Fourth Sunday of Advent Catholic Parishes of St Mary’s, Bridgend, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Porthcawl

& St Joseph’s of Arimathea, Kenfig Hill www.catholicchurchbridgend.org.uk www.catholicchurchporthcawl.org.uk

Priests: Fr. Tim McGrath 01656 652034 & Fr. Silvio Briffa (retired) Parish Deacons: Rev. Philip Manghan philip.manghan@rcadc.org

Rev. Robert Coyne Tel: 01656 783540 & Rev. Anthony Martin Tel: 01656 746648 Parish Administrator: Sarah Kearns bridgend@rcadc.org

A Parish of the Archdiocese of Cardiff: 1177272

If you have not booked for Mass please do not attend. All Masses taking place in St Mary’s are live streamed. The links for this are available on the home page of both websites.

Why not request to join the Facebook group “Catholics Together -Bridgend, Porthcawl & Pyle”. https://www.facebook.com/groups/bridgendcatholic

Date Mass Times Mass Intention Sat 19th December Mass 4.30 pm live stream only

Vigil Mass 6.00pm live stream only Eileen Coyne RIP (Christine Eynon) People of the Parish, our frontline & NHS workers

Sun 20th December 4th Sunday of Advent

Mass 10.00am live stream only Mass 11.00am live stream only Mass 6.00pm live stream only

People of the Parish, our frontline & NHS workers Benji Vista Recovery (Rosemarie Vista) Audrey Skinner (Sue Ryan)

Mon 21st December 11.00am Funeral Service Albina Cavalli INVITATION ONLY

Tues 22nd December Mass 10.00am Our Lady Star of the Sea, Porthcawl followed by Adoration

until 11.00 am

Sadie Mitchinson (Ladies Guild)

Wed 23rd December Mass 7.00pm live stream only Kevin Stephens

Thurs 24th December Mass 4.30pm bookings & live stream Mass 6.00pm bookings & live stream

Midnight Mass live stream only

People of the Parish, our frontline & NHS workers and all those unable to see their families this Christmas.

Fri 25th December The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus

Christ

Mass 9.30 am live stream only Mass 10.30am bookings and live stream

The Golden Book, people of the Parish, our frontline & NHS workers

and all those unable to see their families this Christmas.

Sat 26th December Mass 4.30 pm live stream only Vigil Mass 6.00pm*

Sandra & Philip Golden Wedding Anniversary (M&G) Kathleen McCann (Kath Phillips)

Sun 27th December The Holy Family

Mass 10.00am live stream only Mass 11.00am* Mass 6.00pm*

People of the Parish, our frontline & NHS workers Victoria Chatterton & Percy Edwards RIP (CE) People of the Parish, our frontline & NHS workers

Please continue to remember all those who are sick and housebound in your prayers: Mary Bryan, Anne Colson, Ryan Dixon, Angela Ellis, Barbara Fentham, Elsie Freeth, Catherine Grills, Margaret Jarvis, John Lewis, Mary Maguire, Robert Morrison, Maureen Pritchard, Marcus Rossini and David Watkins

We pray for the sick and housebound of our parish, our friends, relatives and those who have asked for our prayers: Anna, Benji Vista, Conall & Siobhan, Eddie, Emma, Erica, Garry, Helle, Jamie, Keith, Margaret, Maria, Martin Ginnelly, Mary Farndale, Mary Thornton, Mike, Peter,Vince Chapman (please email bridgend@rcadc.org if you would like to add a name to the list)

In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to

be, not one thing had its being but through him.” John 1:1-3

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Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B, 20th December 2020 ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord’

As we look forward to Christmas, quickly approaching, today’s readings speak of God’s plans: for the House of David ... for Mary … and for us. In the First Reading, David resolves to build a house for God, but God, who has journeyed with his people through all their ups and downs, has different plans. Speaking through the prophet Nathan, God promises to build a house for the people of Israel, establishing David as head of

the dynasty and providing security to his people for generations to come. Jesus himself will eventually spring from this House of David, which will continue to the end of time. We hear Jesus’s name spoken at the

beginning of the Gospel, where Luke describes how the angel comes to Mary with good news. Gabriel tells of God’s plan: through Mary, a virgin, the son of God will be born; a successor to the House of David, whose

reign will never end. Mary shows her faith and trust in God by responding with an unconditional yes. The Psalmist begins by expressing his joy in God’s everlasting love and support, then speaks of God’s

faithful and enduring love. He echoes the promise God makes to David (First Reading). St. Paul gives praise to God, whose plan, hidden for so long, has now been revealed in Jesus. Through Jesus’s birth, death and resurrection, we are offered salvation. Paul urges us to share this news with as many as possible. (Second

Reading) Perhaps I can pray this week, especially in these unusual times, to be always aware of God’s faithful presence and love. I ask for the graces of humility, trust,

and openness to God that we see Mary herself express.

Eternal Rest In your mercy, please pray for the repose of the souls of Albina Cavalli, Cristina Bisagni, Josephine “Josie”

Greenslade, John Harries and Dec Efren Abulencia recently deceased.

