Granville Catholic Church Record Vol. 1. No. 29. December 4, nd Sunday of Advent, Year A

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1 Granville Catholic Church Record Vol. 1. No. 29. December 4, nd Sunday of Advent, Year A The Official Bulletin of Holy Trinity Parish at Granville and Holy Family Parish at East Granville COMMEMORATING the FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT of the BISHOP of PARRAMATTA to HOLY TRINITY CHURCH On Sunday, December 4 th, the Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Cap., the fourth Bishop of Parramatta, paid his first official visit to Holy Trinity Church to offer the holy sacrifice of the Mass and to institute Mr. Andrew Rooney as an acolyte in preparation for ordination to the Priesthood. Bishop Vincent Long was born in 1961 in Vietnam. Since the fall of Saigon in 1975, his family has been dispersed: his mother, a brother and a sister are in Melbourne, three brothers are in Holland, and a sister remains in Vietnam. In 1984, he became a professed Conventual Franciscan friar and studied for the Priesthood in Melbourne. After his priestly ordination in 1989, he was sent to Rome for further studies and was awarded a licentiate in Christology and Spirituality from the Pontifical Faculty of St. Bonaventure. He served as an assistant and then Parish Priest for seven years in Kellyville in the Diocese of Parramatta and for seven years in Springvale in Victoria before being elected Superior of the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals in Australia in He served as Assistant General in Rome from 2008 until 2011, responsible for the Asia-Oceania section of his Order. In 2011, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne in which role he served for nearly five years. He serves as the Bishops Delegate for Migrants and Refugees, Chair of Australian Catholic Social Justice Council and member of the Permanent Committee. On May 5 th, 2016, he was appointed the 4 th Bishop of Parramatta in succession to Bishop Anthony Fisher OP following his appointment as Archbishop of Sydney. On the occasion of the Bishop s first official visit to Holy Trinity Parish we welcome our Bishop and assure him of our prayers as he ministers to the Diocese of Parramatta.

2 THE PARISH OFFICE HOLY FAMILY CHURCH HOLY TRINITY CHURCH Address 1 Randle Street, Granville, N.S.W T (02) E granville@parracatholic.org W W Holy Trinity Parish, Granville Holy Family Parish, East Granville TYM Granville Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Andrew Bass PP Assistant Priest Rev. Fr. Thomas Bui Director of Music Mr. John Portelli Sacraments and Youth Co-ordinator Miss Rosette Chidiac Parish Secretaries Mrs. Sonia Hoetzinger Mrs. Judy Smith Mrs. Annette Wirz Principal of Holy Family School Mrs. Yvette Baird Principal of Holy Trinity School Mrs. Helen Boyer Principal of Delany College Mr. Rob Muscat Missionary Sisters of Mary, Queen of the World Australia Sr. Justina Pham T (02) Holy Mass Tuesday, 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, 9:15 a.m. Thursday, 9:15 a.m. Friday, 9:15 a.m. Saturday, 6:00 p.m. Sunday, 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. JMJ Holy Rosary Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Children s Liturgy Third Sunday of the Month, 9:30 a.m. Rosters Altar Society Group 3: S. Koopelian and A. Brown Readers Vigil Lindsay Nakhoul 8:00 a.m. Silva Koopelian 9:30 a.m. Vicky Devine Counters T. Burden, O. Meredith, and P. Bennie Bus Driver John McIntyre CONFESSIONS Holy Family Church Saturday, 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Holy Trinity Church Saturday, 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. First Friday of the month, 6:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Holy Mass Monday, 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, 8:15 a.m. Thursday, 8:15 a.m. Friday, 9:15 a.m. Saturday, 8:15 a.m. Saturday, 6:00 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Traditional Latin Mass First Thursday of the month, 7:00 p.m. Holy Mass and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. First Friday of the month, 7:00 p.m. Ghanaian Chaplaincy Mass Second and last Sunday of the month, 11:30 a.m. Vietnamese Chaplaincy Mass Sunday, 5:00 p.m. Children s Liturgy During Sunday, 9:30 a.m. Mass Rosters Church Cleaning Group 2: E. Bugeja, C. Maiden, P. Manson, R. Daher, and S. Gittany Readers Vigil Gerry Pinto, Katherine Jenner, and Mary Mbugua 7:30 a.m. Sisters 9:30 a.m. Peter Sultana, Belinda Martin, and Tanya Martin Children s Liturgy Reanne and Sister PRAYERS FOR THE SICK IN MEMORIAM Please remember in your prayers those who are sick including Archbishop Anthony Fisher, Janelle Allan, Marlene Ashton, Ann Blesson, Thomas Brady, Leslie Cotter, Eileen Dean, Joyce Dwyer, Evangeline Grabato, Elizabeth Hicks, Paul Hoes, Jacob Lee, Ester Matos, Tony Moussa, Ben Nursoo, Flory Pinto, Peter Rahme, Anna Saunig, and those who care for them. Saint Raphael, who are called the Remedy of God and the Angel of Health, pray for them. Amen. In your charity, pray for the souls of all the faithful departed, and particularly for the following deceased. The Arribas family, Laurence Barbeau, Marie Beatson, Federick Camilleri, George Dib, Damia Dib, Raymond Gee, Jim Haddad, Raymond Bakos Hekeik, Simon Hekeik, the Khoury family, George Khoury, Hanne Khoury, Nouhad Khoury, Youssef Khoury, John McGrath, Charles Micallef, Guy Pitel, the Raad family, Epifania Salvador, Yasmine Wehbe, Phyllis Yott, Joanne Younan.

