Christmas is a season, a lengthy period of time which

permits us to allow the celebrated event sink in. Both of

today's New Testament readings -from Paul and from John-

are lengthy meditations on the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Paul's powerful meditation is, in part at least, a prayer

addressed to God the Father. Paul praises God for his free

gift to us in the Beloved. He then addresses God on our behalf. He asks God to give us the spirit of wisdom and

perception of what is revealed, that we all may come to a

full knowledge of him. The full significance of what has

happened in the incarnation is not immediately obvious. It

can only be grasped by those with the eyes of faith, and it is

absorbed only over a long period of time, over a lifetime. The

Prologue to St. John's gospel is of course a far more famous

reflection on the incarnation. 'In the beginning was the

Word and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us', as we heard in our gospel reading just

now. The Father has spoken. That word found expression in

the most fragile form imaginable. The word of God the

Father took flesh in the tiny body of a baby, emphasising

thereby the vulnerability of our God for our sake. That word

could be encouraged and amplified, or else it could be

snuffed out forever. And, from the beginning, there was not

shortage of people ready to snuff out the Word. God had

done his best. He has expressed himself fully and perfectly.

The ball was now in our court. It is up to us now to make God accessible to our fellow human beings. That is the

challenge of the Christmas season: to make the incarnation

an everyday event, not just a one-day wonder.

Last Sunday’s Collections

Sunday, 20th

December 2020

Gift Aid £.00

First Collection £

Sea Sunday £

Automated credits (October 2020) £

Thank you to all parishioners who now make direct bank payments to the parish, please do consider continuing or to start doing this. Our bank details are: NatWest - Parish of Our Lady & St. Michael’s No. 1 Account no. 60708778 Bank Sort Code: 53-50-41.

v

Saturday, 2nd January 2021 – Sunday, 10th January 2021

CHURCH OPEN FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP Public Masses highlighted in BOLD

All other services continue to be livestreamed from Church

www.olsm-abergavenny.co.uk Evening Prayer at 5pm on

www.facebook.com/OurLadyandStMichaelChurch

Saturday 2nd

January 2021 – St’s Basil and Gregory. *10.00am Mass in OLSM Church – Sick of the Parish. *10.45am Confessions in Sacristy *5.00pm Vigil Mass in Llanarth Chapel – People of the Parish

Sunday, 3rd

January – Second Sunday of Christmas - Year B *10.00am – Mass in OLSM Church – Jack Uden Rip. *5.00pm Evening Prayer on Facebook *Decade of the Rosary prayed before 6.00pm mass *6.00pm – Mass in OLSM Church – Buckley Family.

Monday, 4th

January – *10.00am Mass in OLSM Church – Lewis Family *5.00pm Evening Prayer on Facebook

Tuesday 5th

January 2021 – *10.00am Mass in OLSM Church – In thanksgiving (A.P.) *5.00pm Vigil Mass at Llanarth Chapel

Wednesday, 6th

January 2021 – Solemnity of the Epiphany *10.00am Mass in OLSM Church *5.00pm Evening Prayer on Facebook *5.30pm Bible Reflection Group on Zoom, invite overleaf. *7.00pm Mass in OLSM Church – People of the Parish

Thursday, 7th

January 2021 – *10.00am Mass in OLSM Church – Sick of the Parish. *5.00pm Evening Prayer on Facebook

Friday, 8th

January 2021 – *10.00am Mass in OLSM Church – People of the Parish. *3.00pm Divine Mercy Chaplet – livestreamed on website *5.00pm Evening Prayer on Facebook *6.00pm Rosary – Livestreamed on website.

Saturday, 9th

January 2021 – *10.00am Mass in OLSM Church – Sick of the Parish. *10.45am Confessions in Sacristy *5.00pm Vigil Mass in Llanarth Chapel – People of the Parish.

Sunday, 10th

January 2021 – Baptism of the Lord. *10.00am – Mass in OLSM Church – Brenig Hugh Powell RIP. *5.00pm Evening Prayer on Facebook *Decade of the Rosary prayed before 6.00pm mass *6.00pm – Mass in OLSM Church – In th’s (J.D.)

