24 th DECEMBER th SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR B 25 th DECEMBER 2017 CHRISTMAS DAY YEAR B

Transcription

1 24 th DECEMBER th SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR B 25 th DECEMBER 2017 CHRISTMAS DAY YEAR B ST AUGUSTINE S, 30 Coniscliffe Road, DARLINGTON Fr Gordon Ryan Tel: info@staugustineschurch.org.uk

2 HOGARTH PARTNERSHIP CHRISTMAS MASSES 2017 Christmas Eve Sunday 24 th St Augustine's 5.30 pm Carols 6.00 pm Christmas Mass St Thomas 5.30 pm Carols 6.00 pm Christmas Mass St Osmund s Gainford 6.00 pm Carols 6.30 pm Christmas Mass St Teresa s 6.30 pm Carols 7.00 pm Christmas Mass St Anne s 7.30 pm Christmas Mass Holy Family 7.30 pm Carols 8.00 pm Christmas Mass St Augustine's pm Carols midnight Christmas Mass St Mary s Barnard Castle pm Carols midnight Christmas Mass Christmas Day Monday 25 th St Williams 9.00 am Christmas Day Mass St Osmund s Gainford 9.30am Christmas Day Mass Holy Family am Christmas Day Mass St Augustine's am Christmas Day Mass St Osmund s Gainford am Christmas Day Mass POLISH MASSES Christmas Eve Sunday 24 th St Teresa s pm Shepherd s Mass Christmas Day Monday 25 th St Teresa s am Christmas Day Mass

3 Santa's Christmas Prayer By Warren D. Jennings The sleigh was packed, the reindeer were fed, But Santa still knelt by the side of the bed. "Dear Father," he prayed "Be with me tonight. There's much work to do and my schedule is tight. I must jump in my sleigh and streak through the sky, Knowing full well that a reindeer can't fly. I will visit each household before the first light, I'll cover the world and all in one night. With sleighbells a-ringing, I'll land on each roof, Amid the soft clatter of each little hoof. To get in the house is the difficult part, So I'll slide down the chimney of each little heart. My sack will hold toys to grant all their wishes. The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes. I will fill all the stockings and not leave a track. I'll eat every cookie that's left for my snack. I can do all these things Lord, only through You, I just need your blessing, then it's easy to do. All this is to honour the birth of the One, That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son. So to all of my friends, lest Your glory I rob, Please Lord, remind them, who gave me this job."

4 THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE Lord, I light this candle at Christmas for myself and those who are dear to me. May its flame be a reminder of the way you light up my days and warm my heart. May its fire burn away my pride, my selfishness, and all that keeps me from you. As I celebrate the birth of your Son, who came into the family of Nazareth, I pray to you for my own family and friends, both living and dead. Keep them in your love and let them feel your powerful presence. I leave this candle now as a token of the service I want to give you. May it continue to burn in all my thoughts, words and deeds today and forever. Amen. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith. In short, it was a memory aid. Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young catholics could sing the song without fear of imprisonment. The song's gifts had hidden meanings to the teachings of the Catholic faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. i.e. the church. The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so..." Here is a complete list of the 12 symbols with their meanings*: 1 Partridge in a pear tree = The One true God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ 2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments 3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity 4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists 5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch" which contain the law condemning us of our sins. 6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation 7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments of the Catholic faith 8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes 9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Spirit 10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments 11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles 12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

5 SVP The Christmas Crib will have a donation basket for the Baby Feeding appeal where all the money will go directly to the SVP run Feeding centres in Sudan and South Sudan. CAROL SERVICE St Augustine s Carol Service will be on Sunday 31 st December at 4pm RCIA / Journey in Faith resumes on Thursday 11 January from pm at St Augustine s Presbytery. All enquiries welcome. HOGARTH PARTNERSHIP MISSION 2018 Recently Amy Cameron (from Diocesan Partnership Formation Team) and Mary Hughes (from Diocesan Youth Mission Team) met up with clergy and Carmel College chaplain to prepare a Partnership Mission inviting all parishes and schools next November The proposed cycle of dates is Primary Schools 29 October to 2 November : Parishes 5 to 9 November : Carmel College 12 to 16 November Amy s role will be to help develop leadership and partnership across the parishes for the Mission. Mary s role to work with staff and young people in the schools. For parishes to be involved, we are looking for four parishioners from each parish (two to help with school missions, two to lead with parish missions) : we are looking for parishioners with time, enthusiasm and commitment to help make this a meaningful Mission in November. Please sign the list at the back of Church. The latest edition of the bi-monthly Partnership Matters news update is now available on the front page of the diocesan website ( It includes items on engaging young people in partnerships, being a welcoming community and feedback from a recent meeting of partnership chairs and much more. Contributions of news items from Partnerships are always welcome.

