News | Our Lady and St Edmund of Abingdon

MASSES AND OTHER INFORMATION

Please visit the Mass Times page for more information on Mass times and other events, or click here.

PARISH OFFICE OPENING HOURS

The parish office opening hours are from 8.15am to 12.15pm Tuesday to Friday. Closed on Bank Holidays.

REFLECTION

At the start of each Mass we are invited to examine our conscience and to call to mind our sins. This means of course calling to mind our own sins, not the sins of anyone else. And we must not blame others for our sins but accept full responsibility for them ourselves.

In the time when monks lived in the Egyptian desert, one day a certain monk committed what was considered to be a serious fault, and the elders assembled to pass judgement on him. They sent for the abbot to join them. They sent him a message saying “Come, the community is waiting for you”. So, the abbot arose and started off. He took with him an old basket full of holes. Filling it with sand he carried it behind him. Naturally, as he went along, he left a trail of sand in his wake. The elders came out to meet him and asked him what he meant by this. And he replied “My sins are running out behind me. Everywhere I go I have a trail of faults, only most of the time I don’t see them myself. And today you want me to sit in judgement on my brother”. On hearing this the elders were ashamed. They abandoned the trial and pardoned their brother.

JUBILEE REFLECTION - WHAT IS HOPE?

Pope Francis once said that ‘Hope is the most humble of the three theological virtues (faith, hope & charity).’ In the Old Testament believers were encouraged to wait for God hopefully, patiently and expectantly. There is a very close connection between hope and trust in the Lord. In the New Testament, St Paul writes about setting our hope on God, and that Jesus Christ is our hope. We should trust in Him because hope is the proper response to the promises of God for our salvation – knowledge of the resurrection and the hope of sharing in God’s glory. The Holy Spirit is also a source of hope – a gift from God through grace. Hope leads to joy, faith, love, comfort and good works.

OUR CHARITY SELECTIONS

Thank you for the 8 charities proposals that were submitted for consideration for this year’s fundraising. After careful consideration, the PPC have agreed on 2 charities to support this year:

ROSY CHARITY: which is part of the NHS Trust for Oxfordshire and the Community Nursing Service, working particularly with families of children, who have life limiting, complex and sometimes palliative conditions, which require specialist clinical nursing interventions.
AFRICAN ADVENTURES: based in 29 schools in Ghana, Kenya and Zanzibar, offering the opportunity for young volunteers to make a real difference to themselves and the schools they will work in.

Please consider ways you could raise money for our two charities, and send your suggestions to the PPC via the office. You can also view more information and make a donation here.

WE DARE TO HOPE

For our Jubilee Year, and with Lent approaching, Sr Hyacinthe OP and the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph, have prepared five sessions and reflections on the mystery of Christian Hope. Entitled We Dare to Hope, the resources help us, through beautiful prayers and reflections, to encounter the Hope which Christ Jesus offers each and every one of us. You can download a copy using the link here.

ST PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS

Saturday 15th March, 6.30pm-10.30pm in the Parish Centre. Enjoy an evening of Irish music, song, dance and food to help raise money for the Lenten projects. Tickets £17.50 per adult and £5.00 per child to include Irish stew and a selection of desserts. Vegan option also. Tickets available on Sunday 2nd and 9th March after the 10.15am Mass, or email Laura or Bernadette to reserve tickets: lauraashleycarter@btinternet.com

bernadette.m.osullivan@gmail.com or phone Laura on 07947 178394. Drinks available on the night or bring your own. Great raffle on the night. We look forward to seeing you there! Tea and cake after 10.15am Mass on St Patrick's Day too.

PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

Holy Lord, Giver of every good gift. In your boundless love you call us to serve with hearts aflame and hands ready to uplift. You have crafted us for a purpose so divine to be your hands and feet in the world in need. May your whisper stir souls including mine to embrace the call in every word and deed. Remind us O God to place all our trust in you. As we journey forth in humble fashion, let us find strength in your presence so near. May our paths be lit with your inspiration and our vocation pursued without fear. Amen.

JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE

The Holy Father has designated that 2025 is a year of Jubilee, something which happens every 25 years. This is a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. The theme for this jubilee is “Pilgrims of Hope” and is a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of COVID-19 pandemic, and a climate crisis. The following shrine churches have been chosen by Bishop Philip as particular places of pilgrimage within our diocese: St Thomas, Jersey; Bournemouth Oratory; St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth; St Edmund’s, Southampton; St James and St William of York, Reading; St Joseph’s, Guernsey. You can find information and resources for the year from CAFOD here and from the Bishops Conference of England and Wales here.

