January - St Alban`s Church, Macclesfield
Transcription
January - St Alban`s Church, Macclesfield
St. Alban’s Monthly News The monthly magazine of St. Alban’s Parish, Macclesfield Issue No. 138 January 2015 “We aim to be a loving Catholic community in Macclesfield, assisted by prayer and the sacraments, proclaiming God’s Word, serving all in need.” "Slaves no more, but brothers and sisters" The Pope’s New Year Message The Pope’s message for January 1st the World Day of Peace is a cry against the injustice of slavery in all its forms. The essence is: Many people think that slavery is a thing of the past. In fact, this social plague remains all too real in today's world. Too many children of God are denied dignity as human beings. Peace can only exist when each human being recognizes every other person as a brother or sister with the same dignity. Too many abominable forms of slavery persist in today's world: human trafficking, trade in migrants and prostitutes, exploitation, slave labour, and the enslavement of women and children. Shamefully, individuals and groups around the world profit from this slavery. They take advantage of the world's many conflicts, of the economic crisis and of corruption in order to carry out their evil. Slavery is a terrible open wound on the contemporary social body, a fatal running sore on the flesh of Christ! To counter slavery effectively, above all, the inviolable dignity of every person must be recognized. Moreover, this recognition must be anchored solidly in fraternity. Fraternity requires us to reject any inequality which would allow one person to enslave another. It demands instead that we act everywhere with proximity and generosity, thus leading to liberation and inclusion for everyone. Our purpose is to build a civilization based on the equal dignity of every person without discrimination. To achieve this will also require the commitment of the media, of education and of culture to a renewed society pledged to freedom, justice and therefore peace. For more and the full text click on http:// www.catholicnews.org.uk/Home/News/World-Day-ofPeace Peace is more than the absence of war. One striking feature of the Pope’s messages over the years – 2015 marks the 48th in the series- is that they are not focused on war. They are mainly about justice. We think of the peace between the European powers which we have enjoyed since the end of World War II. We wish each other “peace” during Mass. We sometimes sing a hymn with the word Shalom, meaning, in shorthand, peace. This is the word of the Gospel and it is so much richer. This Hebrew word means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. In Biblical revelation, peace is much more than the simple absence of war, it represents the fullness of life. For more details: http://www.catholicsocialteaching.org.uk/themes/peace/ Peace Sunday. January 18th is the Sunday set aside by the English Bishops for the celebration of the World Day of Peace. On Wednesday 21st there will be a talk organised by the J&P Group on “Blessed are the Peacemakers ” at 8pm in the Parish Centre. The speaker will be Matt Jeziorski of Pax Christi. All welcome. Keith Taylor St Alban’s Monthly News Page 2 PARISH ROSARY FOR PEACE. Every Wednesday evening before mass, at 6.40 pm. Together we CAN make a difference, All welcome. HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS for JANUARY BURNS NIGHT In Parish Centre on Saturday 31/1/15 at 7.30pm Haggis, Neaps and tatties provided. Bring your own bottle. Piper performing and Scottish dancing lead. All welcome See poster in porch for further details/prices Any queries contact Mary 426219 Universal: “That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace”. For Evangelization: That in this year dedicated to consecrated life, religious men and women may rediscover the joy of following Christ and strive to serve the poor with zeal. Baptisms Jessica Rowe Thomas Robert Snow Then Contact Margaret on 07881 895540 Deaths Monthly News Editor : Phil Read Shaw Tel: 828152 Email: philreadshaw@hotmail.co.uk Contributions welcome from all groups and individuals in the Parish. Copy deadline: last Monday of the month. Advertising contact: Keith Taylor Tel: 429915 Email: SKeithTayl@aol.com Rates £6.00 per single insertion. (width 6cms by depth 4cms.) (£30.00 for six months.) St Alban’s Website: This month’s and last month’s editions of the Monthly News are available at http://www.stalbanmacc.org.uk St Alban’s Monthly News is printed by MAIL BOXES ETC 1 Silk House, Park Green, Macclesfield SK11 7QJ Tel 429900 Email: info@mbruk.com Charles Fergus Lowe Lowe Ann May Bennett Marriages Jonathan Carl Duffy & Samantha Sarah O'Brien Anders Bergalund & Valencia Constanza Munoz St Alban’s Monthly News Home Groups Thanks are due to all who designed the programme, hosted and led the groups and participated in the programme. Watch out for more information about future home groups in the New Year. It seems that the National Bishops’ Conference is wishing to help parishes like ours in translating Pope Francis’s words into action. Read the short article below introducing their Proclaim 15 initiative. Page 3 CAFOD Fun Run at Bollington There were 160 people who joined in the fun on the day after Boxing Day. The weather was bright and course quite safe in spite of overnight