The week before Christmas Day, the Liturgy of the Church changes. At this point, the Advent focus shifts to the Christmas story and the Virgin Mary. These days serve to prepare more directly for the Lord’s birth. It is the best time to hold carols services and to begin to use Christmas carols in the liturgy. During this Christmas Novena weekday Mass will be celebrated in the evening to allow those employed to attend.
THANKSGIVING & BEST WISHES
Best Wishes to Louise & Peter Cannon as they celebrate 50 years of marriage which began in St Francis Xavier’s Church, Box Hill. May the Lord continue to bless you both and your family.
“TIME”- PERSON OF THE YEAR IS POPE FRANCIS
The editor said our Pope has become a new voice of conscience “For pulling the papacy out of the palace and into the streets, for committing the world’s largest church to confronting its deepest needs and for balancing judgment with mercy. Pope Frances is TIME’s 2013 Person of the Year, “ wrote managing editor Nancy Gibbs.
“Rarely has a new player on the world stage captured so much attention so quickly–
young and old, faithful and cynical– as Pope Francis.”
“In his nine months in office, he has placed himself at the very centre of the central conversations of our time: about wealth and poverty, fairness and justice, transparency, modernity, globalization, the role of women, the nature of marriage, the temptations of power.”
A CHANGING ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH IN CHINA
Chinese communists have had an uneasy relationship with Christians. Faced with caring for a growing aged population, the government is welcoming the Churches’ social care. In October at a conference in Shanghai on the role of the Christianity in China, Wang Xinhua, a government official said the Government welcomes the support of the church. Wang spoke of the “beliefs” and “love” expressed by the Church as an advantage to society. Tellingly, he said China’s charitable sector was facing a crisis of confidence due to corruption scandals and that the Church was more trustworthy.
OUR PRAYERFUL SYMPATHY
We offer our prayers and sympathy to Frank Ricciardo and his two sons Nunzio and Anthony as Maria Ricciardo entered eternal life last Thursday. Vigil Prayers and Rosary will be prayed on Wednesday at 7.30pm at St Anne’s Church and followed by Funeral Service next day at 11.30am and committal at Sunbury Cemetery. Both of Maria’s parents died in Sicily during the war when Maria was nine years old and she, the eldest child, was then the carer for her siblings.
KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS CHRISTMAS FUNCTION AND MASS OF REMEMBERANCE
ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL
Our Parish will be supporting St Vincent de Paul Society with Special collections rather than having the Christmas Tree present donation.
Vouchers for gifts deliver the dignity to those families in need to be able to buy the gifts they truly need.
This is only one of two collections our Parish has for St Vincent de Paul.
The work undertaken by the volunteers is central to the message of Jesus– look after the poor and give them the dignity they deserve.
Special Collections will be taken up this week and next week.
TRUTH JUSTICE AND HEALING COUNCIL (TJHC)
The Catholic Church will be the focus of the public hearing in December when “Towards Healing” (the Church document used for handling allegations of abuse) will be examined. Church entities are also likely to be the subject of public hearings in 2014.
The TJHC have prepared some flyers for parishioners to take. They will be in the St Anne’s foyer on the Welcome Desk. We encourage all parishioners to access the website at http://www.tjhcouncil.org.au for regular updates. Also, please continue to pray for those who are suffering from the abuse and betrayal of our Church.
Also, a very important statement is printed in this Newsletter regarding the Churches committment to ensure a safe future for the vulnerable and children.
The Catholic Church in Australia, in its submissions to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and in its communications with both the Catholic and broader communities has made the following commitment:
The leaders of the Catholic Church in Australia recognise and acknowledge the devastating harm caused to people by the crime of child sexual abuse. We take this opportunity to state:
1 Sexual abuse of a child by a priest or religious is a crime under Australian law and under canon law.
2 Sexual abuse of a child by any Church personnel, whenever it occurred, was then and is now indefensible.
3 That such abuse has occurred at all, and the extent to which it has occurred, are facts of which the whole Church in Australia is deeply ashamed.
