The Catholic Community of North Harbour

2nd Sunday of Advent 8th December 2013

2 King Street, Manly Vale NSW 2093 Phone: 99494455 Fax: 9949 3413

Email: parishoffice@northharbourcatholic.org.au Parish Websites: www.northharbourcatholic.org.au

GOSPEL SYMBOLS AND IMAGES

Prepare a way Signal to the peoples

IN THE CARE OF THE AUGUSTINIANS

Readings for next week 15th December: Isaiah 35:1-6,10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11

The Baptist’s words are a call to a new beginning, a realignment of the road we are taking. We are reminded that the

Kingdom of God is close at hand and that, to be a part of the Kingdom, we must produce good fruit or be judged

unworthy.

Your weekly bulletin is also

available to download from our

website.

Christmas Mass Times

Tuesday 24th December Church of St Cecilia

5.30pm & 7.30pm

Church of St Kieran

6.00pm (in church)

8.00pm (preceded by carols)

Midnight (preceded by carols)

Wednesday 25th December Church of St Cecilia

9.00am

Church of St Kieran

7.30am & 9.30am

No evening Mass

No Mass at St Augustine’s College.

St Kieran’s, Manly Vale

Advent Wreath

This Sunday, we light the second purple candle in the wreath, which symbolises Peace. The other two purple

candles in the Advent wreath symbolise Hope and Love. These candles are lit on the first and fourth Sundays of Advent. The rose candle, which symbolises joy, is usually lit on the third Sunday. Sometimes a fifth candle is placed inside the Advent wreath. This candle is lit on Christmas Day. It is white, the colour associated with angels and the birth of Jesus.

Monday 9th December Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary

‘We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace of the Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin, has been revealed by God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by all the faithful.’ Bernadette's vision at Lourdes in 1858, where Mary revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception, was seen as divine approval of the proclamation. Pope Francis

Catechists Luncheon On Wednesday Catechists from CCNH

celebrated their year of

discipleship sharing

God's love with the

children of our parish

who attend the 6 state

schools within our

parish boundary. We began with Mass presided over by Fr Brian, followed by a

shared lunch in the parish centre. Thanks to all the catechists

who each week share their faith with over 800 Catholic

primary children of our parish.

From St. Augustine: Let our beautiful God, the Word with God, come to us that we

may gaze upon Him with the eyes of our

minds. Commentary on Psalm 44,3

QUESTION OF THE WEEK ‘Prepare a way for the Lord.’ Matthew 3: 3

At school: Can I help my friends to think about God and the love of Jesus for

us?

At work or study: When I act with forgiveness, do I prepare others for the way

of Jesus?

In my family life: What are we preparing for …presents or Jesus?

Words for this week. Repeat frequently with love.

‘Jesus, prepare my heart for your coming!’

LAUNCH OF “THE VINE” FACEBOOK GROUP. If you’d like to join the group go to the parish website www.northharbourcatholic.org.au Click on the link to The Vine Group and send a join group request. So far, we’ve had a great response!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CHILDREN'S LITURGY OF THE WORD

Celebrating Children's Liturgy of the Word enables children to listen to and ponder on the

meaning of God's word in a way that is appropriate to their age and level of development.

Children’s Liturgy Planning Sessions are held once a month as an opportunity for the volunteers to come together and explore ways in which we can assist children to hear and reflect on the Word of God and to come up with creative ways to engage our children through drama, song, actions and dance.

Children's Liturgy is run in both the parish churches by parents and parishioners in the parish who volunteer their time and assistance and we are looking for more volunteers to help with this ministry. If you are interested in being a leader or a helper in 2014 for either St Cecilia's or St Kieran's Church or would simply like more information please feel free to contact Adriana Bowyer on 0402 099 746 or email - albowyer@bigpond.com before FRIDAY, 13TH DECEMBER 2013.

PILGRIMAGES 2014: Fr Wim Hoekstra, Parish Priest of Glenbrook, is organising two pilgrimages in

2014: from July 7 to 23 taking in France and Italy (Paris, Lisieux, Lourdes, Rome,

Assisi, Siena, Florence) and from September 19 to October 4 (September school

holidays) for Israel and Jordan. Information afternoon: 9 February 2014. For

further details, contact Fr Wim on 4739 8928 or wim@stfinbars.org.au or check the

website at www.stfinbars.org.au. Limited places available.

