Parish newsletter
26th November 2023
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St Bede’s Kneeler Group is looking to increase the number of people stitching the kneelers. Have you admired the kneelers in the Church and wondered how they are made? To find out come along to our meeting on Saturday 2nd December at 1:30 pm in St Bede’s Hall. We are a friendly, informal group who love to chat, drink tea and eat cake. This could be the opportunity to discover a talent you didn’t know you had. No previous sewing skills required.
Deacon Tony reflects: See Christ in those in need
Jesus is pleading with us to see His face when we look at those in need. If we see Jesus and reach out to help, then we have hope of eternal life.
This weekend there is a Diocesan Diaconate Conference taking place, at which many of our deacons are present. Why not pray this “Prayer for Deacons” for them, those unable to be present and those called to this ministry…
Holy God, Saint Vincent served You as a deacon and gave his whole life and soul to You, even to the point of becoming a martyr. I lift up to You the deacons of the Church and all those who are being called by God to become deacons. Guide them as they discern how to serve the Body of Christ. Prevent the attractions of the world and the busyness of secular jobs from interfering with their vocations. Teach them to grow in humility. Help their families learn from their examples and support their ministry with trust and joy. Saint Vincent, pray for us. Amen.
The Foodbank are having their 3-day Tesco Chineham Christmas Collection event from 30th Nov – 2nd Dec. We are looking for volunteers to help give out shopping lists to shoppers. Please email: mandjleaming@btinternet.com for more information.
The Foodbank will be packing Christmas Hampers in Festival Place opposite the Apple shop again from 1st – to 23rd Dec. To get involved check out their website: https://basingstoke.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/hamp…
There are some local families that we would like to support through the Christmas holidays by giving them supermarket vouchers with a small hamper of luxury foods. If you feel that you could spare £10 to buy a Lidl or Tesco voucher, please can you get it and put it in the collection or through the letter box at church. Food items can now be left in the designated box in the Cloister. Thank you for your support.
November is the Month of the Holy Souls, and there will be a basket in front of the Blessed Sacrament (Burning Bush). Please place the names of members of your family and friends you wish to be remembered in the basket. May they Rest in Peace. (Please do not place any money into the basket or envelopes, thank you).
Deacon Tony: A link in the chain
St John Henry Newman said: God has created me to do Him some definite service. I have my mission. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.
Readers from the Basingstoke Pastoral Area gathered today for formation from Fr Anthony Fyk, learning how to grow in love of scripture and in their ministry.
Photos from Basingstoke Filipino Choir’s post
https://www.facebook.com/603787281786853/posts/726…
Deacon Tony reflects: We do not know the day or hour
At the end of each day, we are encouraged to reflect on the day we have just experienced – have I made good choices? And, if God spares me, what will I do differently tomorrow?
November is the Month of the Holy Souls, and there will be a basket in front of the Blessed Sacrament (Burning Bush). Please place the names of members of your family and friends you wish to be remembered in the basket. May they Rest in Peace. (Please do not place any money into the basket or envelopes, thank you).
Please note that Blessing of Graves at Worting Road Cemetery will take place this Sunday at 2pm not 2.30pm
Basingstoke Foodbank make up and distribute hampers to the less fortunate in our community at Christmas. Last Christmas we assembled and gave out over 1,000 hampers. Could you volunteer some time to help make up the hampers of donated food on a Friday or Saturday in the period between 1st to 22nd December? If you can, please contact Debbie: dooley99@btinternet.com
Fr John writes: Thank you so much for your generosity! Last Our Closer to Christ total stands at just over £303,000 and we hope to increase this in the next few weeks. If you completed a small card at Mass recently, you will receive a pledge form for completion in the post or via email in the next week. I ask that you return the form at
your earliest convenience.
While we are guaranteed to receive one third of our initial target of £255,000, our parish will receive 50% of everything raised over this and so we have much to
benefit from.
Deacon Tony reflects: Who am I called to serve?
The Thessalonians recognised that what they were taught came from God. It’s a reminder that I should never put myself above the people I am called to serve.
Today is Bamenda Sunday, when we give thanks for our link with the Archdiocese of Bamenda in Cameroon and have our annual second collection to raise funds to enable us to give grants to assist the Church in Bamenda with projects in the fields of faith, education and social welfare.
Please see this year’s Bamenda News for an update on what has been happening in Bamenda and in our Diocese to support the link over the last twelve months.
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmcuse…