Newsletter

Prayer Intercessors - (Please ring Ann Purtill with prayer intentions) The prayer intentions for this week are for

	Fr. Dolan, Fr. Paddy, Fr.Moss and for vocations
	The sick and the elderly, at home and in hospital and those who care for them.
	Those who have lost their faith
	For all people suffering with addictions and their families
	· For those in the medical profession.
	·Officers in the emergency services, Police, Fire & Ambulance
	·For those suffering with depression
	Those suffering the effects of family breakdown
	Armed Forces personnel
	· Daniel Parry (Les Moore’s Grandson) who is having treatment for leukaemia.
	Please keep in your prayers all the lately departed and the bereaved. those whose anniversaries occur at this time and all souls in Purgatory

Pope Benedict's prayer intentions for the month of May

General: That Christians may use literature, art and the media to greater advantage to favour a culture which defends and promotes the values of the human person.

Missionary: That just as she accompanied the Apostles in the early stages of the Church, may the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of Evangelization and Queen of Apostles, continue to guide missionaries throughout the world with maternal affection.

CONFIRMATION Our Year 3 children will be making their Confirmation on May 11th. We all look forward to this happy event and wish them well.
The ceremony will take place at 3pm. Afterwards there will be a celebration in the hall. The families of the children involved will bring food for a ‘shared table’ but we would appreciate any help from other parishioners, serving and washing up etc. Please contact Michaela: 0161 284 6306 or Gemma: 01457 810669 or turn up on the day – the more the merrier!

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK This is Christian Aid week our opportunity to join with other Christian churches to support some of those in need in our world. Anyone who could distribute and collect envelopes in the area covered by St Edward’s-St John’s St, Turner St, and the area between Stamford Road and Truner St. Please contact Father Dolan.

A CELEBRATION OF BRITAIN Oldham Choral Society invites you to a Last Night of the Proms style concert of British music. Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham, Sunday 18th May, 7.30 pm.
Tickets £9 in advance or £10 at the door. Tickets available from Ticket Secretary (01706 644217) or Helen Rigby (01457 873093).
See poster in Church porch for further details.

CHURCH CLEANING Wednesday 28 May from 1pm Everyone welcome, no experience needed
full training will be given.

St Edward’s Parish Summer Fair will take place on Sunday 29th June at St Edward’s School, following 11:30 mass at church. Volunteers are needed, if you wish to get involved please come along to the next Fund Raising meeting on Tuesday 29th April in the church porch at 7:30. All ideas welcome!

CAN YOU HELP? WE NEED YOUR SKILLS! As some of you may know, work is about to begin, updating St Edward’s Church Hall. Money raised through parish fundraising events will be used to finance, initially, the refurbishment of the kitchen and toilet facilities in the upstairs hall. Work will continue in stages until the whole building is a safer, more accessible venue for the whole parish to utilise. Although in a state of disrepair the church hall is still used on a regular basis, by many parish groups: Thursday Club, Brownies, Sunday School, fundraisers to name but a few and also hired for various functions. Improvements need to be made so that we do not lose this vital resource. Can you help ? We are looking for skilled tradesmen willing to give a little time and free labour to help with this worthwhile project, all materials will be supplied. If you would like to help, contact Adam Eastwood, Tel: 628 0010 for further information. Thank you in anticipation of your support.

About Being Catholic ABC MEETINGS every Thursday at 7pm in the Church porch. If you are thinking of becoming a Catholic or just want to know more about the Faith you will be very welcome. Lively discussion each Thursday for one hour. ABC Meetings resume September after its usual summer break

About Being Catholic meetings on Thursday evening, 7.00 to 8.00pm, in Church . Is there a God? What happens when I die? Why do bad things happen to good people? How do I pray? Not a Catholic, but there are a few things you would like to find out? These and many more questions will be discussed over the coming weeks on Thursday evenings 7-8pm in Church. All are very welcome.

www.caseresources.org.uk and www.comehomeforchristmas.co.uk for more information (the latter, for lapsed Catholics, will be launched at the beginning of November). CASE also runs the Catholic Enquiry Office, offering free and confidential information about the Catholic faith to enquirers - if you know someone who has questions about the Catholic faith, you could ask them to look at www.life4seekers.co.uk

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill - text of the Cardinal's Letter

Now is the time for our voices to be heard on Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill,

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill

12th May – Official - It has just been announced in the House of Commons that 2nd Reading is the 12th. They also confirmed that at Committee stage, saviour siblings / hybrids and supportive parenting will be on the floor of the House, but no dates, although it's rumoured that will be 19th and 20th May, which is when the first main votes on the most significant issues will be debated and vote on.

Please also visit http://www.passionforlife.org.uk/ where you can obtain postcards and draft letters to send to your MP

Dear Friends

We have now uploaded the highly effective video we have been using in the public meetings around the country to the website - it's here. It lasts just over 4 minutes, and it's also available on a DVD if you'd like it to show to Churches, work places, friends or others to encourage them to write to their MPs over the HFE bill. Let me know if you'd like one.

