Confessions: see inside newsletter and on request.

Web Site: www.catholic-penwortham-longton.btck.co.uk

Web Cam: http://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/st-teresas-penwortham

THIS WEEKEND 1st Sunday of Advent Year B

10.00am St T Confessions

Sat 2nd December 5.00pm St O Kathleen Bilsborough Bob Kirby

6.30pm St T Michael Russell

Sun 3rd December

8:30am St MM Latin Extraordinary Form Mass

8:30am St O For all homeless people

9.30am St T Nora + Peter O’Malley

11.00am St MM Louise Whalley, John Osbourne + Parishioners Int

WEEKDAY MASSES Divine Office Week 1

Mon 4th Dec 9.15am

9.30pm

St T St O

A speedy + full recovery for David Noblet Allan Whipp

Tues 5th Dec 10.00am St T Funeral Mass: Mary Hosker

Wed 6th Dec 7.00pm St T Thanksgiving to the Sacred Heart + Our Lady for favours received

Thu 7th Dec 9.30am 7.00pm

St O St T

Theresa Hosker Mary Hosker

Fri 8th Dec Immaculate Conception

9.15am 9.30am

St T St O

Peter (Les) Neary Mary + William Jump

NEXT WEEKEND 2nd Sunday of Advent Year B

Sat 9th Dec 5.00pm St O Philomena Mellows

6.30pm St T Swarbrick, Atherton + Coleman Families

Sun 10th Dec

8:30am St MM Latin Extraordinary Form Mass

8:30am St O Maria Williams+ Parishioners Int.

9.30am St T Fr Tom Leigh

11.00am St MM Eileen Leahy, John McDonagh

The CATHOLIC CHURCH in PENWORTHAM + LONGTON

St Mary Magdalen, St Oswald, St Teresa.

Fr Philip Inch: 34 Queensway, Penwortham. PR1 0DS

Tel: 01772 743337 email: philipinch@rcaolp.co.uk Fr Michael Barrett: 76 Chapel Lane. Longton. 612136

Parish Office email: penwortham@rcaolp.co.uk

1st Sunday of ADVENT

3rd December 2017

‘Stay Awake!’

We begin Advent with a call to prepare – and to stay awake! We are called to wake up to our true reality: to become alive to God at work in our lives, and to be ready to greet Je-sus Christ as he comes to us in each and every moment. We are reminded, too, of our hope of Christ’s second triumphant coming. In the First Reading, the prophet tells – de-

spite us being God’s children – of how we lost our way. Isaiah yearns for the time when God will come down to his people. He reminds us that we are all the work of God’s hand. The Psalmist also longs for God’s help and care. Using images of a shepherd and farmer, we are encouraged to recognise how tender God’s love is for us – the love that became incarnate, the light which shines upon us and saves us. The Second Reading reminds us of the blessings and graces we have received from God. It is God’s spirit that gives us hope as we wait for Christ coming again into our lives. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us to be ready and alert to God coming into our lives. We have each been given a task, and Jesus wants us to be prepared to receive Him. Throughout this Advent season, why not place your crib, empty, in a prominent place at home. It will focus our waiting and help us long for the coming of Jesus.

4th Sunday of Advent Masses: Saturday 23rd Dec: 5.00pm at St O, 5.00pm at St MM. Sat 6.30pm at St T. Sunday 24th December 8.30am at St O and 9.30am at St T. (No 11.00am Mass that day.)

Advent Services of Reconciliation: Saturday 16th December at 11.00am at St Oswald’s Tuesday 19th December at 7.00pm in St Teresa’s. Wednesday 20th December, a Pastoral Area Service with individual confessions at St Mary’s Leyland at 7.00pm.

St Mary Magdalen’s Christmas Coffee Morning is on Sun 3rd Dec, immediately after the 11.00am Mass. If you have any goods, especially bottles and unwanted new gifts, please bring them to church. Thank you. Magical Christmas Evening at St Mary Magdalen's School For a fun and magical evening come at 6pm on Thurs 7th Dec. Father Christmas will be there along with a toy stall, chocobola, raffle, bottlebola and refreshments. All welcome.

Knit-a-Bit: St T Church meeting Room Monday from 10.00am until 12 noon. The SVP will provide a lift if needed. Phone Catherine on 740569.

St O Coffee Morning: On Sunday 10th Dec at 10.30am we will be having a mince pie and tea/coffee morning in the church hall.

Penwortham Food Bank. Why not try a reverse Advent calendar—during Advent buy these items and give them to the foodbank: hot dogs, corned beef, ham, meatballs, Irish stew, Tinned mince or stewing steak or curries, Fray Bentos pies, meat/fish paste, custard, rice pudding, tins of fruit, small packs of tea bags, tinned peas and carrots. Make a bag up and bring it to any of our 3 churches. Thank you.

St Oswald’s Caritas: The last lunch club was a lovely occasion, the children again adding so much. The next one is Thu 21st December. (note change of day, just for this one.) Children from St O school will sing carols.

Mass times for Christmas: Christmas Eve:

5.00pm St Teresa’s, 5.00pm St Mary Magdalen’s, 6.30pm St Oswald’s

10.00pm St Teresa’s. Christmas Day: 8.30am St Oswald’s, 10.00am St Teresa’s.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Penwortham Farmers Market: Is now being held at Penwortham St Teresa’s Scout Hut on the 1st Saturday of the month. Next market is Sat 2nd Dec from 9am till 1pm. The 1st market in 2018 will be on Sat 3rd Feb.

All Hallows Pensioners Party is on Fri 15th Dec at 1.30pm. If you wish to go please sign the list in each church.

CARITAS - SVP Christmas collection to help those in need in our local area next weekend, at all the Masses. Thank you.

St O Baptisms: This weekend we welcome Freddie Jay Halstead, Amelia Rose Lonsdale and Louis Jacob Bamber

Flower Collection: 17th December - to help pay for the flowers and decorations in our 3 churches.

Christmas Choir: Rehearsal for 10.00pm Christmas Eve Mass will be at St Teresa’s on Tuesday 19th December at 8.00pm.

St Teresa’s Christmas Fayre: was a wonderful success, a lovely atmosphere and good fun. The fayre and raffle raised £2700. Thank you.

ST O Red Mission Boxes: Please will all holders of these in St Oswald’s parish bring them in and leave them in the side chapel for collection next and following Sundays.

Be Still & Know Prayer Group: We meet again on Thursday 7th December

at 6.30pm in St T’s meeting room. All welcome. Please note time.

St T + St MM Readers: New rotas are ready to be collected from the Sacristy.

Fairtrade: Thank you for the support last week at St MM.

Help for the Homeless: Gloves + hats are needed, please take to St MM. Thank you to those who have already made some lovely knitted hats etc. for those who are homeless.

Health + Safety Audit: took place this week. There are some things that we will have to put in place in the new year so that we are compliant!

1st Confession: Thank you to the catechists and teachers from St T and St O who helped the children celebrate last week. St MM is on Thursday this week.