St Benedict’s Social Club Rowan Rd Batchley

Available for hire Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals and other occasions.

Telephone the Club on 01527 60345

BINGO Every Sunday 2.30pm & Monday 8pm

Hadzor Prayer Group Friday mornings 11am-12.30pm to reflect on the Gospel for the coming Sunday. Refreshments provided

St Mary’s Alvechurch Ecumenical Faith Group On the third Wednesday of every month at 10.30 am – all welcome

New LIFE Care Service in Redditch By appointment

telephone 07516 257409 Free National Helpline 0808 802 5433

In the porches there are some LIFE cards which we would ask you to take and place in your doctor’s surgery

“My house shall be called a house of prayer” Please be sensitive to those who want to pray in silence before Mass. Before Mass Talk to God During Mass Listen to God After Mass Talk to each other

Statue Visitation for the Consecrated Life

Parishioners are invited to receive the statue of Our Lady for one week and place her with flowers and candles in a prominent position in the home. Each day you are committed to praying the rosary to which parishioners can be invited to join in if you so wish. If you would like to participate in this, please see one of the clergy or contact the parish office.

ROTA SO FAR ......... Sunday 5th November 2017 Vera Whyte Sunday 12th November 2017 Sarah Reynia Sunday 19th November 2017 Ann Glennon Sunday 26th November 2017 Caroline Holland Sunday 3rd December 2017 Vincent Sampays If your date is not convenient for you, please either swap with someone else or let the parish office know. Could you welcome the statue of Our Lady into your

home? - Yes? - please contact the parish office!

If you wish to contact the parish St Vincent de Paul group, please telephone

07531 818731 (the SVP phone) and leave

a message with your contact details so we can

return your call.

THE SHRINES OF OUR LADY & THE SACRED HEART To have the lamp burn for your intentions or loved ones, please contact the parish office, suggested donation £5.

Fellow Catholic Parishioners please come and join us

The Catenians - a Catholic men’s association

‘Strengthening family life through friendship and faith’ The Redditch Circle meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month at the Abbey Hotel and welcomes new members. For further information please contact Andrew Farrell on 07767831548 or Brian Green on 01527 543111

Mount Carmel Seniors Group

Thursdays at 2.30pm St Benedict’s

December 16th Trip to Leicester Market, Lunch & Mass with Fr Denis at the school. January 11th 2018 Pantomime at the Hippodrome

Lourdes for Christmas

6 day pilgrimage to Lourdes by coach leaving St Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham on 22nd December, £390 per person sharing, £450 per person a single room, for further details and bookings call Northern Star Travel on 0161 773 2115.

Altar Servers—a date for your diary!

Guild of St Stephen Thanksgiving Mass 12 noon Saturday 17th February in St Chad’s Cathedral followed by refreshments in the Grimshaw Room. If you are interested in going, please let either one of the clergy or Paul Brewster know.

Coffee Shop

at St Benedict’s, Batchley

Wednesdays

10am—12noon

Legion of Mary Mondays 10am Parish Centre All welcome

APF Missio Red Box Holders

2018 Calendars available at back of

church and in porches

CAFOD World Gifts Christmas Catalogue Available to take home

ST BEDE’S CHRISTMAS CRAFT

FAIR 5th December 5pm—7.30pm

All welcome to come along to St Bede’s Christ-mas Fair. There will be over 25 stalls selling Christmas crafts. Refreshments on offer throughout the evening. There will also be a raffle with fantastic prizes to be won!

Thought for the day ….

It is easy to say that Christ is king, but do we pro-claim this by our deeds? Do our lives show that we recognise His kingship? This is the last Sunday of the liturgical year, and what the Church is saying to us today takes on exceptional importance. Unless we have turned our lives over to Christ and are living His teachings, we are in effect rejecting His kingship and preparing the day of our condemnation.

Mass for deceased parishioners

7pm Tuesday 28th November

All those who have died during the year will be named and a candle lit in their memory.

