NEWS

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
5th February 2012

"On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them... "

[Mark 1:29-39]

Children’s Liturgy: From January 2012 there is a change to how we record attendance at children’s liturgy. Children will no longer need to be registered. Each week a parent/ guardian of the child(ren) attending children’s liturgy will need to sign each child in on a weekly basis BEFORE mass. The parent/guardian will need to ensure their child(ren) take into children’s liturgy a numbered card corresponding to their parent/guardian’s signature on the signing in sheet. There will be 2 signing in sheets in the cloister, one for KS1 and one for KS2 children. This change is necessary due to the large numbers of children now attending children’s liturgy who continue to be unregistered. Thank you for your co-operation with this change.

St. Bede’s Toddler Group: meet every Tuesday term time between 1.15—3.15 pm. They need someone to help make tea/coffee and keep the kitchen tidy. If you have a couple of hours on a Tuesday and are willing to help, please contact Jackie Kinge.

Liturgy & Music for Holy Week: This year, Holy Week will have a very different feel because of the new translation of the Missal. There are also minor changes to the rites themselves. Come and explore liturgy and music for Holy Week through information, inspiration and sharing good practice. No charge, please bring a packed lunch. Led by DPF. Sat 11 Feb 2012. 10.00am- 4.00pm. St. Edward the Confessor, 191 Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford, SO53 2DU.

• Stations of the Cross: At the time St Bede’s Church opened it was the intention of Mgr Vincent Harvey, then parish priest, to add a set of stations of the Cross. As he liked and was familiar with the work of Paul Forsey, a Newbury artist (www.stepintothepicture.co.uk ), he asked him to begin work on a set. Paul has been working on them ever since. The intricate design of each panel and the materials being used does mean the work is slow.
  Here are three of the completed panels to provide a glimpse of what when finished will provide us at St Bede’s with a dramatic yet reflective telling of Christ’s journey to the cross. (Click on a panel for larger view.)

Also featured in local news reports in the
Newbury News and the Basingstoke Observer .

• Parish Pastoral Council;
  Our newly constituted parish pastoral council met with Fr Dominic. It will meet every other month to work with him in the identifying, implementing and evaluating our parish pastoral life—which means it is interested in just about everything we could do, might do and should do.
  The members are: Lynn Duffy, Julius Kome Boma, Julie Leonard, Eilis Malone, Bosco Nevis, Chris Olding, Cathy Osselton, Layla Parsons, & Kate Webb.
  Their photos will be appearing on the church notice boards soon so you can know who to talk to if you wish the council to consider something. Please pray for them as they begin their ministry.

• CAFOD Portsmouth: Desperately needs volunteers to help us visit primary and secondary schools in our diocese. We believe it is vital to reach as many young people as possible to talk to them about global issues and to empower them to make a difference in today’s world. Full training is given and the degree of time required is up to the volunteer. If you are interested, please contact Roger Lillie, CAFOD School Volunteer Coordinator on 07729 368195 or email

• Catholic Parliamentary and Public Policy Internships: For the last nine years the Catholics Bishops Conference has organised Parliamentary and Public Policy Internships for recently graduated Catholics.
  This year we are looking to offer 8 internships: Five interns will be placed with Christian MPs at Westminster; two in Public Policy with CAFOD and CARITAS Social Action Network; and one in a media internship at Archbishop’s House Westminster. All internships will run from September 2012 - July 2013 and include accommodation and subsistence allowances.
  Full details and an application form can be found on our website: http://www.catholicnews.org.uk/interns Completed application forms must either be emailed to interns@cbcew.org.uk or posted to: Michaela Kelly, Head of HR, 39 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX. The closing date is 5pm on 29th February 2012 and Assessment days will be 28th and 29th March 2012. If you know anyone who may be interested in this opportunity, please encourage them to apply.

Parish Mission
28 Jan—12 Feb 2012
Led by the Sion Community

• Exploring our Faith: Come and find out more about the faith you profess. Do so with your fellow parishioners using a series of presentations called ‘Evangelium’ published by the Catholic Truth Society. We meet from 7.30 –9 pm on a Wednesday evening at St Bede’s in the hall.

