Newsletter: 19th November 2023

Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

16.30 Confessions
17.30 VIGIL MASS

09.00 MASS
10.30 MASS
12.00 Baptisms

10.30 Coffee Morning
13.00 Requiem Mass for Syl Skelly

10.00 Mass
14.00 Funeral Service Blackley Crematorium – Winifred Whiteside
19.30 UCM Meeting

10.00 Mass

10.00 Mass

16.30 Confessions
17.30 VIGIL MASS

9.00 MASS
10.30 MASS
12.00 Baptisms

OUR CHRISTMAS FAIR
Saturday 25th November 11am – 2p.m. This week we are kindly asking for any donations of gifts. (e.g. jewellery, toiletries, soft toys, tombola prizes) Please would anybody who has volunteered to run a stall please come down to the School Hall on Friday afternoon 24th November at 1p.m to help setting up the Christmas Fair.

On Saturday morning the day of the fair we would love to receive homemade cakes by 10am. After the fair, church and school have to be cleared away for evening Mass at 5.30pm and school ready for normal on Monday morning. Volunteers also required please to help clearing up at 2pm on the Saturday.

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.

Please take a flyer from the atrium for further details as to how you can support a family in need this Christmas.

ANNUAL MISSION APPEAL
The Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSP) visits our parish on the weekend of the 9th & 10th of December for a mission appeal. The MSP is a religious congregation working in different parts of the world, committed to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and the salvific work of God the Father in the Holy Spirit. You are all invited to support their mission appeal.

We will have a second collection on the weekend of the 9th & 10th of December at all the Masses to support the work of the MSP.

RE-COMMISSIONING OF READERS
On the 3rd December, The First Sunday of Advent those who exercise the Ministry of Reader in our parish will be recommissioned at every Mass that weekend.

MASS FOR VOCATIONS TO ASK FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD
Each month, our diocesan vocations team travels to a different deanery to hold a special Mass to pray for the future of the priesthood in our diocese.

The next Mass for Vocations to the Priesthood is set to take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 21st November at St Bernadette’s in Whitefield.

All are welcome to attend.

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
10.30am Mass of Christmas

(THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SPOTTED THE ERROR ON LAST WEEK’S BULLETIN! MASS ON CHRISTMAS DAY IS DEFINITELY AT 10.30 IN THE MORNING NOT AT NIGHT!)

FATHER BRADY – FAIRFIELD HOSPITAL ON CALL
22nd November from 4.30p.m-8.30a.m & 28th November 8.30a.m.-6.00p.m.

STAY WITH US, LORD, ON OUR JOURNEY

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL

It is encouraging to think of all the talents which friends and neighbours have and which I don’t have. It is all part of the gifts of the Spirit, which Paul sees as making up the whole Body of Christ. Everyone has a special contribution to make. As for me, it is extraordinary that God created me with all my twists, defects, fears and failures and it is precisely because of those boils, sores, abscesses that God loves me, helps me and guides me to work out my salvation. And it is just possible that there may be friends who can think that God has given me talents which make a tiny contribution to the happiness and goodness of the world. In the longer version of this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus mentions a man with just one talent who hides it in the ground: the master calls him “wicked and lazy” and has him thrown out. Why is he so severely treated? This is surely someone who resolutely turns his (or her) back on the goodness she (or he) has received and refuses to work with it for the Lord’s purposes or for anyone else’s. Such a talent goes to waste and merely rusts and corrupts. If I know anyone like that, it is just worth asking whether, with infinite and patient kindness, I can help that person to release their talent and bring it to blossom. Just think for a moment: what is your best talent? Is it a gift, skill or humour which brings joy and happiness to those around you? Are you like the man who buried his talent in the ground, or do you use this skill or gift or wisdom to bring joy to others?

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
Syl Skelly, Austin Coote, Susan Hughes, Ronald Gregory

Anniversary
Lee John, Mary Ellen Brady, Tony Riley

Sick
Daniel Kahanga

Other
Intentions of Mr & Mrs Anigbo

This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for:

Prisoners and their families.

This week Our Lady’s Lamp burns for:

Justice And Peace In The World And All Victims of War.

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