News for this Week

Recently Deceased: Please pray for ELLEN HATTON of Greatfield Road who died earlier this month. Her Funeral Service is on Wednesday. PHILOMENA GUALANO of Hurcott Road died at home last weekend, surrounded by her family. She had been ill for the last months of her life.

Funerals: The following Funerals have been arranged:

KENNETH DALBY will be cremated on Tuesday, October 6th at 11:30 am, prior to a Funeral Service (not a Mass) at 10:30 am. Please note that these Funerals may be attended ONLY by family members and those invited by the respective families. Please keep these families in your prayers.

Thanks: Judy & Brian Page would like to thank Fr. Lamb and all who have sent messages of sympathy since the death of their daughter  Debbie Waller, and to those who have sent Mass Cards. It is very much appreciated. Thank you and God bless.

Weekend Masses in St. Ambroses:

We can accommodate sixty (60) people at each Mass. We cannot go beyond sixty (60) people without compromising the social distancing protocols. Therefore, unfortunately we cannot now accept any further requests to attend Mass on Sunday mornings at 11 am. There are still places available at the two evening Masses. Having made these choices we must ask parishioners not to attend any Mass other than the one chosen.  The obligation to hear Mass is fulfilled on ANY day of the week. We do not need to be notified of prospective attendance for weekday Masses.

It may not be possible for us to admit anyone to weekend Masses who comes without having indicated their intention. Please note that FACE COVERINGS MUST BE WORN, and that the directions given by the Stewards are carefully followed. Also, we will be grateful for additional help in sanitising the Church after each Mass. Please contact CHRISTINE VASS (K. 630949) for further details and offers of help.

Confessions: We have been advised that it is at present inappropriate to open the church for Midday Confessions because of issues of sanitising the possible use of benches, candle stands etc./ Therefore, until further notice confessions may be made 30 minutes before weekday Mass, and before weekend evening masses (i.e. Saturday 5:30 pm - 5:55 pm; Sundays 5:30 pm - 5:55 pm). We are not to use the Confessional room at the back of the church but the screen has been erected in the Sanctuary, - please remain standing, and avoid touching the screen. Thank you.

Confirmation: The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in our Parish on Monday, December 7th during Mass at 7 pm. This is the Solemnity of St. Ambrose, patron of our Parish, and will be the first visit to the Parish by Bishop David Evans. Those who wish to be entered for Confirmation are asked to notify Joseph Moran at the Rectory (by email or letter) by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH. We will have to observe very strict protocols (numbers attending, sponsors, parish participation etc.) so it is essential that we know of intending Candidates as soon as possible. We are negotiating with Mrs. Brocklesby about the preparation of Candidates, and details of a meeting for parents will be published once we know how many families will be involved.

Votive Candles: Lighting candles is an important part of Catholic prayer and we ask those intending to burn votive candles to observe the following guidelines:

Please touch ONLY the candle(s) you are intending to light. Please light all candles from the pre-existing light which will be burning on each candle stand, and having placed the candle, please move away immediately to allow others to use the facility. In preparing to light candles please observe social distancing at all times.

Weekday Masses: From now onwards please consult the Parish website for daily Mass times. which will, of necessity, have to take account of the needs of Parish schools and other occasional needs. Fr. Lamb apologises  for any inconvenience this may cause.

Feast Days This Week:  (September 28th - October 4th)

 Tuesday is the Feast of the Archangels MICHAEL, GABRIEL & RAPHAEL, the messengers of joy to the world from the throne of God Himself.

Thursday is the commemoration of St. THERESE of LISIEUX, the enclosed Carmelite who became a Doctor of the Church and a favourite saint of many.

Friday is the very important commemoration of our Guardian Angels, the personal gift of God to each of us, accompanying us on our pilgrim journey to Heaven.

On Saturday we shall remember BLESSED COLUMBA MARMION, the Irish priest who became the Benedictine Abbot of Maredsous in Belgium (from which Glenstal Abbey was founded in his memory). He was one of the most influential spiritual writers of the twentieth century.

Please take the opportunity to pray the Rosary during October to ask Our Lady to intercede for us in the current pandemic crisis.

