Newsletter: 1st December 2019 – First Sunday of Advent Cycle A

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Download this week’s Newsletter here: Newsletter – First Sunday of Advent Sunday 1st December 2019 Year A

My Dear Friends, Brothers & Sisters in Christ

Preparation:

As we begin this time of quiet prayer, I invite you to find a comfortable place to sit with your back straight and your legs planted on the ground. Allow yourself to notice your breathing as you breathe normally. Breathe in. Breathe out. Take a few moments and close your eyes, preparing yourself to listen to what God may be saying to you during this prayer. As you sit with your eyes closed, use these or similar words: “Here I am, Lord. Here I am.” When you are ready, open your eyes and pray.

The Mountain of the Lord’s House

Imagine you are climbing up the mountain of the Lord. As you start the path is wide with beautiful trees and flowers along the way. You fill your lungs with the cool, clean air. As you continue you notice the path is becoming narrow and steep. There seem to be more rocks sticking up from the ground. You find yourself a little out of breath as the air becomes thinner the higher you climb. You decide to rest on a large rock to catch your breath. You look up the path to see how much more you need to climb. You see someone in the distance. He’s looking at you. It looks like his hand is waving for you to come. Though you are alone, you are not afraid. In fact, you feel a pull, a desire to go this person. You are standing in front of him. He is dressed in long robes that are moving gently in the mountain air. He smiles at you and asks, “What are you seeking on this path?” What do you say to him? What are you seeking?

“I am the prophet Isaiah. This is the mountain of the Lord. It is rich with life and dreams. What dreams do you bring to this place?” What are the dreams you bring to this mountain? What are your dreams that you want to share with the Lord? Isaiah looks at you with eyes that know how to dream. “My dreams beat swords into ploughshares. They are dreams of peace, of life, of hope.” What are the swords in your heart that need to be changed? What are the swords that wound you and hold you back from dreaming and from climbing the mountain of the Lord? Give those swords to Isaiah, the prophet, the dreamer. Ask him to help you change them into something life-giving.

“I will change your swords into ploughshares so you can till the soil of your soul and know that God is with you. Are you ready for this dream to be real?” You look into the eyes of this dreamer, Isaiah, and you say, Yes. Yes, I am ready. Isaiah smiles at you and takes your hand in his. He looks at you with eyes filled deep with hope and life. He understands you. “Come,” he says, “let us walk in the light of the Lord!”

Concluding Prayer: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

with Blessings Father Marcin Drabik

Summary of What’s on in Our Parish This Week

You can find more detail of what’s on in our parish this week by checking our events calendar. You will also find more details about the events themselves in our weekly newsletter sections. Here’s a quick summary for this week Go to our Parish Events Diary and search a specific date or event here https://stswithuns.org.uk/events/

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The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “From all eternity God chose with infinite wisdom the woman who would be the Mother of His divine Son. To prepare for the Word Incarnate a spotless and holy tabernacle, God created Mary in grace and endowed her from the moment of her conception with all the perfections suited to her exalted dignity. St. Thomas teaches that through her intimacy with Christ, the principle …
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St Swithun’s Catholic Primary School, Southsea – This S48 Validation: Good

St Swithun’s Catholic Primary School, Southsea Taswell Road, Southsea, Hants PO5 2RG

This is a good school.

• St Swithun’s School is an outstanding example of a Catholic school community, where the mission statement and Christian ethos have a very positive impact. Excellent relationships between adults and pupils lead to a loving and trusting environment, where all are encouraged to live out their mission statement of ‘Love one another as I have loved you’. • The personal faith, leadership …
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Fr. Mike Schmitz – Advent More than a Chocolate Calendar

What does Advent mean to you? A time to put the lights up, gift shop, and eat chocolate? Or is it something more? Fr. Mike says it’s good to prepare ourselves for Christmas during Advent, but ultimately that’s not what the liturgical season is about. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus had to stay in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. Will you use this season to make room for Jesus in your life? …
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Hymn for Today – Stay Awake Put Christ into Christmas

This slideshow with music by Mumford & Sons (“I will Wait for You”) is designed to be used in Post-Primary R.E. classrooms & at services during Advent. I hope you & your students enjoy it.With every blessing this Advent, Gary from the Dublin Diocese in Ireland I listened to the song and read the lyrics several times before I wrote this answer. I can’t see the connection to a relationship. It seems to be a man who is going through a time of loss and wanting,a time of dust,but he has not given up hope,nor his faith. He will continue …
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Heads Up: Scott Hahn Reflects on the First Sunday of Advent

In a Dark Hour: Scott Hahn Reflects on the First Sunday in Advent

Jesus exaggerates in today’s Gospel when He claims not to know the day or the hour when He will come again. He occasionally makes such overstatements to drive home a point we might otherwise miss (see Matthew 5:34; 23:9; Luke 14:26). His point here is that the exact “hour” is not important. What is crucial is that we not postpone our repentance, that we be ready for Him—spiritually and morally—when He comes. For He will surely come, He tells us—like a thief in the night, like the flood in the time of Noah.

Children – Read today’s Holy Readings here again 01-12-2019

Children, in this week’s Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44 Jesus tells his disciples that the coming of the Son of Man will catch many people unprepared. Jesus tells his disciples that they are to always be ready for the day of the Lord. Father Marcin and I have agreed that it would be good if the parish knew a little more about what is happening in school and the school community had the benefit of Fr Marcin’s thoughts on the week’s Gospel: Dear Families Children are any of you in the Girl Scouts? Can anyone tell me the Girl Scout motto? You are right again. The Girl Scout motto is, “Be Prepared.” Now, who can tell me what the Boy Scout motto is? You The Boy Scout motto is “Be Prepared.” The Girl Scout and Boy Scout motto means that a good scout must always “Be prepared.” That is also the subject …
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Thoughts on Today’s Gospel and Readings for the Week – 01-12-2019

Background on the Gospel Reading Gospel Reading Matthew 24:37-44 Jesus tells his disciples that the coming of the Son of Man will catch many people unprepared. Jesus tells his disciples that they are to always be ready for the day of the Lord. Today is the first Sunday of Advent, which is also the first Sunday of a new liturgical year for the Church. The Advent season includes the four Sundays that precede Christmas. It is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord. In this season, we recall two central elements of our faith: the final coming of the Lord in glory and the incarnation of the Lord in the birth of Jesus. Key themes of the Advent season are watchful waiting, preparation, and justice. In this new liturgical year, the Gospel of Matthew will be the primary Gospel proclaimed (Lectionary Cycle A). In today’s Gospel, we …
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Our Lord reminds us of the need to always be prepared for His coming, whether it is our own personal exit from this life or the worlds. And just like a master of the house who does not know the hour when the thief will come … we too are unaware of the hour and so should always be spiritually ready as if it will be today.

Mass for Arthur Tobin who left us a £10.000 legacy

TRIBUTE TO THOSE, WHO MADE OUR DREAM ABOUT YOUTH CLUB’s ROOM POSSIBLE And the young Polish, very dedicated people, who sacrificed their time and talents to do it for free On Monday 9TH December, at 10am Mass in St Swithun’s church – Mass for Arthur Tobin – 12/10/1923 – 25/01/2018 (he left us £10.000 legacy) Arthur Tobin was a Southsea lad heart and soul. He attended St Swithun’s Primary School, the beginning of a long association with St Swithun’s church. His early education, both at school and at home, emphasized service before self, and, when war broke out, he joined …
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CAFOD’s Advent Resources and Appeal

Jo Lewry, CAFOD Portsmouth Community Partnership Co-ordinator writes… This Advent prepare for Christmas by using CAFOD’s online Advent calendar which has readings and prayers for each day here. We also have prayers and an advent service for use in parishes. Our Advent appeal this year is focussed on Refugees. The conflict in Syria forced Majid and his family to flee their hometown in fear of their lives. Their long journey to find somewhere safe to stay was unimaginable. Dana, Majid’s wife told us “we only feared that a missile might fall on our heads”. They eventually found shelter- a single room in a disused shop. Majid took on jobs wherever he could, but he still struggled to …
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Caritas “Open Church” Night Shelter Project

Caritas “Open Church” Night Shelter Project (Please Note: St Swithun’s will be participating in this project as we always do.) Kevin Gallagher, Director of Caritas Portsmouth tells us about another exciting project coming this winter… Walk down any high street, in any city in the UK, and you are guaranteed to see rough sleepers in doorways begging for money. Although it goes without saying that this is a scandal in a country as wealthy as our own, and something which demands government attention, whose heartstrings are not pulled when seeing our fellow sisters and brother living under such conditions? Maybe we are …
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“PUT the CHRIST into CHRISTMAS” – WHAT DOES ADVENT MEAN?

Advent derives from the Latin adventus meaning ‘arrival’ or ‘approach’. For thousands of years the world waited for the coming of the Messiah to redeem and to save the human race, restoring mankind’s relationship to God. We, too, experience this same longing for the coming of Christ. Spiritually, we long for the coming of Christ into our hearts as the Holy Spirit draws us into ever deepening relationship with Him; we also long for Christ in his Second Coming, when He will return physically to earth—as He promised—to restore all things to Himself. Advent is the liturgical season we celebrate …
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The History of Advent

Advent can come as a surprise to us sometimes, beginning right after the busy Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. It’s not unlike the surprise of Mary when she received news that she was pregnant with Jesus. Like her, we take the season of Advent as a time for pause, reflection, and preparation for the gift of God’s love coming to us through the baby Jesus. History of Advent The historic origin of Advent is not for certain; no evidence exists around the feast of the Nativity of the Lord before the end of the fourth century. Several homilies and …
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CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY 14th DECEMBER 2019 from 4pm

Christmas Party Save the date!!! The Children’s Christmas Party will be held on 14th December in St. Swithun’s hall from 4 pm. Further details to follow Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ… Here are some helpful notes to all parents attending our Children’s Christmas Party on the 14th December. Please, can you sign up to bring some food and or drinks; You should buy a present for your child/children – (we suggest you spend no more than £5. on each of your children. Would you mind also wrapping your own present(s). On the day, give your present to the VOLUNTEER …
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Year of the Word: Workshops for Readers – St John’s Cathedral

