Today we begin the season of Advent, the start of the new Liturgical Year. The Church not only wishes to indicate the beginning of a period but the beginning of a renewed commitment to the faith by all of us who follow Christ, the Lord. While during the time of pandemic we are not all able to gather in Church during Advent, we can use this time as a prayerful preparation for the birth of Christ in our hearts.

If we use it properly, this time of prayer and personal development can be so powerful, rich and intense; it endeavours to give us a renewed impetus to truly welcome the message of the One who was incarnated for us. In fact, the entire Liturgy of the Advent season, will spur us to an awakening in our Christian life and will put us in a ‘vigilant’ disposition, to wait for Our Lord Jesus who is coming.

Normally, we hear Catholics say, “Advent is too busy, with so many Christmas parties and work/school events in which we have to be involved.” Perhaps this Advent, without many of the events like this which have in the past made this period very busy, we can really spend time waiting patiently for the Lord and listening to His Voice.

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

This week’s newsletter can be found here.

Please note that St. Teilo’s will be open for Mass at 10.00am Tuesday, Thursday and next Sunday. If you would like to book for Tuesday, Thursday or next Sunday please telephone Carole on 07747 562847 between 11am and 1pm, tomorrow, Monday, November 30^th.

Christmas Masses

This year, there will be two Masses on Christmas Day at St. Teilo’s. One as Midnight strikes and begins Christmas Day itself, the other at 10.00am on Christmas morning. Both will be celebrated online and will be open for attendees who book this Wednesday, December 2^nd, between 11 am – 1pm on a first come, first booked basis.

Carole Burns is the contact and can be telephoned on 07747 562847

Today we celebrate the great solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This is the last Sunday of the Church’s year which means we focus on the final and glorious things to come!  It also means that next Sunday will be the First Sunday of Advent.

When we say Jesus is a king, we mean a few things. First, He is our Shepherd. As our Shepherd He desires to lead us personally as a loving friend would. He wants to enter our lives personally, intimately and carefully, never imposing Himself but always offering Himself as our guide. The difficulty with this is that it’s very easy for us to reject this kind of kingship. As King, Jesus desires to lead every aspect of our lives and lead us in all things. He desires to become the absolute ruler and monarch of our souls. He wants us to come to Him for everything and to become dependent upon Him always. But He will not impose this sort of kingship upon us. We must accept it freely and without reservation. Jesus will only govern our lives if we freely surrender ourselves over to Him. When that happens, though, His Kingdom begins to become established within us! And through us in the world.

A Prayer to Christ the King

O Jesus Christ, we acknowledge You as Universal King.

All that has been made has been created for You.

We renew our Baptismal Vows. We renounce Satan,

his pomp and his works; we promise to live as good Christians.

and, in particular we do pledge ourselves to labour, to the best of our ability,

for the triumph of the rights of God and of Your Church. Divine Heart of Jesus,

to You do we offer our services. We labour so that all hearts may acknowledge

Your sacred kingship and that thus, the reign of Your peace

may be established throughout the whole universe.

Amen

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

This week’s newsletter can be found here.

During this month of November, we will pray for the Faithful Departed at Mass every day. We will remember especially those included on the November List of the Dead. In this time of restricted Masses, we have set up a ‘virtual’ November List of the Dead to remember those of our departed friends and loved ones who are on their last great journey towards the eternal light of God. It can be viewed on the Parish Website. If you haven’t yet had chance to add your family or loved ones to the list please email the names to whitchurch@rcadc.org

Please note that St. Teilo’s will be open for Mass at 10.00am Tuesday, Thursday and next Sunday.  If you would like to book for Tuesday, Thursday or next Sunday please telephone Carole on 07747 562847 between 11am and 1pm, tomorrow, Monday, November 23^rd.

On this Remembrance Sunday we are very conscious of the strange circumstances surrounding this year’s Act of Remembrance in churches, chapels, memorials and war cemeteries as our churches remain closed and the annual memorial held by the Royal British Legion here at Whitchurch has been cancelled due to the ‘Firebreak’. For over a century the silence, prayers, the laying of the wreath by the Sovereign and the march past of veterans and their widows has spoken clearly of gratitude and respect, a gratitude and respect we continue to maintain in a new way this year.

Today at St. Teilo’s we will celebrate a Requiem Mass for all those who have died in war. We can pray for all of the departed who have lost their lives as a result of the inhumanity of war.

At the end of Mass, we will have two minutes’ silence as an Act of Remembrance. Our silence is one of prayer. The expression of our gratitude to those who served and have died is prayer and the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for their souls. “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.” May they rest in peace. AMEN

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

This week’s newsletter can be found here.

During this month of November, we will pray for the Faithful Departed at Mass every day. We will remember especially those included on the November List of the Dead. In this time of restricted Masses, we have set up a ‘virtual’ November List of the Dead to remember those of our departed friends and loved ones who are on their last great journey towards the eternal light of God. It can be viewed on the Parish Website.

If you haven’t yet had chance to add your family or loved ones to the list please email the names to whitchurch@rcadc.org

Please note that St. Teilo’s will be open for Mass at 10.00am Tuesday, Thursday and next Sunday.  If you would like to book for Tuesday, Thursday or next Sunday please telephone Carole on 07747 562847 between 11am and 1pm, tomorrow, Monday, November 9^th.