Friends of the Holy Land

Wednesday 29th November 7pm

Peter Rand is returning to the Parish Centre at 7pm to show a twenty minute DVD made in the Holy Land, to provide more information and answer any questions. Do please spare an hour to hear more of the plight of Christians in the Holy Land.

Do you support Catholic Schools and the

right of Catholics to send their children to

them?

Then we need you to make your voice heard. The Government is making a critical decision on whether to overturn the admissions cap which prevents Catholic schools from allowing all Catholic pupils to attend. They have acknowledged that this policy discriminates against Catholics and promised to abandon it, now we need you to tell them not to U-turn on their promise to Catholics. Visit http://catholicnews.org.uk/education-cap or search for ‘Catholic Education’ in your search en-gine to write to the Government and urge them to drop their policy which bans new Catholic Schools.

With thanks for your kind co-operation together with assurance of prayers as Advent approaches. +Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham

The Art of Dying Well—

November, the month to remember

During the month of November, we particularly remember and pray for the dead. On the Art of Dying Well’s Instagram memorial page, you can submit names/photos and or memories of people you have known who have died. We are inviting you to post, via the Art of Dying Well’s Instagram or Twit-ter platforms (@artofdyingwell), pictures or memo-ries of your loved ones who are dying or who have already died. It is also a chance to remember those who you have not personally known, but who come to mind because they have no one else left to pray for them. By tagging @ArtofDyingWell with

#Remember Them, the photos/names will then be shared with five convents and abbeys who will re-

member them and pray for those featured. Archbishop Bernard Longley

THE PARISH SVP would like to invite parishioners to

make a donation to the costs of the homeless Christmas party on Saturday 16 December. Christmas lunch and a Christmas present for everyone is planned. The day will cater for up to 180 homeless men and women who will enjoy Christmas carols, a gospel singer and musicians throughout the day. If you able to help please leave your donation at the parish office in an envelope marked SVP Party (cheques payable to Mount Carmel Church). Thank you for your wonderful support throughout 2017!

Exploring the World of the Bible

Next session 11am Friday 1st December in Parish Centre

Mount Carmel 500 Club Winners

1st Prize £140 No 100 Fr Craig Szmidt 2nd Prize £40 No 59 Fr Eddie Clare 3rd Prize £20 No 200 Ali Mason

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL, REDDITCH

Beoley Road West, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 8LT (01527) 63096

Email: office@mtcarmel.co.uk Website: www.ourladyofmountcarmel.co.uk

The Parish is part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham: Registered Charity No.234216

Parish Clergy: Fr Anthony Rohan, Fr Craig Davies, Fr Cornelius Safe

Permanent Deacons: Revs Des Chilton & Peter Griffiths

NEWSLETTER 1788 SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING 26TH NOVEMBER 2017

Parish Mass Book 92 Ezekiel 34:11-12.15-17 Psalm 92 1 Corinthians 15:20-26.28 Gospel Matthew 25:31-46

PARISH WEBSITE UPDATE: www.ourladyofmountcarmel.co.uk Journey in Faith, Baptism Enquiries, Wedding Enquiries etc,

Stations of the Cross

Fridays at 10am

after Mass

Mass Times & Intentions

Solemnity of Christ the King

National Youth Sunday

Week beginning Sunday 26th November 2017

Saturday Mount Carmel 5.00 pm STM FHC Celebration Dec’d brothers of the Redditch Catenian Circle Hadzor 5.00 pm People of the Parish

Sunday Mount Carmel 8.15 am Dolly Wakefield & Harry Nolan 9.45 am Mass in Polish 11.15 am MCS FHC Celebration Mary O’Brien 6.00 pm Charles Bright (b’day a) Alvechurch 9.45 am Vittorio Valleria Feckenham 10.15 am Norrie Egan

Monday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Michael & Antonina Bobowski Sadie & Geoff Bull (a)

Tuesday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Ints of Fr Cornelius 7.00 pm Mass for Deceased Parishioners Dec 2016-Nov 2017 Holy Souls

Wednesday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Bronislawa & Wojciech Slobodzian (b’day a) 5.00 pm Mass in Polish

