ISSUE THREE: SPRING 2008 news from your West Pastoral Area

This Lenten edition brings you information on the schools in our area and all of the Holy Week and Easter services in our eight churches.

Blessed Hugh Faringdon Secondary School is in Reading. It was established in 1958 to serve the families of the wider Reading and areas by providing Catholic education for students of all abilities. We work hard to create a faith-based community placing great value on the quality of the relationships and providing many opportunities for spiritual development through our lay chaplaincy.

In 2005, the school was designated as a Performing Arts College. We are a popular school, having built close working partnerships to benefit our students with local parishes, primary schools, Reading Universities and a range of businesses. The recent Diocesan inspection described Blessed Hugh Faringdon as ‘an uncompromisingly Catholic school with a very good community life Students performing at Blessed Hugh Faringdon School based on Gospel values’. - Mr Paul Barras, Head Teacher. who work in partnership with our Governors and parents to Contact details 0118 957 4730, [email protected] educate our children, helping them grow and develop. You are www.hughfaringdon.reading.sch.uk invited to share in the school’s Mission: To educate our children by: St. Finian’s Catholic Primary School is in , a rural area, Following in Jesus’ footsteps, recognising the Holy Spirit in north of . There are around 182 pupils on roll. We achieve ourselves and each other, nurturing our God given gifts, all in a excellent academic results, well above national average in both key community with Christ at its centre. Our school family are proud of stages and our children are generally high achieving, confident, their Catholic faith and the fundamental part it plays in their daily articulate and able to conduct successful relationships with both lives. We have annual visitors’ mornings but welcome visitors at adults and peers. Behaviour is good and the children are very other times of the year.- Mrs Alison Webster, Headteacher. spiritually and morally aware – they support and care for each Contact details: 01635 43455, [email protected] other, and live up to our school motto ‘Love by Truth’ in their St. Paul’s Catholic Primary School is situated in , to actions and their words. the west of Reading. The school is 37 years old and comprises A school Working Party has been set up to ensure the fulfilment of well-maintained and resourced buildings. It enjoys an excellent plans to build new premises due to the possible move in the future reputation in the locality and development work to extend the of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM). We will continue in number of teaching areas and associated facilities continues in our present accommodation until 2011, allowing time to focus on order to meet the demand for places at our school. the new build. The future is full of hope for St. Finian’s and the past St Paul’s is an innovative school where staff and governors are has a richness on which to build.- Mrs Liz Housden, Head Teacher. very committed and dedicated to the needs of our delightful Contact details: 01635 874892, [email protected] children. There is a close co-operative relationship between all St. Joseph’s Catholic staff, parents and governors. Working with my deputy, Angela Primary School is in the Hartley-Kane, the staff and governors, we offer an opportunity heart of Newbury and to touch lives and inspire imagination and creativity, an serves the parishes of understanding of the power of education to draw out the St. Joseph’s, St Francis de God-given potential of others, a sense of belonging to a Sales and the Sacred community rooted in faith with high quality professional Heart, . We have development and pastoral care, an experience of a learning 196 children on roll and community founded on love, co-operation, solidarity, truth, justice, myself and Jamie Carroll, and the common good, a community of colleagues which offers Headteacher, Alison Webster, Chair of Governors my Deputy, lead a team of support and shares experiences. - Ms Julia Feeney, Headteacher. Graham Spellman and children receiving The Healthy Schools Award from Tim Kuhles SIP, WBC dedicated caring staff, Contact details: 0118 942 2003, [email protected] 4

3 THAMES ISIS

A Easter services for our West Berkshire Pastoral Area St Joseph’s St Mary’s St Bernadette’s Fr Padraig Faughnan Fr Benedict Thompson OSB Fr Benedict Thompson OSB 105 Road, Newbury RG14 1JP Upper , Reading RG7 5TQ Horseshoe Road, RG8 7JH Phone: 01635 40167 Phone: 01189 715350 Phone: 01189 715350 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.stJosephsnewbury.org.uk Website: www.douaiparish.org.uk Website: www.douaiparish.org.uk