Our own Youth Ministry group attended the Youth Festival in Melbourne this week and were invited to perform their music which was then streamed live via webcast.

St Kieran’s are once again selling

Christmas cards to support research

into Motor Neuron Disease. These

beautiful quality cards, designed by

several St Kieran’s School students can

be bought at the school office or the

Parish office and are priced at 12

cards for $10.

“Don’t forget to pray today, because God didn’t forget to wake you this morning.”

Christmas and Advent Family Sheets —Reading the Bible together in Advent and Christmas, together with puzzles and Sunday readings—sheets available in the church foyer.—please collect on your way out.

A Fresh Start As I mentioned during the homily last week at the start of a new Church Year, if not calendar year just yet, it has been quite a

year of change with three Australian Prime Ministers, Two Popes, and for the time being locally, no bishop in Broken Bay. Both

political and church affairs have had significant moments and it is now one full year since the announcement of the Royal

Commission into Institutional Child abuse with which the community is still coming to

terms and which will be in the news again this coming week as the Commission focuses directly on the processes of the Catholic Church. It is certainly a time for a 'fresh start from Christ' as

the recent Year of Grace reminded us.

But our attention is also drawn to the future both last week and this weekend with the celebration of our Kindy Blessings Masses for 2014. Quite of a lot of new families will be joining both our school and parish community. We welcome them. We commend them on their decision

to commit to both Catholic education and catholic values in a challenging time in our history. In fact, it is quite humbling for us as a community that families are prepared to make sacrifices in

order to see the values important to them offered to their children firstly through our catholic schools, state school catechetics, and later the sacramental program.

From Fr. Brian

Next year we are hoping to hold a comedy debate on the first Sunday in March after the 6:00 pm Mass hosted by the St Kieran’s Toastmasters group. More details in the New Year. The Parish office will close from 4:00 pm Christmas Eve and reopen Monday January 6. We will be checking the parish email parishoffice@northharbourcatholic.org.au and the answering

machine during this period. If you need to urgently contact a priest, call the office on 9949 4455 and, when the automated system directs you, press 4 to be put through to the Priory. Alternatively you can call the new 24 hour service 1300 PRIEST (1300 774 378) and you will be put in contact with a priest from the Broken Bay Diocese.

Farewell Mass for Bishop David Walker You are invited to the Farewell Mass for Bishop David

Walker on Saturday 14 December at the Light of Christ

Centre, Yardley Avenue, Waitara. The Mass commences

at 12pm followed by light refreshments. As parking is

limited, car-pooling and use of parish buses is encouraged.

RSVP: 4 December to Natasha Willis. Email:

Natasha.willis@dbb.org.au, Ph:9847 0484.

For those unable to attend the fund raising dinner held in

the parish centre this Saturday night after 6pm Mass, you

can still donate by sending your donation to the parish

office. 100% of monies raised will be used to assist victims

of the super typhoon.

Make cheques payable to Filcos, North Shore.

Typhoon Haiyan

‘The root of joy is gratefulness...It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude

that makes us joyful.’

Many Happy Returns to Fr Dipi who celebrates his birthday this Sunday, 8th December.

Extra voices required

to join with the Choir

on Christmas Eve

8pm

We will be rehearsing

on Tuesday 10th and

Tuesday 17th December at 7 pm in St Kieran’s

church. Anyone interested would have to attend

at least one of these rehearsals.

MASSMASS TIMETIME St Cecilia St Kieran SATURDAY VIGIL 6.00pm

SUNDAY 9.00am 7.30am

9.30am 6.00pm

WEEKDAY MASS St Kieran 8.30am Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat

10.00am Wednesday St Cecilia 9.00am Wednesday

RECONCILIATION St Kieran 5 – 6pm Saturday (or by appointment)

BAPTISMS Bookings essential and Preparation course required.

St Cecilia 10.30am Sun or

9.00am Mass on 1st Sundays of the month St Kieran 11.30am Sun or

9.30am Mass on 1st Sundays of the month MARRIAGES Require 6 months notice and includes Catholic Care course

as part of the preparation.

