* Tel: (02) 4721 2509 * Fax: (02) 4731 4259 * Website: www.stnicholasofmyra.org.au * P O Box 1868, Penrith 2751

4th Sunday of Advent. Year A 22nd December , 2013

Parish Staff

Fr Mathew Antony MS - Parish Priest e-mail: mathew@stnicholasofmyra.org.au

Fr Jose Manjaly MS - Assist. Priest e-mail: joe@stnicholasofmyra.org.au

Lyn Olander - Secretary / Office Manager e-mail: enquiries@stnicholasofmyra.org.au

Anne Tucker - Sacramental Co-ordinator e-mail: sacramental@stnicholasofmyra.org.au

Fred Keuneman - Catechist Co-ordinator

e-mail: catechist@stnicholasofmyra.org.au Mary Goh - Admin. Assistant Marthese Sultana - Admin. Assistant e-mail: bulletin@stnicholasofmyra.org.au

Office Hours 9am - 5 pm Lunch 1pm –1.30 pm (Office closed)

Weekend Mass

Saturday 6.00pm Vigil Sunday 7.00am, 8.30am,

10.00am, 6.00pm Reconciliation: Saturday 9.30am - 10.30am 5.00pm - 5.45pm Adoration: After Sat Morning Mass

Weekday Mass Monday 9.30 am Tuesday 6.45 am & 9.30 am Wednesday 9.30 am & 7.00 pm Thursday 9.30 am Friday 6.45 am & 12.10 pm Saturday 9.00 am Baptisms & Marriages by appointment only

Schools St Nicholas Primary - 4721 2623 Principal - Anita Knezevic

St Mary Mackillop Primary - 4736 3466 Principal - Mr Michael Siciliano

Today’s Gospel Reflection: Matthew 1:18-24

The Virgin will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, meaning

“ God-is-with-us” Lord, as I come to pray, I know that I must wait for you to come.

Sometimes it seems that I have spent so long waiting for you to come. Prayer has been hard and dry. There have been times

when I have grown weary of waiting. But then I know there have been special moments

when I have known your presence. In those times you come to me in such simple ways that it’s like renewing,

like Christmas to a child. Mary, my mother, in these times of waiting give me some of your faith,

some of your patience, as you waited for him to be born.

Christmas Timetable

Christmas Eve

Tuesday, 24th December

6.00pm (Family Mass)

9.00pm Mass

11.30pm (Carols) Midnight Mass

Christmas Day

Wednesday, 25th December

7.00am 8.30am

10.00am 6.00pm

Reconciliation Saturday 21st Dec

9.30am-11.30am & 4.30pm-5.30pm

2nd Rite Reconciliation Monday 23rd December 7pm

LECTIO DIVINA (Praying the scriptures)

CHRIST IS COMING… PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD!

Advent is a time when we as a Church gather together and prepare for His coming. There are many traditional ways we can do this such as prayer, fasting and penance. Fr. Joe is offering an opportunity to prepare through Lectio Divina - a simple reflective experience that uses the Sunday readings of Advent. The final session is on Mon 23rd Dec 6pm in the room above PMR1.

All are welcome to join in the experience!

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PARISH OUTREACH

Please pray for those who are sick Shirley

Ambrose, Pat Armstrong, Angie Azzopardi, Patrick Balagtas, Michala Barney, Brett Beath, Michael Bourke, Seth Borg, Angela Bradley, Anna Calerio, Sandra Crandell, Baby Milton Ceinwein, Julie Clarke, Natasha Collimore, Jan Crosbie, Cheryl Davies, Marian Engsmyr, Sam Famularo, Fr Luke Fong, Fr Geoff, Elizabeth Geraghty, Victor Gopal, Janina Jaskiewicz, Audrey Kelly, Jim Kelly, Maria Kukac, Ron Larkin, Albert Lilley, Bill & Margaret Little, Joseph Magro, Jane McCann, James McKay, Colleen Nolan, Jason O’Connor, Kevin O’Connor, Lyn O’Hare, Katelyn Reid, Noel Scutts, Chris Shorter, Bev Smith, Howard Thomson, Carmel Vagg, Stephen Vella, Lyn Vidal, Josephine White and Baby Kylah Zarb.

Grace Funerals

Yvonne Meehan JP caring personally &

professionally for your needs.

A woman’s compassion

24 hours everyday

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Private Chapel

Prepaid Funeral Plans

Penrith Valley

4735 6900

*Grace * Sincerity * Integrity

Week day Mass Time changes Monday 30th December to 27th January

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9.30am Friday 12.10 pm Saturday 9.00am

Brian Wilcox would be most grateful if you know of a person

willing to transport and accompany him to Mass on Fridays 12.10pm. Please contact Siegfried 0423 044 481

Rosary Statue will be at the home Mary Ryan 94 Stafford St Penrith. All welcome

Save the Date: Acolytes, Special Eucharistic Ministers

and all volunteer leaders of committees, are cordially invited for a day of Prayer, Reflection and Renewal.

