Parish of Our Lady of Fatima 157 Kenneth Kaunda Rd, Durban North, 4051 Tel: 031 563 5554 Fax: 031 563 4684 E-Mail: admin@fatima.org.za Website: www.fatima.org.za Facebook: www.facebook.com/FatimaParishDurban/

Parish Priest: Fr Justin Stirton

15th December 2019

Third Sunday of Advent Year A Missal References Page 118 (old), 29 (new) Next Sunday’s Scripture Page 122 (old), 33 (new)

Next Sunday Fourth Sunday of Advent – Year A

Feasts of the Week Saturday St Peter Canisius

Entrance Antiphon Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 72

Come Lord, and save us.

It is the Lord who preserves fidelity forever, who does justice to those who are oppressed. It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord who sets prisoners free.

It is the Lord who opens the eyes of the blind, the Lord who raises up those who are bowed down. It is the Lord who loves the just, the Lord who protects the stranger.

The Lord upholds the orphan and the widow, but thwarts the path of the wicked. The Lord will reign forever, The God of Sion from age to age.

Come Lord, and save us.

Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to preach good news to the poor.

Alleluia.

Communion Antiphon Say to the faint of heart: Be strong and do not fear. Behold, our God will come, and he will save us.

This Week’s Diary Monday Mass 9.00am

Tuesday Fr Justin’s Day of Rest Gospel Sharing 9.30am

Penitential Service: Our Lady of Lourdes, Westville 7.00pm

Wednesday Adoration & Benediction 5.00pm – 6.00pm Mass 6.00pm

Thursday Men’s Prayrer Group Meeting 5.00am – 6.00am Mass 6.30am Rosary Team Meeting 9.30am Penitential Service: Our Lady of Fatima, Durban North 7.00pm

Friday Mass 6.30am

Saturday Mass 8.00am Confessions (Sick, infirm & elderly) 11.00am & 4.30pm

Sunday Sunday Masses 7.00am, 9.00am & 5.15pm

Please pray for the Sick, especially Parishioners

Anthea Jack; Sr Catherina; Joy Lees; Cameron Smith; May Dormehl; Jenny Ducray; Gladys Cole; Caron Martins; Roger & Lynne Brouard; Randy Tryon; Maryse Bowman; Gordon Urquhart; Elsa Pearton; Milly van Gogh; Teresa Latouf; Daphne Rahmer; Maria Dus; Gerrit Snyders;Gladys Meyer.

Daniel Singery; Sandra Teodosio; Pat Sturgess; Verna Cavanagh; Mervin Moonsamy; Stella Gomes; Hannah Donaldson; Jean Leclezio; Debbie Macpherson; Amanda Ngongoma; Adrienne Paul; Maria Teodosio; Monique Saint-Georges; Bernie Patterson.

Jabu Ntuli; John Haswell; Carol Urquhart; Rosanne Maharajh; Peggy du Plessis; Ron Akal; Jenni Johnson; Eileen Chapson; Jan Huiskamp; Biran Bushnell; Shirley Kuzmanich; Patrick Murgatroyd; Nirasha Kannigadu; Lynne Roberts.

Relatives Tris Tillard’s sister; Jo James’ nephew, granddaughter & son; Louise Kin’s sister; Maryse Bowman’s nieces; Alma Osborn’s grandson; Annette Hoyer’s parents; Hugh Elliott; Heather Rorick; Stuart McGregor; Sharon Ellis’ sister; Marjorie Mawbey’s niece; Maude Quenet; Nancy Chettiar’s sister; John Bremner’s nephew; Maryse Wardell’s mother; James White; Denise Irvine’s daughter; Candice Houseman & Tracy Mendonidis’ mother; Ann Appelgren’s sister; Irene Helsdon’s niece; Anna Kalinowska’s mother; Tottie Bremner’s nephew; Titi Pitso’s brother; Fergus McDonnell.

