Southampton Holy Family Parish and St Vincent de … Holy Family Parish and St Vincent de Paul...
4
Southampton Holy Family Parish and St Vincent de Paul Parish The Birth of our Lord Mass during the Day. P.103 Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm97:1-6; Heb.1:1-6; Jn1:1-5;9-14 The Gospel’s deal with the nativity story of Joseph, Mary and the birth of our dear Lord in different ways. John’s Gospel focuses on the Divine attributes of Jesus, he purposefully leaves out any mention of Mary, Joseph and all the other characters that Matthew and Luke mentions in their birth narratives. John clearly communicates that this birth is the most significant event in the history of the world. God became flesh and so is shining His light in darkness, an event that mirrors the creation of the heavens and earth. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Why does John the Evangelist begin his gospel with a description of the Word of God? The “word of God” was a common expression among the Jews. God’s word in the Old Testament is an active, creative, and dynamic word. “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made” (Psalm 33:6). “He sends forth his commands to the earth; his word runs swiftly” (Psalm 147:15). John describes Jesus as God’s creative, life-giving and light-giving word that has come to earth in human form. Jesus is the wisdom and power of God which created the world and sustains it who assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it. Jesus became truly man while remaining truly God. “What he was, he remained, and what he was not he assumed” (from an early church antiphon for morning prayer). Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God who, without ceasing to be God and Lord, became a man and our brother. From the time of the Apostles the Christian faith has insisted on the incarnation of God’s Son “who has come in the flesh” (1 John 4:2). Gregory of Nyssa, one of the great early church fathers (330-395 AD) wrote: Sick, our nature demanded to be healed; fallen, to be raised up; dead, to rise again. We had lost the possession of the good; it was necessary for it to be given back to us. Closed in darkness, it was necessary to bring us the light; captives, we awaited a Saviour; prisoners, help; slaves, a liberator. Are these things minor or insignificant? Did they not move God to descend to human nature and visit it, since humanity was in so miserable and unhappy a state? Christians never cease proclaiming anew the wonder of the Incarnation: The Son of God assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it. The Son of God ...worked with human hands; he thought with a hu- man mind. He acted with a human will, and with a hu- man heart he loved. Born of the Virgin Mary, he has truly been made one of us, like to us in all things except sin (Gaudium et Spes) (Joy and Hope). "Almighty God and Father of light, your eternal Word leaped down from heaven in the silent watches of the night. Open our hearts to receive his life and increase our vision with the rising of dawn, that our lives may be filled with his glory and his peace. Amen! Alan Readings: Mass Book: p.98 Isaiah 9:1-7 Psalm 95:1-3, 11 -13 Luke 2:1-14 Mass During The Night For most ancient peoples throughout history, the sun was the supreme god, surveying the world, giving it light and warmth. And in the winter, these peoples would light fires in the hope that they could strengthen the failing power of the sun. By the third century the sun-god was proclaimed principal patron of the Roman Empire, and 25 December was the date celebrated as the birthday of the invincible sun. By this day the sun had begun its return to the northern skies – and bonfires were lit to welcome back the sun after the darkness of the short days. The feast of Christmas originated when the cult of the sun was particularly strong in Rome. The pagan festival was baptised by the church in Rome which used the same date to celebrate the birth of Christ. We do not know the date of Jesus’ birth, but we do know why 25 December was chosen as the date to celebrate the birth. For us the Yule logs and candles symbolise the warmth and light of another sun: the Son of God. In the darkness of this night we celebrate the birth of the light of the world. Ancient religions as well as modern have always used the themes of light and darkness as a way of speaking about religious experience. Light has always been associated with goodness, knowledge and hope. Darkness has symbolised evil, ignorance and despair. In the first reading we heard the prophet Isaiah voice his hope to the people of Judah: The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in the land of deep shadow a light has shone. In the Christian tradition we interpret that light to be Jesus the Christ, ―the true light that enlightens all men‖ (John 1:9). Without him, we are stumbling around in the dark; without him, we can come to prefer the dark to the light. He is the only light that darkness cannot overpower. Luke is anxious to tell us in the Gospel the true identity of this child. So the angels announce to the shepherds and to us the meaning of all that is happening in obscurity. Their annuncia- tion pierces the disguise of obscurity and peals out the identity of this child: ―Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.‖ Christmas is a great celebration of our faith in Jesus. We gath- er to celebrate light in the midst of darkness; we celebrate the new hope that Jesus has generated in people down the centuries. He is our light; he is our hope. When we want to know God, it is to Jesus that we turn; when we want to worship God, it is through Jesus that we hymn our praises. We too give glory to God in the highest for revealing himself to the lowly: ―Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever.‖ Fr. Blaise Newsleer for December 24th 2016 to January 6th 2017
Transcript of Southampton Holy Family Parish and St Vincent de … Holy Family Parish and St Vincent de Paul...
