 | St. Ignatius Catholic Church Newsletter |  |
| 3rd December, 2023 First Sunday of Advent, Year B |
READINGS
First Reading: Isaiah 63: 16b-17, 19b; 64: 2-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Second Reading: First Corinthians 1: 3-9
Alleluia: Psalms 85: 8
Gospel: Mark 13: 33-37
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Second Reading: First Corinthians 1: 3-9
Alleluia: Psalms 85: 8
Gospel: Mark 13: 33-37
Response:
O God, bring us back; let your face shine on us, and we shall be saved.
Gospel Acclamation:
Alleluia Alleluia !
Show us your merciful love, and grant us your salvation.
Alleluia Alleluia !
CELEBRANTS:
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THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION:
is available before all Sunday Masses and on request at the Parish Office.
is available before all Sunday Masses and on request at the Parish Office.
| MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENTS - David Kabati & Theza Charity Bwalya, - Yusuf Jalloh & Musambo Mutinta Kapapa, - Simon Ngona & Towela Jane Nakamba. |
If you have information why any of these couples should not marry, please inform the Parish Priest. You are asked to pray for them and are reminded of the 3 months notice. The Pre Marriage Class meet at 08:30, at Laity Centre.
The next Pre-Marriage Course Class will be from 15th October, 2023 to 26th November, 2023 at the Laity Centre opposite Kalemba Hall. All the couples intending to marry are required to attend.
Advent Season.
Today we begin the Advent Season encompassing four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas. It’s a time of preparation for our hearts and minds for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Charismatic Renewal Movement
- Will be having a healing Mass in Kalemba Hall on Saturday, 16th December 2023 at 12:00 hrs and a day of prayer on Saturday 9th December, 2023 from 12:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs in Kalemba Hall. Both events will be celebrated by Fr. Godfrey Odunga OFM cap.
-They will meet every Tuesday at 17:30 hrs in Kalemba Hall and on Saturday at 15:00 hrs in room 5. For more details, contact 0977493676
Heal IT Medical Centre will be having a Family Fun Day
on 9th December, 2023 from 09:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs. Attendees will have access to a paediatrician, gynaecologist, dermatologist and urologist for medical consultations. Activities will include Raffle draws, IV drips, kids’ corner with jumping castles, Yoga, etc. Kindly visit them at 6 Lubu Road, Rhodes Park opposite CFB Hospital near Italian School.
News from the Choirs
- 10:00 hrs Sacred Heart Choir will be holding a fundraising concert on 8th December 2023. Tickets are available at the Parish Office and with Choir members at K100. Thank you for your usual support.
- 08:15 hrs Choir Kutinaeba Amabwe CD is on promotion. Get yourself a copy from the Parish Office at only K30. For more information contact 0977238359 or 0979525860
- St Ignatius Loyola Youth Choir is offering to sing Christmas Carols at any event during this festive season as a way of fundraising for their choir. Contact Agatha the chairperson on 0972111488.
Catechetical Notices
- Holiday Classes for children who are in boarding schools will resume next week on Tuesday 4th December, 2023 from 09:00 hrs to 10:00 hrs. Please be punctual.
- New 2024 Saturday Classes. Parents/ guardians can register their children at the Parish Office starting on 5th December, 2023 during working hours from Monday to Friday. Remember to bring your baptism certificate if you are baptised.
PSYCHISOCIAL COUNSELLING SESSIONS
Every Wednesday, the Parish Office offers Psychosocial Counselling sessions from 09:00hrs to 12:00hrs. All Parishioners are Welcome.
Small Christian Community Meeting
- Blessed John Paul I will be meeting today Sunday 3rd December, 2023 at 14:00 hrs at the Chabateni’s residence No.12A Wusakili Crescent, behind Amusement Park Northmead. Elections will be conducted.
Charles Chilinda Feeding Works of Charity & Mercy (2023 Feeding Program)
The feeding program will be held on the 23rd December 2023. Volunteers & contributions (monetary and material support) are needed for the feeding program. For the envelops have been placed at the entrance of the church, you can also send your donations to the following:
Bank: Standard Chartered bank
Branch: Lusaka Main
Account Number: 0100511435801
Account Name: St Ignatius Feeding Program
Swift Code: 5CBL2MLX
Children with Disability (Chiwiledi)
For those who wish to help the Children with disability at Chiwiledi Community School can make tour contribution through the bank.
Account details are as follows:
Branch: Manda Hill
Account Number: 0
Account Number: 0393056100142
Account Name: Chiwiledi Charities
Swift Code: ZNCOZMLU
St Ignatius College 2024 Enrolment
The college is advertising for 2024 enrolment for Grades 8 and 10. Assessment dates are as follows:
- 18th November 2023
- 9th December 2023
- 16th December 2023
For details contact +260955208777
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| St Ignatius Direct Airtel & MTN Money Offertory Line Number : +260975469984 / +260964639779 |
 | SECURITY ALERT: Don't be an easy target, you can prevent a crime of opportunity. Never leave valuables such a laptops, money, mobile phones, bags, purses etc in you vehicles. |
SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ON DUTY
St. Martin SCC will be on duty for the month of December 2023. This community is mainly made up of residences in New Kasama, Chilanga, and Northmead. To join, contact the chairperson Mr. Mboo Mumba 0976546384 or Mr. Chikwe Mbweeda 0979450930.
