First Sunday of Advent (C)


 

Churches are open again for public Mass. The Sunday 9.30am Mass at Holy Family and the 11.00am Mass at St Ambrose Barlow will be broadcast on the internet and, for those who can access it, the video will remain to be watched anytime afterwards if you miss it live. (Click on the links below)
Where possible daily Masses will be broadcast and other prayer services which can also be watched and participated in at any time later.
Facebook and  YouTube.

The Sunday obligation to attend Mass is still suspended for the time being. Please be patient as our greatest concern is the safety of everyone.

The Redemptorists have Sunday Mass online available from 12pm on Saturdays, celebrated by Fr Denis McBride C.Ss.R.

There are several churches which live stream masses throughout the Archdiocese of Liverpool. These can be accessed here.

Other streamed masses are also available, click below for more

First Sunday of Advent (C)

 

First Reading – Prophet Jeremiah  33:14-16.
The prophet Jeremiah looks forward to a time when honesty and integrity will flourish.

Second Reading – St. Paul to the Thessalonians 3:12-4.
Paul urges the Christian Community in Thessalonika to live the life that God wants them to live.

Gospel Reading – Luke  21:25-38.34-36.
Jesus tells his disciples that despite the world’s troubles and turmoil, liberation is close at hand.
 

Psalter: Week 1
Readings for Weekdays: Advent

In prayerfully being present at a Mass being broadcast to you, obviously physically receiving the Eucharist is not possible. However, Spiritual Communion is.

So what is Spiritual Communion? The common practice of making such a spiritual communion indicate our desire to join with the Lord when in a situation that makes unable to sacramentally receive the Body and Blood of the Lord in Holy Communion at Mass.

Staff and volunteers of Caritas, Diocese of Salford, are now playing an active role in supporting Afghan nationals who have been evacuated to the UK. They are also preparing for those refugees and asylum seekers who are likely to make their own way to the UK from Afghanistan over the following weeks and months.

Staff are co-ordinating closely with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and collaborating with other local and national agencies.  Based on the latest identified needs of refugees accommodated in temporary provision on their arrival, you can help by donating the items listed on the Caritas website.  These can be delivered to a number of the Caritas services where staff will arrange for them to be transferred to those in need now and in the coming weeks and months. Alternatively, you may be able to give a donation to support the work of Caritas

Also:
Please visit the CAFOD website – cafod.org.uk – to find out about CAFOD's response.
There is also another website, care4calais.org/afghan-refugees-appeal, who are directly helping the refugees who are already in this country at the moment.

CAFOD RESPONDING TO MULTIPLE EMERGENCIES ACROSS THE WORLD
CAFOD is responding to significant crises across the world this week. We are working with local Church organisations in Haiti to deliver emergency aid to people affected by the catastrophic earthquake and tropical storm. In the tragic situation in Afghanistan, we are working to ensure the safety of our local partners and their communities. We are supporting local aid workers to deliver urgent food and water supplies to hundreds of thousands of people facing extreme hunger in Tigray in Ethiopia, South Sudan and north-east Nigeria. You can read more about how we can all express solidarity with our sisters and brothers affected by these emergencies on the CAFOD website: https://cafod.org.uk/News/Emergencies-news. Your compassion, generosity and prayers have helped us to stand together and enable us to continue to support communities in these difficult times. Thank you.

 

Reflect
In today's Gospel Jesus describes signs that may disturb many people, but he says that these should not to disturb his disciples, because such signs indicate that redemption is near. Instead, Jesus tells his disciples to be vigilant and to pray for strength.

Pray

Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

From Psalm 25

Act
 We, as individuals and as member of the Church, are called to transform hatred into love, darkness into light. This is not simply our Advent task but our daily task. Advent assures us that God’s will, will be done and for that to happen we must first welcome Him into our lives. Use this week and the following weeks to prepare for Christmas spiritually by listening to what God is saying to us in the deep recesses of our souls. On a practical level, try to bring light in to the lives of others by showing that we have time for them and we care for them.

Monthly Challenge

December Action

Try to find the time this Advent to prepare for Christmas by watching an online retreat such as that which The Redemptorists are offering

 

About LiveSimply

LiveSimply Resources

  • LGBT+ CATHOLICS LIVERPOOL ARCHDIOCESE SUPPORT GROUP.
    This new group has been formed as a result of the Synod. Following further conversations, they are now looking to have regular gatherings for Mass, prayer and support. This is not intended to be and will not be a kind of alternative Church. The next Mass will take place at All Saints Church, Anfield, on Sunday December 5th at 12.30 followed by a social gathering. This is an open invitation to our LGBTQ+ Catholics, their families, and friends to gather together in prayer. If you would like to go please contact Fr. Maloney on 0161-2878787 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Sacred Heart Parish Centre
    is now open for functions. We have snooker and dominoes on Friday nights. Friendship Club Wednesday afternoons 1pm till 4pm.
    Next Craft Club Thursday 2nd December 1pm till 4pm.
    Christmas Bingo in the Parish Centre for two Wednesday nights 8th & 15th  December.
    Door open at 7-45pm. Bingo starts at 8-30pm prompt.
  • New Deanery
    From the 1st December as part of the Synod developments the deaneries in the Archdiocese have been reconfigured. Leigh Deanery will now become the Wigan and Leigh Deanery. The new Dean is Fr. Gordon Abbs.
    The Archbishop gives grateful thanks Fr Paul Seddon and Fr Aidan Kelly who were the previous Deans.
    You will be able to read more about the Pastoral Plan at liverpoolpastoralplan.org.uk (currently password protected)
  • HCPT Christmas Cards are now on sale. Designs at back of church.
  • Annual Christmas Toys collection – The SVP have been advised that the Hospitals will not take any toys this Christmas due to Covid rules. A collection will be taken at churches each weekend for the 4 weeks of Advent. The money will be used to buy Vouchers which will be distributed to families in need and to schools in our parish area at Christmas.
  • Food Banks
    Although St Gabriel’s Food Bank is well stocked, the SVP of our parish are supporting the Leigh & Atherton Food Bank. Donations of food are encouraged directly to them to support those in need in our local community. Alternatively donations can be left at Holy Family
  • Church Hall Development at Holy Family
    This will cause some disruption to both parish and school as parking will be reduced and at times there will be no access at all as the project goes forward. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we will no doubt enjoy and benefit greatly from new facilities and a proper car park.
  • THE POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER 2021:
    People who suffer from depression
    We pray that people who suffer from depression or burn-out will find support and a light that opens them up to life.      
  • Mass on the Phone - Parishioners who have no access to the internet and so are unable to watch online Mass may hear Mass at Middlesbrough Cathedral. The Mass is provided free of charge, except for the local phone charge. Phone: 01642 130 120 to be connected to the Mass for that week. You can listen at any time of day or night.
    If you are aware of anyone who may benefit from this service, please let them know.

