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Holy Spirit Catholic Parish Burdekin Ave, Amaroo, ACT
Supporting and supported by Holy Spirit, Good Shepherd, Mother Teresa Primary Schools and St John Paul II College
16-17 December 2017 Third Sunday of Advent -Year B
Email: [email protected] Parish website: www.holyspiritgungahlin.org.au
News this Week Giving Weekend St. Vincent De Paul,
Toora Womens Inc Christmas Nativity
for children - sign up forms in foyer
Christmas Cards - available in the Church foyer
Christmas and holiday roster availability - forms available in foyer
New publications—Chosen - daily Advent reflections and FRANKLY are available now to purchase
Farewell to Jazz
Upcoming Events Advent and
Christmas happenings – see inside
Archbishop's Christmas Appeal - 24/25 Dec 2017
Charismatic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Thanksgiving Mass 5 January 2018
Readings: Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1: 6-8, 19-28; Entrance Antiphon: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice, Indeed, the Lord is near. Responsorial Psalm: My soul rejoices in my God. Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring Good News to the poor. Alleluia! Communion Antiphon: Say to the faont of heart: Be strong and do not fear. Behold, our God will come, and he will save us. Liturgy Help
A Gospel Reflection
Helpful hints for this week’s readings
IT COSTS TO BE JOHN THE BAPTIST
“Back off! Who do you think you are?
So many times as a teenager I kept quiet when I needed to speak up. Or I lashed out and attacked people who disagreed with me. Scientists talk about this as the flight-or-fight response, two reactions that seem built into us for responding to an attack.
When you stand up for what is right, some people will try to quiet you with hostile looks or comments. That’s what happened to John the Baptist. The people asking questions in this Gospel came from the religious leaders who eventually helped kill Jesus. They came because John’s message, like Jesus’ message, threatened them and they wanted him to back off. His words called them to change, to give up their status, power and privilege. John didn’t back off. But he also didn’t attack them. John found a third way that went beyond flight or fight.
This Advent, if you choose to be John the Baptist, you’ll face the same thing. There’s no way around it. Standing up for what’s right, for the weak and vulnerable, almost always angers some people. How will you handle it? Will you follow John’s example and stand strong for your Christian beliefs without retaliating?
Sometimes you’ll fall short. If so, don’t get down on yourself. Pray for strength to stay firm but peaceful next time. Find the people in your life who will back you. God gave them to you for support in tough situations.
Through it all, remember that God believes in you and that you make a difference each time you try to take that tough stand.
Who can I turn to for support when I’m attacked for living like John the Baptist? On the Way Home from Mass … What are some ways the liturgy today reflected Christ’s light in deed and symbol?
Copyright © 2014 GPBS, All rights reserved
First Reading: Diadem ….DAI-uh-dehm Gospel: Jerusalem...dzeh-ROO-suh-lehm, Elijah…ee-LAI-dzhuh
Hello, I am your
weekly bulletin,
please take me home.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS HAMPER DISTRIBUTION THIS WEEKEND
This weekend the parish is invited to assist the St Vincent de Paul members to distribute Christmas hampers after all the Masses. Maria Stark, St V d P
President will briefly explain some information to parishioners regarding the process and some WHS issues to ensure such a big task goes smoothly. If the people are not at home when you
deliver your hampers, please return them to the St V D P room no later than 6.30pm on Sunday, 17 December.
Thank you to all the members of the St Vincent de Paul Conference in our Parish. You have done such a wonderful job organising the hampers and seeking donations from schools and parishioners. We also thank the schools for their support and all parishioners who have so generously donated to the Giving Tree. We are truly blessed to have such a generous spirit of giving and sharing in the Parish. Fr Mark
Please keep the following individuals in prayer…..
