Third Sunday of Advent
This weekend we celebrate Gaudete Sunday and we are encouraged to take to heart the words of St Paul. “Be happy at all times; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God.” This Sunday we begin to anticipate Christmas with our Cathedral Festival Carol Service at 5pm of beautiful Christmas Choral Music, Carols and Readings.
As it is a very busy weekend next week I list below the times of services from next Saturday onwards.
Saturday 23rd December Mass at 9am followed by confessions from 9.30-11am. From 11.45am – 1pm the Cathedral will be closed due to a BBC Recording. There will be BBC rehearsals for Midnight Mass that afternoon but the Vigil mass at 5pm will take place as normal in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
Sunday 24th December, the Morning masses are as normal; 9am and 11am in the Cathedral and 10am in the Crypt Chapel. At 3pm there will be the First Vespers of Christmas concluding with procession of children and Blessing of the Crib. We will have a Christmas Vigil Mass at 6pm in the Cathedral.
Archbishop Malcolm will preside at Midnight Mass which will begin at 11.30pm. This Mass will be broadcast live for BBC Radio 4.
Our Masses on Christmas Morning are the same as on a Sunday. The 11am Mass will be the last service of the Christmas Day – there is no Evening Service.
There will be one mass for the following weekdays at 10am in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
The Saturday morning mass on 30th December will be at 9am and the weekend Masses for the Feast of the Holy Family are as normal.
There will be one Mass at 10am on Monday 1st January for New Year’s Day and the Feast of Mary Mother of God.
Canon Anthony O’Brien
Cathedral Dean
