The Roman Catholic Parish of

St James and St William of York Reading

12th August 2018

19th Week Ordinary Time

Fr John writes:

“WHO EVER EATS THIS BREAD WILL LIVE FOREVER” In today’s Gospel Jesus identifies himself as: “I AM THE BREAD THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN”. The Jews continued to murmur among themselves as to his identity. They cannot get beyond the limited knowledge of Jesus as the son of Joseph “the local carpenter”. For them Jesus can not be “the living bread that came down from heaven”. He asks them to stop their murmurings and to open themselves to understanding him in a new way. For over 2,000 years, we the Church, have developed an understanding that Jesus is not just “the son of Joseph” but surely as “The Living Bread”. Our problem is not belief in this but in taking the call of Christ Jesus seriously and living differently, the way of Christ.

PARISH PRIEST: Canon John O’Shea Parish Secretary: Catherine Ledgard Parish Safeguarding Ginika Okoye (StJ) Officers: Françoise Le Saux (StW)

stjames@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk St James Presbytery,

Abbey Ruins, Forbury Road, Reading, RG1 3FD Tel: (0118) 957 4171

St James & St William of York Reading

Website: www.jameswilliam-reading.org.uk

This parish is a part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth Registered Charity No: 246871

Parish Liturgies for the week commencing 12th August

Sunday 19th Sunday Ordinary Time SJ 6.00pm Mary Hegarty Cronin RIP

SW 9.00am Marie Heylen RIP

SJ 11.00am Florencia Naldo RIP

Monday 19th Week of Ordinary Time

SJ 12.15pm Philip Nvue thanksgiving

Tuesday NO MASS

Wednesday THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

SJ 12.15pm Bartholomew Collaco RIP

Thursday 19th Week of Ordinary Time

SJ 12.15pm Patrick Hegarty RIP

Friday 19th Week of Ordinary Time SJ 12.15pm Bridie Hegarty RIP

Next Sunday 20th Sunday Ordinary Time

SJ 6.00pm Adrian Parsons RIP

SW 9.00am Kelly family deceased members

SJ 11.00am Sangu & James family deceased

Confessions

SJ Saturday 5pm – 5.45pm Rosary – weekdays SJ Mon to Thu after 12.15pm Mass SJ Friday 12.45pm to 1.45pm

Psalm Response: Taste and see that the Lord is good.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

SUN 19th Aug: 20th O Time 1st R. Proverbs 9:1-6 2nd R. Eph. 5:15-20 Gospel: John 6:51-58 Please read these readings at home and listen to them at next Sunday’s Mass.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Offertory Collection £ 359.23 (£321.94 Gift Aid) Gift aid envelopes £ 162.12 Non gift aid loose £ 677.60

Thank you for your generous contributions. Your donations make the life and work of the parish possible.

THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY—15TH AUGUST

On Wednesday we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950. In the east it was referred to as the Dormition of Mary. For most of us one of our favourite hymns is “Hail Queen of Heaven”. We believe that God would not allow decay to touch Mary’s body, because from her body Christ, “the Author of all life”, was born. In Mary’s Assumption we find hope and pray that heaven might be our final goal and that we will come to share Mary’s glory with the Saints and the angels. “May my Soul glorify the Lord and my Sprit rejoice in God my Saviour, because he has promised me a share in the divine nature and the gift of eternal life”. For this Holy Day of Obligation Mass will be at 12.15pm. Note; no evening Mass.

LAUDATO SI ACTION GROUP to meet on Tue 28th Aug at 7.30pm in the Barberi room. BISHOP PHILIP to visit Our Lady of Peace parish on Sun 2nd Sept and St Joseph’s parish on Sun 16th Sept.

FRIENDS SUMMER PARTY - Sun 2nd in the Dormitory of the Abbey Ruins, to celebrate the re-opening, 2.00 - 5.00pm. Music from Pangbourne Silver Band, the Reading Rock Choir, Morris dancing, children's history trail, guided tours & a contribution from Reading Between The Lines theatre group and afternoon teas. The event (but not the tea) is free, so get it in your diary and come along. INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CATHOLIC? or Confirmed as an adult or for those baptised as Christians of other denominations, who would like to be received into the Catholic Church ? Please speak to Fr John or phone the parish office. MESSAGES LEFT ON ANSWER PHONE sometimes get lost in the system. So to avoid this please call again to the Parish Office - thank you.

