Newsletter- 2nd Week of Advent
Dear Parishioners
Sadly, I have been laid low for the past week with a very nasty virus. I feel a little better now, but I remain still in bed, and I am not up to celebrating Mass this weekend. I am hopeful I shall be better for next week. I am very grateful to Mgr. John Hadley for stepping in to cover the Masses this weekend and to Alan for all his hard work in sorting so much during this past week. Deacon Andrew has also gone down with a similar virus and like me has spent the past week off work and in bed and will not be here to assist this weekend. I am therefore postponing the visit by the two parishioners from Oakham to sell items for the charity Aid to the Church in Peru after the Masses this weekend. I will be arranging another date with them for a weekend to come to visit here in the New Year.
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight’ Today on the 2nd Sunday of Advent we celebrate the many great deeds God has worked for us, as he shares with us his mercy and bountiful love. For our part, we are called to repentance of heart and to live a life of love. Using poetic language, the First Reading offers a prophetic message of joy and hope. The saving presence of God brings about the transformation of his broken-hearted people, and the restoration of Jerusalem. The Gospel speaks of a still more glorious restoration. John the Baptist, herald of Jesus, appears, calling us to turn again to God. John announces that all humanity is to see ‘the salvation of God’, anticipating the preaching of the gospel to all nations. St Paul, in the Second Reading, is writing to the Philippians: a church for which he has deep affection. He encourages the new community there to continue to grow in love and knowledge of Christ Jesus, to enable them to live ever more fruitful lives in the service of Christ and of His Church. The Psalmist remembers the joy of deliverance from exile. He begs that God will act again to bring fertility and abundance to his people.
During this season of Advent, we seek the true meaning of repentance in preparation for the coming of Jesus. We pray to leave aside anything that might hinder and blind us to God’s love, and to become even more open to a deepening, faith-filled relationship with the Lord and with one another.
Second Collection – This weekend at all our Sunday Masses there will be a Second Collection to help support the Poor and Needy Parishes of our Diocese. Please try and be as generous as you can.
Changes to the Liturgies for this coming week:
Monday 9th December – The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Co -Patron of our Diocese) – Solemnity.
Church Open throughout the day until after Mass
6 pm – Exposition
6.30 pm – Benediction
6.45 pm – Mass of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM
Tuesday 10th December – I shall be taking my day off
The Church will be closed all day today and there will be No Public Worship
The Jubilee Year 2025 Companion Booklet – 2025 marks another Jubilee Year and to accompany our journey through this special Holy Year Alive Publishing have produced some simple but helpful booklets to help us to reflect and to pray more fully during this special year ahead. Copies are now available in church. Please do take as many as you would like, there is no charge for them but if you would like to make a small donation to offset the costs to the parish, please feel free to leave a donation but this is not necessary, the important thing is to take a copies home with you and share them with your friends and family members! The Holy Year of 2025 has as its theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ A Jubilee Year is a time for resetting our relationship with God, with one another and with the world around us. Let us pray that during the Jubilee Year of 2025 God will continue to guide us and enable each of us to contribute to the harmony of the world around us all its people and that through Gods mercy we too as individuals may find peace and harmony in our own lives too.
Christmas Liturgies: Please note the times of the Christmas Liturgies and the Mass schedule during Christmas and into the New Year. They are published in the Bulletin and are on the Parish Website. As Christmas Day falls this year on a Wednesday your will see several changes to our normal weekly Mass times.
Christmas Crib Offerings: Christmas time recalls the needs of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land. Friends of the HolyLand will be the beneficiary of our crib collection again this year. FHL remains the only registered UK Charity with its ownoffice, staff, and volunteers in the City of Christ’s birth. From Christmas Day and until the end of the Christmas season there will be a basket to collect your offerings placed before the Crib in church. All donations given will be sent directly to FHL to help support their important aid work.
Admission to the Guild of St Stephen: Boxing Day Mass – Feast of St Stephen – Thursday 26th December – Mass at 11 am. I anticipate admitting our new servers into the Guild of St Stephen during Mass that morning. In addition, it is hoped that this year those who are eligible will receive their silver medals. We shall do this in a simple ceremony towards the end of Mass. We are greatly blessed in our parish with many servers who come each weekend to serve at the altar and in the weekdays too and I am very grateful to them for offering their time and talents for this important ministry in our parish. Please do come to this special Mass if your time will allow as a parish community, we give thanks to God and pray for our servers on the Feast of St Stephen.
With my prayers for you and for your families as we continue our Advent journey together,
Your parish priest and friend,
Fr Jonathan
2024 8th December – Newsletter – Download