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 29th October 2017 Susan Salam Sunday 5th November 2017 Vera Whyte Sunday 12th November 2017 Sarah Reynia Sunday 19th November 2017 Ann Glennon Sunday 26th November 2017 Caroline Holland 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. 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

November 2nd Seated Exercise November 16th Christmas Arts & Crafts November 23rd Christmas Market at Bath December 16th Trip to Leicester Market, Lunch & Mass with Fr Denis at the school. January 11th 2018 Pantomime at the Hippodrome

Homeless Christmas Party

The Parish SVP are inviting parishioners to join them and Bishop Robert Byrne on Saturday 16 December to help serve Christmas dinner to up to 200 homeless men and women. Volunteers will need to be available from between 2-8pm as din-ner will be served from 5pm. This year’s venue is St Phillip’s Anglican Cathedral in Birmingham City Centre. Please contact the parish office or call the SVP mobile if you are able to help us make this Christmas a better one for those in need. Thank you!

Plan-it homecare Limited are recruiting carers in this area now—Earn upto £10 per hr, payment during training, vehicles & fuel provid-ed. For more information contact 01564 776094 or visit www.planithomecare.co.uk

Coffee Shop

at St Benedict’s, Batchley

Wednesdays

10am—12noon

Legion of Mary Mondays 10am Parish Centre All welcome

CHARITY DANCE Friday 24th November at St Benedict’s

Dancing to ‘Irene & Tom’ 8pm-late Tickets £5

All proceeds in aid of the Redditch Catholic Fellowship’s Christmas Party

APF Missio Red Box Holders

2018 Calendars available at back of

church and in porches

CAFOD World Gifts Christmas Catalogue Available this weekend

to take home

Reflection for this weekend ….

Faith should not be used as a barrier against grief. Some-times people say about someone who does not grieve, ‘What great faith he or she has!’ But even Christ grieved. To grieve over the loss of a loved one is a good and neces-sary thing. While faith doesn’t do away with the necessity of grieving, it is a wonderful comfort and support at a time of death. Paul says, ‘We believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Christ … Comfort one another with these thoughts.’ Faith doesn’t dispense us from grieving. What it does do is enable us to grieve with hope.

Remembrance Sunday

The 11.15am Mass this weekend is the Mass for the Dead to remember all those who have given their lives serving in our armed forces in pursuit of peace. Poppies are available either from the Sacristy or the church porches.

Blessing of Graves this Sunday

Beginning with a short service in the Abbey chapel at 3pm.

Mass for deceased parishioners

7pm Thursday 28th November

Friends of the Holy Land

is a national charity based in Kenilworth, helping the Christians in the Holy Land. At all Masses this weekend there will be a short presentation followed by a retiring collection. If you are a UK taxpayer please complete a Gift Aid envelope to increase your donation to the FHL by 25%. For more information, phone 01926 512980, email office@friendsoftheholyland.org.uk, or visit their website www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk

THE PARISH SVP are in desperate need of jars of

coffee to help with their soup kitchens and outreach work in Birmingham and Redditch. If you can help please leave your donation at the back of church or at the Parish Office. Thank you!

Exploring the World of the Bible

Next session 11am Friday 1st December in Parish Centre

Thankyou … for the generosity shown towards the

collection for Fr Cornelius who will leaving us to return to Camaroon on December 14th. The presentation to Father will take place at the Christmas Bazaar on the 25th Nov.

Saturday

25th November

St Bede’s School

12 noon-3pm

Raffle Tickets-please take some home with you! Father Christmas, Christmas Stall, Piety, Gaelic Coffees, Tombola, Refreshments, Grand Raffle and much more— Wanted Donations of prize money £200, £100, £50 (given)

Wines & Spirits, Cuddly Toys CHILDREN’S BOOKS ONLY, jigsaws, cakes, chocolates, biscuits, Christmas Decorations, bottles for the tombola. children’s sweets for lucky dip bags, good quality unwanted gifts. If you can’t attend, why not make a donation. PLEASE NO BRIC-A-BRAC, ELECTRICAL ITEMS OR JUMBLE

Carmelite Spirituality Group Meeting

Next Saturday 18th November 11.15—2.45 upstairs in the parish centre. At 1pm there will be an illustrated talk by Rev John Marsh about his personal experiences on the Camino de Santiago de Compostella. We regret there is no lift. All welcome

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 1786 THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A 12TH NOVEMBER 2017

Parish Mass Book 87 Wisdom 6:12-16, Psalm 62, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Gospel Matthew 25:1-13

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

Stations of the Cross

Fridays at 10am

after Mass

Wear RED, light RED Get ready to stand up for

FAITH and FREEDOM on Red-Wednesday 22nd November Holy Hour in Mount Carmel 6pm-7pm with Rosary & Benediction for PEACE Freedom to believe—or not to believe—is a fundamental human right. Today however, Christians and many others around the world face threats, persecution, torture and death for their faith.

