Ss Aidan & Oswald, Royton, Oldham 0161-624-1322 E-mail – [email protected] Parish Website – www.staidanroyton.org.uk St Vincent de Paul Society 07528 790623 Credit Union E-mail – [email protected] Parish Priest: Fr Stephen Doyle 4th Sunday of Advent Weekending 19th/20th December 2020 Mass Times This Week Saturday Vigil – 5.30p.m. Sunday – 10.00a.m. Monday 8.30a.m., Tuesday 8.30a.m., Wednesday 8.30a.m., Thursday 8.30a.m. & 7.30p.m., Friday 10.00a.m., Saturday 12.15p.m. & 5.30p.m. Sunday 10.00a.m. Confessions Saturday – 11.30a.m. to 12.00noon REFERENCES FOR TODAY’S MASS Penitential Act A The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed Preface II of Advent Eucharistic Prayer No.1 Memorial Acclamation A THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR Saturday 5.30p.m. The Retiring Collection is for 'Sea Sunday' Sunday 4th Sunday of Advent Sea Sunday A day of Special Prayer for Seafarers & Their Families A Day of Special Prayer for Expectant Mothers 10.00a.m. The Retiring Collection is for 'Sea Sunday' (See below) Thursday Christmas Eve 8.30a.m. Mass 7.30p.m. The First Mass of Christmas (See below) Friday Christmas Day 10.00a.m. Christmas Day Mass Saturday 12.15p.m. Mass The Feast of St Stephen! St Stephen was one of the first seven deacons of the Church and the first martyr to lay down his life for Christ 5.30p.m. Christmas Day Mass Sunday 10.00a.m. Christmas Day Mass THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO: • everyone who donated gifts for this year's Christmas Gift Tree. The gifts have already been given to our own Welcome Centre and Oldham Food Bank CONGRATULATIONS TO – Nithya Shaju, Neethu Shaju, Lexie Kisinga and Autumn Mayall on receiving their First Holy Communion last Sunday morning. May God continue to bless them and their families in this wonderful way, by receiving our Lord in Holy Communion as often as possible. THE RETIRING COLLECTION TODAY – is for the Apostleship of the Sea for this Sea Sunday. Without seafarers we would not have most of the items we buy in the shops. The Apostleship of the Sea is the Roman Catholic Church's official maritime welfare agency. It supports seafarers both materially and spiritually. There are special envelopes in the church porches for Gift Aiders! Normally Sea Sunday is held in July each year, but because of the Coronavirus pandemic it has been transferred to today. CHRISTMAS 2020 – will be celebrated very differently from usual. As seating will be limited because of the social distancing rules, the diocesan advice is that churches adopt a 'booking system'. Christmas Day will be celebrated every day from the First Mass of Christmas (at 7.30p.m. Christmas Eve) until New Year's Eve inclusive. This will enable people to celebrate Christmas any day that week. As a result, the usual feasts will not be honoured. This means that 'booking' a day and time is all the more important. The times of Masses are: Thursday December 24th – The First Mass of Christmas – 7.30p.m. Friday December 25th – Christmas Day Mass 10.00a.m. Saturday December 26th – 12.15p.m. & 5.30p.m. Sunday December 27th – 10.00a.m. Monday December 28th to Thursday 31st December – 10.00a.m. Friday January 1st – 7.00p.m. (First Friday) Just as the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays is currently suspended, so too, is the obligation to attend Mass at Christmas. Nevertheless, as this is one of the most important feasts of the Church's year, it is hoped that many people will try to celebrate Christmas sometime during that week, especially as they have a wide selection of Masses to choose from. Booking a seat is only necessary for Masses on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Saturday Vigil and Sunday. How will the booking system work? After Masses this weekend lists will be available for you to write your name down for one of these Masses, including the total number of people in your family/bubble. We cannot exceed 150 people. Once this figure is reached we are not allowed by law to admit anyone else. These lists will be available after every Mass between now and Christmas Eve. The lists will be at the back of church after weekend Masses and at the side porch for all other Masses. Names may also be added to the lists by telephone. I shall be available to take bookings between 6.00p.m. and 7.00p.m. every week day. (6/12) (13/12) (20/12) THE 2021 EDITION OF THE SALFORD ALMANAC – is on sale in the church porches this weekend priced £3.50. (20/12) THE CATHOLIC POSITION ON VACCINATION – is the title of a document from the Bishops of England and Wales. It includes the following statement. 'We believe that there is a moral obligation to guarantee the vaccination coverage necessary for the safety of others. This is especially important with Covid – 19. Avoidance of vaccination carries dangerous consequences for the most vulnerable in society.' (13/12) (20/12) A DECARBONISATION STRATEGY – has been started by the diocese, together with academic partners. This will involve understanding our carbon footprint and ways to reduce it over the next two years. The team would welcome anyone with expertise in this area in our parish community to get in touch so that its members are more aware of those who might want to get involved. The website link is: [email protected] (13/12) (20/12) IN THE ABSENCE OF BIDDING PRAYERS – we pray for the parishioners of St. Joseph, Ramsbottom, for Fr. Frank Thorpe their Parish Priest and for their parish primary school. May God bless you and St Aidan and St Oswald pray for you. Fr Stephen. © .