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St Mark’s Parish Mass Times:
SATURDAY VIGIL: 6.00 pm
SUNDAY: 9.00 am & 6.00 pm
WEEKDAYS: Monday & Friday 8.00 am
Tuesday & Thursday 9.30 am
Wednesday 7.30 am
Saturday 12 noon
RECONCILIATION: Saturday 11.30 am
EXPOSITION: Saturday 11.00 am to 12 noon
BAPTISMS are on the first & third Sundays of the month at 10.30 am. During Lent no Baptisms are celebrated. Parents are asked to book in for preparation on the first Sunday of the month at 4 pm in the Parish Centre (02 9181 1795). Baptisms cannot be booked without attending one of these preparation sessions.
MARRIAGES:
Parishioners intending marriage are asked to notify the Parish Centre at least six months prior to the wedding.
EUCHARIST FOR THE SICK: Anyone who is aware of a Catholic who is sick or housebound should notify the Parish Office so that they can receive the appropriate sacraments.
† LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS 8 December-25 December. Once again,
St Mary’s Cathedral will light up this Christmas with inspiring and reflective projections of the Christmas season. FREE EVENT! St Mary’s Cathedral Forecourt 8-25 December each night from 7.30 pm-12.00 am
www.lightsofchristmas.com.au.
† A DIGITAL AID TO ADVENT: XT3 2016 ADVENT CALENDAR APP—
Start the lead up to Christ’s birth by preparing your heart with the Xt3 Advent Calendar app – filled with reflections, videos and scripture readings to help you go deeper in your faith. Go to www.xt3.com/advent
for more.
† ST PATRICK’S BUSINESS COLLEGE COURCES LTD— enrolments are
now open for our 2017 Diplomas in business and Business Administration. These 40-week courses are ideal for Year 10, 11, or 12 school leavers and provide a viable alternative pathway to career or university. We also assist the majority (well over 90%) of our graduates to find well-paid and enjoyable roles. Contact our director of Education, Anne Fairhall, to
arrange a 1:1 interview to discuss your study options on 0407 278 164.
† CATHOLIC CEMETERIES & CREMATORIA – Annual Christmas
Remembrance Service. Sunday, 18 December commencing at 7.30pm, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney. You and your family are warmly invited to a service to remember family and friends who are no longer with us with music by Artes Christi. For further information please contact 1300 114 997
† HEALING MASS St Joseph’s Enfield—Fri 6th Jan. 7.00pm Reconciliation
& Rosary, 8.00pm Mass followed by Exposition. All welcome.
† CATHOLICCARE: SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE OF SYDNEY FOR 75
YEARS. CatholicCare services assist people to live and thrive at every age. We provide disability services, counselling and support for children, young people and families and deliver aged care services in the home. We can assist you to navigate the new world of the NDIS and My Aged Care. To find out more call 13 18 19, email [email protected] or visit
www.catholiccare.org.
† POSITION VACANT – CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF
SYDNEY. Applications are being considered for the position of Manager, Office for Youth and Young Adults. For further information please visit www.catholicjobsonline.com.au or by contacting Anthony Spata, REACH Human Resources, on 0402 210 055. Applications close Friday,
20 January 2017.
PARISH DIARY 2016/2017
Thursdays (1st of the
month) Commencing
Feb 2017
Social Justice Group 7.30pm—Parish Centre
2nd & 4th Monday of
the month)
St Vincent de Paul Society
7.45 pm—Parish Centre
Mondays to Fridays Morning Prayer 15 minutes prior to Mass
Tuesdays Italian Ladies’ Prayer Group 1.30 pm—Parish Centre
Thursdays (3rd of the
month)
Sunshine Club Lunch 12 noon—Oxford Hotel,
Cnr Victoria & Lyons
Fridays (4th of the
month)
St Mark’s Catholic Women’s
League
2 pm—Parish Centre
ROSTERS The rosters listed below are a reminder only. Please ensure you
check your roster for your service times.
LITURGICAL MINISTERS—18th December
Fourth Sunday of Advent—Yr A
WORD COMMUNION SERVER/
JEM
CHILDREN’S
LITURGY
VIGIL
(Saturday)
T Pattenden J Pattenden
N Duane M Hanvey
R Zoccali
9.00 AM
(Sunday)
B Bateman C Drury J Maniscalco
N Young M Jimenez Y Lee
B Lorizio JEM: V Gardiner
School holidays
6.00 PM
(Sunday)
J Denehy D Moiso
P Harrington M Harrington
T Griffin
THIS WEEK:
ALTAR SOCIETY GP 5
Melissa Cetrola & Karen Cividin
A Palms Encounter with our Catholic Communities in
East Timor: A last minute gift that will deliver the real message
of Christmas and be remembered forever.
