The Season of Advent 2006

Dear Parishioners,

A common question asked at this time of the year is "What are you doing for Christmas?" Our reply usually refers to where we will be, who we will be with and some of the practical arrangements we need to sort out. I would like to ask the same question "What are you doing for Christmas?" to help us focus not just on the practical but the spiritual side of our preparations. If we don't do something spiritual for Advent then we will miss the real message of Christmas.

Detailed below is our timetable of events for Advent and our plans for Christmas. Try to choose something to do as we prepare for Christmas. Do not try to do too much, just one thing will be enough for most people. We all made great efforts for Lent and we should make the same effort for the few weeks ofAdvent. Once again I want us to support the Services of Penance with Confession. We have one at Christ the King on Monday 18^th December and one at St Augustine's the following evening to spread the crowd. We need to support this so that we all witness to the importance of this sacrament, especially to pass on the tradition to our children. As well as the morning Masses there are evening Masses everyday apart from Wednesday & Thursday. Let us encourage each other. May God Bless us in this Holy Season. Fr Tom

The weekly programme will be:

Sunday	Masses 9 am, 10.30 am (St Augustine's) and 12 noon Holy Hour ~ Rosary and Benediction 4pnv~ 5 pm
Monday	Masses 9.15 am and 7.00 pm
Tuesday	Masses 9.15 am and 7.00 pm Scripture Sharing Group at 9.45 am.
Wednesday	Masses 9.00 am (St Augustine's) and 12 noon
Thursday	Mass 12 noon
Friday	Masses 9.15 am and 7.00 pm.
Saturday	Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament 9.45-10.45 and 6.30 pm~7.00 pm Masses 10.00 am and 6.00 pm(First Mass of Sunday ) Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament 9.30 am~l 0.00 am Confessions 10.30am~11.30 am and 7.00 pm

On two of the Wednesday evenings in Advent there with be talks on with an Advent theme.

Wednesday 6^th December at 7pm a talk on Prayer given by Joe Patterson

Wednesday 13^th December at 7pm a talk on Mary the Mother of Jesus by Sr Gillian

There is a Service of Anointing for all elderly, sick and housebound on Sunday 10^th December at 3pm followed by a Christmas High Tea at 4pm.

We have our Advent Penance Services with visiting priests on

Monday 18^th December at 7pm in Christ the King and on

Tuesday 19^th December at 7pm in St Augustine's

Christmas at Christ the King and St Augustine's

Carol Service at St Augustine's Thursday 14^th December at 7pm

Carol Service at Christ the King Wednesday 20^th December at 6.30pm

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Saturday December 23^rd Mass at 6pm Christ the King

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Sunday December 24^th Masses at

9.00 am Christ the King

10.30 am St Augustine’s

Christmas Eve

6.00pm Christ the King (Family Mass)

9.00pm Christ the King

6.00 pm St Augustine's ( Family Mass)

9.00 pm St Augustine's

Christmas Day

9.00 am Christ the King

10.30 am St Augustine's

12.00 noon Christ the King

We encourage you to invite family and friends to celebrate with us. Christmas is a good time to invite people back to Church. Please use this leaflet to let others know about Christmas in the parish.

The priests, deacons and sisters wish you "A Very Happy and Holy Christmas"