20 Huntly Street, Aberdeen A Parish of the R.C. Diocese of Aberdeen Charitable Trust, a registered Scottish Charity, number SC 005122 Readings at Mass - 4th Sunday in Advent - Year C www.stmaryscathedralaberdeen.org“I 20th December, 2015 • 4th Sunday in Advent • Year C Entrance Anphon Cf. Is 45: 8 Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Saviour. Collect Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnaon of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrecon. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. First reading Micah 5:1-4 The Lord says this: But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old. The Lord is therefore going to abandon them ll the me when she who is to give birth gives birth. Then the remnant of his brothers will come back to the sons of Israel. He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God. They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace. Psalm Psalm 79:2-3,15-16,18-19 Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. O shepherd of Israel, hear us, shine forth from your cherubim throne. O Lord, rouse up your might, O Lord, come to our help. Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. God of hosts, turn again, we implore, look down from heaven and see. Visit this vine and protect it, the vine your right hand has planted. Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. May your hand be on the man you have chosen, the man you have given your strength. And we shall never forsake you again; give us life that we may call upon your name. Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. Second reading Hebrews 10:5-10 This is what Christ said, on coming into the world: You who wanted no sacrifice or oblaon, prepared a body for me. You took no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin; then I said, just as I was commanded in the scroll of the book, ‘God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.’ Noce that he says first: You did not want what the Law lays down as the things to be offered, that is: the sacrifices, the oblaons, the holocausts and the sacrifices for sin, and you took no pleasure in them; and then he says: Here I am! I am coming to obey your will. He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ. Gospel Luke 1:39-44 Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Eliza- beth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeng, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeng reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’ Prayer over the Offerings May the Holy Spirit, O Lord, sancfy these giſts laid upon your altar, just as he filled with his power the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through Christ our Lord. Communion Anphon Is 7: 14 Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel. Prayer aſter Communion Having received this pledge of eternal redempon, we pray, almighty God, that, as the feast day of our salvaon draws ever nearer, so we may press forward all the more eagerly to the worthy celebraon of the mystery of your Son’s Navity. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Sunday 11.15am Mass Processional Hymn 314 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed Offertory 343 Holy Virgin by God’s Decree Communion Hymns 418 Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Recessional 644 Tell Out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord MEDITATION Here is an event which is touching but ordinary: two pregnant women meet. Yet the children borne by these two women will play an extraordinary part in the unfolding of God's plan. In Mary's visitaon to Elizabeth, life hastens to meet human hope. Mary's son, the one "whose origin is from of old, from ancient mes", incarnates in humanity invisible divinity. Elizabeth's child will bring Israel's waing to its highest intensity. "Blessed is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled!" In Elizabeth's cry, we catch an allusion to the annunciaon through which Mary, overshadowed by the Spirit, became the Mother of God. The visitaon completes and confirms the angel's message. It bears witness to the dynamism of the Spirit who progressively permeates the protagonists of the infancy narrave. Mary undertakes with fervour the first apostolic journey in order to share her joy with her cousin. Elizabeth humbles herself before her visitor and blesses her among all women. John already leaps for joy, thus inaugurang his role as precursor. These many humble signs reveal that, from the concepon of Jesus, the river of life flows out to water the whole earth. The same gospel event is relived whenever Chrisans proclaim to each other in simplicity of heart God's presence in their lives, and whenever they celebrate in thanksgiving the wonders that the Lord has done for them. “Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Lk 1:44)
Transcript
20 Huntly Street, Aberdeen
A Parish of the R.C. Diocese of Aberdeen Charitable Trust, a registered Scottish Charity, number SC 005122
Readings at Mass - 4th Sunday in Advent - Year C
www.stmaryscathedralaberdeen.org“I
20th December, 2015 • 4th Sunday in Advent • Year C
Entrance Antiphon Cf. Is 45: 8
Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Saviour. Collect Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. First reading
Micah 5:1-4
The Lord says this:
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old. The Lord is therefore going to abandon them till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth. Then the remnant of his brothers will come back to the sons of Israel. He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God. They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace. Psalm
Psalm 79:2-3,15-16,18-19 Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be
saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hear us, shine forth from your cherubim throne.
