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Lent and our
Lantern duties: I dislike the word
duty for me it sounds too much like a command. It is something I
have to do under the pain of death. The problem is that as
Catholics we have duties, and one of these is confession at
least once a year normally during Lent and so this is one of the
duties we should perform. I believe that our faith should not be
one in which the person asks what are my duties (in other words
“what is the minimum to get to heaven.) We should go to mass on
each and every Sunday with the desire to meet the Lord in the
Eucharist. Particularly at Easter we should go to all the
services: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Vigil Mass and
finally Easter Sunday the most important being the Easter Vigil
Mass. What are our duties? I believe that we are called into a
loving journey with God our father and that means spending time
with him in prayer. This relationship is shown when we go out of
our way to attend Church services and confess our sins in the
sacrament of reconciliation. Therefore we should go often our
hearts full of love for Christ our Lord and God our heavenly
father. Lord give us the grace to follow you each and every day.
Current up date
on Fr. Eugene's Health
Page. Eugene has undergone the
first stage of his treatment and with our prayers he should do
well. I know that a great number of you love him very much and
would love to visit him. However there is a limit time and to 2
people at a time for information of ward please contact Fr
Eddie. Please do not phone the Hospital asking about his current
status as the Hospital switch board is having difficulties with
all the quires. Please note that Eugene is unable to consume any
food or drinks items at this time.
Cycle of Prayer:
The prayer intentions in Lent
especially on the Sundays of Lent is: Candidates for the
Sacraments, Women; The needy and hungry of the world; Penitents
and wanderers,
May they rest in
peace: We remember in our prayers
Gerald Hughes, Bernard Lee and Danilo Tambini. whose
anniversaries occur about this time
Our Sick Members
of the Parish: Let us pray for our
brothers and sisters who are unwell: Fr. Eugene Monaghan, Rosa
Tristram, Steven Saunders, Nancy Rafferty, Patricia O’Shea, Pat
Day, Canon Sylvester O’Donnell, Frances Thomas, Lilian Lowry,
Stella Edgell, Leo Linney, Marie Galvin, Margaret Jenkins,
Maureen Gough, Edwina Peoples, Norman and Hilda Price, Sister
Clare at Bothwell, Hazel and Peter Huxtable and Kathleen Tanner.
If you know of other parishioners who would like
to be included in this list, please tell us. Thank you.
Christians
Against Torture: This month we are
writing to & praying for Prisoners who have been tortured in
Guyana & the Russian Federation.
March 19th
Mass: Please contact Luigi Dimaio
if you would like to join a singing group from our three
churches to lead the music for the institution of Jim Caddick as
Acolyte and Reader. Rehearsals began last Saturday at 2.00 pm
at St Joseph’s. If you intend joining us for the reception after
the evening Mass, please place a tick on the list at the back of
the church.
The Sacrament of
Confirmation: Bishop Tom Burns will
confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on candidates from St
Joseph’s Neath, Our Lady of the Assumption, Briton Ferry and St
John Kemble, Glynneath on Friday 9th
July at 7.00 pm at St Joseph’s. The first meeting with parents
will be on Tuesday, 23rd
March at 6.30 pm in the hall. Potential candidates for
Confirmation should apply, in their own handwriting to Fr Eddie
by 14th
April. The first meeting for candidates will be Tuesday 20th
April at 6.30 pm in the hall.
School News
We have had a
wonderful start to the week.
Staff, pupils, parents and
governors
joined together to
celebrate St. David's Day.
It was a fantastic
celebration
of our Welsh language and culture. All classes contributed a
performance towards a fun filled afternoon.
On Tuesday the
Cycle Craft Team
visited the school for the first of three
cycling proficiency lessons
with year 6 pupils. We hope this will help our
year 6 pupils
to build upon their confidence and road safety awareness.
Thursday was a very busy day at school,
celebrating World Book Day.
The
morning was filled with excitement as pupils and
staff showed off their
fantastic
outfits. The children spent the day with Little Red Riding Hood,
Snow White, Woody, Mary Poppins, Hook and Dennis the Mennis. Mr.
Anthony's year 5 class led their
class assembly
themed ‘books’,
inspired by
World Book Day.