3 HOLY FAMILY CHURCH Holy Family Parish Christmas Appeal Continuing the practice begun last year Holy Family Parish will hold it s annual Christmas appeal in support of a worthy organisation. This is a way for us to practice works of mercy and to truly celebrate the season of Christmas. This year the parish s Christmas appeal will support the work of St. Francis Social Services. St. Francis Social Services is a social services agency focused on helping both at-risk young people and their families and offering a place of welcome, trust and friendship for asylum seekers and refugees. Their work includes the Come in Youth Resource Centre for young people and their families in Pa d d i n g t o n, t h e G r e e n l i g h t Movement, a learner driver mentor program for disadvantaged young people operating in Bondi and the Sutherland Shire, and now the House of Welcome in Granville which they will open in St. Joseph s Convent across the road from the church. They rely on generous donations as well as our committed and professional staff and volunteers to maintain their highly regarded work in support of those in need. SUNDAY, 11 TH DECEMBER Next Sunday, 11 th December, at 9:15 a.m., before the 9:30 a.m. Mass, a carols service will be held on the steps of the church. And then following the Mass the carols will continue along with a Christmas themed morning tea. The carols will be led by the Tongan choir as well as our own parishioners. Th i s w i l l b e a w o n d e r f u l opportunity to join in the singing of well known Christmas carols. So join us next Sunday for this carols service and add to your own Advent devotions as we prepare to celebrate the solemnity of the birth of our Lord. And join us, also, for the morning tea and the chance to socialise with fellow parishioners. Carols on the Lawn Thank you to all those who generously contributed to the success of Carols on the Lawn last Friday evening. To all those who performed including the Holy Trinity Choir, the Granville Schools Choir, John Paul II Singers, the B.N.P., the children of Golden Rose Childcare Centre, the Ghanaian chaplaincy, the Vietnamese chaplaincy, Brenda Drake, Maria Sitchon, Maryanne Takchi, and Chloe Zaiter, and to John Portelli, David Russell, and James Jenna, our musicians. To the many volunteers who assisted on the stalls taking care of the barbecue and drinks, the cakes, the slushies and fairy floss, the face painting and the toy stall. And we owe our gratitude to the Catholic Education Office for their artistic and technical support without whom we could not have arranged such an event.

