Dear Brothers & Sisters
Today Cardinal Vincent Nichols has sent us an important message about a bill laid before Parliament last week:
The Assisted Dying Bill makes it possible for people to help others commit suicide. Here are some reasons why Christians and people of good will, wish to oppose it:
(i) Extreme emotional examples of people dying in great pain are often presented in support of suicide, but good palliative care has made this a thing of the past.
(ii) Once assisted suicide is approved by the law, a key protection of human life falls away. Pressure then mounts on those who are nearing death to end their life ‘so as not to be a burden’ to the family, or to avoid pain, or for an inheritance.
(iii) Despite pious assurances of safeguards in every single country in which such a law has been passed, the cases when taking of life is allowed, get widened & widened, making assisted suicide, medical killing & euthanasia more & more available.
(iv) Our moods change! On Monday we may feel suicidal, but by Friday we are on top of the world. Many of us have known bouts of depression, after illness, a setback or even childbirth. Is it right to help someone opt for suicide in the midst of this?
(v) Life is a gift from God. It is not our place to decide when the gift is ‘useless’. Nor should another person put pressure on us to make us feel that way.
What can we do? Write this week to our local MP explaining why their natural desire to ease pain may actually result in immense tragic & irreversible suffering if they vote for this bill. Many MPs do change their view when the implications of this bill are explained to them.
In this month of the Holy Rosary, we ask our Mother Mary to bring peace, hope & safety for all who are vulnerable.
Fr.Biju scj Parish Priest
*********************
SCJ News: Italy: Parma is more than ham! The Parma diocese is made up of 56 pastoral units each entrusted to a Pastor. On Sunday, 22 September, Fr. Aldo Nespoli, scj (formerly in charge of students) and Fr Pietro Felet scj (formerly in charge of the Bethlehem community) were officially welcomed by the bishop of Parma Mgr. Enrico Solmi as assistant pastors in one of these pastoral units: Saint Francis of Assisi.
*********************
FRIARY SNIPPETS
Journey in Faith our parish programme for those who would like to be received into the Catholic Church started Monday, with joy and enthusiasm.
* Runs every Monday 7.30pm till Easter.
* Are you searching & like to join JIF?
* Please speak to Fr Biju or Fr Austin.
* Anyone among your friends who’d like to make the journey too……..…?
Autumn & Winter events coming up:
* Bingo Night Sat 9 November –
* Christmas market Sat 16 Nov 11am - 2pm
* Christmas Wreath making Fri 22 Nov-6pm
* Christmas Wreath making Sat 23 Nov-11am
* Polar Express Movie Night 1 Fri 6 Dec –
* Parish & School Christmas Fayre Sat 7 Dec
* Polar Express Movie Night 2 Fri 13 Dec -
* Parish Carol Service Sat 14 Dec
Jubilee Mass Sunday 29th December 2024 Feast of The Holy Family and Jubilee Mass at 11.00a.m. for couples who’ve celebrated a significant Wedding Anniversary in 2024. If you’ve a special anniversary: 1st,25th,30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th, 55th, 60th …Please call Fr Biju, the office or the Wedding Team – weddings@oltonfriary.org.uk if you’d like to receive a special blessing at this Mass.
Annual Celebration of Life Mass will take place on Saturday 9 November at 10.15am
*********************
Marriage matters: TWENTY NINTH SUNDAY
Isaiah 53: 10-11 Heb 4: 4-6 Mark 10: 35-45
Today we are reminded that Jesus turned all worldly values upside down. When we place our faith in God’s saving love & copy that in our marriage, we too, despite our faults & failings, are renewed & made strong in our love for each other. More we give love away the more it grows!
*********************
Jubilee Mass Sunday 29th December 2024 Feast of The Holy Family and Jubilee Mass at 11.00a.m. for couples who’ve celebrated a significant Wedding Anniversary in 2024. If you’ve a special anniversary: 1st,25th,30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th, 55th, 60th …Please call Fr Biju, the office or the Wedding Team – weddings@oltonfriary.org.uk if you’d like to receive a special blessing at this Mass .
