~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aid your offering, then please use the special envelope in your box or one of the BRENTWOOD CATHEDRAL AND HOLY CROSS, WARLEY Cathedral Gift Aid Envelopes which you will find in the narthex. Father Martin Boland ~ Father Mark Reilly THE XHRIST FACTOR: For the past three weeks of Advent, we have been Deacon Paul Conrad ~ Deacon Quentin Hall voting for the charity that we will support through our social and fundraising Email: [email protected] activities in 2014. Thank you for taking part and especially to those children who Website: www.cathedral-brentwood.org were wise men. The money collected will be split equally between all three very deserving charities and each will receive £244 this Christmas – a great sum! So, Clergy House: 01277 265235 here is the final result…the Brentwood Cathedral Charity for 2014 is LITTLE Deacon Paul: 01277 810321 ~ Deacon Quentin: 01277 200925 HAVENS CHILDREN’S HOSPICE! Many congratulations! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MANY CONGRATULATIONS to Rose McQuillan and Megan Gazzard whose CHRISTMAS FLOWERS IN THE CATHEDRAL: If you would like to remember imaginative and beautiful designs grace the cover of this Christmas newsletter. loved ones and friends you can put their names on a small card, put it into an Very many thanks again to all those who entered the competition and to the envelope (with a donation if you wish) marked ‘Christmas Flowers’ and leave it Brentwood Catenian Circle who donated the prize money. at Clergy House by Christmas Eve. We will put the cards among the arrangements. If anyone has greenery to spare, we would be most grateful – please leave it at the back of the Cathedral by Christmas Eve morning. CHRISTMAS SERVICES THE CHRISTMAS BAUBLES on our tree this year are familiar figures from the SERVICE OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS takes place Nativity story. Can the children work out who each bauble is? Sincerest thanks in the Cathedral THIS AFTERNOON (22nd) at 4.00 p.m. to all those people who bought a Nativity bauble. Their names or the names of Mulled wine and mince pies will be served afterwards in those they want remembered will be on display beside the tree. the Parish Hall. All welcome – please come and join us. THE CATHEDRAL CRIB: Offerings at the crib go to the Brentwood Catholic CHRISTMAS EVE Children’s Society. Bishop Thomas writes: The Brentwood Catholic Family Masses: 5.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. Children’s Society provides an early intervention service to children, young people and their families which enable them to address difficulties THE FLASH MOB CHOIR will lead the music at the that may be impeding their educational, social and emotional 7.00 p.m. Mass. So bring your instruments and your development. The Society’s Mission Statement enshrines the principle singing voices and let's make a wonderful, joyful that assistance is provided to any child in need. The finance comes from song for Jesus. We will be rehearsing in the a mixture of sources but without the support of the Catholic community Cathedral at 6.15 p.m. the vital work done by the Society for children in need could not Cathedral Vigil Mass: 10.00 p.m. (carols at 9.30 p.m.) continue. Please be as generous as you can. I have always said that such Holy Cross, Warley: 10.00 p.m. (carols at 9.30 p.m.) work and support is pure Gospel. CHRISTMAS DAY THE POOR BOX in the narthex is a way for us to help those most in need in Cathedral at 8.00 a.m., 9.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. our society and further afield. 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the Holy Cross 11.00 a.m. least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' At the end of this year, there is just over £2,000 in the poor box. A fantastic sum of money that A happy, peaceful and holy Christmas to you all. will help make a difference to other people's lives. Many thanks to everyone who has given to help the poorest and weakest. This sum of money is to be divided between three groups: the Cathedral St Vincent de Paul (SVP) group CHRISTMAS OFFERINGS are your personal gifts to your priests. Christmas that works with those who are struggling in our own parish, our twinned parish offering envelopes are available. If you are a tax payer and would like to Gift of Maria Ratschitz in South Africa and Sister Rosario's tremendous education work in South Sudan. THANK YOU for the collection on the 15th December: £2,732.63 of which PARISH OFFICE: Please note that the parish office will be closed until Monday, £1,740.80 was gift aided. Holy Cross: £434.80 (Gift Aid: £253.89). 