THE CHURCH OF THE

SACRED HEART OF JESUS

& SAINT JOSEPH, WARE

e.mail: Parish Priest: Fr. John Gray

website: www.sacredheartware.com Parish Deacon: Rev. Adrian Cullen

telephone: 01920 462140 Pastoral Assistant: Mary Hallett

Parish Secretary: Tracy Moloney

1st December2013

1st Sunday of Advent

TIMES OF SERVICES & GROUP MEETINGS THIS WEEK

MONDAY2nd / 8.00 a.m. / MASS at Carmel
TUESDAY
3rd
St Francis Xavier / 8.45 a.m.
9.00 a.m.
9.30 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. / Morning Prayer
MASS
Toddler Group in the Hall
WEDNESDAY
4th
St John Damascene / 9.45 a.m.
10.00 a.m.
2.00 p.m.
2.45 p.m.
8.00 p.m. / Morning Prayer
MASS
UCM in the Hall
Funeral Service for Sylvia Page R.I.P. late of Burgage Court at Harwood Park Crematorium, Stevenage
RCIA in the Hall – Catholic devotions, discussions & prayers
THURSDAY
5th / 9.45 a.m.
10.00 a.m. / Morning Prayer
MASS
FRIDAY
6th
St Nicholas / 11.30 a.m.
12.00 noon / Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
MASS
SATURDAY
7th
St Ambrose / 10.00 a.m.
11.00 a.m.-11.30 a.m.
3.00 p.m.-5.00 p.m.
5.30 p.m.-6.00 p.m.
6.30 p.m. / First Confessions
Confessions
Children in Non-Catholic Schools in the Hall
Confessions
FIRST MASS OF SUNDAY
SUNDAY
8th December
2nd Sunday of Advent / 8.30 a.m.
10.30 a.m. / MASS
MASS

Mass Book Page 167

Response to today’s Psalm

“I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house’.”

READINGS NEXT WEEK Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 71,

Romans 15:4-9, Gospel Matthew 3:1-12

MONEY COUNTING TEAM NO 1 THIS WEEK

CHURCH CLEANING

This week Sheila Malone & Richard Fennelly, thank you.

UNION OF CATHOLIC MOTHERS

The meeting on Wednesday 4th December at 2.00 p.m. in the Hall will be making a Christmas table decoration. Please bring a shallow dish and small evergreen foliage if possible. If you would like to join us you will be very welcome.

FOUNDATION GOVERNOR

The Archbishop is looking to appoint a Foundation Governor for The Sacred Heart School. This is because an existing Foundation Governor has completed his term of office. If you are interested, then please contact Fr. John. ______

Walk with Me –Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas

‘Walk with Me’ books are available at the back of the church, price 50p, which should be put in the box marked ‘Books’ on the wall at the rear of the Church. Also, there are Advent Calendars for children – these are free. ______

RAFFLE OF LARGE CHRISTMAS HAMPER

Raffle tickets are on sale in the hall after all Masses. All proceeds in aid of the Philippines Disaster Fund. Tickets are 50p each. The raffle will be drawn on Sunday 22nd December, after the 10.30 a.m. Mass.

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DICKENSIAN EVENING

We will be having our usual bottle tombola stall at Ware Dickensian evening this Friday 6th December. We would be grateful for donations of bottles (full and in-date) which can be left in the collecting box in the porch and for offers of any hours of help to run the stall on the evening. The list is on the table at the back of the Church to sign up. Thank you.

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UNION OF CATHOLIC MOTHERS – Christmas Party

The Christmas party will be on Wednesday 18th December at 2.00 p.m. in the Hall. Please bring a small plate of seasonal food, a small gift and a Christmas themed item; poem, music etc.

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CHRISTMAS CARDS MADE BY THE LADIES IN THE PHILIPPINES

There are still a few packs of these beautiful handcrafted Christmas cards available. If anyone would like to purchase some, a pack of 10 cards is £10.

Please contact Tracy in the Church office. All money goes back to the ladies in the Philippines that make them.

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SPICMA -Philippines Appeal

“Thanks to SPICMA and their donors who when they heard of this

Catastrophe they came to our aid through our society Mill Hill.”

This is part of an e-mail received from Fr. Charles MHM who works in

Turda parish, which together with Iloilo parish are the two parishes SPICMA’s donation have helped following the devastation left in the wake of the typhoon

in the Philippines. SPICMA are pleased to report that your generosity together with that of many others has enabled them to send £80,000 to date. Any more donations that are received will be transferred as soon as possible. Please visit their website for up to the minute information www.spicma.org.uk and to make further donations if you wish.

Thank you once again for your generosity.

WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL CONCERTS

There are two upcoming concerts in December at the Cathedral. The boy choristers will give a performance of Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols on Tuesday 10th December 7.30 p.m. Also, the annual Christmas concert, A Christmas Celebration, this concert presents the Choir and Orchestra of Westminster Cathedral, conducted by Martin Baker. Due to its popularity, this concert is held on two evenings: Wednesday 18th December and Thursday 19th December, both at 7.30 p.m. Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

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SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF ABUSE

The Diocesan Safeguarding Service is hoping to set up a support service for survivors of child abuse. It is intended that a list is retained, confidentially by the safeguarding service, of professional counsellors, who have experience of this area of work. When requested by a survivor the safeguarding service can supply a list of counsellors from which the survivor will be able to choose from.

There is no guarantee of work emulating from this project and it will be the responsibility of the survivor to negotiate fees with the counsellor concerned.

If you are interested in adding your name to the list, please forward your full details, by email, and relevant experience to Peter Turner, the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor at

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Please take home a CAFOD World Gifts Catalogue after Mass

Having trouble thinking of what to buy your friends this Christmas? Why not give them a CAFOD World Gift. This Gift gives a much needed present to some of the world’s poorest communities, and a stylish certificate to your friends or family showing them the gift purchased on their behalf. Please take home a CAFOD World Gifts catalogue today after Mass, - learn more and order online at www.cafod.org.uk/worldgifts

I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER

45. Q. Do natural laws and natural systems come from God also?

A.  Yes. The laws of nature and natural systems are also part of God’s creation. Man is not a blank slate. He is shaped by the order and the natural laws that God has inscribed in his creation. A Christian does not simply do “whatever he wants”. He knows that he harms himself and damages his environment when he denies natural laws, uses things in ways contrary to their intrinsic order, and tries to be wiser than God, who created them. It demands too much of a person when he tries to design himself from start to finish.