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lEmmanuel CentreA SELF HELP CENTREEMMANUEL NEWS – NOVEMBER 201725 Windsor St Perth WA 6000Tel: (08) 9328 8113 (Voice)(08) 9328 9571 (TTY)

SMS 0401 016 399 Fax: (08) 9227 9720Email: EmmanuelCentre@westnet.com.auFacebook Emmanuel https://www.facebook.com/Emmanuel-Centre-Perth-431678073532315/ Catholic Ministry with Deaf and Hard of Hearing https://www.facebook.com/CADHOPWA

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WED THU FRI SAT12 Nov

9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier Church (Interpreter & PowerPoint)

13 Nov9.45-10.45: Cake Boxes11am-12.30pm: : Spinning

Knitting & Sewing (Lesley and Judy)

14 Nov9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff)11am-12.30pm: Christmas

wreath1-2pm: Bible Study

15 Nov9.30-11.30am: CMHN MEET

16 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov9.30-11.30am: CMHN MEET (EC)9.30-11.30am: Auslan for Children

19 Nov9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier Church-Interpreter,Power Point 10.30am-12pm: Auslan Café1-3pm: Deaf MHFA meeting

20 Nov9.45-10.45: Craft11am-12.30pm: : Spinning

Knitting & Sewing (Lesley and Judy)

21 Nov9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff)11am-12.30pm: Christmas gift

with Sharon1-2pm: Bible Study

22 Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov

26 Nov9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier Church (Interpreter & PowerPoint)

27 Nov9.45-10.45: Christmas Cards11am-12.30pm: : Spinning

Knitting & Sewing (Lesley and Judy)

28 Nov9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff)11am-12.30pm: Christmas cards1-2pm: Bible Study

29 Nov 30 Nov

1 Dec 2 Dec

3 Dec 9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier Church-Interpreter, PowerPoint followed by Morning Tea

4 DecEMMANUEL

CHRISTMAS PARTY 11am – 2pm

5 DecNO PROGRAMS

6 Dec 7 Dec 8 Dec 9 Dec

10 Dec9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier

Church (Interpreter & PowerPoint)

11 DecNO PROGRAMS

12 DecNO PROGRAMS

13 Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec

17 Dec9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier

Church (Interpreter & PowerPoint)

NO PROGRAMS 18 Dec NO PROGRAMS 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec

9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier Church (Interpreter & PowerPoint 24 Dec

25 DecCHRISTMASS DAY

9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier Church Interpreter & PowerPoint

NO PROGRAMS 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec

31 Dec9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier

Church (Interpreter & PowerPoint

1s JanNEW YEARS DAY

NO PROGRAMS 2 Jan 3 Jan 4 Jan 5 Jan 6 Jan

7 Jan9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier Church-Interpreter, PowerPoint

followed by Morning Tea

NO PROGRAMS 8 Jan NO PROGRAMS 9 Jan 10 Jan 11 Jan 12 Jan 13 Jan

14 Jan9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier

Church (Interpreter & PowerPoint

NO PROGRAMS 15 Jan NO PROGRAMS 16 Jan 17 Jan 18 Jan 19 Jan 20 Jan

21 Jan9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier

Church (Interpreter & PowerPoint

NO PROGRAMS 22 Jan NO PROGRAMS 23 Jan 24 Jan 25 Jan 26 Jan 27 Jan

28th Jan9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier

Church (Interpreter & PowerPoint

29 Jan

PROGRAMS30 Jan

PROGRAMS31 Jan 1 Feb 2 Feb 3 Feb

NO PROGRAMS DURING THE TERM HOLIDAY. ACTIVITIES WILL START AGAIN ON MONDAY 29TH JANUARY 2018.

