FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (C)
READINGS FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (C)
First Reading – (Micah 5: 1-4) – Jerusalem was under siege and David’s dynasty was in jeopardy. But the prophet said that salvation would come from a comparatively insignificant place – Bethlehem. From there a new leader would come to gather together the scattered exiles and unite the nation once more.
Responsorial Psalm – Bring us back, O God;
let your face shine forth and we shall be saved.
Second Reading – (Hebrews 10:5-10) – The sacrifices of the Mosaic Law were unable to purify people from sin. Only Christ, through his obedience and sacrifice of self, was able to bring about the reconciliation between God and his people.
Gospel – (Luke 1:39 – 45) – This deals with Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Enlightened by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth praises Mary and hints at the uniqueness of the child she has just conceived.
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PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
INTROUCTION: Dear brothers and sisters, as we approach the time when we celebrate the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us place before God the Father our needs and concerns as we pray for ourselves and others
The response is… Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for the leaders of the Church: that they may fearlessly mirror the faith and trust of Mary and Elizabeth, as they fulfil God’s will. 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 mothers: that, following Mary’s example, they may nourish their children and instil in them values of faith, hope and love. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for homeless, the unemployed and for all who have financial worries, especially as the Christmas season approaches: that they may find care and compassion among us all. 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 we prepare ourselves to celebrate the great feast of Christmas, strengthen us with your grace that we may boldly proclaim your promise of salvation to all generations. 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, Jack Morrison, Leslie Karen McWilliams & Stuart Rankin.
MONTHS MIND – Andrew Harkin & Thomas Burke.
ANNIVERSARIES – Claire-Ashley Blake, Thomas Tinman (1st Anniversary), Peter Carton (First Anniversary), Helen Clements (2nd Anniversary), Maureen McNulty (2nd Anniversary), Jean Coyle (10th Anniversary), Charlotte McManus, Patrick Innes (50th Anniversary), James McCluskey (51st Anniversary), Stephen McGurk (Snr & Jnr), Patrick Harkin, Janet Harkin, Harry Harkin, 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 29/12/2019
Rev. 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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CALENDAR
Monday is the memorial of St. John of Kanty (Cantius), a Pole who lived a century earlier than the Dutchman Canisius, was a professor of scripture in Krakow. Noted like Canisius for his courtesy and moderation in controversy, he was also very generous to the poor. Wednesday is the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. Thursday is the feast of St. Stephen, deacon and the first Martyr. St. John the Evangelist in honoured on Thursday. On Saturday we keep the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the commemoration of the children of Judea who were slaughtered at Herod’s order in his search for the Christ-child. On Sunday we honour Jesus, Mary and Joseph – the Holy Family of Nazareth.
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ADVENT CONFESSIONS
Please find time to make a good Confession in preparation for Christmas. Fr. Rodrigues will be available in the sacristy to hear confessions on Monday & Tuesday between 9.30am – 9.50am during the remaining time of Advent Season.
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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 at the back of the church. 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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CHRISTMAS REMEMBRANCES
All anniversaries, months mind and Christmas Mass Remembrances for inclusion in the Bulletin should reach the sacristy/presbytery by tomorrow (Monday 23fd December) at the latest.
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CHILDREN’S LITURGY
Children had a great day last Sunday. It was really wonderful to see so many young ones turning up for the party along with their parents, grandparents, guardians and carers. A huge thank you to everyone who came along to support our children on that day, and to those who donated the tasty home-baking and soft drinks, juices, cakes and contributed to this parish social event. I am also grateful the Clements Family for providing the chairs for the day. A word of appreciation and gratitude also to Patricia Meikle, Rita Kelly and Irene Savage who worked so hard on the day with setting up and tidying away the buffet meal.
Besides, a big thank you to all the Children’s Liturgy helpers for their valued support during the year. We currently have a dedicated team of 4 Children’s Liturgists (Elizabeth Gray, Marie Claire Faller, Anne-Frances McLaughlin & Bernadette Sheppard) who lead the Liturgy of the Word discussions with our young people on a weekly basis. Two Liturgists attend each week to work with our young ones. Thank you also to the young people from our local high schools, candidates for the Pope Benedict XVI Caritas Award, for their involvement with the children’s liturgy and other areas of the parish life.
And thanks to the parents, guardians and carers who bring their children to the church to participate in our children’s liturgy. Our young ones are the future of our parish. Their participation in parish activities, such as the children’s liturgy, is an important step in their faith formation. We recognise that parents, guardians, carers are the first catechists of their children. They are obviously of supreme importance and influence. Parents, guardians, carers, therefore, have a great responsibility to give a good example to their children, since children will grow in faith only if they see their parents, guardians, carers practise it. It is my humble and hearty request to parents, guardians & carers that you bring your children to a Sunday Mass on a regular basis.
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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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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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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
22nd 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