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13th/14th December 2025 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR A (II)
Saturday 13 - December
3:30 pm Confessions at Marple Bridge
4:00 pm Mass at Marple Bridge
4:30 pm Confessions at Chapel-en-le-Frith
5:00 pm Live streamed Mass at Chapel-en-le-Frith for Dermot Robert Carroll RIP (birthday & anniversary.)
Sunday 14 - December
9:00 am Confessions at New Mills
9:30 am Mass at New Mills
9:30 am Confessions at Buxton
10:00 am Live streamed Mass at Buxton for the people of the parish
11:00 am Confessions at Marple Bridge
11:30 am Mass at Marple Bridge
12:30 pm Baptism of Alfie and Amelia Bateman, and Seamus McAleer
Monday 15 - December
10:00 am Mass at Buxton - Birthday blessings for Greg Markall
10:00 am - 12:00 noon Chapel-en-le-Frith Church open for prayer
Tuesday 16 - December
10:00 am Mass at New Mills
Wednesday 17 - December
9:00 am Carol service at St Anne's School, Buxton SK17 7AN. All welcome!
10:00 am Mass at Marple Bridge
10:00 am Mass at Chapel-en-le-Frith
Thursday 18 - December
10:00 am Mass - Advent service at New Mills
10:00 am Scripture Group - venue to be confirmed. Please contact Yvonne Ripley
Friday 19 - December
9:00 am Mass for Kathleen Howard RIP anniversary
10:00 am Advent service of Reconciliation
10:00 am Mass at Marple Bridge
Saturday 20 - December
11:00 am -12:00 noon Adoration and Confessions at Buxton
3:30 pm Confesssions at Marple Bridge
4:00 pm Mass at Marple Bridge
4:30 pm Confessions at Chapel-en-le-Frith
5:00 pm Live streamed Mass at Chapel-en-le-Frith for Chris Meaney RIP
Sunday 21 - December 4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR A (II)
8:45 am Confessions at New Mills
9:30 am Mass at New Mills
9:30 am Confessions at Buxton
10:00 am Live streamed Mass at Buxton for the people of the parish
11:00 am Confessions at Marple Bridge
11:30 am Mass at Marple Bridge for the Holy Souls
Please pray for all who have recently died: Joan Taylor (Lisa Cooper’s Mum) and Mary Bradbury from New Mills. Please remember their families in your prayers.
FR GREG WRITES: THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT is known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin gaudete meaning rejoice. The rose-coloured candle on the Advent wreath is lit, symbolising a joyful pause in the season of preparation. This joy is not shallow optimism, but a deep, steady gladness rooted in God’s faithfulness. The readings remind us that even in times of waiting, uncertainty, or trial, the Lord is near. Like the prophet Isaiah proclaiming that the desert will bloom, we are called to trust that God is already at work, bringing life where there seems to be barrenness. John the Baptist, in the Gospel, sends his disciples to ask Jesus if He is the One to come. Jesus responds not with titles, but with evidence: the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, and the poor receive good news. This is a reminder that God’s presence is revealed in concrete acts of mercy, healing, and justice. Gaudete Sunday invites us to:
• Rejoice in hope – even if our prayers are not yet answered, God’s promises remain sure.
• Recognise Christ’s work – in the small and hidden ways He transforms lives.
• Be messengers of joy – through kindness, encouragement, and compassion.
As we move closer to Christmas, we are called to carry this joy into the world, becoming living signs that Emmanuel — God with us — is already here.
As we seek forgiveness and renewal in preparation for the birth of Christ, there will be an ADVENT SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION, on Friday 19th Dec at 10:00 am at St Anne’s. Individual confession will be available. If you are able, please come and join us for this special service.
ADVENT PRAYER JOURNAL
Journey through Advent with the Nottingham Diocesan Catholic Youth Service as we await the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with a printable Advent prayer journal produced by the Team. To download your free copy visit www.ndcys.com/advent2025/
The first of the Papal ADVENT MEDITATIONS, given by Father Roberto Pasolini Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, Preacher to the Papal Household can be found on our website: https://www.stannes.gbr.cc/
As the Mass readings are no longer in the newsletter, we have purchased a set of PARISH MASS BOOKS, available at the back of the church, for you to use during Mass. Please remember to return the books after Mass. At St Anne’s, the readings are also displayed on the church screens.