LIVE LIKE IT IS CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY

I was wandering through a book shop the other day, I find it relaxing. A title caught my attention. “The Meaning of Christmas: Live Like It Is Christmas Every day.” I couldn’t get the title out of my head so I thought I would take some time out to reflect on these words. I thought of a shop that I often pass in Cambridge St that sells Christmas things the whole year. I thought, you know, “Living Christmas Everyday” is a terrific idea. I first had to ask myself though, “when I think about Christmas what things come to my mind?” The word Christmas, of course, comes from the words Christ and Mass. The word Mass comes from the Latin Ite, missa est, which means “Go, you are dismissed” or “go, you are being sent forth”. It is about telling people that after the Mass their lives should show that they are followers of Jesus and show in their lives the meaning of Christ’s birth into our world. One of the first things about Christmas that comes to mind is JOY and HAPPINESS. For that one day, or perhaps for ½ a day (because of last minute shopping) we often feel JOY and experience HAPPINESS . Even for those who are not Christians, Christmas is a time of being HAPPY. It is in the air around us. It is not because of what we might own or how much money we have in the bank.

Christmas is about FAMILY. A few years ago a lady shared with me how she had not seen her son for over 20 years. She wasn’t sure what had caused the rift in the family but each year she invited him to a meal to celebrate family birthdays and Christmas. Two years ago without telling her beforehand her son surprised them all and he turned up home and CELEBRATED with the family. JOY and HAPPINESS in abundance was his gift to his mum. Mum’s 20-year prayer for her son was answered. To make a long story short, when the son was absolutely at rock bottom and passed out in a park, with many people passing by, it was a “foreigner” who offered a helping hand and his life turned around.

Many people come to Emmanuel and privilege me with the gift of their story. I remember a story that a man shared with me one day in particular. His life was a story of “If something could go wrong, it will” and it did. Finances, relationships, job, physical and psychological health were in the mix. In all of that turmoil, he told me that what kept him going was his thinking about Christmas and “God with us – Emmanuel.” Without being taught, he knew in his heart that “God with us” did not end with the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. For him, every day was a day of celebration of the reality that Jesus’ gift of Himself was a permanent sign that no matter what happened that God knew it all, had experienced it all and that because of this, he too would survive.

For much of my life I have worked to be independent. When it is time for people to “gift” me, I find it hard to receive. I began to reflect on the work of the volunteers at Emmanuel, People of Emmanuel Centre are so ready to give. They tend to move out of their comfort zone and if there is a job to be done regardless of whether they had done it before they will give it a go. We have been working on the garden lately and it is not surprising to see people picking up drills to put holes in pots, others lifting a spade or shovel or weeding in between the cracks in the slabs. One of the tough guys surprised me the other day by giving me a rose that he had picked from our garden and presented it to me in a small vase. He said that I was looking a bit “down” and he thought that a rose might cheer me up. I thought about Live Like It Is Christmas Every day” and thought, the volunteers of Emmanuel are living Christmas every day GIVING and RECEIVING and it is not based on finances.

I thought the meaning of Christmas has something to do with FORGIVENESS and HEALING. Some people do not see their family very often but a number are always ready to forgive the busyness of others and welcome when a person finds the time to contact them, portraying the forgiveness that God gives. A little like standing and waiting till we notice him and welcoming us with open arns. God overlooks the hurt and reaches out with heartfelt FORGIVENESS and HEALING.

The Meaning of Christmas is about ACCEPTANCE. Jesus/God was born in a stable. God had listened to his people and accepted where they were at. God had a truly listening ear. “Live Like It is Christmas Every day” is experienced by the person with a listening ear anywhere; at the shopping centre, on the bus or in the train or at the end of a telephone line. How easy is that. I realised that if I live like it is Christmas every day and give others permission to open up with no pressure or expectations, what joy and happiness and forgiveness and healing could be experienced. This is the reality of Jesus’s presence in our lives.

My grandchildren, nieces, and nephews expect me as a grandmother and an auntie to give them gifts at Christmas and no doubt I will. I hope this year that I can gift them with much more. I hope that family, friends and other people can see in me the face of Jesus which brings joy, happiness, hope, peace, love, wisdom, forgiveness, healing.

“Live Like it is Christmas every day”. May the spirit of Christmas be with us now and always.

