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 Sunday 6 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)
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.
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
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