20 Huntly Street,

A Parish of the R.C. Diocese of Aberdeen Charitable Trust, a registered Scottish Charity, number SC 005122

Readings at Mass - The Baptism of the Lord - Year B

www.stmaryscathedralaberdeen.org

Cf. Mt 3: 16-17 After the Lord was baptized, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove, and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

living God, who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him, solemnly declared him your beloved Son, grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, may always be well pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Isaiah 55:1-11

Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty; though you have no money, come! Buy corn without money, and eat, and, at no cost, wine and milk. Why spend money on what is not bread, your wages on what fails to satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and you will have good things to eat and rich food to enjoy. Pay attention, come to me; listen, and your

With you I will make an everlasting covenant out of the favours promised to David. See, I have made of you a witness to the peoples, a leader and a master of the nations. See, you will summon a nation you never knew, those unknown will come hurrying to you, for the sake of the Lord your God, of the Holy One of Israel who will glorify you.

Seek the Lord while he is still to be found, call to him while he is still near. Let the wicked man abandon his way, the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn back to the Lord who will take pity on him, to our God who is rich in forgiving; for my thoughts are not your thoughts, my

it is the Lord who speaks. Yes, the heavens are as high above earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts above

Yes, as the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.

Isaiah 12 The rejoicing of a redeemed people

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Make his mighty deeds known to the peoples! Declare the greatness of his name. R.

make them known to all the earth!

for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. R.

Second reading 1 John 5:1-9

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten by God; and whoever loves the Father that begot him loves the child whom he begets. We can be sure that we love God’s children if we love God himself and do what he has commanded us; this is what loving God is – keeping his commandments; and his commandments are not difficult, because anyone who has been begotten by God has already overcome the world; this is the victory over the world – our faith.

Who can overcome the world? Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God: Jesus Christ who came by water and blood, not with water only, but with water and blood; with the Spirit as another witness – since the Spirit is the truth – so that there are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water and the blood, and all three of them agree. We accept the testimony of human witnesses, but God’s testimony is much greater, and this is God’s testimony, given as evidence for his Son.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Jn1:29 Alleluia, alleluia! John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said: This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Alleluia! Gospel

Mark 1:7-11

In the course of his preaching John the Baptist said, ‘Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’

It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John. No sooner had he come up out of the water than he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’

Communion Antiphon Jn 1: 32, 34

Behold the One of whom John said: I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.

Prayer after Communion Nourished with these sacred gifts, we humbly entreat your mercy, O Lord, that, faithfully listening to your Only Begotten Son, we may be your children in name and in truth. Through Christ our Lord.

11th January, 2015 • The Baptism of the Lord • Year B

Sunday 11.15am Mass

Introit You have loved justice and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.

Processional 583 Praise to the Lord

Responsorial Psalm With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Offertory 541 On Jordan’s bank

Communion Hymn 548 O praise ye the Lord!

863 Calm me Lord

Recessional 497 Now thank we all our God

Meditation The annual season of light draws to a close. January may be quite bleak in northern climates, but the solstice has passed. Light has won out over darkness and we have celebrated the bright hope of salvation. We have ritualised once more the cherished customs of Christmas.

Families, stores, and communities regularly package their Christmas decor and store it away for eleven months. For the Church, our season of birth and manifestation is not packed up and stored. The feast of the Baptism of the Lord does not tie up all the loose ends of the plot or neatly summarize the mystery. It remembers one more aspect of Christmas, but it also sets the stage for the week-by-week unfolding of the mystery of Jesus through the recounting of each synoptic gospel.

The evangelists present the baptism of Jesus at the start of his public life because the varied details of their accounts unveil his identity. Like the servant praised in Isaiah, Jesus has come to do God's will. He is consecrated in the Spirit. He is the beloved Son.

These proclamations about Jesus summon us to fuller awareness of the paschal mystery. Through baptism we are the body of Christ, facing the same mystery of dying and rising. We too must be open to the Spirit, conscious of our relationship to God. Thus we can live a life of discipleship and begin to understand the true meaning of history.

From his fullness we have all received everything that we need so that we are able to reveal to the world the Word that brings life. This is Christmas.

Vienna International Religious Centre

‘You are my Son, the Beloved;

my favour rests on you.’

