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 7 DECEMBER
1^st Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10, With righteousness he shall judge the poor.
Psalm 72: In his days shall justice flourish and great peace forever.
2^nd Reading: Romans 15:4-9, Christ saves humanity.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:1-12, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. Prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight. Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: Jerusalem arise, and stand upon the heights, and behold the joy which comes to you from God.

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
8 December – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
9 December – St Juan Diego Cuanhtlatoatzin
10 December – Our Lady of Loreto
11 December – St Damasus I
12 December – Our Lady of Guadalupe
13 December – St Lucy

REFLECTION FOR THE 2^nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT – Journey into Repentance
Advent is a penitential season, heralded first by the prophet Isaiah and echoed by St John the Baptist.
‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way.  A voice calling in the desert.  Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight his path’.  (Isaiah 40:3).
According to a French proverb, ‘Years of repentance are necessary in order to blot out a sin in the eyes of men, but one tear of repentance is enough for God’.
Repentance then, is not a human work at all, but completely divine: it is the movement of the Holy Spirit within our hearts.
‘Repentance is not the work of man, as the prophet Jeremiah said: Make me repent, my Lord and I shall repent’.
(St John Chrysostom).

ADDITIONAL WEEKDAY MASS THIS WEEK
Monday 8 December is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, so a special Mass will be celebrated here at 10am.  All are welcome.

1^st CONFESSIONS / RECONCILIATION
Our 10 children who are preparing for their 1^st Communion next summer, made their 1^st confessions here yesterday 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: £238.27 – with thanks to everyone.

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

PARISH CHRISTMAS FAYRE TODAY – SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER
Seasonal craft stall / Guess-the-Weight-of-the Christmas-Cake / Home Bakes & Festive Treats / a chance to 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 are gratefully received.

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 gratefully accepted. Please bring them to church with you next Sunday.  And a very heartfelt THANK YOU to those who have already donated prizes.

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 next week, 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.

RAWSTORNE SINGERS: CHRISTMAS CONCERT
The concert is on Wednesday 10 December at 7.30pm, at St Leonard’s Church, Marshalls Brow, Penwortham. 
Please book online: www.rawstornesingers.co.uk 

HELP AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE REQUIRING A FOOD PARCEL OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD
Please let Diane know asap if you have concerns about a neighbour or friend locally, who might be in really serious need of a food parcel over Christmas.

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.