OUR LADY AND ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CATHOLIC CHURCH

Serving Romiley, , and Woodley

52 Barrack Hill, Romiley, , . SK6 3BA Tel: 0161-430 2704 www.ourladyandstchristophersromiley.org.uk e-mail:[email protected]

PARISH PRIEST: Canon Michael Gannon VG

1st November 2020 – Solemnity of All Saints

MESSAGE FROM FR MICHAEL Today we celebrate the solemn feast of All Saints, a joyful feast that reminds us of all those who having completed their earthly journey are now enjoying the eternal vision of God in heaven. Our celebration includes not only the officially recognized saints of the Church – those who have been canonized - but the countless numbers of ordinary people who loved God and sought to do his will in their lives. The example of the saints and their prayers for us from heaven should encourage us on our own earthly pilgrimage to our eternal home.

On Monday we have the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) when we remember and pray for the Holy Souls in purgatory. Let us not forget our deceased loved ones especially in this month of November. Please note the additional Mass on Monday at 7.30pm.

We ask God’s blessing on all in our parish community in the week ahead.

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS - Sunday 1st November - Sunday 8th November 2020

Saturday Evening Mass of following Solemnity 6.00pm People of the Parish Sunday Solemnity of all Saints 9.00am Bill & Joan Price RIP 11.00am Veronica Wharram Monday Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed 9.30am Bernard Marshall RIP 7.30pm The Holy Souls Tuesday St Winefride, V 7.30pm The Holy Souls

Wednesday St Charles Borromeo, B 9.30am Thomas James Ryan Requiem Mass 11.30am Margaret Lee RIP Thursday Ferial 9.30am For a successful operation

Friday Ferial 12.00pm Joseph Kelly RIP

Saturday NB! No Parish Mass today 10.00am First Holy Communion Mass 11.30am First Holy Communion Mass Evening Mass of following Sunday 6.00pm Teresa Palmer RIP Sunday Thirty Second Sunday of the Year 9.00am Raymond Swindells RIP 11.00am People of the Parish

THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND: Christine Beswick, Hillary Rustage, Kieran O’Brien, Debbie Sainsbury, Lionel & Jenny Rawlings, Matthew Norman, Jadar Jones, Michael Christie, Sonia Faure, Wilfred Hartley, Mandy Keane, Joyce Osbourne, Michael O’Sullivan, Bob Parker, Katelyn Reilly, Margaret Smith, Amy Harris, Elizabeth Brown, Bridget Robertson, Valerie Gahan, Marina Hernandez. Joshua Goddard, Clair Mitten, Eamon Curran, Pat Duggan, Ruth Grace Crosby, Mary Ready, Avril McCormack, Howard Moore, Eileen Bush, Ann Standing, Pat Stewart, Mary Morris. Sheila Murphy, Kath Longden, Michael Sainsbury, Kathleen Zwierink, Moira McNeill, John Bardsley, Veronica (Vera) Espley. We commend them to the prayers of Our Lady & St Christopher.

RECENTLY DECEASED: Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of Maria Ann Bowden (former parishioner) who died recently. May she rest in peace. Please also pray for Maria’s family.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION I look forward to welcoming the children making their First Holy Communion this year and their families to church next Saturday. With the restriction on numbers there will be two Masses at 10.00am & 11.30am. The usual safety measures will be in place (stewards present, hand sanitising, social distancing). The Masses will be live streamed via Zoom. Please pray for the children as they look forward to this important stage in their faith journey.

PLEASE NOTE there will be no 9.30am parish Mass on Saturday as two First Holy Communion Masses will be celebrated that morning at 10.00am & 11.30am.

SUNDAY & WEEKDAY MASS READINGS You can find the readings at: www.universalis.com/20200802/masshtm The Prayer of the Church (Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, Night prayer, etc.) is also on the website. Readings for Sunday 1st November: Apocalypse 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12.

WE WELCOME INTO THE FAMILY OF THE CHURCH Joseph Steven Webb who was baptised recently.

CONFESSION - RECONCILIATION Fr Michael is available to hear Confessions in a suitable area outside church where social distancing can be maintained.

PARISH WEBCAM I have decided to install a webcam for the live and recorded transmission of Masses and other services from the church. This means we will be connected to the worldwide web and it will be possible to follow Masses and the other services online (baptisms, weddings, funerals, etc.) not only in the parish but anywhere in the world. I have requested Church Services TV to carry out the installation. The supply and installation cost is £3348.25 plus a monthly maintenance charge of £110.70. To help reduce the cost to the parish I am personally putting £1000 towards this and if any parishioners would like to help share the costs with me then cash or cheques payable to Our Lady & St Christophe’s will be gratefully received in an envelope marked CSTV. Thank you, Fr Michael

PARISH MEMORIAL SERVICE to remember and pray for those who died during the past year on Sunday 15th November at 3.00pm. This will be a virtual service only and live streamed via Zoom to enable people to participate. Letters have been sent to the bereaved families but all are welcome to join in to pray for loved ones no longer with us. The Zoom link may be requested by emailing [email protected]

NOVEMBER LIST Please take an envelope from church and enclose the names of deceased loved ones you wish to be remembered during November. The envelopes will be placed in front of the altar and at least one Mass each week will be celebrated for them during this month. Please do not put any money in the envelope.