4 The Church fully and unreservedly acknowledges the devastating, deep and ongoing impact of sexual abuse on the lives of the victims and their families.
5 The Church acknowledges that many victims were not believed when they should have been.
6 The Church is also ashamed to acknowledge that, in some cases, those in positions of authority concealed or covered up what they knew of the facts, moved perpetrators to another place, thereby enabling them to offend again, or failed to report matters to the police when they should have. That behaviour too is indefensible.
7 Too often in the past it is clear some Church leaders gave too high a priority to protecting the reputation of the Church, its priests, religious and other personnel, over the protection of children and their families, and over compassion and concern for those who suffered at the hands of Church personnel. That too was and is inexcusable.
8 In such ways, Church leaders betrayed the trust of their own people and the expectations of the wider community.
9 For all these things the Church is deeply sorry. It apologises to all those who have been harmed and betrayed. It humbly asks for forgiveness.
The leaders of the Catholic Church in Australia commit ourselves to endeavour to repair the wrongs of the past, to listen to and hear victims, to put their needs first, and to do everything we can to ensure a safer future for children.
First published in the Truth Justice and Healing Council’s Towards Healing submission to Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, September 2013
Truth Justice and Healing Council
PO Box 4593 KINGSTON ACT 2604 | Tel: +61 2 6234 0900 | Fax: +61 2 6234 0999
ADVENT MASS WITH ANOINTING OF THE SICK
Friday 13 December 11am Lions Hostel
Tuesday 17 December 2.30pm Goonawarra Nursing Home
Thursday 19 December 10.00am St Anne’s Church
Friday 20 December 10.30am Riddell Gardens Aged Care
CHRISTMAS ON THE GREEN 2013
The Message of salvation through Jesus Christ will be brought to the community by a Nativity Stable, activities and songs on Saturday 14 December.
Festivities on the Village Green start at 5pm, followed by the Carols at 7pm.
Entertainment and Children’s Activities; live crib, food, music 5-7pm
Christmas Carols 7-9pm BYO Chair
Looking for little Angels! Come all heavenly Angels– Dress up children, wear
‘your wings’ and receive a gift!
Volunteers are needed in the following areas:
3-5pm setting up of marquees and nativity stable
5-7 and 7-9pm serving at the food stalls
5-7pm helping with children’s activities
6-9pm keeping grounds and toilets tidy
After 9pm taking down of marquees and stable of our parish donkey
Please find the volunteers sheet on the St Anne’s Noticeboard and sign on to
help making this event a success. If wanting to help with the children’s activities, contact Wilmy 9740 9448.
SCHOOL THANKSGIVNG MASSES
Mass will be celebrated at 10am on Tuesday at OLMC Church and on Wednesday at St Anne’s church. All welcome to give God thanks for the blessings in the school year.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
There is a reason that John the Baptist appears in our Gospel reading for this Second Sunday in Advent calling out, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We might conclude, and not entirely in error, that the reference point is the imminent birth of Christ, the ultimate conclusion of Advent.
However, the meaning of this is much deeper and broader, something which needs to strike a chord in our hearts and in our lives of stewardship. Often we make reference to the fact that stewardship requires conversion. There are actually two accepted translations of μετανοέω/metanoeō, the original Greek word construed as “repent” which begins John the Baptist’s admonition. One is “repent” which is always good advice to us.
The other is “change.” Last week Jesus told us to wake up. This week John the Baptist is telling us to change. Advent is the time for us to come alive, but it is not just an occasion for action. It should also motivate us to alter the way we approach living — to seek ways to live out stewardship in service, in love, and in gratitude.
But, yes, it is a time to be penitent as well. It is a time to repent in the original sense of that word. St. John Chrysostom wrote eloquently on how to repent. He gave us five paths (terms) to lead us to repent: 1. Confession; 2. Forgiveness; 3. Prayer; 4. Almsgiving; 5. Humility. That is good advice for Advent.
Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
“The day is at hand.” (Romans 13:12) “Let us walk in the light of the Lord.” (Isaiah 2:5) These two quotes — the first from Paul’s letter, our second reading, and the second from the prophetic Book of Isaiah (our first reading) — alert us to the fact that this season of Advent is more than just a time to get ready. It is a time to act.