The 10 Downing Street petition on securing a free vote for Labour MP's on the bill has now topped 6000 in just 2 weeks. If you haven't signed, please do so and ask all your friends to do the same!

Public meetings are now being planned for the next few weeks in Cardiff, Cambridge, Torbay, Enfield, Newcastle, Poole, Sheffield, Bolton, Solihull and Edinburgh. There will be more to follow, and the front page of the website will carry details as they are announced.

You may be aware that Conservative Leader David Cameron announced this week he'll support a reduction in the upper time limit for abortion. A Passion for Life response is here.

Thank you for all your support - remember the priority at this time is to write to your MP's to tell them what you think of this bill. If you require more postcards for your friends and colleagues to do this, please just let me know.

Kind regards, Ian Lucas, Campaign Co-ordinator, All Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group www.passionforlife.org.uk 0203 176 0032 .

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMME

If you have a child in Year 3 they will begin the Sacramental Programme in February. Over the next eighteen months they will be presented, confirmed and receive the Eucharist for the first time. To help them and you to understand and get the most from this experience there will be a series of meetings for children and parents (separately)

If your child attends St. Edward's School, you will receive a letter with more details. If, however, your child does not attend St. Edward's School but you would like them to join the Sacramental Programme, please contact Gemma 01457810669 or Michaela 6246303 to confirm your details so we can forward any mail.

CAN YOU HELP We need people to help children prepare for the Sacramental Programme (Presentation, Confirmation First Holy Communion) It wouldn't take up too much of your time and can be a very rewarding experience. If you are interested and would like more information please contact Fr Dolan 6243762

PENTECOST 2009
Prior notice to parents who’s children will be in Year 3 and will be Confirmed at Pentecost 2009.
Pentecost falls on Sun. 31st May - in the middle of the Summer Half Term holiday. Please bear this in mind if you are booking holidays for this time.

100 Club We have current membership of 71 and plenty of vacancies. If you are not already a member but would like to join, the cost is just over £1 per week. You can pay for the year in one sum or spread the cost over the year by paying monthly through your bank.The monthly draw has prizes of £75; £35 and £15 and there is a quarterly draw for £300. Anyone wishing to take up a new membership, or renew a lapsed membership, should contact Derek on 6335758 or email d.clayton177 @ntlworld.com

The 100 Club Monthly Draw
The winners of the March Draw are
First Prize of £75.00 went to Mrs Kath Butterworth on Lucky Number 44.
Second Prize of £35.00 was won by Mr Pete Stanaway on 77.
Third Prize of £15.00 went to Agnes Kenny on 89.
April's Draw will be next Sunday 27th and will be a Quarterly Super Draw with a First Prize of £300.00. Good Luck

ST EDWARD’S R.C. PRIMARY NURSERY PLACES SEPT 2008
If you have not already registered your child for a place at St Edward’s nursery in September 2008 and they were born between 01.09.04 – 31.08.05 please contact school on 0161 624 1377 or Father Dolan as soon as possible.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: St Edward’s R.C. Primary School is looking to create a register of parents/grandparents/parishioners who can give little slots of time on a regular basis or a short term arrangement. No experience needed as supervision will be given. Please contact Mrs Akin on 0161 624 1377.

KITCHEN STAFF REQUIRED
10 Hours per week. Mon-Fri 11.30am-1.30pm. No experience needed. Training will be provided. Contact Kath Lee 07736 899 176 (Kitchen Supervisor)

YOUTH GROUP If anyone is interested in helping to start a Youth Club for children aged between 8 and 16 years, please contact Jenny Marshall on 2901161

Emergency Food Distribution for Refugees (See J&P pages)

Oldham Unity Refugee Support continues to offer food every week to destitute refugees. . See Justice & Peace pages for details and note that the list of items required has changed slightly.No perishables please.

ITEMS FOR THE NEWSLETTER can be left at the Presbytery or alternatively ring Ann Jamshed on 0161 626 7940 or email annjamshed@btinternet.com before 6pm on Thursday evening.

Piety Shop. The shop in the church porch has a good selection of cards and gifts for most occasions and is open after Mass at weekends.

St Vincent de Paul Society The SVP hold their meetings every Monday evening at 8pm in the Church Porch. Anyone wishing to contact us or join the society will be warmly welcomed

Parent & Toddler Group  St. Edward's Parish Centre every Tuesday during term time from 9.30 to 11.30. for  pre-school children and their parents. Admission £1 per family

The group is in need of additional helpers - if you are willing to help please contact Fr.Dolan

Function Room (Upstairs Parish Hall The room is available for family parties, events etc. Bar and staff included. Enquiries to Hugh Crystal 6203841

St .Edward's Lending Library Checkout the bookrack in the Church Porch (just outside the Piety Shop). If you have any Christian books you no longer require, please consider donating them to our library for other people to enjoy. Books may be freely borrowed but please remember to return them!

Catholic newspapers are also on sale in the porch - please pay at the Piety Shop

Links pages Several new links have been added to our links page

EWTN - This 24 hour catholic television channel is now available on Sky channel 769 . Programme Schedule can be downloaded from http://www.ewtn.co.uk/

Today's readings