Newsletter: 22nd December 2024

Newsletter: 22nd December

Fourth Sunday of Advent

16.30 Confessions
17.30 VIGIL MASS

9.00 MASS
10.30 MASS (& Coffee)
12.00 Baptisms

10.00 Mass
10.30 Coffee Morning
17.30 MASS OF CHRISTMAS

10.30 MASS OF CHRISTMAS

12.00 Mass

No Confessions
17.30 VIGIL MASS

9.00 MASS
10.30 MASS (& Coffee)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM FR. BRADY

Christmas is a time to celebrate with family, neighbours and friends, rejoicing, singing, laughter and even making amends.

Gifts, presents in festive paper are such a lovely thought, but giving consideration, kindness and thankfulness can never be bought. Thank you to all the love, kindness and support you give to me.

God bless you and Happy Christmas!

CRISIS SUPPORT OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD

If you or anyone in your local community requires support over the Christmas period, Caritas Salford has put together a page on their website which includes information on when their services are open, as well as signposting to other organisations who might also be able to support those in urgent need. You can Read More Here >

ADVICE AS ENERGY BILLS CONTINUE TO RISE

If you, anyone you know, or someone in your wider parish community is in need of support around rising energy bills, Caritas Salford has put together some helpful advice on their website.

You can find out more by visiting www.caritassalford.org.uk/fuel-poverty-challenges and can also find details on the website page on how to arrange a session with their energy advice service team.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Closed until Tuesday 7th January 2025

NEW PILGRIM OF HOPE BOOK LAUNCHED

Monsignor John Allen has harnessed his love of the geography and history of our diocese, penning a very special book which is being sold in aid of Caritas Salford. The book, Pilgrims of Hope, has been published in time for the start of the 2025 Jubilee Year which is also focussed on the theme of Pilgrims of Hope, and is available to purchase by visiting the Caritas website: caritassalford.org.uk/pilgrimbook

CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING

Our Laudato Si’ Centre is once again joining forces with a Christmas Tree recycling project in a bid to care for community and common home. The project raises funds for local charities by collecting used Christmas trees, while chippings from the trees will be repurposed across the Laudato Si’ Centre. Find Out More >

OPENING MASS FOR THE PILGRIMS OF HOPE JUBILEE

Pope Francis has invited dioceses across the world to unite in prayer as we begin the 2025 “Pilgrims of Hope” Jubilee. Our diocese will be marking the start of the Jubilee with a Mass, celebrated by Bishop John, on Sunday 29th December at 2pm at Salford Cathedral’s Temporary Church. All are welcome to join us as we mark the start of this special year of grace.

SVP THANKS

Many thanks for the generous response to the Giving Tree again this year. We were able to help a great many families.

FUNERAL NOTICE

Former parishioner Margaret Heys RIP Funeral at Guardian Angels Church Bury on 27th December at 10.00a.m. Radcliffe Crematorium at 11.30a.m.

Jubilee Year 2025

Pope Francis has decreed that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee, a holy year which happens every 25 years in the Catholic Church.

Find Out More

Our Synodal Journey

At the start of the Synodal journey, Bishop John reflected on the considerable changes our Church has witnessed over recent years, remarking that the time has come to envisage a new future for the Church in our diocese. The challenge was to establish what we need to be now, in a changing world.

Following on from the Big Listen, four themes emerged, namely:

Nurturing Faith for tomorrow’s world
Building connections
Enabling access and
Fostering Christ-like care

To move our Synodal journey forwards, theme gatherings have taken place to identify the key proposals for each of the above themes. We appreciate that not everyone was able to attend the gatherings and so to give everybody the opportunity to have their voice heard, we have placed an synod action box on the table in the Church atrium to allow you to include your proposals for each theme.

Summaries of the four themes, together with the four questions can be found beside the action box.

Alternatively, if you are unable to get to Church and would prefer to enter your proposals online, please follow the link below and complete the short survey. (Please can you ensure that all responses are submitted by 12pm on Sunday 15th December.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5DS5PF3

Your opinions matter and we hope that you will support us in giving the parish here at St Mary and St Philip Neri a voice to help shape a new future for the Church in our diocese.

STAY WITH US, LORD, ON OUR JOURNEY

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL

Luke’s account of the birth and infancy of Jesus is built on the comparison and contrast between the two stories of John the Baptist and Jesus: the annunciation to the parents, the birth of each child, the joy on earth and in heaven, the circumcision, the growth of the child. In each incident John is shown to be great, but Jesus greater still. Only in the incident narrated in today’s gospel do the two families meet, the two stories cross. We see the two mothers together, marvelling at the destiny of their children. The journey from Nazareth to even the nearest of the towns in the hill country of Judah (traditionally Elizabeth’s home is located at Ain Karim, now on the outskirts of Jerusalem) would have been arduous, a week’s walk for a fit young woman. This special exertion and generosity shows Mary’s love and care for her elderly relative, as well as the natural excitement of the two in sharing their motherhood. Luke has already told us that Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit. Now Elizabeth too is filled with the Holy Spirit as they participate in and exchange the praise of God for the gift of their children. Is there anyone I know to whom a visit would bring special joy during Christmastide?

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.

CHRISTMAS 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. Our Lady’s Lamp and Sanctuary Lamp are £5.00 and burn for seven days. Please place any intentions in an envelope with your donation and give to Father Brady or place in the Mass offering Box in the atrium. All newsletter items must be sent in by Thursday morning.

MASSES AND PRAYERS RECEIVED THIS WEEK

Lately Dead
Margaret Heys, Robert Fenton, John Lees.

Anniversary
Jack Maguire, Pat Moran , David Bradbury, James Fulton, Michael Lowe, Fr Peter Birmingham, Peter Cowpe, Mary Ellen Brady. The Dowling Family.

Birthday Memory
William, Sharrock, Harry Rice, Elizabeth Keogh.

Sick
John Smith, Jeanette Moran, Daniel Kuhanga, Deanne Plummer, Michelle Clegg, Ann Timothy, Ann Richardson, Maureen Walsh, Geoffrey Hunt.

Christmas Masses
Irene Rawcliffe, Thomas Tanham, Adrian Moran, Kosta Lamniso, Michael O’Carroll and all the O’Caroll Family, Angela Cushnahan.

Other
Intentions of Mr and Mrs Anigbo.
Maria-Alejandra Marcheggiani (Birthday).
A Special Intention, Kosta Lamniso.

This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for:

Pat Moran.
Adrian Moran.

This week Our Lady’s Lamp burns for:

Lindsay Mahon.
A Private Intention.

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