SUNDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2021

 

Sunday: November 28th

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

 

MASS (OLHoC): 6.00pm (Sat.) (David Roberts RIP) 

 

MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Pro Populo)

 X Refreshments in the Parish Hall after Mass

 

MASS (OLHoC): 11.00am (For Mauve RIP)

X Refreshments in the Parish Hall after Mass

 

X St Joseph’s Social Club Meeting – all are welcome (St Joseph’s Church Hall): 12.30pm

 

X Churches Together Folkestone Winter Shelter Dedication service (St John’s Church): 6.00pm

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• MONDAY, November 29th - Feria

 MASS (OLHoC) 9.00am (C K Mathew RIP)

Cremation of Daniel McCarthy (Hawkinge Crem.) 1.30pm

X Film Show -  A Man for all Seasons (St Jo’s Hall): 2.30pm

X Journey in Faith/RCIA Class (OLHoC Hall): 7.00pm

 

• TUESDAY, November 30th – St Andrew

MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Harry Devine RIP)

 

• WEDNESDAY, December 1st - Feria

MASS (OLHoC): 10.00am (Frank McSwiggan RIP)

X Tea/Coffee and Cake in the Parish Hall after Mass

X Folkestone Winter Shelter begins

 

• THURSDAY, December 2nd - Feria

MASS (OLHoC) 9.00am (Tony Knowles RIP -1st anniversary)

X Film Show -  A Man for all Seasons (OLHoC Hall): 7.00pm

 

• FRIDAY, December 3rd – St Francis Xavier

Day of prayer for Migrants

MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Well-being of Abraham Varghese)

 

• SATURDAY, December 4th – Votive BVM

MASS (OLHoC) 10.00am (Mollie O’Conner)

X Confessions and Exposition (OLHoC) 11.00am – noon

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Next Sunday: December 5th

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Second collection: Christmas Flowers

 

MASS (OLHoC): 6.00pm (Sat.) (Vera Pickering RIP)

 

MASS (St Joseph’s): 9.00am (Pro Populo)

 X Refreshments in the Parish Hall after Mass

 

MASS (OLHoC): 11.00am

(Well-being and recovery of Fr Stephen Bould)

X Refreshments in the Parish Hall after Mass

X REFLECTION FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C

This Sunday, we begin our four weeks of preparation for Christmas in a new liturgical year, Year C, during which time we will journey with the Gospel according to Luke - the Gospel of mercy and compassion - the Good News for the poor and the marginalised, where there is a strong message of the hope of overcoming sins and, above all, the assurance that the Father cares for us and is ready to welcome us home any time we trust in His mercy and decide to return to him.

Advent is calling us to be on our guard or, watch. As Christians, we move forward, we journey toward the fulfilment of the kingdom in a permanent state of watchfulness, preparation and perseverance as we await our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has come and who is to come.

How are we? Where is our life heading to, what sense are we making of the chaos that the pandemic has brought and continues to bring to our lives?  Despite those questions giving us cause for reflection, we get comfort from the Prophet Jeremiah through the first reading - the chaos will be over, God will lead us and we will be his own people.

The second reading presents us with things that we need to overcome: as an expectant people, we need to embrace and adopt new attitudes to help us overcome any division, rancour and complacency that can prevent the Lord Jesus from entering our lives.

The Messiah will come to recreate and transform everything, including a heart of stone - light will shine in our darkness, we can be liberated from whatever fears and prejudices we might be holding, as our God will never abandon us.

As part of our preparation, we need to consider reading and meditating on the Word Of God, may we  review our prayer life, remember to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation, think about the poor and the needy, and embrace the spirit of renewal and the abundant opportunities that this advent will offer.

Let ask ourselves how we can make this advent a time of renewal, recreation and transformation in our personal life, and in the life of our community

Let us be on our guard and watch. Blessed Advent to each one of us. 

X PRAY FOR THOSE IN THE PARISH WHO ARE SICK or in hospital including Margaret Foster, Francis Dunn and Mary Wheaton. 

X RECEPTION OF COMMUNION AT MASS – those not in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church and Roman Catholics not able to receive Holy Communion are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing. Those wishing to receive a blessing are asked to approach the Priest with their arms crossed over their chest. 

