Second Sunday of Advent Year B

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A Lonely Voice Mark Ch1 v.1-8 Dear parishioners and friends, When you listen what do you hear? Your own voice or the voice of another, or silence? Recent research concludes that silence can be heard or experienced. The research also suggests that those who can sit in silence are enhanced in their compassion. St John the Baptist goes into the silence of the desert. In the wilderness Johns’ whole being is overwhelmed by the word of God. John invites those who listen to him to a renewed life. His voice has a powerful reach.  Johns’ voice is attractive to a biblical people who believe God has been silent for too long. In the voice of John the people hear the echo of the voice of God. Why do we listen to some people and not to others. Do the voices we warm to please us by telling us only what we want to hear. Or do the voices we listen to challenge, invite and foster in us a newness of life and vison? Johns' mission is to foster the greatness not of himself, but of another. Jesus of Nazareth. As the relationship between John and Jesus teaches us, the generosity in recognising the goodness in others can help them call out the good that is in ourselves. When that happens, there are no losers. Mgr Jim Little Sisters of the Poor We welcome this weekend 9/10 December. 'God, who has fatherly concern for everyone, willed that all people should constitute one family and treat one another in the spirit of brotherhood'. (Gaudium et Spes: The Church in the Modern World). Little Sisters of the Poor, to whom the Church has entrusted the Apostolic Mission of Hospitality to the Aged poor, welcome the elderly of all nationalities and beliefs. Please be as generous as you can. Christmas Masses Saturday 16th      11.00am –12.00 Noon Confessions 5.00pm—5.45pm Confessions   Sat 23rd & Sun 24th     4th Sunday of Advent     Saturday Vigil 6.00pm Mass 9.30am Mass 11.00am Mass   Sun 24th     CHRISTMAS EVE  6.00pm First Mass of Christmas 8.30pm Carols 9.00pm Christmas Mass during the night—Midnight Mass   Mon 25th     CHRISTMAS DAY 9.00am Mass of the Dawn 10.30am Mass of the Day 12.00 Noon Solemn Sung Mass 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. Year of Prayer 2024 In preparation for the Jubilee Year in 2025, we begin this Advent Sunday the Year of Prayer. Fr Rob Taylerson, who is based at St Mary's College, Oscott, has compiled a document of meditations based on Pope Francis' recent catechesis on prayer. He has compiled 52 parts, providing a reflection for each week of the coming year. An electronic copy can be found here. SVP Vinnie Packs The SVP are distributing over 10,000 Vinnie Packs containing cold weather essentials to the homeless this winter. Please could you consider sponsoring packs at a suggested donation of £4.20 per pack? Donations can be sent to Vinnie Packs, PO Box 72264, London SW1P 9EZ with cheques made out to SVP or by bank transfer to Nat West sort code   60-60-04, account no. 4608 8237. Thank you so much for your support. Marriage Our next Marriage Preparation course begins on Monday 19th February 2024. Please contact Fr Francis on [email protected] for more information.   Friends of the Holy Land Christmas Appeal Light your candle with a donation today at: www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/christmas For updates: www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/Blogs/holy-land-update  Friends of the Holy Land a Christmas Concert Helping Christians in Need Thursday 14th December 2023     7.30pm Featuring The London Welsh Male Voice Choir   Guest Soloists Margaret Keys & Anthony Stuart Lloyd at Our Lady of Victories Church  235a Kensington High Street London W8 6SA   Tickets through Eventbrite: search for FHL Christmas Concert Info at: https://www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/Event/christmas-concert-2023 Special offer to parishioners: Friends of The Holy Land Concert 14 December 7.30pm: Limited Tickets are available for parishioners who wish to attend from the  Parish Office at £10. First come, First serve. Give The Gift of Peace This Christmas, help prepare a joyful meal for homeless and older people. Gift wrapping:16th & 22nd December 11am-1pm, Christmas Meal 23rd December. St Cuthbert’s, Church, Earl’s Court 50 Philbeach Gardens, SW5 9EB To sign up, please visit https://www.santegidio.org.uk/christmas 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 new parishioner registration form which can be found on our website:  https://www.ourladyofvictories.net/parish-registrationfinancial-support.html Here you can also find further information on all our parish activities. Leaving a Legacy In the last year, the parish has received a number of legacies from parishioners who have remembered the work of the parish in their wills. Please pray for the repose of the souls of those parishioners. They will be remembered in our annual donors Mass. Please consider remembering the parish in your will. See the leaflets at the back of the Church or call 0207 798 9375 or email [email protected] Pauline Books and Media The Sisters of the Pauline run their shop in the repository at Our Lady of Victories Church from Tuesday to Friday and Sunday from 9am to1pm. The contact number is 07561456074.  OLOV LATEST NEWS GIFT AID DONATIONS:   Dear Parishioners:   We have worked with our colleagues in the Parish Support Team towards procedures for processing the Gift Aid from contactless donations through the Dona provider. When signing a Gift Aid declaration on the device, you will also be asked if you would like your previous contactless donations to be Gift Aided.  Further, as entering a Gift Aid declaration on the device can take a couple of minutes, we want to help reduce the amount of time you may spend on the device, and reduce the queue for it. Leaflets have been created and placed at the back of the church and on the notice board. These contain a QR code that will enable you to use your smartphone to make your Gift Aid declaration. You can also access the Dona portal and leave your donation by simply scanning the underneath QR code: You can also donate securely by debit or credit card by clicking on the button created at the section end.   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 Wednesday's, after the 10am Mass, there is Eucharistic Adoration. This is an opportunity to spend some time in prayer before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. During that time a priest will also be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Adoration concludes at Noon with the prayer of the Angelus. Confessions are also available every Saturday from 5 pm to 5.45 pm.   Please do keep an eye on the website: www.ourladyofvictories.net which will be updated weekly.  Mgr Jim Curry & Fr Francis   Our Lady of Victories 16 Abingdon Road London W8 6AF 020 7937 4778  [email protected]