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Newsletter and  

Notices

Fr. Peter Charles Crowther obl. sbso | The Presbytery, Bury Lane, Withnell, Chorley, PR6 8SD | Tel 01254 830 995 | Reg Charity: 232709

Universalis

© 2017 St Joseph's Catholic Church, Withnell. All Rights Reserved.

Please pray for Pope Francis, Benedict XVI and Archbishop Malcolm McMahon                                                   

Liverpool Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool Reg. Char. 232709

moorlandsanctuary@gmail.com

www.moorlandsanctuary.com


TODAY'S MASS: The first Sunday Gospel of the year (and the liturgical year begins in Advent) is also in a way the last Gospel of the previous year. It comes at the end of Jesus' ministry, when he is preparing the disciples for their own ministry – in succession to him. Jesus is speaking to them on the Mount of Olives looking down on the white city of Jerusalem, glittering in the sunshine. The city is soon to be destroyed by the Romans with dreadful horrors of famine, massacre, burnings and executions. This is seen as a foretaste of the end of the world when Jesus, the Son of Man, comes to save his people. We do not know when this will happen, and, more importantly, when it will happen for us, when we will meet the Son of Man and be judged and saved by him. But our Christian faith is a guarantee that it will be a moment of God's mercy, whenever it occurs. We must look forward to it, and have it ever present before our mind. But we would be fooling ourselves if we think that there are no struggles and trials and hardships to be undergone on the way. Why is the passage appointed for the First Sunday of Advent the turning-point between the years? Because the birth of Jesus at Christmas, for which we are beginning to prepare, is a significant move towards the fulfilment of the promises of salvation, the coming of Christ as a baby – with all the budding potential of a baby.  (Fr. Henry Wansbrough, osb)


GOSPEL LESSON: As we begin Advent we are mindful of the birth of Jesus 2000 years ago, his final coming at the end of time, and his daily presence in our lives. We want everything doing yesterday; during Advent let us calm down and be patient as we await the remembrance of the First Coming at Christmas. Let us be grateful for what we have and give to others over and above what we need.


WEEKLY PONDER: What does Jesus really mean by these prophecies of catastrophic turmoil in the universe? How does Jesus want us to face turmoil and troubles in life?  (Fr. Henry Wansbrough, osb)


SAINT THIS WEEK:  Thursday is the feast of St. Nicholas. He was a fourth century bishop of Myra, south western Turkey, and although he is one of the most venerated saints in both east and West, very little is known of him. He is reputed to have given three bags of gold to three girls for their marriage dowries in order to save them from prostitution. 'Santa Claus' is based ultimately on his patronage of children, who in the Low Countries receive presents on his feast in remembrance of his charity.  (Archdiocesan Ordo)


YOUCAT: ( Question 331 ) Why is there nevertheless injustice among men? All of them have the same dignity but not all of them meet with the same living conditions. In cases where injustice is man-made, it contradicts the Gospel. In cases where men have been endowed by God with different gifts and talents, God is asking us to rely on one another: in charity one should make up for what the other lacks.


THE POPE: (World Youth Day: 2019) In his address, the Holy Father addresses all young people of the world: believers and non-believers: encouraging them to discover the characteristic values of youth. It recognises their willingness to serve others, and invites them to put this attitude into practice from a Christian perspective. “To be at the service of others does not only mean to be ready for action. It means also to be in conversation with God with an attitude of listening, just like Mary. She listened to what the angel said to her and then she responded,” says the Holy Father.


ADVENT PRAYER: Stir up your power, we pray, O Lord, and come, that with you to protect us we may find rescue from the pressing dangers of our sins, and with you to set us free, we may be found worthy of salvation.


