Third Sunday of Advent Year B

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The Fifth Gospel Dear parishioners and friends, During Advent and in the Christmas season we hear lots of scripture readings from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah is often referred to by Catholic scripture scholars as the ‘Fifth Gospel’. This partially due to the number of times the Gospel writers refer to or quote passages from Isaiah in the Gospel’s themselves. By quoting the Prophet Isaiah, Matthew for example links the texts, words, and events and indicates that what is happening as foretold in Isaiah, is only a faint shadow of what happens in the Gospel. For example, ‘Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.’ (Isaiah 7:14, and Matthew 1:23, RSV). People have tried to see in this prophesy 700 years before Christ a direct prediction of his birth. It’s not quite as simple as that. We have seen that Isaiah is certainly talking about the way in which God will continue to provide for his people. Matthew is trying to show that although things are happening here which are completely new, there is some sort of precedent in the Old Testament. For example, if one is trying to explain what a computer is to someone who has never seen one in operation, one would have to begin with a typewriter, although the two things work in completely different ways. Matthew is showing that just as God cared for his people in Isaiah's time, so he has shown that same care but in much greater abundance now. Fr Francis Sunday 24th December 2023 Next Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Advent and also Christmas Eve. Please note that the Sunday Masses will be at 9.30am and 11.00am, a change in time of our usual Sunday Mass times.   Christmas Eve 6.00pm First mass of Christmas 9.00pm Christmas Mass during the night—Midnight Mass 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 A Christmas Celebration Westminster Cathedral presents “A Christmas Celebration“ – our ever-popular evenings of music and readings for Christmas. Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th December 2023 – 7.30pm (doors open at 6.45pm) Our annual concert includes some of the finest Advent and Christmas choral music from across the centuries performed by the world-famous Westminster Cathedral Choir and Orchestra, directed by the Cathedral’s Master of Music Simon Johnson, and festive readings by much-loved celebrity readers. The event in aid of the work of the Cathedral is a highlight of the Christmas season and not to be missed. Tickets are on sale now: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/westminster-cathedral-tickets-london/venue/254582 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. 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]