WEEKDAY MASS & LITURGY TIMES

Monday 11th December:

Monday of the 2nd week of Advent

12.10pm St Patrick’s church

Tuesday 12th December:

Tuesday of the 2nd week of Advent

6.30am Francis of Assisi chapel

5.30pm St Mary’s church

Wednesday 13th December: Memorial

St Lucy, virgin, martyr

6.30am St Francis Xavier church

9.30am Francis of Assisi chapel (Anointing Mass)

Thursday 14th December: Memorial

St John of the Cross, priest, doctor

6.30am Francis of Assisi chapel

9.00am St Michael’s church

5.30pm St Mary’s church

Friday 15th December:

Friday of the 2nd week of Advent

6.30am St Francis Xavier’s church

12.10pm St Patrick’s church

Saturday 16th December:

Saturday of the 2nd week of Advent

6.30am Francis of Assisi chapel

NEXT SUNDAY’S MASS TIMES

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Saturday 16th December: (Sunday liturgy)

6.00pm St Mary’s church

6.00pm St Francis Xavier church

Sunday 17th December:

7.00am St Patrick’s church

7.00am St Therese’s church, Alligator Creek

9.00am St Francis Xavier church

9.00am St Michael’s church

9.30am Francis of Assisi chapel

6.00pm St Patrick’s church

(only Sunday night Mass in Mackay)

Penance: First Rite for Reconciliation

Friday: 5.30pm St Patrick ’s church

Saturday:

10.30am - 11.00am St Francis Xavier church

11.30am - 12.30pm St Patrick’s church

Sarina Parish: Please see the presiding priest at least

15 mins before Mass

MACKAY SOUTHERN CLUSTER Including the

Parish of St Patrick, Mackay (est. 1865)

Parish of St Michael, Sarina (est. 1923)

Parish of St Mary, South Mackay (est. 1936)

Parish of St Francis Xavier, West Mackay (est. 1947)

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

10th December, 2017

The Key Figures of Advent

During its Advent Liturgies, the

Church brings forward some key

biblical figures to help us focus on

the Lord’s coming in this holy season.

We have already heard from the Old

Testament prophet, Isaiah with his

call to genuinely follow the ways of God. On the fourth

Sunday of Advent we will hear how Mary and Joseph

prepared for the birth of Jesus and they will lead us into the

celebration of the Lord’s first coming, his Nativity on

Christmas morning. But before we come to that point, we

encounter John the Baptist in the next two weeks. He was the

cousin of Jesus and is known as the Advent prophet, the last

of a long line of God’s servants who exhorted people to

rediscover God in their lives and to genuinely follow God’s

ways. He is familiar to us at this time of the year as the one

who took up the mantle of Isaiah in Jesus’ time and

encourages us “to prepare a way for the Lord.” John was a

man who prepared the way for Jesus without taking any of

the glory for himself. People sought him out and followed him

because he was a powerful preacher and sincerely lived out

his faith. When asked if he was the Messiah, John replied that

he was just “a voice” who had come “to prepare the way of

the Lord,” but as it turns out an important voice, one that

echoes through the ages to our liturgy today to help us be

ready to meet the Lord when he comes.

This year Advent is short. In fact, the last week of Advent is

only one day long which will be the fourth Sunday.

Consequently, the obligations of Mass on Sunday and

Christmas (a holy day of obligation) fall side by side and are

only separated by hours. It would be a pity to miss either

celebration because of their significance liturgically and their

rich spiritual message. The times for Sunday December 24th

and the Christmas celebrations are advertised in this bulletin.

Hopefully we can complete the Advent season on the Sunday

and then be truly ready to wholesomely greet the Lord in our

Christmas Masses as He will surely be wanting to greet us in

these holy days…….Fr. Don.

