newsletter
2nd/3rd May 2009
Year B
CATHOLIC PARISH OF THE SACRED HEART
MISSION:
Through the power of the Holy Spirit we will be a
parish renewed in our knowledge and understanding of
the love of Jesus Christ, to enable each of us to fulfil
our Christian mission.
4th Sunday of Easter
Pope Close Flitwick MK45 1JP
Tel: 01525715109 www.sacredheartflitwick.co.uk
Mass Service Times
Saturday 2nd May
6.00pm
St. Andrew's Ampthill
Private Intention
Sunday 3rd May
9.00am
Sacred Heart Church
Intentions of Frances Rowntree
11.00am
Sacred Heart Church
Valery Marks - RIP
5.00pm
Sacred Heart Church
Latin Mass – Private Intention
Monday 4th May
9.30am
Sacred Heart Church
Private Intention
Tuesday 5th May
9.30am
Sacred Heart Church
Private Intention
Wednesday 6th May
9.30am
Sacred Heart Church
Private Intention
Thursday 7th May
9.30am
Sacred Heart Church
Private Intention
Friday 8th May
9.30am
Sacred Heart Church
Maureen Herlihy - RIP
Saturday 9th May
9.30am
Sacred Heart Church
Private Intention
A Reflection by Fr. Denis
In the summer of 1976, I led a young adult’s retreat
weekend. There were thirty participants, and we met at
Buckden Towers, not far from here, off the A1. It was an
ideal setting. It was built as a rest place for the Bishops of
Lincoln, as they visited their large Diocese. They would
travel on to London to the Church of St Ethelreada, still a
Catholic Church. As you enter Buckden Towers, you will
see St. Hugh of Lincoln’s statue, complete with his pet
swan. There are plenty of walks around the grounds, the
large Keep which has been renovated, and a lovely
Chapel. The theme of the weekend was – “Jesus our
Shepherd”. I still have the list of descriptions given by
those young adults, the result of their discussion and
reflections. I would like to share them here as they link into
our Gospel at today’s Mass.
Jesus tackles his opponents, face to face.
He confronts those who steal the dignity of the little ones.
He names the wolves in sheep’s clothing.
He is willing to leave his enemies looking sheepish.
He warns his followers about the rough terrain ahead.
He goes there before them.
He is defensive when people attach his own followers.
He is realistic about people’s wayward ways.
He endures isolation and insult.
He faces his own fear, but stays loyal.
He risks being slaughtered himself.
He does lay down his life for his sheep.
Fr. Denis
writes
CONFESSIONS
The Channel Tunnel was opened on 6th May 1997, by
Queen Elizabeth and President Mitterand of France. In
French the Channel is called ‘La Manche’ which means
‘The sleeve’, being an arm of the Atlantic Ocean.
Saturday mornings from 11.00 am - please see newsletter
for notification of any alterations.
PRAYER LINE
Please ring for intercessory prayer on 01525 634186. We
have had some wonderful answers to prayers. Be assured
Britain’s history would have been very different if the
country had remained linked by land to the rest of Europe.
Instead there is the strip of water we call The English
Channel. In time of war the Channel has been a
protection against invasion and occupation. It is 21 miles
wide at the narrowest part across the Strait of Dover.
Several attempts had been made to create a tunnel that
would link Britain with mainland Europe.
of full confidentiality.
HOSPITAL, SICK OR HOUSEBOUND
Please let us know of anyone who needs a visit or requires
Holy Communion at home.
THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL GROUP meets every Monday
at 7.45pm. If you would like to join us or would like more
details, contact John Flanagan on 01525 406810
LITTLE UN'S
In Shakespeare’s Richard II, Richard talks of England
valuing the existence of the English Channel;
“This fortress built by nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war
Or as a moat defensive to a house
Against the envy of less happier lands”
Acts 2, Scene I, Line 40
Meets every Friday 10.15 - 11.45 in term time, in the Church
Hall. For further information, please contact Debbie Lewis
on 01525 406815 or Kerry Skidmore on 01525 635095
CARDS AND GIFTS etc.
Are available for sale in Sacred Heart Church Hall after
9.00am and 11.00am masses. All are priced. Please put
money in the repository box in the porch or see Margaret.
The building of the Channel Tunnel reminds us to focus on
what unites people rather than on what separates and
divides them.
Lord,
lead us to be peace makers,
building connections
between individuals,
focusing on what unites people
rather than on what separates us
and highlights our differences.
Lord, it’s easy to harm relationships;
Instead,
give us the power of your Spirit
that we may build up and make new
the bonds between people.
Amen.
Pre-Communion Next meeting
The Children's pre-Communion
group for 5 to 7 year olds will be
CHURCH NEWSLETTER
The church newsletter is available online from the Sacred
Heart web site http://www.sacredheartflitwick.co.uk
PARISH CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP: ALTERNATE
TUESDAY’S 8PM – 9.30PM – A prayer group meets
regularly on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month
throughout the year to praise God for all his blessings and
to pray for all our intentions at a personal and parish level.
We enjoy a time of fellowship at the end. Please do come
and join us! A warm welcome awaits you. If you would like
more information please contact Helen Burgess: 01525
862207
Our next meeting will be on 5th May 2009. Forthcoming
dates for your diary: May 19th
SUNDAY LATIN MASS – The Latin Mass is celebrated here
by Fr Armand de Malleray, of the Priestly Fraternity of St
Peter, each Sunday at 5.00pm. The Mass, from the Missal of
1962, fulfils the Sunday Obligation.
meeting in church Sunday, 10th
May from 9.45 till 10.30am.