The following services are to be held at St Mary’s Bridgend. Funeral Service for Albina Cavalli will be held at 11.00 am on Monday 21st December.

Requiem Mass for Christina Bisagni will be held at 1.00pm on Friday 8th January.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance is limited to family members and invited guests only.

Please their families in your thoughts and prayers at this sad and difficult time. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Albina Cavalli 1933 - 2020 RIP Funeral Service 11am Monday 21st December. St. Mary’s RC Church, 39 Ewenny Road, Bridgend CF31 3HS

Due to pandemic restrictions, there are very limited spaces available in the church so please only attend if you have been invited by the family. The service will be live-streamed on St Mary’s Catholic Church website:

https://catholicchurchbridgend.org.uk/ Burial 12.00 midday at Bridgend Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Bridgend CF31 1YY

Again, due to pandemic restrictions, only a limited number of invited mourners are permitted at the cemetery. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to:

Stroke Association UK: https://tributefunds.stroke.org.uk/In-Memory/Albina-Cavalli

May she rest in peace. Amen.

Please note that the office will be closed from 23rd December until Monday 4th January so please book ahead for the weekend of 2nd/

3rd January and by 4.00pm on Monday or Tuesday next week. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience or distress this

necessity to continue booking for Masses may cause and the regulations you have to follow. These are a requirement to enable

public worship to take place. Stay safe. Take care. God Bless. Mass Bookings *: bridgend@rcadc.org or 07534 095766

Please do not attend unless you have a confirmed booking.

Many thanks.

Congratulations to the two youth club members who have again received prizes for their essay presentations. Julia Krokosz and Tomi Cain

will both receive a certificate and £50 prize.

Parish Prayer Heavenly Father, who sent the ten plagues to free his children, and protected them by the blood of

the Lamb, bless all those affected by the Coronavirus.

Encourage and strengthen those who seek a cure. Protect all who care or work in the NHS. Send

your Holy Angels to guard us and bring us safely through this time of trial. May your Holy Mother care for us as she did for the sick child Jesus. We

ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Our Lady of Lourdes. Pray for us. St. Raphael Archangel. Pray for us.

St Luke, the Physician. Pray for us. St. Bernadette. Pray for us.

Act of Spiritual Communion St Alphonsus Liguori.

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the

Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and

I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you

sacramentally, come spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.

Marriage Care Despite the challenges presented by Covid-19 Marriage Care, in partnership with The Cardiff

Archdiocese, continues to provide support to local couples at all stages of their relationship. By moving both their Counselling & Marriage Preparation Services to webcam delivery Marriage Care

have been able to continue providing both services, in a timely manner, without having to worry about lockdowns or social distancing.

Their marriage preparation and support service enable couples to nurture faithful and fruitful marriages that last, as they draw on Catholic teaching and contemporary research to help couples focus

on the quality of their relationship with each other. Through their relationship counselling service, they accompany, with compassion and practical

wisdom, couples who find themselves in need of support on their journey. Recognising that the coronavirus pandemic has both increased stress and can lead to financial difficulties they remain unique

in asking couples who come for counselling only to pay what they can afford, reflecting their commitment to support those most in need.

If you need to make use of, or want to know more about, either of these services please visit Marriage Care’s website atwww.marriagecare.org.uk

Mass Intentions – these are now full for the whole of December, and well into next year. Please be assured that the intentions you have requested will be said. If you do have any queries please contact the office. Many thanks.

Thank you to all our stewards without whom it would not have been possible to

open for Mass these last few months. Thank you also to all those who have kept all the

other many, many other tasks under control in order to keep our parishes functioning. Special thanks also to Gosia and Jan who have deep cleaned our churches weekly to

keep them Covid safe. Please everyone take care and be safe. If you do have symptoms

even though you may have booked to attend Mass please stay at home.

We Can Help

Do you know of anyone who is struggling with food poverty?

If so we can help. Ring 07534 095766

The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy days of obligation remains suspended during the pandemic, however Archbishop George has asked the clergy of the Diocese to reassure parishioners that they will have a chance to celebrate Christmas in the presence of the Lord. As Catholics we appreciate that Christmas is not only on 25th December. The liturgy emphasises the eight days or octave of Christmas,

a time during which, to quote his Grace, “Each day is referred to as if it were still Christmas Day”.

Sadly, this will be a very difficult Christmas for many and very different to what we are used to. The restrictions and guidelines that we have to follow will be very much still in place when opening the doors to our Churches to the public and there will be

disappointment should you not be able to attend your preferred Mass.

With all this in mind during the first week of the Christmas season there will be several Masses available for parishioners to attend. Bookings are now open and can

be made by telephoning 07534 095766 during office hours Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 9.00am – 4.00pm

PLEASE BOOK BEFORE 4.00PM ON TUESDAY 22ND DECEMBER

Please note that all Masses listed, with the exception of those held in Porthcawl, will be live streamed. (Find the home page, hover over the picture of the Altar, a

circle with a triangle in it will appear, click on this to play. Instructions to make the picture bigger are underneath the picture of the Altar).

