WEEKLY REFLECTION

Is Jesus “the One” for You?

Is Jesus really “the One”? The answer for this guy I knew was no.

This guy really wanted fame and status. He wanted a big bankbook and all the stuff that comes with it. He wanted popularity. He was, after all, a bartender at a popular bar.

Clearly Jesus wasn’t the One for him. Following Jesus doesn’t guarantee all those things.

John the Baptist had his doubts too, according to this week’s Gospel. But John was

looking for different things. He hungered for a world where people opened their eyes to injustice, where people disabled by disease or poverty could live with dignity, where each

person lived to spread God’s message of peace. Look around, Jesus told John’s followers, and give John hope by telling him about the world I’m creating and teaching others to

create.

How about you this Advent? Is Jesus the One for you? It will depend on what you are looking for in life. He is the One for a lot of people I have worked with, including Jack, who proclaims the Good News to the poor by teaching in one of the remotest parts of Western Australia. He is the One for Cynthia, who gives sight to the blind by leading youth group

discussions about faith and morals at her parish. He is the One for Rob, who opens people’s ears to God’s word by cantoring each Sunday at Mass. If you hunger for the

same world John the Baptist hoped to create, and if you hunger to live a meaningful life, then Jesus is the One for you.

Do others hungers tempt you away from Jesus? As humans we can forget how much

Jesus offers and chase the money, beauty, status, and popularity. I know. The bartender at the beginning of the reflection? That was me! I wasted a lot of time before deciding

Jesus is the One for me. But he took me back and showed me how to make life meaningful.

gIf you’ve been chasing after the wrong things, use this Advent to recommit yourself to Jesus and his mission. If you still have your doubts, that’s okay. Just ask Jesus to clear

them up. John the Baptist did.

How can following Jesus make your life more meaningful and help you change the world? What doubts do you have about committing yourself

to him?

Copyright © 2019 GPBS eNews, All rights reserved.

WEEKLY DIARY

Monday 16 December

8:30am Rosary - St Rita’s Chapel

9:00am Mass - St Rita’s Chapel

9:30am Pro-Life Rosary - St Rita’s Chapel

6:00pm Second Rite of Reconciliation -

St Rita’s Church

7:00pm SVDP Meeting- St Rita’s Ruby

Room

Tuesday 17 December

8:30am Rosary - St Rita’s Chapel

9:00am Mass - St Rita’s Chapel

7:00pm Hosanna Prayer and Praise

Group Mass & supper - St Rita’s Chapel

Wednesday 18 December

8:30am Rosary - St Rita’s Chapel

9:30am Mass - Marebello

9:30am Mother’s Prayers - St Rita’s Chapel

4:00pm Choir Practice - St Rita’s Church

Thursday 19 December

Friday 20 December

8:30am Rosary - St Rita’s Chapel

9:00am Mass and Holy Hour - St Rita’s

Chapel

Saturday 21 December St Peter Canisius

11:00am Mass - Coochiemudlo Island

4:30pm Reconciliation - St Rita’s Church

5:00pm Vigil Mass - St Rita’s Church

Sunday 22 December

7:00am Mass - St Rita’s Church

8:00am Mass, Macleay Island -

Church of the Holy Spirit

9:00am Mass - St Rita’s Church

9:45am Mass, Russell Island - Community Centre, Jackson Rd

6:00pm Mass - St Rita’s Church

Administrator: Fr. Ladu Yanga Parish Secretary: Meagan Ladewig Bay Islands: Fr. James Browne Finance Secretary: Beverley Van Schie Parish Office: 07 3207 9177 Sacramental Team: Dianne Thomas Parish Email: victoriapoint@bne.catholic.net.au Sacramental E-mail: sc.victoriapoint@bne.catholic.net.au Parish Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am-2:00pm School Principal: Ms Carolyn Watson Parish Website: www.stritasparish.org School: 07 3207 6628 Email: pvictoriapoint@bne.catholic.edu.au

Fb: https://www.facebook.com/saintritasvictoriapoint/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/StRitasCatholicPrimary/

third Sunday of advent Year A — 15th December 2019

Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 Psalm 145:6-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11

Next weekend: Isaiah 7:10-16 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25

St. Rita’s Catholic Parish Incorporating Victoria Point, Thornlands South, Redland Bay, Mount Cotton,

Coochiemudlo Island and the Southern Bay Islands. ABN: 25 328 758 007 105

Postal Address: P O Box 5285, Victoria Point QLD 4165

Contact: 07-3207 9177, 3207 9168

The Archdiocese of Brisbane holds that children, young people and

vulnerable adults are a gift from God with an intrinsic right to dignity of life,

respect and security from physical and emotional harm.

