Welcome to the Catholic Parish of Stamford

Saint Mary and Saint Augustine The Presbytery, 13 Broad Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1PG Telephone: (01780) 762010

Website: www.staugustinescatholicchurchstamford.co.uk

Parish Priest: Father Simon Gillespie Mobile: 07760 372105 Email: simon@nottinghamcatholic.com

Deacons: Reverend Charles West-Sadler (with Oakham parish); Reverend Robert S Dawson (retired)

Parish Director of Music: Ruth Proctor Mobile: 07826 017487 Email: ruthproctor73@gmail.com

Parish Hall Manager: Anna Barwell Mobile: 07789 283140 Email: anna.barwell@tiscali.co.uk

Parish Primary School: Saint Augustine’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Stamford (01780) 762094

Catholic Secondary School: Saint John Fisher Catholic High School, Peterborough (01733) 343646

Part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham Diocesan Website: www.nottingham-diocese.org.uk

Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Company Number: 7151646 Charity Number: 1134449

16th and 17th December 2017 : Third Sunday of Advent : Gaudete

On Wednesday this week, Pope Francis reflected on the question "Why go to Mass

on Sunday?" during his General Audience, held in the Paul VI Hall. Missing out on

Sunday Mass means missing out an encounter with the Lord, he said. We go to Mass

on Sunday to meet the resurrected Lord - or better still - "to let ourselves be

welcomed by Him, to hear His word, eat at His table, and by his grace fulfil our

mission as members of the Mystical Body of the Church." Sunday is a holy day for

Christians, and it is rendered holy by the celebration of the Eucharist which is the

living presence of the Lord amongst us, he said. "Thus, it is the Mass that defines

Sunday for Christians... What sort of Sunday can it be if it is lacking an encounter with

the Lord?"

The Pope turned his thoughts to persecuted Christian communities are not able to

celebrate Mass every Sunday and who do their best to gather in prayer on this holy

day. He also mentioned many people in secularized society "that have lost that

Christian sense of Sunday that is illuminated by the Eucharist: "this is a real shame"

he said, reflecting on the need to recuperate this need. Pope Francis recalled how

the Second Vatican Council asked us to celebrate the Lord’s Day as a day of joy and

rest from servile work as a sign of our dignity as children of God. "Without Christ we

are condemned to be weighed down by the fatigue of everyday life, with its worries

and fear of tomorrow" he said. Our Sunday meeting with the Lord, gives us the

strength to live today with trust and courage and to go forth with hope. In the

Eucharist we receive a foretaste of the eternal bliss and repose to which we are

called in which there will be no more fatigue, nor pain, nor grief nor tears; only the

joy of living fully and for ever with the Lord.

The Pope finally acknowledged that the quality of Christian life is measured by our

capacity to love the other, but, he said "how can we practice the Gospel without

drawing from the energy provided by the inexhaustible source of the Eucharist?" We

go to Mass, he concluded, "not to give something to God, but to receive from him

the grace and strength to remain faithful to his word, to follow his commandments

and, through his living presence within us, to be witnesses of his goodness and love

before the world."

Deanery Reconciliation Services – Confessions for Christmas!

Advent is always a good time to go to confession as we prepare ourselves spiritually

for the coming of Christ at Christmas, and so there will be deanery reconciliation

services, with visiting priests, in the days leading up to Christmas:

Sunday 17th December – 3.30pm – Reconciliation Service in Oakham

Monday 18th December – 7pm – Reconciliation Service in Bourne

Tuesday 19th December – 7pm – Reconciliation Service in Grantham

Confessions will also be available after each weekday Mass, or simply by coming to

the presbytery when Father Simon is available.

Ensure you plan in good time when you wish to come to make your Confession

before Christmas, and be truly ready to greet Christ when he comes!