Chaplain Kevin O’Sullivan
and Damien Geary currently deployed in the Middle East
We welcome into our
community through the Sacrament of Baptism
Matthew Lilly Harvey Stewart
Ryan Moyo
For those who are sick Ray Malkeon Cathy Cleary Fiona Jarvis Ray Harris
Maryanne McGrath Rex Sullivan Leonie Jurd
Maria Lipovac Cathy Maher
Elizabeth Vocisano Cody Bonner
Wesley Benedet Sara Biachini Allan Cockroft
Josie Taylor Ada Abyad Betty Willis Luke Ward
Michelle Ryall Olive Cockroft Fiona Moore
Arcangela Sorrentino Marlene Lawless
Jennycar De Jesus Sr Brenda Nash
Gloria De Andrade Michael Rodriguez
Larry Gehrig Tereza D’Souza
Eugene Amity Morris
Ethel Tan Matea
Gim Carey Kerry Glover
Paul Scholtens Ray Jewell Ron Smith
Neville Betts
Recently Deceased Margaret Frawley
Father Gerard Mahoney C.P. Detta Gleeson Mary Loney
Anniversaries Jake Barrett
Peter and Carmel Perry Suzie Blake
Vicente Mercado
Prayer cards are available in the foyer.
Parish News and Activities
For The Chi ldren ! ! Throughout Advent and Christmas, there will be copies of Children’s Worksheets available in the foyer. Please take one home or bring your pencils to work on during Mass as you listen to the readings.
What’s happening this Advent and Christmas
16-17 December 2017
Giving Weekend St. Vincent De Paul
Christmas Hampers will be available
after each Mass for delivery to fami-
lies.
Toora Womens Inc.
Tuesday 19 December 2017
7:00pm Reconciliation Service
8:00pm Christmas Set up (turn church
chairs around) - Help needed
23-24 December 2017
6:00pm Saturday Mass (4th Sunday of
Advent)
8:00am Sunday Mass
9:30am Sunday Mass
Sunday 24 December 2017 | Christmas Eve
7:00pm Children’s Nativity Mass
9:30pm Christmas Carols
10:00pm Christmas Eve Vigil Mass
Monday 25 December 2017 | Christmas
Day
9:00am Christmas Day Mass
St Francis Xavier Hall
Sunday 24 December 2017 | Christmas Eve
7:00pm Carols
7:30pm Christmas Eve Mass
Monday 25 December 2017
| Christmas Day
No Mass on Christmas Day.
Christmas is the time for giving….not just of presents to our families and friends but also of
ourselves, for giving of our time and sharing with those less fortunate than ourselves. Here are some
ways you can contribute this year.
Delivering Christmas hampers
This is a very rewarding experience and a great way to give to people in our
community who need our support this Advent season. Christmas Hampers will be
available for collection after each Mass on the weekend of 16/17 December.
All hampers will be sorted by suburb for easy delivery. Please collect a hamper
from the School Hall after Mass. Due to demand we will require many families to
help deliver hampers.
Donating to St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal envelopes are available in the
foyer.
Parish Advent Giving - This year as a Parish we would like to support Toora Womens Inc. Toora
Womens Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation supporting women with complex issues who have
experienced past or present traumas such as:
domestic and sexual violence
the impact of their own or another’s drug and alcohol use and/or mental health issues
homelessness or needing support to stay out of the homelessness system
the ACT corrections system
Donations can help women who are escaping domestic violence get a new start in life.
Collection baskets will be at Church entrance for next two weekends
ARCHBISHOP CHRISTMAS APPEAL 2017 This year the Archbishop's Christmas Appeal will be used to support the ecumenical Christmas Bowl and its work in Australia and beyond; Diocesan projects locally and the Wilcannia Forbes Diocese and the Wilcannia Hub project. Globally, the Dioceses of Otukpo, Nigeria and Tagbilaran, Cebu, Philippines for their Diocesan Seminary. And to provide support for a school bus to transport young children to school from poor surrounding villages within the La Salette Matha Province in India and student assistance at Bethlehem University in the Holy Land. This Appeal will be conducted at the Christmas Masses. Thank you for your generous support. Fr Mark
PARISH OFFICE OPENING HOURS OVER THE HOLIDAY PERIOD
The Parish Office will be closed the week between Christmas and New Year and will re-open on Tuesday, 2 January 2017 for
reduced hours. We can be contacted via email at [email protected] . Alternatively, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.
Grounds Maintenance A big thank you to everybody who came last Saturday to help with the
Church grounds maintenance. Many people turned up and I want to thank you all. Fr Mark
Sacramental Information
Parish activities
Youth News - Farewell to Jazz
Baptismal Information Session
For parents presenting their child for Baptism. The next session will be held on Sunday 28 January 11am in the parish rooms. For more information on the
Sacrament of Baptism, please visit our Parish website.
