Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

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Prayer for Christian Unity – 18th to 25th January The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invites Christians from all traditions to come together in prayer, reflection, and action. This year’s theme, inspired by Jesus’ question to Martha in John 11:26, “Do you believe this?” calls us to deepen our faith while strengthening our shared witness as followers of Christ.   The question posed by Jesus, spoken in love, is both an invitation and a challenge. It reminds us of the transformative power of faith. This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea (AD 325), a pivotal moment in the Church’s history when Christian communities gathered to affirm the truths of the Gospel and strengthen their unity. The Nicene Creed remains a central expression of shared faith for Christians of all traditions, offering a foundation for dialogue and connection.   In today’s divided and turbulent world, the call to Christian unity is more urgent than ever. As we reflect on the affirmation of faith in the Nicene Creed, we are reminded that unity is not simply an ideal but a firm declaration of belief and a tangible witness to the hope and reconciliation found in Christ. This week provides an opportunity to celebrate our shared faith, pray for healing in our divisions, and seek new ways to embody Christ’s love in the world through the firm foundation of our common Creed.   We pray earnestly at our Masses this weekend for Christian unity, reflecting on our shared mission, and committed to being people of reconciliation and hope. Together, we respond with faith and courage to Christ’s question, “Do you believe this?” as we celebrate our common baptism with fellow Christians. Today we pray the Creed fervently in communion with Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world. Deacon Paul Please pray for those who are sick: Eunice Van Vurren, Canice Carson, Laetitia Smith, James Langan, Theresa Chee and Kimberley Collins.   Please pray for those who are recently deceased:  Elisa Tafur de Cottle and Nicanor Abalos.   Please pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time:  Joyce Liddle, Rev’d Stephen Bartlett, Helena Thias, John Kelly, Katherine Reilly, Victoria Fontejon and John O’Grady. Santo Niño Feast Day - Sunday 19th January 2025 Mabuhay ang Santo Niño! This week, at 2pm on Sunday 19th January 2025, we joyfully celebrate the Feast of Santo Niño, a much-loved devotion that has touched the hearts of countless Catholics worldwide. It is a celebration of Christ’s incarnation, a reminder of His love for humanity, and an invitation to renew our trust and faith in Him. The History of the Santo Niño Devotion The devotion to the Santo Niño, or the Holy Child Jesus, traces its roots back to the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in 1521. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan gifted a statue of the Child Jesus to Queen Juana of Cebu during her baptism, marking the start of Christianity in the region. The statue, believed to be of Flemish origin, became a treasured relic. It survived a fire in 1565 when Spanish forces, led by Miguel López de Legazpi, returned to Cebu. The unscathed statue was considered miraculous, cementing its place as an object of veneration. This image, now housed in the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu, has inspired centuries of fervent devotion among Filipino Catholics. Through the centuries, the Santo Niño devotion has spread far beyond the Philippines, becoming a symbol of faith and hope for Catholics everywhere. The annual Sinulog Festival in Cebu celebrates this devotion with processions, dances, and prayers, expressing the joyful faith of the Filipino people. Spiritual Significance of Santo Niño The image of the Santo Niño portrays the Child Jesus dressed as a king, holding a sceptre and a globe. These symbols remind us that, although He is a child, Jesus is the eternal King of Heaven and Earth. His simplicity as a child teaches us humility, trust, and dependence on God, while His kingship reminds us of His divine authority and power. The devotion to the Santo Niño invites us to approach Jesus with childlike faith, trusting in His providence and love. It reminds us of His words in the Gospel of Matthew: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). The Santo Niño embodies this call to simplicity, purity of heart, and openness to God’s will. Meaning for our Parish. For our whole parish community, the celebration of Santo Niño is a timely celebration, close to the Nativity, to deepen our relationship with Christ by reflecting on the mystery of His incarnation. It is a moment to renew our trust in Him, to recognise His presence in our lives, and to entrust our families, challenges, and dreams to His care. During this Jubilee year, this devotion connects us with the global