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FR TOM WRITES
Many of you will be aware that Pope Francis has spent the last week in hospital suffering with pneumonia in both lungs following a serious case of bronchitis.
It is important that as Catholics we pray for the Pope because he is the successor of St Peter. In an unbroken succession, we can trace back his apostolic authority, back to Peter and to Christ, who commissioned Peter, just as he commissions each pope. Our Holy Father is an important link for us in faith. He represents the Lord for us, and he is a source of our unity. He is, as it were, a global father to the Church – not just a Holy Father, but a global father. He’s the Father of all peoples. In a particular way, he’s the father of every Catholic. Please pray at this time for Pope Francis’ health and for every strength and blessing for him.

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FR TOM WRITES
A massive thank you to all who enabled our celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes to be such a resounding success. It was beautiful to celebrate the gift of our patronal saint, and to welcome Bishop Curry who implored us to be pilgrims into hope during this Jubilee Year. We were also asked to pray for all those around the world who find themselves without hope for whatever reason, in particular for all those in places that are experiencing war at this time. Let us pray for them, through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, and Patronal Saint, the Virgin Mary. As he previously mentioned, Fr David will be in Rome this week  Monday to Thursday.

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TUESDAY: FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES 7PM
Tuesday is our parish feast day. There will be Mass at 10am for the whole primary school as we celebrate our patronal feast. If you cannot come in the evening, you can join us at 10am. The special Mass for the whole parish will be on Tuesday evening at 7pm. This will be led by Bishop Jim Curry, and will be followed after Mass with a reception in the parish hall. Please join us for this special event.

FR DAVID WRITES
Please see the notice above about Tuesday. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes marks the anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady to St Bernadette at the Grotto of Massabielle on 11th February 1858. Tuesday is also the World Day of Prayer for the Sick. Please keep this important intention in your prayers. I wish you all every blessing as we celebrate our special feast. Just a note to say that I will be in Rome from 17-20 February so there will be one Mass only on those days.

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FR TOM WRITES
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, commemorating the moment Mary and Joseph brought their Son to the temple to be consecrated to the Father. This Feast is also known as Candlemas Day; when candles, which symbolise Christ our light, are blessed. This is also the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. Like candles, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Christ to all peoples. Let us pray for all who have consecrated themselves to God through the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and especially those living in our parish.

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FR TOM WRITES
This Sunday the Church celebrates the Sunday of the Word of God, an initiative of Pope Francis to signify the importance of the Word of God in the daily life of every Christian. Our parishes and communities are called to have a living relationship with the scriptures, which is one way of God speaking to his Children. The Word of God is not only confined to a book: Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh and he speaks to us in many ways. The motto chosen by the Holy Father this year is a verse from Psalm 119, “I hope in your Word”. It is a cry of hope: in a moment of anguish, tribulation, and confusion, we cry out to God and put all our hope in him.

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FR TOM WRITES
The Wedding at Cana is the first of the signs performed by our Lord, at the behest of his Blessed Mother. The turning of water into wine is the experience of Christ taking something unspectacular and transforming it into something beautiful. In our lives we are in need of this transformation; Jesus has power to renew your marriage, family life, day-to-day tasks, and your faith. Ultimately however, this sign will find its completion on the Cross with his mother once more present. From the midst of suffering and misery, the blood of Christ is poured forth  to give life in the face of death and open the path to eternal salvation.

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FR DAVID WRITES
Today is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the end of the Christmas season. However, the unfolding of the mystery of the Epiphany continues to reach out to us through the liturgy. The Baptism of Jesus is connected to the Epiphany as it represents a continued revelation of who Jesus really is. Similarly, next week we will hear about the first sign worked by Jesus at Cana. This too forms part of the epiphany about the Christ, who reveals his glory as his disciples believe in him. The mystery of Christmas will continue to shine in the liturgy until the Feast of the Lord’s Presentation, on Sunday 2 February.

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2025 JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE
Pope Francis has declared that the year 2025 will be a Holy Year of Jubilee for the Catholic Church – an event that takes place once every 25 years. The theme for the 2025 Jubilee is “Pilgrims of Hope”, an invitation to showcase the hope of our Christian faith to people right across the world at a time when there is so much suffering from the impact of war, poverty, climate change, and the lasting effects of the COVID pandemic. The Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee presents each one of us with an opportunity to reignite the flame of our faith in our own hearts and to share the light of that faith with those in darkness.

WHAT IS A JUBILEE?
The concept of Jubilee is one rooted in the earliest days of Judeo-Christian tradition.  In the Book of Leviticus, we read that the people of Israel celebrated this tradition every 50 years. Its purpose was to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. It involved the forgiveness of debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow period for the fields.

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates this tradition once every 25 years as a year of grace, offering the faithful the opportunity to renew faith through prayer, pilgrimage, acts of charity, and by asking for a plenary indulgence – a special grace that strengthens our wounded souls in the fight against sin.

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Christmas Mass Times

Christmas Eve (24 December)

6 pm Family Vigil Mass (carols from 5.30)

11 pm Mass in the Holy Night (carols from 10.30)

 

Christmas Day (25 December)

8.30 am Christmas Dawn Mass

9.45 am Christmas Day Mass (with music group)

11.15 am Christmas Day Mass

12.30 pm Christmas Day Mass

 

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FR TOM WRITES
Rejoice! On the Fourth Sunday of Advent the Church prepares us to celebrate the momentous feast of Christmas by reminding us that God promised humankind  the gift of salvation, and this is why His Son was born of the Virgin Mary. With so many parties and joyous occasions filling these days, let us not miss the opportunity to receive Our Lord in a new way during this festive period. We are looking forward to seeing you all at Christmas and send you all every good wish and blessing.

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES
24th December no morning Masses on Christmas Eve
6pm Family Christmas Vigil Mass (carols from 5.30pm)
11pm Christmas Mass in the Holy Night (carols from 10.30pm)
25th December Christmas Day Mass 8.30am, 9.45am, 11.15am & 12.30pm.
26th December Boxing Day Mass 12 noon
27th December Mass 10am

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FR DAVID WRITES
Today, the Third Sunday of Advent, is known as Gaudete Sunday and is a day of joy and rejoicing in the heart of the Advent season. Welcome and well done to all our children and their families who begin the First Holy Communion programme this weekend. Please keep them in your prayers. May God bless you this coming week.