Palms long-term volunteers guide this intimate, immersive, inter
cultural experience providing insights that challenge perceptions
and deepen understanding.
Get a Christmas gift voucher for any 2017 Encounter.
Register now for our 2 – 14 April Encounter and receive $400 off a 2nd ticket.
Call Roger on 02 9560 5333 or go to www.palms.org.au/Encounters for more.
The long-awaited promise of God that the saviour would come is now fulfilled in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. There were many expectations of the coming of the Lord. We have heard some of these during our Advent preparation – the hopes of many and the confusion around John the Baptist and him pointing to the one who is to come who is in their midst already. The psalm response is for us to “Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory” and the urgent cry of Advent: Maranatha – Come Lord Jesus.
In today’s Gospel of Matthew (from which we will read throughout the coming year) we hear of the coming of Emmanuel meaning ‘God with you’ echoing the first reading from the prophet Isiah. The long awaited coming of the Messiah is explained by Matthew in words which would satisfy his hearers questions about how this will come about. Joseph, the quiet man of the scriptures, plays a vital role in God’s plan of salvation history. The revelation of the fulfilment of God’s promise is slowly unfolded with the willing cooperation of Mary, Joseph, the shepherd, eventually the Magi, John the Baptist, the disciples and evangelists until the message reaches us today. This revelation of Jesus as the long awaited one, the Messiah, still has a profound effect on us today.
The Lord chose to come in humble and simple ways and our faith response needs to be in simple and profound ways. The orientation of our lives need to centre on this revelation of Jesus as the ‘chosen one’ and to reflect the responses as dispositions of Mary and Joseph in welcoming the Lord into our lives and entering into the mystery of God’s love for us and for our world.
There are many things happening in the world that distress us and cause us unease. We live with great freedom and tolerance in Australia and the rise of fundamentalism within religions and society with quick fix solutions is of great concern. It was no less complex in the time of Jesus. Rapid communication has now let us know what is happening (or at least what is reported to be happening) on the other side of the world. We are sometimes confused at the different messages we receive and wonder who to believe. It is into this bewildering world that Jesus came as a child born of the Blessed Virgin Mary cared for by Joseph. Jesus needs to be the centre of our lives and his Gospel message of simplicity, love, mercy and compassion is what we are to live by.
I am inspired by people of faith who take the message of Jesus to heart and live it courageously. I see elderly people who make great sacrifices to attend Mass each week. They often struggle physically to be here and pray and worship God in the midst of a community of believers. I see young people alive with faith and asking the deep questions and searching honestly to answer the big questions of life. I see married and single people living lives of faith committed to the parish community and to the ministry of the Church, sharing their gifts and working constantly for the good of others – concerned for the poor and those who suffer. May these last days of Advent help us to welcome Christ with joy in the midst of our families and our community.
~ Yours in the Lord Jesus, Fr. Michael McLean, Parish Priest
Parish Priest: Very Rev Fr Michael L McLean PP EV Priest in Residence: Fr Denis Minns OP Pastoral Associate: Sr Antonia Nedu (Mondays & Tuesdays 9 am-5 pm)
Chairperson Parish Pastoral Council: Mr John Perkins School Principal: Ms Rachel Bourke Parish Administration: Mrs Debra Whaley (Mon, Tues & Fr i) & Miss Grace Ukich (Wed, Thurs & Fr i)
Parish Office Hours: Mon & Tues 9 am—5 pm Wed, Thurs & Fri 9 am—3 pm Parish Youth Ministry Co-Ordinator: Miss Grace Ukich ([email protected])
Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A 18th December
Today’s Liturgy - Entrance Antiphon: Isa 25:8
Drop down dew from above, you heavens,
And let the clouds rain down the Just One;
let the earth be opened and bring forth a Saviour.
First Reading: Isa 7: 10-14
The virgin will conceive .
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 21: 1-6. R. cf. vv. 7. 10
Let the Lord enter, he is king of glory.
Second Reading: Rom 1: 1-7
Jesus Christ, a descendent of David is the Son of God.
Gospel Acclamation: Mt 1:23
Alleluia, alleluia!
The virgin will give birth to a son;
His name will be Emmanuel: God-is-with-us.
Alleluia!
Gospel: Mt 1: 18-24
Jesus was born of Mary, the betrothed of Joseph, a son of David.
Communion Antiphon: cf. Isaiah 35: 4
Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son;
and his name will be Emmanuel.
