The following words of Our Lord are to be our watch words for this new year, beginning

September 2016 to July 2017:

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you: I have called you by name, you are mine. I, I am Yahweh, there is no other saviour but me. It is I who have spoken, have saved, have made proclamation. No need to recall the past, no need to think about what was done before. See, I am doing a new deed. The people I have formed for my own will sing my praises (Is 43).

As we approach the close of the seventieth anniversary celebration of our parish, a new era is ushering into our community. These are exciting times: a new vigour, zeal, energy is being released into everyone, into action. Do not look back: to past grudges or failings. Look to the future with hope and confidence, and get involved!

Schools are starting: some children are beginning for the first time, some are discovering their new schools, schools are welcoming new and old parents. They are exciting times! Prayer - individual, group and family - and daily and Sunday Mass, more than anything else, are the way in which the early church was, and every parish is, built up. Prayer,

particularly Holy Mass, will be given special attention, to give people different opportunities to take part. The Parish Prayer, taken from our Parish Handbook and revised, will be used

during all Masses and all meetings throughout this year. There is great need to pray for a new

vision and a new spirit in our parish. Homes Masses: every Tuesday, on request, beginning in October. Please, invite the Lord to celebrate the "Eucharistic Party" in your home and

enrich you with countless blessings. Youth Masses: every Third Sunday afternoon of the month, beginning in October, either in the parish or at home will enable all those who

attended the Youth Alpha Course and others to fulfil their Sunday precept as young people. Name Badge Sunday is an initiative of the Pastoral Area to enable us make a step towards getting to know our fellow parishioners by name. I am ashamed and really need this exercise when I recall that I meet so many familiar faces day in day out and cannot put names to the faces. This may be the same for you. Please, try to cooperate with the helpers of this

programme.

Sacramental Preparation programmes: Baptism, First Holy Communion (FHC), Confirma-tion, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) or Journey of Faith, are beginning and I am delighted and grateful to all our catechists and helpers for the wonderful work they are doing. Other planned events will be announced subsequently.

Our Parish Projects: are going well and we will soon enjoy our magnificent new parish

centre. As with every building project, other areas have been identified/investigated that need attention and action, and we are excited to share with you both the cost and some ways by which we might cover those costs. I am delighted to inform you that some of our parishioners have already taken some initiatives and raised considerable amounts towards the projects. Full details will be provided. This means that our project collection is to be seen as ongoing, not a one-off; and everyone is welcome to get involved in whichever way they feel able. Therefore, as we begin this exciting year, take these words of our sweet Lord to heart and ponder them: "Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. It is I who have spoken, have saved. No need to recall the past. See, I am doing a new deed."

4th September 2016 ~ 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time ~ Issue:1139

READING PASTORAL AREA

St. John Bosco Church 56 Western Avenue,

Woodley, Reading RG5 3BH Tel: 0118 969 3423

Priest: Fr Bonaventure Ndong

Email: stjohnbosco

@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk

Website: stjohnbosco.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/

groups/1455918784702101/

Part of the PORTSMOUTH DIOCESAN TRUST Registered

Charity Number 246871

Administrator: Karen Tarvin

PLEASE NOTE: Church Office is open next week:

Tues - Fri: 8.30am - 1.30pm

WEEKLY COLLECTION

Envelopes £180 Loose £165 Standing orders: £510 Thank you for your generous contributions. Your donations make the life and work of the parish possible. Next Special Collection: 11th September - Parish Project

A NEW ERA FOR OUR PARISH (September 2016 - July 2017)

Confessions

Will resume on

10th Sept and will be available on Saturdays 5.30 - 6.00pm

YEAR OF MERCY

2015 –2016

7 YEARS

BUILDING A STRONG WORSHIPING COMMUNITY

1946- 2016

ST JOHN BOSCO PARISH

CELEBRATING

0

Please welcome Fr Richard Maniak who will be celebrating Mass for us this weekend.

Responsorial Psalm: Year C

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, 4th September “O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next”

PARISH CENTRE—IS OUT OF USE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Details of opening to follow shortly

.

Thank you to those who have returned their Confirmation enrolment forms. The first session will be held on Saturday, 24th September 2016. The Confirmation celebration will be held at the Cathedral in Portsmouth on Sunday, 7th May 2017 at 3pm. A list of session dates will be circulated shortly.

NAME BADGES AT SUNDAY MASSES IN SEPTEMBER - OUR

WELCOME TO ALL. Our Pastoral Area Evangelisation Strategy Team proposed all parishes in Reading for all Sundays in September, have a system where everyone displays their name on a badge. Secondly, our Welcoming Teams review our approach to welcoming people to Sunday Mass. We will all be invited to reflect on how we relate to each other, how we develop a sense of belonging in our parish community

ROSARY PRAYER—OCTOBER Wednesdays 9.00am, Friday 9.00 and Sunday

9.25 am in the Lady Chapel. All Welcome!