Stewardship is an action word; it is an action concept. It is a reminder that the Lord did not call us to be just a follower; He called us to be a disciple. That means doing things, and this sacred season is a great time to begin doing, or to expand what we are doing, or to improve what we are doing.
The Latin word adventus from which we get the word Advent means “coming.” But who is coming? Of course, we all know the answer to that — Jesus, because we celebrate His birth in just a few short weeks. The Lord reminds us in today’s Gospel that it is not just Christmas we are talking about: “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” When are we to awaken? Now! Why are we to awaken? Because it is time to be spiritually alive and spiritually aware. How do we put our spiritual lives in order? We are to “put on the armor of light.” Jesus is coming, and we must be prepared.
Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
HELP WANTED
On 20 December, we are hoping to set up Rupertswood Stadium for Christmas Eve Mass. If you can assist with setting up chairs in the Stadium from 6pm on 20 December, it would be great. Many hands make light work and it is usually over in about half an hour.
Also, on 24 December, we need attendants to help park cars. Traditionally, we have many people at Rupertswood Stadium and parking is made much easier with the assistance of volunteers. Please advise the Parish Office or Lyn Plummer if you are able to assist with this very important job.
MANY THANKS
Thanks to the generous people of this parish who donated a massive $3157 to the Caritas– Haiyan Typhoon special collection. These funds are desperately needed to help restore essential items to those whose lives have been devastated by the Typhoon.
CHRISTMAS ON THE GREEN 2013
The Message of salvation through Jesus Christ will be brought to the community by a Nativity Stable, activities and songs on Saturday 14 December. Festivities on the Village Green start at 5pm, followed by the Carols at 7pm.
Volunteers are needed in the following areas:
3-5pm setting up of marquees and nativity stable
5-7 and 7-9pm serving at the food stalls
5-7pm helping with children’s activities
6-9pm keeping grounds and toilets tidy
After 9pm taking down of marquees and stable
Please find the volunteers sheet on the St Anne’s Noticeboard and sign on to help making this event a success. If wanting to help with the children’s activities, contact Wilmy 9740 9448.
There will be a get together for the volunteers at St Mary’s Parish House on Saturday 7 December at 8.30am followed by a prayer meeting at 9.30am.
Contact Peter Chivell (Encounter Church) 9744 2220 or 0417 542 545.
TRUTH JUSTICE AND HEALING COUNCIL (TJHC)
The Catholic Church will be the focus of the public hearing in December when “Towards Healing” (the Church document used for handling allegations of abuse) will be examined. Church entities are also likely to be the subject of public hearings in 2014.
The TJHC have prepared some flyers for parishioners to take. They will be in the St Anne’s foyer on the Welcome Desk. We encourage all parishioners to access the website at www.tjhcouncil.org.au for regular updates. Also, please continue to pray for those who are suffering from the abuse and betrayal of our Church.
WORLD AIDS DAY
Sunday December 1 is World AIDS Day. Please spare a thought for our HIV positive brothers and sisters, both locally and around the world, who continue to face discrimination and stigma in addition to the health challenges the virus presents. Next year Melbourne will host the International AIDS conference and the theme is to be “Stepping up the Pace”. Please join with the delegates of AIDS 2014 in demanding an end to stigma and discrimination now and reflect upon, as we all should, how our thoughts, words and actions might perpetuate stigma & discrimination. And remember, there is great hope for people with the virus, provided they can access proper care and medicines, with treatment advances leading to much longer life expectancies.
THE SECOND RITE OF RECONCILIATION
As the Parish will be celebrating the second rite of reconciliation during Advent, parishioners may like to read through this explanation from the Liturgical Commission.
From Liturgy Lines
(Liturgy Lines are short 500-word essays on liturgical topics written by Elizabeth Harrington, The Liturgical Commission’s education officer. They have been published every week in The Catholic Leader [Brisbane] since 1999. They may be reproduced by parishes for private non-commercial use, provided that the copyright line is retained)
The Second Rite of Reconciliation
Communal Reconciliation
Several years after Rome placed greater restrictions on its use, many Catholics still lament the loss of regular celebrations of the third rite of reconciliation. Communal reconciliation is still open to us, however, through the Rite for Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution, the second rite. Celebrated as it is intended, this form can fill the void left by the loss of the third rite.