Thursday—Saint Andrew

Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Intentions of Mick O’Boyle 6.30 pm Exposition 7.00 pm Intentions of Bob, Caroline, Tom, Charlotte & Shane St Augustine’s Sch 9.30 am Yr 11 Mass in Theatre

Friday—Saint Edmund Campion Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Fran Maguire 10.00 am Stations of the Cross 5.00 pm Mass in Polish St Bede’s Sch 2.15 pm Y6 Class Mass (6DS) Sarah Meanley

Saturday Mount Carmel 9.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30 am Ints of ClareTremaine

(The following fulfils Sunday Obligation) Mount Carmel 5.00 pm Thomas Meagher (a) Hadzor 5.00 pm Martin Fawlk

First Sunday of Advent Cycle B

Week beginning Sunday 3rd December 2017 Mount Carmel 8.15 am Georg Hartung 9.45 am Mass in Polish 11.15 am Paddy Rogers 6.00 pm Myrtle Wilson (a) Alvechurch 9.45 am Ita Hayes Feckenham 10.15 am People of the Parish

Parish Diary ….

Sunday Solemnity of Christ the King Cycle A, Psalter Week 2 11.15am MCS FHC Celebration

Counting Team G Monday 10am Legion of Mary in Parish Centre 7pm Mount Carmel Choir Practice 7.30pm Narcotics Anonymous in Parish Centre

Tuesday 7pm Mass for Deceased Parishioners

Wednesday 7.30pm Friends of the Holy Land meeting

Thursday 6pm Parents’ Meeting re Confirmation in school 7.30pm Journey in Faith in the Parish Centre

Friday 10am Stations of the Cross in Mount Carmel 11am Bible Study in the Parish Centre Mount Carmel School Christmas Fayre 6pm-8pm

Saturday Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 5pm Mass Tea & Coffee after 5pm Hadzor in the Newman Room

Flowers : NO FLOWERS DURING ADVENT Sunday First Sunday of Advent Cycle B Psalter Week 1

Counting Team A

________________________________________________________________________________________________

What’s on ……….

Redditch Choral Society Christmas Concert—Carols

and Messiah. Saturday 2nd December at 7.30pm in St Stephen’s Church. Tickets £12 from St Stephen’s

The Redditch Orchestra presents ‘Christmas Favourites’

Saturday 2nd December at the Oasis Church, Plymouth Road Tickets £12 Concessions £10 Children Free. Tel 07941 692879

Confessions at Mount Carmel

During Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Benediction Saturdays 10-10.50am

On the 1st Saturday of the month the Rosary will be said

after Devotions

Tuesday Evenings 6.30pm-7pm

The Parish Safeguarding Representatives are

Mrs Jane Craig & Mrs Linda Gordon

Thursday Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

(First century) St Andrew was born at Bethsaida and worked as a fisherman. He is called the Protokletos or ’first called’ for he was originally a disciple of St John the Baptist before following Christ and bringing with him his brother, St Peter. After Pente-cost he zealously preached the gospel and was crucified at Patras, Greece. He is the patron of Scotland, where his relics were formerly venerated at St Andrews.

Friday Feast of Saint Edmund Campion (1540-1581) St Edmund Campion was born in Lond and educat-ed at Christ’s Hospital school. He was a brilliant student at Oxford. Reconciled to the Catholic Church, he passed on to Douai and then to Rome where he joined the Jesuits. Next he worked in Bohemia, and finally for one year, on the English Mission. His extraordinary success caused him to be hunted down relentless-ly. He was martyred at Tyburn.

Saturday Our Lady on Saturday

Lamp at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mt Carmel

This week the lamp burns in loving memory of ASHA PAUL (BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY) ….. Next week the lamp burns for the Intentions of CATHERINE CONBOY

Lamp at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart

This week the lamp burns in loving memory of the DURAJ & SREBNIAK FAMILIES …. Next week the lamp burns in loving memory of JANE & HUGH McKENNA

For the dead ...