They are to be treasured, nurtured and safeguarded by all. This policy applies to Clergy, Religious, Staff, Parishioners, Volunteers,

students on placement and Visitors to our sites.

For safeguarding inquiries or to raise any concerns, disclosures or allegations

please contact our Local Safeguarding Representatives:

Margaret Burkett and Bob Snoke on 0459 494 538

NEWS AND MEETINGS

2nd Rite of Reconciliation: This Rite will be celebrated on Monday 16 December at 7pm in our church. It is a wonderful opportunity to spiritually prepare for Christmas. It involves a communal celebration where we gather and listen to The Word, reflect and make a short individual confession, followed by thanksgiving, a blessing and sending forth.

Mass Ministers needed for Christmas Masses: Mass Ministers if you help at the Christmas Masses, please put your name down on the sign-on sheets at the back of the church. Thank you. Christmas cards and calendars: St Vincent De Paul Christmas Cards and Columban Calendars on sale at the back of the church. Christmas cards: packs of 5 - $2; Packs of 8 - $3; Columban Calendars - $9.

Zumba Gold: Zumba will have their last class for 2019 on 10th December with some nibbles afterwards, a $10 secret Santa

and resume in February 2020. Want to have fun, exercise to music, and be healthy? Come along to the Ruby Room on

Tuesday afternoons 1pm -2pm. Cost $6 each. All welcome. Please contact Linda Whitbourn (0428 419 157).

Hosanna Prayer and Praise Group: We will be celebrating our final meeting with Mass on 17 December with Fr Ladu in

the chapel, following Mass a Christmas supper in the meeting room. We return on the 14th January 2020. We warmly invite

you to join us every Tuesday night at 7pm in the chapel for praise and worship and life sharing. Please contact Angela for

further information on 0407 674 373.

Art Group: Will be finishing with a morning tea on 11 December and resuming on 15 January 2020. Art Group is held every

Wednesday from 10am till 2pm in the Ruby Room, next door to the parish office. Get creative and join in the fun. If you are

interested, we would love you to join us, you are never too old or too young to enjoy art. Simply turn up (bring a lunch), tea &

coffee supplied. For more details contact Bob on 07 3820 7673.

Bible Study: Watch this space - bible study will recommence February/March 2020. Thanks to all who participated in the Gospel of Matthew making it a fun and lively study.

TALENT and TIME: Featuring Volunteers – OFFICE VOLUNTEERS: Office Volunteers – We prepare the newsletters for the weekend masses. We fold them and add any inserts. It takes about one hour and we are rostered on once a month. No special skills are required. Parish induction are required. If you’ve got the talent and you want to know how you can help, please leave your name at the office and someone will get in touch with you. Next time Communion Ministers.

SECOND COLLECTION DONATIONS

Envelope, Loose, Direct Debits & Credit Cards

7/8 December: 1st collection- $1,140.52 2nd collection- $1,848.57

Workplace Health and Safety, Maintenance and Improvements:

Recent Activities – no activities.

Current Tasks needing to be done – repair and repaint wall in chapel, remedial repairs to

carpark light pole (corrosion)

Possible Future projects depending on availability of funding – paint outside walls of parish

office (to prevent further corrosion), install cross on top of church

building.

COMING EVENTS

16 December

Second Rite of Reconciliation for Advent

17 December

Hosanna Prayer and Praise Group Mass

24 December

Christmas Vigil Mass Family Mass with

Gospel Drama

Please take a moment to pray for: All those who are ill, especially Jack Taylor, Kay Grieve, Mary Halligan, Michael Patrick Havillind, and those who seek

healing in their lives and for all those who care for them.

We commend all the recently deceased to the loving embrace of God.

We pray for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time, especially Louie Vassallo and James Joseph Elliott.

If you wish to have a loved one’s name mentioned in the parish newsletter for an anniversary, a remembrance or a prayer for the

sick, please contact the Parish Office. Note: All names for prayers will remain in the newsletter for one month.

Envelopes to request Masses to be offered for the sick, dying, deceased or for special intentions are available at the back of the

church. Mass Cards are available from the Piety Stall.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” -John 1:5

Creating a will creates peace of mind for you, your family and your loved ones.

Let this be the year you get it done or have it updated. Once you have provided for your loved ones in your Will, perhaps you would consider making a gift to our parish

to preserve programs and services that are meaningful in your life?

For more information about making a bequest to our Parish, please contact the office.

Pope’s Prayer Intention for December

The Future of the Very Young

That every country take the measures necessary to prioritize the future of the very young, especially those who are suffering.

