THE SEASON OF ADVENT
Week beginning Sunday 6th December 2020. (Year B)
The Second Sunday of Advent : 9.30 am Mass in Church. Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; Psalm 84(85):9-14 (Advent); 2 Peter 3:8-14; Luke 3:4-6
Monday: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 84(85):9-14; Luke 5:17-26 (St Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor)
Tuesday: THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY Genesis 3:9-15,20; Psalm 97(98):1-4; Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12; Luke 1:26-38
Wednesday: Isaiah 40:25-31; Psalm 102(103):1-4,8,10; Matthew 11:28-30
Thursday: Mass at 9am via Zoom Meeting Isaiah 41:13-20; Psalm 144(145):1,9-13; Matthew 11:11-15
Friday: St Damascus, Pope. Isaiah 48:17-19; Psalm 1:1-4,6; Matthew 11:16-19
Saturday: Zoom Mass at 5pm: OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4,9-12; Psalm 79(80);2-3,15-16,18-19
3rd Sunday in Advent: Isaiah 61:1-2,10-11; Psalm Luke 1:46-50,53-54; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8,19-28
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION: For those of us accessing Mass on line or on television, whilst we cannot physically receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we can receive Spiritual Communion. A letter from the Catholic Bishops Conference reminds us that “the idea of spiritual communion is an important one to remember and reaffirm” as through it “ all are united in some way by the Holy Spirit” and they offer the following prayer for recitation:
Oh my Jesus, I believe that you are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar.
I love you above all things, and I passionately desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally come spiritually into my soul.
so that I may unite myself wholly to you now and forever. Amen
Please see the table below with your Zoom meeting details in one handy place
Zoom room. | Password
Saturday Mass December 5th at 5pm. | 842 4787 2676 | 508563
Thursday Mass December 10th at 9am. | 882 7955 3652. |. 625537
THE POPE’S INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER: For a life of prayer. We pray that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ be nourished by the Word of God and a life of prayer.
CARING GROUP: Could anyone wanting transport to attend the Christmas Masses please get in touch with Judith Sherratt on 01909 563874.
A MESSAGE FROM CAFOD: Thank you very much for all you have been able to do throughout this year for CAFOD. We are particularly grateful for the support we have received during the recent Harvest appeal, despite the unprecedented challenges facing us all, our Catholic communities in Hallam have continued to remain in solidarity with their global family in the most compassionate and dynamic ways that crosses all boundaries. As we approach the season of Advent, if you wish to promote the Advent and World Gift resources, I’ve attached some suggested text for your parish newsletter. Mindful that people are visiting websites and on-line newsletters more, for ease of use, there is a short suggested text as well as a logo attached, both suitable to encourage people to participate virtually as a community or as individuals.
WORLD GIFTS: You may know that you can get gifts through CAFOD that go to help people in the third world. It’s not too late to order your World Gifts catalogues for 2020 and below is a link to the website: https://worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/products/world-gifts-christmas-catalogue-2020?_pos=1&_sid=5b9089504&_ss=r
A WARM INVITE FROM THE CALIX SOCIETY: Calix is a worldwide organisation open to those who are maintaining their sobriety through participation in their Catholic faith and a 12 step program. It is certainly not a 'Catholic AA' and encourages members to also be involved with the 12 step program through AA.
The Calix meetings involve prayer, personal sharing and reflection and are confidential. Membership is also open to non-Catholics and to anyone with experience of and a concern for the effects of alcoholism in people’s lives.
A Calix Group has been meeting in the Diocese of Hallam for over twenty years. Prior to Covid the meetings took place every second and last Monday evening at the Holden Hall by the side of St Marie's Cathedral. The meetings have continued during Covid on Zoom and a group app has been introduced giving further help and support.
The Calix Group in Hallam is now introducing another opportunity to meet on Zoom. It will be every first Wednesday of the month at 1-30 in the afternoon and ending by 2-30. This service begins on the 2nd Dec and it is hoped that the Wednesday meetings will appeal to those who are unable to join us on a Monday evening.
If you would like to learn more about our meetings please contact Fr Desmond Sexton on 01709 363753 or desmond.57@btinternet.com
TO OUR CATHOLIC UNIVERSE AND CATHOLIC TIMES READERS IN THE PARISH: At the moment you are unable to collect your paper at Mass, but you can get it delivered direct to your home every week, POST FREE. Please go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com or call them on 0161 820 5722 and they will arrange for you. SPECIAL OFFER 3 MONTHS :-£22.00or 12 Months:- £80.00
YEAR OF THE WORD IN ADVENT: A message from Dr Gregg Ryan, Director of Adult formation, Diocese of Hallam. Fr John Ryan has produced a series of 5 short videos, introducing the Sunday readings for Advent and offering fresh perspectives, not only on the Gospel stories but also the letters, and especially the important Old Testament passages chosen for this season. The videos are available on our YouTube page: search for "YouTube Hallam Adult Formation" in Google
· The national God Who Speaks website is regularly updated with useful resources, including these for children and family work during Advent: https://thegodwhospeaks2020.org.uk/index.php/family-resources-2-2/
· Some people have asked for recommendations on connecting scripture and life. An excellent series of books has recently been released which are a superb resource for parish and ecumenical groups, as well as individuals (cost online around £8 each). The Series is called "How the Bible can Help us Understand...
