10 December 2023 – 2nd Sunday of Advent
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Saturday 9th 5.00pm – Someone sick
Monday 10th 10.00am – Foundation Mass
Thursday 14th 10.00am – John & Sandra Cobham: Golden Anniversary
Saturday 16th 5.00pm – Knights of the Holy Sepulchre
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MASS TIMES: SATURDAY VIGIL MASS at 5pm |
PARISH NEWSLETTER
MASSES THIS WEEK
Monday: 10am; Thursday Mass at 10am is followed by Exposition and Benediction (10.25am-11.00am)
CONFESSIONS: Confessions will now be heard on the last Saturday of the month – 30 December 4.15pm-4.45pm
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYERS BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: Fridays, 11am to 1pm
READINGS FOR 10 DECEMBER
1st Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11, Prepare a way for the Lord
Psalm 84: Let us see O Lord your mercy and give us your saving help.
2nd Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-14, We are waiting for the new heavens and the new earth
Gospel Reading: Mark 1:1-8, Make his paths straight
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight and all mankind shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: Rise up Jerusalem, stand on the heights, and see the joy that is coming to you from God.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER
Volunteer Organisations
Let us pray that volunteer, non-profit organisations committed to human development find people dedicated to common good and ceaselessly seek out new paths to international co-operation.
SAINTS & FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
11 December – St Damasus I
12 December – Our Lady of Guadalupe
13 December – St Lucy
14 December – St John of the Cross – a great theologian of the reformed Carmelite order, whose reflections on self-sacrificing love still inspire today.
GAZA COLLECTION
CAFOD is working with local people to provide aid to the people of Gaza. One of their co-workers was killed when a bomb hit the Orthodox church which was providing refuge for 500 people.
If you would like to help, you’ll find CAFOD envelopes for your donations in the narthex. Please gift aid if you can and we’ll collect your envelopes during Advent, then send the donations in the New Year. Thank you in anticipation.
MISSIO CALENDARS 2024
Calendars for 2024 are available from the narthex for those with Red Boxes.
Many thanks to all those who have returned their boxes for counting. All the money has been sent to Missio.
MARY’S MEALS – PARISH CHRISTMAS APPEAL
Thank you very much to all those who passed in their envelopes last week. If you missed the leaflet with details of our Parish fundraiser, please take a copy from the narthex.
Our closing date isn’t until 23 December so there is still time to donate. Every penny counts and our total will be doubled by Mary’s Meals supporters, which is great news.
Ged Tyrer (Fund Raising Group)
PARISHIONER CONTACT DETAILS – GDPR
Please collect a GDPR Consent Form today (from the narthex) and complete with your contact details. We last did this exercise in 2020 and it was invaluable in helping us to keep in touch with parishioners during the early years of pandemic lockdowns. However, we are legally required to destroy this information after three years, therefore it would be enormously helpful if you could now provide up-to-date contact details. These will be stored securely and used for church business only. The information will be kept until 2026. Thank you.
Deadline: 31 December 2023
CAFOD WORLD GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS
CAFOD has just sent out their Christmas catalogues for 2023 and they are available from the table in the narthex. Order by 14 December.
Please have a look through and discover a range of ways you can help your loved ones to make a real difference to people’s lives: a gift of £10 can purchase worms that will help farmers to cultivate more and better quality, crops; £20 will provide chicken for vulnerable families and £33 will provide water for a family that is clean and safe for drinking, cooking and cleaning.
View all these and more online at www.cafod.org.uk/worldgifts
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. Please see the Thank You letter in the narthex: 501 visits to the foodbank in October and 1300 food parcels were given out! More help is needed. They are particularly short of tinned pasta, tinned meat / fish and puddings.
Thank you all for your kind-hearted generosity. It makes such a big difference.
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.
OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PARISH
Now that parish activities are starting up again, there are a number of opportunities to become a bit more involved in parish life, particularly: stewarding/welcomers, driving deliveries to St Mary’s foodbank every other week, singing with the choir, flower arranging, church cleaning, altar serving, fund-raising. Help is welcome from all ages! Please contact the Parish Office by email or ring on Fridays, in order to find out more.
MUSICAL TREAT FOR THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIr21lLgFpg
This Sunday’s reading from Mark focuses on the significance of St John the Baptist in the nativity, reminding us that the advent of the Lord is indeed nigh. This is a lovely traditional version sung by the choir of Bury St Edmunds. Even better, the words on the screen mean that we can join with them.
WITH EVERY BLESSING THIS WEEK FOR PARISHIONERS & FAMILIES