Both our Churches are fitted with a hearing induction loop. Please use the ‘T’ or other appropriate switch on your hearing aid. Please tell us if you experience any difficulty.

We acknowledge the Yalukit Willam Clan, the traditional owners and custodians of this land. We pay our respects to them.

May we walk gently here.

The CarmeliteParish of Port Melbourne and Middle Park

in the care of the Carmelites since 1882

in this issueParish News ........ 3&4Lectio DivinaMeditationDivine Mercy ChapletChristmas NativityMiddle Park Support GroupMidnight ChoirBreak Open The WordChristmas CardsEast Timor Giving Tree...5Advent & Christmas Timetable ............... 6Reflection on this Week’s Readings ... 7Advent Prayer & Reflection .................. 8Liturgical Art ............. 9Our Liturgy .............. 10

3rd Sunday of Advent 15 December 2019My dear Parishioners,

JANUARY 2020Now that the year is drawing to a close I thought it best to let you know a few things about what is happening in January:

Office Closure: The Parish Office will be closed from 19 December and will not re-open until 15 January. This is to allow our staff to take some leave. The emergency phone number is redirected to my mobile phone and is for genuine emergencies such as anointing and funerals. That number is 0408 754 283.

Weekday Masses at St Joseph’s: There will be NO 9:00am Masses on Mondays to Saturdays at St Joseph’s from 30 December until 31st January. Because St Joseph’s is staffed by the wonderful voluntary work of Rob Winduss and Helen Warren, they too need a break.

Weekday Masses at OLMC: Weekday Masses will be as normal all through January at OLMC.

Saturday evening and Sunday Morning Masses: There will be no changes to the usual schedule.

Music at Saturday Evening and Sunday Morning Masses: There will be NO music at the weekend liturgies from 11 January until 1 February, 2020. This is to give our Organists and Cantors a break.

PARISH FINANCESFor some time now the Parish Finance Committee and I have anguished over the financial situation of the Parish. Early new year I will write a much fuller explanation of the situation but in the meantime, I’ve had to make some major adjustments to our staffing. From next year (2020), 2 members of staff will be reducing their days from 4 to 3 each week and another staff member will be working in a voluntary capacity for 2 days a week. Other changes will have to be addressed across all areas of our Parish commitments, however, I won’t spell that out until we’ve had more time to consider the implications. Because of the new staffing arrangements, the Parish Office will only open for 3 days a week commencing from 16 January 2020. These days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Office will be closed on Tuesday and Thursday. I am exceptionally grateful for the staff willingness to graciously accept these changes and I know that the Parish community as a whole will understand. It is becoming more and more difficult to finance our operations in the current climate of negativity about the Church as

our parish this week

we remember

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Churches St Joseph’s cnr Rouse & Stokes Streets Port Melbourne

Our Lady of Mount Carmel cnr Richardson & Wright Streets Middle Park

Sunday Masses 6.00pm (Sat) Mount Carmel 9.00am Saint Joseph’s 10.30am Mount Carmel

Reconciliation after 9.00am Mass Saturday

Carmelite Parish Office 274 Rouse Street Port Melbourne Vic 3207

Telephone 03 9681 9600

After Hours Emergency 0408 754 283

Email parish@sj-mc.org.au

Parish Website www.sj-mc.org.au

Carmelite Website www.carmelites.org.au

Office Hours 9am-4pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday(CLOSED WEDNESDAYS)

Parish Priest Fr Hugh Brown OCarm

Parish Secretary Anne Ierardo (Monday to Thursday)

Pastoral Life Co-ordinator Michael Murray (Wednesday/ Thursday)

Finance Officer Shane Harrison (Tuesday - Friday)

Facilities Manager Ken Chaffer

Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School Bank Street South Melbourne Vic 3205

