Saturday 6th - Sunday 14th December 2025
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SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT – CYCLE A
SUNDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2025
COMPENDIUM OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (Part 2)
The Profession of Faith
Section One - “I believe” – “We believe”
1. What is the plan of God for man? 1-25
God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. In the fullness of time, God the Father sent his Son as the Redeemer and Savior of mankind, fallen into sin, thus calling all into his Church and, through the work of the Holy Spirit, making them adopted children and heirs of his eternal happiness.
CHAPTER ONE - Man's Capacity for God 30
“You are great, O Lord, and greatly to be praised [...] You have made us for yourself and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” (Saint Augustine)
2. Why does man have a desire for God? 27-30 & 44-45
God himself, in creating man in his own image, has written upon his heart the desire to see him. Even if this desire is often ignored, God never ceases to draw man to himself because only in God will he find and live the fullness of truth and happiness for which he never stops searching. By nature and by vocation, therefore, man is a religious being, capable of entering into communion with God. This intimate and vital bond with God confers on man his fundamental dignity.
3. How is it possible to know God with only the light of human reason? 31-36 & 46-47
Starting from creation, that is from the world and from the human person, through reason alone one can know God with certainty as the origin and end of the universe, as the highest good and as infinite truth and beauty.
4. Is the light of reason alone sufficient to know the mystery of God? 37-38
In coming to a knowledge of God by the light of reason alone man experiences many difficulties. Indeed, on his own he is unable to enter into the intimacy of the divine mystery. This is why he stands in need of being enlightened by God’s revelation, not only about those things that exceed his understanding, but also about those religious and moral truths which of themselves are not beyond the grasp of human reason, so that even in the present condition of the human race, they can be known by all with ease, with firm certainty and with no admixture of error.
5. How can we speak about God? 39-43 & 48-49
By taking as our starting point the perfections of man and of the other creatures which are a reflection, albeit a limited one, of the infinite perfection of God, we are able to speak about God with all people. We must, however, continually purify our language insofar as it is image-bound and imperfect, realizing that we can never fully express the infinite mystery of God.
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS NOTICES
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.
JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY.
The Junior Youth group will have a Christmas party on the 14th December at 10am in the church hall. Please note there will be no youth group this Sunday due to the parish Christmas bazaar.
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 and more information.
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR.
The parish Christmas Bazaar is this Sunday in the hall. Entry is free and there will be lots of stalls, festive food & drink and Santa will be here in his Grotto. Please see the poster in the porch for more information and come along and support the parish community.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION SUNDAY.
On Sunday 21st December 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.
CHURCH CLEANING.
If you are able to help clean the church in preparation for Christmas, please see a member of the cleaning team after Friday morning Mass.
PARISH NOTICES
FHC 2026.
There will be a parents meeting on Sunday 14th December in the Church at 12.30pm.
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.
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 will be on the 12th December at 11.30am.
UCM MEETING.
There will be no more UCM meetings this year but the next UCM meeting has been arranged for Saturday Feb 7th in the hall at 11.30am. New members are welcome. Refreshments will be available.
NEW PARISHIONERS WELCOME.
The parish will be welcoming all new parishioners at all Masses this weekend. New parishioners will receive a special blessing and will be given a welcome booklet.
ST. THOMAS MORE CHURCH 90TH ANNIVERSARY.
Next year our parish will be celebrating the 90th anniversary of our church being built. There will be a meeting on the 13th December at 12 noon in the church porch to start planning for this event. Please come along if you can volunteer in any way.
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.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Saturday 6th December
P Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
P SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
6.30 p.m. Dennis Rodrigues RIP
Sunday 7th December P
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Aadita Pinto TG on her birthday
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Monday 8th December
W The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 9th December
P Feria
7 p.m. Daily Rosary
7.30 p.m. Safe journey for Mary & Paul
Wednesday 10th December
P Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Ian Griffiths RIP
Thursday 11th December
P Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Ferdie Rodrigues RIP
Friday 12th December
P Feria
9.30 a.m. Rosary for the Dead
10.00 a.m. Milla Goes TG
Saturday 13th December
R St Lucy
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Christina O’Neill RIP
P THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
6.30 p.m. Joachim D’Souza RIP
Sunday 14th December P
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Tim Guinee RIP
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls