24 december 2017 fourth sunday of advent - manx...
TRANSCRIPT
24 December 2017
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Readings p90/Creed p11/Psalter Week 3
Archdiocese of
Liverpool
Pastoral Area
of Saint
Maughold
www.manxcatholic.org
Parishes of:
Saint Anthony of Padua, Onchan,
Saint Joseph, Willaston and
Saint Mary of the Isle, Douglas
Clergy: Monsignor John
Devine (Dean), Father Brian
Dougherty (Sub-Dean) and
Rev Graham Priest (Deacon).
Based at:
Saint Mary of the Isle, Hill
Street, Douglas, IM1 1EG
Telephone: 01624 675509
Email:
Parish office is open: Monday and Tuesday
1.00 to 4.00 pm.
Thursday and Friday:
1.00 to 5.00 pm.
Funerals and Marriages: By
arrangement.
Visits to sick and
housebound: Please inform
any of our clergy or the parish
office if you know of sick or
housebound parishioners who
would like Holy Communion.
Hospital Visits: If you wish to
see a priest please let the
hospital staff know.
Repository: Open at the back
of church after each weekend
Mass.
Newsletter Notices: E-mail to
hand in to the Parish Office by
Thursday morning.
New to the Parish? You’re very welcome. Come and say hello!
Fr John writes… This year the Christmas tree at Saint Mary of the Isle is
a little different. Its simple white lights and white
decorations are reminiscent of a naturally snow covered
tree. The decorations - stars, crosses and angels carry a
Christmas message in several languages, reflecting the
cultural diversity of our parishes. A small basket hangs
from a branch at the front of the tree for your Christmas
wishes. You are invited to place the names (just the
names please) of those from whom you are separated this
Christmas. Maybe the names of loved ones who have died
or who have left the Island; those with whom you have
shared Christmas in the past who are no longer with us; or
maybe the names of those close to you who are especially
in need of extra love at this time. The psalms tell us ‘The
Lord is close to the broken hearted. Those whose spirit is
crushed he will save.’ We are grateful to Evija Roberts
from Latvia who now lives on the Island. She has
designed and hand made these wooden decorations in the
tradition of her own country.
This year we have relocated the crib to a more central
position. It represents the heart of our Christmas
celebration. The name by which Jesus reveals himself to
us at Christmas is Emmanuel, ‘God-with-us’. The carol
tells us ‘He came down to earth from heaven’. But he Third Sunday of Advent
Saturday 5.00 St Anthony’s People of our Parish
16th
: 6.00 St Joseph’s Dr Fred Grubb
Sunday 9.30 St Anthony’s Bob & Josie Lees
17th
: 11.00 St Mary’s Fr Ken Earlam Anv
7.00 St Mary’s Gordon Savage RIP
25 December 2017
The Nativity of our Lord
Readings p95, 98, 101 or 103
31 December 2017
Feast of the
Holy Family
Readings p106
brought heaven with him. Indeed heaven
was already here, and Jesus comes to help
me recognise heaven all around me. The
Christmas Tree and the Crib help me
realize that heaven is possible here and
now. On Christmas Day I view our world
through the lens of heaven. I don’t deserve
it. I can’t buy it, even with the most
expensive present. Christmas day is one
day in the year when I can pause in front
of the Crib in awesome wonder. And
Christmas Day is God’s way of telling me
that he is with me in all I do every day of
the year. Over the Christmas period try to
pop into church and spend a few moments
in silence in front of the crib to let the
mystery of God’s love sink in.
Lamp Intentions at Saint Mary of the Isle
Sacred Heart: Kelly
Marian: Premature Twins
Saint Joseph: Holy Souls
Saint Anthony: Rohingya Refugees
Last weekend Offerings: Thank you
St. A St. J St. M
1,120.00 250.00 932.00
Also this year we have a short extra
service at 2.00 pm on Christmas Eve at
Saint Mary’s. Intended especially for
children, they will be able to visit the crib,
hear the Christmas story, sing some carols
and receive a small gift. All are welcome.
