Lourdes Applications

The Application process for the Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage next year if now closed. Thank you.

KSC Christmas Fayre

This Sunday 2^nd December at the Columba Catholic Club from 2.00 until 4.00 pm. Come along and enjoy all the fun of the Fayre whilst giving your support to the stalls held by Saint John Ambulance, Catholic Women’s League, FairTrade, Naseems’ Manx Brain Tumour Charity, The Over Sixties and R.A.O.B.

Admission £1.00 which includes seasonal refreshments.

Sunday of the Child Jesus

On the weekend of 22^nd/23^rd December (4^th Sunday of advent) we invite you to bring the statue of the Christ Child from your nativity Scene along to Mass and these will be blessed in preparation for the Feast of Christmas. This custom is known in Italy as ‘Domenica del’Bambino‘ – Sunday of the Child Jesus.

 

Bingo Night and supper at the Kursaal at the Palace Hotel,

Bingo Night and supper at the Kursaal at the Palace Hotel, Douglas on Tuesday, 4th December. Tickets are £20— includes supper and 10 games of Bingo! For tickets, please contact: Annette (457826), Michelle (624741) or Sheila (475990). Raffle prizes gratefully received.

 

A festival of Cribs....

will be held at Saint Mary of the Isle, Douglas on Saturday, 15^th December, 9.00am – 6.00pm. Come along to get some ideas of the variety of crib and manger scenes from different parts of the world. Tea, coffee and cakes available throughout the day, together with some Christmas cards and gifts from the Holy Land.

No entrance fee... just a voluntary collection which will be sent to the Christians of the Holy Land via the Friends of the Holy Land (FHL).

 

Pope’s Prayer Intentions

We can join Pope Benedict in his prayer intentions for November:

General Intention: Ministers of the Gospel. That bishops, priests, and all ministers of the Gospel may bear the courageous witness of fidelity to the cruci fied and risen Lord.

Missionary Intention: Pilgrim Church. That the pilgrim Church on earth may shine as a light to the nations.

 

Send a Cow...

Each year Send a Cow Charity help thousands of African families grow enough food to eat, sell their produce and develop small businesses that last.

This Christmas, choose a Send a Cow gift – the original and best. Your charity gift will make a lasting difference to a family in Africa and keep on giving as calves, seeds and training are passed on to neighbours in need.

 For full details please visit their website www.sendacowgifts.org.uk. Thank you.

 

Assembly

At the end of this month (24^th November) the Archdiocese is holding its Assembly which takes as the theme ‘ Keeping Holy the Lord’s Day’.  If there are any further comments you would wish to be sent in for this consultation, please let us have them asap (they can be e-mailed to saintmaryiom@rcaolp.co.uk or in written form, handed in at the Presbytery). Thank you

 

Pious Lists

November is the Month of the Holy Souls when we pray particularly for those who have, ‘gone before us marked with the Sign of Faith’.  If you wish to remember your loved ones, families and friends at the November Masses then please place their names in the envelopes which you will find at the back of the churches. One Mass each day in November will be offered for our November Dead List - sometimes known as the ‘Pious List’.

Any donations you include in the envelopes will be used as stipends for the Masses and will also enable us throughout the Year to have Masses celebrated for the Holy Souls. During November, the public recitation of the Rosary will continue at 11.45am in Saint Mary’s Douglas.

 

Island Spirituality Network

A series of evening talks which will be delivered at The Nunnery in Douglas. This is under the auspices of The Isle of Man College but anyone is welcome to attend – not just students at the College! In order to sign up for one – or all – of the sessions  please print off, complete and sign this application form, (www.iomcollege.ac.im/uploads/PT-Enrol-12-13.pdf) – then send to IoM College, Homefield Road, Douglas, IM2 6RB. Any enquiries ring Clair at IoM College on 648204. All the ISN sessions are free.

Full descriptions of the five sessions – together with the course codes which are required for the application form:

14 Nov: 'The Story of Christianity in Mann'

Course Code:  EX021-AW
Michael Hoy MBE

21 Nov: 'A light for our steps' 

Course Code:  EX022-AW
Canon Philip Gillespie

28 Nov: 'What is Prayer?' 

Course Code:  EX023-AW
Rev Peter Robinson

5 Dec: 'Seeking Stillness' 

Course Code:  EX024-AW
Cheryl and Brian Cousins

 

Holy Land Pilgrimage

The Catholic Pictorial, the magazine of the Archdiocese, is organising an 8 day pilgrimage to the Holy Land, 11^th to 19^th February 2013. The cost will be £1,150 and the flight departs from Manchester.

