On Sunday 16th December, Fr Pat Cleary, of this parish, will be celebrating his Ruby Jubilee of Ordination - 40 years as a priest. He will also be inducted as parish priest of Wymondham on that day so a double celebration.
We rejoice that this vocation came from our own parish and congratulate Fr Pat for achieving this significant anniversary. Please remember him and his family in your prayers.
The family of the late Noel Andrews are making a donation of new altar ware to St Mary Magdalens church in memory of deceased members of the Andrews family.
The presentation will be made by family members at the 10:00 Mass on Sunday 23rd December, which will be said for the intention of deceased members of the Andrews family, and these items - two chalices, a ciborium and a paten - are being donated in memory of Ambrose, Noel, Doreen and Pamela Andrews.
The Diocese of East Anglia 2019 Yearbook and Liturgical Calendar is now available in the narthex. The annual printed publication, which this year is a bumper 196 pages with colour-coded sections, is available for £2. The publication is a comprehensive directory of parishes and contacts across the diocese.
It includes guides to the different departments and commissions of the diocese, as well parishes, schools, hospitals and prisons and a listing of all clergy and religious across East Anglia.
Also included is a pictorial guide to the last 12 months in the life of the diocese, alongside pastoral statistics, the diocese financial report and a Catholic organisations and societies directory.
The Diocese of East Anglia Yearbook 2019, the updated East Anglia 2019 Parishes Directory and the East Anglia 2019 Liturgical Calendar, are now also available online by clicking the links above.
Over the past number of decades, on the third Sunday of Advent, (Gaudete Sunday) children and adults bring their infant Jesus figures from their home cribs to St Peter’s Square where they are blessed by the Pope.
This custom, introduced by St John Paul II, is being promoted by the Catholic Grandparents Association and this year will be celebrated on Sunday December 16th. Next week, please bring your infant Jesus figures from your home crib to Mass when you will be invited forward to have these blessed by Fr Mathias.
There will be a retiring collection taken today, 9th December, for flowers to suitably decorate the church ready for Christmas.
The Dependent Priests Fund is a charity run by priests of the diocese, but independent of the diocese, to support priests in mainly medical, but also in general need. There will be a retiring collection for this cause next Sunday, 16th December.
If you still have some gifts to buy this year for Christmas, or are stuck for ideas, then how about World Gifts from CAFOD? You could give cousin George Trees for Life for just £8, or let Uncle Fred Help a Llama Farmer for £27. Lots of ideas available and they can be purchased up to December 20th. Check out the range and order on-line at cafod.org.uk/worldgifts
CWL members are remindedthat the CWL Christmas lunch will be held at the Fynn Valley Golf Club on Tuesday 11th December, from 12:30. Please remember to bring a small present to share.
Would all Eucharistic Ministers please note there is a new rota covering the Christmas period on the notice board in the narthex, or it can be downloaded here.
Volunteers are asked to add their names to the list for those attending Christmas midnight Mass.
Following Fr Mathew’s recent ill health, the Bishop has agreed that he should return home to India for a period of rest and recuperation in the care and support of his family, hopefully allowing him to make a full recovery and return to us in good health. He left Ipswich on Thursday 6th December, and will be away for three months. During his absence, we will have a locum priest staying with us in the presbytery – Fr Mathias. We will keep Fr Mathew in our prayers, send him every good wish for a full and complete recovery, and extend a warm welcome to Fr Mathias as he joins us at St Mary Magdalens.