WEEKDAY MASSES / OTHER SERVICES
WEDNESDAY
Holy Mass – 6.00pm, followed by…
Eucharistic Exposition 6.25pm-6.55pm
Benediction: 6.55pm
Sacrament of Reconciliation: 6.25pm-6.55pm

CHRISTMAS PERIOD PARISH OFFICE OPENING
Thursday 22 December: 9.30am to 12.30pm
Thursday 29 December: 9.30am to 12.30pm

CHURCH OPEN THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER: 10am – 12noon for visits to the Blessed Sacrament and quiet prayer, meditation.

COVID / ‘FLU AWARE & SUNDAY OBLIGATION
If you have a cough / sore throat / feel generally unwell with cold-like symptom, please take a Covid test right away.      If it’s positive, then please stay at home, keep it to yourself and get better soon!
Whilst the Sunday Obligation has been restored, the Archdiocese advises parishioners to pray and watch Mass online/TV at home, if they are unwell with coughs and colds – especially at the moment, with so many infections doing the rounds.

READINGS FOR 18 DECEMBER
1^st Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14, The maiden is with child
Psalm 23: Let the Lord enter!  He is the king of glory.
2^nd Reading: Romans 1:1-7, Jesus Christ, descendant of David, Son of God
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24, Jesus is born of Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, son of David.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’.  Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel.

INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
We join Pope Francis’ prayer intention for December
For volunteer not-for-profit organisations
We pray that volunteer non-profit organisations committed to human development find people dedicated to the common good and ceaselessly seek out new paths to international cooperation.

SPECIAL FEASTS THIS WEEK
21 December – St Peter Canisius
23 December – St John of Kanty

CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE & FAYRE – TODAY AT 6pm!
Start your Christmas festivities here this Sunday, with our special service of carols and readings at 6pm.  The children will be singing and signing ‘Little Donkey’.
Afterwards, there will be welcome seasonal refreshments in the hall, along with festive stalls for last-minute shopping.  Raffle tickets are now available to purchase before/after Sunday Mass and at the Fayre.
Please take a flier and spread the word.

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES
Mass for Christmas Day – 25 December, here at Our Lady’s is at 9.15am
St Oswald’s Longton will have two Masses on Christmas Eve: 5pm and 7pm

VATICAN SYNOD – “Enlarge the space of your tent”
A working document has been circulated around the archdioceses, inviting a response from bishops around the world. Chairs of Deanery Synodal Councils attended a meeting on 28^th November to learn more about the process and the key points.  These will be discussed in deaneries, which will then provide feedback to Archbishop Malcolm. The document is 56 pages long and available online via this link.
https://www.synod.va/content/dam/synod/common/phases/continental-stage/dcs/Documento-Tappa-Continentale-EN.pdf
Our deanery Synod Council met earlier this month at St Gregory’s, Chorley to discuss this paper and the Archbishop’s summary of it.  Diane attended, to represent Our Lady’s parish.
The main purpose of this forum, at the moment, is to contribute to the Archdiocesan response to the document “Enlarge the space of your tent”.  If you would like to learn more about this process, there is a helpful overview on the Bishops Conference website: cbcew.org.uk/synodal-church where there is a very clear diagram which explains the order of consultations (on pages 51 and 52 of “Enlarge the space of your tent”).

ADVENT FOODBANK – THANK YOU!
We’ve been able to donate many bags of food staples and lovely seasonal goods to Rev Dave’s foodbank at All Saints in Hesketh Bank during Advent.  He sends his thanks and blessings to all parishioners for their generous Christian giving to our local residents who are really struggling at the moment.  Your kindness is really making a huge difference to people’s lives, so THANK YOU ALL!
KEEPING WARM THIS WINTER
We have access to blankets, snuggle blankets, ‘oodies’ and treated wood (for wood burners).  Please contact the Parish Office if you know of locals (neighbours, friends, any age), who could do with some help. 
Please do all you can to help us publicise details of local Warm Spaces

COST OF LIVING CRISIS
Our  LOCAL warm spaces include:

• Tarleton Library (opening hours Monday to Saturday),
• Christian Centre, Moss Lane (Monday mornings, 9.30am to 12.30pm) and
• Holy Trinity church, Tarleton (Monday – Saturday 9am to 4pm; Coffee & Chat: Fridays 10am to 12 noon).
• Hesketh Bank Community Centre (Mondays – Saturdays)

Warmth, hot drinks, light refreshments, good company, help and advice are on offer at all these places. 
Our local residents’ charity, Hesketh Bank & Tarleton helpers provides lunches every Friday: 12am to 2pm at Hesketh Bank Community Centre.

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.

HELP FOR RESIDENTS & OUR LOCAL FOODBANK: We will continue to support the amazing work being done by Rev Dave Dickinson at All Saint’s in Hesketh Bank, by collecting non-perishable foodstuffs for local families.  Thank you for all donations made so far.  They are helping to support three local families who are really struggling at the moment.  This is likely to increase as fuel prices start to have an effect this autumn and winter.  Please let Diane Mackley know if you have any concerns about neighbours over the next few months and we’ll do our best to help them, 01772 815508.