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C ATHOLIC P ORTSMOUTH
Catholic Parishes and Schools in Partnership in the City of Portsmouth
SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER to SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT – THE FEAST OF THE THE HOLY FAMILY
How much does Christmas cost? For those with a mathematical mind it may be
an exciting challenge to add up the cost of a partridge in a pear tree, two
turtledoves and everything else associated with the song ‘The Twelve Days of
Christmas’. For others, the thought of calculating the cost of Christmas is as
terrifying a thought as January’s bank statement. Christmas costs and in recent
years it has seemed to cost more and more. Materially and physically the
pressure put upon us at this time of year is high. Spiritually though there is
enormous worth in calculating the cost of Christmas and it has already been
done for us in the words of that song ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas.’ To
understand its calculations is to appreciate afresh our faith.
Written in sixteen century England the song had a dual purpose. Its Jesuit
authors aimed to encourage the Catholic community to keep going amid bad
times and also to pass on to their children the faith that meant so much to
them. The Jesuits’ song, which quickly became popular, taught in code the
spiritual value of Christmas and the rich worth of our Catholic faith.
The twelve days are those from Christmas Day to Epiphany. ‘My true love gave to me’ is code for the Lord
God speaking to whoever sings the song. The ‘partridge in a pear tree’ represents Jesus, reigning from the
Cross, which is to be understood as a tree waiting to bear its fruit. The two turtledoves are code for the Old
and New Testaments while the three French hens represent the gifts brought by the Magi. Those ‘four calling
birds’ are the gospels which call out the Good News of Jesus Christ, the five golden rings are the first five books
of the Bible and the ‘six geese a-laying’ either represent the six precepts of the Church or the six days of
creation - no one now is certain. The ‘seven swans a-swimming’ are of course code for the seven sacraments
of the Church, the ‘eight maids a-milking’ are the beatitudes and the ‘nine ladies dancing’ are the nine choirs
of angels. As for the ‘ten lords a-leaping’ they are code for the Ten Commandments while the ‘eleven pipers
piping’ represent the number of the apostles – Judas having left – who pipe the faith in an unbroken tradition.
And the twelve drummers drumming are code for the twelve beliefs professed in the Apostles Creed.
In twenty-first century England, we Catholics must sometimes practice our faith amid bad times. We still have
a desire to pass it on though don’t we which is why we might wish to seize this festive opportunity to hand
down the true meaning of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’? May it speak to us afresh of the true cost of
Christmas, a cost God bore out of sheer love for us all.
Canon Dominic Golding
St John’s Cathedral: Bishops House, Bishop Crispian Way, PO1 3HG – Tel. 023 9282 6170
Cathedral Dean: Canon Dominic Golding VG – dgolding@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
Assistant Priest: Fr James McAuley – jmcauley@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
Parish Secretary: Mrs Lily Peach – cathedral@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk – Office Hours: 0900-1600 Monday – Friday
Parish Pastoral Assistant: Sister Maura Chin - Safeguarding Representative: Sue Smy 023 9273 0855
Corpus Christi & St Joseph Fr Steven Restori tel 023 9266 0927 – ccsj@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
Corpus Christi Gladys Avenue, North End PO2 9AZ – St Joseph Tangier Road, Copnor PO3 6JH
Parish Sister: Sr Mary Gleavey FMDM 07586 801868 – St Joseph Hall Bookings: Mrs Mary Vale 07897 488254
Safeguarding Representative: Elaine Lindsay 07749 200592
Our Lady of Lourdes & St Swithun Parish Priest: Fr Kazimierz Stefek - Assistant Priest: Fr Pawel Przybyszewski
tel. 023 9282 8305 – southseaparish@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
