SAINT ROBERT OF NEWMINSTER PARISH
Parish Priest: Fr. Michael Dever – Tel. 0161 224 1498
Website. www.stmaryslevenshulme.co.uk
Email. info@stmaryslevenshulme.co.uk
St. Mary of the Angels & St. Clare Church, Elbow St, Levenshulme, M19 3PY
St. Richard Church, Sutcliffe Avenue, Longsight, M12 5TN
Resident at St. Mary’s Presbytery: Fr. Laurence Gambella, Assistant Priest & Hospital Chaplain and Fr. Martin Dowd, Chaplain to the Central M/c Hospitals.
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
“Stay with us, Lord, on our Journey”
COVID-19: Church Guidance:. Please sanitise hands on entering and follow safe distancing and instructions from the stewards. Sanitise hands again on exiting church by the side doors. All those who attend church must wear a face covering. Those that are exempt for medical reasons or children under 11 remain exempt. Please note for safety reasons toilets are closed.
Church Opening Times – 6th to 12th December
Sunday : 9.15am Mass at St. Richard’s
10.30am & 12 noon Mass at St. Mary’s
Monday : 9.15am Mass at St. Richard’s
Tuesday : 9.30am Mass at St. Mary’s
Wednesday : 9.15am Mass at St. Richard’s
Thursday : 9.30am Mass at St. Mary’s
6pm First Holy Communion Mass at St. Richard’s
Friday : 9.15am Mass at St. Richard’s
Saturday : 10am Exposition followed by 11am Mass at St. Mary’s
5.00pm Vigil Mass at St. Richard’s
6.30pm Vigil Mass at St. Mary’s
Feasts of the Week
Tues. 8th Dec. The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
Wed. 9th Dec. St John Diego Cuahtiatoatzin
Thurs. 10th Dec. St John Roberts
Fri. 11th Dec. St Damasus I, Pope
Sat. 12th Dec. Our Lady of Guadalupe
Pray for the Sick and Housebound and all those who are suffering from the coronavirus and others who are sick at this time, including Eamonn Walls, Mary McGlade, Maureen Woods, Benny Woods, Christine Jackson, Mark Graham, Mary Dunne, Jackie Clare. May the Good Lord strengthen and comfort them. Pray also for all who care for the sick.
Under the data protection law (GDPR) we need ‘explicit consent’ to print in the newsletter the names of those sick parishioners for whom we are praying. If you would like your name or that of a relative added to the Sick List please be aware that if it is for a relative he or she MUST give their consent for their name to be published in the weekly newsletter.
Lately Dead: Mary Rowland, John McLaughlin, Patrick (Pat) Dinan, Sean Ferguson.
Special Intention: Laura & Michael, Vanessa & Paul
WHAT HAPPENS IF I GO INTO HOSPITAL?
If you are admitted as a patient, please ensure the Chaplains’ Office is informed that you would like to be visited by a Catholic Minister. This has to be done by you or a relative. Tel. 0161 276 4247 (Central Manchester Hospitals).
PLEASE WRAP UP WARM: Presently we must have the Church doors open to provide ventilation against COVID. As you will have noticed the temperature is beginning to fall and it is unlikely that we will put the heating on whilst having doors open. Please put on some layers and stay warm!!
ST. RICHARD’S FIRST HOLY COMMUNION MASSES BEFORE CHRISTMAS: As a result of the second national lockdown finishing on Wednesday and the new Tier 3 guidance in place in Manchester, the good news is that our (mainly Year 4) children’s First Holy Communion Masses can restart. Keeping in mind that there could still be changes, these masses will be celebrated at 6pm on Thursday 10th December, Tuesday 15th December and Thursday 17th December. Thank you again for your patience, help and support during this year’s unusual Sacramental Programme. Please remember all our First Holy Communicants in your prayers.
FANTASTIC NEWS! We are delighted to announce that, last Sunday, St Richard’s Primary School appeared in The Sunday Times 2021 Schools Guide, a list of Britain’s leading schools. Using SATs results and rankings dating from 2010 up to the most recent data available, this is the most comprehensive resource covering elite primary school performance in the UK.
St Richard’s is placed 159th on the list of the top 500 English state primary schools (there are 16,769 primary schools in England) so this puts St Richard’s in the top 1% of primary schools nationally. This is a tremendous achievement and a great reflection of the amazing performance of the whole community at St Richard’s, going back many years. Well done everyone!
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES: At present there is no obligation to attend Mass even on Christmas Day. Bishop John has asked that we celebrate Christmas in a different way this year by returning to the ancient tradition of observing the Christmas Octave. We will do this by inviting everyone who is able to do so, to attend a Christmas Mass on at least one of the days during the Octave from Christmas Eve through to New Years Day. This would reduce the demand on Christmas Day to a number we could accommodate in our churches and remain Covid safe. During the Christmas Octave both churches will have ‘Family Benches” so families will be able to celebrate Christmas together on one of the days during the time between Christmas Day and New Years Day. A list of the times of Masses during Christmas can be found on the table as you leave church.
CHRISTMAS RAFFLE: Do you fancy winning a Luxury Christmas hamper full of festive goodies, or one of our other raffle prizes? Remember every raffle ticket you buy will help raise vital funds for our parish. So please don’t miss out – buy your raffle tickets today! Raffle tickets are available to buy from the stewards at church opening times, and also available from St. Mary’s office from 8.30am – 1pm Monday to Friday (except Wednesday). All raffle tickets are £1 per strip. The draw will take place at St. Mary’s on Saturday 19th December after the 11 o’clock Mass. All winners will be notified by telephone.
PARISH FINANCE: I am most grateful to those parishioners who have been making their contributions regularly during this time. Since we are not allowed to pass the collection bags around in church you will see a basket at the exit doors for your offerings and gift aid envelopes for the church.
A simple way to make a regular offering to the parish is to make a Standing Order through your bank. Standing Order Forms are available from the office at St. Mary’s or from Fr. Dever. For those who pay Income Tax a Gift Aid Form is also available. This allows the tax you have already paid on your weekly offering to be repaid to our parish. So if you give a £1 the parish will receive £1.25p. I would encourage anyone who can to consider signing a standing order for the parish. With thanks for all your help and understanding in these very difficult times.
NEWSLETTER: Please pass on a newsletter to a neighbour or anyone who you think might appreciate it.
ST. MARY’S APF/MILLHILL – RED BOX HOLDERS
Due to the Coronavirus collectors are unable to visit your homes, therefore, Red Box holders may drop off their red box at the parish office weekdays (except Wednesday) from 8.30am to 1pm or bring it along to the church at Mass time and hand it in at the Sacristy. If you are unable to come to church please telephone the office on 0161 248 8836.
Items for the newsletter including Mass Intentions can be left at the Parish Office Tel. 0161 248 8836 or emailed to info@stmaryslevenshulme.co.uk by Thursday midday. The weekend newsletter is published on Friday mornings!