There are so many people to thank this
Christmas. Thanks to those who have
showered us with cards and gifts. And
thanks to those of you who have so
generously committed to sponsoring my
beard. It is coming along nicely and after
Christmas the Salvation Army and the
Rohingya refugees will receive a
considerable donation. I also wish to
thank all those who contribute to the
running of our parishes with their time -
what you do you makes Christ’s presence
a reality in the life of the Island. I also
thank Father Brian (now making a good
recovery from his eye operation) and
Deacon Graham for their quiet and
constant service to our parishes and to
Canon Brendan who, although in theory
retired, continues to make a significant
contribution to our lives. An added bonus
this year is that Canon Philip will be
joining us over the New Year.
With every blessing to you and your
loved ones this Christmas.
Father John
Prayer in preparation for the Eucharistic Congress 2018 and for Synod 2020.
To be prayed at every Mass
We thank you Father
for the love you have shown us in the
gift of Jesus, your Son.
Keep us grateful each day
for the blessings that surround us.
As we are fed by you,
so now send us out
to share what we have received with
our hungry brothers and sisters.
We humbly ask your help to become
the Church that you are calling us to be:
a community that listens, that trusts,
that lives with courage
and that puts out its nets into new
waters.
May the gentle presence of Christ in
our hearts be a source of healing, of
new life and of a deeper trust
in you.
We ask this in faith
through Jesus Christ, Our
Lord. Amen.
If we take time to reflect on the true
meaning of Christmas, the feast can
transform our lives, and not just for a few
days at the end of the year. The Christmas
message of peace and love never changes
from one year to the next because it is there
for us every day of our lives. The Gospel
tells us that ‘God so loved the world, that he
gave his only Son, that whoever believes in
him should not perish but have eternal life’.
We remember this especially at Christmas,
showing our thanks by reaching out to those
around us. We remember the birth of Jesus
in Bethlehem: the nativity reproduced each
year in numerous plays and presentations
and recreated through the centuries in
countless works of art. The stable, Mary,
Joseph and the child Jesus, visited by
shepherds and wise men. It is right that we
should remember and celebrate in this way,
but sometimes our celebrations can lose
sight of the reality of that cold winter’s
night two thousand years
ago. The distance travelled:
Mary and Joseph were far
from home, they were
living in a land ruled by an
occupying power, forced to
travel to Bethlehem to take
part in a census. When they
arrived there, among the
crowd, there was nowhere
for them to stay until an
innkeeper let them use a
stable. There were
shepherds looking after
their flocks on a dark
hillside with no light and
no warmth and wise men
who travelled from afar, a
great distance, in the hope
of seeing the saviour.
Suddenly, a transformation
as darkness became light. A child is born.
Shepherds, at first cowering and scared,
have a vision of angels bringing tidings of
great joy, for ‘today a Saviour has been
born to us, he is Christ the Lord’.
Christmas transforms our lives too,
especially if we give to those around us: to
people who are on their own at Christmas,
or by visiting the housebound and the sick
in hospital. We can make welcome those,
who like Mary and Joseph, are far from
home; those seeking asylum, those in
prison, and members of the Forces who
must be apart from their loved ones. On
Christmas Day we hear the account of the
nativity showing us what God’s love means
for us today. Let us recognise His love so
that our lives may be transformed. With my
prayers and every good wish for a happy
and peaceful Christmas.
Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool
The Nativity of the Lord
Sunday 24th
Christmas Eve
5.30 St Mary’s Capt John A Sullivan
6.30 St Joseph’s Rose Kewin
9.00 St Anthony’s Patrick & Margaret Kane
Midnight St Mary’s People of our Parishes
9.30 St Anthony’s Margaret Mary Switzer Monday 25
th
Christmas
Day
11.00 St Mary’s May & Tommy O’Hare
No Evening Mass
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Saturday 4.30 St Anthony’s Confessions until 4.50
23rd
: 5.00 St Anthony’s Albert Gubay
6.00 St Joseph’s People of our Parishes
Sunday 9.30 St Anthony’s George Corrin
11.00 St Mary’s Keenan Family 24t
2.00 St Mary’s Come to the Manger
2017 Christmas Message of
The Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP, Archbishop of Liverpool
M
on
9.3
0
St A
nthony’s
Margaret M
ary Sw
itzer
Mo
n
10.00
St A
nthony’s
Service of W
ord and C
om
mun
ion
25
th
Dec
10.00
St Joseph’s
No M
ass or service
1st Jan
Mary
Mother of
God
10.00
St Joseph’s
Patrick Brogan
11.00
St M
ary’s
May &
Tom
my O
’H
are
12.10
St M
ary’s
John Sherlo
ck
Tu
es
10.00
St A
nthony’s
No M
ass or service
Tu
es
10.00
St A
nthony’s Cla
ude &
Mary
Meagan
26
th
: St
Stephen 1
0.00
St Joseph’s
No M
ass or service
10.00
St Joseph’s
Service of W
ord and C
om
mun
ion
2n
d
: St
Basil &
St
Greg
ory
12.10
St M
ary’s
Herbert, M
ona &
Pearl D
ougherty
12.10
St M
ary’s
John
Jam
es &
H
ild
a Josep
hin
e C
am
pb
ell
Wed
10.00
St A
nthony’s
Service of W
ord and C
om
mun
ion
Wed
10.00
St A
nthony’s
Service of W
ord and C
om
mun
ion
27
th
: St
John
10.00
St Joseph’s
Selin
a H
unter
3rd
:
10.00
St Joseph’s
Kathle
en Tem
plem
an
12.10
St M
ary’s
Dougla
s W
heele
r
Jan
12.10
St M
ary’s
Sr Josephin
e H
ayes 7
th A
nv
Th
ur
10.00
St A
nthony’s
Joan H
ollo
ws
Th
ur
10.00
St A
nthony’s
Michael &
A
ndrew
C
orle
tt
28
th
: H
oly
Inn
ocents
10.00
St Joseph’s
Service of W
ord and C
om
mun
ion
4th
: 10.00
St Joseph’s
Service of W
ord and C
om
mun
ion
12.10
St M
ary’s
CW
L
Jan
12.10
St M
ary’s
Fr A
dria
n Edw
ards
Fri
10.00
St A
nthony’s
Service of W
ord and C
om
mun
ion
Fri
7.0
0 p
m
St A
nthony’s H
oly Souls
29
th
: St
Thom
as
10.00
St Joseph’s
McC
artney Fam
ily
5th
: 10.00
St Joseph’s
Betty C
lif
ford
12.10
St M
ary’s
Silver &
D
oreen K
addu 1
0th W
ed
A
nv
Jan
12.10
St M
ary’s
Pearl D
ougherty
Sat
11.00
St M
ary’s
Confessio
ns until 11
.50 am
Sat
11.00
St M
ary’s
Confessio
ns until 11
.50 am
30
th
: 11.00
St M
ary’s
Exposit
ion of the Blessed
Sacram
ent
6th
: 11.00
St M
ary’s
Exposit
ion of the Blessed
Sacram
ent
Dec
12.00
St M
ary’s
Service of W
ord and C
om
mun
ion
Jan
12.00
St M
ary’s
Service of W
ord and C
om
mun
ion
The F
east o
f the H
oly
Fam
ily
The E
pip
hany o
f the L
ord
Sat
4.30
St A
nthony’s
Confessio
ns until 4.50
Sat
4.30
St A
nthony’s
Confessio
ns until 4.50
30
th
: 5.00
St A
nthony’s
Ann Fox
6th
: 5.00
St A
nthony’s
Noel Joyce
(Birthday A
nv)
Dec
6.00
St Joseph
’s
Dennis C
ain
Jan
6.00
St Joseph
’s
Billy M
urray (A
nv)
Su
n
9.30
St A
nthony’s Jean Louise N
eale
Su
n
9.30
St A
nthony’s Stephen C
raig
31
11
.00
St M
ary’s
People
of our Parishes
7th
: 11
.00
St M
ary’s
Philip Teare RIP
Dec
7.30
St M
ary’s
Fr G
erald H
urst
Jan
7.30
St M
ary’s
People
of our Parishes