St. Joseph’s Newsletter – 7th January 2018

Bonus Ball Winner: 44 – Joan Stewart

Offertory - £1814.42 (inc. standing orders)

CAFOD £186.79 (4 wks) Special thanks to St Vincent’s Primary School for their kind donation from monies raised from their Nativity plays.

Sanctuary Lamp

Reg Lewis (RIP)

Marian Candle

Oksana McDowall

(Birthday Remembrance)

Lately Dead

Betty Povey, Geoffrey Hill, Harry Howard, Marie Jeffers, Leo Douglas & William Miller,

If anyone knows of any sick or housebound parishioner who would like to receive communion at home, please let Fr. Malcolm know. Thank you.

The Pantomime Group is seeking your help in finding and obtaining a programme from the 1996 production of Cinderella. If you have a copy lurking in a dusty corner, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Christine at the office on 722105.

Marriage Preparation Facilitators

The Marriage Preparation team is recruiting new Facilitators who lead and present our marriage preparation courses. If you would like to become a Facilitator, please contact Frank for more information and to discuss the role. Contact: E-mail: ; Tel: 0151 522 1046.

Any couples wishing to get married in 2018/19 at St. Joseph’s Church, could they please get in touch with Fr. Malcolm on 01925 722105, in order to arrange a date to attend the Marriage Preparation Course.

Peace Sunday 14th January 2018

The work of Pax Christi is based on the gospel and inspired by faith. Our vision is of a world where people can live in peace, without fear of violence in all its forms. Rooted in Catholic Christianity, we work with all who share our values to abolish war and create communities of peace and justice. At the back of church there are Pax Christi envelopes if you wish to make a donation. If you would like to know more Pax Christi, please fill in the back of envelope before returning it. These will be collected next week. Thank you.

St. Joseph’s Church Carers

Please note cleaning will take place at 9am on Thursday 11th January.

St. Joseph’s Toddler Group

Will re-commence on Thursday 11th January from 9.45am to 11.30am at the Loreto Centre. Cost is £1.50. Please contact Angela Meade on 01925 723951 for more information.

“25 Years of Laughter & Song”

St. Joseph’s Pantomime Group 2018 proudly presents – “PUSS IN BOOTS”

Tickets are now on sale for the Pantomime of the year, “Puss in Boots”! Rehearsals have been in full swing since September so don’t miss out at this wonderful opportunity to watch professional (and not so professional) actors at their best! Show times start at 7.15pm on Wednesday, 24th January, Thursday, 25th January, Friday, 26th January and Saturday, 27th January. There is also a matinee performance on Saturday 27th at 2pm. To reserve your tickets, please contact Marion James on 01925 493360. Prices are £7.50 for adults and £5 for children.

Gospel Reflection for the Epiphany (England and Wales)

New Year Same Disastrous Outcomes?

It's a well-known saying that if you continue to do the same thing you will get the same results. Yet despite this obvious truth we continue to approach life in exactly the same old ways and repeat the same disastrous outcomes. We tend to get through life relying on the knowledge we already have, instead of searching for something new.

Today the Church commemorates the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. We call it the ‘Epiphany’ a word derived from the Greek meaning ‘to appear’ or ‘to be shown forth’. The Epiphany is about searching for meaning purpose and revelation. The Magi were men of great learning, intellect and wealth, yet they weren’t prepared to sit back and imagine they knew it all. Guided by a star and motivated by a hunger for truth, they stepped out of their comfort zone and set out across the desert not knowing what they would find or how long it would take. It was a journey of faith and great courage.

In the same way as the star got the wise men questioning, so too we find guiding stars in our lives that make us question. What circumstances get us looking for deeper meaning? The desire to leave a mind-numbingly meaningless job, the need to make sense of a family illness, or the curiosity to research the background to a motivational book are all circumstances in which we might find our ‘guiding stars’. Today’s gospel reading is an invitation for all God’s people to step out of their comfort zones and search for a new way of life and a better truth.

Pope Francis Prayer Intention of January 2018

On the third day of his recent visit to Myanmar, Pope Francis entered the Kaba Aye Centre, one of the most important Buddhist temples in Yangon, with his shoes off in accordance with local customs. There, he delivered a message: "For when we speak with one voice in affirming the timeless value of justice, peace and the fundamental dignity of each human person, we offer a word of hope." The pope also quoted Buddha himself, advising, "Overcome the angry by non-anger; overcome the wicked by goodness." This month we are invited to join in Pope Francis’ prayer intention “…That Christians, and other religious minorities in Asian countries, may be able to practice their faith in full freedom.”

Peace Actions for January 2018

  • Sunday 14 January is Peace Sunday – On this Sunday we celebrate the annual World Peace Day message of Pope Francis. Every school and parish is invited to explore the theme “Migrants and Refugees.”
  • At least once a year, Christians are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21).The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity runs from 18th-25th January.
  • The theme for this year's Holocaust Memorial Day commemorated on 27th January 2018 is 'The power of words’. Consider this this theme in the conversations you have and the blogs you write. Words can make a difference – both for good and evil.

Green Resolutions

The floods that we have witnessed over recent years bear sad witness that our climate has changed. Amongst all those other New Year resolutions for 2018, a very practical resolution would be to become a better steward of God’s creation.

The Green Christian Way of Life comprises four disciplines:

Daily Prayer and Devotions

Living Gently on the Earth

Public Action

Encouragement

To Do:-

  • Don’t let unwanted gifts fester at the back of a wardrobe. Declutter to save lives. Take unwanted gifts to the local charity shop.
  • Separate cards and wrapping paper for recycling. Remember you can’t recyle paper that has glitter on it or is laminated.
  • Take old toy batteries to the local recycling bank. Supermarkets often have a drop off point for old batteries.

Bitesize

When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.

~Chinese Proverb

Mass Intentions for week commencing 8thJanuary 2018
Monday 8th / 9.30am / John Hankinson
Tuesday 9th / 9.30am / Paul Hilditch
Wednesday10th / 9.30am / Marjory Higginson
(Anniversary)
Thursday 11th / 11.30am / Requiem Mass for Betty Povey
Friday 12th / 12 Noon / Pastoral Area Mass
(2nd Intention June Traynor)
Saturday 13th / 4.30-5pm
Sunday 14th / 8.30am
10.30am
4.00pm / People of the Parish
Eric Baker
Rebecca Laird

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Joseph’s will take place this week on Wednesday from 10.30am until 12 Noon.

FUNERALS

There will be a Requiem Mass for Betty Povey at St. Joseph’s on Thursday 11th January at 11.30am.

There will be a Funeral Service for Geoffrey Hill at St. Joseph’s on Friday 19th January at 12.30pm.