2nd Sunday in Advent (C)

This Week's Feast Days

Most weeks there may well be a number of feast days. We don’t necessarily celebrate them all. Some saints are more important in certain parts of the country than others and will be celebrated more on a local level, whilst other saints will be celebrated everywhere. So each week we will comment on the feast-days that we should celebrate in our regional Church.

Sunday, December 8th - 2nd Sunday of Advent (C)

Monday December 9th - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Tuesday, December 10th - Our Lady of Loreto

Wednesday, December 11th -  St Damasus I, Pope

Thursday, December 12th -  Our Lady of Guadalupe 

Friday, December 13th - St Lucy, Virgin, Martyr

Saturday, December 14th - St John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor of the Church

Sunday, December 15th 3rd Sunday of Advent (C)

Please click this link to view live streamed masses from St Margaret Clitherow Churches

Sunday Readings

Second Sunday of Advent (C)

First Reading – Bar 5:1-9
God means to show your splendour to every nation.

Second Reading – Phil 1:4-6, 8-11
Be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

Gospel Reading – Luke 3:1-6
All mankind shall see the salvation of God.

Psalter: Week 2

Weekdays: Advent Week 2

Christmas Mass Times

Below are the normal mass times for the churches in the area, but please check the newsletters for any changes which may occur during certain periods, e.g. funerals, holidays, feast days.

Newsletters

There are four newsletters published weekly in the Leigh area, you can access current and past editions here:

St Edmund Arrowsmith Newsletters (St Joseph's and Sacred Heart, Leigh)

St Margaret Clitherow Newsletters (Holy Family, Boothstown; St Ambrose Barlow, Astley)

St John Rigby Newsletter (Sacred Heart, Hindley Green; St Richard's, Atherton)

St Lewis, St Catherine's & All Saints Newsletters (Croft, Lowton & Golborne) (opens in new window)

( Newsletters download as pdf files in a new window.)

News Bites

• THE POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER 2024:
  

  For Pilgrims of Hope
  We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthens our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

• Please also refer to the Events page for more social activities in the area.
• New Lectionaries from Advent 2024
  From the First Sunday of Advent we will be using the new lectionaries. The new lectionaries use the English Standard Version (Catholic Edition).
• LGBTQ Mass – 8th December 2pm (Sacred Heart Church)
  We are happy to be hosting the LGBTQ Archdiocesan Mass at Sacred Heart church (Hindley Green). All are welcome to join Mass with the LGBTQ community from around the diocese. We welcome Fr Stephen Maloney and Fr Paul Seddon (on his guitar) please come and join us for refreshments after Mass. 
• Parish Office – Closed  (St John Rigby)
  The parish office will be closed for the next few weeks as Andrew has been called to Jury Service, please direct any queries to Fr Carl – 01942 392922.
• Christmas Carols Concert and Singalong:
  Friday 13th December from 7.30pm, St Ambrose Barlow Hall. Sponsored by the City of Salford and Leigh Catenian Association, includes Hotpot supper and Free raffle £10.00 pp, bring your own drinks. Tickets from Mike McDonald and Des Deignan.
• St Mary’s High School Sixth Form Pensioners Party
  The Sixth Form at St Mary’s Catholic High School are putting together a Christmas Party on Wednesday 11th December 12.00pm—2.00pm for the Senior Citizens of the local parishes. If you would like to go, please put your name on the list in the porch and any specific dietary requirements.
• Piety Stall Clearance:
  Cards and religious items available in the porch at St Ambrose for donations. The stall will be restocked and new items will be available soon.
• Guides Christmas Fayre: DECEMBER 8th AFTER 11:00am MASS IN ST AMBROSE BARLOW HALL
  Father Christmas will be making an appearance at 12.30. If you would like to see him, get in the queue early, only £3! Bacon and sausage barms along with the usual tea, coffee and toast will be on sale. Book stall, Christmas gifts by Angela, a wonderful cake stall with home baked goods by Bernadette and all the guides, bottle tombola, lucky dip, spin the wheel, bric a brac stall, and of course a Christmas hamper raffle and Christmas raffle. Any donations of cakes, home made or boxed, can be brought on 8th December. Thank you as always. Delia, all the leaders and guides.

• Read more: News Bites

Mass Times In The Area

Below are the normal mass times for the churches in the area, but please check the newsletters for any changes which may occur during certain periods, e.g. funerals, holidays, feast days.

Ukraine

Pope Francis
Pope Francis gave us this invitation.... ‘let us persevere in our closeness and in prayer for the dear Ukrainian people who are experiencing immense cruelty’

A Prayer for Ukraine
Loving God,
We pray for the people of Ukraine,
for all those suffering or afraid,
that you will be close to them and protect them.

We pray for world leaders,
for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.

