1st Sunday of Advent (c)
First Sunday of Advent. (c)
Times of Mass and Confession:
Sundays: Vigil Mass (Saturday) 6.00 p.m. & 10.00 a.m.
Weekday: 9.00 a.m. (Monday – Friday)
10.00 a.m. (Saturday)
Confessions: Saturdays – after 10.00 a.m. Mass
By arrangements at other times.
Please remember the following parishioners, relatives and friends in your prayers:
Sick: Catherine Wilson, John McPartland, Mary McPheely, Annie O’Donnell, Veronica Allan, Owen Docherty.
Died: Nancy McNairney, Grace Mulhearn.
Anniv: Jim Fallon, Margaret Fitzgerald, Jess Wight, Bridgie Gaughan
Today marks the beginning of the Advent season. As in past years, we will collect for two charities. The first two weekends we will be collecting gifts for the children of prisoners in Saughton Prison. These are gifts for children up to the age of 12 and, if possible, should be clearly marked with the age and sex of the child. Often children of prisoners suffer as a result of their mother or father being in prison at this time.
The second two Sundays we will collect for the homeless here in our own city. These gifts will be distributed via the St. Catharine’s Convent Homeless project.
Lists will be at the back of the Church for Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Passkeepers and volunteers to assist at the social events in the Hall after the Christmas Masses, to indicate their availability over the Christmas and New Year period. There is also a list for children to indicate if they wish to be involved in the Liturgy on Christmas day.
Today: The new altar servers’ rota is ready for collection from the sacristy after Mass.
Sunday: The normal Coffee morning resumes in the Hall after Mass with the Fair Trade group in charge
Sunday: Nativity Carol Concert to mark the opening of the Advent Season and the Blessing of the Crib in St. Andrew Square Gardens at 4.00 p.m. All welcome to go along and take part.
Tuesday: Meeting of P4 parents to plan and prepare the next ‘Do This in Memory of Me’ celebration. The meeting is at 7.00 p.m. in the Hall. Children need not be present .
Thursday: Coffee/tea will available in the house after 9.00 a.m. Mass. All welcome.
Friday: First of three sessions on the Gospel of Luke, led by Father Jim Crampsey S.J. in the Lauriston Jesuit Centre from 1.30 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. St. Luke’s Gospel is the Gospel for Year C of the Lectionary. Fuller details are on the poster in the porch.
Diary Dates:
13th December: “Mary Queen of Scots Prayer Book – the untold story.” There will be a presentation given by Jan Graffius, the curator at Stoneyhurst College on the Book of Hours which belonged to Mary Queen of Scots followed by an opportunity to look more closely at the Book itself. It begins at 7.30 p.m. in the Lauriston Jesuit Centre. All welcome. Fuller details are on the poster in the porch.
17th December: To mark the Year of Faith the priests of the area have agreed that this week will be a Week of Reconciliation. They have committed themselves to being in a different Church in the area each night to provide the opportunity for people to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The same order of service will be held in each Church throughout the week. Each service will be at 7.00 p.m. except the one in St. Joseph’s which will be at 12 noon on Saturday 22nd. Hopefully as many as possible will avail themselves of this opportunity which is slightly different to the normal practice. Full details of the Churches being used and the days are on a poster in the porch.
Many thanks to all who have handed in small coins at the stall. Along with a contribution from the Thursday Tea group a donation of £250.00 has been added to the Parish Project Fund.
The stall now has Christmas Cards, Calendars, Candles, Diaries and pens on sale. The new edition of ‘Living Faith’ covering January – March will be on sale soon priced £1.40.
Many thanks to all who supported and all who worked so hard at the Sale last Sunday. So far the total raised is £1373.87. Some money is still trickling in so this will increase. To date, the total amount collected for the Parish Project is £4040.06 a tremendous effort. The final date for contributions is Sunday December 2nd (today) so that the money can be forwarded and cleared through the Bank before the end of the year.
With every best wish and blessing
to you, your families and those
who are dear to you.
Monsignor Tony.