O Lord, rouse up your might, O Lord, come to our help.
Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
God of hosts, turn again, we implore, look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it, the vine your right hand has planted.
Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
May your hand be on the man you have chosen, the man you have given your strength.
And we shall never forsake you again; give us life that we may call upon your name.
Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Second reading
Hebrews 10:5-10
This is what Christ said, on coming into the world:
You who wanted no sacrifice or oblation, prepared a body for me. You took no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin; then I said, just as I was commanded in the scroll of the book, ‘God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.’
Notice that he says first: You did not want what the Law lays down as the things to be offered, that is: the sacrifices, the oblations, the holocausts and the sacrifices for sin, and you took no pleasure in them; and then he says: Here I am! I am coming to obey your will. He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.
Gospel
Luke 1:39-44
Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Eliza-beth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
Prayer over the Offerings May the Holy Spirit, O Lord, sanctify these gifts laid upon your altar, just as he filled with his power the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through Christ our Lord. Communion Antiphon
Is 7: 14 Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel.
Prayer after Communion Having received this pledge of eternal redemption, we pray, almighty God, that, as the feast day of our salvation draws ever nearer, so we may press forward all the more eagerly to the worthy celebration of the mystery of your Son’s Nativity. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Sunday 11.15am Mass
Processional Hymn 314 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
Offertory 343 Holy Virgin by God’s Decree
Communion Hymns
418 Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Recessional 644 Tell Out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord
MEDITATION Here is an event which is touching but ordinary: two pregnant women meet. Yet the children borne by these two women will play an extraordinary part in the unfolding of God's plan. In Mary's visitation to Elizabeth, life hastens to meet human hope. Mary's son, the one "whose origin is from of old, from ancient times", incarnates in humanity invisible divinity. Elizabeth's child will bring Israel's waiting to its highest intensity. "Blessed is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled!" In Elizabeth's cry, we catch an allusion to the annunciation
through which Mary, overshadowed by the Spirit, became the Mother of God. The visitation completes and confirms the angel's message. It bears witness to the dynamism of the Spirit who progressively permeates the protagonists of the infancy narrative. Mary undertakes with fervour the first apostolic journey in order to share her joy with her cousin. Elizabeth humbles herself before her visitor and blesses her among all women. John already leaps for joy, thus inaugurating his role as precursor. These many humble signs reveal that, from the conception of Jesus, the river of life flows out to water the whole earth. The same gospel event is relived whenever
Christians proclaim to each other in simplicity of
Children: Mass screened live in Main Hall To be accompanied to the toilet by a parent or guardian
‘Real’ Coffee after
Mass
Weekly Calendar Mon Mother & Toddler Group
For parents with young children Main Hall from 10.30-12.30pm Contact: Yi-pei Chou Credo Community Meeting Polish charismatic prayer group. Main Hall at 7.30pm . Contact: Fr Tomasz Klin SJ
Tue Magnificat Prayer Group Main Hall after Mass Contact: Paul Akagwu 07574 103 852 St. Vincent de Paul Feeding the homeless Contact: Evelyn Murray
