FIRST READING Is 7:10-14

The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No’, Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’

Then Isaiah said:

‘Listen now, House of David: are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men without trying the patience of my God, too? The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign. It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel, a name which means “God-is-with-us”.’

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 23:1-6

(R.) Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.

1. The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples. It is he who set it on the seas; on the waters he made it firm. (R.)

2. Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things. (R.)

3. He shall receive blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves him. Such are the men who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob. (R.)

SECOND READING Rom 1:1-7 From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus who has been called to be an apostle, and specially chosen to preach the Good News that God promised long ago through his prophets in the scriptures. This news is about the Son of God, who, according to the human nature he took, was a descendant of Da-vid: it is about Jesus Christ our Lord who, in the order of the spirit, the spirit of holiness that was in him, was proclaimed Son of God in all his power through his resurrection from the dead. Through him we received grace and our apostolic mission to preach the obedi-ence of faith to all pagan nations in honour of his name. You are one of these nations, and by his call belong to Jesus Christ. To you all, then, who are God’s beloved in Rome, called to be saints, may God our Fa-ther and the Lord Jesus Christ send grace and peace.

THIS WEEKEND’S READINGS—FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT—YEAR A

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Mt 1:23

Alleluia, alleluia! A virgin will give birth to a son; his name will be Emmanuel: God is with us. Alleluia! GOSPEL Mt 1:18-24

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has con-ceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel,

A name which means ‘God-is-with-us’. When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.

God never gives someone a gift

they are not capable of receiving.

If he gives us the gift of Christ-

mas, it is because we all have the

ability to understand and receive

it.- Pope Francis

Read more of Pope Francis’s quotes at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/popefranci676221.html

Our bulletin is sponsored by the Diocesan Investment Fund (DIF) currently paying 2.15% at call. Local Agent: Roberts, First National Real Estate, 10 Bowra Street, Nambucca Heads

Next Week’ Reading (The Nativity of the Lord ) Vigil: Is 62:1-5, Acts 13: 16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 / Day: Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-16; Jn 1:1-18

FOLLOWING THE MISSAL... Preface II of Advent Year A; Eucharistic Prayer II

Catholic Parish of the Nambucca Valley Corpus Christi, Bowraville St Patrick’s, Macksville Our Lady Star of the Sea, Nambucca Heads Christ the King, Taylor’s Arm

Administrator: Fr Shelwin Fernandez

Parish Secretary: Mrs Angela Argent Parish Office: Postal Address: PO Box 38, Macksville 2447 Street Address: 78 Wallace Street, Macksville Telephone: 6568 1107 Fax: 6568 3671 Email: nvparish@lismore.catholic.org.au Urgent Matters: 0481 277 532

Office Hours Monday & Tuesday 8.30am to 2.30 pm Thursday 8.30am to 3.30 pm Nambucca Presbytery:

Telephone: 6568 6642 PARISH SCHOOLS:

St Patrick’s Primary School—Macksville 32 Macksville Height Drive Ph: 02 6568 1397

St Mary’s Primary School —Bowraville Carbin Street, Bowraville Ph: 02 65647369

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR A 18TH DECEMBER 2016

Host and Guest

This time of year is busy. You might find yourself hurry-ing to the shops or trying to deal with so many last mi-nute things. After the angel tells Mary that she is to be the mother of the Lord, she hurries off to be with Eliza-beth. But it is very different from our hurrying.

Mary is hurrying to be with her cousin so that they can share with one another their good news. These two women will celebrate together God’s grace and presence in their lives.

Over the coming days and weeks, many of us will travel to visit family and friends or welcome visitors to our homes. As we open the door to welcome guests, or as we ring the doorbell and wait to be let in, what might this simple story of Mary and Elizabeth teach us?

Elizabeth offers hospitality. In return she is blessed by the presence of the Lord. She recognises, not just Mary, but also the true significance of the child Mary is carrying Elizabeth’s welcome and hospitality can be a model for us.

Every human being, whoever they may be, is created in the image and likeness of God. When we welcome someone to our home, we are welcoming the Lord. The challenge for us as hosts is to see the presence of Christ within every visitor on our doorstep. True hospitality is to offer a welcome that we would offer to Christ himself.