More on the Year of God’s Word The Year of the Bible, called ‘The God who Speaks,’ will be an opportunity for all of us in the Diocese to promote the Bible and renew the place the Word of God at the centre of our Catholic life and faith. It is a national campaign, and soon I will be sending out a brochure to parishes, with more details, ideas, resources, and a timeline. It is up to each parish to decide how best to celebrate this Year of the Word. In our Diocese, the Year will form the first phase …
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08
December
2019

Sunday School after 10:15am Mass for all Children and Parents

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13
December
2019

Film Night: ‘My Life’ – Discussion on the Film

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Scroll through to see all the events happening from the 1st December 2019 till the 31st December 2019

Or Go to our Parish Events Diary and search a specific date or event here https://stswithuns.org.uk/events/

The St Vincent de Paul Society Conference News – Monday 2nd December

Monday 2nd December – Meeting of our Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul from 6.00pm to 7.00pm; The St Swithun’s St Vincent de Paul Conference will be dedicated to helping in the Parish’s homeless mission as well as befriending and providing practical assistance to those in need, both within the Parish and in the surrounding area. In the coming weeks, we will be building networks with local services in order to best serve those whom we encounter. Any specific items which are required e.g. baby equipment for a family in need, will be requested from anyone who …
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Ascent Group – Events Nov to Dec 2019

Robert Steward and his wife Eileen are the joint leaders of the Ascent Group (Life Ascending) and it will be our 10th year as such in 2020. There is printed blurb available on the Ascent Groups purpose but sufficient to say that it is a Catholic-Christian Fellowship Group for those in their later years for friendship, fellowship, interesting talks, outings and devotional readings, hymns and prayers. All of our group are pensioners and generally frequent daily mass attendees. The Table below show all our activity for a the rest of this year 2019 Our November the 25th meeting will have …
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Sunday School after 10:15am Mass for all Children and Parents

TO ALL PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN FROM 5 TO 12 YEARS OLD Sunday School this year for 2019 – give a chance to your children to enjoy their confidence in their faith. Because our special room will be open very soon, we’ll renew our SUNDAY SCHOOL for the children from 5 to 10 years old. We will start again after half term – on 10th November 2019. We’ll will always meet after The Holy Mass at 10.15am from 11.30am to 12.15pm. So ,after Mass at 10:15am, all the children who would like to participate in this special way of our …
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St Swithun’s Parents and Toddlers Group 2019

Look forward to seeing you next Tuesday Have you pre-school children? Why not come and join our happy Parent and Toddler Group which is held on Tuesday mornings (term time) from 9.15 to 11.15 am. Singing and playing for the children and a cup of tea for you the parent or carer. Look forward to seeing you on Tuesdays. Baby and toddler groups are a great place to meet mums with children your child’s age, and your child can make new friends too. The groups are run by volunteers and provide a great play opportunity for you child and a …
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Worship Together Programme – Healing and Prayer Ministry

On MONDAYS Our Parish has “OUR PRAISE & WORSHIP TIME” together in the church’s hall (from 7.30pm to 9.00pm) – See below for dates and full programme. These will be held in the Presbytery. (105 Waverley Road). The Praise & Worship nights will be held every second week. IT WILL BE OUR PARISH’s ECUMENICAL TIME DURING OUR MONDAY’S EVENING OF WORSHIP, PRAYER AND HEALING It IS THE best time to format a group of people with all the Christian Charisms to share, and to receive; to increase and to deepen. ALL ARE VERY WELCOME!!! . …
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Parish Youth Group & Confirmation Candidates Announcement – Important Dates

With huge joy I would like to announce, that the renovation of the room for our Catholic Youth Club (and for other ministries and activities with the children and teenagers) is almost ready. Our Youth Club will meet every week, on Tuesdays – from 4.00pm to 6.00pm. Meetings Dates to Note: Notes: The solemn opening the room took place after Holy Mass at 10.15am on Sunday 3rd November 2019. And the inauguration of the Catholic Youth Club in our Parish took place on Tuesday the 5th November at 4.00pm – there will take place our first meeting for all the …
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Eucharistic Adoration – New Start Time from 9:00am every Morning

Dear Parishioners, Dear Friends – because we are involved in so many different activities at our Parish, and our ways of The New Evangelisation in this world all the time multiply, I would like to announce that we do increase the Eucharistic Adoration time in the mornings, before the Holy Mass. So, instead of a start at 9.30am, we will start at 9.00am, to be sure that we entrust everything who we are, and everything what do we do in Jesus’ Name, will come from Him, and will be Blessed by the Lord. So, please do not hesitate to step …
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Hear God’s Voice Tuesdays in the Presbytery – St Swithun’s Church

On Tuesdays, from 7.40pm to 9.00pm we are coming back to our SCRIPTURE MEETINGS – ‘HEAR GOD’S VOICE’. All of our meetings are shown in the table below This is a very special and different way to read God’s Word – we continue the journey with St Mark’s Gospel. We ask The Holy Spirit to lead us, to open us for the things which He would like us to notice, to focus on, to put into the action. ALL ARE VERY WELCOME. In the Presbytery – 105 Waverley Road, Southsea. There no registration no checking of lists. It’s a friendly …
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You can watch our next film, “My Life” with Michael Keaton and Nicole Kidman., for discussion on Friday 6th December 8.10pm to 9.30pm in the Church Hall.

Film	Title
	Click on this link to go to the event on our website A glimpse of grace as two individuals restore each other’s souls with gifts of trust and love. It seems that Bob Jones (Michael Keaton) has everything a man could want, namely a fulfilling job and a beautiful, pregnant wife, Gail (Nicole Kidman). But Bob’s life is turned upside-down when he is diagnosed with cancer and given four months to live — not even enough time to see his first child’s birth. To cleanse himself of demons in his remaining days, Bob makes a video diary, hoping to pass along some wisdom to his future child. Along the way, he discovers a lot about himself.

Film

Title

my life - cinema quad movie poster (2).jpg

Click on this link to go to the event on our website

A glimpse of grace as two individuals restore each other’s souls with gifts of trust and love.

It seems that Bob Jones (Michael Keaton) has everything a man could want, namely a fulfilling job and a beautiful, pregnant wife, Gail (Nicole Kidman). But Bob’s life is turned upside-down when he is diagnosed with cancer and given four months to live — not even enough time to see his first child’s birth. To cleanse himself of demons in his remaining days, Bob makes a video diary, hoping to pass along some wisdom to his future child. Along the way, he discovers a lot about himself.

JOIN US IN ANOTHER WAY OF THE NEW EVAGELIZATION IN OUR PARISH

A VERY GOOD WAY FOR THE ADVENT’s RETREAT

Full English audio version of the film has been released in 800 cinemas across the US on the 28th of October. Finished on the 2nd place on American box office. On the 18th November was shown on 131 screens across the UK and Ireland hitting 5th place in box office chart leaving many cinemas without empty seats.

Returning to cinemas by popular demand – on the December 10th in the UK Original locations + 50 new cinemas

“Love and Mercy: Faustina”, a docudrama on Divine Mercy and the mission of Sr. Faustina Kowalska, reveals previously unknown facts and recently disclosed documents that shed new light on the truth of the Divine Mercy message. As many know, the Divine Mercy is a devotion to Jesus Christ associated with the apparitions of Jesus to Sr. Faustina in Poland in the 1930s. Jesus urged Sr. Faustina to paint an image according to the pattern that she had seen, and requested to have the image venerated, first in the sisters’ chapel, and then throughout the world. The venerated image under this Christological title refers to what Sr. Faustina’s diary describes as “God’s loving mercy” towards all people, especially for sinners. Scientific analysis included in the film indicates that Sr. Faustina indeed saw the Lord Jesus. Cooperating with the Kondrat-Media team, a group of experts found letters of Fr. Michal Sopocko (Sr. Faustina’s confessor), and, while browsing forgotten archives, they found additional previously unknown documents. To a large extent, “Love and Mercy: Faustina” can contribute to fulfilling Jesus’ promise that “the spark that will prepare the world for My final coming” will come from Poland (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1732).

JOIN US IN ANOTHER WAY OF THE NEW EVAGELIZATION IN OUR PARISH

PLEASE NOTE – FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2020 (See below for rest of programme from December)

Here’s the next session: 8th December 2019 SUNDAY 10.15am – the session for the First Communion children and their Parents – Sunday Mass Receiving The Miraculous Medals of Our Lady St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea

For our First Communion Preparation this year, we have 34 children, who would like to start their journey of faith. Please keep them and their Dear Parents in your prayers. At the same time our First Communion Children from THE LAST YEAR are very welcome to come and encourage the new children with their presence, and also to receive their special gifts from Fr Marcin, which he will bring from Assisi, from the place where Carlo Acutis is buried, their special friend from the last year’s preparation.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2020: The new programme is published below – You will need to book an appointment with Father Marcin as well as fill in a form which will appear on line shortly or can be got from the parish office.

Date	Time	Programme	Location
8th December 2019 SUNDAY	10.15am – Sunday Mass	Receiving The Miraculous Medals of Our Lady	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
16th December 2019 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session VIII- “SACRAMENT of BAPTISM”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
13th January 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session IX- “SACRAMENT of CONFESSION”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
27th January 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session X- “SACRAMENT of CONFESSION – practical guide” & “FIVE necessary conditions for a good Confession”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
10th February 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session XI – “SACRED HEART DEVOTION – 9 First Fridays of the Month” “Behaving in the confessional”, “ways of confessing sins”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
24th February 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session XII- “INSIDE THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST part 1 – (Measuring children for First Communion robes)	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
9th March 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session XIII- “INSIDE THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST part 2”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
23rd March 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session XIV-“Structure and the meaning of the particular parts of the Holy Mass” Receiving and getting familiar with the Mass & Prayer Books which children receive during the session.	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
27th March 2020 FRIDAY	6.15pm	STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN THE CHURCH	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
27th April 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session XV – “The Holy Body & Precious Blood of Christ”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
11th May 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session only for parents/carers – Theology of the Body	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
31st May 2020 Sunday	after 10:15am Mass	Rehearsals of the First Confession & The First Holy Communion Celebration	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
7th June 2020 Sunday	after 10:15am Mass	Rehearsals of the First Confession & The First Holy Communion Celebration	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
12TH June 2020 FRIDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Final Rehearsal Followed by the Holy Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Benediction	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
13TH June 2020 Saturday	11.30am	FIRST SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION FOR CHILDREN	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
14TH JUNE 2020 Sunday	11:45am	FIRST HOLY COMMUNION MASS	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
21ST June 2020 SUNDAY	10:15am Mass	Receiving the Certificates of the Holy Communion	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
22ND June 2020 MONDAY	5.00pm to 6.30pm	Session XVI – Following Jesus Christ & the ways to be involved	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
28TH June 2020 SUNDAY	10:15am Mass	Thanksgiving Mass together with the previous year First Communion Children	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
27TH September 2020 SUNDAY	10:15am Mass	Inaugaration of the new Preparation for the First Communion. Thanksgiving Mass and receive a special gift from Fr Marcin	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea

SHORT REMINDER FOR THE PARENTS OF THE FIRST COMMUNION CHILDREN – Please, attend the sessions with your children, because they are organised on the way to make your life a little bit easier do not create another, separated sessions just with the Parents. All the Parents should stay for the sessions with the children, please, please.

