“Name him Jesus,” commanded the angel. Why? Unlike Mary at the Annunciation, in his dream Joseph did not have any time to pose questions to the angel. The answer came too quickly, “Name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” Joseph’s dream, convincing him that Mary’s pregnancy was a divine act, is like a summary version of Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel.

The angel tells him, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid” to wed your betrothed. The Holy Spirit did this; God is doing something here. He is bringing forth a son through her, “Jesus,” who “will save his people from their sins.” And you have a part to play.

To understand Joseph’s dream we have to remember what Gabriel said to Mary at the Annunciation. It is a massive set of words: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”

All this who-he-will-be stuff is precisely encapsulated in his name, “Jesus.” He will be “great.” How great? He will be given the great royal title of “Son of the Most High”: see, he is the heir to David’s throne. He will fulfill the ancient promises God made to David: see, he will “rule over the house of Jacob forever.”

His Kingdom will be endless! A just ruler over Israel will lead to justice, peace and prosperity, not only for Israel but also for the entire world. Divine presence. Blessing upon blessing. A life lived without fear, without suffering, without death. God’s goodness unquestionably evident in every facet of life. This is human life as it has always been intended to be! It is all true and all coming true! Finally, here and now! God is on the move!

That is what it means to “save his people from their sins.” Jesus is the name that saves. It is the human name of God. To Mary and Joseph it must have been a shock that they were chosen to be the privileged custodians of this ultimate transformation of the world from end to end summarised by the words “salvation from sins.”

But this shock should also be yours. Why? Like Joseph, like Mary, you are the privileged custodian in the present day of this same Kingdom, this same act of God through which he is fulfilling his deeply good purpose for the world. You too bear the mystery of the name of Jesus within you. Say “yes” to it like Mary. Play your part like Joseph.

W Chris Hackett © Redemptorists 2016

Reprinted from the Sunday Majellan with permission

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT - YR A

18 December 2016

Sacred Heart

Catholic Parish

PARISH CHURCHES Church of the Sacred Heart

Murwillumbah Street, Murwillumbah

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour

River Street, South Murwillumbah

St. Brigid’s Church Broadway, Burringbar

St. Columba’s Church Convent Lane, Uki

—————————————————

PARISH STAFF

Parish Priest

Fr. Anthony Lemon

Parish Manager

Mary-Ann Thackray

Parish Secretary

Beth Gorton

Pastoral Associate

Barbara Grant —————————————————

PARISH OFFICE

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 3.00pm Phone: 02 6672 1118

Website: www.shpmurwillumbah.com.au

Email: shpmbah@norex.com.au

Mail: PO Box 45 Street: Queensland Road,

Murwillumbah NSW 2484

—————————————————

PARISH SCHOOLS

Mt. St. Patrick College

Murwillumbah Street, Murwillumbah

Ph: 02 6672 2340 mspcmbah@lism.catholic.edu.au

Principal: Mr. Paul Clohesy

Mt. St. Patrick Primary School

Mooball Street, Murwillumbah

Ph: 02 6672 1821

murp@lism.catholic.edu.au Principal: Mr. Brendan Ryan

St. Joseph’s Primary School

Greville Street, South Murwillumbah

Ph: 02 6672 1867

smurp@lism.catholic.edu.au

Principal: Mr. Jason Clarke

My name is Jesus

ROSARY STATUE Resumes 8 January 2017

COUNTERS:

18 Dec: G & K Bewes 08 Jan: P & R Marr 15 Jan: P & L McMahon 22 Jan: M & M Cooper 29 Jan: C & J Anderson 05 Feb: D Gillespie & C Kerr 12 Feb: U O’Grady & B Brodbeck 19 Feb: T & P Zambelli

ROSTERS

CHRISTMAS DAY - Year A

24/25 December

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah

6.00pm Saturday

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah 8.00am Sunday

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour,

South Murwillumbah 8.00pm Saturday

Acolyte R Delmonte P Hyde J Reynolds

Altar Servers R Trueman ___________ ___________

H Skelly I Dusi

Readers R Daley (C) R

P Egan R U O’Grady P/F

L Green (C) R B Nolan R

___________ P/F

D Banner (C) R B Cook R

K Ryder P/F

Ministers of Communion

D & B Guinea (C) (4) M Reynolds J Schiller

MA Thackray (C) (3) ___________ ___________

B Dusi (1)