For further information please contact Kim or Fiona on 0151 709 7657.

 

S.V.P. Christmas Party

The annual SVP Christmas Party for Parishioners will be held on Saturday 8th December from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm in St.Peter’s Church Hall , Royal Avenue Onchan.

Tickets available from next week from members of SVP. Santa has been booked. Ages and numbers of boys/girls coming please to SVP members to ensure Santa brings enough presents.

 

With Your Always Update

The next sessions are this coming Monday (12^th) at Onchan 6.30 – 7.30pm and again Douglas (in Saint Mary’s School) 6.30 – 7.30pm. Following the principles of Family Catechesis, the sessions will be for the children and their parents.

We have received some questions regarding the timing and dates of the Masses at which the children will receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion. As in year past there will be choice of two masses

7.00 pm on Friday 10^th May at Saint Anthony in Onchan

OR

1.00 pm on Saturday 11^th May at Saint Mary of the Isle, Douglas.

As regards what the children will wear for these Masses, the Catechists and Priests suggest that we go for something which is relatively simple and yet dignified;

For the girls: a simple white dress, the sort that can be worn again in other circumstances and which avoids ostentation.

For the boys: school trousers, white shirt and red tie.

 

Remembrance Sunday

Today is remembrance Sunday, when we recall with gratitude and respect those who have been affected by warfare or conflict while wearing the uniform of our armed services, and particularly those who have given their lives in the Service of their Country.

There will be short services at the Cenotaphs in Douglas and in Onchan at 11.00am today (Sunday) and the National Act of Remembrance will be held at St. John’s at 3.00pm

A Prayer for those who suffer and those who care for them

God of love and compassion
We commend to Your care all those in our world
Who suffer through war, conflict and injustice;
The injured, bereaved, dispossessed, brutalised and despairing
Those whose scars are visible,
And those whose scars are hidden deep inside
Those whose pain lies embedded in longstanding memories
And those whose wounds are recent and acute

And as we honour those who have served in conflicts past

We also remember those who have been killed, bereaved and wounded

In more recent and ongoing situations;
Through service in our armed forces
Through the sometimes dangerous task
Of providing protection to life and property
And upholding the rule of law.
And through being the innocent victim
Of acts of atrocity and terror

We pray for all who mourn loss and live with pain
Those who continue to struggle against adversity
Who are plagued with trauma
Who are troubled by regret.
Grant Your healing and strength
Your care and consolation
And be with all those who offer support and care
Who work to rebuild what is broken
To heal all that is wounded
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen

 

 

Before Mass....

Please be mindful of those who have arrived early for Mass in order to pray privately by keeping conversations to a minimum and maintaining, as best possible, a  respectful silence. Thank you.

 

Lourdes Youth

A meeting for the young people who are hoping to travel to Lourdes next year on the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage – Grotto Hall Onchan Today (Sunday) at 5.00pm

Application Forms for the Lourdes Pilgrimage (25^th July to 2^nd August) 2013 are now available on-line at www.animateyouth.org  or from Mrs Sheila Scott on 475990.

Places are limited, so first come first served! The lower age-limit is 15 years old. Completed forms should be returned to the Presbytery at Saint Mary’s marked “Lourdes 2013” together with a deposit of £100.

 

Lamp Letter and Collection

This weekend we hear a Pastoral letter from the Archbishop concerning the Liverpool Archdiocesan Missionary Project (LAMP for short) which was established under Archbishop Derek Worlock to provide for some of our Priests to serve for a period of time in Latin America. There will be a retiring Collection at all Masses in support of LAMP.

 

Thank you

Thanks to those (albeit few in number!) who were able to come along  to our Harvest Festival at the end of October. The foodstuffs which were donated via Saint Mary’s School and from Parishioners on that afternoon have been distributed via the SVP and the Salvation Army to those in need at this time.

 

With You Always Catechists

Our next meeting will be at Saint Mary’s Church on Wednesday 7^th November, at 7.00pm

 

Understanding the Vatican Council

Canon Philip will lead five sessions over the next months looking at the Second Vatican Council and also examining four of the major documents (‘Constitutions’) which were published by the Council. Although they are 50 years old, they still have a freshness today and can help us better understand and live our Faith. All are welcome to come along to these talks which will be on Friday evenings at 8.00 pm at Grotto Hall at Saint Anthony, Onchan.