CHILDRENS' MASSES - CALLING ALL FAMILIES

We will be celebrating our next Children's Mass at 10.15am on Sunday 2nd March. We will be asking children to help us with welcoming, the offertory procession, the collection and singing, and would also like some children to read the First and Second Readings (taken from the Lectionary for Masses with Children) and the Bidding Prayers. If your child would like to read a reading or prayer at this Mass then please email Fiona Semple at reception@st-edmunds-rc.oxon.sch.uk and she will send you the words so that your child can practise. Thank you in advance for your support! We will continue holding a Children's Mass on the first Sunday of every month during school term-time.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

This year's annual World Day of Prayer will be held on Friday 7th March in St Helen's Church at 2.30pm, followed by refreshments. The service has been prepared by Christian women from the Cook Islands in the Pacific. All are welcome.

ASH WEDNESDAY

The season of Lent begins on Wednesday 5th March with Ash Wednesday. Masses will be at 9am and 7pm. This is also a day for fasting and abstinence.

CURRY NIGHT - LENTEN FUNDRAISING

Following the success of last year's Curry Night, we will have another Lenten fundraising night on Wednesday 19th March at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre. Our two charities in the Lenten Project will benefit from the proceeds. Please sign-up on the booking form available at the back of the church. For further information contact Paul Brooks on 01865 432423.

GOLF - LENTEN PROJECTS FUNDRAISING EVENT

We will be holding our annual golf day again this year on Monday 7th April at Drayton Park. Once again a big thank you to Mary McKenna for letting us hold the event free of charge and to Ian for all his assistance on the day. We will be meeting up from 9am for tea/coffee and bacon rolls and the first t time is 10am. There will be the usual format of teams of 4 players with the best two scores to count on each hole. There will be prizes for the best two teams plus three nearest the pin prizes. The cost will be £25 for the day. We usually get terrific support from our golfers for this very worthy event. Please book in with Terry Murphy 07584 248169 or email terry.murphy62@yahoo.co.uk

BIG LENT WALK

You are invited to join CAFOD’s Big Lent Walk and journey together with Catholics in England, Wales and Scotland as Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year - walking 200km over 40 days during Lent. Journey to one of the churches or shrines designated as places of pilgrimage in our diocese as part of your Big Lent Walk. Every £1 you raise will support communities like Lokho’s in Kenya, experiencing the worst impact of the climate crisis, to rebuild their lives in hope. Click here for more info. and to sign up.

ONLINE LENTEN RETREAT

The annual retreat from Jesuit Centre Glasgow will begin on Ash Wednesday. The theme for the Lent retreat is the “Fruits of the Spirit”. There are about 20 of the books at the back of the church that accompany this retreat. Last year this was very successful but filled up quickly. You can access the wonderful resource of prayers here. You can also register to join a Lent group here.

SUMMER CAMP FOR BOYS

The Diocesan Don Bosco Boys' Camp will once again be held this summer for boys who are currently in Year 6 Primary school to Year 11 Secondary school. It will take place at St. Cassian’s, Kintbury. There will be plenty of sport, outings, competitions and fun and games to ensure that boys will have a fantastic time. This will continue to take place within the context of the celebration of the Catholic Faith, including daily Mass and morning prayer. The cost of the camp is £230 (part bursaries may be available on application). For more information please see here or email dbcamps@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk

JOURNEYING TOGETHER IN FAITH

All sessions take place in the Parish Centre on Tuesdays from 7.30pm to 9pm. These sessions are suitable for any adult with an enquiring mind who wishes to journey further in their faith. It is also suitable for anyone who has completed the RCIA or ALPHA course. Everyone is welcome to attend any or all of the sessions if you have not been on the JTiF course before. All sessions will comprise of a video, reflection, discussion, prayer, and a chance to ask questions. Refreshments (tea, coffee, biscuits) will be provided. Please feel free to invite others to these sessions. The current dates and programme can be downloaded here.

ABINGDON COMPASSIONATE CAFÉ

This fairly new venture was launched last September, and the next session is on Friday 21st March from 10am to 12 noon in the beautiful gardens of St Ethelwold’s House. The café aims to provide a supportive gathering and a comforting space for conversation, along with cake, tea, coffee, or soft drinks, to talk openly, or one-to-one about grief, difficult diagnoses, or caring for a loved one nearing the end of life.

PARISH REPORT

There is so much going on in our parish and perhaps you are not aware of most of it. Why not read the report for this year.... You can view and download our parish annual report for 2024 by clicking on the image above or selecting the link here. There are also still some copies available on the table at the back of the church,

As a parish, we encourage you to please continue to support the Abingdon Food Bank. However, for practical reasons, and because nearly all supermarkets now have collection points as you leave their premises - making it easier for you to place your donations, please do not leave your contributions in our church. Other collection points are at:

CATHOLIC MEN

Looking for Faith, Friendship, and Fun? The Catenians could be your perfect match! We're an international network of Catholic men who meet regularly to support each other, strengthen our faith, and – most importantly – have a great time together.

