St Benedict’s Social Club Rowan Rd Batchley

Available for hire Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals and other occasions.

Telephone the Club on 01527 60345

BINGO Every Sunday 2.30pm & Monday 8pm

Hadzor Prayer Group Friday mornings 11am-12.30pm to reflect on the Gospel for the coming Sunday. Refreshments provided

St Mary’s Alvechurch Ecumenical Faith Group On the third Wednesday of every month at 10.30 am – all welcome

New LIFE Care Service in Redditch By appointment

telephone 07516 257409 Free National Helpline 0808 802 5433

In the porches there are some LIFE cards which we would ask you to take and place in your doctor’s surgery

“My house shall be called a house of prayer” Please be sensitive to those who want to pray in silence before Mass. Before Mass Talk to God During Mass Listen to God After Mass Talk to each other

Statue Visitation for the Consecrated Life

Parishioners are invited to receive the statue of Our Lady for one week and place her with flowers and candles in a prominent position in the home. Each day you are committed to praying the rosary to which parishioners can be invited to join in if you so wish. If you would like to participate in this, please see one of the clergy or contact the parish office.

ROTA SO FAR ......... Sunday 5th March 2017 Caroline Holland Sunday 12th March 2017 Vincent Sampays Sunday 19th March 2017 Linda Gordon Sunday 26th March 2017 Christine Watson Sunday 2nd April 2017 Susan Salam If your date is not convenient for you, please either swap with someone else or let the parish office know. Could you welcome the statue of Our Lady into your

home? - Yes? - please contact the parish office!

If you wish to contact the parish St Vincent de Paul group, please telephone

07531 818731 (the SVP phone) and leave

a message with your contact details so we can

return your call.

THE SHRINES OF OUR LADY & THE SACRED HEART To have the lamp burn for your intentions or loved ones, please contact the parish office, suggested donation £5.

Fellow Catholic Parishioners please come and join us

The Catenians - a Catholic men’s association

‘Strengthening family life through friendship and faith’ The Redditch Circle meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month at the Abbey Hotel and welcomes new members. This month we invite our ladies to join us for dinner. For further information please contact Andrew Farrell on 07767831548 or Brian Green on 01527 543111

Mount Carmel Seniors Group

Thursdays at 2.30pm St Benedict’s

16th March to be arranged 27th March Shopping trip to Touchwood and Theatre April 6th Easter Shared Table April 27th To be arranged May 4th Afternoon Tea May 18th Trip to Windsor Castle, River & Shopping

GOING INTO HOSPITAL—IMPORTANT

Please let us know if you are going into hospital.

It is ESSENTIAL that you ask for a Catholic Chaplain when in hospital. Chaplains are no longer given names of patients

Dementia Prayer Week 12-19 March 2017 Loving Father,

You are close to the broken hearted, look with

compassion on those whose lost memories have

robbed them of home and belonging. Comfort

and strengthen those who care for them. May

they make their home in you. This we ask through

Christ our Lord. Amen

Red Box Holders

The Mission Today Spring edition is available in

church this weekend.

WANTED...

During Lent THE PARISH SVP are appealing for second hand rucksacks to distribute at their soup kitchens in Birmingham city centre. Over 250 homeless men and women now seek support and assistance each night at the various soup kitchens run by Church and Faith Groups. As well as hot food and drink, the SVP also distributes sleeping bags, clothing, footwear and toiletries and with the addition of Rucksacks many more people will be able to take advantage of these extra items offered. Please help if you can.

Reflection for the weekend ….

In the Transfiguration for a few brief moments the beauty and power of Christ’s Divinity are allowed to illuminate the Humanity he assumed in order that he might work in it, suffer in it by rising again in triumph on the first Easter Sunday. The Sacraments that are associated with the transfiguration, reconciliation and anointing of the sick, whereby sins and weaknesses are taken away and our souls are transfigured from the darkness of sin to the light and

life of Christ.

Stations of the Cross during Lent Fridays at 12.30pm & Sundays at 5.15pm Hadzor 4.30pm before Saturday evening Mass

Lenten Soup Kitchen In the presbytery after Friday Stations of the Cross.

Walk with Me Booklets & Calendars Available in church—suggested donation £1

Ecumenical Lenten Course

‘Sensing God in the Silence’ 7.15pm-9pm every Monday during Lent at St John Fisher & St Thomas More Catholic Church, Feckenham. For more information, please contact either Fr Cornelius or Rev Barbara Wheatley on 01527 892969.

Carer required for parishioner wishing to join the

B’ham Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes in May. Contact Parish Office if you can help.

