MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK

Saturday   20th      5.00pm    Cobham & Whittle families (living & deceased)

CHRISTMAS VIGIL MASS
Wednesday       24^th      4.30pm     Readings & Carols 
                                          5.00pm     Priest’s Intention

Saturday    27th      5.00pm    Parishioners

 

LATEST  UP-DATE
MASS TIMES: SATURDAY VIGIL MASS at 5pm PARISH OFFICE:   The Parish Office will be closewd until Friday 2 January, 10am to 4pm

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 PARISH NEWSLETTER

MASSES THIS WEEK
Please see above

CONFESSIONS: Next confessions: last Saturday of the month –   27 December, 4.15pm to 4.45pm 

READINGS FOR 21 DECEMBER
1^st Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14, Behold, the Virgin shall conceive.
Psalm 24: Let the Lord enter, he is the king of glory.
2^nd Reading: Romans 1:1-7, Jesus Christ, descended from david, Son of God.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 1:18-24, Jesus was born of Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, son of David.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. behold, the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel – which means God with us.  Alleluia.
Communion antiphon:behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son and his name will be called Emmanuel.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER
For Christians in Areas of Conflict
Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope.

FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
23 December – St John of Kanty
26 December – St Stephen, 1^st martyr
27 December – St John, apostle

RED ADMIRAL BAND CONCERT – SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER at 2pm
The concert takes place tomorrow afternoon, in church.  Doors open at 1.30pm.
We are all ready for a fabulous afternoon of entertainment of carols and seasonal music.  Thank you to all who have supported us to date.  If you haven’t yet booked, or if you wish to book for more places, please see Joy in the narthex as you leave church this evening.  There are still some seats left.  It’s still possible to pay at the door (£10 adults / £5 children) – you will be most welcome! 
Remember that all the income is being donated to Mary’s Meals – the Band is very kindly waiving a fee, in favour of Mary’s Meals.
Tip:  You may wish to bring a cushion along – or something soft – to sit on!
The Events group look forward to seeing you all tomorrow afternoon.  Thank you.
Ged Tyrer (Chairman SSP&P Fund Raising Group)

SS PETER & PAUL’S CHRISTMAS APPEAL FOR ‘MARY’S MEALS’
Thank you to all those who have generously donated to date.
The draw for the gifts in the narthex will be made after Mass this evening.
Donations continue to be welcome up to and including Saturday 3 January.  If you can, please complete the gift aid form so that Mary’s Meals can benefit even more from your kind donation.  We will update everyone with news of the final total raised after 3 January.
Ged Tyrer (Chairman SSP&P Fund Raising Group)

LOTTERY WINNERS – DECEMBER
1^st      Miss K Wilkinson, Rufford        £50          (7)
2^nd    Mrs M Culshaw, Mawdesley      £30         (118)
3^rd     Mr M Gunning, Croston             £20          (42)

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES / GIFT AID / STANDING ORDERS!
If you are a taxpayer then you can easily help the parish to claim 25% extra on top of every donation you make – and it won’t cost you a penny!  Eg: a donation of £10 per week would result in £12.50 going to the church. If you are able to use gift aid, please collect a form from the porch on your way out today, and return it to the Parish Office asap. 
If you are a taxpayer who makes regular cash donations, please consider using an offertory envelope instead of just placing your ‘loose’ donations in the basket. This is really important: it can bring in more than £1000 to the church every year, as we’ll be able to claim gift aid directly on every donation you make.  It won’t cost you anything at all, but it will make a huge difference to our finances.
Please contact the Parish Office if you’d like to use envelopes – they are free! 
Even better – you can donate ‘painlessly’ each month by setting up a standing order with your bank.  Forms are available in the porch.

PARISH MONTHLY LOTTERY – HAVE YOU JOINED YET?
Are you missing out on this monthly lottery draw?  Letters are available in the narthex explaining how the lottery works and also how important this is for the parish.  Please pick one up before you leave church.

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.

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.

MASS INTENTONS
Mass intentions are welcome, not just for our dear departed, but for any other occasion eg in thanksgiving, successful outcome (exams / operation), wedding / anniversary blessings. Please write your name and intention, with the preferred date – if applicable –  on a piece of paper and place in an envelope, along with your offering, either in the weekly offertory basket or through the presbytery door.  It may not be possible to guarantee the specific date requested, for various reasons, however, every effort will be made to find a date as near as possible. 

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.

MAGNIFICAT
Now is a good time to buy a yearly subscription to Magnificat.  It works out at less than £1 per week at £65 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.          

MUSICAL TREAT FOR THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQyrD7U5aNE
The sublime Kings’ Singers offer this week’s treat of the famous ‘Gaudete’ – lively, pacey and full of expression, it perfectly captures the joy of anticipation in the birth of Our Lord.  The words and music are available, so join in whichever part you feel able to!

WITH EVERY BLESSING  FOR A HAPPY AND PEACE-FILLED WEEK

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