6 SUNDAY COUNTERS Wednesday 27 th December at 10.00am if anybody from the counting teams are available. Thank you. COFFEES FOR 2018 We have the following months available if you/your group wish to host this. March 2018 July 2018 August 2018 December 2018 Please contact the office or with your preferred month. Thank you. CAFOD committee would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported the recent fundraising events. Monies raised are; Safari supper 885 Cabaret 1119 Singalong 228 Don't forget the Christmas quiz on Saturday 23rd December 7.30pm hope to see you there HEXHAM AND NEWCASTLE DIOCESE PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2018 Brochures and leaflets for the 2018 diocesan Lourdes pilgrimage are available at the back of Church. More information can also be found at The family of Rita Urwin would like to convey their sincere thanks to all who expressed their condolences and sent messages of sympathy at the time of Rita's funeral on 7th December. Your messages were much appreciated by us at a very difficult time. If anyone would like Fr Gordon to visit a parishioner who is sick or housebound, please let him know with written contact details of name/address etc.

7 ST AUGUSTINE S PARISH CLUB/CENTRE INFORMATION PARISH CENTRE INFORMATION To book the Parish Centre : staugspc@gmail.com or telephone Bar Opening Time: Sunday pm HCPT Group 195 would like to invite you to their New Year s Eve Ceilidh at St Augustines Parish Centre, am. HCPT are a charity who take disabled and disadvantaged children on pilgrimage holiday for a week, in Lourdes, France. To reserve your tickets priced at 7.00 for adults (includes New Year s Eve toast) and 2.00 for children. Family tickets also available (2A + 2C for 15.00) please text/phone Julie Watson on STARS PANTOMIME Jack Ella and the Beanstalk Production dates Wednesday 24 th January 28 th January. PADDINGTON BEAR This week 3.14 In Bank Total Raised so far 31, ST WILLIAM S BOXING DAY QUIZ - Fun for the family. Why not come and join us. Bring food for a shared table and your own drinks. (Kettle, Tea/Coffee/ Milk available ) Starts as soon after 7.30pm as possible.

8 DECEMBER 24 th SATURDAY/SUNDAY SUNDAY 24 TH December MONDAY 25 th December Christmas Day Year (B) 4 th SUNDAY OF ADVENT - YEAR B St Augustine s 5.00 pm Keith Cowan RIP Followed by Nativity at PC St Augustine's 9.15 am Kevin Cundy RIP St Augustine s 6.00 pm Jim Beaver RIP St Augustine s Midnight O Hare family St Augustine s am People of the Parish TUESDAY St Augustine's pm Eucharistic Service WEDNESDAY St Augustine s 7.00 pm In Thanksgiving JC THURSDAY St Augustine s pm Joan Doran & Peg Ronson RIP FRIDAY St Augustine's 7.00 pm Joan & Sheila Ward RIP SATURDAY St Augustine's am Maureen Robertson RIP Followed by Confessions SUNDAY 31 ST December Feast of Holy Family THOSE WHO ARE SICK LATELY DEAD ANNIVERSARIES MINISTERS WELCOMERS OFFERTORY READERS COUNTERS TEAM (B) St Augustine s St Augustine s St Augustine s 9.15 am 4.00 pm 6.30 pm Chris Springfield RIP Carol Service Win & Arthur Gaddass RIP Please remember Fr Gary Dickson, Fr Richard Harriott, Sister Evelyn and all priests and religious in the diocese who have health problems. Also the sick and housebound of the parish - Maureen Harrison, Michelle Butler, Anne Kee, Betty Smith, Lillian Brown, and those looking after them. December Anniversaries Stella Davies, Emma Howard, Thomas Wake, Keith Cowan, Mary & James Courtney, Teresa Conway, Ralph Pearson, Anne Decosemo, Alan Love, Jean Carter, Dennis Beaumont, Erin Adam, John Fay, Francis O Hare, Moria Griffin, Joe Lyonette, Hilda McCallum, Anthony Millett, James Christey, Aldo Di-Duca. May they rest in peace. SUNDAY 31 st December 9.15 am 6.30 pm T Appleton/ G Harrison/J Poad/C McAllister/G Doherty