Southampton Holy Family Parish
and St Vincent de Paul Parish
The Birth of our Lord Mass during the Day. P.103
Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm97:1-6; Heb.1:1-6; Jn1:1-5;9-14
The Gospel’s deal with the nativity story of
Joseph, Mary and the birth of our dear Lord in different
ways. John’s Gospel focuses on the Divine attributes of
Jesus, he purposefully leaves out any mention of Mary,
Joseph and all the other characters that Matthew and
Luke mentions in their birth narratives. John clearly
communicates that this birth is the most significant
event in the history of the world. God became flesh and
so is shining His light in darkness, an event that mirrors
the creation of the heavens and earth. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. Why does John the
Evangelist begin his gospel with a description of the
Word of God? The “word of God” was a common
expression among the Jews. God’s word in the Old
Testament is an active, creative, and dynamic word. “By
the word of the Lord the heavens were made” (Psalm
33:6). “He sends forth his commands to the earth; his
word runs swiftly” (Psalm 147:15). John describes Jesus
as God’s creative, life-giving and light-giving word that
has come to earth in human form. Jesus is the wisdom
and power of God which created the world and sustains it
who assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our
salvation in it. Jesus became truly man while remaining
truly God. “What he was, he remained, and what he was
not he assumed” (from an early church antiphon for
morning prayer). Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God
who, without ceasing to be God and Lord, became a man
and our brother. From the time of the Apostles the
Christian faith has insisted on the incarnation of God’s
Son “who has come in the flesh” (1 John 4:2).
Gregory of Nyssa, one of the great early church
fathers (330-395 AD) wrote: Sick, our nature demanded
to be healed; fallen, to be raised up; dead, to rise
again. We had lost the possession of the good; it was
necessary for it to be given back to us. Closed in
darkness, it was necessary to bring us the light; captives,
we awaited a Saviour; prisoners, help; slaves, a
liberator. Are these things minor or insignificant? Did
they not move God to descend to human nature and visit
it, since humanity was in so miserable and unhappy a
state?
Christians never cease proclaiming anew the wonder of
the Incarnation: The Son of God assumed a human nature
in order to accomplish our salvation in it. The Son of
God ...worked with human hands; he thought with a hu-
man mind. He acted with a human will, and with a hu-
man heart he loved. Born of the Virgin Mary, he has
truly been made one of us, like to us in all things except
sin (Gaudium et Spes) (Joy and Hope).
"Almighty God and Father of light, your eternal Word
leaped down from heaven in the silent watches of the
night. Open our hearts to receive
his life and increase our vision with
the rising of dawn, that our lives
may be filled with his glory and his
peace. Amen!