Mass Times Date Details Service Time Mass Intentions

Sun 11th The Baptism of the Lord

Mass Mass-Polish Solemn Mass Mass-Polish Mass

8.00am 9.30 am 11.15am 3.00pm 6.00pm

Peter Pathyose RIP For the Diocese

John McGarey

Mon 12th Mass Mass

7.00am 12.30pm

Private Intention Ewan Mcpherson RIP

Tue 13th Saint Kentigern Bishop

Mass Mass

7.00am 7.00pm

Cruijoke & Godwin Ogbuka RIP Alexander & Helen Forbes

Wed 14th Mass Mass

7.00am 12.30pm

Thanksgiving Stephen, Judith& Stephanie TG

Thu 15th Mass Mass

7.00am 7.00pm

Nanith Pierre RIP Beata Sachse-Niska RIP

Fri 16th Mass Mass

7.00am 12.30pm

Intentions of Blaise & Christel Margaret Saon

Sat 17th Saint Antony, Abbot

Mass Mass

10.00am 7.00pm

Viju Jose Thottakam RIP Cruijoke & Godwin Ogbuka RIP

Sun 18th 2nd Sunday of the Year

Mass Mass-Polish Solemn Mass Mass-Polish Mass

8.00am 9.30am 11.15am 3.00pm 6.00pm

Intentions of Blaise & Christel For the Parish

Private Intention

www.stmaryscathedralaberdeen.org www.stmaryscathedralaberdeen.org

Mass Intention Envelopes

At the back of the Church. Print details and post through Clergy House letter box.

It may not always be possible for Mass to be celebrated on your preferred date or at the Cathedral itself.

Recommended offering for each Mass is £5.

Sunday 11:15 Mass is normally reserved for the Administrator’s or Bishop’s Intentions for the Parish or Diocese

Offertory 04/01/15: £2036.26 Polish: £937.20 Justice & Peace: £1076.80

St Mary’s Cathedral - Aberdeen AB10 1SH

http://nazareth.dioceseofaberdeen.org

Diocesan youth website: latest news on

events, pilgrimages, retreats and youth groups for teenagers.

Sunday 11th January, 2015

Cathedral News

Year of Consecrated Life

The Three Stars

These stand for the identity of consecrated life as confessio Trinitatis, signum fraternitatis e servitium caritatis. They express the circular relationships found in the Trinitarian love, which consecrated life is called to live daily in the world. The stars also hint to the triple halo used in the Byzantine iconography to honor Mary, the Mother of God, the first Disciple of Christ and model and patron of every consecrated life.

Weekly CalendarMon Credo Community Meeting

Polish charismatic prayer group.Main Hall at 7.30pm . Contact: Fr Tomasz Klin SJ

Tue Magnificat Prayer Group Main Hall after MassContact: Paul Akagwu 07574 103 852 St. Vincent de Paul Feeding the homelessContact: Evelyn MurrayCathedral Faith Formation Evening For those interested in learning more about the Faith or becoming CatholicLower Hall after MassContact: Fr. Keith

Wed Light Exercise Class for allMain HallContact: Laura Walker 0 Seniors ClubSpeakers, fun & fellowshipMain Hall at 2 pm every 2 weeksContact: African Choir For Africans and anyone else.Upper Hall from 6 Contact:

Thu Healing of MemoriesPrayer for the healing of painful memories of the past to bring peace to the present.Clergy House at 2.30pm (by appointment)Contact: Deacon Tony Legion of Mary Members serve the Church as needed Lower Hall at 5.30pm Contact: Nogie Osula Flower Arrangers Contact: Pixie Mather 01224 Cenacolo Prayer GroupExposition & Rosary praying for healing of those with addictionsChurch after MassContact: Liam Sharkey 0 6pm Music Group Contemporary music for Sunday 6pm MassUpper Hall after MassContact: Margaret Spence

Fri Our Lady of Aberdeen Prayer Group Gentle prayer & praiseChapter Room from 1.30 Contact: Teresa Coyne 07901 851 526Altar Servers’ Practice (Secondary +)Church from 6.00 to 7.00pmContact: Andrzej Youth GroupFor teenagers between 11 & 17Lower Hall from 7.00 to 9pmContact: St. Andrew’s Community

Sat Church CleaningChurch at 10.30am Contact: Joyce Webster 01224 319 154Altar Servers’ Practice (primary age)Church from 4.45 to 5.45pmContact: Andrzej African Choir As aboveUpper Hall from 6

Sun 11:15 Choir Leading the music for 11.15 Sunday MassUpper Hall 10.00amContact: David & Liz Meiklejohn

Clergy & Staff

administrator@cathedral-abdn.org

abdn.org

Deacon Tony Schmitz abdn.org

chrisjones442@hotmail.com More information: Parish website or www.scottishcatholicsafeguarding.org.uk

David & Liz Meiklejohn abdn.org

Parish Office

secretary@cathedral-abdn.org

abdn.org

abdn.org Notices to be in by Tuesday evening

abdn.org 9am & 2pm only

Terms & Conditions see Parish website

Liturgical Ministries

fiona.j.mitchell@hotmail.co.uk

Trudy Coker 07896 824 703

Gordon Webster 01224 59 22 46 webster200@btinternet.com

10.30pm

Tuesdays 6pm Saturdays 10.30am & 6pm

7.30am to 7pm

Friday 7.30am Saturdays 9.40am

Thursdays 6.30pm (Sung)

Thursdays 8.30pm

Trudy Coker (See above) To arrange communion visits

Please speak to a member of the clergy before Mass to arrange communion

Family Planning Nature’s Way 07891) 358 114 mgthammond13@yahoo.co.uk

Mass is screened live to the Main Hall should your child become restless during Mass.