Church, especially the Filipino community, who have brought this beautiful tradition to parishes worldwide, including this parish of Our Lady of Victories. It reminds us of the universality of our faith and the shared joy of being part of Christ’s Body, the Church. As we gather to celebrate the Mass for Santo Niño this weekend, let us bring our prayers and petitions to the Holy Child Jesus. May His love inspire us to live with hearts full of faith, hope, and love. May we, like children, trust in His care and be instruments of His peace and joy in our families and community. Viva Señor Santo Niño  Deacon Paul News for Our Lady of Victories Primary School The children from Our Lady of Victories Primary School will be participating in the Offertory Procession during the 10:30 am Mass on every first Sunday of the month. To keep parishioners informed about school activities and the Catholic formation of the children, we have established a Noticeboard at the back of the Church. This will display updates from the school, enabling parishioners to stay in touch with news and activities. Deacon Paul Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be celebrated between Saturday 18th and Saturday 25th January 2025. The theme is: ‘Do you believe this?’ (John 11:26). Please join us for an: Ecumenical Service of Choral Evensong Wednesday 22nd January 2025 at 7pm at St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington, W8 4LA. Preacher: Fr Antony Aziz, of St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church and Convenor, Churches Together in Kensington and Chelsea  All are welcome. See poster for more details. Parish Pilgrimage to Walsingham – Jubilee Celebration: 7th June 2025  Mark your diaries for Saturday, 7th June 2025, as our parish embarks on a special day-pilgrimage to Walsingham, the ancient National Shrine lovingly known as “England’s Nazareth”.           This pilgrimage is a unique opportunity to celebrate the Holy Year Jubilee proclaimed by Pope Francis, a time of renewal, grace, and deepened faith. Please register your interest with the parish office as soon as possible but expect an early start from 7.30 am. Pilgrimage Walk of Hope The Jubilee Year offers a unique opportunity to take part in the Pilgrimage Walk of Hope during the first two weeks in September culminating in St Barnabus’ Cathedral in  Nottingham on the Feast of the Holy Cross on 14th Sept. The route from London to Nottingham is approximately 176 miles over two weeks which is an average of 12 miles per day and will take in the beautiful village of Abbotts Langley where Nicholas Brakespear was born. If you are interested to take part, you can find more information on the website. Catholic Networking Dinner Event – Monday, 10 February 2025, 6:30 PM - East India Club Catholic professionals are warmly invited to a distinguished networking dinner at the East India Club on Monday, 10 February 2025, starting at 6:30 PM. The evening features speeches from the Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Westminster and Bishop David Waller of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, offering valuable perspectives on leadership in civic and ecclesiastical life. Hosted by the London Charterhouse Catenians, the event includes a three-course meal, wine, coffee, and mints. Cost: £75. Please email [email protected] to reserve your place. Richard Rivas President - London Charterhouse Circle https://sites.google.com/view/catenians A Year of Hope: An Introduction to the Jubilee Year with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) 2025 is a Jubilee year, but what does that mean? Catholic talk show host and author Nana Churcher, and CAFOD’s Simon Giarchi will be hosting Fr Jan Nowotnik (Director of Mission for the Bishop’s Conference), Christine Allen (CAFOD’s Director) and Kayode Akintola (CAFOD’s Head of Africa) and more for a lively start to the Jubilee. With a special appearance by Catholic band Ooberfuse. Saturday 18 Jan, 10:30am-midday, online. All welcome. Register here for free: cafod.org.uk/jubilee Spiritual Enrichment Lecture Series 2025 The centre for Applied Carmelite Spirituality invites you to explore with them this January. On offer is Deepening Prayer Series, Understanding the New Testament, Workshop: Friendship in Spiritual Direction, Twelve Little ways to transform your heart, Zealous for God. All courses on online. Please see here for more details. Pauline Books and Media The bookshop will be open from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Friday and Sundays.  The shop 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.  Please note: the sanctuary and first five pews are livestreamed 24/7. All the celebrations of Mass are recorded. The recordings are kept securely for 28days, after which they are deleted.   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 with Benediction and the Angelus at Noon. 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