THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B) [Gaudete Sunday] 12/13 December 2020
CATHOLIC PARISHES OF:
Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Dovercourt: 01255 503383
email Harwich@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website www.harwichcatholics.org.uk
Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi, Frinton-on-Sea: 01255 674475
email Frinton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website: www.frintoncatholicchurch.wordpress.com
Masses to be celebrated in our churches during the week:
Monday (14th): (Dovercourt) 9.30am The Collins Family
Wednesday (16th): (Frinton) 11.00am Christine & Filomena Wood (The Sisters)
(Frinton) 12.00noon: Funeral Service: Mary Green RIP
Thursday (17th): (Frinton) 11.00am Maeve & Fergal Leamy & children
Friday (18th): (Dovercourt) 9.30am Mary & Larry Key RIP (Patricia & George Chowney)
Saturday (19th): (Frinton) 6.00pm Anne & Paul Bray (Eileen Turner)
Sunday (20th): (Frinton) 8.30am Ints of Nollag Foster
(Dovercourt) 10.45am Expectant Mothers
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His Mass intentions are:
Students & Teachers
The Homeless
Private Intentions
Migrants & Refugees
All Parishioners
A hymn for Sunday:
Hail to the Lord’s anointed! He comes to break oppression,
Great David’s greater son! to set the captive free;
Hail, in the time appointed, to take away transgression,
his reign on earth begun! and rule in equity.
This hymn, quite simply, is one of my all time favourites and has been since I was young. I can remember, as a chorister in my local parish church in Coventry, enjoying the elegance of the words and of the melody. Some hymns are special to us or they may evoke particular memories and this is certainly one such for me. Each verse is beautiful; sing all 4 on this joyful Gaudete Sunday!
This week’s reflection from the entrance antiphon: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.’ (AJ)
Sunday Mass Attendance (both parishes – ADVENT): To give all parishioners the opportunity of attending Mass once during Advent, Sunday Masses will be open to parishioners as follows: 3rd Sunday of Advent (12/13 Dec), Surnames H-O; 4th Sunday (19/20 Dec) P-Z. The church may be more crowded than usual, please maintain social distancing at all times even if this means standing.
Christmas Masses: I am planning for seven Christmas Masses to be celebrated across the two parishes between 24th and 27th December. Please note that attendance will be limited to those who have pre-booked seats. Please come early and be seated in good time.
It’s getting cold: as we need to leave windows and doors open in church to ensure adequate ventilation, please remember to come dressed in warm outdoor clothes!
Sunday Smile: One Sunday after an illness that had left me temporarily deaf, I happened to say to one of my parishioners, “That was a strange experience, I couldn’t hear myself preach.”
“My,” he said, “you were lucky.”