Dear friends in Christ

Shortly after the Annunciation Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. The Gospel tells us that Mary went with haste into the hill country…she went so that she could be with her cousin who was expecting John the Baptist in order to assist her, even if she might have preferred to remain at home and prepare for the birth of her own child. We consider this mystery in the life of Our Blessed Lady each time we pray the second joyful mystery of the Rosary. It is also an image we see when we come into our church, portrayed in the reredos. Very often the best service we can render to others is to simply remain with them, joyfully and unpretentiously. But we can only do this if we are close to Christ through a faithful commitment to prayer throughout the day. In the days of Christmastide ahead, we shall have many opportunities to be of service to others, either by providing friends and family with hospitality, by being with someone who is alone and in need, by attending to the needs of those who need us. Let Mary be our inspiration for the celebrations of this season ahead of us. Throughout all of these mysteries in the life of our Incarnate Lord, Mary has a pivotal place. May she draw us more deeply into the mystery of the Incarnation. I pray that we may all have a joyful celebration of the Christmas feasts. As we begin the Jubilee Year of Hope this Christmas, may the message of hope be a reality for the way we live our lives, and may we be the conduits of supernatural hope for the people around us!

Thanks to all those who prepared and participated in the Carol Service Friday evening. It was lovely to have so many of you present with our distinguished guests. It provided much appreciated support for two worthy local Charities: Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society and YMCA.

Please bring your crib figures of the baby Jesus to Mass this Sunday, which we will bless at the end of Mass ahead of placing them on Christmas Day.

Msgr Kevin Hale