The Justice and Peace Group 'Sleep Out'The Justice and Peace Group carried out its 8th sleep-out and vigil at Sacred Heart on a very cold Saturday night! Not much sleep but a lot of praying within the church!! Rev Stephen Jonathan from The Elim Church where the Food Bank project is based came to give us a talk on the project and who it helps. It was a very inspiring talk, and he was very pleased that our community was supporting the project with donations of food. Once again thank you to all for your continued support. Childrens LiturgyWe had a great meeting with Sr Gillian and a fabulous turnout of people willing to help. Thank-you to all who came. However, it is not too early to volunteer to help at either Church. Please speak to the leaders if you are interested.
In both Churches the children will now be entering with the servers at the start of Mass and then leaving the Church immediately for their liturgy. That liturgy will then follow the shape of the Mass but at the level of the children. The children going out will be up to yr 5 only. The criteria for pre-school children is their ability to listen and respond to what is taking place. If children are attending school parents can remain within the Church and send their children on their own
Thank YouChristmas Parcels 2011: The Bereavement and Social Concern Group would like to thank all those involved in supplying food, making up parcels and delivering them. We delivered 62 parcels. Thank you for your generosity and time.
Light up a Life 2011: The Bereavement and Social Concern Group would like to say a very big thank you for your kindness in supporting Light up a Life. You raised a fantastic £891.00. Thank you all so much. £400 will Light up the Life of St. John’s and Sacred Heart Children’s Liturgy groups to provide resources for the coming year. We will keep you informed as and when we light up another life. Thank you again.
Readers NeededWe are reviewing our rotas and need more readers so if you feel you read well in public, why not put your gift to good use by proclaiming God’s Word? If you are interested please email or phone into the office and let us know what Mass you attend.
Urgent - Children’s Liturgy at Sacred Heart: Urgent - Children’s Liturgy at Sacred Heart: This runs at the 9.00 am Mass each week. It does help our children to understand God’s Word at their level. If we get four more volunteers, then leaders need only do it every third week.
Children’s Liturgy Training will take place at Sacred Heart on the Wednesday evening of Feb 1st with Sr Gillian who has lots of experience and resources in this area. The time of this meeting will be announced in due course. It is open to anyone in the parish involved in children’s liturgy.
Altar ServersWe need more servers especially on Saturday evenings and Sunday 12.00 masses. So don’t worry if you have never served before, please join us.
A.A. MeetingA.A. meeting at St John’s upper room on Mondays at 8.00 pm for people recovering from alcohol related problems.
Al-anon is a group for family of those with alcohol problems. They meet in St John’s upper room on Tuesdays at 8.00 pm.
Masses and Mass Offerings: When you ask for a Mass to be said, Church law allows a priest to say only one Mass for each request (Canon 948). We are obliged to follow this ruling as every other parish in the Diocese does (sometimes religious orders get exceptions to this). We appreciate that this will make it difficult for people to have their Masses said within the parish and we are sorry if this causes any upset. There are two possible ways to lessen this problem:
1. If you want masses said for a few people, you can put them together if you wish and have more than one intention at each Mass (something only the person requesting a mass can do).
2. Twice a week we are allowed, to include more than one intention at a Mass but we have to state publicly when these Masses will be and it can only be done if you agree to it (Canon norm 1860). We propose that this be on Saturday evening or Sunday Masses and your agreement can be given by using the envelopes we are producing and ticking the box. This will only take place at those weekend Masses and not at Masses during the week.
Thank-you for the offerings you give for masses. As you know, a Catholic priest does not receive a salary and this gift from you supports your priests. You will appreciate that these changes do not help the clergy financially (quite the opposite) but we are obliged to follow these norms.
| 
