PARISH & LOCAL NEWS The Sick: The Diocese, on advice and under Data Protection Regulations (May 2018), asks us not to name individuals, but to pray for them as a group within the Parish Body as those in particular need.
Anniversaries: Fr Aidan Gilman OSB, Patrick Brent Grotrian, Patricia Chaytor, Sarah Hayman.
Lately Deceased: Fr Andrew McCaffrey OSB, Sheila Brown
FORTHCOMING EVENTS Thursday 15 December – Primary School Carols 2.00pm Service of Carols at Holy Cross, Gilling – 7.00pm Friday 16 December – Carols at the Abbey 4.30pm Saturday 17 December – Parish Retreat Morning 10.00 – 12.30 – “A Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey look at the Gospel” Church Cleaning Working Party – 2.30 – 4.00pm Wednesday 21 December – Y2K Prayer Evening – 7.00pm Saturday 24 December – Crib Service - 10.00am Family Mass of Christmas Night – 6.00pm Service of Carols at St Oswald’s, Oswaldkirk – 6.00pm Mass of Christmas Night – 8.30pm Sunday 25 December – Mass of Christmas Day – 10.00am
HOME COMMUNIONS If you require Holy Communion at home, please contact Christopher Wilding, Fr Kentigern or Fr Bernard either by e-mail or leave a telephone message by 8.00pm on Friday evening stating whether you require a weekly visit or a one-off call. Someone will then be in contact to arrange a suitable day and time to visit.
CHRISTIAN MEN OF THE VALLEY Meet each Monday at 8.00pm to share faith, friendship and interests.
WORLD COMMUNITY OF CHRISTIAN MEDITATION Gathers each Monday in St Benedict’s Hall at 2pm and on Thursdays via Zoom at 8pm.
WARM WINTER SPACES This initiative continues in the Village Hall on Wednesday 7 December 12.00 – 4.00pm See poster for details.
AMPLEFORTH ADVENT WINDOW TRAIL See the posters for details of this. Our young people have organized this decoration. The Hall has been registered as our location. Our window is to be revealed on 15 December.
PARISH SOCIAL GROUP MEETING One idea already being acted upon is to hold Refreshments immediately after Saturday evening Mass once a month, starting on Saturday 10th December with mulled wine/non-alcoholic drink and mince pies. Please come along and get to know your fellow parishioners!
WIDER CHURCH & THE WORLD
HELP & SUPPORT UKRAINE Thank you to everyone who responded so generously to the Winter Clothing Appeal more than 100 bags of items have been sent off. This appeal is now closed. The Social Centre Appeal continues. It was wonderful to hear from and speak to Lucian last Sunday. Next meeting: Wednesday 11 January 2023, 7.00pm. ALL WELCOME.
MIDDLESBROUGH FOOD BANK CHRISTMAS APPEAL: Thank you for amazing generosity. 480.04kg of items, £760 donations plus other direct debits. See posters for more details. Next Delivery: Deadline for Donations – Monday 9 January 2023, 12.00noon Delivery Day – Tuesday 10 January 2023.
MONASTERY OF CHRIST THE WORD, ZIMBABWE Thank you for those people who have taken time to make their usual donations to Zimbabwean Education Fund. Fr Abbot is visiting The Monastery of Christ the Word early in 2023 and will come to the parish and bring us up-to-date when he returns. In the meantime let us offer prayers and support for the work with Ukrainian refugees in Romania.
MARY’S MEALS – Double the Love From 1 November 2022 to 31 January 2023, donations made to Mary’s Meals will be doubled by a group of generous supporters, up to £1.5million. Today, we face some of our greatest challenges yet in a world devastated by conflict, food insecurity and the cost of living crisis, which we know is affecting people here in the UK as well as in the countries where we work. With Double the Love, your donation will be matched and your kindness will go even further – meaning we can reach even more desperately hungry children with a life-changing school meal. We would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you every blessing for Christmas and the New Year ahead, and to thank you for your continued support. To get involved, find out more at marysmeals.org.uk