Michelle Lock’s father; Peter Squires; Norlie McDonogh’s sister-in-law & brother; Lynne Tillard’s brother; Mary Ann Salvage’s 4 brothers; Claire Booth’s brother; Elsa Pearton’s granddaughter & son Michael; Theresa Hoogewerf’s aunts, sister & cousin; Ruth Florence’s mother; May Dormehl’s brother-in-law & daughter; Rita Abraham’s sister; June Tatchell’s mother; Fr Des brother & nephew; Peggy du Plessis’ brother, sister, daughter-in-law & granddaughter; Ben Morasutti’s son Jo; Nomusa Mkhwanazi’s brother; Lisa Grant’s father; Brenda Bennison.

Janice Cottingham’s brother; Jean & Pauline Leclezio’s son & daughter-in-law; Michael Quarsingh’s brother; Duncan Miller’s father; Terry Beechey’s brother; Bronwyn Murgatroyd’s mother & son; Mark McCall’s nephew; Maureen Pistorius; Rory McDonogh’s niece; Eleanor Scott’s husband; Marie Claude Maujean’s grandson Luc; Maureen Hutton’s son & grandson; Jack Garbutt’s son-in-law; Marcia Swanson’s mother; Margaret Beechey’s daughter, Chantel.

HOSPITAL CARE Please advise the parish office if you or a family member will be admitted to the hospital so that we can provide pastoral care.

The Southern Cross Catholic Newspaper is available in the Baptistry for R12

The Second Collection is for the Advent Appeal.

LIVING FAITH Get your copy of Living Faith for adults & kids for the next quarter at R25.00 for adults

and R25.00 for kids copy.

Advent reflections Daily Advent Reflection booklets are available from the tables at both entrances

of the Church. More reflections are available at: formed.org/advent and

adventreflections.com/

Catholic Women’s League - Christmas Raffle: Thank you to everyone for their support for the raffle, the following people won prizes 1st Place –

Doreen Kannigadu, 2nd Place – Ruth Florence and 3rd Place – Chantel Molnar.

Mini and Junior Church Today, 15 December, will be the last mini and junior Church of the year.

It will begin again on Sunday 12 January 2020.

Advent Confessions Penitential Service this Thursday 19th December at 7.00 pm. Eleven priests.

Confessions only for the sick, infirm and elderly on Saturday 21st December at 11.00 am

and 4.30 pm. Last week no one came to confession at 11.00 am and two came at 4.30 pm.

Other Penitential Services: Tuesday 17th at 7.00 pm at Our Lady of Lourdes, Westville

Penitential Service, Christmas & New Year’s Day Duty Lists Ministers from the following ministries please volunteer for duty:

Ministers of the Word; Ministers of the Eucharist; Ministers to the Sick;

Ministers of Hospitality; Sacristans; Altar Servers.

The Duty lists are on the noticeboard at the entrance of the church.

Work Party - Advent All who put their names down for work parties to help the parish office please

contact Ana (Tel: 031 563 5554) and let her know if you can assist on Friday

mornings during the Advent season with folding the bulletin, Advent Reflections, etc.

Christmas and New Year Mass Times Midnight Mass Tuesday 24

th Carol Service at 11.15 pm

Christmas Midnight Mass Christmas Wednesday 25

th Christmas Mass at 7.00 & 9.00am

Thursday 26 and Friday 27 December Mass at 9.00 am Saturday 28 December Mass at 8.00 am Wednesday 1 January Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Mass at 9.00 am

Kitchen Renovation is Complete

Thank you to all who worked so hard to turn the parish kitchen into the new and updated

space that it is and to those who donated towards the upgrade.

Teas after the morning Masses will resume from today, so make your way down after Mass

for a cup of tea or coffee and take a look at the beautiful kitchen.

Volunteers to serve tea and coffee after all Masses

We would like to serve tea and coffee after all three Masses. We need more

volunteers. Please contact Ana at 031 563 5554 or email admin@fatima.org.za

Carols by Candlelight Today Sunday 15

th December at 3.00pm at Marianhill Monastery.

Monday 16th

December at 7.00 pm at the Greyville racecourse.

Please bring a NEW or USED TOY to be donated to a deserving underprivileged child.

The production will proceed under all weather conditions as the seating is sheltered.