But there is also a message for guests. Mary hurries to see her cousin, and in doing so she brings Christ into the house of Elizabeth. Elizabeth cannot see him, she cannot hear him, but he is there. What a blessing for Elizabeth! Mary also brings support and companionship for Eliza-beth. Together they can share and support one another through confusing and changing times.

It’s tempting to see the role of a guest as someone who receives all the attention. But Mary’s visit is not just to receive. It is also to give; to give the gift of Christ.

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth left the two women full of joy. Mary found joy in being a guest and in receiving the love, kindness and hospitality of Elizabeth. Elizabeth found joy in being a host, because Mary brought not only compan-ionship but also the presence of the Lord.

Today we might ask ourselves, Are we truly hospitable? Is a warm welcome and a helping hand still an Australian value? Do we find the time and make the effort to visit family, friends and those in need? Do we receive new people and visitors with joy and greet them with the de-light of God?

In the coming Christmas and holiday season, may our travels, hospitality and visiting bring us new life. May we find joy in seeing Christ present in all those we greet, and in bringing Christ into the homes and lives of all those we visit. David J. Hore, C.Ss.R © Redemptorists 2012

CATHOLIC LEADERS—$2.50 EA

Welcome everyone! Especially to the new members of our parish and to our visitors from near and far.

ADVENT PRAYER

Lord God, Your witness John the Baptist grew up strong in

spirit and prepared people for the coming of the Lord. He loved your people and baptised them in the River Jordan to wash away their

sins. Help us to have the same love that we would be witnesses to him and spread the good

news of your love. As Christmas draws closer day by day, help us to be ready to welcome him.

Amen.

24th December Macksville

4:30 PM

Commentator E. Bonett C Hong

Reader M Harris C Cresswell

Extra-ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

N Latham, M Schuppe, J Hasson

J Ingold, B Hawkes, J Ryan

Procession of Gifts

Greeters/Hospitality

Altar Servers

Sacristan J Ingold

Counters J & M Harris

Church Caring

Parish Diary Tuesday 20th December

10:00 am Anointing Mass, Riverside Gardens

5:30 pm Anointing Mass, Macksville

Wednesday 21st December

9:00 am Rosary, Bowraville

9:30 am Anointing Mass, Bowraville

Thursday 22nd December

9:30 am Mass & Benediction, Macksville

Friday 23rd December

9:00 am Mass & Benediction, Nambucca Heads

Saturday 24th December CHRISTMAS EVE

4:30 pm Mass, Macksville 6:00 pm Mass, Nambucca Heads

Sunday 25th December CHRISTMAS DAY

12:00 am Midnight Mass, Nambucca Heads

8:00 am Mass, Macksville 9:30 am Mass, Bowraville

FUTURE DATES

NEW YEAR’S EVE & NEW YEAR MASS TIMES

31ST 6:00 PM, Mass, Nambucca Heads

JANUARY

1ST 8:00 AM, Mass, Macksville

9:30 AM, Mass, Bowraville

3rd 10:30 AM, Anointing Liturgy, Pacifica, Nambucca

5th 8:30 AM, Aged and Sick Ministry Meeting

10th 10.00 AM, Mass, Riverside Gardens, Nambucca

21st Parish Auction, Macksville

24th 10:45 AM, Mass, Autumn Lodge, Macksville

26th 7:00 PM Pre-Baptismal Course, Macksville

ST JOHN OF KANTY (23 Jun 1390–24 Dec 1473) Feast: 23 Dec

The people of Olkusz in Bohemia in 1431 had eve-ry reason to be suspicious of their new pastor. They knew what a Cracow professor would think of their small rural town. But even more insulting, their town was once again being used as a dumping ground for a priest who was "in disgrace."

John had indeed been kicked out of his university posi-tion -- unjustly. Rivals who resented John's popularity with the students had cooked up a false charge against him. So at age 41, he was shipped off to be an apprentice pastor.

Certainly no one would have blamed John if he was furi-ous at such injustice. However, he was determined that his parishioners would not suffer because of what he happened to him.