Priory Church of Our Lady and St Michael, Abergavenny

Eglwys y Priordy Ein Harglwyddes a Mihangel Sant, y Fenni

Parish Priest: Father Matthew Carney OSB ☎ (01873) 851051 Mobile: 07402 979597 The Presbytery, 10 Pen y pound, ABERGAVENNY NP7 5UD

Email: parishoffice.olsmch@gmail.com or matthew.carney@rcadc.org Website: www.olsm-abergavenny.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OurLadyandStMichaelChurch

St Michael’s Centre – Administrator: ☎ 857750 Jems Catering: ☎ 07859 938015

Deacon: Rev Dr Andreas Erhardt ☎ (01873) 855078

Safeguarding reps: William & Evelyn Duggan ☎ (01873) 855353

Dial-a-Mass Service ☎ (01873) 777190

Sunday, 3rd January – 2nd Sunday after Christmas - B

Entrance Antiphon – “Whena proound siolence covered all things and night was in the middle of its course, your all-powerful Word, O Lord, bounded from heaven’s royal throne. Response – “The Word was made flesh and lived among us.” Acclamation – “Alleluia, alleluia, Glory be to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the pagans. Glory be to you, O Christ, believed in by the world. Alleluia! Communion Antiphon – “To all who would accept him, he gave the power to become children of God.”

Mass Reflection: The Holy Family - B

You who labouryou

FOODBANK – Great demands are being

made on the local foodbank and they are in need of the normal donations and also cash donations. Any food items can be left at the presbytery and donations made via the website. Just send an e-mail saying the donation is for the foodbank.

SAFEGUARDING – Parishioners are reminded that if they have any safeguarding concerns, regarding the care of children, young people or vulnerable adults they should contact our safeguarding reps - Willie and Evelyn Duggan on 855353 - or Fr. Matthew.

YEAR OF THE WORD “In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him.” John 1:1-3) www.godwhospeaks.uk/ SPUC – STOPPING DIY HOME ABORTIONS IN WALES –SPUC is leading efforts to stop DIY Home Abortions being made permanent. The Welsh government has begun a consultation to make permanent the arrangements for “DIY” Home abortions. This involves using abortion pills at home for pregnancies up to 9 weeks gestation, without a need to attend a hospital or clinic. Originally put in place because of the pandemic, but it is now proposed to make the arrangements permanent. The consultation closes on 22

nd February. SPUC has issued a

guide on responding to the consultation, available atwww.spuc.org.uk. We will shortly make it available to parishioners directly.

DIAL-A-MASS (01873) 777190 The Dial-A-Mass service continues to be available for those who are unable to watch the Mass livestream. If you know anyone who doesn't have access to the internet, or is struggling to watch the Mass online, please do pass on the telephone number above.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Meets next on Monday 18th

January at 6pm. PARISH COUNCIL – Meets next on Monday 25

th

January at 7.30pm.

CHILDRENS LITURGY Continues to meet online each Sunday in term time at 9.15am on Sundays. Next Session Sunday 9

th January. For the Zoom invite please

just e-mail Fr. Matthew.

ASSISTED SUICIDE - The assisted suicide lobby have launched a large campaign to put pressure on the Government to reconsider the legalisation of assisted suicide. It is vital that it is clear to the Government that the public want them to continue to hold strong against this pressure from assisted suicide campaigners and reject their demands. Right To Life UK have set up and easy to use tool which will enable you to email your MP asking them to make it clear to the Government that it should not give into demands from the assisted suicide lobby to reconsider the legalisation of assisted suicide. It only takes 30 seconds to email your MP by visiting the link below: https://righttolife.org.uk/StopAssistedSuicide

Also see website and poster at back of Church.

EVENING PRAYER – Fr. Matthew is leading Evening Prayer every day, (except Saturdays) using the Magnificat publication at 5pm www.magnificat.com/english

ST. MICHAELS CENTRE - serves both the

Parish and wider community and is a

wonderful asset. It is owned and

administered under its own Trust, and the

current Trustees would welcome volunteers

who might like to become involved as future

Trustees. The role is not onerous, and is a

good way to contribute to the Parish. Please

would anyone interested get in contact via

Deacon Barry Taylor at

barrytaylor129@gmail.com.