Please refer to the individual Parish Newsletters for Mass and Service times.

Guidance has been received from the Archdiocese allowing a lessening of restrictions. However, after consultation with stewards and others it has been decided that we will cautiously remain as we are for the summer. This is because of very high transmission rates in our local area. Some of the Covid restrictions will continue in Churches, though these may vary between churches in the deanery….

  • Face coverings will remain mandatory for all those attending a church service.
  • Social distancing will not be mandatory any longer – though churches may create space for those who feel more vulnerable.
  • Hand sanitising will remain necessary as people arrive.
  • The capacity of each church for ALL services will depend on the space available.
  • Holy Communion will be restored to its traditional place in the Mass (please continue to follow the directions of the stewards who will invite you forward row by row)
  • Holy Communion under both kinds will not be re-introduced at this time.
  • Mass will end in the traditional way.
  • Singing can be restored.
  • Hymn books and service sheets can be used but only ONCE A DAY.
  • The collection basket should NOT be passed around – please leave your collection as you leave church.

Further details may emerge in the coming weeks.

From next weekend there will no longer be a booking system. However, stewards will remain to assist parishioners in being seated as safely as possible, and directing people during Communion.
The last year has been most difficult and I thank parishioners for their understanding as myself and the stewards have tried to keep everyone safe by following the systems of one way and allocated seating which has been challenging at times.
Face masks will continue to be required to be worn unless medically exempt, and I point out recent changes in government guidelines that state that visors do not offer any protection unless worn with a face mask so face masks are what is stated to be worn in places of worship.

Confession

(The Sacrament of Reconciliation) is available by request or by appointment, following social distancing guidelines.

With regard to singing in church, no advice has yet been given about a change in regulations already made.

Most weeks there may well be a number of feast days. We don’t necessarily celebrate them all. Some saints are more important in certain parts of the country than others and will be celebrated more on a local level, whilst other saints will be celebrated everywhere. So each week we will comment on the feast-days that we should celebrate in our regional Church.

Sunday November 28th - 1st Sunday of Advent (C)

Monday November 29th -

Tuesday November 30th - St Andrew, Apostle

Wednesday December 1st -

Thursday December 2nd - T

Friday December 3rd - St Francis Xavier

Saturday December 4th - St John Damascene, Priest, Doctor of the Church

Sunday December 5th - 2nd Sunday of Advent (C)

Some resources for families who would like to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word with their children.


The Redemptorists have created an Advent and Christmas time resource for children. Access it by clicking on the picture

Martin at Ten: Ten is making available for free their daily prayers resources: https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/primary-subscription/prayers-for-home/daily-prayers-for-home/ and their Family Liturgy for Sundays: https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/primary-subscription/prayers-for-home/sunday-liturgy-for-families/

The God who Speaks now have a section on the Word at home: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/the-god-who-speaks/word-at-home/

CAFOD has several useful items to use with children -  updated weekly

There are four newsletters published weekly in the Deanery, you can access current and past editions here:

St Edmund Arrowsmith Newsletters (St Joseph's, Sacred Heart, Twelve Apostle, Our Lady's - Leigh)

St Margaret Clitherow Newsletters (Holy Family, Boothstown; St Ambrose Barlow, Astley; St Gabriel's, Higher Folds)

St Lewis, St Catherine's & All Saints Newsletters (Croft, Lowton & Golborne)

St John Rigby Newsletter (Sacred Heart, Hindley Green; St Richard's, Atherton; Sacred Heart Hindsford)

 

( Newsletters download as pdf files in a new window.)

 

There are several items of interest available from the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

New resources now available include:

 The Liverpool Catholic website also has up to date information on the Church's Policy regarding Coronavirus and lots of other useful information.

St Joseph's Centre - 01942 673517

Fr Paul Seddon - 01942 883395 (St Richard's & Sacred Heart.)
Fr Paul Grady - 0161 790 2390 (Holy Family, St Ambrose Barlow & St Gabriel's)
Fr Kieran O'Grady - 01942 673517 (Sacred Heart & St Joseph's)
Fr Gordon Abbs - 01942 273851 (St Lewis, St Catherine's & All Saints)

St Margaret Clitherow Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St Edmund Arrowsmith Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St John Rigby Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St Catherine of Sienna and All Saints, Golborne & St Lewis, Croft: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.