• Catholic singles: An organization which helps single adult Catholics of all ages meet, either one to one or through social events. For more info please call 0161 941 3498, visit the website www.catholicsingles.org.uk or email info@catholicsingles.org.uk.

CAFOD

CAFOD Supporters Meeting:
10am-1.15pm, Sat. 11 Feb at our own St Bede’s Primary School. An opportunity for all CAFOD supporters in our diocese to get together and find out more about CAFOD’s work and Lenten resources focusing on water. We will be joined by Katy Harris, Campaigns Communications Manager, who will be talking about her recent trip to Zimbabwe. To book a place please call 01252 329385 or email Portsmouth@cafod.org.uk. Booking ESSENTIAL, please book a place by 31/1.

UK Aid Match
As part of the UK Aid Match Scheme, the UK Government has agreed to double all parish and individual donations to CAFOD’s Lenten Fast Day this year, at no extra cost to donors. This applies to all donations made between mid-February and mid-May as part of Lent fund-raising activities. CAFOD’s focus in this their 50th year will be on water and sanitation, and the rights and welfare of vulnerable women and girls in developing countries. For more info see: www.cafod.org.uk and www.dfid.gov.uk/ukaidmatch.

Mission 2012

Do you remember the ‘Pass it on’ day in February? It was agreed then that the parishes of our pastoral area should each have a mission led by the Sion Community who have conducted many such missions across the UK. The Sion Community have now been booked to lead the following missions:

• 28 Jan to 12 Feb 2012 Holy Ghost, Basingstoke
• 12 May – 20 May 2012 Sacred Heart Parish, Hook
• 20 Oct – 4 Nov 2012 St Joseph’s Parish, Basingstoke
• 26 Jan – 10 Feb 2013 St John the Baptist Parish, Andover
• 16 Feb – 3 Mar 2013 St Michael’s Parish, Tadley

Sharing the Bread of Life — for Communion and Mission:
Bishop Crispian has written a document on the Eucharist: Sharing the Bread of Life — for Communion and Mission. Originally planned to appear earlier this year, it was delayed by financial and other constraints. It is now available in three versions from portsmouthdiocese.org.uk: The document itself; A version for participants in study groups and A version for use by leaders of study groups
As well as these downloadable PDFs, printed copies are available on request from the Department for Pastoral Formation at Park Place, Winchester Road, Wickham, Hants, PO17 5HA, price £1.50 + postage for the document, and £2.50 + postage for the study group books.

Sick & housebound

Our parish Eucharistic Ministers are available to take Holy Communion to those parishioners unable to get to Sunday Mass due to sickness or being housebound. To ask for this please contact the parish office on 465214.

Hospital Cover

P.A.N (Pastoral Area News) Is the new name for our free occasional pastoral area magazine, issue 2 of which is now available from the local churches—please do take a copy.

North West Hampshire Catholic News: If you have an article you would like to include in the pastoral area newsletter, please send it to Trish Davies or phone 01256 769983.

Pastoral Area Youth Ministry Co-ordinator

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Angie Carroll as our Pastoral Area Youth Ministry Co-ordinator and offer her a warm welcome as she begins her work among us! Many of you will know Angie from her work and visits to parishes in her previous role as our WYD 2011 Project Co-ordinator.

Angie will be working initially on a part-time basis for the first six months, while she completes her degree course in Theology and Religious Studies at St Mary's, Twickenham, and will commence the role full-time from 1 July 2012. She will be reporting to Fr. Mark Hogan, who has responsibility for managing this exciting youth ministry project on behalf of the Pastoral Area (PA). The project is being primarily funded over the next three years by a grant from the Diocesan central Living Our Faith fund for the on-going formation of the laity.

A PA Youth Council will be established to give voice to the views of our young people and a Youth Ministry Project Management Committee will be appointed over the next couple of months to help steer policy in the development of youth ministry throughout the PA, involving representatives from all five of our parishes, Bishop Challoner School and the Youth Council.

