Mohammed’s Story

Mohammed is 14 years old. He lives with his Mum, Dad, brothers and sisters in a village in Kenema, Sierra Leone, one of the poorest countries in the world, which has experienced eleven years of civil war.

When peace came, Mohammed started school, but the family could not continue to afford the books and fees so instead he had to work on the family farm. He works very hard in very hot, dangerous and backbreaking conditions.

As we explore deeper during Lent ourselves, our faith and our relationship with God and the people around us, it roots us in Christ. Through fasting, prayer and reflection we can nurture those roots.

Mohammed’s dream is to finish his education and not live in poverty, so CAFOD is asking that we DIG DEEP into the roots of our faith, in solidarity with those who go hungry, and into our pockets, to be as generous as we can this Fast Day so Mohammed’s family can be helped to improve their crop output, to have surplus to sell so that Mohammed can return to school.

With your inspiring love, Redeemer of all,

May the shoots of our potential break free

And our hands, voices and spirits toil in Communion

So that your garden of plenty can be shared by all.

Sunday 9th March

First Sunday of Lent

Year A

Readings:

First Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

Psalm 50

Second Romans 5:12-19

Gospel Matthew 4:1-11

Psalm Response

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Retiring Collection:

Caritas/CAFOD

Rosary & Benediction Friary 4pm

Sunday Evening Prayer: 7pm in St. Clare’s Chapel

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Evening Prayer: Dominican Convent, Gossops Green, 5.30pm

The Coming Week

Wednesday, 12th March

Adoration Friary 8.00am, finishing with Benediction at 3pm

Requiem Mass

Friary 12.15pm Ronald Pattenden R.I.P followed by burial at Snell Hatch.

Friday 14th March

CAFOD Lenten Fast Day

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Christ the Lord 9.05am – 10.00am

Friary: after the 12.15pm Mass followed by Benediction at 4pm.

Requiem Mass

Friary 12.15pm Frank Bilotto R.I.P followed by burial at Snell Hatch.

General Notices

 

Stations of the Cross during Lent

Tuesdays:

6pm at St. Bernadette’s.

Wednesday:

10.30am Our Lady’s

Thursday:

9.30am St Theodore’s

Friday:

9am Christ the Lord

7pm Friary

Lenten Groups

Thursday 3pm at Dominican Convent Gossops Green.

Child Protection Paperwork

The next session for signing Safeguarding/Child Protection paperwork and meeting with the Safeguarding/Child Protection representatives, will be on Thursday, 13th March, in the Friary Hall Meeting Room from 7.45pm – 9.00pm. Please call the Parish Office to make an appointment.

CAFOD Lent Fast Day

Friday, 14th March. Envelopes will be on Newsletters this weekend ready to be brought back the following weekend of 15th/16th March. Some ideas for action during Lent: buy Fairtrade, cut waste and eat sustainably to help ensure that everyone around the world has enough to eat too. Please Gift Aid your donation.

St. Patrick’s Dance

Saturday, 15th March at St Edward’s Social Club, for all Crawley Parishioners, dancing to Boxly with great lady singer. Entrance is £7.00 and tickets in advance from bar or call Gerry Lydon 882300.

CAFOD Soup Lunch

Friday, 21st March, 12 noon to 3pm at the Friary Hall. Homemade soup and raffle prizes welcome. Please phone Min 884934 or Anna Cooke 529018. Thank you.

Furniture for those in need

We appeal for a bunk bed, a double buggy and a wardrobe. Please call SVP 07500 484058.

SVP Quiz

The Annual Quiz Night returns to the Friary Hall on Saturday, 29th March at 7:30 pm, hosted by Mike Buckell. Entry is £5 per person, pay on the door. We are raising money to help the needy of our parish through SVP, and invite all Churches and Groups to send their teams. Up to eight in a team.

Groceries for those in need – Milestone

At the end of January SVP completed one year supporting a total of 46 families with over 800 food parcels. Thank you for your continuing generosity.