The next Baptismal Preparation Sessions for 2020 will appear here soon

Please, notice that it is expected from the Parents & God -Parents to practice their faith, which also means to attend Sunday Mass regularly.

Download The Baptism Registration form here:

RCIA – (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults):

if You are and adult and think to be baptised in the Catholic Church, or You are baptised in another Christian denominations, but would like to become Catholic, or You wish to be confirmed, please contact Fr Marcin for more details.

Prayer of the Month – December 2019

Father of Goodness, the birth of your Son Jesus opens a new time to the world, a time of hope and peace. We pray for children and adolescents, especially those who live discouraged by their difficulties and sufferings, who do not find opportunities to develop, feel enthusiasm for the future, nor the support they need to have a decent life. Help us to give them a bright future, embracing with love the children and adolescents of today, so they can transform the world that you have created in a space of life and fraternity among all. Our Father…

Pope Francis Prayer Intentions December 2019 -Universal – The Very Young

Universal – The Very Young That every country resolutely commits to taking the necessary measures to make the future of the very young, especially those who suffer, a priority. December Reflection by Fr. Henry Shea – The Future of the Very Young Guest Author–November 25, 2019 Shortly after my ordination I was missioned by the Jesuits to England for doctoral studies. There are few British winter traditions more famous than the service of Lessons and Carols held on Christmas Eve at Kings College Cambridge and broadcast throughout the country on the BBC. Since 1919 the choir at Kings College has … Read more here

and for those in Our Own Parish…..

Please pray for those who are ill especially: Brian Girling, Shelia Langford; Catherine Morgan, Piam Brown Ward, for all the children suffering and their poor families with them Aidan Molloy, David Shields, Bob Guy, Ms Sini Chacko, Shirley Parker, Kathleen Jones, Heidi Badnell, Rosemary Devonald, Dominic, Carol Langsford, Patricia Ward, Pat Groom, Stan Whitnell, Patrick McCreesh, Eddie Coppani, Tony Denny, Betty Foster, Bobby, Eileen Stewart, Joan Smith, John Williams, Margaret Bager, Fred Vuksani, Tom & Lily, Greta Kemp, Magda K, Mary Wallis, Micheline Thompson, Pat Needham, Margaret Badger, Anne Sullivan, Jo Wheeler and Josephine Butler.

And all whose anniversaries occur at this time: 1st December 2019 : Rocislaw ‘Rudi’ Rudziak, Maurice Anderson, Mary Claffey, Isabella Butler, James Harrison, Eileen McEntee, Michael McMahon, Elizabeth Lindsay, J Michael Kane, Florence Read, Muriel Ryan, Alfred Kenneth Elliot, Norman Cyril Pickard, Jack Barter, Tadeusz Mikulski, Janet Mary Loud, Margaret Malloy, Nicole Sharkey aka Nee Brett, Lucy Osmonde, Gerald James Murphy, Evelyn Blanche Bushnell, Sean Gerard Lynn, Andrew O’Brien, Florence Alice Brennan, Edith Horn, Reuben Atkins, Norah Bailey, Maria Mallia, Rosemary Orme, Violet Faith Wardlaw, Sarah Stanford, Kathleen Dorothy Thomas, Anna Walsh, Ellen (Nellie) Elizabeth Budd, James George Cornelius Coughlin, Peter Jeffery, Louise Margaret Baxter, Humphrey Bremsking, Pamela Grace Gorsuch, Maria Valcic, Walter David Henry Clabburn, Gerald Kearney, Betty Sarah Tongh, Doris Edna Maisie Pooley,Lizzie and Patrick McSharry ,Gemma Litchfield and Jozef Michalczuk.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the Mercy of God rest in peace. Amen

The Requiem Mass & Funeral of Mr Roscislaw Rudziak (Known As: Rudi) will be held on Monday 9^TH December, at 10am Mass in St Swithun’s church

“CAN-DO CHRISTIANS” A MESSAGE FROM FATHER MARCIN

Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Dear Friends: I would like to share with You some things which are about our Parish and for our Parish. I’m absolutely sure, that You have noticed how many things already happen in our Parish to help in our spiritual grow to love God more and more in His Word to us, in His Sacraments for us (which is His real presence among us). We also go out to meet those who still searching for God, or who were not so lucky to have personal contact with Jesus Christ.

Morning Prayers by Text

THANK YOU SO MUCH to John Mason, who made for our church a beautiful rosary beads, which we can find hanging on the benches. They are used by many to pray the rosary, but also we are very welcome to take them, if we wish to use them in our daily life for this such powerful prayer through the intercessions of Our Lady, Mother of God. Because one of the resolutions for the New Year 2019 in our parish is to remember about Morning Prayer, it is good to know, that John also is active in this way for us, …
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GOING INTO HOSPITAL?

GOING INTO HOSPITAL? Due to strict data protection rules it is essential on entering hospital to indicate your details or those of your relative to be passed on to the Catholic Chaplain. Also state that you or your relative would like the Catholic Chaplain to visit you. Chaplains visit the wards during the week and provide an on-call service in case of emergency …
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St Swithun’s Homeless Mission

Our Roman Catholic Church of St Swithun’s and Our Lady of Lourdes two years ago decided that we had to start helping our homeless brothers and sisters along the Albert Road. Hence our Homeless Mission was born. A couple of volunteers Diana Clark and Lisa Butler started out by just making some sandwiches and some flasks of tea and coffee and taking these to the homeless they found on the street. We saw the increasing numbers of people sleeping rough in Portsmouth and Southsea, alongside other towns and cities in Britain. They are clearly visible in the doorways and car …
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HELPING THE HOUSEBOUND and SICK AT HOME

I would like to inform you about one of our very important Pastoral Works, which will be a connection between Jesus Christ’s altar and our home’s tables – if You are sick, elderly or housebound, or You have any family members or friends who are in such a state, I will be very happy to celebrate Holy Mass at their homes, flats if they only wish. Please, let me know and we will organise everything. Thanksgiving for the invitation and all the Family, who care of it and they going to be present there. God’s Blessings from Father Marcin …
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Children’s Liturgy & Sunday School from Sept 2019

Children’s Liturgy St Swithun’s will run again our CHILDREN’S LITURGY for our Sunday Masses at 10.15am starting back on 8th of September. If any of the Parents would like to join a team of so dedicated people for this time with the smallest children during the Holy Mass, please be in touch with our Dear Anne Worden – 02392 817586, or email: anne.worden@port.ac.uk We need your help so much, so the children can be sure, that their special Liturgy will take place very Sunday. Children’s Liturgy Volunteers Our children enjoy taking part in the Liturgy of the Word which is …
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Parish Devotions this month

December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Lady

December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception The greatest privilege possessed by Our Blessed Lady, next to the Divine Maternity itself, is that of the Immaculate Conception. And it is only because of the Divine Maternity that Mary was immaculately conceived. For many years many of the greatest saints in the Church denied that she had been given this privilege. They did this not because they wanted to deprive her of any honor that might properly be given to her, but because it seemed to them to deny that Christ was the universal Redeemer, the Redeemer even of His own … Read more here

December – Novena of the Immaculate Conception

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which is profoundly influential among the faithful, is an occasion for many displays of popular piety and especially for the novena of the Immaculate Conception. There can be no doubt that the feast of the pure and sinless Conception of the Virgin Mary, which is a fundamental preparation for the Lord’s coming into the world, harmonises perfectly with many of the salient themes of Advent. This feast also makes reference to the long messianic waiting for the Saviour’s birth and recalls events and prophecies from the Old Testament, which are also used in the … Read more here

December – History of the Dogma of The Immaculate Conception

Credit must be given to the Oriental Church for having been the first to institute the feast of Mary’s Conception. St. Andrew of Crete (660-740), in his canon In conceptionem Sanctae ac Dei aviae Annae, provides us with the first historical document bearing testimony to the existence of the present feast. It was only many years later that the West accepted it, and not without strong opposition. The very first testimony to the existence of the feast in the West is had from a celebrated marble kalendarium found in Naples dating as far back as the ninth century. It is … Read more here

Fr. Mike Schmitz The Immaculate Conception Explained

Did you know that Mary actually did know her child would save the world? In fact, she was saved around forty-seven years before Jesus died. Fr. Mike Schmitz simplifies the complex theology behind the Immaculate Conception in this video. Using a clever analogy or two, he demonstrates how Scripture alludes to the fact that Mary was immaculately conceived, and he explains why this solemnity is so important to the Church … Read more here

SOD-1208-SolemnityoftheImmaculateConception

The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception

The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated on December 8. From all eternity God chose with infinite wisdom the woman who would be the Mother of His divine Son. To prepare for the Word Incarnate a spotless and holy tabernacle, God created Mary in grace and endowed her from the moment of her conception with all the perfections suited to her exalted dignity. St. Thomas teaches that through her intimacy with Christ, the principle of grace, she possessed beyond all creatures a fullness of divine life. In 1854, Pope Pius IX’s solemn declaration, Ineffabilis … Read more here

SAFEGUARDING AND THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Pope Francis Message – 3rd World Day of the Poor 2019

17/11/2019

Pope Francis kicks off World Day of the Poor with free healthcare for disadvantaged

16/11/2019

Blog Topic: “I was a Catholic once”

09/11/2019

Our Parish Finances – we need your Help 01-12-2019

OFFERTORY:

Thank you for last Sunday’s Collection. The total amount was £1447, 46 (61, 5% gift aid). As always, your generosity is much appreciated. Your donations make the life and work of the Parish possible.