MID DAY WEDNESDAY MASS
Parishioners are informed that the Mid-Day lunch time mass is every Wednesday at 13:00hrs - 13:30hrs. We are all encouraged to attend.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
INFANT BAPTISM: The Next Infant Baptism will be on Sunday 7th January, 2024 at 13:00 hrs. The preparatory workshop will be on Saturday 6th January, 2023 at 14:30 hrs at Kalemba Hall. Register at the parish office during working hours.
- The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network For a Eucharistic life: We pray that Catholics may place the celebration of the Eucharist at the heart of their lives, transforming human relationships in a very deep way and opening to the encounter with God and all their brothers and sisters.
- Prayer for the synod on the church: We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather
together in Your name. With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it. We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. All this we ask of You who are at work in every place and time in the communion of the Father
and the Son forever and ever. Amen.
- PRAYER OF ST. IGNATIUS Take Lord and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will, all that I have and all that I possess. You gave it all to me, Lord, I give it all back to you. Do with it as you will according to your good will. Give me only your love and your grace, for with these, I have all that I need. Amen
you can contact Mr Michael Miti on 0979692849 or 0776457719.
- Exposition of the Blessed sacrament & Silent Adoration is every Tuesday & Friday at 16:30 hrs. Benediction is every first Friday of the month before Mass at 16:30 hrs
- The congregation of the Holy Spirit Fathers will be selling quality 2024 Calendars at an affordable price today, Sunday, after each Mass. Please let us support them by buying a copy at K40 each.
- Parishioners are being reminded that the NHIMA cards are still available for collection at the parish office for all those who registered during the Fete and on the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Remember to carry the NRC.
- St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, Obama The Parish will be selling tickets today at our Parish to raise funds for the construction of the Church building. Kindly buy a block to support them. Tickets are sold at K10, K20, K50 and K100.
- Kasisi Organic farm products will be on sale after all the Masses. Products include rolled oats, dairy products and vegetables. Kindly let us support KATC, an apostolate of the Society
- A book entitled Self Love is on Sale at K150 at every Mass. Contact 0977899758
- News from Chelston Parish
Our Heavenly Father Parish (Chelston) will be 24th November, 2023 and a Family Fun Day on Saturday 9th December, 2023 respectively.
Tickets are sold at the parish office: Dinner Dance @ K500 and Fete @K20.
The Parish will also be having a prison visitation on 4th November 2023.
They are asking for Support.
Some Liturgical Days to Remember
-1st Sunday of Advent, Sunday, 3rd December 2023.
-Immaculate Conception, Friday, 8th December, 2023.
- Immaculate Conception: On Friday, 8th December 2023, the Church will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore we shall have Mass at 06:30 hrs, 13:00 hrs & 17:30 hrs. Ark of the covenant pray for us!
- Hymn Books the St. Ignatius Parish Hymn Book, Single and Rejoice is available at the Parish Office at K60 per copy.
Discounts are given for big orders
Christmas Carols Service December 2023 Rehearsals for Children and Youth for the Christmas Carols service continues in Kalemba Hall every Sunday at 14:00 hrs.
| | COVID ALERT: Help mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Use hand sanitizer or wash your hands when entering and leaving the church Observe social distance and marked out in Church. No handshakes for sign of peace, Holy communion to be received on the palm of the hand. |
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
If you have any relative who is sick at home or in hospital, please inform the Parish Priest or the Parish Assistant Priest
EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT & SILENT ADORATION EVERY TUESDAY & FRIDAY AT 16:30 HRS
(Except on the first Friday of the month when we have Benediction before Mass)
PRAYER OF ST IGNATIUS
Take Lord and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will, all that I have and all that I possess. You gave it all to me, Lord, I give it all back to you. Do with it as you will according to your good will. Give me only
your love and your grace, for with these, I have all that I need. Amen
THE NICENE GREED
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. He of the Father. We will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the death and life of the world to come. Amen.
MYSTERY OF FAITH
1. We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
2. When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free.
2. When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free.
| QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Go forth and set the world aflame.” ~ Saint Ignatius Of Loyola |
REFLECTION ON TODAY'S READINGS
Advent is an attitude of anticipation. The entire season prepares us to allow Christ into our hearts, sometimes in ways far different from other times when we celebrate the “excitement of December.” Many people want everything about this season to stay the same, year after year: the same carols, the same schedule for giving gifts, even food prepared in the same way. Fine! Consistency does give consolation to the heart.
But another truth tells us that each year ought to be different. We are not the same. We are faced with different responsibilities, moved by different insights, changed (or charged) by circumstances we didn’t have before, challenged by fresh opportunities and different memories, equipped with increasing or diminishing capacities for coping with all these variations. So we never celebrate
“Advent” in exactly the same way.
Christ is preparing to come to us this Christmas in a way that suits who we are and how we are this year; our Lord speaks to us with words meant to sustain us. The first half of these reflections traces Jesus’ coming at different times to different people. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah emphasises the role of God in our lives as a father and redeemer; he is our sure refuge in times of trouble, who moulds us like clay to perfection. God still shows his Majesty amid disaster and calamities.
We need to learn again the humility of the Child of Bethlehem. The letter of St. Paul to the community of Corinthians indicates how Christ came to enrich us with spiritual gifts so that we lack nothing. Therefore in the Gospel, we here Jesus Christ reminding us to keep watch and pray so that we do not lose the spiritual gifts instilled in us by virtue of grace for we do not know when the time will come when the master will appear and he may come suddenly and find you asleep. It is very cardinal to keep watch. Many a time we are weak and vulnerable. Let’s not hesitate to call upon Our Mother, the Virgin Most Prudent, to assist us in our daily lives and to teach us how to love and how to be loved.
Remember to ‘‘Take heed, watch and pray’’.