Friary Car Park

Reminders:

- Car park closed on Wednesday 12th March and Friday 14th March until 1.30pm. Access for Mass and funerals only.

-Priority is for 12.15pm Mass goers from 12 noon Monday to Friday.

-Permits for 12.15pm Mass goers (who do not have full permits) are for this mass only. They do NOT include shopping time.

-11.30am Mass on Sunday is very busy. If you arrive after Mass start time please be prepared to park elsewhere as both front and rear car parks will be full and the full sign will be on the gate. There is no parking in front of the barrier in the rear car park please. Parking ONLY within white line space.

Day of Prayer and Reflection

Saturday, 12th April 10.30 – 3.30pm at the Dominican Convent, Gossops Green. £5 donation towards costs. Theme – ‘The Pascal Mystery in our everyday life’. Bring a packed lunch. All welcome.

Journey into Faith

Anyone wishing to join the course, which is for adults enquiring about Confirmation, Reception into the Church and Baptism, please contact Fr. Chris.

Womens’ World Day of Prayer

– annual service is on 7th March at 10am in the Friary Church, written by the Christian Women of Egypt.

This is Crawley’s biggest International Ecumenical event so please support. All welcome.

Evening service at 7.30pm St Barnabas, Pound Hill. Following the service in the Friary, there will be tea, coffee, cakes, lunch, raffle etc. in aid of the work of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa) who care for the sick and dying in the streets of Calcutta.

Any help or donations welcome. Contact Queenie 542968.

The Divine Life Revealed

All Readers in the Parish are encouraged to attend A Day Conference exploring friendship, knowledge and life in Christ the Word of God – Saturday, 8th March, 10am-3.30pm at The Friary. Speaker: Fr John Farrell, OP (Provincial of the Dominican Order, Theologian and National Speaker). This is part of the Diocesan Jubilee and the day includes talks, Question and Answer session, Mass, Adoration, reflection. Donation-only event. Please bring a packed lunch.

Masses for Young Adults and Teenagers

The Sunday 5.30pm Mass at the Friary Church in Crawley has a special welcome and ministry towards younger Catholics (15-30, or thereabouts). After Mass, we all go to a café together for some food and a chance to get to know each other. There is also a great music group every other Sunday which anyone is welcome to join. New people are always made very welcome. See Facebook.com/CrawleyCatholicYouth for more details.

Bad Weather Procedures

For details on our procedures please refer to the Parish website www.crawleyparish.org or ring 01293 524176 for up-to-date information.

First Holy Communion children:

The next sessions for both parents and children:
Saturday 22nd March from 9.30 – 11.30am at St. Francis’ School
Saturday 3rd May from 9.30 – 11.30am at St. Francis’ School
Sunday 12th January at all Masses there will be a commissioning of the children as they prepare for their First Holy Communion and an opportunity for the community to pray for them.

Friary Night Shelter

We have been working with other churches in Crawley to develop a severe weather night shelter project. We have worked out a rota with others which means that, in the event of severe weather, the Friary Hall may open as a night shelter for the homeless on Friday and Saturday nights. We will need some volunteers to provide hospitality over night for any who are accommodated in the Hall. If you think this is something you might be able to help with, please contact Deacon Andrew on 07712 191078. If you need further information before deciding to commit your time please also call Deacon Andrew who will explain what is required

Responsible Lending

Legal loan sharks are creating a tidal wave of misery by lending money irresponsibly to the most vulnerable and excluded people in the UK. See:
www.church-poverty.org.uk/foodfuelfinance
Collect and sign letter to Chief Executive, Financial Conduct Authority at back of church for tightening up of legislation. Contact: Sr. Patricia 01293 527 393.

Synod on the Family

You may already know that Pope Francis has called a Synod of Bishops on “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelisation”. A questionnaire has been offered to assist in this process. This document is designed for everyone to use but it is clear that the complexity and style is difficult to work with and may discourage people from participating. As a result in our diocese, to enable as many people as possible to make a contribution to this process, the questionnaire has been reformatted and can be found via: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AandBDioceseFamilySynod2014. This site also has a link to the original survey for those who would prefer – please do visit it and take part.