Angie will be establishing an office base at St Bede's Church and contact information will be published via the newsletter shortly. In the meantime, please keep Angie and the Youth Ministry Project in your prayers as she begins her induction period.

Adult Volunteers for our Pastoral Youth Ministry

Are you an adult who would like to make a positive impact in the life of young people? Would you like to share your faith and teach younger generations about Jesus and his Church? Can you spare some time for youth? Do you have specific talents and gifts that you could share with our Youth Ministry?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions we would love to hear from you! There are many ways in which you could get involved.

A training day for adults will take place on the 10th March at St Joseph's Church from 10am to 2:30pm. The day will include an introduction to youth ministry, experience sharing from other adults, child protection awareness, shared lunch and more. For more information please contact Angie Carroll.

Pastoral Area website

North West Hampshire Pastoral Area
Lenten Talks
A Papal Crisis of Reason or a Human Crisis of Care?: Renewing Hope in Tough Times
St Bede’s Church Hall, Popley Way, Basingstoke, RG24 9DX

A series of three talks by Francis Davis (writer, journalist and social entrepreneur, writing regularly for The Times, The Guardian, Catholic Herald, The Church Times and The Tablet).

Sat. 25 Feb: 10 am Coffee for 10.30 am to 12.30 pm Talk followed by a Soup Lunch in aid of CAFOD
Friday 2 March: 7 pm Coffee for 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm Talk
Friday 9 March: 7 pm Coffee for 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm Talk

For catering purposes please sign up, at the back of church, for the Cafod Soup Lunch on Sat, 25th Feb.

Everyone most warmly welcome to any or all of the talks.

Coffee Morning

Mondays 10am-11am at
St. Joseph’s Church, Basingstoke

There is a Coffee Morning every Monday (excluding Bank Holidays) at St Joseph’s RC Church, St Michael’s Road, Basingstoke from 10 -11am. Life itself is in financial crisis but there is a real need for the services we offer please look at lifecharity.org for more information or contact Tricia Hobbs on 01962 882244 or Chantal Brown on 01256 320474.

“LIFE” Charity shop
33 Wote Street, Basingstoke
Open Mon to Sat 9.30 to 16.30

Happy New Year to you all.

We have more room for good clothes for children from 5years and up. School uniform and good trainers would also be very welcome. If any one has surplus stock that they would like to off-load, we are more than happy to take it off your hands.

Don’t forget to pop in when you are in town.

Forthcoming fundraising events:

• 12th Feb a dance at Bishop Challoner
• and on 23rd March a Quiz evening at St Bede’s Church, Basingstoke.

Charity Dance in Aid of Life
Bishop Challoner School,
Saturday, 11th February, 7.30pm—11.30pm

Come and dance the night away to the sound of ‘Smoke and Fire’ R&B Rock, Pop…£6 per adult; £4 children aged 14 and under. Bar available—bring your own food. Tickets available from: Life Charity Shop, 33 Wote Street, Basingstoke or email Chantal Brown, or phone 01256 320474.

LIFE exists to save lives and transform the futures of disadvantaged children and young people in the UK by supporting vulnerable pregnant mothers and young families through difficult times, offering them the help they need to turn their lives around.

St. Bede’s Bethany Group

If you have lost a loved one the St Bede’s Bethany Group are here to support you. We can be contacted on 01256 465214.