Mass Intentions This Week: (September 28th - October 5th 2020)

Monday         9 am Patricia Kenny RIP

Tuesday        9 am Int. of Pat Billingham & family

Wednesday  7:30 am  Jean Villa (Anniv.)

                        9:15 am (School only) Invoking Divine Providence

Thursday      8:50 am  (Winterfold) Mr McCabe RIP

                        11:30 am Lesley Thresh (Anniv.)

Friday           9 am Lina Finella RIP

                        2 pm Harvest Service in School Hall (School Only)

Saturday      9 am Tom Roy RIP

                       12 noon First Holy Communion (families only) for the    Canonisation of Abbot Marmion

Sunday         9 am (Tenbury) Sister Angela Gorman RIP

                       11 am. Int. of Teresa Hart

                       6 pm  In Reparation

The Rosary will be prayed in Sacred Heart church next Friday at 10:30 am.

Retiring Collection: Please note the retiring collection will be for Fr. Hudson's Care, to support their mission of supporting vulnerable people across the Archdiocese. Please give generously to this worthy cause. 

Holy Hour at LITTLEMORE: Tuesday, October 8th 2020 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm. Confession available. Commemorating the arrival of Bl. Dominic Barberi and the Anniversary of St. John Henry Newman's reception into the One True Fold of the Redeemer.

Unfortunately this year NO organised Night Walk can take place. This can however be made privately by persons who wish to.

Macmillan Coffee Morning: Because of Covid 19 we will not be having our usual coffee morning in the Borromeo Hall/ However, because it is a very worthwhile cause we will be asking for donations instead. The donations should be put in an envelope clearly marked 'Macmillian Coffee Morning' which can be put in the Collection at the weekend Masses, or put through the letter box at the Rectory. Many thanks.

Database: From the information we have so far received a database has been established but we are aware that there are still parishioners who may wish to be added. Please send details of names, addresses and telephone numbers and any other contact information to the Rectory as soon as possible.

Across Pilgrimage Trust: The ACROSS PILGRIMAGE Trust runs Jumbulance Pilgrimage/holidays to enable severely disabled people to travel to Lourdes. The pandemic has meant a serious loss of income, and they are seeking to raise £150,000 to enable them to continue their work, and to make up their lost revenue. Details of how to help from Fr. Lamb. 

MITE SCHEME: A warm 'Thank you' to the kind and thoughtful parishioners of St. Ambrose for £30 in mites (5 pence pieces) plus a £10 note from another kind person. Any coins and donations are welcome, just text me on 07984728491 if you have money awaiting collection. Thank you. Jennifer Bush.

St. Ambrose's Red Mission Boxes: Please leave the boxes AT THE RECTORY, as we are not, at the moment, allowed to have them left in the Church because of Covid 19 rules. Please be generous as the Missions are badly in need. Thank you.

200 Club: after all these months of uncertainty we feel that the time is now right to begin catching up on the outstanding monthly draws.  We plan to start at the end of September so it would be appreciated if outstanding subscriptions could be handed into the Rectory if possible.  Please feel free to contact Martin or Janine either by email or via the Rectory, many thanks for your patience and continued support

Job Post: 'Principal' of Our Lady & St. Hubert's Catholic Primary School in Oldbury. Required for January 2021. Please contact: Lucy Meadows 01562 549460.

Congratulations: Elaine Yates is about to retire as Chairman of the Governing Body of Hagley School, a position which she has held with distinction for 23 years. She was Vice-Chairman for several years before that. In recognition of her services to Catholic education, she is to be presented with the Diocesan UBI CARITAS medal, at Our Lady & All Saints in Stourbridge on Wednesday evening. We congratulate her on this well deserved recognition. 

Please pray for: Trina Cole, Pat O' Doherty, Peter Strangward, Rev. Fr. Bruce Dutson, Peter Hesketh, Jessie Tolley, John Warr, Annie Holcroft, Veronica Pugh, Doreen Reynolds, Sheila Mikulicz, Teresa Westwood, Edward Sage, Debbie Sands, Mary Nangle.