First Sunday of Advent 27.11.2022

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS

Sun 27th Nov

8.30 am  Sylvia Barnachea and family, thanksgiving       

10 am   Holy Souls

12 noon   Mary and Eamonn Rogers, anniversary

Mon 28th Nov   Advent Feria

10 am   Frederick Lieber, anniversary   

Tues 29th Nov    Advent Feria     

10am   Holy Souls

Weds 30th Nov                NO MASS

Thurs 1st Dec   Advent Feria

10am     Funeral of Peter McHugh RIP

Fri 2nd Dec   Advent Feria

10 am       Doris Calleary

Sat 3rd Dec    2nd Sunday of Advent

5 pm                                 Peter Sartori, RIP

10am – 11am; 4:30pm – 5pm: Confessions and Exposition.

Your Prayers:

Let us keep in our prayers: Christna Cahill, Eric Nicholas Darwent,  Therese Kemp,  John O’Shea, Rekha, Bina, Jose Luis Pérez, Alice, Lilian Murphy, Karina McKiernan, Izabela Lissowska and Florida Regina Karawgodage  – all unwell at this time.

We also pray for::  Gino Tomei, James Meally, Peter Sartori, Noel Ryan, Donato Merola, Aurora Lobo–Buckland, Christine Pavlou, Tom Lohan, Siobhan Lynch,  Dennis Lennane, Susan Wren, Geraldine Day, Catherine Kelly, Josephine Okuyiga, Betty Murray, Jane Ikwueke, Gail Yates,Ronald Kinsella, Maureen O Sullivan, Patrick Reilly, Ann Gourdarznia, Nina Cole, Lorenzo Marcantuono, Pat McMahon, Michael Walsh Esther Ampomah Arhin, Peter McHugh, Marguerite Kyunga and Maria Pini, whose anniversaries occur at this time or have died recently. May they Rest in Peace.

Offertory:

The offertory collection for week ending 20th November - £731.76.  Many thanks. Please do not forget, that arranging a standing order is the easiest way to support St Mary’s.

Circles of Life talks:

On Tuesday 6th December at 7:30pm, over some mulled wine and the odd mince pie there will be a presentation on the Advent “O” Antiphons. All are very welcome – let us learn, share and pray together.

Have you any Old Foreign Coins?

For Advent, St Mary’s has gone into partnership with “Mary’s Meals” in its endeavours to serve nutritious school meals to children living in some of the world’s poorest countries. ” Marys Meals” is already feeding more than two million children every school day. The promise of a good meal attracts hungry children into classrooms, giving them the energy to learn. An inexpensive way to support “Mary’s Meals” during Advent, is to search out any old foreign coins or notes and put them into an envelope and drop them through the presbytery letter box. The charity has an agreement with banks to turn them into “cash” …..and pay for meals.  Many thanks.

A St Mary’s Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2023

Fr Peter writes: “I am looking into planning a 5 day, 4 night weekday full board pilgrimage to Lourdes departing 24thApril, returning 28th April for approximately £609 per parishioner and I need a minimum of 20 parishioners! The hotel on offer is 3 star and flights are from Stansted to Lourdes airport (making your own way to Stansted). I know Lourdes very well, can arrange Masses and tours to suit a 4 day trip. I have put a sign-up sheet at the back of the church for those who would like to come. 

Advent Wreath Makers:

We had fun on Tuesday making advent wreaths under the excellent tuition of Holly. Thank you to everyone who attended. Next year – candle making!!!

Our Christmas Fair is TODAY, Sunday, 27 Nov – 11am until 3pm

Join us today for the merriest of Christmas Fairs. Have a tea, coffee, mulled apple juice or a complimentary glass of mulled wine (when purchasing a mince pie) then sit back, relax and enjoy our festive extravaganza.

There will be carol singing at noon; the finest fiddle playing at 1.45pm; Fr Christmas arrives at noon; scrumptious home-bakes; tombola; a variety of delicious hot food; arts & crafts, Advent wreath making; face painting; glitter tattoos; nail bar; hampers; Christmas wreaths and more. Come and see what our volunteers have done with your wonderful donations.

Entry is free.

Please bring your labelled, freshly made home-bakes and any late donations to the parish halls on Saturday from 3pm to 7pm and on Sunday from 9am, thank you.

Raffle tickets

Look out for raffle ticket sellers after mass (tickets cost £1 each). Cash prizes and more. Draw takes place after 10am mass on 4 December.

Raffle ticket sellers – please return stubs, proceeds and unsold tickets to the sacristy by 3 December, latest.

Fr Peter needs your Help.

Fr Peter writes: “I am so very grateful to everyone who volunteers at St Mary’s. Many of you offer time and assistance. I remember last year asking for parishioners to sit on a building committee to help look after the fabric and fittings of the church compound. Sadly I never had time to organise anything. Lately St Mary’s has been inundated with repairs and I would now really value a committee of men and women who have building or maintenance knowledge to give me advice. If you can help, either email or phone or come up to me and I will sort out a building committee meeting. Many thanks. 

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament:

There is a unique chance to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament every Saturday morning between 10am-11am (and go to confession) and during weekdays (except Wednesday) from 9:30am to 10am (just before Mass).  

Can you help in some market research?

This year is the 10th anniversary of Caritas Westminster, the social action arm of the Diocese. We are inviting anyone who would be interested to be part of a focus group happening in the coming fortnight to get in touch. There are three Zoom focus groups to choose from: Thursday 1, Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 December from 6.30-7.45pm. Your opinion would be very helpful. If you would like to take part, please email Julie Christie-Webb, Caritas Fundraising Manager, to register, at juliechristiewebb@rcdow.org.uk

CARITAS Impact Film

Want to know what Caritas has been up to in the past 10 years? Watch these beautiful films which can be uploaded when you click on the link: https://youtu.be/Vgxvakd-8Ug

SVP – Vinnie Packs

Siobhan Garibaldi, SVP Vinnie Pack Project Coordinator writes: "The SVP are distributing over 10,000 Vinnie Packs containing cold weather essentials to the homeless and those spending the principal part of their day on the streets. Each pack contains thermal gloves, thermal hat, two pairs of socks, wet wipes or flannel, toothbrush, toothpaste, information sheet and pen. Please could you consider sponsoring packs at a suggested donation of £4.10 per pack? Donations can be sent to Vinnie Packs, PO Box 72264, London SW1P 9EZ with cheques made out to SVP or by bank transfer to Nat West sort code 60-60-04, account no. 4608 8237. Thank you so much for your support."

Hosting a Ukrainian Refugee Family in East Finchley Muswell Hill

Can you help a mother and daughter who have been in hosted by a family in East Finchley since April? They need to find a new host family or possibly a flat or room to rent. They would like to stay in the area as they have made friends and the little girl is attending and well settled in school. If you could consider helping please contact Fr Peter as soon as possible 0208 883 4234 or peterscott@rcdow.org.uk

Calling all Altar Servers – and those who would like to learn!

Please sign the list at the back of the Church if you are able to serve over Christmas. Deacon Dom will arrange a practice for the Christmas Eve celebrations. For those who would like to be an altar server (you need to have made your First Holy Communion) please sign the alternative list and Deacon Dom will teach you. Adult parishioners can also sign up to be servers!