4th Sunday of Advent

Reflection

The readings today draw attention to God’s gracious initiative towards us. The heart of the good news is that God is a gracious God who wants to give us his grace. This is the special time of year when we allow God to be the God of abundant grace in our regard; it is a time when we come before him in our need and open ourselves to his gracious love and presence in joyful time of expectation for the coming of Christ.

Masses over Christmas 2023-2024

Sunday, 24th December:
Fourth Sunday of Advent – Mass 10:30am

Sunday, 24th December:
First Mass of Christmas – Mass 8pm

Monday, 25th December:
Christmas Day – Mass 10:30am

Tuesday, 26th December:
Feast of St Stephen – Mass 10am

Christmas message from Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP 

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon's Christmas message invites us to reflect about the true meaning of Christmas and how we can live out this special time in our daily lives. Click the link below to read his message.

Crib Visits 

Please visit our lovely crib, say a prayer for someone who needs it, and make a donation in the box. Any money collected will go to Nugent Care. Thank you

3rd Sunday of Advent

Reflection

There is a world of difference between joy and pleasure. Pleasure can be planned. Joy can’t be planned; it comes unexpectedly and is all the sweeter for that. Pleasure is immediate. Joy often comes later and the sweetest joy of all is that which follows pain. Pleasure comes from saying ‘yes’ to ourselves, joy comes from saying ‘no’ to ourselves. Pleasure is like a flare in the night: it brightens things up for a while but when it’s over we feel darker and emptier than ever. Joy, on the other hand, is like a bright fire in the hearth; even when it dies down, it leaves a warm glow behind it.

Masses over Christmas 2023-2024

Saturday, 23rd December:
Fourth Sunday of Advent Vigil – Mass 6:30pm

Sunday, 24th December:
Fourth Sunday of Advent – Mass 10:30am

Sunday, 24th December:
First Mass of Christmas – Mass 8pm

Monday, 25th December:
Christmas Day – Mass 10:30am

Tuesday, 26th December:
Feast of St Stephen – Mass 10am

Wednesday, 27th December:
Feast of St John – Mass 10am

Thursday, 28th December:
Holy Innocents – Mass 10am

Friday, 29th December:
St Thomas of Canterbury – Mass 10am

Saturday, 30th December:
Holy Family Vigil – Mass 6:30pm

Sunday, 31st December:
The Holy Family – Mass 10:30am

Monday, 1st January:
Mary the Mother of God – Mass 10am

Tuesday, 2nd January:
SS. Basil and Gregory – Mass 10am


Wednesday onwards, Masses at usual times

Deanery Consultation 

Find attached an information sheet about the Family of Parishes, involving our local deanery. This is a follow on from the Synod.

Mary’s Meals – Double the Love 

From 22 November 2023 to 22 January 2024, donations made to Mary’s Meals will be doubled by a group of generous supporters, up to £1million.

With Double the Love, your donation will be matched and your kindness will go even further – meaning we can reach even more desperately hungry children with a life-changing school meal.

There are many ways to get involved, click the link below to find out more.

Masses over Christmas 2023-2024

Masses over Christmas 2023-2024

Saturday, 23rd December: Fourth Sunday of Advent Vigil – Mass 6:30pm
Sunday, 24th December: Fourth Sunday of Advent – Mass 10:30am
Sunday, 24th December: First Mass of Christmas – Mass 8pm
Monday, 25th December: Christmas Day – Mass 10:30am
Tuesday, 26th December: Feast of St Stephen – Mass 10am
Wednesday, 27th December: Feast of St John – Mass 10am
Thursday, 28th December: Holy Innocents – Mass 10am
Friday, 29th December: St Thomas of Canterbury – Mass 10am
Saturday, 30th December: Holy Family Vigil – Mass 6:30pm
Sunday, 31st December: The Holy Family – Mass 10:30am
Monday, 1st January: Mary the Mother of God – Mass 10am
Tuesday, 2nd January: SS. Basil and Gregory – Mass 10am