Children should always be accompanied to the toilet by a parent or guardian.

Coffee after

Mass

Youth

Deanery & Diocese Diocesan Pilgrimage to Southern Germany

Led by Bishop Hugh 21 - 30 July 2015

£775pp double room , £820pp single room 4 places are available for young persons up to the age of 18 at a reduced cost of £600pp (double room occupancy only). Direct flight from Aberdeen to Frankfurt, Staying at the Schoenstatt Zentrum, Aulendorf with coach excursions. Limited places available. Book early to avoid disappointment!

For further information contact Joyce Webster: 01224 319 154 or joyce@rcd-abdn.org

Monthly African Mass Every Second Sunday of the month at St Columba’s, Braehead Way, Bridge of Don, AB22 8RR at 12:30 pm (Bus Nos 1 & 2). All enquiries to Vincent Amu: vincent.amu@btinternet.com or Divine Ikenwilo: Ikdivine@yahoo.com

St Vincent de Paul December 27/28: £85.00 Donations: £1043.17

Thanks to everyone for your donations!

Part Time Prison Chaplain Required HMP Grampian (Peterhead) seeks a part-time RC chaplain (lay or ordained), to work as part of the prison chaplaincy team. The post requires a commitment of 8 hours per week; salary to be discussed. Applicants should be in good standing with the Church and have an awareness of pastoral challenges within a prison setting. Some understanding of the Criminal Justice System is desirable. For further information, please contact:

Fr. Brian Gowers, Chaplaincy Advisor (RC) at Brian.Gowans@sps.pnn.gov.uk

Cathedral Bookshop Beautiful icons by Maria Gurreria, including Our Lady of Aberdeen

Lighthouse CD’s in stock featuring speakers that include Dr. Scott Hahn, Matthew Kelly, Fr. Robert Barron, Pope Benedict XVI and Arch-bishop Fulton J. Sheen. Great value at only £2.00 each.

Liturgical Calendars also available

Medjugorje Pilgrimage

3rd to 10th May

Fr. Keith will accompany this Pilgrimage. British Airways from Aberdeen-London-Split return trip. £665pp sharing room (£130 single supplement); includes flights, transfers, 7 nights half-board, breakfast and dinner.

Tour operator: Marian Pilgrimages.

Contact: irmalallan@aol.com (07714) 718 708 or (01224) 869 889 to enquire or to reserve your place now with £100 deposit.

Hard of Hearing If you wear a hearing aid we would be interested in knowing if your device is capable of picking up infra-red signals. We would like to up-grade the system and this is a factor.

Second Collection There will be a second collection this Sunday

11th January for The Restoration Fund.

Cathedral Faith Formation Evening Take the opportunity to learn a little more about your faith. The evening starts with a meal at 7.30pm followed by a talk on the faith and small group discussions.

Sacramental Preparation Classes There will be a Parents registration meeting for parents whose children wish to enlist for Reconciliation and Holy Communion classes this session. This will take place in the lower hall from 4-5pm on 16th January 2015.

Magnificat Prayer Group Magnificat Prayer Group will resume prayer meetings for the new year on 20th January.

Altar Servers Formation Group If you are an existing Altar Server or you would like to become one please join one of our groups: - Primary School Children: Saturday 16:45 - Secondary School age and adults: Friday 18:00 Contact: Andrzej Niski on niski.a@gmail.com

Burns Supper

24th January at 8.00pm Traditional Burns Supper including a three- course meal and entertainment in the Cathedral Main Hall. Tickets are only £15.00 with the proceeds going to the Cathedral Restoration Fund.

50 Years of SCIAF: Behind the Wee Box 2015 is the 50th anniversary of SCIAF, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, the official aid and international development charity of the Catholic Church in Scotland; and this year’s WEE BOX appeal will be twice as big: every £1 SCIAF receives by 17 May will be doubled by the UK Government!

To find out more about SCIAF, and have a preview of SCIAF’s Lenten resources for this year, you are invited to attend a meeting at St Mary’s Cathedral from 12:30 to 14:30, Sunday 25 January, in the Lower Hall. This meeting is open to all who have an interest in SCIAF’s work and campaigning. RSVP by email to centralservices@sciaf.org.uk or call 0141 354 555.

Children’s Liturgy If you would like to volunteer to help with

Children’s Liturgy at the 11:15 Mass, please contact Ruth Paterson on

edandruth@gmail.com. Thanks.

St. Mary’s Youth Group (12-17’s)

Fridays 6.30 to 9 pm

Chapter Room

Prayer, Pizza & games

Contact: Andrzej Niski