Newsletter 17 December 2021
Hello to all of you.
Greetings to everyone. This newsletter is for the people who have not been able to get to Mass in St Winefride’s, and so can’t pick up a newsletter in person. There will also be available in church the usual ‘do-it-yourself’ Christmas Card. To all of you reading this, I do send Christmas Greetings and best wishes for 2022.
Mass this weekend (18/19 December)
The times of Mass this weekend (18/19 December) are the usual 5.45pm Saturday (Vigil) Mass, and the two on Sunday morning at 9.00am and 10.30am. During the week, on Tuesday there is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 7.00pm, followed by Mass at 7.30pm. On Wednesday and Thursday Mass is at 9.15am.
Christmas Services
- Friday is Christmas Eve. We have a service of readings and Carols at 6.00pm, followed by the first Mass of Christmas at 6.30pm.
- On Saturday, Christmas Day, Mass is at 9.00am and 10.30am. There will be no evening Mass on Christmas Day.
- Sunday 26 Dec, Boxing Day, Feast of the Holy Family, there is just the one Mass at 10.30am.
I have offered Mass for Christina Weighill (LD), SI (Slattery), Ints A Wright, Nick Cranmer, Susan Delmastro, and Thanksgiving (R Livesey).
This time last year we were all under lockdown conditions and I had the strange experience of offering Christmas Mass and being with you by YouTube only. This year we are still threatened by the virus that continues to spread, and there is much uncertainty about what is safe. If you feel that it is a risk too great for you to come to church, and you are not going to other crowd-filled events, everyone understands.
But do try to make Christmas a religious festival at home, putting up your crib, singing carols, and finding time to say ‘Thank-you’ to God. You can probably find Mass online. Sky TV have a totally pagan Christmas, without a mention of the birth of our Divine Saviour. ‘There’s too much religion in Christmas’, our pagan neighbours say resentfully. Don’t be like them. Don’t crowd out Jesus, and don’t blame Covid if that’s what happens in your house.
Thank you to those of you who have sent me Christmas cards, with all the good wishes they contain. May I dare to say PLEASE don’t give me any bottles! I’m still afloat from my 80th birthday in October. Our prayers are especially with those who are unwell at this time.
There may not be an online newsletter next weekend, so for those who cannot be in personal contact, I wish you all a happy and holy Christmas, and may all of us be healthy and safe from the virus.
Have a joyful time and try to make everyone around you happy as well.
Fr Tony
