Group:
 Young Adults
Celebrant:
 Fr. Andrew
Theme:  Take the picture of the Our Lady with you and give her a place of honour in your homes. Your home becomes a little shrine, bestowing grace… forming holy members of the family.

A fantastic way to start Holy Week. Tickets are £8 for adults and £2 for children. Please let me know if you would like any.

Contact Tricia Barnes – tricia.barnes@yourshrine.net

It is with sadness that we have to inform you of the death of Joe Rowen who died on Thursday evening 29th December 2011.

We offer our condolences to the members of Joe’s family, Anthony, Gerard and Anne and their

families.We remember Flo who only died in the Summer of this year and of course include their son Michael in our thoughts and prayers.

Requiem Mass for Joe will be celebrated at Our Lady of Grace Church, Preswich, on Tuesday 10th January 2012 at 12.00 noon. We place Joe into the hands of an all compassionate Father as we pray

“You know the way for me, you know the time, into your hands I trustingly place mine.

Your plan is perfect, born of perfect love. You know the way for me, that is enough.”

Recently in the sermon for the First Sunday in Advent  Fr. Duncan told the story of Bafana, a woman who on a busy day encountered the three wise men on their way to Bethlehem. However she was too caught up in the tasks at hand and missed the opportunity to go with them and find the King new-born is a stable. The story goes that Bafana was destined throughout history to go from house to house and implore: “Good people, the bells begin! Put off your toiling and let love in.” That is our invitation tonight by this Rorate Mass to put off distractions and focus wholeheartedly on what is important. Mary the Mother of Hope in Advent leads the way to let love in. (more…)

Befana was an old woman who lived in a small village in Italy. She was known throughout the village for her wonderful baking and the cleanliness of her kitchen. And many had heard her say that she was so busy baking and cleaning that she rarely had time to do anything else. One winter day, while Befana was sweeping in front of her home, three travelers stopped to ask her for a drink of water. They told Befana that they were astrologers (they were often called the three wise men) who were following a star to the birth place of the Christ Child. She kindly gave them water and then invited them to dinner. After dinner the astrologers prepared to continue their journey and asked her if she would like to come with them to see the Christ Child. Befana shook her head saying that she could not possibly take the time needed for such a journey. She was secretly itching to get back to her cleaning and cooking. Befana started being busy again. But hours later she began to feel that she had made a mistake. Befana decided to follow them. She quickly grabbed a basket and filled it with gifts of all kinds. Befana traveled all through the night but never caught up with the wise men and she never found the Christ Child. Ever since that night, Befana stops at the home of every child at Christmastime, leaving them gifts in their stockings. She hopes that one of the children she visits will be the Christ Child at last. (more…)

You are invited to the Taste and See Advent Family Mass on Sunday 11th December at 3.30pm followed with a shared Meal  and our Advent Celebration for Christmas. Christmas means  so much for families. So many happy moments and some sad memories – for Christmas happens in real time and eternity. When we think of our children on Christmas morning, impatient in their vigil for the day to start so they can rush to the Christmas Tree then we join the shepherds of over two thousand years ago in the fields outside Bethlehem and ‘hurry off to find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.‘ For this child marks the beginning of the new and eternal covenant. God was faithful to His promise, and a new King was born in Bethlehem. So we can exclaim with the old man Simeon: “My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before all people, a light of revelation to the nations, and for glory to your people Israel!” (Luke 2:30-32). (more…)

Advance notice of a fund-raising Concert for the Mosaic Fund.

Pete Abbott’s Band will hold a Gig at the Shrine

on the 2nd December 2011 – 7.30pm for 8.00pm.

Fantastic music and a great night out.

Watch this space for more info. Click here to download the information poster