Mass Times Mass Times Mass Times Sunday: 8:30 am & 11:00 am Sunday: 9:00 am Sunday: 9:00 am Weekdays: Tuesday - Friday 10:00 am Weekdays: None Weekday: Tuesday 11:00 am (not during Holy Sacrament of Reconciliation Sacrament of Reconciliation Week and Easter Week) Saturday: 10:20 -11:00 am After each Mass or by appointment Sacrament of Reconciliation PANGBOURNE After each Mass or by appointment WEST Holy Week and Easter 2008 Easter 2008 CENTRAL Lenten Penitential Service Easter Sunday 23rd March Holy Week and Easter 2008 St Francis de Sales Monday 17th March at 8:00 pm Easter Mass 9:00 am Maundy Thursday 20th March Fr Eamon Walsh BERKSHIRE M4 Mass of the Last Supper with Washing of Feet, & WEST Warren Lodge, Warren Road Holy Thursday 20th March Procession of the Blessed Sacrament to , Newbury RG14 6NH Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7:30 pm the Altar of Repose 8:00pm READING Church of Our Lady Phone: 01635 40332 M4 Watching at the Altar of Repose and St Edmund, King & Martyr Good Friday 21st March Email: [email protected] 8:30 pm until 12:00 am Midnight Rt Rev Dom Geoffrey Scott - Abbot Solemn Liturgy of the Passion of Our Lord Website: www.StFrancisDeSales.org.uk 133 Good Friday 21st March Upper Woolhampton, Reading RG7 5TQ (Lay led Service) 3:00 pm Phone: 0118 971 5300 Mass Times Stations of the Cross 9:30 am Easter Sunday 23rd March Fax: 0118 971 5303 Saturday: 6:00 pm - Sunday: 10:00 am Celebration of the Lord’s Passion 3:00 pm Easter Mass 9:00 am Email: [email protected] Weekday: Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 am Holy Saturday 22nd March Sacrament of Reconciliation The Blessing of Food 11:00 am Mass Times Saturday: 5:00 - 5:30 pm The Easter Vigil 8:30 pm Sunday: 11:00 am St Luke’s Weekdays: 7:45 am Holy Week and Easter 2008 Fr Benedict Thompson OSB LODDON Easter Day 23rd March Sacrament of Reconciliation Lenten Penitential Service Walk of Witness Englefield Road, Theale RG7 5AS The Resurrection of the Lord After each Mass or by appointment Tuesday 11th March at 7.30 pm on Northbrook Street after Phone: 01189 715350 VALLEY the Ecumenical Service Masses 8:30 am & 11:00 am Email: [email protected] Holy Thursday 20th March at the Methodist Church at Holy Week and Easter 2008 Website: www.douaiparish.org.uk S Passover Meal 6:00 pm 10:30 am on Good Friday Maundy Thursday 20th March

N Mass of the Lord’s Supper 8:00 pm 21st March Mass of the Last Supper with Washing of Feet, Mass Times Procession of the Blessed Sacrament Saturday: 5:30 pm

W Watching at the Altar of Repose after Mass to the Altar of Repose 8:00 pm Weekday: Wednesday 10:00 am (not until Midnight THATCHAM O Good Friday 21st March during Holy Week and Easter Week) Good Friday 21st March Solemn Liturgy of the Passion of Sacrament of Reconciliation D Children’s Stations of the Cross 9:30 am A4 Our Lord 3:00 pm After each Mass or by appointment

H Celebration of the Lord’s Passion 3:00 pm NEWBURY Music & Meditations 8:00 pm Holy Week and Easter 2008 T Music and Reflections WOOLHAMPTON Holy Saturday 22nd March Good Friday 21st March

"They laid Him in a tomb" 7:30 pm E R The Easter Vigil 9:00 pm Solemn Liturgy of the Passion of Our Lord 3:00 pm Holy Saturday 22nd March R O Easter Sunday 23rd March I The Easter Vigil 8:00 pm Easter Mass 11:00 am Easter Sunday 23rd March N Easter Day 23rd March Easter Mass 10:00 am H

The Resurrection of the Lord S

Mass 10:00 am St Oswald’s P Our Lady of the Assumption Fr Benedict Thompson OSB NORTH WEST M Fr Ignatius Maddineni Abbey Park, Clayhill, Burghfield Common

