2nd Sunday of Advent (c)

Second  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:  John Collins, Max Adams, Hughie Carr

Anniv: George Bruce, Joseph O’Neill.

Today marks the beginning of the second week of the Advent season.  As in past years, we will collect for two charities.  These 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 are 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 Noisy Nutters group in charge

Tuesday: Monthly Mass for Vocations will take place in the Little Sisters of the Poor in Gilmore Place at 7.30 p.m.  Refreshments will be served afterwards.  All welcome.  Parking is available

Thursday: Coffee/tea will available in the house after 9.00 a.m. Mass.  All welcome.

Thursday: “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.

Friday: Second 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:

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.

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 have supported the Parish Project Fundraising over the past months.  Cheques have been sent to Aid to the Church in Need (£3262.54) and Mary’s Meals (£1087.52) as a result of all the efforts.  It has been a tremendous effort.  A new Parish Project will be identified next year.                      

With every best wish and blessing

to you, your families and those

who are dear to you.

Monsignor Tony.

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