NEWSLETTER SUNDAY 18th Nov 2007

Please pray for all the sick in the hospital and in our parish including:

Kitty Stubbs, Bertha Appleton, Flo Mullen, Christopher Brown, Jimmy Carson, Christine McDonald, Dennis Lynch, Joe Donkin, Olive Atkinson, Nora Gallagher, Ethel Fagan, Denise Calvert, Ken Hutchinson, Andrea Saward, Paul Tulloch, Jan Buckley and Peter Davison.

Please remember in your prayers the following priests of the diocese whose anniversaries occur during the week:

THE CYCLE OF PRAYER-ORDINARY TIME (AUTUMN) During Ordinary Time from September to Advent we are asked to pray for these intentions: The Spread of the Gospel; the Harvest; the Fruits of Human Work, and the Reverent Use of Creation; Justice and Peace in the World; All Victims of War; Young People; Prisoners and their Families

MASS FOR THE DECEASED OF THE PARISH

Over the last twelve months the deceased of the parish are: Mary Butler, Teresa Burgess, John Coundon, Veronica Catherine Davidson, Alice Josephine Gooch, Vincent Render, Marie Veronica Moore, Peggy Wilkinson, Rev. Cuthbert Rand, Susan Parker, Beatrice Potts, Georgina Cook, George Naisby, Terence McQuillan, Veronica Stewart, Catherine McGinty, Joseph Adey,  Audrey Sullivan, Martin Walton, Peggy Halpin, Hilda Worthy, Molly McQuillan, Kathleen Henry, George Gallagher, Neive Cutter, James Hanby, Andrew Clark, Martyn Buckley, John Huntley, Mary Elizabeth Morrison, Annie O’Halloran, John Anthony Armstrong, James Carvill, Barbara Wall, John Wright, Freda Lennox, Mary Snowdon, Gordon Maltas, Joan Spoor, John McMahon, Betty McMahon, Mary Elizabeth Banks, Norah Buckley, Alan George, Jimmy McAuliffe, Pamela Hopper, Mary Hewitt and Patrick McQue.  Please remember them and their families in your prayers.

PRIESTS’ TRAINING FUND

The Priests’ Training Fund closes next weekend.

YOUTH SUNDAY

Next weekend is the Feast of Christ the King and is Youth Sunday.  There will be a Retiring Collection to support the work of the Catholic Youth Service.

LITURGY MEETING

A Liturgy Meeting has been arranged for Monday 19th November after 7pm Mass.  All are welcome. 

GOOD NEWS FOR SUNDERLAND

Sunderland has been chosen to be the first deanery in the diocese to welcome the Diocesan Evangelisation Programme for Formation and Training.  Bishop Kevin calls evangelisation a “pressing priority” and aims eventually to have an evangelisation team in every deanery in the diocese which will then impact on every parish.  St. Bede’s Deanery is to run the pilot scheme.

The programme will begin on Friday, 7th December, 7—9pm at St. Mary’s where the focus will be on John the Baptist, faith and how we live and act in the power of our Baptism.  On Saturday, 8th December 10am—4pm we will look at Our Lady’s faith and willingness to say “yes” and how everything changed through the “power of one” - a concept growing in importance in these impersonal and global times.  The double event will end with a practical task connected with the Come Home for Christmas Campaign.

It is hoped that every parish in the deanery will send at least 10 people to St Mary’s for the Friday and Saturday event.

For details of this and further events please pick up a leaflet at the back of church.

FAIR TRADE

Since our last sale in October the stall has sold products (including a case of wine) worth £571.56.  Our next sale is on 8th/9th December so come along and stock up for Christmas.  We are also holding a raffle for two Fair Trade hampers, tickets 50p will be on sale next weekend.

A BIG BIG THANK YOU

A big, big thank you to all who helped and supported our recent Race Night for Macmillan Nurses—the total raised was £1,300.  Best Ever!.  Thank you.  Barry Robinson.

VOLUNTEER LISTS

The lists are still up at the back of church for you to sign.

LITTLE SISTERS CHRISTMAS FAYRE

The Little Sisters Christmas Fayre, Saturday 24th November from 11.00 a.m.  “You cannot afford to miss it.”

WORLD GIFTS

Looking for a Christmas present with a difference?  Why not try CAFOD'S World Gifts.  There’s something to fit everyone’s purse.  World Gift Catalogues are available from back of church.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

Instead of sending Christmas Cards to parishioners you see at church every weekend, why not make a donation to charity.  We will put your greetings on the notice board at the back of church.  Hopefully we will be able to fill at least one notice board and at the same time help those less fortunate than ourselves.

PARISH SPONSORED WALK 

Today, a short 3 miles walk from Roker to Whitburn (and back) suitable for everyone but one with a real challenge.  Following our successful Centenary year we want to continue as a community to look to the future.  Meet at Roker Pier to start at 1.00pm.—bring your walking partners and money for an ice-cream.  Sponsors forms available next week.

CENTENARY WINDOW

The New Centenary Window in the Baptistery is now being made.  You will have noticed that the Annunciation Window in the Baptistry has been removed for repair.

SAFEGUARDING  -  THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS

All outstanding CRB Forms need to be returned very urgently.  All existing volunteers must have their CRB check through by the end of November.  From this date all existing helpers who have not filled in their forms must stand down until clearance has come through.  Any new volunteers cannot start their ministry until they have CRB clearance through the diocese.  Elaine Archer has taken over responsibility for safeguarding in the Parish.

CAFOD.......LIVESIMPLY

This year is the 40th anniversary of the publication of the Encyclical Letter of Pope Paul VI entitled '' The Progress of Peoples''.  It is this Letter which has inspired the drive for LIVESIMPLY.  We would like to print consecutive extracts from this Letter regularly in the Newsletter.  It begins thus:

'' Progress means many things to the peoples of the world.  For some, it means escape from hunger, from poverty, from disease and ignorance.  For others, it means sharing out more fully the good things of civilisation.  Progress can mean seeing more clearly what makes life really human.  All this human development the Church is watching closely.  For Vatican II has reminded her of what the Gospel has always taught: her duty to serve all.  She can help them see every side of human progress.  She can persuade everyone to act as one human race. Popes in the past wrote much about social justice and injustice.  Pope Paul, and the Council which he inspired, taught us to hear a whole world's cry for help: the hungry crying for food to those who have too much; those crying in pain to those whose duty is love.  the Church hears all with grief, and commands each one of us to listen, and to act.  Pope Paul has seen for himself the problems of peoples trying to develop, in Latin America, in Africa, in the Holy Land, and in India.  He pleaded personally for all poor people before the United Nations.  Since the Council, Pope Paul has set up a special Commission of the Church called ' Justice and Peace '.  It is to bring home to all God's people what progress means for all mankind.  It is to show clearly how each of us can help.  Pope Paul calls upon all Catholics, all Christians, all people of good will, not to talk, but to act.  To act to such effect, that each person in the world, and all people put together, can progress all the way towards complete development.''

“Thy Kingdom come; Thy Will be done; on earth as in Heaven”.

POLISH MASS  

Mass in Polish will be celebrated at 4 pm on the 4th Sunday of every month in St. Benet’s Church Sunderland.  Confessions before at 3.30 pm.  Refreshments after Mass in the Parish Hall.