The Catholic Parish of
Saint Gregory the Great
Northampton
.
PART OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF NORTHAMPTON, REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 234091
The Year of Consecrated Life
Pope Francis has declared this year (from 1st Sunday of Advent
2014 until 2nd February 2016) as the “Year of the Consecrated
Life”.
Throughout the history of the Church there have been
different forms of consecrated life; varied ways of
expressing a desire to follow Christ with an ‘undivided
heart’ (1 Corinthians 7:34).
Through vows of life-long celibacy and often through
vows of poverty and obedience, men and women have
sought to follow Christ’s own example as closely as
possible.
Consecrated life may be lived as a member of an
institute, such as in a religious congregation, or
individually, where vows are made to the diocesan
Bishop.
(National Office for Vocation website)
At the end of the Course on Early Church History last week,
there was a request for a continuing course on the next period in
Church History. This would cover a time period from 500 AD
for at least the next 700 years. To a very large extent the history
of the Church in this period is tied up with the religious orders.
We learned about St Martin of Tours who gathered a small
community around him in Poiters and later in Tours when he
became bishop there in the fourth century. This was one of the
earliest religious communities in Western Europe, but the
foundation of the monastery at Monte Cassino by St Benedict
in the early 6th century is usually marked as the beginning of
Western monasticism. However, by this time there were already
monastic communities in Ireland and Wales, and in other
places.
Encouraged by the emperor Charlemagne and Pope St Gregory
the Great, the Rule of St Benedict became the accepted norm of
religious life for many centuries. The monastic life was centred
around prayer, study and manual labour, and so the monasteries
became the centre for learning and education as well as
farming, medicine and social care. Because the monasteries
were large and built of stone, they also became the place of
defence when the area was under attack.
Up until the year 1100 the vast majority of religious orders
followed the Benedictine Rule in some form. In the twelfth
century a different expression of religious life began to appear:
the “Canons Regular”; they were a community of priests,
usually attached to a Cathedral, and engaging in public pastoral
ministry while living a common life.
In the early 13th century three major new orders were founded:
the Carmelites in 1206, the Franciscans in 1209 and the
Dominicans in 1216
The Carmelite order owes its origins to a group of hermits
living on Mount Carmel, near to the traditional home of the
prophet Elijah. During the 13th century they were forced by
changing political circumstances to leave Mount Carmel and
they founded houses in Europe; amongst them, at Aylesford in
1242. Carmelites sisters live an austere contemplative life in
enclosure, although Carmelite priests can run parishes and
engage in pastoral work.
Carmelites, Franciscans and Dominicans are known as “friars”.
Unlike monks, friars do not live a cloistered life, but rather are
committed to a particular apostolic work; for example,
preaching and evangelisation, or the care of the poor and the
sick.
The great religious houses in this period were known as lights
in what historians call the “Dark Ages”, and it was from these
houses that the first universities developed — the University of
Bologna is reckoned to be the oldest, founded in 1088, followed
by Oxford in 1096, Cambridge in 1209 and Salamanca in 1218,
and by the end of the 13th century there were 11 universities
established.
St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London is often reckoned to be
the oldest hospital in Europe, and was founded in 1123, but in
580 a hospital was founded at Mérida in Spain, and the
Emperor Charlemagne decreed in the year 803 that all
cathedrals and monasteries should have a hospital.
Today the secular states have in large measure taken over these
functions, and the religious life of today is quite different, even
to that of 50 years ago.
But God is still calling men and women to the consecrated life;
whether in communities or in other forms, and calling them to
new vocations. The teaching orders that educated many of
today’s adults are today finding new areas of work. There are
many new orders springing up in the Church today, responding
to the various needs of the Church in today’s world.
One of the major needs of the Church today is responding to the
New Evangelisation — the need to re-evangelise the places
which would be thought of historically as Christian countries,
but in which only a minority practice their faith, and many
would speak of a “post-Christian” society. Many of the new
orders and religious communities are committed to this work.
Others are committed to living alongside the poor and the
marginalised; others to working for peace and justice in the
modern world.
Part of the concern of the “Year of Consecrated Life” is to help
all the faithful to be more aware of the different forms of
consecrated life. A further concern is to help people to find
their own particular vocation, whatever that vocation may be.
Within the Church there are many vocations, and our prayer
must be that all people find their own particular vocation.
On Monday December 8th Bishop Peter will launch the year in
our Diocese in the Cathedral at the Mass at 7.00 pm. This is not
just an occasion for those already in consecrated life; it is for all
people to celebrate the generous gift of our religious, and to
pray that all those whom God is calling to this vocation may
respond with commitment and generosity.
