Barbara Wall, Kitty Stubbs, Bertha Appleton, Flo Mullen, Jimmy Carson, Emily Kearney, Christine McDonald, Dennis Lynch, Annie Hodgson, Joe Donkin, Olive Atkinson, George Gallagher, Susan Parker, Ethel Fagan, Denise Calvert and Jimmy McAuliffe.

CYCLE OF PRAYER  -  ADVENT & CHRISTMAS

During Advent and Christmastide we are asked to pray for these intentions:

Openness to the Word of God, Migrants and Refugees; Expectant Mothers. 

ADVENT ALMS

Christmas approaches, thinking about gifts—its sobering to think of those youngsters in our region who suffer extremes of abuse or neglect or struggle to find the support of a loving family. St Cuthbert’s Care does care and has done for 60 years. This weekend there is a retiring collection for Advent Alms, in aid of St Cuthbert’s Care, our Diocesan Charity. (Gift Aid envelopes are available at the back of Church).  

ADVENT SERVICES

During Advent there will be a Sunday Evening Service at 4pm. Today,  will be our Advent Penitential Service.

REPOSITORY

Art Calendars & N.  Catholic Calendars (£2).

TAIZÉ

WECT Taizé evening at 7pm on Monday. An hour of quiet prayer and reflection together as Christians preparing for Christmas. –ALL ARE WELCOME.

CONFESSIONS

At St Mary’s on Wednesday 9am –7pm (Avoid 3-4pm!)

CHURCH CLEANING

All volunteers please come on MONDAY after Mass to help clean and prepare the church and St Cuthbert’s Chapel for Christmas. Refreshments will be provided. 

FAIR TRADE STALL

Since the last sale in November the Fair Trade Stall has taken £429.09 including last weeks sale at the back of church. Once again thank you for supporting us and in helping to give our brothers and sisters in the Third World a living wage. Our next sale is not until 10th/11th Feb. We do have a small stock if you run out!

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS

Come along on Wednesday evening and take some time to prepare for Christmas in quiet and meditation. This week we will look at the journey to Bethlehem. We will meet for an hour in St Cuthbert’s Chapel from 7.00pm.  All are welcome.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

Our Christmas celebrations start next Sunday evening. At 8pm when we have Advent Carols followed by our first Mass of Christmas at 8.30pm.  Mass on Christmas Day is at the usual time, 9.30am, and our children will help us celebrate. The Eucharistic Prayer is for children—and adults!  So please join in the responses.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

If, instead of sending Christmas cards to friends & family you would rather make a donation to charity and would like to add your greeting to the Newsletter in return for a donation to the Grace House Appeal. Please give us the details today.

CHURCH DECORATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS

If you would like to make a donation towards decorating the church for Christmas, perhaps in memory of a loved one, please put your donation in an envelope and either place it in the Offertory Basket  or hand it in to the presbytery. All donations must be received by Tuesday 19th December for names to be added to the memorial book

JOURNEY IN FAITH

Our Journey in Faith begins again on Thursday 11th January at 7pm and will continue through January and conclude on 1st February. Please join us especially if you are interested in Baptism or  First Communion.  All are welcome

POLISH MASS

Dear fellow countrymen and you who speak Polish, in the name of Bishop Kevin Dunn, we welcome you into our Diocese and all of you who live in different parishes.

In order so that you can participate in the liturgy of your own language and also to get to know each other, I am inviting you to a Polish Mass, which I will be celebrating on the last Sunday of each month at 4pm at St Mary’s Church, Bridge Street, Sunderland.

Confessions will be available for half an hour before Mass begins and after the Mass tea will be available in the Parish Hall - Fr Jan Milcz CSSR

RNID

Do you struggle to hear the homily at Mass or always have to ask people to repeat what they have said? If so you may wish to  take a five minute, confidential telephone hearing check by dialling 0845 600 5555. For more information see the notice board or see www.breakingthesoundbarrier.org.uk

ANGELUS LUNCH CLUB 

Christmas Lunch - Wednesday 20th December -booked for 12.15. bus will leave St Joseph’s at 11.30am. The taxis will pick up at the usual time and go direct to Washington. The balance  due for the meal will be collected on the bus…. Bon Appetit !!!.

THE UNITED KINGDOM & NUCLEAR WEAPONS

A reflection by the Bishops of England & Wales

The very existence of nuclear weapons has always posed  grave moral  questions. Their uniquely destructive power means that they belong in a different category from any other weapons; this has always been recognised in the particular attention with which they have been regarded by the Holy See and by our own Bishops’ conference. In his World Day of Peace message for 2006, Pope Benedict XVI, in pressing for progressive and concerted nuclear disarmament, argues powerfully that the retention of nuclear weapons does not enhance the security of their possessors or the peace of the world.

The UK is now at a moral and strategic crossroads. Its present nuclear weapon capability is not expected to be sustainable beyond the early 2020s without  major new investment in renewal or replacement. Initial decisions about its continuance need to be taken within the lifetime of the present Parliament, which could extend to 2010.

The Church has always been clear in its teaching about the vital necessity for eventual total nuclear disarmament. Our judgement is that, by decommissioning its nuclear weapons capability, the UK now has a unique opportunity to offer the international community an approach to security and legitimate self– defence without the unconscionable threat of nuclear destruction. At the same time it could give a new impetus to the wider process towards total nuclear disarmament.

We recognise the Government’s grave responsibilities in these matters of security, both for our countries and the wider world. We urge the Government to take a long-term view and act with courageous leadership by seeking to make this breakthrough towards total nuclear disarmament.