THE SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

Transcription

1 Since October 30, Christ the KING Kampala UG PARISH PRIEST Msgr. Gerard Kalumba ASSISTING PRIESTS Msgr. Joseph Mugambe Rev. Fr. John Bosco Ssembatya Rev. Fr. Richard Arthur Muwonge LEAD CATECHIST Evaristo Mary Baguma CHAIRPERSON LAITY Rogers Semakula SECRETARY LAITY John Baptist Ssemitego PARISH EXEC. SECRETARY Mrs. Euphemia Kiwuwa SUNDAY MASSES 07.00am: Luganda 08.00am: English 09.00am: Luganda 10.00am: English 11.00am: English 12.00pm: English 05.00pm: English (Charismatic) Tuesday, 25th December 2018 The one who is our very Life descended into our world, and bore our death, and slew it with the abundance of His own life. Thundering, He called out to us to return to Him in heaven. -- St. Augustine THE SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD PARISH PRIEST S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE Msgr. Gerard Kalumba Christ the King Parish Kampala Last Christmas it was our hope that the Christmas of this year would find us in our rehabilitated Church, but it has not been possible. Instead, we have been appealing to you to give a Christmas gift to the completion of the Construction of our Church. We gave out envelopes for this purpose and you have been very generous in returning them with a contribution for the construction THANK YOU SO MUCH, you love your Church sincerely. It has become a little difficult to predict when the Church will be ready, but before God, everything has a purpose even painful elements in life. May we look at this delay in a positive way as we put together our funds to assist us to get out of this uncomfortable situation. We wish each one of you a Merry Christmas and may you be blessed together with your families and all friends. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2019! DAILY MASSES: Monday to Friday: 06.30am; 07.00am; 01.00pm Saturday: 07.00am; 06.00pm (for Sunday)

2 FIRST READING: Isaiah 9:1-6 A Son is given to us A reading from the Book of Isaiah MASS AT MIDNIGHT The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalms 96:1-3, (R. see Luke 2:11) R. To us is born this day a Saviour, Who is Christ the LORD. O sing a new song to the LORD; Sing to the LORD, all the earth, O sing to the LORD; bless His Name. R. Proclaim His salvation day by day. Tell among the nations, His glory, and His wonders among all the peoples. R. Let the Heavens rejoice and earth be glad; let the sea and all within it SECOND READING: Titus 2:11-14 The Grace of God has appeared for all men. a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with Justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. The Word of the LORD. thunder praise. Let the land and all it bears rejoice. R. Then will all the trees of the wood shout for joy at the presence of the LORD, for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice; He will govern the peoples with His truth. R. A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to Titus Beloved: The Grace of God has who gave appeared for the salvation of all Himself men, training us to renounce irreligion for us to and worldly passions, and to live redeem us from all iniquity and to sober, upright, and godly lives in this purify for Himself a people of His own world, awaiting our blessed hope, who are zealous for good deeds. the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, The Word of the LORD. 2 Remember, Rejoice, Renew; Starting afresh from Christ

3 ALLELUIA: Luke 2:10-11 V. Alleluia, R. Alleluia. V. I bring you Good News of a great joy: to us is born this day a Saviour, Christ the LORD. R. Alleluia GOSPEL: Luke 2:1-14 To us is born this day a Saviour. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrolment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the LORD appeared to them, FIRST READING: Isaiah 62:11-12; Behold your salvation comes and the glory of the LORD s h o n e a r o u n d them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the LORD. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased! MASS AT DAWN RESPONSORIAL Psalms 97:1, 6, R. A light will shine on us this day: the LORD is born for us SECOND READING: Titus 3:4-7 He saved us in virtue of His own mercy. GOSPEL: Luke 2:15-20 The shepherds found Mary and Joseph, and the baby The Gospel of the LORD Remember, Rejoice, Renew; Starting afresh from Christ 3

4 4 MASS IN THE DAY At the Mass during the Day FIRST READING: Isaiah 52:7-10; All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of Our God. A reading from the book of Isaiah How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns. Listen, your watchmen lift up their voice, together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the RESPONSORIAL PSALMS: Ps. 98:1-6 (R. 3cd) R. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of Our God. O sing a new song to the LORD; for He has worked wonders. His right hand and His Holy Arm have brought salvation. R. The LORD has made known His salvation; has shown His deliverance to the nations. He has remembered His merciful love and His truth for the house of Israel. R. SECOND READING: Hebrews 1:1-6 God has spoken to us by a Son A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews In many and various ways, God spoke is of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days He has spoken to us by a Son, whom He appointed the Heir of all things, through whom also He created the ages. He reflects the Glory of God and bears the very stamp of His nature, upholding the universe by His Word of power. When He had made purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the Name He has obtained Remember, Rejoice, Renew; Starting afresh from Christ LORD to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared His Holy Arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. The Word of the LORD. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song, and sing out your praise. R. Sing psalms to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn raise a shout before the King, the LORD. R. more excellent than theirs. For to what angel did God ever say, You are My son, today I have begotten you? Or again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to Me a son? And again, when He brings the First-born into the world, He says, Let all God s angels worship Him. The Word of the LORD.