Emmanuel Centre has been hosting regular free Auslan lessons every month at AUSLAN CAFÉ. The AUSLAN CAFÉ is run by people who are Deaf at the Emmanuel Centre premises on 25 Windsor St, Perth

(nearest train station - East Perth) from 10:30am to 12:00noon. The LAST date for Auslan Cafe for this year is Sunday 19th November 2017 and this free event is open to

everyone. A light lunch is provided after the lessons. RSVP email emmanuel centre@ wes tnet.c om.au or SMS 0401 016 399. BEGINNERS WELCOME

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Auslan for Children will be conducted on Saturday 18th November at 9.30 -11.30. Please note that this will be the last one for 2017. Auslan for Children will begin again in February 2018 with different timing which is every 3rd Sunday afternoon of each month at 2.30-4.30pm. SMS 0401 016 399 or email emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.au for information about the address. Any children wanting to learn sign language in a fun and friendly environment are welcome. Parents or grandparents welcome.

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EMMA MEETS NEVILLE AND BETTY AITKENAGAIN AFTER MANY YEARS

If you would like to receive Emmanuel Centre’s Newsletter; give us your name and address and in what format you want it:*Mail, *Email, *Braille, *Large Print, *Audio CD or *Other format.Email: emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.auWebsite: www.emmanuelcentre.com.auSMS: 0401 016 399 TTY: 08 9328 9571FAX: 08 9227 9720 VOICE: 08 9328 8113

CHRISTMAS, A SEASON OF TWELVE DAYS(text and image from Crossroadsnews magazine Ballajura)

The twelve days of Christmas are now famous because of a modern carol about someone receiving lots of presents from their ‘true love.’These days, the Christmas season begins even before Advent starts so that the 4 weeks of preparation for Christmas (Advent) have

become a non-event, unless you are a church goer. The work parties that begin in late November, often called ‘Christmas parties’ are really end of year parties. The true Christmas season starts on December 25 and lasts 12 days. But very few realise this. The shops go into over-drive very early.

The 12 Days of Christmas have been celebrated in Europe since before the middle ages. Each of the 12 days traditionally celebrates a feast day for a saint or an event in the Jesus story.

As part of my pastoral assistant’s job, Fr Paul and I travelled to visit a Deaf senior couple in a nursing home. Many of you may know them, Neville and Betty Aitken. I had never been to the nursing home before but I knew it was a good place because the staff were very welcoming for us to visit and the focus seemed to be on the residents encouraging them and accepting different cultures. Our visit was around lunch time and one of the staff, a young man came in and signed “food is ready.” Father Paul gave Betty and Neville a blessing before we left and the visit brought back memories of Neville teaching me signing at the Old Deaf Club in Leederville when I was about 15 years old. I hope to visit them once a month in the future.

Day 1 (25th December): Celebrates the birth of Jesus.Day 2 (26th December also known as Boxing Day): St. Stephen’s Day. He was the first Christian martyr (someone who dies for their faith).

It’s also the day when the Christmas carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’ is sung.In rural Ireland there is a tradition of Hunting the Wren on December 26th. Birds hold a special place in the Celtic imagination and in Celtic

mythology the tiny wren holds powerful sway. Some believe the word ‘dreoilin’ (Gaelic for wren) has its roots in the term ‘Druid’s bird’ and that it acted as a messenger between this world and the next.

Historically, a wren was captured and thought to bring good luck for the new year. In modern times, the tradition of ‘hunting the wren’ involves musician roaming from house to house playing music and ‘passing the hat’ around for charity.

Day 3 (27th December): St. John the Apostle (one of Jesus’s Disciples and friends).Day 4 (28th December): The Feast of the Holy Innocents—when people remember the baby boys killed by King Herod when he was trying

to find and kill Baby Jesus.Day 5 (29th December): St. Thomas Becket. He was Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th century and was murdered on 29th December

1170 for challenging the King’s authority over the Church.Day 6 (30th December): St. Egwin of Worcester.Day 7 (31st December): New Year’s Eve (known as Hogmanay in Scotland). Pope Sylvester I is traditionally celebrated on this day. He

was one of the earliest Pope (in the 4th century). In many central and eastern European countries (including Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Slovenia), New Year’s Eve is still called ‘Silvester.’ In the UK, New Year’s Eve is a traditional day for ‘games’ and sporting competitions. Archery was a very popular sport and during the middle ages it was the law that it had to be practiced by all men between ages 17-60 on Sunday after Church! This was so the King has lots of very good archers ready in case he needed to go to war!