Alan
Readings:
Mass Book: p
.98
Isaiah 9:1-7
Psalm 95:1-3, 1
1-13
Luke 2:1-14
Mass During The Night
For most ancient peoples throughout history, the sun was the supreme god, surveying the world, giving it light and warmth. And in the winter, these peoples would light fires in the hope that they could strengthen the failing power of the sun. By the third century the sun-god was proclaimed principal patron of the Roman Empire, and 25 December was the date celebrated as the birthday of the invincible sun. By this day the sun had begun its return to the northern skies – and bonfires were lit to welcome back the sun after the darkness of the short days. The feast of Christmas originated when the cult of the sun was particularly strong in Rome. The pagan festival was baptised by the church in Rome which used the same date to celebrate the birth of Christ. We do not know the date of Jesus’ birth, but we do know why 25 December was chosen as the date to celebrate the birth. For us the Yule logs and candles symbolise the warmth and light of another sun: the Son of God. In the darkness of this night we celebrate the birth of the light of the world. Ancient religions as well as modern have always used the themes of light and darkness as a way of speaking about religious experience. Light has always been associated with goodness, knowledge and hope. Darkness has symbolised evil, ignorance and despair. In the first reading we heard the prophet Isaiah voice his hope to the people of Judah: The people that walked in darkness
has seen a great light; on those who live in the land of deep shadow a light has shone. In the Christian tradition we interpret that light to be Jesus the Christ, ―the true light that enlightens all men‖ (John 1:9). Without him, we are stumbling around in the dark; without him, we can come to prefer the dark to the light. He is the only light that darkness cannot overpower. Luke is anxious to tell us in the Gospel the true identity of this child. So the angels announce to the shepherds and to us the meaning of all that is happening in obscurity. Their annuncia-tion pierces the disguise of obscurity and peals out the identity of this child: ―Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.‖ Christmas is a great celebration of our faith in Jesus. We gath-er to celebrate light in the midst of darkness; we celebrate the new hope that Jesus has generated in people down the centuries. He is our light; he is our hope. When we want to know God, it is to Jesus that we turn; when we want to worship God, it is through Jesus that we hymn our praises. We too give glory to God in the highest for revealing himself to the lowly: ―Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever.‖ Fr. Blaise
Newsletter for December 24th 2016 to January 6th 2017
Please pray for members of
our Parish who are sick:
SVP : Diane Stimson, Anna Reale, Susan Chandler,
Mary Jose, Maria Bourg, Rita Foster and Hazel Hendry
HF: Rosa Pack, Roma Twist, Mona & Sydney
Fraser, Val Trusott, Catherine Lyne, Devina
King, Doris Baldaccino, Sheila Kavanagh,
Denis Mooney, Pamela Windust, Ann
Sheehy, Myta Leighio, Ron Giles, Ellen
Stokes , Kelly Avery, Maurice Penny,
Maureen Wiltshire, John and Jackie McGrory
Regular Activities in the parish
Holy Family:
Wed, 9.45am Divine Mercy
Wed, 2pm Mothers Prayers
St Vincent de Paul:
Sun, 9.15am Children’s Liturgy
Fishnet Collection
Mon, 7pm Bingo
Wed (3rd week) Drop-In Club
SVP
Main Collection Gift Aid £192.00
Loose Plate £154.01
Water Project Rafle £130.00
Total £476.01
Holy Family
Main Collection Gift Aid £75.51
Loose Plate £322.29
Candle Money £29.86
Hall Hire £442.00
Total £869.66
Mass Count 18/12 2016
SVP 78
HF 302
We acknowledge, with thanks, last week’s
collection:
HF: 31/12 Mrs Elvina D’Costa and all souls in purgatory.
SVP: 27/12 Joseph Peter Morris RIP
To all the Parishioners of Holy
Family and Saint Vincent de Paul:
Christmas is God’s Moment of
decisive intervention in our human
history. It is a great reminder of
God’s fidelity to all His promises
for the salvation of all. As a believ-
ing community we gather to cele-
brate God’s profound love made
visible in Jesus Christ born in
Bethlehem.
All our ecclesial and familial gatherings help us to re-live
the charming traditions that have been passed down through
the generations. Christmas liturgies, carols, gift exchanges
and family gatherings are just some of the enduring traditions
that make the season one of the world’s favourite holidays.
So in this Festive season let us keep Christmas beautiful
without a thought of greed, that it might live forever more to
fill our every need, that it shall not be just a day, but last a
lifetime through, the miracle of Christmas time that brings
God close to you. I am wishing you blessings and joy.
Am so happy that you have been members of the Catho-
lic Parish Community I have served for the past one and half
years. During all this time you gifted me with your friendship,
attentive listening, empathy by praying for my family, support
in many different ways including Reaching out and Touching
two needy school girls –Immaculate and Martha- and finally
but not least for your generous contribution towards a Water
Project in my village. In short you have been my rock of
strength in good times and in bad. You deserve all the good-
ness and goodwill that Christ brings at Christmas.
