The First Week of Advent ..
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…. is traditionally dedicated to Hope. In the early Church, this week marked the beginning of a spiritual “wake-up call”: a time to recognize our deep need for Christ and to rekindle trust in God’s promises.
The first purple candle of the Advent wreath—often called the Prophet’s Candle—symbolizes the hope of Israel as they awaited the Messiah. The prophets, especially Isaiah, spoke of a light that would one day shine in the darkness. Advent invites us to enter that same longing with renewed expectation.
 
Prayer for the First Week of Advent
Heavenly Father, as we begin the First Week of Advent,
fill my heart with hope. Help me trust that Your promises are true, that Your love is constant, and that the light of Christ is already rising in my life.
 
Lord Jesus, You are the promised Saviour, the dawn that breaks the darkness. Come into my heart, renew my faith, and awaken my desire to follow You more closely.
 
Holy Spirit, strengthen me this week. Guide my thoughts,
purify my intentions, and help me prepare a place worthy of You.
 
O Mary, Mother of Hope, walk with me during this Advent season and teach me to wait with faith, to trust with confidence, and to welcome Jesus your Son with a pure and joyful heart.

Statement from the Bishops Conference regarding Assisted Suicide and Abortion
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2025 is marked by an assault on the value of human life.
The Bishops of England and Wales express deep sadness at the continued passage through Parliament of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which could legalise assisted suicide. If passed by both Houses, this act would devalue life and put the lives of the vulnerable at risk. We have expressed our concerns on many occasions, highlighting the danger of coercive control and the pressure that will be put on vulnerable people who are ill, as well as the threat to the survival of care homes and hospices who oppose this legislation, especially where the mission and values of those institutions would prevent them from facilitating assisted suicide.
We are also alarmed by the amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which proposes to decriminalise abortion up to birth in some circumstances. This amendment will further endanger the life of the unborn child.
The laws of our country should give special attention to the vulnerable, especially the unborn child and the terminally ill patient. They should protect life, preserve human dignity and promote the common good. Assisted suicide and the proposed decriminalisation of abortion up to birth in some circumstances are directly contrary to these aims.
We would like to thank wholeheartedly all those who continue to work to prevent these laws being passed, whether by letter-writing, lobbying or prayer. We ask Catholics and others who share our values to continue to work and pray for the defeat of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. We also ask you to offer support to those parliamentarians who are attempting to overturn the amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which decriminalises abortion up to birth in some circumstances.
We commend the work of those who endeavour to rebuild a culture of life in England and Wales, and we pray for the success of that work. This includes those who care assiduously and with love for the terminally ill and the dying.
We will continue to stand up for the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death. We will accompany the most vulnerable, whatever circumstances or challenges they face, for “The love of Christ urges us on” (2 Corinthians 5:14)

From Pope Leos Homily last Sunday
for the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
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“Firstly, let us consider foundations.  Their importance is obvious and …..this is a cause for reflection.  As labourers in the living Church, we too must first dig deep within ourselves and around ourselves before we can build impressive structures.  We must remove any unstable material that would prevent us from reaching the solid rock of Christ (cf. Mt 7:24-27).  This is precisely what Saint Paul speaks about in the second reading when he says that “no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3:11).  This means constantly returning to Jesus and his Gospel and being docile to the action of the Holy Spirit.  Otherwise, we risk overloading a building with heavy structures whose foundations are too weak to support.
Dear brothers and sisters, as we diligently labour in the service of God’s Kingdom, let us be neither hasty nor superficial.  Let us dig deep, unhindered by worldly criteria, which too often demand immediate results and disregard the wisdom of waiting.  The millennial history of the Church teaches us that with God’s help, a true community of faith can only be built with humility and patience.” 

Mass Times at Our Lady & St Alphege
Sun 9th          Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
                     Remembrance Sunday
1100   Deceased servicemen and women
1800   Wayne Taylor RIP
Mon 10th        St Leo the Great
No Mass
Tues 11th       St Martin of Tours
1000   Private Intention (RC)
Weds 12th      St Josaphat
1000  
Thurs13th       Weekday in Ordinary Time
1715   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confession
1800  Anthony Dachs RIP
Fri 14th           Beatified Martyrs of the Diocese
1200
Sat 15th          Votive Mass of Our Lady
0930 Rosary in the Lady Chapel
1000   Intentions of Remi Thivet
1030   Sacrament of Reconciliation - Confession
Sun 16th        33rd Sunday of the Year
1100    People of the Parish
1800