Welcome to the Catholic Parish of Stamford Saint Mary and Saint Augustine The Presbytery, 13 Broad Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1PG Telephone: (01780) 762010 Website: www.staugustinescatholicchurchstamford.co.uk Parish Priest: Father Simon Gillespie Mobile: 07760 372105 Email: [email protected] Deacons: Reverend Charles West-Sadler (with Oakham parish); Reverend Robert S Dawson (retired) Parish Director of Music: Ruth Proctor Mobile: 07826 017487 Email: [email protected] Parish Hall Manager: Anna Barwell Mobile: 07789 283140 Email: [email protected] Parish Primary School: Saint Augustine’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Stamford (01780) 762094 Catholic Secondary School: Saint John Fisher Catholic High School, Peterborough (01733) 343646 Part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham Diocesan Website: www.nottingham-diocese.org.uk Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Company Number: 7151646 Charity Number: 1134449
9th and 10th December 2017 : Second Sunday of Advent
When we think about the Season of Advent we might think of the Prophet Isaiah, who, more than any other prophet of the Old Testament, spoke about the Messiah to come, and prophesied about Jesus. Eusebius of Caesarea, writing in the fourth century, reminds us of the power of Isaiah’s words: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God. The prophecy makes clear that it is to be fulfilled, not in Jerusalem but in the wilderness: it is there that the glory of the Lord is to appear, and God’s salvation is to be made known to all mankind. It was in the wilderness that God’s saving presence was proclaimed by John the Baptist, and there that God’s salvation was seen. The words of this prophecy were fulfilled when Christ and his glory were made manifest to all: after his baptism the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove rested on him, and the Father’s voice was heard, bearing witness to the Son: This is my beloved Son, listen to him. The prophecy meant that God was to come to a deserted place, inaccessible from the beginning. None of the pagans had any knowledge of God, since his holy servants and prophets were kept from approaching them. The voice commands that a way be prepared for the Word of God: the rough and trackless ground is to be made level, so that our God may find a highway when he comes. Prepare the way of the Lord: the way is the preaching of the Gospel, the new message of consolation, ready to bring to all mankind the knowledge of God’s saving power. Climb on a high mountain, bearer of good news to Zion. Lift up your voice in strength, bearer of good news to Jerusalem. These words harmonise very well with the meaning of what has gone before. They refer opportunely to the evangelists and proclaim the coming of God to men, after speaking of the voice crying in the wilderness. Mention of the evangelists suitably follows the prophecy on John the Baptist. What does Zion mean if not the city previously called Jerusalem? This is the mountain referred to in that passage from Scripture: Here is mount Zion, where you dwelt. The Apostle says: You have come to mount Zion. Does not this refer to the company of the apostles, chosen from the former people of the circumcision? This is the Zion, the Jerusalem, that received God’s salvation. It stands aloft on the mountain of God, that is, it is raised high on the only-begotten Word of God. It is commanded to climb the high mountain and announce the word of salvation. Who is the bearer of the good news but the company of the evangelists? What does it mean to bear the good news but to preach to all nations, but first of all to the cities of Judah, the coming of Christ on earth?
Act in Support of Catholic Education
Do you support Catholic schools and the right of Catholics to send their children to them? Then we need you to make your voice heard.
The Government is making a critical decision on whether to overturn the admissions cap which prevents new Catholic schools from allowing all Catholic pupils to attend. The Prime Minister has acknowledged that this policy discriminates against Catholics and had promised previously to abandon it. Now the Government may decide to keep this discriminatory policy in place instead of removing it. We need you to tell the Government not to discriminate against Catholics and to remove the admissions cap on new faith-based schools.
Visit http://catholicnews.org.uk/education-cap to write to the Government and urge them to drop their policy which bans new Catholic schools. Please also let Father Simon know that you have followed this link, so that our parish can report how many are supporting this initiative. For more information, see the letter from Bishop Patrick on the parish noticeboard.
To date, only seven parishioners have responded to this request is this the value of our Catholic Education? Thank You to our Parish Primary School . . .
. . . who animated our 9.00am Sunday Mass last weekend, and to the staff and parents who ensured readings were rehearsed and the children were all at Mass in good time. Thank You also to all those who brought Advent Wreaths to be blessed at Mass last weekend; a traditional way of marking the weeks of this season of waiting.