WE PRAY Come to me! I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Recent Prayer Requests: John Colwell Jnr., Barry Connell, Rosalyn Bott, Keith Kettell, John Killick, Grahame Wilson, Stephen Ward, John Morrisey, Madeleine Pace, Maria Kogovsek, Colin Rowntree, Michelle Ritossi, W. John Kupczyk, Jim Smyth, Kevin Smith, Eddie Sharp, Jack Homan, Louise Allara, Sean Bellenger, Henry and Flavio Cataldo, Kathleen Bunting, Phil Ristuccia, Dorothy Smith, Simone Young,Leo Sensink, Thrisr Oliverra, Ian Houston, Jarryd Timm, Arthur Murphy, Eddie Robinson, Chris McAuliffe (The families of those above thank parishioners for their prayers)

For our recently deceased: Dr John Muller, : Dr John Muller, Luca Cardosa, Bill Lovell, Suzanne Gavranic

On their anniversaries for : Maurice Mansour, John & Mary Ziegler, Rose Reen, Carl Martin, Elizabeth Kirby, Eddie Maher, Faizel Easthorpe, Eva Parsons, Emmanuel & Bohumila Fries, John Smellie, Theresa Trace

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF NORTH HARBOUR PERSONNEL Office (Mon – Fri: 9am – 4pm) 9949 4455

PASTORS Fr Brian Buckley, OSA Parish Priest

Fr Senan Ward OSA Assistant Priest

Fr. Dipi Kattathara OSA Assistant Priest

Fr Pat Fahey OSA (retired)

Pastoral Ministers (contacted through Parish Office 9949 4455)

Ricki Hayes Sacraments of Initiation and

Pastoral Associate

Rosemary McKinnon Counsellor 0400 495 076

Ben Marshall Youth Music Ministry 0411809072

Nic Osborne Youth Ministry Co-ordinator

School Principals: Suellen Garey 9948 3069 St Cecilia’s

Terri Paterson 9949 3523 St Kieran’s

Tim Cleary 9938 8200 St. Augustine’s

Administration: Chris Burrows Parish Manager

Anne Ross Parish Secretary

Cath Hillier Parish Secretary

DECEMBER 09 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin

Mary 10 SK Choir Practice 7pm-9pm SK Church SVDP Meeting 7pm-9pm parish centre Finance Committee Meeting 7.30pm-9.30pm 11 Damasus I Toastmasters 7pm parish centre 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe 13 Lucy 14 John of the Cross 17 SK Choir Practice 7pm-9pm SK Church Reconciliation, 2nd Rite 7.30pm SC 18 Last Day of School Term 4 24 Reconciliation, 1st Rite—5-6pm SK

Next Week’s Liturgy Roster 3rd Sunday Please swap with someone else if you can’t make it

Mass Readers Senior Server

Co-ordina-tors

Hosp

6.00 John Killick P Cooney

David O’Brien

n/a n/a

7.30 Tim Irwin J Thompson

Remo Del-lagiacoma

n/a n/a

9.00 Phil Macken Gai Hamer

Ian McFar-land

Sandra Mac-geachie

Yeung Family E Rigney

9.30 C Burrows Dale Thomas M Jenkins

E Russell Anne Russell

F Osborne J Grafitti Mirabito

6.00 Linda Taylor G O’Sullivan Jo Osborne

Michael McMahon

n/a n/a

Mass Children’s Liturgy

Laptop Music Welcome

6.00 n/a n/a Filipino Choir

7.30 n/a n/a n/a

9.00 S Macgeachie

Kate Gordon Hugh McFarland

Families Come Gather

Gai Hamer

9.30 Priscilla Chang L Richard

Chil-dren’s choir

6.00 n/a Youth Band

Travel Assistance—can you help?

If you can assist with or need transport to

and from Mass, please contact the parish

office on 9949 4455.

Sisters of St. Joseph urgently require UNCUT-

USED STAMPS. These stamps are trimmed, sorted

and sold—the proceeds going to Sisters Mission in

Peru. If anyone has a business or access to large

numbers of stamps please contact Carmel 9938 1103

to arrange for collection.

Meditation with Fr. Dipi.

Tuesdays at 9.15am &Thursdays

6.30pm.

Sessions will be held in the chapel or

church at St Kieran’s, Manly Vale.

Everyone is welcome.

LOW-GLUTEN COMMUNION HOSTS

If you are gluten intolerant, low gluten hosts are

available at the church. Let the priest know prior to

Mass to receive one at Communion.