25 December 2022 – The Nativity of the Lord
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Saturday 24th December – Priest’s Intention
Thurs 29th Dec – Special Intention
Sat 31st Dec – Parishioners
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MASS TIMES: SATURDAY VIGIL MASS at 5pm SOCIALLY-DISTANCED SEATING: As far as possible, the side benches will be available for those who wish to remain cautious. **OFFICE HOURS : FRIDAYS, 10am to 4pm** |
PARISH NEWSLETTER
**CHRISTMAS PERIOD OFFICE HOURS**
Friday 30 December, 9.30am to 12.30pm; church will be open for private prayer 10.00am – 12noon
VISITS TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT & PRAYER / REFLECTION: Fridays 11am to 1pm
HOLY MASS: Thursday 10.00am, with Exposition & Benediction: 10.25am-11.00am
CONFESSIONS: last Saturday of the month (31 December): 4.15pm-4.45pm
COVID / ‘FLU AWARENESS & THE SUNDAY OBLIGATION
If you have a cough / sore throat / feel generally unwell with cold-like symptom, please take a Covid test right away. If it’s positive, then please stay at home, keep it to yourself and get better soon!
Whilst the Sunday Obligation has been restored, the Archdiocese advises parishioners to celebrate Mass at home, if they are unwell with coughs and colds – especially at the moment, with so many infections doing the rounds.
READINGS FOR 25 DECEMBER
1st Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10, All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God
Psalm 97: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God
2nd Reading: Hebrew 1:1-6, God has spoken to us through his Son.
Gospel: John 1:1-18, The Word was made flesh and lived among us.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! A hallowed day has dawned upon us. Come you nations, worship the Lord, for today a great light has shone down upon the earth. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
We join Pope Francis’ prayer intention for December
For volunteer not-for-profit organisations
We pray that volunteer non-profit organisations committed to human development find people dedicated to the common good and ceaselessly seek out new paths to international cooperation.
We join Pope Francis’ prayer intention for January
For educators
We pray that educators may be credible witnesses, teaching fraternity rather than competition and helping the youngest and most vulnerable above all.
SPECIAL FEASTS THIS WEEK
25 Dec – Nativity of the Lord
26 Dec – St Stephen, martyr
27 Dec – St John, apostle
28 Dec – Holy Innocents
29 Dec – St Thomas Becket
30 Dec – Holy Family
31 Dec – St Sylvester I, pope
MESSAGE FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE – The Guiding Star
Lord, the sight of the guiding star,
brought hope, courage and joy
to those who had journeyed to find you.
When our journey seems long,
when hope seems far away,
when our courage is failing
fill us with faith and trust;
shine your light on our fears,
lift our hearts with your joy.
Help us to recognise you
in our brothers and sisters
throughout the world;
show us how we can work together
so that we may all come to share in the life
promised to us by Jesus,
the Saviour of us all.
Amen
https://cafod.org.uk/Pray/Christmas-prayers
MARY’S MEALS CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISING
Our thanks to all those who have already donated, it has been a fabulous response and much appreciated in these tough economic times. The final sum will be published after the New Year.
The Fund Raising Committee
LOTTERY WINNERS – DECEMBER
1st Mrs K Ricketts, Mawdesley £50 No.83
2nd Mrs K Cooper, Heskin £30 No.18
3rd Mrs J Harrison, Croston £20 No.44
As we celebrate the birth of Our Lord, may I take this opportunity to thank those who do so much, in so many ways for our parish, and thank you all for your prayerful support throughout the year.
Happy Christmas everyone!
CHRISTMAS MASSES
Christmas Day: Our Lady’s Tarleton at 9.15am; St Agnes Eccleston at 11am.
VATICAN SYNOD – “Enlarge the space of your tent”
A working document has been circulated around the archdioceses, inviting a response from bishops around the world. Chairs of Deanery Synodal Councils attended a meeting on 28th November to learn more about the process and the key points. These will be discussed in deaneries, which will then provide feedback to Archbishop Malcolm. The document is 56 pages long and available online via this link.
https://www.synod.va/content/dam/synod/common/phases/continental-stage/dcs/Documento-Tappa-Continentale-EN.pdf
Our deanery Synod Council met ear;ier this month, at St Gregory’s, Chorley to discuss this paper and the Archbishop’s summary of it. The main purpose of this forum at the moment, is to contribute to the Archdiocesan response to the document “Enlarge the space of your tent”. If you would like to learn more about this process, there is a helpful overview on the Bishops Conference website: cbcew.org.uk/synodal-church where there is a very clear diagram which explains the order of consultations (on pages 51 and 52 of “Enlarge the space of your tent”)
COST OF LIVING CRISIS
The Archdiocese has created a network of warm and cosy spaces for winter with hot drinks, TV and internet access. Please see the list at http://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/index.php?p=2561
Everyone will find warm & cosy parish centre, a warm cup of tea or coffee, biscuits or cakes and a chance to meet some new friends you haven’t met yet. Please spread the word. If you would like to get more involved or to find out more, please contact p.guidi@rcaol.org.uk
Our nearest churches are:
St Teresa’s, Penwortham PR1 0DS – Mondays, 1pm to 3.30pm
St Mary’s, Chorley PR7 2SR – Tuesdays, 1pm to 3.30pm
Please notify the Parish Office if you know of any other, more local, Warm Spaces, so that we can mention them in next week’s newsletter. Thank you.
