Merry Christmas everyone!

 Vestments for Christmas Day.

Christmas Blessings to everyone on this lovely day.

To all who continue to read this little blog - thank you.

To friends far and near

and to all my parishioners here at St Catherine's,

thank you for your kindness and generosity at this time 

and throughout the year.

In fact, we have had a wonderful year here in the parish. 

Archbishop Malcolm has visited us twice 

and I find myself greatly encouraged by his pastoral concern 

for both priests and people.

May God bless us one and all!

Angels proclaiming 

"Gloria in excelsis""

 The altar ready for action.

Our little Crib - complete with elephant and camel!

See the Lamb so long expected, Comes with pardon down from heav’n

 Last outing of the purple vestments for a while!

See the Lamb so long expected,

Comes with pardon down from heav’n;

Hasten now, with tears of sorrow,

One and all to be forgiv’n.

So when next he comes with glory,

Shrouding all the earth in fear,

May he then as out defender

On the clouds of heav’n appear.

Vox clara ecce intonat, 6th Century; Translator: E. Caswall, 1814-1878

Christmas Mass times at St Catherine's

 

 Christmas Mass times at St Catherine's

Christmas Eve

11pm - Holy Mass 

concluding with the blessing of the Crib 

at Midnight

Christmas Day

8.30am - said Mass

10am - Missa Cantata

 

Carol Concert generosity

A snap of the Carol Concert held at St Catherine's.

A lovely evening, which raised £4,310, 

which will be sent to Cardinal Ranjith 

for the work of SUROL in Sri Lanka.

Thanks to all who arranged, assisted and supported the concert.

some further photos on the Order of St Lazarus site.

Charity Carol Concert this Saturday

Carol Concert

on Saturday 19th December

7.30pm

Church of St Catherine Labouré

Stanifield Lane

Farington

Leyland

PR25 4QG

Mulled Wine and Mince Pies afterwards.

Free entry

A collection will be taken for the work of 

SUROL - Cardinal Ranjith's Charity for

those suffering from leprosy in Sri Lanka

Everyone Welcome!

This is now our fourth year of this highly popular event,

raising thousands of pounds for the charities supported by 

the Order of St Lazarus,

organised by Chev. Anthony Dickinson KLJ

 with assistance from professional and semi-professional singers from all over Lancashire.

This is always a lovely evening,

so come along if you can.

Gaudete Sunday

Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete. Modestia vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus: Dominus enim prope est. Nihil solliciti sitis: sed in omni oratione petitiones vestræ innotescant apud Deum. Benedixisti Domine terram tuam: avertisti captivitatem Jacob.

All set for Gaudete Sunday! As always, making full use of all the Church's liturgical options!

Of course, as a Traditionalist, I abhorred the abandonment of black for the rest of Advent and the ninth century innovation of reducing it from forty days to just one month but I suppose one must change with the times.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Pope Pius IX defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854.

 Blessed Duns Scotus defending the Dogma in 1305

We are celebrating Low Mass today at 12 noon 

on this lovely feast of the 

Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Lady.

Its particularly relevant to our parish dedication to St Catherine Labouré

and the Miraculous Medal, 

which will be part of our focus for the Jubilee Year of Mercy,

as it has so often been associated with bringing people back to the Faith.