Adults
Regular meeting are held for people who want to learn more about the Catholic faith, or who intend to become Catholics.  By discussion, and studying the Bible and other books, members learn about Catholic teachings and can be prepared for reception into the Church.   Meetings are held on Thursday evenings in term-time. 
Contact: Brigid Parkes 0118 942 7436; brigid@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk. 

Altar servers
Boys and girls who have made their first Holy Communion are welcome to apply to be altar servers.  It is important that it’s the child’s own decision.  Training sessions are arranged at regular intervals, usually immediately after school. 
Contact:  Mike Tomas 0118 941 2786; miket@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

 APF……see Mission

Babies…..see toddlers

Baptism
Parents are asked to attend two sessions to prepare for the baptism of their child.  They are usually on consecutive Wednesday evenings and last about an hour and a half.  The  baptism ceremony can be held either during the 10.30 Sunday Mass, or shortly afterwards. 
Contact:  Brigid Parkes 0118 942 7436; brigid@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.

Catholic Fund for Overseas Development
People who would like to support Cafod’s anti-poverty campaigns can use the envelopes in the porch at St Joseph’s.  Put your contribution in the envelope, and add it to the ordinary collection at Mass on Sundays.  For details of the current campaign and other information contact Margaret Chaplin 0118 961 5223

Car rota
A team of volunteers gives lifts to people who can’t get to Mass at St Joseph’s under their own steam.  If you need transport, or can help provide it,
contact Eileen Kerrigan 0118 941 2757 eileen@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

Carmelites
The third order of Carmelites is a lay order of the Church, whose members, after some years of preparation, commit themselves to helping others, regular Mass attendance, prayer and religious study.  About 18 members meet at St Joseph’s from 11-3 on the 1st Saturday of every month for spiritual renewal and guidance.  If you are interested in joining them contact:
Dorothy McMahon 0118 942 3851, or Simon Whitney 01344 303165 southern@tfrn.co.uk

Child protection
We are all responsible for making sure that vulnerable people are safe when they come into contact with the church.. If you have any concerns, you should raise them with the Parish Child Protection Officer or team. People who come into close contact with children or vulnerable adults, for example youth group helpers or Eucharistic Ministers who visit people in their homes, are asked to undergo Criminal Records Bureau checks. 
The Child Protection Officer for St Joseph’s is Jo Boase 0118 942 7436 jo@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

Children’s liturgy
Children aged between 3 and 11 have the chance to leave the church for the first part of the 10.30 Sunday Mass for a short session tailored specially for them.  Through readings, discussion and other activities, they are helped to understand the message of the day’s Gospel passage.  They return to Church in time for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  Older children are welcome to help, and adult helpers are often needed. 
Please contact Margaret McCreight  0118 942 9516

Choirs and Music
The main choir meets for practice on Monday evenings.  New members are always welcome, and if you would like to join, contact Margaret Bailie 0118 941 1483 margaretb@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk .  St Joseph’s also has a youth orchestra which plays at Mass several times a year.  Instruments currently include flute, clarinet, trumpet, recorder, violin guitar and keyboard. 
If you would like to join, contact Geoff Collier 0118 941 2458 geoff@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

Christening……..see Baptism

Christian Aid
The parish is assigned nearby streets to make door-to-door collections during Christian Aid Week each May.  The money raised pays for projects and campaigns to help people in need, mainly in the developing world.  Volunteers prepared to take on a street, of part of one, are always welcome. 
Contact:  John Macbeth 0118 9414685

Cleaners
 A team of Parishioners cleans the Church on a rota basis each week. Volunteers are always welcome to help in this important ministry.  Contact:  Veronica Williams 0118 941 8783; paul@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.

Collections
Offerings are taken up during Sunday Masses.  The parish encourages the use of planned giving envelopes, so people can decide in advance how much they should be giving, rather than scrabble about at the last minute for whatever they might find in their purse or pocket.   If you would like a set of planned giving envelopes, please contact
Harry McSoley 0118 945 5583; office@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk 

Confession  (Sacrament of Reconciliation)
Saturday  10.30am – 11.00am, or by appointment
In addition, confessions are heard during penitential services before Easter and Christmas.

Confirmation
Candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation should be at least 12 years old.  There is a ‘come and see’ evening each autumn.  Those wanting to go ahead with the programme are asked to attend about ten sessions between January and Confirmation day in the Summer. 
Contact:  Sue Collier 0118 941 2458; sue@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

Counters 
Volunteers count the money put into the basket during the offertory at Sunday Mass.  If you can spare a little time on Sunday to help, please contact: Harry McSoley 0118 945 5583; office@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk 

Ecumenical
St Joseph’s takes part in various joint activities with other churches in the area, including Bible study groups in Lent, Good Friday witness, the Women’s World Day of Prayer, social evenings with St Catherine’s Anglican church and events organised by Regenerate, an initiative to spread the Christian message in the Reading area.  Events are publicised on the notice board. 
Contact Colin Parkes 01189427436 colin@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

Eucharistic ministers
Special Ministers of the Eucharist serve at all Masses and those in the community who are sick, housebound or in hospital.
People wishing to join the team undertake an initial training programme, and refresher sessions once they have been commissioned.  Contact  :  Ann Epps 0118 941 1479; ann@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
This is celebrated each week after the Tuesday evening Mass (7 pm)

Finance Committee
Members are appointed by the Parish Priest to use their professional expertise to advise him on financial matters.  Chairman:  Paul Williams 0118 941 8783; paul@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.