The second form of the sacrament of penance is not a ‘split-personality’ liturgy in which the first half is a communal celebration and the second half a private one. Sometimes, however, the manner of celebration conveys exactly this impression. I have attended second rites where, after the introduction, liturgy of the word, and examination of conscience, the priests moved to the privacy of the church’s confessionals and sacristies. One by one, people entered these rooms, often for a considerable length of time, to confess their sins and receive absolution. In fact, from this point on it was just like Saturday afternoon confessions, but with several priests and a much bigger crowd. People were even told to leave after they had had their ‘turn’ and not wait around for the concluding rites.
This is not at all what the second rite intends. Such poor celebrations turn people away and deprive them of a wonderful opportunity to experience communal reconciliation which ‘shows more clearly the communal nature of penance’. (Sacrament of Penance #22)
The second form of the sacrament of penance is a communal liturgical celebration from beginning to end. It begins with the community listening to the word of God. The homily emphasises our need for repentance and the infinite mercy of God. During the examination of conscience, the assembly reflects together on where and how they have fallen short of their baptismal commitment to follow Christ.
The individual confession and absolution that follows is communal too in that the penitents approach the confessors in full view of all present. The priests stand at appropriate points around the worship space in such a way that penitents can be seen but not heard by others. This is easily arranged in most churches. Those who wish to confess their sins approach one of the priests. While no restriction is placed on the individual’s confession, good manners and common sense dictate that people limit the time they spend with confessors. More time for integral confession and spiritual guidance is available at the first rite.
It is a moving experience to witness fellow Christians humbling themselves by publicly approaching a confessor for forgiveness. As they do, we pray for them, that they will know the fullness of God’s grace and mercy.
After the confessions, the ceremony concludes with a proclamation of praise, a prayer of thanksgiving and a blessing. These are an integral to the celebration, not an optional extra!
To ensure that the rite is celebrated in a fruitful way, both parishioners and the priests who will take part need to be informed well beforehand about the nature and purpose of the rite and their participation in it.
copyright: The Liturgical Commission
THE YEAR OF FAITH IN TODAYS READINGS
Reflection on the Gospel-Last Sunday in Ordinary Time C, The Feast of Christ the King 24 November 2013
Sister Veronica Lawson rsm
(Luke 23:35-43)
Sadly, there have always been those who scoff at others or make fun of them, generally because they themselves feel threatened in some way. Those on the receiving end of such bullying behaviour often feel powerless and demeaned. There may be some comfort for such people in today’s gospel. It presents a serious case of bullying and two dignified responses that undermine the destructive power of the bullies.
The first dignified response is that of Jesus who refuses to retaliate when the Roman soldiers mock him or when another convicted criminal [‘one of the criminals hanging there’] derides him. Another dignified response comes from ‘the other’ criminal. This man has the insight to recognise that Jesus is innocent. He also has the courage to challenge the injustice of what is going on around him. Having offered his challenge, he then turns to Jesus and addresses him by name: ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ His request reveals his faith in Jesus as the human face of God. It also reveals his knowledge of Jesus’ mission, first announced in Galilee: ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.’
Jesus points to God and God’s reign or empire. Jesus’ convict companion points to Jesus’ reign or empire. The reign of God and the reign of Jesus are one and the same. In turning to Jesus and putting his request, this criminal becomes a disciple and receives the assurance of a share in Jesus’ life with God: ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise.’ ‘Jesus, remember me’ is a fitting prayer in the face of all life’s struggles. Next time we sing these words or pray them in our hearts, we might spare a thought for their author, a convicted Jewish criminal who had the courage to rise above his own suffering and challenge the unjust oppression of an innocent neighbour. Like Jesus, he was and continues to be an instrument of God’s reign.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
You must be logged in to post a comment.