Baptism Registers
There are gaps in the records between August 2001 and September 2003. Those needing Certificates of Baptism (for example for admission to St. Alban’s School) should contact me as soon as possible …
Fr. Martin Orme
Fr. Martin has decided that the moment has now arrived for him to "retire". In March he turns 85, and will in that same month celebrate 15 years in the priesthood of the Catholic Church …
Confessions Before Christmas
Confessions before christmas can be made on Saturdays at 10am, after any Weekday Mas upon request, or by appointment. Please use our contact form for the parish preist for details, or contact the office …
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year: B)
Sun 29th
Jan
Old Testament: Deut. 18:15-20
Psalms: Ps. 111
Epistle: 1 Cor. 8:1-13
Gospel: Mark 1:21-28
Lord God, you are our eternal shepard and guide. In your mercy grant your Church in East Anglia a shepherd who will walk in your ways and whose watchful care will bring us your blessing. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
I am really delighted to be back in the Parish. Thank you very much indeed for all the good wishes and "welcome home cards" I’ve received.
If you missed it today, you missed out on a great Celebration of the Memorial of St Mary Magdalene. The bouncy castle was filled for hours by children and adults alike, fun and real sense of community was felt by all.
We have some photos of the event on our Facebook group, come along and like us and be part of the conversation! God Bless all of you who joined in, by providing food and drink for all to share. I am sure you will join with me by saying this should be the first of many celebrations as a church and a community we shall be having in the months to come.
The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has sent a Joint Pastoral Letter to pave the way for the new translation of the Roman Missal which is to be introduced in our parishes this September. The text has been transcribed below.
"Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
At the beginning of Advent this year, when we gather for Mass, we shall be using the new translation of the Roman Missal. This will be the case not only in England and Wales but throughout the English-speaking world. The Mass will remain the same but parts of it will sound different.
Since the Second Vatican Council, the Church has produced three Latin editions of the Roman Missal. At present, we are still using a translation of the first edition which was published in 1973. Although the texts we have been using have served us well, since that time there has been much development in the liturgical texts themselves and in our understanding of them.
We all become very accustomed to the words we hear; and the fact that we have been praying in a certain way for so long has imprinted that style of language and words upon our consciousness and made them very special. The changes in the language now to be introduced, however, do not represent change for change’s sake, but are being made in order to ensure greater fidelity to the liturgical tradition of the Church. In the earlier translation not all the meaning of the original Latin text was fully expressed and a number of the terms that were used to convey the teachings of the faith were lost. This was readily acknowledged by the bishops of the Church, even back in the 1970s, and has become an increasing cause of concern since then.
There is an old adage in Latin which states that the way we pray forms the way we believe. So words and language are important for the teaching and the handing-on of the faith.
So what does this new translation offer us? First of all, there is a fuller expression of the content of the original texts. Then, there is a closer connection with the Sacred Scriptures which inspire so much of our liturgy. Also, there is a recovery of a vocabulary that enriches our understanding of the mystery we celebrate. All of this requires a unique style of language and expression, one that takes us out of ourselves and draws us into the sacred, the transcendent and the divine.
The publication of the new translation of the Missal is a special moment of grace in the English-speaking world. It offers an opportunity to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the mystery we celebrate each week. This itself will help us to move towards that fuller and more conscious and active participation in the liturgy to which the Church invites us. It will help us also to examine the dignity with which we celebrate the ‘source and summit’ of the Church’s life.
At the end of his visit last year, Pope Benedict asked us to use this moment for genuine renewal. He said: “I encourage you now to seize the opportunity that the new translation offers for in-depth catechesis on the Eucharist, and renewed devotion in the manner of its celebration. ‘The more lively the Eucharistic faith of the people of God, the deeper is its sharing in ecclesial life in steadfast commitment to the mission entrusted by Christ to his disciples’” (Sacramentum Caritatis, 6).1
In order to achieve this, the bishops have produced resources for all our parishes and, as from September, we will gradually begin to use the new liturgical texts at Mass and hear why certain changes have been made. Each diocese is already preparing its priests and deacons, catechists and liturgical ministers. Programmes for schools are being developed and new musical settings are being composed. From September until Advent everyone will have the opportunity to study the new texts and familiarise themselves with the prayers and chants. In addition, this period of preparation will allow us to pray these new texts.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist is a gift, something we receive from God through the Church. Saint Paul spoke of it as coming from the Lord Jesus himself. Writing to the Church in Corinth, he said, “for I received from the Lord what I in turn also handed on to you” (1 Corinthians 11:23). So Eucharist is not something of our making but a gift received. Like Saint Paul, therefore, let us receive it with reverence and care, knowing that we are being faithful to what the Lord himself passed on to the Apostles, which has been handed on since, in faithfulness, by their successors to every generation of the Church.