Mass Times & Intentions

Thirty-second Sunday of the Year Cycle A

Week beginning Sunday 12th November 2017

Saturday Mount Carmel 5.00 pm Elizabeth & John Morrissey Hadzor 4.00 pm Blessing of Graves 5.00 pm Francis Noonan

Sunday Mount Carmel 8.15 am Eddie & Norah O’Hara (a) 9.45 am Mass in Polish 11.15 am Brigit Brewster (b’day a) 3.00 pm Blessing Graves 5.00 pm Reception of Body Ita Hayes 6.00 pm Patrick McCormack (a) Alvechurch 9.45 am George, Valerie, Peter & Paddy Higgins Feckenham 10.15 am People of the Parish

Monday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Deceased members of the Legion of Mary Patricia Gordon (a) 2.00 pm Funeral Mass Ita Hayes

Tuesday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Patrick & Elizabeth Flahive 6.00 pm Latin Mass (EF) Bernadette Howard (a) Mt Carmel Sch 9.20 am School Mass Galton Trust

Wednesday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Holy Souls 5.00 pm Mass in Polish

Thursday

Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Eugene Kirk (sick) 6.30 pm Exposition 7.00 pm Sp Int Michal Lebioda

Friday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Holy Souls 10.00 am Stations of the Cross 5.00 pm Mass in Polish St Bede’s Sch 2.15 pm Y6 Class Mass (6DM) Abigail Brown

Saturday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Marium (a)

(The following fulfils Sunday Obligation) Mount Carmel 5.00 pm Rose Manners (a) Hadzor 5.00 pm Galton Trust

Thirty-third Sunday of the Year Cycle A

Week beginning Sunday 19th November 2017 Mount Carmel 8.15 am James & Eileen Herlihy 9.45 am Mass in Polish 11.15 am Tim Herlihy (a) 6.00 pm Owen, Carmel & Michael Grady Alvechurch 9.45 am George Robins (a) Feckenham 10.15 am People of the Parish

Parish Diary ….

Sunday Thirty-second Sunday of the Year, Cycle A, Psalter Wk 4 6.30pm Churches together in Alvechurch & Rowney Green Joint Service at Rowney Green Church

Counting Team D (swapped with E) Monday 10am Legion of Mary in Parish Centre 7pm Mount Carmel Choir Practice 7.30pm Narcotics Anonymous in Parish Centre

Thursday 7.30pm Journey in Faith in the Parish Centre

Friday 10am Stations of the Cross in Mount Carmel 7pm-9pm Redditch Catholic Fellowship Social at Batchley

Saturday 11.15am Redditch Carmelite Spirituality Group in PC Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 5pm Mass Parish Council Annual General Meeting Tea & Coffee after 5pm Hadzor in the Newman Room

Flowers : Jane Craig & Monica Whitmore Sunday Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Yr A, Psalter Wk 1

Counting Team F

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ST THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC FIRST

SCHOOL OPEN DAY

Tuesday 14th November 1.15pm—2.30pm or contact the school to make an appointment 01527 525821

What’s on ……….

Sister Act—the Musical performed by the Redditch Operat-

ic Society Tuesday 21-Saturday 25 November at the Palace Thea-tre, 7.30pm nightly with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets from Mrs Ann Duffin 01527 527363 or David Cruise 01527 450756

Redditch Choral Society Christmas Concert—Carols

and Messiah. Saturday 2nd December at 7.30pm in St Stephen’s Church. Tickets £12 from St Stephen’s

The Redditch Orchestra presents ‘Christmas Favourites’

Saturday 2nd December at the Oasis Church, Plymouth Road Tickets £12 Concessions £10 Children Free. Tel 07941 692879

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

The Parish Safeguarding Representatives are

Mrs Jane Craig & Mrs Linda Gordon

Wednesday Saint Albert the Great

St Albert was born in Lauingen, Germany, about the year 1206. Following studies a Padua and Paris he entered the Dominican Order. He was an outstanding natural scientist and taught St Thomas Aquinas. He was the bishop of Regensberg. He died at Cologne in the year 1280.

Thursday Saint Edmund of Abingdon or of

Saint Margaret of Scotland or of

Saint Gertrude

(1046-1093) St Margaret was the granddaughter of King Edmund Ironside of England but was born while in exile in Hungary. In 1070 she married King Malcolm III of Scotland and had eight children, three of whom reigned as Kings of Scotland including King David I. Remarkable for her piety and works of charity, St Margaret co-founded Dunfermline Abbey. She is secondary patron of Scotland. (1256-1302) St Gertrude was born in Eisleben, Germany and joined the Benedictine convent in Helfta. She showed great talent in her philosophical and literary studies but is best known for her mystical writings. She had a marked devotion to the Holy Souls of Purgatory and to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which later developed into its modern form with the visions of St Margaret Mary. (1175-1240) St Edmund was born in Abingdon, England and studied at Oxford and Paris. He lectured for a time at Oxford before becoming treasurer at Salisbury and then, in 1223, Arch-bishop of Canterbury. With the help of a strong team, which included St Richard of Chichester, he did much to reform ecclesi-astical discipline and defend the rights of the Church. He died in 1340 at Soisy, France, while on his way to Rome, and was buried at nearby Pontigny. He gave his name to the Order of St Edmund, founded in Pontigny in 1843, and colleges at Oxford, Cambridge and Old Hall Green.