Staff and pupils shared their favourite books and enjoyed the
parable of the Good Samaritan. All classes had a Fair trade tea
party in
the afternoon as part of
our Fair Trade fortnight.
What an exciting day!
Dates for your
Diary
New Extraordinary
Ministers of the Eucharist If you
have agreed
to become a minister a meeting will
take place on the Tuesday 9th
March at 7.00 pm in the presbytery. Please be there.
Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament - Tuesdays after
Mass at St Joseph’s until 11.00 am.
Fairtrade Fortnight 22nd
February 7th
March
The theme this year is “The Big Swap” which
encourages us to make the change from our usual brand of
chocolate, tea, coffee etc. and instead buy fairly- traded
version.
You may find
that these items are currently on special offer so it’s as good
a time as any to sample them.
St. Patrick’s Dance
will be held in the Hall on 20th
March with Music provided by
‘Vintage
Wine’ Admission by Ticket only, Members £5, Non Members £7,
Children £3.
First Holy
Communion - Sunday May 16th,
2010 at 11.00 am.
Confirmation -
Friday July 9th
at 7.00 pm at St Joseph’s Neath.
Wednesday
playgroup - for information contact
Sue or Sheila.
Neath News
Offertory
Collection 28/02/2010 £460.77
Parish
Levy £100.54 Thank you.
S. J. P. G. The
monthly meeting of the Guild will
be held in the Parish Hall on the 8th March at 2.00
pm. All new members welcome.
P. A. C.
The next meeting will be held in the
Presbytery on 10th March at 7.15 pm.
Social Club News.
Tickets for St. Patrick’s Dance are on sale after Mass in
the Hall priced at £7 for non-members, £5 for members and £1 for
children. Date:- 20th March at 7.30 pm
Cleaning Rota
- 2
Briton Ferry News
Friday, March 5th
- an evening of
music and dance with Vintage Wine will be held in
St Joseph’s Hall Neath - in aid of
CWL and SVP funds Tickets £5.00
Offertory
Collection 28/2/2010 £404.87 Thank
you.
Glynneath News
Offertory
Collection See next weeks
newsletter Thank you.
Extra News Items
Temporary teaching assistant level 3 foundation
phase 12 ½ Hour per week The Governors of St. Joseph’s Catholic
Infant School, Port Talbot seek to employ a temporary teaching
assistant Level 3 who is sympathetic to the Catholic Ethos of
the school. The successful applicant must be qualified NVQ
Level 3 – Early Years Childcare and Education, or equivalent.
The job will commence as soon as possible, initially until the
31st August, 2010, or a staffing review, whichever is
the sooner.
CES application form and job description
available on
www.npt.gov.uk and
www.eteach.com and returnable to the
Chair of Governors, St. Joseph’s Presbytery, Water Street, Port
Talbot SA12 6LE.
Closing date for applications is: Noon Friday12th
March 2010
This post is subject to an Enhanced Criminal
Records Disclosure.
Teaching assistant level 3 (temporary) Foundation
phase 27 ½ hours per week The Governors of St. Joseph’s Catholic
Infant School, Port Talbot seek to appoint a temporary teaching
assistant level 3 who is sympathetic to the Catholic Ethos of
the school. You must be qualified NVQ Level 3 – Early Years
Childcare and Education, or equivalent. The job will commence
as soon as possible until 1st April, 2010. CES
application form and job description available on
www.npt.gov.uk
and eteach.com and returnable to the Chair of Governors, St.
Joseph’s Presbytery, Water Street, Port Talbot SA12 6LE. Closing
date for applications is: Noon Friday 24th April,
2009 This post is subject to an Enhanced Criminal Records
Disclosure.
Vocations Prayer
Lord, make me a better person, More considerate
towards others, More honest with myself, More faithful to you.
Make me generous enough to want sincerely to do your will
whatever it may be. Help me find my true vocation in life and
grant that through it I may find happiness myself and bring
happiness to others. Grant, Lord, that those whom you call to
enter the priesthood, diaconate or religious life may have the
generosity to answer your call, so that those who need your help
may find it. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen. |
