SMC ENGLISH MASS - The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) (25 Dec 2025)
SMC English Mass - The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) (25 Dec 2025)
The Jubilee Prayer 2025
Pilgrims of Hope
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
PROCESSIONAL HYMN
Angels We have heard on High #C01 P.129
1. Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echo back their joyous strains
* Gloria in excelsis deo. Gloria in excelsis deo.
2. Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
( * )
Sign of the cross
Priest ✠ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Greeting
P✠: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: And with your spirit.
Penitential Act
P✠: Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
All: I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, (striking their breast) through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
P✠: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
Kyrie Eleison
P✠: You were sent to heal the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
P✠: You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
P✠: You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
P✠: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
Gloria
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise You. We bless You. We adore you. We glorify You. We give You thanks for Your great glory. Lord God, heavenly King, O God almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only-begotten Son. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father: you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. You take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. You are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One. You alone are the Lord. You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Collect
Let us pray (pause)
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that, as we are bathed in the new radiance of your incarnate Word,
the light of faith, which illumines our minds,
may also shine through in our deeds.
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.
All: Amen.
1st Reading – Isaiah 62:11-12
See, the LORD proclaims to the ends of the earth: say to daughter Zion, your savior comes! Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. They shall be called the holy people, the redeemed of the LORD, and you shall be called “Frequented,” a city that is not forsaken. - The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 97:1,6, 11-12
R. A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad.
The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory.
R. A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us.
Light dawns for the just; and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just, and give thanks to his holy name.
R. A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us.
2nd Reading – Titus 3:4-7
Beloved: When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life. - The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Alleluia - Luke 2:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel – Luke 2:15-20
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, and “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, and which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherd's. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. - The Gospel of the Lord
All: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayer of the Faithful
OFFERTORY HYMN
O little town of Bethlehem - #C23 P.137
1. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see Thee lie
Above Thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in Thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in Thee tonight
2. For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wond'ring love
O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God, the King
And peace to men on earth
3. How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv'n
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heav'n
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in
4. O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
P✠: Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and yours be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
All: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.
Prayer over the Offerings
May our offerings be worthy, we pray, O Lord,
of the mysteries of the Nativity this day, that, just as Christ was born a man and also shone forth as God, so these earthly gifts may confer on us what is divine.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
P✠: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
P✠: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
P✠: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right and just.
P✠: It is truly right and just,.... , as with one voice we acclaim:
Sanctus
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
P✠: You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the….
At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into and gave it to his disciples, saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT,
FOR THIS IS MY BODY,
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.
P✠: In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and, once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT,
FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
P✠: The mystery of faith.
All: We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
P✠: Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his Death and Resurrection,.....
P✠: Through him, and with him, and in him,
O God, almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
P✠: At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
P✠: Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever.
P✠: Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
P✠: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
All: And with your spirit.
P✠: Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
Agnus Dei
All: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
P✠: Lord Jesus Christ,....
P✠: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
COMMUNION HYMN
Love is Born #C16 P.135
* Jesus is born, love is born. Angels in heaven, sing and praise
1. Cold is the night, darkness around. We wait in silence and sacred fear
A bright star appears, the skies are unfolded
A new heart is beating, a new life is born
( * )
2. And if this night dwells among us. Jesus our Saviour lives in our hearts
A new light is shining and peace reigns among men
For in our midst dwells Emmanuel
( * )
Christmas is a time to love #C06 P.131
* Christmas is a time, Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time to love
Christmas is a time, Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time to love
1. We often start to worry and people get upset
If things don't all go right on Christmas day
What we should remember in all the push and shove
Cause Christmas is a time to love
( * )
2. May be things don't sound right or look the way they should
And may be they're not perfectly in tune
It really doesn't matter, let's keep our eyes above
Cause Christmas is a time to love
( * )
Prayer After Communion
P✠: Let us pray.
Grant us, Lord, as we honor with joyful devotion the Nativity of your Son,
that we may come to know with fullness of faith the hidden depths of this mystery and to love them ever more and more.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Prayer for the
100th Anniversary of
St. Margaret's Church
Merciful Father, we thank you for sending us enthusiastic missionaries who, jointly with Chinese priests, sowed the seeds of the Gospel a hundred years ago in this parish and established a community devoted to the worship of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Since we have inherited Your boundless love for all, we are committed to joyfully spread the love of the Sacred Heart and to actively build the church here.
As we celebrate the centenary of our parish church with gratitude, we pray that You send the Holy Spirit to assist us, grant us perseverance and patience, and guide us to become the salt and light of the world according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. May we bring the love experienced into our families and communities, as we spread the Gospel.
We ask this 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.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
St. Margaret, pray for us!
P✠: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
P✠: May almighty God bless you, ✠ the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
P✠: Go forth, the Mass is ended.
All: Thanks be to God.
RECESSIONAL HYMN
Joy to the World #C15 P.134
1. Joy to the world, the Lord has come
Let earth receive her King, let ev'ry heart prepare Him room
And heav'n and nature sing, and heav'n and nature sing
And heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing
2. Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground, He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found
4. He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove, He glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love
And wonders, and wonders of His love
Joy to the world, the Lord has come
Let earth receive her King
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Warm wishes from SMC folk choir
We wish you a merry Christmas
Once in a year, it is not thought amiss
To visit our neighbors and sing out like this
[We wish you a merry Christmas] - (x3)
And a happy New Year!
[We wish you a merry Christmas] - (x3)
And a happy New Year!
* Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year!
[We all want some figgy pudding] (x3)
And a cup of good cheer!
[We won't go until we get some] (x3)
So bring it right here!
* Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year!
[We wish you a merry Christmas] - (x3)
And a Happy New Year!
