Please pray for the souls of all deceased parishioners, family and friends
- Maura Dee – Requiem at St John’s Monday 29th Dec at 11am
- Giuseppe Muro – Requiem at St John’s Thursday 15th January at 12 noon
May God console their families.
May the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace;
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Please pray for those whose Anniversaries occur at this time including….
- 21: Elizabeth Kiss, Peter Murphy, Jean Kathleen Holder, Kathleen Frances Barrett, Jeremiah Anthony Sheahan, Jeannie Phatty
- 22: Brigid Harkin, Eileen Kavanagh, Kevin Joseph Clarke, Kevin Patrick Whelan, Kathleen Ryan, Patrick Joseph Murphy, Elizabeth Joan Diprose
- 23: Maureen McCarthy, Jeremiah Sheehan, Hannah Harriet Clark, Margaret Nellie Freeman, Kenneth Denny, Doris Jane Broad, Helga Sieloff, Elizabeth Neilsen, Derek Coulton, Teresa Hylands, John Joseph McDonach,
- 24: Derry O’Donoghue, Michael Nelson, Sister M. Winifred Walsh, Maureen Iris Reader
- 25: Kathleen Upton, Frank Peach, Olive Johnson, Sister M. Columba O’Malley, Michael McCarthy, John Palasz, Monica Murphy
- 26: Michael Mallinder, Sheelah Cherry, Lilian Hester Webster, Stella Chessworth, Joseph Whelan, Annie Waghorne,
- 27:Harry Enefer, Kathleen McDermott, Roger Hall, Elizabeth Langley, Mary Angela Millar, Mary Georgina McGaley, Linda DeAbreau
- 28: John James Leatham, Michael Brennan, William Phillip Sharp, Lionel Edward Fox, Gladys Amy Hendy, Josephine Cooper
May they rest in peace
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Welcome to St John’s as we celebrate the birth of the Saviour. If you are visiting, we hope you have a happy Christmas and wish you all God’s blessings for the coming year. If you are returning to Mass after an absence, long or short, welcome home! We are delighted that you have chosen to celebrate Christmas Mass with us today.
We wish all parishioners the peace and joy of Christmas, and extend a warm welcome to all visitors to our parish. Thank you for all your cards and gifts.
Mass Times In order to make life a little easier for the clergy of the Archdiocese, the Archbishop is introducing a Reduced Summer Mass Schedule to run between third weekend in July and first weekend in September. This allows parish priest to cancel Mass(es) so that others can be conveniently covered by the remaining priest(s). The archbishop also says having communion service on Sunday is out of the question. But we are doing everything to avoid this situation in our parish by trying to adjust our Mass times to allow a breathing space for the priest covering them. It is a little sacrifice of arriving for Mass 15 or 30 before the regular Mass we have been attending for ages. Mass Times from Sunday 11th January 2026:
Saturday 6pm (Vigil Mass), 8.15am St John’s, 9.30am St Mary’s (Denton), 11am St John’s, 6pm St John’s, Thank you for your cooperation.
Family arts & crafts event – Sunday 21st December 2.30pm at St John’s Church. Lots of different Christmas themed craft activities for families to enjoy.
The collection over Christmas will be your personal gift to our priests and forms part of their annual allowance. Envelopes are available at the back of the Church.
Last weeks collections St John’s: £1044.06, St Mary’s: £194.76 Thank you also to our parishioners who have signed up for Gift Aid increasing their donations by 25% at no extra cost to them, & those who donate by contactless & standing order. If you wish to set up a standing order, St Johns Church bank details are: Account name: ‘RCAS a Registered Charity re St Johns Church’, Sort code: 60-09-10 Nat West Bank, Account No: 07722915.
Parish Directories These handy diocesan booklets are available in the Repository.
Baptisms Application forms for Baptism are available at the back of the Church or the parish office. Families need to attend a preparation session before the baptism (the next session is Monday 12th January @7pm) or email the office.
Christmas message from Archbishop John Wilson “The beautiful truth of Christmas is that because of God in Christ we are never lost. God chose to be near us, to stay close to us always, to draw us to himself, always. In his endless mercy, the Lord Jesus chose to love us, so we could know and believe that “God is love” (1 John 4:16). In turn, all the Lord Jesus asks of us is to not be afraid and to say yes to him, to draw close to him, to love him”. You can read the full message next week.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Christ is really present in the Blessed Sacrament; come and talk heart to heart with Him, either on Wed 10.00-12 or Sat after 10am Mass until 12.30pm; or 1st Friday 24 hour Adoration.
Children’s Liturgy We welcome children of age 4-8 to weekly sessions at the 10.30am Mass. Please, speak to a member of Children’s Liturgy team to find out more details.
New Year’s Eve Mass will be celebrated at 11pm with carols from 10pm. Everyone is invited.
Booking Mass Intentions: Envelopes for Masses are available at the back of the Church, write the intention and put the stipend in the envelope and hand to one of the priests or call at the presbytery between 10-2pm if you would like a specific mass. We cannot always allocate a Mass on the date requested as it may have already been booked, however, your Mass may be shared if you wish.
Retrouvaille helps marriages. It can bring hope and healing to relationships. Next date: 12th February. Tel: 07887 296983 www.retrouvaille.org.uk
Padre Pio Prayer Group each Tuesday straight after 9.15am Mass in the Cry Chapel. All welcome to join us in prayer. We especially remember our sick friends and family.
Mother’s prayer group takes place straight after the 9.15am mass every Friday. You are invited to join us and pray for our children especially.
Crib Thank you to the team of crib builders and maintaining the beautiful crib figures. The children to watch the scene build week by week with the story of Christmas. Donations at the crib will go to ‘Friends of the Holy Land.
Divine Mercy Chaplet The Divine Mercy Chaplet will be online at 3pm Monday – Friday. Click here for how to join the online meetings as well as the prayers if you wish to say the Chaplet privately.
Come and Rest in Me is a contemplative group that meets around the Word of God on Wednesdays 8-9pm. Click here for the zoom link.
Mustard Seed Bible study every day @ 8.30pm; Lectio Divina on Fridays @ 7.30pm. Please click here for how to join
Sick/housebound Please contact the parish office and let us know of neighbours/family members who are unable to come to Church and would like to receive Communion or call 01474 352415. We remember in our prayers those who are sick, housebound or in hospital & those who care for them and their families.
Please, when on admission in the hospital or care home, volunteer the information of your faith as you won’t be asked ordinarily.