YES!”
I do not know if everyone will agree with me when I say that whenever we are anticipating or waiting for something and then in the said process of anticipating and waiting finally the days are becoming closer and closer and in each and every one of us there is a kind of feeling of aspiration that we will be able to say: Yes, it is almost there or yes at last!
As we are coming closer to the celebration of Christmas, our Gospel presented to us the account of the Annunciation of which it showed how God made the preparation in order for our Lord and Saviour to be brought forth into the world and dwelt among us. However, the distinguishing and notable part also is that of the very yes of the Blessed Virgin Mary which paved the way in having our Lord and Saviour. The said yes is not that of an aspiration but that of a conviction and determination of saying yes to the will of God.
On this last Sunday of Advent and the remaining days before Christmas let us also prepare ourselves so that like our Blessed Mother, we may also be able to say yes to the very will of God. As a consequence, we may be able also to give birth to our Lord Jesus Christ in the hearts and in the life of each and every one of us as we come to bring the same message that Jesus brought in coming into the world: the message of love, mercy, and compassion; the message of peace and unity; the message of liberty and healing; the message of loving service to our brothers and sisters. We carry the same kind of message, but it is now being expressed in different ways considering also our own giftedness and willingness to respond and to always say or utter our undying yes to the will of God. Likewise, in these remaining days before Christmas, it is only right and proper that we are being reminded once again of so great a yes and willingness of the Blessed Virgin Mary in responding to the will of God so that we may also ask her intercession to help us that like her we may also say “Let what you have said be done to me.” Let what God has planned come to fulfilment in each and every one of us as we say yes to His Most Holy Will.
Therefore, we all say yes because it is almost here and yet let us not also forget to say yes like the Blessed Virgin Mary. Yes, because it is almost near. Yes, let it be so or be done according to the will of God.
May God bless us all!
INFORMATION
- Parish Contributions: Last Sunday Offertory – £1045.02 (Standing orders: £686, Offertory Envelopes & Loose change £359.02). Counting: This Sunday – Team A, Next Sunday – Team B
- Christmas Collections:There will be special envelopes available at the back of the church this weekend, and on Christmas Day, for the Christmas collection, which is your contribution to the clergy of our parish.
- Holy Mass, Baptisms, funerals, & Weddings: Our church is open for Holy Masses, funerals, baptisms and weddings, in accordance with government guidelines. We are operating a booking system for weekend Masses; you will be able to make a booking online or by telephone. All Masses will continue to be live streamed for the foreseeable future. Please refer to the parish website for information about baptisms, weddings and funerals.
- Day of Prayer for all Expectant Mothers:This Sunday, 20th December, there will be a special blessing for all expectant mothers. If you have any friends who are expecting babies, please invite them to join you when you come to Mass.
- Advent Penitential Rite & Confession:This will take place on Monday 21st December. Everyone is encouraged to join us, to make a confession and prepare for Christmas. In order to avoid any risks, you may wish to make use of the opportunity for Confession on other days too. There will be more priests available for confession. The programme is as follows: 6pm: Adoration & Confession, 7pm: Holy Mass, 7.30pm: Penitential Rite, 8.15pm: Night Prayers & Benediction.
- Attendance at Christmas Masses:If you are planning to attend one of the Christmas Masses, please remember to reserve a seat, either online or by telephone, if you have not already done so.
- Feast of St. Stephen – 26th December – Mass with the Altar Servers:All our altar servers are expected to come and renew their commitment during 10am Mass. Due to current restrictions, they will not be able to sit on the sanctuary this year. They should remain in their own seats, in the front pews of the church, wearing their albs and medals and maintaining a safe distance.
- CleaningRota: The Church Cleaning Rota for the year 2021 is available for collection from the sacristy.
- Catholic Newspapers: If you are a reader of the Catholic Universe or the Catholic Times, you may wish to take out a subscription and have the newspaper delivered to your home each week, post free. Please visit www.thecatholicuniverse.com or call 0161 8205722. There is currently a special offer of 3 months for £22 or 12 months for £80.
- 2021 Directory of Birmingham Archdiocese & Christmas Cards: This is now available to purchase from our Piety Stall.
- RCIA Programme 2020-2021:The next session will take place on Monday 11th January at 7.45pm in the parish hall. The topic for this session will be ‘Confirmation’. All are welcome!
- RIP: Please pray for the soul of Tony Callaghan who died on 4th December. He will be received into church at 4pm on Monday 11th January and his Requiem Mass will be at 11:30am on Tuesday 12th January. Please remember his wife, Carol, in your prayers at this sad time. (Please note that, until restrictions are lifted, attendance at all funerals is by family invitation only. We appreciate your understanding and support in this matter.)