Let us welcome the new translation of the Roman Missal as a sign of our unity and a powerful instrument of God’s grace in our lives.
Published by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales Thursday 12 May 2011
To be read on the Sixth Sunday of Easter, 29 May 2011".
A preview of the new texts can be seen in this PDF.
We have a large number of VIP’s (sick pilgrims) hopingto visit Lourdes this year but we need more helpers. If you can spare the time on one of the following weeks 28th July to 6th August, 18th to 27th August, 8th to 17th September, 13th to 22nd October or 20th to 29th October, please contact the ACROSS office www.across.org.uk as soon as possible.
Some funding may be available and we are happy to stage payments over a period, if that helps.
During 2010, 378 food parcels left the garage of Mrs Reynel; director of FIND, responding to emergency calls.
A food parcel is usually 3-5 carrier bags full of food, you have donated. In December 2010, 873 large hampers were made up and distributed in time for Christmas. These, along with individual gifts reached 1188 under 16’s and 960 over 16’s, all of whom were referred by 59 agencies across Suffolk.
You can deposit any spare tinned food or packaged goods in the F.I.N.D. tub in the Narthex.
Thank you for your support.
1915 - 2011
Have you ever pondered how
though time goes past its always "NOW"?
You may be weighed by doubt or sorrow
wondering what will come tomorrow,
before then learn to love and pray
for you may only have today
so be content - believe somehow
even though its just for NOW.
And then when all your "NOWS" are past
the He will take you home at last
for He will remember how
you loved Him now - yes just for NOW.
We have now available DVDs of Michael Collis’ first mass in the Parish last July should anybody want one. These will cost £8 each, with proceeds going towards FIND. If you are interested in obtaining a copy please speak to Chris Long or alternatively use our contact form selecting FrMichael.DVD@marymagdalens.org from the recipients list.
We have received notice from Ipswich Borough Council of a proposal for the "Erection of an 11.8m high slimline mast containing 6 antennas plus installation of associated equipment cabinet" on the triangle of land outside church on the corner of Norwich Road and Highfield Approach.
11.8m is very nearly 40 feet high and will dwarf the church and area, and be a major eyesore.
I therefore ask every parishioner to write to the Principle Planning Officer, Mrs Lisa Chandler, Grafton House, 14-17 Russel Road, Ipswich IP1 2DE, and object strongly to this proposal.
The reference to quote is IP/10/00800/TPD.
These objections have to be in by 27th October 2010. "Petitions" only count as one objection. We are, of course, involving our local councillors as well.
With your help we can forestall this major insult to the Church, consider this, if permission were to be granted this mast will become an inconvenience to weddings, where photos are often taken on the proposed site, funeral attendees gather, and special Church events are performed.
Last weekends events were a spectacular success: the Ordination in the Cathedral on Saturday, followed by the First Mass on Sunday. I give my grateful thanks to those who labored behind the scenes here, and especially to Eiblis and the flower arrangers, to Michael Long and the organizers of the fantastic barbeque, to Val and Peter, Jo and Richard, Noel, and those who "groomed" the garden so beautifully, to Mary and Clive, who collated the service booklets.
I have written to Nigel Kerry and the musicians to say our special thanks to them. I was immensely proud to be your Parish Priest last weekend, and to see the parish community functioning so superbly well as a team. We have Fr. Michael with us, off and on, for a few weeks, until he takes up his appointment as assistant priest in St Peter & All Souls Parish, Peterborough - the second biggest in the diocese!
A video and a photo book capturing the event is being made available, should you be interested in finding out more, please contact the Church.