Day 8 (1st January): Mary, the Mother of Jesus.Day 9 (2nd January): St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, two important 4th century Christians.Day 10 (3rd January): Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. This remembers when Jesus was officially ‘named’ in the Jewish Temple. It’s

celebrated by different churches on a wide number of different dates!Day 11 (4th January): St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American saint, who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the past It also

celebrated the feast of St. Simon Stylites (who lived on a small platform on the top of a pillar for 37 years!).Day 12 (5th January also known as the Epiphany Eve): St. John Neumann who was the first Bishop in America. He lived in the 19th

century.Large parties were held on the 12th Night. Often the roles in society were reversed with the servants being served by their masters. In

medieval and Tudor times it marked the end of ‘winter’ which had started on 31st October with All Hallows Eve (Halloween).The Twelfth Night cake was eaten. It was a rich cake made with eggs, butter, fruit, nuts and spices. A forerunner to the Italian Panettone

and Christmas fruit cake.A dried pea or bean was cooked in the cake. Whoever found it was the Lord (or Lady) of Misrule for the night and led the celebrations

dressed like a King (or Queen). This tradition goes back to the Roman celebrations of Saturnalia. In the ‘gentile’ Georgian period onwards, two tokens

were put in the cake (one for a man and one for a woman) and whoever found them became the ‘King’ and ‘Queen’ of the Twelfth Night party.There was lots of music, especially bagpipes. Lots of games were played including tossing

an egg between two people moving further apart during each throw. Another popular game was ‘snapdragon’ where you picked raisins or other dried fruit out of a tray of flaming brandy!

The first Monday after the Christmas season had finished was known as ‘Plough Monday’ as this was when farming work would begin again!

In many countries, it’s traditional to put the figures of the Wise Men/ Three Kings into the Nativity Scene on Epiphany Eve ready to celebrate Epiphany on the 6th January.

According to legend, each day in the carol ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ has a Christian meaning behind it:

My True Love = God. Partridge in a pear tree = Jesus. Two turtle doves = Old and New Testaments. Three French hens = Faith, hope, and charity. Four calling birds = Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John. Five golden rings = Penteuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy. Six geese a-laying = Six days of creation. Seven swans a-swimming = Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Eight maids a-milking = Eight Beautitudes (Matthew 5:3-10). Nine ladies dancing = Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Ten lords a-leaping = Ten Commandments. Eleven pipers piping = Eleven faithful apostles. Twelve drummers drumming = Twelve points of the Apostle’s Creed.

TONY & HELENA KLIMEK 50 YEARS ON…

Congratulations to Tony and Helena Klimek who recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They got married in September 1967 in the church of St. Brigid, Northbridge parish. And 50 years on, their life together is still going strong!Tony and Helena, you two are role models for everyone who believes in love. You are role models, showing that it is better to be a team in facing life's challenges. You are role models for commitment and unselfish caring.We are sending you plenty of good cheers and abundant blessings as you celebrate your 50 years of marriage.

May your beautiful and admirable union be richly blessed. And may God continue to bless the love in your hearts with an ever-deepening faith.

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The Catholic Ministry with Deaf and Hard of Hearing People of WA had a BBQ after a Sunday Mass at St Francis Xavier Church (next to Emmanuel Centre) recently. It was held during the National Week of Deaf People. Fortunately, at any one time there was something cooked and ready to eat. No one went away hungry.

For the children (and some adults, too) there was the chance to get the face painted. It brought some full laughs as various characters came to life.

It was magic how simple balloons, and with a quick twist of the wrists, out popped a dog or a flower or a sword appeared which provided hours of fun.

JAPAN AND DEAF GAMESOrdinarily, one would not expect a connection between Japanese Culture and Deaf Games

At Emmanuel Centre, though, the least likely turns out to be the most beneficial.

WHAT IS HE SAYING?