Sunday 30th November 2014
First Sunday of Advent
Year A – Parish Mass Book
Page 26
22 Park Avenue North
Northampton. NN3 2HS
Website:
www.stgregory.org.uk
 713015
E-mail: priest@stgregory.org.uk
Deacons:
Rev Michael Fleming
 647750
E-mail: mvf@btinternet.com
Rev Michael Graney (ret) 452327
Rev Rory Stewart (ret)  408407
Pastoral Assistant:
Maria Heath
07952 040830
E-mail: maria.heath@yahoo.co.uk
Saturday
Feria
9.00 am
9.30 am
Mass
Confessions
Deceased Legionaries
Sunday
9.00 am
Mass
The Parish
1st Sunday of
Advent
Monday
St. Edmund Campion
11.00 am
Mass
Teresa Cherry &
Samuel Aberneithie
9.00 am
Mass
Maura Kane RIP
Tuesday
Feria
9.00 am
Mass
Catherine Clarke
Wednesday
St. Francis Xavier
9.00 am
Mass
Rita Narramore RIP
11.00 am
Eucharistic Service (St. Andrews
Hospital)
Thursday
Feria
9.00 am
Eucharistic Service
Exposition: 9.30 –
18.45
6.45 pm
7.00pm
Benediction
Mass
Friday
St. Birinus
9.00 am
Mass
Mary Behan RIP
Saturday
Feria
9.00 am
9.30 am
Mass
Confessions
Salvaltori Family
Sunday
9.00 am
Mass
The Parish
11.00 am
Mass
Frederick & Gerald
Aberneithe
2nd Sunday of
Advent
Priest:
Fr Andrew Behrens
Your Offering To The Parish:
Standing Order gifts to the Parish:
Gift Aid benefits to the parish:
Counters This Week:
Cleaners This Week:
Peter Morgan RIP
Last week’s collection was £596.75. Thank you!
Each week £200 is given through standing orders.
The value of Gift Aid averages £120 per week.
A & K Healey, M. Murtagh, L. Allen, Anna Smith
Pru & Another
Isaiah 63: 16-17, 64: 1, 3-8.Oh, that you would tear the heavens open and come down.
1 Corinthians 1: 3-9.
We are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
Mark 13: 33-37.
Stay awake, because you do not know when the master
of the house is coming.
Readings for Next Sunday
Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11; 2 Peter 3: 8-14; Mark 1: 1-8.
(Page 28)
During this season of
Advent we are
asked to pray for:
Migrants & Refugees; Expectant mothers;
Openness to God's word;
The Bishop, Clergy & People of the Diocese.
If you need to contact the SVP, please ring 07982 235379, and leave a message. A
member of the SVP will respond as soon as possible. Please be patient.
Please remember that there is opportunity for confession and Mass on Saturday
evening at Sacred Heart: Confessions at 5.00, Mass at 5.30
Please pray for the sick
Tony Gambutti
Brenda Paintin
Hilary Graney
Joe Waters
Jacob Dean
Phyllis Riley
Breda Coleman
Grainne Morris
Fred Jones
Mavis Williams
Cathy Hill
Dennis Dunne
Khanh Phan
Robert Moore
Kath Seamark
Joy Fielder
Grace Ciappara
Michael Spowart
Frank Burke
Fr Ed Worthy
Linda Hall
Kim Do
Alfonso Bryan
Susan Sporne
Jolene Dyke
Maddy West
Lily Barden
Margaret Farragher
Joey Morris
Andy Hunt
Fr Philip Swingler
Mary Archer
Peggie O'Neill
Phyllis Albon
Caitlin Behan
John Redmond
Ross McMillan
Rose Healy
Helen Fowler
Christine Vinas
Lorraine Woollard
Chris Paintin
Joice Augustin
Sarah Dunster
Julie O’Brien
Sr Hannah
Eileen Walton
Valerie Cordell
Robert Fleming
Katy Charles
Nicolina Ciccone
Lorenza Samsoniuk
Roy Sedgwick
Johnny Mullan
Gill Hicks
Anna Falcone
Martin Brown
Pat McDonald
Cathy Geary
Rachel Withecombe
Anniversaries:
May they Rest in Peace
Monica Payne
John Reilly
Francis Mangan
Susan Murphy
Bridget Connolly
Edgar Dawson
Jozsef Demeter
Elizabeth Nagle
Gertrude Browne
Sean Walsh
William Lack
Stefan Tymkiw
Martha Kelly
Alan Newbery
Elisabeth Kent
Herbert Selters
Mary Worby
Robert Pope
Nora Runton
Margaret Behan
John Devani
Carmela Perrina
John Cregan
Patrick Prendergast
Joseph O'Connell
Margaret Thompson
Edith Philpot
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS
FOR DECEMBER
General: That the birth of the
Redeemer may bring peace and
hope to all people of good will.