Diary Dates: 2012 Remaining Opportunities for Safeguarding Awareness Training Although the Diocese required us to have completed the relevant safeguarding training by 31 December 2011 in order to continue our ministries in the New Year, owing to the high demand for training before 31 December, Angela McGrory, the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, has now agreed that people who have booked and duly attend Child Protection and/or Vulnerable Adults sessions taking place in January/February 2012 may continue their ministry, so if you have not yet been able to attend the relevant session(s), please contact: Soraya Ciccarone, Safeguarding Co-ordinator Tel: 023 92 816396 or Email for details of these courses. Sessions organised in Farnborough (21 Jan), Maidenhead (4 Feb) and Southampton (18 Feb). Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes – Saturday 11th February, 2012 11.30 am: Lourdes Mass and Social Get-together Everyone is warmly invited to join us at St. Margaret Mary’s Church, Park Gate, SO31 7GH for this Celebration. Whether you are a past, present or perhaps a potential pilgrim or helper. Come along! A chance to catch up with old friends or make new friends, share some photographs and your stories and experiences. Please bring a plate of savoury food to share in our Hall after Mass. For more information or details regarding the presentations, or to request a booking, please contact: - Father John Cooke (Assistant Diocesan Director) or Mrs Clare Ryan (Pastoral Assistant) Tel: 01489 572 797 or email: office@stmm,org.uk. Crossing the Threshold’ - Resourcing Ministry to Lapsed Catholics; This day, on Saturday 3rd March, 2012, is the latest event in a national tour titled ‘Crossing the Threshold’ to support outreach and ministry to non-churchgoing Catholics. It is estimated that at least two-thirds of the baptised Catholic community in England and Wales is non-churchgoing which equates to approximately four to five million people. The day is open to everyone and will offer information and resources. Places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Venue: Christian Education Centre, 4 Southgate Drive, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 6RP. Time: 9.30am – 3.30pm. To book please email missionvolunteer@cbcew.org.uk or tel. 020 7901 4818. Please bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided. Attendance is free. For more information please see: web site. Just Listen! The Diocesan Department for Pastoral Formation is holding a day at Holy Family Church, Millbrook, Southampton on Saturday 3 March from 10.30am to 3.30pm. The day will use a resource from the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation to provide an introduction to listening skills. It will be of interest to anyone who would like to explore how to listen more effectively. Cost: £7.50 Advance Booking is essential. Please bring a packed lunch (tea and coffee provided) For further information email Katja Babei or phone 01329 835583. FLAME - Wembley Arena 24th March: On 24th March 2012, Wembley Arena will be filled with 10,000 young Catholics from all over the country celebrating their faith. They will be part of FLAME, an event organised by the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation (CYMFED). As part of the programme for the day, there will be a range of speakers, music, activities as well as athletes and Olympians. Dave Hill, Diocesan Advisor for Youth Ministry has a number of tickets available at a reduced rate of £14. These will be available on a first come basis. Further tickets can be bought for £18 from www.cymfed.org. If you are interested in being part of this event, please contact Dave at dhill@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk. Training on Children’s Spirituality: A day aimed at exploring the spirituality of children from the biblical, scientific and personal perspective. Anyone working with children in the church is invited to come and share their own experience. The day will also provide space for auditing current practice as well as some tips and tools for enhancing it. Facilitated by Monika Chmelova from the Diocesan Dept. of Pastoral Formation. And will take place in the parish hall at Sacred Heart, Hook, RG27 8BZ on Saturday 24th March, 10am for 10.30am start till 3.30pm. There will be no charge for the day, but please bring packed lunch, tea and coffee will be provided. To book a place please email or call 01256 769983 (if no-one in office please leave message ). "ST MARYS COLLEGE - SOUTHAMPTON” - St Marys College is a Catholic School in Southampton which will celebrate its 90th Anniversary during 2012 with a Re-Union Dinner on Friday 5th October and a Celebration Ball (with partners) on Saturday, 6th October. Both events will be at the Novotel in Southampton. The Trustees of the school are the De La Mennais Brothers of Christian Instruction. It is anticipated that there are many parishioners in the Diocese who are past pupils or who have relatives/friends who are past pupils. Such people interested in knowing more about the celebrations should register their e-mail address with Mark Owen at smcreunion@sky.com or by contacting him on 023 8026 6129. Confirmation 2012: The confirmation Mass will take place on 19th October 2012 at St Bede’s Church. If you are in year 8 or above and wish to be confirmed a preparation programme will run between February and October 2012. Please email your name, address and telephone number to the Parish Office. Or alternatively complete the tear off slip and return to the parish office marked ‘Confirmation.’