Wed Light Exercise Class for all Main Hall at 10:00am Contact: Laura Walker 0777 3 021 851 [email protected] Seniors Club Speakers, fun & fellowship Main Hall at 2 pm every 2 weeks Contact: Winnie on 01224 632 465. Deepening Faith For those interested in learning more about the Faith or becoming Catholic Lower Hall at 7pm Contact: Fr. Keith African Choir For Africans and anyone else. Upper Hall from 6 - 8.00pm Contact: Patricia Malikebu 07891 714 549
Thu Healing of Memories Prayer for the healing of painful memories of the past to bring peace to the present. Clergy House at 2.30pm (by appointment) Contact: Deacon Tony Legion of Mary Members serve the Church as needed Lower Hall at 5.30pm Contact: Nogie Osula [email protected] Cenacolo Prayer Group Exposition & Rosary praying for healing of those with addictions Church after Mass Contact: Liam Sharkey 07774 931 996 [email protected] Band Practice Contemporary music for Sunday 6pm Mass Upper Hall after Mass Contact: Michael Thomson [email protected]
Fri Our Lady of Aberdeen Prayer Group Rosary & praise in song and word Chapter Room from 1.30 - 2.30pm Contact: Teresa Coyne 07901 851 526 Altar Servers’ Practice Church from 6.00 to 7.00pm Contact: Simon [email protected] Youth Group For teenagers between 11 & 17 Clergy House 7pm to 9pm Contact: St. Andrew’s Community 07754 891 808
Sat Church Cleaning Church at 10.30am Contact: Joyce Webster 01224 319 154 Saturday Club Informal social gathering, includes prayer Main Hall from 4pm to 7pm Contact: Aneta Sieminska 07415 321 792 African Choir (As above) Upper Hall from 6 - 8.00pm
Sun 11:15 Choir Leading the music for 11.15 Sunday Mass Upper Hall 10.00am Contact: Shelagh Noden
Please take me home
Mass Times Date Details Service Time Mass Intentions
Sun 20th 4th Sunday in Advent
Mass Polish Mass Solemn Mass Polish Mass Mass
8.00am 9.30am 11.15am 3.00pm 6.00pm
For the Parish For the Diocese Theresa D’Costa RIP
Mon 21st Saint John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor
Mass Mass
7.00am 12.30pm
Thanksgiving for visa appeal Obi and Mary
Tue 22nd Mass Mass
7.00am 7.00pm
Success in School Emmanuel Aninye RIP
Wed 23th Mass Mass
7.00am 12.30pm
Private Intention Monthir D'Costa RIP
Thu 24th (Christmas Eve) Mass Polish Mass Carol Service
7.00am 9.00pm 11.30pm
Fri 25th The Nativity of the Lord
(Christmas Day)
Mass Mass Polish Mass
Midnight 8:00 am 9.30am
All Souls Thanksgiving Chukelu/Aiyeetam Family
Sat 26th Feast of St Stephen Mass Spanish Mass Vigil Mass
11:15am 5.00pm 7.00pm
For Altar Servers Divine Ikenwilo RIP
Sun 27th Feast of the Holy Family
Mass Polish Mass Solemn Mass Polish Mass Mass
8.00am 9.30am 11.15am 3.00pm 6.00pm
For the Parish For the Diocese Parents of Y.M. Main RIP
13/12 Offertory: £ 1665.20 Polish: £1472.47
Life Teen youth group for teens aged 11-17 starting soon! Any adults interested in volunteering to help, Friday nights 7-9pm, as a core member please contact St An-drew Community for an application pack.
Trained Catechists Required Children's classes for Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are due to begin in January and will run until May every Friday from 4.0-5.0pm in the Cathedral Halls. For this to happen, we need Trained Catechists urgently. If you are one of these and wish to help please contact Fr. Keith or Ruth Paterson:- [email protected]
Adoration at the Cathedral Adoration will cease in the Chapter Room from 24th December. It will resume on Saturday, 2nd January at the All Night Adoration Vigil. [email protected]
Year of Mercy - Eucharistic Vigils with Our Lady Monthly... Next vigil will be on the 2nd January from 8:30pm- 7:30am. Led Holy Hour, Divine Mercy, Praise & Worship, and 1st Saturday Prayers (until 10pm). Confessions & Doors of Mercy Plenary Indulgence available. If you are interested in committing to a regular holy hour each week please contact the St Andrew Community: [email protected]
Adult Confirmations Adults who wish to be confirmed should register on the website. Course starts Tuesday 5th January.
