NEWSLETTER SUNDAY 13th Jan 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, Bishop Kevin and Archbishop Mar Markarios.  Also remember in your prayers Anthony Maddison who died during the week.

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

THE CYCLE OF PRAYER– Ordinary Time—Winter

In the time leading up to Lent we are asked to pray for these intentions: Peace on Earth; Christian Unity; the Sick and Those who Care for them; Students and Teachers; the Unemployed.

WHITE FLOWER APPEAL

There is a retiring collection this weekend for SPUC’s White Flower Appeal.  Since the passing of the Abortion Act 40 years ago the lives of 6½ million unborn children have been cut short.  Your donation will go towards SPUC’s Silent No More Campaign.

EDUCATION SUNDAY

Next Sunday is a special day of prayer for all involved in Education — teachers, pupils, support staff, governors.  There will be a retiring collection next weekend for the Catholic Education Service.

PEACE SUNDAY

Next Sunday is also a special Day of Prayer  for Peace.  Please remember to pray for peace in our troubled world.

HUMAN FERTILISATION & EMBRYOLOGY BILL

In your newsletter this weekend there is a copy of a letter from the Bishop’s Conference on the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Bill and what we can do.  Please take time to read it and pray about it.  It tells you how to contact your MP either by writing or via e-mail.  There is also more information at www.catholicchurch.org.uk   We also have six copies of the Parish Resource Pack to raise awareness about the bill including the possible changes to the Abortion Act.  It would be good if we could have a couple of parishioners who would be responsible for looking after these issues on our behalf.

NEW ROTAS

Would all Eucharistic Ministers and Readers please collect a copy of the new rotas from St. Cuthbert’s Chapel.

MASS PREPARATION MEETING

A Mass Preparation Meeting has been arranged for Monday evening after Mass.   All are welcome.

JOURNEY IN FAITH

Our next Journey in Faith starts at 7pm on Tuesday, 15th January in St. Cuthbert’s Chapel.  All are welcome.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

On Friday 18th January the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity starts.  It is also the first anniversary of the death of Father Cuthbert  Rand as well as Fr Stephen Gaines anniversary.  Please remember them in your prayers.

MILL HILL MISSIONS

Once again we start another year for the red boxes.  The total amount that was sent to Mill Hill from St. Joseph’s parish for 2007 was £4,980.66.  Another good year, thank you all very much.  The collectors will be calling during the month of January to empty the boxes.  We wish all our box holders and collectors a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING

The next Parish Pastoral Council Meeting is on Monday 21st January.  New officers and members of sub  -  committees will be elected.  All Parish Groups are reminded that they should send a member to the Parish Pastoral Council.

J. JOHN

Evangelist J. John is visiting the North East in the near Futurs and there is a taster session in the Chesters on 30th January from 7.30pm—9.30 pm.  All are welcome.

YOUTH MISSION MEETING

There is a meeting of the Youth Mission Co-ordinating Team on Tuesday 22nd January at 7.15 p.m. at St. Benet’s.

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

Many thanks to all who have organised events and donated to the Parish CAFOD appeal during the last 12 months.

Lilian Mori, CAFOD'S Regional Administrator in East Africa, spent some weeks with CAFOD in London.  She gave the following answers, among others, to questions put to her:

What are the strengths of CAFOD programmes in Kenya? 

''I think the main strength is the fact that it serves all the community without discrimination on grounds of race, gender or religion.'' 

What are you most proud of? 

''I am proud that the programmes we are supporting are making a huge contribution to the national response to reducing poverty.'' 

How can supporters here help? 

''CAFOD supporters should keep donating to CAFOD as much as they can, and keep praying for a just world.  Their help is crucial as we strive to meet the Millennium Development Goals.  We are all in this boat of alleviating poverty and we must not let the boat sink before we get to our final destination.  We must all row the boat to its final end as we pick people up along the way!''

We shall shortly be giving our annual parish CAFOD account.  Meanwhile, keep supporting and keep praying in earnest for peace and justice,

''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:  Baptism of the Lord:

Retiring Collection for White Flower Appeal

Monday:

7.30pm Mass Preparation Group Meeting

Tuesday:

7.00pm Journey in Faith

Wednesday:

6.30pm Novena & Benediction

Friday:

7pm Indian Prayer Group

Saturday:

1pm El Shaddai

5.00pm. Prayer Meeting

Sunday: 2nd Sunday Ordinary Time:

Peace Sunday 

Education Sunday: Retiring Collection for Catholic Education Service

Rotas week ending 19th/20th Jan 2008