KU-RING-GAI CHASE CATHOLIC PARISH Diocese of Broken Bay
11th December 2016
3rd Sunday of Advent - Year A
Lord, come and save us.
Readings next Sunday (17/18): Is 7:10-14; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-24
PASTORAL CENTRE 1-19 Woodcourt Road, Berowra Heights 2082
P.O. Box 335, Berowra Heights 2082
Phone (02) 9456 2450 Fax (02) 9456 3046
Parish Email: [email protected]
Parish Website: www.kccp.dbb.org.au
Centre Hours: 9.30 am—4.30 pm (Lunch 1-2pm)
Sacramental Team [email protected]
Baptism Co-ordinator [email protected]
Parish Administrator Fr Shaju John, OSH
Assistant Priest Fr Shiju Simon, OSH
Deacon Deacon Kevin Hale
Parish Secretary
Bookkeeper Mrs Karen Price
Youth Ministry Co-ord. Mrs Emma Introna
School/Parish Liturgy L. Mrs Patricia Smith
WEEKEND MASSES Vigil 4.00pm Peat Island Chapel, Mooney Mooney
Vigil 5.30pm St Bernard's
Vigil 6.00pm St Patrick's
Sunday 8am St Patrick's
9am St Bernard's
10am St Patrick's
6pm St Patrick’s
WEEKLY MASSES St Bernard's 8am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
9.10 am Wednesday, 9.00am Friday
St Patrick’s 8am Wednesday and Friday
9am Monday, Tuesday, Thurs, Sat.
RECONCILIATION Every Saturday 9.30 am at St Patrick’s
Every Friday After 9am Mass at St Bernard’s
Prayers for Lighting the Advent Candles— 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Celebrant …As the shepherds did, we hasten with joy towards the birth of the
Christ-child. We light the 3rd candle, coloured rose for joy, and we pray for the
spirit of repentance and reconciliation, to purify us in readiness for His
coming.
Reader: Let the wilderness and the dry lands rejoice; let the wasteland
exult and bloom.
Response: Come, lord, fill us with the fire of your love.
Reader: Courage, do not be afraid. Look, your God is coming
to save you.
Response: Come, Lord, fill us with the fire of your love.
Reader: He will exult over you with joy.
Response: Come, Lord, fill us with the fire of your love.
The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called
Gaudete (rejoice) Sunday. … “Rejoice” is the first
word in the entrance antiphon for today's Mass taken
from Philippians 4:4, 5: “Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near….
This Sunday is a joyful reminder that our salvation is near.
This week's Gospel Reading continues our Advent reflection on the person and
message of John the Baptist….we hear Jesus' message to John the Baptist, now
in prison, about the signs of the kingdom found in Jesus' ministry and Jesus'
assessment of John's role in the Kingdom of God.
This passage is a reminder that the beginning of salvation is already
mysteriously present to us, but also yet to be fulfilled. Salvation is already in
our midst as manifest in the miraculous deeds of Jesus and in the Church. But
salvation is also to be fulfilled in the coming reign of God. Even as we observe
our world today, we can find glimpses of God's work among us. Even more,
we help to prepare the way for God's kingdom by our words and our deeds.
This message is indeed a cause for rejoicing. (Loyola Press)
POSITION VACANT – PARISH SECRETARY,
KU-RING-GAI CHASE CATHOLIC PARISH.
Part-time position: 9.30am – 4.00 pm
(6 hrs/day Mon - Fri)
Strong administration and pastoral skills
required along with proficiency in Word,
Excel, Publisher and database
management.
If you are interested in applying for this
role please send a cover letter and current
CV to the Parish Administrator,
Fr Shaju John at [email protected].
