ST. TERESA’S NEWSLETTER: 6^th/ 7^th November, 2004

PARISH PRIEST: Gerald Moorcraft, The Presbytery

New Road, Princes Risborough, HP27 0JN. Tel: 345578

Fax: 274503, E-mail:Geraldmoorcraft85@hotmail.com

Registered Charity Number 234091

MASS DURING THE COMING WEEK

SUNDAY 32^ND OF THE YEAR Year C

6.30 pm Holy Souls (McDonald Family)

8.00 am For the People of the Parish

10.00 am Holy Souls (Hanafin Family)

MONDAY 10.00 am Holy Souls (Bolt Family) Feria

TUESDAY 10.00 am Fr. Chris Roberts Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

WEDNESDAY 10.00 am Mary Andrews St. Leo

THURSDAY 9.00 am Fr. Tony Roberts St. Martin of Tours

FRIDAY 4.00 pm Lilian Murphy (at Ker Maria) St. Josephat

SATURDAY 10.15 am Service of Word & Communion Our Lady

N.B. The Mass on Thursday at 9 am is a School Mass and will take place in Walsingham Hall.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOLY DAY MASSES at 9.00 am and 8.00 pm: Baptisms/Marriages by Arrangement; Confessions on Saturday during Exposition at 5.30 pm and at any time at call; Babies & Toddlers – Tuesdays 10 – 11.30 a.m.; Catechism Club – Tuesdays 4.00 pm.; STYG – Fridays 7.00 to 9.00 pm; Guided Prayer Group – Third Wednesday of month; Bible Study – Thursdays 8.00 pm (Sept – July).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANNIVERSARIES. Please pray for John Durcan, Tony Sheldon, Theo Davis, Margaret Hogg, Arthur Collins, Lilian Murphy, Sister Tarcienne, Winifred Hayman, Mary Bonham, Mary Butler and Sarah Behuke.

ROTAS FOR NEXT WEEK – 13^th/14^th November 2004

Mass Sidesmen Eucharistic Ministers Readers

6.30 pm Sean & Liz Duffy Christina Smith and John & Anne Harding

Margaret Stokes Margaret Stokes

8.00 am Brian & Val Stoker Iain & Jennifer Wright Jane Blane and

Bridget Grant

10.00 am Rhona & Richard Carr Paula Cunningham and Rachael Kent and

Catherine Grose Daniel Daly

10.00 am Offertory – Paul Kennedy, Coffee – Madeleine Scott & Phyllis Clegg, Flowers –Vivienne Reid and Terri Byrne, Church Cleaning – Georgina Lawes & Angela Briscoe (week commencing 14^th November).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE PARISH CENSUS has been completed – but if you are a parishioner and have not completed a form please ask for one as soon as possible. Next week we shall begin the Audit of Skills … what on earth does that mean? Precisely this, that in a stewardship parish everyone is asked to make available their time, their talent and their treasure .. the 3 T’s. Lots and lots of parishioners do help already but many more could. Please be patient again with another form to fill out. Our aim is to keep trying harder so that our parish is working and running really well. And why should we do that for heaven’s sake? Precisely! Our Lord has entrusted His continued presence on earth to us, His Church. We owe it to Him who gave everything for us that we try our best to do whatever we can. The Church, our Parish … and I don’t mean the buildings (at least not in this context) is entrusted to us all. What a privilege! What a responsibility! It is a truth universally acknowledged that parishes where there is a strong sense of vocation are parishes where there is a lot of love and commitment. It is another truth that where people work with a will and do their best great things happen. Pope Paul VI wrote about the parish as the local church and urges us to love our parishes and work for them and have a strong sense of identity with them. There are copies in the narthex of the Pope’s words for you to savour and make your own.

NOVEMBER is an important month for us – if only because in the run up to Christmas we can do with a reminder that the things of this world do not last. Our focus is on eternity! More to the point November, with its openness to the Communion of Saints, reminds us of the certainty of our own death. A sobering thought. One to come to Mass about. There were not many at the All Souls Day Masses. Perhaps the times did not suit. Perhaps it is a sleepy time of the year … who knows. A good Catholic will want to remember his/her deceased relatives and friends when he/she comes to Mass. November is a good time for this. It is also a good time to have a Mass said for the dead. That’s an old Catholic custom much honoured in this parish. It is a way of praying for the dead and giving financial support to the priest. Some parishioners may be unfamiliar with this custom. JUST ASK. A great deal of sharing of information and experience and tips I know goes on in a good natured friendly way and that’s fine. So please just ask. If anyone gets stuck or feels that he/she would like a word with me – again please ask!

WE WELCOME this weekend Fr. Tom Cummins who is to make an appeal on behalf of the White Fathers – they work solely in or for Africa and help in any way they can to help the young churches to make progress. As is well known Islam is making great inroads in Africa. I am sure Fr. Cummins’ talk will be interesting and informative and help us to picture the way of life of some of our African brothers and sisters.

TANZANIA. Herta and Alfons Walser and their friends have given great support to a parish in Ifunda. They are organising a little fund-raising event at their house on Thursday, 16^th December from 11 am to 8 pm. More about this in due course – but you may like to book the date now.

CHRISTMAS FAYRE COUNTDOWN. 3 weeks to go!!! Have you brought in the things you want to donate? Do you want to help on the day? Contact one of the organisers: Theresa Aldis (01844-345279: Catherine Grose (01494-481562): Polly Sklenar (01494-481669).

MONEY MONEY. Offertory £630.24, Retiring Collection £33.59 and Cafod £10.20. This week’s retiring collection will be in aid of the White Fathers. Next week the retiring collection will be in aid of the Bishop’s Maintenance Fund. God bless your generosity to your Church.

Love and prayers,