Some knowledge or experience of financial

or property management might be an

advantage but is not essential.

Separately the Centre will be looking for a

successor to Dominic O’Boyle in the next

year or so to support the Centre with

maintenance of the building. Again the role

is not onerous but absolutely vital and would

ideally be a person who is able to manage

contractors and oversee any ongoing repairs

and refurbishments of a relatively modern

building as well as sort out smaller snags.

The role would ideally suit someone who is

or has been involved in property

management who can give a little of their

time and experience to the Parish. Please

spread the word and all enquiries to Deacon

Barry Taylor at barrytaylor129@gmail.com

GUNTER MANSION – Has received an emergency grant to help repair the building and keep it weather proof. More info available on the parish website.

DONATION – The Parish has made a donation to the 7 Corners Centre in Abergavenny, which works with young people. We continue to support the Food bank with food donations and finances. 1

st HOLY COMMUNION COURSE

The next preparation course will begin in January. Details will be advertised soon.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL THE SICK AND THE HOUSEBOUND OF OUR PARISH: Russell Wood, John

Garnett, Rob Disson, Margaret Hargaden, Rhys Watkins, Maria Tedescho, Mary Kelly, Thomas Canning, Elizabeth Coopey, Fr. Alexander (Belmont), Beryl Watts, Brigid Malnati, Doris Bishop, Chris O’Connell, Angela Jones, Noreen Desmond, Mrs Heuclin, Mary Owen, Ann Green, Winnie and Stan Herbert, Colin Anderson, David Johnston, Tina Langford. Please also pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died recently – Christine Homfray, Patrick Johnson, Jean Clarke, Noel Fitzgerald, Fr. Ambrose Walsh, Doris Bloor, Joel Ewers, Mother Anne Magdalen Fee and those whose anniversaries occur at this time.

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY – Meets next on Wednesday 6

th January , at 5.30pm.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86325659841?pwd=Tm5YeXNtajUrdDRoSlhqY0FhS2U5QT09 Meeting ID: 863 2565 9841 Passcode: 823350

CONFESSIONS - This Saturday, 10.45am in the Church sacristy.

YEAR OF THE WORD Find here YouTube links from Bishop Barron, with video talks on the theme of Christmas. Bishop Robert Barron on Christmas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUW-

A2qZzWY Bishop Robert Barron on Christmas and

the Prologue in the Gospel of St. John https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcmGmao-TJA

MISSIO – RED BOXES. Please leave on the table by the sacristy door, they can also be collected from there.

SVP – Next meeting this Friday 7th

January. Zoom Invite to be e-mailed to all members.

NUMBERS CLUB DRAW – September winners. 1. Sue Price £50, 2. Moria Cooper £25, 3. Mary Bell £15, 4. Annabel Williams £10. December winners. 1. Janet Andrews £50, 2. K&V. Houston £25, 3. Tom Whyatt £15, 4. Gina Edwards £10. SPUC – Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child. We will be having an appeal/2nd Collection for SPUC next Sunday 10th January. PARISH GRANT – The parish has been granted another grant to help local families in need, it comes from a larger amount received from the Archdiocese from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We have also received £500 of Tesco Food Vouchers which have been distributed for us by the local foodbank.

SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY – This Wednesday is the Solemnity of the Epiphany and is a Holyday of Obligation, Vigil mass at Llanarth and at OLSM 10am and 7pm on Wednesday.

THANKYOU – From Fr. Matthew for all the kind gifts and cards received. Thanks also for your generosity to the Christmas day collection, the Clergy Offering, which goes to support the Belmont Monastic Community. EVANGELISATION GROUP – Meets next this Friday 8

th January at 7pm, to discuss our

plans for another Alpha course, something for young people and our proposed Bible course, see below. BIG PICTURE BIBLE COURSE. 12 Step/week Video Course beginning Friday 22

nd January

on Zoom at 7pm. Video, prayer and discussion. MISSIO RED BOXES – Thanks to all those who have returned their Red boxes, well over £1300 has been collected for Missio, the Popes charity for Missionary work. Thankyou.