Where: Mt Schoenstatt When: Sat April 5th 2014 9.30am - 3pm Morning tea and light lunch will be provided Please phone and leave name at the office

Please pray for Theresa Hackney, Alan McPeake and Mary

Wilkins who died recently George Attard, Joy Bourke, Dennis Bryant, Clive Chapman, Matthew Edmunds, Stanislaw Gwiazda, Frances Jordan, Damain Mullins, Anthony Vella, Peg Williams and Jonathan Xerri, whose anniversaries occur at this time and Mary Armstrong, Charlie Attard, Dennis Bryant, Tania Felice, Peter & Frances Hendry, Paul Landrigan, Reg Levinge, Kelvin Ogilvie-Mitchell, Maria Soh, Erin Taylor, Jamie Tuite, and Norah & Bernard Wilding.

Practice for Children’s Nativity Play All children are invited to participate in the 6pm Mass on Christmas Eve. We are in need of angels and shepherds. If you would like to take part please come along to our practice on Monday, 23 December at 4:30pm in the Church.

A ring was found in close proximity to our church on the 15/11/2013. If you have lost a ring around this time, please kindly contact Penrith Police on 47219444 and ask for Constable Phillip Colburn.

Hospital visits by a priest. If a family member is in

either Nepean Private or Nepean Hospital and requires a visit from a priest, please contact Nepean Hospital 4734 2000 and ask to page the Chaplaincy Department or in an emergency, please ask the Nepean Hospital Switchboard to page the catholic priest.

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PARISH OUTREACH

Very dedicated Funeral arrangers

caring for your needs.

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Prepaid Funeral PLAN

Private Chapel

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Next Week’s Readings:

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and

Joseph Year A.

1st Reading Ecclesiasticus: 3:2-6. 12-14

2nd Reading: Colossians

3:12-21

Gospel: Matthew

2:13-15.19-23

The St. Nicholas Conference of the

St. Vincent de Paul Society wish to extend

our heartfelt thanks to our ever generous

and caring parishioners for their wonderful

response to our invitation to prepare Christmas Hampers for

distribution to needy individuals and families in our

community. You also responded magnificently when we

asked for assistance to deliver the Hampers last weekend.

Thank you so much to all who gave of their time and of

themselves.

We also wish to extend our gratitude to the wonderful

generosity of the students, teachers and parents of our local

catholic schools. We are truly blessed to have such caring

and giving school communities in our midst.

And a big thank you also to Fr's Mathew and Joe and the St

Nicholas Parish staff for your support and your prayers.

Please keep us in your prayers. Brian Brainwood

2nd Live India Tour begins Sept 29th to Oct 11th 2014.

Fr. Joe presents the Indian subcontinent with an amazing array of unforgettable experiences from the incredible Taj Mahal, to the Indian Paradise in Goa ( the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier) and the unspoilt natural beauty of Kerala (God’s own Country) to discovering the intoxicating, rich history, stunning scenery and cultural treasures. Meet the people, savour the food and create memories that will last forever. To register or for information contact parish office or joe@stnicholasofmyra.org.au

Please support those that

advertise in our Parish Bulletin

1st & 2nd Collection

1st collection pays for the priests of the parish and any

surplus money from this collection helps fund our retired and

sick priests.

2nd collection (planned giving envelopes and cash)

pays for the running costs of our parish.

John Stofmeel Lic No. RS7263

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Ph: (02) 4721 4949 Mob: 0428 214 949

Flock99 COMING UP THIS WEEK WITH FLOCK... Advent is fast approaching… This week... Joseph: A model of trust and compassion

As we approach the pinnacle of the Christmas season and our social preparations go into overdrive... shopping, presents, festive dinners, parties… let us also stop to consider the question - What are Advent and Christmas really about?

At Flock, we have been facilitating an Advent program over the four weeks of the season to prepare ourselves for the celebration of the birth of our Saviour. We have now made it to the fourth (and final) week of Advent! All young adults are welcome to join us this week as we prepare for the ultimate celebration of Christ's birth by focusing on how we, like Joseph, can trust in God's purpose for our lives and strive be more compassionate, forgiving, and just in today's world When: Sunday 22 December Time: 7pm (starting with a light supper after the 6pm mass) Where: Not the Upper Room (St Nic's Old School Building) MERRY CHRISTMAS Flock99 would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a joyful new year. Thank you to everyone who supported, assisted, and/or participated in Flock events this year.

Flock99 will be taking a break over the Christmas season with events starting again in February 2014. However, over summer there will be a number of social opportunities that all young adults are welcome to attend. If you would like to be kept up-to-date with our

summer plans please contact us at 99flockers@gmail.com. CatholicCare Social Services – Diocese of Parramatta is looking for a part-time assistant to provide high level administrative assistance for the Marriage Education, Support and Enrichment services. Applicants must have a very high level of verbal and written communication ability in English due to the nature of the tasks. A faith based understanding of the Catholic Sacrament of Marriage and the context of marriage education in the Catholic Church is essential. The position also requires an understanding and experience of working with Parish teams and Catholic communities and the workings of the Diocesan Chancery. For more Info contact us at careers@ccss.org.au see our website www.ccss.org.au or phone on (02) 9933 0222.

Please support Outback Steakhouse who generously donated sausages for our recent sausage sizzle. They are situated in the Panther complex on Mulgoa Road.

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“CARING IS OUR DUTY”

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MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8.30AM TO 5.30PM

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Phone : 9673 2000