Your prayers are asked for MARY TORSNEY Funeral service 11am Wednesday 29th November at the Abbey Chapel, EMELIA ZIUBRZYCK Funeral Service 3.30pm Thursday 30th November at the Abbey Chapel, MARTIN FAWLK Funeral Service 2pm Friday 15th December at the Abbey Chapel., FRANK FINNEGAN brother of parishioner. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Please pray for the sick…

Deacon Des, Carmel Fiolka, Fred & Pauline Clarke, Jane-Christina Thomson, Bob & Caroline Holland, Mick Halloran, Chris Figgett, Kitty Fanning, Thomas Henry Burnside, Bridget Heatley, Winifreda Olga Hall, Brian & Devan Dixon, Brian Dixon Snr, Pat Conner, Margaret Daly, Maureen Reavey, Gregory & Linda Daniel, Maura Lee, Sean Harkin, Margaret Clarke, Antho-ny Obinna, Margaret Leonard, Mary Hickey, Rita Wilson, Pat Davis, Grazyna, Kazik & Krzys Juszkiewicz, Delia Bree, Gino Belmonte, John Henry Birtle, Martin Twomey, Mgt Maddison, Fiona Short, Jane Elliott, Selina Kilker, James Daniel Durrant, Gillian Reeves, Biddy Smith, Andrew Quinn, Christopher Carr, Clive McColgan, Christine Watson, Maria Yates, Mark Yates, Josie Clarke, Stuart Pearson, Mandy Millward Morrissey, Francis & Judith O’Hare, Eugene Kirk, Tom Nicholas, Julia Hopkins, John Joseph Hartigan

Congratulations …..

We welcome into God’s family HARPER GRACE POWELL baptised last Sunday at Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel 500 Club—Subs now due

VACANCIES

St Thomas More School requires a Classroom Teacher with responsibility for Teaching and Learning/Curriculum Develop-ment for 16th April 2018. Group1 School, Main Scale, Salary Range £22,917 to £33,824 pa + TLR2 £2666 NOR 210, Age Range 4-9. To arrange a visit or an informal discussion about the post, please contact the school on 01527 525821 or email office@st-thomasmore.worcs.sch.uk Application pack available on their website www.stthomasmorefirst.com or contact the school office 525821 or email on above address. Closing date Friday 8th December, Interviews Wk beginning 15th January 18

Mount Carmel School due to movement within the school, now have the following pupil vacancies : two in Reception, two in Year 2 and three in Year 4—if you would like to apply for a place in any of these years, please contact the school on 01527 546398

WEEKLY STATISTICS

Weekend 11/12 November 2017 1st Collection £792.35 2nd Collection £1116.59 Friends of the Holy Land

Attendance 745 (No Polish Mass count) These figures do not include Standing Orders

TREE OF HOPE

The tree of hope is near the statue of St Therese for anyone who wishes to hang a leaf for their own particular

petition or sorrow. Feel free to take a leaf and write a name or message on it to hang on the tree and spend sometime in

prayer

SAINTS & FEASTS FOR THE WEEK …

Baptism To arrange for the baptism of your child/children you will need to contact the parish office on 01527 63096 or visit the parish website to find out when the next available Baptism Meeting is for you to attend. At this meeting you will be given the Bap-tism Form to take away with you for completion. Once com-pleted please bring it with you to the parish office on a week-day morning between 10am—11am when one of the priests will be able to see you and book the date for baptism. Bap-tisms normally take place on a Sunday at 12.45pm in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. There is an administrative fee of £30 for Baptism which should be paid at the time of arrang-ing the date.

RAHINGYA APPEAL

At the time of Pope Francis’ visit to Myanmar (Burma) we need to be mindful, as he is, of the appalling persecution of the Rohingya people in that country. More than 600,000 people are now estimated to have fled to Bangladesh to escape the army led violence. That’s around seven times the population of Redditch. Please pray for them and if you can please donate to CAFOD’s special appeal at https://cafod.org.uk/News/Emergencies-news/Refugees-in-Bangladesh or you can do-nate to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s appeal at most banks and post offices.