31 December 2023 – Holy Family

 

MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK

Saturday   30th      5.00pm  – Parishioners

Monday      1st    11.00am – World Peace [Mary, Mother of God]

Thursday 4th      10.00am –  The dead in Gaza

Saturday  6th      5.00pm  –   Parishioners [Epiphany of the Lord]

LATEST  UP-DATE 

 MASS TIMES: SATURDAY VIGIL MASS at 5pm


 PARISH NEWSLETTER

OFFICE OPENING OVER CHRISTMAS
Fridays 10am to 4pm

CONFESSIONS: Confessions will now be heard on the last Saturday of the month – 30 December 4.15pm-4.45pm

READINGS FOR 31 DECEMBER
1st Reading: Genesis 15:1-6, Your heir shall be your own flesh and blood
Psalm 104:  He the Lord, is our God.  He remembers his covenant for ever.
2nd Reading: Hebrews 11:8-19, The faith of Abraham, Sarah and Isaac.
Gospel Reading: Luke 2:22-40, The child grew, filled with wisdom.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son.  Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: Our God has appeared on earth and lived among men.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY
Diversity in the Church

Let us pray that the Spirit help us recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions in the heart of the Catholic Church.

SAINTS & FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
31 December – St Sylvester
1 January – Mary, Mother of God
2 January – St Basil the Great & St Gregory Nazianzen
7 January – St Raymond of Penyafort

REFLECTION – The Feast of the Holy Family
Love for God was the cornerstone of the Holy Family. Their love for the Father and their desire to be faithful to him and to please him in all things, was what also strengthened their love for each other.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And, over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

GAZA COLLECTION
CAFOD is working with local people to provide aid to the people of Gaza.
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, then send the donations in the New Year.  Thank you in anticipation. 

MARY’S MEALS COLLECTION
We will announce the final result of all Parish contributions w/c 7 January 2024.
Thanks so much for your support.
Ged Tyrer & the Fundraising Group

FINAL DAY!  PARISHIONER CONTACT DETAILS – GDPR FORMS
Deadline: 31 December 2023.  (Only 35 returned so far – out of over 70 in 2020!)

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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwBRLJt432U
The choristers of King’s College Cambridge perform the sublime, ‘Three Kings from Persian Lands’ by the German composer, Peter Cornelius – in anticipation of the Feast of the Epiphany on Saturday 6 January.

WISHING ALL PARISHIONERS & THEIR FAMILIES A PEACEFUL AND BLESSED NEW YEAR