25th December 2011 to 8th January 2012
Parish Mass Book page 94/102
Mass Times and Intentions
8.00 pm Vigil First Mass of Christmas
CHRISTMAS DAY 10.00 am People of Parish
Monday 26th 10.00 am Eucharistic Service
Tuesday 27th 10.00 am Joe & Joan Caine
Wednesday 28th 10.00 am Dominic Devine
Thursday 29th 10.00 am Francis Reid McAlroy
Friday 30th 10.00 am Owen, Molly & Patrick Ruddy
6.30 pm Vigil People of Parish
NEW YEAR’S DAY 11.00 am John & Sarah Sutherland
Monday 2nd 10.00 am Eucharistic Service
Tuesday 3rd 10.00 am Arkell, McAlroy families
Wednesday 4th 10.00 am Walter & Nellie Cairns
Thursday 5th 10.00 am Teresa Hodgson
Friday 6th 10.00 am Robert Wake
6.30 pm Vigil Jim, Sarah & James Craik
EPIPHANY 8th 11.00 am People of Parish
Please pray for
· all who are sick,
· all who have died recently
· all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
Finance ...
Parish Offertory: £355.67
Many thanks
Christmas As we celebrate the joy, hope and wonder of God coming among us through the birth of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, I would like to wish you and your families a very joyful and blessed Christmas. I do hope that your own Christmas celebrations are happy occasions. The beautiful mystery of “the Word becoming flesh and living among us” (John 1: 14) is a most profound expression of the gift of God’s love and peace to all people. I sincerely hope that you and your families experience a share in that love and peace this Christmas and for 2012.
A big thank you to all those who have played some part in preparing and celebrating our Christmas celebrations in the parish.
I personally would like to thank people for their tremendous kindness and generosity with their cards and kind gifts. I am genuinely touched by your kindness, As I approach the second anniversary of my arrival in the parish I am deeply conscious of the tremendous amount of support and encouragement. I am also inspired by so many, by the example you give to me through your faith and love of others. It is a great witness to me and to the wider community.
Thank you
As we come to the end of the year , I am very conscious of a huge amount of work that is carried out by so many people in the parish. My life would be impossible without all this hard work and generosity. A very heartfelt thanks for all those who contribute to the life of the parish . As a token of my appreciation there will be an informal social in the Presbytery on Friday 6th January from 7.00 pm, to those who help in the parish, which includes readers, special ministers, sacristans, flower arrangers, safeguarders, offertory teams, welcomers, counters, cleaners, Altar servers, members of parish council and members of all the parish groups, SVP, catechists, singers and musicians, those involved in the Open House, and those who look after the hall I have racked my brains in hoping that this list is exhausted, but if I have missed anyone out sincere apologies and please feel welcome to join us on the 6th January.
Christmas Charities
At the Masses for Christmas there will be a retiring collection and the money will be divided between two charities; the first is Christian Solidarity Worldwide, which supports persecuted Christians across the world. It was decided at the Christ in the World meeting that as well as seeking to raise money we would be asking the parish to sign a petition asking the Government to support Coptic Christians in Egypt at this difficult time. Please see in the narthex The second charity is the De Paul UK which as the name suggests is part of the same spiritual family as the SVP. De Paul UK provides accommodation and support to young homeless people. For more information regarding both these charities see: www.csw.org.uk & www.depauluk.org
Matthew Project
This is a project being started by members of the Bedlington Christian Fellowship (the Coffin Chapel). This project will be working with statutory and voluntary agencies to provide basic food stuffs for those who need it. The project was launched on Friday by Ian Lavery MP and I am delighted to say the parish was represented by Lawrie Clark, Peter and Barbara Fowler and Moira Quinn. Just as other churches in Bedlington have worked with us in opening the Open House project I would like the parish to work as best we can with this important initiative. Peter and Barbara Fowler have kindly volunteered to be responsible for collecting and distributing food stuffs. You will see from the display in the Narthex the type of non perishable goods such as jam, sugar, tea and coffee, rice, pasta and any tinned items that would be acceptable. I am aware of our commitment to the refugee project where we are requested to provide specifically tinned meat, therefore, contributions to the Matthew project should not affect our particular contributions to the refugee project. (Collection next Sunday (1st Jan) for refugees and asylum seekers and first Sunday of every month)
Carol Singing in the Red Lion
Sincere thanks to all the musicians and singers that sang carols on Thursday 22 December. There were about thirty of us present with a few parishioners supporting us nearby . Those who took part seem to enjoy themselves and the management of the Red Lion appreciated our presence
Journey of Faith will resume on Tuesday 10th January 2012
Open House will resume on
SVP National Raffle results posted on notice board in Narthex.