Changes to Mass Times this week
Father Simon is undertaking some work for the Diocesan Education Service this week, and so there will be no public Mass on Tuesday, and Masses on Wednesday and Thursday will be celebrated at 6.00am, to allow him to be in Derby for 8.30am. Thank you to our daily Mass goers for your patience when Mass times have to be changed.
The Pope’s Prayer Intentions for December
That the elderly, sustained by families and Christian communities, may apply their wisdom and experience to spreading the faith and forming the new generations.
Special prayer intentions for Advent
During Advent we’re encouraged to pray especially for: • Openness to the Word of God (especially on Bible Sunday, 10th December) • Migrants and Refugees (especially on Migrants’ Day, 3rd December • Expectant Mothers
Christmas Raffle
Money, counterfoils and any unsold tickets should be returned as soon as possible to the presbytery. Prizes include £100 in cash; a Christmas hamper worth £85; and a Pendant from Gaynors Jewellers. There is a box at the back of church for items for the Tombola which will be held in the parish hall each Friday during December. Come into the Friday morning tea and coffee in the parish hall (9am until 12 noon), and in December enjoy a mince pie too!
Do come to the parish hall after Mass on Friday, when the Raffle will be drawn Forthcoming Events in our parish, community and diocese
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Lights of Love 2017 an open air carol concert at the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice on Sunday 10th December at 6pm. More details from sueryder.org/thorpelghts
The SVP meets next on Thursday 14th December (note the change of date) at 6pm in the parish hall, and then again on Thursday 11th January 2018. All are welcome.
Adventure an Advent Open Retreat for those in Years 10 – 13, at The Briars, Crich, Derbyshire, starting early evening on Friday 8th until Sunday 10th December. Information from [email protected], or speak with Father Simon.
Christmas Carols will be sung in the John Van Geest Unit on Tuesday 19th December at 2.30pm, with the Mayor of Stamford in attendance. If you wish to join in imply turn up at Van Geest a few minutes early and bring voices and enthusiasm with you!
Barn Hill Methodist Church are offering an Advent Prayer Labyrinth on Wednesday 20th December from 2.00pm until 4,00pm; and from 7.30pm until 9.00pm. The labyrinth consists of stations of guided prayer which are relevant to the hope of Christ’s coming among us. All are very welcome – simply turn up, there is no booking.
An extra Choir Rehearsal for Midnight Mass will be held on Saturday 23rd December after the evening Mass, at 7.00pm
Christmas Eve Nativity Performance
At the start of the Christmas Vigil Mas (6pm on Sunday 24th December) the children of our parish will be performing a Christmas Nativity Play. We will be rehearsing the Nativity Play during the Children’s Liturgy (9am Mass) on Sunday 10th and Sunday 17th December. If you will be attending the Christmas Vigil Mass and would like your child/ren to be involved with the Nativity come along to the Children’s Liturgy this weekend and next weekend for the rehearsals. If you will not be attending the Christmas Vigil Mass, or do not want to take part in the Nativity, children are still welcome to come to the Children’s Liturgy as usual, where the LOOK newsletter will be available. If you have any questions please contact Michelle Pacitti (Children’s Liturgy Co- Ordinator): [email protected]. Many thanks for all your support! For our Altar Servers
On Friday 22nd December we’ll have a training morning, starting with Mass at 10.00am, have some preparation for Christmas, and be finished by 12.00 noon.
Saint Stephen is the patron saint of altar servers and we’ll celebrate his feast on Tuesday 26th December with Mass at 10.30am. At this Mass we’ll enrol some of our newest altar servers into the Guild of Saint Stephen, presenting them with the Guild Medal, whilst those who are already members will renew their commitment. Families are very welcome to come along to this special Mass too.
Churches Together in Stamford – Christmas Card Deliveries
Stamford Churches Together has, as in previous years, produced a Christmas Card with all the various Christmas Services times on. We have been asked to deliver cards in the following areas: Casterton Road bottom with side roads Casterton Road top even numbers with side roads Casterton Road top odd numbers with side roads Waverley Gardens/Elgar Way Banks Crescent estate, Essex Rd with side roads Sussex Road with side roads. If you can help with one of these areas (between 141 to 295 properties in each) please speak to Kevin Vinter or Father Simon as soon as possible. All the cards should be distributed by Friday 15th December so that the people of Stamford have the information in good time. Thank you to the one family which has volunteered so far – please help to ensure we can fulfil our quota – thank you in advance!
