December 27 & 28, 2014 - THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH - Year B Issue Number 619

The Massabielle The Weekly Newsletter of St Bernadette’s

Parish Community, Castle Hill, NSW

Today’s Readings

First Reading: Genesis 15:1-6,21:1-3. God promised Abraham that he would have a son and countless descendants. Although it seemed unlikely, Abraham trusted in God’s

word.

Second Reading: Hebrews 11:8,11-12,17-19. From the beginning of the human race we have examples of people who remained faithful to God in good times and in bad.

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple to present him to God. For Simeon and Anna, Jesus was the long-awaited promise of hope.

Next Week: The Epiphany of the Lord - Year B Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

Feast Day this Week

Thurs 1 January -Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

HOLY HOUR: This Thursday (New Year ’s Day) from 8.00 to 9.00pm including Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, prayers, hymns and scripture reading. (No Benediction in January).

THE MARIAN MOVEMENT OF PRIESTS invites you to the New Year’s Eve Prayer Vigil at St Dominic’s Church, Flemington on Wednesday 31st December commencing with Exposition at 8.00pm and finishing with Midnight Mass. Supper after Mass in the parish hall. (Please bring food & drink to share). All welcome.

There will be no Retirement Village Services celebrated in January.

SEEKING MENTORS: The Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta is seeking volunteer mentors who would like to give something back to their community and host secondary students in the workplace. The mentor hosts the student one day per week for two school terms (May to September, excluding school holidays). All mentors are offered free TAFE mentor training and can be from any industry, an individual in any trade area: clerical and administration, hairdressing and beauty or a large company. Please consider this call for assistance so that the program can continue to supply a valuable service to students in our Catholic communities. Contact: Leoni Jeavons-Fellows – Coordinator Post School Options 0424 750 583.

LITURGY CORNER

This feast of The Holy Family is a rather new feast

in the Church’s calendar. It was instituted by Pope

Leo XIII (1878-1903) at a time when the Industrial

Revolution and other social forces were destructive

of family life. The Catechism of the Catholic Church

describes the Christian family as “a communion of

persons, a sign and image of the communion of

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” (#2205). It

calls on society to support and strengthen families,

but it notes that family ties are not absolute. For

the Christian, following Jesus is always the first

priority – and it is because of following that we are

strengthened to fulfil our family commitments.

The Summit

A GIFT BEYOND CHRISTMAS: Once again you are asked to support this worthy cause. Take an envelope from the Christmas Tree and return it to the box near the altar, drop it onto the collection plate with your donation or leave it at the parish office. Monies go to assist Loyola Senior High School, Mount Druitt to help support students from struggling families and those who would be unable to continue their schooling if not for your generosity. Benefactors reports are available from the foyer.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION PROGRAMME 2014-2015: Welcome cards of the children who are preparing for the sacraments are now on display in the church foyer. Please continue to keep all our parish families in your prayers during this special time. Sessions will resume in February 2015.

THE PARISH OFFICE WILL REOPEN ON

MONDAY 5TH JANUARY, 2015.

REPARATION PRAYER GROUP resumes on 13th January 2015 from 8.00 to 9.00pm in the Parish Basement. All welcome.

OUR LADY’S STATUE: Parishioners are invited to borrow the beautiful statue of Our Lady appearing to St Bernadette for any week in 2015. Book it for a special occasion or simply to encourage private/family prayer. Place your name, address and contact number on the roster at the entrance of the church. Enquiries: Janina Mousley on 9899 6060.

ST BERNADETTE’S 2015 CALENDAR IS AVAILABLE FROM THE CHURCH ENTRANCE. PLEASE TAKE ONE HOME WITH YOU.

TUESDAY PRAYER GROUP continues over the Christmas break in the Marian Centre every Tuesday morning at 10.00am. All welcome. For information phone Pauline on 0407 417 039.

MASS THIS THURSDAY (NEW YEAR’S DAY)

WILL BE AT 8.00AM ONLY

COLUMBAN CALENDARS ARE NOW ON SALE FROM THE BOOKSHOP FOR $10 EACH.

