Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
                 Sittingbourne

DIARY FOR THE WEEK: 4 - 12 FEBRUARY

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February 2012
General Intention: Access to Water.
That all peoples may have access to water and other resources needed for daily life.
Missionary Intention: Health Workers.
That the Lord may sustain the efforts of health workers assisting the sick and elderly in the world's poorest regions.
 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK

For all who are experiencing any illness, especially:

Sister Eileen, Eileen Cesana, Hazel Clark, Brenda Griffin, Patsy Harbord, Michael and Margaret O’Neill, Jacob Pridmore, Rachel Raymond and Karen Woodcock.

WE REMEMBER

All who have recently died, especially Bridie Holmes, and all whose anniversaries are at this time.

FIRST COLLECTION FOR 29 JANUARY:   Total - £654.30; Gift Aided - £313.64

SECOND COLLECTION (PARISH BUILDINGS AND MAINTENANCE):

Total - £89.65; Gift Aided - £40.00

This weekend's second collection is for the Catholic Education Service.

The SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND will be the SVP Red Box collection.

BOOK, DVD AND CD SALE

Sunday 26 February 2012

10.45am

Carmel Hall

Delicious tea, coffee and cakes also for sale.

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS EVENT

All donations of good quality books, DVDs and CDs gratefully received, plus any offers of help to set up or on the day. 

Baskets are provided at both church doors for donations.

PARISH FINANCE UPDATE

The Parish has just received four invoices from the Diocesan Finance Office totalling £9,371.52.

They are for the Diocesan Development Fund, the Clergy Support Fund, the Safeguarding Service and the Bishops Fund.

Donations received from the 5 weekly

collections in January came to £3,003.37

YOUNG ADULT PARISHIONERS MEETING

The meeting was attended by Fr Jim, a young female adult and her mother.  This young person has agreed to write an article for the newsletter in which she will give her experiences of church.  She will tell her own story and, from this story, we hope to learn the basis for a way forward for catering to the holistic needs of our young people.  The mother will also write an

article, to be published in the newsletter, on her experience of having a young adult in the church.  One of Fr Jim’s adopted sons in the Philippines will also write an article on his experience of what it is to be a young adult in his parish near Manilla.  Through these young adults’ experiences we will all receive an insight into how we can go forward ‘In Christ’.  It shows that even from three people, young and middle aged (Fr Jim), something can be achieved that is worthwhile, practical and

achievable.

UTILISING THE PARISH HALLS

Fr Jim would like to invite parishioners to form a group to discuss fully utilising the parish halls for our community.

If you are interested in joining the group please speak to Geoff Bean or any parish committee member.

RESULTS OF THE LUCKY NUMBERS DRAW

The draw for the Lucky Numbers took place last week after the 9.30am Mass and the winning numbers were: (1st) 89; (2nd) 104; (3rd) 26; and (4th) 141.  Congratulations to all our winners.  The next draw will take place on Sunday 26 February.

50TH INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS -DUBLIN 2012

Deacon Stephen invites those interested to form a group to represent the Parish at the Eucharistic Congress which is being held from 10 to 17 June 2012 in Dublin.  The Pope has issued invitations for everyone who can, to attend.  It would be lovely if this Parish was represented.  Registration is possible for either just a few days or for the whole week, culminating in Mass In Croke Park Dublin on Sunday 17th June.  The costs for registration fees plus accommodation and flights would be in the region of £700 per person for the whole week or £400 - £500 for a few days.  If anyone would be interested in forming a Parish group please speak to Deacon Stephen.

HOPE FOR A NEW BEGINNING - A BEGINNING EXPERIENCE WEEKEND FOR THE WIDOWED, SEPARATED AND DIVORCED AT THE FRIARS, AYLESFORD 23-25 MARCH 2012

Beginning Experience is a ministry to the widowed, separated and divorced led by a trained team of volunteers.  Their work is carried out at special weekend gatherings, which encourage participants to share their need and deal with the natural process of grief and loneliness.  For further details please contact: Freda on 01322 401243; Helen on 01293 881877; or Sandra on 01293 783965.  The closing date for applications is 20 February 2012.

FEBRUARY 7-14: NATIONAL MARRIAGE WEEK

National Marriage Week is an opportunity to focus on the sacrament of matrimony and to celebrate the stability that married couples, especially those with families, bring to society.  Resources and ideas for celebrating this week can be found on the website www.marriage-week.org.uk

TEN TEN THEATRE - CATHOLIC CHARITY LOOKING FOR ACTORS

Ten Ten Theatre, the Catholic theatre company, is looking for more professional actors to join its team.  If you are an actor/actress and interested in learning more about the company, please visit www.tententheatre.co.uk

"What we live"

In attaining to a vision for our parish we begin with the initial proposal ‘What we live’.  We live according to The Word of God.  We live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.  We propose what we live.  Love of God and Love of Neighbour as Oneself.  In doing so we act out of the Word of God.

