THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (C)
READINGS FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (C)
First Reading – (Zephaniah 3: 14-18) – Jerusalem is urged to rejoice because her salvation is at hand. God himself stands in her midst, the king and the protector of his people. We too should take heart from his message of hope.
Responsorial Psalm – Shout aloud and sing praise
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Second Reading – (Philippians 4:4-7) – This urges us to rejoice in the Lord, to be free of anxiety and to live in a spirit of prayer and thanksgiving.
Gospel – (Luke 3:10 – 18) – John the Baptist tells various groups of people the works of justice and charity they must do in order to prepare for the Lord’s coming and to escape his searching judgement.
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PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
INTROUCTION: Dear brothers and sisters, as we joyfully await the birth of Christ, let us place our intentions before God the Father whose faithful love extends from age to age.
The response is… Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for the leaders of the Church: that they may be effective role models of mercy in our world as it hungers for compassion and kindness. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for our world: that the coming celebration of the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace, may inspire all men and women to work for true and lasting peace, especially in the Holy Land and in all those places torn apart by war and violence. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for anyone who is suffering loneliness or the pain of bereavement during this season of family celebration: that the Spirit of love may bind up their broken hearts, and that they may find care and compassion among us all. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for our parish community: that each one of us may be constant in our prayer, with a spirit of thanksgiving, and never take God’s gracious gifts for granted. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for all the sick of our families and our parish, those in hospital, in hospice or nursing home and those for whom we are asked to pray: that God may give them strength and fortitude, and bless those who care for them. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for the souls of all those whose anniversaries, months mind and birthday remembrances we are asked to recall, as well as those who have recently died: that they may receive the reward of their faith and enjoy the happiness of heaven. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
CONCLUSION: God our Father, as you hear our prayers, we implore that we may experience the joy of Christmas in our daily lives, especially in times of trial, knowing that you are always near. We make this prayer and all our prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE
IN YOUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK
SICK – Rona McPhee, Ann McKenna, Mary McKenna, Rose Gallagher, Robert Kielty, Thérèse McKeand, Mary McCafferty, Edward McCafferty, Stuart Mason, Martin McGuire, David O’Hare & James Hannaway.
I also ask your prayers for the sick and housebound
– those at home in our parish community, those in hospital,
and those in local nursing and care homes in Cambuslang, Halfway
& Blantyre and elsewhere. Our prayers for them
not only help in their suffering and pain but also reassure them
that they are not forgotten by our community of faith.
Our prayers help relieve their feelings of isolation and loneliness.
To be remembered before the Altar of God
brings them comfort and consolation.
Almighty and Eternal God, you are the everlasting health
of those who believe in you.
Hear us for your sick servants
for whom we implore the aid of your tender mercy,
that being restored to bodily health,
they may give thanks to you in your Church.
Through Christ our Lord.
Our Lady, Help of the Sick, pray for them.
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RECENTLY DEAD – Ruth Hamilton.
ANNIVERSARIES – Peter Carton (1st Anniversary), Thomas Tinman (1st Anniversary), Helen Clements (2nd Anniversary), Anna & Gerard McLaughlin, Patrick Innes (50th Anniversary), Peter Jordon & Janet Eberle.
Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let Perpetual Light shine upon them.
May they Rest in Peace. Amen.
CLERGY ANNIVERSARIES - DECEMBER
Bishop Francis Thomson 06/12/1987
Rev. Hugh Macdonald 28/12/1950
Rev. John McLaughlin 03/12/1951
Rev. Daniel Colvin 08/12/1951
Rev. William Flanagan 23/12/1958
Rt. Rev. Monsignor Thomas N. Canon Taylor 01/12/1963
Rev. John Cusick 07/12/1965
Very Rev Thomas P. Canon Kelly 07/12/1969
Very Rev. Thomas J. Canon O’Neill 19/12/1975
Rev. James Fisher 04/12/1977
Rev. Ian McLaughlin 03/12/1981
Rev. John C. Brady 08/12/1982
Rev. Angus Mackellaig 11/12/1992
Rev. James Gerard Higgins 17/12/2006
Rev. John Taylor 10/12/2011
Rev. Michael Cunnane 05/12/2014
Rev. Deacon John Ferguson 31/12/2014
Rev. James Naughton 09/12/2016
Rev. Michael O’Leary 03/11/2017
Rev. John Doherty 08/12/2019
Rev. Martin O’Keefe 27/12/2019
Rev. John Breslin 29/12/2019Rev. Patrick Walsh 20/12/2020
May the Lord who chose them to serve him as priests,
number them among his chosen in heaven.
