MASSES FROM 18th to 25th Dec 2016

Sun 18 9.00am Tom & Agnes (Spl int)

11.30am Vera & Family (spl int)

Mon 19 9.30am Eucharistic service

Tue 20 9.30am Maryu Mulrooney (B’day)

Wed 21 9.30am Ann Wilson (Spl in t)

Thurs 22 9.30am Nora Groffith (Thanksgiving)

Fri 23 9.30am Michael clear& Kathleen Delaney (Get well)

Sat 24 6.00pm People of the parish

7.30pm Carol singing

8.00pm People of the parish

Sun 25 9.00am Teresa Tran (RIP)

11.30am Mama Magdalene Akenji (Get well)

Lectors & Eucharistic Ministers

Weekend 18th Dec 2016 Weekend 25th Dec 2016

9.00 am Roisin Gill, Joanita Pereira (R) Julia, Veronica Carrol. (R)

Sophie Drabik (E) Elizabeth (E)

11.30am Julie, Temi (R) Emmanuella, Florence A (R)

Greg Pereira, Serso (E) Marcel, Serso (E)

24th/ 31st December 2016

Lectors Eucharistic Ministers

6.00pm Nelson, Kisaneth Sr. Leena, Sophie Drabik

8.00pm Paschal,Osagie, Honorine Vera, Greg Pereira

7.00pm Veronia Carrol, Florence Betty Osagie, Barbara.

Anniversaries during this Week: Ann Dunnion, James McMenus, Denis Joseph Buckley, Robert McGorman, Bridie Mooney, Jack McCullough, Frank Martin, Daniel Prosser, John Masterson, Ann Plunkett ,Daniel Prosser, John Masterson, Ann Plun-kett, Rose & Jim Hogan, Mary McCullough , Hughie Gill, James McDonald, Gerald McGoran, James McEnery, Len McCoy , Joe Dunleavy, Patrick Flynn, John Allen, Paul Allen Please pray for the sick of the Parish: Eileen McHugh, Tony McKiernan, Mary Mul-roney, Philomena Dunleavy, John Curriston, Gerard Griffith, Diana Best, Jim Crean, Tess Pearkes, Sheila McElaney, Sheila Clear, Janie Patalong, Tom Duignan, Thomas Murtagh, Job Giles, Maria Drabik, Danny Diver, Michael Clear, Anne Creed, Mary O’Sullivan, Max Gorman, John Kerrigan, Nora O’Brien, Sean Harte, Eamon Finlan, Phyllis Mulvey, Kath Muldoon, Bizmana-Rene Mandevu., John Dee.

Fr Jimmy and the Sisters thank you for your support and the good work that you do for the parish and wish you all

a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year 2017.

“I WANT TO LOOK AROUND”

There is no doubt that the excitement of Christmas is in the air. If you want to know the power of Jesus Christ and of his reign, just watch how every-thing takes up a new look during this time; houses are decorated with lights, shops get new commodities, supermarkets stock more goods, the Post Of-fice is overwhelmed by the number of letters and parcels to deliver. There are no faith based events that are celebrated universally and with such great

consistence than the Christian festivals. This is another way that assures me of the truth of the Christian beliefs. If the events we celebrate about Jesus Christ, were invented myths, we would already have felt bored by them; instead, every Christmas is anticipat-ed and longed for as if no other has come before! Jesus Christ the true reason for Christmas is being taken out of it. He is not a seasonal man that we should fall so much in love with him at a certain time of the year. How sad that churches get packed on Christmas day and yet they are the best wildness you would wander into during the year? Where are the crowds that fill churches to capacity on Christmas but not on Sunday—the day of the Lord? I’m sure you are not one of those who go to church only at Christmas. I commend you for your faithfulness to the Mass. I’m opposed to the idea that people can visit the church “just to look around.” When someone comes to me and wants to go into the church “just to look around” my usual answer is No for the simple reason that , the church has no tourist attractions to be seen and it is not a museum. Just walking into the church and “look around” is very common in Anglican church buildings such as cathedrals. The consequences of this are disas-trous in a sense that the sacredness of once-upon- a -time holy places is lost. Beside I don’t think that entering the church to ‘look around’ will bring about conversion. Let us translate this into Christmas and all the fuss that goes with it. Surely to limit go-ing to church only on Christmas as many people do does not make one a Christian. Christian living is like flying in an aeroplane or riding a bicycle—when you stop, you fall! The world demands fidelity, constancy and full grasp of what we believe. We live in a world where everything is superficial and where truthfulness carry no much meaning. Correctness has replaced truthfulness! Someone will not see any problem with open-ing sacred spaces like Catholic churches for people to wander around, but the truth is that the Catholic church building is a Holy Place housing Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacred Host– the Eucharist. Here his name is invoked and honoured. As you go to Christmas services this time don’t just look around but try to capture the presence of God and worship him there. Remember! Jesus Christ is not a seasonal man, He is, He was and He will be forever.