RECONCILIATION
Monday 19th December 7.30 2nd Rite St Bernard’s Tuesday 20th December 7.30 1st Rite St Patrick’s
CHRISTMAS-MASS TIMES:
Christmas Eve - Saturday 24 December
4pm Peat Island Chapel Vigil Mass, Carols & BBQ (Outdoors) Please bring a chair or rug 6pm St Bernard’s Vigil Mass for Children 6pm St Patrick’s Vigil Mass for Children 9pm St Patrick’s Youth Vigil Mass 12 midnight St Patrick’s Midnight Mass
Christmas Day - Sunday 25 December
8am St Patrick’s Mass 9am St Bernard’s Family Mass 10am St Patrick’s Family Mass
There will be no evening Mass and NO Mass on Mon 26 December
There will be no Masses at Mooney
during January. Masses will begin on
Saturday 5th February 2017
The Pastoral Centre will be closed from
close of business on Friday 23rd
December and reopen on Tuesday 3rd
January 2017 with limited times for the rest
of January
MUSIC MINISTRY
Children's Choir enjoyed their Christmas party and
final practice on Friday, and are singing at 10am Mass
this weekend for this last time for 2016. The Choir
will be in recess during the school holidays. All
students in Year 3 in 2017, and all young people in
high schools and primary schools throughout the
parish, start planning now for weekly practices on Fridays from 4 to
5pm during school terms in 2017! The Choir sings at 10am Mass on 2nd
and 4th Sundays during school terms.
Thank you everyone for a wonderful year!
Enquiries: Patricia Smith 9482 7935
Cradle Songs and Lullabies An evening of carols, readings and
reflections presented by the Select Choir of the parish Children's Choir
on Friday evening, 7.30pm at St Patrick's church. This will be a
beautiful, inspiring evening of wonderful singing and thoughtful
reflections, a perfect chance to retreat from the bustle of pre-Christmas
preparations. Supper will follow.
Midnight Mass practices for instrumentalists and singers will be
held on Tuesday 13th and Monday19th December at 7.30 pm (not
7,00 as previously advertised) in St Patrick's church. Don’t worry
if you’ve missed the first rehearsal—more voices needed.
Singers, instrumentalists all welcome! Music Ministry Scholarships 2017 The parish will be offering two
scholarships for young musicians prepared to commit to music ministry
in our parish, one Keyboard scholarship and one Children's Choir Intern
scholarship.
For further information, terms and conditions,and application forms,
please contact the parish office or Patricia Smith 9482 7935
Week – 3rd week of Advent
Monday 12/12 Weekday 3rd week of Advent
Mass of the Day, Preface of Advent 1
Num 24:2-7,15-17; Mt 21:23-27
Tuesday St Lucy, virgin, martyr
Mass of the Saint, Preface: of Advent I or saint
Zeph 3:1-2, 9-13; Mt 21:28-32
Wednesday St John of the Cross, priest, doctor
Mass of the Saint
Preface of Advent I or saint
Is 45:6-8,18,21-26; Lk 7:19-23
Thursday Weekday 3rd week of Advent
Mass of the Day, Preface of Advent 1
Is 54:1-10; Lk 7:24-30;
Friday Weekday 3rd week of Advent
Mass of the day, Preface of Advent I
Is 56:1-3, 6-8; Jn 5:33-36
Saturday Weekday 3rd week of Advent
Mass of 17 December, Preface of Advent II
Gen 49:2, 8-10; Mt 1:1-17)
RECENTLY DECEASED: James Lindsay Henderson, Philip Ryan,
Sonny O’Reilly, Colin Acret, Marie McNamara, Van Hung Nguyen,
ANNIVERSARIES: SK Wong, B Doherty, W Long, Flora Knudsen
Charles Dighton, Eulalie Hailstone, Neil Mickelson, Deacon David
Huntley, Assunta Fraietta, Maria Lombardo, Patrick Hubert
McCarthy, Robert Martin & Lesley White, Jackson M. Miranda,
Allan Websdall, Amedoeo & Francesca Horabit, Patrick Porter
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK: Alfredo De Ramos Sr, , Cadia Maestri,
Robert Conlon, Kath Lock, Patricia Sanders, Brian O’Donohue,
Arlene Joson, Patrick Dorahy, Clifford Horne, John Macy, Barbara
Jones, Maciej Maciejewski, Monique Leyden, Tom and Moya.