Thank all of You who make our church, our Parish so beautiful and alive!

This WEEKEND we start ADVENT, so please support us in the SECOND COLLECTIONS through whole Advent to be a part of Open Church Project for the homeless.

Download Newsletter PDF 01-12-2019

WE’RE SO EXCITED TO SHARE THIS NEWS WITH YOU AND DON’T FORGET USE THE CONTACT FORMS ON OUR WEBSITE ! Download this newsletter in printer-friendly PDF format to read later.

Download this week’s Newsletter here: Newsletter – First Sunday of Advent Sunday 1st December 2019 Year A

Calendars

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Saints Calendar to learn about this weeks Saints

Daily Reading Calendar for the prayers this week

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PARISH CONTACTS

PARISH PRIEST: Father Marcin Drabik tel: 02392 828305 email: mdrabik@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
Address: 105 Waverley Road, Southsea, PO5 2PL;
Pastoral Assistant: Sr Marie Elise tel: 07747 728734;
Safeguarding Representative: Mo Griffiths tel: 023 92 737559;
Safeguarding Representative: Anne Worden tel: 023 92 817586;
Parish Office Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 8.00am –12.30pm. tel: 02392 828 305
email: southseaparish@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk

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Thoughts on Today’s Gospel and Readings for the Week – 01-12-2019

Background on the Gospel Reading

Gospel Reading Matthew 24:37-44

Jesus tells his disciples that the coming of the Son of Man will catch many people unprepared. Jesus tells his disciples that they are to always be ready for the day of the Lord.

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, which is also the first Sunday of a new liturgical year for the Church. The Advent season includes the four Sundays that precede Christmas. It is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord. In this season, we recall two central elements of our faith: the final coming of the Lord in glory and the incarnation of the Lord in the birth of Jesus. Key themes of the Advent season are watchful waiting, preparation, and justice.

In this new liturgical year, the Gospel of Matthew will be the primary Gospel proclaimed (Lectionary Cycle A). In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus speak about the need for wakefulness, for watchful waiting, for the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew’s Gospel is dated by most scholars after 70 A.D. Most believe that Matthew wrote for a primarily Jewish community, but one that was no longer centered on the Temple in Jerusalem. These were Jewish Christians trying to come to terms with their relationship to Judaism in a new situation: Judaism after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. There may have been Christians who believed that the events of the world around them gave evidence of the imminent return of the Lord in glory.

The passage from Matthew we read today is rather straightforward. No one knows the precise time of the coming of the Lord in glory, so watchful waiting and vigilance are required. The passage speaks to the uselessness of looking for signs; there will be none. As a thief sneaks in during the night, so will the Lord’s coming in glory be.

The question for us as members of the Christian community, then, is how do we prepare for this? Today’s passage speaks more about the manner of waiting, rather than the details of the preparation. Jesus compares the vigilance required of Christians to the vigilance of a homeowner who knows the plans of the thief. If one knows that the thief’s action is imminent, one remains watchful. As Christians, we know that our Lord is coming even if we cannot know the precise timing. Jesus calls us to be watchful and vigilant, like the homeowner. If we become lax in our Christian living, we may be caught unprepared.

Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44 – The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it be when the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away. It will be like this when the Son of Man comes. Then of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left. ‘So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’

Read today’s Readings here

Click this link to Hear Bishop Barron’s Podcast on this week’s gospel:

GETTING THE HOUSE IN ORDER CYCLE A ADVENT WEEK 1 by Bishop Robert Barron December 1st 2019

We come once again to Advent, the beginning of the liturgical year and the great season of waiting. Christian life has a permanent Advent quality, for we are always expecting the coming of the Lord. Now, Jesus came, he will definitively come, and he is coming even now—for the risen Lord wants to take up residence in us today. So Advent is, perhaps most immediately, a preparation for that coming; we are getting ourselves ready to receive the Christ who wants, even now, to be born in us. Well, how do we do this? Our readings for this first Sunday of Advent give us some wonderful instruction.

In a Dark Hour: Scott Hahn Reflects on the First Sunday in Advent

Jesus exaggerates in today’s Gospel when He claims not to know the day or the hour when He will come again.

He occasionally makes such overstatements to drive home a point we might otherwise miss (see Matthew 5:34; 23:9; Luke 14:26).

His point here is that the exact “hour” is not important. What is crucial is that we not postpone our repentance, that we be ready for Him—spiritually and morally—when He comes. For He will surely come, He tells us—like a thief in the night, like the flood in the time of Noah.

In today’s Epistle, Paul too compares the present age to a time of advancing darkness and night.

Though we sit in the darkness, overshadowed by death, we have seen arise the great light of our Lord who has come into our midst (see Matthew 4:16; John 1:9; 8:12). He is the true light, the life of the world. And His light continues to shine in His Church, the new Jerusalem promised by Isaiah in today’s First Reading.

In the Church, all nations stream to the God of Jacob, to worship and seek wisdom in the House of David. From the Church goes forth His word of instruction, the light of the Lord—that all might walk in His paths toward that eternal day when night will be no more (see Revelation 22:5).

By our Baptism we have been made children of the light and day (see Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5–7). It is time we start living like it—throwing off the fruitless works of darkness, the desires of the flesh, and walking by the light of His grace.

The hour is late as we begin a new Advent. Let us begin again in this Eucharist.

As we sing in today’s Psalm, let us go rejoicing to the House of the Lord. Let us give thanks to His name, keeping watch for His coming, knowing that our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Read today’s Readings here

Children – Read today’s Holy Readings here again 01-12-2019

Children, in this week’s Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44 Jesus tells his disciples that the coming of the Son of Man will catch many people unprepared. Jesus tells his disciples that they are to always be ready for the day of the Lord.

Father Marcin and I have agreed that it would be good if the parish knew a little more about what is happening in school and the school community had the benefit of Fr Marcin’s thoughts on the week’s Gospel:

Dear Families

Children are any of you in the Girl Scouts? Can anyone tell me the Girl Scout motto? You are right again. The Girl Scout motto is, “Be Prepared.” Now, who can tell me what the Boy Scout motto is? You The Boy Scout motto is “Be Prepared.”

The Girl Scout and Boy Scout motto means that a good scout must always “Be prepared.” That is also the subject for our Bible lesson today.

Today is a very special day. Today is the first Sunday of Advent and we have started the countdown to Christmas. There are many things that people do to get ready for Christmas, aren’t there? Let’s see, what are some of the things that we do to prepare for Christmas? We have to put up our Christmas tree, lights, and decorations. We have to get our Christmas cards addressed and mailed. We have a lot of shopping to do to buy gifts for our family and friends. There is a lot of cooking that must be done — Christmas cookies and candy and, of course, we must buy all of the food for Christmas dinner. Can you think of any things that I have forgotten?

While we are getting ready for Christmas, there is something else that we must be prepared for as well. Jesus promised that he would come again and the Bible tells us that we must be watching and be prepared for his return. We all know when Christmas is coming, but when will Jesus come again? The Bible says that no one knows the hour of his return. Not even the angels who announced his birth know when he will come again.

If we don’t know when he is coming, how can we be prepared? If we want to be prepared for Jesus’ coming, we must always be busy doing the things that he told us to do. We must be loving God and loving one another. What are some things we can do?

It is fun and exciting to prepare for Christmas, but we must also be prepared for that day when Jesus comes again.

See You on Sunday at Mass. Fr Marcin and Andrew Olive, Headteacher

Closing prayer: Dear Father, we love this season of the year. We love the preparation for the celebration of the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Help us also remember that he is coming again and that you have told us to be prepared. In Jesus’ name.

Read today’s Readings here

The Kids Bulletin: – First Sunday of Advent Year A

Children,

Jesus tells his disciples that the coming of the Son of Man will catch many people unprepared. Jesus tells his disciples that they are to always be ready for the day of the Lord.

Just as the flood surprised those of Noah’s time, Jesus cautioned the people that there will be no warning when he returns. We must take precautions just as we would to prevent a theft.

There are things that we prepare for because they might happen. We install a smoke detector, for example, to warn us about a possible fire. There are other things we prepare for because we know that they will happen, such as studying for a test. Jesus says that our waiting and preparation for the Lord’s coming is more like the latter: we know that the Lord will come, even if we cannot know the precise time.

Children just imagine that there will be a pop quiz today. Think if I had told you about five questions, such as the following, which you might have been able to answer if you had known to prepare ahead of time: for example – What is the name of the last book in our Bible? (Book of Revelation); What is the name that is sometimes given to the Third Sunday of Advent? (Gaudete Sunday) Which pope convened the Second Vatican Council? (Pope John XXIII) Who received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai? (Moses) What Holy Day of Obligation is celebrated on August 15? (The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

What would you have done differently if you had known ahead of time that we would have a quiz today and that these questions were to be asked? (Perhaps you would have researched and studied the answers; accept all reasonable answers.) What might you have done if you knew that one day we would have this quiz, but did not know when it would be? (Perhaps you would have reviewed the information regularly; accept all reasonable answers.)

In today’s gopel, does Jesus tell us when the day of the Lord will be? (No) Can we know when this will be? (No)

So what does Jesus say we should do? (Be prepared, like the homeowner who knows the thief’s plans.) Say: We prepare ourselves for the day of the Lord by our prayer and our faithfulness to the commandments and Jesus’ teaching.

Dear Jesus we pray together that we will stay vigilant and prepared for the day of the Lord.

Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44 – The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

Family Connection

Many of us feel the pressure early in the holiday season to be ready for Christmas. But today’s Gospel challenges us to be ready for something other than the gift-giving of Christmas.

Read together today’s Gospel reading. As a family, talk about what it means to be ready for the day of the Lord. One of the roles of the family, the domestic church, is to be a school of faith leading one another to salvation. Reflect together as a family on how your family helps one another to be better Christians. Commit to one thing that your family will do this Advent season to help one another be better Christians. You might choose to write this commitment down and post it in a prominent place in your home, perhaps near your family’s Advent wreath.

Pray together that God will help you in this Advent commitment. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer or today’s Psalm.

Newsletter: 24th November 2019 – Solemnity of Christ the King

Download this newsletter in printer-friendly PDF format to read later. But all the posts and more can be found below with links , videos and much more if you like too.