The day was a good example of what God can do with hearts that are open.

Love is indeed a language that those who are blind can see and those who are Deaf can hear.

Our gift to our Japanese visitors were some cute koala pins.

On their part we received some original Japanese delicacies, which are not in the Australian food shops

Our latest experience happened when two Japanese couples, all of them Deaf, came to Emmanuel Centre.They broke bread with us at the Sunday Mass and stayed for morning tea and lunch.

There was a lot of laughter as we shared together and communicated in a mixture of English, Japanese, Auslan and (日本手話, Nihon Shuwa), also known by the acronym JSL, is the dominant sign language in Japan. There are many signs in JSL which look the same as Auslan signs, yet have a totally different meaning. Fortunately, Geoff Scott, an Australian man who has been to Japan many times when competing in the Deaf Games held there over the years, interpreted from Japanese to Auslan and from English to Auslan to JSL.

===============================================BLOOMING MINDS

Tasha Bloomhall shares during Mental Health Week and beyond.

During Mental Health Week Tasha shared with many people in and around Perth in her presentations

PhThe Catholic Mental Health Network through Emmanuel Centre gave over a hundred people the opportunity to listen to and interact

with Tasha as she focussed on, Managing Stress, Mental Wellbeing, and Developing Buoyancy Coping with Change.

”If you would like to hear more about Tasha why not check out her TedX talk at “Are you blooming?: Tasha Broomhall at TEDxPerth”

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDERS FINISH THEIR COURSE THROUGH EMMANUEL CENTRE RECENTLY

===============================================AFRICAN CHOIR “GREEN PASTURES”

SINGING RAISES FUNDS FOR SHADE HOUSE PROJECT

The Green Pasture Singers is a Perth based choir, which sings traditional and contemporary African Gospel and Soul as well as songs across a range of genres. Through beautiful and powerful harmonies and vocal arrangements, their irrepressible, uncontainable joy will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.

IT ALLSTARTS WITH

HELLO

AVAILABLE NOW – CD OF SONGS

Only $20 Contact John mb 0404 194 788

Or email:mutoyaj@yahoo.com Emmanuel Centre, Tel:9328 8113 Email: emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.au

TO PURCHASE A COPY

PART PROCEEDS TO FURTHER SUPPORT THE EMMANUEL CENTRE’S SHADE HOUSE PROJECT

SUNDAY 3RD DECEMBER 2017 IS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY.

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations sanctioned day that is celebrated on the 3rd of December every year. It aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disability. For more information about this day, you can visit their website www.idpwd.com.au.

Why do we want to celebrate this day? By gathering together and talking about disability issues, we will help to break down barriers for the 4.3 million

Australians living with disability and contribute to positive change in our community.Here at Emmanuel Centre, every day of the year we celebrate people with all abilities of course, but since we are having our Christmas Party on Monday 4th December, why not put the two together? So we are going to celebrate International Day of People with Disability as well as Christmas both in the one party.

A CONNECTION BETWEEN LIVING IN A REFUGEE CAMP AND JESUS’ FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

(CONTRIBUTED BY A READER OF THE EMMANUEL NEWS)

GREEN PASTURE SINGERS Let Us All Come

“Barbara, fifteen years ago with my wife we fled for our lives from certain persecution and probable death because of our belief in Jesus. We lived in a refugee camp for 10 years never knowing from day to day what would happen to us.God has blessed us with a son and for that I am, grateful. Every year at this time we relive the story of Jesus’ birth and how Mary and Joseph went in haste to Egypt to escape certain death from King Herod’s soldiers. Jesus’ experience is so similar to me and my fellow Christians in the Middle East.Can you use your influence to let Christians here in Australia admit that Jesus could have been an “illegal alien” in Egypt? Jesus’ life was saved because someone took in this poor Middle Eastern Refugee family. Lives still need saving today. I am thankful that we have been accepted into an Australian family. I hope that more Australians can see in us the face of Jesus running for his life. Thank you, J.”====================================================================

Come to Emmanuel’s Christmas Party on Monday 4th December and celebrate the event together with us! All are welcome. (See inside for details)