Facebook: FrMark Rowles Twitter @FrMarky Useful Telephone Numbers: Parish Secretary: Elizabeth Hughes (All enquires) 01446 774212 Parish Safeguarding Officer: Ann Miskin 01446 794461 Parish H&S Rep: David Harris 01446 792694 Parish SVP: Judy Browning 01446 773389 Baptism Catechesis & Children’s Catechesis 01446 774212 Hospital admittance please contact the Chaplains: Princess of Wales Hospital: Fr. Tim McGrath VF 01656 652034 Llandough Hospital, Penarth: Canon J.Boardman 029 2070 8247 Deanery Clergy: Fr. Tim McGrath VF. (Bridgend) 01656 652034 Fr. Edmund Neizer (Maesteg) 01656 733282

EWTN (Eternal Word Catholic Television): 589 on your Sky remote

COLLECTIONS 9th/10th December

THANK YOU!

Gift Aid £412.00

Loose £215.50

Total Levy November STO

£627.50

£206.66

£565.00

Attendance: St Cadoc Our Lady & St Illtyd

Total

53 72

125

The collection for THE SICK & RETIRED CLERGY totalled £465.00. Thank you for your generosity, there is still time for you to contribute should you wish to.

BRIDGEND DEANERY SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION/CONFESSION The Light Is ON: 19th December from 7:00pm to 8.00pm in Maesteg FESTIVAL OF CAROLS: Wednesday 20th December at 7pm in St. Mary’s Church.

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN COWBRIDGE & DISTRICT CAROLS IN THE CASTLE: Friday 22nd December, leaving from the Cattle Market at 6.15pm.

FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE

A VIGIL MASS FOR CHRISTMAS will be celebrated in Welsh on Christmas Eve at St Teilo's Church, Old Church Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 1AD. All welcome at 4 30pm on Sunday 24th December. 'O deuwch ac addolwn'. Croeso cynnes i bawb.

FOODBANK When you are doing your Christmas shopping please consider purchasing one or two items on the shopping list and leave it in the collection boxes and the Church, Thank you!

A Parish in the Archdiocese of Cardiff Diocese Registered Charity No:242380 Please remember your Parish in your Will

LOTTO bonus ball winner 09/12/17: No. 19 Maria Morgan

Newsletter Items: please email the Parish Office or hand to Fr. Mark by Wednesday evening

Llantwit Major & Cowbridge

Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Mark J.Rowles The Presbytery, Ham Lane East, Llantwit Major. CF61 1TQ.

Tel No. 01446 792381 (Emergency ONLY 07488 279856) Email: ppwvale@btinternet.com

Website: www.westvalecatholics.org.uk

Our Lady & St. Illtyd with St. Cadoc Parish

Response to the Psalm: My soul rejoices in my God Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! The spirit of the Lord has been given to me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor. Alleluia!

Third Week of Advent (B) 17th December 2017

Saturday 16th December

Vigil 4.30pm Cowbridge 5.00pm

Holy Rosary Mass: Chris Morgan RIP (SVP)

Sunday 17th December 3rd of Advent / Gaudete Sunday/ Bambinelli Sunday

8.30am Llantwit Major 9.00am

Holy Rosary Missa Pro Populo

Tuesday 19th December

5.30pm Cowbridge Mass: Enid & Evelyn Fitzherbert RIP (MF)

Wednesday 20th December

10.00am Llantwit Major Mass: Oliver Stewart Lindsay RIP (PL)

Thursday 21st December 10.00am Cowbridge Mass: Margaret Morgan RIP (Jeff)

Friday 22nd December

7.00pm Llantwit Major Mass: Joe and Lorna Hughes RIP (SVP)

Saturday 23rd December

Vigil

10.00am Llantwit Major 4.30pm Cowbridge 5.00pm

Service of the Word & Holy Communion

Holy Rosary Missa Pro Populo

Sunday 24th December 4th of Advent Christmas Eve

8.30am Llantwit Major 9.00am 10.00pm Cowbridge

Holy Rosary Mass: Vivien Snow RIP Missa Pro Populo

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT FOR ADORATION Our Lady & St. Illtyd: SUNDAY 3.00pm to 4.00pm St. Cadoc: THURSDAY 10.30am to 11.00am

THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (Confession)

Our Lady & St.Illtyd: SATURDAY 12Noon to 1pm St Cadoc: SATURDAY 4.15 - 4.45pm AND by request

Please pray for the following who request your prayers: Tom McNally, Francis Harris, Tim O’Sullivan, Yvonne Harris, Maria Morgan,

Elizabeth, Rosina Bruen, Mick & Marianne Davey, Ray Cullinane, Fiona Lindsay,

Pat Beverley, Joan Whitton, Gretta Cooper, Olive Collins, Carla Carpanini, Mike Carey,

Simon Stanton, Thea Boyd, Yvonne Henderson, Maisie Moyes, Fr. Silvio MAY THEY BE TOUCHED BY GOD’S HEALING HAND.