snow and low Proclaim ‘15: New National Initiative in 2015 to Support Parish Evangelisation ‘Proclaim ’15: BUILDING MISSIONARY PARISHES’ is the name of a new National Bishops’ initiative being launched in 2015 to support the development of parish evangelisation. It is inspired by Pope Francis’ writings and has five parts which include: The provision of free parish small group materials; the organisation of a National Catholic Evangelisation Conference in Birmingham on 11 July 2015 for 850 evangelisation representatives from across England and Wales; An invitation to parishes to host a parish Prayer Vigil on the night of 11 July 2015 with free prayer materials provided. The invitation to dioceses, deaneries and parishes to have their own Proclaim ’15 event in autumn 2015; The publication of new evangelisation resources as a fruit of the National Conference to equip local evangelisers. Please do get involved in what is a significant new step in service of the proclamation of the Gospel in your area. More information will be available in our newsletter over the coming months. Website: www.catholicnews.org.uk/proclaim15 Chris Pike The runners and walkers all enjoyed themselves from the time when they started their warmup seen here. All this before the formal start by Cllr Amanda Stott, Town Mayor of Bollington seen here with our very own Fr Paschal who went on to complete the course in fine style. At the time of going to press the total raised for CAFOD’s work in Gaza Syria and Syria has topped £3,000. Thanks to all concerned, Keith Taylor St Alban’s Monthly News Page 4 THE BOOK FOR JANUARY at St Alban’s Livesimply challenges us to respond to God’s call to live simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the poor. As we start a new year and think about how we can make resolutions to live our lives in the way that God wants us to, we are encouraged to take time to pray and reflect on the messages in this Livesimply Creed. Located in the Parish Library. “Biographies ” - Spine Number: 31 MAN FROM A FAR COUNTRY BY Mary Craig We believe in God who gave us a world to share in friendship, equality and peace. We believe in God who created all people and our world out of love. We recognise that the world is unequal and unjust and that we are individually and collectively responsible for being good stewards and for working with hope and love to restore God’s kingdom on earth. We believe in Christ, living, suffering, dying and rising, the life force in the whole of creation. This is a very readable account of the life of Karol Wojtyla up to his election to the papacy. His personal story has been interwoven with We believe in one world, one people, fed from one table. National, political and social events in Poland We believe that we are all vital parts of Christ’s body, reflecting his love, by and through our actions, compassion, attitudes and choices. and in Europe and gives us the true picture of We believe we are God’s instruments through which by faith, prayer and action we will change the world. We believe in a God of love, who calls all of us to listen to each other, to actively share and treat each other as equals in humility and hope. We believe that within God’s circle of love, faith and trust we all share in a worldwide hunger for justice as brothers and sisters in Christ. (Written by a group of CAFOD volunteers) Let us pray that we are able to live as 1 John 3:v18 guides us, when he says: “My children, our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active” and make Livesimply a more active part of our personal, family and parish lives not only a good and holy man, but a very rare and exceptional human being. Silvia St Alban’s Monthly News Page 5 Church Schools Voluntary Academy Trust Set to Grow All Hallows Catholic College in Macclesfield is hoping to be joined by three more schools, which are applying for permission to consult on becoming voluntary Academies. The three schools are all members of a Church school partnership made up of Catholic and Anglican schools, which work closely with each other and All Hallows, as the progression secondary school. The Catholic primary schools applying to consult on academy status are: St Alban’s (Macclesfield), St Mary’s (Congleton) and St Paul’s (Poynton). The schools will benefit from the Government primary chain grant, which will help them establish new ways of working together and as part of the trust. The aim of the trust, which is known as the Holy Family Catholic Academy Trust, is to strengthen partnership working and to ensure high quality Church school education is provided for children from ages 3-19. The picture shows the Head teachers as follows:Head of St Paul’s Nora Armstrong, Principal of All Hallows Catholic College Tony Billings, Head of St Mary’s Congleton Sasha Humphries and Head of St Alban’s Teresa Cook. Notes Head of St Mary’s, Sacha Humphries said ‘This is a natural progression for us, we already work closely with the All Hallows Learning Community and are fully convinced of the possibilities from entering into a more formal partnership with each other.’ Nora Armstrong Boyle, Head of St Paul’s said ‘We have been exploring the idea of becoming a voluntary academy for some time and we think the diocesan multi-academy trust model is right for us.’ Teresa Cooke Head of St Alban’s agreed saying ‘Since becoming Head of St Alban’s we have really benefitted from the support we give to each other and our sense of shared purpose.’ Tony Billings, Principal of All Hallows said ‘ We are really looking forward to the possibility of being joined by others in an arrangement which will make partnership working for the community we serve secure for the future. All Hallows was the first member to establish and join the Holy Family of Nazareth Multi Academy Trust in January 2013. The timescale for consultation and conversion will be set by the individual governing bodies of each school with the primary hoping to convert to academy status before the end of this academic year. The Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury approves a multi-academy trust model for academy conversion, which ensures families of schools work together as equals and for the benefit of the whole of the communities they serve. All four schools have good or outstanding ratings in Ofsted inspections – a requirement for becoming ‘converter’ academies. Converter academies are known as ‘voluntary’ academies in Catholic education. St Alban’s Monthly News Page 6 The Joy of the Gospel Home Group Feedback Our Autumn/Advent home groups attracted 88 participants, meeting in 11 different homes across the parish. The material we used, based on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) was inspirational and challenging to all of us. We were encouraged by Pope Francis to “a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter us … and to do this unfailingly every day.” In this way we can be filled by a new found joy that others may sense and want to share. The home group meetings provided a lovely opportunity for parishioners to share their faith with others and to learn from each other. Many commented on how enriching the home group experience was, in making friends, in a warm, open and accepting community. Comments made by participants included: • I enjoyed the whole experience; the text is fantastic and inspiring; the discussion was an important part of the experience for me. • Wonderful, open, supportive fellow Christians, willing to share and listen to each other; TJoTG is a stunning document; the structure of the materials, its preparation and the format to trigger our discussion were all superb – Thank you. • It was a very worthwhile experience; Very interesting and important; Being here reminded me that I need to keep exploring my faith and to put more effort into living my faith; also made me realise that I need to live more joyfully. • Interesting to be able to share mutual enthusiasm about Pope Francis’ way of “being Pope”. Trust being built up within group members, as we “step out in courage” to share our own experiences. • Very warm welcome from hosts. BEST hospitality offered – food, mulled wine, tea and coffee!! • Could we have more homilies on the Kerygma, so we can have confidence in talking of the basics of our faith to friends who enquire. • The whole experience has been challenging and helped me to question certain mores. • The highlights for me were the ways people opened up to share their experience of their faith which sparked some new insights and opened fresh avenues of thought. • Listening and learning from other Christians made me want to read the Gospels and read “The Joy of the Gospel” which I bought. • Home groups are becoming increasingly important in the building up of community and for me the opportunity to deepen faith and widen knowledge and understanding of the Gospel – Good News! • READING a Papal Encyclical!! Unlikely that I’d have done this by myself. • Home groups are a great concept and I really enjoy being involved. Chris Pike St Alban’s Monthly News Visit to The Rowans Care Centre By X-Seed 14 December 2014 I was so VERY pleased that 13 young members of X-Seed Youth Group ( Frankie Slater, Matthew Brooks, Daniel Hulme, George Jackson, Miguel Donor, Alex and Charlotte Siedlecka, Stephen Hughes, Abbey Marchington, Katie Millward, Joshua Carey, and Emma and Sam Tapp) were all able to come on 14 December to The Rowans Nursing Home, to decorate a Christmas Tree and sing carols together with the old people living there. The Rowans Care Centre, where late Deacon Michael Ullman was looked after during the last years of his life, is not an easy place to visit. Most of the residents are quite advanced in the physical deterioration of both their bodies and minds and the first impact is quite challenging, if not a trifle scary. However, there were still enough smiling faces around, and we all gradually relaxed as the decoration of the Christmas tree got under way and Liz Tomlinson struggled around trying to give X-Seeders some background Christmas music, while they were busy at work on the tree. Liz didn’t quite succeed with the music, but the tree looked wonderful all the same. It was Carol singing time next, and I felt so proud, when responding to Liz’s suggestion each one of the young people got near one of the older people to help them sing, using the enlarged print lyrics we had prepared for some of the most traditional carols. The sound was wonderful. Besides the success of the tree decoration, the excellent music by Stephen and Miguel, and the carol singing by all, the highlights for me were: - Eric (91) deaf, but lip reading and still singing the carols. He also told Stephen that he couldn't hear his playing, but could tell from the movement of his fingers what a good player he is. And he shook Stephen's hand, as well as Miguel's, the guitarist. - John (also 91), who was celebrating his 68th Wedding anniversary that very same day, when he started crying as we sang him 'Happy Anniversary to you...’ He then went on to tell us the secret of his successful relationship: 'It is sharing. Always share: the good things and the problems. Don't keep anything to yourself. Share! Well, in the light of what Pope Francis asks us to do: Share the joy of the Gospel, I think that X-Seeders with their youth, their voices, their care, and their gentleness towards the older people (including me) really exceeded themselves in answering Pope Francis' call. Very well done! I felt very happy for everybody! Cecilia Page 7 Thank you for taking us Cecilia to The Rowans. It was quite the experience! Like you say, at first it was a rather scary thought, but as the time went on it was rather relaxing and nice to share the experience with the older people. My highlight was actually meeting Veronica, or as the people there call her, Vicky, who explained to me how she used to be part of Saint Albans parish but had to stop going to church because of her illness. She explained to me she keeps going because of the Lord, and that she thought it was lovely we all went to share the experience with her. It really touched me so thank you for taking us. Daniel Hulme. X-Seed at The Rowans Visiting the old people in The Rowans Care Centre was a new experience for us. We enjoyed meeting the old people, decorating the Christmas Tree and making Christmas special for them. We hope we did that, and they certainly enjoyed the Christmas carols. Sam and I sat next to a lovely lady who enjoyed joining in with the carols and keeping up with the lyrics. The lady kept saying what a gentleman Sam was, as he was giving out the sheets and collecting them back in. When we were leaving a few of the old people got upset, and one man got emotional because it was his wedding anniversary that very day. It made us feel grateful for what we have got, and helps us to not take things for granted. We hope we can go again another day and spend more time chatting to the residents about what life was like for them when they were young. Pam, Emma and Sam Tapp Page 8 St Alban’s Monthly News St Alban’s Mums and Toddlers Group enjoyed their Christmas party and a surprise visit from Santa Mary Loughran, chairperson of the St Albans Social Committee, presented a cheque for £550 to the Chairman of the Just Drop In centre, Bruce Taylor, on Duke St in Macclesfield on 10/12/14, along with the Chief Officer of JDI Ann Wright. Funds were raised by the parish, at the annual St Albans Hog Roast, and donated to Just Drop In. The money was used to purchase and display window vinyls to advertise the services offered at JDI. JDI is a charity offering support, guidance, advocacy and counselling to young people aged between 12-25yrs old. There were 3,000 visits, made by 150 young people last year, who were seeking help or simply a safe and friendly place to go. Call by and see the new window vinyls, outside JDI, which we all contributed to, and which have made a striking difference. New volunteers are always welcome. Many thanks. Mary St Alban’s Monthly News Conversion; a Threshold or a Process Like so many others in the parish, five of us met one evening for the last of our Advent meetings to appreciate what Pope Francis is saying to us in his exhortation ‘The Joy of the Gospel’. We started by focusing on he huge ‘Yes’ that Our Lady said at the Annunciation by listening to xx singing the Hail Mary and listening to Luke account. Then we prayed Michel Quoist’s prayer ‘Help me to say ‘Yes’’. During the evening we referred back to the passage where God says: I need your ‘Yes’ just as I needed Mary’s ‘Yes’. You have asked for my approval, you have asked for my support; you have wanted to interest me in your work. But don’t you see son/daughter, that you were reversing the roles. I have watched you; I have seen your good-will, but I want more than you. You will no longer do your own works, but the will of your Father in Heaven. We reflected on the issue of whether most Catholics are still at an early, essentially passive stage of spiritual development, that is they are not yet active disciples of Christ. For many of us, when we were growing up, being a Catholic meant going to church on Sunday and not eating meat on Friday. One convert pointed out that when she worked or Social Services in Birmingham, the Catholics were exemporally in looking after their own, some thought that since Vatican II we had become intellectual Catholics to the detriment of reaching out to the marginalised and some thought that, compared to St Michaels, St Alban’s was reticent in embracing the homeless project. We agreed that we had some way to go in embracing the Church’s teaching on social justice We reflected on those that had experienced a conversion such as St Paul and St Ignatius of Loyola and that raised a question that kept reoccurring all evening; Is conversion a threshold in which a person moves from being passive to being active or, for most of us, is it a process in which