Jubilee Year of Hope – Series of Talks
Monday 24th November 7pm: Is Beauty in the Eye of the beholder? Fr Patrick Van der Vorst (Precentor, Westminster Cathedral).
Monday 8th December 7.15pm: Reaching the Margins. Gail Williams (Centre Manager of St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre).
This Week
First Sunday of Advent
30/11/2025
Bits and Pieces
Dear Friends,
This weekend, as we commence the lovely season of Advent we also begin another liturgical or church year. This brings us, in terms of the Sunday readings, into the year of St Matthew. We listen to this Gospel once more, beginning this Sunday with the urgent message that we must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour we do not expect. But what does it mean to stand ready? Let’s find some time this week to consider this question.
Early on Monday morning I will depart for Rome with a group of pilgrims from this parish, and also from the parish of St Thomas of Canterbury, Fulham. This pilgrimage to the Eternal City is in honour of the Jubilee or Holy Year of 2025. We go as Pilgrims of Hope, and we will take the intentions of all parishioners with us and we promise to remember you in all the holy places. Please pray for a safe and happy pilgrimage.
Pope Leo has not done much travelling since his election as Successor of Peter, but at this time he has travelled to Turkey and on to Lebanon. In Turkey, along with other Christian leaders, he will commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea. This Council (in what is now called Iznik) affirmed the divinity of Christ and led to what we now call the Nicene Creed. At the 10.30 am Mass during Advent we will sing this creed (Credo) in Latin. We pray for Pope Leo on this important Apostolic Journey.
Advent affords us some time to prepare for future events. This, clearly, involves Christmas, but also the second coming of the Lord. In the midst of all our preparations and distractions, might we find time to give this some serious thought and prayer? Holy Hour this Friday (6-7pm) is an opportunity to do this. This newsletter also includes details of prayer groups and study groups which provide us all with a chance to pray and ponder on all these things, and more besides.
I wish you a holy and blessed Advent. Amen, Come Lord Jesus!
Father Daniel
Readings at Mass Today
First Reading
Psalm
Second Reading
Gospel
The above content requires Javascript to be enabled. If it is not presented then use the button below to see today’s readings.
Liturgy of the Hours, Mass readings for the next week and more:
Offertory and Special Collections