Requiescant in Pace.
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GAUDETE SUNDAY
Traditionally, today is called Gaudete Sunday, which means ‘a day for rejoicing.’ The reason for celebration is that the day of the Lord’s coming is very near. ‘Gaudete in Domino Semper’ – the ancient entrance verse of today’s Mass invites us to ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’ (Philippians 4:4). St. Paul’s joyful Advent message: “Rejoice always ... give thanks in all circumstances ... hold fast to what is good.” As of today, the mood of Advent changes to one of joyful expectation in preparation for the feast of Christmas.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWLY CONFIRMED
We had a wonderful celebration of Confirmation last Tuesday night. Our 13 newly confirmed young parishioners from St. Cadoc’s Primary School have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and confirmed in their Catholic Faith. On behalf of St. Cadoc’s Parish Community, I would like to extend congratulations to them and their families. The evening was beautiful and the celebration was truly an uplifting, spiritual and memorable event. We give thanks to God for this great occasion in the life our parish and we continue to pray for these young men and women. We thank Bishop Joseph Toal who conferred the Sacrament upon our young people. His presence and preaching were truly appreciated. We are grateful that he took time from his very busy schedule to be with us at St. Cadoc’s. We also offer our thanks to the teachers, parents, guardians & carers, grandparents, sponsors and all those who supported us in any way to make this event a memorable one for the children. A word of appreciation and gratitude also, to those who on the day, helped with setting up and tidying away the buffet food.
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CALENDAR
From Tuesday 17th Advent Masses follow the date, rather than the day of the week. One interesting saint commemorated this week is St. Peter Canisius (originally Kanis) who is honoured on Saturday. He was an early Jesuit theologian and missionary, but his field of work was not the Far East like St. Francis Xavier but Southern Germany and Austria. In the spirit of the Council of Trent, which he attended, he preached and founded study-centres all over this area to stem the Reformation tide. A version in Scots of one of his popular Catechisms is preserved in the Scots College, Rome. He died in 1597.
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CHRISTMAS REMEMBRANCES
All anniversaries, months mind and Christmas Mass Remembrances for inclusion in the Bulletin should reach the sacristy/presbytery by Monday 23fd December at the latest.
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CHILDREN’S LITURGY
Children will have their Christmas tea party after 10am Mass in the church house today (Sunday 15th December 2024). An open invitation is extended to all the children attending the children’s liturgy and other children who may not be part of it, their parents, guardians and all our volunteers who prepare, deliver and supervise it on a weekly basis and to all our altar servers and their parents and guardians. Donations of home baking will be gratefully received. I look forward to welcoming you today.
We finish the Children’s Liturgy for the Christmas holiday next Sunday (22nd December 2024) with a practice for the Christingle Service after 10am Mass.
A big “thank you” to the Children’s Liturgy helpers for their valued support during the year. Thanks also to the parents, guardians and carers who bring their children to the church to participate in our children’s liturgy.
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CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMASS 2024
CHRISTMAS EVE (Tuesday Afternoon/Evening)
(The beginning of the Christmas Season)
+THE VIGIL MASS OF CHRISTMAS (4pm)
with Christingle Service (for children of all ages) at 3.30pm
+ CHRISTMAS MASS DURING THE NIGHT
with the Blessing of the Crib (6pm) with Carols at 5.45pm
CHRISTMAS DAY (Wednesday)
+THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
Day Masses of Christmas 10am
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CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
I do not take up a special collection on Christmas Day (apart from the normal feast day one) for the upkeep of the parish church and for the many pastoral activities in the parish as many of the parishes would do, however, I rely heavily on your continued kind generosity in your giving to the parish funds, especially at this time of year when we celebrate the feast of giving from God’s point of view: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” Please support your parish’s ministry and help to maintain your Church and grounds by giving generously to our Christmas collection. Special Christmas Collection envelopes are provided with today’s bulletin. Gift-aid members should use the weekly offering envelope from the book of envelope; if they use special Christmas collection envelope, they should have their number added on it.
