First Sunday of Advent (Year B) 3rd December 2017
First Holy Communion 2018
We look forward to meeting all parents on Monday 4th December at 8 pm in the parish centre. Please bring a photocopy of your child’s baptism certificate and the course contribution of £20 with you. Many thanks. Registration is now closed.
Baptism
Ask God’s blessing on Samuel James Bacarese-Hamilton who was baptised here yesterday Saturday 2nd December.
Supporting Local Refugees: Eggs Please!
Many thanks for your generous support for the local drop in centre for destitute refugees and asylum seekers. We will be taking your donations of hard-boiled eggs to the centre at 12 noon today. Contact: finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk
Nativity Play for Christmas Eve
This year our First Communion children will rehearse and perform a Nativity Play for the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. All children of the parish are welcome to join in on 24th December by coming to Mass dressed as either angels or shepherds.
A Jesse Tree for St Mary’s
A Jesse Tree is an old Catholic Advent tradition, also described as Jesus’ family tree. This year, we are inviting the children of our parish and all who’d like to take part to decorate one of our Jesse Tree ornaments and create a big display in the parish centre. Ornaments available from Sandra, finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk
Looking ahead: special arrangements for Christmas
Card with service details: There is a card with Mass times available. Please take one away
Confession: It is right and proper to prepare for Christmas through the sacrament of reconciliation.
On Thursday 14th December we will have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 8-9 pm, and occasional meditative music. The church will be heated! And Father Leo Edgar, a wise and compassionate Dominican priest, will be in the confessional. Fr Terry will be available in the Sacred Heart chapel. If necessary both priests will continue past 9 pm.
Saturday 16th December: Fr Tony Convery and Fr Terry will be swopping churches. Fr Tony will be here in the confessional from 5 pm onwards.
Sunday 24th December: The 4th Sunday of Advent is on 24th December. The Sunday obligation still applies, but because this is also Christmas Eve we must trim one Sunday Mass. Please note that we will cancel the 12 noon Mass on the 24th December.
St Mary's Carol Service Thursday 21st December at 2.30pm
Helen Tierney writes: This year we share a joint carol service with residents and staff at Nazareth House. The service will be an informal programme or traditional carols, solo musical items and readings and will be held in the chapel of Nazareth House, followed by refreshments. We will as usual be forming a choir from St Mary's to sing a few items in the programme and any singers ( any or no experience welcome too!) are invited to join. Rehearsals will be for 45 minutes on the following evenings in the church. If you cannot make all rehearsals that is no problem but we encourage anyone interested to come along- Thurs 30th Nov 8pm, Wed 6th Dec 8pm, Wed 13th December 8pm, Wed 20th Dec 8pm.
Christmas Fair - Thank you
A thank you to everyone involved in organising our Christmas Fair from the months of baking and knitting to preparing the carol singers; decking the halls & grounds; running the many stalls & refreshments; selling raffle tickets; setting up; dressing up and clearing away, please come along to our thank you teas/coffees in the usual parish hall after the 10am mass on 10 December to coincide with the prize draw.
RAFFLE TICKETS ARE STILL ON SALE – ticket cost £1:
DRAW TAKE PLACE ON 10 DECEMBER
* Cash prizes £100, £75, & £50 * Case of wine worth £200 * Boxed bottle of Hine Cognac brandy, worth £100 * Coco Labelle Personal Chef Service from the comfort of your home * £50 M & S voucher * Boxed bottle of Jameson Whiskey * Boxed bottle of Cognac * Moët & Chandon Champagne Premier Cru, 750 ml * Glenfiddich single malt, Rich Oak, 700ml
CAROL SINGING for CRISIS 23rd December Helen Tierney writes: In recent years it has been great to involve parishioners in the group formed to sing carols to welcome guests at the opening of CRISIS at CHRISTMAS North London Day Centre. This is SAT 23rd December at Westminster Kingsway College in Grays Inn Rd 5-6pm. Last year we had about 40 singers. It is open to anyone over 18. It is really appreciated by both Crisis organisers and the men and women who use the scheme at Christmas. If interested contact Helen Tierney for details as you will need to register with Crisis as security is always a priority. tierneyhelen@hotmail.com
Twinning Toilets
Our Incensed Youth Group would like to thank all who helped raise £40 for the charity Toilet Twinning. This will help fund the building of sanitary facilities for a community in a developing country. Watch out for a picture of it in our church loo!