TEA & TALK – Monday 11th May from 2.00 - 4.00pm in the
Church Hall. Newcomers welcome.
Newsletter contact: Bernadette Johnson email at [email protected] or Telephone: 01525 862862. DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 12.00 MIDDAY
Calling All Cake Makers!
We are joining with the other churches to hold a CAKE-
BETA GROUP
The next BETA group meeting will be on 13th May
2009.
STALL in Ampthill Town Square on SAT. 9th MAY 9-00-12-00
The proceeds are for Pentecost in the Park at the end of
May.
All contributions will be very
welcome. Please bring to
Sacred
Heart
Church
between 5pm and 7pm on
Look forward to seeing you then. If you have any
dietary requirements, please call Noreen in advance.
We will take a donation for the cost of the food.
All who are interested are most welcome whether you
have done Alpha or not. For those of you already
participating, please could you let me know if you are
unable to come along so that we can cater
appropriately. Any questions please phone Noreen
Lawton 713763.
May 8th OR contact Pat
MOTHERS’ PRAYERS –
King 01525 402598
Tuesday, 12th May
APPEAL FOR KITCHEN EQUIPMENT
Yes, once again it’s the SVP asking for something. We
have very recently used quite a bit of the money many of
you have given to us to help set up a young woman in
her own home for the first time. We have purchased a
bed and chairs and a dressing table and a fridge-freezer,
and wangled a table and some dining chairs but we were
wondering if anyone has any spare kitchen equipment.
We need cutlery, crockery,
pans, wooden spoons, sharp
knives, glasses, etc. We are
also looking for mats and rugs
for the floor.
Items should not to be new –
just serviceable.
If you can help, contact John
Flanagan (01525 406810).
Many thanks in advance.
Mass for the Sick
On Saturday 20th June the SVP are organising a special
mass for the ill and housebound of the parish. At this
mass there will be an opportunity for those who are ill to
be anointed as part of the administration of the
Sacrament of the Sick.
The mass will be at 2.00pm and is open to all members
of the parish and their friends and family.
After mass there will be an opportunity to share a cup
of tea and light refreshments and have a chat.
Members of the SVP will be on hand to help and
transport can be arranged if needed but this is an occasion
for all the parish.
We shall meet at 80, George St.,
Maulden
at
7.30pm.
Newcomers
are
always
welcome.
Come and hear of the wonderful
answers we have had to prayers
for our families and friends.
Please ring Sue on 01525 634186 for further
information
Christian Aid Week will be
from 10th to 16th May.
Please let me know if you can
volunteer to collect from a
road in Flitwick, or if there is anyone who has
volunteered already and has not heard from me yet,
please let me know as soon as possible. - Mary Bray
(01525 713102)
God of love, who is love,
Melt my indifferent heart of stone
Open my eyes to your children’s suffering,
And lift my head to see your perfect love again.
Work a miracle in my life
That through your Spirit
And my softened heart’s obedience
That I might give my very self to keep hope alive,
And to be the change you require.
Amen.
If you require any further information or help
with transport, please contact John
Flanagan (01525 406810) or another
member of the SVP.
If you are planning to attend, please let us
know so we can manage to have enough
cake available!
Parish Engagement
Update
Ampthill and
Flitwick
Churches
Together
As you will recall we held our Engagement Party 8
weeks ago on 7th March 2009.
At the party we launched the Big 3
initiatives and have since provided
reports and updates on each of
Pentecost in
them.
the Park
SVP BRING & PRAY: This was a
(A service of
great success and provided much
celebration for
needed and appreciated food aid to the
everyone)
Prebend Street Day Centre in Bedford.
The work of the SVP is ongoing and you can find out
more about engaging with the SVP by picking up one
Katherine’s
of the leaflets near the newsletters at the back of
Cross Ampthill
church.
Park
CAFOD VIRTUAL VILLAGE: To date we have been
Sunday 31st
able to send £471 in donations; sufficient to provide for
May 12.30pm
13 school starter packs, 7 vegetable gardens, 2 water
Preacher- Rev
supplies and 1 fruit tree nursery. Donations have come
from the Engagement Party and two very generous
Dr Mary Coates Milton Keynes
individual donations. There has been one expression
Music - Ampthill Town Band
of interest in supporting the concept, but seemingly
little interest from the parish at large.
The work of CAFOD is ongoing and you can find out
Please bring a picnic for later
more about engaging with CAFOD and the Virtual
(If wet go to Parkside Hall, Woburn Street)
Village by picking up one of the leaflets near the
newsletters at the back of church.
The collection is for the Lift project at Ampthill
Methodist Church
PARISH FACILITIES: The display boards have now
been removed and the Parish Management Group will
be considering next steps; taking into account
If any parishioners would like any prayer
requests, birthday wishes, anniversaries etc ,
or any items included in the newsletter, please
contact Bernadette on 01525 862862
ANNUAL FORUM THURSDAY 14 MAY 2009
Revd Dr David Cornick (General Secretary of Churches
Together in England) will be speaking at Sacred Heart
Church on this date. Nominations for the Bedfordshire
Ecumenical Committee should be sent by May 5th to Jocelyn
Harper, 35 Berry Drive Bromham Beds MK43 8QA.
Offertory collection for 25th/26th April - £581.33.
Thanks, Fr. Denis.
Many
comments received.
The exploration of options to improve our facilities is
ongoing and you can find out more about engaging
with this exercise by picking up one of the leaflets near
the newsletters at the back of church.
PARISH ACTIVITIES GENERALLY: The work of the
various parish activity groups is ongoing and you can
find out more about engaging with parish activities by
picking up one of the leaflets near the newsletters at
the back of church.