2017 Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes

This years Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from Saturday 27th May to Saturday 2nd June. The cost of the pilgrimage will be from £439.00 to travel to Lourdes by coach or from £745.00 to travel by air from Birmingham Airport. If you are interest-ed, and for further information, please contact the parish office.

St Stephen’s Guild Mass at St Chad’s

12 noon Saturday 25th March with

Bishop Wm Kenney

Could any Altar Servers wishing to attend this Mass please let either one of the priests, Paul Brewster or the Parish Office know as soon as possible so that we can arrange transport.

Mount Carmel 500 Club Feb Winners

1st Prize £140 No 31 Lucy Locket Nursery 2nd Prize £40 No 202 Melanie Bullivant 3rd Prize £20 No 190 Eileen Hannon

Carmelite Spirituality Group Meeting

Next Saturday 11.15am-1.45pm in the Parish Centre Speaker Jim Quinn on CAFOD & Faith in action and how the Church in England & Wales can change the world. Also Lectio Divina prayer and shared lunch. Fairtrade produce will be on sale.

Thank You

Martin Thompson, the Lay Chaplain at HMP Hewell would like to thank people for their generous re-sponse after his appeal at Masses recently. Offers of prayer, volunteers and gifts totalling £115 were giv-en. Volunteers are being followed up and the money will buy new Stations of the Cross. Thank you.

Fairtrade Fortnight

Many thanks to all who have purchased items so far. Traidcraft goods will be on sale this weekend at Had-zor and in the Parish Centre next Saturday at the Carmelite Spirituality Group’s meeting. If you are a parish group and would like to know more about Fairtrade and how it is an example of our faith in action, please contact Jim Quinn on 01527 402500.

Parish Council Meeting

The next Parish Council Meeting is on Wednesday 22nd March at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre.

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL, REDDITCH

Beoley Road West, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 8LT (01527) 63096

Email: office@mtcarmel.co.uk Website: www.ourladyofmountcarmel.co.uk

The Parish is part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham: Registered Charity No.234216

Parish Clergy: Fr Anthony Rohan, Fr Craig Davies, Fr Cornelius Safe

Permanent Deacons: Revs Des Chilton & Peter Griffiths

NEWSLETTER 1751 SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT 12TH MARCH 2017

Parish Mass Book Page 75 Genesis 12:1-4 Psalm 32 2 Timothy 1:8-10 Gospel Matthew 17:1-9

PARISH WEBSITE UPDATE: www.ourladyofmountcarmel.co.uk Journey in Faith, Baptism Enquiries, Wedding Enquiries etc,

Mass Times & Intentions

Second Sunday of Lent Year A

Week beginning Sunday 12th March 2017

Saturday Mount Carmel 5.00 pm Harry Nolan (a) Hadzor 4.30 pm Stations of the Cross 5.00 pm Hubert Geo Galton

Sunday Mount Carmel 8.15 am Percy & Made Holder 9.45 am Mass in Polish 11.15 am People of the Parish 4.00 pm Reception of Body Norah Hughes 5.15 pm Stations of the Cross 6.00 pm Margaret Bennett Alvechurch 9.45 am Beatrice Doris Dye Feckenham 10.15 am Holy Souls

Monday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Paddy Collins Ints of Fr Ray 12.30 pm Funeral Mass Norah Hughes

Tuesday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Bridie & Paddy Joe McInerney (a) 6.00 pm Latin Mass (EF)

Wednesday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Sheila Thompson Stephen Tamburro 5.00 pm Mass in Polish

Thursday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Hugh Porter 6.30 pm Adoration 7.00 pm Ints of Kazik Juszkiewicz for Grace of Conversion St Augustine’s 9.30am Class Mass (9GM)

Friday Feast of Saint Patrick Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Ints of Stefania, Adam & Martin (Good Health) & Monica Noonan 12.30 pm Stations of the Cross 5.00 pm Mass in Polish Mt Carmel Sch 9.20 am School Mass

Saturday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Ints of Linda Cunningham

(The following fulfils Sunday Obligation) Mount Carmel 5.00 pm Peter & David McHugh (b’day a) Hadzor 4.30 pm Stations of the Cross 5.00 pm People of the Parish

Third Sunday of Lent Year A

Week beginning Sunday 19th March 2017 Mount Carmel 8.15 am Anthony Sutton 9.45 am Mass in Polish 11.15 am Ann McAuliffe (a) 5.15 pm Stations of the Cross 6.00 pm Ints of Natalya O’Brien Alvechurch 9.45 am Alice Moran Feckenham 10.15 am Steve Goodyear

Parish Diary ….

