Holy Trinity and St Augustine of Canterbury

 

 

 

Extracts from Newsletter for December 2002

 

Be prepared!

During Advent we prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ, as we listen to the words of  John the Baptist.  We prepare ourselves for Christ's coming through repentance.  We need to change the pattern of our lives in order to be ready when indeed He does come.  In the next few weeks we must straighten out our lives so that the Lord will have no obstacle in His path.

Many families have made and decorated Advent Wreaths to be blessed at the 10.30 am Mass on the First Sunday of Advent.  Please be encouraged to gather as a family to pray every day during Advent as we await the coming of our Blessed Lord.

 

 

Friday 6 December is the First Friday of the month.  Please sign the rota and spare a little of your time between 12 noon and 10 pm to come and dwell in the presence of Our Lord during these hours of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  

 

 

 

 

Service Timetable for Advent and the Christmas Season

 

Friday 13 Dec

7.30 pm

Advent Penitential Service conducted by Fr Frank Leonard, the parish priest at SymondsGreen, Stevenage

Tuesday 17 Dec

7.00 pm

St John's School Carol Service - All welcome

Thursday 19 Dec

7.00 pm

Baldock Town Carol Service organised by the Rotary Club and the Salvation Army.  Refreshments served afterwards at St John's School Hall.  A warm welcome to all.

Saturday 21 Dec

10 am

Mass followed by Adoration from 10.30 - 11.30 am, during which time confessions will be heard.

Tuesday 24 Dec

 

10.30 - 11.30 am

  4.30 pm

  9.00 pm

No Morning Mass.

Confessions

Children's Crib Service

First Mass of Christmas with Carols:  During the Mass the

Crib figures will be presented at the Altar as the Christmas Story is revealed to us in the scripture readings.

Wednesday 25 Dec

  9.30 am

11.00 am

Mass of Christmas

Mass of Christmas

Thursday 26 Dec

11.00 am

Mass for Feast Day of St Stephen

Friday 27 Dec

 

No masses

Saturday 28 Dec

10.00 am

  6.30 pm

Mass followed by Adoration from 10.30 - 11.30 am. - NB: No Confessions

First Mass of Sunday

Sunday 29 Dec

  8.30 and

10.30 am

Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family:  Married couples will be invited to renew their marriage vows during the Mass.

Monday 30 Dec

10.00 am

Mass - NB: No evening Mass

Tuesday 31 Dec

11 pm - Midnight

Holy Hour during which we hope to hear readings and prayers covering:

Ÿ         Thanksgiving for the year 2002;

Ÿ         Forgiveness / Sorrow for our sins and failures during 2002;

Ÿ         Prayers for World Peace and for the victims of disasters during 2002, especially remembering tragic events at Bali and Moscow in recent months;

Ÿ         Preparation for the year to come, 2003.

 

Midnight

Holy Mass: we begin the New Year by singing the praises and glory of God, joyfully placing our families in God's loving care.

Wednesday 1 Jan

11.00 am

Holy Mass

 

Diocesan Renewal Programme.   Following the recent Clergy Conference at Bognor Regis, the Cardinal wishes to meet representatives from every deanery in the diocese to discuss how to introduce the 'Renew' programme to our parishes.  He invites each parish to send 20 - 30 people to meet him at:

All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney,

on Sunday 8th December from 1.30 - 3.30 pm. 

At this meeting the Cardinal will explain how he hopes to renew the spiritual life of the Diocese.   If you have not already had the opportunity, but would like to put your name forward to attend the meeting, please see Fr John or Bill Piper urgently.  Transport can be arranged if required.  Many thanks to those who have already volunteered.

 

Rediscovering the Rosary

In a recent apostolic letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae the Pope introduced a new set of mysteries, the Mysteries of Light.

Of the many mysteries of Christ's life, only a few are indicated by the Rosary in its present form.  We dwell on the mysteries of His infancy, of His Passion and the life of glory.  That leaves a gap covering His public ministry.  This could be covered by the five new 'mysteries of light' or 'luminous mysteries'.  In these we would contemplate the mysteries of Jesus' public ministry as follows:

1.       Jesus' Baptism, when He is declared by the Father to be the Beloved Son;

2.       The marriage feast of Cana, where He opens the hearts of His disciples to Faith;

3.       His preaching of the Kingdom of God, which calls for our conversion and reconciliation with God;

4.       His Transfiguration, where His Godhead is manifested;

5.       The Eucharist, where He testifies 'to the end' His self-giving love for humanity.

The four sets of mysteries might be distributed over the seven days of the week.

Above all, if you want truly to rediscover the Rosary, be sure to make it less mechanical and more contemplative.  As a prayer for peace in our troubled times, this unhurried devotion to the Prince of Peace in company with His and our Mother, has no equal.