Download this week’s Newsletter here: Newsletter – Christ the King Sunday 24th November 2019 C – Sunday 24th November 2019 Year C

My Dear Friends, Brothers & Sisters in Christ

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe! The Gospel reading shines light on Pilate’s inability to understand the Kingship of Jesus Christ. As a Political leader, Pilate’s worldly idea of Kingship was one of wealth, power and control rather than Our Lord’s true kingship of poverty, love and service.

Today’s Jesus Christ is presented to us as the King of the Universe. My attention has always been drawn by the emphasis the Bible grants to the word “King” when applied to our Lord. “The Lord is king, robed with majesty”, we sing in Psalm 92. “I am a king” (John 18:37), we have heard from Jesus’ very lips. “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord” (Luke 19:38), people shouted when He was entering Jerusalem.

The word “King”, applied to God and to Jesus Christ, does not certainly have the inferred meaning we give to it when speaking of the conventional monarchy, as we know it. Yet, in the popular language the word “king” does have a certain affinity with the Biblical language. For instance, when a mother is taking care of his baby and tells him: —You are the king of our home. What is she implying? Just a very simple thing: that her little baby is her number one priority and means everything to her. And when teenagers claim that so and so is the king of the Rock, they actually mean there is no other one like him; as much as when they refer to the basketball king. Enter a teenager room and you will probably see in his walls who are really his “kings”. I believe these popular expressions very much resemble what we mean when we acclaim God as our King and help us to understand Jesus’ assertion about his kingdom: “My kingship does not come from this world” (John 18:36).

For us Christians our King is our Lord, that is, the centre where the deepest feelings of our lives are going to. When in the Lord’s Prayer we say Your kingdom come, we mean we would like to see that more and more people could find the source of their happiness in God, while following the path He shows to us, which is the path of the beatitudes. Let us therefore ask it with all our heart, for “wherever Jesus Christ is, there are our life and our kingdom” (St. Ambrose).

Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for this moment in which I can be alone with you. I believe that you are truth itself, that you are the foundation of all moral judgments. I trust that you care for me and give me the light to see the needs of others. I love you, Lord, and show it now with my desire to pray.

Petition: Lord, help me to be always faithful to Christ my King in the smallest duties of my state in life.

1. They Scoffed and Mocked Him: Contemplate the scene of the Crucifixion, what we see, and what we hear. We see three men being crucified. The one in the middle has a sign affixed to his cross, which reads: “Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.” Who is this king? We hear the leaders of the Jews ridicule him, and the soldiers mock him. Even one of the dying criminals derides him. Jesus provoked strong reactions from these diverse individuals; he continues to provoke strong reactions today. Reflect on the frenetic energy with which individuals try to erase his name from public life today. Look at the time and resources spent to undo his teaching, his influence, and his values in Western culture. He is ridiculed in books, movies, and works of art. His Church is attacked, as is his vicar on earth and all those who remain loyal to him and his teachings.

2. The People Stood By: We tend to overlook the crowd who stood by watching. They did nothing actively wrong; they were merely passive. As Jesus was mocked and ridiculed and scorned, they remained silent and did nothing. No one stood up for Jesus; no one came to his defence. How few stand up for him and his Church today! Why is it that other groups are so quick to defend their own while we remain silent, watching and standing by, but not standing up?

3. One Man Believes: The good thief put his faith in Christ. A moment of grace came to him in the waning moments of his life. He was able to see Christ the King in all his humble glory, and he reached out for salvation. “This day you will be with me in paradise.” This king was a political failure. He had no success, no power to save his own life. The power he did have he freely surrendered rather than use it for personal gain. He died with only a few followers standing at the cross. He had no wealth or army, but he loved his own in the world. He loved them to the end. Would I follow such a king?

Conversation with Christ: Jesus, I don’t want to be just part of the crowd who remained silent. Give me the strength to stand up for you and to defend you. Help me never to deny you in my life. Help me to be faithful to your teachings and your will.

Resolution: I will speak of Christ today in my conversations with others.

with Blessings and prayerful best wishes, Father Marcin Drabik

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. In the Gospel we read about the two criminals who were on either side of Jesus. One thing we can learn from them is how we approach Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Unlike the bad thief, who demanded to be saved without contrition, we should be like the Penitent thief and ask for forgiveness for all past sins with sincerity and humility.

Kingdom of the Son: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Solemnity of Christ the King

Week by week the Liturgy has been preparing us for the revelation to be made on this, the last Sunday of the Church year. By the blood of His cross, Jesus reveals His Kingship—not by saving His life, but by offering it as a ransom for ours. He transfers us to “the Kingdom of His beloved Son,” as today’s Epistle tells us. His Kingdom is the Church, the new Jerusalem and House of David that we sing of in today’s Psalm. We celebrate and renew this covenant in every Eucharist, giving thanks for our redemption, hoping for the day when we too will be with Him in Paradise.

Holy Souls – The November Mass list to Remember our Dead.

The November Mass list: During November we offer Masses for the dead. If you would like to enrol a loved one on the Parish November Mass List, they will have Mass offered for them, they will be included in the Masses for the Holy Souls, and they will be prayed for (collectively) during the Intercessions each Sunday. Also – very day from Monday to Saturday all the names will be read loudly and prayed with Holy Rosary Prayer in …
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Story – Our Homeless Friend – Diana Clark of Our Parish Homeless Mission

Our Homeless Friend – Diana Clark

Things have changed in Albert Road in the last few months. Previously, we would meet up to twelve people each evening, when handing out sandwiches and hot drinks but now there are only one or two because they have been ‘moved on’ and are now scattered in other parts of the city. We miss them as they have become our friends, and they were just beginning to trust us. However, we do still …
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John F. Kennedy and C.S. Lewis: Where Are They Now?

The U.S. president and the British writer died within an hour of each other on Nov. 22, 1963.

Joseph Pearce

At 5:30 p.m. (U.K. time) on Nov. 22, 1963, C. S. Lewis collapsed in his home in Oxford after a long illness and died a few minutes later. At the same time, across the Atlantic, John F. Kennedy was landing at Dallas airport after the short flight from Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth …
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SAFEGUARDING AND THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

A growing awareness of the magnitude of child sexual abuse, especially abuse committed in religious institutions, is prompting government leaders and legislators in Australia, Britain, Ireland, the United States and in many other places to call for laws that would compel priests to violate the sacramental seal and to report instances of child sexual abuse confided to them in the confessional. Many people who are not Catholics do not understand the Sacrament of Reconciliation and its ‘seal.’ Some are …
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Hymn for Today: Hymn to Christ the King – Sarah Hart

Sarah Hart Biography When she was pregnant with her first daughter, one of Sarah Hart’s many creative collaborators brought her a set of juggling balls, and taught her how to use them. Between singing, songwriting, travelling, speaking and parenthood, Hart’s friend figured she’d benefit from the skill. “It was such a funny precursor to how it really looks,” Hart says now, some 12 years later. “Because you do feel like you have to keep those balls up in the air, and if one of them drops, everything sort of falls apart underneath it.” Over years of balancing a family and multi-faceted musical …
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Thoughts on Today’s Gospel and Readings for the Week – 24-11-2019

Background on the Gospel Reading Today as a Church, we conclude our liturgical year and celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. The Gospel we proclaim shows the great mystery of our faith: In the moment of his crucifixion, Jesus is shown to be King and Savior of all. Luke’s Gospel has been loaded with surprises: the poor are rich, sinners find salvation, the Kingdom of God is found in our midst. Here we see the greatest surprise of all. We are confronted with the crucified Jesus, whom faith tells us is King and Savior of all. The irony is that the inscription placed on the cross, perhaps in mockery, contains the profoundest of truth. As the leaders jeer, the thief crucified by his side recognizes Jesus as Messiah and King, and finds salvation. Jesus is King, but not the kind of king we might have imagined or expected. His …
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Children – Read today’s Holy Readings here again 24-11-2019

Children, in this week’s Gospel: Luke 21:5-19 “When Things Fall Apart “- Jesus reminds us that as his followers, we will face many difficulties. Father Marcin and I have agreed that it would be good if the parish knew a little more about what is happening in school and the school community had the benefit of Fr Marcin’s thoughts on the week’s Gospel: Dear Families Throughout the gospels we are shown different “pictures” of Jesus by the way He is described and the titles He is given. At our Sunday School we talked about this a lot. He is Mary’s son, God’s Son and is called the Son of Man. He is also called the Lamb of God. Other titles He is given and roles he has are brother, healer, friend, teacher, Saviour and ultimately king. Most of you have seen the film, The Lion King. In it, Simba sings …
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CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY 14th DECEMBER 2019 from 4pm

The St Vincent de Paul Society Conference News – Monday 2nd December

Happy 105th Birthday to Mrs Jo Wheeler.