Today’s Readings: (2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B) 40:1-5, 9-11;

Ps 84; 2 Pet 3:8-14; Mk 1:1-8

Next Sunday’s readings: (3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B) Isaiah

61:1-2, 10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Southern Cluster Diary

Tuesday 12th December

6.40pm Communal praying of the Rosary, St Patrick’s church

7.00pm Our Lady of Perpetual Succour novena followed by

Benediction, St Patrick’s church

Wednesday 13th December

9.30am Anointing Mass, Francis of Assisi Aged Care Home

6.00pm Christian Meditation at St. Patrick's School chapel,

Gregory St

Friday 15th December

11.00am Exposition of the Holy Eucharist, prayer & adoration,

St Patrick’s church

3.30pm Exposition of the Holy Eucharist, prayer & adoration,

Francis of Assisi chapel

5.30pm Exposition of the Holy Eucharist, with Confession at

5.30pm and Benediction at 6.20pm, St Patrick’s

church

Saturday 16th December

After 6.00pm Mass Wine & Cheese Evening Raffle draw

St Francis Xavier’s church

We remember in prayer

THOSE WHO ARE SICK

Mary Walsh, Martin Ellul, Gavin Carter, Marissa Zoutenbier

(permission of people needed for names to be printed)

THE FAITHFUL RECENTLY DEPARTED

Jean Duncan, Marie Pyke, Bruce Spring, Sam Bonanno, Margaret

Holt, Albert Deguara, Mary Johnson, Alfred Wilson

ANNIVERSARIES OF DEATH

Joe Borg (22/12), Antonia Borg (29/11), Neil Smith (17/12), Ruby

Dyne (26/12), Victoria Micallef (14/12), Hans Eiteneuer (15/12),

Angelo Sorbello (2/12), Leo Mulherin (4/12), Gordon Peacock

(27/11), Joe Mifsud (30/11), Carolyn Bennett (28/11), Jason

Bennett (28/11), Cecil Smith (24/11)

MEMORIAL MASS

Thomas McCrone, Muscat, Galea & Bugeja family, Carmel Dorney,

Josephine Cristaldi, Pace & Torrisi family, Jean Sciberras, Gwen

Oxenham, Anna Rostirolla, Lachlan Graham Smith, Baxter Robert

Smith, Etta Helene King, John Henry King, Joseph (Curly) Vella,

Pauline Vella, Marleen Comin, Merle Grech, Adrian Grech, Patrick

Sant, Teresa Busuttin, Joan Lanigan, Lanigan family, Frank Camilleri,

Jack & Mary Camilleri, Basil Graham, Gerard Hill, Fr Joe Carroll,

Michelle Powell, David Lando, Tony & Vera Galea, Louis & Grace

Bezzina, Noel Laird, Joe Bartolo, Peter John Andrew, Rob Carter,

Vicki Keogh, Judy Vella, Brian Hill, Charlie Galea, Stephen Camilleri,

James Borg, Quinn & Noonan family, Pat Phelan, Dorothy

Kowalczuk, Kathleen McGuire, Francis & Nora McGuire, Leila

Dawson, Mary Ann Deguara, Noel Searle

PARISH PASTORS

Fr Don White,

Parish Priest of the Catholic Parishes of the Mackay

Southern Cluster

& Administrator of Marian/Mirani and Finch Hatton Parishes

Fr Sathish Peddakotla HGN,

Associate Pastor

Fr Pat Mooney,

Assisting Priest

Emergency contact: anointing of the sick 0400 874 807

PARISH OFFICES

St Mary’s parish and the Southern Cluster Office:

p: 4957 4807; email: cluster@smky.catholics.org.au

Morley Street, South Mackay PO Box 4004, Mackay 4740

Office Hours 8.30am-1pm Tues-Thurs

St Patrick’s parish: p:4951 2434; f: 4957 8774

River Street, Mackay Office Hours 9am-12pm Mon-Thurs

St Francis Xavier parish:

p: 4957 4807; email: cluster@smky.catholics.org.au

56 Holland St, W Mackay Office Hours 8.30am-12pm Mon & Fri

St Michael’s parish: p: 4956 1653; email:

saint.michaels@bigpond.com Range Road, Sarina

Office Hours 9am-12pm Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri

POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER INTENTION

FOR DECEMBER:

The Elderly

That the elderly, sustained by families and Christian

communities, may apply their wisdom and

experience to spreading the faith and forming the

new generations.

BAPTISM OF CHILDREN:

Julianna Davis

is baptised at St Patrick’s this Sunday. Please pray for Julianna &

her family as we welcome them into our Community.

