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Christmas Eve, Friday 24th December 5.30pm (family Mass) 7.30pm (carol service) followed by 8.00pm ("Midnight" Mass) Christmas Day, Saturday 25th December 8.30am (quiet Mass) 10.00am This year, no booking is required for our Christmas Masses. 
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Listen - Reflect - Share - PrayLast year, while the church was closed, we introduced a series of virtual reflections for Advent. This year, we are delighted to say that we can do it face to face! We will be having an Advent mini-retreat in the parish hall on Saturday 11th December. This special event will begin at 10am and will consist of music, art and stories, as well as scripture, to guide us through the Advent season. Festive refreshments will also be served in the spirit of the season. If you would be interested in attending, there is a sign up sheet at the back of the church (to help gauge numbers for the refreshments!)   The 50th heavenly birthday of Blessed James Alberione, the Founder of the Society of St Paul, is celebrated on 26th November 2021. To celebrate the occasion, there will be a solemn Mass at 7 pm in the Church.
In the same we celebrated the Feast of St Augustine with the Augustinians, all parishioners are invited to join Fr Baji and Fr Shinto, members of the Society of St Paul, to thank Lord for the gift of Fr Alberione and to seek his intercession. The Mass will be followed by tea/coffee/snacks in the parish hall. Let us make this a true parish celebration. Our annual parish Mass to remember our beloved family and friends and all the faithful departed who have gone to their rest before us will take place on Friday 12 November at 7pm.   Image taken from our Remembrance Service in 2020 Cards are available at the back of the church to write the names of your loved ones to be read out during the service. For each name read out during the service, a candle will be lit in their memory.
We will also take the time to commemorate those who have lost their lives in military service and in wider service to others. In a particular way, we will reflect on those from our parish family who we have lost due to the pandemic - either as a direct result of the Coronavirus or in service to others. In the Catholic Church, October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. Our special 10 Days Rosary devotion is taking place every evening from Friday 22nd October at 7pm, culminating in a special healing Rosary service on Sunday 31st October. All parishioners are welcome to join us in seeking the intercession of our Blessed Mother.  With the easing of Covid related restrictions, we are delighted that many of our parish groups and functions are beginning to resume. Altar Servers Under the guidance of trainer Billy Walker, a brand new group of children have been enthusiastically and meticulous practicing to become Altar Servers at our 11am Sunday Mass. Practice sessions have been carried out on Sundays after Mass and our first new team of Altar Servers will begin their duties on Sunday 24th October.  Little Church / Catechism Sticking with the theme of children and young people, our "Little Church" classes have resumed during the 11am Sunday Mass, led by Sheila Hay and a team of volunteers. The classes, aimed at primary school aged children, takes place in the meeting room at the back of the church during the first half of the Mass, with the children returning to their places by the time of the Offertory Procession. The classes include a brief discussion around the Gospel of the day followed by a related activity.  Teas and Coffees We are delighted that we are once again able to offer tea and coffee in the hall after our 11am Sunday Mass, courtesy of the St Monica's Guild. One of the things we have particularly missed during the pandemic is the opportunity to socialise with each other. This is also the ideal opportunity to get to know our new Pauline clergy who have been with us for over a year now and have unfortunately been unable to do any of the usual meet and greet with parishioners.  One Pound Club
The monthly One Pound Club draw will resume from October. There are still plenty of numbers left if you want to join and help to support the parish. Pick a number, pay £1 each month and get the chance to win a £50 prize. All proceeds go to parish funds. You've got to be in it to win it!  Pope Francis has declared the fourth Sunday of July as the annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.
Catholics are encouraged to visit loved ones on Sunday as part of the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Parishes are also invited to celebrate the role and contribution of older people in our communities and help deliver the message of Pope Francis to them. Archbishop Cushley said: "For this first-ever World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on Sunday, please consider making a visit to an elderly relative or neighbour, if safe to do so, to share the Holy Father’s message with them. We pray for the elderly but also ask for their prayers; as Pope Francis tells them, 'Your prayer is a very precious resource: a deep breath that the Church and the world urgently need'.” A letter written by Pope Francis to all grandparents and elderly can be read by clicking on the link below. Pope's Letter - Read The eagle eyed among you may have already noticed a small change to the header section of the website. We are pleased to unveil the new parish logo below, developed in consultation with the clergy and the Parish Council. The logo consists of St Joseph embracing the infant Jesus against the backdrop of our church. We hope that you will agree that this is truly representative of how we embrace each member of our parish community into one large family. Soon, the new logo will also be added to the signage outside the church.  On the Feast of Corpus Christi, we say congratulations to the 30 children from St Joseph's who received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion on Saturday 6th June. Despite restrictions imposed by the pandemic, we had a beautifully prayerful and holy celebration. As a parish, we pray for these children that they will be nourished by the Eucharist. They, and the other young people of our parish are the future.  Thank you to the teachers of St Joseph’s school who prepared the children to receive Communion, and as always a particular thanks to the volunteers from the parish who supported and ensured the smooth and safe running of the celebration. Archbishop Cushley has written a pastoral letter to all parishes in the Archdiocese on the occasion of Corpus Christi Sunday. The letter will be read out at all our Masses this weekend, but it can also be read by clicking on the link below.  |
