Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God 01.01.2023

MASSTIMES AND INTENTIONS

Sun 1st Jan

8.30 amPeople of the Parish

10 amA private intention

12 noonA private intention

Mon 2nd Jan Ss Basil the Great and Gregory Naziazen, Bishops and Doctors

10 am A private intention

Tues 3rd Jan Christmas Feria

10am Peter Sartori, RIP

Weds 4th Jan

NO MASS

Thurs 5th Jan Christmas Feria

10am Angela Buckley, RIP

7:30pm Epiphany Vigil Mass

Fri 6th JanThe Epiphany of The Lord

10 am Larry Hughes, RIP

Sat 7th JanThe Baptism of the Lord

5pm Patricia McGovern, RIP

There will be no 10am-11am confessions and holy hour on New Year’s Eve.

Your Prayers:

Let us keep in our prayers:Agnes Day,Christna Cahill,Eric Nicholas Darwent,

ThereseKemp,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::Pope Benedict XVI,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 WalshEsther Ampomah Arhin,Peter McHugh,Marguerite Kyunga,

Kathleen Molloy,Maria Piniand Patricia Caddle whose anniversaries occur at this time

or have died recently. May they Rest in Peace.

Thank You-Christmas Offerings:

Fr Peter writes: “Thank you for your kindness and generosity for the Christmas Masses

collection which is your gift that makes my annual salary.The total amount was:

£ 2,113.33. Thank you also for your cards and wonderful Christmas gifts that you gave

myself and Deacon Dom. Above all, thank you for praying for us or thinking of us when

buying presents for others. Otto also sends thanks for his gifts!”

Thankyou:

Fr Peter writes:“Thank you to everyonewho helpedover the Christmasfestivities.

Particular thanks tothosewhodecorated the church,constructedthe outside crib,

servedand read, to those who cleaned the church and those who sang or played

instruments.Thank you to counters. A wonderful thankyou to First Communion children

who dramatized the nativity on Christmas Eve.

It has been a lovely, holy and peaceful few days.

Calling all AltarServers–and those who would like to learn.

Please sign the list at the back of the Church if you are able to serve overtheChristmas

Holiday. 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!

New Year’s Eve 2022

Fr Peter writes: “For the past few years I have tried to celebrate a New Year’s Eve Mass

in honour of Our Lady at midnight on 31stDecember. I see it as a way of beginning the

New Year in the presence of Christ, who I know, will be accompanying us through 2023.

So on New Year’s Eve I will be celebrating a quiet informal Mass in the Church beginning

at Midnight–and you are most welcome to join me.”

Pope Benedict XVI:

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who served as Supreme Pontifffrom April 2005 to

February 2013, has died aged 95, the Vatican has confirmed.A short statement from

Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See’s Press Office, said: “With sorrow I inform you

that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34amin the Mater

Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.”

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference, said:“I am deeply

saddened to learn of the death of Pope Benedict. He will be remembered as one of the

great theologians of the 20th century.“I remember with particular affection the

remarkable Papal Visit to these lands in 2010. We saw his courtesy, his gentleness, the

perceptiveness of his mind and the openness of his welcome to everybody that he met.”

“He was through and through a gentleman, through and through a scholar, through and

through a pastor, through and through a man of God–close to the Lord and always his

humble servant.”“Pope Benedict is very much in my heart and in my prayers. I give

thanks to God for his ministry and leadership.”

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales will celebrate Requiem Masses for the

repose of the soul of the late Pope Emeritus in their cathedrals.

St Mary’s SpecialCommemorativeCalendars

The special St Mary’s calanders celebrating 125 years of the parish are available to

collect or buy (we printed some extra copies) this weekend. Cost per calendar is £7:50.

Holocaust Memorial Day–Sunday 29 January 2023

This will take place at the Rickett Quadrangle, Middlesex University, The Burroughs,

Hendon NW4 4BT at 2 pm. Please be seated by 1.45 pm. This is a commemorative

service to remember the victims of genocide.Entry is free–Tube: Hendon Central,

Buses–143, 113, 83, 183, 186 and 326. Disabled parking facilities and access.For

moreinformationcall:02083592652oremailmayor@barnet.gov.ukorvisit

www.barnet.gov.uk/holocaust

Nursery and Primary School Application Forms:

Fr Peter writes:“If your child needs their Catholic Certificates of Practice” stamped and

signed, please attend one of the Sunday Masses with your child, bringing their nursery

or primary school application forms. Please make sure you have completed address and

dates of birth before coming to see me.”

“Parish Safe Guarding”-Please Remember:

When taking your child to the bathroom in the porch, they must be accompanied by a

parent or anadult member of the family

A Prayer for the New Year:

For all the blessings of today,

For the love of family and friends,

For every kindness shown to me by others,

For the gift of courage,

For thestrengthto face adversity,

For the knowledge that you are always with me,

I lift up my heart in love and gratitude to you, O Lord,

Amen.

Congratulations to:

Congratulations toAnna Maughan our Foodbank Co-ordinator who has been nominated

for a Barnet Community Award. Well done and well deserved!

A St Mary’s Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2023

Fr Peter writes:“I am looking in to 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.

Last Week’sChristmas Quiz Answers:

The answers to the Christmas quiz: 1:The Angelswere at the stable, 2: Elizabeth&

Zechariahare the parents of John the Baptist,3:Messiah means“anointed”,4:Joseph

was the baptismal name of Pope Benedict XVI, 5: Mary goes to visit Elizabeth in the hill

country–nolocation is mentioned, 6: St Mary’s was established as a Catholic parish in

1898; 7: the word“Christ” means“anointed one”, 8: It can take between 5-8 years to

train as a priest–dependingon your age, 9: the only day in Advent you sing the Gloria

is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on8thDecember, 10: the traditional names

of the three wise men are Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar, 11:the nameEmanuel

means“God is with us”, 12: thelast book in the OldTestament is“Malachi”, 13:the first

book in the New Testament is the Gospel of Mathew, 14: Malachi predicts the coming

of the new Elijah, and Mathewbeginswith thebirth of John the Baptist,the new Elijah,

15: In theGospel of Mathew, Joseph’s father is Jacob, in the Gospel of Lukeit is“Heli”

.

Prizes–Ifyou got all answers correctyou have a free pass to park your car, bike or

horse in the car park. Well done!