OTHER: For all the Holy Souls Please Note: Names on our prayer lists are deleted at the end of each
month, unless you notify the pastoral centre.
THIS WEEK’S READINGS and PRAYERS
Christmas Youth Mass – 9pm, 24th December:
Practices: 7pm Monday 12th Dec St Patrick’s.
7pm, Sunday 18th December after Youth Mass.
Also needed: Readers, Servers and other ministries.
Please advise if you plan on joining us at Christmas for
this Mass.
Emma Introna 0439 481 688
R.C.I.A. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
A joyous celebration was had last week to welcome Kirsten and
Norma into our community at Berowra.
Last Thursday night we heard an interesting talk about the
prophets of old and how they foretold many aspects of the
coming of our Saviour. Next Thursday will be our final meeting
for this year until after the school holidays. We will be looking at
Mary, the Mother of Jesus and thinking about how special she
was. R.C.I.C. Rite of Christian Initiation of Children
We start meeting today with our children who have expressed an
interest in entering more fully into their Christian life. We will
be looking at the Sacrament of Baptism and how that affects our
spiritual life. Any other interested children are welcome to join us.
Contact Ellen Downey 9477 7180 or 0437 877 180.
CHRISTMAS EVE CHILDREN’S MASS
6 PM St Patrick’s
Wanted: Children who like to sing,
readers and actors
Singers/ choir only:
Wed 21st December 8.45-9.45am and
Friday 23rd December 8.45-10.45 am.
Gospel play actors only:
Wednesday 21st December 9.45 am -10.45 am and
Friday 23rd December 9.45am
In both: please attend both practices. Angels bring white
outfit & sheep white to Friday’s rehearsal.
Mrs Lisa P 0414 414 567, Mrs Trish W 0432 357 206
Mrs. Bec D 0410 533 845, Mr Gary M 0438 270 737
JOIN IN THE SPIRIT at St Patrick’s - am 24th December
Be part of the Christmas beautification of our church for this
special occasion.
Cynthia Gilbertson and her group are rostered for cleaning on
Saturday 24th of December and will be commencing after the
9.00am Mass at 9.30 am
Extra help is needed. They will take care of the regular cleaning
but need people along with cleaning equipment to ensure the
windows etc can be done.
Extra people (at least 2) are also needed to help Cynthia &
Claudine with flower arranging. Buckets will be left outside the
sacristy for donations of fresh flowers Friday evening.
Contact: Cynthia 9476 6215 or 0407 650 208
FROM THE DIOCESE and COMMUNITY
When did I find you hungry, homeless and lonely?
Have you been alone at Christmas?
It can be difficult to be joyful. Vinnies in various
ways endeavour to fill a void in people’s lives when
everything seems to be against them.
With Christmas rapidly approaching, both the Asquith and
Berowra Conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society are
preparing to assist the local disadvantaged to have a more
joyous Christmas than they had anticipated.
You can help send the message to them that as Christians we
do care for them and will provide Vinnies with
long life food and foodstuffs suitable for Christmas
Hampers and toiletries.
reasonable used clothing suitable to sell in the Vinnies
shops (Asquith only)
donations in the poor box
St Patrick’s: Vinnies bags are at the back of the church.
Vinnies ask that you take bag (s) and return them this Sunday
to the back of the church for Vinnies to collect.
Last year, we needed several cars to remove the offerings of
assistance from the parish. We are hoping that more cars will
be required this year!
St Bernard’s: Baskets will be at the back of the church.
Vinnies thanks you for your continuing support.
CANDELA TALK AND STALL
It is that time of year when we hear about the
wonderful work being done in Candela.
On the weekend of December 10th/11th Mary
Rajca will speak at both masses at St Bernard's
and then on the weekend of December 17th/18th she will speak
at the masses at St Patrick's
Over the past years our parish has supported
the Sisters of Mercy mission in Candela and
much has been done to improve the living
conditions of the families.
After mass there will be a sale of the goods
that the women have made. Your continued support will be
greatly appreciated. All money raised from the sale of the
goods goes straight back to the women.