First Holy Communion
The parish runs a programme for children aged 7 and above.  It is advertised before the end of each Summer Term, and it is essential that children are registered before the deadline in September.  The course involves sessions in the church hall on Tuesdays or Wednesdays after school, together with some weekday parents’ evenings and special celebration Masses on Sundays.  Ist Holy Communion is usually celebrated in early summer.  Contact  Brigid Parkes 0118 942 7436 brigid@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk 

Flowers
The church is regularly decorated with fresh flowers, except during Advent and Lent. Flowers are usually changed on Saturdays.  If you are able to help, or would like to discuss flowers for a wedding at St Joseph’s, please contact Brigid Parkes 0118 942 7436 brigid@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

Gift aid
If you are a taxpayer, you can greatly increase the value of every pound you give to the church, simply by filling in a form.  It costs you nothing, and you do not have to commit yourself to any future payments.  For the church, it means an extra £28 for every £100 in the collection.  If you are not already on Gift Aid, please contact
Harry McSoley 0118 945 5583; office@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk,
Sean Murphy 0118 942 4768; sean@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk or
Joe D’Cruz 0118 942 4010; office@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

Grounds
Volunteers maintain the grounds outside and behind the Church.  The main work is grass cutting, leaf sweeping, pruning and looking after the flower beds.  If you are able to help with any of this,
contact colin@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk 0118 942 7436

Hall
The two halls are used for a wide range of church and outside activities.  The Hall Manager is Carmen Ibanez 0118 962 4174; office@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk .  She is responsible for the building and equipment.  To book or hire either the small or the large hall,
contact Sheila Jones, Parish Secretary 0118 942 8632; secretary@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.

Health and safety
If you are concerned that something is not safe at St Joseph’s,
contact Health and Safety officer Tom McKeown 0118 942 9112; office@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.

Home visits
If you or someone you know would like to receive Holy Communion at home, or be visited for any other reason, contact:  Jo Boase  0118 967 2605;  jo@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk. See also SVP

Hospital
St Joseph's, and the other catholic parishes in the Reading area provide Special Ministers of Communion and hospital visitors under the auspices of the Royal Berkshire Hospital Chaplaincy.  If you need help from a Catholic priest, call the chaplaincy Office on 0118 322 7105, which will contact an ‘on-call’ priest.

Interfaith
Chris Knollys, a parishioner at English Martyrs, is involved in dialogue between Christians and other faith communities.   Contact: cknollys@fish.co.uk

Knitting
The Knitwits meet once a month in each other’s homes.  They make clothes and blankets which go to needy children all over the world via Save the Children.  New members are always welcome. 
Contact:  Margaret Chaplin 0118 961 5223

Life
This area has strong links with Life, which campaigns against abortion while also offering sympathetic support for women.   The charity has an office at English Martyrs (Tel 0118 958 1699), and the acting branch chair is a St Joseph’s parishioner, Christine Wall  Contact:  0118 941 1605;  office@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk
Life provides free pregnancy testing, counselling before & after abortion, help & advice.

Link
The Link, at 28 School Road next to the Methodist Church, is an ecumenical venture supported by several different churches in Tilehurst.  It provides a café and shop, and also an upstairs room where people can go for Christian Listening.  The Link relies on volunteers to serve in the café and prepare food.  If you can help please Contact:  Ann Epps 0118 941 1479; ann@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

Liturgy group
A small group of St Joseph’s parishioners offers guidance to the parish priest on the content of Masses and other services.  It also helps to organise special events like penitential services in Lent and Advent and the Corpus Christi Procession in June. Contact Harry McSoley 0118 945 5583; office@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk,

Maintenance
At St Joseph’s,  John Macbeth 0118 941 4685; office@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk has overall responsibility for upkeep of the buildings.  See also Hall and Grounds.

Marriage
Couples who want to marry should first contact the priest at the church where they want the wedding to be (see Priests).  They should do this at least 6 months in advance.  Couples are asked to take part in a marriage preparation course, which consists of three 2-hour sessions followed by a Mass.  Courses are run twice a year, and can be booked through Gwen Price, Secretary at English Martyrs.  (see Secretaries)  The courses are for couples who live locally and are marrying at our churches and also for those who live in the parish but are marrying elsewhere.

