REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS, AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE !

SAINT HELEN’S PARISH

The Season of Advent+Christmas

3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Gaudete – Rejoice!

‘The Lord is Very Near’ THE WORD THIS WEEK ‘What must we do?’ The question often in our hearts has more urgency in these covid-changed times. ‘Zion, have no fear’ and ‘There is no need to worry’ feel like inadequate answers. Dare we believe that ‘the Lord is very near’, ‘He is in your midst’? And if so, dare we change our behaviour and temper our expectations of life? Dare we live as if baptised with the Holy Spirit?

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: (Psalter: Week 3)

Gathering Antiphon: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice! Indeed, the Lord is near.

Zephaniah 3: 14 – 18. The Lord will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.

Response: Isaiah 12: 2 – 6. R/. Sing and shout for joy, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel

Truly, God is my salvation,// I trust, I shall not fear.

For the Lord is my strength, my song,// he became my saviour.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Give thanks to the Lord, give praise to his name! Make his mighty deeds known to the peoples! Declare the greatness of his name.

Sing a psalm to the Lord // for he has done glorious deeds.

Make them known to all the earth! People of Zion, sing and shout for joy for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Philippians 4: 4 – 7. The Lord is very near.

Acclamation for the Gospel:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! The spirit of the Lord has been given to me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Luke 3: 10 – 18. What must we do?

Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Come, Lord Jesus.

Preface: of Advent ii. Eucharistic Prayer: ii

Communion Antiphon: Say to the faint of heart: be strong and do not fear. Behold, our God will come, and he will save us..

1 WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY, ALWAYS HAPPY IN THE LORD !

MASS AND SERVICES DURING THE WEEK: Sat 11th December

6.30pm

3rd SUNDAY of ADVENT (Gaudete!) for the Reconciliation Children (Public Mass)

Sun 12th December 10.30am 12 noon

for the People of the Parish (Public Mass) for the People of the Parish (Public Mass, Bargoed)

Mon 13th December 9.45am

10.00am

Saint Lucy, Virgin Morning Prayer of the Church

S.V.P. Intention

Tues 14th December 9.45am

10.00am

Saint John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor of the Church Morning Prayer of the Church

Margherita Antoniazzi (LA) (Public Mass) Wed 15th December 9.45am

10.00am 2 – 4 pm

Morning Prayer of the Church

for the Ministers of the Word Exposition and Adoration (Open to All)

Thurs 16th December 9.45am 10.00am

Morning Prayer of the Church

Rosemary + Michael Kelly (SW)

Fri 17th December

“O Wisdom”

9.45am 10.00am

Morning Prayer of the Church

Alan Smith (CM) (Public Mass)

Sat 18th December “O Leader of Israel”

10.00am

6.30pm

Sacrament of Reconciliation

4th SUNDAY of ADVENT for the People of the Parish (Public Mass)

Sun 19th December “O Branch of Jesse”

10.30am 12 noon

for our Families (Public Mass) Antonio Gatti (AG) (Public Mass, Bargoed)

THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION:

Saturday 10 – 11am, or at any time by arrangement with the priest.

The PARISH PRAYER LIST: Among all those we pray for in this time, please

remember the sick, and all suffering from the pandemic and its effects, especially: Eileen Morris John Maguire Graham Jenkins Sandra Bray Lloyd Jones Mary Gordine Isobel Cummins Pauline Richards Margaret Jones Carol Morrissey Claris Howell Frank Price Anne Morgan Pat Starynski Yvonne Grandon Martyn Western Marjorie Gurney Carmen Agius Lowela Teves Keith Griffiths Pino Emanuelli Katrin Merry Vinifred Benedict Albert Carley Mary Everson Maura Coll Gwyn Bishop Christine Roberts Christopher Bray Loraine Nolan Louisa Antoniazzi Mark Emery Andrew LeMort Mary & Wilson Brown

PRAYER CYCLE FOR OUR DIOCESE: Please pray for Our twin, the Parish of Saint Helen in Barry, with their priest, Canon Patrick O’Gorman, VF, and their care of Saint Helen’s Primary School, Barry, and Saint Richard Gwyn High School.

