Newsletter – 3rd week of Advent
Dear Parishioners
‘The desert shall rejoice, and blossom abundantly’ – The readings of this 3rd Sunday of Advent – Gaudete (‘rejoice’) Sunday are full of hopeful joy in anticipation of Christ’s arrival.
This will bring an end to all sorrow and mourning (First Reading), because through Christ will come salvation and new life(Responsorial Psalm). In the Second Reading, St James calls us to be ready for this arrival. The Lord is near, but to perceive the signs of his coming requires from us both patience and openness of eyes and ear, heart and mind (Gospel).
On this 3rd Sunday of Advent and during this coming week, let us imitate the desert coming to bloom. By eagerly receiving the Lord’s lifegiving and transformational grace, let us pray that He will give to each of us the strength and courage to blossom abundantly in allthe areas of our lives. We pray too that each of us may be bringers of joy, life and consolation to those we encounter in our daily lives,those who may be feeling bowed down by the burdens of life at this time. Let us reach out to one another with kindness, compassionand love as we prepare with great joy for the coming of Christ at Christmas!
A prayer from the Taizé community: O Lord Christ, help us to maintain ourselves in simplicity, and in joy, the joy of the merciful, the joy of your love. Grant that, renouncing henceforth all thought of looking back, and joyful with infinite gratitude, we may never fear toprecede the dawn, to praise and bless and sing to the Christ our Lord. Amen.
Update Enabling our Mission Campaign: This weekend we conclude the Enabling Our Mission Campaign in the parish. Nextweekend I will be able to announce the full total of the number of pledges received. This weekend though there is a last opportunityfor those who may not have had the chance to complete a pledge form thus far, to do so during Mass, and if this seems appropriate toyou and to your circumstances at this time. Every pledge made however large or small will help to boost the final total of pledges received and will help to vitally support the mission projects in our diocese and within this parish community going forward. The generosity and sacrificial giving that I have witnessed over the past few weeks from our parish community, at a time I know when so many are struggling financially themselves, has astounded me and makes me so proud to be your parish priest.Thank you to each of you who have pledged so generously to the Enabling our Mission Campaign. What wonderful generosity, thank you!
Reception into Full Communion with the Catholic Church – At Mass this coming Tuesday evening I shall with Bishop Patrick’spermission receive Ben Miles and Clayton Kelly into Full Communion with the Catholic Church. Both young men will have becomefamiliar figures to many of you over the past few months as they have been attending regularly our Masses in the week and at the weekend. Let us keep Ben and Clayton in our prayers this coming week as we welcome them into the family of the Church and as they both prepare now to make this next important step in their faith journeys.
Looking ahead to Christmas: Service Times for all the Masses celebrated in the Parish from Christmas Eve through to the New Year are to be found in the Bulletin and on the doors as you come into church. Please do make a note of them.
With my prayers for you and for your families during Advent,
Your parish priest and friend,
Fr Jonathan
2025 14th December – Newsletter – Download