Our Lady of Lourdes Bransbury Road, Eastney, PO4 9JY - St Swithun 105 Waverley Road, Southsea, PO5 2PL
Pastoral Assistant: Sr Marie Elise Tel. 07747 728734 Parish Secretary: Mrs Clare Shore – Office Hours: 0900-1100 Mon 0900–1500 Tues-Fri
Safeguarding Representative: Val Croughan 023 9234 1682
St Colman with St Paul Fr Joe McNerney (Hospital Chaplain) – Assistant Priest: Fr John Humphreys
scsp@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk - 023 9228 6408
St Colman St Colman’s Avenue, Cosham, PO6 2JJ – St Paul Allaway Avenue, PO6 4DG– tel. 023 9237 6151
Parish Assistant: Mrs Tess Pritchard Office Hours: 0900-1500 Mo-Wed & Fri
Safeguarding Representative: Irene Taylor 023 9264 0754 or 07914 722708
Pastoral Youth Worker: Dom DeBoo tel 023 9283 6524 mob 07769 185603 – ddeboo@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
PARISHES: Corpus Christi & St Joseph • Our Lady of Lourdes with St Swithun • St Colman & St Paul • St John’s Cathedral
SCHOOLS: Primary: Corpus Christi • St John’s Cathedral • St Paul’s • St Swithun’s • Secondary: St Edmund’s
Catholic Portsmouth - www.CatholicPortsmouth.org.uk
PASTORAL AREA NEWS
CHRISTMAS OFFERING
It is the custom in England and Wales
for the collection taken at all Masses on
Christmas Day to be given to the priests
of the parish in appreciation of their
parochial work. This forms a large part
(60%) of their annual income so in
advance of whatever you wish to give:
thank you.
CRIB OFFERINGS
All donations to the Crib will be going at
the Bishop’s request to the support of
the parishes and schools of the Latin
Patriarchate of Jerusalem which is in
effect the Catholic diocese covering
the Holy Land. All such donations will be
channeled to them through the English
branch of the Knights of the Holy
Sepulchre. For more information about
them and their work: www.khs.org.uk
THE SEARCH – ENQUIRY SESSIONS
Do you ever ask yourself: Is there more
to life to this? What is the meaning of
my life? How can I know if God is real,
and if he loves me? For centuries,
people have turned to the Church to
find answers to the deepest and
hardest questions of everyday life. If you
are not a Catholic, but you would like
to find out more, or if you are Catholic
but have not yet been confirmed, you
are invited to The Search - enquiry
sessions which begin on 8 January from
1900-2000 in the Discovery Centre, and
run every Thursday. This is a wonderful
opportunity to explore these questions
more deeply. If you are a Catholic who
knows someone who might be
interested, why not bring them along?
For
more
information,
go
to: www.portsmouthcatholiccathedral.
org.uk/rcia or call 02392 826170.
A BOUQUET OF SPIRITUAL ACTION
The Order of the Knights of St Columba
are launching a campaign to create a
Bouquet of Spiritual Action beginning on
the Feast of the Holy Family on 28 Dec
2014 and finishing on the Feast of St John
Paul II on 22 Oct 2015. A record of
prayers and good deeds completed
over the ten-month period of campaign
will be registered in an electronic format
in the KSC website, to be collated in a
bound book. The focus is to gather as
families, community groups or as
individuals in prayer, worship, meditation
and the Holy Rosary for particular
chosen intentions. In a spirit of
togetherness and shared aspirations
they
are
inviting
other
Catholic
organisations to join with them in this
worthwhile
endeavour.
Website
http://ksc.org.uk/
WORLD YOUTH DAY 2016
From Thursday 21 July – Tuesday 2
August 2016, we will be joining the
Diocesan trip to Krakow, Poland for
World Youth Day 2016. If you will be
aged 16 by Wednesday 20 July 2016
and would like to come with us to
Poland an application form can be
found via the Portsmouth diocese
website:
www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
The cost of the trip will be in the region of
£995 but we will be fundraising to help us
towards this target. For more info,
contact Will Hince: 07780221686
FLAME 2: WEMBLEY ARENA
Following the huge success of Flame, a
national event for Catholic young
people, we now have Flame 2 on
Saturday 7 March at Wembley Arena.