This Tuesday 26th November we rejoice 105TH Birthday of our beloved parishioner: Mrs JO WHEELER, and we would like to wish Her BLESSED BIRTHDAY and all the blessings from the Merciful God. As the best gift we have, we offer the Holy Mass in Her intention this Sunday 10.15am …
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St Swithun’s Primary School – Learning to read – a vital skill

Learning to read – a vital skill. At St Swithun’s Primary School, we stress the importance of reading, encouraging children to enjoy reading but also emphasising understanding what has been read and asking questions. Our reading results are excellent but, more importantly, we are developing in the children the skills we all need to access the written word in our information rich world and to realise what makes sense and what should be ignored! The children enjoy their reading: Vanessa, ‘We have books for all different ages, there really is something for everyone. The books we have are very good …
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Ascent Group – A visit to the Southsea Group

A visit to the Southsea Group The majority of our groups are far flung from each other. The Southsea/ Hampshire group definitely falls into this category. For many years they would link up with the Winchester group until Margaret Guppy finally closed the group and then Southsea were out on a limb. Robert and Eileen Steward, the group leaders, invited me to visit St Swithun’s on 24 June to explain how Life Ascending began and perhaps give the members some ‘hot news’ and encouragement. That day the weather forecast suggested huge thunderstorms and torrential rain but thank God, all we …
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Year of the Word: Workshops for Readers – St John’s Cathedral

Ascent Group – Events Nov to Dec 2019

St Swithun’s and OLOL Christmas Fair

Update 24th November 2019 Thank you to all who have contributed to the goods for the Christmas Fayre which is this coming Saturday 30th November from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Please can you all tell your friends and families to attend and buy the raffle tickets to ensure the success of the event. I am pleased to say that during the time of the Fayre we will also take the opportunity for an Outreach Afternoon when we will have the Blessed Sacrament exposed from 2 to 5pm so that people can come and worship and light candle. There will be music …
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Sunday School after 10:15am Mass for all Children and Parents

St Swithun’s Parents and Toddlers Group 2019

Worship Together Programme – Healing and Prayer Ministry

Parish Youth Group & Confirmation Candidates Announcement – Important Dates

Eucharistic Adoration – New Start Time from 9:00am every Morning

Keep up with what’s Happening in our Parish over this coming Year

23
November
2019

Parish Devotion for November 23rd 2019 – Saturdays – Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory

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23
November
2019

Alton Day of Renewal – 2019 Programme – The Power of Prayer

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25
November
2019

Parish Devotion for November 25th 2019 – Mondays – Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory

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25
November
2019

Ascent Group -Dickens Society Reading 25-11-2019

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25
November
2019

Worship Together – Healing and Prayer Ministry – 25th November 2019

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26
November
2019

Parish Devotion for November 26th 2019 – Tuesdays – Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory

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26
November
2019

Parish Youth Club Timetable 2019

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27
November
2019

Parish Devotion for November 27th 2019 – Wednesdays – Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory

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28
November
2019

Parish Devotion for November 28th 2019 – Thursdays – Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory

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29
November
2019

Parish Devotion for November 29th 2019 – Fridays – Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory

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30
November
2019

Parish Devotion for November 30th 2019 – Saturdays – Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory

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Scroll through to see all the events happening from the 23rd November 2019 till the 31st December 2019

Or Go to our Parish Events Diary and search a specific date or event here https://stswithuns.org.uk/events/

Our next film for discussion during November with be “My Life” with Michael Keaton and Nicole Kidman.

Film	Title
	Click on this link to go to the event on our website A glimpse of grace as two individuals restore each other’s souls with gifts of trust and love. It seems that Bob Jones (Michael Keaton) has everything a man could want, namely a fulfilling job and a beautiful, pregnant wife, Gail (Nicole Kidman). But Bob’s life is turned upside-down when he is diagnosed with cancer and given four months to live — not even enough time to see his first child’s birth. To cleanse himself of demons in his remaining days, Bob makes a video diary, hoping to pass along some wisdom to his future child. Along the way, he discovers a lot about himself.

Film

Title

Click on this link to go to the event on our website

A glimpse of grace as two individuals restore each other’s souls with gifts of trust and love.

JOIN US IN ANOTHER WAY OF THE NEW EVAGELIZATION IN OUR PARISH

PLEASE NOTE – FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2020 (See below for full programmes)

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2020: The new programme is published below – You will need to book an appointment with Father Marcin as well as fill in a form which will appear on line shortly or can be got from the parish office.

Date	Time	Programme	Location
9TH September 2019 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Preliminary session for ALL- We start at 5.30pm in the church with the short Exposition & Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament & Benediction. At 6pm: we go to the hall to the Introduction Session	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
16th September 2019 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session II- Session about “PRAYER”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
29th September 2019 SUNDAY	10.15am – Sunday Mass	Inaugaration of the new Preparation for the First Communion Introduction the children to the Church’s Congregation	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
30th September 2019 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session III- “ROSARY PRAYER” (NB. On the following Sunday 6th October at 10.15am Mass the special rosary beads are blessed and given to the children)	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
6th October 2019 SUNDAY	10.15am – Sunday Mass	Receiving THE FIRST COMMUNION ROSARY BEADS	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
14th October 2019 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session IV- “THE TEN GOD’s COMMANDMENTS”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
28th October 2019 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session V- “Communion of Saints; Prayer for the deceased and the Holy Souls (Purgatory)”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
4th November 2019 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session VI- “THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
18TH November 2019 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session VII -“SACRAMENTS, SACRAMENTALIA & DEVOTIONS” The Miraculous Medals of Our Lady	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
8th December 2019 SUNDAY	10.15am – Sunday Mass	Receiving The Miraculous Medals of Our Lady	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
16th December 2019 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session VIII- “SACRAMENT of BAPTISM”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
13th January 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session IX- “SACRAMENT of CONFESSION”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
27th January 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session X- “SACRAMENT of CONFESSION – practical guide” & “FIVE necessary conditions for a good Confession”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
10th February 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session XI – “SACRED HEART DEVOTION – 9 First Fridays of the Month” “Behaving in the confessional”, “ways of confessing sins”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
24th February 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session XII- “INSIDE THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST part 1 – (Measuring children for First Communion robes)	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
9th March 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session XIII- “INSIDE THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST part 2”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
23rd March 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session XIV-“Structure and the meaning of the particular parts of the Holy Mass” Receiving and getting familiar with the Mass & Prayer Books which children receive during the session.	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
27th March 2020 FRIDAY	6.15pm	STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN THE CHURCH	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
27th April 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session XV – “The Holy Body & Precious Blood of Christ”	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
11th May 2020 MONDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Session only for parents/carers – Theology of the Body	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
31st May 2020 Sunday	after 10:15am Mass	Rehearsals of the First Confession & The First Holy Communion Celebration	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
7th June 2020 Sunday	after 10:15am Mass	Rehearsals of the First Confession & The First Holy Communion Celebration	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
12TH June 2020 FRIDAY	5.30pm to 7.00pm	Final Rehearsal Followed by the Holy Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Benediction	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
13TH June 2020 Saturday	11.30am	FIRST SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION FOR CHILDREN	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
14TH JUNE 2020 Sunday	11:45am	FIRST HOLY COMMUNION MASS	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
21ST June 2020 SUNDAY	10:15am Mass	Receiving the Certificates of the Holy Communion	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
22ND June 2020 MONDAY	5.00pm to 6.30pm	Session XVI – Following Jesus Christ & the ways to be involved	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
28TH June 2020 SUNDAY	10:15am Mass	Thanksgiving Mass together with the previous year First Communion Children	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea
27TH September 2020 SUNDAY	10:15am Mass	Inaugaration of the new Preparation for the First Communion. Thanksgiving Mass and receive a special gift from Fr Marcin	St Swithun’s RC Church Southsea

The next Baptismal Preparation Sessions for 2020 will appear here soon

Please, notice that it is expected from the Parents & God -Parents to practice their faith, which also means to attend Sunday Mass regularly.

Download The Baptism Registration form here:

RCIA – (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults):

Prayer of the Month – November 2019

Lord Jesus, you have come to us and you have chosen a specific land where you have shown everyone who you are, revealing the Father’s love for all his children. We pray for all those who live the drama of war, division and persecution and are discriminated against because of their faith in the Promised Land and in the countries where your Apostles announced the Gospel for the first time. May your Spirit touch the hearts of those who are capable of making the big decisions, to advance the path of dialogue and peace.

Pope’s November prayer intention: For dialogue in the Middle East

Pope Francis releases a video message accompanying his prayer intention for November, which is that interreligious dialogue and peace may reign in the Middle East. In his prayer intention for the month of November 2019, Pope Francis invites us to pray that “a spirit of dialogue, encounter, and reconciliation emerge in the Middle East.” It has become the custom of Pope Francis to release a video message detailing his prayer intention for each month. The full text of his intention is below: In the Middle East, concord and dialogue among the three monotheistic religions is based on spiritual and historic bonds. The …
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Pope Francis Prayer Intentions November 2019 -Universal – Communication and Reconciliation

Universal – Communication and Reconciliation That a spirit of dialogue, encounter and reconciliation emerges in the Near East, where diverse religious communities share their lives together. Far too many wars, political divisions, conflicts and hostilities between the diverse religious communities within the Near East have left populations scared and crippled in moral, financial and spiritual ways. This race to dominate has led to vicious murders that have little regard or respect for one’s neighbour. Local leaders have manifested horrendous attitudes of greed and thirst for power leading to domination and autocratic decision-making, manifesting little interest in what is the best …
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and for those in Our Own Parish…..

And all whose anniversaries occur at this time: 24th November 2019 : Rocislaw ‘Rudi’ Rudziak, Douglas Simpson, Erwin Furtado, Winifred Alice Evans, Antonio de Carlo, Cormac O’Connell, Elizabeth (Bet) Jane Hilda Wood, Paul Ray, Maria Mifsud, Evelyn Paulyn Tearle, Mary Bridget Moth, Mary Edwards, Ellen Challacombe, Mr Gracias, Theresa Dorothy Anwin, Mabel Alice Fairall, James Michael William Moriarty, William Daniel Scott, Ian Curtis, Florence Zait, Eva Mabel Feeney, Maureen Margaret Kennedy, Marie Connie Evans, James Bailey, John Kelly, James Albert Elwood, Tom McAniney, Harry William Glover, Patricia Eileen Holmes, Margaret ‘Peggy’ Pearce, Mary Gertrude Chapman, Caroline Marcks, Thomas Joseph McAniney, Catherine Jones, Lucy Campbell, Amy Johnson, Leonard Albermarle Betsworth, Carole Ann Howlett, Violet Annie Mabel Moss, Annie Eleanor Cox, Anthony Toni-Flanagan, Elizabeth McAuliffe, Patrick James O’Doherty, Sally Ranger, Kevin Joseph Cotter, Marie Jeanne Sheppard,Lizzie and Patrick McSharry ,Gemma Litchfield and Jozef Michalczuk.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the Mercy of God rest in peace. Amen

“CAN-DO CHRISTIANS” A MESSAGE FROM FATHER MARCIN

Morning Prayers by Text

GOING INTO HOSPITAL?