CHRISTMAS FLOWER DEMONSTRATION - a Christmas Flower Demonstration will be held on the Monday 6th December at 2.00pm, entrance is £3 and includes tea/coffee and a mince pie. Arrangements will be raffled, and proceeds from this will go to the SVP. All are welcome.

 

X CHURCHES TOGETHER FOLKESTONE WINTER SHELTER DEDICATION SERVICE will take place on Sunday 28th November at 6.00pm at St John’s Church. All are welcome to attend as we pray for the Shelter, which begins on Wednesday 1st December, with the first evening meal of the Shelter being held at Our Lady, Help of Christians, and we continue to pray for the health of staff, volunteers & clients. Thank you to all those who are giving up their time and to Judy Doherty for taking on the role of co-ordinating our efforts in the parish. 

X ST JOSEPH’S SOCIAL CLUB MEETING on Sunday 28th November at 12.30pm there will be a meeting at St Joseph’s Church Hall to discuss the way forward for Social Club. It will be an opportunity to join the Club and to discuss and what events you would like to see put on locally in Cheriton and how we can best utilise the facilities. Coffee and biscuits will be served. 

X PARISH FILM SHOW of "A Man for all Seasons":  

Sir Thomas More battle of conscience between duty to the crown of King Henry VIII and duty to the Church of Christ.  

·       In St Joseph's Church hall (Monday 29th November at 2.30 pm).  

·       In the Parish Hall at Our Lady, Help of Christians and St Aloysius (Thurs. 2nd Dec. at 7.00 pm).  

- This is to allow for the greatest number of people to attend either in the afternoon or in the evening. 

- Entry is free; coffee, tea and biscuits will be provided; you may bring your own nibbles. 

- Donations will be gratefully received for the repair of the roof of St Joseph church. 

- A time for discussions on the film will follow at the end of the show.  

- If the event proves successful, more will follow.   

I hope you can come and join us in the celebration of parish life. [Deacon Gehad] 

X CAROL SERVICE – Sunday, 12th December at 4.30pm at St Joseph’s Church followed by refreshments in the hall including mince pies, mulled wine and a Prize Draw organised by the St. Josephs team and the UCM. There will also be a special gift for all the children. 

X THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED WITH THE FIRST HOLY COMMUNION AND CELEBRATIONS AND RECEPTION AFTER MASS last weekend including Cecilia and Kathy for organising it, and Patsy Allen for making the cake for the First Holy Communion children. It took a lot of time making it and she also donated the cake. 

X CHRISTMAS FLOWERS: please note that next week’s second collection is for Christmas flowers. If you miss this opportunity and you’d like to contribute, please put your donation in an envelope marked “Christmas Flowers” and put it through the Presbytery letter box at 41 Guildhall Street. 

X RED WEDNESDAY – thank you to everyone who came and took part in the Red Wednesday vigil at Our Lady Help of Christians last Wednesday evening. Over thirty people came along for prayers and the vigil against persecution of Christians around the world.

PARISH INFORMATION

 

Presbytery and Parish Office:

41 Guildhall Street, Folkestone, Kent CT20 1EF

Tel: 01303 252823  e-mail: folkestone@rcaos.org.uk

 

Parish Secretary: Mr Dylan Jeffrey BA, PGCE, MSc

 

Clergy

Parish Priest: Fr Alex Saba MA, MSLR, MCL, JCL

 

Priest: Fr Francis Capener MA

Deacon: Rev. Dr Gehad Homsey MB, BCh

 

Our Lady Help of Christians Hall Bookings: 

Dylan Jeffrey (Tel:01303 252823)

 

St Joseph’s Church Hall Bookings:

Mrs M. Irving (Tel: 01303 278435)

 

Stella Maris Primary School: 
Parkfield Road, Folkestone CT19 5BY

Exec. Headteacher: Lisa Huotari - 01303 252127

X RIDE AND STRIDE UPDATE – didn’t we do well!  The figures have now come back for the fundraising by local churches for Kent’s Ride and Stride this year. Our parish achieved a final fundraising total of £829.75 which was the highest of any church in our parish area and were only slightly behind the £1,000 raised by Saltwood’s St Peter and St Paul and the £1,300 raised by St Nicholas in New Romney within the east Kent area. Our target next year will be to get into four figures! Well done to everyone who took part or donated this year.

