Newsletters & Reports

(This & Previous Newsletters in original formatting and graphics appear at the bottom of the page)

ST PETER’S CHURCH (with St Joseph’s, Hurst Green)
Stonyhurst College – Stonyhurst – Clitheroe – Lancs – BB7 9PZ.

T: (01254) 826268      E: stpeterschurchstonyhurst@btinternet.com        Web: www.stpetersstonyhurst.org.uk

Parish Priest:   Fr Tim Curtis, SJ              Safeguarding Officer:     Niall Macfarlane (07786 432360
                          Salford Roman Catholic Diocese Trustees Registered Charity No 2500374   

7th December 2025                      THE NEWSLETTER                    Second Sunday of Advent (Year A)
Mass Schedule                                                                                                                                                      

(Each Saturday during term time there are confessions and a Holy Hour from 4.30pm with Benediction at 5.15pm)

L = Lately Dead, A = Anniversary of Death, R = Remembrance          M = Martyr, V = Virgin, B = Bishop, Pp = Pope
P = Personal Intention, S = Sick, B = Birthday   F = Founders Mass             D = Doctor, P = Priest, R = Religious

Please pray for the following, the anniversary of whose deaths occur at this time:   Barbara Mary Thornber, Jai Chitnis, Winifred Greasley, Pat Walshe, Winnie (Winifred) Kelly, John Ramsdale, Margaret Henry, Fr Charles Macadam SJ, David Mercer, John Marsden, Dr Stanley Devlin and Mary Armstrong.   May they rest in the peace of the Lord.

Readings at Mass

Diocesan Website:
http://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk
for information on our Diocese and what is happening.

Praying with the Pope in December 2025
For Christians in areas of conflict.
Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope.

Look at www.ThePopeVideo.org for more information

Today
Is the 2nd Sunday of Advent.   In the gospel today Matthew recounts how John the Baptist came to call people to repentance.
This weekend is the last Sunday of the term, and the boarders will come to the 11am Mass.

Advent wreath
Today we light the second candle on the Advent wreath as we count down to the celebration of Christmas.   Advent is a time of spiritual renewal.

Piety Stall Restocked
The Piety stall at the back of St Peter’s now has a new stock of Christmas cards and gifts.   Check it out.

St Augustine’s Carol Service.
Takes place in their school on Monday at 7.30pm.   All welcome.

SMH Carol Service
Takes place in St Peter’s on Tuesday at 3.30pm.   All welcome.

Stonyhurst Carol Service
The college term ends with a Carol Service (and benediction) on Wednesday at 3pm in St Peter’s.   All welcome.

End of Term
The college term ends on Wednesday.   SMH work on until Friday, and St Joseph’s term ends on Friday 19th December.

Coffee Stop
Takes place on Thursday at 1pm in the Bowling Green Pavilion.   All welcome.

Next Sunday
Is the 3rd Sunday of Advent, also called Gaudete Sunday (rejoicing Sunday).   The liturgical colour is Rose.   In the gospel John the Baptist, in prison, is heartened by the news of what Jesus is doing.

Holy Hour and Benediction
Will be suspended during the Christmas vacation.  However, Fr Tim will be in St Peters each Saturday afternoon and available for confessions from 4.30 – 5.15pm.

Weddings this week
Please pray for Arthur Wakerley and Asmita Chitnis, and for Mark Cordeaux and Helen Saunders.   Both couples are celebrating the sacrament of marriage in our church during the week

Foodbank
Thank you to those who have already supported the foodbank.   If you can, please donate either regular food items and / or long-life Christmas treats. To enable collection and distribution, please have any items at church by next Sunday.   Thank you for your support.

Advent prayer:  All is calm, all is bright
St John’s Anglican church is organising 2 more candle-light prayer sessions.   The next two are as follows:
Monday 8th Dec –   Praying for our community
St John’s, Hurst Green
Monday 15th Dec – Praying for the world
St Wilfrid’s, Ribchester
Each service will begin at 7.30pm.   Everyone is welcome to join in these prayer services.

St Carlo Acutis relics
Are coming to the diocese in January.   Details of where they can be venerated to follow.

The Immaculate Conception of Mary
Is celebrated 9 months before we celebrate her birthday.   We believe that from the moment of her conception she was kept free from the harmful effects of sin.   It does not mean that Mary was born “through the power of the Holy Spirit”, nor does it state that she did not have a human father.   These statements apply to Jesus alone.
So why do we believe that for the whole of her life Mary was kept, by the grace of God, free from sin.   Her “yes” to the angel at the annunciation made possible the salvation of all mankind and Mary herself was the first to experience the salvation offered by her son.
This feast day offers hope to all of us.   By saying yes to God’s invitations, the saving work of Christ can be at work in all of us.
Let’s make this season of Lent a joyous time for ourselves and our families.