Additionally, you can find the readings for both Sunday and weekday Masses on Universalis: https://universalis.com/europe.england.nottingham/mass.htm
We are pleased to announce that our weekday Masses, in addition to the Sunday Masses, are now being livestreamed on our Facebook page. You can find the livestream at www.facebook.com/StAnnesRCBuxton
THE ENABLING OUR MISSION campaign is a Diocesan fundraising endeavour which aims to make our Diocese and its parishes more outward-looking and missionary-focussed. Through this initiative, the Diocese will also strengthen our communications and improve accountability to both clergy and laity. The three key priorities are:
• Equipping our priests and lay leaders with the tools and resources they need to lead a move to mission
• Alleviating the ever-growing administrative workload of clergy
• Responding effectively to the local requirements of parishes & helping laity grow in their faith.
PARISH CENSUS - Please ensure that you have completed and returned a census form. The forms are available at the back of church and on our website: https://www.stannes.gbr.cc/
If you have any further questions about the campaign, there is more information on our website, you can contact the Campaign Office enablingourmissioncampaign@dioceseofnottingham.uk or
speak to Fr Greg.
ST ANNE’S 100 CLUB 25/26 RENEWALS – NOW DUE - £60.00 year/£5.00 month. Thank you to all our members for your continued support. If you pay by standing order you don’t need to do anything, as your subscription will automatically renew. Alternatively, please pay by BACS if you can, using the reference ‘100Club’ (bank details at the bottom of the newsletter) or by cheque. If you would like to join, ‘new member’ and standing order forms are available at the back of church; please speak to Margaret Swift if you have any questions.
ST ANNE’S REPOSITORY - a selection of gifts and cards is available at the back of St Anne’s Church. If you’d like to order a specific item not currently stocked, you can browse the catalogues or visit https://www.cbcdistributors.co.uk/ Order forms are available in the repository cabinet. For any questions or assistance, please contact Trish Bothamley on 07964 235659.
If you would like to send Fr Gerry a Christmas card, please speak to Margaret for his address or email margaret.swift@dioceseofnottingham.uk
PARISH CHRISTMAS LUNCH AT CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH GOLF CLUB. Please pay the balance for your meal by putting the money in an envelope with your name on and giving it to Barbara at the lunch. As a reminder: 1 course £16, 2 courses £22, 3 courses £28. Looking forward to seeing you there!
ST ANNE'S SCHOOL invites everyone to attend their CAROL SERVICE, which will be held at school on Wednesday, December 17th, at 9:00am.
Parents of children STARTING RECEPTION IN 2026 are invited to their upcoming Christmas crafts afternoon on Wednesday, December 17th from 4:00-5:00pm. There will be a lots of activities with the Reception team, carols with the School Choir and refreshments will be provided.
SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TO CATHOLIC PRIMARY ACADEMIES (Reception Year) - Children born between 01/09/2021 and 31/08/2022. The deadline for submitting an application for a school place is 15th January 2026. Application forms are available on your ‘home’ Local Authority website. For every Catholic school you apply for if you wish your child to be considered and ranked under a faith criterion you should also complete a supplementary information form and return this form to the school by the deadline, (forms are available from the Local Authority and the school). You must also include the supporting evidence as required with this form, i.e. a baptism certificate (photocopies are acceptable; contact the parish of baptism if you don’t have a copy); failure to supply the required supporting evidence will mean your child is ranked in a lower criterion which may affect your chance of a place.
Thank you to all those who supported the CRAFT & HOMEMADE BAKES SALE and bought RAFFLE TICKETS. We raised £270.55 towards the Walsingham Pilgrimage. The winning ticket numbers are at the back of church; see Dorothy or Carol after Mass.
The Chapel-en-le-Frith CHRISTMAS RAFFLE tickets are still on sale and will be drawn at the Parish Christmas Lunch on 19th December.
