Due to the Alert Level Four in place for the whole of Wales with a very high risk of infection by the new variant of Covid-19 and the ‘at risk’ profile of many of our parishioners Mass will be live streamed only from St. Teilo’s until further notice.

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. This brings to an end the season of Christmas. The Church recalls Our Lord’s second manifestation or epiphany, which occurred on the occasion of His Baptism in the Jordan. Jesus descended into the River to sanctify its waters and to give them the power to beget sons of God. The event takes on the importance of a second creation in which the entire Trinity intervenes. In the Eastern Church, this feast is called Theophany because, at the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan, God appeared in three persons. The Baptism of John was a sort of sacramental preparatory for the Baptism of Christ. It moved men to sentiments of repentance and induced them to confess their sins. Christ did not need the baptism of John. Although He appeared in the “substance of our flesh” and was recognised “outwardly like unto ourselves”, He was absolutely sinless and impeccable. He conferred upon the water the power of the true Baptism which would remove all the sins of the world: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him Who takes away the sin of the world”.

Many of the incidents, which accompanied Christ’s Baptism, are symbolic of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ’s Baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His Baptism Christ was proclaimed the “Beloved Son” of the Father; at our Baptism we become the Sons and Daughters of God. At Christ’s Baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us.

Mass today will be at 10.00am and you are welcome to join us online.

This week’s newsletter can be found here.

Due to the Alert Level Four in place for the whole of Wales with a very high risk of infection by the new variant of Covid-19 and the ‘at risk’ profile of many of our parishioners Mass will be live streamed only from St. Teilo’s until further notice. An update will be provided next weekend.

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family. This celebration takes place on the Sunday within the octave of Christmas bringing our thoughts to our own families as well as the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Gospel for today is taken from the Gospel according to Luke and describes the presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple.

The Gospel alludes to several aspects of the Law of Moses: circumcision, the dedication of the firstborn son to the Lord, and the purification of a woman after childbirth. According to the Law of Moses as presented in the Book of Leviticus, a woman was considered ritually unclean during her menstrual period and for a prescribed period of time following the birth of a child. After the birth of a son, a woman was considered ritually unclean for 40 days. After the birth of a daughter, a woman was considered unclean for 80 days. In order to be restored to ritual purity, a Jewish woman performed the appropriate rites of purification and made the prescribed ritual offering.

Today’s Gospel notes that Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth, in accordance with the Mosaic Law. At that time, he was called Jesus, the name he was given by the angel Gabriel. On the 40th day after Jesus’ birth, Mary performed the appropriate purification rites and made her offering at the Temple. Although the Law of Moses required an offering of a lamb, those who could not afford a lamb could substitute two turtledoves or two pigeons. In this scene, Luke identifies Joseph and Mary as being poor, and indeed throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus will show special concern for the poor.

Another Jewish rite referenced in this Gospel is the dedication of the firstborn son to the Lord. In remembrance of the feast of Passover, when the firstborn children of the Israelites in Egypt were saved from death, the Law of Moses prescribed that all firstborn males of Israel should be consecrated to the Lord. In this tradition, Mary and Joseph present the infant Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem, Luke reports that Mary and Joseph encounter two devout Jews, Simeon and Anna, who recognize the infant Jesus as the fulfilment of Israel’s hope for redemption. In Simeon’s words we find a prediction of Mary’s witnessing of Jesus’ death on the cross. The Canticle of Simeon, also called by its Latin name, Nunc Dimitis, is prayed at night prayer, or compline, each day during the Liturgy of the Hours. As we come to honour the Holy Family and pray for our own families, perhaps we can make Simeon’s prayer our own as we rejoice to see the salvation of God:

At last, all-powerful Master,

you give leave to your servant

to go in peace, according to your promise.

For my eyes have seen your salvation

which you have prepared for all nations,

the light to enlighten the Gentiles

and give glory to Israel, your people.

Mass today will be at 10.00am and you are welcome to join us online.

There is no newsletter this week, please continue to use last week’s double edition

Please note that the Welsh Government has declared an Alert Level Four for the whole of Wales. This means there is a very high risk of infection by the new variant of Covid-19.

While churches may remain open under the new rules until further notice Mass will be live streamed only from St. Teilo’s. Attendance at the Mass of Christmas Midnight and the 10.00am on Christmas Morning Mass will be open to those who have already booked to attend. PLEASE NOTE THESE MASSES ARE FULL. DO NOT ATTEND UNLESS YOU HAVE A CONFIRMED BOOKING.

If you have booked a place for Mass but are unable to attend you do not need to tell us, but if you do want to contact us email whitchurch@rcadc.org

This Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we hear the story of the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary about the birth of Jesus. This Sunday, the liturgy shifts our attention from John the Baptist to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Both John and Mary serve as important figures for our reflection during the season of Advent; they both played instrumental roles in preparing the way for Jesus. Last week we reflected on John the Baptist’s announcement that the Saviour was among us, although not yet recognised. This week we reflect upon Mary’s example of faith and obedience to God, traits which permitted her to receive the angel’s message that God’s Son would be born as a human person, as one of us.

The story of the Annunciation calls to our attention God’s wondrous action in human history. God chose a human person to give birth to His Son so that all humanity would know God’s salvation. Mary, already full of God’s grace, was able to cooperate in this great plan for our salvation. Thus, Jesus was born as one of us, fully human and also fully divine. This is the mystery we prepare to celebrate at Christmas, the mystery of the Incarnation. In the model of Mary, we pray that we will be people of faith who recognise God’s saving plan for us and are able to respond with obedience.

Mass today will be at 10.00am and you are welcome to join us online.

This week’s updated newsletter can be found here.

Please note any updates will appear in the Latest News section of the Parish website (on the front page below the live stream) and on Facebook and Twitter.