Hospitality S Bakes, ____________ M Traves & F Berg _____________

Procession of Gifts P Willock, ____________ ___________ Macartney family

Children’s Liturgy No Children’s Liturgy No Children’s Liturgy No Children’s Liturgy

Tuesday 10.00am Requiem Mass - Sacred Heart Church for Allan Sharp

6.00pm Rosary - Sacred Heart Church

6.30pm II Rite of Reconciliation - Kingscliff

Wednesday 4.15pm - 5.15pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church 5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

7.00pm II Rite of Reconciliation - Sacred Heart

Thursday 8.30am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

9.15am Legion of Mary - Sth M’bah Meeting Room

3.00pm Parish Office closes

Friday 10.00am Communion Service - M’bah Nursing Home - K Mumford

10.00am Communion Service - Heritage Lodge - J Reynolds

12.15pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

2.45pm - 3.45pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church

Saturday 9.00am Rosary - Sacred Heart Church CHRISTMAS VIGIL

6.00pm Vigil Mass - Sacred Heart Church

8.00pm Vigil Mass - Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Sth M’bah

Sunday The NATIVITY of the LORD - CHRISTMAS DAY

8.00am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

Eucharistic Adoration

at the Sacred Heart Church

will resume 10 January 2017

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH 19 - 25 DECEMBER

CHURCH CLEANING SANCTUARY & ALTAR

Sacred Heart Church: 18 Dec & 8 Jan: C Wightley, P & T Zambelli, N Gear

OLPS Church, Sth M’bah December: MA Thackray

RECENTLY DECEASED: Allan Sharp, Damian Simpson, Jean Greirson, Ruby Davis, Archibald McIntyre, Lynette Rogers.

ANNIVERSARIES: Mgr Michael Quinn (former Parish Priest of M’bah), Bernard Kinneally, David Clothier, Tom Daly, Robert Turner, Pattie O’Keefe, Veronica Carroll, Thomas Sterling.

NOTICE BOARD

~DECEMBER ~ 30 The HOLY FAMILY of Jesus, Mary &

Joseph

~JANUARY ~ 01 MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD - YR A

10am Mass - St Columba’s, Uki

06 10am Mass - M’bah Nursing Home

08 THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD - YR A

10am Mass - OLPS, Sth M’bah

Baptisms

09 The Baptism of the Lord

09 Parish Office re-opens

16 Meals on Wheels - Roster 2

CALENDAR

Christmas Parish Office Closure: The Parish Administration Centre will be closed from 3pm Thursday 22 December until 9am Monday 9 January 2017. If there are any urgent matters during this time, please phone the Presbytery: 02 6672 1118.

PLEASE PRAY FOR: SACRAMENTS

RECONCILIATION:

Sacred Heart: Saturday : 5.30pm - 5.50pm

Sunday: 7.30am - 7.50am

BAPTISM: Sacred Heart Church - 12.00pm

2nd and 4th Sundays of each month

(At least four weeks notice required)

Baptism Preparation Meeting:

7.00pm Parish Administration Centre

on 2nd Tuesday of each month.

Next Meeting - Tues 14th February

Readings for next week:

The NATIVITY of the LORD

(Christmas) - Yr A

Is 9:1-7; Titus 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14

CATHOLIC PAPERS Catholic Weekly & Catholic Leader

are on sale this weekend - $2.00

LITURGY ROSTERS Please take your new Liturgy Roster home

with you this weekend.

Christmas Mass Roster

Volunteers are still needed for the

Christmas Mass liturgy roster - there are

still a few ministries that need to be filled.

If you are available, please fill in your name

in the appropriate place, on the Christmas

roster sheet, at the church entrance.

2017 JOSEPHITE CALENDARS On sale in the Sacred Heart Church or at the

Parish Office. ($8.00 each)

Reconciliation Times for Advent Sacred Heart Church

I Rite of Reconciliation Thursday: 22 December 8.00am - 8.20am

II Rite of Reconciliation

Tuesday 20 December - Kingscliff - 6.30pm

Wednesday 21 December - Sacred Heart - 7.00pm

School Holidays As another school year draws to a close, we wish all the staff and

students of our three Parish Schools, a safe and happy holiday.

MIDNIGHT MASS FROM THE VATICAN. His Holiness Pope Francis will celebrate Midnight Mass in St

Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Day. This will be telecast on

ABC 1 commencing 9.00am (EST) on Christmas Day.

It can also be viewed live on the internet, through the websites of Vatican TV and The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).

