CONFESSIONS: 
By appointment this week: please ring Fr John (07779 786114) to arrange

CHURCH IS OPEN – 

READINGS FOR 28 DECEMBER
1^st Reading: Sirach 3:2-14, Kindness to a father will not be forgotten
Psalm 128: Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways
2^nd Reading: Colossians 3:12-21, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:13-23, He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. Let the peace of Christ control your hearts; let the word of God dwell in you richly.  Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: Let the peace of Christ control your hearts and let the word of God dwell in you richly.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER
For Christians in Areas of Conflict
Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope.

POPE LEO’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY
For Prayer With The Word Of God
Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us build a more fraternal and missionary Church.

FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
29 December – St Thomas Becket
31 December – St Sylvester I
1 January – Solemnity Mary, Mother of God
2 January – St Basil the Great / St Gregory Nazianzen
3 January – The Most Holy Name of Jesus

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY: TUESDAY 6 JANUARY, 7pm
Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate the birth of Our Lord, along with the Magi.  There will be a glass of wine and nibbles in the porch afterwards.

CHRISTMAS THANK YOUs
With sincere thanks to all the many parishioners and volunteers who have worked so hard over the last month to prepare us and our church for the wonderful celebration of the Lord’s Nativity: choir, musicians, children’s liturgy, welcomers, readers, Eucharistic Ministers, flower arrangers, social committee, cleaners – and everyone who comes to Mass to celebrate the gift of love that God himself gave us, each week.
May our parish continue to grow in the love of Christ and continue his work of evangelisation, love, generosity, understanding, compassion and kindness as we look forward to the New Year ahead.  May God bless us all.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM FR JOHN
From heav’n you came, helpless babe, entered our world, your glory veiled;
Not to be served but to serve, and give your life that we might live.
The words of Graham Kendrick’s hymn are a wonderful meditation on the reality of the eternal God coming to us in simplicity and vulnerability. ‘The helpless babe’ is so fragile, born in a stable to declare God’s eternal care for us. Into the darkness of that night came the true Light of the World to share our lives; to draw us to the fullness of faith and love in God.
Can it be true? YES! YES – the tinsel will be put away, but that love is always there for us. No darkness can destroy him. His love abides. That is why we say ‘Happy Christmas’, even in a violent, dark world. But Christmas reminds us of Hope – hope in Jesus Christ – hope in his peace for the healing of the nations.
Hold fast to this hope and reflect Christ’s light in your lives.
                                                                                 May God indeed bless you this Christmas time                                                                                    
Fr John

COFFEE MORNING NEXT WEEK – 4 JANUARY
Everyone is welcome to come along to the hall after Mass next Sunday, for the first coffee morning of 2026.  A chance to enjoy a welcome catch-up after Christmas, a bit of friendly company and a hot drink.  Do come and join us if you can.

1^ST COMMUNION / CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME: Sessions re-commence after Mass on Sunday 11 January.

MASS INTENTIONS
Mass intentions are welcome, not just for our dear departed, but for any other occasion eg in thanksgiving, A successful outcome (exams / operation), wedding / anniversary blessings. Please write your name and intention, with the preferred date – if applicable – on a piece of paper and place in an envelope, along with your offering, either in the weekly offertory basket or through the presbytery door.  Every effort will be made to find a date as close as possible.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES / GIFT AID / STANDING ORDERS!
If you are a taxpayer then you can easily help the parish to claim 25% extra on top of every donation you make – and it won’t cost you a penny!  Eg: a donation of £10 per week would result in £12.50 going to the church. If you are able to use gift aid, please collect a form from the porch on your way out today, and return it to the Parish Office asap. 
If you are a taxpayer who makes regular cash donations, please consider using an offertory envelope instead of just placing your ‘loose’ donations in the basket. This is really important: it can bring in more than £1000 to the church every year, as we’ll be able to claim gift aid directly on every donation you make.  It won’t cost you anything at all, but it will make a huge difference to our finances.
Please contact the Parish Office if you’d like to use envelopes – they are free! 
Even better – you can donate ‘painlessly’ each month by setting up a standing order with your bank.  Forms are available in the porch.

RED MISSION BOXES
Please bring your red boxes to church over the next few weeks, so that they can be counted and the money go to the APF Missions, which is much needed.   Please let Diane know if you’d like to arrange collection of your box.

PRAYERFUL REFLECTION BEFORE MASS
Some of our parishioners who like to pray and have a few moments of quiet reflection before the start of Mass.  And of course, we have every opportunity to have a chat and catch-up after Mass. 
Our monthly coffee mornings provide an ideal occasion for this! 

CHURCH CLEANING / FLOWER ARRANGING
Thank you to those who have already said that they’d be interested in helping out.  Diane would like to start putting rotas together, so please can you let her know your availability.  Church cleaning is only twice a month and flower arranging is every other week.  Please have a word with her after Mass today, or ring on 07876 363779. Thank you.

VOTIVE CANDLES
People have been asking how much they should donate for a votive candle.  Fr John is happy to leave it to your discretion, as all donations will be gratefully received – whenever they are made.

GLUTEN FREE SACRAMENT AVAILABLE
Please indicate to Fr John if you need to receive a gf host when you come to receive communion.

ST IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA: The Loving Generosity of Christ
He is generous to exhaustion and what is most wonderful is that he gives himself thus entirely, not once only but every
day, if we wish it.  Every fresh Communion is a new gift, which Jesus Christ makes of himself.