But there was no overnight miracle waiting of him in Olkusz. Despite the energy he put into his new job, the parishioners remained hostile. But John's plan was very simple, and came not from the mind but from the heart. He let his genuine interest and concern for these people show in everything he did. Despite working for years without any sign of success, he was very careful not to demonstrate impatience or anger. He knew that people could never be bullied into love, so he gave them what he hoped they would find in themselves.

After eight years, he was exonerated and transferred back to Cracow. He had been so successful that these once-hostile people followed him several miles down the road, begging him to stay.

For the rest of his life, he was professor of sa-cred Scripture at the university. He was so well-liked that he was often invited to dinner with nobility. Once, he was turned away at the door by a servant who thought John's cassock was too frayed. John didn't argue but went home, changed into a new cassock, and returned. During the meal, a servant spilled a dish on John's new clothes.

WE PRAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY...

Lord we ask healing for those who are sick. We thank you for those who have recovered. We pray for all who have died and those whose anniversaries occur at this time.

SICK: Gloria Connors, John & Lyn Forrester, Janine Hoffman, John Kelly, Marie Junge, Esther Stevens, Frank Davies, Troy Miles, Grant Glasson, Lyn Costa, Ernie Thorne, Kath Nebauer, David Coleman, Baby Lucy Clark

ANNIVERSARY: Laurel Schuppe, Katherine Ryan, Gregory Jones, Fr. Jeremiah Dineen, Jone Moham-mad, John Clough, David Dalton, Rex Tarlinton, Peter Gosson

RECENTLY DECEASED: Rodrick Darcy, Thelma Piper, Monica De Bryon Faes, Reginald Darlington, Kath-leen Owens, Lucille Bosanquet, Neville Spear, Brian Foley, Bill Sanderson, Ronald Gooley, Neville Laverty, Patricia Heap, Winni Kelly, Ben Thompson

If you wish us to visit any family members who are in hospital or infirm, please notify the office.

Ministry Roster—24th & 25th December 2016

24th December Nambucca Heads

6:00 PM

24th December Nambucca Heads

MIDNIGHT

25th December Macksville

8:00AM

25th December Bowraville

9:30AM

C Hong H Forrester

C Cresswell F Costa

J Ingold, B Hawkes, J Ryan P Stewart J Hasson, N Latham,

M Schuppe

U Goodwin,

L Gurtman, B McBride

L Townsend, J Rogers,

R Gleeson, E Costa

J Ingold M Henry

J & M Harris ( 27th December)

Volunteers please

STAMP COLLECTING

Today I received a card from Sr Helen Saunders, rsj thanking our Parish for the support to Mary Mackillop International by supplying and assisting with used stamps.

During 2016 approximately $62,000—which has sur-passed all expectations—was collected. This money helps the Sisters to continue their work in Peru.

I, too, thank all who donate their used stamps. May you be richly blessed. If you would like to pass on your used stamps, at the back of each church is either an envelope or box marked “Stamps”. Again many thanks, Anne-Maree

CHRISTMAS ROSTER—VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (see above)

With Christmas fast approaching, we ask that you volunteer for either commentating, reading, ministers of communion, hospitality ministers, altar serving and sacristans to commit now for one or more of our many Christmas masses.

A sheet is located at the back of the Church—so PLEASE write your name down today, or phone the Parish Office on Monday or Thursday morning. Thank you for your consideration and assistance.

Cont...St. John of Kanty

"No matter," he joked. "My clothes deserve some dinner,

too. If it hadn't been for them I wouldn't be here at all."

Once John was sitting down to dinner when he saw a beg-gar walk by outside. He jumped up immediately, ran out, and gave the beggar the food in his bowl. He asked no questions, made no demands. He just saw someone in need and helped with what he had.

John taught his students this philosophy, "Fight all error, but do it with good humour, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause."

In His Footsteps:

John put all his effort into a new and frightening job, that others might have considered beneath him. Today do something you have never done before or do something in a new way, perhaps something that has frightened you or you felt was beneath you. This can be something as simple as trying a different type of prayer or as complex as serv-ing others in a new way.

Prayer:

Saint John of Kanty, you were unjustly fired from your work. Please pray for those who are jobless or in dan-ger of losing their jobs that they may find work that is fulfilling in every way. Guide us to ways to help those

looking for work. Amen