we strive to listen to God better and open ourselves to His will more. Then we reflected on the five stages of Page 9 requires trust, just has the Apostles trusted when they left their livelihoods. When reflecting on spiritual curiosity, we were very conscious of the combined pitfalls of doing little exploration of the gospels from one Mass to the next and when we hear the familiar texts they make little impact because they are so familiar. One reflected on the fact that every three years he hears ‘Let the dead bury the dead’, goes ‘Ouch. What did Jesus mean by that?’ and does nothing to discern an answer until it’s hear again in three years’ time. We all recognised the great challenge in spiritual openness to handing our lives to God. Some, for whom life is currently a challenge, found the prospect of greater expectations daunting. All found ‘letting go’ hard and we recalled the part in Michel Quoist’s prayer You will no longer do your own works, but the will of your Father in Heaven and how that should resonate when we say ‘Thy will be done.’ That brought us to spiritual seeking, the threshold in which a person moves from being passive to being active and, once again, the question of whether conversion is a threshold or a process. For most of us it is a process, which is ongoing. We spent the last half an hour reflecting on we thought the response of our parish should be to the ‘Joy of the Gospel’. Some thought that the response should be personal; an increased effort to tell those in our lives about Jesus and to make a personal commitment to reaching out to the marginalised. Our values should show out in the workplace so others ask ‘Why did you do that?’ Others thought we should also ‘drop our nets’ and follow Jesus as a Church. We dreamt of a Church where ‘going out’ was the focus of many of our Sunday Masses. We recalled the time in 1998 when Canon Harry said ‘I want a Millennium Project that will show the face of Jesus to the people of Macclesfield and in 2001 the drop-in centre for young people ‘Just Drop-in’ opened. There was one thing on which we all agreed; Pope Francis is giving us a gentle kick to get closer to Jesus and reach out to the marginalised. Mark & Liz Dutton St Alban’s Monthly News Page 10 The Sacraments of First Forgiveness and First Holy Communion 2015 MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE 2015 “II am the Living Bread which has come down from Heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live Forever” It is now that time of the year when St. Alban’s parish invite children and their parents to undertake the preparation programme for First Sacraments. It is a parish based programme of preparation, where our teachers and parish catechists work closely with the family of children who are starting their sacramental faith journey. Eligibility of children is from the ages of 7 (those not attending a local catholic school) and St. Alban’s Primary school from year 3 are eligible to receive the Sacraments of First Forgiveness and First Holy Communion. The next parent meeting will be on Thursday 15th January at 7.30pm in the parish centre, where the main theme for parents is the preparation for First Forgiveness for their children, an introduction to the “I Belong” book which all children will be expected to work through. Of course catechists and teachers are always available to support and work with parents and children. Fr. Peter our parish priest, is supported by Fr. Paschal attending the parents meetings, where parents questions, and dilemma’s in matter of faith and spiritual concerns can be aired and answered. Debate and discussion is always lively, thought provoking where our spiritual lives are involved. Children progress well through our First Sacraments programme, settings are interactive for children as well as parents. A child’s spiritual development is nurtured toward an understanding of the teachings of Jesus and those of our Church. Last but not least, for those children who do not attend a Catholic School, our parish provides a separate sessions, which start on Saturday 17th January at 5pm in the parish centre. A team of catechists will be there to meet children and parents – but do come and meet us first on 15th January. Further information available from the parish office or contact Carla on 01625 828152 or email: . carlareadshaw@hotmail.com • • • • Important dates for your diaries : Parents Meeting 7.30pm – Thursday 15th January (Parish Centre) Saturday Group (children not attending Catholic School) Programme starts Saturday 17th January at 5pm-6pm (Parish Centre) Enrolment Mass for Children making their First Sacraments in 2015 Sunday 18th January at 9.30 am Mass – St. Alban’s Enrolment forms will be available from St. Alban’s Primary school, the parents meeting and in church from 18th January . Carla. R-S Our Lady Queen of Peace . Before announcing the names of the 20 new cardinals he will create on February 14, Pope Francis used his Sunday Angelus address to continue the reflection on peace, Mary and the Church that he began during a Mass on January 1 marking the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and the World Day of Prayer for Peace. “Peace is not just an absence of war, but the general condition of the person who is in harmony with him or herself, in harmony with nature