This week in St. Ninian's
Sunday 9th December: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR C

“A voice cries in the wilderness;
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths strait.”

Today’s readings urge us to look forward with joyful anticipation to the day of our Salvation. The gospel reading brings John the Baptist into the Advent story, and with his appearing we feel that the coming of the Saviour is truly immanent.*

First Reading: Baruch 5:1-9
The prophet Baruch lived in the 6th century BC, and was the scribe, disciple, secretary, and devoted friend of the prophet Jeremiah (c. 655 – 586 BC).
“Jerusalem, take off your dress of sorrow and distress,
put on the beauty of the Glory of God for ever …
Arise, Jerusalem, stand on the heights
and turn your eyes to the east:
see your sons reassembled from west and east
at the command of the Holy One, jubilant that God has remembered them.
Though they left you on foot,
with enemies for an escort,
now God brings them back to you
like royal princes carried back in glory.”

Second Reading: Philippians 1:3-6. 8-11
Saint Paul urges the Christians at Philippi to strive to become 'pure and blameless' in preparation for the coming of Christ.
“My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 3:1-6
The first part of today’s gospel provides the historical context for the appearance of John the Baptist; it sets this event at a very specific, verifiable date in time, as ‘the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign’, when ‘Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea’ and ‘Herod was tetrarch of Galilee’.
At this time, then, “the word of God came to John, son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.” Inspired by the Holy Spirit, John “went through the whole Jordan district, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” in preparation for the coming of the Christ. His life and mission fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“A voice cries in the wilderness;
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths strait.
Every valley will be filled in,
every mountain and hill be laid low,
winding ways will be straightened
and rough roads made smooth.
And all mankind shall see the salvation of God.”

*(On the first Sunday of Advent in parishes throughout the land we traditionally begin lighting the candles on our Advent Wreath. To read about the Advent wreath and its significance, CLICK HERE

Parish Notices

MASS TIMES AT SAINT NINIAN'S

Saturday Vigil: 6.00 pm (Vigil Mass fulfils the Sunday obligation)
Sunday Mass: 9.30am
Weekday Masses: Mon, Wed & Fri:10.00am

CONFESSIONS: Saturday: 5.15 to 5.40 pm

For the latest Bulletin from Saint Ninian's, CLICK HERE

SICK & HOUSEBOUND: Please click on the link to this week's BULLETIN to see our list of sick and housebound in need of your prayers this week.
If you know of any parishioner who is housebound, please contact a member of the St Vincent de Paul Society to arrange Holy Communion.
HOSPITAL chaplaincy Please note the change in contacts for requesting a priest to visit a person in hospital. Fr Ninian Doohan has advised of new telephone numbers to contact the Hospital Chaplain: 07821 624124, or 01382 660111 to page him. Please alert him when someone requires Pastoral Care while in any of the hospitals.

WANTED! READERS & EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS - Please consider taking a more active part in the Liturgy as a reader. Readers are currently in short supply, especially for our Saturday Vigil Mass. If you would like to participate as a reader please add your name to the sheets at the back of the church or speak to Canon, Theresa or May. Thank you. New rotas are now available in the porch.

SERRA MASSES FOR VOCATIONS
Serra Masses will be held at 7pm in Lawside Convent on the last Tuesday of each month – See poster in porch. Our need for vocations to the priesthood and to consecrated life has never been so critical and we should all pray fervently that the Lord will send us the Priests and Religious who are so necessary to preserve our Church in these difficult times.

Are you interested in the Priesthood? - If you would like more information about the priesthood, please contact the Director of Vocations, Father Jim Walls at St. Stephen's, 8 Bank Street Blairgowrie: tel:01250 872171, or email: jimwalls@btinternet.com

THE PERMANENT DIACONATE
The Church is in great need of vocations to the permanent diaconate. If you are a man over 30yrs old - married or single, please consider whether you may be being called to offer yourself in service to the Church as a Deacon. To read more about the permanent Diaconate, click on the link DEACONS

DUNDEE LATIN MASS
"The Extraordinary Form of the Mass, the Traditional Latin Mass, began to be offered once more in St Joseph’s Lawside Convent Dundee on the fourth Sunday of Lent, March 15th 2015. The Lord Bishop of Dunkeld invited Father John Emerson (of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter) to re-establish this liturgical apostolate at the request of the lay faithful of the diocese." For further information about Mass times please visit the website, at https://dundeelatinmass.com/

CHILDREN'S LITURGY
There is a 'Little Church' for children every Sunday Morning. Children rejoin the people at the Offertory procession, having been out for a while learning about the readings of the day in their own way.
We are still looking for at least one volunteer to help with supervising, assisting the liturgists in the activities. This would mean taking a turn about once a month. Please see Mgr. if you can help. Thanks a lot!

ST. NINIAN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL
St. Ninian's Primary School Parent Council
If you would like to get in touch with the School's Parent Council for any reason, their email address is stninians@dundeeparentcouncil.org

CAKE & CANDY:
The Cake & Candy table at our Sunday Mass is in great need of helpers to sell our cakes. If you feel you are able to give a few minutes once a month, please contact Helen Scroggie. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

DUNDEE FOOD BANK:
Many thanks for your donations. This is an ongoing project in the parish and there are boxes at the back of the Church, and lists of foods this charity needs posted on the notice board. Your donations also would be most gratefully received.

EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network)
Have you discovered EWTN yet?! - the TV network for Catholics. Traditional Catholic programmes for all ages. Fascinating interviews, wonderful children's programmes, live Mass, Rosary, Papal audiences, etc. etc. Visit the EWTN website by clicking HERE.
You can get EWTN If you have Sky t.v., or a Freesat box for either Sky or BBC on the 'Religion' tab, number 589; and you can watch it live on your computer as it goes out on the TV channel.