St Mary’s Catholic Church Tovey Road Swindon SN2 1LQ Tel: 01793 535089 Parish Priest: Fr Michael McAndrew - swindonstmarys@me.com Parish Administrator: Elias Fernandes - eliasfernandes@mail.com Safeguarding Rep: (CRB): Teresa Sugden - teresaasugden@btinternet.com Parish records: Stmarysparishrecordsupdate@gmail.com Deacon: Rev Shaun Murphy (retired) Parish website: Deanery website: Diocesan website: www.saintmarysswindon.co.uk www.swindoncatholicdeanery.co.uk www.cliftondiocese.com FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT –YEAR B Sunday, December 21, 2014 SUNDAY MASS TIMES 6.00pm (Sat) 8.30am 10.30am CONFESSIONS Saturday: 9.30am – 10.00am & 5.00pm - 5.30pm Entrance Antiphon Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Saviour. Response to the Psalm I will sing forever of your love O Lord. Gospel Acclamation I am the handmaid of the Lord: let what you have said be done to me. CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES Christmas Eve 5pm, 7pm Christmas Day Midnight Mass and at 10.30am Communion Antiphon Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel. THIS WEEK’S MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS Sunday 06.00pm (Sat) Mass - Audrey Griffin (RIP) 08.30am Mass - Tom Campbell (RIP) 10.30am Mass - Angelo Scisci (Anniversary) Monday 10.30am Requiem Mass – Anna Healy Tuesday 09.00am Mass – Joao De Souza (RIP) CHRISTMAS EVE (Wednesday) 05.00pm Mass – People of the Parish 07.00pm Mass – Deceased members of the Brabazon family (Tommy, Jenny & Jane) CHRISTMAS DAY (Thursday) 12.00 Midnight Mass – People of the Parish 10.30am Mass – People of the Parish Friday 10.00am Mass – Eileen Williams (RIP) Saturday 09.00am Mass – Elysia Gonsalves (Intentions) NEXT SUNDAY’S MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS (DECEMBER 28, 2014) Sunday 06.00pm (Sat) Mass – Reema Valente De Souza (Intentions) 08.30am Mass – Callum Fernandes (Intentions) 10.30am Mass – James & Elizabeth Cosgrove (RIP) CHURCH CLEANING: Every Friday, after the morning Mass. Your help would be much appreciated. PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS all those who are sick especially: Cathy Walker, Joshua Crabb, Eileen Blackwell, Anna Tickner, Peadar Heffron, David Croston and Sheila Hughes, Peter, Alfie and Harry Crabb, John O’Gorman, Christopher and Cath Brown, Julia Harrison, Lena Watson, Cheryl Dawson, Louise Stacey, Maria Walsh, David Edwards, Irena Fliska, Joe Shannon, John Foley, Christine Beale, Mary Lynch, Molly Prendergast, Mary Stewart, Marc Young, Antonio Bambino, Eileen Hughes RECENTLY DIED: Please remember in your prayers Anna Healy one of our parishioners who have died. Requiem nd Mass for Ann is on 22 December at 10.30am. Please remember her and her family in your prayers. rd CHURCH CLEANING: In preparation for Christmas there will be Church cleaning on Tuesday 23 Dec. After the 9am Mass. Your help would be much appreciated. If you have the time to help just turn up. CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES: Christmas Eve at 5pm and 7pm and on Christmas Day Midnight Mass and at 10.30am. st CHRISTMAS FAMILY RETREAT: This Sunday 21 December starting at 2pm, there will be a retreat here at St Mary’s by the Vincentian Father from Divine Retreat Centre, Ramsgate, Kent. This is in preparation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. All are welcome to attend. ST MARY’S SVP: Next is the Swindon Food Bank Christmas collection. In addition to ‘in sell by date’ groceries, the food bank are always in need of ‘Long Life Orange Juice’, small bags of sugar and basic toiletries, things that we take for granted are more than welcome to those in need. The box provided at the entrance to our church is emptied regularly and taken to the local depot for distribution. Thank you so much for your continued support and generosity. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: In 2015 Bishop Declan Lang will be coming to our Parish to celebrate the Sacrament of th Confirmation on Wednesday, 20 May. Application forms for those who wish to be confirmed will be available from th th Fr Michael. First Holy Communion days are Sunday 7 and 14 June. Preparation will begin in the New Year and application forms will be available from Fr Michael. CATECHISTS’ FORMATION COURSE: for next year can now be found on the Clifton diocesan website, will be held at St John’s, Bath: http://www.cliftondiocese.com/adult-education/details-2015-catechists-formation/ The booking form, along with the poster & details for each session, are also attached. There is a minimal cost to the course of £50 (cheques payable to CCDTR) and all forms can be sent to Fr Christopher Whitehead at Alexander House or email to Adult.Education@cliftondiocese.com Please do encourage anyone whom you feel might enjoy and benefit from this formation course. Poster on the notice board at the back of the Church. DONATION: Many thanks for the donation of £250 which bought us a beautiful Monstrance for the Church. CHURCH’S YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE: this year Pope Francis has asked the whole Church to celebrate the all those who live the consecrated life in the Church. There will be a special celebration at the Cathedral with Bishop st Declan on Sunday 1 February 2015 at 6 p.m., to celebrate with all the monks and nuns of our Diocese to which all parishioners are warmly invited. MANY THANKS: Sr Mary Mulkeen wishes to thank all those who contributed to the sleepout for the homeless which th was on 5 December. The amount came to £142.50. 200 CLUB: Envelopes for the new season are available from the back of the church. There is a Vacancy List for new members to join. Just enter your name and details and you will receive a membership letter and number. Subscription is just £12 for the year, payable in cash or cheque on joining the 200 Club. There are monthly draws (1st prize £20); a Christmas draw (1st prize £50) and a Grand Draw (1st prize £400). All remaining funds go to the parish. Please help the parish by joining up. Any queries please phone Rosemary on 01793 337566, or e-mail: merribell@sky.com. APF MISSIO (Red Boxes): Empty boxes are left at the back of the church for collection. If you are unable to bring your box in, please contact your promoter, (number on the label) or Marion Aldridge on 01793 875692. JUNIOR PARISH CHOIR: will meet on Wednesday 3.45 - 4.30pm here in the Church. Ages 7-14 all are welcome to come and join for an afternoon of singing here in St Mary’s Church. St MARY’S PLAYGROUP: has a part time vacancy for approximately 14.5 hours per week - Monday and Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings - for a Playgroup Assistant. Please email for further information and application form at stmarys.239@btinternet.com ENGLISH COURSE: This course is being offered through St Joseph College for parents who do not speak English as their first language (they need not have children at the school). For more details contact: CWhitmore@stjosephscollege.net, or telephone 01793 714230. OFFERTORY LAST WEEKEND: £ 647.50 (of which £107.50 was Gift aided) and £503 was given by standing order. CLIFTON DIOCESE DIRECTORY: are now available at the back of the Church. They are £5 each. Mary, you have won God’s favour. The Lord is always faithful to his promises. From before the time of David right up to the birth of Jesus there is no doubt that the Lord is with his people. That which has been hidden for endless ages is revealed in Jesus Christ, the son of the Virgin Mary.