St. Vincent de Paul Society

CHRISTMAS APPEAL

It’s that time of year again when the Society needs your help

in making up Christmas Hampers for the families who seek

our assistance.

This year we expect to need to cater for around 70 families in

our Parish area (including the Bay Islands) and about150 -

200 children.

We need donations of all manner of non-perishable groceries

and especially tinned hams, Christmas cakes and Christmas

puddings as well as all the usual Christmas goodies.

We also need toys and gifts for children of all ages up to

16yrs. If you would like to make a financial contribution –

we’ll be very happy to shop for you. Donation envelopes are

available on the back table of the Church and can be left on

any of the collection plates or dropped in the St. Vincent de

Paul boxes at the Church doors.

If you would like a receipt for taxation purposes, please give

us your details and it will be mailed to you.

Help us make a difference and give a “lift” to the many

families who are under even more pressure at this time of year

to provide the basics, let alone any of the Season’s luxuries.

We are sure you will all be blessed for your generosity!

Welcome to St Rita’s Catholic Church If you are a visitor, we are honoured

to have you celebrate with us.

If you are interested in becoming part of this spiritual faith-filled community please collect a New Parishioner’s Pack from the back of the church.

THE WAY – Advent &

Christmas

Daily Reflections

Inspired by our Blessed Mother and John the

Baptist who pointed the Way to Jesus, this

year’s reflection book, The Way, provides a

wonderful opportunity for us to take a quiet

daily walk with our Lord and listen to him guide us on the

Way to holiness through his Son.

The Way is an 84-page pocket-size book containing short spiritually

rich, yet accessible, daily reflections from the beginning of Advent

(1 Dec. 2019) through to the Baptism of the Lord (12 Jan. 2020).

The Way also features beautiful religious artworks from the Masters

such as Raphael, Lanfranco & Millet with reflections written by the

popular Monsignor Graham Schmitzer.

Copies are available for $5 at the back of the church.

Come and show you care!

A fund raiser for the

Drought Bushfire Appeal

The Gift of Christmas: an entertaining Christmas presentation to

remind us of the Reason for the Season.

2pm in St Rita’s Church on Sunday 15 December

A BYO afternoon tea will follow, and all donations will go to

Blaze Aid to assist with the rebuilding of property and fences

Victoria Point Parish

Is currently inviting applications for the casual position of

Sacramental & Safeguarding Coordinator

(Only during school term time starting in Jan 2020 with approximately 4 to 7 hours per week)

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic committed applicant to join the Parish team and assist them with the coordination of their pastoral ministry programs while also ensuring safeguarding compliance throughout the volunteer community.

In this role, your duties will include: Participation in the community and liturgical life of the Parish; Collaboration with Parish groups in providing care and service to the community; Development, implementation and coordination of a range of pastoral activities and programs, such as the Sacramental Programs; Working collaboratively with the Parish Office on all parish matters; and Coordinate and follow up volunteers to complete safeguarding compliance.

You will have: An understanding of parish life, Catholic Theology, liturgy and the sacraments; Demonstrated leadership abilities and experience in group facilitation; Well-developed written and oral communication skills and interpersonal skills; A demonstrated capacity to work both independently and with others; and Be willing to work within the Mission and Vision of the Cath-olic Church. Computer skills – basic knowledge and experience in the Microsoft office and management of emails.

The position will be paid under the Pastoral Ministry Guidelines and the rate of pay will depend on your qualifications and experience. For a copy of the position description and to apply for this

position, please visit the below link. Applications should include

the name of two (2) referees one of which preferably should be a

Parish Priest. https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/careers/

Applications close 23 December 2019.

The Archdiocese of Brisbane has standards of conduct for workers to maintain a safe and healthy environment for children. Our commitment to these standards

requires that we conduct working with children checks and background referencing for all persons who will engage in direct and regular involvement with children and

young people (0 - 18 years) and/or vulnerable adults. The organisation is fully committed to child safety and has a 0 tolerance to abuse of

children or vulnerable adults.

Christmas Mass Times

4:45pm Carols – Christmas Eve, Tuesday.

24th December (UNITAS Centre)

5:00pm Vigil Mass - Christmas Eve, Tues. 24th

December (UNITAS Centre)

7:00am Mass Christmas Day – Wed. 25th

December (Church)

9:00am Mass Christmas Day – Wed. 25th

December (Church)

NO MIDNIGHT MASS

NO 6:00pm MASS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Reconciliation

7:00pm - 2nd Rite of Reconciliation, Mon.16th December (Church)

4:00 – 4:30pm - 1st Rite of Reconciliation, Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24th December (Church)

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