FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
3RD DECEMBER 2023
| Sat 2 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | The Parish | |
| Sun 3 Dec | First Sunday of Advent and Special day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Christine Hunter RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| Mon 4 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Eddie Mapp RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.30am | Maureen Brady RIP | |
| Tue 5 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| Wed 6 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Private Intention | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayer | ||
| 10.30am | Cath Carter RIP | ||
| Thu 7 Dec | St Ambrose, B D | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Peter Burton RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | The Parish | ||
| Fri 8 Dec | The Immaculate Conception of BVM | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | Mae Dunne’s Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | Delia Hesketh RIP | ||
| Sat 9 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Frank and Gertrude Buddery Anniversary | |
| Sun 10 Dec | Second Sunday of Advent | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Stephen Dale RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Peter O’Callaghan recovery from illness |
Please note if there is no time next to Mass it means there is no Mass for parishioners to attend that day but the Priests will say Mass privately.
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed from St Theresa’s at 9.30a.m. this Sunday 3rd December 2023.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Please remember in your prayers Cath Carter who died recently. May the Lord console her family and friends.
ANNIVERSARIES:
Calogera Anna ( Lina) Safina, Mary Rhoden, Richard Heselwood, Graham James George.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS:
Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements. We welcome into God’s family Jack Anthony James Shone and Santino Antonio Stanford, who were baptised recently. May God bless them and their families.
CONFESSIONS:
There will be Confessions after each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
St Columba’s: From 6pm before the 6.30pm Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30pm before 5pm Saturday evening Mass.
OFFERTORY:
St Columba’s: (19.11 and 26.11) Loose plate 755.05; Planned Giving £245.00; Average Weekly SO – £574.00; Candles £55. 73’ Piety Stall £70.00;
St Theresa’s: Loose plate & Planned Giving £233.90; Average weekly SO – £161.00.
THANK YOU for all your generous support.
PRAYING TOGETHER
We pray for:
- The residents of Glastonbury Avenue, Tewkesbury Close and Marlowe Avenue, Shelley Road, Coleridge Close, Steams Close and Housman Close.
- Those who are bereaved and those who provide support.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
3rd Dec – Claire O’Donnell for Mind
10th Dec – Rippon family for Camps International Humanitarian Collaboration
17th Dec – Richard Curtis for Altar Servers’ ‘Thank you’ Outing
Why not donate a little time to make tea and coffee after 11:00 Mass on Sunday? You can make some money for your favourite charity, too. Call Margaret Curtis 01244 318424 to book your date(s).
CAKES FOR CLAIRE:
Many of us remember the shock and sadness we felt in April when we heard we’d lost Claire Graham, a mainstay of children’s liturgy for over a decade, a champion for children and young people with special needs, a formidable fund raiser and for us all, a great friend. In her memory and to raise funds for MIND, there will be delicious cakes after mass on Sunday 3rd December. Please do come and join us.
CAFOD WORLD GIFTS are a range of virtual charity gifts that will delight the people you give them to and help transform the lives of families experiencing poverty. Catalogues available in the church porches along with Advent prayer cards.
RED MISSION BOXES, ST COLUMBA’S:
If you have a Red Mission box for collection, please leave it in the sacristy. When counted I can return your box to your home. Thank you, Margaret Curtis 01244 318424.
ADVENT JOURNEY – HOSTING OUR KNITTED MARY, JOSEPH & DONKEY FIGURES
To focus our attention on Advent, we’re asking all households, particularly those with young children, to host our knitted Mary, Joseph and donkey for one or more nights to symbolise the journey to Bethlehem. The knitted family will arrive in Bethlehem, actually St Theresa’s crib, on Friday 22nd December during the Carol Service. If you can host these small figures, (they’re no trouble) please add your details to the list in the church porch BY 3rd DECEMBER IF POSSIBLE.
CHRISTMAS PARTY:
This year’s Christmas Party for Senior parishioners and Parish volunteers, is been held on Sat 9th of December in St Columba’s Church Hall starting at 2 p.m. Free food and drinks plus entertainment by Upton Community Choir.
SINFONIA CHRISTMAS CONCERT:
SINFONIA is a local music group who use the Hall for their rehearsals. They are going to give a Christmas Concert on Friday 8th December at 7pm in the Hall. Admission free. Tea & mince pies free. A retiring collection will be available for Dee Banks School. Please come along and support this event.
ANGELS, SHEEP, DONKEYS, KINGS, ACTORS AND SHEPHERDS NEEDED!
The children’s liturgy invites children of all ages to come and take part in St Columba’s Christmas Eve celebration Mass at 4.30 pm. For further information please contact Gillian Blatch at stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com and mark it for the attention of Gillian Children’s liturgy.
