Last Sunday Mass Attendance – 627
Mass Intentions
This Sunday
6.00 pm (Sat) People of the Parish
10.00 am William Lloyd RIP
11.30 am Amedio Pini RIP
Morning Prayer Daily Monday – Saturday 9.10 am
Weekday Masses
Monday 9.30 am St Francis Xavier (priest) –Tess Johnson (welf.)
Tuesday 9.30 am Feria of Advent- Dec.Fr/Rel of Mary and David Kelly
Wednesday 9.30 am Feria of Advent-Dec Fr/Rel of Cushman fam. Thursday 9.30 am St Nicholas (bishop)-Manuel Gonsalves RIP
Friday 9.30 am St Ambrose (Bishop and Doc.of the Church)
Kitty 0’Riordan RIP
Saturday 9.30 am Immaculate Conception of the BVM-
Mary Quinn (welf.)
Next Sunday 9th December, 2nd Sunday of Advent
6.00 pm (Sat) Collins fam. (welf.)
10.00 am Dec Rel/Fr of the Fyson fam. (found.Mass)
11.30 am People of the Parish
Confessions heard Saturday, 10.15am-10.45am and 5.30pm-5.50pm, or after any weekday Mass on request.
Happy New Year! (church year, that is.) We begin the season of Advent (‘coming’). We reflect on the coming of God as a human being, 2000 years ago; and on his coming at the end of time as judge of all; and, crucially, we reflect on his coming here and now, into our lives and the life of the world, through his Word (the Bible), Sacrament (the Eucharist) and Community (the Church.)
The readings remind us to stay alert and ‘awake’ – to recognize the ‘signs of the times’ (God’s activity in human affairs) and to prepare our hearts and lives anew for his coming at Christmas. Like Our Lady let us wait patiently and …’in joyful hope….for the coming of our saviour, Jesus Christ.’
Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength,
Such a Light as shows a Feast:
Such a feast as mends in length:
Such a Strength as makes his guest.
Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart,
Such a Joy as none can move:
Such a Love as none can part:
Such a Heart as joyes in Love.
(George Herbert – 1593-1633)
………………………………………………………………………………
A warm welcome to any newcomers and to visitors. Do come into the adjoining hall after Mass (10am and 11.30am) for coffee and a chat.
Sacrament of Reconciliation It was encouraging that so many of you made your confession yesterday (Sat.)
Next Sunday (9th) there will be the usual communal celebration of reconciliation at Holy Innocents, Orpington (4.0.pm) – and you are most welcome to attend this with a choice of four or five priests (including myself). However Canon Watts has issued this statement to his people, and I share this with you:
‘For a number of years we have celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation with our famous ‘yellow sheets.’ These services have been very popular and enabled many to receive the Sacrament. Recently a concern has been expressed by one person about these celebrations, particularly the need of the penitent to name his sins and for the confessor to give advice.
In the light of this concern Archbishop Kevin has asked that the practice of the sheets –‘confession without a word’ – ceases. I am disappointed by this decision but we will keep the community celebration of the Sacrament on Sunday 9th December at 4.0.pm, at which there will be a number of priests available for individual confession. C’est la vie!’
This now means that confessions must be spoken (in the traditional way). However the style of the service will be similar and I do encourage you to go if you have not yet made your Advent/Christmas confession.
Journey in Faith. Any adult non-Catholic is most welcome to join this group, which will be a gentle exploration of the teaching of the church , without any obligation. The next two sessions will be on Wednesdays December 5th and 12th, at 281A, Crescent Drive (presbytery) at 8.0.pm, ending promptly by 9.30pm.
Monday Evening- Deanery Pastoral Council, Holy Innocents, Orpington (8.0.pm). I do hope all our lay reps can manage this.
Wednesday – St. James’ School Advent celebration –in church at 6.0.pm.
Thursday Meeting (presbytery, 8.0.pm) for those interested in going to Taize next July/August (minimum age 17).
Advent Resources Do treat yourself to something for Advent! (the laminated children’s Advent calendars are excellent value at 30p.) Also Advent Extra and My Day by Day (scripture readings).
Can I encourage you to receive Holy Communion under both kinds –to deepen awareness of our Lord’s sacrifice, and also to obey his clear command to ‘drink this, all of you.’ ‘Whenever you eat this bread, then, and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the Lord’s death until he comes.’ (St Paul in I Cor.11.26) It is also a wonderful sign of our unity in Christ
During Advent do try and get to a weekday Mass (9.30am) sometimes. The readings are wonderfully rich in content and are a great preparation for Christmas.
Readers/Ministers/Servers PLEASE ‘sign up’ for the Christmas Day Masses (many thanks to those who have already done so.) Full details of Advent-Christmas-New Year will appear in a day or so on our website (stjamespettswood.org) Also please start signing up for St John Passion.
Have a good week.
Church and Social Centre Rotas
|
Wednesday Coffee |
Church Cleaning 5th December |
|
|||
|
M Cahill |
J Longhhurst |
K Salter |
G Tomkins |
M Walters |
|
Next Sunday 9th December
|
Bar |
Tellers |
Coffee 10 am |
Coffee 11.30 |
|
P Keen M Horner |
M Scott P Davey |
L Floris U Floris K Charlesworth |
Guides V Place D James M Bryan |
Readers
|
6 pm Sat. |
10.00 am |
11.30 am |
|
J Bajorek M O’Mahony |
P Benson L Rusmini |
Parade Mass |
Ministers of Holy Communion
|
6 pm Sat. |
10.00 am |
11.30 am |
|
P Driscoll M Hutchinson P Kenny D Lydon J McKinlay |
J Headington M Howell M Kelly M Morley W Morley P Murray |
J Longhurst N Longhurst D O’Neill P Powell A Scripture A Travers |