The temple that we are

newsletter

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, and with it, this year, the 40th anniversary of the opening of the new church in 1978. We welcome our Archbishop George Stack at 11 o’clock Mass.

The word “church” finds its origin in the medieval Greek kurikon = the Lord’s house, while the Latin ecclesiaFrench eglise, Welsh eglwys etc come from the word for an assembly. So the “real” church is not the building first but the People – us – who then gather in the Lord’s house. Therefore, as we celebrate 40 years of the building, let us also remember and celebrate the people who have come together in the church over those 40 years and several years before in what is now the hall. They have been – we are – the living stones of the living Church.

Here is part of Preface 1 from the Mass for the Dedication of a Church. It is very rich in our understanding of the Church, so please let us in all 3 Churches – one Church! – take some time to read and pray over it slowly as part of our celebrations.

In this visible house that you have let us build
 and where you never cease to show favor
to the family on pilgrimage to you in this place,
 you wonderfully manifest and accomplish
the mystery of your communion with us.

Here you build up for yourself the temple that we are
and cause your Church, spread through the world,
to grow ever more and more as the Lord’s own Body,
till she reaches her fullness in the vision of peace,
the heavenly city of Jerusalem.

And so, with the countless ranks of the blessed,
in the temple of your glory we praise you,
we bless you and proclaim your greatness, as we acclaim...

Fr Matthew

Christ the king bidding prayers, 18 November 2018

bidding prayers, Christ the King, newsletter,

Priest: In today’s readings we are reminded of the inevitability of the Great Final Judgement   but we are also reminded of the Lord’s forgiveness and the comfort which he offers to us at all times. Accordingly, we bring our petitions to him with the confidence of well loved children  

Reader. Our response is “ Lord  hear and grant our prayers”

R. We pray for he Church throughout the world remembering especially those areas where to be a follower of Christ is to be in daily danger of death

                                    PAUSE

R. We pray ……….”Lord , hear and grant our prayers”

R.Let us remember all who have perished in the Californian forest fires and all who have survived and now must try to re-build their lives  bereft of in many cases of loved ones who have been lost

                                    PAUSE

R. We pray….”Lord hear and granr our prayers”

R.Let us pray for all who are engaged in the brexit negotations on our behalf. May the Lord guide them to a  settlement which is based in justice for all parties

                                    PAUSE

R. we pray……”Lord  hear and grant our prayers”

R. As winter commences we rember those who are living on our streets and pray for the Lord’s protection for them a nd his guidance for all who work to relieve their plight         

                                    PAUSE

R.  We pray……”Lord hear and grant our prayers”

R  We pray now for the deceased of our Three Churches and ask that  they may now rest in the Lord. We pray also for comfort for their grieving families and friends

                                    PAUSE

R, We pray …….”Lord hear and grnt our prayers”

R. In the quiet of our hearts let us listen to the voice of our loving Father

                                    LONGER PAUSE

R.We ask Mary our Mother to join her prayer to ours saying HAIL MARY….etc 

Priest: Heavenly Father, hear and grant our petitions through Jesus Your Beloved Son who lives in glory with You and the Holy Spirit forever

                                                                                                                              AMEN

Advent is coming

advent

Advent, the season of preparation for Christmas, starts Sunday 2 December.

Let’s make sure we are “prepared for our preparation” in good time.

* Groups are starting during the week beginning Monday 26 November to follow “Journeying towards Jesus” by Fr Denis McBride CSsR. To join a group contact the leader direct – for Monday afternoon tel. Tess Evans on 2075 5528, for Monday evening email Esther Mahoney, for Wednesday afternoon Sheila Roberts and Thursday afternoon Nigel Tuck. (note contact email addresses are shown in the downloadable newsletter pdf)

* And now, something new for us for Advent – “Reverse Calendars”! Instead of marking out the days by taking out of a calendar more chocolate or sweets to guzzle (as if Christmas wasn’t enough), why not instead put insome food each day into a box or bag that can then be brought along and given to the homeless or hungry. We want to run this between the first and third Sundays of Advent – 2nd and 16th December, in order for the proceeds to be distributed in time. More details in the newsletter.

* We will hold a Reconciliation Service at Christ the King on Monday 3 December at 7pm. Several priests will be present to help your spiritual preparedness.

* This year we will bring Carol Singing out into our 3 communities. You are invited to gather at one or more of our 3 Churches at 7pm on the following days. We will then visit surrounding streets singing carols, not to raise money, but purely to help to bring the Christian message of Christmas peace and joy into our neighbourhoods.
On Sunday 9 December we will be at Christ the King, Wednesday 12 December at St Paul’s and Sunday 16 December at St Brigid’s. Come to any or all, whatever is possible for you!

* Closer to Christmas itself we will then have our 3 Churches Carol Service, this year at St Paul’s on Wednesday 19 December. Put this in your diary, and be sure to invite someone along with you – there will be mulled wine and mince pies!

So – plenty to pray, think and do in this lovely season that is fast approaching. How will you mark Advent 2018, and how will our children and grandchildren know it is so important? It’s up to us all…

Fr Matthew

Christ the King bidding prayers, 11 November 2018

bidding prayers, Christ the King

Priest – As God’s faithful children we place before our Heavenly Father the needs of the Church, the world and ourselves confident that He will look favourably upon our petitions

Reader – The response to our petitions is–Hear our prayer.

As we remember those who died in the war which ended 100 years ago this weekend, we pray that such slaughter will never occur again and that the leaders of the world will work for the end of all conflict.

…..pause. Heavenly Father…….Hear our prayer

We pray for the repose of the souls of those recently deceased, in particular Bernie Theeswaran and Dorothy Wooding whose funerals took place this last week and Theresa Thomas who died last weekend and whose funeral is on Wednesday – may they rest in peace…………..

Pause. Heavenly Father ……………Hear our prayer.

We pray for all members of the 3 churches that we may all grow in faith and love for our loving God and to show that love to those we meet

……….pause. Heavenly Father……… Hear our prayer

We pray for our neighbours in the streets where prayer cards have been distributed in the last few days – that they may be influenced to turn to our Heavenly Father in prayer

……pause. Heavenly Father…………. Hear our prayer            

We pray for all who are ill, infirm or disabled in any way that they may feel the healing comfortof God and receive compassionate care

…….pause…….Heavenly Father……Hear our prayer

In a few moments of quiet let us pray to our Heavenly Father for our own needs

…………..longer pause…….

Mary is the mother of Jesus and our mother and we ask for her support in our prayers as we say……..Hail Mary

Priest – We make all our prayers to you our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus your son and our brother…..Amen