Christmastime Liturgical Programme

Saturday 23rd December

• 6.00pm - Vigil Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday 24th December

• 9.00am – Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Advent

• 11.00am – Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Advent

• 6.00pm - Vigil Mass of Christmas with the children's Nativity

• 11.30pm - Vigil of Readings, leading directly into Monday 25th December

• 12.00 midnight – Midnight Mass of Christmas

• 9am - Dawn Mass of Christmas

• 10.30am - Day Mass of Christmas (note the change of time)

For clarification – there are TWO obligations (Sunday and Christmas)

and so all Catholics are obliged to attend TWO DIFFERENT Masses

Saturday or Sunday for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Sunday or Monday for Christmas

Forthcoming Events in our parish, community and diocese

New listings are shown with a grey background

Christmas Carols will be sung in the John Van Geest Unit on Tuesday 19th December

at 2.30pm, with the Mayor of Stamford in attendance. If you wish to join in imply

turn up at Van Geest a few minutes early and bring voices and enthusiasm with you!

Barn Hill Methodist Church are offering an Advent Prayer Labyrinth on Wednesday

20th December from 2.00pm until 4,00pm; and from 7.30pm until 9.00pm. The

labyrinth consists of stations of guided prayer which are relevant to the hope of

Christ’s coming among us. All are very welcome – simply turn up, there is no booking.

Altar Servers’ Training on Friday 22nd December from 10am Mass until 12 noon.

An extra Choir Rehearsal for Midnight Mass will be held on Saturday 23rd December

after the evening Mass, at 7.00pm

Altar Servers’ Mass on Saint Stephen’s Day, Tuesday 26th December at 10.30am

The SVP meets next on Thursday 11th January at 6pm in the parish hall. All are

welcome.

Job Opportunity – Diocesan Director of Youth Services

The Diocese seeks to appoint a professionally qualified Director of Youth Service who

combines a deep personal commitment to their Catholic faith with a vibrant and

enthusiastic passion for Catholic youth ministry and retreat provision among young

people. This full-time post will be based at The Briars Youth Retreat Centre in Crich.

For further information contact Teresa Clark on 01773 852044 or

bookings@ndcys.com. The closing date for applications is 3rd January.

Job Opportunity – Derby City Catholic Youth Worker

From January 2018 the Catholic parishes of Derby are seeking to employ a full-time

Youth Worker to work with people aged 11-18. The candidate will inspire and

encourage young people across the city, and help parishes in the city to develop

opportunities for young people to grown to full maturity as members of the Catholic

Church. See the poster in the porch for more details of this exciting opportunity!

Stamford Foodbank

Items for Christmas can be left at the bank of church anytime until Wednesday 20th

December. Sincere thanks for everything handed in last weekend!

Mass Intentions

If anyone would like to have a Mass celebrated during Advent or over the Christmas

season, perhaps as a Christmas gift for a loved one, put your offering into one of the

envelopes at the back of church, write out the details, and hand into the presbytery.

Churches Together in Stamford – Christmas Card Deliveries

Sincere thanks to Kevin Vinter and John Allison who have helped to deliver almost

all of our quota of cards this year. More volunteers are always welcome!

Christmas Raffle

Sincere thanks to Mary, Anna and Rosemary for all their hard work, and for so many

parishioners who bought tickets and helped to sell them; almost £1,000 has been

raised for the church lighting project!

Congratulations to our winners (prizes can be collected from the presbytery):

1. £100 cash – 1790 (Liz Bingham)

2. Waitrose hamper – 2511 (Cyril Wilkinson)

3. Gaynor’s pendant – 876 (Hilary Miles)

4. Studio tour of Rutland Radio – 2675 (Ann Henley)

5. Afternoon Tea at Sam’s Place – 4717 (Mary Rowe)

6. £20 voucher for The Lounge – 4087 (Clare Smith)

