Last month was genuinely extraordinary, with no fewer than 20 new entries purchased, the third highest number of new entries ever recorded in the lottery's history. This brought the total number of entries sold in December to 410 - breaking through the 400 barrier for the first time ever and setting a new all-time sales record for the month.

I would like to sincerely welcome all our new members joining us for the first time in 2026, as well as offer my heartfelt thanks to those of you who have been so loyal for so long.

The special Christmas super-draw for December took place earlier today for TEN £100 prizes.

The lucky winners were Elaine McGill, Honor Murphy, Morag Armitage, Claire Wright, Jacqueline McLaughlin, Carol Ann Murray, Lucy McAlindon, Canon Stephen Baillie, Lucia Pacitti, and James Ewing.

Many congratulations to them.

(This important information is being announced here for the first time and has not been shambolically leaked elsewhere an hour early.)

You'll be able to afford champagne, chocolates, and red roses a-plenty, if you win one of the four £100 prizes in the January draw which will take place during the first week of February.

All payments to be received on or before the 31st of January please.

Customer data is like milk - it always goes bad eventually. It is now more than 13 years since some of you first joined the parish lottery and many of you will have changed your telephone number, email address, or home address during that time. Astounding as it may seem, there are a good number of loyal members for whom I have no contact details whatsoever. This means that if they win a prize there's no way for me to get their money to them. Over the past few years several prizes have been left unclaimed.

Please register your contact information on the parish website and keep it up to date with any changes. Thank you.

There were 410 paid entries in December.

The monthly profit for the parish after prizes was £1,050.

The lottery raised a total of £17,555 in 2025.

Thank you to all members.

For four years in a row since our post-Covid reboot you have helped make the parish lottery the most successful it has ever been. In 2025 you contributed to yet another record-breaking year.

Total revenue before prizes:
2024: £20,870.
2025: £23,085 (+10.6%).

Total prize money:
2024: £5,100.
2025: £5,500 (+7.8%).

Total profit for the parish after prizes:
2024: £15,770.
2025: £17,555 (+11.3%).

Our costs in 2025:
Poster printing: £74.11
Leaflet printing: £62.00
Card printing: £50.70
Credit and debit card processing: £170.51
Total: £357.32 (1.5% of revenue).

You have all collectively made the Saint Joseph's Parish Lottery an extraordinary success, and you have a fantastic story to tell. Please tell your friends and family about the incredible difference you are making to the parish and ask if they would like to help you make Saint Joseph's even better by joining us.

To have one of the most successful months ever for the parish lottery, to end its most successful ever year, at precisely the time of year when there are so many other expenses, demonstrates yet again the bottomless extent of your generosity.

On behalf of Father Dan, the pastoral council, and myself, thank you all very much indeed.