Professional Documents
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West Green
4 Vincent Road, London N15 3QH
Parish Office: 020-8888-5518 E-mail: westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
Facebook: West Green - St John Vianney Church
Website: http://stjohnvianneywestgreen.co.uk/
22nd/23rd DECEMBER 2018 Unlike Elizabeth, who kept quiet and said
4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT nothing for the first five months until her
pregnancy actually showed, Mary rushed to
Dear Parishioners,
share this wonderful news with Elizabeth
Today’s gospel tells of that wonderful straight away. There was no way of knowing
moment where Mary visited her cousin whether she was truly carrying a child yet
Elizabeth – and what a special encounter it (there were no pregnancy test kits available
was! Two women: both unexpectedly at that time!) For all she knew, the whole
carrying a child – one too old and well past angel-thing could’ve been only a dream! Yet
the time of child bearing, the other a very she believed, not only that she was carrying
young maiden barely of marriageable age. a child, but that the child in her was the
promised Saviour that the people of Israel
had been waiting for, for centuries.
She believed... and thus rejoiced.
We live in an age of scepticism. Fake news,
scams, hoaxes, photoshopped images... the
message is clear: Don’t believe what you
see/read/hear! Everyone seems to have
their own agenda, and no one trusts anyone
anymore. It’s no wonder that we find it
difficult to believe in God’s promise (‘if He
even exists’, that little sceptic voice in us
I love how the two women are depicted in quips!) Quite often we find it difficult to
the image above. The joy and delight of this rejoice in our lives, because we don’t believe
occasion was so palpable in Mary’s and anymore. We walk around with sombre
Elizabeth’s expression, we can almost hear faces, because we don’t ‘see’ God doing what
Elizabeth’s laughter! we ask Him to do or answering our prayers.
The existence of a new life is always a cause As we approach Christmas day, let us
for rejoicing. I remember when my sister reclaim that child-like trust in God again;
was pregnant with her first child – the joy let us believe that God truly keeps His
she felt was so great that she would travel to promises, and rejoice with Mary.
work on the bus every day with such a huge ‘Blessed are you who believe!’
smile on her face; it made everyone around
her smile as well! (Although she was never STREET CAROL SINGING: Thank you to all
quite sure whether they were smiling with who participated in our highly enjoyable
her or laughing at her...) carol singing last Wednesday! It was a
wonderful witness of God’s presence among
Yet Mary’s joy had a rather curious reason
His people. Well done everyone!
at its core. “Blessed is she who believed
that the promise made her by the Lord
God bless, Sr. Devy
would be fulfilled!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY IN FOR 2018 - 2019
LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTIONS If you have any enquiries, please contact
Sr. Devy on 07455 544 065 or
CHRISTMAS 2018
Parish Office on 020 8888 5518
MASS TIMES & SERVICES
Monday, 24th Dec 9:15am FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 12th January at 10am
CHRISTMAS EVE – MONDAY 24th
Family/Children’s Mass 7:00pm FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAMME
Carol Service 10:00pm Registration is now open for children who
Mass of Christmas 10.30pm had received their first Holy Communion in
May 2018 to prepare for the Sacrament of
CHRISTMAS DAY – TUE, 25th Reconciliation. The first session will be on
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
Saturday, 19th January 12pm-1:15pm
Masses: 9:00am
11:00am CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 12th January at 3:30pm.
Wed, 26th to Sat, 29th 9:15am
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR
Sat, 29th (Vigil mass) 6:00pm ADULTS (RCIA)
Sun, 30th December 9:00am Next session: Sat, 5th Jan + Mass 6pm
11:00am