St. Joseph’s Newsletter – 31stDecember 2017
Bonus Ball Winner: 50 – Anne Bunting
Offertory - £1488.46 (inc. standing orders)
CAFOD (Next week)
Sanctuary Lamp
Helen & Andy Bannon
(In Loving Memory)
Marian Candle
Arthur Graley
(Birthday Remembrance)
Lately Dead
Josie Blomeley,
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.
Gospel Reflection for the Holy Family
Learning What You Live
When the Infant Jesus was presented at the temple, Simeon told Mary and Joseph, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed… .” Then Joseph and Mary returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”
Mary and Joseph had a very important job to do. In fact they were given a job that is not so different from any parent’s job, to give the growing child a sense of worth, security, wisdom and love.
In a nearby school the famous verses of Dorothy Law Nolte are pinned up in each classroom. The piece entitled 'Children Learn What They Live' begins, "….If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If children live with hostility they learn to fight. If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive." In other words, we teach by our example. If we want our children to be truthful then we ourselves must be honest. If we want our children to learn justice we must ourselves be fair. If we want our children to learn respect we must first of all treat them with kindness and consideration. Whether we are parents, stepparents, grandparents, guardians, aunts or uncles, we must follow the example set by the Holy Family and live the lives we want our children to live.
Solemnity of Mary Mother of God
January 1st
Today we observe the solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. This is a natural theme having just celebrated the birth of her son Jesus. The birth of a child is always a sign of hope … hope not just for the parents and immediate family, but also for the whole community. The lives of Mary and Jesus spell a vision of a hope, a vision of justice and peace, a vision of freedom and liberation, a vision of social change and concern for the common good. It spells a vision of God present in the poor child and the holy young woman of Nazareth; a vision of God to be found in all the people and things of our world and especially among the poor.
World Day of Peace
January 1st
On World Day of Peace, traditionally celebrated on January 1st, we look at some suggestions:
We are asked to pray for peace in the Middle East. We are asked to visit another Christian church in our area as part of our commitment to Christian unity. We are asked to set aside time to pray for victims of torture and oppression. Finally we are asked to prepare for Peace Sunday later this month.
Upcoming:-
Peace Sunday – 14th January 2018
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – 18th-25th January
Letting God into your New Year's Resolutions
"What does God want me to do with my life this year?" There's a company that makes T-shirts with spiritual themes. One of them shows an airplane being flown by a frantic pilot. The shirt says "If God is your co-pilot, switch seats." The message is that when we put God in charge of our goals we will succeed. When you make your new year’s resolutions, think about what areas of your character you know God would be pleased for you to change.
Christmas Card Recycling
Most cards are paper based and can be recycled, along with their envelopes. Any embellishments such as ribbons or glitter cannot be recycled so should be removed first by simply tearing off that section. Another good recycling tip is to file your old Christmas cards away to use as homemade gift tags, this time next year.
Bitesize
It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself.
Joyce Maynard
Mass Intentions for week commencing 1st January 2018Monday 1st / 12 Noon / Alf McKevitt
Tuesday 2nd / 9.30am / John Brown
Wednesday3rd / 9.30am / Edward & Elizabeth Thompson
Thursday 4th / 9.30am / Winifred Keefe
Friday 5th / 12 Noon / Requiem Mass for
Josie Blomeley
Saturday 6th / 4.30-5pm
Sunday 7th / 8.30am
10.30am
4.00pm / People of the Parish
Charlie Bamford
Lou & Eric Priestley
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Joseph’s will take place this week on Wednesday from 10.30am until 12 Noon.