THE JUBILEE YEAR
​
….officially began on 24th December when Pope Francis opens the Holy Door in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. At the end of the year, the Jubilee year will be brought to a close with the Holy Doors of St John Lateran, St Mary Major and St Paul’s Outside the Walls being closed. Finally the Jubilee Year will conclude with the celebration of the solemnity of Epiphany in Rome on 6th January 2026.
 
There are several events in scripture where doors were important physically and symbolically. They are gateways to the Divine and provide protection or freedom from suffering and danger. Some are thresholds between one place and another on the way to salvation. Meanwhile other doors signify boundaries between where God and people can dwell. In the ancient world the ordinary domestic door became a symbol of hospitality and safety.
 
A special sanctuary was associated with the threshold of the home.
 
In the New Testament, open and closed doors are mentioned as well as the people who knock on them, both literally and symbolically. A closed door is also used to celebrate humility such as when Jesus encourages us to shut our doors and pray to our Father in secret, rather than parade our piety in public (Matthew 6.6).
 
Perhaps the most powerful image of all is Jesus himself as the door; enabling us to enter into relationship with God (John 10:7-90) and transcending all previous access to the Divine in this one simple universal image.
 
THE DOOR TO NOAH’S ARK (Genesis 6:16)   The door of the ark symbolises God’s justice and mercy as, while judging a fallen world, he opens the way to salvation and world healing to the faithful Noah, his family and the chosen animals.
 
THE PASSOVER DOOR (Exodus 12:7-130)   God instructs Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The Passover door symbolises God’s protection over the oppressed Israelites and foreshadowed the blood of the perfect, sacrificial lamb, poured out by Jesus on the cross.
 
THE TEMPLE DOOR (Kings 6:31-35)  The door at the centre of the temple symbolised the liminal space between God and humanity. Only the ceremonial pure high priest could enter the door to the Holy of Holies deep within the temple. Inside the Holy of Holies were housed the Ark of the Covenant and the Ten Commandments. Above them hung the temple curtain which was torn apart at the point of Jesus’s death signifying that direct access to God was now possible through Jesus for all people.
 
THE SHEPHERD DOOR (John 10:7-9) This door represents how Jesus is the way for us to be in a relationship with God. Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Door to eternal life will always go looking for his lost sheep and will lay down his life for them.
 
THE DOOR OF THE TOMB (Matthew 28:1-6)  When Jesus died and rose from the dead, an angel rolled away the newly hewn stone that acted as the door to His grave. This door is the climax of the physical & symbolic miracle of the resurrection. It encourages us to believe that death is not the end but a new beginning in our faith journey to God.
THE DOOR OF FAITH (Act 14:27)   Despite persecution, Paul & Barnabus stayed faithful to the Good News and described their experience as God opening ‘a door of faith’ among non-believers through their preaching mission. 

Thanks to Shelagh Hetreed for preparing this. 

2025 Epiphany blessing of the Home.
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Epiphany means “manifestation.” The first Epiphany was the visit of the Magi to adore the Christ Child. Their gifts reveal this holy Child’s identity; gold for Christ’s Kingship, incense for His divinity, and myrrh for His sacrifice on the Cross. The Feast of Epiphany is traditionally celebrated as the 12th night of Christmas,
The blessing of homes (schools, places of employment, etc.) on Epiphany revives the beautiful custom of making our homes sacramentals. Sacramentals make us more mindful, receptive and cooperative with God’s grace. This blessing also reminds us that Christ is the One Who enlightens our hearts and homes with His love. He is the source of our hope, our comfort and our joy.
Marking doorways with blessed chalk is also a witness of faith. Use the chalk to mark above the main door and, over all exterior doors:
• Numerals to consecrate the New Year.
• Initials to remind us of the legendary names of the Magi— Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar—and also to represent the Latin motto: Christus mansionem benedicat (May Christ bless this house)
• Four crosses to represent the four seasons.
So for this year  20 + C + M + B + 25
After marking the doorway this prayer can be said.
Blessed be this doorway. May all who come to our home this year rejoice to find Christ living among us as we welcome them with respect and kindness. May all our comings and goings be under the seal of God’s loving care. May we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, Jesus, Who is Lord forever and ever. Amen
 
If you wish to ask God’s blessing on the rooms of your home then this prayer can be said.
Blessed be all the rooms of this home. May each of them be holy and filled with the spirit of happiness and peace, love and affection. May the spirit of pardon and affection reside with us and be always ready to heal our divisions. May the spirits of joy and laughter, hope and faith, playfulness and prayer, compassion and love be perpetual guests in our home. May God’s holy blessing rest upon us all, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 
[PS: In case you don’t have chalk at home there is a box with blessed chalk on the table by Our Lady’s Statue in the porch]

Now at last the destined ages
Their appointed course had run,
When rejoicing from His chamber
Issued forth the Bridegroom Son.
 
He embraced His bride, and held her
Lovingly upon His breast,
And the gracious Mother laid Him
In the manger down to rest.
 
There He lay, the dumb beasts by Him,
They were fitly stabled there,
While the shepherds and the angels
Filled with melody the air.
 
So the feast of their espousals
With solemnity was kept
But Almighty God, an Infant,
In the manger moaned and wept.
 
So the bride at her betrothal
Did the bridal gifts arrange
But the Mother looked in wonder
At the marvellous exchange.
 
