Midnight Mass

There are a number of masses of Christmas.  At St Thomas More's they celebrated the Vigil Mass with a full congregation who had braved the wind and rain. They listened to Matthew's Gospel about how Mary will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus Matthew 1: 18-25.

At the start of the Midnight Mass Bishop Michael Campbell
blessed the Crib and Jesus was placed in the manger

At the Cathedral many had helped to prepare the Church which was lit with candles for the Carol Service and the First Mass of Christmas, where the reading and homily focused on the lines from Isaiah, 9: 1-7 where the people who had lived in darkness have seen a great light for unto us a child is born.  
Right - the final candle representing Jesus the Light of the World is lit = reminding us that he brings hope, peace, joy and love.

Cathedral in Candle Light

There are lots of people involved not just on the day but preparing by cleaning, arranging the flowers, sorting the crib, serving, reading, singing in the choir, welcoming, bringing others to Church and getting ready for the Christmas lunch.  And of course all those present joined in with singing and our prayers for peace throughout the world, for children's hope, for those loved ones who have died or are not with us this year.

Altar servers in the sacristy before Mass.











Right - An open door - Welcomers handing out service sheets and greeting those arriving for Mass.  A service they do each week at Mass.

Below an image from the choir loft and the choir who rehearse throughout the year and who sang the Mass setting of St Edmund Arrowsmith by Malcolm Archer