5 ALLELUIA: V. Alleluia. R. Alleluia V. A hallowed day has shone upon us; come O nations and adore the LORD; for today a great light has come down to earth. R. Alleluia GOSPEL: John 1:1-18 (or: John 1:1-5, 9-14) The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. The beginning of the Holy Gospel according to John *In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.* [There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the Light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the Light.] *The true Light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world knew Him not. He came to His own home, and His own people received Him not. But to all who received Him, who believed in His Name, He gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only-begotten Son from the Father.* [(John bore witness to Him, and cried, This was He of whom I said, `He who comes after me ranks before me, for He was before me. ) And from His fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known.] The Gospel of the LORD. *Points of shorter version Remember, Rejoice, Renew; Starting afresh from Christ 5

6 The Birth of the LORD gives us confidence, that with God nothing will be Msgr. Gerard Kalumba impossible! The Child born according to St. John s Gospel is the WORD which is With God and which is God Himself. From time immemorial, this WORD has been there and all things were made through this WORD and nothing exists without this LORD the WORD that is made flesh. John assures us that if we receive the wonder Child and believe in His Name He gives us the power to become children of God. For with God nothing is impossible! This is the meaning of the Birth of the LORD; to restore the image of God in human life, to dismiss the deceitful devil that brings darkness into the human lives. It is the beginning of a long difficult journey from slavery to Freedom. The devil promised Adam and Eve freedom and when they listened to that devil, they ended up in slavery and darkness, in shame and hiding. The celebration of the Birth of the LORD is the courage to get out of the prisons of sin, the cells of pain, suffering, loneliness, bareness, anger, deception, hatred, Alcoholism, unfaithfulness especially in marriage, intrigue especially in politics, false accusations, violence, greed, exaggerated appetite for power to rule over others and all forms of corruption. That is what it means: that the WORD THE PARISH PRIEST S REFLECTION Isaiah 52:7-10 Hebrews 1:1-6 John 1:1-18 THEME: THE BIRTH OF THE LORD MEANS THAT OUR GOD REIGNS: HE IS THE LIGHT THAT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS OF HUMAN LIFE AND OUR WEAKNESSES CANNOT OVERCOME THAT LIGHT. became flesh to give our flesh a proper direction that does the Will of God. The word becoming flesh temporarily appears to limit the overwhelming freedom of God, but that is how God in His Power opens the gates of prison for the sinful humanity. It is a mystery of the birth of the LORD! With God nothing will be impossible! So we may join prophet Isaiah to admire this mystery: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him Who brings good tidings, Who published PEACE, Who brings Good tidings of Good, Who publishes SALVATION, Who says to us that our God REIGNS. Break forth together in singing you that have been freed from prison, the LORD has comforted us and redeemed us by none other, but His own Son. The Birth of the LORD reflects the Glory of God having purified us from sin and opening for us the gates of Heaven. May the Birth of Christ restore our Integrity and give us PEACE and JOY. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL AND HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR. Msgr. Gerard Kalumba Christ the King Parish, Kampala 6 Remember, Rejoice, Renew; Starting afresh from Christ

7 Remember, Rejoice, Renew; Starting afresh from Christ 7

8 WEEKDAY Celebrations to be planned and organised: FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY WORLD DAY OF PEACE (JANUARY 1) Wednesday 26th December 2018 READINGS St. Stephen, the First Martyr, (Mass of the Feast): First reading: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16, 17; Gospel: Matthew 10: Other Masses are not permitted, except funeral Masses. Thursday 27th December 2018 St. John, Apostle, Evangelist (Mass of the Feast): First reading: 1 John 1:1-4; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 97:1-2, 5-6, (R. 12a); Gospel: John 20:2-8. Other Masses are not permitted, except funeral Masses Friday 28th December 2018 Baptism Mass Saturday 29th December 2018 Sunday 30th December 2018 SAINTS AND READING OF THE WEEK The Holy Innocents, Martyrs, (Mass of the Feast): First reading: 1 John 1:5-2:2; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 124:2-5, 7-8 (R. 7ab); Gospel: Matthew 2: Other Masses are not permitted, except funeral Masses. The Sixth Day within the Octave of (Christmas) The Nativity of the Lord: First reading: 1 John 2:12-17; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 96:7-10 (R.11a); Gospel: Luke 2: Other Masses are not permitted, except funeral Masses. The optional memorial of St. Thomas Becket is celebrated as acommemoration Vigil Mass of the Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph. FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH: First reading: 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-11 (R. 5a); Second reading: 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24; Gospel: Luke 2: Other Masses are not permitted, including funeral Masses The optional memorial of St. Sylvester I, Pope is not commemorated Christ the King Parish, Kampala Tel: Plot 3 Colville Street, P. O. Box 2551, Kampala - Uganda info@christthekingkampala.org