The Christmas Crib

When I was young, it was quite common to see Cribs in shopping centres or in High Streets around Christmastime.  Usually they were provided be the Knights of St Columba, or some organisation like that.  Nowadays they are less common.  For about the last 10 years, I have organised the putting up of a outdoor crib in the grounds of the Catholic Church in Howden.  It is illuminated, so makes quite a spectacle at night.

There is a story on Catholicism Pure and Simple about attempts to to site a crib in a shoppling centre in Stirling in Scotland.  Apparently the owners of the shopping centre refused permission for a crib.  Not to be put off, some enterprising young people decided to have a live crib with the characters of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus wandering around the shopping centre asking whether there was room at the inn.  The response from the shoppers was very positive, and it became a major news item.

Later the owners of the shopping centre changed their minds and made a public statement of how much the welcomed the initiative.  Read the full story at Catholicism Pure and Simple.

Jim Carroll RIP

Reproduced from the Leeds LMS Blog. lmsleeds.blogspot.com

Of your charity please pray for the repose of the soul of Mr. James Carroll who departed this life on Saturday 25th November at his home after a long illness patiently borne. May he rest in peace.
Jim and Marie were regular attenders at our Masses for many years until ill health curtailed their ability to travel.
Jim was always well informed and a loyal son of the Church. Our prayers go to his widow Marie.

I mention this here because Jim and Marie often came to the York Masses when they were held at English Martyrs on Sunday evenings, so he may be known to some of you. His Requiem, which will be a Missa Cantata takes place at 11.00am on Tuesday 11th December, at the beautiful church of St Edward the Confessor in Clifford, near Wetherby.

If you're able to go the address is: Chapel La, Clifford, Wetherby LS23 6HU

Sunday 8th December

To celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, there will be a Solemn Mass (with priest, deacon and subdeacon) at 12 noon on Sunday 8th December at the Church of St Wilfrid in York.

Being the second Sunday of the month, there will also be a Low Mass offered by Fr Mark Drew at 5pm in the Church of St Mary and St Joseph in Hedon.