Advent a time for

Watching, Waiting, Hearing, Hoping, Seeing and Believing.

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH

(CTS 10 MINUTE DIARY)

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT “There stands among you, unknown to you, the one who is coming after me”

READ JOHN 1:6-8, 19-28 MEDITATE “Who are you?” This question posed to John the Baptist is one that we ask ourselves often. “What is your mission?” is another way of phrasing the same question. As Christians our greatest task is to follow John the Baptist's example: to bear witness to Christ, the light which enlightens our world.

LET US PRAY Lord Jesus, You are the Word proclaimed and announced to our society.

Make me a herald of your message, so that my words and my voice may help spread your word,

and many may come to believe in You. Amen. ACT As Christmas - the feast day of the True Light - approaches, you might want to have a candle lit at home as a focus of the light of the world coming to us.

THE VIGIL LAMPS WILL BURN THIS WEEK FOR:- Our Lady & St Illtyd Our Lady: Emmaline Special Intention Sacred Heart: Alice Special Intention St. Cadoc Our Lady: Vera O’Hare Special Intention (AF) Sacred Heart: Peter Francis RIP (Family)

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

Christmas Eve (24th December) 10pm St. Cadoc Christmas Day (25th December) 10am Our Lady & St. Illtyd. CHRISTMAS OFFERING: envelopes are available at the back of the Church for your gift to Fr. Mark. The collection, in its entirety, on Christmas Day is for the Parish Priest.

Chorus: Christmas is coming, the Church is glad to sing, and let the Advent candles, brightly burn in a ring

V.3 The third is for the Baptist, Who cried, “Prepare the way. Be ready for Jesus, both this and every day.”

WHAT’S ON IN THE PARISH THIS WEEK?

ANNUAL PRIZE DRAW: takes place TODAY! Thank you to everyone who bought raffle tickets and to the local businesses for their generosity; this year we received 29 excellent prizes. Please come into the Parish Centre after Mass, enjoy a cuppa and see if you are a lucky winner in this year’s prize draw! FESTIVAL OF CAROLS & READINGS: MONDAY at 7pm in Our Lady & St. Illtyd Please come along and join in this sacred time as we anticipate the birth of Jesus. During this service a special collection will be taken for St. John Wales Llantwit Major Division. SICK & HOUSEBOUND: on THURSDAY Fr Mark will visit those who are very ill or have requested Confession prior to Christmas . He apologises as he will not be able to visit everyone. Anybody wishing for the Sacrament of the Sick/Confession and ARE housebound please phone or email him asap. He wishes you all a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year and asks for your prayers in return. The PRAYER GROUP meets weekly on THURSDAY at 2.30pm in Our Lady & St. Illtyd for Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Scripture Reading, Prayer and Intercessions. Fr. Mark and the Parish Family extend a warm WELCOME to Francis Thomas, a young Seminarian from the Archdiocese of Westminster. Whilst he is with us he will help serve on the Altar and on Saturday will travel to the Prison for Mass. Let us endeavour to keep him in our prayers for his future studies at Allen Hall Seminary.

ANNOUNCEMENTS CHRISTMAS CARDS and the ARCHDIOCESAN YEAR BOOK: there are a few available to purchase from the Piety Stall. CHRISTMAS CRIB OFFERINGS: will be given to support Welfare Charities for Children in Wales which help children at risk and in need of physical, emotional and spiritual support. CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS: if you wish to donate one in memory of a loved one please leave at the back of the Church in Llantwit Major or by the organ in Cowbridge by Friday 22nd December. FINANCE MATTERS: please note that all cheques made payable to the Parish should be to the Parish account: OUR LADY & ST. ILLTYD PARISH. Barclays Bank are becoming increasingly unhappy to accept cheques made payable to “St. Cadoc” only. To avoid cheques being returned please ensure you write the correct account name. Thanking you in advance for your assistance.

GRATITUDE Fr. Mark extends his SINCERE GRATITUDE to the Ladies Guild for organising the “Carols & Candles” Christmas Social and providing the delicious refreshments. A huge thank you to those who purchased tickets, and everyone who ventured out in the snowy conditions and participated whole-heartedly in the afternoon’s entertainment; a fabulous time was had by all and an impressive £611.55 was raised for Parish Funds. Who knew we had so many “crafty” members in our Parish Family? their handiwork can be seen on the Christmas trees in Our Lady & St. Illtyd and the Parish Centre, also please view the photos on the Website!