Telephone 03 9699 2928 Principal Simon Millar

Those who are ill or in need of prayer: Fanny Acevedo, Mat Anderson, John Bassett, Sarah Battersby, Karen Brown, Christine Bowen, Ciaran Byrne, Sr Josephine Cannelan, Paul Cao, Frank Cranage, Nowal Cox, Pietro (Peter) D’Alessandri, Maureen Dickason, Kelly Edwards, Lachlan Fahy, Gary Finn, Lyn Fleming, Lesley Gilbert, Gerald Gill, Esperanza Gonzalez, Richard Hayden, Ivy Hermence, Tony Hyde, Maria & Joseph Jelincic, Carmel Leonard, Sandra MacDonald, John Madigan, Michael McGowan, Laura McGuinnes, Margaret McInnes, Maura McKenna, Betty Molnar, Jane Morris, John Mulcahy, Gena Nardella, Maria Loc Nguyen, Giuseppe Parissi, Lorraine Partridge, Sylvia Poliakova, Greg Pringle, John Pringle, Nick Quill, Noel Quinn, Rafal Rafalski, Paul Ryan, Katie Ryan, Teresa Sheehan, Sash Carti Somerset-Beauverie, May Spencer, Helen Stanley, Maree Stanway, Ivo Strauss, Jim Sullivan, Bridgid Toohey, Sr Barbara Walsh, Jonathon Will, Tami Yap, Helen York, Roma Zinger.

Those who have died recently: Sr Jan Geason, Joyce Lugg

Those who anniversaries occur at this time: Giuseppe Battista, Pasquale Cortazzio, Nell Myers, Bill Pearson, and Carmelites, Kevin Hannan, and Peter Slattery.

Monday 16 December9.00am Mass, both churches

Tuesday 17 December 9.00am Mass, both churches

Wednesday 18 December - Parish Office Closed 9.00am Mass, St Joseph’s9.00am Morning Prayer, Mt Carmel

Thursday 19 December 9.00am Mass, both churches7.00pm Meditation, Malone Room

Friday 20 December 9.00am Mass, both churches

Saturday 21 December 9.00am Mass, both churches6.00pm Mass, Mt Carmel

Sunday 22 December- 4th Sunday of Advent9.00am Mass, St Joseph’s10.30am Mass, Mt Carmel2.00pm Nativity Rehearsal - Mt Carmel

ministers

for your generosity last SundaySt Joseph’s Carmelite and Parish Offering $ 833.00Our Lady of Mt Carmel Carmelite and Parish Offering $ 2,335.00

thank you

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21/22 December4th Sunday of Advent

6.00pm Mount CarmelCommentator : Des Collins

Reader: Abramo Ierardo

Eucharistic Ministers: Carmel Collins, Janine Brodie, Angela Cox

Communion to the Sick: N/A

9.00am St Joseph’sCommentator: Elisabeth Northam

Readers: Brian Harrison

Eucharistic Ministers: Elaine Chaffer, Helen Warren, Frances Correa

Counters: Ron & Sandra Cassano

Childrens’ Liturgy: n/a

10.30am Mount CarmelCommentator: Denis Churkovich

Readers: Sally Diserio

Eucharistic Ministers: Margaret Fagan, Michael Murray, Sally Diserio

Childrens’ Liturgy: n/a

Hospitality: Sash Carti Somerset-Beauverie

in our parish

Welcome to our FamilyWe celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism at the 9.00am Mass at St Joseph’s for Heidi Maria Fernandez Farrant. Please keep Heidi, her family and godparents in your prayers.

well as wages stagnation throughout the country. In the meantime, any creative suggestions to help us into the future would be most welcome.

THANK YOUAs the year comes to an end, I want to personally express my thanks to everyone in the Parish. We are a unique community and so many people contribute in so many ways to make things possible. I won’t name anyone because I’d be sure to miss someone but to all of you, a heartfelt thanks from me for being a part of us and for putting up with me. I trust that Christmas and the New Year is full of good things for each of you and that we continue to do good things together in 2020.

PILGRIMAGE 2020I have been asked to lead a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land next November and reluctantly, at first, I agreed. This pilgrimage is open to anyone in the parish and as I worked through the itinerary with Harvest Travels my enthusiasm increased. As part of it I asked specifically if a few things could be added and these include a visit to Haifa in Israel and the site of the original Carmelite foundation as well as a request to include both Qumran and Masada.

