Welcome

Welcome to the Catholic parish of March and Chatteris.

The Parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel & St Peter

8 St Johns Road, March, PE15 8RJ

Diocese of East Anglia. Registered Charity Number 278742

Serving the communities of March, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington & Doddington

Masses This Week

Lectionary: Sundays Yr A   Weekdays Cycle I Week 1

Sat 18th. First Mass of Sunday6 pm Mass

Sunday 19th​  33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
World Day of the Poor
9 am    Mass Chatteris
11 am  Mass  in  March
(People of the Parish)

Mon 20th  St Edmund No  Mass
 

Tues 21st   The Presentation of Our Lady 10 am Mass

Wed 22nd     St Cecilia​  10 am  Mass at the Convent, Princes Walk

Thur 23rd  10 am Mass

Fri 24th. St Andrew Dung Lac. 10 am Mass

Sat 25th​  First Mass of Sunday   6 pm Mass

Sunday 26th​  Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.  Solemnity.  
Youth Day
9 am    Mass Chatteris
11 am  Mass  in  March
(People of the Parish)

Mon 27th  No  Mass

Tues 28th​  10 am Mass

Wed 29th​  10 am  Mass

Thur 30th    St Andrew Patron of Scotland. 10 am Mass

Fri 1st Dec  10 am Mass

Sat 2nd​  First Mass of Sunday   6 pm Mass

Sunday 3rd​  1st Sunday of Advent
Migrants Day
9 am    Mass Chatteris

11 am  Mass  in  March (People of the Parish)

 


(Confessions are available before Mass)


Please pray for those who are sick or housebound: Fr Ivan Weston, Estelle Misso, Jack Pettingill, Claire Reynolds, Margaret Griffiths, Beryl Dow, Anna Sullivan,  Angela Mattox, Sr Mary Fitzpatrick, Michael Jenner, Iris Dean and all those known to us.

We also remember those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Alan Guy, Fr Ray Kerby, Billy Jones, Naomi Bray-Allen, Mario Zeraschi, Teresa Powell, Mary Staples, Bill Carolan, Gerald Holloway, Jack Moate, George Clements, John Negus, Mary Bristow, Philip Moore, Margaret Watkins, Jim Page and Anita Neave.


News and Events 

Please join us for teas and coffees in the hall after 11 am Mass each Sunday


Wednesday Evening Prayer:  You are warmly invited to join us for Evening Prayer on Zoom, every Wednesday at 5.00 pm for 5.15 pm. This is prayer and hymns based on the psalms, scripture readings and Mary’s prayer, The Magnificat.

There is a zoom community of over 20 people. Please feel free to join them – once or regularly.  

If you are new to the prayer meetings, please request a Zoom link by emailing fmmputney2021@gmail.com


Shoebox Appeal: Please see the notice board for details of this year’s shoebox appeal.


2024 Missio Calendars are now available on the table in the hall porch.


Financial Matters

Thank you for the recent Sunday Collections.

5th November: £284.63 plus standing orders

Now that our branch of NatWest has closed in March, all collection money has to be taken to Wisbech. If you are able to help, please consider setting up a standing order instead of cash using the following details:

Bank; NatWest Bank
Account Name: Our Lady’s RC Church
Sort Code 53 – 81 – 42
Account Number 86729101
Please add your name in the reference box

Please make cheques payable to ‘Our Lady’s RC Church’

We are still carrying a large debt on our hall (funded by a Diocese loan) and whilst our outgoings are relatively light at the moment our main source of income is the weekly offertory. 

The offertory is to support your Priest, the church and the poor.


A community of worship

Christ is always present in his Church…He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass not only in the person of His minister …. But especially in the Eucharistic species. By His power He is present in his sacraments… He is present in His word…He is present finally when the Church prays and sings… Adapted from Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.

The above words reminds us how the presence of Christ is our business.
Challenges – are we discussing and talking about the call to priesthood with our children and grandchildren?

Would you be willing to serve at Mass?

Would you present bread and wine?

Present in the Eucharistic species – remember that Jesus Christ is present in our Church in the tabernacle!

In His Word – would you consider reading at Mass?

Would you think about helping visitors and newcomers find their way around?

When the Church prays and sings – what about helping our musicians, finding time for personal prayer etc.?


