We’ve mucked out the stable and put down the plush carpet;
still, you will come: tracking in mud from the Jordan and shaking sin’s dust from off your clothes.
The animals have been dropped off at the RSPCA and the room deodorised;
still, you will come: leading the lost, the least, the little into our midst.
We’ve turned over the manger and covered it with Irish lace, setting the table with the finest silver and china:
still, you will come: tearing the linen into strips for binding our wounds, selling the silver to feed the hungry.
We’ve tamed and made marketable this most holy of nights, shaping it by our own desires and dilemmas;
still, you will come: slipping between the cracks in our despair to fill our emptiness with grace and the carols of angels: to transform our acquisitiveness into generosity.
(A poem by Thom M Shuman)
A warm welcome to everyone and especially to those visiting Petts Wood for Christmas. Wwe hope you will feel part of our parish community during this joyful season, and that you will visit our website! (www.stjamespettswood.org). Don’t forget daily Mass when you are at home this coming week.......
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Notices and Items of Interest |
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Today 20/12/09
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5.30pm – Don’t forget the Christingle Service for children and parents, light refreshments 6.00pm. And at 6.30pm “Now Thrice Welcome Christmas” carols, choir, readings and poems. Followed at 7.30pm by mulled wine etc....
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Monday 21/12/09 |
Mass 9.30am – Confessions heard 10.00-10.30am (Exposition) |
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Tuesday |
Mass 9.30am and 7.15pm – Confessions heard 6.45pm-7.15pm |
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Wednesday 23/12/09 |
Mass 9.30am – Confessions heard 10.00-10.30am
7.00pm onwards – Decorating the church for Christmas – all hands on deck. Please come and help as it is a big job. Sign on list in porch. Young people especially welcome.
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Thursday 24/12/09 |
Mass 9.30am – Confessions heard 10.00-11.00am
5.00pm Vigil Mass of Christmas (for those unable to attend Midnight or Christmas morning)
11.20pm Carols by candlelight
Midnight solemn first Mass of Christmas
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Friday 25/12/09 Christmas Day |
Mass at 10.00am – Children are invited to dress as angels and shepherds at this family celebration. Mass also at 11.30am. |
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Saturday 26/12/09 |
Mass at 10.00am (St Stephen, first Christian martyr)
6.00pm Vigil Mass of Sunday (Holy Family)
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Sunday 27/12/09 |
Usual Masses at 10.00am and 11.30am |
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First Holy Communion |
12th June 2010. Parents of children Year 3 and above NOT at Catholic schools should take a letter from porch.
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Confirmation |
Tuesday 18th May 2010 at 7.30pm with Bishop Pat Lynch. Young people in school years 8 and 9 who would like to be confirmed should take a letter from porch. |
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Don’t forget to visit our parish website: www.stjamespettswood.org. Please continue to support our online shopping fundraising.
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If you would like to donate to charity and help the environment, instead of sending individual cards please write your Christmas wishes as indicated for display in the porch and put a donation in the Holy Souls Box (in porch). |
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Mass attendance last week – 707
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Weekday Masses: Monday- Friday at 9.30am and Tuesday 7.15pm. No evening Mass on Tuesday 29th December. Masses from 28th to 31st December at 10.00am and on 1st January at 12noon. |
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Confessions are heard:- Saturday at 5.00-5.30pm and Monday at 10.00-10.30am |
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Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament:- Mondays at 10.00-10.30am |
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New Journey in Faith If you are not a Catholic, or if you are but would like to “start again”, you are especially welcome here at St James’ this Christmas-tide. You might like to know that there will be an open evening, without obligation, on Monday 11th January at 8.30pm (coffee from 8.00pm) to discuss a brand new weekly course on the basics of the Catholic Faith (Mondays 8.30-10.00pm from 18th January). Do come for a taster!
Thank you so much to everyone who has worked so hard this Christmas – far too many to mention. Teresa and I thank you most sincerely for all your cards, gifts and good wishes and hope that you and your family will have a happy and holy Christmas. Every blessing, Fr Bryan
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Mass Intentions for Christmas week Sunday 20th December, 4th Sunday of Advent (C ) |
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Saturday |
6.00pm |
Frances Raymond, RIP (Pam Lundy and family) |
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Sunday |
10.00am |
People of the Parish |
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11.30am |
Deceased members of the Kearns family (M Thompson) |
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Monday 21st Feria |
9.30am |
David Forde, RIP (H Forde) |
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Tuesday 22nd Feria |
9.30am |
Widows of the Knights of St Columba, Welfare (Llew Thomas) |
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7.15pm |
John Smithers, RIP (F & S Simon) |
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Wednesday 23rd Feria |
9.30am |
Intentions of Barbara and Tony Kennedy (the Howell family) |
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Thursday 24th Christmas Eve
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9.30am |
Kevin Kennedy, RIP (B & M Morley) |
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5.00pm Vigil Mass |
Fausto & Carmen Suzzarra, RIP (Denise Delf) |
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Midnight Mass |
Eileen, Patrick and William Keane, RIP (Pat Ferrant) |
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“Joy to the world, the Lord has come
Let earth receive her king”
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Friday 25th Christmas day |
10.00am |
Mary Casartelli (Ned O’Connor) |
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11.30am |
Colin Smith (Marion Smith) |
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Saturday 26th December St Stephen |
10.00am |
Bridget & Paul Wiggins (Ned O’Connor) |
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Mass Intentions for the week of Sunday 27th December, The Holy Family |
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Saturday 26th |
6.00pm |
People of the Parish |
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Sunday 27th |
10.00am |
John and Katherine Breslin, RIP ( Marion Smith) |
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11.30am |
Patrick Nolan RIP (M Jackson) |