Stewardship A number of people have given a talk at Mass about different aspects of Stewardship: The experience of Stewardship; Gift; Treasure; Prayer; Talents and Time... read more More on Stewardship in the parish... Parish Stewardship Group “We have gifts that differ according to the favour bestowed on each of us.” Romans 12:6-8 We meet about twice a month for two hours on Friday evenings and our meetings are in two parts; during the first half we explore the spiritual aspect of Stewardship, pondering and discussing the following Sunday’s readings and how, and in the second half we discuss the practical aspects of Stewardship. You are more than welcome to join us for either or both parts. Due to the fact some people find it difficult to attend the evening sessions it has been agreed to try and accommodate everyone by holding both meetings daytime and evening. The weekly MONDAY Stewardship Group meets at 11am to 1pm at St Bede's Hall. If you would like more information, please contact Richenda Power or Rose Easton. When Bishop Crispian encouraged us all to embrace stewardship in our parishes he described it as ‘a spirituality of discipleship in which we rejoice in the giftedness of our faith. In response to that gift from God we pledge to God our time, talent and treasure.’

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Week beginning 5th February 2012

This Sunday, along with other Christian churches in England and Wales, we mark Education Sunday. As the Bishop with special responsibility for Education I am grateful for this opportunity to write to you. In the Gospel appointed for this Sunday we hear that all the people of the city are searching for Jesus. This is a truth which many in our society have forgotten. Jesus Christ is ‘the way, the truth and the life’ and to accept this is to know true freedom and fullness of life. Our schools and colleges play an important role in the life of the Church, sharing in the mission to make Christ known to all peoples. The Gospel shows Jesus healing the sick and casting out demons, reminding us that our Christian faith moves us to love our neighbours and to seek the common good. Our schools are a very significant way in which the Catholic community in England and Wales places itself at the service of society.

We are mindful that our educational institutions, many of which are among the very best in the country, depend on us for their success and their faithfulness to the evangelical commission to make disciples of all people. They depend first of all upon the support and cooperation of Catholic parents, who are the first teachers of their children. They depend on local parishes in whose mission and witness they share, and they depend on a great number of committed staff who reflect in their own lives the joy that knowing Christ brings.

Our Catholic schools and colleges are a great treasure. This treasure has been given to us and we must ensure that we hand it on to future generations. Education is in a time of great change. For some schools, this may mean working in new ways and in new relationships. Whatever the challenges that we face, now or in the future, let us remain focussed upon Christ in all that we do.

Rt. Rev. Malcolm McMahon OP
Bishop of Nottingham

5th February 2012

Read Fr Dominic's latest homily;
also available, previous homily.

View each week's readings on line:

Gospel Readings - made available on-line by an international team of lay Catholics and volunteers who are eager to spread the Gospel.

Translations of Sunday readings - in 12 European languages,
hosted by the Vienna International Religious Centre

The Universalis Site - with readings from the Jerusalem Bible (UK-based).

Click here to access a virtual scripture study desk (USA-based) resource!

YOUTH NEWS

FLAME Congress

Young people aged 14 to young adults

FLAME is a national youth congress that is due to take place at Wembley arena on the 24th of March. It is aimed to engage your faith with different values, but particularly with sports and the Olympics!

Speakers are promised to be inspiring and the day is hoped to be full of fun. We have 50 tickets available and they cost £25.50 including coach transportation and a welcoming pack.

If you and your friends would like to go, please collect a form from the foyer and return it to St Joseph's office. Cheques are made payable to PRCDTR ST Joseph's Basingstoke. We are departing from Bishop Challenor School at 8am. For more information, contact Angie Carroll .

Check out the YOUTH NEWS. & YOUTH website

Confirmation 2012

The confirmation Mass will take place on
19th October 2012
at St Bede’s Church.

If you are in year 8 or above and wish to be confirmed a preparation programme will run between February and October 2012. Please email your name, address and telephone number to the parish office. Or alternatively complete the tear off slip and return to the parish office marked ‘Confirmation.’

