Advent Day for Families:
The Archdiocesan Advent Adventure is back!;
The Family Life Commission are delighted to invite families to the ‘Triple A’ family fun event Saturday November 30th, hosted by Fr Michael Doyle, Parish Priest of St David’s Cathedral, Cardiff.
It will take place in the Mostyn Room, next door to the Cathedral on Charles Street, from 2pm, concluding with the Vigil Mass in the Cathedral at 5.30pm.
This FREE afternoon of Advent and Christmas based activities will have something for all ages and generations, including light afternoon refreshments. It is open to anyone, so bring the whole family! All are Welcome!
For further details visit the events page of the archdiocesan website or contact flc@rcadc.org
Saint Vincent De Paul (SVP) Fundraising Quiz and Tombola night:
The Saint Vincent De Paul conference in Abergavenny is planning a fundraising Quiz and Tombola night in Usk Catholic Church hall on Friday 29th November starting at 7.30pm.
The funds that are raised from this event will be donated to a family who attend the Catholic School in Ebbw Vale. Tragically the mother of a family of 6 has recently passed away and the family is struggling for immediate expenses.
Entry into the quiz will cost £5 and if anyone is able to donate prizes to the Tombola that would be most welcome.
For those who do attend please bring your own alcoholic beverages and Snacks; tea and coffee will be provided.
Coffee morning - December the 15th:
We are having a coffee morning on Sunday December 15th after Mass in our Church Hall to raise funds for the Hot Food Kitchen.
If you are able to donate any raffle prizes for the day, we would very much appreciate it.
Salvation Army Annual Christmas Collection:
Kathy will be doing her usual food collection for the Salvation Army in Newport.
Donations can be left at the back of the Church on Sunday the 8th December or Sunday the 15th December . Food items should be non-perishable and also if possible contain a Christmas treat. They will then be collected by Kathy and taken to Newport Salvation Army on the 16th, distributions are then given to the homeless and those in need.
Anyone who wished to donate but had difficulty transporting the food to the Church, Kathy would be happy to collect from their home.
With many thanks for your ongoing generosity
Lectionary Dedications:
If you haven’t already spoken to Frank about the wording you would like on the dedication of the Lectionary you have sponsored, could you do so as soon as possible please.
Let us know if you need the bank details to transfer the sponsorship amount.
Youth Advent Retreat Saturday, December 14th 2024:
Young people from the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia are invited to participate in a special Advent Retreat at St David's College in Cardiff, at which the Archbishop will celebrate Mass.
This event is organised by Cardiff-Menevia Youth Leaders and is aimed at those aged between 12-19. The day will offer the chance for prayer, discussion, fun, food, music, chat, presentations and Mass. The event will be led by Father Matt Roche-Saunders and Deacon Christian Mahoney.
The cost of the event is £10 (includes lunch and transport) and payment can be made in cash or card on the day.
Registration can be done through this link: https://forms.gle/a5cks4e3Jm8R7SRj6
Pontypool and Blaenavon Website:
These are Canon Paul’s other parishes:
St. Alban’s R.C. Church, Conway Road, Pontypool. NP4 6HL 01495 762280
Sacred Heart & St, Felix R, C, Church, Ellick Street. NP4 9HR
Please see below for their newsletters and Mass times.
Catholic Press:
Some links of interest to various Catholic Press, there are always new articles each week for you to read, so although the link looks the same, it is updated.
Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales
Grave Rota:
St David Lewis Grave Rota for November is Carol Ainge.
Missio Boxes:
Could we ask for you to bring in your Missio red boxes for emptying as it is that time of the year.
Please do not leave them at the back of the church but give them to Frank or Fr Paul for safe keeping please.
Thank you from Jo Robertson:
It was lovely to see Jo Robertson back in Usk this week.
She and Betty have settled well in their new home and Jo wished to thank everyone for the card and voucher sent to her by the parish in appreciation of her time and dedication to St David Lewis and Francis Xavier church.
She has bought and planted two hellebore plants in their garden, a bottle of wine named ‘St Joseph‘ and some chocolates.
Assisted Dying - Moving Senedd Speech:
You may like to listen to this very moving speech by Plaid Cymru’s South Wales East MS, Delyth Jewell. Delyth, the Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru and an active member of St Peter’s RC Church in Bargoed on why she is voting against the proposed assisted dying legislation.
She stated “My fear with this motion, my terror is not so much with how it will begin but how it will end.”
Article on the BBC:
The UK's longest-serving male and female MPs have united to oppose the assisted dying bill, which is due to be debated in Parliament next week.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgl4p3yg769o
If you haven’t already done so, please make your views known to your local MP.
Finally, Wes Streeting’s views on why he is voting against this bill.:
Archbishop Mark O’Toole:
A word of thanks to the Archbishop for taking the time to visit our parish and celebrate Mass with us. I am sure he felt the warmth of the welcome both after Mass and when he joined everyone for refreshments afterwards in the hall.
PAC Minutes:
The PAC minutes are now at the back of the hall for everyone to read.
Christmas Mass Times:
5.30pm Christmas Eve Mass
9.15am Christmas Day Mass.
There will be an Advent Service also on the evening of Wednesday the 18th of December.
2025 Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee Year:
The Holy Father has decided that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee ,something which happens every 25 years. The theme is “Pilgrims of Hope”.
https://rcadc.org/jubilee-home/
There is a designated hymn, and the link below also shows the lyrics.
https://rcadc.org/jubilee-home/jubilee-hymn/
Our Church is on the pilgrimage list within the Diocese for Jubilee Year.
Thoughts and prayers
Carol
07881 912005
A Parish of the Archdiocese of Cardiff- Menevia Priest in Charge: Canon Paul Millar,
paul.millar@rcadc.org/ 07469 208275
Church Hall enquiries: Kara Rafferty
07964 549518 kara.rafferty@gmail.com
Newsletter:
Carol Ainge 07881 912005 carol@ainge.co.uk
Safeguarding:
Celeste Manley 01495 785723
We are a Parish within the Archdiocese Of Cardiff-Menevia which is a registered charity number: 1177272
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