Man gave forth a song of gladness,
God Himself a plaintive moan
Both possessing that which never
Had been hitherto their own.
St John of the Cross
 
Thank you for the kindness, support, and the example of faith lived every day which I have experienced since becoming part of the Parish community. 
With my best wishes to you, your families, and all who are dear to you, and of course the promise of prayers as we prepare to enter the Holy Year
​
Fr Robert 

The O Antiphons.
From Tuesday onwards the begins to pray the 7 O Antiphons as an Octave of Prayer in preparation for Christmas.  The Roman Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.
Additionally, the ancient monks who first assembled the O Antiphons were very creative with the order in which they were prayed. If you take the first letter of each antiphon (in the Latin) and read them from last to first, the word ERO CRAS is spelled, which translates as "Tomorrow I will come." If you wish to join with this Octave of Prayer the antiphons are:
 
Dec 17 - O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge.
Dec 18 - O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power.
Dec 19 - O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay.
Dec 20 - O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness.
Dec 21 - O Radiant Dawn, splendour of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Dec 22 - O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save your people whom you formed from the dust.
Dec 23 - O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God

Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception
This is usually celebrated on the 8th of December but this year is transferred to Monday the 9th when Mass will be offered at 1000. 

​Times of Christmas Masses
St Alphege       Christmas Eve
9 30 pm            Carol Service with Readings
10.00 pm          Mass of Midnight
St Alphege       Christmas Day
11.00 am          Christmas Day Mass
 
St Joseph PsJ  Christmas Eve
6.30 pm            Carols
7.00 pm            First Mass of Christmas
St Joseph PsJ  Christmas Day
09.00 am          Christmas Day Mass 

The Season of Advent
“Advent, this powerful liturgical season that we are beginning, invites us to pause in silence to understand a presence. It is an invitation to understand that the individual events of the day are hints that God is giving us signs of the attention he has for each one of us. How often does God give us a glimpse of his love! To keep, as it were, an “interior journal” of this love would be a beautiful and salutary task for our life! Advent invites and stimulates us to contemplate the Lord present. Should not the certainty of his presence help us see the world with different eyes? Should it not help us to consider the whole of our life as a “visit,” as a way in which he can come to us and become close to us in every situation?
Advent becomes an opportunity to reawaken within ourselves the true meaning of waiting, returning to the heart of our faith which is the mystery of Christ, the Messiah who was expected for long centuries and was born in poverty, in Bethlehem. In coming among us, he brought us and continues to offer us the gift of his love and his salvation.
Thus, the Advent season “is in a particular way a period of joy, an interiorized joy that no suffering can diminish. It is joy in the fact that God made himself a Child. This joy, invisibly present within us, encourages us to journey on with confidence.”
Pope Benedict the 16th

Mass for the Holy Souls
in Haycombe Cemetery
1000 on Sat the 30th of November
in the Hilltop Chapel
During this Mass we will pray for those who are buried or interred in the Cemetery for our all our departed loved ones, family, & friends, and for all who have died with nobody to pray for them.  A collection will be taken to help cover the fee for using the Chapel.   Please note there will not be a Mass in St Alphege on that Saturday.  There will also be a collection at the Mass to help with the fee for the use of the Chapel. 
 
A Mass to Prepare for Advent
will be celebrated on Thursday at 1000 with St John’s School.  During the Mass Advent Candles will be blessed to them be taken back to each classroom. Everyone is welcome to attend and pray with our children. 

Mass for the Holy Souls
in Haycombe Cemetery
1000 on Sat the 30th of November
in the Hilltop Chapel
During this Mass we will pray for those who are buried or interred in the Cemetery for our all our departed loved ones, family, & friends, and for all who have died with nobody to pray for them.  A collection will be taken to help cover the fee for using the Chapel.   Please note there will not be a Mass in St Alphege on that Saturday.
I am very grateful to the staff at Haycombe for their generous help in enabling this Mass to be celebrated.   If you would like a poster to advertise this please e mail Fr Robert. There will also be a collection at the Mass to help with the fee for the use of the Chapel. 
 
Please pray for the repose of the soul
-  of Fr Bernard Carpenter, a retired Priest of the Diocese who died this week.  He was for a long time Parish Priest in Frome
- of Neil Charles McPherson who died recently, and for his family after this sudden loss
 

Poetry
A number of you asked me about the poem I mentioned during the Homily at Mass last Sunday. The text is below,

​It was written by the poet George Herbert (3 April 1593 – 1 March 1633).  His poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets, and he is recognised as one of the foremost British devotional lyricists.  He was born in Wales into an artistic and wealthy family and largely raised in England. He received a good education that led to his admission to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1609. He went there with the intention of becoming a priest, but he became the University's Public Orator and attracted the attention of King James I. He sat in the Parliament of England in 1624 and briefly in 1625.  
 
After the death of King James, Herbert renewed his interest in ordination. He gave up his secular ambitions in his mid-thirties and took holy orders in the Church of England, spending the rest of his life as the rector of the rural parish of Fugglestone St Peter, just outside Salisbury. He was noted for unfailing care for his parishioners, bringing the sacraments to them when they were ill and providing food and clothing for those in need.  He was never a healthy man and died of consumption at age 39.

​November – the month of the Holy Souls
During November we pray for and remember in a particular way those who have died, our family, friends, and all those dear to us, but also those who died un-mourned in this world who have nobody to pray for them.
I have left envelopes on the table by the Newsletter in which you can put the names of those whom you will be remembering.  These will be bought up and join those which were bought forward on All Souls Day to the Altar and Mass will be offered for the repose of their souls.
 
Pope Francis Prayer Intention for November
For anyone who has lost a child - we pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community and receive peace and consolation from the Holy Spirit.