Follow Advent and Christmas on our website here.
MASSES AND OTHER INFORMATION
Please visit the Mass Times page for more information on Mass times and other events, or click here.
PARISH OFFICE OPENING HOURS
The parish office opening hours are from 8.15am to 12.15pm Tuesday to Friday. Closed on Bank Holidays.
REFLECTION
Even though the sun may be shining brightly and warmly outside, unless you pull back the blinds it will not be able to fill your house. In today’s liturgy we hear the lonely but insistent voice of John the Baptist urging us to “Prepare a way for the Lord”. Christ has come into our world, and he will come to us today in the Eucharist. We need to prepare our minds and hearts to see him. Not long ago, the trees were loaded with beautiful leaves. Though pretty to look at, they robbed us of the world beyond. But now that the leaves have fallen, I am able to look through the skeletal branches to the deep blue (grey) sky beyond.
Teach us, Lord God, how to take care of our material needs without neglecting our spiritual needs; how to take care of ourselves without neglecting others; and how to live joyfully in this world without losing sight of the world to come.
PARISH REPORT
You can view and download our parish AGM report for 2024 by clicking on the image above or selecting the link here.
SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS
Pick up a leaflet in church today and make a pledge for a simple, sustainable Christmas. There will be a box to collect the pledges in church during advent and we will present the pledges as part of the offertory gifts.
ADVENT OFFERINGS FROM THE CARMELITES
The Carmelite Priory at Boars Hill are offering a variety of online and residential retreats to provide an enriching experience this Advent as we await the Christ of God who comes to us at Christmas. Information and links for these are available here.
PARISH CAROL SERVICE
Do come along, and please do bring your children. This year we are inviting the children to dress up in nativity costume if they would like to.
CiA CAROL SINGING
The Church in Abingdon Christmas Carol Singing in the Market Place will take place on Saturday 14th December at 10am. All are welcome! For any further information please contact the CIA Administrator on 07896 860381.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE
A short pilgrimage to Holy Island, Lindisfarne in Northumberland, is planned for 12th to 15th May 2025. Two places remain available. The price of £695 per person (£190 single supplement) includes 3 nights at the Lindisfarne Inn (www.inncollectiongroup.com/lindisfarne-inn/), with breakfast and dinner included, and minibus travel there and back. A quick response is needed as the hotel cannot hold places for long. If interested, please email this week to:
LENT 2025 - PARISH CHARITY FUNDRAISING
During the season of Advent, the parish pastoral committee (PPC) ask you to think about charities which we could sponsor during Lent 2025. Ideally, we would like to fundraise for 2 charities – one local/UK based and one worldwide. We are only able to consider registered charities. Please give this some consideration and send suggestions to the parish office by Friday 3 January 2025. Thank you.
CHILDRENS' MASSES - CALLING ALL FAMILIES
We will continue holding a Children's Mass on the first Sunday of every month during school term-time. We hope to see many of you there!
Please continue to support the Abingdon Food Bank. However, please do not leave your contributions in our church. The collection points are at:
GIFT AIDING YOUR MONETARY DONATIONS
If you aren't doing so already, please consider gift aiding your donations – it makes them all the more worthwhile, because if you tell us that you pay tax in the UK, then we can claim back 25% from the Government - that's 25p for every £1 you give! You can do so by filling in the yellow form available at the back of the church or online on our website here. Thank you.
PARISH NEWSLETTERS
Items for the newsletter should be sent to the parish office (abingdon@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk) by the Wednesday of each week please. Copies are available in the church and on this website here. Please keep contributions as brief as possible and please take newsletters home with you. Thank you.
DIOCESAN NEWS
To keep up to date with the news of the Diocese and the Bishop please follow on:
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E- News: use the link here. (subscription service available)
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Facebook: @PortsmouthRC
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Twitter: @PortsmouthRC
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The Diocese website: https://www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/
If you would like to share news with the rest of the Diocese, please contact: communications@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
JOB VACANCIES IN OUR DIOCESE
All current vacancies in the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth can be viewed here.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
Holy Lord, giver of every good gift, in your boundless love you call us to serve with hearts aflame and hands raised high. You have crafted us for a purpose so divine to be your hands and feet in a world of need. May your whisper stir souls, including ours, to embrace the call in every word and deed. Remind us, O God, to trust in your timing, for you are the painter of eternity’s canvas. May our patience in discernment be unwavering, as we seek your will with hearts united. Nurture within us a vocation of true service, one that reflects your love and compassion. May our lives echo Christ, without nervousness, as we journey forth in humble fashion. In moments of doubt or hesitation, let us find strength in your presence, so near. May our paths be lit with your inspiration, and our vocation pursued without fear. Amen.
SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION
There will be a joint pastoral area Service of Reconciliation at 7pm at English Martyrs, Didcot on Thursday 12th December at 7pm, with an opportunity for individual Confessions.
FESTIVE RAFFLE
The Friends of St Edmund's School are running an online raffle this Christmas to raise much needed funds for their school. Please consider buying some tickets, there are some great prizes on offer, including £100 cash. Check it out here. If you are interested in fundraising and would like to join the Friends of St Edmund's, the group is open to parents, teachers and parishioners and they would be very grateful of your help. Please contact them at friendsofsteds@mail.com
YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES PRAYER
O Lord, graciously look down upon us your servants and upon our work to build Your Holy Church here in this place. Enlighten our minds and lead us into all truth as we seek to do Your will. Abundantly bless our labours, that Your Holy Church may serve You ever more faithfully to the glory of Your Holy name. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
MIDDLE EAST HUMANITARIAN APPEAL
The conflict in the Middle East is getting worse and the families affected need our help. Please donate today to the CAFOD-DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal and support our local Caritas partners in Gaza and Lebanon as they continue to provide essential food, water and shelter. You can donate here.
CHANGES IN ADMISSIONS POLICY
Following advice from the Diocese and OCC, the school has made the following changes to their admissions policy, which you can read here:
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adapted the wording so that the policy aligns to guidance from the Diocese of Portsmouth more closely;
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when we measure the distance from the school to children’s addresses, we will now use a central point - the door to the main office - to measure from. Until now there have actually been two separate measuring points which is necessarily complicated for the size of our school;
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changed the over-subscription criteria slightly so that it is in line with diocesan guidance.
If you have any comments to make on this policy, please contact our school office on office@st-edmunds-rc.oxon.sch.uk. Alternatively, you can write to the school at Mrs Erika Kirwan, St. Edmund's Catholic Primary School, Radley Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX13 5PF. Please note that the consultation ends on 27th December 2024.
OPEN DOORS
Open Doors takes place on Mondays from 11am to 2pm in the Parish Centre and runs every Monday, except Bank Holidays. We offer tea/coffee, lunch and friendly conversation to anyone in the Parish or local community who is on their own or would like more company.
We need more volunteers to help at our Open Doors sessions. If you can spare a few hours on Monday on a rota basis please contact Berny Pratt on 01235 525257.
ARE YOU IN NEED OR WANT TO HELP OTHERS?
For nearly two centuries the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) has been seeking and finding those in need and responding in love. As well as visits, we can offer practical and financial help where possible. We always maintain confidentiality. Our SVP members meet every fortnight on a Wednesday evening. If you are in need or know someone who is, do contact our parish SVP group via the parish office and we will see what we can do to help. Equally, if you would like to get involved in any way, please do contact us.
LITURGY WEBSITE AND UPCOMING COURSES
The Diocese now have a Liturgy website, which provides reflection, guidance and a chance to ask questions. You can access by clicking on the image above.
Abingdon Community Fridge fights food waste by redistributing surplus food from local businesses and members of the community. The Abingdon Community Fridge is open to all. For more information visit their Facebook page here, or email info@abingdoncommunityfridge.org.uk
They are located at Hadland Road Community Centre, OX14 3YH and open on:
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Mondays: 4.00-4.30pm
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Thursdays: 1.00-2.00pm
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Saturdays: 10.30-11.30am
NEW TO THE PARISH? OR CHANGED ADDRESS?
We warmly welcome all new parishioners who have joined our parish in the last year. Please do make yourselves known if you have not already done so, and also let us know if you would like to contribute to parish life in any way. If you have already registered with us, but have changed your address or contact details, please also let us know. Forms and other information are available on our website here to register. Forms and other information are also available in the porch at our church. You can view and download our welcome booklet here.