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NEW LECTIONARY FOR MASS
The Lectionary is a book (divided over four volumes) of Scripture readings which are used on weekdays and Sundays and other particular occasions throughout the Church’s liturgical year to proclaim the Word of God. From the First Sunday of Advent 2024, the translation of the Lectionary changed to the English Standard Version – Catholic Edition (ESV-CE) of the Bible. The new Lectionaries have incorporated readings for the feasts of saints added to the calendar since 1981 when the previous (Jerusalem Bible) Lectionary was published. The present Lectionaries, now over 40 years old, are in a deteriorating condition. The choice of the ESV-CE translation incorporates modern biblical scholarship. We have already bought the new set of lectionaries at the cost of £695.00. This is a significant cost to be borne by the parish. Should anyone wish to contribute towards the cost of these Lectionaries, you may please place your donation in the offering plate over the next few weeks. Enclosed please find in today’s bulletin a copy of the letter from the Bishop Toal on the introduction of the new lectionary.
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READERS REQUIRED FOR CHRISTMAS MASSES
I am looking for volunteers who would help out as readers for Christmas Masses. Sign-up sheet is left in the porch. Please consider volunteering for one of the Masses. Thanks to Mrs Anne Moran for giving her time to prepare sign-up sheet.
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CHRISTMAS APPEAL FOR THE WAYSIDE CLUB
As in previous years, I encourage parents and others to donate Christmas gifts/presents (such as socks, toiletries, etc.) at our Christingle Service for the less fortunate ones which will help bring Christmas cheer to some deserving person at the Wayside Club, Glasgow.
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CHURCH CLEANING
Thank you to all our parish volunteers [Irene Savage, Rose Hewitt, Rita Kelly, Anne McCafferty, Bernadette Goodwin, Frances Goodwin, Jane Ngomo & Anne Lennon] who generously gave of their time to clean the Church on Saturday of the last week. It makes all the difference! We are very lucky in St. Cadoc’s that our church is cleaned every third Saturday. Many on coming to church comment on how clean, tidy and welcoming our church is, and that is testament to the wonderful cleaning team.
We could do with more people willing to give of their time every three weeks to help with general cleaning of the church which takes place on a Saturday morning. If you would like to help with cleaning, please contact Anne Lennon, the parish co-ordinator, or Fr. Cirilo.
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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP WITH RISING ENERGY BILLS (GAS & ELECTRICITY)
We are well into the cold season now. Keeping warm over the winter months is vital for our well-being and also to protect the fabric of the building from both surface and interstitial condensation, no matter how full the pews. And that means high heating bills.
Since the aftermath of Covid-19, the cost of living, from buying groceries to heating our church and presbytery, has been on the rise sharply every day. Overall, our expenditures have increased faster than income. Our parish relies entirely on your contributions to pay our bills. I kindly appeal to your generosity to add an extra pound or two to your weekly contributions to help defray, in particular this winter, the high costs of energy bills.
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parking in the streets
surrounding the church
Unfortunately, parishioners of St. Cadocs’ who drive to church are in a situation where there is no private parking within the church grounds. The streets surrounding the church therefore invariably become congested with parked cars especially at weekend Mass times. Whilst acknowledging the limitations of parking in relation to the church, I would ask those drivers attending services to consider the needs of local residents to have unimpeded access to their properties when choosing where to responsibly park. You can also use our car park which is situated behind the church. It can accommodate 6 cars.
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RIGHT TO LIFE UK: PRAYING FOR THE UNBORN
AND WOMEN FACING CRISIS PREGNANCIES
15th December 2024: “As we await the coming of the Child Jesus at Christmas, we ask God to fill our hearts with joy for the gift of new life.”
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an act of spiritual communion
(St. Alphonsus Liguori)
(This is a simple and loving act of Spiritual Communion we are called to make in these times,
while we are unable to attend Mass and receive the Eucharist)
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the
Most Holy Sacrament.
I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace you as if you were already there
and unite myself wholly to you.
Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
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prayer to st. michael
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in the day of battle.
Be our safeguard against the wickedness
and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Hosts,
by the power of God, cast into Hell Satan, and all the evil spirits
who prowl the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Holy mary, mother of god,
st. Joseph,
st. Michael and holy angels,
ST. CADOC,
Pray for us