Friday 8th October 2021

Out of his great love for us, God created us to be happy with him forever. In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear about a wealthy young man whose love of money and possessions were stopping him finding true happiness.

So Jesus lovingly challenges him: if he wants to have the true, lasting happiness for which he is asking, then he must give God first place in his life. The young man went away sad because he was putting his trust in his wealth rather than trusting God to bring him happiness.

Living in the way that Jesus taught us, knowing that we are loved forever by God and responding to that love by loving others leads to everlasting happiness. St. Gianna Beretta Molla also reminds us, “The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment, being thankful to God, accepting all that he sends.”

For over forty years 'Prisons Week' has prepared prayer literature for the Christian community to use as they pray for the needs of all those affected by prisons: prisoners and victims, their families, their communities, those working and volunteering in prisons and the criminal justice system. Please pray each day during Prisons Week but also ask yourself whether there is one thing that you as an individual, or as a church, can do to help any of the people that you are praying for. 

For more information, to donate or to order more prayer leaflets please visit our
website at www.prisonsweek.org email us via info@prisonsweek.org or write to:
Prisons Week, c/o Free Churches Group, 27 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HH.

PW2021-WEB.pdf (ukchurches.co)

Due to the current restrictions in place due to the recent Covid outbreaks, it has been decided to conduct the Autumn term Parents' Evening sessions remotely.  This will either be via Microsoft Teams or a telephone conversation with parents.  You will be able to book a 5 minute time slot via the school website which will be published early next week.  The school intends to then hold a blended approach of face-to-face and remote meetings during the Spring term, however, this will be dependent upon any local or national restrictions due to Covid which may be in place.  Parents' Evening for our Year 6 pupils will take place on Tuesday 12th October (3.30pm-5.30pm) and Wednesday 13th October (4pm-6pm).  For years Reception to Year 5, these sessions will take place a week later on Tuesday 19th October (3.30pm-5.30pm) and Wednesday 20th October (4pm-6pm).  Thank you for your understanding with this matter.

The School Council at St. Joseph's have decided to support the 'Project Gambia' appeal to help our brothers and sisters in preparation for Christmas.  Please help these young people by filling a shoe box with some of the following items:  felt pens, crayons, coloured pencils, stickers, hair accessories, small balls, balloons, bubbles, nail varnish, paintbrushes, paint, maths set, sharpeners, rulers, t-shirts, lollies and sweets, children's books, small toys, arty things, jewellery, tooth brushes and paste, underwear and sock gloves. We also ask that you wrap the box and the lid in Christmas wrapping paper.  The deadline to return the boxes to school is Wednesday 20th October.  Thank you for supporting this appeal.

St. Joseph's are taking part in the Cauliflower Christmas Project to help raise money for the school in association with the PTA.  Your child will receive an 'Artwork Form' in order to create their Christmas picture.  Parents can then order a variety of gifts with their child's design embossed on the front i.e. cards, wrapping paper, mugs, pack of cards etc. 

If your child is in KS2 and interested in music lessons at school delivered by the DPA please click on the above link for more details.

You are all welcome to join us at Our Lady's & All Saints Church.

Saturday 5.00pm

Sunday 8.30am & 11am

We have a vacancy for a Lunchtime Supervisor, Monday to Friday 12.00noon-1.25pm. If you are interested or know of anyone who may be interested please contact the school office on 01384 431980 or email info@st-jo-st.dudley.sch.uk.

Click on the following link to the NHS website for information on what to do if you or your child/ren show the main symptoms of Coronavirus. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms

We have all experienced challenges and difficulties during this pandemic, but sometimes we may need support from someone else or know of someone who may need additional help.  Dudley MBC have created a 'Support for Families' leaflet which signposts local services to parents. We have also included an updated list of support for parents via a range of local and national agencies.  These documents can be found within the Covid 19 tab on the school website landing page.

The Wednesday Word can be accessed via following link: The Wednesday Word Primary School Resource | Catholic Church.  Please go through this with leaflet with your child so that they become more familiar and understand the focus of the Gospel each week.

Give thanks that opportunities to run Sunday services are beginning to open up as restrictions lift in prisons. It is encouraging to see prisoners keen to come along to these; some returning and others attending for the first time. Please pray that these services will be used to speak to those who are unsaved, and that Christian prisoners will be helped and encouraged as they hear God’s Word preached and have the opportunity to fellowship with other believers once again.

Children at St. Joseph's are growing to be eloquent and truthful in what they say of themselves, the relations between people, and the world.

Intention for evangelization - Missionary disciples

We pray that every baptized person may be engaged in evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavour of the Gospel.