The diocese has booked a coach and
the cost of the trip is £45. Limited spaces
available to book contact Dom Deboo.
ECHOES:
PARISH-BASED CATECHIST FORMATION
A parish-based formation for catechists
and those involved in handing on the
Faith. Presents key knowledge and skills
needed for catechesis and equips
those involved to build up their
confidence in these areas; helping
them to use Scripture, the Catechism of
the Catholic Church and Church
documents to develop their own
understanding of the faith. Will be held
at St Edward the Confessor, Chandler’s
Ford on 24 Jan 1000-1500. Contact
Sr Veronica tel. 01590681874 or email
dominican.sisters@talk21.com
COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
The 'Inactive Catholics' team has
initiated an exciting project this
Christmas. It will be piloted in Havant
Pastoral Area with the hope that, in
Christmas 2015, it can be used more
widely around the Diocese. The aim is
very simple - to invite those who have
fallen away to come back to the
Church for Christmas. A video has been
made for this year's project - why not
share this on social media and invite
friends and family to your local Mass for
Christmas? See the video here
ww.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
CONFIRMATION 2016
The bishop has asked that each of the
Pastoral Areas offers a confirmation
programme on a 2 year cycle so there
will be no confirmation programme this
year. Registration for next years
confirmation programme will start from
September so more information will go
out in the summer term. Next year we
will be confirming anyone in school
years 8 and above
PARISH NEWS
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
GUILD OF ST STEPHEN
Father Steven wishes you and your
families a very happy and peaceful
Christmas.
Congratulations to those altar servers
who are to be enrolled in the
Archconfraternity of St Stephen on
Boxing Day - Feast of St Stephen – at the
1000 Mass at Corpus Christi: Owen Davis,
Federica Palmer, David Martin and Leo
Paul.
NEW YEAR’S DAY
A SHORT CHRISTMAS PRAYER
Loving Father, Help us remember the
birth of Jesus, that we may share in the
song of the angels, the gladness of the
shepherds, and worship of the wise
men. Amen
THANK YOU
A big ‘Thank You’ to all the ministries
that work extra hard during this busy
season to enhance the liturgies with
music, decorations and service, as well
as for their hard work and dedication
throughout the year.
Come and celebrate the beginning of a
New Year in thanksgiving with mass at
Corpus Christi at 1000.
FOOD BANK APPEAL
The next collection will be on Sunday 4
January. This is a very practical way of
putting our faith in action and helping
those who are struggling in the city,
especially at this festive time.
Please
pray
for
the
sick
and
homebound of our parish community
and all those who are in need of our
prayers especially:
Emma Duke, Frances Anderson, Yvette
Pearcey, Eleanor Minter, Anthea da
Cunha, Marie Simpson, Tom Maguire,
Angie Sharma, Eileen Harrison, Eileen
Sparrow,
Miriam
Aylett,
Don
Cornborough, Martin Murphy, Kathleen
Doherty, Elizabeth Jones, Rita Haughian,
Kay Newton, John & Jean Fry, Joan
Mason, Bill & Mary Leightley, Kath
Knight, Maria Douglas and John
Topham.
