Saturday 20th - Sunday 28th December 2025
- bostallpark
- Dec 19, 2025
- 5 min read
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT – CYCLE A
SUNDAY 21ST DECEMBER 2025
COMPENDIUM OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (Part 3)
11. Why and in what way is divine revelation transmitted? 74
God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4), that is, of Jesus Christ. For this reason, Christ must be proclaimed to all according to his own command, “Go forth and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19). And this is brought about by Apostolic Tradition.
12. What is Apostolic Tradition? 75-79, 83, 96 & 98
Apostolic Tradition is the transmission of the message of Christ, brought about from the very beginnings of Christianity by means of preaching, bearing witness, institutions, worship, and inspired writings. The apostles transmitted all they received from Christ and learned from the Holy Spirit to their successors, the bishops, and through them to all generations until the end of the world.
13. In what ways does Apostolic Tradition occur? 76
Apostolic Tradition occurs in two ways: through the living transmission of the word of God (also simply called Tradition) and through Sacred Scripture which is the same proclamation of salvation in written form.
14. What is the relationship between Tradition and Sacred Scripture? 80-82 & 97
Tradition and Sacred Scripture are bound closely together and communicate one with the other. Each of them makes present and fruitful in the Church the mystery of Christ. They flow out of the same divine well-spring and together make up one sacred deposit of faith from which the Church derives her certainty about revelation.
15. To whom is the deposit of faith entrusted? 84, 91 94 & 99
The Apostles entrusted the deposit of faith to the whole of the Church. Thanks to its supernatural sense of faith the people of God as a whole, assisted by the Holy Spirit and guided by the Magisterium of the Church, never ceases to welcome, to penetrate more deeply and to live more fully from the gift of divine revelation.
16. To whom is given the task of authentically interpreting the deposit of faith? 85-90 & 100
The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the deposit of faith has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone, that is, to the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome, and to the bishops in communion with him. To this Magisterium, which in the service of the Word of God enjoys the certain charism of truth, belongs also the task of defining dogmas which are formulations of the truths contained in divine Revelation. This authority of the Magisterium also extends to those truths necessarily connected with Revelation.
17. What is the relationship between Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium? 95
Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium are so closely united with each other that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.
CHRISTMAS NOTICES
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR CHILDREN IN HOSPITAL.
If you would like to donate a gift to a child who will be spending Christmas in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, please see the poster in the porch for a list of acceptable items (no cuddly toys) and more information. Please leave gifts in the marked box in the porch no later than the 25th December.
KSC CHRISTMAS POSTERS.
The Knights of St. Columba will be handing out Christmas posters after all Sunday Masses this weekend. You are invited to display your poster in a prominent window to promote the reason for the season, the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION SUNDAY.
This Sunday the sacrament of reconciliation will be available from 12 noon until 3pm and will be available throughout the day on request. Please speak to the parish priest for more information.
PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD.
Please take a copy of the parish Christmas card from the porch if you haven’t already. It includes the full Advent & Christmas programme as well as a message from the parish priest.
CHRISTMAS OFFERINGS.
Parishioners are reminded that their Christmas offering is their gift to the parish priest. Christmas offering envelopes are available in the porch.
CHURCH CLEANING.
If you are able to help clean the church in preparation for Christmas, please come along on Wednesday 24th December from 10am.
PARISH NOTICES
FOOD BANK.
Just a reminder that we always need donations for the Bexley Food Bank, especially in the winter. Donations can be placed in the porch. There is a sign where you can check what items are needed along with details of how you can make a financial donation if you wish. Please do not leave any perishable items. Donations are delivered to the food bank on Friday mornings.
CONFIRMATION 2026.
Application forms are still available for teenagers wanting to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2026. The deadline for application submission is the 25th December 2025. Please speak to the parish priest for more information.
UCM MEETING.
There will be no more UCM meetings this year but the next meeting has been arranged for Saturday Feb 7th in the hall at 11.30am. New members are welcome. Refreshments will be available.
RCIA & ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASSES - every Wednesday, till Easter 2026. Venue: Church Porch. Time: 7:15pm. Anyone can join to learn and/or refresh one’s knowledge and faith in God.
DEATH.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Jenny Dunning who was a long-standing and devout parishioner. Her funeral was on the 12th December.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Saturday 20th December
P Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Denis Murphy RIP
P FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
6.30 p.m. Jenny Dunning RIP
Sunday 21st December P
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Anna Sullivan PI
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls
12 noon. Sacrament of Reconciliation
Monday 22nd December
P Feria
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 23rd December
P Feria
7 p.m. Daily Rosary
7.p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation
7.30 p.m. Holy Souls
Wednesday 24th December
Christmas Eve
P Feria
5.30 p.m. Children’s Carol Service
W THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
6 p.m. Children & Youth of the Parish
10.30 p.m. Carol Service
11 p.m. Delia & Family WB
Thursday 25th December W
Christmas Day
8 a.m. Kathleen & Tom Hosey WB
10.00 a.m. People of the Parish
Friday 26th December
R St. Stephen
9.30 a.m. Devine Mercy Devotion & Prayer for the Dead
10.00 a.m. Anthony Kelly
Saturday 27th December
W St. John the Apostle
9.30 a.m. Adoration & Devotion to Mary
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
W THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH
6.30 p.m. John Smith RIP
Sunday 28th December W
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Pereira Family TG & WB
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Eileen Ruddy RIP