BOOK YOUR HOLY MASS ATTENDANCE

                            

                              

NOTE FROM THE PARISH PRIEST

LOCKDOWN LIVE STREAMED HOLY MASS SCHEDULE 

MON-FRI: 9.30am, SAT: 9.30am 

SUN: 10.00am

Today…..we begin the season of Advent and Bishop David has written a pastoral letter. 

News from the presbytery….. Thankfully,Fr Shyju had very few symptoms of the virus and is now firing on all cylinders! Fr Seán had a negative test so we are both free from isolation. The church will reopen for private prayer from this Sunday - 2pm-4pm. It will also be open on Monday and Wednesday from 10.30am -12.30pm.  From Thursday we will be able to have public Mass at 9.30am and we will then resume our normal schedule of weekday Masses. So, Masses this week: St Teresa’s: Monday, Tuesday Wednesday, 9.30am (live streamed) Thursday and Saturday at 9.30am.(public Masses) St Dunstan’s: Friday at 9.30am.(public Mass)

Sunday, St Teresa’s: 6pm (Sat evening) 8.45am and 11.30am. St Dunstan’s: 10am

This can only happen with the willing cooperation of our stewards and we can be rightly proud of their commitment and help in ensuring that our churches are open. If anyone else would like to volunteer as a steward, please let Fr Seán know.

Christmas Masses….. many people have been asking about Masses over Christmas. Both churches are able to accommodate far fewer people, so we will be asking people to book online. We will be able also to use the parish centre at St Teresa’s and possibly the hall at St Dunstan’s. After discussion with the parish council at St Teresa’s we have agreed the following times:

24th December:

4pm - Crib service (live streamed)

6pm - First Mass of Christmas

9pm Christmas Eve Mass

25th December:

Christmas Day Mass at 8.45am,10am & 11.30am

Fr Seán and Sr Winifred have agreed the following times at St Dunstan’s;

24th December - 6.30pm First Mass of Christmas

25th December - Mass at 8.30am & 10am.

Booking for these Masses will begin on 8th December.

 

Advent  Reflection group:  on the Mondays of Advent 7th,14th,21st from 7.30pm - 9.00pm there will be a time of reflection and prayer around the ‘Saints of Advent’ - Our Lady, St Joseph and St John the Baptist. Deacon Brent will lead the first session on John the Baptist on the 7th December. These sessions will be on Zoom, so you can join from the comfort of your own home. Joining details next week!

NYMO, the Diocesan Youth Service….are inviting young adults to an online advent retreat. It is open to all aged 18-35yrs, each Tuesday of Advent, beginning on the 1st December between 8.00-9.30pm. You can join the team on Zoom for a time of prayer, worship and reflection, email hello@nymo.org for more information.

United Advent Day of Prayer - 1st December…..the churches in Bourne End are holding a day of prayer, focussing on our Christmas services and outreach. The day starts at 7.30am  and finishes with an evening service. The events and links are posted on the website.

Please keep in your prayers…. the family of Arnold Summerfield. He was an active member of St Teresa’s for many years. His funeral will be on Thursday at 2pm followed by burial at Holtspur Cemetery.

Children’s Liturgy…..Fr Sean is still producing his weekly Children’s Liturgy so as to keep in touch with our younger parishioners. It is usually available from Saturday morning onwards. There is also a very special reflection on Advent and Christmas available at https://youtu.be/QZgXJrtQgeQ
. It is a delight for all ages! Do take a look!

Folk Group CD….the music that the Folk Group sang and played during our ‘lockdown Masses’ have now been put on a CD - An Anchor for my Soul, They are priced at £8.  All money raised will go to Mongu. to order a copy go to http://folkgroup.co.uk  Kevin Broderick does have some copies for sale.

Parish walks…..will resume this Wednesday. Please meet at the front of the Church around 10.15am.

Financial matters…. nothing to report this week as no collection was taken last weekend. 

Parish Lottery in aid of Leonard Cheshire Children’s Home Mongu, Zambia….the draw numbers for November are: 195,211,217, winning £5 each and 35 winning £25. Well done! Next month there will be an additional Christmas draw for £250. 

The lottery starts a new year on the 1st January and leaflets and details will be available in the Narthex next month. If you would prefer a leaflet sent to you or would like more information, please contact leslie.morant@btinternet.com  

The London and Slough Runs and One Can Trust still need your support. Items can be left in the parish centre porch at St Teresa’s from 10am – 4pm every Sunday and up to 10.30am on Monday mornings. One Can Trust are also looking for sweets and biscuits - they can be left at St Dunstan’s.

Advance notice…..this year we will not be offering the possibility of buying Christmas Trees through the parish. Hopefully, next year………..!

Advent reading…..Walk with Me and the December edition of the Magnificat are available in the narthex.

Best wishes,

Fr Seán, Fr Shyju, Deacon Brent and Sister Winifred.

St. Dunstan's R.C. Church is located in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire bordering on the River Thames. St. Dunstan's Parish is clustered with St Teresa's in Beaconsfield (http://www.littleflower.co.uk).

On Sunday, 15th April 1956, the first Catholic Church in Bourne End - St Dunstan's - was blessed by Bishop Parker of Northampton. The simple wooden building was a result of eight months' work at weekends and evenings by an enthusiastic band of parishioners, with only one qualified bricklayer!

Prior to this, the Bourne End congregation attended Mass in the dance hall at the Red Lion Pub near the railway station. Mass at that time was celebrated by priests from Burnham, Father Noel Burditt and Father George McCann.

The 'new' Church was consecrated by Bishop Charles Grant and is of a modern design with a fan-shaped worshipping area, a presbytery, parish offices and a car park.

If you are planning to move to the area, you may be sure of a warm welcome. If you are looking for a Catholic primary school for your children, St Peter's Catholic Combined School in Marlow serves the Parish.

Bourne End has a good selection of shops, a library, a primary school, a secondary school and a railway station (Thames Trains).

Whether for a short visit or a long stay, we hope you will enjoy being part of our 'living community of faith'. Mgr Sean Healy is the Parish Priest for both St Dunstan's Parish and St Teresa's Parish in Beaconsfield.