Sunday Second Sunday of Lent Year A, Psalter Week 2 Lent 6.30pm Churches Together in Alvechurch & Rowney Green Joint Service at Alvechurch Baptist Church

Monday 10am Legion of Mary in the Parish Centre 6pm Parish FHC Class in Parish Centre 6pm Confirmation Meeting (Group 1) at St Bedes 7pm Choir Practice 7.30pm Narcotics Anonymous in Parish Centre

Tuesday 6pm Latin Mass (EF)

Wednesday 6pm First Confessions Parish FHC Group in church 8pm SVP Meeting in the Parish Centre

Thursday 7.30pm Journey in Faith Meeting ‘The Beatitudes & Christian Life in the World’ in the Parish Centre

Friday Feast of St Patrick 12.30pm Stations of the Cross followed by Lenten Soup Kitchen in the presbytery 7pm-8pm Keralan Stations of the Cross in Mount Carmel

Saturday NO FLOWERS DURING LENT 11.15 Carmelite Spirituality Group Mtg in Parish Centre Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 5pm Mass Tea & Coffee in the Newman Room after 5pm Mass at Hadzor

St Patrick’s Dance

at St Benedict’s Dancing to ‘Reel Note’, Tickets £5 available from St Benedict’s, James McAuliffe, Tommy Walsh and the parish office. All proceeds in aid of the Redditch Catholic Fellowship Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Sunday Third Sunday of Lent, Year A Psalter Week 3 Lent 5.15pm Stations of the Cross

Counting Team G

Confessions at Mount Carmel

During Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Benediction Saturdays 10-10.50am

On the 1st Saturday of the month the Rosary will be said

after Devotions

Tuesday Evenings 6.30pm-7pm

SAINTS & FEASTS FOR THE WEEK …

Sunday Day of Prayer for the Candidates

for the Sacraments;

Dementia Prayer Week

Friday Feast of Saint Patrick

Patron of Ireland

(385-461) St Patrick was born into a Christian Romano-British family. His first encounter with Ireland was as a slave after he was captured by raiders at the age of sixteen. After escaping, he studied in Gaul and was ordained a priest. Around 432 he returned to Ireland as a missionary bishop and succeeded in consolidating the faith in large parts of the country.

Saturday Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

St Cyril was born near Jerusalem and for many years served as Patriarch of that holy city, although after disputes with Arian heretics, had him exiled for seventeen years. He is mainly known for his ‘Catecheses’. His instructions, which are still present, show conclusively that catholic doctrine is the dsame then as now. It was his catechetical instructions which led him to be declared as a Doctor of the Church in 1882.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Vacancies at St Thomas More First School

Classroom Teacher for 1st September 2017 To arrange a visit, more information or Application Pack email of-

fice@st-thomasmore.worcs.sch.uk or telephone 01527 525821 Closing

Date Tuesday 14 March at 12 noon

Lunchtime Supervisor Start Date 24 April 2017 7.08 hrs per week (Mon-Fri) term time only 11.45am-1.10pm. Applica-

tion packs from School Office 01527 525821 or email office@st-

thomasmore.worcs.sch.uk. Closing Date Tuesday 14 March at 12 noon

Cleaner Start Date 24 April 2017 10 hrs per week (Mon-Fri) Term-time only 3pm-5pm plus stand down

hrs to be worked during Summer Break. Application packs from School

Office 01527 525821 or email office@st-thomasmore.worcs.sch.uk.

Closing date Tuesday 14 March at 12 noon

Pilgrimages in 2017

B’ham Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock

24th April 2017, £649.00 per person sharing. Single room

supplement £60. Price includes flights from Birmingham,

taxes, transfers, 5 nights’ Knock House Hotel with breakfast

& dinner. All entertainment & excursions inc. Contact Patri-

cia on 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.

ATOLT7613 protected.

Lourdes Thursday 27th July-Friday 4th August 9 day luxury

Pilgrimage with no overnight coach travel. £535 per person

sharing (£165 single room supplement. Deposit £100 Pick up

centre of B’ham, Accommodation Hotel Croix de Bretons.

Contact Andrew Oldnall on 0121 440 8623 or 07733226063,

email andrewsoldnall@gmail.com

Rome Sunday 8th-Friday 13th October from B’ham Airport,

£750 per person sharing, single room supplement £150,

Deposit £150. Contact Andrew Oldnall as above.