Our Lady of Lourdes School N12 – Reception and Nursery
Our Lady of Lourdes, Bow Lane, N12 0JP is inviting applications to their Reception class for September 2018 for those children born between 1st Sept 2013 and 31st Aug 2014. The deadline to return this to the school is 15th Jan 2018 and you must also complete the Barnet Online Application form.
Nursery applications are invited for those children born between 1st April 2015 and 31st March 2016. See the school website, http://www.ololbarnetschool.org.uk.
Nazareth House – Winter Bazaar on Saturday 9th December 2017
Mari Martin, Friends of Nazareth House writes: Please put Saturday 9th December in your diary. This is the day Nazareth House is having its Winter Bazaar from 2-5 pm. Entrance £1, concessions free. There will be lots of fun things to do including music, tombola, raffle, tea and cakes, good quality clothes, children’s games and much more. Join us and help raise funds for our residents. Many thanks.
Soup Kitchen Harvest Festival donations
The SVP would like to thank St Theresa’s and Our Lady of Lourdes Schools for their very generous donations to the Muswell Hill Soup Kitchen.
All Saints Advent Service
All Saints Durham Rd (C of E) invites us to their annual Advent Lessons and Carols today Sunday 3rd December at 6.30 pm. Refreshments afterwards.
Lourdes Christmas Concert in presence of H.E. Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Elizabeth Uwalaka, Agency for Evangelisation, Diocese of Westminster writes: A Lourdes Christmas Concert will take place on Thursday 7th December 2017 at 7 pm at the Church of Our Lady of Victories, High Street Kensington. This is in aid of the Westminster Pilgrimage to Lourdes. This year’s Concert fundraiser event is followed by an after-concert Reception but please note that admission to the Concert and the Reception is by prebooked ticket only. Concert ticket £15 and After Concert Reception £25. Please contact lourdescarol@mail.com for booking forms.
The Passage – Big Give Website
Andrew Hollingsworth of The Passage writes: The Passage is raising funds through the Big Give from 12 noon Tuesday 28th November to 12 noon Tuesday 5th December to support its work with homeless people this winter. Double your donation, double your impact – this is a matched giving scheme for online donations. If someone (can be company, individual or trust) gave £10 online matched giving of £10 would bring the Gift up to £20! For more information ring Andrew Hollingsworth on 0207 592 1855 or andrew.h@passage.org.uk .
Adult Faith Formation Events
Ausra Cane, Agency for Evangelisation, Diocese of Westminster writes:
Following forthcoming event:
Pope Francis and the Evangelising Mission of the Church with Brian Purfield, exploring some of the key themes of the papacy of Pope Francis and the theme of evangelisation. When: Tuesday 12th December 2017 7-8 pm. Where: Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QN. Registration is required. Email at livingfaith@rcdow.org.uk and indicate your name and the date of the event. If you do not have access to the Internet, please leave a voice message at 0207 931 6078. Suggested donation £4 per talk.
Educare Safeguarding On Line Training
Educare training programmes can help individuals familiarise themselves with safeguarding matters. Amongst others, it also includes The Child Exploitation and Online Safety programme which helps better understand how children and young people use technology and the associated risks. It is available to all parishioners. The poster on the notice board at the back of the church has further information.
Pray for the sick esp. Eddie Caddle, John & Carmel Bates, Cathy Walker, Finola Hickey, Kelly-Marie O’Donnell, Simon O’Donnell, Pat Gleeson, Annette O’Gorman and Mary Myles.
Parish Collection: Last week’s was £ 1174.88. Many thanks.