POPE FRANCIS at World Meeting of Families in Dublin. Mass at 7.30pm Sat 25th Aug at Croke Park and Sun 26th 9.45 Mass in Knock and 3.00pm Mass in Dublin, Phoenix Park.

GIFT AID STATEMENTS - for the 2017-2018 tax year are now available at the back of St James and St William of York churches. Please collect your statement. If your statement is not there, please let Alan know via the Parish Office. Many thanks for your generous support.

Please collect your copy so we don’t have to post it to you.

This Sunday 12th August 19th Sun Ordinary Time

THE EUCHARISTIC GOSPEL OF JOHN During August the Gospel readings are from John 6. WELCOME to Fr Richard Maniak who is celebrating our 6pm Vigil Mass, Fr Jack Creagh and Fr JP Lyttle who are celebrating our 9am & 11am Masses. MAGNIFICAT CHOIR at 6pm Vigil Mass.

FOLK GROUP at 9am and 11am Masses

DIVINE MERCY Holy Hour at Our Lady of Peace at 2.30pm. TAMIL MASS - CANCELLED

ROYAL BERKSHIRE HOSPITAL

CHAPLAINCY Fr JP Lyttle is the RC chaplain at the Royal Berkshire hospital and will celebrate our 11am Mass this Sunday. Fr JP will be talking about his chaplaincy at Mass and has this advice if you are going into hospital or know of someone going in: Here are some things to think about on how to prepare spiritually. Firstly, you will no doubt have time on your hands when you’re there so go in with your rosary, perhaps a favourite prayer book and anything else you can think of. It’s a brilliant opportunity to pray and a time to be aware of the presence of God. Secondly, as with the NHS in general, a person has to opt in to see a Chaplain. Make sure you tell the staff when you enter that you are Catholic and would like to see the Chaplain. The Lord wants to be part of all that we do in life and this includes when we are ill and going into hospital. You can ask the priest/chaplain to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick especially if you are having surgery. You can also take the opportunity to make confession and you can receive the Lord in Holy Communion. Ultimately, this can be a time for you to entrust yourself to the Lord’s care. Mass is celebrated in the chapel at the hospital every Sunday at 4pm. All patients, visitors & staff are welcome

Royal Berkshire Hospital Chaplain: Fr JP Lyttle Mobile: 07391 896559 RBH: 0118 322 7105

ESTABLISHING CONNECT

GROUPS IN THE PARISH We are planning to establish small groups in the parish called “CONNECT GROUPS”. This is a ‘Follow Up’ to the good experience of small groups during the Alpha series. Each group will have leaders for a series of 4 - 6 meetings in the au-tumn. We will have an open meeting for all on “CONNECT GROUPS” on Mon 17th Sept at 7.30pm at St James church.

BLESSED HUGH FARINGDON SCHOOL UNIFORM (second hand, boys age 12-13) size 34” blazer, trousers, shirts, tie, jumper and PE kit available to collect from the parish office—please phone for further details. CONFIRMATION 2019 is open to all young people in school YR8 and above. Please complete the application forms available from the back of the church and return to the parish office. Further details available in September. POPE FRANCIS’ INTENTION FOR AUGUST IS FOR VOLUNTEERS: That volunteers may give themselves generously to the service of the needy. DEVOTIONAL ITEMS sale last Sunday. Thank you to all who supported this and made a donation. A great £190.82 was raised and will go towards our Parish Project charities. Many thanks to Jacqueline Grech for organising this. WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS We hope that you benefit from our Sunday Liturgies and enjoy the Reading area. GOING ON HOLIDAY please remember to arrange cover for any ministries - don’t forget us !

Next Sunday 19th August 20th Sun Ordinary Time WELCOME to Fr Jeremy Corley who is celebrating our 6pm Vigil Mass, Fr Jack Creagh and Fr David Elliott who are celebrating our 9am & 11am Masses. GOAN MASS - CANCELLED

WELCOME to Fr Jeremy Corley who will be celebrating our Monday 12.15pm Mass & Fr Raffaele Cossa who will celebrate the 12.15pm Mass on Wed, Thu & Fri this week. THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Mass at 12.15pm on Wed 15th Aug. PLEASE NOTE NO EVENING MASS. DIVINE MERCY RETREAT on Sat 18th Aug from 11:00am - 4:30pm at St John’s RC Cathedral, Bishop Crispian Way, Portsmouth PO1 3HG. All welcome.