Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C - 23rd December 2018

Mary's Child - The Prince of Peace - From the least of the clans of Judah, from Mary, his lowly handmaid, God prepared a body for his Christ, who comes to fill the world with his spirit of peace.

Sat 22

6.00pm

6.45pm

O King Vigil Mass - Intention - John Zammit R.I.P.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Sun 23

Nazareth Hse

9.30am

11.00am

Mass - Special Intention - Frances & Olly Floody - Golden Wedding
Frances & Olly invites you to join the for Tea & Cake after Mass - Church Room

Nativity practice for Children's Christmas Eve mass after the 9.30 Mass today.

All children from 4 upwards more than welcome.

Mass - Intention - Frank Fox R.I.P.

Mon 24

Christmas Eve

6.00pm

Midnight

Children's Mass - Special Intention - The Children of the Parish

Mass - Special Intention - The People of the Parish

A Saviour is born for us - tonight we celebrate the birth of a Child who was to bring the joy of God's saving love to the whole world. We make our own the jubilant cry of the angels

"Glory to God in the highest Heaven"

Tues 25

Christmas

Day

9.30am

Morning Mass - Intention - Amy Franklyn R.I.P. & Ulahannan Thomas R.I.P.

The Word made Flesh - for us the Word of God is no longer the message spoken by the

prophets, but the messenger of God in person, the Eternal Word begotten of the Father

before time began.

11.00am

Mass of the Day (at St Patrick's) Int - Thomas P ( Also- Mass at Nazareth House today 11.am)

4.00pm

Malayalam Mass.

Weds 26

9.30am

Mass - Intention - James O'Leary R.I.P.

Thurs 27

9.30am

Mass - Special Intention - Lisa & Vita La Porta

Fri 28

9.30am

Mass - Intention - Christy & Eileen Vaughan R.I.P.

Sat 29

6.00pm

Vigil Mass - Intention - Thomas Proctor R.I.P.

Sun 30

9.30am

11.00am

The Feast of the Holy Family Mass - Special Intention - The Parish

Mass - Special Intention - The Jacobs Family

Scripture Readings - 4th Sunday of Advent - Year C

Micah 5: 1-4; Ps 79(80); Hebrews 10: 5-10; Luke 1: 39-44


 Micah was prophesying in Judea around 720 BC. The rich were defrauding the poor, and prophets even misleading the people by assuring them that all was well. Which is what people wanted to hear. No, said Micah: "Zion would be ploughed like a field" - utterly destroyed, as happened in the exile in 586 BC. But a remnant would survive, and a ruler would come from Bethlehem, David's birthplace. When "she who is to give birth gives birth", the mother of the Immanuel, then the remnant will come back to the Lord.
The Psalm pleads that the Lord's help come soon, as Israel is being hard pressed by its enemies.
Hebrews continues to explain the differences between Christ's sacrifice and animal and food sacrifices offered in the Temple: these had to be repeated again and again, because they did not bring forgiveness of sin. Only Christ's sacrifice could remit sins: it is the fulfilment of God's will, rather than the holocausts he does not want. Jesus is seen as explicitly offering himself, so that not only are our sins forgiven but we may be made holy.

The Gospel begins the Christmas story with Mary's visit to Elizabeth, soon to give birth to the last of the Old Testament prophets.

Response: God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

Collections 22/23 December -Thank you.

Env £185.10 Loose £248.13 Cafod £33.40

Standing Orders £160.77

Feast of the Holy Family - 29/30 December

At the end of Mass, married couples

will be invited to renew their marriage vows.

Please make full and careful use of our car park over the Christmas season

have CONSIDERATION OUR neighbours and do not block access to their homes. Thanks.

Dear Jesus, help me to be truly humble. Whatever my achievements, help me remember that I am a child of God, and a brother or sister to all God's children.

Duston Churches Together - Food Bank

Thank you for your generous response to our Food Banks call for special help over the Christmas holiday period.

Following the usual custom, the

Christmas Mass collections

are for the personal use of our parish priest.

Pope Francis' Prayer Intention for January May young people especially in Latin America follow the example of Mary and respond to the call of the Lord to communicate the joy of the Gospel to the world.

MANY THANKS - to those parishioners who helped clean and prepare the Church for Christmas. New helpers are welcome could you be one of those?

Congratulations to Frances & Olly Floody

on their Golden Wedding Anniversary. They renew their vows at Sundays 9.30 Mass - you are invited to join them for tea and cake in the Church Room.

Sunday School & Confirmation Group restart on Sun 6th January.

Ladies Circle meets again - Tuesday 8th January.

Advent Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

3.00pm - 3.45pm on THIS Sunday 23rd December

At the Convent 103 Harlestone Road

God of all love, you have guided me to your Son in different ways. Grant that I may not be distracted by vain lights but may follow the stars you put in my way to guide me.

May the Love of God and the peace and joy of Christmas come down upon you and remain with you during this holy season and be with you throughout the New Year

Please Pray For The Sick

Sara Fox, Mary Ellis, Enzina D'Eramo, Kitty McKenna, Joan James, Geraldine House, Richard Foster, Margaret Dunne, Doreen & James Coutinho, Bernard Gavins, Ethan A Fernandes, Phil Jacobs Sinead McDonall, Glenda Smith, Maureen Bicknell, Dominico Piro, Bridie Weir, Sharon Botterill, Jean House, Anne Thompson, Margaret, Kevin & Mark McKeown, Winnie & John Kelly, Daniel Butcher, Bernadette Bollard, Margaret Dupry, Henry McAteer, Catherine Vince, Catherine Watts, Dominic Fernandes, Chris Brady, Babies Ricardo & Michael, Nora McLoughlin, Emma Bonfield, Annie Jacobs, Maurice Roll, Lisa La Porta, Jenina Skippen, Michael Folan, Andrea Hughes, Fr Peter Pham,Kath Craven, Jeremy Wilcox, Linda Lane, baby Ioannis Ferao, Margaret Giltrap Joe Taitt,

Sara Quartermaine

Please tell the clergy of anyone in care, hospital or housebound who would like the sacraments.

Scripture Readings 25th December 2018 - Year C

Isa 9:1-7; Ps 95(96); Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14


Around 720 BC Judah was threatened by many enemies. Isaiah advised the kings to stand firm, because the Lord would give a sign: "the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel", meaning "With us is God". Today's reading rejoices in the coming peaceful dominion of this child.

The Psalm calls us and the whole of creation to rejoice at this birth of the Lord.
Paul tells Titus that in this birth "God's grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race".

On Sunday the Gospel told of Mary's visit to Elizabeth. Today Luke places the birth of the Christ firmly in time and space. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, and grew up in Nazareth in Galilee. The Messiah was not born of noble parents to live in a mansion, but into a country family, forced temporarily away from home. The peace and quiet of the undercroft, where animals gave warmth, must have been a welcome relief for Mary, after the noise and bustle of the inn. The royal birth announcement was sent not to royalty, but to shepherds, outcasts excluded from Temple worship by their occupation. From the start of Luke's gospel Jesus' message is taken to the poor.

 

Psalm Response: Today a saviour has been born to us; he is Christ the Lord.

Christmas is our ideal time to be filled with the spirit of Christ and to carry Jesus to others by sharing his humble, compassionate and caring love with all whom we meet. Jesus is really and truly with us in the Holy Eucharist, in the Sacraments, in the Bible and in every situation of the world.

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