Parish Office will be closed all day on Thursday 28 December

MASS ON WEDNESDAYS – Holy Mass – 6.00pm
Eucharistic Exposition 6.25pm-6.55pm
Sacrament of Reconciliation: 6.25pm-6.55pm, Benediction: 6.55pm

READINGS FOR 24  DECEMBER
1^st Reading: Samuel 7:1-5, 8:12-16, The kingdom of David will always stand secure before the Lord.
Psalm 88:  I will sing forever of your love, O Lord.
2^nd Reading: Romans 16:25-27, The mystery, which was kept secret for endless ages, is now made clear.
Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38, Listen!  You are to conceive and bear a son.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! I am the handmaid of the Lord: let what you have said be done to me.  Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: The Virgin is with child and shall bear a son and she will call him Emmanuel.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER
Volunteer Organisations
Let us pray that volunteer, non-profit organisations committed to human development find people dedicated to common good and ceaselessly seek out new paths to international co-operation.

SAINTS & FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
26 December – St Stephen
27 December – St John
28 December – Holy Innocents
29 December – St Thomas Becket

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES
Christmas Eve: the first Mass of Christmas – 8pm
Christmas Day: 10am
Rota for Christmas Masses
Christmas Vigil (24 December) 8pm – Welcomers: Dave Cawley & Tony Crivaro; Reader: Diane Mackley
Christmas Day (25 December) 10am – Welcomers: Jim Hushon & John O’Hare; Reader: Paul Allison
From Vivienne: Refreshments and mince pies will be served in the presbytery after each of these Christmas Masses.  Everyone is welcome.  Tickets: £2, children, free.

SEASONAL MESSAGE FROM FR JOHN
Christ comes to us – the child in the manger.  He welcomes us.  We rejoice in his love, for though fully God, he empties himself so that we may discover our glory in and with him.  God be praised.  Alleluia!

THANK YOU: CHRISTINGLE / PARISH CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISING DRAW 2023
A big thank you to Emma, Jo, April and all the children and parents who took part in the very moving Christingle Service last Sunday, and to all who came.  It was very special.  Thanks also to Diane for the refreshments afterwards and to Dave and Tony for setting up the hall.
The Draw was a great success, so thank you to Brian for organising this.  Most prizes have been claimed but there are a few outstanding, so please check your ticket numbers: Blue 425, Blue 51, Blue 106, Blue 88, Green 206, Green 496. Please ring the office to arrange collection.  Thank you.
The Draw and refreshments raised £580 for our Hall Refurbishment Fund.  Thank you everyone!

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
The Notes of the recent Parish Council meeting (held 6 December) are available to collect from the porch.  Please let Diane know if you would prefer to receive your copies via email.  Many thanks.

FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE: MIDDLE EAST (GAZA) APPEAL
The international charity Christian Aid is appealing for more help in boosting funds to continue to support its local partners.  Every amount will make a difference: £6 will pay for a basic hygiene kit, while a donation of £37 will pay for a food parcel for a family of five in Gaza.   For further details on how to make a donation, please use the following link: www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/middle-east-crisi-appeal

CHRISTMAS RESOURCES FROM THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE
Christmas – https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/christmas/
Archangels – https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/video-the-four-archangels/

FINAL WEEK!  GDPR FORMS
A reminder that all forms need to be returned to the Parish Office asap please, so that we can update our database with your permissions to contact you via telephone / post / email for the next three years.  Please help us to keep in touch with you! We will be unable to contact you after 31 December, if the forms are not returned. (Only 49 returned so far – out of 80+ in 2020!). Deadline: 31 December
Thank you.

PARISH FOODBANK
Rev Dave wishes to pass on his thanks and blessings to all those who regularly donate foodstuffs.  There is still a need for dried foods eg pasta and rice, breakfast cereals, plus tins of vegetables, meat and fish.  Your generosity is a real help to our local families, especially now that autumn has set in and energy bills are increasing again.  Please ensure that donated items are all well within their Best Before dates – Thank You!
DISUSED GLASSES / SPECTACLES
Please have a rummage at home and bring old prescription glasses along.  They can be used by opticians in Africa to help local communities. 

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES + GIFT AID
If you are a taxpayer then you can easily help the parish to claim 25% extra on top of every donation you make.  Eg: a donation of £5 per week would result in £6.25 going to the church. Filling in a simple form to register your name and address means we can claim an additional 25% of your gift.  If you are able to help, please collect a form from the porch on your way out today, complete and return to the Parish Office.
In addition, you may wish to consider using an offertory envelope (they are free and use re-cycled paper) in which to make your weekly donation.  It’s akin to ‘wrapping up your gift’ for Our Lord!  Again, please contact the Parish Office if you’d like to start using them.

CATHOLIC PICTORIAL
Keeping you up to date with all the news from around the Archdiocese online: www.catholicpic.co.uk
Postal subscriptions are available: 3 issues = £9.50, 6 issues = £19 and 12 issues = £37.50.
Email enquiries@cpmmmedia.com or ring 0151 709 7567.
Digital copies are also available.  Please use the phone number / email address above

DONATIONS FOR IAT – MOSS LANE DEPOT
Please remember that unwanted clothing, bedding, tins of food, packs of dried food will be gratefully received by volunteers at our local depot, to help those thousands of Ukrainians affected by the flooding as a result of the recent bombing.  They are very grateful for all help received.  It really makes a difference.

PLEASE CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN YOUR PARISH
We are very grateful for offers of help already, with regards to gardening jobs and keeping the grounds of the church neat and tidy.  Thank you!
However, there are still a number of opportunities for our parishioners to become a bit more involved in parish life and your help is both needed and much appreciated.  Areas where help is needed include with the Little Church group on Sundays, singing with the choir, flower arranging, church cleaning, altar serving and some serious fund-raising.  Help is welcome from all ages, and advice / training will be provided. Please contact the Parish Office by email or ring on Thursdays, in order to find out more.