Arts and Faith: 3rd Sunday of Advent Exploring sacred art in a season of hope.
Geertgen tot Sint Jans, “Saint John
the Baptist in the Wilderness,” 15th
century
In Geertgen tot Sint Jans’ Saint John the
Baptist in the Wilderness, we meet the
prophet in the wilderness. A lamb keeps
him company as John sits on a jutting rock
by a creek, heavily cloaked, deep in
thought. Although known for his fiery
passion, here we see a different side of St. John:
introspective, prayerful, meditative. The scene brings to
mind Christ’s own time in the wilderness, a time of prayer,
trial, and temptation right after he meets St. John at the
Jordan. Could it be that John was preparing the way for the
Lord’s own trial in the wilderness?
Just as St. John might invite Christ into the wilderness, he
also prepares the way for us to venture into our own
wilderness. In the wilderness of our lives, we thirst for
God’s grace the most. In our daily dry existence, any quick
quench tempts us, even as we know that our thirst runs
deeper. In the wilderness, St. John prepares the way by
prayer; his struggle there is not against the corrupt king, but
against the desire of his will. Before he preaches repentance
and calls for justice, he prays and ponders his utter reliance
on God. And even in the midst of this spiritual struggle, he
finds that God’s grace already holds him; he is seated by a
life-giving stream, and the lamb curls up close by, both
symbols to demonstrate God’s presence.
In these days of Advent, we experience the already and the
not yet. We are in the wilderness, yet the life-giving grace
of God is always and already there. At the same time, we
still await the fullness of glory, the ultimate quenching of
our thirst. May our own lives of prayer prepare the way of
the Lord within us as we await his coming. Daniella Zsupan-Jerome - Assistant Professor of Liturgy, Catechesis, &
Evangelization at Loyola University New Orleans (Loyola Press)
As our calendar year comes to a close,
our liturgical year begins, please join us
for our next youth mass at St Patrick’s
Church on Sunday 18th December
from 6pm. Everyone is welcome, especially singers &
musicians.
Did you know you can find an advent calendar online?
Check out www.xt3.com/advent and you can download the
app. Contact Emma Introna: [email protected] 0439
481 688
I am writing to say thank you so much for the
help and wonderful support we have had from St
Bernard’s and St Patrick’s with the shoeboxes.
We have collected 407 boxes which is just
wonderful. All praise and glory to our awesome God.
I hope you have a wonderful blessed and holy Christmas.
Blessings Louise Dryden
Merven Soares will speak briefly & set up a
table re sale of items, presenting unique
(not available anywhere) faith-filled
Catholic contemporary resources and gifts this weekend 10th/11th
at St Patrick’s and next week-end 18th, 9.00am Mass Berowra.
Preparation of St Bernard’s for Christmas Rostered for flower and church cleaning for that week (4th week)
are Cecilia Waite (f), Mary Chivers (f), Anne Bourke (s) and
Ning Biyo and Reese & Peter Nguyen.
Extra help would be appreciated to ensure all is taken care of.
Please advise the office if you can help.
Christmas Eve at St Bernard's 6pm Vigil Mass for Children.
We will be rehearsing the nativity play at the following
times in the church at Berowra.
Tues 20th Dec. 2-3pm, Thu 22nd Dec. 11am-noon.
