Today - Advent 3 - is known as ‘Gaudete’ Sunday. It is mid-Advent and we pause to anticipate the joy and celebration of Christmas.  We should also pause, and in the midst of rejoicing examine our hearts and lives in preparation for our Christmas confession.

Bishop Pat wrote a wonderful piece about just this in last week’s Catholic newspaper the ‘Universe’ and I can do no better than give you a summary of it:-

‘During my recent illness I realised once again how I needed the sacrament of forgiveness as I became aware that sickness does not just affect our bodies but also affects how we feel, how we think, how we pray and how we relate to others.

For Catholics, going to confession is an important part of preparing for Christmas..in this sacrament we experience God’s healing mercy and forgiveness.  It is (also) a journey - in four stages......

First, there is the stage of the piercing of the heart – being genuinely sorry for the ways we have been selfish, the ways we have hurt others and the ways in which we have turned away from God, but also realising how much we need God’s healing love and forgiveness.  This is called contrition.

Secondly, there is the act of opening our hearts in self-disclosure acknowledging not just our faults and failures but also a changed attitude to God and others.  This is called confession.

Thirdly, there is the stage of the healing of the heart when we experience the healing mercy and forgiveness of God.  This is called absolution.

Fourthly, and finally there is the stage of the freeing of the heart - accepting an act or a prayer not as a punishment....but as part of the process of freeing the heart from the attitudes and attachments that cause us to sin....so that we might follow Christ more faithfully and fervently. This is called penance.

So, as we prepare for Christmas this year let us give time to preparing our hearts as well as our homes by experiencing God’s mercy in the sacrament of forgiveness.’

Let us all heed Bishop Pat’s words and make our confession this coming Wednesday at 7.30pm at our special Advent Penitential Service.  There will be a choice of priests.  Families with children from year 4 upwards are encouraged to come, and will be given priority.  Do not be anxious if you have not been to confession for a long time - you will be warmly welcomed.  You can prepare by looking at pages 21 onwards in ‘A simple Prayer Book.’

‘We implore your mercy, Lord, that this divine sustenance may cleanse us of our faults and prepare us for the coming feast - through Christ our Lord. AMEN.’  (Today’s prayer after communion.)

Mass attendances last Sunday were 680.
Sunday 16/12/12	Third Sunday of Advent (C) 6pm – People of the Parish 9.15am – John & Teresa Lynch RIP (M Jackson) 11am – May Quinn RIP (Scott Family)
Monday 17/12/12	Feria 9.30am – Denise McDowall RIP (Kirsty Henderson)
Tuesday 18/12/12	Feria 9.30am – The Haynes Family (Annie & Peter Lane)
Wednesday 19/12/12	Feria 9.30am – Welfare of Louise Mages (The Howell Family)
Thursday 20/12/12	Feria 9.30am – Walter D’Rozario RIP (CWL)
Friday 21/12/12	Feria 9.00am – Requiem Mass for baby Florence Elizabeth Fulton
Sunday 23/12/12	Fourth Sunday of Advent (C) 6pm – Ted Bray RIP (M Howell) 9.15am – People of the Parish 11am – Patrick & Lilly O’Connor RIP (Scott Family)

Monday:

Christmas choir practice – choir gallery at 8pm (NB time.)

Tuesday:

Lectio Divina – looking prayerfully at next Sunday’s gospel (the Visitation Luke 1: 39-44.)  The last of our Advent sessions.  All most welcome (8-9pm, in church.)

Wednesday:

Mass in church at 9.30am with St. James’ School.

Penitential Service at 7.30pm.

Thursday :

Wedding of Chantal Bardouille and Symon Cook at 12 noon.  We wish them many years of happily married life together.

Decorating the church from 7.30pm: your help would be appreciated...!

Friday:

Requiem Mass for baby Florence Elizabeth Fulton- 9am (NB time- no 9.30am Mass).  Please come and pray for baby and support Sarah and John. Followed by committal at Beckenham crematorium.

Decorating the church from 7.30.pm:  again- your help would be appreciated....!

Please look out for poinsettias for decorating the crib- thank you.

Saturday:

Church cleaning 10-11 am (year 8 parents), Many thanks to all who turned out this weekend.

Confessions heard - 11am – 12 noon.

Sunday:

St. James’ Carol Service at 4pm followed by mince pies and mulled wine.

Come and hear the Christmas story in words and music - all by candlelight!

Vacancy - FT classroom assistant at Coloma School (Croydon)(see porch board.)

Please take and display the Christmas posters in your windows!

New Year’s Eve Party!

Here in the hall - 7.30pm - 12.30pm (£3 or £10 family ticket) - from Frank Simon.

Please bring a plate of food! In aid of the St. Barnabas Society, which generously supports clergy and ministers who become Catholics.

There will be Mass on New Year’s Day at 12 noon.  (Mary, Mother of God- day for world peace.)

Can we as a parish please keep the week of 3^rd-9^th of March completely free of meetings during the Week of Accompanied Prayer?  This will free up those who wish to participate and enable the parish as a whole to support the week.  Thank you.

The new translation of the Mass has been with us for over a year now.  The international Catholic weekly the 'Tablet' is running a survey, asking for peoples' responses to the new translation.  You might like to take part: The Tablet survey

‘Re-enchanted’ – a poem for Advent by Peter Millar.

Within these fragmented days,

a gentle invitation

threads through our lives,

REMINDING us that all is sacred

and rooted

in a love that knows no bounds

And with that quiet knowledge we re-enchant our times,

taking risks on holy ground:

hearing God’s heartbeat in our global discomfort,

halting our harshness in our work for justice,

loosening our souls as our fears are named,

recognising new markers

in the passions of our prayers.

Re-enchanted,

we  journey freely,

re- imagining God’s presence

with  re-awakened minds;

discovering  afresh that surprising healing Word

which  today, so powerfully,

illumines our poverty of understanding.

Fr Bryan