Newsletter 31 December 2022
Solemnity of Mary Mother of God
Sat Dec 31 – 5.45pm Clayton/Higginson Families “
Sun Jan 1 – 9.00am Parishioners | 10.30am Ints Catherine Evans
Mon Jan 2 – 9.15am SI (Malpas)
Tue Jan 3 – 7.00pm Exposition | 7.30pm SSCF
Wed Jan 4 – 9.15am The Skidmore Family
Thu Jan 5 – 9.15am Peter Verdin RIP
Fri Jan 6 – FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD | 9.15am Eileen Gough | 7.30pm Parishioners
Sat Jan 7 – 10-10.30am Confessions and Exposition 5.45pm Carol McAllister RIP
Sun Jan 8 – 9.00am A Special Intention | 10.30am Parishioners
At the beginning of 2023 we wish everyone a Happy New Year, and dedicate the year to the care and protection of Mary. She is the mother of Jesus who is God, and she has been called the Mother of God and venerated thus from the earliest times. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
We are reminded to pray for Pope Benedict.
EPIPHANY
On Friday 6 January the Church remembers the visit of the Magi to the infant King, and how Herod feared this new baby’s birth as a personal threat. The figures of the three visitors are placed in the crib. We offer our Mass as our gift, not gold, frankincense or myrrh, but our entire lives. There are two Masses, one morning and one evening. Next Sunday the Christmas season ends, and we leap forward in the Liturgy to think about Jesus’ baptism by John, and the beginning of his ministry.
THANK YOU
Thank you for your very generous Christmas collection. Next weekend there will be the opportunity (if you’ve any money left) to contribute to the Diocesan welfare work Caritas, which used to be Children’s Society and we would have crib offerings.
NEW/OLD MASS BOOKS
Half the new books have arrived from Ireland; the rest are due sometime later. If there are not enough new ones, the old (blue) ones can be used. This new year 2023 we begin Year A in the three-year cycle, which mostly follows the first Gospel narrative, that of Matthew – but the first couple of sets of readings (I Jan, 6 Jan) are the same as 2022. You are invited to take a blue book home with you today – otherwise they go in the bin. During this week, the readings at daily Mass are special for each date, and are from John’s first letter and John’s gospel.
IT was a welcome sight to see the church packed for the Christmas Eve Mass. Every seat was taken and there were people standing. Please God everyone felt welcome, and those who have been away from Mass a long time will be encouraged to find that they have not caught Covid and can come and keep the Sabbath holy by hearing Mass. By it we are strengthened in our faith and support one another by our presence. We pray for those who are still sick, and ask that they be restored to health.
