Sunday:
December 22nd 2024
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
MASS (OLHoC): 6.00pm (Sat. 21st) (Pro
Populo)
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am
(Deceased members of the Kleinman and Devine families)
X Refreshments in the hall
after Mass
MASS (OLHoC): 11.00am
– (Anna Fitzgerald-Clark RIP)
X Refreshments in the hall
after Mass
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
•
MONDAY, December
23th – Feria
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Michel Shields RIP)
• TUESDAY,
December 24th
CHRISTMAS
VIGIL MASS (OLHoC): 6.30pm
With Parents and Children (Private intention)
MIDNIGHT MASS
10:30pm Carols
11pm Midnight Mass (Private intention)
• WEDNESDAY, December 25th
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
CHRISTMAS DAY MASS
(OLHoC):11.00am
(Pro Populo)
'A SAVIOUR HAS BEEN BORN TO YOU. HE IS CHRIST
THE LORD' (Luke2:11)
• THURSDAY, December 26th
ST STEPHEN
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Fr. John Lawrence RIP)
No Parish Open Office this week
• FRIDAY, December 27th – ST JOHN
MASS (OLHoC):9.00am
(Rafferty and Lando Powell RIP)
•SATURDAY,
December 28th
THE
HOLY INNOCENTS
MASS (OLHoC):10.00am (Eric Coling RIP)
Confessions & Exposition (OLHoC):11.00am-12 noon)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Next Sunday: December 29th 2024
THE HOLY FAMILY OF
JESUS, MARY and JOSEPH
MASS (OLHoC): 6.00pm (Sat. 28th) (Dorothy
Wrigley RIP)
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Pro Populo)
X There are no refreshments in the Hall after this Mass
MASS
(OLHoC): 11.00am – (Dr Nicholas Rozario RIP)
X There are no refreshments in the Hall after this Mass
X A BIG CHRISTMAS THANK YOU FROM FR. GARRY – Season’s Greetings
from Liberia – today, there is a small respite from the intense heat. But
having mentioned this, I am truly sorry for the storms and cold weather that
you’ve been experiencing recently.
With the arrival of a team of visiting
Spanish specialists, at St Joseph's Catholic Hospital, an ultra-scan revealed
that I required Laser prostate surgery. The work was carried out on November 27
and I was kept in, for several days. While I was in hospital, during the night
hours James Nyanku and Musa, my ‘carer’ looked after me very well. Thank God, I
am feeling much better and having several weeks rest, here on the Mission, in
Bomi.
By the way, we have been helping James
for the past 18 years, since he arrived on the Mission, as a 13-year-old, from
a small town far away within the Belle Forest. I am very happy to say that
James will graduate as a medical doctor, in July 2025.
Towards, Christmas, Musa and Mambu will drive
me to several of our Church Communities close to our town. But long distances
to Robertsport and such like, are now the prerogative of the younger
generation!
Some other students, whom we have also
been helping, are nearing the completion of their tertiary studies. In
fact, Nicholas, Samuel and Sumo, graduated in July with BScs in Civil
Engineering from Stella Maris Catholic University, in Monrovia: and I am glad
to say that they are now working here, on the Bomi Mine, along with John
Geeton, who graduated in Environmental Science.
This month, the local Bomi Community College
completes another semester. Frederick Jah will graduate with an Associate
degree in Agriculture; he has already been assured of employment, at my
friend’s model farm. However, most of our students at the Bomi College opt to
follow the associate degree course in Education. I am so glad that some of them
are doing internships: Jacob Mulbah is helping at Oscar Romero School for the
Deaf, while Sando Nyuma and Emmanuel Boakai are teaching at St Dominic’s School.
Recently, Anna Bsaibes visited us from
Monrovia. She and her husband Chawki, helped by their sons, manage the Mamba
Point Hotel. Anna is also the ambassador to Liberia, for the Sovereign
Order of Malta. Together with St Francis Leprosy Guild, the Order is helping
with the patients, who have contracted Hanson’s Disease, at the village of
Massatine. Over the years, we have supported the community with a small clinic.
Moreover, we have constructed a church in honour of St Damien of Molokai’s and
a school with 260 pupils. On Anna’s visit to Bomi, she brought 50 x 25 kilos of
rice and some children’s food for the Christmas Party, on December 29. Fr Bruno
will travel there with Musa.
Before returning to Monrovia, Anna crossed
the road and visited the Oscar Romero School for the Deaf. Our O.L.A. Sisters
have recently assumed the management of the school. This is of course a very
important apostolate. On the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate
Conception, the children, together with the Sisters and Carers, joined the
annual Archdiocesan Pilgrimage, at the Shrine of Our Lady Queen of Peace, by
all accounts, it was a wonderful day for everyone, (I obeyed 'doctors' orders,
and remained here).