Fr. Gabriel says that the HOLY FAMILY PARISH, GAZA is doing its best to prepare for Christmas in extremely difficult circumstances. “We are deciding what to organise and have begun rehearsing choirs and 'dabkes' – Palestinian group dances – and we may even hold a small show outside the walls of our compound, if conditions permit. There’s a beautiful atmosphere: the spiritual preparation, the singing, the liturgy, all the nativity scenes around the compound” he said. “The Sisters, the children and volunteers, are decorating the church beautifully” he said. “However, the explosions continue, the war continues”. Last Sunday, an explosion about 150m away shook the church, blowing out some windows while people were praying the Rosary in preparation for Mass. The windows of the Sister’s house where the children have their classes were all blown out too. Fr Gabriel has called for the Christmas season to be one of prayer for peace.
We will hold our monthly collection for Holy Family Parish after our Masses this weekend.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN US FOR TEA AND COFFEE AFTER SUNDAY MASS IN ST. ANNE’S PARISH COMMUNITY CENTRE
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
19th Dec 10:00 am Buxton Advent Service of Reconciliation
24th Dec 4:00 pm Chapel-en-le-frith First Mass of Christmas
24th Dec 5:30 pm Buxton Carols followed by the First Mass of Christmas at 6:00pm
25th Dec 9:00 am Chapel-en-le-Frith Morning Mass of Christmas Day
25th Dec 11:00 am Buxton Morning Mass of Christmas Day
If you would like to include anything in the newsletter, please ensure that we receive it by Wednesday of the week before to allow sufficient time for printing.
BANK DETAILS
St Anne’s Buxton RCP: Sort Code 30-96-18: Account No. 00420334
ST ANNE’S DROP-IN PLAYGROUP For families with children aged 0-5, come and join Marion, Gráinne and Liz at St Anne's drop-in playgroup every Wednesday from 9.30 am to 11.15 am (term-time only) in St Anne's Community Centre. Please join us, you’ll be very welcome!
Follow us for updates on www.facebook.com/StAnnesDropIn
St Anne’s Voluntary Academy, Lightwood Road, SK17 7AN Tel: 01298 23589 Email: enquiries@ann.srscmat.co.uk Headteacher: Mrs Julia Wiggins
St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy, Palace Fields, SK17 6AF Tel: 01298 23167 Email: enquiries@stm.srscmat.co.uk Headteacher: Mr David Redfern
Church safeguarding contacts:
Buxton: Margaret Swift: Margaret.SwiftPSR@dioceseofnottingham.uk Tel: 07513 725529
Chapel: Sue Thornhill: Susan.ThornhillPSR@dioceseofnottingham.uk Tel: 07513 725269
St Anne’s Pastoral Parish Council (PPC): stannesbuxtonppc@gmail.com
Rob Aldous, Maggie Baldock, Gemma Day, Thomas Langer, Mark McCabe, Fr Greg, Yvonne Ripley, Margaret Swift, Chris Uddoh
Chapel-en-le-Frith Pastoral Parish Council: Joan Matthews, Pat Dawson; Hugh Doherty, Lucia McLean, Jacqui Lavery, Barbara Hindley, Anne Lomas, Frank Frost, Peter Barnes, Sue Thornhill, Deacon Don and Fr Gerry
Centre Management Committee (CMC): Sue Hardman, Clare O’Neill, Marion Redman
Click to see the new St. Annes Community Centre
Click logo for Year Book 2011 - 2012
Grand Total raised for the Flower Festival £1,812.37Many thanks to everyone who helped, particularly to Mike who acted as Auctioneer with great humour and skill and some wonderful individual bids undoubtedly came as a result of his gentle cajoling. Thanks also to Bruce who dealt with the bids, to Angela and Aileen for doing the refreshments, to Rob for all the printing and to Fr Dennis for all the advance publicity. Last but not least, thanks to everyone who kindly donated an item to auction or who bid for one or more of the lots.
We shall have a truly wonderful Flower Festival. We shall display a full list of the lots, donors & money raised at the back of the church from this evening.
Best wishes, Margaret Robinson
