Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C)

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CHRISTUS NATUS EST! “Like the shepherds, who left their flocks, leave behind the prison of your sorrows and embrace the tender love of the God who became a child. Put aside your masks and your armour; cast your cares on him and he will care for you. He became flesh; he is looking not for your achievements but for your open and trusting heart. In him, you will rediscover who you truly are: a beloved son or daughter of God. Now you can believe it, for tonight the Lord was born to light up your life; his eyes are alight with love for you.” Pope Francis 24 December 2023     Wishing all our parishioners and their loved ones a Blessed Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year!   From the team at Our Lady of Victories Congratulations to Jemries who was baptised on 21st December. May the living waters of the life of Christ inspire your faith, increase your hope, and give fervour to your love. Please pray for those who are sick: Fergus Duffy, Nicanor Abalos, Duncan Taylor, Canice Carson, Laetitia Smith, James Langan, Theresa Chee and Pamela Faber.   Please pray for those who are recently deceased:  Penelope Quine and Joan Lavelle.   Please pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time:  Frank Woollen, M Wilfred, Gabrielle Bassett– Collins, Terence Brock, Anna Feane, Jean Greenway, Pauline Lintern, Jeremy Page, James and May Curry and Julie Quadras. Christmas Masses Tuesday 24th December - CHRISTMAS EVE 5.30 pm: Carols  6 pm: First Mass of Christmas   8.30 pm: Carols 9 pm: Christmas Mass during the night (Midnight Mass)   Wednesday 25th December - CHRISTMAS DAY 9 am: Mass at Dawn 10.30 am: Mass during the Day 12 noon: Solemn Sung Mass  All Mass times can be found here. Extra Confessions times are before each Mass on Fourth Sunday of Advent (21st/22nd December). Christmas Clergy Offerings The Christmas and Easter collections (offerings) make up 80% of the priests’ annual income. Envelopes will be available this week  at the back of the Church for you to make your offering. Thank you for your generosity.  Vocations: 'Come and See' If you know any men who may be interested in exploring a vocation to the Priesthood or Permanent Diaconate, then please invite them to one of the Vocations Team’s 'Come & See' Vocations Mornings on: · Saturday 25th January, 10am-2pm at Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, SW1P 1QN · Saturday 8th February, 10am-2pm at SS Peter & Paul parish hall, 38 Camborne Ave, Northfields, W13 9QZ Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided. To register attendance at one of the days please contact Canon Roger Taylor, the Vocations Promoter, at [email protected] or Deacon Tito Pereira, Assistant Director of the Permanent Diaconate, at or phone 07977 599110. Santo Niño Feast Day - Sunday 19th January 2025 For those wishing to donate or contribute food or other items please contact Carmen on 07440 345468 or email: [email protected] Religious of the Assumption  are inviting single women (18-30s) open to discerning a call to consecrated life to take part in a discernment weekend in Rome to celebrate the Jubilee Year 2025 . This will take place from Friday 31st January to Sunday 2nd February. For more information or to register, contact us at [email protected] Foundation Governor St Thomas More Language College - Chelsea (11-16) is seeking a professional and highly motivated school governor to join the governing body at this outstanding oversubscribed mixed comprehensive in the heart of Chelsea.   If you would like to know more, please contact the school office and speak to the Headteacher's PA, Ms Chanel Spooner [email protected]  or visit the diocesan website which can be found here. Pauline Books and Media The bookshop will be open from 9.30am on Dec 23 and Sundays.  The shop will close on Dec 27 and will reopen on Friday on Jan 18th.The contact number is 07561 456074. Young Married Couples Group Are you a young married couple seeking to build friendships and desiring to connect with other young married couples? Well, a young married couples group is present in our parish. The purpose of the group is to offer support and foster friendship and connection among the many young married couples present in our parish. The ideal age range of the group is under 40. The group meets every month to socialize and foster communion and support. Among the different activities offered are meals together, trips out, games nights and social exercises. If you’re interested in attending, please email Steve and Annie Caprio at [email protected]. You can also join our Whatsapp group using the QR code below: Young Adult Group This is a group for people in their 20s and 30s and aims to build a community in the parish. More events will be coming soon. If there are any questions, please send us an email at: [email protected] or join our WhatsApp group using the QR code:  Welcome to all our Parishioners If you are new to the parish, please come and say hello and complete the parishioner registration form which can be found on our website:  https://www.ourladyofvictories.net/support.html Here you can also find further information on all our parish activities. Weekly Mass Schedule Monday to Friday - 10.00 am Saturday - 6.00 pm Sunday - 9.00 am, 10.30 am, 12.00 pm and 6.00 pm.    All our Masses are live-streamed from our website.    Eucharistic Adoration and Confession On Wednesdays, after the 10am Mass, there is Eucharistic Adoration. This is an opportunity to spend some time in prayer before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. A priest will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation from 10.30 to 11.15am. Adoration concludes at Noon with the prayer of the Angelus. Confession also available every Saturday from 5 to 5.45 pm. Parish Team: Fr Nigel Woollen (Parish Priest) Fr Francis Thomas (Assistant Priest) Rev. Paul Hewitt (Permanent Deacon)  Sr Maureen McNamara rsm (Sacramental Programmes) Mrs Rachel Mulira (Parish Secretary) Our Lady of Victories 16 Abingdon Road London W8 6AF 020 7937 4778  [email protected] Support our Parish Financially here