7. Yankee candle and holder – 4128 (Bridget Francis)

8. Sunday lunch for two at the Collyweston Slater – 2869 (Marilyn Smith)

9. Robinson’s lady’s leather purse – 4503 (Hallam)

10. Cookshop salt and pepper pots and milk jug set – 1999 (Laura Boyden)

11. Shear Genius men’s haircut – 760 (Bill Cumber)

12. Attic scarf – 1970 (Ruth Egboma)

13. Viyella bag – 768 (Pat Spiers)

14. Graffiti Beauty manicure – 302 (Eric Stanley)

15. Bottle of fizz – 822 (Doreen Szymanski)

16. Box of biscuits and a bottle of fizz – 4489 (Andrew Bretton)

This week in our parish primary school

On Tuesday children enjoyed a festive

turkey lunch and we all sat altogether

in the Main School Hall. Everyone

joined in the celebration and pupils

were treated to silver service from the

staff.

On the day before children had fun in

the snow on our little used sledges!

Friends of Saint Augustine

Christmas Fayre

We are extremely proud to

say that we raised in

excess of £803 at the

Christmas Fayre last

Friday.

A special thanks to Wendy Hutchins who led this event

and to everyone for their very valued support.

We also would like to thank parish members who

helped with the teas and coffees.

We need a Headteacher!

Saint Augustine has a vacancy for a permanent full-time head teacher commencing

1st September 2018. Full details are available from headship@EPM.co.uk. Visits to

the school can be arranged by contacting Mrs Sue Bray, School Business Manager,

on 01780 762094. The closing date for applications is noon Monday 22nd January

with interviews being held on Friday 26th January.

Please pass this onto anyone you know who might be interested!

Mission Statement:

I can work, play, rest and pray each day.

Diocesan Prayer for Priestly and Religious Vocations

Almighty God, we pray, give us holy priests to strengthen us in our Christian calling,

that we may be more closely conformed to Christ and share more effectively in his

saving work. Through their ministry at the altar, and by their administration of the

sacraments, may our lives be sanctified and become more closely associated with

the redemptive sacrifice of Christ. As they preach the Gospel and teach the faith

may we be inspired to dedicate ourselves to the work of evangelisation. As they

serve our parishes may we be led into deeper communion of faith, hope and charity.

O God, bless our diocese also with men and women who will serve the mission of

the Church by taking religious vows, inspiring us with lives consecrated to you.

Mary Immaculate – pray for us

Saint Hugh of Lincoln – pray for us

The saints of our diocese – pray for us.

Prayers for Vocations this Week

Monday 18th December – Those training for the permanent diaconate

Wednesday 20th December – Our retired priests

Thursday 21st December – Father James Cahill (Whitwick)

Saturday 23rd December – Father Damian Tomcyk (Polish Mission, Nottingham)

Readings at Mass this Week

Monday Jeremiah 23:5-8; Psalm 71(72):1-2.12-13.18-19; Matthew 1:18-24

Tuesday Judges 12:2-7.24-25; Psalm 70(71):3-6.16-17; Luke 1:5-25

Wednesday Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 23(24):1-6; Luke 1:26-38

Thursday Song of Songs 2:8-14; Psalm 32(33):2-3.11-12.20-21; Luke 1:39-45

Friday 1 Samuel 1:24-28; 1 Samuel 2:1.4-8; Luke 1:46-56

Saturday Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24(25):4-5.8-9.10.14; Luke 1:57-66

A reflection from ‘Marriage Matters’

We have been anointed by God

A television programme poses the question: ‘Who do you think you are?’ When

John, baptising in the desert, was asked this question, to paraphrase he replied: “I

am a voice, drawing attention to something greater than you can see or hear.” Our

marriages are like this! We are a ‘sign’ radiating God’s love for all God’s people.

Many Thanks for your Generosity

Envelopes £222.00 Loose plate £189.97

Standing Order £274.00 Collection Total £685.97

Last weekend’s Retiring Collection for Flowers for Christmas : £235.37

This weekend – Second Collection for Poor and Needy Parishes in our diocese

Prayers For . . .

