PARISH NEWS
Pope's Prayer Intention for March: For disarmament and peace.
Parish News & Events
Our Diocesan Vision
“To be a Catholic diocese which is faithful to the mission entrusted to us by Jesus Christ, full of missionary disciples who work together co-responsibly in vibrant communities of faith, joyful in their service of God and neighbour.”
The Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation is offered on Saturday mornings after Mass and evening from 5pm to 5:30pm. Also avaliable at other times by appointment.
Live Streaming of Masses
Please note that our parish live streams the Sun 9am Mass and at other occasions on request, e.g. funerals. If you do not want to be seen on the live stream, please avoid the first two pews closest to the altar and ask for Holy Communion to be brought to you.
PVS
The Parish Volunteer Service is a small group of volunteers offering lifts to anybody who may be experiencing difficulty getting to Mass, the Thursday Group, or other appointments. For more information, contact Jane Stevens: 01844 216076 / 07984 778687.
The Piety Stall
The Piety Stall, located in the hall, is open after all Masses including the Saturday 6pm, and has a full range of goods and greetings cards for sale.
Planned Giving Appeal
Click here to read more about the Planned Giving Appeal. Please complete the forms contained in the Week 3 Planned Giving leaflet and return them via the box in the narthex. Early returns have been encouraging, but there are still many who have not engaged with this important appeal, designed to encourage ‘co-responsibility’ and to guarantee the future of St Joseph’s as a thriving community. Thank you.
CAFOD Big Lent Walk
This Lent, we are invited by CAFOD to walk together in faith and solidarity. By taking on the challenge of walking 200km in the 40 days of Lent, we join thousands of walkers to bring the gift of clean water to our neighbours who lack it. Every £1 raised in sponsorship through the Big Lent Walk will help bring life-saving water to communities in places like Ethiopia and Peru. See the poster in the narthex & find out more here: https://walk.cafod.org.uk
Thame Chamber Choir
Thame Chamber Choir will be performing Choral Music of the Baltics at St Joseph’s on Sat 7th Mar at 8pm. Tickets are £14 in advance or £17 on the door. Under 18s are free. For more info and to book tickets go to: thamechamberchoir.org/concert-details/choral-music-of-the-baltics
Thursday Club
St Joseph’s follows the Diocesan Vision by striving to be a vibrant community of faith, joyful in its service of God and neighbour. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Thursday Club, which is the parish friendship group for retired people who enjoy lunches, quizzes, raffles and even an exercise class! Members enjoy these gatherings immensely. “We have a lot of jokes and laughter in great company. It is welcoming, friendly and always fun!”
First Holy Communion classes
First Holy Communion classes continue in the Parish Hall on Thursdays from 4pm – 4:45pm until 26th Mar. Communion ties for boys should be ordered as soon as possible by email to ps.stjoseph.thame@rcaob.org.uk
Our candidates & catechumens' pictured at St Chad's, Birmingham on Sunday 22nd February. Please keep them all in your prayers as they approach the final part of their journey.
Events within the Local Area and Diocese
Visit of Relic of St Carlo Acutis
Sun 15th & Mon 16th Mar - St Joseph’s Whitnash, CV31 2JJ. Sunday Masses at 10am & 5:30pm, followed by Veneration of Relic after each Mass. Monday Mass at 9:30am, followed by Veneration.
Stop assisted suicide
Please take 30 seconds to stop assisted suicide from being forced into law. Right To Life UK has made an EasyAction tool to email your MP asking them to oppose attempts to force assisted suicide into law by bypassing the House of Lords. Please visit www.righttolife.org.uk/ASCommons2026 to find out how to contact your MP.
ACN
Religious Freedom is not a privilege. It is a human right. Sign the petition in the narthex to support Aid to the Church in Need’s Your Faith Matters campaign, calling for the full implementation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Oxford Pro-Life
Oxford Pro-Life: is a living and lively community of people that has a real impact in promoting the respect for the inviolable right to life of all human beings. If that sounds exciting to you and you can spare an hour or so a week, please visit oxfordprolife.org.uk/volunteer
National Men's Pro-life Conference
Calling men of all ages and states of life: book your place at 'Commissioned', the National Men's Pro-life Conference, on Sat 18th Apr at Birmingham Christian College. Through compelling talks on fatherhood, marriage, post-abortion healing, spiritual warfare and sexual responsibility learn to live out your vocation with humility, courage and integrity. For more info and to book go to: https://www.marchforlife.co.uk/commissioned-pro-life-mens-conference/ or contact info@marchforlife.co.uk
St Francis Leprosy Guild (SFLG)
St Francis Leprosy Guild (SFLG) is the UK’s only Catholic leprosy charity and has been caring for people with leprosy for over 130 years. Sadly, leprosy is not just a disease of ancient biblical times. Across the world, children are forgoing their education to care for relatives living with the disease; healthcare workers travel for days or even months to reach remote communities where leprosy is endemic. By supporting over 30 leprosy centres and projects in Africa, Asia and Brazil, SFLG is working towards a leprosy-free world. During this Lenten season of prayer and almsgiving, please take time to remember those less fortunate than ourselves and keep people with leprosy in your prayers. For more info or to donate go to: wwwstfrancisleprosy.org
Please pray for the sick of our Parish
The sick of our Parish
Molly McVasey, Jon White, Kieron Carberry, Thomas White, Alexander Sparkes, Beryl Long, Veronica Smith, Ellen Mongan, Andrzej Geppart, David Harbour, Maria Crane, Lucy Wood, Edward de Rivera, Zaria Peecock, Heather Helgesen, Harry & Bobby Stevens, Teresa Ferrara & Rita Tulloch.
Rest in Peace
Fr Paul Johnson, Roger Sykes, Fr Simon Hall, Indranee Jeevaratnam, Mgr Vaughan Morgan, Peter Evans, Elsie Hubery & Stuart Dawson.
Anniversaries of deaths this week
Bertie Richards, Beatrice Morgan, Florian Fox, Deciema Wholef, Hazel Allen, Winifred Armer, Jerry O’Connell & Ellen Brown.
Offerings
Totals (21st/22nd February)
£320.35, many thanks.
The 2nd collection this week is for the CAFOD Family Fast Day appeal. Next week: Cathedral Maintenance.
Gift Aid
To keep giving regularly to support the Parish, please give standing orders, with Gift Aid where possible. The forms are always avaliable in the Sacristy for Gift Aid or standing order set-up, or talk to our treasurer, Jim.
Other Methods of Giving
DONA Website
Our DONA website can be found here.
Direct Payments
Name - RC Birmingham St Joseph's
Sort Code - 60-21-21
Acc - 69377065
DONA
Just use your contactless debit/credit card or smartphone/device to make a donation. Simply choose the amount you wish to donate and hold your card onto the reader. Contactless donations are simpler to administer, secure and conventient. Please opt in for Gift Aid if you are a UK Tax Payer, it means we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 received.