6th January. Please also note that this newsletter covers a three week period. PLEASE PRAY for the repose of the soul of Bernie McMahon of Magnolia Close FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME: The next parents’ meeting will be who died on Tuesday. Bernie’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral on Tuesday, 7th January at 7.00 p.m. in the Conference Centre. The children’s on Friday, 3rd January at 12 noon. We offer Tom and the rest of the family our next session will be on Saturday, 11th January commencing with 9.15 a.m. Mass prayers, sincere sympathy and support at this time. In lieu of flowers, in the Cathedral. Children… don’t forget to bring your My Day by Day booklet donations may be made to St Francis Hospice, Havering-atte-Bower. back to Mass on Sunday, 12th January and collect your new task. There will be a large selection of Communion dresses and accessories for sale WE WELCOME into our parish community Maya Rose Challice who will be on Saturday 11th January, from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30pm in the small hall. For baptised in the Cathedral this week. Please remember Maya and her family in more information please contact Tracy or Paton 07968 314995. your prayers. MOTHERS’ PRAYERS will recommence on Wednesday, 8th January from THE SVP wishes to express their thanks to the clergy and parishioners for their 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. in the West meeting room of the Cathedral. We wish support and generosity towards providing presents for our elderly and less well you all a very happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you all again next off. We also pass on the thanks of the recipients who have readily expressed year – plus any other mothers who would like to join us, you will be most their appreciation, in particular for being remembered at this time. Thanks too welcome. for the support (financial and otherwise) throughout the year, and for the stalwarts who regularly man our collecting boxes. WEDNESDAY CHORAL VESPERS in the Cathedral will recommence on the THE PARISH 250 CLUB will continue to run under the PACE umbrella. The 15th January at 6.30 p.m. Everyone most welcome. 250 Club will raise funds for the Parish and YOUR chosen charity, paying out cash prizes each month. Renewals are due in January. For those paying by WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A READER AT MASS? Do you have a clear standing order, no action is required. If you pay in one annual instalment, this reading voice? Are you confident reading in public? Would you be able to will be due by 31st January. If I already have your email address I will forward communicate the meaning of a passage of Scripture to others? Do you have a a renewal form to you this way. Alternatively, Renewal/New forms are available desire to communicate the living Word of God to the Cathedral community? If in the narthex, by e mail or if you are unable to collect from the church, please you are answering ‘yes’ to the above, then please come along to an informal contact me. New and renewal forms and payment can be returned to Clergy meeting with Fr Martin in the Cathedral on Saturday 18th January at 10.00 a.m. House for my attention. Again, thank you for your continued support. Joanna Murphy (230675 ~ [email protected]) THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: If you wish to have your child baptised in the Cathedral or Holy Cross you will first need to attend a meeting with Father EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS AND READERS are asked to make themselves Martin. The next one takes place at 5.00 p.m. on Sunday, 19th January in the known to the ushers when they come to Mass and to be prepared to stand in at Cathedral Conference Centre, and will last for about an hour. Please contact the short notice. Please try and make sure that you swap a particular duty if you parish secretary, Lorna Harper, at Clergy House on 265235 to book (from 6th are not able to undertake it. Many thanks. January). Subsequently parents will need to attend a two-session course and the next one takes place in the Parish Hall at 8.00 p.m. on the 20th and 27th CAROL RECITAL: On Monday, 30th December at 12 noon we welcome Trajecti January. We are happy to welcome prospective parents to attend both Father Voces Holland who are visiting English Cathedrals to give a half hour recital of Martin’s meeting and the preparation course before your baby is born. English Choral Music, including John Rutter and Dutch and European Christmas Carols, together with their Director of Music, Paul Snoek.