Next Week: The Nativity of the Lord—Year A Isa 62: 1-5; Acts 13: 16-17, 22-25; Mt 1: 1-25
33 Tranmere Street, Drummoyne NSW 2047 Tel (02) 9181 1795 Fax (02) 9819 6406 Email [email protected] Parish Website www.stmarksdrummoyne.org.au
Tues 20th Dec: 10—10.30am Reconciliation
Wed 21st Dec: 8-8.30am Reconciliation
7.30pm Reconciliation (2nd Rite)
@ St. Patrick's Mortlake
Thurs 22nd Dec: 10—10.30am Reconciliation
Fri 23rd Dec: 8.30—9am Reconciliation
Sat 24th Dec: 11am—12noon Reconciliation & Adoration
6pm Children’s Vigil Mass
8pm Vigil Mass
Sun 25th Dec: 12am Midnight Mass
8am Christmas Day Mass
10am Christmas Day Mass
(no evening Mass on Sunday 25th Dec)
PULPIT POINTS:
† Archbishop’s homily: A Knights of Malta conspiracy?
† Monica Doumit: three cheers for Cardinal Pell, man of courage
† Lidcombe milestone: twelve months of Adoration
† Eileen O’Connor Special School opens
† GET YOUR FREE 2017 ROME PILGRIMAGES CALENDAR
† Just before the end: extinction of Christianity in the Middle East looms
† PARISH 2020—a new pastoral project, commissioned by Archbishop Anthony
Fisher OP, which aims to renew and strengthen parishes and communities of
the Archdiocese. Please take a booklet (at the back of Church) for your
information.
† PARISH SAFEGUARDING—interested in volunteering as a parish
safeguarding officer? Assistance is needed in helping spread the message of
safeguarding throughout the Archdiocese of Sydney. Talk to Fr. Michael to be
nominated then contact [email protected].
† ENROLMENTS FOR CHILDREN IN ST MARK’S PARISH are now being
taken. Please pick up an enrolment form from the school office. Interviews
have commenced.
† ST MARK’S SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP was initiated in 2016. The group
plans and implements short-term social justice initiatives in conjunction with the
parish. New members are always welcome. Please join us.
Contact: [email protected]
† RCIA—Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: For those wishing to make the
journey of becoming a Catholic (ie RCIA—Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults),
there will be information evenings/meetings held every Thursday in the Parish
Centre (upstairs). All enquirers and parishioners are welcome.
† ADULT FAITH FORMATION SHEETS—In the Church foyer are Adult Faith
Formation sheets. Please take one!
† CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY SHEETS—In the Church foyer are children’s activity
sheets. Please take one.
† ‘BREAK OPEN THE WORD’ copies are available in the Sacristy for Ministers
of the Word. Please collect yours.
THANKS to all the young adults who came along to our Advent reflection nights! They were a great opportunity to get to know one another, relax, and do some spiritual prep for Christmas.
Coming in 2017: Youth group for years 5/6/7 —watch this space!
YOUTH SUMMER SCHOOLS OF EVANGELISATION 2017—A Great Summer Retreat! What are you doing this summer? Come on a week-long retreat for young people wanting to encounter Jesus in a new way and share the Christian challenge with others. Theme: “River of Grace” Ezekiel 47:9. Includes lectures and seminars, prayer, music, loads of fun and new friends. Held at Bathurst NSW (8-15 Jan 2017). Run by the Disciples of Jesus Community for over 25 years. For ages 16-35. For more info see www.summerschool.org.au or contact Grace Ukich.
If you’d like to know more about youth ministry, become involved by joining a youth or young adult group, or assist in this ministry as a volunteer (all ages welcome), please fill in an expression of interest form and place in the box at the back of the church. Or contact Grace Ukich (youth ministry co-ordinator) directly 9181 1795 [email protected]
Please join us in praying for our young people!
~Family Prayer for Advent ~
God of Love, Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us.
He is a sign of your love. Help us walk in that love
during the weeks of Advent, As we wait and prepare for his coming.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Saviour.
Amen.
An important ministry of St Mark’s is visitation of the sick, and
the taking of Holy Communion to them in their homes. This is
especially important at Christmastime. Do you know a Catholic
in the parish who is unwell or housebound who may
appreciate receiving Communion at home? Please contact the
parish office 9181 1795.
Welcome! We welcome into our faith community this Sunday
through the Sacrament of Baptism at St Mark’s:
Adeline Grace McMahon &
Rafael Angelo Issa and congratulate their parents.
Fr Michael & Fr Denis would like to warmly thank the members of our parish
community for their kindness and generosity during this Christmas season. Your
good wishes, prayers and thoughtful gifts are much appreciated.
If you are new to St Mark’s please pick up an ‘Information
for New Parishioners’ handout from the Leaflet Cabinet
in the Church Foyer.
