Issue 264 December 2018

100 years after Archbishop attends the end of South Wales Police World War 1 Memorial Service Pages 4/5 Page 8 ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS - A MEDITATION BY ARCHBISHOP GEORGE STACK

he cold mornings,the celebrates the birth of the true least each person is slightly helps us to focus mind and heart dark nights and the light. Jesus is the light that different to what we were one in hope and expectation that he Twintery weather serve darkness cannot overcome. year ago.Perhaps not wiser, will come to us afresh in each to remind us that we are He is not the ‘sun’ but the but facing new issues – often circumstance of every day in entering the darkest time of ‘Son’ who, of whom we read with diminished strength. It is the days,weeks and years the year – the winter in the prophecies of Isaiah good to be mindful of these which lie ahead. solstice. 21 December from 500 BC “The people who paradoxes of past and marks the shortest day and walked in darkness have seen future,emptiness and “How silently,how silently, The the longest night. Nature a great light. Those who lived fulfilment,waiting and wondrous gift is given! Whom seems to have gone to in a land of deep darkness – consolation. God imparts to human hearts sleep. The leaves have on them a light has shone” The blessings of his fallen from the trees and (Isaiah 9:2). Christ's gift heaven. No ear may the gardens seem to be There will be plenty of In the midst of the growing hear his coming; But dead. Christmas lights and glowing excitement as Christmas in this world of No wonder, from the dawn fires and warmth and goodwill draws near, it is good to sin. Where meek of civilisation, the pagan god shining all around us in shops spend Advent time in souls will receive ‘Sol Invictus’ was worshipped and schools and parties and restoring some of the him,still and prayed to. In the 2nd play over the next month. But quietness and inner peace The dear Christ century, the Romans believed the paradox continues with which is a gift of the Christ enters in”. that this ‘Unconquered Sun’ those who are on the margins, child. would rise again and bring having nowhere to ‘lay their The readings and prayers of warmth and new life to the head’ most of all, perhaps Advent, the Advent wreath earth. We all look forward to with heads that carry the itself speaking of time and the Spring and Summer. burden of mental illness. It is eternity, these are all aids to Darkness and Light. Death good that Christmas is a time help our desire to wait and New Life. These are times for giving, not just gifts to unfulfilled in the dark, in the and cirucmstances when ‘the those we love but also to midst of a season that Ancient of Days’ becomes a those who feel cut off from conspires to fling bling and young child and say “Behold, I love. tinsel at us right through make all things new”. So Advent and the build up December. “Jesus is the to Christmas have a sense of Reason for the Season” we A Great Light being both familiar and read on the Wayside Pulpits It is in the midst of these something different as well. of many a Baptist church. paradoxes that the Church Different because at the very The First Sunday of Advent 2 CATHOLIC PEOPLE

ARCHBISHOP DISCOVER HOW PEOPLE GEORGE’S ENGAGEMENTS BECOME CATHOLIC! DECEMBER 2018 Sherry Weddell, world renowned author and speaker on evangelisation, is coming to our diocese to help us as we reach out to people and help people move further in their relationship with Christ. On Saturday 15thJune 2019 Sherry Weddell will be running a day of Sunday 2 Advent Service. Salisbury Cathedral 5pm workshops for the diocese drawing on her extensive research into the ‘thresholds’ or ‘stages’ that people go through when becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. Make sure you save the date!! In Tuesday 4 Bishop Hedley School Merthyr Tydfil 9am preparation for Sherry Weddell’s visit to the diocese next summer, parishes are starting to run ‘Forming Intentional Disciples’ or ‘FID’ groups in their parish or region. These groups enable us to Education Meeting – Torfaen Council Offices 3.30pm read Weddell’s research and advice, and start applying it in advance of her visit so we can best Wednesday 5 Visit to John F. Kennedy School Herts 12.00 make use of her expertise. Interested in running a FID group? Our Evangelisation and Education Officer, Madeline Page, is Thursday 6 St. John’s College Cardiff 2pm putting together resources to make this as simple as possible for you. The FID groups run over six sessions, each one focussing on a different chapter of Weddell’s book. Get in touch with the Friday 7 “Of Gods and Men” The Cornerstone 1.30pm contact details below for further information. How can we share our faith better? Are we answering the questions people are really asking? Come and find out! Saturday 8 “Adoremus” Day of Recollection St. David’s College Wondering how you can reach out to people this Advent and Christmas? Be sure to visit the Evangelisation Department’s resources webpage for inspiration - Wednesday 12 Marriage Care meeting ABH 11.30am rcadc.org/evangelisation/resources/. Dinner with Catenians of Merthyr Tydfil 7.30pm Don’t forget when you get your 2019 diary to add Sherry Weddell’s visit on June 15th. Sunday 16 St. David’s Cathedral Carol Service 3pm Bishops Gathering St. Ambrose Clifton 7pm Thursday 20 Christmas mass and Party for Senior Citizens St. David’s College 2pm Monday 24 Mass at Parc Prison 9am and 1030am First Mass of Christmas St. David’s Cathedral 10pm Tuesday 25 Mass at Cardiff Prison 9am Mass at St. David’s Cathedral 11am

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