In today's Gospel
we witness the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, through which the Epiphany theme of the light shining in the darkness is continued. Jesus proclaims God's Word through his calling of his first four disciples, through his teaching and his announcement of the Good News of the Kingdom, and through his curing of all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people.
Mass Times
Saturday (Vigil) - 6pm
Sunday - 8.30am / 10am / 11.30am / 6pm
Syriac Rite Mass - Sunday 1pm
Daily Mass - 9.30am & 6pm
Holy Days - 9.30am / 12.30pm / 6pm
Rosary
Monday to Friday 6.30pm
Confession
Saturday 10am - 10.30am / 5.15pm - 5.40pm
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Saturday 5pm - 5.45pm
First Friday 5pm-6pm
News and updates
Offerings made at the Crib go to support the work of the Catholic Children's Society
with needy families and children in our diocese. The Crib will remain in place until 2nd February, Candlemas.
Annual Children’s Liturgy Party:
Sunday 2nd February from 11 to 1pm. £2 Games, food, presents. Please give your child's name to the ushers at the end of Mass or text Vittoria Carroll on 07931134573.
Preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism:
If you have a child for Baptism under 5 years old please email us for an application form. You will be contacted once the form has been received. A copy of one of the Catholic parents’ baptism certificate will be required. Baptisms can only take place on Saturdays at 11am.
The next baptism preparation course is on Thursday 30th January at 7.30pm.
Marriage Preparation Course 2020
Our next marriage preparation course begins in February, running on five Wednesday evenings and a half-day on a Saturday. (26th February to 28th March). The course is open to all couples intending to marry in a Catholic Church, regardless of which parish you live in. If you are interested in attending, please speak to Father Mark or e-mail him: markdunglinson@rcdow.org.uk
A Celebration of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
will take place in Holy Trinity on Saturday 15th February at 2.00 pm. All are welcome to be present, and those in need of healing may receive the anointing. The celebration will be followed by a half hour devotion on the theme of 'Our Lady of Lourdes and the Sick,' including the rosary, a short presentation and devotional prayers, and will conclude at about 3.00 pm. (The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, closely associated with prayer for the sick, is on Tuesday 11th February.)
If you are going into hospital,
please let us know, so that we can inform the Catholic Chaplain who would be able to visit you while you are there. Also when giving your details, on admission, let the hospital know you wish to be visited by the Catholic Chaplain – otherwise data protection does not allow them to give him your details. If going into hospital for planned surgery, you can receive the anointing of the sick beforehand from Fr Richard or Fr Mark at home or in church.
Mary's Meals
are here this Saturday evening and Sunday morning to collect your unwanted clothing and bedding (no duvets or pillows please). Please bring them to church no later than Sunday 11.30 am when they will be taken away. Amazingly 4 full black sacks of good quality clothing will feed a child one good nutritious meal every school day for a whole year! Mary’s Meals is a charity that sets up school feeding programmes in communities where poverty and hunger prevent children from gaining an education.
The Sunday of the Word of God,
recently instituted by Pope Francis, is being kept for the first time on 26th January, Third Ordinary Sunday of the Year. On that occasion we will have the Recommissioning of Parish Readers, at whichever Mass they attend. Details of forthcoming diocesan events in this Year of the Word, the God who Speaks, will be given next Sunday. Following our successful Catholic Bible Weekend last October, Fr Mark has set up a Parish Bible Study Group. The next meeting is on Tuesday 28th January from 10.15am-11.15am and also on Friday 31st January from 7.00-8.00pm in the Saint Francis Room (come to the presbytery). Attend the session which suits you best as both cover the same material.
The Year of the Word – 'The God who Speaks',
Today is 'The Sunday of the Word of God' recently instituted by Pope Francis, as an annual celebration on the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary time. He writes, 'Devoting a specific Sunday of the liturgical year to the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world.' It is especially significant in this 'Year of the Word – the God who Speaks', which we inaugurated in our parish with the Catholic Bible Weekend in October. evoking a specific Sunday of the liturgical year to the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world.
We will have the Annual Recommissioning of Parish Readers today (at whichever Mass they attend.) Anyone interested in the possibility of applying to become a Parish Reader at Mass, please contact one of the priests.
A Welcome Occasion for New Parishioners:
Sunday 1st March, 1.00 – 3.00 pm, for those who've joined the parish in the last 18 months or so, will be held in the parish centre with light lunch time refreshments. Please take an invitation letter from back of church, and return the reply slip, to help us with numbers. Leaders of parish groups and ministries also invited to give information about their activities.
The next Teatime @ 3.30 for all senior citizens of the parish
will be on Tuesday 18th February. Feel free to bring a friend.
Volunteers needed
In our parish there are many volunteers working quietly in the background every day and we are immensely grateful for their dedication and help. There are many ways of contributing to the life of the parish and we would like to encourage you to contact the parish office if you have some spare time. We need volunteers to vacuum the church carpet every now and then; very flexible timings. Would you like to join the flower team? If you like baking, could you donate a cake once a month to the senior citizens’ afternoon tea? Can you spare half an hour to set up tables and chairs before the tea and/or help cleaning up afterwards? Many hands make light work!
Christian Marriage: a journey of healing
On Friday 29th September the Church celebrated the Great Feast of the Three Archangels: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Can you identify them in the picture above?
Michael carries a sword in his hand to defend your marriage from the Devil who accuses us when we sin, lies to us about what makes us happy, and puts in our minds doubts about the love of God.
Gabriel carries a pregnant womb, the visible sign that every Word of God carries new life and can become flesh in your marriage, because ‘nothing is impossible to God’.
The third angel, in the middle, is Raphael, meaning ‘God’s healing’. This Angel carries the hand of a young man - called Tobias - and is walking with him towards the marriage with Sarah. Raphael is the Guardian Angel of Tobias and Sarah,and of EVERY married couple.
Planning to get married?
Marriage Preparation Course 2020
Our next marriage preparation course begins in February, running on five Wednesday evenings and a half-day on a Saturday. (26th February to 28th March). The course is open to all couples intending to marry in a Catholic Church, regardless of which parish you live in. If you are interested in attending, please speak to Father Mark or e-mail him: markdunglinson@rcdow.org.uk