and in harmony with others,” he said during the Angelus address. Everyone says they want peace, Pope Francis said, but they continue to make war, even on a small scale. “How many families, how many communities — even parishes — are at war,” he said. Describing Mary as the “queen of peace,” the Pope said that during her earthly life she knew difficulty, “but she never lost her peace of heart, a fruit of having abandoned herself with trust to the mercy of God. We ask Mary, our tender mother, to point the whole world to the sure path of love and peace.” Peace is a gift that comes through prayer and through small daily efforts to sow harmony in one’s family, parish and community, Pope Francis said. He added: “At the beginning of this new year, we are all called to reignite in our hearts a spark of hope, which must be translated into concrete works of peace: You don’t get along with that person? Make peace. In your home? Make peace. In the community? Make peace. At work? Make peace.” The parish, led by Fr Peter, will be undertaking a pilgrimage to Medjugorje later this year. The dates are Tues 22nd to Tues 29th Sept 2015 The cost is £539 Please let me know if you are interested in joining us. Phil Tel: 828152 St Alban’s Monthly News Advent/Christmas Blessings On Saturday, 13th December a Day of Renewal was held in St Alban's Parish Centre; it was led by Shrewsbury Diocesan Service Team in collaboration with St Alban's Parish Council and prayer groups in the parish. The title of the day was "Be Free in the Lord" and the day itself was a condensed version of the residential weekend held at Pantasaph Friary at the beginning of November. Once again the speakers were "ordinary" people 3 of whom were from this parish: Gyorgy Zorenyi, Phil Read-Shaw and myself; the fourth speaker was Mona Kruppa, a member of the Wrexham DST, who had travelled especially from North Wales to be with us; our topics were- Page 11 Throughout the day our singing and praise was led beautifully by Gyorgy and Jeremy- helping us all to open our hearts and minds to God in prayer and praise another great blessing ! The whole day was full of love and joy and peace; there were a few tears at times but only as hearts were moved by the presence and power of the Lord moving amongst us with his Healing touch. The day was a wonderful uplifting and inspiring experience and a great preparation for Christmas....along with the Advent Vigil; the wonderful Home Groups (the best yet); the Reconciliation Service, as moving as ever; the Sunday Mass with prayers for healing of the sick; Singing Carols in the Market Place (wet & cold - but still good!);the Christmas Tree Festival at the United Reformed Church with a tree entered by St Alban's; The Christmas Wrap, in which more of our parishioners than ever took part this year; You are significant ) You are secure ) in You are accepted ) the Lord You are complete ) and the only way we could each speak about any of these was by simply sharing our own experiences of how God has worked in our lives, often in unexpected and surprising ways and about the effect that has made on and in our lives- and how, because of that, each one of us has been set free in different ways. In 1975 Pope Paul VI made the powerful comment that "modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers and, if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses"... & that was all that we were trying to do - give witness/share our testimony; personal testimony/witness is always very powerful, especially when it is given by "ordinary" people. After the morning talks we went over to church for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and many of us took the opportunity to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation which was followed by a beautiful Mass shared with St Alban's Fellowship Group. During lunch we had great fun chatting with people, catching up with old friends and meeting some new ones and lots of mini-testimonies were shared. Carol Concerts by St Alban's Primary School and All Hallows College; the lovely Carols by Candlelight; the beautiful decorations in church and, of course, all the Masses and all the meetings of the various prayer groups in the parish as well as St Alban's involvement in the Initiative to help the homeless all made this surely one of the most meaningful and fruitful Advents yet and were all a wonderful preparation for Christmas! A lot of time and effort went into making everything the very best that it could be and many, many thanks are owed to everyone who worked so hard to bring that about; Thank you! After taking part in the preparations, I wasn't actually able to be at St Alban's for any of the Christmas Masses as I was away at my daughter's but I know from friends that the Christmas Masses were again very well attended and a real celebration of the Joy of Christmas - and although I was in another parish (St Mary's, Horwich), my Advent preparations at St Alban's made it possible for me to enter fully into the Christmas celebration there, knowing that we were all united in the Spirit of Christmas Joy and Thanksgiving, wherever we were: "Glory to God in the highest & peace to His people on earth" Alleluia! Catherine Mossey Page 12 St Alban’s Monthly News Advertise in St. Alban’s Monthly News! £6.00 (£30.00 for six months)