Stella Maris Christmas Shoebox Appeal

The Mackay/Sarina Stella Maris Centre with the Christian

Businessmen’s Association are inviting donations of small

practical gifts which can be placed in shoeboxes and

wrapped as Christmas gifts for the seafarers who visit our

ports over the Christmas season. Donations can be left at

the Stella Maris Centre 43 Brisbane St, Mackay or call

49534038 and they will organise collection of items.

Goodbye Sr Margaret!

Sr Margaret Argent has been an integral part

of the parishes in Sarina for many years.

Margaret is taking well-deserved retirement

and leaves us in January. Please join us for a

Farewell and Blessing at St Michael’s church,

Sarina at 9.00am on Sunday 7th January.

We will hold a morning tea after Mass,

please bring a plate to share.

A big thank you to the wonderful parishioners who helped with

the Church cleaning at St Francis Xavier last Saturday, a good

job well done. it was very much appreciated, God bless you all.

The Sunday Scripture Reading, Prayer and Reflection Group have

finished for 2017 and will recommence on 7 February 2018.

Anointing Mass: Francis of Assisi Home – Sacred Heart Lounge,

Wednesday 13th December 9:30am. ALL WELCOME. There will

be no 4:00pm Mass on that day.

Christmas Wine and Cheese Evening: St Francis Xavier’s church,

Next Saturday 16th December after evening Mass courtesy of

the Parish Liturgy Team. Christmas Raffle will be drawn at this

function. ALL RAFFLE TICKETS MUST BE RETURNED either sold or

unsold this week. Please return to the parish office on Monday

or Friday or the Cluster Office during the week.

Marie Pyke’s Requiem Mass will be held at St Patrick’s church,

11.00am on Monday 18th December. There will be NO 12.10pm

Mass on this day. Thank you for your understanding.

The 6.00pm Christmas Eve Mass at St Francis Xavier’s will be

preceded by carol singing at 5.30pm. All welcome to join in.

Sign up sheets are available for both 6.00pm and 9.00am

Christmas Masses at St Francis Xavier’s. Please sign up for a

Ministry role.

2018 Columban Calendars are now available at St Mary’s SVDP

stall after Saturday 6.00pm Mass at a cost of $10 each.

The Filipino Community warmly invites you to 2017 Simbang

Gabi, 6.00pm, Friday 15th December, St Joseph's Church.

Traditional simbang gabi delicacies will be available for purchase

after the mass. Stay on to listen to Filipino hymns & carols.

Results of St Patrick’s Christmas Fair Raffles

Christmas Hamper

1st Prize $300 Hamper Fox Family

2nd Prize $200 Hamper Jenny Kelly

Fuel

1st Prize $250 of fuel John Carroll

2nd Prize $150 of fuel Tony Ekneligoda

3rd Prize $100 of fuel Cathy Williams

Money Tree

1st Prize $250 tree Ann Bella

2nd Prize $150 tree Lyn Ross

3rd Prize $100 tree Karen Barklie

Congratulations to all winners.

A sincere thank you to all who supported our fair.

Thanks to your generosity in buying or selling tickets, donating

prizes, giving your time and working hard in so many ways.

Thanks to you St Patrick’s fair was a great success.

The Net Profit was $22,690.00.

SOUTHERN CLUSTER

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES

Sunday 24th December - Christmas Eve

6.00pm St. Mary’s

5.30pm Carols - 6.00pm St. Francis Xavier’s

8pm St. Patrick’s

Monday 25th December - Christmas Day

7.00am St. Patrick’s

7.00am Alligator Creek

9.00am St. Francis Xavier’s

9.00am St. Michael’s

Note: there will be NO evening 6.00pm Mass at St. Patrick’s for

the Sunday obligation on December 24th nor is there an

evening Mass at St. Patrick’s on Christmas night (Dec 25th).

Times for Christmas Confessions;

Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation is an important

part of our preparation for Christmas. In a personal sense, it is

opportunity to respond to John the Baptist’s call to “Prepare a

way for the Lord” which we are familiar with at this time of

the year. In addition to the usual times on Saturday (Dec 23rd),

confessions will also be available at the following times and

places;

Monday 18th December 5.30pm – 6.30pm St. Patrick’s Church

Tuesday 19th December after Mass at St. Mary’s until 6.40pm

Tuesday 19th December after the Novena at St. Patrick’s until

8pm.