THE GOD WHO SPEAKS

“ The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult with joy over you, he will renew you by his love; he will dance with shouts of joy for you as on the day of festival.”

(Zephaniah 3: 17-18.)

THE NATIONALITY AND BORDERS BILL:

This Bill is currently going through Parliament. It is regarded by the Bishops' Conference and some

eighty other concerned bodies and organisations as being unjust, and showing no respect for human

dignity or the protection of human life. Please consider writing to your MP about this Bill: A template

letter is available from the Saint Vincent de Paul Society which you may wish to use. It outlines the

main issues and objections against the Bill - you may wish to customise it as necessary. Please send

an email to petersullivan46@btinternet.com to request a copy.

CONGRATULATIONS to the 18 Children who celebrated

THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION here on

Saturday morning: Jacob Baralos, Megan Davies, Benjamin Francis, Lily Franklin, Caleb Howells, Freya Howley, Joanna Jom Thomas, Zack Jones, Erin Jones, Lilly McGee, Esme Morris, Elin Newton, Alfie O'Brien, Sophia Perks, Imogen Renault, Jake Sunil, Isabella Thomas, and Oliver Wyatt.

Looking at The SUNDAY SCRIPTURES, Thursday 7.30pm, a

chance to prepare for the weekend’s word from God: a joy for us all, essential for the Ministers of the Word. To join in please use Zoom Meeting ID: 818 7431 4444, passcode 450012.

CHURCH CLEANING: Time to prepare our shared home for the coming of the new

baby! All hands on deck, please next Saturday, 18th December, from 10am on. Why not make it a family occasion – bring the children armed with dusters and polish!

CHRISTMAS in COVID: To accommodate everyone with proper precautions, we will

need to book for the Christmas Mass. So ~ For the 4pm Children and Young Families Mass, please ring 02920 861930 this Tuesday, 14th December, between 12noon and 6pm.

~ For the 6.30pm Vigil Mass (Carols from 6pm), please ring 02920 883291 this Tuesday, 14th December, between 12noon and 6pm.

~ For the Midnight Mass (carols from 11.30pm) there is no need to book. ~ For the 10.30 Christmas Day Mass, please ring 20 867212 this Tuesday, 14h December, between 12noon and 6pm.

The “O” Antiphons: From Friday on, the last week of Advent is marked with a series of

Antiphons (introductions to a prayer) calling on the coming Messiah with his prophetic titles, and so building up our anticipation, and our desire and appreciation for what we are promised is about to come. We all know these antiphons from the end-of-Advent favourite “O Come, O Come Emanuel”

While waiting for the first formal gathering of prayer and scripture, conversation and discernment on Thursday 13th January to begin our structured Journey, the Synod team invites us now to open up honest conversations at home, or in the pub, in our friends groups, or at boring office parties, with acquaintances or strangers, children, parents, cousins or partners, about where we are and where they are, in our faith, or lack of it, and all the questions around faith and life, hopes, problems and joys: As The Word comes to us this Christmas, let’s get talking!

Saint Helen’s RC Primary School, has spaces available for

those children who are eligible to join Nursery in September 2022. If your child turns three on or before 31st August 2022, then please contact Saint Helen’s School via email at sthpa@caerphilly.gov.uk, or by telephone, number 029 20852532.

The ALL WALES CATHOLIC YEAR BOOK is now on sale in the porch, £3.00.

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS, AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE !

SAINT HELEN’S COMMUNITY Date Time Event

Sun 12th December 11.30am Coffee Morning Mon 13th December 6.00pm

7.00pm S.V.P. Meet and Train

Singing Group (in church) Tues 14th December 9.30 – 12.30

1.00 – 3.00pm Music Appreciation

Wreath-Making Workshop Thurs 16th December 7.30pm Looking at the Sunday Scriptures Fri 17th December 1.15 – 3.15pm The History Group Sat 18th December 9.30 – 11.30am Dance Sun 19th December 11.30am Coffee Morning

COLLECTIONS 14th, 21st, & 28th November Gift Aided envelopes £ 70.00 Other envelopes £ 243.00 Loose £ 385.45 Total £ 698.45 Thank You.

