Newsletter 11 December 2020
Hello again. I hope your preparations for the trappings of celebrating Christmas are not getting you down. If they are, put the kettle on, sit down, and with the cuppa just pause and reflect on what you think it is all about, and maybe ‘raise up the mind and heart to God’. Perhaps you’ve taken out a second mortgage to pay for the stamps on your Christmas cards – but they are usually appreciated especially if you and the recipient haven’t been able to see one another for some time.
I’ve offered Mass this week for David Jones, and Marie and Harold White, who are sick, for the intentions of Rose Livesey, Caroline Benson, Helen Blythe, and Joan Austin, and for the repose of the soul of Robert Allright.
I’m asked to thank you for the total donated to the Missions via the Red Boxes. It was £1005.91 which is slightly more than last year, great under the circumstances. If there are any monies still to be collected, please contact me and I’ll put you in contact with Mrs Julia Longworth, who now is our Red Box co-ordinator. To her go our grateful thanks in appreciation. Also thank you for the £462.00 on the plate in last weekend’s collection.
Bishop Mark Davis is understandably thrilled to announce that Pope Francis has decided to dedicate this coming year to St Joseph’s protection, (following the lead of the Diocese of Shrewsbury? Our bishop thinks not…) There is a copy of the Shrewsbury Voice available this weekend, and it has a rather splendid full-page picture of St Joseph and the child Jesus which could well be framed and installed in homes everywhere. The Bishop has written a Pastoral Letter for this coming Sunday.
On Wednesday there was a rush to phone and book places for the Saturday evening Mass. It was quickly fully booked. This meant a lot of you found the line engaged. Thank you again for NOT leaving messages. It gums up the system. The 10.30am Mass was also fully booked eventually. Please ring between 2.00pm and 10.00pm on Wednesday to book a place for next week. (Did everybody want to avoid the City/United game at 5.30pm on Saturday?).
In the readings at Mass this weekend the same themes as last week are covered. I Isaiah is even more joyful and optimistic, using those words with which Jesus quoted to begin his preaching in the synagogue; the responsorial psalm after it is Mary’s excited prayer the Magnificat, again full of joy; then St Paul says almost the same things as St Peter last week, advising everyone to be on their best behaviour. Then the third reading has selections from John’s gospel, reminding us that the Baptist was sent by God as a witness to speak for the Light, and then giving us some of his message of witness. Can we somehow imitate him as we go about our busy lives before Christmas?
Arrangements for Christmas services are not quite settled. They will be announced ASAP. Watch this space!
Fr Tony Elder