St Swithun’s Homeless Mission

HELPING THE HOUSEBOUND and SICK AT HOME

Children’s Liturgy & Sunday School from Sept 2019

Parish Devotions this month

November Is Devoted To The Souls In Purgatory

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us about the state of purification called purgatory (paragraph 1031). Nothing evil is allowed in Heaven. Jesus’ sacrifice is all transforming, not just a “cover up.” What I mean by this is that we believe that Christ’s sacrifice is not just making us appear to be pure, but when we really accept Him wholly we are transformed. We just need to receive Him. As imperfect, fallen humans, we might likely not enter into eternal life completely spotless, and that is why His love continues to purify us in the state of purgatory. What’s …
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Indulgences

Indulgences By the practice of Indulgences, the Church places at the charitable disposal of the faithful the inexhaustible treasure accumulated, from age to age, by the superabundant satisfactions of the saints, added to those of the martyrs, and united to those of our Blessed Lady and the infinite residue of our Lord’s sufferings. These remissions of punishment she grants to the living by her own direct power; but she nearly always approves of and permits their application to the dead by way of suffrage, that is to say, in the manner in which, as we have seen, each of the …
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Offering Prayers and Sacrifices

Offering Prayers and Sacrifices The month of November is traditionally dedicated by the Church to offer suffrages for all the faithful departed and holy souls in purgatory. A suffrage is an intercessory prayer on behalf of someone, in this case, of our dear brothers and sisters who have gone before us. Through the communion of saints, we here on earth could “expedite” the entry into heaven of all our faithful departed brothers and sisters who are still in purgatory, purifying themselves from the temporal punishment left by their sins which were already forgiven in the Sacrament of Confession, by praying for …
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Duration of Purgatory

Purgatory is not eternal. Its duration varies according to the sentence pronounced at each particular judgement. It may be prolonged for centuries in the case of the more guilty souls, or of those who, being excluded from the Catholic communion, are deprived of the suffrages of the Church, although by the divine mercy they have escaped hell. But the end of the world, which will be also the end of time, will close for ever the place of temporary expiation. God will know how to reconcile His justice and His goodness in the purification of the last members of the …
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Holy Souls in Purgatory

November is dedicated to the Poor Souls in Purgatory The month of November is dedicated to the poor souls in purgatory. All souls day falls on November 2nd, which is when we commemorate all the faithful departed. The indulgences attached to this devotion are seven years and seven quarantines each day; plenary indulgence on any day of the month under the usual conditions. The Church commemorates all her faithful children who have departed from this life, but have not yet attained the joys of heaven. Saint Paul warns us that we must not be ignorant concerning the dead, nor …
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SAFEGUARDING AND THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Pope Francis Message – 3rd World Day of the Poor 2019

17/11/2019

Pope Francis kicks off World Day of the Poor with free healthcare for disadvantaged

16/11/2019

Blog Topic: “I was a Catholic once”

09/11/2019

Our Parish Finances – we need your Help 24-11-2019

OFFERTORY:

Thank you for last Sunday’s Collection. The total amount was £1469,23 (62,15% gift aid). As always, your generosity is much appreciated. Your donations make the life and work of the Parish possible.

Thank all of You who make our church, our Parish so beautiful and alive!

NEXT WEEKEND we start ADVENT, and please support us in the SECOND COLLECTIONS through whole Advent to be a part of Open Church Project for the homeless.

Download Newsletter PDF 24-11-2019

WE’RE SO EXCITED TO SHARE THIS NEWS WITH YOU AND DON’T FORGET USE THE CONTACT FORMS ON OUR WEBSITE ! Download this newsletter in printer-friendly PDF format to read later.

Download this week’s Newsletter here: Newsletter – Christ the King Sunday 24th November 2019 C – Sunday 24th November 2019 Year C

Calendars

Daily Services Calendars for all times

Saints Calendar to learn about this weeks Saints

Daily Reading Calendar for the prayers this week

View All of our Parish Events Here

PARISH CONTACTS

PARISH PRIEST: Father Marcin Drabik tel: 02392 828305 email: mdrabik@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
Address: 105 Waverley Road, Southsea, PO5 2PL;
Pastoral Assistant: Sr Marie Elise tel: 07747 728734;
Safeguarding Representative: Mo Griffiths tel: 023 92 737559;
Safeguarding Representative: Anne Worden tel: 023 92 817586;
Parish Office Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 8.00am –12.30pm. tel: 02392 828 305
email: southseaparish@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk

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NEW SECTION ON OUR WEBSITE IF YOU JUST WANT TO SPEND SOME SPECIAL TIME WITH GOD

Children – Read today’s Holy Readings here again 24-11-2019

Children, in this week’s Gospel: Luke 21:5-19 “When Things Fall Apart “- Jesus reminds us that as his followers, we will face many difficulties.

Dear Families

Throughout the gospels we are shown different “pictures” of Jesus by the way He is described and the titles He is given. At our Sunday School we talked about this a lot. He is Mary’s son, God’s Son and is called the Son of Man. He is also called the Lamb of God. Other titles He is given and roles he has are brother, healer, friend, teacher, Saviour and ultimately king.

Most of you have seen the film, The Lion King. In it, Simba sings a song called, I Just Can’t Wait To Be King. Simba is not imagining himself to be a king like Jesus in today’s gospel. Simba, and most of us, think of a king as being someone who is able to do whatever they want, whenever they want to do it and not having to listen to anyone else. It is about having power, servants, riches, and the best of everything.

Jesus as king is not anything like that. Jesus is the kind of king who rules by example and by being a servant to the people. He is the kind of king who wants the best for his people and will do anything, including dying, to make sure they have it.

We want to follow Him and do as He asks not because of His power or wealth but because He loves us and inspires us to want to be like Him. This Sunday, I will share with you a very special story about two kings… see you then.

See You on Sunday at Mass. Fr Marcin and Andrew Olive, Headteacher

Closing prayer: God of all, you sent your Son to show us how to live. Help us to listen to the truth and follow Jesus’s example in our lives. Amen

Read today’s Readings here

The Kids Bulletin: – Christ the King

Children, Before the start of Advent, the final Sunday of the liturgical year is always the celebration of Christ the King.

Jesus is handed over to the Roman authorities by Jewish leaders, as the Jewish leaders did not have the power to carry out capital punishment. Pilate was reluctant to get involved in local religious affairs, but Jesus was being accused of treason by the Jewish leaders as they say he claimed to be the King of the Jews.

Pilate asks Jesus if he is the King of the Jews. Jesus answers that his kingdom is not of this world. Pilate is confused; Jesus doesn’t wear a crown, live in a palace or look like a king. He couldn’t understand what Jesus was saying. Jesus is king of a world far beyond Pilate’s understanding.

Pilate asks Jesus again if he is a king. Jesus replies that he was born to come into the world and share the truth with all people. Pilate says, “Truth, what is that?” Jesus tells him that all those who are on the side of truth will listen to his voice.

Sometimes it is not easy to listen. Sometimes, we might not want to hear what God is asking of us. Christ the King came to earth to show us how to live and to join him in his Kingdom; to help others, to love our neighbours and to share with them.

Closing prayer: God of all, you sent your Son to show us how to live. Help us to listen to the truth and follow Jesus’s example in our lives. Amen

Gospel: Luke 23:35-43 ‘Today you will be with me in paradise’

The people stayed there before the cross watching Jesus. As for the leaders, they jeered at him. ‘He saved others,’ they said ‘let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers mocked him too, and when they approached to offer vinegar they said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals hanging there abused him. ‘Are you not the Christ?’ he said. ‘Save yourself and us as well.’ But the other spoke up and rebuked him. ‘Have you no fear of God at all?’ he said. ‘You got the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus,’ he said ‘remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ ‘Indeed, I promise you,’ he replied ‘today you will be with me in paradise.’

Family Connection

Understanding today’s Feast of Christ the King may be particularly challenging. While we may not have a direct experience of kings or royalty, we have some sense of what these mean. We know that royalty have sovereignty over their kingdom. We know that those who are subjects to royalty offer them allegiance and honor. Christ is King in a way that is different from traditional understandings of royalty. Christ’s kingship extends to all places, all people, and all times. Christ manifests his kingship through his death on the Cross, in which he offers salvation to all.

Recall with your children stories that you may have read about royalty. Talk with your children about what they have learned from these stories about what it means to be a king. Talk about what they have learned from these stories about what it means to be a subject.

Tell your children that this Sunday is the last Sunday in the Church Year, and on this Sunday, we celebrate a special feast called the Feast of Christ the King. Read today’s Gospel, Luke 23:35-43. Reflect together on how the various people in this Gospel respond to Jesus on the Cross. Who in this Gospel recognizes Jesus as King? (the thief) What does Jesus promise the thief as a result? (The thief will be with Jesus in paradise.)

Talk about how your family will recognize and honor Christ the King. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer and ask God to help your family to act in ways that show you recognize and honor Christ as King.

Reflecting on the Reading What type of King?

A big thing in life is ‘where are you from’? We say ‘your accent betrays you’.Sometimes we judge totally on where people are from, as Pilate with Jesus. With all he knew of him and heard, the miracles and the speeches – where are you from? Are you a king really? What sort is your kingdom?

Pilate was intrigued with Jesus and so are we.

Our Christian life is getting to know Jesus more, and taking part in his mission. The type of person he was. That he came from God and from humanity. He speaks of the best of God and the best of us, the best of heaven and the best of earth. He is worth our following.

Our role in life, our vocation and our mission is a calling to live like him in love and service.

There is the ‘from above’ in Jesus and much of John’s gospel stresses the divinity of Christ. He doesn’t look very divine but he does look very human. In the human is the divine. So we could be like him. We become like him by reading about his life and living like he did. He is a king in his truth, justice, compassion and love. The king-defender of the poor.

Jesus Calls

A good ending of one church year to begin another. King and servant. We’ll see more of what it’s all like in the weeks of December. Meantime we want to live in this reign of God and pray and live – your kingdom come.