Christmas Offering Please give if you can as your offerings form part of the yearly income for our Parish Priest

and Priests of the Deanery. Cheques should be made payable to your parish and may be posted to the Presbytery at 39, Ewenny Rd, Bridgend CF31 3HS or through the door of Our Lady Star of

the Sea.There will be collection envelopes available in the Narthex of St Mary’s. As our counting teams are currently stood down and keeping in mind the precautions

necessary to do with cash handling and transmission of the virus, preferably please make your offering by a credit transfer to your parish bank account.

St Mary’s account no. 13017974 sort code:20-18-23 Our Lady Star of the Sea account no. 33951863 sort code: 20-18-23 You may also use the

“Donate” link on the parish website. Please use “Christmas Offering” as your reference.

Thank you for your support.

Christmas Octave Mass Bookings

• Bookings for Christmas Octave Masses can be made before 23rd December by telephoning 07534 095766 during office hours (9am-4pm Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri) or by emailing bridgend@rcadc.org

• MassesforChristmasEve4.30pm&6.00pmandChristmasDay10.30arenowfullybooked.

• You MUST book if you wish to attend Mass. We do not want to turn people away at the door. If you have not booked and had your place confirmed in advance – PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND.

• By registering to attend Mass, you confirm the following conditions are met: o You currently show no symptoms for Coronavirus. o Should you develop symptoms prior to the service, you will NOT attend. o You agree to use hand-sanitiser as a condition of entry.

• Please note that Face Coverings MUST be worn in Church. • It should be noted that there will be no toilet facilities available. • You should arrive between 15 and 5 minutes before the start time

of Mass. • Please allow a Steward to show you to your seat. • Please wait to be invited up to Holy Communion. If you do not wish

to take communion please come for a blessing to avoid others having to brush past you on returning to the pew.

• Please refrain from talking to your friends who are not part of your household.

• No congregational singing is allowed at Mass and any responses should be made in a low tone, as singing and loud voices have been shown to spread the virus further.

• There will be no collection at Mass. You are encouraged to make your donation to the Church via standing order or online. If you wish to donate cash, please do so in the basket at the back of the Church or in one of the wall boxes around the Church.

• Once Mass has ended please leave the Church promptly and disperse.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience or distress these

regulations may cause. They are a requirement to enable public worship to take place.

Let us all pray that in 2021 this pandemic

will cease to have such a hold over our lives, normality can be resumed and the doors

to our Churches once again be open.

Take care. Stay safe. God Bless. Father Tim

DAY / DATE PLACE TIME

FESTIVAL OF READINGS & CAROLS

Wed 16th Dec St Mary's Bridgend 7.00pm LIVE STREAM ONLY CHRISTMAS OCTAVE MASSES

Thurs 24th Dec St Mary's Bridgend 4.30pm Bookings & Live Stream St Mary's Bridgend 6.00pm Bookings & Live Stream Fri 25th Dec St Mary's Bridgend 9.30am LIVE STREAM ONLY St Mary's Bridgend 10.30am Bookings & Live Stream Sat 26th Dec St Mary's Bridgend 4.30pm LIVE STREAM ONLY St Mary's Bridgend 6.00pm Bookings & Live Stream Sun 27th Dec St Mary's Bridgend 10.00am LIVE STREAM ONLY St Mary's Bridgend 11.00am Bookings & Live Stream St Mary's Bridgend 6.00pm Bookings & Live Stream Tues 29th Dec St Mary's Bridgend 10.00am Bookings & Live Stream Tues 29th Dec Our Lady Star of the Sea 10.00am Please book Wed 30th Dec St Mary's Bridgend 10.00am Bookings & Live Stream Wed 30th Dec Our Lady Star of the Sea 10.00am Please book Thurs 31st Dec St Mary's Bridgend 10.00am Bookings & Live Stream Thurs 31st Dec Our Lady Star of the Sea 10.00am Please book Fri 1st Jan St Mary's Bridgend 10.00am Bookings & Live Stream Fri 1st Jan Our Lady Star of the Sea 10.00am Please book

MASSES FOLLOWING NEW YEAR

Sat 2nd Jan St Mary's Bridgend 4.30pm LIVE STREAM ONLY St Mary's Bridgend 6.00pm Bookings & Live Stream Sun 3rd Jan St Mary's Bridgend 10.00am LIVE STREAM ONLY St Mary's Bridgend 11.00am Bookings & Live Stream St Mary's Bridgend 6.00pm Bookings & Live Stream Tues 5th Jan Our Lady Star of the Sea 10.00am Please book

FULLYBOOKED

FULLYBOOKED

FULLYBOOKED

Recommended YouTube links to help you this Christmas: Bishop Robert Barron on Christmas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUW-A2qZzWY

The Prologue in the Gospel of St. John https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcmGmao-TJA Madeleine Walters, Kate Duffin and Deacon Philip Manghan Liturgy Commission