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.
Churches hold a lot of data about their worshippers, like Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy communion, marriage and death records. They also hold some financial data regarding standing orders and to satisfy Gift Aid requirements. Most importantly churches have their worshippers address and contact details. Diocesan guidance on the new GDPR regulations, which came into force in May, mean that parishioners need to explicitly authorise the church to allow the use of this data for contact purposes, and to define the manner of that contact. Forms are available in the narthex or can be downloaded here - if you have not completed a GDPR form, please do so this week and give it to Fr Paul.
We are in great need of additional recruits to our small team of Altar servers. Anybody can apply, male or female, young or old, although it is recommended (but not mandatory) that individuals should have made their first Holy Communion.
We would like to re-establish the St Mary Magdalens branch of the archconfraternity of the Guild of St Stephen, but will need a greater number to make this worth while. If there are any persons who would be interested in becoming an altar server, please make contact by email to [javascript protected email address], use the contact form on the church web site or speak to Fr Paul on his return. Our younger parishioners would be especially welcome – ongoing training will be provided over time to allow our altar servers to take increasingly more responsible roles in our services and provide them with a greater understanding of what they are doing so that they may serve with increasing reverence and prayerfulness.
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A dictionary definition of fair trade is “trade between companies in developed countries and producers in developing countries in which fair prices are paid to the producers”. In practice it is a lot more than that. Trading fairly means providing opportunities for the farming and working communities in the poorer nations of our world to help themselves. It allows them to have more control of their own futures, to enjoy decent working and living conditions and helps to sustain and protect the environment in which they live and work.
The Ipswich Fair Trade Shop is a not for profit organisation run by a team of mainly volunteers, working to promote the concept of fair trade and the sale of fair trade goods in Ipswich and the surrounding area. Born from caring individuals in the Ipswich Christian community, it has grown from humble beginnings in the late 1970s and today operates from premises in Upper Brook Street. With major supermarkets cutting back their support for fair trade, why don't you pay the shop a visit and help support fair trade in Ipswich? For more information visit the shop web site.
If you bring a young person to Mass and would like to use a book available in the Narthex, please help yourself from the box and replace it after Mass. If you have any suitable books at home that you have finished with, we would be pleased to receive them to add to the collection.