Mass times.....click on "Services"

Meditation
Parishioners from both St Joseph’s and English Martyrs have been attending a small meditation group for more than 20 years.  The group meets weekly on Monday evenings.  If you would like to join them for this form of prayer, please contact Chris Knollys 0118 958 8407 or Maureen Dingle 0118942 7016

Mission boxes
Many homes in the area have one of the famous "Red Boxes" to collect contributions for the work of overseas missionaries (the APF).  If you would like a box, or have one overdue for collection, contact: 
Mike Tomas 0118 941 2786; miket@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.

Music….see choirs

Newsletter
Enough newsletters are produced every week for each family attending Sunday Mass to have one.  It is a dual publication, with information for both St Joseph’s and English Martyrs on the front, and more local material on the back.  Items for inclusion on the St Joseph’s page must be submitted to the Parish Office by no later than
9 am on the preceding Thursday.
Contact:  Sheila Jones 0118 942 8632; secretary@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.

Nursery school
St Joseph’s Church Hall is home to a nursery for 3-5 year-olds.  It operates in term-time only on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, and Thursday afternoons.  The children do art and craft, reading, writing, number work, and music and movement.  For more details contact Maureen Petersen 0118 941 3602

Pastoral council
A 12-member pastoral council, drawn from both English Martyrs and St Joseph’s, is responsible along with Fr John, for agreeing policy and giving guidance on most of the things the church does.  The eventual aim is to include St James and St William of York.  If you have concerns or ideas about the way we worship, or the various programmes we run, please contact the chair, Ann Epps 0118 941 1479 ann@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk . 
For local issues affecting only St Joseph’s, please contact the parish secretary Sheila Jones on 0118 942 8632 secretary@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

Priests
The Parish Priest and co-ordinating pastor for the Pastoral Area is Monsignor John Nelson. 
Contact:  0118 957 2149  nelsonjohn@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk . 
Fr Joseph Awoh is resident at St Joseph’s.  Contact  0118 9428632  priest@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

RCIA…see adults  

Readers
There is a rota of readers for Sunday Masses. 
For St Joseph’s Contact:  Mike Tomas 0118 941 2786; miket@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk. 
For the 10.30 Sunday Mass there is also a rota of young people. 
Contact:  Sue Collier 0118 941 2458; sue@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

Reconciliation….see confession

Refreshments
Worshippers are cordially invited for tea, coffee, biscuits and soft drinks in the large hall after the 10.30 Sunday Mass.

Repository
Mass cards, and cards to mark Baptism, Ist Holy Communion, Confirmation and Marriage are available at the repository in the porch each Sunday after the 8.30 and 10.30 Masses.  A selection of other items, including Rosaries, statues, books and pictures, is also on sale.  In the weeks before Christmas, cards, cribs and Advent calendars go on sale in the small hall.  If you would like to join the rota of people who serve at the repository, please contact:  Marian Telepneff. 0118 941 6068; marian@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

Safety……see health and safety
 
Schools
The Catholic Primary School for the St Joseph’s area is St Paul’s in City Road.    
Contact:  0118 942 2003; office.stpauls@westberks.org  The Catholic Secondary School for the area is Blessed Hugh Faringdon in Southcote.  Contact:  0118 957 4730 admin.hughfaringdon@reading.gov.uk

Secretary
The Secretary at St Joseph’s is Sheila Jones, who works Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am - 12.30 pm.  Contact:  0118 942 8632; secretary@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.

Social events
Events such as quiz nights, barn dances and ecumenical parties are organised by a Social Committee. 
Contact:  Theresa Bricker 0118 942 6788; office@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk

SVP
The St Vincent de Paul Society (“SVP”) is an international Christian voluntary organization dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage by providing direct practical assistance to anyone in need.
Contact:   Ev Brewester 0118 942 2558; ev@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.
…..see also home visiting

Transport….see car rota

Toddlers
A group meets on Thursday mornings 9.30 am – 11.30 am during term time in the hall and provides an informal forum for Mums with young children to relax and to have a cup of tea/coffee. 
Contact:  Wendy Marshall  0118 943 3307; wendy@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.

UCM…..see women

Weddings….see marriage

Welcome
Teams of volunteers welcome worshippers at Sunday Mass.  If you are interested in joining them, contact either parish secretary.

Women’s group
The Union of Catholic Mothers is open to all women. Meetings are held in the small hall each month on a Wednesday evening, and include guest speakers, prayer, discussion and social events.
Contact:  Veronica Williams 0118 941 8783; veronica@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.

Worship….see Liturgy

Youth
A thriving youth group at St Joseph’s is open to children between 9 and15 years.  It meets every Friday during term time 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm.  The children play games, learn and pray together, and also get involved in other areas of parish life.  Contact:  Nicola Ritchie  0118 941 5636;  nicola@st-josephs-tilehurst.org.uk.