Catholic Portsmouth - www.CatholicPortsmouth.org.uk
Liturgy Calendar and Mass Times
SATURDAY 20 DECEMBER
FIRST MASS OF THE FOURTH SUNDAY
OF ADVENT YEAR B
SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
[‘O Morning Star’]
2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-11.16
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
MONDAY 22 DECEMBER
Liturgy of the Day
[‘O King of the nations’]
TUESDAY 23 DECEMBER
Liturgy of the Day
[‘O Emmanuel’]
WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER
Liturgy of the Day,
[Christmas Eve]
WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
solemnity with octave
THURSDAY 25 DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS DAY
[Holy Day of Obligation]
FRIDAY 26 DECEMBER
ST STEPHEN
Protomartyr, feast
SATURDAY 27 DECEMBER
ST JOHN, Apostle, Evangelist, feast
SATURDAY 27 DECEMBER
FIRST MASS OF THE HOLY FAMILY
SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER
THE HOLY FAMILY, feast
Ecclesiasticus 3:2-6.12-14
Colossians 3:12-21
Luke 2:22.39-40
0800
0830
0900
0930
1000
1015
1100
1100
1200
1600
1800
1800
0915
1000
1200
1215
0915
1000
1215
1900
St John’s Cathedral
Our Lady of Lourdes
St Colman
St Joseph
St John’s Cathedral
St Swithun
St Joseph
St Colman
St John’s Cathedral
St Swithun
St Paul
Corpus Christi
St John’s Cathedral
QA Hospital
St John’s Cathedral
St Swithun
St Colman
St Swithun
St Swithun
St John’s Cathedral
St Colman
St Swithun
St John’s Cathedral
St Swithun
People of the Parish
People of the Parish
Ester Richards RIP (FM)
People of the Parish
Angela Meyer RIP
1215
St John’s Cathedral
David John Johns RIP
1700
1800
1800
1800
2100
2200
2200
2330
2400
2400
0800
0830
0900
0930
1000
1015
1100
1200
1000
1000
1215
1830
1900
1000
1215
St Paul
St John’s Cathedral
St Swithun
St Joseph
Our Lady of Lourdes
Corpus Christi
St Swithun
St Colman
St Swithun
St John’s Cathedral
St John’s Cathedral
St Swithun
St Joseph
St Colman
St John’s Cathedral
St Swithun
Corpus Christi
St Swithun
St Swithun
Corpus Christi
St John’s Cathedral
St Colman
St Swithun
St Swithun
St John’s Cathedral
Our Lady of Lourdes
St John’s Cathedral
St Colman
St Joseph
St John’s Cathedral
St Swithun
St Joseph
St Colman
St John’s Cathedral
St Swithun
Corpus Christi
St Paul
People of the Parish
People of the Parish
1800
1800
0800
0830
0900
0930
1000
1015
1100
1100
Daniel Cadogan F
Mike Webber RIP (HW)
Daniel Cregan RIP
Ray Smith RIP (PS)
Sister Sarah Jordan FMDM (100 Birthday)
Jozef Dura RIP
John Hughes RIP
Caetano Liban INT
Mass in Polish
UCM Intentions (JG)
Wedding of Peter Whelan and Laura Caspall
Deceased Members of Cronin Family RIP
Dennis Vareed RIP (DV)
Doreen and Mark Paine RIP
Fr Francis Isherwood F
People of the Parish
Mass in Polish
Fr Joe's Intentions (HW)
People of the Parish
People of the Parish
Margaret Smith RIP P
Bill, Rodda & Family
Darren Cox RIP (J&AC)
Chloe da Costa INT
Rita & Bella Lane
Eleanor Minter
Mass in Polish
Stephen Miller on his Feast Day
FMDM Community Portsmouth
Danny Cronin and Mr & Mrs Marsh RIP
Altar Servers
Laurence Warren RIP P
John Greenwood RIP F
People of the Parish
Timothy Short RIP
Catherine McGuire RIP (MM)
Mrs Audrey Drechsler & Family
Josie Murray INT
Joan Margaret Baxter RIP F
Anna & Thomas Horse + Adrian Abel RIP
Nick Webb RIP (PW)
People of the Parish
Cristina Price RIP
People of the Parish
Fr Andrew RIP (PS)
Catholic Portsmouth - www.CatholicPortsmouth.org.uk
MONDAY 29 DECEMBER
ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY, Bishop
& Martyr, feast
TUESDAY 30 DECEMBER
Liturgy of the Day
[Sixth Day within Octave of
Christmas]
WEDNESDAY 31 DECEMBER
Liturgy of the Day [Seventh Day
within Octave of Christmas]
THURSDAY 1 JANUARY 2015
NEW YEAR’S DAY
MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
solemnity
FRIDAY 2 JANUARY
Ss Basil the Great & Gregory
Nazianzen, Bishops, Doctors of the
Church, memorial
SATURDAY 3 JANUARY
Liturgy of the Day [Saturday of
Christmastide before Epiphany, or:
The Holy Name of Jesus, op mem
SATURDAY 3 JANUARY
VIGIL MASS OF THE EPIPHANY
OF THE LORD, solemnity
SUNDAY 4 JANUARY
THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD,
solemnity
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-3a.5-6
Matthew 2:1-12
HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
This Christmas, ‘May the Lord bless
you and keep you, May the Lord
let his face shine on you and be
gracious to you. May the Lord
look kindly on you and give you
his peace’
DISCOVERY
If you are aged 13–18 and want
to go deeper with your faith then
this is for you. Great input,
desserts, discussion and prayer
time. From 1900–2030 in the
Cathedral Discovery Centre on
Tuesday nights. Starts: Tuesday 13
January.
