Newsletter: 10th December 2023

Second Sunday Of Advent

16.30 Confessions
17.30 VIGIL MASS

09.00 MASS
10.30 MASS
12.00 Baptisms

10.00 MASS

10.00 Eucharistic Service
10.30 Coffee Morning

10.00 Mass

10.00 Mass
10.30 – 11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

16.30 Confessions
17.30 VIGIL MASS

9.00 MASS
10.30 MASS
12.00 Baptisms

ANNUAL MISSION APPEAL
We welcome Fr. Augustine Franklin, will be preaching the mission appeal from the Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSP) this weekend. Thank you for your generosity.

PONSETTIAS
If you would like to donate a Poinsettia to decorate the church please bring to church by the third Sunday of Advent. Thank you

S.V.P GIVING TREE PROJECT
Please take a tag off the Christmas Tree in the Atrium with ideas for small gifts to donate to children and adults of all ages. These will be distributed to needy families within the parish. The St. Vincent de Paul Society are inviting all parishioners to share in the spirit of Christmas by taking part in our ‘Giving Tree’ project.

WALSINGHAM
Unfortunately, the parish pilgrimage we were hoping to join has now been cancelled and so we will not be making a planned pilgrimage to Walsingham in 2024.

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE UNCLAIMED PRIZE
Ticket Number 0180

CHRISTMAS CAKE RAFFLE
Tickets available after Mass and the draw will take place at the Coffee Morning on the 12th December.

CARITAS DIOCESE OF SALFORD ADVENT APPEAL
Our diocesan charity, Caritas Salford, has launched its Advent appeal for 2023, including a very special animation film voiced by local children. You can view the short animation and find out more about how you can make a donation to the appeal, or take action to help people in your parish who are experiencing crisis this Christmas, by visiting the Caritas Salford website>

PIETY STALL
Religious Christmas Cards and advent calendars available £2.00.

CARITAS CHRISTMAS MEAL
Sunday 24th December –Christmas Meal delivery service only. Monday 25th December Delivery service or Takeaway/Sit-down meal from 1.00p.m –3.00p.m at Bury Parish Church Hall , The Rock (behind the Church ) If you or someone you know would like to order a meal or be a volunteer driver for an hour to deliver meals please contact 07855 306074 before 22nd December. There is no charge for this meal. Please see the Poster in the Atrium.

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES
Saturday 23rd December
5.30pm Mass (4th Sunday of Advent)
Sunday 24th December
9.00am Mass (4th Sunday of Advent ), 10.30am Mass (4th Sunday of Advent), 5.30pm First Mass of Christmas.
Monday 25th December
10.30a.m Mass of Christmas

2025 “PILGRIMS OF HOPE” JUBILEE
This Advent, Pope Francis invites people across the world to embark on a Year of Prayer in preparation for the 2025 “Pilgrims of Hope” Jubilee. Over the coming weeks and months, the
Diocese of Salford will be sharing a range of resources and ideas to help us journey together through this Year of Prayer. Head here to find out more >

MISSIO
Thank you for your kind donations of £845.28 received over the last four months.

FATHER BRADY FAIRFIELD HOSPITAL ON CALL
12th December 6.00pm to 8.30a.m
20th December 6.00pm-8.30a.m

STAY WITH US, LORD, ON OUR JOURNEY

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL

Each Advent has two ‘John the Baptist’ Sundays: the first when we see John preparing a community for the Messiah, the second when he points out Jesus as the Lamb of God. Today is the first of these. John chose a point where the busy road from Jerusalem to the East crossed the Jordan River. There he button-holed all the busy financiers, merchants and other travellers and tourists, warning them to change their ways – and to change them now, before it was too late. ‘I am too busy,’ no doubt they said. ‘I have other things to worry about; I have a wife and family to feed.’ John was forming a community of repentance; but not so much a community which wept ‘Boo-hoo!’ about their sins, as a community of people determined to set their scale of values right. He meant them to stop going in one direction, to turn round and go in a different direction – towards God. Do we give ourselves a moment to pause and ask whether we have our priorities right? Where on that list of priorities does the entry of Christ into our lives come? John expected Jesus to baptise with fire. Does that mean burning something away? Or warming something up? Or a shining light? What does your baptism mean to you?

BAPTISMS Please see Fr. Brady after Mass if you would like your child to be baptised. A baptismal certificate for one of the parents must be provided as evidence of baptism in a Roman Catholic Church before a baptism date can be given. We welcome parents and children and by attending Masses at the weekend on Saturday at 5.30pm, Sunday at 9.00am or 10.00am which fulfil the Sunday obligation. All Catholics are OBLIGED to celebrate Mass on EVERY Sunday.

BAPTISM CERTIFICATE COPIES REQUESTS For those requesting copies of baptism certificate the office can be contacted initially and the certificate can be collected at any of the weekend Masses. This is also to encourage people to come to Mass.

SICK AND HOUSEBOUND If you know of anybody who would like Fr Brady to visit, could you please give him their name and address with postcode and a contact telephone number. Thank you.

MASS INTENTIONS AND NEWSLETTER INCLUSIONS The practice of requesting a Mass to be offered for loved ones, living or deceased, is a beautiful and wonderful part of our Catholic Tradition. Continuing this long-standing practice, you can remember someone who has died recently or many years ago. The Mass can also make beautiful gifts for any special occasion: birthdays, anniversaries, in thanksgiving for a prayer answered etc. You can offer an intention for anybody who is struggling with a serious illness or other difficulties of life. Please hand in any Mass Intentions and items for the bulletin before Thursday as the newsletter is printed on Friday Morning. There are Mass Intention Envelopes provided on the table in the Atrium. Please provide a contact number with Mass Intentions so that any discrepancies can be resolved. Thank you.

OUR LADY’S LAMP AND THE SANCTUARY LAMP These burn for seven days .Please place any intentions in an envelope with £5 in the Mass Offerings Box in the Atrium.

MASSES AND PRAYERS RECEIVED THIS WEEK

Lately Dead
Monica Coles, Mary Fielding, Syl Skelly.

Anniversary
Henry Casey, Michael and James Clegg, Alan Forrest, Graham Hadfield.

Birthday Memory
William Sharrock.

Sick
Stephen Coffey, Patrick Gracey, Lydia Mc Daniels, Daniel Kahanga.

Other

Intentions of Mr and Mrs Anigbo.
Intentions of Katie and Sophie.

This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for:

William McGrail.

This week Our Lady’s Lamp burns for:

William Sharrock.

Lourdes TV

Please click on the red ‘Play’ button to watch Lourdes TV.