Parish News and Activities
HOLY HOUR OF POWER Charismatic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Thanksgiving Mass will be held at 6.30pm on Friday in the Church - the first Friday of the month.
Thank you to all the young people and parents who were a part of the two Youth groups that I was running this year. It has been an amazing journey and pleasure to work with the young people and their families in our Parish. God bless Jazz
Children’s nativity play
All children are invited to participate in
the Parish Christmas Nativity
at Mass on Christmas Eve, Sunday 24
December 2017. If your child would like
to be involved please fill out the online
form on the parish website or collect a
form in the foyer.
Volunteers needed to help with Christmas Eve Lunch for folk who are looking for friendship and company at Christmas time. To be held at the Salvation Army Church, Sunday, 24 December at 12 noon. If you can help please call 6242 6037.
Sacrament of Reconciliation Tuesday 19 December
at 7pm Holy Spirit Parish Church.
Come along, quieten yourself and prepare your mind and soul for the true meaning of Christmas.
A coffee mug for you… Our Parish has some special mugs for sale. These mugs gives us identity that we all belong to Holy Spirit Parish Community. The proceeds of the sale of the mugs will go towards upgrading our Priests vestments, candle holders, Sacramentary, Lectionary etc. Our first order has arrived, with limited stocks. Please fill in a form in the Church foyer to purchase one of these special mugs and we will have them for you to collect and pay for over the next few weeks. The cost of each mug is $15.00.
This week we say goodbye to Jazz who is leaving us to return to Sydney for her new adventure. We are grateful for all the work she has done with the children during this year. We wish her the best of luck in her new endeavours. God bless Fr Mark and Parish team
Altar Servers Christmas Party We would like to thank all the wonderful Altar Servers who attended the Altar Servers Christmas party on Monday. A great night was had by all. A special thank
to Dennis, Stella and Iris who are always there to help assist the Altar Servers. And to Grace and Emma who assist with the training. For those who could not attend please see the Mass Coordinators after Mass to collect your special gift from Father Mark and the Parish team.
Children’s nativity play Practice times
Saturday 23 December 8:45am-11am
Sunday 24 December 11am-1pm (BYO Lunch)
Don’t forget your water bottles!
Collect a sign up form from the foyer or register online!
MUSIC MINISTRY PRACTICE TIMES
6:00pm Tuesday 19 December— For Reconciliation Service
8:00pm Tuesday 19 December— Learn New Carols for
7pm/10pm Christmas Masses
7:00pm Thursday 21 December— For Christmas Masses
11:00am Saturday 24 December— For 7pm Children’s Mass
All Welcome!!
Please contact Theivani 0472 921 518 or
[email protected] for more
information.
Thank you to the organisers of the annual Ladies Breakfast in the parish on Saturday, 2 December. Held in the Hall because of the increasing number of women coming together, guests included a group of teenage girls from Merici and John Paul II Colleges. New parishioners were also welcomed by the organisers from the Parish Call to Connect group. Guest speaker Loretta Wholley, Principal, Merici College, Canberra spoke about her tour to Lourdes, Fatima and Rome and inspired all with her anecdotes and stories from her trip. CTC is an Archdiocesan initiative where women come together to pray, share and support one another. For further information about CTC contact Beth Forshaw on 6242 5191 and check out the Parish Facebook page to see a few photos from the breakfast event.
Christmas Church Set up and Pack Up
Can you give a little bit of your time to help?
