4 December 2016
2nd Sunday of Advent

Readings
Isaiah 11: 1-10
Psalm 71: 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
Romans 15: 4-9
The Gospel of St. Matthew 3: 1-12

In due course John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand’. This was the man the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said:

A voice cries in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight.

This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins. But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming? But if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit, and do not presume to tell yourselves, “We have Abraham for our father”, because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these stones. Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees, so that any tree which fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire. I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.’

Saint John the Messenger

From the beginning, John shows himself the messenger of a merciful Prince; he comes not with threats to the offender, but with offers of mercy. It is a custom with kings to proclaim a general pardon on the birth of a son, but first they send throughout their kingdom officers to exact severe fines. But God, at the birth of His Son, willing to give pardon of sins, first sends His officer proclaiming, “Repent ye.” O exaction which leaves none poor, but makes many rich! For even when we pay our just debt of righteousness, we do God no service,
but only gain our own salvation. Repentance cleanses the heart, enlightens the sense, and prepares the human soul for the reception of Christ, as he immediately adds, “For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
Pseudo-Chrysostom, Catena Aurea

Saints of the week
Mon 5 St. Sabbas (Diocese of Jerusalem)
Tue 6 Saint Nicholas, Bishop 
Wed 7 Saint Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor
Thu 8 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 
Fri 9 Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin  

3rd Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 35: 1-6, 10
Psalm 145: 6-10
Jas 5: 7-10
Mt 11: 2-11

Psalter week II

Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin

Juan Diego was born in today’s Mexico City in 1474, he was 45 years old when the Spaniards arrived and he was also one of the few native converts from Aztec paganism. It was to this humble Amerindian that the Mother of God appeared on December 9, 1531 requesting that a shrine be built in her honour. She told him to gather some Castilian roses, -out of season and place- in his cloak as proof for the local bishop. To everyone’s amazement, an image of our Lady was inexplicably imprinted on the cloak (A replica of the image can be seen in Agia Kyriaki right to the window by the organ). Shortly after, the bishop displayed the image, the story of the apparitions began to spread and the natives began to convert by the thousands even before the shrine was finished.

Saint Juan Diego, pray for us.

NEWS

• Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 8 December: Holy Mass will be at 12pm, there will be NO 9am Mass.
• Parish Christmas Lunch: Sun 11 Dec, 1:30pm at Latin Parish Hall. PLEASE SIGN UP in advance as food will be provided. Suggested donation €10 per person. Contact Fr. Jim 99 793169
• Light up a Life: Thurs 15 Dec, 6 pm at Agia Kyriaki. An uplifting ceremony of life in the light, a prayer for our departed loved ones. Dedicate a candle €8 to help Hospice. Contact Mary Penny 96 398641
• Nativity Play: Sun 18 Dec 4pm, at the Latin Parish Hall, all welcome.
• Christmas Gifts: We need non-wrapped gifts for the poor. Ages 0-15 (Colouring books, educational material, warm clothes, etc.) Please Call Mary Penny 96 398641.

CARITAS PAPHOS

• Nοn-perishable food needed to be distributed to the poor in the Paphos area. Donations are welcome too.
• Lifts to come to Holy Mass would be most appreciated.
• Home Visit Team: Join us in visiting our sick and house bound.
• Contact Wendy Burdon: 99 040294 … THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS!

Archangel Michael Hospice: We need volunteers in reception, nursing assistants and cafeteria. Contact Mona 99 494140.

Fatima’s 100 Year Anniversary: A pilgrimage to Fatima and Santiago de Compostela towards the end of March 2017 is being organized. Several parishes will participate. More details to come.

Mass Times HERE