7 Bath Road, Thatcham RG18 3AG RG7 3HQ HAMPSHIRE A WASH COMMON Phone: 01635 863430 (Off) / 864416 (Presb) Phone: 01189 715350 St Paul’s Catholic Primary School H Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Ms Julia Feeney - Head Teacher Website: www.douaiparish.org.uk St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School City Road, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 4SZ T Mrs Alison Webster - Head Teacher Mass Times Phone: 0118 942 2003 S Mass Times Newport Road, Newbury RG14 2AW Saturday: 6:15 pm - Sunday: 10:00 am Fax: 0118 945 4924

Sunday: 11:00 am A Phone: 01635 43455 Weekdays: Mon, Tues, Thur & Fri: 9:30 am Email: [email protected]

Weekday: Thursday 10:00 am (not during Holy E Fax: 01635 552859 Sacrament of Reconciliation Website: www.westberks.org/schools/stpauls Email: [email protected] Saturday: 10:30 - 11:00 am Week and Easter Week)

Sacrament of Reconciliation H Website: www.stjosephsprimaryschool.org.uk Breakfast Club - Weekdays: 8:00 - 8:50 am After each Mass or by appointment

Holy Week and Easter 2008 After School Club - Weekdays: 3:20 - 6:00 pm T Link Club (before & after school care) A Lenten Penitential Service R Weekdays: 8:00 - 8:50 am & 3:00 - 6:00 pm 3 Tuesday 11th March 2:00 pm Holy Week and Easter 2008 Maundy Thursday 20th March 4 O Holy Thursday 20th March Mass of the Last Supper with Washing of Feet,

Mass of the Lord’s Supper 8:00 pm Procession of the Blessed Sacrament Blessed Hugh Faringdon N Catholic Secondary School St Finian’s Catholic Primary School Watching at the Altar of Repose to the Altar of Repose 8:00 pm Mr Paul Barras - Head Teacher Mrs Elizabeth Housden - Head Teacher 9:30 pm until 12:00 am midnight Good Friday 21st March Fawley Road, Southcote, Reading, RG30 3EP The Ridge, Cold Ash, Thatcham RG18 9HU Good Friday 21st March Solemn Liturgy of the Passion of Our Lord Phone: 0118 957 4730 Phone: 01635 865925 Children's Stations of the Cross 11:00 am (Lay led Service) 3:00 pm Fax: 0118 956 8150 Fax: 01635 874892 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Celebration of the Lord’s Passion 3:00 pm Easter Sunday 23rd March Easter Mass 11:00 am Website: www.hughfaringdon.reading.sch.uk Website: www.westberks.org/schools/stfinians Holy Saturday 22nd March The Easter Vigil 8:00 pm After School Club Easter Day 23rd March Weekdays: Mon-Thu 3:00 - 5:00 pm The Resurrection of the Lord Mass 10:00 am