All who have died recently: especially: Monica Holt whose Requiem Mass will be

celebrated on Wednesday 27th December at 11.30am; Virginia Hardstaff; James

Cameron; Alish Pollard; William Costello; and all the Faithful Departed.

May they rest in peace!

All our sick and housebound parishioners and friends: especially Maria Pinto,

Catherine Farndell, John Griffiths, John Salthouse, Marie Lunny, Sheila Kelly, Mary

Patrick, Dympna Middleton, Vincent Kelly, David Peach, Pat Jones, Sister Attracta,

Verlia Duque, Edie McLaughlin, Father Thomas Breslin, Provost Michael Bell, Bishop

Frank Walmsley, John Chapple, Father Peter Peterken, Charlotte Pridmore, Father

Chris Hogan, John Scott, Father Michael Stappard, Margaret West-Sadler, John Herd,

Father Dominic O’Connor, Father Joe O’Hanlon, Jo and Bernard Raffo, Victoria

Crouch, Father James O’Hanlon, Father Eamonn O’Hara, Peter Herrick, Father John

Cairns, Deacon Bernard Croft, Mark Grab, Rosa Maria Santos, Kenneth Court,

Veronica Hosking, Beth Coleman, Joan Middleton, Pat Dancer, Augusta Deane, Irene

Mulligan, Connie Edgar, Gladys Brown, Nora Hunt, Valerie Pellier, Fiona Ruddle,

David Cooke, Maeve Swann, Helen Allen, Jean Maker, Anna Orme, Lucy Court,

Debbie Reed, Ken Woods, Lilian Popple, Anne Woods, Father David Bingham, Deacon

Bob Dawson, Father Peter Harvey.

Liturgy This Week This Week Next Week

Sunday Third Sunday of Advent Fourth Sunday of Advent Cycle & Psalter Year B, Week 3 Year B, Week 4 Mass Page 87 Page 90 Penitential Rite B, page 8 B, page 8 First Reading Isaiah 61:1-2.10-11 2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-12.14-16 Psalm Luke 146-50. 53-54 Psalm 88:2-5.27.29 Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Romans 16:25-27 Gospel John 1:6-8. 19-28 Luke 1:26-38 Preface Advent 1, page 51 Advent 2, page 52 Eucharistic Prayer Two, page 24 Three, page 28 Memorial Acclamation B (When we eat) B (When we eat)

Masses and Services this Week

Saturday 16th December Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete

Second Collection for Poor and Needy Parishes in our diocese

6.00pm Vigil Mass Andrew Swann RIP

7.00pm Confessions

Sunday 17th December Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete

9.00am Mass Pro Populo (people of the parish)

Children’s Liturgy; Tea and coffee after

11.00am Mass John and Eveline Cilia – Golden Wedding Anniversary

Tea and coffee after

3.00pm Ecumenical Service at Whitefriars

3.30pm Deanery Reconciliation Service in Saint Joseph, Oakham

5.00pm Sung Vespers

Monday 18th December Advent Feria

9.00am Mass Louise Cox O’Flynn

7.00pm Deanery Reconciliation Service in Bourne or Deeping

Tuesday 19th December Advent Feria

9.00am School Mass Monsignor Augustine Hoey RIP

7.00pm Deanery Reconciliation Service in Saint Mary Immaculate, Grantham

Wednesday 20th December Advent Feria

7.30am Mass Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor RIP

Thursday 21st December Advent Feria

7.00pm Mass Canon Peter Gilburt RIP

Friday 22nd December Advent Feria

10.00am Mass Father Martin Tarrosa RIP

Saturday 23rd December Advent Feria

9.00am Confessions

Fourth Sunday of Advent

6.00pm Vigil Mass Canon Louis Thomas RIP

7.00pm Confessions

Sunday 24th December Fourth Sunday of Advent

9.00am Mass Robert Dudek – Blessings

Tea and coffee after

11.00am Mass Pro Populo (people of the parish)

Tea and coffee after

5.00pm Sung Vespers