19 December 2017 | Tuesday
2:00pm – Reconciliation Service Set up
8:00pm – Reconciliation Service Pack up
8:00pm – Christmas Set up Stage 1 – Church
20 December 2017 | Wednesday
6:30-8:00pm – Christmas Set up Stage 2 – Hall
21 December 2017 | Thursday
10:00am – Music Ministry changeover
23 December 2017 | Saturday
8:00am – Church Cleaning, Fresh tree set up
24 December 2017 | Sunday
10:30am – Christmas Set up Stage 3 – Final set up,
Banners and church decorating
and Church Cleaning
27 December 2017 | Wednesday
9:00-10:00am – Pack up after Christmas
Our Parish Schools Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School & Early Learning Centre Mapleton Ave and Wimmera St, Harrison Principal: Peter Hughes P: 6241 5604 (Primary School) 6241 3211 (ELC)E:[email protected]
Saint John Paul II College Gungahlin Drive, Nicholls Principal: Catherine Rey P: 6163 4800 E: [email protected]
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School & Early Learning Centre Kelleway Ave, Nicholls Principal: Brad Gaynor P: 6241 8640 E:[email protected]
Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School Burdekin Ave, Amaroo Principal: David Austin P: 6255 7888 E:[email protected]
Sunday Mass Times Holy Spirit Amaroo Saturday 6:00pm Sunday 8:00am, 9:30 am (Children’s Liturgy in term time) and 5:30pm
St Francis Xavier, Hall 2nd and 4th Sun at 8.30am
Weekday Masses (at Amaroo) Tues 9:15am Wed 7:00am Thurs 9:15am Fri 7:00am
Reconciliation Sat 5:15-5:45 pm
Communion: Sick and Housebound Please contact the Parish Office
Anointing Mass Thursday 25 January at 9.15am
Baptisms, Marriages & Funerals By Appointment
Parish Pastoral Council Michael Gregory E:[email protected]
St Vincent de Paul Maria Stark on 0411164630
Care Group Sonja Vocisano on 0438 699 591
Vinnie Costa on 0410 460 624
Hospitality Group Maureen Hilton
Seniors Group Ruth Schwensen on 6262 2431
Craft Group Beth Forshaw on 6242 5191
Youth Ministry [email protected]
Call to Connect Women's group to pray, share & support Beth Forshaw on 6242 5191
Prayer Chain Joe and Irma Jambor 6242 7332 [email protected]
Family Groups Peter Bakker 0407 720737
Couples for Christ Danny & Ner Ambida on 0448 243508
Novena—Mother of Perpetual Help Tom 6253 9779, Parveen 0439 642571 Wednesdays at 6pm-6.45pm in the church
Holy Spirit Prayer Group Kathy Torcasio 0401 920028 Wednesdays at 7:30pm in the church
MenAlive Gathering Steve Seesink 0421635675
Cursillo Movement Gatherings Irma and Joe Jambor on 62427332
Legion of Mary Marie Lazaro 0405669022 Thursday at 7.30pm at the Parish Centre
Music and Young Adults Theivani Evers 0472 921 518
Parish ministries Contact Us Mass Times
A Sunday Story Find us on Facebook:
Holy Spirit Catholic Parish
Gungahlin
Parish Office & Presbytery 93 Burdekin Ave, Amaroo Ph: 6242 9622 Website: www.holyspiritgungahlin.org.au
Parish Priest: Fr Mark Croker Assistant Priest: Fr Jiss Sunny Deacon: Namora Anderson Pastoral Support
Maureen Hilton - Pastoral Care, Baptisms, Funerals, Becoming Catholic (RCIA], Faith Formation E: [email protected]
General Enquiries Magda Baraniecki (Tue - Fri 9am-3pm) E: [email protected] Naomi Johnson (Thu-Fri 9.30am - 5pm)
Planned Giving Gayle Jeffries (7.30am – 3.30pm Tues ) E: [email protected]
Youth Minister Jazz Chalouhi E: [email protected] Sacramental Coordinator (Schools)
Gayle Jeffries
The five-year- old nephew of the bride was chosen to be in charge of carrying the rings down the aisle. At the wedding rehearsal he was unusually unruly. He kept leaping out at people, baring his teeth at and then chasing the flower girls. He growled and snarled as he practiced going down the aisle. He brandished the pillow like a pistol. Finally his mother pulled him aside and demanded to know why he was behaving so badly. “But Mum,” he explained, “I have to act fierce — I’m the ‘Ring Bear.’” Like so many of us that little boy misunderstood just what role he was supposed to play. He thought he was called to be big, imposing, fearsome, large and in charge. He thought he was to BE the “star of the show.” He thought the spotlight was his. But he wasn’t supposed to BE a bear, he was supposed to offer the supportive role of “ring bearer.” His role was important. The pastor, not to mention the bride and groom, needed those rings down front. But the focus of the wedding ceremony was not on the ring bearer. The reason for the wedding celebration was not him. In this week’s Advent gospel text John, the author of the fourth gospel, has no trouble distinguishing the one who “bears witness” to the light from the One who actually IS the light…