So, in our modest way, assisting the children
at Oscar Romero, the patients at Massatine, and the seventy physically
challenged in Bomi and the villages, our local Church is trying to respond to
Jesus’ Mission Statement, of Luke 4:18-19.
I wish you a
blessed Christmas.
Kindest regards, Fr. Garry.
X A BIG CHRISTMAS THANK YOU – I would like to express my gratitude to
everyone who has got involved in our parish over the past year.
From the cleaners in
the church, the coffee volunteers in the hall, the organists and singers, the
ministry of readers, the altar servers, catechists, leaders of children
liturgy, those who organised the rotas, members of the Parish representative
group (PRG), the helpers with the meals and bazaars, the flower ladies, the
counters, the assistance in the parish office, the helpers with the holiday
club and the members of the various Parish Committees and more.
Many of you have
donated your time, effort and money, helping to make our parish a special place
to be together as one.
X INFANT BAPTISM may only happen after
undergoing a preparation with the parish priest. Baptisms can then be
celebrated at either 3pm on a Saturday or 1pm on a Sunday on the 1st
or 3rd Sunday of the month. Please note from January 2025 the
preparation for infant Baptism will take place every second Sunday of the month
after 11 am Mass.
X AN APPEAL FOR AN ACT OF KINDNESS AND FAVOUR - Please, as you leave the Church at the end of Mass, return the books and
papers that you were given when you first arrived, to the back of the Church
where they normally stay for the next Mass.
X WE PRAY FOR THE SICK - We remember all those who are sick or
housebound and that they remain in our prayers including, Liz Willis, Robert Claridge, Cecilia
Niven, Stacy Rodrigues, Ann Robinson, Uzo Mbanugo, Bob & Tess Vickery,
Canon Luke Smith, Beulah Blomfield, John Lodge, Veronica Poulton, Margaret
Woolley, and all those who have asked for our prayers.
X WE PRAY
FOR THE RECENTLY DECEASED - Please pray for the
repose of the soul of Bishop John Hine, Lillian Orfila, Robert Jones, Christine
Mary Kissane, James Kissane, Ron Hall, Suchada Robinson (who was known as Jo or
Jojo), Fr Wenna Henry Tiku
and all those who have died recently, and those whose anniversaries fall at
this time including:
Joan Webb, Eileen Root (22nd Dec.); Mary Pentland, Yvonne D’Agostini (23rd
Dec.); Florence Clutton, Kathleen Day, Michael Halloran, (24th Dec.), Dragica Gillett
(25th Dec.); Norman Perkins, Laura Cooke (26th Dec.); Anne Morgan, Mary Chopin
(27th Dec.); Dennis Parry (28th Dec.); Paulette Miller, Dr Nicholas Rozario,
Kristina Laskowski (29th Dec).
X CAFOD
JUBILEE RESOURCES
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” Luke 4:18
The Year of Jubilee, 'Pilgrims of Hope' -
This special year of forgiveness and reconciliation, invites us to return to a
right relationship with God, one another, and all of creation. CAFOD have many
resources and opportunities to get involved on their Jubilee webpage In particular they draw your attention to: Introducing
Jubilee online session – 18th January 2025: 10:30am-12 noon.
Join them for An
introduction to the Jubilee Year with special guests Fr Jan Nowotnik,
Director of Mission for the Catholic Bishop’s Conference, Christine Allen,
CAFOD Director, and Kayode Akintola, CAFOD’s Head of Africa Programmes.
Hear how they are celebrating Jubilee as a global Church and how we can be
tangible signs of hope, building a better world together throughout this holy
year.
X CHRISTMAS OFFERING: Please remember that Christmas Day is on Wednesday
24-25th December, so the collection next week is your offering to Fr Alex, your
Parish priest.
X PARISH
SHOP – open after Mass every day for your 2025
Catholic diaries, Southwark Directory, and last minute Christmas cards and
gifts.
WE FLY TO THY PROTECTION
We
fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do
not despise our petitions in our necessities, but
deliver us always from all dangers,
O
Glorious and Blessed Virgin.
PRAYER TO ST MICHAEL
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our
protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him,
we humbly pray; And do
thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell
Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Presbytery and Parish
Office:
41
Guildhall Street, Folkestone, Kent CT20 1EF
Tel: 01303 252823
e-mail:
folkestone@rcaos.org.uk
Parish
Priest: Fr Alex Saba MA, MSLR, MCL, JC
Hall
Bookings: hallbookingonline.com/folkestone/