PLEASE NOTE:

There will be no 10am Mass celebrated in

Burringbar on Sunday 15th January 2017. Congratulations to Mt St Patrick College 2016 Year 12

students on their recent HSC results. Best year ever.

97 Band 6 results (90% - 100%).

1st in State English Extension 1 - Katie Jones.

Thank You Thank you to the Youth Group Christmas party who raised $250 for Caritas this Christmas. Well done.

Diocesan Appointment Bishop Jarrett has announced the following appointments, effective immediately:

Fr. Anthony Lemon, in addition to his role as Parish Priest of

Murwillumbah, as Diocesan Director of Seminarians. We congratulate Fr. Anthony on his new appointment.

Fr Peter Padsungay, PP of Coffs Harbour as Regional Vicar, Central Deanery and a member of the Council of Priests.

INVEST WITH PEACE OF MIND www.dif.org.au Phone 1800 802 516 Paying 2.15%

Agents: Egan Simpson Solicitors: 15 Prince Street, Murwillumbah.

Deposits accepted between 9am and 3pm. Monday to Friday

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: (PS 23) R: Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.

IF SUNG:

R. Let the Lord enter; He is the King of glory.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, Alleluia!

A virgin will give birth to a son; his name will be

Emmanuel: God is with us. Alleluia!

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES

CHRISTMAS EVE VIGIL Saturday 24th December

6.00pm - Sacred Heart Church

8.00pm - Our Lady of Perpetual Succour,

South Murwillumbah

CHRISTMAS DAY Sunday 25th December 8.00am - Sacred Heart Church

Lighting

the Advent Wreath Fourth Candle

Priest: Father, all-powerful God, your

eternal Word took flesh on our earth

when the virgin Mary placed her life at the service of your plan. Lift our minds in watchful hope to hear the voice which announces his glory and open our minds to receive the spirit who prepares us for his coming. We ask

this through Christ our Lord.

All: AMEN

Advent Banners - Fourth Week During the fourth week of Advent we reflect on the fact that God’s chosen Messiah is about to come into the world.

We think about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the risks she was taking when she said yes, to becoming the mother of the Messiah. Mary was a young girl from a small village where everyone knows everyone and everything they are doing. Mary lived in an occupied land and faced an unknown future with courage and joy. Her decision made it

possible for us to discover what it means to live in Jesus. We think about Joseph an honest, caring man who finds himself in a situation he does not expect. With help from God, Joseph makes a choice to protect, to nurture and care for Mary and her unborn baby. In his faithful listening and open

heart, Joseph is a model for all to understand and love Jesus whose birth we prepare to celebrate.

Our symbols for this week are for Mary – a lily and Joseph - a hammer and a saw.

From the Pastor…

On this last Sunday of Advent, before our visitors and families arrive for Christmas I would like to take the opportunity

to say thank you to all our volunteers and supporters. So much happens around our parish because of the consistent and generous people who just keep fronting up to make it all happen. Our four churches and their surrounds look really good,

thank you. Last week I thanked Beth and Mary-Ann; let me this week thank our hard working Pastoral Associate Barbara Grant for her incredible talent and commitment.

Often our dedicated Planned Givers are forgotten, so let me thank you for your continued financial contribution to the

First and Second Collections. Your gifts are continuous, consistent and very generous. Without our planned givers so much simply would not happen.

Now to other news, just over a week and a half ago I received a surprise email from our Bishop, asking me to take on the extra role of Director of Seminarians for the Diocese of Lismore. Largely a role of pastoral care and liaison with our Seminarians and our Diocese. Currently all our students are from overseas and this adds the extra dimension of care as

they are far from the usual support of family and friends that we take for granted. I am hoping that as a parish community that we can extend the hand of friendship and be a home away from home for these men. It means that our Presbytery

can be a place where our seminarians can come for holidays or rest if they have nowhere else to go. Bishop Jarrett has a particular care for these men who choose to offer their lives in the service of God and our Diocese of Lismore.

With one week to go till Christmas its hard not to be overwhelmed with things to do or tasks to be done. Once again let me encourage you to take time with God in prayer and allow his loving presence to still your hearts and minds. The

Sacrament of Penance will be available during the week in both the First and Second Rites. Times and locations are in this bulletin.

With God’s generous blessings of love and peace,

Fr. Anthony Lemon

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER Universal: End to Child-Soldiers - That the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over. Evangelisation: Europe - That the peoples of Europe

may rediscover the beauty, goodness, and truth of the Gospel which gives joy and hope to life.