Parish News letter–4th Sunday of Advent - year A— 18th to 25th Dec 2016

A.J. Missions St. Osburg Ss. Mary & Benedict St. Elizabeth

The Most Holy Sacrament and St. Osburgs Barras Lane, Coventry, CV1 4AQ. Tel 024 76220402

Fr. Jimmy Mobile. 07906124756 Home 02476258901 Parish Safegurding Representative Anne Collins 02476670304

———— St. Mary & St. Benedict R.C Church

52a, Raglan Street Coventry, CV1 5QF. Tel 02476258901 www.ssmaryandbenedict.org.uk

Parish Priest. Fr. Jimmy Lutwama, AJ E-mail lutwajim@yahoo.com

Parish Sisters Srs. of St. Anne of Providence Leena, and Leera 02476550848

Safeguarding Rep: Veronica Carroll, Marie Vaughan Parish School: St Mary & St Benedict’s, Leigh Street CV1 5HG

Tel: 02476 229486 Head teacher Mrs McDonald ————

St. Elizabeth’s R.C. Church St. Elizabeth’s Road, CV6 5BX Tel.:024 76688536

Website: www.stelizabethcoventry.co.uk Webcams: www.mcnmedia.tv

Parish priest: Fr. Moses Pitya David AJ E-mail mospitya@yahoo.co.uk

———–- The Parishes are part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham Reg. Charity No. 234216

Parish Development

Collection: Gift Aid: 226.85 Non-Gift Aid £ 500.56 Total: 727.41 Thank you. 2nd Collection : 271.80 Counters 18th Dec Vera & Philomena Mass Attendance : 617 Bonus Ball : No. 36 Phil

Pious Devotions

Divine Mercy prayers every last Thursday of the month 6 – 7pm. Prayer for priests every first Friday of the month from 6 – 7pm. Rosa Mystica on 13

th of every month between 2.00pm & 3.00pm.

French Mass every 2nd Sunday of every month at 2.30pm. The church is open from 8.30am to 4:00pm throughout the week. You are all wel-come to spend time in prayer before the Lord. Non-violence a style of politics and peace: 2017 will mark the 50th anniversary of the World Peace Day. It will be celebrated on 15th January 2017. Pope Francis affirms the place of non-violence as a means of achieving peace. Diplomacy, negoti-ations and citizens action are effective means in preventing war and resolving con-flicts in a world caught up in war. His message offers timely opportunity for us to explore the catholic tradition of non-violence which goes back to Jesus Christ him-self. Always work for peace; ‘blessed indeed are the peace makers, they shall be called sons of God.

Matters of Importance Advent Penitential Services: St. Mary’ on Monday December 19th at 7:00pm St. Elizabeth Thursday 22nd December at 7:00pm.

Christmas Mass Timetable: St. Osburg Vigil Mass 5:30pm Christmas day Mass 10:30am

St. Mary’s Vigil Mass for families with little children 6:00pm

Vigil Mass for adults 8:00pm preceded by carols at 7:30pm

Christmas Day 9:00am and 11:30am

31.12.16 New year day Mass 7.00pm

St. Elizabeth Vigil Mass 7:00pm and Midnight Mass

Christmas Day 9:00am and 11:30am

Archbishop’s concluding remarks: the Jubilee Year of Mercy has just ended and I want to thank you for all the wonderful initiatives inspired by and responding to the Ho-ly Year. I am particularly grateful to all the clergy and Religious who “held open” the Doors of Mercy for so many pilgrims in pilgrimage churches and shrines across the Archdiocese. Thank you for generously making yourselves available for the Sacra-ment of Reconciliation: please continue the celebration of this Sacrament as part of the Holy Year’s legacy. It will be important for us to reflect as a Diocese and as Dean-eries on how the blessings of the past year can be built upon. As Advent comes to a climax we set our feet once again on the road to Bethlehem, may the Lord for whose coming we look to continue to bless you and all those you serve. Altar Servers will renew their commitment to serving at the Altar on 26th Decem-ber Feast of their Patron Saint, St. Stephen. After the Mass, they will have a small party with the Parish Priest. I wish to ask the parents to take this seriously and bring the children to both events. New Year’s Eve: We shall have a thanksgiving Mass on Saturday 31st Dec at 7.00pm thanking the Lord for all the blessings we have received from his bounty during the course of the year 2016. We shall ask for his blessings and mercy up-on us as we usher in the New Year 2017. We shall have a New Year’s party after the Mass in the Parish Hall. Masses for Holy Souls: As I mentioned in the newsletter some weeks ago, the Masses requested for Holy Souls will be sent to the missionaries of the Apostles of Jesus who are working in Cuba. I wish to thank you for requesting for Mass . Thought on marriage: Should marriage be Public or private, why does the Cath-olic Church require that the faithful contract marriage according to the ecclesiastical form? Well, sacramental marriage is a liturgical rite and a liturgical act. It is therefore appropriate that it should be celebrated in the public liturgy of the Church. The public character of the consent protects the "I do" once given and helps the spouses remain faithful to it.. Marriage is a noble calling by God himself who consecrates couples in love and fidelity.