SCRIPTURE FOCUS.
At the beginning of the Advent season we consider the coming of the Lord at the end of time. This is because Advent is the experience of all the year round. Every time we pray in the Lord’s Prayer “thy kingdom come” we are living the power of Advent; Christ will come again.
DATE THIS WEEK’S SERVICES
Monday 2nd December 10.00 am Mass – Thomas McGuirk / Gordon & Marie Counihan
Tuesday 3rd December 10.00 am Mass – Lorna Gibson (sick) /
Intentions of Paul McGowan
Wednesday 4th December 10.00 am Mass – Gerry Murphy / Sarah Clayton
Thursday 5th December 10.00 am Mass – Brian Johnson / Kathleen Buttery
Friday 6th December 12 Noon Mass – Dave Pritchard / Tony Almond
Saturday 7th December
11.15 – 11.45 am – Confessions
12 Noon Mass – Memorial Mass
Rosary prayed after Mass.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR 30TH NOVEMBER / 1ST DECEMBER 2019
Saturday 5.15 pm – Norah & Thomas Heptonstall / Heather Mann
Sunday 10.00 am – Parishioners
RETIRING COLLECTIONS: This Sunday: S.V.P. Next Sunday: School Levy
FEAST DAYS: Tuesday : St Francis Xavier. A day of special prayer for migrants.
Thursday : St John Almond, priest and martyr.
Saturday : St Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR:
THOSE SICK: Louis Marshall, Jacob McCann, Albie Brandwood, Sheila Bradshaw, Hannah McCann,
Sharon Gilmour-Glover, Ceara Judge, Lorna Gibson, Bill Leary, Patrick Reddock and
a sick teenager.
LATELY DEAD: Jack Schroeder, Bernard Blundell, Harold Hughes.
ANNIVERSARIES: Norah & Thomas Heptonstall, Thomas McGuirk, Gordon Counihan, Gerry Murphy,
Dave Pritchard.
MONTHLY MEMORIAL MASS on Saturday 7th December to remember all those lately dead especially Sarah Clayton, Brian Johnson, Harry Shaw and Ann McCumiskey whose funerals recently came through our parish.
MASS FOR HEALING AND ANOINTING OF THE SICK today, Sunday 1st December at 4.30pm at St Thomas of Canterbury’s If anyone requires transport, please contact the Parish Office or the S.V.P. If you can provide transport for someone, please contact the Office.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY.
– Service of Reconciliation (with visiting priests) at St Edmund’s on Monday 16th December at 7pm.
– 14th/15th December – Blessing of the “Bambinelli” – the Christ Jesus figure for your crib.
– 21st/22nd December – Blessing of Christmas Candles
CHRISTMAS MASSES LIST. Please note that names for inclusion on the Christmas Masses List should be sent in by Sunday 8th December. Thank you. Each Mass over the Christmas period will be offered for all the intentions received and the intentions included in the Christmas Newsletter and placed in the tabernacle over Christmas.
FAMILY GROUPS. Saturday 7th December Advent/Christmas arts & crafts with mulled wine and mince pies in Lisbonian Room. All welcome.
NEW OFFERTORY ENVELOPES . New sets of offertory envelopes are available at the back of the Church. They are arranged alphabetically in street order. Please collect yours today. If you are a UK taxpayer, please consider gift-aiding your contributions. Forms and envelopes are at the back of the church, or please contact the Parish Office.
CHRISTMAS FAYRE. £512 was raised. Many thanks to all involved and all our supporters.
EXPOSITION. Fr John writes “To see the steady stream of parishioners to the chapel was so encouraging.”
PARISH SCHOOL CHRISTMAS FAYRE is on Friday 6th December from 3.30-5.30pm in the school hall. All the usual varied stalls and Santa’s Grotto. Come and join us!
CHRISTMAS MASSES will be at 5.15pm and midnight on Christmas Eve and at 10.00am on Christmas Day.
CHRISTMAS CANDLES. You are invited to dedicate a candle for a particular intention of yours. Take a candle from the Sacred Heart Chapel and put it in the box in Our Lady’s Shrine. You may like to make a donation. Place your intention in an envelope and hand it in to the office or sacristy. The candles will light up St Edmund’s Church over the Christmas period. To mark the lighting of the candles there will be a short service after each Mass on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd December. Your intentions will be placed near the tabernacle over the Christmas week.
DONATIONS FOR FLOWERS FOR THE CHRISTMAS ALTARS will be gratefully received.
BAMBINELLI DAY – SATURDAY 14TH AND SUNDAY 15TH DECEMBER. We celebrate Bambinelli Day at our masses on Saturday night and Sunday morning of this week. All are invited to bring the Baby Jesus figure from their homes to Mass to be blessed. A suggestion is that you take your ‘bambinelli’ home, put it in a gift box, wrap it and save it for Christmas. Let it be the first gift your family opens on Christmas morning, when together you place your Baby Jesus figure into the crib, and have a home blessing of the Nativity for your whole family.
ST EDMUND’S CHOIR. “This Shining Night” Christmas Concert in St Edmund’s Church at 7.30pm on Sunday 15th December. Tickets £12 available at the Parish Office or on-line at http://www.semusic.org.uk/events Ticket price includes mulled wine, a programme and Satterthwaites mince pies.
CHRISTMAS SONGS AND STORIES performed by St Edmund’s Church Children’s Choir at 2.30pm on Sunday 15th December or on-line at http://www.semusic.org.uk/events A festive afternoon with these ‘little people with big voices’.
New singers always welcome to rehearse with the Children’s Choir from 5.30-6.30pm on Wednesdays in the Lisbonian Room.
MANY THANKS. Mrs Anne Johnson would like to express her heartfelt appreciation for the support of parishioners and friends at the time of the sad and sudden death of Brian. The family thank you all for your expressions of sympathy, the many cards and flowers. You have helped us so much. Holy mass will be offered for you all.
CAROL CONCERT WITH LIVERPOOL MALE VOICE CHOIR on Friday 13th December at 7.30pm in St William of York Church, Thornton. Tickets £6 from the office at St William of York and St Helens. 924 3417 and 931 4993 or 924 5761. All proceeds to S.P.U.C.
SPONSORED EVENT. Thanks so much to everybody. You were so generous! I’ll keep you posted about where we are up to.
CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE. As you leave church today, please take one or more addresses and send card to the person concerned. Receiving a card shows prisoners and people under threat of persecution that they are not alone and just receiving a card can result in improved prison conditions or protection from harm. It also tells the authorities that they have overseas support. Please follow the instructions included with the address. Please send cards directly to the address given and do not return them to church.
REPOSITORY. Advent Calendars and Candles are on sale for just £1.50. A selection of Christmas cards, calendars and other seasonal items are on sale in the Repository. Do call in to the shop on your way to or from Mass today.
DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CAROL SERVICE with Archbishop Malcolm at the cathedral at 2pm on Thursday 19th December. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Gibberd Room. Details from 522 1046.
RECENT COLLECTIONS FOR VARIOUS CHARITIES.
Survive/MIVA £745 Shelter £50
CAFOD £477 Prisoners £50
Home Missions £231 Catholic Education £258
APF * £338 Zoe’s Place £813
(* Association for the Propagation of the Faith)
Thanks to the Baptism Team who also gave a generous donation.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR 7TH / 8TH DECEMBER 2019
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR A)
Saturday 5.15 pm – Parishioners
Sunday 10.00 am – Michael Regan / Michael Gaudie