Forthcoming Events: Pastoral Area Celebration on Sunday 29th June will take I Thursday 13th March Justice & Peace Group Meeting for place at Douai Abbey on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. The details please call Lucy Tyler on 01635 35462 seven parishes which make up the West Berkshire Pastoral Area, will come together to celebrate for the first time. I Friday 14th March - YOUTH Cafe an energetic fun and lively programme for teenagers in school years 7 -12, to The theme of the day will be explore their faith in a relaxed and contemporary setting with ‘Growing Together’ and the their peers. Music, videos, activities and refreshments are provided. The Group meet on the second Friday of the month event will be a celebration of during term time from 7:30 pm - 9:30pm and meetings are our togetherness and diversity. rotated between Our Lady’s in Thatcham, St Francis De Sales Each parish and school within in Wash Common and St Joseph's in Newbury. The next gathering will have the Prayer Labrynth as its principal theme. the Pastoral Area has been Youth leaders from each of the parishes have joined together invited to provide a display which to provide this opportunity and would welcome any support will describe their journey and that parents and parishioners would like to offer. Contact growth as a community over the Jacquie Briggs 01635 866616 years. Some parishes will also be celebrating specific anniversaries I Saturday 15th March - Spring Fling at St Cassians come in 2008. Each community will be providing a Candle-Bearer for the at 6.00 pm for 6.30 pm. Starts with a three course roast opening procession and Ministers of Welcome and Stewards to help dinner with glass of wine, (a bar is also available), followed by with a variety of tasks. Each parish and school will be invited to a ceilidh, featuring Pandemonium until 11.00 pm in aid of the adaptation and furnishing of conference facilities at the provide contributions for the Bidding Prayers offered on the day. Centre. Tickets are £20 each with reductions for families of There will be a Children’s Liturgy and contributions to the Liturgy four. Contact St Cassian's on 01488 658267 or Brother from the students of Blessed Hugh Faringdon School. An organis- Gus on 01488 608359. Wallingtons Road, , ing committee, chaired by Liz Kellar, has been established and full , RG17 9SR, email [email protected] details of the event will appear in the next edition of Together. I Friday 28th March - Sunday 30th March Weekend for Confirmation Programme 2008 update The official start to Students at Douai Abbey led by Alban Hood OSB offering an opportunity for Catholic students aged between 18 and 35 to the programme was the 9th of January. However, a few weeks join the Monks for the Offices and Mass and to follow an before, a skittles evening was held which allowed the 32 candidates organised programme of prayer, reflection, talks, discussion, to jell as a group and they already act like old friends. When walks and to have time to relax in the beauty of the ‘Together’ dropped in to see them, there was certainly a really good surrounding Berkshire countryside. Contact the Programme atmosphere and everyone was clearly having fun whilst pursuing a Director, Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 5TQ, Phone 0118 971 5333, email serious commitment. The Group is very grateful to David Hill, the [email protected] Diocesan Adviser for Youth Ministry, for his big contribution to the programme they are following and the great group of catechists I SaturFRda BENEDICTy 29th THOMPSON March - Latin American Evening in aid of Justice and Peace at St George’s Hall, Andover Rd, Wash drawn from our different communities. The Confirmation Service Common - The Justice & Peace group invites you to a Latin will take place at Douai Abbey Church on Friday 2nd May at 7pm. American Evening featuring live music from Latin band Los Musicos. Fruit cocktails from Colombia, licensed bar, food, The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill Following chill-out room and activities for children. Please come along ! the call from the Bishops of and Wales to engage with All proceeds will go to support the following 5 charities: our elected politicians on this contentious Bill, currently being La Asuncion orphanage, Mexico; InterCaremedical aid for Africa; Cafod; Two Saints, Newbury and Berkshire Women’s Aid. debated in Parliament, a Discussion Forum was held with local MP Richard Benyon and Mark Bhagwandin from LIFE. It took To find out more, to book tickets or if you would like to help us place at St. Francis de Sales Church on February 9th and was organise this event, please call Lucy Tyler on 01635 35462 or email [email protected] attended by over 70 people of all ages, drawn from our Pastoral Area. Organised by the Justice & Peace Group at I Friday 2nd May Confirmation Service at 7:00 pm at Douai St Francis Parish it provided a most informative debate on Abbey led by Bishop Crispian. these very important and topical issues. A summary of the I Sunday 29th June Pastoral Area Celebration at Douai proceedings is available on the Parish web site. Abbey. The outline programme for the day is arrive at around 1:30 pm with a picnic lunch in the grounds of the Abbey followed by a concelebrated Mass at 3:00 pm in the Abbey The Importance of Communication The Diocesan Pastoral Church. Both Bishop Crispian and the Abbot of the Douai Council held a meeting on 18th/19th January and as part of wide Community have accepted invitations to attend the ranging discussions, the meeting looked at communication at all Celebration. Contact Liz Kellar 01635 281415 levels both within the Diocese and beyond. Bishop Crispian is currently seeking advice from the Council as the Diocese moves If you feel that you have something of interest to contribute on any of to develop an effective communication strategy. One of the the issues listed above, please contact the editor: Hilary Wynn, strongest points to emerge was that there is a real need for each email- [email protected]. Articles should be no more than 300 Pastoral Area to have a web site linking the Pastoral Area and its words long. Digital pictures are welcome. Shorter regular pieces will also be considered. We cannot undertake to use all copy sent, due to parishes. The need for a trained communications person in each limitations on space. The editor’s decision is final. Pastoral Area to deal with the media was also emphasised.