Acrise St Martin's £200.00

Elham St Mary the Virgin £150.00

Cheriton St Joseph RC £244.00

Cheriton St Martin's £307.40

Folkestone Holy Trinity (Christ Church) £409.00

Folkestone Our Lady Help of Christians £585.75

Folkestone St George's £220.00

Folkestone St John £288.00

Folkestone St Mary & St Eanswythe £220.00

Newington (Folkestone) St Nicholas £270.00

Sandgate St Paul £195.00

X CHRISTMAS CARDS, POSTING DATES AND MORE – from your very own Catholic Shop in our parish. Open every day after Mass at OLHoC (times are in the shop window) for all your cards, gifts, statues, rosaries and more, and every penny you spend will be supporting the work of our Parish, so please support our work. The last posting dates this year for Christmas cards (parcels are different dates) are as follows: 

·       Weds 1st December for the Caribbean

·       Mon 6th December for Australia, Greece, Italy, New Zealand and Portugal

·       Weds 8th December for Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Far and Middle East

·       Fri 10th December for Cyprus, Malta and Sweden

·       Sat 11th December for Eastern Europe

·       Monday 13th December for Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Poland and USA

·       Thurs 16th November for the rest of Europe

·       Sat 18th December for 2nd class UK

·       Tues 21st December for 1st class UK 

X CHRISTMAS FAYRE - SATURDAY 18TH DECEMBER - PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE. Are you able to assist with the Christmas Fayre this year? We are planning a raffle, lots of goodies for sale, plus tea, coffee and cake. Thank you to those who have offered to help including Maria who will be decorating the hall. The Fayre will be held from 12.00 noon until 3.00pm in the Parish Hall. If you would like to be involved, contact Dylan in the Parish office. 

X PLEASE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOULS of those who died recently including Vera Pickering, Mick Kearney, Thomas Gilheaney and Agata Borza and all those whose anniversaries fall at this time, including amongst them: Josephine Taylor (28th Nov); Michael Woods, Marguerite Faucompre, Rose Bray (29th Nov); Emily Sumner (30th Nov); Anthony Reddington, Douglas Watts (1st Dec); Peter Patton, Margaret Westall, Florence Sharpe (2nd Dec); Jose Scheirs, Alice Stanley (3rd Dec); Raymond Charsley, Gertrude Peat, Charles Birch, Alice Gregory, Florence Tinney, Thomas Noble (4th Dec); Francis O’Brien, John Dobbin, Gertrude Grundy, John Pattarini, Margaret Light, Frederick Buller (5th Dec). 

X THE SEASON OF ADVENT – Advent has a twofold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight. The new lectionary cycle for Sundays begins this week, Year C, the year of Luke. 

X MIGRANT TRAGEDY IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL – In September 2016, Pope Francis told members of the European Confederation and World Union of Jesuit Alumni that 'Every Migrant has a name, a face and a story' and that 'they are no different than our own family and friends'.

It is with great sadness that the Archdiocese of Southwark acknowledges the tragic death of 27 migrants, whose boat capsized as they endeavoured to cross from Calais to England in the hope of peace and a better life. Bishop Paul McAleenan, Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees, commentated on the tragedy:

“Everyone knew refugees were crossing the Channel in unseaworthy craft. It happened yesterday and the day before and in increasing numbers in recent weeks. It will happen again tomorrow and will continue unless determined concerted action is taken immediately.

Concern for and a desire to protect refugees from life-threatening danger is our duty
at all times, not only when a tragedy occurs. Yesterday’s loss of life is a reminder of the desperation of those who are willing to risk everything as they seek a better life in a desire to escape appalling experiences and circumstances.

A remedy needs to be found immediately to prevent more tragedies and, at the same time, address the underlying causes which force refugees to flee their homeland, war, poverty, persecution and climate change need to recognised and addressed.

The depth and sincerity of belief in the value and sanctity of every human life will be seen in the response to what happened. May those who perished rest in peace.”