- RIP: Please pray for the soul of Terence James Egan (Tez) who died on Saturday 5th December. May he rest in peace. His Requiem Mass will take place in our church on Wednesday 30th December at 11:30am.
- RIP: Please pray for the soul of Pauline Elsie Margaret Clark who passed away on 23rd November. Her funeral service will be held at Streetly Crematorium on Monday 4th January.
| CONTACT DETAILS | ||
| St. Mary’s | Fr. Jobin Kollappallil, SDV | Address: Glebe St., Walsall, WS1 3NX; Tel: 01922 622 633 Web: www.stmarysthemount.co.uk Parish Email: stmary.walsall@rcaob.org.uk Fr. Jobin: fr.jobin.kollappallil@rcaob.org.uk Fr. Rionelle: fr.rionelle.hinampas@rcaob.org.uk FB: Stmarys Mount; Twitter: @marys_mount Blog: stmarysthemount.tumblr.com Safeguarding representative: Mrs Karen Donnellan – 07711831462 |
| St. Patrick’s | Fr. Roberto Ciardo SDV | Address: Blue Lane East, Walsall, WS2 8HN. Tel: 01922 622633 Email: stpatrick.walsall@rcaob.org.uk |
| St. Thomas’s | Fr. Christogonus SDV | Address: Dartmouth Avenue, Walsall, WS3 1SP. Tel: 07404816951 Email: frchrisinsdv@gmail.com |
Sunday and Weekday Masses
| Date | Time | Church/Place | Mass Intention | Offered By |
| Saturday 19th Novena for Christmas Day 4 | 5:30pm 6.00pm 6.00pm | St. Mary’s St. Patrick’s St. Thomas’s | Margaret Heavin – RIP, DA | J Heavin |
| Sunday 20th Fourth Sunday of Advent Novena for Christmas Day 5 | 9:00am 10:00am 10:00am 11:00am 7:00pm | St. Mary’s St. Patrick’s St. Thomas St. Mary’s St. Patrick’s | Tony Callaghan – RIP Holy Mass Holy Mass Zara & Michael – RIP Peter Joseph Fenlon Holy Mass | P Horton A Johnson V Fenlon |
| Monday 21st St. Peter Canisius Priest & Doctor of the Church Novena for Christmas Day 6 | 9.30am 10.00am 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:15pm | St. Mary’s St. Mary’s St. Mary’s St. Mary’s St. Mary’s St. Mary’s | Holy Rosary Eddie Frankham – RIP Margaret Greer – RIP, DA Adoration & Confession Lorraine Darby – H Joseph & Brenda Jennings – RIP Penitential Rite Night Prayers & Benediction | M Frankham Kath Gerrett Ann Maybury Freda Hacket |
| Tuesday 22nd Novena for Christmas Day 7 | 9:30am 10:00am | St. Mary’s St. Mary’s | Holy Rosary Peggy McGill – RIP Eileen Sale – H | P Power Angela Gonsalves |
| Wednesday 23rd St. John of Kanty Priest | 6:00pm 7:00pm | St. Mary’s St. Mary’s | Adoration for Vocations Lorraine Darby – H | |
| Thursday 24th Novena for Christmas Day 8 | 5:30pm 6:00pm 11:30pm 12 Midnight | St. Mary’s St. Mary’s St. Mary’s St. Mary’s | Carol Service Christmas Folk Mass Parish Carol Service Christmas Midnight Mass | Pro Populo Pro Populo |
| Friday 25th Solemnity of The Nativity of the Lord | 9:00am 10.00am 10.00am 11:00am | St. Mary’s St. Patrick’s St. Thomas’s St. Mary’s | Canon Taylor – RIP Christmas Solemn Mass Christmas Solemn Mass Thanksgiving | Mary Hughes Yoong & Henery Families |
| Saturday 26th St. Stephen First Martyr Mass with the Altar Servers – Renewal of Commitment | 10:00am 5:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm | St. Mary’s St. Mary’s St. Patrick’s St. Thomas | Sheila Revill – RIP Terence Egan – RIP Holy Mass Holy Mass | David Dilkes M Powell |
| Sunday 27th The Holy Family | 9:00am 11:00am | St. Mary’s St. Mary’s | John Carter – RIP Vernon William – RIP | Paul Donnellan V Fenlon |
Let us pray for those who are sick:
Lorraine Darby, Mavourneen Smith, Marie Hornblower, Judith Dunthorne, Patricia Davies, Angela Gonsalves, Margaret Powell, Matthew McGill, Dr. Petroc Willey, Lee Chit Wei, Margaret Abbot, Susan Naughton, Mrs K Carter, Carol Callaghan, Jo Baker, Mrs Small, Peter Corrigan, Josie Kelleher, Gilbert Wilkes, Doris White.
