2nd Sunday of Advent

The bird of hope

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.

And sweetest in the gale is heard and sore must be the storm that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm.

I’ve heard it in the chillest land and on the strangest sea yet never in extremity it asked a crumb of me.

Emily Dickinson

 

Dates for your diary

First Confessions
The children from our Parish who are making their Sacraments this year will be making their First Confession here in Church on Monday 9th December at 7pm. Please pray for the children and their families.

Advent Penance service
This will take place on Monday 16th December at 7pm here in church.

Christmas Social for all our Parish workers
This will be held in the Sacristy on Friday 20th December at 7pm.

Funeral
The funeral Service for Monica Lewis will take place here in St James’ on Thursday 12th December at 11.45am.  Please pray for Monica and her family.

Reflection for 2nd Sunday of Advent

 

1st Sunday of Advent

God’s plan of salvation is centred in Christ and realised through him. Advent looks back at the promise of his first coming, when that plan was announced. And it looks forward to his second coming, when that plan will reach it’s fulfilment. And, of course, it celebrates his actual coming in time.

The First Readings of the Advent Sundays (from Isaiah) are concerned with the Messiah and the messianic times. Isaiah kept the hopes of the people alive in very dark times. In today’s reading we have the theme of universal peace and salvation.

The Gospel and the Second Reading deal with the Lord’s second coming, which the first Christians believed was imminent. Both readings convey a sense of urgency through phrases such as, ‘Wake up’, ‘Stay awake’, ‘Stand Ready’.

Reflection for the 1st Sunday of Advent

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Youth Sunday at St James'

This weekend, on the Feast of Christ the King, the Church in England and Wales celebrates National Youth Sunday. On this day, we celebrate the young people in our parish and community and all the gifts and talents they share with us.

The theme for this year’s NYS is Significance taken from Christus Vivit, Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation to young people: “For him, you have worth; you are not insignificant. You are important to him, for you are the work of his hands. That is why he is concerned about you and looks to you with affection” (Christus Vivit, 115).

Here are some photos from our celebration:

After the Mass, Youth Active Team has taken the young people to “Inflation”, Inflatable Theme Park in Bootle.

Rector Major's visit to Bootle

The Rector Major of the Salesians, our Worldwide “Boss”, has visited our Province from 19th – 23rd November. He began his animation visit on Tuesday evening, with a trip to Bootle to meet the Salesian Community and members of the Salesian Family in the area. He addressed an audience of students and teachers, young leaders, parishioners, Salesian Sisters and Cooperators, and then spent time in conversation with groups of guests.

During our service, we have presented a short video about our Salesian Ministry in the Liverpool area. You can watch it below.

If you would like to learn more about the visit of Rector Major to GBR, you can follow the stories on our Provincial website.

Bells of St James' ring out again

Today the church bells of St James', were heard again thanks to our recent restoration project.

Parish Youth - Trip to Alton Towers

Our Altar Servers and Parish Youth recently went for a trip to Alton Towers. Big thank you to everyone who made it possible!

Special Visitor

The Rector Major of the Salesians, our Worldwide Boss, is coming to Britain to visit our Province from 19th – 23rd November.  He arrives in Manchester on the evening of 19th at 6.30pm and he is being brought to Bootle for a Welcome Service and a chance to meet the local Salesian Family members. 

As the parishioners of St James you are part of that Salesian Family, and are invited to join us in the gathering that night.  We will be using All Saints school hall, and we expect things to start around 8.15pm.  There will be a short Service, then a cup of tea and a chance to meet the Rector Major, Fr Angel Fernandez Artime.  We would be delighted to see you there.

Pious Lists

As the month of November has started, we have November Dead Lists and envelopes at the back of Church. Please fill them in and bring them back.

World Mission Sunday

World Mission Sunday supports Missionaries who work alongside communities that are poor or  in need, regardless of their background or belief.  By supporting Missio, the Pope’s charity for world Mission, you will help missionaries like Sr. Clara share the love of Christ with those most in need.  Please pray for the mission of the Church throughout the world and give what you can.  If you are a taxpayer, please use the Gift Aid envelopes.  For more information, visit mission.org.uk  Thank you.

WHAT IS EMM2019?

EMM2019 is the Extraordinary Month of Mission.  Pope Francis has declared that October 2019will be a special month of prayer and action to strengthen and grow God’s mission throughout the Church.

Synod Sunday

Today is the Synod Sunday. Let us remember to keep this special event in our prayers.

You can access all the information and synod resources HERE.


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Synod 2020 Talks

Monday 7 October 2019
The Quiet Revolution of Pope Francis: A Synodal Catholic Church
Fr Gerry O'Hanlon SJ

Monday 11 November 2019
Faith & Theology in Later Life
Dr Ros Stuart-Buttle

Monday 9 December 2019
Complex Catholicism: Discovering the Reality of Young Catholics in England and Wales
Stephen Davies

Monday 13 January 2020
Faith in the Family
Dr Dominika Kurek-Chomycz & Prof John Sullivan

Monday 17 February 2020
The Church in an Individualistic Society: Today's Economic Inequality - Where is the Church?
Rt Rev Dr Philip Egan, Bishop of Portsmouth

Monday 9 March 2020
The Church as Fragmented Mirror
David McLoughlin

Monday 20 April 2020
Participating in Christ's Ministry in the 2020s
Kate Wilkinson & Rev Dr Peter McGrail


Location: The talks are hosted by Liverpool Hope University and take place in Hope Chapel - entrance by Chapel or Gateway Building.

Timings: Tea and Coffee from 7pm. Talk begins at 7:30pm. Concludes at 8:45pm. Optional Night prayer follows at 9pm.

Access: Disabled parking available on the Liverpool Hope campus.

Do I need to attend all 7 talks? Talks are stand-alone - you can attend one, more, or all of them as you are able - and they assume no specialist knowledge.

Other information: All talks include a time for questions.


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