24 December 2023 – 4th Sunday of Advent
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Saturday 23rd 5.00pm – Parishioners
Sunday 24th 5.00pm – Priest’s Intention
Saturday 30th 5.00pm – Parishioners
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MASS TIMES: SATURDAY VIGIL MASS at 5pm |
PARISH NEWSLETTER
OFFICE OPENING OVER CHRISTMAS
Friday 29 December: 1pm to 4pm
CONFESSIONS: Confessions will now be heard on the last Saturday of the month – 30 December 4.15pm-4.45pm
READINGS FOR 24 DECEMBER
1st Reading: Samuel 7:1-5, 8:12-16, The kingdom of David will always stand secure before the Lord.
Psalm 88: I will sing forever of your love, O Lord.
2nd Reading: Romans 16:25-27, The mystery, which was kept secret for endless ages, is now made clear.
Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38, Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! I am the handmaid of the Lord: let what you have said be done to me. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: The Virgin is with child and shall bear a son and she will call him Emmanuel.
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
26 December – St Stephen
27 December – St John
28 December – Holy Innocents
29 December – St Thomas Becket
CHRISTMAS WEEK MASSES
Sunday 24 December: carols from 4.40pm, Christmas Mass: 5.00pm (Priest’s Intention)
No Masses on Monday 25 December or on Thursday 28 December
Saturday 30 December: 5pm – Feast of the Holy Family (Parishioners)
Monday 1 January: 11.00am
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM FR ANDERS
Tidings of comfort and joy! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and thank you all for your support throughout the year.
Come and behold Him born the King of angels, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
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.
MARY’S MEALS COLLECTION
Thank you to all that have kindly donated to our Marys’ Meals Appeal. Today is the last day for giving, however if you have forgotten to bring your envelope today please pop it in at the Christmas Mass tomorrow evening, we can still add it to the total.
We will announce the final result of all Parish contributions w/c 7 January 2024.
Thanks so much for your support & best wishes to all for a Very Happy Christmas.
Ged Tyrer & the Fundraising Group
FINAL WEEK! 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. (Only 18 returned so far – out of a total of over 70 in 2020!)
Deadline: 31 December 2023
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.
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.
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
The King’s Singers – The Angel Gabriel (arr. Pettman) – YouTube
A lovely opportunity to sing-a-long with the unique King’s Singers in this popular Basque carol, that sums up Mary’s wholehearted abandonment to the will of God: the perfect role model for us all!
WITH SPECIAL BLESSINGS FOR A HAPPY AND PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS