The Mystery of Mercy - St Ignatius Catholic ChurchChristmas/New Year & regular meetings will...

MASS TIMES

ST IGNATIUS Toowong: Weekdays 5.30pm every afternoon; Saturday 9.00am & 6.00pm (Vigil); Sunday 7.00am & 5.00pm.

Reconciliation: Saturday after 9.00am Mass and from 5.15pm to 5.45pm, or by appointment. HOLY SPIRIT Auchenflower: Weekdays 9.00am Monday, Wednesday & Friday; Sunday 8.30am.

We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity, and peace. Our salvation depends on nit.

Mercy: the world reveals the very mystery of the Most Holy Trinity.

Mercy: the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us.

Mercy: the fundamental law that dwells in the heart of every person who looks sincerely into the eyes of his brothers and sisters on the path of life.

Mercy: the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to a hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness.

Mercy will always be greater than any sin, and no one can place limits on the love of God who is ever ready to forgive.

I have chosen the date of 8 December because of its rich meaning in the recent history of the Church.

The Council Fathers strongly perceived, as a true breath of the Holy Spirit, a need to talk about God to men and women of their time in a more accessible way. The walls which too long had made the Church a kind of fortress were torn down and the time had come to proclaim the Gospel in a new way.

We re call the poignant words of Saint John XXIII when, opening the Council, he indicated the path to follow: “Now the Bride of Christ wishes to use the medicine of mercy rather than taking up arms of severity … The Catholic Church, as she holds high the torch of Catholic truth at this Ecumenical Council, wants to show herself a loving mother to all; patient, kind, moved by compassion and goodness toward her separated children.”

Extract from “Misericordiae Vultus” - Pope Francis

3rd Sunday Advent 13th December 2015

Year C

Holy Spirit Church Harriett Street, Auchenflower

St Ignatius Church Kensington Terrace, Toowong

The Mystery of MercyThe Mystery of MercyThe Mystery of MercyThe Mystery of Mercy

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The Year of Great Jubilee: A Call To Mercy—8th Dec. marked the beginning the year of Great Jubilee, the Year of Mercy. Pope Francis calls each of us in a special way in this year: ‘The call of Jesus pushes each of us never to stop at the surface of things, especially when we are dealing with a person. We are called to look beyond, to focus on the heart to see how much generosity everyone is capable of. No one can be excluded from the mercy of God; everyone knows the way to access it and the Church is the house that welcomes all & refuses no one.’

Ecumenical Social Justice Group Western Suburbs Meeting Monday 14 December, 7.30pm at St Thomas Anglican Church, Toowong. All are welcome. We are again collecting non perishable food items &other goods for hampers for refugees. Thank you for your support.

The Trading Circle, Brisbane is celebrating 20 years of empowering women and girls to trade out of poverty. The Trading Circle is a not for profit organization and is a project of the Good Shepherd Sisters. Through skills training, we provide an opportunity for women & girls in developing nations to earn a sustainable income which allows them to support their families and live with dignity. We are holding a celebratory instore event on Thurs 17 December, 6–9pm at 100 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington. The event will include a photographic display of the women involved in the project, light refreshments, enter- tainment, store wide discounts (with some exclusions), a visit from Santa and free gift wrapping.

Catholic Mission’s ‘Life-Giving Gifts’. Give a gift wrap- ed in love! For people who are passionate about making a difference globally. A selection of gifts that will truly have a lasting impact for those in desperate need around the world. Choose from 2 categories: tax-deductible gifts (go towards child-focused community-based develop-ment projects ie water, sanitation, agriculture, jobs etc & emergency relief programs) OR non-tax-deductible gifts (go towards faith-based and welfare projects ie running of orphanages & feeding programs; training seminarians, novices & catechists; building/renovating churches or schools etc. Call the Donor Service Team 1800 257 296 (toll-free) or go online at catholicmission.org.au/gifts

Readings: 3rd Sunday Advent: Zephaniah 3:14-18. Philippians 4:4-7. Luke 3:10-18.

Next week: 4th Sunday Advent: Micah 5:1-4. Hebrews 10:5-10. Luke 1:39-44.

Entrance Antiphon: ?

Spoken Response: Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

Sung Response: All the Ends of the Earth have seen the Power of God (repeat) (Refrain 1)

Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, Alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring Good News to the poor. Alleluia!

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

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Full Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola, from mid-March 2016. Accompanied individually over 30 wks in daily life. A prayer pilgrimage. For further information and application forms contact below (by Feb 2016).

Aust Centres of Ignatius Spirituality— 2016 Program is available online now via link on parish website. Please note, hard copies of same should be available soon from both churches or contact Faber Centre for a copy.

Discover & Discern God Acting in My Life. 2, 4 or 6 days. Monday 11 (6pm) — Sunday 17 January (3pm). Silent, Individual-directed. Fr John Reilly sj. Held at the Santa Teresa S.C., Ormiston. Accommodation & meals $135 p/day. Suggested donation for direction $20 p/day.

For info. and / or bookings please phone 3368 2450 or E: fabercis@bigpond.com | www.faberspirituality.org.au

PARISH CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS 2015

Please note altered Christmas Mass times from last year.

** RECONCILIATION ~ Tuesday 22 December

at Holy Spirit Church 7pm.

Christmas Eve: Holy Spirit Church 5pm.

(Thurs 24/12): St Ignatius Church 7pm & 10pm.

Christmas Day: St Ignatius Church 8am.

(Friday 25/12) Holy Spirit Church 9am.

NB: No 9am Mass (St Ignatius) on Sat 26/12.

New Years Day: Holy Spirit Church 9am.

(Friday 1/1/16) St Ignatius Church 5.30pm.

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New deacons' ordination on Saturday 28th November Justin Glyn SJ and Sidelezio Pereira SJ were ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Greg O'Kelly SJ in St Carthage's Church, Parkville, Vic.

'We received special permission from Rome to ordain him (Justin) a year early, as there was no other theological field remaining for him to study', said Fr Byrne (his superior). 'The permission came from Rome, and the only people able to read the Latin were Justin and some of the older Fathers in the community.'

Parishioners may remember Justin from when he spent a couple of months in our parish, July—Sept 2010, when he was a Jesuit scholastic. We offer him our congratulations on his ordination to the diaconate.

Remember the Society of St Vincent de Paul

Toowong Conference at the ‘Giving Tree’

during Advent (at both churches).

Take a marked envelope from under the tree

include your offering (cash or credit card) to assist

the poor and place on collection plate at weekend

Masses (please do not leave money at the tree).

Tax deductible receipts will be issued

if name and address is supplied.

Your support is much appreciated.

Your Prayers Are Requested For All Parishioners & friends who are sick and in need All Parishioners & friends who are sick and in need

SSICKICK::: Gladys O’Brien, Judy Galarza, Elizabeth Anna, Cirino Quagliata, Merryn Morris, Maria Rego, Jenny Reed, Philip Donaldson, Del O’Sullivan, Patti Smith, Edna & Dan Winkel.

RRECENTLYECENTLY DDECEASEDECEASED:: Fr Vince Hurley sj, Sr Rosaleen Hynes rsm.

AANNIVERSARIESNNIVERSARIES: : Percival Hanlon Snr.

PARISH NEWS 1. Members of St Ignatius Parish and Jesuit Community will be going to Jesuit Province Meeting in Sydney this coming week (14—16 December). 2. Fr Peter will be away this weekend and Fr Gaetan will depart Monday after the 9am Mass at Holy Spirit. During Frs Peter and Gaetan’s absence this week there will be Communion Services at St Ignatius Monday—Wed. and Holy Spirit on Wed.

CWL TOOWONG BRANCH Our final meeting for the year is on Monday 14 December after the 9am Mass at Holy Spirit. NB. No meeting in January.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL, TOOWONG Last meeting for the year is on Tues 15 December at 7.45pm in Horstmann Room. Our group will take a break from meetings over Christmas/New Year & regular meetings will resume as of Tues 19 January 2016.

CHRISTMAS EVE VIGIL MASS (HOLY SPIRIT) Children who will be attending the Vigil Mass Christmas Eve (5pm at Holy Spirit) Thursday 24 December are invited to dress up in costume (Mary, Joseph, Angel, Shepherd etc) to celebrate Christmas.

THANKS & APPRECIATION to both the co-ordinators and volunteers who assist with hospitality, every Sunday after 8.30am Mass at Holy Spirit & the monthly ‘Expect-a-Cuppa’ at St Ignatius. NB. ‘Expect-a-Cuppa’ will not be held in January. However, Holy Spirit will continue to serve a cuppa each week as normal.

THANK YOU & FAREWELL We offer our sincere thanks & gratitude to Myra Matthews, who has been OHP volunteer at St Ignatius Church and most recently also the roster co-ordinator for same. Myra has accepted a new job and will be relocating away from Brisbane in early January. We wish Myra all the best for her future.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (St Ignatius Church) 1. ALTAR SERVERS. Saturday 6pm Vigil Mass in particular is in need of new volunteers (adult or child) to be altar servers; although any weekend Mass would appreciate new/more volunteers. If you would like more information for yourself or your child to become an altar server please call Tony Castel 0438 192 298 (St Ignatius altar server co-ord.). Training available. 2. OVERHEAD PROJECTOR OPPERATORS & ROSTER CO-ORDINATOR. Please consider joining the roster for operating OHP (at weekend Masses) &/or becoming the roster co-ordinator for same, it is a very simple role and I can teach you everything you need to know in about 30 mins! A handover package will be created to help with the transition. For more info. please email Myra on myra_mathews@yahoo.com.au

COFFEE AND CHAT Ladies of the parish held their final gathering of the year on Tues 24 Nov and on this pre-Christmas occasion took up a collection for the ‘139 Club’; collecting $150. Thank you to all who contributed to this. NB. No gatherings held in December or January and all ladies welcome to join us at our next gathering in 2016 —Tuesday 23 February. Please mark your diaries!

* DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO CAN SING THAT MIGHT WANT TO JOIN OUR PARISH? Invite them to join us for Advent and Christmas. The only commitment is to

come 45 minutes before Mass to rehearse the music. All welcome!

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DECEMBERDECEMBERDECEMBERDECEMBER 13 3rd Sunday Advent

14 -16 Jesuit Province Meeting (Sydney)

15 7.45pm SVdP Meeting—Horstmann Rm

20 4th Sunday Advent

Baptisms: 8.30am — Holy Spirit and 10.30am—12noon & 5pm—St Ignatius

22 7pm Parish Advent Reconciliation—H/S

24 CHRISTMAS EVE

Parish Office closes midday (til 27/1/15)

Masses: 5pm Holy Spirit and 7pm & 10pm St Ignatius

25 CHRISTMAS DAY

Masses: 8am St Ignatius and 9am Holy Spirit.

26 Boxing Day

No 9am Mass (at St Ignaitus)

31 New Years Eve

JANUARY 2016JANUARY 2016JANUARY 2016JANUARY 2016 1 New Years Day

Masses: 9am Holy Spirit and 5.30pm St Ignatius

3 The Epiphany of the Lord

Baptism: 10.30am—St Ignatius

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS 3rd Week Advent (C/2)

1st Reading Gospel

Mon: Numbers 24:2-7,15-17. Matthew 241:23-27 Tues: Zephaniah 3:1-2,9-13. Matthew 21:28-32. Wed: Isaiah 45:6-8,18,21-26. Luke 7:19-23. Thu: Genesis 49:2,8-10. Matthew 1:1-17. Fri Jeremiah 23:5-8. Matthew 1:18-24. Sat: Judges 13:2-7, 24-25. Luke 1:5-25.

Available Now (on rotary stands or at church doors)

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLICS Christmas: Free. AUST. JESUITS COMPANIONS Summer: Free. BRIS WEST DEANERY NEWSLETTER : Free. APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYER November: Free. AUST CENTRES OF IGNATIUS SPIRITUALITY— 2015 Program book: Free. 2016 BREAK OPEN THE WORD: $10 — Please put money in envelope supplied with book and place on the collection plate. MADONNA MAGAZINE Summer: $11. — FYI: Personal or gift subscriptions available to Madonna magazine— $39 for 1 year. Take a form from rotary stands or P: 1300 728 846. THE CATHOLIC LEADER Weekly: $2. — FYI: Take a ‘postcard’ from rotary stands to subscribe for either newspaper: $90 or digital issue: $50 (per 50 issues) or P: 3336 9100.

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* Christmas Cards: pack of 5: $2.50 ea * 2015Columban Art Calendars: $9ea

Sales aid Toowong conference of Society of St Vincent de Paul

PARISH COLLECTIONS: Including Clergy Support: $3,987, Other: $310.

Parishioners please note the Parish Office will be closed from midday Thursday 24

December 2015 until Wed. 27 January 2016.

Parish WEBSITE www.stignatiustoowong.org.au Current Newsletter now on our website!

When making out your will please consider the needs of the parish

Queensland’s Privacy Scheme and the Commonwealth Government’s legislation deals with the manner in which private sector organisations may record, use, store and disclose information, including health information, collected from individuals. The Parish of Toowong is committed to upholding and implementing the Privacy Principles set out in both the legislations and Privacy Scheme and by the Archdiocese of Brisbane. A copy of the Parish's Privacy Policy is available to any parishioner by contacting the Parish Office on 3870 7818 during office hours.

Jesuit Community of Qld

Fr John Reilly SJ Superior

Fr Peter Quin SJ PP

Fr Gaetan Pereira SJ APP

Fr Ian Howells SJ

Faber CIS, Bardon

Director: Fr John Reilly SJ

PA to the Director:Sharyn Price

Phone: 3368 2450

www.faberspirituality.org.au

Parish Office Staff

*Sandy Dunne - Admin. & Finance .

*Monica Florence - (Parish Secretary including Newsletter)

*Sacramental Co-Ordinator:

Cathy Bennett (Wed only)

Parish Pastoral Council

Charles Costello—Chair

Finance & Development

David Slater—Chair

Musical Director

Anthony Young

Liturgical Ministry:- Roster Co-ordinators- St Ignatius Church: * Ministry Roster: Josie Hynes 0407 355 811 & Chris Ioannides 0415 624144 *Altar Server Convenor: Tony Castel 0438 192 298 Holy Spirit Church

*Rosters: Pat Lye 3300 1432 *Children’s Liturgy & Altar Server Training: Louise Wellington 3876 8786

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Principal— Roycelyn Wilden APRE— Rachelle Gibson

46 Grove Street, Toowong Qld 4066 .

Phone: 3371 1094

www.stignatiustoowong. qld.edu.au

* OSHC— 3870 3270

Staff meeting each Wednesday 2pm.

PARISH OFFICE INFORMATION Phone: 3870 7818. Fax: 3870 7857. Email: toowong@bne.catholic.net.au Website: www.stignatiustoowong.org.au

Postal Address: 30 Kensington Terrace, Toowong Qld 4066. Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9am—4.30pm.

We are part of the Brisbane West Deanery ~ website: www.brisbanewestdeanery.com.au ~ email: bwdeanery@bne.catholic.net.au

Emergency Contact If you require a priest in an emergency, please phone the parish office and follow the prompts.

OUR MISSION PRAYER

We, the St Ignatius community, are called to live the good news. We pray that we become the people that Jesus Christ called us to be. We pray that we know the Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit

through knowing Jesus in prayer, scripture and liturgy. We pray that we give hope to others by a practical, personal kindness, affirming each person's dignity, worth and destiny in Christ. May we live out this mission of our Christian vocation in the spirit of St. Ignatius.

If only you could feel how much it hurts to be locked up behind the fence.

If only you could know how my tears are falling down every moment.

If only you could know how much it means to me to be a normal person,

Like any other – like people outside the fence.

If only you could see how lonely I am without my family

And knowing they are not safe.

If only you could hear me out and listen to why I came.

If only you could feel the pain inside my chest.

If only you could see how many �mes

I wake up in the middle of the nights,

My blue bag to Nauru wai�ng at my door.

If only you could see how many dreams I have for my future.

(Poem by 17 year old asylum seeker on Christmas Island)

Please note: Any inclusions for the Parish newsletter should be

marked to the attention of Parish Secretary & received, by email or note, at Parish Office no later than 1pm Thursdays.

Thank you.

Reflection by a young person in detention