As my time to serve in Holy Family and Saint Vincent de
Paul comes to a close, allow me to express my profound
gratitude to each one of you. I had a wonderful time serving
you because you are wonderful people and I will always
cherish my years of service in your wonderful parish.
As the saying goes: Good friends never say goodbye, they simply say “See you soon‖ I look forward to seeing you in Liverpool.
I take this opportunity to thank all the members of Parish Pastoral Council, and Fabric and Finance council , admin-istrative staff both past and present, sac-
ristans, Children’s liturgy and Holy Communion catechists, altar serv-ers, Extra-ordinary ministers of the Word and Holy Communion, money counters, different groups of the parish –Union of Catholic Mothers, Mothers’ Prayer Group, Jayell Social Club, Tea/coffee teams, flower arrangers, repository sellers, repair volunteers, property care-takers, gen-erous volunteers who made sure our churches are clean and all individuals who contributed to the smooth run-ning of the parish. It was wonderful to work with you. May God bless you all Merry Christmas!!!
Fr.Blaise Jailosi
CAFOD Portsmouth Supporters’ Meeting – Saturday 4
February 2017 Join us at our next CAFOD Portsmouth Supporters’ Meet-
ing on Saturday 4 February 2017 from 10am-1.30pm at St
Bede’s Catholic Primary School, Popley Way, Basingstoke,
RG24 9DX. There will be a special talk on our livelihoods work
in Zambia (our Lenten focus) by Mark Chamberlain and a
chance to hear an update on all our exciting campaigns from
Dan Hale. Please book a place in advance via 01252 329385
or [email protected] Thank you.
On Behalf of all the House bound and
sick members of our Parish who came for
the Christmas Party, I would like to thank
Siobhan for all her commitment for the
celebration and all who helped her to
organise such a lovely party.
I would like to ask Siobhan to convey our heart-
felt thanks to the manager of Sainsbury (Lordshill)
who generously contributed food for the party.
Unto us a Child is given, Christ Our Saviour brings release; Counsellor, Eternal Father, God Made man and Prince of Peace.
Born of Mary, gentle Virgin, By the Spirit of the Lord; From eternal ages spoken: This, the mighty Father’s Word.
Love and truth in him shall flower, From his strength their vigour take,
Branches that are base shall blossom; Joy that slept begins to wake.
Praise the everlasting Father, And the Word, his only Son; Praise them with the Holy Spirit, Perfect Trinity in One.
St Valentine's Day breakfast with the Bishop
Are you getting married some-time soon - either in a church in our diocese or in a church elsewhere, maybe even abroad? If you are: CONGRATULATIONS! Please be assured of my prayers and best wishes. I hope all your preparations and all the arrangements for the big
I want to meet you. I want to give you a special blessing here at St John's Cathedral in Portsmouth. I want to invite you and all the engaged couples of our diocese getting married in 2017, to a Valentine’s Day Breakfast. It will be on Saturday 11th February 2017 at 9.15 am (prompt) in the Cathedral Discovery Centre (Bishop Crispian Way, Portsmouth PO1 3HG). After breakfast and a chance to meet, I have asked one of our newly-married couples from last year to tell us about their experience. I hope it will be informative, but also entertaining! We’ll then go into the Cathedral for a short Service of Blessing, in which each couple individual-ly will be blessed, and also I’ll bless your engagement rings. (It doesn’t matter whether you are a Catholic or not: everyone is welcome). We should finish and get away by 11.45 am. I really hope you can be there for this unique occa-sion. I look forward to meeting you. Please let Kirsten (my PA) know whether you can make it. Call her on 023 9282
0894 or drop her an email.
On 26th December, 2016 there
will be mass at SVP at
9:15am for all altar servers
during which all who have
been serving for one year will
receive their medal.
Pilgrimage to Poland in the Footsteps of Saint John Paul II
19-24 April 2017, led by Fr John Lee
With one night in the hills of Zakapone and four nights in historic Krakow, this guided tour will enable
you to visit places central to the life of Pope St John Paul II include his birthplace of Wadowice,
Czestochowa’s Black Madonna shrine and Auschwitz
The Pilgrimage takes place over Divine Mercy Sunday and we will visit the shrine celebrating the Di-
vine Mercy of Jesus Christ, as revealed by Christ Himself to St Maria Faustina Kowalska.
