7th Day of Christmas

Christmas Video
The video today is the great traditional song of praise the Te Deum which is sung to celebrate great feasts.  As we come to the end of the octave (eight days of Christmas) tomorow when we celebrate the Feast of Mary the Mother of God

7th Day of Christmas

Remind us of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit see Isaiah 11: 1-2.   Flames and a dove are symbols of the Holy Spirit - the craft today shows the dove and the flames in a mobile of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.   
We receive gifts at Baptism and they are confirmed when we receive confirmation - for adults see the effects of confirmation in the Catechism
Seven is also the number of  petitions in the Our Father, last words on the Cross, deadly sins and virtues.  
News of Confirmation 2014 Please note for young people in Year 9 or above there will be an introductory Meeting in Cathedral House for the Confirmation Programme on Sunday 26th January after 6.30pm Mass.  Poster in Porch, and further details in future newsletters and Confirmation Page  

6th Day of Christmas - Feast of Holy Family

6th Day of Christmas

Reminds us of the 6 days of creation. For our younger readers - Pictures and directions to make own book of creation 
For adults details of a general audience with Pope Benedict XVI discussing the Creed and the line 'made heaven and earth' and its links to Genesis and the creation of the world.
Christmas video
Today's video lasts 4.30 min, it reminds us of the wonders of creation and how God rested on the Sabbath (7th Day).  But of course there is nothing that can compete with looking at creation around us, our own hand, the sky, a tree blowing in the wind. 

Children's Liturgy Gloria in excelsis Deo - and the children jump for joy at the Good News 

Children jumping for joy as they sing Glory to God

Yesterday the children received their 5th card - a message from Joseph who told of his dream and message from the angel to go to Egypt   Below the children shared the card and talked about the Holy Family and remembered all families, especially those who are refugees and forced to leave their homes.  

Children listen carefully to the message from Joseph 

Praying for families

Response: Holy Family, hear our prayer. 

For all families, especially those who are in need. . . . Response:

For all the families in our parish . . . . Response:
For our own families and their needs . . . Response:

For all those who must leave their homes to find safety in other lands . . . Response:

For  all who care for us in our families. . . . Response:

5th Day of Christmas

Christmas video
A short video which reminds us that Jesus came at Christmas to save us all. This is called He Came and lasts 1.30min 

5th Day of Christmas

Today the five gold rings remind us of the Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah (the Law) or the Pentateuch (Greek meaning 5):  
1) Genesis, 
2) Exodus, 
3) Leviticus, 
4) Numbers, and 
5) Deuteronomy
They tell of the history of God's Chosen people up to the death of Moses.  They include the story of creation, the Laws including the 10 commandments. 

An article with further information about the Pentateuch

4th Day of Christmas - Pope Francis Blessing the Crib

4th Day of Christmas 

Four colley or calling birds - that represent the four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Each of the Gospels was written for a different community and help us to understand more about Jesus' message of Good News.A Christmas Quiz based on Matthew's Gospel chapters 1 and 2. Or in Luke's Gospel chapter 1 and chapter 2 verses 1 to 40.
Colouring pages of the four Evangelists (Gospel writers)
Matthew - Angel  Mark - Lion, Luke - Ox, and John - Eagle

For simple explanations and more about these evangelists see St James' Cathedral, Seattle - Children's Page

Christmas Video

Today two short videos of Pope Francis blessing the baby Jesus and speaking about how Jesus came to us in humble beginnings.  
Blessing the baby Jesus - 1 minute
Speaking about Jesus' humble beginnings and the need to remember the poor 1 minute

Tomorrow we will hear how Joseph is given a message to escape to Egypt to keep Jesus safe.  We remember all babies today, especially the Holy Innocents who lost their lives and those who may be sick in hospital or are not yet born.  We pray for their parents and all working in our hospitals to look after them. 

3rd day of Christmas

Today's video reminds us of the greatest gift that God gave us - himself.   Christmas in a nutshell 

3rd Day of Christmas 

Three French hens is said to remind us of the three persons of the Trinity or the three gifts of the wise men - gold, frankincense and myrrh which also have symbolic meaning, more of this on the Feast of the Epiphany.

A colouring page for children of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. 

12 Days of Christmas

12 days of Christmas - A hidden message

Over the Christmas season we will be including a series of activities for the family that are linked to the hidden messages within the traditional Christmas song, the 12 Days of Christmas.  It is suggested that it is a hidden catechism. Each line includes a clue to a key truth about the Christian.  The 'true love' represents God Himself and the 'me' represents every baptised person.  There are different accounts about what is the first day, we will take Christmas Day as our 1st day, and include activities for the 1st and 2nd day.

1st Day of Christmas
The partridge in the pear tree represents Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. In Isaiah 9:1-7, 1st reading at Midnight Mass he is described as Mighty Counsellor, Prince of Peace.  He came to bring Peace on earth - for papal reflection in a encyclical (letter)  by John XXIII on Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity and Liberty
Colouring of Baby Jesus in manger and Jesus after the resurrection 

2nd Day of Christmas
The two turtle doves represent the two testaments in the Bible which tell us the story of God's people which we listen to in the Liturgy of the Word and which we can reflect on.  This year there is the opportunity to have a daily email message to read the Gospels in a year. 

Feast of St Stephen - Christmas Videos

Feast of St Stephen

The 26th December is chosen as the feast day for the first martyr of the Church.  St Stephen, like Jesus at the moment of his death he prayed for those who stoned him Acts 7: 59-60 Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” 
see Acts of the Apostles chapters 6 and 7


Colouring page of St Stephen 
And challenge for those who can visit Lancaster Cathedral, who is the Saint standing to the right of St Stephen?

Wishing all Stephen's a Happy Feast Day.

Christmas Videos 
We'll also include a selection of video which link either with the feast day celebrated or the season of Christmas, some will offer food for thought and others support for prayer.  Ideas from readers would be most welcome.
An account of St Stephen's faith and inspiration for Saul, who later converted to Christianity - Stephen and Saul

A 3 minute dramatic account of St Stephen's martyrdom