Job Opportunity – Derby City Catholic Youth Worker
From January 2018 the Catholic parishes of Derby are seeking to employ a full-time Youth Worker to work with people aged 11-18. The candidate will inspire and encourage young people across the city, and help parishes in the city to develop opportunities for young people to grown to full maturity as members of the Catholic Church. See the poster in the porch for more details of this exciting opportunity! Catholic Bible Sunday – 10th December
No pope has written or spoken in promotion of reading, praying and preaching the Bible, more than Pope Francis in nearly five years of his pontificate. In addition to what he has proclaimed in homilies, Angelus Messages (especially on 14th June 2015) and speeches there have been significant paragraphs in documents. To thousands of young people in Saint Peter’s Square and elsewhere he has given copies of the Gospels and encouraged daily reading of the Scriptures especially the Gospels. At the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy just a year ago, the Holy Father in his Apostolic Letter Misericordia et Misera dedicated a paragraph specifically to the Christian Bible having written in the previous paragraph of ‘hearing the word of God’ in the Liturgy and the importance of the ‘homily’: ‘It would be beneficial if every Christian community, on one Sunday of the liturgical year, could renew its efforts to make the Sacred Scriptures better known and more widely diffused. It would be a Sunday given over entirely to the word of God, so as to appreciate the inexhaustible riches contained in that constant dialogue between the Lord and his people. Creative initiatives can help make this an opportunity for the faithful to become living vessels for the transmission of God’s word.’ (M. et M.7) For many years we have in England and Wales observed Bible Sunday on the Second Sunday of Advent, in more recent years with the added support of the Bible Society as we do again this year. Now the added fillip of Pope Francis’ words encourages us all to promote afresh among our priests, deacons, and lay faithful the place of the Sacred Scriptures in the life of the Christian community collectively and individually. Bishop Peter Brignall, Bishop of Wrexham commends to all of us the Bible Sunday resources compiled jointly by the Bible Society and the Scripture Working Group of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. This year the resources are specific to the liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany with a focus on Bible Sunday, and can be found at: http://catholicnews.org.uk/Home/Featured/Catholic-Bible-Sunday-2017/Welcome- the-Word Consider how the daily reading of the Bible can become part of your life Deanery Reconciliation Services – Confessions for Christmas!
Advent is always a good time to go to confession as we prepare ourselves spiritually for the coming of Christ at Christmas. As well as regular confessions on Saturday mornings at 9am and Saturday evenings (after Mass) at 7pm, there will be deanery reconciliation services, with visiting priests, in the days leading up to Christmas: Thursday 14th December – 7pm – Reconciliation Service in Melton Mowbray Friday 15th December – 7pm – Reconciliation Service in Stamford Sunday 17th December – 3.30pm – Reconciliation Service in Oakham Monday 18th December – 7pm – Reconciliation Service in Bourne Tuesday 19th December – 7pm – Reconciliation Service in Grantham Confessions will also be available after each weekday Mass in the week before Christmas, or simply by coming to the presbytery when Father Simon is available.
Ensure you plan in good time when you wish to come to make your Confession before Christmas, and be truly ready to greet Christ when he comes!
In preparation for the International Eucharistic Congress next year, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held during each of our deanery Reconciliation Services.
Christmastime Liturgical Programme
Saturday 23rd December • 6.00pm - Vigil Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday 24th December • 9.00am – Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Advent • 11.00am – Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Advent
• 6.00pm - Vigil Mass of Christmas with the children's Nativity • 11.30pm - Vigil of Readings, leading directly into Monday 25th December • 12.00 midnight – Midnight Mass of Christmas • 9am - Dawn Mass of Christmas • 10.30am - Day Mass of Christmas (note the change of time)
For clarification – there are TWO obligations (Sunday and Christmas) and so all Catholics are obliged to attend TWO DIFFERENT Masses Saturday or Sunday for the Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday or Monday for Christmas
Cafod Gifts for Christmas
Some of the Cafod World Gifts Catalogues are still available at the back of church; if you didn’t get on last week take one now, or see online at cafod.org.uk/worldgifts
Things at the Back of Church for Advent
This weekend take home, from the back of church, a Walk With Me Advent Prayerbook or a Children’s Advent and Christmas Calendar and help to make Advent a prayerful time of waiting!