CLOTH FOR THE CRADLE – 11.00 Mass St Columba’s:
Cloth for the cradle, cradle for the child.
The child for our every joy and sorrow;
Find him a shawl that’s woven by us all
To welcome the Lord of each tomorrow.
1. Darkness and light and all that’s known by sight,
Silence and echo fading,
Weave into one a welcome for the Son.
Set earth its own maker serenading.
2. Hungry and poor, the sick and the unsure,
Wealthy whose needs are stranger,
Weave into one a welcome for the Son,
Leave excess and want beneath the manger.
3. Claimant and queen, wage earners in between,
Trader and travelling preacher
Weave into one a welcome for the Son,
Whose word brings new life to every creature.
4. Wrinkled or fair, carefree or full of care,
Searchers of all the ages,
Weave into one a welcome for the Son,
The Saviour of shepherd and of sages.
Copyright © 1987 WGRG, Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland. www.wildgoose.scot
Highlight from the High:
You are invited to our school Christmas Fair on Tuesday 19th December from 4:30pm, entry fee £1, followed by Carol Service at 6:30pm. We are still welcoming book donations for one of our stalls. Thank you.
Thought for the week
“At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God’s own love and concern.” – Mother Teresa.
CONCLUSIONS OF FIRST SYNOD ON SYNODALITY IN ROME:
Proposals in the document released at the conclusion of the Synod (which began at the local level two years ago and in which we participated) include an expanded role for women in ministry, making lay involvement in decision making mandatory, an overhaul of the seminary system for training priests and a revision of the Church’s Code of Canon Law. On women deacons the Synod agreed that more discernment was necessary. While gay and lesbian Catholics were not expressly mentioned it was recognised that the Church had not adequately taken into account human experiences and the science. There is also a proposal to give ‘further consideration’ to the ordination of married men. Pastoral Councils, of clergy and laity, are to be made obligatory at parish and diocesan levels. The concluding session of the Synod will be held in the Vatican next autumn. The Synod is a consultative body and the Pope has the final say. (Summary of report in The Tablet, 4.11.23. Pauline Rourke)
‘LAUDATE DEUM’ SENT TO PRIME MINISTER SUNAK:
On 4th October Pope Francis published his Apostolic Exhortation, Laudate Deum (Praise God), on the climate crisis. Ahead of the COP 28 meeting which begins on 30 November in Dubai, Salford bishop, John Arnold, has sent a copy to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in an appeal to take further action against climate change. Pope Francis said ‘the impact of climate change will increasingly prejudice the lives and families of many persons. We will feel its effects in the areas of healthcare, sources of employment, access to resources, housing, forced migrations, etc. Human beings must respect the laws of nature and the delicate equilibria existing between the creatures of this world. The most effective solutions will not come from individual efforts alone but above all from major political decisions on the national and international level’
Resources: If you are struggling to find a gift for someone this Christmas, maybe this gift guide can help you out https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/app/uploads/2023/11/Social-Enterprise-festive-gift-guide-2023-web.pdf paper copies are on the noticeboards. The guide has 6 categories and is a collection of social enterprises. Each and every gift makes a difference to communities or the environment. See also CAFOD and their world gifts https://worldgifts.cafod.org.uk, and Oxfam for presents and fair trade items.
We’re all in this together: Advent is now upon us, this weekend begins a four week period of preparation for the nativity of Jesus Christ at Christmas. The Advent Season is all about reflecting on how we can prepare our hearts and homes for Christ’s birth in the world today. How will you prepare? possibly host our knitted Mary, Joseph and donkey on their journey and use it as a family reflection? Use the CAFOD daily advent reflection? Give yourself 5 minutes in the day to be calm and reflect, listen to music, etc. Remember, Christmas isn’t about the biggest and the best; Steve Jobs reminded us that wearing a £300 or £30 watch, they both tell the same time. Take care.
CHRISTMAS MEMORY TREE:
A time to remember those who will not be able to celebrate Christmas this year. There will be a tree and cards on the side Altar (near the back door) at St. Columba’s to write your message and hang it on the tree. The message is the important thing, but if anyone wishes to make a donation there will be a basket for donations in aid of the Parish Third World Project.
PIETY STALL:
The Piety stall is now selling Christmas Cards, diaries and calendars. If you need anything else, I have a catalogue, please telephone me on 01244 329469. Many thanks.
ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Carol Galvin, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com, Office hours Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm
Hall availability can be checked by looking at St Columba’s Church website – section for Church Hall gives a calendar of events in the Hall. Then contact Sue Carr on 07553 114531 or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:
10th December edition will be compiled by Muriel Green, phone:01244 383836 or Email: Muriel.green1@btinternet.com. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that items are emailed or phoned to the compiler by 9.00a.m. on WEDNESDAY 6TH DECEMBER 2023