Saturday 18th December– Saturday 24th December 2022
- jonathonrouth
- Dec 17, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 21, 2022
THE FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT
DECEMBER IS THE MONTH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Dear parishioners,
THE CHRISTMAS GIFT OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
On this last Sunday of Advent, we look towards Christmas and the coming of God’s son into the world through the Blessed Virgin Mary. The very same Holy Spirit of God, which hovered over the waters of Creation at the dawn of time descended upon her and she conceived a son. As the first Spirit brought life to the world, so through the Blessed Virgin Mary, the same Spirit brings true life and salvation in the incarnation of God’s son. In the Blessed Virgin Mary, a new creation comes to life and his name is Jesus.*
The Blessed Virgin Mary therefore plays a pivotal role in all human history, for it is through Our Lady that God’s presence came into the world, through her the people of Palestine two thousand years ago came to have God in their midst and today we can also say in the Church, that God is in our midst too. It is Blessed Mary who brings about God’s presence in the world and because He came through her, only she of all people in the world can say of that Real Divine Presence ‘This is my body, this is my blood’ for the Lord Jesus was flesh of her flesh. The body of Christ is in this sense, her gift to us to too.
Through the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Divine Presence of Jesus was adored in Bethlehem. We adore the same Real Presence among us in the Eucharist and give thanks to the Blessed Virgin Mary for giving us the Body of Christ through her own Yes to God. The Catholic Church has always knelt to adore the same body of Christ at the Mass and received him on the tongue into our own bodies and souls as the Blessed Virgin received him into her own. This is the truly Catholic and reverent way to receive the Body of Christ, and indeed, at the traditional Latin mass, the only way known.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, who was immaculately conceived, was already full of grace when the Holy Spirit came to her but we, through her role in our salvation, may be full of grace like her when we have confessed our sins, received absolution and kneeling in adoration, receive the Body of Christ through Holy Communion.
On the morning of Saturday 24th December, from 10 o’clock, there is an opportunity to make your confession and spend an hour in silent adoration before the Body of Christ at Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. In this hour with the Lord, with the Blessed Virgin Mary, let ask for God’s peace in our hearts this Christmas.
*see Fr D. McBride ‘Seasons of the Word’
God bless,
Fr Jonathon
Masses & Intentions for the Fourth Week of Advent
Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ."
Saturday 17th December Ember Saturday of Advent TC
9.00 a.m. Confessions.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. (Latin 1962) Eileen Bower R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Confessions.
+ 6.30 p.m. FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Tracey D’Souza TG
Sunday 18th December
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG. Maxine Hatmeld and Family W.B..
+ 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS (Latin with English Readings/ missa XVII advenutus). The people of the parish.
7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in the Hall.
Monday 19th December Advent Feria.
SORRY, NO MASS TODAY DUE TO SICKNESS. PLEASE CHECK THIS SPACE FOR TOMORROW.
Tuesday 20th December Advent Feria.
SORRY, NO MASS AGAIN TODAY DUE TO SICKNESS. PLEASE CHECK THIS SPACE FOR THURSDAY.
Wednesday 21st December Advent Feria.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
Thursday 22nd December Advent Feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Fr Francis R.I.P. (for his anniversary of death on 12/12)
12.00 noon Thursday Lunch Club
Friday 23rd December Advent Feria.
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
+9.00 a.m. Bernadette Keaveney R.I.P. (for third anniversary)
10.00 a.m. First Communion Children’s Choir Practice.
6.00 p.m. Parish Choir Practice. New members welcome.
Saturday 24th December Advent Feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
10.00 a.m. An hour before the Lord. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with Confessions.
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS EVE)
5.30 p.m. Carols led by our First Communion Choir.
+ 6.00 p.m. Vigil Mass of Christmas. Joachim D’Souza (Bernie’s father) R.I.P.(sung)
9.30 p.m. Carols led by St Thomas More Parish Choir
+10.00 p.m. Solemn Midnight Mass (in Latin and English/missa de Angelis)
Sunday 25th December (CHRISTMAS DAY)
+8.00 a.m. Mass of the Dawn (said)
+10.00 a.m. Mass of the Day (sung)
Upcoming Events
ST GEORGE’S CATHEDRAL CAROL SERVICE
(ONLINE & IN PERSON)
There is nothing like a beautiful Cathedral setting to inspire the heart and mind as we prepare ourselves for the arrival of Jesus at Christmas.