Fatima (Weekend—Feast of the Immaculate

Conception) Thursday 6th-10th December from B’ham

Airport £399 per person sharing, single room supplement

£65.00. Deposit £150. Contact Andrew Oldnall as above.

Medjugorje Irish Centre Pilgrimages Airport

Transport & 7 nights B&B 279 Euros, Contact 020 3239 8662

or email reservations@med-irishcentre.com. Call for flight

info.

Lamp at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mt Carmel

This week the lamp burns in loving memory of JOSIE BEARD (BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY) ... Next week the lamp burns in loving memory of ANNE FANNING

Lamp at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart

This week the lamp burns in loving memory of JOSIE BEARD (ANNIVERSAY) …. Next week the lamp burns in loving memory

For the dead ...

Your prayers are asked for NORAH HUGHES Reception of Body Sunday 12th March at 4pm, Funeral Mass Monday 13th March at 12.30pm, DOREEN USSHER Funeral Service Tuesday 14th March at 11.45am in the Abbey Chapel, BERNADETTE THOMAS Reception of Body Thursday 23rd March at 5pm, Funeral Mass Friday 24th March at 2pm, STELLA GRIFFITHS Funeral Mass Monday 3rd April at 11am. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Please pray for the sick...

Deacon Des Chilton, Kathleen Kavanagh, Thomas Adams, Alison Cole, Johannah White, Selina Kilker, Carmel Fiolka, Anna Byrne, Fred & Pauline Clarke, Mark Collins, Mary Grady, Matthew Smith, Paul Hart, Anne McVicker, Ruby Urka, Jane-Christina Thomson, Bob & Caroline Holland, Mick Halloran, Sr Catherine Devaney, Allan Barber, Chris Figgett, Peggy Woods, Joseph Curtagar, Cynthia Williams, Teresa Grantham, Edwin McGlynn, Dave Pugh, Francis Latchford, Simon Taylor, Lilian Lee, Lottie Hatcher, Fiona Short, John Gannon, John Gill, Phyllis O’Brien, Mary Hillier, Margaret Hughes, Lily Robinson, Kitty Fanning, Thomas Henry Burnside, Bridget Heatley, Winifreda Olga Hall, Kathleen Donovan, Brian & Devan Dixon, James Vaughan, Jill Bennett, Kerry Boyd, Andrew Berry, Pat Conner, Ita Hayes, Margaret Beddows, Helen Hardwick, Kate Shenton, Martin & Margaret Daly, Clifford & Christopher Browne, Michael Smith, Michael Burke, Andrea Ferguson, Loretta Burns, Charlie Walker, Maureen Reavey, Lynda Rose, Ann Lowe, baby Ellis Morbey, Emma Martin, Jim Gallagher, James Cull, Daisy Mae Williams (aged 3), Pat O’Boyle, Jackie Gallagher, G Smith, Megan Collier, Cee Sheriden (Hadzor), Thelma Edwin, Gregory & Linda Daniel, Maura Lee, Sheila Nicholson, Gordon Taylor, John Laugharne, Dick Bell, Tony Gillespie, Chris Whyte, Margaret Clarke, Joyce Tremeer, Philip Broom, Alan Purvis, Brigit Broom, Oscar Rees, Monty Breslin, Judy Mitten, Nellie Gilbert, Sean Harkin, Anthony Obinna, Margaret Leonard, Kobie Boggis, Nora O’Connor, Lucia Galleo, Mary Hickey, Duncan MacInniss, James Hopper, Kath Harkin, Rt Rev Christopher Jones, Bishop Emeritus of Elfin, Jane Elliott, Theresa Price, Marion Furey, Bill & Julie Hopkins, Peter Daniel, Rita Wilson, Martin Brand, Pat Davis, Margaret Maddi-son, Brother Michael, Grazyna, Kazik & Krzys Juszkiewicz, Mar-garet Wheeler, Luisa Zinali, Fr David Hutton, Eileen Granger, Trevor Jones, Pauline Clarke, Sr Muriel Geisler, Peggy Kindella, Suzanne Horan, Yvonne Hadley, Peter Baker, Bill Wilson, Delia Bree, Gino Belmonte, John Henry Birtle

Congratulations to ……

We welcome into God’s family ALLANNAH POPPY SARAH CHILDS baptised at Mount Carmel last Sunday.

WEEKLY STATISTICS

Weekend 4/5 March 2017 1st Collection £768.52 2nd Collection £454.49 Attendance 887 (No Polish Mass count) These figures do not include Standing Orders

The Parish Safeguarding Representatives are

Mrs Jane Craig & Mrs Linda Gordon