| Letter from Fr Mark McManus 30th September |
| Dear Parishioners of St Joseph's & St Charles, |
| Today, 7 October, is CAFOD's Harvest Fast Day. There are envelopes in the church for you to make a donation this Sunday should you wish.
A Union of Catholic Mothers Meeting The Union of Catholic Mothers has been active in St Joseph's parish for over 80 years having been founded on 21 May, 1941. We have had an almost three-year gap in service and will resume our meetings on Saturday, 8 October, in the undercroft, entry via cemetery, at 10am. Our aims and objectives are listed below and a link to the National website to which we are affiliated. New members are always welcome, if you're just curious come along for a chat and a cuppa. UCM Aims & Objectives:
Registration for First Holy Communion 2023 Applications for children (who started in Year 3 or above at school this September) to celebrate their First Holy Communion in 2023 are now being invited. Please speak with Fr M after Mass for the registration form. All applications should be received and completed by Sunday, 27 November. I kindly remind parents that your support and active encouragement are vital in helping your child's faith to grow, most especially in regularly attending Sunday Mass. Christian parents are called to teach our children all they need to know about how to live on earth so that they may come to eternal life in heaven. N.B. There are some changes to next year's programme and how we will celebrate this important event. Please see this letter and dates. November Memorial Dead List 2022 - 2023 Beginning in November we offer Masses for the Parish November Memorial Dead List throughout the year. If you would like to enrol a loved one on the list so that they will be included in these Masses, please write the names of your deceased family, friends and benefactors, and put it, together with your offering, into an envelope marked 'Dead List'. Finally, the Blessing of Graves & Prayers for the Dead will take place in the cemetery following the 10.00am Mass on All Souls Day, Wednesday, 2 November. Commemoration of the Dead, Saturday, 12 November I would like to offer a Mass of Commemoration of the Dead on Saturday, 12 November, at 10.00am for those who have died from March 2020 onwards, and their bereaved families and friends. In order to help commemorate people, I invite you to bring a photograph (preferably framed) or some other personal memento that can be displayed during this Mass. This commemoration is for anyone, not just members of our parishes or other Catholics. Many people could not, for example, attend the funerals of dear friends, due to the limit on numbers or the restrictions surrounding travel, especially abroad. If you would like the name of someone who has died during this period to be added to this Mass then please e-mail or hand it to me or our deacon, Simon, in writing before then. All are welcome. Finally, here are this week's newsletter and intentions. Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us. St Joseph, pray for us. St Charles Borromeo, pray for us. With my prayers, Rev. Mark McManus Parish Priest |