“Rejoice and be glad” (Matthew 5: 12) Jesus tells those persecuted or humiliated for his sake. The Lord asks everything of us, and in return he offers us true life, the happiness for which we were created. He wants us to be saints and not settle for a bland and mediocre existence. The call to holiness is present inn various ways from the very first pages of the Bible.

The Father’s plan is Christ, and us in Him. ‘Gaudete et Exultate’, Pope Francis 2018.

THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH Part 1: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH. Section 2: The Creeds

Chapter One: I Believe in God The Father

Article 1 "I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth"

Paragraph iv. The Implications of Faith in One God.

(222) Believing in God, the only One, and loving him with all our being has enormous

consequences for our whole life.

(223) It means coming to know God's greatness and majesty: “Behold, God is great, and we know

him not” (Job 26:36). Therefore, we must “serve God first” (Saint Joan of Arc).

(224) It means living in thanksgiving: if God is the only One, everything we are and have

comes from him: “What have you that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).

“What shall I render to the LORD for all his bounty to me?” (Psalm 116:7).

(225) It means knowing the unity and true dignity of all men: everyone is made in the image

and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). Catechism of the Catholic Church 1992

Parish Directory Priest: Revd. John Kelly 20 883192

Safeguarding Officer: cmben@hotmail.com SVP: 20883462 Bereavement support: 20863450

Music: 07971848734. Hall Bookings: 07533 082601 Piety shop: 20862998

Cafod: 20861930 Marriage Care: appointments@marriagecare.co.uk Saint Helen’s School: 20852532 Cardinal Newman School: 01443 494110

Newsletter items: 20883192 Calendar Additions: calendar@sthelenscaerphilly.com

caerphilly@rcadc.org www.sthelenscaerphilly.com Website Additions: Website@sthelenscaerphilly.com

Saint Helen is a Parish of the Archdiocese of Cardiff, a Registered Charity, No. 1177272

1 WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY, ALWAYS HAPPY IN THE LORD !

The Synod Prayer

We stand before You, Holy Spirit,

as we gather together in Your name.

With You alone to guide us,

make Yourself at home in our hearts;

Teach us the way we must go

and how we are to pursue it.

We are weak and sinful;

do not let us promote disorder.

Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path

nor partiality influence our actions.

Let us find in You our unity

so that we may journey together to eternal life

and not stray from the way of truth

and what is right.

All this we ask of You,

who are at work in every place and time,

in the communion of the Father and the Son,

forever and ever. Amen.

OPEN-AIR CAROL SINGING (subject to weather!). All welcome to join! It would be

really good to have plenty of singers, and even some musical instruments to help the sound! • Tue 14th at 6:30 pm - singing carols in Senghenydd. Meet at the car park for Plas

Cwm Parc flats, CF83 4HY (down Gwern Avenue, past the Community Centre, and turn right just after the old police station)

• Wed 15th at 6:30 pm - singing carols and handing out children's Nativity books in Bryn Aber. Meet at 2, Bryncoed Terrace, Abertridwr.

Also, on Thu 16th at 7:00 pm - The Oasis are organising carols in Abertridwr Square

Two Advent Resources from ‘The God Who Speaks’ Team

Dreaming with Joseph this Christmas: On Dreaming in a Time of Crisis (Part 1) by David McLoughlin: godwhospeaks.uk/dreams-and-revelations/dreaming-with-joseph-this-christmas-on-dreaming-in-a-time-of-crisis-part-1 Dreaming with Joseph this Christmas: On Dreaming in a Time of Crisis (Part 2) by David McLoughlin : godwhospeaks.uk/dreams-and-revelations/dreaming-with-joseph-this-christmas-on-dreaming-in-a-time-of-crisis-part-2

“Like a devoted mother, keenly concerned for our salvation, the Church uses the rites of this season, its hymns, songs, and other utterances of the Holy Spirit to teach us a lesson. She shows us how to receive this great gift of God with thankfulness, and how to be enriched by its possession. She teaches us that our hearts should be as prepared now for the coming of Christ our Lord as if he were still to come into the world.” Saint Charles Borromeo