Missionary: That parents may be
true evangelisers, passing on to
their children the precious gift
of faith.
Notices of Interest
Outono
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook,
Or into the Parish Hall where calendars and cards
Are all on sale - do come and have a look!
We welcome into the family of the Church
Dollie Jade Bradshaw
who received Christian Baptism
last weekend. Please pray for her
and her family.
Christmas Schedule
On Christmas Eve there will be the usual Children’s Vigil Mass
at 6.00 pm, and Midnight Mass will be preceded by Carol
singing from 11.30. On Christmas Day there will be the usual
Masses; at 9.00 am and 11.00 am. There will be penitential
liturgies; at St Gregory’s on Friday 19th December at 7.00 pm
and at the Cathedral on Monday 22nd December at 7.00 pm.
Christmas Flowers
Envelopes for donations for Christmas flowers are available at
the back of the church.
CAFOD: the weekly collection for the six weeks to the 23rd
November amounted to £155.40. Thank you very much.
Deacon Michael wishes to thank "Anonymous" for their
generous gift, and yes, dreams can come true!!
Choir matters: Practices for Christmas have started.
Thursdays Dec 4th, 11th, 18th. We start after evening Mass and
end at 9pm. New members welcome, especially men as males
are heavily outnumbered currently! Alec
Mass Intentions: The new office diary for 2015 is now in
the office, so if you have regular Mass intentions you wish to be
said, now is the time to see Caryll and book them. The diary
fills up very quickly & it's best to see her asap.
Christmas Carol Concert Sunday 30th November 3pm at
The Bandstand, Abington Park. Proceeds to go for The Hope
Centre. See poster for full details.
Red Boxes - APF: The Autumn collection is now under
way. Please bring in envelopes/boxes as soon as you can during
the next few weeks. If collection from home is needed please
ring Des/Mary on 416474. Also ruing if you haven't a box but
would like one for your home. The Spring collection 2014
raised over £900 for the Missions. Thank you on their behalf.
For security reasons please do NOT leave monies at the
back of the Church.
Prayer & Praise for Northampton:Mon. 1st December
7.30-9.30pm New Testament Church of God, College Street
NN1 2QP (Behind Debenhams, Nearest car park is Mayorhold)
Refreshments from 7pm. Come and pray together with
Christians from different churches at the home of Street
Pastors in Northampton. All Welcome
Northampton General Hospital Please remember to
let the hospital Chaplaincy Team know if you or a member
of your family is in hospital. This is best done through the
Cathedral, by ringing 01604 714556.
Ceili Dancing: Wednesday evenings, starts 8pm. Learn Ceili
Dancing in a friendly atmosphere at St Gregory’s Hall from
8pm – 9.15pm. All ages welcome! Ceád Mile Failte.
Bible Alive: December's Bible Alive is now available in the
lobby area. Please give this publication a try - it has readings
for every day of the month & some very good religious articles
- and all for only £2.25! Please remember to put the money in
the box marked 'Books & Papers' in the entrance lobby.
SVP Meetings: The next meeting will be on Tuesdays 9th
& 23rd December.
Jesus Youth Gathering: The meetings of Jesus Youth
are on the 3rd Sunday of each month in the Cathedral.
Sacristy or Upper Room, 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm.
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
Baptism Preparation: The next Baptism Preparation
evening Monday 5th January 2015 7pm until 9pm in the
sacristy. Deacon Michael
The Southwark Vocations Mission Team have been
working with a group of friends to develop a discipleship
project for young people called “Made for Glory”. Every day
during Advent they will release a short vidcast in which a
young man or woman will give a reflection on that day’s
Gospel. They are harnessing the power of the new media to
advertise this online ‘advent calendar’. The idea behind the
Made for Glory project is to provide resources of an
outstanding quality that are readily accessible to young people.
It also reflects the reality that vocations are best discerned in the
context of Christian discipleship.The Made for Glory Advent
Calendar will be available on
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/madeforgloryuk
For more information on Vocations to the Priesthood,
please see the posters in the lobby and Foyer.
Tots @St Gregory’s: Tots @ St. Gregory's: Tuesdays
from 9.30 - 11.30. Refreshments provided.50p per family.
All welcome!
Youth Bits
Youth Group:
The December film for the “Youth Cinema” will be on 5th.
For more information please speak to Therese Teevan or JulieAnn Murray.
