St James Bootle
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
St James Bootle
Christmas
Christmas
St James Bootle
4th Sunday of Advent
4th Sunday of Advent
St James Bootle
3rd Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
3rd Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
St James Bootle
2nd Sunday of Advent
2nd Sunday of Advent

Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Fr Brian, Fr Jim and the whole Salesian Community would like to wish all our Parishioners a very Happy and grace-filled Christmas. May it be a time of great joy and peace for your families. And may Santa be good to you all!

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Christmas Mass Times at St James’

Tuesday, 24th December 2019 - 7:30pm, First Mass of Christmas

Wednesday, 25th December 2019 - 10:30am, Christmas Day Mass

Thursday, 26th December 2019 - 10am, Mass of St Stephen

Saturday, 28th December 2019 - 6:30pm, Mass of the Holy Family

Sunday, 29th December 2019 - 10:30am, Mass of the Holy Family

Wednesday, 1st January 2020 - 10:30am, Mary the Mother of God

Saturday, 4th January 2020 - 6:30pm, Vigil Mass of the Epiphany

 

Christmas Reflection

4th Sunday of Advent

Christmas Expectations

As Christmas approaches, people’s hopes soar. However the substance of these hopes is often dictated by commercial interests. Little wonder, then, that when the sun goes down on Christmas Day, many feel disappointed. Those who pin their hopes on what the merchants promise will always be disappointed. Not because they promise too little but too much—of the wrong thing. What our hearts long for is a taste of what the angels announced to the shepherds: ‘Behold, I bring news of great joy; today a saviour has been born to you.’ This joy is the real hope of Christmas. Let us open our hearts to receive it.

 

CAFOD fun run/walk

Run or walk with family or friends at the CAFOD fun run/walk. This will take place on Friday 27th December at Wavertree Athletics Centre (Mystery Playground), Liverpool, L15 4LE. Registration is at 12pm, race start time is 1pm. Entry fee for is £5 for children and £10 for adults. All are welcome.

 

Christmas Mass Times

Tuesday, 24th December 2019 - 7:30pm, First Mass of Christmas

Wednesday, 25th December 2019 - 10:30am, Christmas Day Mass

Thursday, 26th December 2019 - 10am, Mass of St Stephen

Saturday, 28th December 2019 - 6:30pm, Mass of the Holy Family

Sunday, 29th December 2019 - 10:30am, Mass of the Holy Family

Wednesday, 1st January 2020 - 10:30am, Mary the Mother of God

Saturday, 4th January 2020 - 6:30pm, Vigil Mass of the Epiphany

 

Advent Reflection

Gaudete Sunday (3rd Sunday of Advent)

A reed in the wind

John the Baptist was no reed swaying in the wind. A reed swaying in the wind is a symbol of those who are easily influenced, who go along with whatever is popular and who have no convictions of their own.

But the humble reed can teach us something. The fact that it is light means that it is at the mercy of every wind that blows but it has great strength too. The greatest storm cannot uproot it, even when giant oaks come crashing down, the slender reed still stands secure.

Lord, teach us that there is strenght in weakness and suppleness and give us the wisdom to know when to bend and when to stand firm.

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

A Dementia Friendly Carol Service
With Archbishop Malcolm McMahon will be held at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Thursday 19th December at 2pm. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Gibberd room and everyone is most welcome.

Funerals
The Funeral Mass for Lisa Seddon will take place here in St James’ on Tuesday 17th December at 1.30pm.  Please pray for Lisa and her family.

The Funeral Mass for Rose Mosey will take place here in St James’ on Thursday 19th December at 10am.  Please remember Rose and her family in your prayers.


Reflection for Gaudete Sunday (3rd Sunday of Advent)

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.