My dear people,

I’m sure you have heard the phrase ‘if you want to make God laugh then tell him your plans’. Well we have made lots of plans this year haven’t we? We have also seen those plans be curtailed, changed or cancelled altogether. Rumours even abounded that Boris Johnson was going to cancel Christmas!

We cannot cancel the celebrations of Christmas – the annual remembrance of Our Lord’s Nativity – our God lowering Himself from the Heavens to dwell with us on earth. This is what we celebrate in these days of the Christmas Season. Yes, a season, because Christmas is not simply one day. It is a whole series of days for rejoicing and feasting lasting into the New Year.

May I take this opportunity to wish all of you my dear parishioners, family and friends a very happy and holy Christmas. May all the blessings of that the Babe of Bethlehem came to bring us be yours this Christmas tide and for ever.

Please be assured of my prayers for you all at the altar and before the Crib. I will also remember in a special way those who have been bereaved because of the coronavirus. I will remember your loved ones who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a far greater light, that multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we are forever one.

Moi Drodzy,

Z okazji tegorocznych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia składam Wam serdeczne życzenia. Niech Boże Dziecię obficie błogosławi Wam i Waszym rodzinom! Z życzeniami. Wesołych Świąt.

Happy Christmas and every blessing for the New Year,

Fr Francis