CAFOD ADVENT PRAYERS & RESOURCES
CAFOD ‘Pray this Advent’ and ‘Prayers for Christmas’ Daily Advent calendar reflections will go straight to your inbox if you sign up. See: https://cafod.org.uk/Pray/Prayer-resources
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 TREATS FOR THE WEEK
Carol of the Bells – Ukrainian Bell Carol – YouTube
We hear this lovely carol a lot these days, without necessarily realising that it is based on a Ukrainian carol: the ‘Carol of the Bells. It’s is a choral miniature work originally composed by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych. Throughout the composition, Leontovych used the four-note motif that we can all recognise.
WITH EVERY BLESSING THIS WEEK FOR PARISHIONERS & FAMILIES FOR A PEACEFUL AND VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
MAGNIFICAT
The Magnificat publication can be a wonderful aid to prayer and of course, you also get the readings for Mass for every day of the week! At a cost of less than £1 a week, you may be interested in subscribing now: tel. 020 7448 3618; email: uk@magnificat.com or visit the website: www.catholic-herald.myshopify.com
ARCHDIOCESE RESPONSE TO UKRAINE
The fourth consignment of aid for Ukraine travelled last weekend taking dried food, thermal clothing, tools and generators. Please pray for peace https://www.cbcew.org.uk/pray-for-peace-in-ukraine/
RED MISSION BOXES
Please bring them to church when you attend Mass next weekend, or drop them off at the presbytery on Friday, between 10am and 4pm. Please contact the Parish Office if you would like someone to collect your box for you. Alternatively, please contact Sandra Cobham to arrange collection on 01704 821609. Thank you.
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. During Advent, we will be collecting Christmassy food items.
SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, MAWDESLEY
RESPECT BELIEVE INSPIRE: Learning through Jesus. Opportunities for all to reach their full potential. Valuing all in our school family and the wider world. Encouraging everyone to be unique. Please ring Mrs A Parkinson on 01704 822216 to find out about Open Days/Evenings, or check the website on https://www.sspeterandpaulsschoolmawdesley.co.uk/
CLOTHING DONATIONS FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES
Donations to Care4Calais are being collected in Aughton L39 5DW: Please email mcevoyden@gmail.com to arrange drop-off time / venue. Care4Calais is specifically asking for the following items, which must be in good condition: baby / children’s clothes & shoes (trainers), jeans and leggings, t-shirts, hoodies, & other winter clothes / shoes. You may wish to donate directly to Care4Calais: Care4Calais | Refugee Crisis Charity | Fundraise Donate Volunteer
THE UNIVERSE CATHOLIC WEEKLY
The Universe Catholic Weekly has launched their new online newspaper with the full support of their first subscriber, none other than His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols.
Order your Digital copy by going to www.universecatholicweekly.co.uk or ring 0743661 7650 and ask for Michelle.
Special offer: Only £20 for 3 months
EWTN – GLOBAL CATHOLIC TV & RADIO
Getting connected is easier than you might think. EWTN is free, there’s no subscription. You can stream live and on demand via the website: www.ewtn.co.uk/get-ewtn or get the app for your mobile (EWTN APP), or Amazon’s Echo Auto.
Every day: daily Mass at 1pm and Children’s Rosary every day, at 7.30pm
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMES ON EWTN
Children’s religious programmes, based on the teachings of Jesus, are available on EWTN every week day, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm – and on Saturday mornings, from 9am to 10am.
WEEKLY MASS FOR CHILDREN: FREE RESOURCE BOOKLET
Redemptorist Publications is pleased to introduce Celebrate: an initiative designed to help children grow in their faith.
Each week they will provide a Children’s Liturgy in the form of a video of the week’s Gospel reading, a reflection and a final prayer.
Fun, engaging and practical worksheets/resources will also be provided to help children continue to practise their faith during this time. Please ring 01420 592974 or check the following link for the RP KidZone: https://www.rpbooks.co.uk/celebrate-following-your-faith?utm
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OFFERTORY DONATIONS
Instead of putting money in offertory envelopes each week, those who are able to make an offering are asked to either:
- Write a monthly cheque (payable to ‘Ss Peter & Paul Church’) and post to the presbytery with a covering letter and one offertory envelope for gift aid purposes.
- Contact the office (by phone or email) to request a Standing Order mandate for your bank –
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like to discuss this further.