1 December 2024 – 1st Sunday of Advent
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Saturday 30th .00pm Parishioners
Monday 2nd 10.30am Funeral Service for the late Eileen Halsall
Thursday 5th 10.00am A family with difficulties
Friday 6th 11.00am Requiem Mass for the late Ann Lace
Saturday 7th 5.00pm Holy Souls NDL
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MASS TIMES: SATURDAY VIGIL MASS at 5pm PARISH OFFICE IS OPEN ON FRIDAYS from 10am to 4pm |
PARISH NEWSLETTER
MASSES THIS WEEK
Monday at 10am – NO MASS 2 DECEMBER
Thursday at 10am, followed by Exposition (10.25am) & Benediction
CHURCH OPEN Church is open on Fridays, from 11am to 1pm for prayers before the Blessed Sacrament
CLOSED on FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER
CONFESSIONS: Confessions will now be heard on the last Saturday of the month, 28 December, 4.15pm-4.45pm
READINGS FOR 1 DECEMBER
1st Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16, I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David
Psalm 25: To you O Lord, I lift up my soul
2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2, May the Lord establish your hearts for the coming of Christ.
Gospel Reading: Luke 21:25-36, Your redemption is drawing near.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Show us O Lord your mercy, and grant us your salvation. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: The Lord will bestow his bounty and our earth shall yield its increase.
THE POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER
For pilgrims of hope
We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthens our faith, helping us to recognise the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.
FEAST & SAINTS DAYS THIS WEEK
3 December – St Francis Xavier
4 December – St John Damascene
5 December – St John Almond
6 December – St Nicholas
7 December = St Ambrose
FUNERAL SERVICE MONDAY 2 DECEMBER
A funeral service for the late Eileen Halsall will be held here on Monday 2 December, at 10.30am. Please remember her in your prayers. May she rest in peace.
REQUIEM MASS FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER
A funeral service for the late Ann Lace will be held here on Friday 6 December, at 11.00am. Please remember her in your prayers. May she rest in peace.
SPECIAL COLLECTION LAST WEEK Animate Youth; £75.22 Thank you.
ADVENT SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION
A Service of Reconciliation will take place within our family of parishes at St Gregory’s, Weld Bank, Chorley PR7 3NW on Sunday 15 December at 3pm. Several priests will be available to hear confessions, following a general service of sorrow
MISSION TODAY CALENDARS 2025
Calendars for next year are now available for parishioners on the table in the narthex..
MISSION BOXES: Please bring boxes in for counting, or contact Sandra Cobham on 01704 821609 and she will arrange to collect. Thank you.
SSPPM FUNDRAISING GROUP CHRISTMAS APPEAL 2024
The Fundraising Group are requesting donations for Marys Meals this Advent. If you missed the launch leaflet last week, please take one from the Narthex which has full details of the event. Please place your donation, Gift Aid form and ticket for the raffle (complete & snip off from the base of the leaflet) to win the fabulous hamper in the Narthex, in the envelope provided. Just put the envelope on the Collection Basket or follow the details on the leaflet. Remember every pound raised by the Parish will be doubled by the generous benefactors of Mary’s Meals. Many thanks in anticipation for your generous support.
Ged Tyrer (Chair SSPPM, FRC)
ARCHDIOCESAN SYNODAL COUNCIL REPORT
Our Archdiocesan Synodal Council met recently to discuss the life of the archdiocese. Each deanery, including our own was represented at the Council and a Summary Report has been produced. Please take a copy from the back of church to have a look at the main points discussed
APPLICATIONS FOR BISHOP RAWSTORNE ACADEMY
One of the entry requirements of C of E schools requires evidence of the commitment of one of the parents or guardians of the prospective pupil to the Christian faith, ie fortnightly worship for a period of at least one year. Please note that the Church is contacted to verify attendance for the year preceding entry. So, for pupils hoping to enter in Sept 2026, the period of assessment started on 1 Sept 2024. Therefore, for entry in Sept 2026, the period of assessment has already started.
This means that unfortunately, anyone hoping that their child will be admitted to Bishop Rawstorne next September (2025) has missed the deadline. Please pass this info on to parishioners who may not always manage to see the newsletter – which is on the website every week. Please check the school’s website for further details: https://bishopr.co.uk/parents/admissions
CAFOD’s WORLD GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS
This Christmas, give your loved ones something exceptional and life-changing. Buying CAFOD’s virtual World Gifts makes a real difference for our sisters and brothers facing the injustice of poverty around the world. Choose from a range of beautifully illustrated cards, each representing a gift of hope, inspired by real people and real needs. Cards can be sent by post, as an eCard, or printed at home. You may also wish to purchase World Gifts and other gifts such as Advent calendars and jute bags at www.worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/ or pick up a catalogue in the narthex.
CHURCH FLOWERS
We’re always grateful to our flower arrangers, Ann & Tony and Shirley & Paul, who makes sure our church is filled with beautiful flower arrangements every week. Many of the flowers are sourced from their garden and also the grounds of the church, but inevitably many flowers also need to be bought and this incurs costs. Any donations therefore are particularly welcome and will help to ensure that our altars continue to provide a fitting tribute to Our Lord.
MAGNIFICAT
Now is a good time to buy a yearly subscription to Magnificat. It works out at less than £1 per week at £49 pa.
The Magnificat is published monthly. For each day, it contains the readings and prayers for Mass, with a meditation from the great spiritual writers of the Church throughout history and prayers for morning and evening inspired by the Liturgy of the Hours. You will also find the lives of the saints, articles on spiritual topics by contemporary writers, prayers at night, hymns, reflections and essay on a great example of Christian art in each issue.
Please order online at www.magnificat.com or phone Margaret Hiscock on 020 3882 9432.
DON’T FORGET! PARISH FOODBANK – DONATIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME
Thank you for donations already received, which have been taken to the foodbank centre at St Mary’s in Leyland. They are particularly short of tinned pasta, tinned meat / fish and puddings.
Please check that donations are well before their BB date!
Thank you all for your kind-hearted generosity. It makes such a big difference.
LITTLE THEATRES & MENTAL HEALTH / WELL-BEING
Chorley and Southport have their own theatres and Southport’s in particular, has just brought out its new season pamphlet of plays and productions for 2024-25. Visiting the theatre can provide a welcome form of relaxation and enjoyment, and at Southport, the volunteers are very good at putting people at their ease. You will be sure of a grand welcome.
In addition, there is news of a number of special packages available, that afford real value for money.
The pamphlets, containing full details, are available in the narthex.
CATHOLIC PICTORIAL
Keeping you up to date with all the news from around the Archdiocese online: www.catholicpic.co.uk
Postal subscriptions are available: 3 issues = £9.50, 6 issues = £19 and 12 issues = £37.50.
Email enquiries@cpmmmedia.com or ring 0151 709 7567.
Digital copies are also available. Please use the phone number / email address above.
THE UNIVERSE CATHOLIC WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS
These are available to order directly from the publisher (www.thecatholicuniverse.com or call Michelle on 0743 661 7650. ). It can be posted to you each week. A 3 months print subscription is £42.00 – 6 months is £75.00 and the year at £140.00.
HOW TO DONATE TO THE CHURCH
Standing Orders – Many find this an easier alternative to trying to remember to bring cash along each week. Forms are available in the porch / from the Parish Office. You can determine the amount and when it is deducted each month. Please post compoleted forms to your bank.
Envelopes – easy, because they can be prepared before coming to church. They afford some ‘privacy’ for the amount donated. Please contact the Parish Office so we can arrange this.
Cash / cheque donations each week and very gratefully received.
Gift Aid If you are a taxpayer then you can easily help the parish to claim 25% extra on top of every donation you make. Eg: your donation of £10 per week could become £12.25 going to the church. Filling in a simple form to register your name and address means we can claim an additional 25% of your gift
Please collect a form from the narthex on your way out today, complete and return to the Parish Office.
THANK YOU for your continuing support and generosity in these very challenging times.
MUSICAL TREAT FOR THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIr21lLgFpg
This week, the really popular and rousing Advent hymn – ‘On Jordan’s bank, the Baptist’s cry’, set to the wonderful Winchester tune. The words are included, so we can sing along with gustso: both tempo and key are spot on, so enjoy a really good sing to these wonderfully inspiring words and sentiments. A cracking start to Advent!
WITH EVERY BLESSING FOR PARISHIONERS & FAMILIES THIS WEEK