Marys Meals

A message from Marys Meals

Double your love for Mary’s Meals this winter!

From 22 November 2023 to 22 January 2024, donations made to Mary’s Meals will be doubled by a group of generous supporters, up to £1 million.

This means your kindness will go even further at this critical time. In a world devastated by conflict, food insecurity and the cost of living crisis, bringing new hope to desperately hungry children with our life-changing school meals has never been more important.

It costs just £19.15 to feed a child with Mary’s Meals every day for a school year. And this winter, a donation of £19.15 will feed two children.

Thank you for helping us to reach more than 2.4 million children around the world with Mary’s Meals every school day, so that they can achieve their ambitions and look towards a brighter future.

Together, through Double The Love, we can transform the lives of many more desperately hungry children waiting for Mary’s Meals.

To Donate Follow this link.

The Season of Advent

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Beginning the Church’s liturgical year, Advent (from, “ad-venire” in Latin or “to come to”) is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas. The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas. From the earliest days of the Church, people have been fascinated by Jesus’ promise to come back. But the scripture readings during Advent tell us not to waste our time with predictions. Advent is not about speculation. Our Advent readings call us to be alert and ready, not weighted down and distracted by the cares of this world (Lk 21:34-36). Advent devotions including the Advent wreath, remind us of the meaning of the season. Our readings are taken from year B, centring on St Mark’s Gospel. Our weekday readings are from Year 2. Have a wonderful season of joy and expectancy.

March for Life

MARCH FOR LIFE UK is taking place in London on Saturday 2nd September. Many are concerned about restrictions on freedom but it’s often not until these restrictions affect us personally that we speak up. Abortion destroys the most fundamental freedom, the freedom to live and leaves so many women and men deeply hurting. Join thousands of others for this family-friendly event to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Full details can be found at marchforlife.co.uk.

Singing the Mass

SINGING THE MASS During the pandemic we were unable to sing and so many people said they missed being able to praise the Lord in this way. We were cautious in reintroducing congregational singing to maintain safety. Yet, for some time now the congregation has been able to sing the Mass, Psalm responses and hymns. It does seem as if we have forgotten how to sing! Please do pick up your hymn book and join in the singing! This is a major way we actively participate in the Mass. As St Augustine said, ‘He who sings, prays twice.’ Let us begin to pray twice again.

Saint Vincent de Paul Society

THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY (SVP) give their time to help in our community, whether by a phone chat, a visit, taking elderly parishioners to church, shopping or giving financial help to families in need at Christmas. Thank you to those who donate using DONA as it is much appreciated. Unfortunately, donations are down since the pandemic. If you can donate in any small way this will enable the SVP to help further within our parish. We will also collect at the Church door via our red boxes on a regular basis and leave boxes on the tables. With many thanks for your support.