For information contact Pilgrimage People on 0800 612 3423
In the Footsteps of St John Paul II
1st January 2017: Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God. Mass book: pg 109 Readings: Numbers 6:22-27 Ps 66:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21
8th January: Epithany of the Lord. Mass book pg: 115 Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ps71:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Mathew 2:1-12
Regular Mass Times
HF Mass times: SVP Mass times:
Saturday 5.30pm Adoration & Confessions Sunday, 9.15 am Mass
6.30 pm—Vigil Mass Tuesday, 10 am Mass
Sunday 11 am Mass Thursday, 10 am Mass
Wednesday 9:15 am Mass 1st Friday, 7pm Mass– Most Sacred Heart
Friday 9.15 am. Mass Saturday 9pm—12 pm Exposition of Blessed Sacrament
Mons. Vincent Harvey will see to the smooth running of the parishes of Holy Family and St. Vincent de Paul and will assign
supply priests up until the newly appointed priests take their respective appointments. All masses and other liturgical celebrations will
continue as usual and the same times and days. Anything needing urgent attention, please call Mons.Vincent Harvey on 07879638204.
Parish Contacts
Parish Offices:
Holy Family Tel: 02380 778203 Email: [email protected]. 9-12.30 Tue, Wed and Fri.
SVP Tel 07933 026661 Email [email protected] 9.30-12.30 Tue and Thu
Parish Priest: Fr Blaise Jailosi SMM (07719 914819) [email protected]
Pastoral Area Assistant: Tina Quinn (07827 810457) [email protected]
Parish Assistants: HF: Debbie Wolf SVP: Monica Reeve and Ann Drumgoole
Holy Family School Chaplain: Fr Des Connolly SMM
Safeguarding Representatives: HF: Maureen Wiltshire (07527 032003)
SVP: Christine Thomas (02380 730094)
Newsletter on Line: Please check on Holy Family Parish website...
The Presbytery, Catholic Church of the Holy Family, Redbridge Hill, Millbrook, Southampton, SO16 4PL
The Out-going Priest-in-
charge– Fr.Blaise Jailosi- and
the Parish Pastoral Council and
the Fabric and Finance council
of Holy Family Parish and all
parishioners congratulate Fr.James Bradley for
being appointed the Priest-in-charge of Holy Family.
Holy Family Parish eagerly and joyfully awaits
your coming Fr.James Bradley to take up your
residence at the Presbytery on 6th January, 2017.
The Out-going Priest-in-charge
– Fr.Blaise Jailosi- and the Parish
Pastoral Council and the Fabric
and Finance council of St.Vincent
de Paul and all parishioners con-
gratulate Fr.Tomy Chirackalmanavalan for being appoint-
ed the Priest-in-charge of Saint Vincent de Paul.
All parishioners look forward to a good working rela-
tionship with you as you begin your ministry in our Parish
on Sunday, 12th February.
Dear parents The Children’s Catholic Bibles have arrived. I will be in the office on Wednesday morning and Debbie will be in the office on Friday morning if you wish to collect them before Christmas. Could I please ask you to bring payment with you. We will not be able to give you the Bibles without payment. The hardback is £23 and the paperback £17. May I take this opportunity to wish you a Very Happy Christmas and I look forward to seeing you all on the 8
th January for the enrolment Mass.
All Parishioners of Holy Family Parish wish to thank Rt.Rev.Bishop Philip Egan for celebrating mass at
Holy Family Parish on 18th December,2016. At the end of the Mass the Bishop thanked the out-going
priest-in-charge and announced the new appointments made namely: Fr.James Bradley as Priest-in-
charge of Holy Family and Chaplain to Southampton University and Fr.Tomy Chirackalmanavalan as Priest
-in-charge of Saint Vincent de Paul.
The Parish Pastoral Council and Fabric and Finance Council decided
that as soon as Fr. Blaise leaves the Presbytery, a new
lock for the presbytery will be fixed at the main door and
Fr.James Bradley will be handed the new keys and will
decided who needs to have a copy the keys. The Parish Office remains closed until 4th January, 2017
