3rd Sunday Advent
- St Paul's Catholic Parish
- Dec 13, 2025
- 5 min read
Collect Prayer
O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing. Through Christ...
Readings
Isaiah 35:1-6a Psalm 146 James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11
At that time: When John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John:
“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Readings Next Sunday (4th Sunday of Advent)
Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24
Christian Joy Is Founded on God's Fidelity
Pope Francis, Angelus 15.12.2013
Today is the Third Sunday of Advent, which is called Gaudete Sunday; that is, the Sunday of joy. In the Liturgy the invitation rings out several times to rejoice. Why? Because the Lord is near. Christmas is near.
The Christian message is called the “Gospel” (good news), an announcement of joy for all people. The Church is not a haven for sad people; the Church is a joyful home. And those who are sad find joy in her, they find in her true joy.
However, the joy of the Gospel is not just any joy. It consists in knowing one is welcomed and loved by God. As the Prophet Isaiah reminds us today (cf. 35:1–6a, 8a, 10), God is he who comes to save us and who seeks to help, especially those who are fearful of heart. His coming among us strengthens us, makes us steadfast, gives us courage, makes the desert and the steppe rejoice and blossom; that is, when our lives become arid.
And when do our lives become arid? When they lack the water of God’s Word and his Spirit of love.
However great our limitations and dismay, we are not allowed to be sluggish and vacillating when faced with difficulty and our own weakness. On the contrary, we are invited to strengthen the weak hands, to make firm the feeble knees, to be strong and to fear not, because our God always shows us the greatness of his mercy.
He gives us the strength to go forward. He is always with us in order to help us to go forward. He is a God who loves us so very much; he loves us and that is why he is with us, to help us, to strengthen us, help us go forward.
Courage! Always forward! Thanks to his help, we can always begin again. How? Begin again from scratch.
Someone might say to me: “No, Father, I did so many reprehensible things… I am a great sinner… I cannot begin from scratch!”. You are wrong! You can begin from scratch! Why? Because he is waiting for you, he is close to you, he loves you, he is merciful, he forgives you, he gives you the strength to begin again from scratch. Everybody!
And so we are able to open our eyes again, to overcome sadness and mourning to strike up a new song. And this true joy remains even amid trial, even amid suffering, for it is not a superficial joy; because it permeates the depths of the person who entrusts himself to the Lord and confides in him.
Christian joy, like hope, is founded on God’s fidelity, on the certainty that he always keeps his promises.
Weekly News
Nativity Play 2025
Will take place on Friday 19th December at 6PM in Agia Kyriaki. We need actors!
If you want your children to participate, please, contact fr. Alessandro.
Retiring Collection
To help the victims of the floods in Sri Lanka. Collection box at the entrance of the Church.
New Parish Website
Pray For Vocations
The Latin Vicariate of Cyprus is dedicating a Year of Prayer for Vocations to the priesthood, religious, married or consecrated lives. Join us! For more information contact Sister Elizabeth (95983631 / pastoralcareofvocationscyprus@gmail.com)
Parish Community Shop
Refreshments, coffee and tea. Check our religious section for rosaries, Christmas Cards, scapulars, devotionals, etc. Check also our books sections. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet other parishioners and grow as community. All funds will go to the building of the new Church. If you’d like to volunteer, please talk to Fr. Ismael.
Caritas St. Paul's
Thank you for your prayers, contributions, food and clothes donations … we can also reuse your shopping bags. If you wish to volunteer, please, contact fr. Alessandro.
Christmas Schedule
24 December:
6PM - H. Mass (AK)
6PM - H. Mass (in the town of Polis)
8PM - Christmas Carols (AK)
9PM - H. Mass (AK)
25 December:
10AM - H. Mass - Latin (AK)
11AM - H. Mass - Polish (AK)
12 PM - H. Mass - English (AK)
26 December:
12 PM - H. Mass (AK)
Mass schedule
15-21 December
Mon: No Mass
Tues, Thurs, Fri: Masses at 9:00am in Agia Kyriaki
Wed Mass at 12:00 pm (AK)
Saturday: Masses at 4:30pm (AK); 6pm (town of Polis)
Sunday: Masses at 10am, 11am & 12pm (AK)
Eucharistic Adoration: Wed 10:50am (this week no Adoration on Thu)
Filipino Mass on last Sunday of the month at 12pm.
Sri-Lankan Mass on 3rd Sunday of the month, 12pm (Presbytery chapel)
MASSES IN POLIS
From January 2026 Holy Mass in Polis will start at 6.15pm
Prayer for Vocations
God our Father, author of life and giver of all gifts, we thank you for the gift of the families to our Church communities. Let them be the foundation of faith, seminary of vocations and model of obedience to your will. Enlighten and guide parents to have a generous spirit to support their children’s decision and choices in life. Help them to encourage their sons and daughters to pursue your call without fear and resistance. Touch the hearts of the children with the desire and longing to know, love and serve you more with great joy wherever you may call them to follow Jesus Your Son our Lord. Teach us to love one another with patience, kindness and forgiveness so that our home may reflect the light of Christ to the world. O Holy Family of Nazareth, model of every Christian family, we entrust all the families to your loving care. Amen.
Comments