St Bernadette’s Parish Community

Parish House, 367 Old Northern Road, Castle Hill, NSW 2154

Telephone 9634 2622 Fax 9899 3511 Email: admin@stbernadette.org.au

Web page: http://www.stbernadette.org.au

Parish Staff Mass Times for this Week Monsignor John Boyle, Parish Priest Sunday Sat 6.00pm Fr Eugene Szondi, Assistant Priest Sun 7.30am, 9.00am, 10.30am & Fr Michael Gathuku, Assistant Priest 6.00pm Parish LIFE TEEN Youth Mass Sr Judy McLeod, rsm, Pastoral Associate Weekdays Mon 6.45am Mrs Alice Bradshaw, Sacramental Co-ordinator Tue 6.45am Mr James Hay, Youth Minister Wed 6.45am, 9.15am Mrs Frances Gallagher, Office Manager Thurs 8.00am

Mrs Monica Rubic, Parish Secretary (Finance: Mon-Thu) Fri 6.45am, 9.15am Mr Darren Edwards, Maintenance Sat 8.00 am

Reconciliation Sat 8.30am - 9.00am, 4.30pm - 5.30pm Mass on Public Holidays at 8.00am

Baptisms and Marriages: By appointment only. Contact the Parish Office. Please note the Church law: Parents are obliged to take care that infants are baptised in the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth or even before it, they are to go to the pastor to request the sacrament for their child and to be prepared properly for it. [Can. 867 §1]

St Bernadette’s Parish School: Mrs Leanne Nettleton (Principal) 9634 2898

Acting Parish Council Administrator: Peter Grace 9659 5350

Sacramental Programme 2016 Information Nights - 12th & 13th October, 2015

Please pray for Norman Gatt, Coie Gerrard (funeral Tuesday at 10am), Robert Ison, Joseph Mizzi and Greg McGrath who have died recently and for the anniversary of Eileen Griffin.

Prayers for the Sick: Patrick Bowie, John Mulholland, Elaine Rowe, Sr Bridie O’Connell, Greta Meier, Robert Teoh, Peter Yao, Patrick Chensee, Archer Kemmis, Joe Rego, Sophie Maher, Dorothy Barbour, Gladys Hagerty, Kay Taylor, Maria Guevarra, Fernando Dimaano, Richard Hain, and Jan Heyworth.

ROSTERS FOR NEXT WEEKEND - 3 & 4 January, 2015

ACOLYTES/ SERVERS LECTORS MINISTERS OF COMMUNION

VIGIL David Tye

Holiday Roster

Patricia Williams John Geoghegan Kathrin Nathan

Felicity Carvalho, Susan Concon, John Leach, Phyllis Lopez, Laura Burridge, Susan Cejka, Lynne Myers, Joan Quinn, Mary McMahon

7.30AM Dennis Frketic Holiday Roster

Catherine Seddon Paul Hennessey Sue Pinkerton

Barbara Ortlepp, Alfred & Gladys Tsang, Colleen & Eric Woodhead, Jo Wickens

9.00AM Budi Kawiadji

Holiday Roster

Sharon/Edwin Rogers Aida Pereira

Hubert Jenneke

Brian & Jenny Blacklock, Neil Bone, Angela Crowe, Brian D’Arcy, Ingrid Akkari/Jana Fizely,

Jocelyn Donovan, Jack Garcia, Rosalie Sampath

10.30AM Zeno Hong

Holiday Roster

Michael Abrahams Kerry Myers

Anthea Hannan

Anita Christy, Pauline Camilleri, Dorothy Finucane, Narelle Cartwright, Philip Golamco, Elizabeth Fogolin,

Margaret Hawkes, Winnie & Henry Li

6.00PM PARISH LIFE TEEN YOUTH MASS MINISTRY ROSTER - 4 January, 2015

Servers Aleksei Gracias Flor

Welcoming James Hay

Simon Jones

Lectors Simon Jones

Paul Fam Pamela Golamco

Offertory Brendan Hassan

Anne Younis Joseph Mathias

Dom Boudib Projectionist Josh Becker

Communion Ben Mules

Zara Boudib Raphael de Leon

Nat Mathias Matt Ashton

Adam Chioatto Darren Edwards

Lorena Perez

Singers Cassie Knezevic

Natalie Jones Nicholas Holden Jacqui Holden Dominic Jones

Jamison Bonifacio Kristen Mathias

Lauren Fernandez

CHILDREN’S LITURGY Minna Koo

Beverley Tang

FLOWER ROSTER Bernadette Logue

CHURCH HOUSEKEEPING Karen D’Souza, Leader, Jana Fizely,

Christine Garcia, Elena Neira

COUNTING (1st Collection) Howard & Marie Woodward

COUNTING (2nd Collection) Campion Fernando, Audrey & Sarah Markowskei, John McDermott, Barrie Waters, Emelie De Leon

BOOKSHOP Maureen Gain / Carmel Moriarty / Falentina Young /

Prasanna Gunawardena / Patricia Smith

Piano Brigit Huxley

Bass Erich Gracias Flor

Drums Chris Dogulin