NEWSLETTER SUNDAY 10th Feb 2008

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, Lucy Mole, James Chapman Bishop Kevin and Metropolitan Mar Makarios.



 

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

THE CYCLE OF PRAYER– Lent

During Lent we are asked to pray for these intentions: Candidates for the Sacraments; Women; The Needy and Hungry of the World; Penitents and Wanderers.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Holy Family Parish as they celebrate 40 years since their dedication tomorrow, 11th February.

LENT FAMILY FAST

Friday 15th February is CAFOD Lent Friday.  CAFOD envelopes are attached to your newsletter, please share what you can with the poorest communities worldwide.  Don’t forget to fill in the Gift Aid details if you are a taxpayer.  CAFOD sends this message from Filipino farmer Jul Yap, whose family is part of a CAFOD funded project.

“I’m very thankful to CAFOD because many of the changes in our lives are due to them.  Without this support I could not do what I am doing on my farm or help the communities in the way I do.  My children couldn’t have this kind of life without CAFOD”.

Read more about how you are helping Jul Yap and others in the Fast Day leaflet.  There will be a Retiring collection at both Masses next weekend for CAFOD'S Lenten Fast Day.

WALK WITH ME

To help us reflect during Lent we still have copies of “Walk With Me” - a Lenten Journey of prayer for 2008.  This booklet has a reflection and prayers for everyday in Lent.  Please take one from the back of church  -  They are free!

LENT

On Tuesday afternoons during Lent St Cuthbert’s Chapel will be open  from 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. for private reflection and Stations of the Cross which start at 2.00p.m.  Stations will also be celebrated at 3.00 p.m. every Friday afternoon.  On Sundays there will be a Lenten devotion at 4.00 p.m.  Today Sister Anne McCarthy will lead us in a Lenten Meditation.

FAIR TRADE

Our Fair Trade stall is open this weekend.  Please come along and buy something and help our  brothers and sisters who are less fortunate than us.  This weekend instead of giving up something be positive buy something that will help others.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS

Our First Communion children start their preparation on Wednesday 13th February at 6.00 pm in the Social Centre Lounge. Please remember to pray for the children and their families.

YOUTH MINISTRY CO-ORDINATOR

St Michael’s Deanery (Washington/Houghton area) is advertising for a Youth Ministry Co-ordinator to help inspire and encourage young people there.  Closing date for applications is 25th February.  For more details see the advert on the notice-board at the back of church and phone 234 3300.

ANGELUS LUNCH CLUB

Our February Lunch is on Wednesday 13th.  We look forward to seeing you all, but to help with the food preparation PLEASE let us know if you are not able to come.

LAURA MILBANKE FUND

The Laura Milbanke Fund offers assistance to Christians worshipping within the City of Sunderland who want to travel for the purposes to serve and/or explore their faith more, e.g. VSO, Tearfund, Spring Harvest, Taizé, a Pilgrimage, a Retreat.  People under the age of 30 are given preference.  For more information please contact Father Gordon.

HELPERS REQUIRED

Volunteers are required to be helpers at Holy Island Camp.  Children from the Diocese are taken there each year for a fantastic holiday, but we desperately need helpers who can act at role models for the children.  Anyone interested please contact Sister Mary Josepha on 077631 78455 or Barbara Taws on 0191 3882 992 for application forms or more information.

THE MIKADO

St. Anthony’s opera are performing Gilbert & Sullivan’s the Mikado from Tuesday, 12th February—Thursday, 14th February at 7.30pm in Our Lady’s Hall.  Tickets are available from the school.  For more information please see the notice at the back of church.

CHRISTMAS DECORATION RECALL

If anyone purchased a wooden Nativity windmill, from St. Joseph’s Repository, in 2007, would they please return it for a full refund.  The windmill proved to be a fire risk.  Thank You.

CAFOD.........FOCUSAFRICA.........LIVESIMPLY

We all know that climate change, short-term, long-term, whatever the cause, is happening now.  But what do people in Africa - who bear the brunt of the extreme weather - say about the changes?.......

“When I was a child, there was so much rain that we prayed for it to stop.  Now we pray for rain.  There has been a big climate change within living memory”.   ( Archbishop Pius Ncube , Zimbabwe ).....

“I have seen significant changes in the weather.  The rain used to fall in exact seasons, now we can go one, two or three years without rain.” (Alia Ngovene , Mozambique ).... “I've noticed that there's less rain now than when I was a child.  We never used to go hungry, there was always food.  But now we have to depend on very little.”  ( Irene Wambua, Kenya ).....

“The last time it rained was January 2007 when it rained for one day.  Water is the magic ingredient for life in this village, but we've been cursed with drought.” ( Alfredo and Virginea Mader , Mozambique )

CAFOD is helping these people to change crops from such as maize to drought-resistant crops like cassava, sweet potato and pumpkin.  Please help communities across the continent to overcome the effects of climate change, by raising money for FocusAfrica.  ' Feed the world ! '

''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.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS



Today: 1st Sunday of Lent:

Fair Trade Stall

4.00 p.m. Lenten Meditation

Tuesday:

1.30-3.30pm Stations of the Cross in Chapel

Wednesday:

6.00pm First Holy Communion Children

6.30pm  Benediction and Stations of the Cross & Novena

Friday:

3.00 p.m. Stations of the Cross 

7.00 p.m. Indian Prayer Group

Saturday:

1.00pm El Shaddai

5.00pm. Prayer Meeting

Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Lent:

4.00 p.m. Lenten Service

Rotas week ending 16th/17th Feb 2008