The itinerary looks very exciting and, for what is included, I think the price is good. There are brochures in each Church about the pilgrimage and the information will be available on the website (www.sj-mc.org.au). I’ve been privileged to visit the Holy land twice before and each time I’ve come away with a deeper sense of wonder at the ministry of Jesus and the early Christian communities. I’ve also learned more about the complexities of the Middle East and have found the experience to be thoroughly enriching. So, come along! You’ll have to put up with me as the Chaplain but the very experience of being in the places where Jesus lived and ministered can be life changing. Give it some serious thought!

May your preparations for Christmas be stress-free and simple.

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our parish newsDivine Mercy Chaplet

will return at 3pm on Sunday, 1 March 2020 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

Benediction, Adoration before Blessed Sacrament, rosary and hymns. All Welcome.

Middle Park Support GroupThank you to all our generous contributors at OLMC and St Joseph’s for all the groceries donated to the Food Cupboard this year. You have supported more than 500 people, many of them regulars, who rely on the Cupboard for staples and the occasional extra ‘treat’ to supplement their food supply. Our customers are mainly single people who live in rooming houses, government accommodation, in their cars, or on the street.

For the Support Group it’s a great relief each week to be able to collect your donations from the OLMC sacristy, or to have bags of groceries delivered from St Joseph’s by Helen Warren.

With Christmas coming if you could include some sweets or chocolates or other Christmas goodies in your donations they would be much appreciated by our visitors.

Thank you from Jackie, John, Ann and Clive

Christmas Eve Family Mass at 6.00pm at Mt Carmel.We are inviting children who would like to take part in the retelling of the Nativity Gospel at the Christmas Eve Family Mass at 6.00pm at Mount Carmel Church. We are looking for a Commentator to welcome everyone at the start of Mass, 3 readers and 1 angel to read parts of the Gospel story. All children are invited to come dressed as shepherds or angels. If you would like to take part there is a sign up sheet in the church foyer. Please add your name. A rehearsal will take place at OLMC Church on

Sunday 22 December 2019 between 2.00pm and 4.00pm.

Choir For ChristmasRehearsals for the Midnight mass choir will begin after the 10:30am Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We will meet near the organ/piano after Mass.

Please come along and help us prepare. All voices – good and not so – are welcome.

Break Open the Word - Yr A, 2020Ministers of the Word, Break Open the Word resource is now available.

Please collect your copy from the foyer of the church.

Christmas Cards for SaleThere are a few

packs of St Vincent de Paul Society

Christmas Cards for sale after all the

weekend masses for the next two weeks. There are 8 religious

cards in each pack. $7.00 per pack or $12.00 for two packs.

This year we will also be selling a Christmas Card that the Parish has

produced. These beautiful cards are available for $1 each.

Lectio DivinaLectio Divina will return on

Friday, 10 January 2020in the Lady Chapel

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The giving tree - Christmas in East Timor

1 recorder for music lessons at a primary school_______________________$51 box of pencils or pens for a primary school __________________________$81 box of maths triangle rulers for a primary school_____________________$101 harmonica for music lessons at a primary school_____________________$141 pair of new shoes for a boarding house student______________________$201 reem of A4 paper for the teachers at a primary school________________$201 soccer ball for a primary school __________________________________$401 month of nutritious meals for 1 boarding house student_______________$401 small drum for music lessons at a primary school____________________$40 1 balance kit for maths measurement activities at a primary school______________________________________________$4012 months of school fees for a boarding house student in Year 7______________________________________________________$601 month subsidy payment for a volunteer teacher ____________________$601 month living costs covered for a scholarship student at university___________________________________________________$705 new dictionaries for a high school c lassroom_______________________$1001 class set of clocks for maths classes at a primary school________________________________________________$150

The ‘Giving Tree’ is in the churches this weekend. Please collect your envelope as you leave the church. When you have filled in the Christmas Card, please place it on the tree and leave your money, in the envelope provided, in the basket under the tree. Money will be collected after each Mass. Your money will be sent directly to the Carmelites in East Timor who will purchase the gifts on your behalf.

