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 30 NOVEMBER
1^st Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5, <The Lord gathers all nations together into the eternal peace of  the Kingdom of God
Psalm 122: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
2^nd Reading: Romans 13:11-14, Salvation is nearer to us now.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 24:37-44, Stay awake so that you may be ready.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. Shoe us O Lord your mercy and grant us your salvation. Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: The Lord will bestow his bounty and our earth shall yield its increase.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER
For the prevention of suicide
Let us pray that those who are tempted to commit suicide may find the support, love and care they need in their local community, and be able to understand how valued they are.

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
30 November – St Andrew
1 December – St ralph Sherwin & Martyrs / St Charles de Foucauld
3 December – St Francis Xavier
4 December – St John Damascene
5 December – St John Almond
6 December – St Nicholas (legendary giver of gifts, in secret…)

PARISH QUIZ NIGHT: Thank you to all who organised this great event.  £565.00 was raised!

SPECIAL ARCHDIOCESAN COLLECTION LAST WEEK  –  Animate Youth: £41.70  Thank you

1^st CONFESSIONS / RECONCILIATION
Our 10 children who are preparing for their 1^st Communion next summer, will make their 1^st confessions here next Saturday morning.  Please continue to remember them in your prayers, especially as they take this significant step in their deepening friendship with Our Lord.

PARISH GIVING LAST WEEK
Parish offertory: £209.49 – with thanks to everyone.

DECORATING THE HALL FOR CHRISTMAS: Saturday 6 December at 10.30am

LITTLE CHURCH NEXT WEEK : 7 December – an important practice for the Christingle Service.

PARISH CHRISTMAS FAYRE NEXT SUNDAY – SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER
Christmas Coffee Morning & Fayre after Mass.  Seasonal craft stall / Guess-the-Weight-of-the Christmas-Cake / Home Bakes & Festive Treats / reserve your ticket for the Grand Parish Raffle
Family & friends are warmly invited to join in the fun. 
No charge – donations gratefully accepted for the Hall Refurbishment Fund.

CHRISTMAS BINGO – Tuesday 9 December, 7pm.  Bottles of wine / Prosecco will be gratefully received. Please let John or Emma know if you can help with setting up beforehand: 07866 571200 or 07813 275574All welcome!

PARISH: GRAND CHRISTMAS RAFFLE TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased on the day of the Raffle (14 December), or reserved in advance. 
A list is available in the porch / from the welcomers.  Donations of Grand Raffle prizes are URGENTLY needed. Please bring them to church with you over the next couple of Sundays, or at the presbytery on Thursdays between 10am and 4pm.  Thank you.

CHRISTMAS DATES – PLEASE COLLECT A FLIER, DETAILING CHRISTMAS SERVICES
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

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.

RAWSTORNE SINGERS: RECRUITING FOR CHRISTMAS / CHRISTMAS CONCERT
All are welcome to come to the practice on Wednesday 3 December at 7.30pm.  £5 for music & refreshments
The concert itself is on Wednesday 10 December at 7.30pm.
Both events at St Leonard’s Church, Marshalls Brow, Penwortham.  Please book online: www.rawstornesingers.co.uk 
Members of our own choir perform with the singers, so you’ll be in excellent company!

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.