The Roman Catholic Parish of

St James and St William of York Reading

9th December 2018

2nd Sunday in Advent

Fr John writes:

PARISH PRIEST: Canon John O’Shea Parish Secretary: Catherine Ledgard Parish Safeguarding Ginika Okoye (StJ) Ministers: Françoise Le Saux (StW)

stjames@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk St James Presbytery,

Abbey Ruins, Forbury Road, Reading, RG1 3FD Tel: (0118) 957 4171

St James & St William of York Reading

Website: www.jameswilliam-reading.org.uk

This parish is a part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth Registered Charity No: 246871

Parish Liturgies for the week commencing 9th Dec

Sunday SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

SJ 6.00pm Lorenzo Cordero RIP

SW 9.00am Dorothy Hopley RIP

SJ 11.00am Stephen Coleman—get well

SW 6.00pm

Monday 2nd Week of Advent

SJ 12.15pm Anna Sabolova RIP

Tuesday NO MASS

Wednesday 2nd Week of Advent

SJ 12.15pm Holy Souls (DE)

Thursday ST LUCY

SJ 12.15pm Holy Souls (ES)

Friday ST JOHN OF THE CROSS

SJ 12.15pm

Thanksgiving Elton Estrocio good health

Next Sunday THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT SJ 6.00pm People of the parish

SW 9.00am Joan Lowe RIP SJ 11.00am Alice’s intentions

Confessions

SJ Saturday 5pm – 5.45pm Rosary – weekdays

SJ Mon to Thu after 12.15pm Mass

SJ Friday 12.45pm to 1.45pm

Psalm Response: What marvels the Lord has worked for us! Indeed we were glad

SCRIPTURE READINGS

SUN 16th Dec: 3rd Advent 1st R. Zeph. 3:14-18 2nd R. Phil. 4:4-7 Gospel: Luke 3:10-18

Please read these readings at home and listen to them at next Sunday’s Mass.

Offertory Collection £1607.55 (£381.70 Gift Aid) Gift aid envelopes £ 157.00 Non gift aid loose £ 746.37 Thank you for your generous contributions. Your donations make the life and work of the parish possible.

Royal Berkshire Hospital

Chaplain: Fr JP Lyttle RBH: 322 7105

Parish: 957 2149

A PRAYER FOR THE

Second Sunday of Advent Jesus,

you came among us with the irresistible

power of a baby, requiring both our

hands and captivating our whole hearts.

Help us to cast aside the sin and brokenness

that we cling to, so we might be ready to hold

you when you come again. Amen

CELEBRATING GOD’S FORGIVENESS

This week we begin the Advent Reconciliation Services at the different parishes in Reading. Our parish Advent Reconciliation Service is on Monday 17th December at 7.30pm at St James. I have arranged for 7 priests to be with us. Come and join us, be healed, be freed and be reconciled with God.

PLANNING, PREPARING 4 CHRISTMAS MASSES

I would like to invite all those who take a lead role at Sunday Masses as WELCOMERS, ALTAR SERVERS, READERS & MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION, REFRESHMENTS ETC to come to the CHRISTMAS PLANNING MEETING ON Wed 12th DEC IN ST JAMES 7.30pm. We want to ensure that we are ready and prepared to welcome all those attending our Christmas Masses. Our thanks to those who have responded to our email and offered to help. We are short of the following: Welcomers for the Christmas Night Mass and 11am Christmas Day, Eucharistic Ministers & Readers at 11am Christmas day, and Volunteers for refreshments at all 4 Masses. Please ensure your ministry, your team is represented at this meeting.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

HOW DO WE COMBAT FOOD WASTE ?

Food waste is the single largest material sent to landfills: Could you waste less food, water or paper, use less

plastic, reuse more, recycle more, compost more? Do you sometimes abstain from un-necessary food or eat

fewer animal products? Can you buy less food and serve smaller portions so that

food is not wasted?

CATHOLIC BIBLE SUNDAY

All of us should have access to a good quality Bible. The Word of God is central to our life as followers of Jesus. Our ‘Connect Groups’, which have been such a success this term, all focus on praying and reflecting on the Scriptures. At Mass actively listen to Gospel and the readings. God speaks to us through his word, we need to be open and receptive to his message for us.

READING HAYDN CHOIR: Charity Festive Carols and Music in aid of Launchpad. St William's, Fri 14th Dec at 7-8pm. Followed by Mince Pies and refreshments. Tickets are £8 from rdghaydnchoir@gmail.com OR at the door. NATIVITY on Sat 15 Dec, Broad Street outside M&S. At 11.30, 12.30, 1.30 & 2.30pm. Organised by the Churches in Reading. Mary & Joseph wanted. Contact parish office.

FOLDING & STAPLING OF CHRISTMAS MASS LEAFLETS: Volunteers needed Tue 18th Dec at 10am. Call or email the Parish Office if you can help.

WELCOME to Fr Richard Maniak who is celebrating our 12.15pm Mass on Wed 12th December. PLANNING FOR CHRISTMAS MEETING on Wed 12th Dec at 7.30pm at St James pres.