Below is a list of the gifts and their purchase price.

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Port Melbourne/Middle Park Parish

advent & ChristMas

Celebrations 2019

Parish Office Telephone 9681 9600 Email parish@sj-mc.org.au

Parish website: www.sj-mc.org.auThe Parish Office will be closed at 4.00pm on

Friday 20 December and will reopen on Thursday 16 January 2020 at 9.00am

Christmas Eve - Tuesday 24 December

Mt Carmel 5.45pmCarols followed by Family Mass

St Joseph’s 8.00pmMass

Carols followed by Midnight Mass

Mt Carmel 11.30pm

Christmas Day - Wednesday 25 December

Mass St Joseph’s 9.00am

Mt Carmel 10.30amMass

St Joseph’s 9.00amMass

Mt Carmel 9.00am

New Year’s Day -Wednesday 1 January

Mass

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Reflection on this week’s readingsHave you ever been on a farm during summer? If you have you will know how precious water is. When I was a boy, I spent several holidays on an uncle's property. There were often six or seven city-based cousins there for the long summer break. It was great fun, but the one thing of which we needed a daily reminder was to be careful with how much water we used. We seemed to luxuriate in the shower for twice as long as our country cousins!

I can remember that when we arrived for one holiday, it had not rained in the area for nearly nine months. A few days later, just at dusk, the thunder rumbled, the storm clouds gathered and the heavens burst open. The rain poured down. Like in the movies, everyone inside the house just stood up and walked out into the rain. No one said a word. We stood in the rain and soaked it in. The earth was not the only thing in need of a drenching.

In today's letter from St James the metaphor of waiting for rain is given to us as a way of understanding what it was like to wait for Christ. It is a potent image for Advent. In this season each year we remember that humanity waited through a long, dry and exhausting period for the sign of new life in Jesus. For generations people looked to the heavens every day for a sign that today would be the day when God's salvation would come. Then, one night, in a way no one could have ever imagined, with no fanfare, a child burst forth into the world and established the final reign of God's love.

Advent is not the time when we pretend that Jesus hasn't come into our world and that we are the first to anticipate his coming at Christmas. It's a richer season than that. It is the time when we recall what it was like before he came and how much we need him to keep coming again and again in our daily lives.

The First Reading and the Gospel make it very clear that farmers never down tools just because the rain comes. We're told that as a result of being soaked in the love of God we are called to do all we can for those in our world who are lame, blind, deaf, lepers, poor and for any one left for dead.

This is a vital message for us to hear today because there are some in our country who tell us that all we have to do is look after ‘our own back yard’. This line is many things, but it’s not Christian. Advent reminds us that by welcoming Christ we have an obligation to care for all his children. Everywhere is our back yard because that’s where our brothers and sisters live. May we gain from Christ this Christmas the generosity to see that the desert is meant to bloom for all people everywhere, not just a few of us lucky to live in an oasis.

We are ridiculously generous to others because God in Jesus has been lavishly good to us and our goodness remains a most powerful sign of God's salvation that is always seen in deeds not words.

© Richard Leonard SJ

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THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENTZeph 3:14-18; Is 12:2-6; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18

PrayerGod is among usGod is within usGOD IS DANCING WITH JOY

God is our strengthGod is our SaviourGOD IS DANCING WITH JOY

God is our peaceGod is our festivityGOD IS DANCING WITH JOY

What must we do? We must pray faithfully WE MUST LIVE IN LOVE

What must we do? We must share our possessions WE MUST LIVE IN LOVE

What must we do? We must act justly WE MUST LIVE IN LOVE

Candles & Conifers © 2005 Ruth Burgess Used with permission.

Prayer for lighting of the 3rd Advent CandleOne candle to remind us of the prophets, the second for John the Baptist, and the third for us, as we look for the coming of Jesus. “…someone is coming, someone more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals: he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Reflection and Prayer with this week’s scripture readings

BlessingWe know that God wants us to be happy.May we enjoy God’s love gladly and with great hope.

