This “gem church” will be open each day for private prayer and meditation from 9.30am. until 3.30pm.
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR A)
WEEK: DECEMBER 1ST- DECEMBER 7TH 2013
YOUR CHARITABLE PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below:
SICK or HOUSEBOUND: Joanna; Shirley; Joan Casey; Cecilia; Jude Michael Harrison; Regina Wisniewski; Seamus Whelan; Catherine McCarthy; Terry Hulley; Luke McSherry; Sheila McNicholas; Edith Chiappi; Margaret Miller; Fr. Miles Sheehan; Pauline Harrison; Mary Egan; Rita Marsden; James; Joe Jazamie; Sr. Cyryla; Jacqueline Green; Josie Ram; Maureen Smith; Gusztav Urszan; Rosalind Slicker; George Slicker; George; Michael Slicker; Fr. Flavian.
LATELY DEAD: Arthur Haines; Canon Liam Houlihan; Krystyna Kubiak;
Michael Kenny; Vladimir Babych.
ANNIVERSARIES: Christopher Febrero. May they rest in peace.
SUNDAY COLLECTION: Envelopes: £485.39; Loose: £257.94; Total: £743.33
Collection for the Philippines disaster £202.72 (Total £763.33)
Thank you all for your continued generosity.
DONATIONS/COLLECTIONS: many thanks for the following donations:
Redecoration/Restoration Fund: Loose: £50.00; £12.00; £10.00.
Gift Aided: £0.00
Also, £65.70 for CAFOD.
PARISH NEWS
- As a result of letters/emails from Fr. Phil and other parishioners re John St., he had a site meeting this week with representatives of the Council and GMPT. There was an agreement that extra measures needed to be put into place to ensure the safety of pedestrians and prevent further damage to the church wall. Some sort of barrier will now be constructed on the corner and several bollards will be strategically placed, just in front of the church. There will also be a speed limit of 20 miles an hour over the new surface.
- We have been asked if we could provide the address of Sister Eileen in order to send her a Christmas card. Because the newsletter is on the web and in order to protect her privacy, it has been decided that if anyone wishes to send her a card, please hand it in at the piety shop and they will either be sent to her in one envelope, or handed to her if she visits over the Christmas period.
- The Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group meets every Friday at 7.00pm in St. Patrick’s church for prayer and praise. For more information please contact David on 07970188673.
- Important – have your say! The bishops of England and Wales have made available a survey regarding the family and marriage. The replies to the survey will be taken into consideration at an Extraordinary Synod on the Family in 2014. The questions may seem to require a knowledge of Vatican documents, but you can answer without this knowledge insofar as you understand the questions. You do not have to answer every question but they should express your thoughts on these matters. The questionnaire can only be answered on-line at www.surveymonkey.com/s/Family Synod 2014. It must be completed by the end of the month, so if you can, please answer the survey as much as possible. It is rare for such an opportunity to arise.
- Please take home a copy of the Bishop’s Pastoral Letter for Advent from the back of church today.
“The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” Lucille Ball
READERS: 10.00am. Mass 11.30am. Mass 6.00pm. Mass
TODAY: R. Estrellona & A. Finch M. Howell B. Marley
NEXT SUNDAY: C. Riley & M. Chiappi C. O’Donnell C. Douglas
CHURCH CLEANING ROTA
This week: Week 1 - Hilary & Ruth Hockenhull
Next week: Week 2 - Joyce & David Daka and friends (African)
“WHAT’S ON” THIS WEEK
TODAY: the 3s - 11s Children’s Liturgy Group meet in St. Patrick’s church during the 10.00am Mass.
WEDNESDAY: prayer with Sunday readings for Advent at Katherine House, 26 Singleton Rd., Salford M7 4WL, 10.00am – 1.00pm.
THURSDAY: Sacramental Programme: Reconciliation Service & First Confession at 2.00pm in St. Patrick’s church.
SATURDAY: Parish Christmas Fayre in the Parish Centre starting at 2.00pm. (please see the separate advert).
“BITS and PIECES”
- “Catholic Singles is an organisation which helps single adult Catholics of all ages meet, either one to one or through social events. Please telephone 0161 941 3498, visit the website www.catholicsingles.org.uk or email info@catholicsingles.org.uk. Please note that whilst we have many separated and divorced Catholics amongst our members, we do not encourage them to remarry, though they do of course meet socially and for friendship, and a link to the A.S.D.C. is on our website.”
- Christmas Carol Concert in aid of Caritas and Loaves & Fishes featuring the Cathedral Choir and Notability at Salford Cathedral on Sunday 8th December at 7.30pm. Tickets £5 (including refreshments) can be bought on the door or phone 0161 817 2250.
- The Universe is advertising for a Production Journalist based in central Manchester. Please see advert on church notice board.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
- White Flower Appeal for SPUC on Sunday 12th January 2014.
CHRISTMAS FAYRE: our annual fund raiser will be held on Saturday (7th December) in the Parish Centre on Lee St., commencing at 2.00pm. Once again, we ask for your continued and much appreciated support as in previous years. There will be the usual stalls and attractions and, of course, Santa has got our name in his visiting book in spite of his busy schedule at this time of year! Today, we ask that you return the red carrier bag this week with items, in particular for the bottle stall and tombola. (Please, no used clothes or broken toys/goods).
CHRISTMAS DRAW: yes, it’s that time of year when we once again call on your generosity to buy/sell tickets for our annual draw. In spite of the rising cost of living, there is no inflation in this parish – tickets are still £1 for a book of 5 tickets. Can you get better value at any of the pound shops? 1st prize is £200 cash, 2nd prize £100 cash and 3rd prize £50 cash, plus many other seasonal prizes of spirits, wine, etc. Please take some books home today to sell to your families and friends. Monies collected can be handed in at the piety shop or sacristy. The draw will take place after the 10.00am Mass on Sunday 22nd December.
THIS WEEK’S FEASTS
St. Francis Xavier was a friend of St. Ignatius Loyola and one of the first members of the “Company of Jesus” (Jesuits). He was born in the family castle in Spain and studied at the University of Paris. He preached in India and Japan and died in China in 1552.
St. John Damascene was from Damascus (hence his name). A monk, philosopher and theologian, he sprang to the defence of Sacred Art in the Iconoclast crisis of the 8th century. He died near Jerusalem in the late 700s.
St. Nicholas was bishop of Myra, in what is now Turkey. He died in the 4th century. In Eastern Europe, “St Nicholas” distributes presents to children on this day, in remembrance of his charity and care as a bishop. He has become a model for Santa Claus.
St. Ambrose: born around 340, he was a surprise choice to be Bishop of Milan in 374. Renowned for his charity and his eloquence, especially against the Arians, it is said that St. Augustine returned to his faith after hearing Ambrose preach. He was a great writer of hymns for the liturgy, some of which survive to this day. He died in 397.
“SMILE – A - WHILE” (the things children say.....)
A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. "That's interesting." she said..."How do you make babies?" "It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'.
"Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad
aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked.
"Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."