Groceries for those in need

SVP thank you for your continued generosity.

From February 2013 to January 2014 we have supported 46 families with over 800 food parcels.

We ask everyone to consider if they are able to give a little every week. All the food is distributed weekly as we find more families needing help. It is very much needed and appreciated.

English

If you are finding it difficult to feed yourself or your family, please call the Saint Vincent de Paul Society on : 07500 484058. All calls are completely confidential

French

Si vous ne pouvez pas nourrir vous et votre famille nous pouvons vous aider appel SVP sur 07500 48 40 58 tous les appels absolument confidentiel

Polish

Jeśli nie jesteś w stanie wyżywić siebie i twojej rodziny możemy ci pomóc tel kontaktowy 07500 484058. Gwarantujemy całkowitą anonimowości.

Portuguese

SE VOCÊ NÃO ALIMENTE VOCÊ OU SUA FAMÍLIA PODEMOS AJUDÁ-LOLIGUE NO 07 500 48 40 58
ABSOLUTAMENTE TODAS AS CHAMADAS CONFIDENCIAIS

We welcome new members. If you are interested or want to know more of the work we do please call 07500 484058.

Gift Aid – Second Collection Envelopes

Specific collections that are eligible include Education of Future Priests, Catholic Schools, One World, Easter and Christmas Flower collections.

Collections such as CAFOD (Family fast days) Apostleship of the Sea, Peters Pence, Holy Places etc are eligible for Gift Aid only when using the envelope provided by the charity concerned or if processed through the scheme of the individual charity. The weekly newsletter will inform you if your purple envelope is not eligible for the following week’s retiring collection. Many thanks for your continued support.

Are you aware Hospitals/Homes do not contact us now

If you are a Catholic admitted to them. If you know of anyone who has gone into hospital or a home, please advise the Friary (524176) as soon as possible and let us know whether you would like us to visit.

Next Sunday 16th March

Second Sunday of Lent

Year A

Readings:

First Genesis 12: 1-4

Psalm 32

Second 2 Timothy 1:8-10

Gospel Matthew 17:1-9

Retiring Collection:

CAFOD Lenten Fast Day (Gift Aid when using envelopes provided by the charity).

Rosary & Benediction Friary 4pm

Sunday Evening Prayer: 7pm in St. Clare’s Chapel

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Evening Prayer: Dominican Convent, Gossops Green, 5.30pm

 

Dates for your Diary:

 

Saturday 29th March

The Annual Quiz Night returns to the Friary Hall on Saturday, 29th March at 7:30 pm, hosted by Mike Buckell. Entry is £5 per person, pay on the door.

We are raising money to help the needy of our parish through SVP, and invite all Churches and Groups to send their teams. Up to eight in a team.

7th June

Spring/Summer Fayre

21st June

Trad Jazz night

 

St. Edward’s Social Club

REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS

BINGO

Every Thursday Evening (8.15pm)

MEAT RAFFLE
Every Sunday Lunchtime (1.15pm)

 

2014

Friday 14th March

OPEN MIC NIGHT
(9.00 pm)

Saturday 15th March

St. Patrick’s Dance
with “BOXTY”
(8.00 pm – Tickets £7.00)

Saturday 5th April

QUIZ by Sandra & Paul
from the “ANIMALS” quiz team
(8.00 pm – £2.00 pp)

Friday 11th April

OPEN MIC NIGHT
(9.00 pm)

Monday14th April to Saturday 19th April

HOLY WEEK – CLUB CLOSED

Sunday 20th April

CLUB RE-OPENS
(12.00 – 4.00 pm)

Saturday 3rd May

QUIZ NIGHT
(8.00 pm – £2.00 pp)

Friday 9th May

OPEN MIC NIGHT
(9.00 pm)

Please pray for the sick:

If you know of anyone who has gone to hospital, please advise the Friary (01293 524176) as soon as possible and let us know whether you would like us to visit.