MEDITATION: Who is blind? He who can see no other world. Who is dumb? He who can say nothing pleasant about his lot. Who is poor? He who is troubled with too many desires. Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot.  (Indian Proverb)


SAINTLY GEMS: My dear Jesus, if it is a fault to be too kind to sinners, it is a fault I learned from you, for you never scolded anyone who came to you seeking mercy.  (St. Leonard of Port  Maurice)

Beloved and most holy word of God! You enlighten the hearts of the faithful, you satisfy the hungry, console the afflicted, you make the souls of all productive of good and cause all virtues to blossom.  (St. James of the Marches)


FOOD FOR THOUGHT: When we count our blessings and acknowledge their source, the warmth we feel is God's unconditional love for us.  (Chris Stepien)

We're all equal. No better, no worse. By serving others we can learn to embrace our similarities, the good and the bad.  (Chris Stepien)

Begin choosing to do the right thing, even if you aren't initially rewarded for your actions. Eventually, you will affect others. (John Wood)



WEEKLY BIBLE: Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would ttemble before you! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!  (Isaiah 64:1-2)


SYNOD MEETING: The attendance at the Synod Meeting was rather poor, with the usual people turning up. Does this mean a lack of interest or that people are happy with things as they are??!! There will be another Meeting next Sunday after which we must choose a Synod Member to represent our Parish.


ADVENT CONFESSIONS:  Saturdays 8th., 15th., 22nd. of December from twelve to twelve-thirty.


IMMACULATE CONCEPTION BVM:  Saturday is the Immaculate Conception. There will be Holy Mass at 9.30am.


CHRISTMAS VIGIL MASS:  4.30pm. Please pass the word around! Everybody is welcome.


DEANERY SERVICES OF SORROW:   St. Gregory: Sunday 16th. December at 3.00pm.  Sacred Heart: Monday 17th. December at 7.00pm.   St. Mary: Tuesday 18th. December at 7.00pm.


ADVENT CALENDARS:  Available at the back of the church. Prices on the backs of them.


GRAND RAFFLE: Thanks to all who gave prizes for the Grand Christmas Raffle. Tickets can now be bought at the Fair.


ADVENT WREATH: Our Advent Wreath will be blessed at the start of Mass today. It should remind us to prepare for the coming of Jesus in a spiritual way over the next few weeks.


BAMBINELLI SUNDAY: Sunday, 16th. December when we bring our figure of the Baby Jesus to Mass for a special Blessing prior to it being placed in our home Nativity Scene for the Christmas Season.


AS USUAL: No cards or presents please. Give as much as you can to the Food Bank and a little extra for me.


MARY WILL SAVE THE CHURCH:  The Church is going through a bad time at the moment; we must not give up; Mary is the Mother of the Church and the Church will be strong again through the daily praying of the Rosary. The Rosary will be the Church's salvation. Please say a Decade every day. The more Rosaries the stronger the Church will become.


Lately Deceased

Fr. Peter Charles Crowther, obl.sbso

01254 830 995

Email: moorlandsanctuary@gmail.com

Dcn. Simon Gilbertson - 01254 832 031  

Parish Administrator and Catechist: Jane Gilbertson, B.Ed. (Hons), B.Sc. (Hort), CTC.

Advent 1 Year C   ,  2nd. December 2018

Hand in hand with Jesus

1st. Sunday of Advent     

Remember your daily Rosary

 Say your daily Rosary



 



  


 



















 












Ad Te levavi animam meam...

Anniversaries

Sick & Housebound

Feastdays

Ministers

Anointing / Forgiveness

Mass

Intentions

Monsignor Joseph Gibb, Canon William Redmond, Fr. Ambrose Hickey, Fr. Paul Benbow, Fr. Michael Powell, Fr. Gary Walsh, sss., Fr. Francis Goodall, cssr., Deacon Anthony Callaghan, Joseph Kavanagh, Alban Gerard, Annie Connor, Betty Coxhead, Mollie Fisher, Alison Howarth, Roy Singleton, Robert Bowman, John Gee, Gerald Hitchen, Winifred Miller, John Finch, Isabella Fenton, Ken Riding, Marion Park, Evelyn May Hatton, Kimberley O'Malley, Agnes Murphy, Joe Crowther, Thomas Ince, Chris Wood, David Shorrock, Thomas Hutchins, Henry Miller, Douglas Eckersley, Edith Miller, Joan McDonagh.

Monsignor Austin Hunt, Fr. John Daulman, Philip Rushton, Ian Davies, Madeleine Shaw, Zac Aratoon, Philip Holmes, Ann Beconnsall, Rita Maher, David Mahon, Kathleen Mee and others.


Next Week:  Teresa Johnson

Today:   The Children


Derek Harwood

 “Second Coming ”