If I, your Lord and master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash each others, feet” John 13. 14

Practical service in our parish:
1 Cleaning and gardening
A small number of people keep our church and front garden clean and tidy – one hour a month could achieve a lot. If you are interested please contact Lesley Kennedy via marchcatholicpriest@gmail.com

2 Counting the collection
This requires about 1 hour per week. Contact Richard Ramsay if you can help please on marchrcnewsletter@gmail.com

2b Finance Committee and Treasurer
A Finance Committee is a requirement of canon law. This is a group of people willing to advise on how we manage our money e.g. if we need a repair to our heating system would you help check estimates etc.
If you can manage a household budget and look after your own property you are probably qualified. Please speak to Father Nicholas about this.

2c Treasurer – we have to keep track of our income and expenditure and prepare annual returns for the diocese. Much of the work is done through the bank but we need someone familiar with internet banking and spread sheets to help with this.

3 Our Service should go beyond the Church door
Can you help with the Food Bank and Christians against Poverty – see notice
Can you help visit housebound people in our own parish – contact Father Nicholas if you are interested.

 


You  will  be  my  witnesses  …. to  the  ends  of the  earth  (Acts 1.8)

How  are  we  witnesses  as a  parish ?

Catechesis”   comes   from a   Greek  word   meaning   to  hold  on  to  or  possess  –  so  it  means  knowing  what  we  have  as  Catholic  Christians.

At  a  baptism  the  new  Christians    ears and  lips   are  blessed  with the  following   words :

May  the  Lord  open  your   ears  to  hear  his   word  and  your  mouth  to  speak  his  praise.

In  catechism  we   discover  then  what  we  have  been  given,  so  that  we  can  pass  it  on  to  others.

WE  have the  following  opportunities:

Children’s  liturgy 

This  takes  place  during  the  first  part  of  our  Sunday  11am  Mass  and  is  directed  at  children  under  7. It  is  not  a  lesson  but  an  opportunity  to  explore  and  pray  about t he  readings  of  the  Mass  in  a  way  suited   to  their  age.

First  Communion  Preparation

This  is   available   for  children  aged   7  and  above.  Our  present  course  is   about   to  conclude  with  the   celebration  of  First  Communion  on  11th  June.

What  we  need  :

Catechesis   for   children  aged   10  and   above. This   would  include   preparation  for   Confirmation

Catechists

Can  you  help  ?

Please  speak  to  Father  Nicholas  or   Mrs  Theresa   Cannon  if  you  are  interested

What  about  the   grown -ups  ?

We  all  need  some   input  at  different   times. WE  have  had  talks  after  weekday  Mass  and   in  the  evening.  WE  are   investigating  widening  our  scope  through  use  of   zoom  or   Facebook.  Could   you  help  ?

Why  do  all  this  –  what  we  know  a bout  we  can  talk  about  and   act  on   so  that  we  can  become  bearers  of   Good  News  for t he  people  around  us  !



If you are willing to take on the administration for the red Missio Boxes please contact Fr Nicholas or email marchrcnewsletter@gmail.com. Training will be provided.


Interested in working with children and young people?

Leaving  school or university in the summer and deciding what to do next? In between jobs, or would like to do something ‘different’? The Diocesan Youth Service is looking for people age 18-35 to join the Ignite Team, sharing the Gospel Message with young people. These are full-time positions initially for either 12 months (September intake) or 6 months (January intake), with training, food, accommodation and a monthly allowance provided. For more information see www.rcdea.org.uk/youth


Do you play a musical instrument? The music group play at the 11 am Mass about once a month. All ages and skills welcome. If interested, please email marchrcnewsletter@gmail.com


Readers required for Mass: If you are happy to read at the 6pm or 11am Masses, please email marchrcnewsletter@gmail.com or contact Fr Nicholas.


WE DESPERATELY NEED PEOPLE TO KEEP THE CHURCH AND HALL ETC. CLEAN AND TIDY. ALSO TO DO WEEDING IN FRONT OF CHURCH.

Many hands make light work. If anyone can manage 1 or 2 hours a month, that will be very helpful.

Please contact Lesley to join the rota on 07947143864 or 01354 680401


 

Parish Contacts

• Parish Priest: Fr Nicholas Kearney 01354 650788 email: marchcatholicpriest@gmail.com
• Deacon: Rev Martin Wells 01354 741488 email: mwells42@btinternet.com
• Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (fmm) 01354 652266 
• Newsletter: Please submit items for consideration to: marchrcnewsletter@gmail.com
• All Saints Inter-Church Academy Primary, County Road March 01354 659000
• Please visit the Parish website for the latest updates: https://www.catholicchurchmarch.co.uk/

May God bless you and keep you safe this week