Thursday 21st December after Mass (moved to 5.30pm for that

day) at St. Michael’s, Sarina until

6.45pm.

Friday 22nd December 5.30pm – 6.30pm St. Patrick’s Church

Saturday 23rd December 10.30am – 11.00am St. Francis Xavier

Church and 11.30am – 12.30pm

St. Patrick’s church.

Responsorial Psalm

Response: Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

December 10, 2017 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B

Taking life for granted

St John the Baptist – living very simply in the desert, praying, doing penance, fasting, and eschewing the comforts of life – reminds us that our Christian faith is distinctly counter-cultural in so many ways. Indeed, so it should be, because Jesus himself often questioned much of what was “taken-for-granted” as “the way we do things round here” in the culture of his day.

Think, for example, of his treatment of lepers, tax collectors, the poor, the disabled, all those who, in the “taken-for-granted” thinking of the time, were outcasts and no-hopers. John the Baptist reminds us there is likely something amiss if our Christian faith isn’t prodding us to question “the ways things are” and the “taken for granted” in our society. For example, the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia today.

Advent calls us to be Christian counter-cultural in the practice of our faith. While the world around us is consumed by frenzied preparations for the summer holidays and frenetic shopping for the customary gift exchange at Christmas, we, as Christians, instead of running faster and buying feverishly are encouraged to slow down and to focus on the things that really matter. Advent, like Lent, calls us to re-examine our lives and our consciences: Are we living in ways that are really worthy of the name Christian? Are we truly Christian in the way we treat other people? Are we really making the right choices? Have we taken on uncritically the “taken for granted” attitudes and values of the mass media? Are there areas in our life where we have gone astray? Advent also calls us to practise waiting and to practise hoping. Christians of all people should be people of hope, quietly confident that God does not desert us even in the most desperate, shameful or painful situations. But hope doesn’t necessarily come naturally. Just as we have to practise our faith and to practise love, we need to practise hope.

So many things in our life can challenge us, cause us to lose heart, and dent our hopefulness – a friend dying from cancer, a child killed in an accident, a failed business project, a broken relationship or a friend’s betrayal.

But, as St Paul reminds us today, the scriptures attest to God’s unfailing faithfulness and steadfast love. So too, when we look back on our own individual lives, despite the difficulties and sorrows along the way, with the eyes of faith we can see God at work in our lives, accompanying us, holding us, leading us to new life, even when it didn’t seem to be so at the time.

Like the Holocaust victim, we too can say in the darkest of times: “I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining. I believe in love, even when I can’t feel it. I believe in God, even when he is silent.”

Emeritus Professor Anne Hunt OAM ©Redemptorists 2017

City Of God

Awake from your slumber! Arise from your sleep!

A new day is dawning for all those who weep.

The people in darkness have seen a great light.

The Lord of our longing has conquered the night.

Refrain:

Let us build the city of God.

May our tears be turned into dancing!

For the Lord, our light and our love,

has turned the night into day.

We are sons of the morning; we are daughters of day.

The one who has loved us has brightened our way.

The Lord of all kindness has called us to be

a light for his people to set their hearts free.

God is light; for him there is no darkness

Let us walk in his light, his children one and all.

O comfort my people; make gentle your words.

Proclaim to my city the day of her birth.

O city of gladness now lift up your voice!

Proclaim the good tidings that all may rejoice! © D Schutte. OCP Publications. All rights reserved. Used with permission. One License 623908

God Has Chosen Me

God has chosen me, God has chosen me

to bring good news to the poor,

God has chosen me, God has chosen me

to bring new sight to those searching for light:

God has chosen me, chosen me:

Refrain:

And to tell the world that God’s kingdom in near,

to remove oppression and break down fear,

yes God’s time is near, God’s time is near,

God’s time is near, God’s time is near.

God has chosen me, God has chosen me

to set alight a new fire.

