Updated: Jan 1
Gaza Appeal: You will be aware of the tragic news regarding the murder of Christians at the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, where over 500 Palestinian Christians are taking refuge, cared for by two Rosary Sisters of Jerusalem and three Sisters of Mother Teresa.
For further information, please consult our charity’s Gaza Appeal page https://facecharity.org/christmas-emergency-appeal/ We are in regular direct contact with Sister Sophie Hattar, Superior General of the Rosary Sisters of Jerusalem, and with the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, and so we are receiving daily reports about the desperate situation at the Holy Family Church. Over the past week, when firewood could be found, families were keeping warm and heating their meagre rations on a makeshift bonfire. But now the parish has virtually run out of food, water and fuel.
The children are hungry and traumatised. Many of the families are too frightened to sleep inside the parish buildings at night-time and remain in their cars in the parish compound. We would be most grateful for any support that parishes can offer FACE’s mission in Gaza by donating proceeds from their Christmas Collection to our Christmas Emergency Appeal.
Christmas Message: May I use this opportunity to wish all parishioners and friends of Our Lady and St John the Baptist Parish, their families and loved ones, A Holy and Joyful Christmas and a Blessed New Year in 2024. I would also like to thank all parishioners for their hard work in the parish throughout this year.
My thanks too to members of the parish council, the gardeners, members of Saint Vincent de Paul, the choir, the readers at Mass, the Health and Safety coordinators, and Safeguarding coordinator, the website administrator, the administrative assistants, the altar ladies, the flower ladies, the church cleaners, and the tea ladies for all their good works.
May I thank in a very special way the ladies and men of the Social and Fundraising Subcommittee for ingeniously devising ways of raising funds for the parish throughout the year.
Thank you to the sacristan, for always getting us spiritually ready for our Masses.
We hope and pray that 2024 takes us into the beginning of happier and eventful years to come. May the Good Lord bless you all.
Thank you to everyone for joining us for our Christmas Event. We really appreciate you coming and making it a success. Hot punch, Mince pies, Festive shortbread, Helen's snowball lollys. Impromtu singing of away in a manger from Sarah and Sienna! Very special indeed! Many thanks to Fr Patrick for saying Mass and to the Choir, Orgainisers. Wishing you all a wonderful Festive and Spiritual Season from Our Lady and St John the Baptist!