We know that God wants us to be holy.May we drink of God’s love deeply and with great joy.

God of the Dance, Storyteller, joy of our joy,bless us with laughter and gloryin all the light and darkness of our days. AMEN

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Liturgical Art

Reflection by Artist

- Jenny Close

John asks for confirmation of Jesus’ status as Messiah. Jesus shows his credentials by pointing to the messianic

aspects of his ministry – healing and strengthening miracles, and the emergence of new meanings signify

the coming of the kingdom.

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OUR LITURGYProcessional Hymn: PeoPle of The NighT

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Lighting of the Third Advent Candle

The celebrant lights the rose candle and the response is sung by all:

Celebrant: My brothers and sisters, this rose coloured candle we light today reflects the joyful anticipation we feel knowing that the eternal Word of the Father's love, is on his way to save us.

Celebrant: Lord Jesus Christ, All: speak your word afresh in our hearts.

Celebrant: In suffering and pain, in sorrow and distress:All: speak your Good News and bind up broken hearts with your peace.

Celebrant: In injustice and fear,in whatever holds us bound:All: speak liberty and freedom.

Celebrant: When we doubt the Father’s love for usAll: proclaim again the Lord’s year of favour.

Celebrant: May this candle remind us of your presence. Nourished by your Word in this circle of light strengthen us to be prophets of hope and good news for our world.

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Responsorial psalm Psalm #146 lord, Come ANd SAve US

Isaiah 35:1-6, 10

Let the wilderness and the dry-lands exult, let the wasteland rejoice and bloom,let it bring forth flowers like the jonquil, let it rejoice and sing for joy.

The glory of Lebanon is bestowed on it, the splendour of Carmel and Sharon;they shall see the glory of the Lord, the splendour of our God.

Strengthen all weary hands, steady all trembling kneesand say to all faint hearts, ‘Courage! Do not be afraid.

‘Look, your God is coming, vengeance is coming,the retribution of God; he is coming to save you.’

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unsealed,then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy,for those the Lord has ransomed shall return.

They will come to Zion shouting for joy, everlasting joy on their faces;joy and gladness will go with them and sorrow and lament be ended.

James 5:7-10

Be patient, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. Think of a farmer: how patiently he waits for the precious fruit of the ground until it has had the autumn rains and the spring rains! You too have to be patient; do not lose heart, because the Lord’s coming will be soon. Do not make complaints against one another, brothers, so as not to be brought to judgement yourselves; the Judge is already to be seen waiting at the gates. For your example, brothers, in submitting with patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

For all my life I will sing to you, O ever faithful God.You fill the heavens with wondrous lights, the earth sings out your glory.

Put not your trust in those who rule, the mighty of this earth.Their breath shall fail, their power die, their plans shall fade and vanish.

You give your sight to all the blind, you raise up those bent low.Your heart is near to the broken ones, you welcome in the stranger.

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gospel

gospel ACCLAMATION

Matthew 11:2-11 John in his prison had heard what Christ was doing and he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?’ Jesus answered, ‘Go back and tell John what you hear and see; the blind see again, and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised to life and the Good News is proclaimed to the poor; and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.’

As the messengers were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the people about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the breeze? No? Then what did you go out to see? A man wearing fine clothes? Oh no, those who wear fine clothes are to be found in palaces. Then what did you go out for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet: he is the one of whom scripture says: Look, I am going to send my messenger before you; he will prepare your way before you. I tell you solemnly, of all the children born of women, a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.’

APOSTLES CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth,and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

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Lamb of God

holy holy

Cel: The Lord be with you. All: And with your Spirit.Cel: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord.Cel: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. All: It is right and just.The Celebrant prays the preface at the end of which all sing:

mystery of faith

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Cel: 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 TASTe ANd See

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The CaTholiC Parish of PorT Melbourne and Middle Park is CoMMiTTed To Providing a safe and nurTuring CulTure

for all Children and young PeoPle in our Parish.

Recessional hymn o Come, emmANUel