Mass Intentions
If anyone would like to have a Mass celebrated during Advent or over the Christmas season, perhaps as a Christmas gift for a loved one, put your offering into one of the envelopes at the back of church, write out the details, and hand into the presbytery.
Faith in Families
Faith in Families Christmas Toy Appeal: donations can be given at www.faithinfamilies.org, or cheques (payable to Faith in Families) or donated items can be given to Father Simon or Kevin Vinter. Many thanks to all who continue to support this children’s charity. For more information, contact Kevin Vinter 01780 751735, or [email protected]
Stamford Foodbank
Items for Christmas can be left at the bank of church anytime until Wednesday 20th December. Sincere thanks for everything handed in last weekend!
Many Thanks for your Generosity
Envelopes £475.00 Loose plate £212.22 Standing Order £274.00 Collection Total £961.22
Last weekend’s Retiring Collection for the Wajir Mission : £361.74 This weekend – Retiring Collection for Flowers for Christmas Next weekend – Second Collection for Poor and Needy Parishes in our diocese This week in our parish primary school
This week in Giraffe class, our children have been learning about the Christmas story. Some of us used the nativity costumes to act out how Jesus was born.
A reminder that Early Years and KS1 Children should be back in school at 5.50 pm on Thursday for their Nativity. Thank you.
Christmas Cards Fundraising We are really pleased to see that we raised £324.38 from the Christmas Cards / Mugs sale. Special thanks to Mrs Rudkin who arranged and dealt with all the orders. This money will go towards the new I-pads for pupils. Thank you for your continued support.
Did You Know??? We’re having a new Did You Know? display in school that will include fun and interesting facts that children bring in. For example, did you know that a blue whale is the biggest animal in the world and weighs the same as 6000 children? Did you know that cats are scared of cucumbers?
A reminder that we have a vacancy for Clerk to the Governors and Mid-day Supervisor. Please speak to Mrs Bray (01780 762094) for further details or alternatively visit the school website.
We need a Headteacher! Saint Augustine has a vacancy for a permanent full-time head teacher commencing 1st September 2018. Full details are available from [email protected]. Visits to the school can be arranged by contacting Mrs Sue Bray, School Business Manager, on 01780 762094. The closing date for applications is noon Monday 22nd January with interviews being held on Friday 26th January. Please pass this onto anyone you know who might be interested!
Mission Statement: I can work, play, rest and pray each day. Diocesan Prayer for Priestly and Religious Vocations
Almighty God, we pray, give us holy priests to strengthen us in our Christian calling, that we may be more closely conformed to Christ and share more effectively in his saving work. Through their ministry at the altar, and by their administration of the sacraments, may our lives be sanctified and become more closely associated with the redemptive sacrifice of Christ. As they preach the Gospel and teach the faith may we be inspired to dedicate ourselves to the work of evangelisation. As they serve our parishes may we be led into deeper communion of faith, hope and charity. O God, bless our diocese also with men and women who will serve the mission of the Church by taking religious vows, inspiring us with lives consecrated to you. Mary Immaculate – pray for us Saint Hugh of Lincoln – pray for us The saints of our diocese – pray for us.
Prayers for Vocations this Week
Monday 11th December – Deacon Martyn Chambers (Boston) Wednesday 13th December – Father James Earley (Hassop and Bakewell) Thursday 14th December – Deacon James Anthony (Malaysia) Saturday 16th December – Monsignor John Hadley (Narborough and Lutterworth)
Readings at Mass this Week
Monday Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 84(85):9-14; Luke 5:17-26 Tuesday Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 95(96):1-3. 10-13; Matthew 18:12-14 Wednesday Isaiah 40:25-31; Psalm 102(103):1-4.8.10; Matthew 11:28-30 Thursday Isaiah 41:13-20; Psalm 144(145):1.9-13; Matthew 11:11-15 Friday Isaiah 48:17-19; Psalm 1:1-4.6; Matthew 11:16-19 Saturday Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4.9-11; Psalm 79(80):2-3.15-19
A reflection from ‘Marriage Matters’
Let us be a sign for all A voice cries “Prepare in the wilderness a way for the Lord”. Sometimes life can seem to be a wilderness as we look ahead. If we try to live today to the best of our abilities, removing those attitudes and behaviours that prevent us from being better husbands and wives, then we can become a clearer ‘signpost’ for everyone. Prayers For . . .
