MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK

Saturday     21^st     5.00pm      Parishioners
Monday      23^rd    10.00am    John Lucas RIP
Tuesday   24^th      5.00pm   Priest’s Intention
Saturday    28^th      5.00pm      A Sick Person

LATEST  UP-DATE
MASS TIMES: SATURDAY VIGIL MASS at 5pm PARISH OFFICE IS NEXT OPEN ON FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER from 10am to 1pm

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 PARISH NEWSLETTER

MASSES THIS WEEK
Monday at 10am

CHURCH OPEN  Church is open on Friday 27 December, from 11am to 12 noon for prayers before the Blessed Sacrament

CONFESSIONS:

READINGS FOR 22 DECEMBER
1^st Reading: Micah 5:2-5 From you shall come forth one who is to be ruler in Israel.
Psalm 80: Bring us back, O God, let your face shine forth and we shall be saved.
2^nd Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10, Behold, I have come to do your will.
Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-45,  Why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.  Alleluia! 
Communion antiphon: Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel.

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
23 December – St John of Kanty
25 December – Nativity of the Lord
26 December – St Stephen
27 December – St John
28 December – Holy Innocents

REFLECTION FOR THE 4^th SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Enthusiasm and joy are significant themes in the story of the nativity;
Mary sang, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour’.
Elizabeth proclaimed, ‘Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you shall bear’.
John the Baptist ‘leapt with joy’ in his mother’s womb and the angels sang, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to men’.
When we lift up our own hearts in praise and thanksgiving, the Holy Spirit gives us the grace to overcome a lack of faith and commitment, lethargy and cynicism.

CHRISTMAS WEEK MASSES
Monday 23 December, 10.00am
TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER:
4.30pm – A Service of Readings & Carols
5.00pm – Vigil Mass for Christmas
Saturday 28 December, 5.00pm

CRIB OFFERINGS
This year, offerings will be sent to Nugent Care (Archdiocesan Social Services).  Thank you.

SSPPM FUNDRAISING GROUP CHRISTMAS APPEAL 2024 – THANK YOU!
Thank you for all your generous donations and gift aid forms for Mary’s Meals to date. Tonight (Sat 21st) Fr Anders will draw the raffle for the fabulous food hamper. Any further donations for Mary’s Meals are very welcome up to 28^th December and will be added to the total. We can then forward to Mary’s Meals to achieve the double money offer from the charity’s supporters, early in the New Year.
Also, very special thanks to both John O Donnell for gifting the food hamper to us, and Rufford Printing Co. for kindly providing the stationary.
For more info about Mary’s Meals go to: www.marysmeals.org.uk/ourstory  which is full of fascinating and humbling information.  Thank you.
Ged Tyrer (Chair SSPPM, FRC)

LOST PROPERTY – MANY PAIRS OF GLASSES!
Over the last few weeks we have acquired a number of pairs of glasses and their cases.  Please collect them from the table in the narthex.  Thank you.

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=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 VERY HAPPY AND PEACE-FILLED CHRISTMAS!

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