Families with young primary school aged children who
would like to be involved are invited to attend the
rehearsals Anne Lenehan
ROSTERS FOR WEEKEND 17/18 DECEMBER IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND FOR YOUR ROSTERED DATE PLEASE ARRANGE A SUBSTITUTE
Peat Island Chapel
Mooney Mooney
4pm Fr Shaju Johnn
St Bernard’s Church St Patrick’s Church (Sacristy Phone 9476 6904)
5.30pm 9.00am 6.00pm 8.00am 10.00am 6.00pm
Fr Shiju Simon
Fr Shaju John Baptism in Mass
Fr Shaju John Dcn Kevin
Fr Shiju Simon Dcn Kevin /
Fr Shiju Simon Dcn Kevin
Fr Shaju John/
Acolyte/Snr Server
Server
Reader
Justin Berry
Alysha Berry Olivia Berry David Russell Jerome Gomez Sophia Smith
Michael O’Neill
Alodie Wheeler Isara Wheeler Zinta Hartman Elaine Hartman Natasha Steele
Mani Subramany
Cristabel Subramany
Penny Loughland Paul Worthington
Bill Martin
Phillip Daidone
Vivienne Schreiber Russell Schreiber
Karen Leavy
IsabellaVandeSluys Naomi Massa Joshua Mitchell Sam Molloy Chloe Starling
Dan Leavy Elizabeth Fernandes
Malcolm Cross
Aidan Hon Ambrose Hon
Sue Newnham Chris Newnham
Communion to
Sick/Housebound
Garth Graham
Susie Gates Jenny Gregory
Sacristy Care/Church
Cleaning/Flowers
Glenn & Annette Shapter, Linda Reed (f),
Gisela Muschal
Claudia Bressi, Loretta Hunt, Karen Price, Sarah McRae, Luisa Musumeci, Kalysa Fleming,
Joan Cleary, Megan Accola, Shellee Millham
Maintenance Team A (3/12/2016) December: Peter Hourigan, Patrick Dias, Steven Fitzpatrick
Counters Joanne Cruden, Pat Connor, Lyn Beacom David Burke, Patrick O’Donoghue, Paula & Jim Hand, Fiona Henrisson
Rosary After weekday Masses both Churches
Visit Housebound Fr Shaju John and Fr Shiju Simon 9456 2450
Urgent sick calls Fr Shaju John 9456 7012 (Presbytery)
Fr Shiju Simon 9476 8843 (Presbytery)
Priest 1300 774 378 Urgent 24 hour
Nursing Home Visits By request
Clergy Days Off Fr Shaju John—Monday
Fr Shiju Simon—Tuesday
Deacon Kevin—Monday & Thursday
Home Visits For Masses, House Blessings and Pastoral
Requests please phone the Pastoral Centre
9456 2450. HOSPITAL ADMISSION: If you are admitted to hospital, please write
down your religion as Catholic to receive Catholic Services.
Need a priest urgently and don’t know who to call?
1300 PRIEST (1300 774 378) - 24 hour service
250 Club 250 Club Week 7 TBA Did you miss out on a possible $500? Join the Club!
LITURGICAL SERVICES & PASTORAL CARE
On our Parish Website: www.kccp.dbb.org.au Funeral Notices for our Parish in News and
Events Use the FB link at the bottom of our website page.
If sending anything to the pastoral centre via the collection plate, for your
own privacy and security PLEASE ensure you place it in a sealed envelope.
Alternatively, hand it to the clergy.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO
ADVERTISE HERE?
We offer….
Great exposure, colour advertisement,
A rotational fortnightly entry.
Phone Kylie in the Parish Office
to discuss.
1st Collection — goes to Diocese
2nd Collection — goes to our Parish
Parish Calendar
14th December—End-of–School Yr Mass –11.30 St Patrick’s
14th December—Yr 6 Graduation Liturgy,7.00 pm StPatrick’s
16th December—End-of-School Yr Mass—9.10 St Bernard’s
19th December—Christmas Raffle winners drawn.
TBA—Christmas working bees at both churches, see p.2/3
23rd December—(COB) Pastoral Centre closes for Xmas
Christmas Cards and the 2017 Columban Calendars
are available at both St Bernard’s and St Patrick’s.
Sales support the St Vincent de Paul Society and
Columban Mission. Your support is appreciated.
See pages 2/3 for details of our Christmas working bee
Parish Fundraising Raffle - Tickets are now on sale! All money raised goes to our parish.
The 1st Prize hamper has been kindly donated by
Francesca Parrino, McGrath Real Estate.
The 2nd Prize hamper has been donated by
Catholic Church Insurance (CCI) and added to by the Clergy.
Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5 available after each Mass
The raffle will be drawn on Monday 19th December at 10am.
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