In your love and concern, please pray for the following ill members of our community—Carlo Balacco, Bruce Barter, Betty Bidgood (nee Mason) & Jeff Bidgood, Mae Ann Buckley; Fred Camilleri, Pat Castagnone, Zachary Chidiac, Evelyn Dann, Meagan Ficarra, Daisy Gill, Alan Gill, Julie Grady, Giovanni Iacono; John Latin, Lynette Lord, Wendy Madden, Peter McGill, Margaret Micheletti, Fr Kevin Muldoon, Shirley O’Hare, Carina Partington, Hilda Reeves, Molly Wark, Anne Whitfield, Ceeying Wong, James Biddle and all community members unwell at this time.
Recently Deceased: Luigi Favari Albert, Maria Agrillo, Janice Casey, Marlene Griffin, Lina Lanciani
Anniversaries and those we are remembering at this time: Salvatore, Giuseppina , & Ida Di Prima; Barry Bautouich; Veronica Hamilton; Onofrio (Norm) Restuccia; Br James Maher
Welcome
SCHOOL REFERENCES FROM THE PARISH—If you require a high school reference from Fr Michael/Fr Denis, please submit to the parish office all of the
following documentation—
1 The relevant part of the School Nomination Form to be filled out by the Parish Priest with details—such as the name of your child, start year for the
high school, Parish and Parish Priest;
2 A photo of your child who is being nominated, with the other members of the
family, if possible (family photo);
3 One-page biography of family’s major involvements and commitments in the life of the parish and primary school, past and present, including membership
number in the Parish Planned Giving Envelope system if appropriate;
4 Other relevant information, eg community roles, other financial commitments
to the parish and schools;
5 A stamped, pre-addressed envelope addressed to the school.
The Parish Priest Reference is sent directly to the high school. Thank you.
Information for parents re Year 7 enrolments in Sydney Catholic Systemic
Secondary schools
From 2017, all Sydney Catholic Secondary schools will be enrolling students for
Year 7 two years before their intended start date.
This means that, for studnets in Year 5 in 2017, enrolment applications, interviews and offers of places will be conducted at Sydney Catholic Secondary
schools over their course of 2017.
The earlier enrolment timing will give parents greater assurance of securing a place for their child so that they can follow a continuous Catholic education pathway from Kindergarten to year 12. For more information, please contact the
principal at your child’s Sydney Catholic School.
Parishioners are asked to contact the parish office (02 9181 1795) if they need
pastoral support and guidance regarding the arrangements of funerals of loved
ones. In order to facilitate the smooth planning of a funeral, the parish needs to
be contacted to ensure the Church is available, as well as Clergy, before funeral
directors are arranged. Thank you.
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped distribute the Christmas flyers to
the neighborhood! This is a wonderful ministry that helps invite our broader
community to encounter the peace and joy of Christ in the Mass at
Christmastime.
THE VINNIES GIVING TREE
Thank you for your generosity. All gifts received will be
distributed to those in need this weekend.
CHRISTMAS HAMPER DELIVERY
On Sunday 18 December we will be delivering Christmas hampers to those in
need within our local area.
If you would like to help with the delivery of hampers please meet in the Church
Hall at 10am (just after 9am mass). We will start delivering hampers from 10am
that day. Further information will be provided on the day.
CHRISTMAS CARDS AND CALENDARS
Christmas cards and calendars will be available near the doors at the entrance to
the Church at all Masses leading up to Christmas. Calendars can be purchased
for $9.00 and cards can be purchased by leaving a gold coin donation in the jar
on the table.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
We would like to sincerely thank you again for your ongoing support. Our
Christmas appeal held at the beginning of the month raised $13,531.70 in
donations. This, coupled with the Winter appeal will enable us to deliver over 400
food hampers and other goods and services to those in need through-out the
year. We visit approximately 6 people/families every week.
If you have any questions or would like to join us please contact Jacquie Erwin,
President of the St Marks Conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society, through
the Church office.
Condolences
We offer our condolences to the family of Luigi Favari,
who passed away this week. May he rest in peace.
Want to know more about what
Catholics believe?
RCIA (Right of Christian Initiation for Adults) program takes
place on Thursday evenings. Want to know more? Want to join
a group in 2017? Please contact the parish office. All welcome.
The 2017 Parish and School Calendar is now
available. Please take one copy for your family and
use it over the coming year to refer to key events in
the Parish and the School. Please note the 2017
Calendar has already been distributed through the
School.
Congratulations to Lara Nero, from Year 6 at St Mark’s, on winning the
Archbishop’s Choice Award in Sydney Catholic School’s annual Christmas
Story Art Exhibition and Competition 2016. Our parish community is very
proud of you!