RECENTLY DIED Robert Hicks of Howth Dr, Woodley. Cremation Service on Wed 12th Dec at 2.30pm at Reading Crematorium. Our sympathy to his family. May he rest in peace.

THE BED FOR THE NIGHT initiative organised by Reading’s Christian churches to offer rough sleepers in our town a warm, safe place to sleep, a hot evening meal and breakfast. For 3 months from January. All sorts of help is welcomed. New volunteers must attend training next on Sun 16th Dec at 12.15pm at All Nations Christian Centre, 1 Berkeley Avenue, RG1 6JE (next to CIRDIC). Bookings to: admin@b4n.org.uk or phone 07967 681020 /www.abedforthenight.org.uk Forms at back of the church.

CHRISTMAS EVE CHILDREN’S MASS at St James at 6.00pm. Children are invited to dress up as Nativity characters. A short drama on the Nativity story will follow the Gospel.

FILIPINO CHRISTMAS MASS SINGING PRACTICES at St James church: Fri Dec 14th at 7.00-9.00pm Sat Dec 22 at 7:30 – 9.00pm SIMBANG GABI MASS Sun 23rd Dec in St James Church at 6.30pm. All are welcome.

HELP WANTED TO DECORATE THE CHRISTMAS TREE & CHURCH on Fri PM 21st Dec or Sat 22nd Dec. Offers to Fr John or parish office. Decorations are provided. MASS INTENTIONS The 2019 Mass intention book is available to book Masses for next year. The diocesan suggested stipend is £10 per Mass. Please fill in the request envelope in the porch, see Fr John after Mass or call in to the parish office to book.

CHRISTMAS CARDS & ADVENT CALENDARS Little red robins & snow make pretty pictures however Christmas is about the birth of the Saviour of the world, please consider the nature of the card you send this year! Available from the Repository.

WANTED EXAM INVIGILATORS at Blessed Hugh Faringdon school. Casual Contract. £9.68 ph. Required at key times throughout the year. Further details from www.hughfaringdon.org/information/vacancies. Closing Date – 12pm Tue18 Dec 2018.

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES LEAFLET is available from the back of the church now. JS TUTORIALS coaching for KS1,2 & 3. Contact: jstutorialreading@gmail.com

WANTED HR, ADMIN AND OPERATIONS COORDINATOR - St Laurence Church, Reading. 21 hrs pw @ £12.47 ph. 2 Years Fixed-Term, with 3 month probationary period. Start date - ASAP For more details, visit https://www.stlreading.org/jobs/

MUSIC & REFLECTIONS FOR ADVENT at Douai Abbey Sun 16th Dec at 3.30pm. Uplifting music & words in the beautiful surroundings of the Ab-bey church amidst the busy onrush of Christmas. All welcome.

PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND 15th—22nd May 2019. Cost: £1360pp. 50 places. Deposit: £250 pp. Flights from Heathrow. Led by Frs John & Michael. Applications to be in ASAP. Contact the parish office by phone: 01189 574171 or stjames@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk. ONLY 4 PLACES REMAIN - DON’T DELAY!

CHRISTMAS CHOIR PRACTICES Come and join the singing rehearsals:

Thursday 13th Dec Tuesday 18th Dec All at 7.30pm.

Open to all – not just choirs!

This Sun 9th December 2nd Sunday in Advent We light the 2nd candle on our Advent Wreath. CATHOLIC BIBLE SUNDAY The Bible Society are passionate about making the Bible available all around the world. NAME BADGE SUNDAY Please take a name badge as you arrive for Mass. SANTA RUN 9.00am till 11.30am. Note access to St James’ car park may be difficult. Parking at the Forbury Retail park is not affected. FOLK GROUP at 9am & 11am Masses LAUDATO SI ACTION GROUP to distribute their 3rd monthly leaflet. CONFIRMATION SESSION 12.30-2pm at St James. DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOUR at Our Lady of Peace at 2.30pm.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION parent & child session at 3.00-4.15pm at St Williams. TAMIL MASS CANCELLED UNIVERSITY MASS 6pm at St Williams (Last Mass of term)

GOOD SHEPHERD charismatic prayer group are meeting on Wed 12th Dec at 7.30pm in Barberi Room for Christmas Carols—all welcome. Info from Liz Tanner on 0778 055 3077 after 1pm.

Next Sun 16th Dec 3rd Sunday of Advent. We light the 3rd candle on our Advent Wreath. SECOND COLLECTION Christmas Flowers

Date Time Venue

Mon 10th 7.30pm St John Bosco

Tue 11th 7.30pm St Joseph’s

Wed 12th 7.30pm Christ the King

Thu 13th 7.30pm St Anne’s

Fri 14th 7.30pm Our Lady of

Peace

Sat 15th 11.00am English Martyrs

Mon 17th 7.30pm St James

ADVENT PENITENTIAL SERVICES

WELCOMING, READING, MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION, & REFRESHMENTS please respond to the email sent to you on Thu asking for volunteers for Christmas Masses by 12th Dec. If you do not have email & can help please phone the parish office ASAP. Thank you.