Newsletter 25th December 2024

Dear friends,

As we gather to celebrate the birth of Christ, we welcome you with hearts full of joy and gratitude. Christmas reminds us of God’s boundless love, revealed in the humble manger of Bethlehem. This sacred season invites us to reflect on the light of Christ, which dispels darkness and fills our lives with hope, peace, and love. Together, let us rejoice in this gift and carry its promise into the coming year.

The Holy Year 2025, a special time in the Catholic Church, calls millions of believers worldwide to spiritual renewal and reflection. Jubilee Years, rich in tradition, are occasions for grace, encouraging reconciliation, faith, and love. The chosen theme of "hope" for 2025 is particularly resonant in a world often troubled by uncertainty, conflict, and despair.

Hope, one of the three theological virtues alongside faith and charity, embodies belief in a brighter future, even amid challenges. In a world facing economic inequality, environmental crises, and personal struggles, the Holy Year invites Catholics to rediscover hope's transformative power in Christ. It calls us to cling to hope during trials and to share it generously with others.

Pope Francis, leading the Church through this Jubilee, has consistently underlined the importance of hope in his teachings. He reminds the faithful that hope is not merely a passive wish, but an active force that drives Christians to pursue justice, peace, and healing in the world. The resurrection of Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of Christian hope, assures us that hope transcends suffering and extends to all creation.

Key to the Holy Year is the tradition of pilgrimage, especially to Rome's Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, and locally in our diocese of Brentwood—a powerful symbol of drawing closer to God. Pilgrims are invited to walk in faith, trusting in God’s grace as a beacon of hope. The Holy Year also fosters global unity, urging believers to transcend differences and work for the common good, embodying Christ’s hope for all people.

As we celebrate this season of Christmas, let us carry the light of Christ into the New Year, drawing strength from the message of hope that the Holy Year 2025 will bring. May this season remind us of the enduring love of God, who sent His Son into the world to bring peace and salvation. May we find strength in Christ’s promise of peace and redemption and be inspired to bring His light into a world in need of hope.

Wishing you a blessed and joyous Christmas filled with the peace and love of Christ.

Frs Martin and Damien

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY AND ALL FAMILIES WHO MOURN.

Mavis JENNINGS (RIP) Requiem Mass on Thursday 9th January 2025 at 12Noon in Our Lady Immaculate Church.

Shelia TURNER (RIP) Requiem Mass on Friday 10th January 2025 at 12:30pm in Our Lady Immaculate Church.

Maureen PORTER (RIP) Requiem Mass on Tuesday 14th January 2025 at 1:30pm in Our Lady Immaculate Church.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND OF OUR PARISHES, (AND ALL WHO ARE SICK.)

Jennifer Bowman, Maureen Byrne, Marie Callahan, Valerie Cummins, Doreen Cornish, Madeleine East, Troy Erickson, Marta Fevola, Mary Fletcher, Michael Hoare, Mike Healy, Shelia Hughes, John Grainger, Robert Godfrey, Connor Hickey, Maureen Leatherdale, Stuart Lucas, Margaret Lowrey, Anne Lowden, Maura Magee, Barry Mayo, Sarah & Henry McKeon, Monica McShane, Donny McColl, Grazia Paola, Christine Staines, Rose Turner, John Rees, Patrick Waters, Anja Welsh-Smyth, Gayle Williams & Shirley Willis.