OUR FIRST COMMUNION CHILDREN - on the 8TH December (Sunday) which is also the Solemnity of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception - are going to accept the Miraculous Medal.Please, let us pray for them and their Families this Novena before The Solemnity.Thank You for your participationDAY EIGHTMary, our teacher in everyday lifeWe must imitate her natural and supernatural refinement. She is a privileged creature in the history of salvation, for in Mary “the Word became flesh and dwelled among us.”But she is a reserved, quiet witness. She never wished to be praised, for she never sought her own glory. Mary is present at the mysteries surrounding the infancy of her Son but these are “normal” mysteries, so to speak. When the great miracles take place and the crowds acclaim them in amazement, she is nowhere to be found. In Jerusalem when Christ, riding a little donkey, is proclaimed king, we don’t catch a glimpse of Mary. But after all have fled, she reappears next to the Cross. This way of acting bespeaks personal greatness and depth, the sanctity of her soul….(Christ is Passing By, 173)To become God-like, to be divinised, we must begin by being very human, accepting from God our condition as ordinary men and women, and sanctifying its apparent worthlessness. That is how Mary lived. She who is full of grace, the object of God’s pleasure, exalted above all the angels and the saints, lived an ordinary life.Mary is as much a creature as we are, with a heart like ours, made for joy and mirth as well as suffering and tears. Before Gabriel communicates God’s plan to her, our Lady does not know she has been chosen from all eternity to be the Mother of the Messiah. She sees herself as a humble creature. That is why she can acknowledge, with full humility, that “he who is mighty has done great things” in her. (Christ is Passing By, 172)We can’t forget that Mary spent nearly every day of her life just like millions of other women who look after their family, bring up their children and take care of the house. Mary sanctifies the ordinary everyday things – what some people wrongly regard as unimportant and insignificant: everyday work, looking after those closest to you, visits to friends and relatives. What a blessed ordinariness, that can be so full of love of God!For that’s what explains Mary’s life – her love. A complete love, so complete that she forgets herself and is happy just to be there where God wants her, fulfilling with care what God wants her to do. That is why even her slightest action is never routine or vain but, rather, full of meaning. Mary, our mother, is for us both an example and a way. We have to try to be like her, in the specific circumstances in which God wants us to live. (Christ is Passing By, 148)Let us PrayWe turn to Our Lady for protection, because wecan be quite sure that each of us, in our ownstate in life – priest or lay-person, single, marriedor widowed – if we are faithful in the dailyfulfilment of our duties, will achieve victory onthis earth, the victory of being always loyal toOur Lord. And afterwards we will reach Heavenand rejoice for ever in the friendship and love ofGod, with the Blessed Virgin Mary.(Prayer before Our Lady of Guadalupe, 24 May 1970)Hail Mary full of grace!It’s fair, gentle Lady,for me to ask you for a present,a proof of your affection –contrition, compunction for my sins,sorrow of love.Hear me, O Lady, my life, my hope.Take me by the handand if there is anything in me nowthat is displeasing to my Father God,make me see it,and between the two of us,we’ll tear it out.Amen ... See MoreSee Less

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Inside Antarctica's Catholic Ice Chapel, the World's Southernmost Church |

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Gorgeous place to visit.

CHRISTIAN MORNING MEDITATION:Lectio Divina: Matthew 9:27-31Lectio DivinaFriday, December 6, 20191st Week of Advent1) Opening prayerLord God, Father of all,in Your Son Jesus ChristYou invite everyone and all to know and love Youand to live in Your unending peace.Keep alive in us the zealto bring the light of Your truthand the riches of Your life and love to all,without any distinctionof race, language or culture.May everyone on earth come to know Youas the merciful Father of allthrough our brother and Savior,Jesus Christ our Lord.2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 9:27-31As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, "Son of David, have pity on us!" When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" "Yes, Lord," they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, "Let it be done for you according to your faith." And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.3) ReflectionOnce again, today’s Gospel places before us the encounter of Jesus with human misery. Jesus does not withdraw. He does not hide. He accepts others and in accepting them, full of tenderness, He reveals God’s love.• Two blind men follow Jesus and cry out to Him, “Son of David, have pity on us!”. Jesus did not much like the title of Son of David. He criticizes the teaching of the scribes who said that the Messiah should be the Son of David: “David himself calls Him Lord: How then can He be his son?” (Mk 12:37).• Reaching home, Jesus asks the blind men, “Do you believe that I can do this?” And they answer: “Yes, Lord!” It is one thing to have true doctrine in the head, and a very different thing to have correct faith in the heart. The doctrine of the two blind men was not too right, because they called Jesus Son of David. But Jesus does not care to be called this. What is important to Him is to have a correct faith.• He touches the eyes and says, “May it be done to you according to your faith!” Immediately the eyes were opened. Although they did not possess correct doctrine, the two blind men had correct faith. Today many people are more concerned about correct doctrine than about correct faith.• It is good not to forget a small detail of hospitality. Jesus reaches the house and the two blind men also enter the house, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. They feel at ease in Jesus’ house. And how about today? A religious Sister said, “Today the situation of the world is such that I feel mistrustful even toward the poor!” The situation has changed very much from then to now!• Jesus asks them not to speak about the miracle. But the prohibition was not respected very much. Both of them went out and spread the Good News. To proclaim the Gospel, that is, the Good News, means to share with others the good which God does in our life.4) Personal questions• Do I have in my life some Good News from God to share with others?• On which point do I insist more: on correct doctrine or on correct faith?• How is it possible to separate doctrine and faith in practice?5) Concluding PrayerThe Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?The Lord is my life's refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (Ps 27)dailymeditations www.stswithuns.org.uk/event/dr-06122019 ... See MoreSee Less

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OUR FIRST COMMUNION CHILDREN - on the 8TH December (Sunday) which is also the Solemnity of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception - are going to accept the Miraculous Medal.Please, let us pray for them and their Families this Novena before The Solemnity.Thank You for your participationDAY SEVENMary, our refuge and our strengthWhen it comes to the scandal of the Sacrifice of the Cross, Mary is there, hearing with sadness how “the passers-by blasphemed against him, tossing their heads, ‘Come now, they said, you would destroy the temple and build it up in three days, rescue yourself; come down from that cross, if you are the Son of God’.” Our Lady is there listening to the words of her Son, united to Him in His suffering, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” What could she do? She united herself fully with the redemptive love of her Son and offered to the Father her immense sorrow, which pierced her pure Heart like a sharp-edged sword.Jesus is comforted anew by the quiet, loving presence of His Mother. Mary does not shout; she does not run about frantically. Stabat: she is there, standing next to her Son. It is then that Jesus looks at her and then turning His gaze to John He exclaims, “Woman, this is thy son.” Then He said to the disciple, “This is thy Mother.” In the person of John, Christ is entrusting all men to His Mother and especially His disciples: those who were to believe in Him.Felix culpa the Church sings. Happy fault, that has brought us so great and wonderful a Redeemer. Happy fault, we could add, which has merited that we should receive Mary as our Mother. Now we are safe. Nothing should worry us now, because Our Lady, the crowned Queen of heaven and earth, is omnipotent in her supplication before our Father God. Jesus cannot deny anything to Mary, nor to us, who are children of his own Mother. (Friends of God, 288)Marvel at Mary’s courage: at the foot of the Cross, with the greatest of human sorrows – there is no sorrow like her sorrow – filled with fortitude. And ask her for that same strength, so that you too can remain beside the Cross. (The Way, 508)Don’t let discouragement enter into your apostolate. You haven’t failed, just as Christ didn’t fail on the Cross. Take courage!… Keep going, against the tide, protected by Mary’s Immaculate and Motherly Heart: Sancta Maria, refugium nostrum et virtus!, you are my refuge and my strength. Hold your peace. Be calm… God has very few friends on earth. Don’t yearn to leave this world. Don’t shy away from the burden of the days, even though at times we find them very long. (The Way of the Cross, 13th Station, 3)We can’t forget that Mary spent nearly every day of her life just like millions of other women who look after their family, bring up their children and take care of the house. Mary sanctifies the ordinary everyday things – what some people wrongly regard as unimportant and insignificant: everyday work, looking after those closest to you, visits to friends and relatives. What a blessed ordinariness, that can be so full of love of God!For that’s what explains Mary’s life – her love. A complete love, so complete that she forgets herself and is happy just to be there where God wants her, fulfilling with care what God wants her to do. That is why even her slightest action is never routine or vain but, rather, full of meaning. Mary, our mother, is for us both an example and a way. We have to try to be like her, in the specific circumstances in which God wants us to live(Christ is Passing By, 148)Let us PraySay to her:Mother, my Mother – yours,because you are hers on many counts –may your love bind me to your Son’s Cross,may I not lack the Faith,nor the courage,nor the daring,to carry out the will of our Jesus.Amen ... See MoreSee Less

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CHRISTIAN MORNING MEDITATION:Lectio Divina: Matthew 7:21,24-27Thursday, December 5, 20191st Week of Advent1) Opening prayerLord our God,to those who trust in Youand live the gospel of Your Son,You are a dependable rock.In the storms and tensions of our times,may our faith never waver,but give us the courageto live as we believe,consistently, radically,that with Your Son we may do Your willand live in Your love now and for ever.2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 7: 21, 24-27“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only the person who does the will of My Father in heaven.Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock.But everyone who listens to these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like an unwise man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell.”3) ReflectionToday’s Gospel narrates the end of the discourse on the mountain. The discourse on the mountain is a new reading of the Law of God. It begins with the Beatitudes (Mt 5: 1-12) and ends with the house built on the rock.• It is a question of acquiring true wisdom. The source of wisdom is the Word of God expressed in the Law of God. True Wisdom consists of listening to, and practicing, the Word of God (Lk 11: 28). It is not sufficient to say “Lord, Lord!” The important thing is not to say beautiful words about God, but rather to do the will of the Father, and therefore, to be a revelation of His love and His presence in the world.• The one who listens to, and practices, the Word constructs a house on rock. The strength of the house does not come from the house itself, but rather from the foundation, from the rock. What does the rock signify? It is the experience of God’s love revealed in Jesus (Rm 8: 31-39). There are some people who practice the Word in order to merit God’s love. But love is not bought, nor do we merit it (sg 8: 7). The love of God is received gratuitously. Let us put into practice the Word, not in order to merit love, but to say thank you for the love we have received. This is the good foundation, the rock which gives security to the house. True security comes from the certainty of God’s love. It is the rock which sustains us in moments of difficulty and in storms.• The Evangelist ends the discourse on the Mountain (Mt 7: 27-28) by saying that the crowds admired the teaching of Jesus because “He taught with authority, and not like the Scribes”. The teaching of Jesus gave the people a critical awareness concerning religious authority of the time. Admired and grateful, the people appreciated the beautiful and diverse teaching of Jesus.4) Personal questions• Am I among those who say “Lord, Lord”, or among those who put the Word into practice?• Do I observe the Law in order to merit love and salvation or in order to thank God for His love and His salvation?5) Concluding PrayerO Lord, grant salvation!O Lord, grant prosperity!Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Ps 118)dailymeditations www.stswithuns.org.uk/event/dr-05122019dailymeditations www.stswithuns.org.uk/event/dr-04122019 ... See MoreSee Less