Think: Family events, social gatherings, sporting activities, and more!
We offer: Strong friendships, support for your faith and family, a chance to give back to the community.

Ready to learn more? Scan the QR code above or visit our website here. Local South Oxfordshire contact: enquiries@oxfordshire-catenians.uk We look forward to welcoming you!

PARISH NEWSLETTERS

Items for the newsletter should be sent to the parish office (abingdon@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk) by the Wednesday of each week please. Copies are available in the church and on this website here. Please keep contributions as brief as possible and please take newsletters home with you. Thank you.

DIOCESAN NEWS

To keep up to date with the news of the Diocese and the Bishop please follow on:

E- News: use the link here. (subscription service available)
Facebook: @PortsmouthRC
Twitter: @PortsmouthRC
The Diocese website: https://www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/

If you would like to share news with the rest of the Diocese, please contact: communications@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk

JOB VACANCIES IN OUR DIOCESE

All current vacancies in the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth can be viewed here.

OPEN DOORS

Open Doors takes place on Mondays from 11am to 2pm in the Parish Centre and runs every Monday, except Bank Holidays. We offer tea/coffee, lunch (served at 12.15pm) and friendly conversation to anyone in the Parish or local community who is on their own or would like more company.

During January, February and March, Open Doors will also be offering a warm space to those who need it during the winter months and session times will be extended slightly to run from 10.30am to 2.30pm every Monday.

Can you spare a few hours on a Monday on a rota basis to support our parish Open Doors initiative? We need volunteers to help at the sessions or to cook lunch. If you can help, please contact Berny Pratt on 01235 525257. Thank you.

ARE YOU IN NEED OR WANT TO HELP OTHERS?

For nearly two centuries the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) has been seeking and finding those in need and responding in love. As well as visits, we can offer practical and financial help where possible. We always maintain confidentiality. Our SVP members meet every fortnight on a Wednesday evening. If you are in need or know someone who is, do contact our parish SVP group via the parish office and we will see what we can do to help. Equally, if you would like to get involved in any way, please do contact us.

REFLECTION DAYS AND WORKSHOPS

Douai Abbey are offering a number of reflection days and workshops, and a list of what is available for the next 6 months can be viewed and downloaded here.

KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS

Please keep in your prayers the 31 children (and their families) preparing for their First Holy Communion this year.

CATECHISTS LENT DAYS OF PRAYER

The Vicariate for Evangelisation will be hosting three online events during Lent for Catechists across the diocese. These events offer a chance to connect with other catechists, share experiences, and find inspiration to hand on the faith in our parishes. Each event will begin at 7:30 PM and last for one hour. Catechists can choose from the three events based on their area of catechesis:

Thursday 13th March (Children’s Liturgy and First Holy Communion)
Thursday 20th March (Marriage Preparation and Baptism)
Thursday 3rd April (Confirmation and RCIA)

To sign up for these events, please click here.

LITURGY WEBSITE AND UPCOMING COURSES

The Diocese now have a Liturgy website, which provides reflection, guidance and a chance to ask questions. You can access by clicking on the image above.

Abingdon Community Fridge fights food waste by redistributing surplus food from local businesses and members of the community. The Abingdon Community Fridge is open to all. For more information visit their Facebook page here, or email info@abingdoncommunityfridge.org.uk

They are located at Hadland Road Community Centre, OX14 3YH and open on:

Mondays: 4.00-4.30pm
Thursdays: 1.00-2.00pm
Saturdays: 10.30-11.30am

The Community Fridge is in need of funding to continue its work (hire of hall, insurance, food safety training for volunteers, etc.). To donate, please use this link here, or contact margaretdhancox@gmail.com

NEW TO THE PARISH? OR CHANGED ADDRESS?

We warmly welcome all new parishioners who have joined our parish in the last year. Please do make yourselves known if you have not already done so, and also let us know if you would like to contribute to parish life in any way. If you have already registered with us, but have changed your address or contact details, please also let us know. Forms and other information are available on our website here to register. Forms and other information are also available in the porch at our church. You can view and download our welcome booklet here.

'YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES' PRAYER

O Lord, graciously look down upon us your servants and upon our work to build Your Holy Church here in this place. Enlighten our minds and lead us into all truth as we seek to do Your will. Abundantly bless our labours, that Your Holy Church may serve You ever more faithfully to the glory of Your Holy name. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

GIFT AIDING YOUR MONETARY DONATIONS

If you aren't doing so already, please consider gift aiding your donations – it makes them all the more worthwhile, because if you tell us that you pay tax in the UK, then we can claim back 25% from the Government - that's 25p for every £1 you give! You can do so by filling in the yellow form available at the back of the church or online on our website here. Thank you.