Secure FREE parking is available within the grounds. Enquiries: Dawn – 083 564 2929

St Vincent de Paul Society (1) CHRISTMAS STARS PROJECT: School shoes and shirts, at R75 per pair of

shoes/shirt, and pyjamas for the underprivileged children at Streetwise, Wylie House & St Theresa's Home.

(2) CHRISTMAS BUCKETS at R200 per Bucket for the poor families at Ottawa. School

shirts & shoes have already been bought, but you may choose to buy pyjamas for Wylie House.

Please drop off bought items at the office, by Sunday, 22 December. Please make a R5 donation towards the wrapping of presents. Go to one of the SSVP tables after any of the Masses with your Star/donation. Donations of any sum towards the above projects are most welcome, as they all go towards these worthwhile causes.

CALENDAR OF MASSES FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED For centuries it has been the practice in the Church to offer Holy Mass for the faithful departed

on the anniversary of their death. The Mass diary for 2020 is open for Mass Intentions please

contact the Parish Office to book Masses for the next 12 months on the anniversary of the

death of your family members and friends – and others! The Mass stipend is R40.00 per Mass.

Also, when you have requested a Mass please make a special effort to attend the Mass

The Knights of da Gama request new and/or second hand toys, books, crayons, etc.

The Knights will refurbish, pack and distribute toys to bring joy and happiness

to hundreds of children.

These items may be left at the Parish Office from Monday to Friday –

8.30am to 4.30pm. For more info please contact Mike Smith on 083 366 6027

Mass Intentions

15th December 2019 – 22nd December 2019 Sunday 7.00am Pro Populo

9.00am Neville Stirton RIP (Fr Justin Stirton

5.15pm Raul da Silva; Humberto Jardim; Antonio & Angela Sousa;

Alberto Vieira de Freitas; Harold Smith – All RIP (Anonymous)

Monday 9.00am Monica Ricchardson & Errol Richardson RIP (Theresa Hoogewerf)

Wednesday 6.00pm Pious Lists

Thursday 6.30am Cecilia Patricio; Joe Serrao; Jean McBean; Martha Pretorious;

Francisco Achadinha; Eduardo Costa – All RIP (Anonymous)

Friday 6.30am Celebrants Intention

Saturday 8.00am Deceased Khewsa Family Members RIP (Nomfundo Makhanya)

Sunday 7.00am Yvonne McDonogh RIP (Rory & Norlie McDonogh)

9.00am For the Sick and Housebound of the Parish

5.15pm Pro Populo

Second-Hand Books for Homeless People to Sell

The Denis Hurley Centre is expanding its award-winning ‘Street Lit’ programme: homeless men

and women can make a good living by selling second-hand books. The DHC wants as

many quality second-hand books as possible – children and adults, fiction and non-fiction.

Drop them off at our office Mon-Fri 9:00am – 4:00pm.

Denis Hurley Centre Notices Meal of Reconciliation: All are welcome to the Denis Hurley Centre tomorrow (Monday 16

December at 11.30am) to join us for our Annual Meal to celebrate the Day of Reconciliation. This

is a chance to share a meal with the widest range of citizens of Durban: All colours, creeds, classes,

nationalities and abilities. Please bring cool drinks or desserts to share at a table of 10 people.

Parking behind the Cathedral or beneath Victoria Street Market.

Immediate Vacancy for Fundraising Manager: The Napier Centre 4 Healing is looking for

an experienced professional fundraiser to help support its efforts to transform the lives of street-

dwelling drug users. For more information on how to apply see poster on notice board or website or

email HR@napiercentre.org Applications close on 31st January 2020.

Pilgrimage to Holy Sites in Italy: 17-26 May 2020 Join our pilgrimage to Italy in the footsteps of the Apostles Peter and Paul, St Francis of Assisi,

St Clare, St Benedict, St Padre Pio and other great saints. Renew your faith in Jesus Christ as

you visit, celebrate Mass and pray at places steeped in the faith of centuries of pilgrims.

