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26th November 2023
The Feast of Christ The King
First Reading
Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-17
The Lord says this: I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view. As a shepherd keeps all his flock in view when he stands up in the middle of his scattered sheep, so shall I keep my sheep in view. I shall rescue them from wherever they have been scattered during the mist and darkness. I myself will pasture my sheep, I myself will show them where to rest – it is the Lord who speaks. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them. As for you, my sheep, the Lord says this: I will judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and he-goats.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 22(23):1-3a,5-6
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.T
he Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit.He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes.My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life.In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Second Reading
1 Corinthians 15:20-26,28
Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order: Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet. And when everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subject in his turn to the One who subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all.
Gospel
Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. ‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.” ‘Next he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.” ‘And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.’
Prayer is a time to reflect on one's own life, but also to think of others.
Please pray for:
all those who are sick or housebound in our Parishes and also for all those who have recently died and for their families.
Our Parish Prayer
Father, pour out Your Spirit on the people of this Parish and grant us a new vision of your Glory, a new experience of your Power, a new faithfulness to your Word and a new consecration to your Service, that your Love may grow among us and your Kingdom come, through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Prayer to St. Michael
Holy Michael Archangel, defend us in our conflict. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust down to hell, Satan and all the wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen
Act of Spiritual Communion
(To be said when one cannot receive communion in person)
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar.
I love you above all things and I passionately desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my soul so that I may unite myself wholly to you now and forever. Amen
The Rosary
Please spare a moment to Pray the Rosary every day
All parishioners from our three churches and beyond are warmly invited to a Parish Christmas social on Friday 15th December in St Michael’s Parish Hall from 7.00pm. Entry is free but donations will be taken for bingo, raffles and games. There will be singing, dancing and food offered by members of the Filipino community. Bring your own alcohol. This promises to be a great night of fellowship, please come along and bring your friends.
Parish Christmas Afternoon Tea:
All parishioners are warmly invited to a very festive afternoon tea in St Mary Magdalen’s Parish Hall on Wednesday 13th December from 12pm – 3pm. The afternoon social will include bingo and a raffle. Entry is absolutely free, but donations will be taken on the day for church funds. All are welcome.
Mini Vinnies:
The Mini Vinnies from St Mary Magdalen’s School will be holding a charity tombola in the church hall after Mass on 26th November, which is Youth Sunday. Any donations of chocolate, sweets, or bottles of any kind, can be left at the back of St Mary Magdalen’s church. The children have decided that any money raised will be forwarded to support those suffering with Cerebral Palsy. Thank you.
Seaham’s Ecumenical Civic Carol Service
will be celebrated in St. Mary Magdalen’s Church on Wednesday 6th December at 6.30pm. This will be followed by refreshments in the parish hall. Please do come along and help support this event. All are welcome.
Confirmation Request form:
Any of our young people in Secondary School who wish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation should collect a form from the back of church, or from Fr Marc, fill it in, and return it to the parish by December. The Confirmation course will begin towards the end of January. Please note that the course will also include a residential at the Youth Village on the 26th/27th January. Bishop Stephen will visit our parish to celebrate the Confirmations and hopefully meet as many parishioners as possible, on Thursday 29th February 2024.
Red Boxes:
If you collect in a Red Box for the missions, now is the time to bring it back to church so that the contents can be sent off. If you would like to take a Red Box to collect for the missions throughout the year, please contact the parish office. However, there are some at the back of St Michael’s Church for you take away.
Teaching Vacancy:
St Mary Magdalen’s School has a teaching vacancy, required for January 2024. Anyone interested is encouraged to visit the school. For more information, please email the school: office@stmmschool.co.uk.
Christ the King:
Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, which is dedicated to the Youth of the Church. As you leave Mass today, donations will be accepted for the work of the Youth Mission Team in the Diocese. Thank you so much for any contributions you can make.
Advent:
Next week we begin our preparation for Christmas as we enter into the season of Advent. School Children: We welcome the school children to our 10am Masses on Tuesday and Friday this week.