All who have died recently, especially: Father Michael Lynch; formerly parish priest of Saint Joseph, Oakham; Monsignor George Tutto; Monica Holt; who died on 24th November, and whose Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday 27th December at 11.30am; Virginia Hardstaff; James Cameron; Alish Pollard; and all the Faithful Departed. May they rest in peace!
All our sick and housebound parishioners and friends: especially Maria Pinto, Catherine Farndell, John Griffiths, John Salthouse, Marie Lunny, Sheila Kelly, Mary Patrick, Dympna Middleton, Vincent Kelly, David Peach, Pat Jones, Sister Attracta, Verlia Duque, Edie McLaughlin, Father Thomas Breslin, Provost Michael Bell, Bishop Frank Walmsley, John Chapple, Father Peter Peterken, Charlotte Pridmore, Father Chris Hogan, John Scott, Father Michael Stappard, Margaret West-Sadler, John Herd, Father Dominic O’Connor, Father Joe O’Hanlon, Jo and Bernard Raffo, Victoria Crouch, Father James O’Hanlon, Father Eamonn O’Hara, Peter Herrick, Father John Cairns, Deacon Bernard Croft, Mark Grab, Rosa Maria Santos, Kenneth Court, Veronica Hosking, Beth Coleman, Joan Middleton, Pat Dancer, Augusta Deane, Irene Mulligan, Connie Edgar, Gladys Brown, Nora Hunt, Valerie Pellier, Fiona Ruddle, David Cooke, Maeve Swann, Helen Allen, Jean Maker, Anna Orme, Lucy Court, Debbie Reed, Ken Woods, Lilian Popple, Anne Woods, Father David Bingham, Deacon Bob Dawson, Father Peter Harvey.
Liturgy This Week This Week Next Week Sunday Second Sunday of Advent Third Sunday of Advent Cycle & Psalter Year B, Week 2 Year B, Week 3 Mass Page 85 Page 87 Penitential Rite B, page 8 B, page 8 First Reading Isaiah 40:1-5. 9-11 Isaiah 61:1-2.10-11 Psalm Psalm 84:9-14 Luke 146-50. 53-54 Second Reading 2 Peter 3:8-14 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Gospel Mark 1:1-8 John 1:6-8. 19-28 Preface Advent 1, page 51 Advent 1, page 51 Eucharistic Prayer Three, page 28 Two, page 24 Memorial Acclamation B (When we eat) B (When we eat)
Masses and Services this Week and next Week Saturday 9th December Second Sunday of Advent Bible Sunday Retiring Collection for Flowers for Christmas 6.00pm Vigil Mass November Dead List Sunday 10th December Second Sunday of Advent 9.00am Mass Ralph Leaman Children’s Liturgy; Tea and coffee after 11.00am Mass Pro Populo (People of the Parish) with the Baptism of Jude Emmanuel Allen 5.00pm Sung Vespers Monday 11th December Advent Feria 9.00am Mass November Dead List Tuesday 12th December Advent Feria No public Mass Wednesday 13th December Memorial of Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr 6.00am Mass Jean Smith RIP Thursday 14th December Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, doctor 6.00am Mass Kathleen Smeeth RIP 7.00pm Deanery Reconciliation Service in Melton Mowbray Friday 15th December Advent Feria 10.00am Mass Leslie Arthur Starsmore 3.15pm Prison Mass David Gillespie – birthday 7.00pm Deanery Reconciliation Service in Saint Augustine, Stamford Saturday 16th December Advent Feria No morning Confessions Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Second Collection for Poor and Needy Parishes in our diocese 6.00pm Vigil Mass Andrew Swann RIP 7.00pm Confessions Sunday 17th December Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete 9.00am Mass Pro Populo (people of the parish) Children’s Liturgy; Tea and coffee after 11.00am Mass John and Eveline Cilia – Golden Wedding Anniversary Children’s Liturgy; Tea and coffee after 3.00pm Ecumenical Service at Whitefriars 3.30pm Deanery Reconciliation Service in Saint Joseph, Oakham 5.00pm Sung Vespers