In order to work out of the ‘Word of God’ we have to listen to the Word of God.  We also have to share the Word of God and in our listening and sharing we learn to act out of ‘The Word of God’.  The Vision for the Parish should be a connection with The Word of God and a connection with all who live by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.

We propose that our Parish has a need to live more fully the ‘Life of the Church’.  What is the life of our church?  One answer is ‘Life in Christ’.  We are a Community of Disciples following the ‘Way of the Lord’.  We accept the Way of Poverty and the transforming love and justice of God.  We witness to the words, deeds and life of Jesus Christ.  We propose the Words and the deeds of Jesus’ life to form the vision for our parish.  Our faith community must witness to Jesus Christ’s Gospel through our word, our deeds and our lives.  Our animating life force is rooted ‘In Christ’.  ‘In Christ’ we are His community being guided by the Holy Spirit.  We propose that we follow Christ and that we be His disciples living in the community of His Church while attending to each others’ needs.

Vatican II Lumen Gentium (LG 10-13) speaks of the threefold mission of the Church.  We are a People of God.  This reality enables us to share in the prophetic, priestly and kingly nature of Christ.  Our Parish in its vision of mission must live out of this threefold nature and mission of Christ and of His Church.

In our Vision of the Parish we propose that we live out of the Word of God.  Our Community/Parish life is His Word active and alive in our lives.  Our Parish proposes to be a community of believers, a community of disciples of Jesus who live in koinonia, in communion.  Who live as a community of friends, sharing the Word of God, sharing the Bread of Life, and sharing our material possessions (whose sign and symbol is witnessed to in our Mass collections being brought up with the offertory gifts), so that no one is in need – there should be no needy person among the People of God.  These signs of the Vitality of the Community, these signs of friendship and community are our starting point for a new society based on the ‘Civilisation of Love’ (Redemptoris Missio 51).

What we live is our first proposal toward forming a vision for our parish.  Our very life, our every word and action must be incorporated into the threefold nature of Jesus Christ’s mission.  Our word must be God’s word.  Our actions must be God’s actions.  Our life, our vision, our existence must be guided by His Holy Spirit.  We propose that we are a community of disciples following ‘The Way of the Lord’.  We profess to ‘Live the Way of the Lord’.  That is why our first proposal to a new vision for the parish is ‘What we Live’.

Fr Jim - February 2012

Calling all our young adult parishioners

We invite you to come and meet with other parishioners and church ministers, along with Fr Jim and Deacon Stephen, to

discuss how you view your role of service to the community.

All are welcome to an informal meeting in the O’Sullivan Centre on Monday 30 January at 7pm.  RSVP Sue/Haley.

What can your Parish offer and do for you?

Social events?  Young adult group?  Youth Council?

You form an integral part of our faith community and we want to hear what you have to say.

We, brothers and sisters in Christ re-dedicate our lives to your Sacred Heart.

We want to spread your Kingdom on earth - a kingdom of Peace, Love and Unity.

We will centre our lives on the Blessed Eucharist, on the Bible, on our Family Prayer.

We will draw from the grace of Baptism the willingness to serve each other with joy.

We will help each other to order our lives for the good of all.

We believe in the equality of men and women, and that both are deserving of their true dignity and rights.

We believe that the Peace of Christ is in our hearts and that His Peace can reign in our world today.

We rejoice in being God’s Family within the life of The Church of the Sacred Heart.

We offer our lives in thanksgiving of the love of your sacred heart and of the heart of Mary. Amen.

Baptisms at the Sacred Heart Church, Sittingbourne.
We welcome new members into our parish family!

Here is some information for parents as you begin to prepare for the baptism of your child:
If you are new to the parish, please introduce yourself to the Parish priest, Fr. Jim after any of the masses.

If you are already a parishioner, then you can simply inform him of your intention to have your child baptised.

Click Here for more information

Helping provide accommodation for our retired priests

Last year the diocese registered with JustGiving - the on-line fundraising service. 

This initiative now makes it possible to donate directly to our Clergy Support Fund, which helps to provide accommodation and support for our retired priests. There are two ways to make a donation:

Either by visiting the main JustGiving page for the diocese by clicking on the logo on the right (or on the sidebar).

This page gives the options of giving a single or a monthly donation of the amount of choice.

On-line donations can be made from anywhere in the world but currently only in £ sterling. A bank/credit card company may charge extra fees for international transactions.
 

Or by texting RCDS27 followed by the amount you wish to give (£1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10) to 70070  e.g. RCDS27 £5.
 
JustTextGiving is currently free for those sending text donations to charities from any of the UK mobile networks, but they can only be made by mobile users on UK networks.

A reminder ... and please promote this code

Please be generous in your support of our retired priests.

“Month of Poverty” January is dedicated by the Church to “Poverty”

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