Archbishop John Wilson warmly invites everyone to join him, in person or online, at the annual St George's Cathedral Carol Service, which will take place at 7.30 pm on Thursday 15th December 2022.
In order that everyone in the community can join in, the service will be live-streamed for the first time: you can access this broadcast via the RC Southwark YouTube account: www.bit.ly/CathedralCarols22 or https://youtu.be/SZH4vVxQ2zA
An order of service (with Carols included) will also be available via these links, so please do join in raising your voice and singing alongside the magnificent St George's Cathedral Choir.
For those who are able join the service in person, there will be a hot meal and glass of wine afterwards in the Amigo Hall.
All are very welcome!
Parish Notice Board
FOOD BANK.
Don’t forget the Food Bank collection crate in the Church Porch! People are not managing to afford the basic essentials of life. If you can contribute some long life milk, canned food, packets of pasta, toilet rolls or any other non-perishable basics, you will be helping our neighbours in great need.
ADVENT REFLECTIONS.
Join Patricia in the house after Friday mass to share in the Advent Gospel, with tea and coffee.
DECEMBER PRAYERS FOR THE INTERCESSION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: THE ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER. Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alma+redemptoris+mater+solemn+tone
The Alma Redemptoris Mater, like all the seasonal Marian antiphons, is sung to the more familiar simple tone on weekdays and the solemn tone on Sundays and solemnities. The youtube link above is to the solemn tone, one of the most beautiful prayers elevated to the heavens by music. You can also hear this on Sundays at the end of the 11 o'clock mass at St Thomas More.
Parish Youth Notice Board
Church for Children.
There will be no Children's Liturgy until the New Year.
Thank you, to everyone who is involved in organising this, for your continued commitment.
FIRST CONFESSION & HOLY COMMUNIONS 2023.
Key dates:
Applications are now closed.
First Holy Communion Group Christmas Choir for the Christmas Vigil Mass. 24th December 2022
First Session: 10.30 a.m. Saturday 7th January 2023.
First Confessions: probably a Saturday morning in March: to be confirmed.
Children’s Stations of the Cross: 10.30 a.m. Good Friday, 7th April 2023
First Holy Communions: Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th June 2023.
The fulfilment of the Sunday obligation to attend mass on all Catholics (with obvious exemptions) is required for all families with their children preparing to receive their First Holy Communion.
Confirmation 2023.
Application forms are available for collection from the priest at the end of all Sunday masses and should be returned to him after Sunday mass on a following Sunday.
Key dates:
Closing date for applications: Sunday 8th January 2023
Parents Meeting: Wednesday 11th January 2023 at 7 p.m.
First Session: Sunday 22nd January 2023
Confession: To be confirmed.
Confirmation: Sunday 23rd July 2023 at 11 a.m.
The fulfilment of the Sunday obligation to attend mass on all Catholics (with obvious exemptions) is required for all those preparing to receive their Confirmation.
Deaths
For all our brothers and sisters who ate the Body of Christ, the bread of Life, that they may be raised up on the Last Day. (Drawn from the intercession of the Funeral Mass)
Please pray for the souls of:
Clare Cullen who died on Friday 23rd September 2022 aged 92. Her funeral requiem was on Monday 31st October 2022 at 11.00 a.m. with committal at Camberwell New Cemetery.
Teresa Cooper who died on Wednesday 5th October 2022 aged 77. Her funeral was on Monday 7th November at 12.00 noon with committal at Eltham Crematorium at 1.45 p.m.
Denis McLaughlin who died on Tuesday 18th October. His funeral was on Friday 28th October in Belfast, Ireland.
John Maloney, 85, who died on Tuesday 1st November 2022. His funeral was on Monday 21st November 2022 followed by committal at St. Michael’s Church, Castletown, Co. Westmeath, Ireland.
May the divine assistance remain with them always, and may their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.