CONFESSIONS:  Wednesdays, 5.45pm to 6.10pm and by appointment 

CHURCH IS OPEN – Thursdays 11am to 1pm for visits to the Blessed Sacrament 

READINGS FOR 14 DECEMBER
1^st Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6, God himself will come and save you.
Psalm 146: Come Lord and save us.
2^nd Reading: James 5:7-10, Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:2-11, Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to proclaim the good news to the poor. Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: Say to the faint of heart: Be strong and do not fear.  Behold our God will come, and he will save us.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER
For Christians in Areas of Conflict
Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope.

FEAST DAY THIS WEEK
14 December – St John of the Cross
20 December – St Vincent Romano
21 December – St Peter Canisius

SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION: A CHANCE TO HAVE SOME ‘ME TIME’ WITH GOD  –  FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER, 7.00pm
This is such a busy time of year, with so many calls on our time  that it’s not always easy to ‘be still and know God’, yet of course, without God, there’s be no Christmas!  This short service offers us a chance to press the pause button,
to re-connect, to reflect and to put God at the centre of our lives again. 
It’s the vital spiritual ‘food’ that we all need.  All are welcome: parishioners / non-parishioners. 
Private confessions will be available as well.

CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING / FAYRE
Many thanks to those who attended last week’s Christmas Coffee Morning & mini Fayre.  It was lovely to see so many parishioners enjoying a bit of time together.  Thank you to Joanne, Diane and Tracey – and others – for the delicious cakes and to all those who helped to set up the hall, decorate it and clear away afterwards.  The ‘craft’ stall looked very festive, with beautiful homemade decorations and other seasonal gifts.  And a special Thank You to Basia for baking the ‘Guess-the –weight-of-the-cake Christmas Cake’.  The winner is Marian Marshall who guessed the correct weight of 3lb 8oz.  Congratulations, Marian!  Kind donations amounted to £182.50.  Thank you everyone.

CHRISTMAS BINGO LAST WEEK
The bingo last week proved extremely popular and was a very busy evening indeed.  Huge thanks to the hardworking Social Committee for organising a wonderful fun night out.  More news on this next week.

PARISH GIVING LAST WEEK
Parish offertory: £239.00 – with thanks to everyone.

CHRISTINGLE SERVICE TODAY AT 4pm
This afternoon’s beautiful service, led by our delightful children and young people, will start at 4pm.  There will be carols, festive songs and scripture readings, plus a nativity.  This always proves to be one of the happiest events of our parish year, so please join us if you can.  You will be especially welcome to come to the hall for refreshments afterwards, when the Christmas Raffle will be drawn.  We’re grateful for David Wilkinson, who has once again sponsored the event with funding to the oranges and candles and also to Joanne, Emma and Vivienne who have contributed so much to the occasion.

PARISH: GRAND CHRISTMAS RAFFLE TICKETS – AVAILABLE TODAY!
Those who reserved tickets will find an envelope with their names on, containing your tickets in the porch.  Please see Diane for payment.  A big thank you to everyone who generously donated some wonderful prizes. The raffle will be drawn after the Christingle Service, when we meet for refreshments

CHRISTMAS DATES
CHRISTINGLE & CAROL SERVICE: Sunday 14 December at 4pm, followed by refreshments in the Hall and the Grand Christmas Raffle.  Raffle tickets available on the day!
SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION (WITH CONFESSION): Friday 19 December at 7pm
CHRISTMAS VIGIL SERVICE: Wednesday 24 December at 8.00pm
CHRISTMAS DAY: Thursday 25 December at 10.00am
SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER: Feast of the Holy Family, 10am

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS: CLEANING OUR CHURCH SO IT SPARKLES!
Diane would be very grateful for any help cleaning the church, porch, altar area and especially the candlestick brasses after Mass on 14 December.  The more the merrier – and more hands really do make for light work.  Some cleaning materials will be provided, but if you have polish, dusters and Brasso, that would be much appreciated!  Thank you.

CHRISTMAS LISTS
Please hand in your Christmas Lists for the dear departed.  Masses will be offered for them on Christmas Eve (8pm Mass) and Christmas day (10am Mass).

CAFOD’s WORLD GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS
This Christmas, give your loved ones something exceptional and life-changing. Buying CAFOD’s virtual World Gifts makes a real difference for our sisters and brothers facing the injustice of poverty around the world. Choose from a range of beautifully illustrated cards, each representing a gift of hope, inspired by real people and real needs. Cards can be sent by post, as an eCard, or printed at home. You may also wish to purchase World Gifts and other gifts such as Advent calendars and jute bags at www.worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/  or pick up a catalogue in the porch.

MASS INTENTIONS
Mass intentions are welcome, not just for our dear departed, but for any other occasion eg in thanksgiving, A successful outcome (exams / operation), wedding / anniversary blessings. Please write your name and intention, with the preferred date – if applicable – on a piece of paper and place in an envelope, along with your offering, either in the weekly offertory basket or through the presbytery door.  Every effort will be made to find a date as close as possible.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES / GIFT AID / STANDING ORDERS!
If you are a taxpayer then you can easily help the parish to claim 25% extra on top of every donation you make – and it won’t cost you a penny!  Eg: a donation of £10 per week would result in £12.50 going to the church. If you are able to use gift aid, please collect a form from the porch on your way out today, and return it to the Parish Office asap. 
If you are a taxpayer who makes regular cash donations, please consider using an offertory envelope instead of just placing your ‘loose’ donations in the basket. This is really important: it can bring in more than £1000 to the church every year, as we’ll be able to claim gift aid directly on every donation you make.  It won’t cost you anything at all, but it will make a huge difference to our finances.
Please contact the Parish Office if you’d like to use envelopes – they are free! 
Even better – you can donate ‘painlessly’ each month by setting up a standing order with your bank.  Forms are available in the porch.

RED MISSION BOXES
Please bring your red boxes to church over the next few weeks, so that they can be counted and the money go to the APF Missions, which is much needed.   Please let Diane know if you’d like to arrange collection of your box.

PRAYERFUL REFLECTION BEFORE MASS
Some of our parishioners who like to pray and have a few moments of quiet reflection before the start of Mass.  And of course, we have every opportunity to have a chat and catch-up after Mass. 
Our monthly coffee mornings provide an ideal occasion for this! 

CHURCH CLEANING / FLOWER ARRANGING
Thank you to those who have already said that they’d be interested in helping out.  Diane would like to start putting rotas together, so please can you let her know your availability.  Church cleaning is only twice a month and flower arranging is every other week.  Please have a word with her after Mass today, or ring on 07876 363779. Thank you.

VOTIVE CANDLES
People have been asking how much they should donate for a votive candle.  Fr John is happy to leave it to your discretion, as all donations will be gratefully received – whenever they are made.

GLUTEN FREE SACRAMENT AVAILABLE
Please indicate to Fr John if you need to receive a gf host when you come to receive communion.

ST IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA: The Loving Generosity of Christ
He is generous to exhaustion and what is most wonderful is that he gives himself thus entirely, not once only but every
day, if we wish it.  Every fresh Communion is a new gift, which Jesus Christ makes of himself.