Particular Needs Group

Lifts to Mass

Do you (or someone you know) have a physical, sensory or mental health problem that makes it difficult to attend or join in at Mass?

We may be able to help. Please contact Dinah Kennedy via the parish office (465214) and/or take one of the PNG yellow leaflets from the wall-racks in St Bede’s Cloister.

Basingstoke
St Vincent de Paul Society

"Turning Concern into Action!"

Meeting dates: usually
2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

• February - 13th & 27th at St Bede's

The SVP motto is ‘Turning Concern into Action’ and here at St Bede’s and St Joseph's our SVP group aims to tackle poverty in all its forms, particularly by visiting the sick and the lonely. Volunteers are very welcome to join and all members of the parish are asked to recommend names of people who might like a visit or some help; the confidentiality and dignity of those we serve is always respected. Funds are used for specific purposes such as a small grant to someone in need; helping our twinned SVP Conferences in Southern India; contributions to social, peace and justice projects here in Basingstoke.

Thank you for your time, prayers and support.More about the SVP at www.svp.org.uk.

SVP members thank the parish for their prayers and generous support over the past year.

St Bede's Church

View of main body of the church

'Please respect Our Church Space'

The Parish community welcomes everyone. This is our and your spiritual home so please treat it as such!

Please take pride in our wonderful church.

The Blessed Sacrament is housed in a
sculpture in the form of a burning bush

View article on St Bede's Church from the Church Times archive

Parish Pastoral Council
News

Our newly constituted parish pastoral council met with Fr Dominic last Thursday 1st Dec 2011. It will meet every other month to work with him in the identifying, implementing and evaluating our parish pastoral life—which means it is interested in just about everything we could do, might do and should do.

The members are:
Lynn Duffy, Julius Kome Boma, Julie Leonard, Eilis Malone, Bosco Nevis, Chris Olding, Cathy Osselton, Layla Parsons, & Kate Webb.

Their photos will be appearing on the church notice boards soon so you can know who to talk to if you wish the council to consider something. Please pray for them as they begin their ministry.

Journey in Faith
(RCIA)

Searching? Questioning?
Want to know more about the Catholic Faith?
The Catholic Faith: learn more about it!

• Are you not committed to any Christian denomination and would like to know about Catholicism?
  Are you a practising Christian but interested in knowing what we Catholics believe and profess?
  Are you a ‘resting’ Catholic who would like to know more about what the Church today is all about?
• Are you practising but would like to know more?

Are you considering becoming a Catholic? Do you want as an adult to be baptised and/or confirmed? Our weekly group for any such adults meets on Wednesdays at St Bede’s from 7.30-9pm. You’re under no obligation to decide now whether to be baptised and/or confirmed next Easter. The group meets informally and will over a series of weekly meetings give you an introduction into the teachings of the Catholic Church and the lived experiences of some of its local members. Come along and find out more.

Held in St Bede’s Church Hall on Wednesdays at 7.30-9pm.

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Sunday Mass Readings
in Polish...

See Translations of Sunday readings - in 12 European languages, hosted by the Vienna International Religious Centre

St Bede’s School

www.st-bedes.hants.sch.uk

Email:
adminoffice@st-bedes.hants.sch.uk.
Phone:
(01256) 473379.

Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament

WANTED

‘Can you not wait with me one hour?’ asked the Lord of his disciples.

On Wednesdays after the 9.30 am Mass until 7pm at Holy Ghost Church on Sherbourne Road the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for prayer.

Do come along if you can.

The Lord's Flock Catholic Charismatic Community

Basingstoke Chapter has regular prayer meetings on

Saturdays, 5:00 - 8:30pm

in St Bede's Church,
All are welcome!

See also the web site: www.thelordsflockcommunity.org.

Charismatic Prayer Group

The Chekhina Praise
Charismatic Prayer Group
meets on Wednesdays
8.pm to10 pm.

Contact Steve or Hayley OSullivan
via the Parish Office.

Altar Serving

If anyone would like to serve on the altar (must have made First Holy Communion) please do let us know.