We pray for the world
that in this moment of crisis,
we may reach out in solidarity
to our brothers and sisters in need.

May we walk in your ways
so that peace and justice
become a reality for the people of Ukraine
and for all the world.

Amen.

(From the CAFOD website. Link opens in new tab.)

Prayer for Peace

Loving Father,
May hatred be turned into love,
fear to trust,
despair to hope,
oppression to freedom,
occupation to liberation,
that violent encounters
may be replaced
by loving embraces,
and peace and justice
could be experienced by all.

There is an Ecumenical Service for Peace in the Holy Land on Wed 6 November 7pm
Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Hedgefield Rd, Gateacre, L25 2RW

CAFOD News

CAFOD WORLD GIFTS: 

A range of virtual charity gifts that help transform the lives of families and communities living in poverty. When you choose a gift, you support the area of work that the gift represents. Funds to support include Health, Water, Education and Emergencies. Click on the logo above to be taken to the World Gifts web page. (Opens in a new tab.)

CAFOD's Prayer for Peace in the Middle East (Opens in a new tab.)

Live Simply / Laudato Si

Reflect:

John the Baptist begins his mission calling people to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

Prayer

Lord, during this time of preparation for Christmas
Help me to recognise and reflect upon
the true meaning of your coming.
For you showed us that the way to your Father
is through love and mercy,
not through material things.
Open our eyes to your truth, Lord.

Amen

Act
Take time out during the business of Christmas preparations to reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas - the Son of God came into our lives as a child and taught us how to love one another. Try to begin each day with a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of Jesus.

Challenge

In the spirit of Laudato Si:

• The use of plastics and the subsequent waste from them us still a major issue. Search for Christmas gifts which are sustainable and do not affect the environment adversely.
• Perhaps you can donate something special for Christmas to food-banks or charity collections.
• Can you donate items for food hampers for those who are struggling at this time of year? Items needed in the Atherton and Leigh foodbank can be found by following this link (opens in a new window)
• This time of year can be difficult for many people both in this country and abroad. Find ways to support those who need our help, either through prayer or action.

  Read more: Live Simply / Laudato Si

Children's Liturgy

St Richard's  - Children's Liturgy takes place every Sunday at the 9.30am Mass.

Sacred Heart - Children's Liturgy takes place every Sunday at the 11.00am Mass.

St Ambrose Barlow – Is held once a month with a planned celebration on the first Sunday of every month. Next celebration is on Sunday 1st December during the 11:00am mass.

Holy Family – We have a few volunteers but need several more to be able to run a rota in a similar way to St Ambrose. If you would like to volunteer, please speak to either Fr Paul or to Liz in the parish office as soon as possible.

Please note that all volunteers must complete a DBS form with the Archdiocese to comply with safeguarding which is paramount in all parish activities.

Celebrating the Sacraments

Baptism

Please contact your Parish Office to make an appointment to meet with the Priest or Deacon. Baptisms usually take place on Sundays.

Holy Communion

Children in Year 4 at Primary Schools are invited to make their First Communion during that year. Preparation for the Sacrament may take place in school or by attending a series of meetings with parents or guardians.

Reconciliation

Children in Year 5 or 6 will be invited to make their First Act of Reconciliation (Confession). For continuing celebration of the sacrament, please refer to your local church. Quite often Reconciliation is available before Mass or by contacting the priest to make an appointment.

Confirmation

Preparation for this sacrament is usually arranged through the Archdiocesan Youth Ministry Team ' Animate' for young people in Year 8 or older who attend Catholic Secondary Schools.

Congratulations to all the young people in the area who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation recently. May your lives be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Marriage

If you would like to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage, please contact your  Parish Priest either directly or through the Parish Office to discuss. He will provide you with the necessary paperwork. Please remember to make arrangements well in advance.

Anointing the Sick

If you would like your Parish Priest to visit a family member who is sick and housebound, please speak to him or contact the Parish Office and a visit will be arranged.

Message from the Archbishop

For 9 years Fr Paul has been your parish priest in St Margaret Clitherow parish. In that time he has steered the parish through some challenging situations. He is without doubt one of our most gifted priests.

In the light of this I have asked him to go to Wigan to be the parish priest of the 3 church community of St William’s. This is made up of St Mary’s, St John’s and St Patrick’s churches. This community needs to be led very sensitively and I am sure that Fr Paul is the right man for this.

I know this will come as a shock to you.

I am delighted to be able to say that I am sending a priest to be your parish priest, Fr Francis Agada. He is a missionary of St Paul (MSP). He has been in Kirkby for the last two years. He is full of life and energy and so will be able to carry on where Fr Paul is leaving off.

These changes will take place in the early part of January 2025. Please keep me and all our priests in your prayers as we keep you in ours.
Archbishop Malcolm