Today is
Gaudete Sunday (3rd
in Advent). Gaudete means ‘rejoice’ and today takes its name from the first
word of the entrance antiphon.
Although Advent
is a penitential season, from today we look forward to the rejoicing of
Christmas, and our readings today have an ‘upbeat’ mood.
What are
you going to give for Christmas? I suspect we are all wondering what to give to whom!
Perhaps the greatest gift we can give this Christmas is the gift of our
penitent hearts- the gift to Jesus of a good confession of our sins so that
he can ‘wipe the slate clean’, cleanse us from our guilt, and enable us to
really enjoy Christmas, and to go into the new year with our consciences clear.
I do
hope that many of you will make your confession on Monday (12th) at 7pm at
our Penitential service (at least 6 priests.) So on this Gaudete Sunday
let us resolve to bring great joy to our Lord’s heart as we really trust
in his mercy and forgiveness.
‘Be happy
at all times.........avoid every form of evil.......God has called you and he
will not fail you.’ (St.Paul in today’s 2nd reading from 1
Thessalonians.)
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Mass
attendances last Sunday were 761.
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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
12/12/11
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Feria
9.30am – John & Teresa Lynch RIP
(Jackson Family)
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Tuesday
13/12/11
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St
Lucy
9.30am – Maurice Cantopher RIP (P.
Cantopher)
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Wednesday
14/12/11
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St
John of the
Cross
9.30am – Fr. Eric Mead RIP (Jackson
Family)
Mass
with St James’ School in Church
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Thursday
15/12/11
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Feria
9.30am
– John O’Connell
(welf) (E.Gibson)
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Friday
16/12/11
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Feria
9.30am
– JKM & Mrs V
Howell RIP (Simon Howell)
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Sunday
18/12/11
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Fourth
Sunday of Advent
6pm – People of the Parish
9.15am
– Ted Bray RIP
(Hugh and Teresa Forde)
11am –
Pamela Squire RIP
(Deasy Family)
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Today
(Sunday):
Senior
Citizens lunch at 1.30pm (sherry at 1pm).
Confirmation
candidates’ session (7pm to 8.30pm – with pizza!).
Taizé
service at 7pm – all most welcome.
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School
Application Forms
must be with me by the end of today (Sunday 11th).
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Monday - Penitential
Service at 7pm.
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Tuesday – Choir practice at 8pm.
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Wednesday – Mass with St James’ School in
church at 9.30am.
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Friday – Carol Singing for Harris
HospiceCare outside Morrisons from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. Could you spare half an
hour to sing?
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Next
Sunday. St
James’ Carol Service at 4pm (followed by mince pies / mulled wine etc). This
service is for everyone and will be by candlelight. Please support the
singers who have worked so hard and also musical director Dominic. Readings and carols and choir numbers – a great way to prepare for Christmas! (Not really
suitable for babies and very young children).
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Thanks to
those who cleared and cleaned the church yesterday! Greatly appreciated.
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Please
join in energetically with the responses at Mass! And please sing! Really
big breaths for each line – and please join in singing during communion. All
numbers are on the board.
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A warm
welcome to any visitors to St. James’ today! Do come into the adjoining hall
for refreshments after Mass.
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Every
blessing, Fr Bryan
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