Wednesday onwards, Masses at usual times

2nd Sunday of Advent

Reflection

The voice of John the Baptist was a lonely voice which many of his contemporaries ignored. There are many lonely voices in our world. Somewhere at this moment a child is crying—crying for love or maybe simply for bread. Somewhere a young person is crying— crying for a listening ear or an understanding heart. Somewhere an old person is crying—crying for a visit or a word from his/her children. There are a thousand unheard cries in our world, coming from the victims of injustice and neglect. Lord, help us to listen to these voices. Above all, help us to listen to your voice, whispering to us in the wilderness of our hearts, telling us that we are loved by you and that we are to love one another.

Lights to Remember

All are welcome to attend Marie Curie’s Lights to Remember Service at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral on Sunday 10 December at 5pm - 6pm, with refreshments and mice pies served afterwards.

The event is for people who have been affected by terminal illness or bereavement, and an opportunity to come together in our local community, joined by Marie Curie staff and inspirational supporters.

All are warmly invited.

Readers retreat day

A reminder to those who signed up, that the Day of Prayer for readers will take place on 16th December at the Irenaeus Centre, Waterloo, from 9.30 – 3.30pm. This is for readers in our Deanery Area.

Funeral

The Funeral service for Deborah Flynn will take place here in St James’ on Thursday 14th December at 12.30pm. Please remember Debbie and her family in your prayers.

1st Sunday of Advent

Reflection

It is said that while there is life there is hope. This has an even deeper meaning in reverse: While there is hope there is life. Hope is strength. It inspires the will to live. It is the doctor’s most powerful ally. It is a shield against defeat and failure. It revives ideals and renews dreams. As long as there is hope, no situation is impossible. Advent summons us to wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. In the final analysis, he is our hope.

A Family Christmas Concert

By Liverpool Brass Band, featuring St Anne’s (Stanley) Junior Mixed and Infant School Choir, and Rainhill Hi Notes Community Choir, at St Francis de Sales, 7.00-9.00pm, Friday 8th December 2023. Entry £5.00. (Concessions: £4.00; Children under 16 years free). All welcome.

Families of Parishes 

Do you want to know about Families of Parishes? Did you miss the roadshows that took place recently? Join a Zoom meeting led by Fr Philip Inch and Fr Matthew Nunes at 7.00pm on Wednesday 6th December.

Meet Our Salesian Brothers 

This year our Salesian Community in Bootle was very pleased to welcome two Salesian Brothers. David Marić and Solomon Tivlumun became a part of our community in September and will be with us for a year. We have asked them to tell us a little bit about themselves and their Salesian journey so far.

Funeral 

The Funeral Service for Tony Winsor will take place here in St James’ on Friday 8th December at 12 noon.
Please remember Tony and his family in your prayers.

Christ the King

Reflection

Mother Teresa said: “Many today are starving for ordinary bread but there is another kind of hunger—the hunger to be wanted, to be loved, to be recognised. Nakedness too is not just the want of clothes but also about loss of dignity, purity and self-respect. Homelessness is not just want of a house; there is the homelessness of being rejected, of being unwanted in a throwaway society. The biggest disease in the world today is the feeling of being unwanted and uncared for. The greatest evil in the world is lack of love, the terrible indifference towards one’s neighbour.” Lord, warm our cold hearts with your grace, so that we, your disciples, may produce the fruits of love.

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Farewell

We say farewell and best wishes to Fr Jim as he moves to Bolton in the next few days. We thank him for his generous and thoughtful ministry among us, and we will miss him. Please keep him in your prayers.

A Family Christmas Concert 

By Liverpool Brass Band, featuring St Anne’s (Stanley) Junior Mixed and Infant School Choir, and Rainhill Hi Notes Community Choir, at St Francis de Sales, 7.00-9.00.pm, Friday 8th December 2023. Entry £5.00. (Concessions: £4.00; Children under 16 years free). All welcome.

