14th December

3rd Sunday of Advent Year A

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The word “Gaudete” is an imperative, which means it is a word that gives a command, makes a request, offers instruction or even issues a warning. It is a Latin word meaning “rejoice” or “be joyful.” And it is with good reason, firstly, we are over halfway through Advent and getting close to the Incarnation when Jesus is God born into humanity. It is a wonder to savour; it is a wonder to behold in the Christmas Celebration.

Just another ten days to Christmas Eve, a beautiful time to celebrate the Liturgy, the Mass of the Lord’s arrival. Please pick up your Parish Christmas Card as you leave Mass. It contains all the Christmas Services including the Penitential Service, a very special moment in the time of Advent, a chance to go to confession, a chance to deepen one’s faith through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In it we reconcile our inner selves, we reconcile to one another, we reconcile to the Church and above all we reconcile ourselves to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

On Wednesday we begin the Octave, the final eight days running up to Christmas. Each day marks the glory of Jesus as we prepare for his birth. His titles for the first seven of these days up to the Eve are: O Adonai, O Radix Jess, O Claris David, O Oriens, O Rex Gentium, O Emmanuel. Why not look then up with the children on the internet. Make of it a little prayer thought!

This is the last week of the school term, let not our children forget the wonder of the Birth of Jesus. A reminder also that at the Christmas Eve 5 p.m. Mass we invite any of the children to come along as Mary, Joseph, an Angel or Shepherd or one of the animals that lay in the manger.

See you there and hopefully we will have avoided the worst of the flu that seems so rampant.

God bless,

Father Anton s.c.j.