Theotokos Prayer Group - Second Sunday of Advent, 7 December 2025

 

Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight;
all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia.

Gospel:    Matthew 3:1-12

‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” ’
  Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptised by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father”, for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
  ‘I baptise you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’

Intercessions

I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. Should they cry to me in any distress, I will hear them, and I will be their Lord for ever...

We pray in reparation for all offences against the life and dignity of the human person from conception until natural death. Lord have mercy on us!

Pray for our new Pope, Leo XIV, that he may shepherd the Church and proclaim Christ to the World.

Pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis

Lord give us a spirit of Hope in this Holy Year of Hope.

Sacred Heart of Jesus have Mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of John Farnell a member of Theotokos Prayer Group.  May he Rest in Peace. Pray for his wife Magaret and family.

Pray for healing for Ben.

Pray for Margaret who had Pneumonia but has now been told she has Blood Cancer;

Melanie who has Lung Cancer.

Pray for healing for a young man in hospital after having his drink spiked, he has been unresponsive since admission 4 weeks ago. 

Pray for Marcin, Terry, John Morgan, Lisa, Frances, Rosie, Adam Grey with cancer, Charlotte, Susan, Kyle, Catherine and Peter, Anne Shepherd, Felicity, Jessica, Marie Bedingfield, Milo,  John Joynes, Vanessa, Cathy, Matthew, Gina Hardy, Owen McEneaney, Reese, Tony, Joan, Jackie, Nathan, David, Derek, Malcolm, Hollie, and Harlan Moon.
Pray for healing for Lynn and Anne both with chronic illness.
Pray for Gina (aged 31) who is waiting for a further pancreas transplant.
Pray for Alan Guile may the Lord strengthen him and his ministry.
Pray for Grace who is dying - Lord be with her

Pray for the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.

Pray for upbuilding of Marriage and Family.

Pray for peace in our Country and our communities.

Pray for our young people that they may be protected from the evil one, that they may find a home in the loving Heart of Jesus.

Pray for all in our Parishes who are ill in body, mind or spirit.

Pray for Disha that he may find employment.

Pray for all those we have been asked and have promised to pray for.

Pray for all who are grieving give them strength, consolation and healing.

Pray for our Priests and for vocations to the Priesthood.

Pray for lost souls.

Pray for the conversion of the World.

Lord we continue to pray for Peace in Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza and throughout the World.

Lord we pray for persecuted Christians throughout the World.

Lord we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all peoples and nations.

Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory may they be granted eternal rest.

Mary, Mother of God, Theotokos, pray for us.
Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Mary, Bride of the Spirit, pray for us.

If anyone has any prophecy, prayers, readings or intercessions I encourage you to please send them to
me. Let us share with one another the gifts and inspirations of the Spirit!
Also if there any changes necessary to the intercessions - please let me know

Resources
1.Theotokos Prayer Group:
https://www.facebook.com/Theotokos-Prayer-Group-142398089120415
/http://theotokosprayergroup.blogspot.co.uk/
2. Daily Mass readings can be found at:
https://universalis.com/mass.htm
3. Bishops Conference of England and Wales Website -
https://www.cbcew.org.uk
4. Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle Website:
Home - Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle (diocesehn.org.uk)
5. Catholic Charismatic Renewal in England:
http://www.ccr.org.uk/
6. Catholic Charismatic Renewal International
https://www.charis.international/en/home/
7. Celebrate Conference website
https://www.celebratetrust.org/
8. CHARIS in England and Wales
www.charisuk.com
9.CaFE - Catholic Faith Exploration (faithcafe.org)

Events

We are unable to us the Creche for the next few weeks so the next meeting will be on 23 December 2025 at 7.30pm in The Creche in St Patricks Church, Glenfield Road, Fairfield, Stockton TS19 7PL. All welcome.

8 December 2025 - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Solemnity

Father, we rejoice in the privilege of our Lady’s Immaculate Conception, which preserved her from the stain of sin by the power of Christ’s redeeming death,
and prepared her to be the Mother of God.
Grant that through her prayers we ourselves may come to you, cleansed from all sin.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope
The 2025 Jubilee officially opened on December 24, 2024 with the rite of Opening of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter by the Holy Father.
Link to Jubilee website: Jubilee 2025 https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html

Theotokos Prayer Group - 1st Sunday of Advent , 30 November 2025

 

SUNDAY  NOVEMBER  30  First Sunday Of Advent (A)

Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, O Lord, your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44
Stay awake so that you may be ready.
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’

Reflection from Bible Alive

It has been said that our season of  Advent has its roots in the pagan festival of the winter solstice.  The word 'solstice' is derived  from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere  (to stand still). The pagan world  hungered for light and worshipped  the sun god Sol Invictus, who was  invoked each day at sunrise. As  bright and as powerful as the sun  is, we know it doesn't cast its light  on the greatest mysteries of our  existence or penetrate the darkness of sin and death. 

The prophet Isaiah  declared hundreds of years before  the birth of Christ: 

The people who  walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of  deep darkness  
on them has light shined` (Isa. 9:2).  
Advent then is an opportunity for us to come into this light, see with the light of Christ and walk our Jubilee pilgrim way and let our light shine.  Advent literally means 'coming and the Church has always sought  to remind us during this holy season of the three comings of Christ: his  first at his birth, his second at his return to earth in glory, and another coming between these two when he  comes into each of our lives.

The  work of the Spirit is twofold: to  confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father and to pray  with heartfelt longing, 'Come, Lord Jesus, come.` 

In short, Jesus is the meaning of Christmas and of human existence. We journey towards the  baby born in the stable, in poverty and helplessness, as God made man, our light and hope. We lift up our hearts in praise and thanksgiving for Jesus who is the Light of the World, the light which darkness cannot extinguish or overcome. Never tire or grow weary of singing  the glory of Jesus' birth. For unto us a child is born, who died, who rose and will come again.  

'The Virgin today brings into the world the Eternal  

And the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible  

The angels and shepherds praise him  

For you are born for us  

Little Child, God eternal.' (CCC 525)  

Come, Lord Jesus, Come.  
Isaiah 2:1-5 . Psalm 121(122):1-9  Romans 13:11-14. Matthew 24:37-44  

Next meeting will be on 22 December 2025 at 7.30pm in The Creche in St Patricks Church, Glenfield Road, Fairfield, Stockton TS19 7PL. All welcome.

Dear friends, Sorry for the shortened bulletin this week. I am laid up with a bad chest cold. Normal service resumes next week! Any prayer and sympathy gratefully accepted. God bless you all, Stephen