Second Collection

This weekend is Youth Sunday, and there is a second collection for the work of Animate Youth.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reflection

I have not the fine audacity of men
Who have mastered the pen
Or the purse.
The complexes of many slaves are in my verse.
When I straighten my shoulders to look at the world boldly
I see talent coldly
Damning me to stooped attrition.
Mine was a beggar’s mission
To dreams of beauty I should have been born blind.
I should have been content to walk behind
Watching the reflection of God’s delight:
A second hand teller of the story
A second hand glory.
It was not my right
That my mind should have echoed life’s overtones
That I should have seen a flower
Petalled in mighty power.

(From The complete poems of
Patrick Kavanagh, 1984, Goldsmith Press)

Memorial Mass reminder

Just to remind you that our Memorial Mass will take place here in St James’ next Saturday, 25th November, at 11am. Please join us to pray for those who have died in the last year, and for any of your loved ones you want to remember.

50th Anniversary of Irish in Britain 

Irish in Britain celebrates its 50th anniversary with an ambitious heritage project made possible thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This heritage showcase will tour throughout November and also be available online from 1st November. The exhibition is free and the Liverpool venue is from 8-11 November at The Florrie, 377 Mill Street, Dingle, L8 4RF accessible via 204 and 82 bus routes and Brunswick train station. Click the link below to learn more.

Second Collection 

Next Sunday, the Feast of Christ the King, is Youth Sunday, and there is a second collection for the work of Animate Youth.

Our New Salesian Brothers

This year our Salesian Community in Bootle is very pleased to welcome two Salesian Brothers. David Marić and Solomon Tivlumun became a part of our community in September and will be with us for a year. They are involved in the parish and at the Salesian Academy of St John Bosco, sharing their Salesian charism and joy with great optimism and care. We have asked them to tell us a little bit about themselves and their Salesian journey so far.

Hello everyone!

I am Aondoaseer Solomon Tivlumun from the beautiful Benue State in the heart of North Central Nigeria. My journey with the Salesians began after completing my secondary education while working in my hometown. On the memorable day of September 8, 2017, I joyfully professed my first vows as a Salesian of Don Bosco, marking the beginning of a remarkable chapter in my life.

I later embarked on a new phase of my mission, arriving in the United Kingdom in October 2022, to further my Salesian formation. My enriching experiences at Thornleigh, Bolton, prepared me for my current assignment in the welcoming Salesian Community in Bootle.

Here, I am wholeheartedly immersing myself in the local culture and various facets of life, enhancing my ability to serve effectively within the Salesian mission in the United Kingdom.

I earnestly pray for the continuous growth of the Salesian mission in this country, aspiring for more young hearts to embrace and cherish the boundless love of God. Looking forward to connecting and sharing inspiring moments with each of you!

Warm regards,

Aondoaseer Solomon Tivlumun, SDB

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Pictured above: the school and youth centre where Bro Solomon used to work before arriving in the UK

Hello, everyone!

My name is David Marić, and I am excited to share a glimpse of my journey with you. Hailing from Croatia, I was born into a large Catholic family in a quaint village nestled in the heart of the Dalmatian hinterland. While my early spiritual upbringing was influenced by the strong Franciscan presence in my diocesan parish, it was encountering a Salesian priest within my community that truly ignited my passion for a life devoted to God and service to youth.

Inspired by the exemplary life of this Salesian, I embarked on my vocation journey after completing high school, eagerly following the path of Don Bosco. In September 2020, I officially became a part of the Salesian family, subsequently continuing my philosophical studies both in Rome and back home in Croatia.

As part of my ongoing formation, I had the privilege of spending a transformative year engaging in practical training within one of Croatia’s largest parishes.

There I had the honour of overseeing the activities of the Oratory, a vibrant Youth Centre within the parish. Interacting daily with young minds, the Oratory in Jarun fostered a diverse community of over 300 active members aged between 15 and 30. I worked closely with a team of 120 animators, collectively dedicated to imparting the values of faith, joy, and friendship through a range of engaging programs and events.