Facebook page: St Gregory’s has a
page on facebook, and frequently carries
news before it gets into the newsletter as
well as reminders for events. Address:
https://www.facebook.com/StGregsNorthampton
154
CAFOD Christmas gifts
Please see the catalogue for “World Gifts” which is
available this week-end, and consider giving a gift that will
be really appreciated and make someone really happy.
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION NEXT YEAR
for First Holy Communion or Confirmation in 2015
The parishes of Our Lady, Great Billing, Sacred Heart and St
Gregory’s are working together in the Sacramental Preparation
programmes for the coming year, and the programmes for First
Holy Communion and Confirmation are also co-operating.
Coming Events
St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School
Following the success of the open day for children wishing to start Foundation Stage in September 2015, the school is happy to
announce an additional open evening. Please come along at 6:30pm on Monday 1st December and meet our wonderful team and
visit our Catholic school community. Our address is St. Gregory’s Catholic Primary School Grange Road, Northampton, NN3
2AX.
Iraqi Christians — Sunday 7th December
We are hearing almost daily of the plight of Christians in Iraq and Syria as well as those in Palestine, and we can feel helpless in
the face of their difficulties. On Sunday 7th December we have an unusual opportunity to show support. Carl Bahoshy is an Iraqi
Christian and an organist, and will be giving a recital at St Gregory’s together with a talk both on the music he will be playing and
on the way in which we can help Christians suffering oppression in Iraq, Israel and Syria. The recital is at 4.30 pm; admission is
free and there will be a retiring collection for “Iraqi Christians in Need”, a UK charity supporting the medical, educational and
financial needs of displaced Christians within Iraq, Syria and Jordan. Please come and bring your friends.
Carol Service — Monday 8th December
The annual Carol Service which raises money for the Bible Society is on Monday 8th December at Christchurch, Wellingborough
Road at 7.30 pm. Over the past few weeks the donations from refreshments have been for the Bible Society, and help to cover the
costs of this event. Pupils from St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School are the readers, and the choir of Northampton School for
Girls sing both solo and choir carols as well as leading popular congregational carols.
It is not well enough known that Catholic missions benefit directly from the work of the Bible Society, which provides copies of
the Scriptures in many of the languages of the world, and supporting the Bible Society is a significant way of supporting missions
throughout the world. As Catholics, we are expected to be familiar with the Bible; this is a way of helping people in other
countries to enjoy what we know well.
Christmas Concert — Friday 12th December
There will be a Christmas Concert performed by the Hunsbury Harmonettes on Friday 12th December at 7.30pm at the Cathedral,
Barrack Road in aid of the Karuri School Project Tickets cost £5 and are available from any member of the Karuri Committee, by
phoning 07982511029, or on the door. Come along and get into the festive spirit!
Karuri School Project Fundraising Update: First, a happy and peaceful Christmas and thanks to everyone who has continued to
support the Project this year. There are two new initiatives of which you may not be aware. We have moved into the internet era
and anyone can now donate via virginmoneygiving- just type in karuri and you can donate online- either a single or regular
donation. If you feel like doing something energetic, you can even set up a fundraising event!
Secondly, send someone a Karuri Gift Card (£5) and provide a child with food for a month. This Christmas we are trying to raise
£2000 to buy enough maize and beans for a year following crop failure and a significant price rise. Gift cards can be delivered to
your home, simply order from John on 07982511029.
The Next Course — January 6th – February 10th
After Christmas we are offering an important course on the Liturgy. We are fortunate to have this course in our parish, and it is
particularly suitable for Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Servers, Musicians, Sacristans and all who in any way help in arranging or
celebrating the Mass — which really means everyone!
The course will run on six Tuesdays, January 6 th, 13th, 20th and 27th and February 3rd and 10th. The sessions will start at 7.30 pm,
but the hall will be open from 7.00 pm for refreshments. The sessions will end at 9.00 pm.
It is run by the Diocesan Liturgical Formation Team, and booking in advance through NORES is helpful, but forms can be given
in to Fr Andrew to be forwarded. It is hoped than many from the parish will attend, as well as those from the other parishes of the
Pastoral Area and from the other Northampton Pastoral Area. There is a small charge for the course; £5 per session, but for the
complete course, only £12.00!
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Abington Churches invite you to share in a Bible Study (John 4:1-42) on Monday January 19th 2015 at 7.30 pm at Christchurch,
Wellingborough Road. Please come and share in this time of reflection and unity. On Wednesday 21st January 2015 there will be a
Diocesan Unity Service in the Cathedral at 7.00 pm, led by Bishop Peter and Archbishop Bernard Longley will be the preacher.