The theme
of the readings today is waiting. Isaiah exhorts the Jewish people to
prepare for the coming (‘advent’) of the Lord - and this is fulfilled in the
gospel reading by John the Baptist, who prepares the people for the coming of
the Messiah. And St. Peter (2nd reading) asks us to be patient
as we wait - God knows what he is about and his time scale is very different to
ours!
Patience
and waiting - we
need both of these when we read the scriptures and when we pray on our own.
The Welsh
poet R S Thomas (1913-2000) expresses all this in his poem ‘Kneeling.’
Moments of great calm,
Kneeling before an altar
Of wood in a stone church
In summer, waiting for the God
To speak; the air a staircase
For silence; the sun’s light
Ringing me, as though I acted
A great role. And the audiences
Still; all that close throng
Of spirits waiting, as I,
For the message.
Prompt me,
God;
But not yet. When I speak,
Though it be you who speak
Through me, something is lost.
The meaning is in the waiting.
Today we welcome, through Holy Baptism, Eimear Grace Turner (1 yr),
her parents Karen and Stuart, and godparents Geraldine and Liam (6pm); Yvonna
Rae Cramer (4 mths), her parents Carol and William and godparents Layla and
Stephen (9.15 am); and Patrick Xiao-Xi Gallagher (1 yr), and his parents Jenny
and Martin and godparents Abigail and Michael (11 am).
Today
also we invite all
our readers to renew their ministry after the gospel.
We
welcome Fr.Paul Fennessey as celebrant at the 6pm Mass.
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Mass
attendances last Sunday were 674.
Second
Collection today for Maintenance & Refurbishment Fund with
thanks to all who give so generously.
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Sunday
4/12/11
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Second
Sunday of Advent
6pm – People of the Parish
9.15am
– Jackie
Gilmartin (Lynch Family)
11am – Myriam Stanley (welf.)
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Monday
5/12/11
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Feria
9.30am – Deceased relatives &
friends of West Family (T. and D. West)
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Tuesday
6/12/11
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St
Nicholas, bishop
9.30am – In thanksgiving for Concetta
Borg for her 100th birthday (T. West)
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Wednesday
7/12/11
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St
Ambrose, bishop and doctor of Church
9.30am – Mary Burke (welf) (E. Gibson)
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Thursday
8/12/11
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The
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9.30am
– John O’Connell
(welf) (E. Gibson)
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Friday
9/12/11
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Feria
9.30am
– Relatives &
friends of the Fyson Family (Found.)
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Sunday
11/12/11
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Third
Sunday of Advent
6pm – People of the Parish
9.15am
– Canning Family
(G. Thompson)
11am –
Inge Gattel RIP
(Lora Benson)
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Monday
5th:
St James’
School Advent Service (6pm).
Choir
Practice at 8pm (NB change of day).
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Tuesday
6th:
Finance
Committee (Presbytery 10.15am)
Requiem
Mass for Bishop John Jukes, Cathedral, 12 noon.
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Thursday
8th:
Project Board (Hall Dev.). Meeting Room 8pm.
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Next
Sunday.
Senior
Citizens’ Lunch (1.30pm, sherry at 1pm).
Mother/Toddler
& Pre School Cake Sale after Mass.
Confirmation
Candidates meet
in church at 7pm followed by short session and refreshments. (ends 8.30pm).
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Monday
12th.
Penitential Service for Advent at 7pm. We shall have 6 visiting
priests. I hope the church will be full – everyone is encouraged to make their
confession before Christmas, including our young people year 4 and upwards…
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Next
Saturday (10th). Raking up the leaves!! (10am to 12pm). Could you spare
an hour? Please bring a rake. List in Porch – please do not leave it to
others.
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Every
blessing, Fr Bryan
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