1200
1600
1800
1800
0915
1000
1215
0915
1000
1215
1900
0730
0915
1000
1200
1215
0915
1000
1000
1200
1215
1000
1215
1830
1900
1000
St John’s Cathedral
QA Hospital
St Swithun
St John’s Cathedral
St Colman
St Swithun
St John’s Cathedral
St Colman
St Swithun
St John’s Cathedral
St Swithun
St John’s Cathedral
St Colman
St Swithun
Corpus Christi
St John’s Cathedral
St Colman
St Swithun
Corpus Christi
Our Lady of Lourdes
St John’s Cathedral
St Swithun
St John’s Cathedral
St Colman
St Swithun
St Swithun
Jonathan May RIP
1215
St John’s Cathedral
Mrs Sheila Kelly RIP F
1800
0800
0830
0900
0930
1000
1015
1100
1100
1200
1600
1800
1800
Mass in Polish
John Woods INT
Joan Hudson RIP (FM)
James Joseph & Joan Irene Brennan RIP F
Sarah Morgan RIP
Romy Villanuexx (LP)
Christina Sumbula - 1st Birthday
Anne Munt Family INT F
Hope Whittaker (PS)
Charmaine Doyle RIP
Winnie Woods INT
Parishioners, Family & Friends (PS)
Simeon and Rosa Karme RIP P
Mark Enright RIP
Daniel Nolan RIP
English Martyrs RIP
Norah Franchetti RIP (JC)
Our Lady of Lourdes
St John’s Cathedral
Poor Souls in Purgatory
St Joseph
Isobel Dwyer P
St Colman
Sr Loretta O.S.M. (TP)
Deceased Members of Coghlan Family RIP
St John’s Cathedral
St Swithun
People of the Parish
St Joseph
People of the Parish
St Colman
Joan Hudson RIP (BH)
St John’s Cathedral
People of the Parish
St Swithun
Corpus Christi
Gerard & Kathleen Doyle's Intentions
St Paul
Ray Smith (PS)
St John’s Cathedral
Sister Rita Andrew INT
QA Hospital
St Swithun
Mass in Polish
St John’s Cathedral
William Joseph Walsh F
P: Perpetual F: Foundation
facebook: ‘Dom DeBoo Portsmouth’ twitter @Dom_DeBoo_Youth www.catholicportsmouth.org.uk/youth ddeboo@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk tel: 07769185603 THANK YOU
I want to say a huge thank you to everyone
who has been involved as a helper this
term. We have had a lot happening and I
have been very grateful to all those who
have worked hard to make what we do a
success. Happy Christmas everyone and
we’ll see you in the New Year.
ZONED In (Year 6 Youth Club)
If you are in school year 6, then
we run a youth club for you on
Thursday nights from 1830–2000 at
Corpus Christi Catholic School
with lots of fun activities and
equipment. Start Date: Thursday
15 January.
CONTACT Youth
This is our youth club for young
people
aged
11–16
at
St
Colman’s Catholic Church from
1900–2100. A great programme,
lots of great people and a
cracking tuck shop. Start Date:
Wednesday 14 January.
Catholic Portsmouth - www.CatholicPortsmouth.org.uk