We have many sayings about results being more important than promises, such as “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”. Today’s scripture readings are all about this – the ways in which our words and actions will reveal who we truly are. There is a wonderful mosaic of poetic wisdom in the readings this Sunday – images and parables and similes that can sit in our heads and hearts, and make us think about the sort of people we are, and the words we use and the fruits we produce by them. And we should pray that we will always produce good, sound fruit, so that we may keep on working at the Lord’s work always, and so share in Christ’s victory over death itself.
This weekend, our Diocesan Synod draws to a close with the final stage of the journey. On Saturday, clergy and lay synod members gathered to vote on the 40 recommendations that will form our Pastoral Plan to guide our diocese in the years to come. To find out more about the process, the recommendations, and results, please visit https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/ diocesan-synod-end-of-the-journey
Pope Francis has invited dioceses across the world to unite in prayer as we begin the 2025 "Pilgrims of Hope" Jubilee. Our diocese will be marking the start of the Jubilee with a Mass, celebrated by Bishop John, on Sunday 29th December at 2pm at Salford Cathedral's Temporary Church. All are welcome to join us as we mark the start of this special year of grace.
Throughout the first three weeks of Advent our focus is very clearly on the End of Time, and the Second Coming of the Lord - not on the run up to Christmas (that only comes in the last week). If we view Advent as a Season preparing for Christmas these readings will make little sense - and neither will the figure of John the Baptist who appears today: if it was about the preparation for Christmas, then John the Baptist, preaching after Jesus was born, becomes a confusing figure: his role is to preach to us, as he did of old, and to prepare us for the (second) coming of the Lord. Today we have an unequivocal and very graphic reference to the end of time and the Second Coming in the reading from Saint Peter; it is a frightening picture that he paints, and so the first reading offers tender words of comfort to help us understand who is coming, and why we should be ready to meet him. The Gospel focuses on the great Advent prophet, John the Baptist, with his message of preparation - we are invited to get ourselves ready, making a way for the Lord.
If you would like to join it is only £5 a month which needs to be paid at the beginning of every month. The more members we have, the bigger the prize and more money going back into our church. Winners are on the Notice Boards
If you are available to Minister at any of the Christmas Masses please put your name on the list on the table. Thank you . Tuesday Christmas Eve : Mass 5.30pm : Family Mass: Mass to be principally for families with (young) children Mass 7.30pm : Mass principally for families with older children and other parishioners. Wednesday 25th Christmas Day : Mass 9.30am Mass 11am
World Youth Day Rome 2025: Are you aged 16-35? Are you looking for an unforgettable opportunity to share your faith with other young Catholics? Pope Francis has announced a special World Youth Day in Rome next summer to celebrate the Church’s Year of Jubilee and our diocesan Youth Ministry team invites you to be part of this once-in-a-25-year event! The pilgrimage will take place between 28 July and 3 August. For more information and to register your interest, please email youth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk.
Saturday 5th August, 12 noon Mass Walsingham . Catholics around the country will be heading to Walsingham this August to pray and reflect on the sanctity of life. Archbishop Kevin McDonald will lead the pilgrimage on Saturday 5th August and celebrate Mass at 12 noon. For more information please visit https://prolifepilgrimage.org/
The Diocese of Salford is holding a series of talks this Lent that explores themes of journeying and pilgrimage through the lens of the Jubilee. Each week, the talks will focus on a different person from the Bible to help us better understand how the journey we are called to make this Holy Year is rooted in scripture.The weekly talks begin on Tuesday 4 March at 11am at Wardley Hall. Contact Sr Joan Kerley on joankfmsj@gmail.com or call 0161 971 7842 to find out more.
Former pupils and staff of St Joseph's RC Technical High School (Laindon Road, Manchester) are invited to this year's reunion with their families to celebrate the school's history. The reunion will take place on Saturday 22nd March 2025 at St Bernard's RC Church, Burnage. Mass begins at 12 noon, with opportunity for confession and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 11am. Please arrive by 11.30am to sign in. Refreshments will be available in the parish hall after Mass
MEGA Raffle now on sale: 1st Prize : SAMSUNG 55 INCH CRYSTAL UHD TV, Kindly donated by C. Housley’s Heywood: Worth about £550.00: £1.00 a strip. Plus some great hampers for runners up prizes.
Parish Synod Consultations : Will continue at the all the parish Masses of next weekend; the 14th/15th. On theme four: Fostering Christ-like Care . It will be a ten minutes exercise during the time for the homily at Mass.
The Diocese of Salford is holding a series of talks this Lent that explores themes of journeying and pilgrimage through the lens of the Jubilee. Each week, the talks will focus on a different person from the Bible to help us better understand how the journey we are called to make this Holy Year is rooted in scripture.The weekly talks begin on Tuesday 4 March at 11am at Wardley Hall. Contact Sr Joan Kerley on joankfmsj@gmail.com or call 0161 971 7842 to find out more.
If you are available to Minister at any of the Christmas Masses please put your name on the list on the table. Thank you . Tuesday Christmas Eve : Mass 5.30pm : Family Mass: Mass to be principally for families with (young) children Mass 7.30pm : Mass principally for families with older children and other parishioners. Wednesday 25th Christmas Day : Mass 9.30am Mass 11am
Pope Francis has declared that the year 2025 will be a Holy Year of Jubilee for the Catholic Church, an event that takes place once every 25 years and offers the faithful an opportunity to renew their relationship with God, each other, and all of creation. Over the coming months, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to observe this special year of grace in our own diocese. To find out more about the Jubilee and how to get involved, please visit https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/ news/jubilee-2025/
Pope Francis
If peoples are to remain brothers and sisters, prayer must rise unceasingly to Heaven, and one single word constantly echo on earth: peace.