Invitation: Inside the Wee box In the New Year, there will be opportunity for people to find out more about the people behind our WEE BOX. Stories, photos and video clips of the work of SCIAF in the drought-prone Borana region of Ethiopia will be shared. Date: Saturday 30th January, 2016 at 6.00 - 7.30pm Venue: St. Mary’s Cathedral, Aberdeen. Please RSVP to [email protected] or call 0141 354 5555 if you would like to attend. All are invited!
Deanery & Diocese Newman Association (na)
All the NA evening dates have now had to be changed, and apart from January, will take place on Mondays: 8th February, 7th March, 11th April, and 9th May 2016.
Penitential Service
St Mary’s Cathedral
Wednesday
23rd December
7.00pm
St Vincent de Paul Box Collection £126.53 Anon Donations £622.33 Expenses £136.30
Our grateful thanks to all who contribute
to our work, we are deeply grateful.
Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that explore faith, life and God in a relaxed open environment. Engage your friends in conversations about the big questions of life.
27 million people have tried Alpha in homes, cafes, pubs and churches all over the world.
When? Tuesday 5th January at 7pm for 8 weeks
Where? Cathedral Lower Hall
Who? Anyone, any faith or none. All welcome. What if together we saw our generation coming to faith on Alpha?
You can register for these Alpha sessions on the Cathedral website: www.stmaryscathedralaberdeen.org
Cathedral News Youth Upgraded Screened Mass
You will have noticed that the video link to the hall has not been working over the last couple of weeks. The problem is now fixed and we have a new High Definition link. I would encourage you to use it, especially when the children become restless.
Sacramental Preparation Classes For children who do not attend a Catholic Primary School. Classes begin with a Parents/Registration Meeting in the Lower Hall on Friday 15th January 2016. If you wish your child to attend either of these classes, Reconciliation or Holy Communion, then please register on the Cathedral website .
POLISH CHRISTMAS FAIR Between Masses on the 20th December, the Polish Youth Club, the Scouts and the Credo Women’s Group will be holding a Christmas Fair. Stalls will include tasty home baking and handmade Christmas decorations.
CONGRATULATIONS to Sophia Maria Ivanovici Campbell who was Baptised last Saturday. Please remember her in your prayers.
Christmas Party/Thanksgiving Service 25th December at 12:45 hrs - Main Hall
This is being organised by The Catholic Women’s Organisation (CWO) of St Mary's Cathedral for all parishioners.
Come one come all !!! Contact: 07449951415
Blessing of Families There will be a blessing of families after each of the Masses on the feast of the Holy Family.
St. Mary’s Cathedral Books & Gift Shop Books for the month of December:
The gift of Christmas is Peace – Pope Francis. £2.50. Words for the advent and Christmas season – Bishop Hugh Gilbert. OSB. Price £2.50. Both wonderful books to read and great prices.
Many thanks and merry Christmas…….. Volunteer of the month is Maria from Nigeria.
ABERDEEN NEWMAN ASSOCIATION January 12th, 2016, at 7.30 pm in the Bishop’s House, Queen’s Cross, Aberdeen. Fr Stuart will give a presentation on the Jubilee Year of Mercy. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served. We ask a donation of £1.50 to cover expenses.
Wednesday Exercise Class Please note that the Wednesday exercise class will not meet on either the 23rd or 30th December.
Spanish Mass and Christmas Dinner Mass in Spanish on Saturday 26th December at 5:00pm followed by Christmas dinner. All Spanish speakers are warmly invited.
Bring some food to share.
Youth Work Training Day If you’re interested in Youth Ministry then this workshop, led by the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia, could be just what you’re looking for. January 23rd, Cathedral Upper Hall from 10.30am to 3.00pm.
Youth Group
No Youth Group over the Christmas Break. Life Teen will begin at 7pm on Friday, 15 January 2016. All youth 12-17 are invited!