MASSES IN THE HOME There will be a sign up sheet in the church

porch available next week if you are interested in celebrating a Mass in your home. Home Masses will be take place on Tuesday

evenings starting in October

MASS INTENTIONS & FEAST DAYS

Date Time Dedication Intention Diary

Sat 3rd Sept

6.30pm

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Margaret Monica & Alan Fitzgerald + (Michael Fitzgerald)

10.00am Formation Mass

Sun 4th Sept 10.00am

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Noreen Aylward + (Bridie & Mary Nee Gorman)

2.30pm Divine Mercy Holy Hour

Mon 5th Sept NO SERVICE Church open for visits

NO Prayer Group

Tues 6th Sept 6.00pm 7.00pm

Adoration Feria

Bob & Jo Blagbrough + (Don & :Liz Cramp)

Wed 7th Sept 9.15am

Feria

Bob & Jo Blagbrough + (Angela Bentley)

Thur 8th Sept 9.15am

THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Bob & Jo Blagbrough + (B Foley)

Fri 9th Sept 9.00am Adoration & Mass St Peter Claver

Bob & Jo Blagbrough + (Barry & Eileen Ford)

Sat 10th Sept 6.30pm 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time Bob & Jo Blagbrough + (Joan & Chris Lee)

Sun 11th Sept 10.00am

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time Josie Mannion + (The Harman Family)

PLEASE NOTE: No Confessions

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION Application packs to enrol for First Holy Communion, for children who will be in school Year 3 in September 2016, are available in the church porch. Please re-turn completed forms no later than Thursday, 8th September. Again this year we will use the parent–led programme “Growing up Catholic” where parents share their faith with their child, whilst supported by our team of catechists.

JOURNEY OF FAITH Interested in becoming a Catholic or being confirmed as an adult? Enrolment forms are available from the church porch. If you are interested please complete the form and return it to the parish office.

YOUTH MASSES Following the successful Youth Alpha

Course in the parish in 2016 Youth Masses will be held every third Sunday afternoon starting in October . If you would like any further

information please contact the parish office

THE PARISH PROJECT COLLECTION

You will be given a yellow Gift Aid envelope this weekend for the Parish Project collection next weekend 10/11 Sept, if you do not receive one spares will be available on the table in the porch. Please give any donations, however small, and help us to make your parish centre a welcoming one and a place where we can grow and support each, both spiritually and in well being.

DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOUR

4th September 2.30pm St Anne's in Caversham All are most

welcome

St. Dominic Savio Primary School - Western Avenue, Woodley RG5 3BH Tel. 0118 969 3893 Autumn Term Starts: Monday, 5th September (5th September Staff Professional Development day School Closed) Head Teacher: Mr. James Broadbridge Emergency numbers for the Sacramental Ministry of a priest: Fr Bon 969 3423 Fr. Pat 931 4469 Fr. Stan 966 3711 Canon Michael 957 2149 Canon John O’Shea 957 4171 Please call your own priest first.

READING CHURCHES WEEKEND MASS TIMES:

CHRIST THE KING Sat 6.30pm & Sun 10am

ENGLISH MARTYRS Sat 6.30pm, Sun 9.30am, 11.30am & 5pm

OUR LADY OF PEACE Sun 9am, 11am & 5pm

ST JAMES Sat 6pm, Sun 11am

ST JOHN BOSCO Sat 6.30pm & Sun 10am

ST WILLIAM OF YORK Sun 9am, 11am & 6pm

NEXT MEETING DATES: 5th Sept - NO Prayer Group 3rd Woodley St John Bosco Scout Group: Term Time Only Beavers: Mon 6.00 - 7.00 pm Cubs: Thu 6.30 - 8.30pm Scouts Mon 7.30 - 9.30pm

THE SANCTUARY LAMPS FOR WEEK:

4th to 10th September is dedicated to: Main Church: John & Bridget Daly Lady Chapel:

ST JOHN BOSCO BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

Please keep in your prayers all those with Anniversaries in September

Peggy Murphy + Heather Chandler + Kathleen Henson + Rita Jacobs + Josie Mannion + Laurence Keenan + Harold Guttridge+ Adela Lukomska + Yvonne Young +

BLESSING OF THE “NEW” PARISH CENTRE Will take place shortly, date & time To be confirmed

JOINT CELEBRATION

ST JOHN BOSCO CHURCH AND ST DOMINIC SAVIO SCHOOL

CARDINAL NEWMAN CELEBRATION will take place on Saturday, 8th October and will be led by the

British Community of our parish. More details to follow.

MINISTERS FOR NEXT WEEKEND

10th/11th September

Readers Saturday Rita Belletty Neil Oxley Sunday Nicole Wilford Nick Lamb Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Saturday D Cramp M Eames R Toms Sunday G Siveter A + Altar N Lamb B + Altar M Tilney C + Altar M Dodd D + Altar L Guttridge Altar only

There will be a joint celebration of the 50th Anniversary of St Dominic Savio school and the 70th Anniversary of

our Parish on Friday, 7th October 2016 at 1.30pm.

FAREWELL & WELCOME Farewell to those parishioners

who have relocated (James, Lucy Maruithi and family and Rachel and Graham Morfill and family. We wish you luck in your new

homes. A warm welcome to all who have recently moved to our

parish, could you make your-selves known to the parish office

and to the parish priest.

RECENTLY DIED: Colin Jones

Passed away on Sunday, 28th August. Our sympathy to his partner Ying, daughter Lauren, son Brendon and all his family. May he rest in peace.