Our next Ecumenical Service at Marston URC, 352 Marston Road. All welcome. This is particularly suitable for those living with dementia or any special need and will be followed by refreshments, activities and fellowship. For information or offers of help contact Val Stolton (246157) or Revd Pauline Main (513581).
Marriage Preparation and Marriage Enrichment
Marriage and Family Life Archdiocese of Birmingham has organised the following weekends for couples preparing for marriage and for marriage enrichment:
- Engaged Encounter Weekend- 12th-13th October. The Dormer Conference Centre, Leamington Spa.
- Marriage Encounter Weekend- 22nd-24th November. Ibis Hotel, Rugby.
For more information about Marriage Encounter visit their website https://wwme.org.uk/ or email bookings@wwme.org.uk
Training sessions regarding finance, property, GDPR and safeguarding.
The Archdiocese will be providing training sessions for parishes regarding finance, property, GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and safeguarding. It is anticipated that each of the speakers will be available for questions over lunch. Lunch and coffee will be provided. The session in Oxford will be held as follow:
Saturday 13th July 2019 at the Parish of Our Lady Help of Christians, Oxford. Address: 59 Hollow Way, Cowley, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 2ND.
If you would like to attend the training session please confirm your attendance in advance by contacting the Property Administrator, Lewis Massey, at lewis.massey@rc-birmingham.org
Date for diary – Oxford Mission.
All who volunteer, or contribute to groups, in the parish are warmly invited to a meeting to discuss preparing for the city-wide Catholic Mission in 2020. Representatives from the Deanery and Diocese will discuss with parishioners how we might best contribute to this, both as a parish and as part of the wider Deanery. The meeting will be held on Thursday 6th June at 7.30pm, in the parish hall – if you volunteer in any way do come along!
Pastoral Council meeting, 8th May, Wednesday
The next Pastoral Council meeting is on Wednesday 8th May. Please send any agenda items to Fr Pius or to jane.kennett@goglemail.com by 7th May.
Vacancy: Deputy Headteacher at St. Gregory the Great Catholic School
Vacancy: Deputy Headteacher at St. Gregory the Great Catholic School, closing date for application: 13th May 2019, 9am. More information can be found on the board at the back of the church. Informal visits are encouraged by arrangement by contacting Rosemary Gelder, Telephone 01865 749933 ext 206 or email principalsgtg@dbmac.org.uk.
Children’s Music Group:
In an effort to involve more children in the liturgy, we will try to have a Children’s Music Group for the Family Mass (last Sunday of each month). Any child would be welcome who plays an instrument (any standard) and/or likes singing. If your child is interested, please contact Lydia Vella lydia.r.vella@gmail.com
Fr Vincent Omokpakpo Msp, will be joining us in the Parish this week
Fr Vincent Omokpakpo Msp, will be joining us in the Parish this week. He is a Priest of the Missionary Society of St Paul of Nigeria. He is to take up the full responsibility as an Assistant Parish Priest. He will be joining the Chaplaincy team in the John Radcliffe Hospital. We welcome him and wish him a happy stay in our Parish.
Ecumenical quiet day for churches together in Marston and Northway
Ecumenical quiet day for churches together in Marston and Northway led by David and Hilary Blair on Thursday 15th November 2018. 12 noon to 4.00pm at Marston United Reformed Church, 352, Marston Road, Oxford OX3 0JB All are welcome, please bring a packed lunch.
The Archdiocese hearing in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA)
The Archdiocese hearing in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) begins in London on Monday 12 November, and runs until Friday 16 November.
The Archdiocese believes that the work being done by IICSA is of great significance and supports the aim of strengthening and improving safeguarding practices and cultures within the Church.
The welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults is a fundamental priority for the Archdiocese. Fostering a culture which has safeguarding at its very heart remains a key part of our work.
If you would like to speak to someone about safeguarding and the Church’s work, please call 0121 230 6240.
If you would like to speak to someone independent of the Church you can contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.
Please pray with us for all victims of abuse, and for all those involved in the work of this important Inquiry.
Last weekend’s Pastoral Letter on this matter can be found on the Archdiocese website https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/