Mass at St Leo’s on Dec 20th

the Parish Penance Service:  7.00 on Monday 21st December

Christmas Mass: The Vigil (formerly ‘Midnight’) Mass is at 8.30 on Thursday evening

Christmas Day Mass is at 10.30

John Steele’s Funeral Mass will take place at 11.15 on the 29th December.  Please note that numbers are still restricted and John’s family are in charge of who will be able to attend.

Entry Song:  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

First reading

2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16

Once David had settled into his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies surrounding him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘Look, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent.’ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go and do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.’

But that very night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:

‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel; I have been with you on all your expeditions; I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will give you fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall dwell in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked continue to oppress them as they did, in the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel; I will give them rest from all their enemies. The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House. And when your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’

Second reading

Romans 16:25-27

Glory to him who is able to give you the strength to live according to the Good News I preach, and in which I proclaim Jesus Christ, the revelation of a mystery kept secret for endless ages, but now so clear that it must be broadcast to pagans everywhere to bring them to the obedience of faith. This is only what scripture has predicted, and it is all part of the way the eternal God wants things to be. He alone is wisdom; give glory therefore to him through Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen.

Intercessions

For the church: that we may see more clearly what special things God wants of each one of us,
and be generous in our acceptance of God’s will.Lord, hear us

For peace throughout the world, especially in the Holy Land and the Middle East.
Lord, hear us

For all refugees and asylum seekers – especially those who are members of our parish community.
Lord, hear us

During this time of the Pandemic we pray for healing for those who are ill, anxious, or housebound within our families and community, including Sr Bridie Dowd, Sr Anne, Ellen Hamilton, Sonny Yang, Molly McGavigan, Teresa Kidd, Margaret McLean, Andrine Mansi, Fred Newman, Mary Clunie, Sean Fitzgerald, Ishbel MacMillan, Bill Harrison, Jack Rae, Anne Judge, Thomas Boyle, Catherine Mulrine, Yvonne Watt, Rae McVey, John Gibson, Eleanor Reid,
for John McQuoclin and all being treated in the local Hospice
and all who serve the country in the emergency services. Lord, hear us

We pray for our dead and for those who mourn – including John Steele, Lois Pauline Meneer, Bessie Malane, Eleanor Piercey, Ian McGarrigle, James Marr, Brian Tennyson, Gerry Hanretty, Olga Marchetti, Joseph Alexander O’Brien, John Rankin, Pat Cunningham, Colin Reynolds, Mary Kate Campbell, Saverio Giugliano, James Mooney, Richard Burton, Eddie Gethens, Canon Willie McDade, Ellen Gannon, and Rene McPherson; and for those whose anniversaries fall about now: including Tam Haley, Hugh Bradley, Charlie Hamilton, Betty McKinney, Tommy and Annie McMahon, Cecilia Mary Harrison, May McNulty, Charlie Devlin,  Anne Cara, May Conroy, John McVey, Adrian Rogers, Niccole Verrecchia, Eugenio and Matilda Rossi and Lily McGlone.  Lord, hear us