Second Sunday of Advent (Year C)

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Rising from the Ashes January 2019: I’m outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, there’s a long queue. I decide to leave it till next time. 3 months later, a fire damaged the cathedral, forcing its closure for 5 years. No one was killed - 3 people were injured - but given the status of Notre-Dame for France, it felt like utter disaster. Similar feelings surely arose here when Our Lady of Victories was bombed in 1940 with extensive loss of life; the nearby Carmelite church was also destroyed. Mass was celebrated at various venues for nearly 20 years; the reopening of Our Lady of Victories in 1959, presided by Cardinal Godfrey, must have been a most joyous occasion.   We wish the same joy for Paris this Sunday 8th December, at the reopening of Notre-Dame with its first Mass since the fire. The date stresses how much the Feast of the Immaculate Conception* is held in esteem in France, since Mary introduced herself by this title to St Bernadette in Lourdes. As we celebrate the Church in Paris rising from the ashes, in a certain sense, may Our Blessed Mother remind us that God can bring new life to flourish from the disasters of life, and prepare us in this Advent season for the coming of her Son Emmanuel, God with us. Fr Nigel   * Since 8th December falls on the 2nd Sunday of Advent this year, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on Monday 9th at our regular 10am Mass (solemnity but not a holyday of obligation). Congratulations to baby Alvey who was baptised on 1st 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, Pilar Chester, Duncan Taylor, Canice Carson, Laetitia Smith, James Langan, Theresa Chee and Pamela Faber.   Please pray for those who are recently deceased:  Margaret Conroy, Hanna Conway, Elena Bartram and Paul Kyaka.   Please pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time:  Axel Rohm, Joyce Theodore Bauduin, Chantal Van Laer, Maite Regout, Ian Wightwick and Pauline Hunt.   Welcome - Catholic Women’s Association The Catholic Women’s Association (CWA) has established an active group in the Parish of Our Lady of Victories. The CWA Executive Members will be formally welcomed at the 10.30am Mass this Sunday 8th December 2024, with refreshments afterwards in the Parish Hall.   The CWA meet every 2nd Sunday of the Month in the Jerusalem Room in the Pastoral Centre after the 10.30 am Mass. All baptised catholic women aged 18 and over, are welcome to attend the meetings for prayer and sharing.   For further information please contact Agnes on mobile 07921 651447, or email [email protected]. Caritas Advent Giving: Updated This Advent we will be participating in the Caritas Advent Giving programme which will raise food supplies for our local White City Food Bank. Shop online and deliver to: The Presbytery, Commonwealth Avenue, White City, W12 7QR. Thank you for your support in this initiative, and the help it provides to so many vulnerable families. I know God will bless our generosity.  Suzanne Williams [[email protected]] (Our Lady of Victories Caritas Representative) 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.  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] A Christmas Celebration in Westminster Cathedral Tickets are on sale for the annual Christmas concerts performed by the world-famous Westminster Cathedral Choir, orchestra, and celebrity readers, on 18 and 19 December at 7.30pm. Tickets can be purchased from the Cathedral Gift Shop or directly from Ticketmaster; go to www.ticketmaster.co.uk and type in Westminster Cathedral when prompted. Admissions Consultation Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School governing body is consulting on changes to the admission arrangements for entry in 2026/2027.  The following changes are proposed: · Removal of the requirement for Baptised Catholic Children to submit a Certificate of Catholic Practice · Addition of an oversubscription criteria which prioritises siblings of all Catholic children at time of enrolment · Change in subcategories from children of current teaching staff, to current members of staff The purpose of these changes is to simplify our admission arrangements.  We welcome your views and those of the community on these changes and will take them into consideration when determining the arrangements for admission. Click here to read the proposed arrangements and here to comment on the changes.  The consultation period runs from Tuesday 26th November to Monday 6th January. BEWARE - SCAM EMAILS! Do not open any email ending “gmail.com” claiming to be from one of the priests of the parish, it will almost certainly be a scam! Genuine clergy emails always end with “rcdow.org.uk” - spread the word!  Pauline Books and Media The bookshop will be open from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Friday and Sunday.   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