Big thanks to the secret army of cleaners who keep our church tidy during the year: Week starting October 20 Group A
Please pray for our dead.. Anita Donnelly (from OLC) Simon Christopher Doherty -Funeral 23rd October 11.30am. Vigil 22 October 7pm May they rest in peace.
Meditation in Acocks Green - upcoming dates: 21 Oct, 11 & 25 Nov & 9 Dec. Meet 1.00pm -Holy Souls parish meeting room.
Justice and Peace Interfaith Conference Tues 12 Nov 2024 at Engineering Building, Coventry University, 5pm to 9pm Everyone welcome! Please book on using this link https://bit.ly/JandPassembly2024. See poster in Narthex.
200 Club 2025 Rising costs force increase in 200 Club annual subs to £30.00. If you pay by standing order, please get your bank to amend the payment. Thanks for supporting 200 Club. We hope you’ll be able to continue supporting the parish.
Prayer & Pilgrimage
St. Margaret Clitherow Pilgrimage 26 & 27
Oct. 24. See shrine of St.Margaret Clitherow & see her relics at the Bar Convent & visit place of execution. Run by Young Catholic Adults & Traditional English Association of Catholic History. All welcome. Come to as much or as little of the pilgrimage as you want. Book this free pilgrimage via:- https://bookwhen.com/youngcatholicadults-yorkpilgrimage2024
Lourdes Pilgrimage 2025 Jubilee Year Our Archbp. Bernard invites you join the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage this year Sat 24 –Fri 30 May 2025. Get info by scanning QR code or see www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/lourdes
******Retreats at Stonyhurst ********
(i) Pray with St.Dominic 1-3 Nov
Retreat led by Fr Lawrence Lew OP. Based on St.Dominic’s life and teaching. Info & booking: https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/praying-with-saint-dominic/
(ii) Be Still and Know that I am God 21–24 Nov Join Fr Roger Dawson, SJ, for this retreat exploring mindfulness & Christian Contemplative prayer, rooted in monastic & Eastern Orthodox traditions. For info:
https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/be-still-and-know-that-i-am-god/
November Blessing of Graves:
Oscott Cemetery Sat 2 Nov 3pm. Parking at Oscott College, not cemetery
Brandwood End & Quinton 2.00pm Nov 3 Lodge Hill & Kings Norton 2.00pm Nov 10 Widney Manor (upper part) 2.00pm Nov 10 Widney Manor (lower part) 2.00pm Nov 17 Robin Hood & Wythall 2.00pm Nov 24
**********************************
REGULAR ACTIVITIES IN OUR PARISH HALL
Monday Zumba 1.30 - 2.30 & 7 - 8pm
Tuesday Latin & Ballroom Dancing 10.30 -12 noon & 7.30 - 9.30pm. Yoga 5:45 - 7:00pm
Tuesday U3A (2nd Tuesday, monthly)
Wednesday Stroke Club 9am - 1.30pm. Slimming World 2.30 - 8.30
Thursday Zumba 11am - 12 Noon. U3A Quiz (2nd Thursday monthly) Fitness Pilates (term time) 6.30 - 8.30pm
Friday Yoga 10.45am - 12.00 noon
PARISH CENSUS: Please fill in details online or manually. Info? Email:
martin.hayden@oltonfriary.org.uk or call office 0121 706 0505.
https://forms.office.com/e/dHWqGN3HG2
Safeguarding: Our Parish follows correct safeguarding policy & practice at all times. Safeguarding Parish Reps: Carol Foster & Maureen Treanor: sg.oltonfriary.solihull@rcaob.org.uk Diocese Rep: Claire Reay: safeguarding@rcaob.org.uk Call 0121 230 6240 for any concern or query
The Parish operates in accordance with Statutory Safeguarding Guidance and the National and Archdioceses policies & procedures at all times. Our Parish Safeguarding Representative is Carol Foster and Maureen Treanor. They can be contacted at: sg.oltonfriary.solihull@rcaob.org.uk or alternatively the Diocesan Safeguarding team can be contacted on 0121 230 6240
safeguarding@rcaob.org.uk if you have any concern.
