Happy New Year

I pray that 2018 may bring good things to our community.

New Year's Day is the 51st World Day of Peace. Here is the message of Pope Francis for the occasion.  This year the Holy Father takes as his subject "Migrants and refugees: men and women in search of peace".

The first day of the year is also a feast of Our Lady under her most ancient title, "Mother of God". Let us commend all our intentions for the year to her prayers. You might like to use the oldest known prayer to Mary to start the year:

We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God,
despise not our petitions in our necessities,
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.

Newsletter for 30/31 December - Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph.

Click here to read the latest newsletter.

Adeste fideles - O come, all ye faithful

O come, let us adore him! Come and worship the new born Christ with our brothers and sisters all over the world.

Newsletter for Advent 4 & Christmas

Click here to read the latest newsletter with details of weekend and Christmas Masses. Also there are a few remaining opportunities for confession before Christmas.

For reflection here is the opening section of Bach's Magnificat, an exuberant setting of Mary's song of joy.

Advent 4 & Christmas Masses

Full newsletter will be published here on Thursday. Until then....

Confessions before Christmas

Part of a good spiritual preparation for Christmas is to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Here is a list of available times. I particularly recommend Monday evening. Feel free to pop into Church anytime between 6.30 and 8pm, Spend some quiet time adoring the Lord who comes to bring us forgiveness. Two priests will be available to celebrate the Sacrament with you. Come when you can - leave when you must. Mince pies and mulled wine in presbytery at 8pm after Benediction.

Newsletter for 16/17 December - Advent 3(B) Gaudete

Click here to read the latest newsletter.
Please bring the figure of the Christ-Child from your crib to be blessed at the 10am Mass this Sunday.

This Sunday we welcome St Charles School to take a major part in our Mass. “Let all that you do, be done in love.” (St Charles Borromeo). Love is made possible by respect. St. Charles School offers a friendly, family atmosphere based on Catholic principles backed by good teaching and high expectations. The school continuously strives toward excellence with Christ at the Centre of everything we do. For more information please see the school website, stcharlescatholicprimarymeasham.org, phone 01530 270572, or email office@st-charles.leics.sch.uk

For reflection you might like to listen to this lovely setting of the very familiar "O come, Emmanuel."

Atherstone Choral Society Christmas Concert with St Charles School Choir

Concert rescheduled to  Monday 18th December 7.00 pm at Holy Trinity Church, Hartshill, CV10 0LY

Rehearsal for the St Charles Choir will start at 6.00 pm at the church on the day.  Refreshments will be provided for parents between the rehearsal and the performance.

Please re-use the tickets already purchased for this concert

How are you at snow shifting?

The local weather forecast for the early hours of Sunday is looking rather snowy. If this turns out to be accurate, any members of our community who own shovels and are willing and able to wield them would receive a warm (?) welcome at OLOL earlyish on Sunday morning so that we can ensure safe access to our Church for the 10am Mass.

Father Colin will have the kettle on from 8.30am.

Newsletter for 9/10 December - Advent 2

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Handel's "Comfort ye, my people" provides a lovely reflection for the Second Sunday of Advent. The words are taken from the first reading at Mass.

Video Resource on Our Lady

St Paul Center for Biblical Theology has again made an excellent video resource on Mary available freely online during Advent. More here.

From St Charles School

Three Vacancies: at Crich, Measham& Derby

Director of Youth Service.  The Diocese seeks to appoint a professionally qualified Director of Youth Service who combines a deep personal commitment to their Catholic faith with a vibrant and enthusiastic passion for Catholic youth ministry and retreat provision among young people.
This full-time post will be based at The Briars Youth Retreat Centre in Crich. For further information contact Teresa Clark on 01773 852044 or bookings@ndcys.com
Closing date for all applications 3rd January.

Advent starts

In my homily this weekend I quoted a homily by St Bernard. You can read more of St Bernard's words here.

These few words give us a flavour:

In his first coming our Lord came in our flesh and in our weakness; in this middle coming he comes in spirit and in power; in the final coming he will be seen in glory and majesty.
In case someone should think that what we say about this middle coming is sheer invention, listen to what our Lord himself ways: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.