God has chosen me, God has chosen me

to bring to birth a new kingdom on earth:

God has chosen me, chosen me:

God is calling me, God is calling me

in all whose cry is unheard.

God is calling me, God is calling me

to raise up the voice with no power or choice:

God is calling me, calling me: © 1991 Bernadette Farrell. OCP Publications. All rights reserved. Used by permission One License 623908

Responsorial Psalm

Response: Lord, let us see your kindness

and grant us salvation

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,

A voice that speaks of peace, peace for his people.

His help is near for those who fear him

And his glory will dwell in our land.

One Bread, One Body

Refrain:

One bread, one body, one Lord of all,

one cup of blessing which we bless.

And we, though many, throughout the earth,

we are one body in this one Lord.

Gentile or Jew, servant or free,

woman or man no more.

Many the gifts, many the works, one in the Lord of all.

Grain for the fields, scattered and grown,

gathered to one, for all. © 1978 John B Foley SJ and New Dawn Music. OCP Publications. All rights reserved. Used with permission from One

License 623908

Come, O Lord

O Root of Life, grow in my heart

That I might be a branch upon Your vine,

and grow in love as You will grow in me;

And I will try to do my part

To plant the seeds of love upon the earth

and bring the fruits of love to one another.

Come, O Lord, come to every heart

and waken all who sleep to your joy

O Emmanuel come to my heart

I still look for the joy your Christmas brings

And I would be your presence in the world © 1997 Marty Haugen. GIA Publications. All rights reserved. Used with permission One License 623908

Mercy and faithfulness have met;

Justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

And justice look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper

and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him

and peace shall follow his steps. © 1995 C Smith. Willow Publishing Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved. Used with permission One License 623908

You Are The Voice

Refrain:

You are the voice of the living God

Calling us now to live in your love,

To be children of God once again!

Praise for the light that shines through the night,

From darkness to light, from death to new life.

And praise to the morning that brings forth the sun,

To open our eyes to the Lord!

To open our eyes to the Lord!

Praise for the water that springs from the sea,

The seed that gives life to all who believe,

God’s love overflowing, our hearts know the joy

To be daughters and sons of the Lord!

To be daughters and sons of the Lord! David Haas © 1983, 1987, GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission One License 623907

Response: Lord, let us see your kindness

and grant us salvation

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,

A voice that speaks of peace, peace for his people.

His help is near for those who fear him

And hi glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;

Justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

And justice look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper

and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him

and peace shall follow his steps. Psalm text from The Psalms, A New Translation, published by Harper-Collins Publishers, Ltd © 1963 The Grail, England

Bread of Life

Refrain:

Bread of life, hope of the world,

Jesus Christ, our brother:

feed us now, give us life,

lead us to one another.

Be with your people, Lord, send us your saving Word:

Jesus Christ, light of gladness, come among us now.

Bring to our world of fear, the truth we long to hear:

Jesus Christ, hope of ages, come to save us now.

A child is born for us, a son is giv’n to us,

In our midst, Christ our Lord and God

comes as one who serves.

With our own eyes we see, with our own ears we hear

The salvation of all the world,

God’s incarnate Word.

You are hope of all, our promise and our call,

Radiant light in our darkness, truth to set us free. © 1982, 1987 Bernadette Farrell. Published by OCP. All rights reserved. Used by permission One License 623907

Holy Father, God Of Might

Holy Father, God of might,

throned amid the hosts of light,

take our life, our strength, our love

King of earth and heav’n above.

Hear the songs your people raise,

songs of joyful thanks and praise,

calling all created things

to adore you, King of kings.

Christ be with us as we go,

let this blind world see and know,

burning in our lives the sight

of its only saving light.

So, we all will bless your name,

and your kingship all proclaim,

praising, with the heavenly host,

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Public Domain

Jesus Come To Us

Refrain:

Jesus, come to us, lead us to your light.

Jesus, be with us, for we need you.

Lord we come before you, listen to our prayer.

Fill us all with hope, and your love.

Lord we come to praise you for your

faithfulness through night.

You will be with us, this we know.

Lord, you give us wonders, your glory to all.

We believe in you, come to us. © 1988 Bob Hurd. OCP Publications All rights reserved. Used with permission One License 623907