...Welcoming the Stranger (Denise Cotrell-Boyce) ...Illness, Disability and Caring (Bernadette Meaden) ...Forgiveness (Frank Cotrell-Boyce) ...Approaching the End of Life (Virginia Moffat)
· Another very practically focused guide (which takes the Coronavirus pandemic as a starting point) is:
A Call to Act: Building a Poverty-Busting Lifestyle (Martin Charlesworth and Natalie Williams). Written from an ecumenical, biblical perspective, this book presents some challenging questions for what the message of Jesus might mean for issues around poverty today.
Adult Formation colleagues in Northampton Diocese have also produced some very useful Advent resources, focussed on reaching the following groups - especially in the Pandemic:
· Families
· Those who are house-bound or shielding
· Those who do not have access to the internet
· Those who have been bereaved or have lost their job
· Those who have not come back to Mass
· Seekers – those who have accessed our online services, and would like to know more.
These are available at: http://formationpathways.co.uk/advent-activities/
Finally, a reminder that there are still a few places left for the online Certificate in Pastoral Ministry which we are running, together with the other Northern Catholic dioceses, with Loyola University Chicago. Perhaps Advent is the time to reflect on lay vocations in the Church? Is there a ministry in your parish, deanery, or diocese-wide which you already do or would like to develop? See the attached documents for details and please reply to gryan@hallam-diocese.com as soon as possible before 15 December if interested. If you think it might be for you but would like to know what the experience is really like, please get in touch and I'll try to set up a Zoom meeting with a couple of the recent students from our diocese in the next week or two.
BOOKS FOR SCHOOL: A big THANK YOU to all those of you who have been buying books for school. If anyone has experienced any difficulties with the link please contact Mary Gillgrass.
SALVATION ARMY: We usually make donations to the Salvation Army during Advent. This year you can make a donation directly to Dinnington Salvation Army or take food to the Salvation Hall on Saturdays between 9.30-11 am or leave with Chris Parrott. Please don't leave donations in church or at Fr Andy's house. They also have a direct just giving page which is
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dinnington-the-salvation-army.
MARY'S MEALS CHARITY: any donations to this charity are being match funded by the government, up to the 31st of January. We also support this charity.
SWINTON LOCK: A fundraiser for Rotherham for those in need is Swinton Lock. At the moment they also have a fundraising page-https://swintonlock.enthuse.com/pf/Christmas. The charity offers wide ranging help across the whole borough, including to those experiencing food poverty, and is being supported by Elizabeth, who many will know from her visits to the parish and who is herself a survivor of sexual exploitation, and has received help and support from the charity in the past.
Thank you to anyone who feels they can help out during these difficult times.
SAFEGUARDING:Training is now a mandatory requirement for all volunteers involving children and adults who may be vulnerable.
Modules include Child Protection, Online Safety, Safeguarding Adults, Mental Capacity.
All these courses are online and free with Educare
To register your interest please email:safeguardingadmin@hallam-diocese.com. In your email put your name, the name of the parish and your role. You will then receive an email from Educare inviting you to set your password.
CHRISTMAS CARDS: Stella Richardson has Christmas cards for us to purchase as usual, produced by the British Heart Foundation to raise money for their charity. Please contact Stella for more details and to purchase cards.
ST WILFRIDS CENTRE: St Wilfrid's Centre is selling their popular Christmas Cards online through their website. This year's card image "Looking out from the Warmth of St Wilfrid's" is taken from a painting by their Head of Centre, Ruth Moore. Cards are only £4 for a pack of 10 cards and postage for up to 10 packs is only £2.95 Please visit https://www.stwilfridscentre.org/online-shop/christmas-cards-1
PLEASE REMEMBER OUR SICK ESPECIALLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES: George Blow & his
Grandma, Mary Brady, Christopher Browne, Eileen Butterfield, Jim Chandler, Peggy Cummins, Gillian Gee, Brendan Handley, Robert Hume, Sophie Hughes, Ged Krotki, Kumba, Pat Luton, Isabel Main-Reade, Haylen Markillie, Franz Muller, John Parker, Kate Patterson, Tom Rutherford, Sandra Sherratt, Olive Stafford, Robert Stock, Pat Vickers, Claire Watt, Michel and Father Andy’s friend Marie.