Newsletter- 3rd Week of Advent
Dear Parishioners
It is amazing how fast time has passed. We have reached the 3rd Sunday of Advent which is also called “Rejoice or “Gaudete” Sunday.” As we light the rose-coloured candle on the advent wreath, we focus on Jesus’ coming as a reason to rejoice. There are so many issues that can challenge our need to rejoice in the world around us at this time. Natural disasters, wars, violence, injustices, financial hardship, hatred, racial justice issues, political strife, the list could go on and on, all can cause us to wonder why we should rejoice.
Yet as Christians we know that the source of our need to rejoice is the salvation that comes to us through Jesus Christ. He comes into this world to bring us new hope, new joy, and a new way of being present to each other. From Jesus’ first coming at his incarnation, to the way Jesus reveals himself in our everyday life and as we wait for Jesus’ second coming, we find hope in a world that waits for salvation.
On this third Sunday of Advent, the words from the scriptures give us a reason to rejoice we are reminded that Jesus is our salvation and our hope. Through the remaining weeks of Advent and throughout the Christmas season, may the struggles and difficulties of our lives bring forth life through our faith. God is with us! We must witness and proclaim to the world what we have seen through the miracles of God’s hand. Today at Mass we are reminded again to have courage and not to fear the future for God comes to save us and He is with us and will continue to be present in our midst and His love for us is unconditional and never comes to an end.
The Jubilee Year 2025
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.
Jubilee 2025 Prayer Cards: In anticipation of the Jubilee which will be opened in Rome by our Holy Father and in our diocese by Bishop Patrick on Sunday 29th December, Feast of the Holy Family. Jubilee Prayer Cards have been printed and I hope from next weekend will be available within the parish in time for the opening of the Jubilee. Please take away at least two prayer cards per parishioner – one for you to keep, and one for you to give to someone who doesn’t come to church but who might welcome the invitation. The Jubilee Prayer will be printed in the Bulletin and on the website and we are all encouraged to use this prayer each day at home. We shall pray the Jubilee Prayer together at the end of the Bidding Prayers at Mass each weekend in the parish, from Sunday 29th December onwards and throughout the Jubilee Year.
Jubilee 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 copies home with you and share them with your friends and family members!
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 and on the glass doors as you come into church.
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 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 draw closer to Christmas!
Your parish priest and friend,
Fr Jonathan
2024 15th December – Newsletter – Download