Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel — which means, God with us.
Alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24
Jesus was born of Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, son of David.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’
All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel’ —
which means, God with us.
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife.
Lord, open our hearts to your grace.
Through the angel’s message to Mary we have learned to believe in the incarnation of Christ your Son:
lead us by his passion and cross to the glory of his resurrection.
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.
A little personal prayer:
I pray that you may find the joy of Christ the Lord this Christmas. The joy of God with us.
A deep joy within your heart and soul.
I pray for joy despite the pains of the loss of loved ones who have passed away, give us joy despite the grief and loneliness.
Give us joy in happy memories and give us joy in those we have with us now.
Let us find joy in family and friends in simple sharing of presents, laughter, food and drink and music.
The joy in loving and caring for those less fortunate than ourselves.
Give us joy despite the darkness and sin in the World
Give hope, love, joy and peace to us all.
Amen
Stephen
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 Aaron being received into the Church today
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 Martyn, 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
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.
We have a break over Christmas and New Year and begin meeting again on 13 January 2026
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
JUBILEE AUDIENCE
CATECHESIS OF POPE LEO XIV
St Peter's Square
Saturday, 20 December 2025
___________________________________
Catechesis. 11. To hope is to generate. Mary, our hope
Dear brothers and sisters, though the Jubilee year is drawing to a close, the hope that we have sought and received does not end. We always need hope, for without it, we are dead; but with it, we are born and reborn. Indeed, hope is more powerful than threats and violence because it generates life, God’s life. Today, like a woman in labour, the whole earth groans for the Lord’s coming, for his Kingdom, for his generous love and mercy. In a few days we will celebrate Christmas, when Mary, who is an example of hope, gave birth to Jesus, God-among-us. We too are called to give birth to hope, to the Word of God, embodying Jesus in our own lives. May Our Lady, our life, our sweetness and our hope, always be our companion and guide on our journey of hope.
* * *
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from the United States of America. In these final days before our celebration of the Lord’s birth at Christmas, I invoke upon all of you and your families, the joy and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ, son of God and Prince of Peace. God bless you!
The Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
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