Friday Saint Hilda or of

Saint Hugh of Lincoln or of

St Elizabeth of Hungary

St Hilda was born in Northumbria and baptised by St Paulinus of York. She was abbess of Whitby, where she convened a Synod to bring peace to the Church. She died in 680. St Hugh was born in France; he entered the Grand Chartreuse monastery. In 1185 he became the bishop of Lincoln. He was renowned for his care for the sick and the oppressed. He died in 1200. St Elizabeth was born in 1207. She married and was widowed at a young age. Following her husband’s death, she built a hospice and cared for the sick. She died in 1231 aged 24.

Saturday Dedication of the Basilicas of

Ss Peter & Paul or of

Our Lady on Saturday

These two great basilicas in Rome has housed the tombs of the Apostles St peter and St Paul since the time of Constantine in the early 4th century. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you . . .

Ann Smith thanks everyone who supported the Charity Peru Sale last Saturday 4th November, the magnificent total of £1,052.00 was raised on the day!

Christmas Celebration at St Augustine’s for OAP’s

Monday 11th December 2pm-3.30pm

If you wish to go please call into the parish office to give your name and choose from the menu—this information has to be with the school by the 24th November.

Lamp at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mt Carmel

This week the lamp burns in loving memory of PETER & DAVID McHUGH (ANNIVERSARY) ….. Next week the lamp burns in loving memory of MARY O’BRIEN (ANNIVERSARY)

Lamp at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart

This week the lamp burns in loving memory of AMELIA LORENZANA (ANNIVERSARY) … Next week the lamp burns in loving memory of PATRICK BYRNE (ANNIVERSARY)

For the dead ...

Your prayers are asked for ITA HAYES Reception of Body, Sunday 12th November at 5pm, Funeral Mass 2pm Monday 13th November, PHILIP HADLEY Funeral Mass Friday 24th November at 1.30pm, MARTIN FAWLK Son of Patricia Fawlk, former Headteacher of St Thomas More School, BILL HOPKINS, ABIGAIL BROWN young mother & teacher at Hagley Catholic School, MARY TORSNEY Funeral service 11am Wednesday 29th November at the Abbey Chapel 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, Carmel Fiolka, Fred & Pauline Clarke, Jane-Christina Thomson, Bob & Caroline Holland, Mick Halloran, Chris Figgett, Kitty Fanning, Thomas Henry Burnside, Bridget Heatley, Winifreda Olga Hall, Brian & Devan Dixon, Brian Dixon Snr, Pat Conner, Margaret Daly, Maureen Reavey, Gregory & Linda Daniel, Maura Lee, Sean Harkin, Margaret Clarke, Antho-ny Obinna, Margaret Leonard, Mary Hickey, Bill & Julie Hopkins, Rita Wilson, Pat Davis, Grazyna, Kazik & Krzys Juszkiewicz, Delia Bree, Gino Belmonte, John Henry Birtle, Martin Twomey, Mgt Maddison, Fiona Short, Jane Elliott, Selina Kilker, James Daniel Durrant, Gillian Reeves, Biddy Smith, Andrew Quinn, Christopher Carr, Clive McColgan, Christine Watson, Maria Yates, Mark Yates, Josie Clarke, Stuart Pearson, Mandy Millward Morrissey, Francis & Judith O’Hare, Eugene Kirk, Tom Nicholas

Congratulations …..

We welcome into God’s family LOGAN JAMES SIMMONDS & ALETHIA HARPER LAWLESS baptised last Sunday at Mount Carmel.

Mount Carmel 500 Club—Subs now due

VACANCIES

St Bede’s Catholic Middle School require a Teacher of Girls PE (Maternity Cover) for February 2018. The job description & application forms are available on the school’s website www.st-bedes.worcs.sch.uk Closing date 12 noon Monday 24 November To discuss the post or to arrange a visit, contact Mrs J Bush 01527 525916 or email office@st-bedes.worcs.sch.uk

Mount Carmel School require a lunchtime supervisor, 12-1pm Monday to Friday, term time only. For more information please contact the school office on 01527 546398.

Mount Carmel School due to movement within the school, now have the following pupil vacancies : two in Reception, two in Year 2 and three in Year 4—if you would like to apply for a place in any of these years, please contact the school on 01527 546398

WEEKLY STATISTICS

Weekend 4/5 November 2017 1st Collection £741.57 2nd Collection £346,25 Attendance 745 (No Polish Mass count) These figures do not include Standing Orders

SAINTS & FEASTS FOR THE WEEK …