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE CHRISTMAS RAFFLE Thank you for all who have bought tickets so far. Books are still available priced £2 per book. Money & counterfoils need to be returned to Church in time for the draw on Saturday 28th November. For those who cannot get to Church but would like some tickets, please contact any of the following and we can arrange to deliver to you (and then collect): Sarah Strickland – 07447 014445 ; Matthew Standing – 07881 811668 ; Keith & Veronica Turner – 430 6033 ; Breda O'Riordan - 494 8269 ; Susan Carr - 07944 397898, or via email to [email protected]

Prizes on offer: 1st Prize – A one night B&B for two people at Hilton Manchester Deansgate Hotel. Other prizes include: A Body Shop gift pack from Cruelty-Free Skincare with Ashley; One month premium membership from Life Leisure; A voucher from The Italian, Romiley, A voucher from No 29 Coffee House and Delicatessen; A £30 voucher from Balloons by Boo at Tickittyboo; A voucher from Taylors Fish & Chips Stockport; 2 x £25 vouchers from Go Thai Bredbury; £50 voucher from Experience Days; Food Hamper from Morrisons Bredbury; £10 meat voucher from Tittertons Family Butchers Woodley; Fresh flowers from Pic a Lily ‘Professional Florist’; Framed shirt from Stockport County Football Club; £40 Sunday lunch voucher for 2 at The Midway; £20 voucher from Qurashi Indian Restaurant; Signed memorabilia from Manchester City; A gift box from Manchester United; £10 voucher from Almond Family Pubs £10 voucher from Aldi, Romiley; A food hamper from Asda Marple; A Christmas hamper from Co-op, Bredbury; A fruit basket from Tunacliffe’s, Woodley.

Plus, donated by parishioners: numerous bottles (Wine; Gin; Vodka; Whisky; Champagne, Prosecco); an Irish Hamper; a Chocolate hamper; and a Home made Christmas Cake.

YOUNG CARITAS Half Term Holiday Hunger Project Last Friday, members delivered FOUR full bags of Morrisons shopping to each of the 25 families we are currently supporting. With thanks to the National Lottery grant and to Marple & Romiley Lions, who were very keen on donating £250 to help combat food poverty. Morrisons vouchers will be delivered to these families regularly over the next few weeks. Thank you Once again, Marple & Romiley Lions have donated £250 to the group. A matching donation for £250 was also received from an anonymous benefactor. We are so grateful to both and wish to put both donations toward the Christmas Bag Appeal. Christmas Bag Appeal We hope to deliver a Christmas Bag packed full of gifts to every child in the 40 family households we’ve supported since summer. Details are on the accompanying note. If you would like to help, we politely request large Christmas tubes of sweets or chocolates (RRP £1) left in the blue 'YC Donation Station' at the back of church. Alternatively, a £5 donation in an envelope marked Christmas Bag Appeal which will be spent by members on gifts. Thank you. *Late addition: We have had 30 families referred to us from a case worker in hoping we can help out with a food parcel for Christmas.

PARISH FINANCE Last week’s collection: £357.67; CAFOD; £11.00; CSTV £1,660. Thank you for your generosity.

CARITAS CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S BOXES - last call please. I will send off the monies received next weekend. Please phone me if you want help with the boxes. Christine Connolly – 430 2610.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD The full shoeboxes should be returned this weekend. Further information from Karin Moore on 494 9104. Thank you.

FOODBANK Seven crates and 17 carrier bags of food and toiletries were delivered to St Mark’s last Tuesday, plus £40 in cash donations. Thank you and also for cash donations of £20 & £20.

MARRIAGE CARE If you are going through difficulties in your relationship, Stockport Marriage Care can offer a confidential counselling service. Marriage Care is still here for you and is at the end of the phone if you need help. You can contact them on 0800 3893801.

Celebration of Mass – guidance for parishioners Please follow this simple guidance to ensure we are all kept safe:

1. Please do not come to church if you feel unwell in any way or you have a temperature. 2. In line with Government guidance a face covering must be worn at all times inside the Church building. 3. We are using 1m+ guidance in church. This means that you can expect to be seated at least 1m away from someone who is not in your family or household “bubble”. We will maintain 2m distance between rows of seats. 4. As we may still need to limit the number of people in the church at any one time, please take advice from the steward at the door as to whether you can enter. It may be necessary to queue for a short time 5. Use the hand sanitiser at the front door as you enter church 6. A steward will direct you to a seat. 7. The wooden benches can now be used for 2 people from the same household at each end (with a minimum of 1m in between), or 3 people at one end and 1 person at the other (with a minimum of 1m in between) or for more than 3 people from the same household alone. 8. At each seat you will find a card, please fill in your name(s) and a contact number if possible. Only 1 card need be completed per household group. Please bring your own pen. This is to comply with the Government’s “Track and Trace” initiative to stop the spread of infection. The cards will be stored in church and discarded after 14 days. The details will only be shared if we are notified that someone who attended church has tested positive for the virus. 9. Mass will last around 35 minutes and you will be able to receive Holy Communion in your hands. Father will say “The Body of Christ” once to the whole congregation from the altar, and the congregation will respond with “Amen” before distribution of Holy Communion begins. There will not be any need for the Priest or recipient to speak as they receive the Host. 10. Stewards will direct people forward to receive Holy Communion. 11. If you wish to light a candle before or after Mass please use one of the candles placed in the holder for you and light it from the already lit candle. 12. On leaving the church please take all of your belongings and any papers you have used with you. 13. Please leave church via the side door where hand sanitiser is also available.

Data Protection Privacy Notice The parish of Our Lady & St Christopher sometimes collects personal information about parishioners. All personal information is collected, processed & stored in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations. This is retained only as necessary & used by the Parish/Diocese for the benefit of the Parish & for legitimate reasons such as admin. & religious purposes. Read our full privacy notice at www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/about-us/privacy-notice.

Our Lady and St Christopher’s Church is a parish of the RC Diocese of Shrewsbury, which is a registered charity No 234025