Many photos of the places we will visit can be seen on our Pilgrimage Facebook Page:

facebook.com/groups/685911015223206/. Itineraries and reservation forms are available in

the baptistry, in the foyer downstairs and on the above Facebook Page.

Cost: R32 495 pp sharing based on 2019 exchange rates (subject to fluctuations).

Includes return flights from Johannesburg, airport taxes, 7 nights accommodation (dinner, bed

and breakfast), guides, coach, entrance fees, basic insurance.

For further information contact Fr Justin.

Matric School Shoes - Boys Boys who have matriculated, if you don’t need your school shoes please consider donating them to the poor. You can drop them off at the parish office.

Repository There are Christmas cards, Christmas and Advent candles for sale.

Liturgical calendars for 2020 can be ordered for R20.00 each.

Society of St Vincent de Paul - APPEAL FOR FOOD Please bring at least one of the following food items to Mass and place it in the Food Basket before all Sunday Masses. Cup a Soup packs, 1kg mealie meal, Baked Beans in tomato sauce (410g), Pilchards in tomato sauce (410g), etc

SSVP Bank Details: Account Name Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

Bank First National Bank Account No 62033860786

Branch Durban North Branch Code 220426

SSVP has also gone digital!! – This is the Zapper code for SSVP

which allows you to donate either R100 or R150 or R200 or your own amount.

Third Sunday of Advent Year A 15

th December 2019 Joe Cullen OP

Commentary

First Reading (Isaiah 35: 1-6) Previously, Isaiah has been dealing with the fearful fate of Edom, in all its vengeful and gory details – ‘the Lord has a sword, it is sated in blood.’ Now the text moves to a more positive emphasis on the wonderful future awaiting the people of God. The author is not thinking about the return of the people from the Babylonian captivity but of a wider homecoming of all the Jews of the Diaspora. Here we are introduced to the theme of ‘a second or new exodus’ expressed in terms of fertility, lavish growth and flourishing vegetation. Lebanon, Carmel and Sharon were immediately identifiable as such areas of abundance and fertility. All of this accompanies the key event of the coming of God to his people with all of its restorative and healing outcomes.

Second Reading (James 5: 7-10) Having castigated the unscrupulous rich, James turns now to consoling his suffering community. Encouraging them not to lose heart as they await the glorious return of the Lord, he counsels patience, recalling Job as the ultimate example of one who did not forsake God despite his predicament and was duly rewarded. The rains came in November and late March or early April. Both are needed if the harvest is to be successful. Even thinking ill of another Christian is to risk judgment which is close at hand.

Gospel (Matthew 1: 2-11) It is helpful to identify three themes in this passage: the appearance of John the Baptist; a call to repentance; and the promise of one to come. We notice that it is not baptism that is emphasised but repentance. Identifiable as a prophet even from his clothing, John heralds the call to the people to turn from the failures of the past to the God of the present. A reassessment of what truly matters and inner renewal is to be followed by a decision to live accordingly. The Baptist’s harsh attack on the Pharisees uses the very words which Jesus himself would use of them – ‘brood of vipers’ (23:33). God cannot be bound by the ties of human relations. Underlying all of this is Matthew’s concern that the Christian leaders of his time must not make the same mistakes as did the Jewish authorities in the days of Jesus. Threat gives way to promise as John signals the imminent arrival of the one who is to come. But there is no escaping the separation which the final judgement will bring.

Scripture Readings For Next Sunday Isaiah 7: 10-14 Romans 1: 1-7 Matthew 1: 18-24

Nazareth Care The Sisters of Nazareth have been serving the Archdiocese of Durban

since 1895. Conveniently located in the hub of Durban’s Medical

District, Nazareth Care Durban provides a safe, tranquil environment

For the elderly community focusing on care and companionship.

We offer a comprehensive range of services, whether they require

Assisted or frail care, dementia, sub-acute, or palliative care –

Single & Shared Rooms or Independent Living is available to suit your requirements.

Our residents enjoy the comfort of home in a place that delivers to their individual needs –

emotional, spiritual and physical. We have an on-site chapel for Daily Mass.

Contact us for a tour of our facility on Tel: 031 261 2207 or Cell: 071 634 8858