Friday 30^th November: Introducing the Second Vatican Council

Friday 11^th January 2013: Sacrosanctum Concilium—the document on the Liturgy.

Friday 25^th January: Dei Verbum  - the document on the Word of God.

Friday 8^th February: Lumen Gentium—the document on The Church.

Friday 22^nd February: Gaudium et Spes—the document on the Church in the modern world.

All are welcome. Tea and biscuits served!

 

With you always

November sessions are held on Monday 12^th at Onchan and Wednesday 14^th at Saint Mary’s School, Douglas both evenings from 6.30 until 7.30 pm.

Meanwhile, families are asked to continue the theme of the last session which was ‘Making the Sign of the Cross’ – as a family make a particular point of making the sign of the cross when the family prays together (ie at the grace before and after meals) and indeed when your child goes to bed at night, make the sign of the cross on his/her forehead. In this way they become more familiar with this most fundamental part of our praying lives.

It has become clear that there are  still children who, having already made their First Holy Communion, did not for various reasons receive the Sacrament of Confirmation last year. As the materials provided for us by the Archdiocese in the ‘With You Always’ Programme are intended for children of 8 years of age and who are to receive both Confirmation and Holy Communion. It does not seem fair to expect these older children to join in with the younger. Therefore there will be separate sessions later in the year/early next year, for any child over eight years who is still to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Further details will be posted here in the Parish Bulletin. However the principles of ‘Family catechesis‘ will apply – ie it will not just be the young people invited to share these sessions, but mums, dads, grandparents as well.

 

Oxfam Shop

Helpers needed for OXFAM shop at 10 Castle Street, Douglas. For information please contact Maria Knake on 677220 or 317265

 

Island Spirituality Network

A series of evening talks which will be delivered at The Nunnery in Douglas. This is under the auspices of The Isle of Man College but anyone is welcome to attend – not just students at the College! In order to sign up for one – or all – of the sessions  please print off, complete and sign this application form, (www.iomcollege.ac.im/uploads/PT-Enrol-12-13.pdf) – then send to IoM College, Homefield Road, Douglas, IM2 6RB. Any enquiries ring Clair at IoM College on 648204. All the ISN sessions are free.

Full descriptions of the five sessions – together with the course codes which are required for the application form:

7 Nov: 'Celtic DNA: Exploring Early Celtic Christian Spirituality' 

Course Code: EX020-AW

Rev Dr Dee Dee Haines

14 Nov: 'The Story of Christianity in Mann'

Course Code:  EX021-AW

Michael Hoy MBE

21 Nov: 'A light for our steps' 

Course Code:  EX022-AW

Canon Philip Gillespie

28 Nov: 'What is Prayer?' 

Course Code:  EX023-AW

Rev Peter Robinson

5 Dec: 'Seeking Stillness' 

Course Code:  EX024-AW

Cheryl and Brian Cousins

This Month’s Liturgy: November 2012

To know Him, love Him and serve Him in this life, and be happy with Him for ever in the next…
 
The Liturgy of this month of November opens with the Solemnity of All Saints and  its proud announcement that those who  have sought to follow the Lord in this life find  perfection and happiness in the presence of the Blessed Trinity, the fullness of the life of the heavenly Kingdom. For the Saints are ‘that great cloud of witnesses which spurs us on to victory’ (Preface of Holy Men and Women) and we can be assured of their brotherly and sisterly care and concern for us, the fellowship of their faith and the strengthening of their prayers.

Only once we have our eyes fixed firmly on that goal of union with God - both in this life and in the world to come, can we keep the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed, those who still journey to that fullness of life, who by our prayers are supported on that road to God. As John Henry Newman puts it in his Poem, The Dream of Gerontius,

‘and Masses on the earth and prayers in heaven, shall aid thee at the Throne of the most Highest.’

This is our hope and our loving certainty as we remember those who ‘have gone before us marked with the sign of Faith’ – that the communion of the Church means that in the love of the Father and by  the working of the Holy Spirit we are still ‘one body, one spirit in Christ’ (Eucharistic Prayer 3).

Further in the month, on the 11^th November, we keep the memory of one of the great non-Martyr Saints of the early centuries of the Church’s life, Saint Martin of Tours (316-397) – who even at the age of 81 was thinking not of his own comfort or needs but that of  his people and his community – ‘Lord, if I am still needed by your people, I refuse no work…’.

Please God we may have that same dedication to the work of the Church – at any age!