Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

Today we celebrate the Church’s New Year. Advent prepares us in mind and heart to understand Christmas and Christ’s Mission. It puts it in a context. Strangely Jesus is putting before us a scary view of the future, using cosmic images. The forces of nature frighten people much more than wars. They are more powerful, less discriminate and altogether an overwhelming experience. So is this to scare us? We have no need for complacency it’s true, but Jesus is using a biblical device, like the prophets used, to wake us up. “Stay awake” he says, “praying at all times!” Not to lose hope in the future is vital, so how do we approach this? By remembering and retelling the story of Jesus again and again. At that time there was great talk about the end of the world, it was taken on board by the early church to such an extent that they preached the second coming of Christ as “soon” or just in their lifetime. The life of Jesus tells us that our lives  and history are much more complex, but his love conquered in the end.

• Advent Penitential Rite is on Wednesday 16^th at 8pm
• Thursday this week at 1pm, Requiem Mass for Eric Harper RIP. There will be no morning Mass
• Thursday  December 10th, at 11am, the Requiem Mass for  Kevin Payne RIP
• Our Christmas & New Year timetable is on the pink card. Please take one.

Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?

Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation

God Bless,    Fr John