**************************************************************************
Security Please do not leave any belongings unattended in the benches while receiving Holy Communion as there has been a recent incident.
************************************************************
PARISH GROUPS—Please check your information posted on the Parish website. Any updates/corrections/alterations, please email the parish office.
SOLIHULL/HEARTLANDS HOSPITAL Please ask hospital Switchboard for on-call Catholic Priest 0121 424 2000, & they will call the duty Priest. Catholic Chaplain at Solihull & Heartlands is Fr Roger Raven. Data Protection law means visit from priest must be actively sought. He doesn't have access to patient files.
CAR PARK - Please be considerate when parking/manoeuvring your car and please note the disabled parking bays are for the use of those with disabled badges, there is no parking in either the Community and Staff designated areas and the front & rear of The Friary Residential block. When parking on a Sunday, please do not park on or drive over the grass adjacent to the gate leading into the graveyard. Only authorised cars to park at other times, by arrangement with the Parish Priest.
HALL BOOKINGS from external groups, particularly regular users are a useful income toward the upkeep of the Church. If access is needed to hall or kitchen during these times, please liaise with the Parish office or Community first.
CREMATION PLOTS (newer area) Following previous notes re- borders & stones barred for H&S danger to graveyard volunteers; please also note that plots are set out in vertical strips, in plots for two. So borders & stones added around memorial tablets are encroaching on the space of a loved one, and should be removed.
GOING TO HOSPITAL -Please let your parish priest know if you’re going into hospital. On admission ask for the Catholic chaplain as Chaplains no longer receive names of Catholic patients unless they opt in.
SECURITY NOTICE - Please ensure Friary doors are kept closed & locked when necessary. If you attend a meeting please make sure that the last one out has secured the outside doors. The front door should not be left on the hook unattended. Besides Church security, the Friary is home to priests & brothers who need to know they are safe.
CHARITY COLLECTION BOXES for SVP and St Basil’s charities are built into the left and right hand sides, at the back of the Church. Built-in boxes can be found in the narthex for St Anthony’s bread (used to help the poor in the local area) and Holy Souls (used for Mass intentions for Holy Souls).
FLOODLIGHT DEDICATION—You are able to have the Church floodlit in memory of someone. A suggested donation is £10 a week, the name of the person in whose memory it is in would appear in the newsletter. Forms are available in narthex, or from parish office.
THE SICK OF OUR PARISH - If your name or the name of a friend or relative was on the parish list of prayers for the sick, and you would like that name to remain on the list, would you please contact the Parish Office on 0121 706 0505. Data protection law obliges us to ensure that you or your friend or family member has consented to being on the list, as it can be seen by many, (e.g. church notice board) and is available for anyone to pick up. We make great efforts to ensure the church abides by new data protection and privacy law.
VISITORS - If you wish to gift aid your offertory donation, white visitor envelopes are available in the narthex.
VEHICLE CRIME ALERT - The neighbourhood Policing Team would like to draw your attention to an increase in vehicle crime in the area. 5 crime reduction tips—ALWAYS close the windows and doors in your vehicle, DON'T leave any valuables on display and where possible do not leave ANY valuables in the vehicle such as Satnavs, Mobile Phones, Wallets, Purses, Bags or iPods, ENSURE your registration plates are fixed using 'anti tamper screws', KEEP your car keys in a safe place in your house.
SAFEGUARDING - In this parish there have been strict guidelines in place for several years for the protection of children and vulnerable persons. Anyone with a concern about safeguarding issues should ring the Diocesan Safeguarding Office on 0121 230 6240.
KEEP YOUR VALUABLES SAFE - Please do not leave bags unattended in Church, even at Communion time. Bags and valuables should not be left on display in cars as this can present a target for thieves.