The invaluable experiences shared with these young individuals have not only enriched my personal journey but have deepened my commitment to the mission of Don Bosco. Presently, as I find myself in Bootle, embracing the upcoming year of practical training in the parish and at the Salesian Academy of St John Bosco, I eagerly anticipate the path that lies ahead, cherishing every step, every encounter, and every opportunity that the Lord graciously presents before me.

Thank you for allowing me to share a glimpse of my story with you all. Looking forward to seeing you around!

David Marić, SDB

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Pictured above: the school and youth centre where Bro David used to work before arriving in the UK

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reflection

The foolish have no oil in their lamps. They burn themselves out through a life of self-seeking and dedication to worldly cares and vanities. They do not even think of the Lord, much less wait for his coming. The wise, on the other hand, have oil in their lamps. They are detached from themselves and from the cares of the world and are full of charity. They are waiting for the Lord and desire nothing else but his coming. Let us keep our minds alight with faith, our souls alive with hope and our hearts alight with love as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Honouring Service

In 2023 we are remembering and honouring Service. Service, the act of defending and protecting the nation’s democratic freedoms and way of life, is rarely without cost to those who serve. Physical, mental or emotional injury or trauma; the absence of time with loved ones; or the pressures that come from serving, highlight why the Remembrance of service is so important. This year we mark significant anniversaries united by the theme of ‘Service’. On the 70th anniversary of the armistice which ended the fighting of the Korean War, we pay tribute to the British and Commonwealth forces who served in almost unimaginable conditions. We also honour the contribution of the generation in uniform who undertook National Service, 60 years after the last serviceman was demobbed. On the 75th anniversary of the arrival of settlers from the Caribbean on the Empire Windrush, we explore the connections between the Armed Forces and the Windrush Generation, and mark their service and the part they played in rebuilding post war Britain. We further explore and remember the contribution of personnel of Commonwealth heritage with our support of South Asian Heritage Month and Black History Month where personal stories bring to life the experiences of those who served.

50th Anniversary of Irish in Britain 

Irish in Britain celebrates its 50th anniversary with an ambitious heritage project made possible thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This heritage showcase will tour throughout November and also be available online from 1st November. The exhibition is free and the Liverpool venue is from 8-11 November at The Florrie, 377 Mill Street, Dingle, L8 4RF accessible via 204 and 82 bus routes and Brunswick train station. Click the link below to learn more.

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reflection

A peacock’s feathers are very colourful; they are worn more for show than for warmth. The Pharisees wore their virtue for show; they wanted to be seen and praised by others. They were more concerned with appearing good than with really being good. Today there is great emphasis on appearances. The image is more important than the reality. We may deceive others but we cannot deceive God. But then it would be foolish even to try. We don’t have to put on an outward show, or pretend to be what we are not. All we have to do is try to be true to what we are—God’s sons and daughters. Lord, help us to shun all falsity and pretence and to live a life of genuine goodness. Then our deeds will flow from what we are, as naturally as good fruit from a good tree.

Memorial Mass

Our annual Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday 25th November at 11am. This is when we invite the families of those who have died in the last year to come and remember them and pray for them during this special Mass. Everyone in the Parish is welcome to join us and pray for their own deceased family members.

Visitation Reminder 

Our Salesian Regional Superior, Fr Roman Jachimowicz, is making a flying visitation of our Province in early November. He is going to be in Bootle on 6th and 7th November to visit our Community. As part of the visit, he would like to meet the members of our newly reformed Parish Team and the Salesian Cooperators. This meeting will be on Monday 6th November at 7pm. Can I ask those two groups to do their best to be there to meet Fr Roman. Thank you.

Funeral 

The funeral Service for John Lynch will take place here in St James’ on Friday 10th November at 12 noon.
Please remember John and his family in your prayers.