For details of everthing happening in our parish this Advent and Christmas follow the link:
http://www.stalbansderby.org.uk/mass-times/advent-and-christmas-2019/
For details of everthing happening in our parish this Advent and Christmas follow the link:
http://www.stalbansderby.org.uk/mass-times/advent-and-christmas-2019/
We are now approaching the fourth and final Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time where we wait for an encounter with God. We’re not only remembering and preparing to celebrate His coming as a tiny, vulnerable baby boy, born in Bethlehem on that first Christmas morning, but we’re waiting for God to come into our hearts and minds in a deep spiritual way as well.
Why is Christmas such an important festival for us? Because, as Christians, we already share in the life of Jesus in a very special way. At Christmas time, we need to try extra hard to make that encounter with Jesus into something real.
Let’s share with family and friends the gift of Jesus that God the Father gives to each of us. “Peace and Goodwill to All” the angels sang, “Joy to the World”. Peace, goodwill and joy can become a reality through us this year.
So let’s open our lives to the Lord, let’s celebrate our ‘faith’ at Christmas: “O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ The Lord”!
May God bless you in your journey of Advent and in the season of Christmas
Fr David
We have lots going on in the parishes of St. Alban and St Hugh, both before and after Christmas. Why not plan ahead and invite a family member or neighbour who doesn’t normally join us.
Here is hoping that you have had a wonderful Christmas. We have plenty of masses for you over the next few days. If you don’t normally come to mass during the week, and you are having a break from work, why not come along to one of our masses and re-charge your batteries:
St Alban’s | St Hugh’s | Oakwood | ||
Friday (St Stephen) |
26th December | 10.00 am | No Service | |
Saturday (Vigil Mass for Sunday) |
27th December | 6.30 pm | No Service | |
Sunday (The Feast of the Holy Family) |
28th December | 10.00 am | 9.30 am | 5.00 pm |
Monday | 29th December | 10.00 am | No Service | |
Tuesday | 30th December | 10.00 am | No Service | |
Wednesday | 31st December | 10.00 am | No Service | |
Thursday | 1st January 2015 | 12 noon | No Service |
“There is always something very exciting about getting ready for Christmas. If we can enjoy, but look beyond the twinkling lights and the brightly wrapped gifts under the tree, something powerful is taking place. Christmas and the build up to the festivity is about “remembering” – and what we are remembering as people of faith is the powerful arrival of God’s Son, Jesus, on earth.
What all this means is that God loved the world so much, that he sent his Son to show us just how much he loves us, and through the vulnerable cry of a baby born into unusual and unlikely circumstances, Gods voice of love was heard.
Advent is our spiritual journey to discover that love! We have four weeks to get ready for the great festival of the Christian Church and we can prepare in all sorts of ways; through quiet reflection of the Christmas story, through community prayer at Mass or through a living out of the themes of Advent as each candle is lit on our wreath: Hope, Joy, Love and Peace. Christmas is built around these four words – these are the ‘real’ gifts of the Season and living these will show the effect that God’s presence can have on those who are open to his arrival in our world and in our hearts.
Enjoy the Season. With our prayers,”
Fr Paul & Fr Ka Fai
At St Alban’s Church:
THURSDAY 18th DECEMBER 2.00 pm
(with children from St Alban’s School)
MONDAY 22nd DECEMBER 7.00 pm
Followed by refreshments
Services of Reconciliation
Thursday 11th December – 6.00 pm at St Hugh’s Borrowash
Tuesday 16th December – 7.00 pm at St Alban’s Church, Chaddesden
At St Alban’s: Saturday 13th and 20th December 5.45 pm—6.15 pm
At St Hugh’s: Available on request.
St Alban’s Church 6.00 pm, Carols from 5.30 pm (Beginning with the blessing of the Christmas Crib )
St Hugh’s Church 7.30 pm, Carols from 7.00 pm (Family Mass)
The Church on Oakwood 8.30 am
St Hugh’s Church, Borrowash 9.30 am
St Alban’s Church, Chaddesden 10.00 am