Kylemore Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Ballintubber Abbey & Quiet Man Museum. Single supp. on enquiry.
Contact 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com
A Year of Hope: Intro to 2025 Jubilee Year with CAFOD: 2025 is a Jubilee year, but what does it mean? How will the Church be celebrating it? What can I do?
* Join us for an intro to the Jubilee,
* how we’re celebrating locally
* how we can be signs of hope & build a better world together in this holy year.
* With Fr. Jan Nowotnik, Mission Director for the Catholic Bishops' Conference,
* Christine Allen, CAFOD Director, and
* Kayode Akintola, CAFOD Head of Africa. Join us online for prayer & reflection, with music from Catholic band Ooberfuse, & so much more, as we seek how to celebrate Jubilee & be a sign of hope this holy year.
* Saturday 18 January, 10:30am-12pm.
Register with cafod at: https://cafod.org.uk/news/events/a-year-of-hope-an-introduction-to-the-jubilee-year
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REGULAR ACTIVITIES IN OUR PARISH HALL
Monday Zumba 1.30 - 2.30 & 7 - 8pm
Tuesday Latin & Ballroom Dancing 10.30 -12 noon & 7.30 - 9.30pm. Yoga 5:45 - 7:00pm
Tuesday U3A (2nd Tuesday, monthly)
Wednesday Stroke Club 9am - 1.30pm. Slimming World 2.30 - 8.30
Thursday Zumba 11am - 12 Noon. U3A Quiz (2nd Thursday monthly) Fitness Pilates (term time) 6.30 - 8.30pm
Friday Yoga 10.45am - 12.00 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.