Parish of St Peter & St Paul Wakefield

Due to the unfortunate cancellation of our Annual Christmas Fayre, we are offering a smaller alternative next weekend after our 10am Mass on Sunday 14th December . Thank you for all your donations making this possible. Stalls to include tombolas, cakes, toys, books, haberdashery, and various gifts. Mulled wine will also be available from the bar. Our annual Christmas raffle will be drawn at this event. All Welcome! Please invite family and friends. We look forward to seeing you there.

Please take a note of our mass times for Christmas.

In this week's Gospel, Matthew describes the work and preaching of John the Baptist. John the Baptist appears in the tradition of the great prophets of Israel, preaching repentance and reform to the people. The description of John found in this reading is reminiscent of the description of the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). John directs a particularly pointed call to repentance to the Pharisees and Sadducees. John marks the conversion of those who seek him out with a baptism of repentance. Other groups in this period are thought to have practiced ritual washings for similar purposes, and John's baptism may have been related to the practices of the Essenes, a Jewish sect of the first century. John's baptism can be understood as an anticipation of Christian baptism. In this passage, John himself alludes to the difference between his baptism and the one yet to come: “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance . . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11). In this reading, John makes very clear that his relationship to the Messiah yet to come (Jesus) is one of service and subservience: “. . . the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals” (Matthew 3:11). In the context of Matthew's Gospel, today's passage is followed by Jesus' baptism by John, an event that is attested to in all four of the Gospels and appears to have been the start of Jesus' public ministry. As John's message prepared the way for Jesus in the first century, we, too, are called to prepare ourselves for Jesus' coming. We respond to John's message by our repentance and reform of our lives. We are also called to be prophets of Christ, who announce by our lives, as John did, the coming of the Lord.

Suzy fund would like to wish all Parishioners a peaceful and happy Christmas. Thank you for all your donations throughout the year. If you would like to give an extra donation over Christmas, please place in an envelope in the Suzy Collection box/ parish office with your name and we will send out New Year greetings

‘Our Christmas Fayre unfortunately has been cancelled - We will provide further updates within the newsletter over the coming weekend about alternative arrangements. We apologise for any inconvenience caused’.

: Time for prayers, questions, input from a priest and social time. There are two groups meeting simultaneously; under 18s and over 18s. Fridays 6.30pm-8.15pm: 19th September (Hinsley Hall), 17th October (Hinsley Hall), 14th November (Cathedral Hall), 19th December (Hinsley Hall). Under 18 participants must complete and return a permission form prior to attending. For permission forms and to notify of attendance (all participants) please contact Vocations Promoter, Fr Simon Lodge simon.lodge@dioceseofleeds.org.uk .

We would like to welcome Andrea Nicholls and Bismark Adomako who are now confirmed as our Parish safeguarding representatives. Safeguarding representatives have a special responsibility for promoting good and safe practices in all activities involving children, young people and adults at risk. Please see our safeguarding notice board in the Narthex.

Envelopes are available in the Narthex. The names of deceased relatives/friends you would like to be remembered during Masses in November and throughout the year should be placed in the envelope, along with your name and donation and returned to the parish office as soon as possible.

The Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal are hosting a live nativity at Corpus Christi church, Neville Road Saturday 20th December , 2pm including real animals, party afterwards refreshments, activities for children, Fr Christmas coming with gifts, Carol singing. All welcome.