4 Carols on the Lawn Thank you to all those who generously contributed to the success of Carols on the Lawn last Friday evening. To all those who performed including the Holy Trinity Choir, the Granville Schools Choir, John Paul II Singers, the B.N.P., the children of Golden Rose Childcare Centre, the Ghanaian chaplaincy, the Vietnamese chaplaincy, Brenda Drake, Maria Sitchon, Maryanne Takchi, and Chloe Zaiter, and to John Portelli, David Russell, and James Jenna, our musicians. Especially thanks to all those who so generously donated food and drinks to keep us all well fed. To the many volunteers who assisted on the stalls taking care of the barbecue and drinks, the cakes, the slushies and fairy floss, the face painting and the toy stall. And we owe our gratitude to the Catholic Education Office for their artistic and technical support without whom we could not have arranged such an event. WEDNESDAY, 21 st DECEMBER We c o n t i n u e o u r A dve n t devotions in preparation for the solemnity of the birth of our Lord at C h r i s t m a s w i t h C a r o l s b y Candlelight at Holy Trinity Church on Wednesday, 21 st December at 8:00 p.m. We first celebrated this solemn service last year and it was a wonderful occasion with many people asking for a second service to be held. Th i s s e r v i c e, p r a y e d b y candlelight, includes the blessing of the crib and then a selection of readings telling of the birth of our Lord set amidst traditional carols sung by the Holy Trinity Choir. It is based on the ancient Festival of Nine Readings and Carols which has been celebrated for almost 150 years at Christmas. Join us for this beautiful carols service set inside the candlelit church as we await the coming of the true light of the world. Holy Family and Holy Trinity Friendship Group On Tuesday, December 13 th, the Holy Family and Holy Trinity Friendship Group will have their final event of the year. This will be a luncheon at the Merrylands Bowling Club. If you would like to join us please see John Borg in the Merrylands Bowling Club foyer between 11:30 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. for signing in and tickets. Enquiries to John Borg on telephone Piety Stall Christmas Goods Our church s piety stall has new Christmas goods in stock now. With nativity sets, Holy Family sets, angels, ornaments, Christmas cards and lots more all available for you to buy now. After Mass why not go in and have a look? The money raised by the piety stall all goes to support the good works of the parish and helps in the repairs and maintenance and the refurbishment of the church. The piety stall is open for the 6:00 p.m. vigil Mass on Saturdays and the 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. M a s s e s a n d t h e 5 : 0 0 p. m. Vietnamese Mass on Sundays.

5 NEWS XT3 Advent Calendar This year s Xt3 free Advent Calendar looks at the Nativity scene through the eyes of a child. The website and app contain videos, meditations and podcasts for the Christmas season. An Advent calendar is a special calendar used to count the days in anticipation of Christmas. It is a way to better prepare ourselves through the season of Advent to celebrate the great solemnity of the birth of our Lord by encouraging us to meditate on sacred Scripture and by prayer. To download the calendar go to Restoration of St. Benedict s Church Sunday, 4 December The restoration of the historic St. Benedict s Church, Broadway, is complete. St. Benedict s Church is the country s oldest consecrated Catholic church. It is located at the U n i v e r s i t y o f N o t r e D a m e Australia s Sydney Campus at 104 Broadway, Sydney. Noel! Noel! Christmas Concert at St. Patrick s Cathedral Monday, 19 December New Zealand soprano Madison Nonoa will join the voices of the Brandenburg Choir for this year s performance of Noël! Noël! at St. Patrick s Cathedral. The program includes choral folk melodies, much-loved carols, rousing 16 th century hymns, and other rare musical delights from around the world. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. at St Patrick s Cathedral, 1 Marist Place, Parramatta. For tickets book online at Lights of Christmas at St. Mary s Cathedral 8 to 25 December From December 8 th, celebrate the joy of Christmas every night at St. Mary s Cathedral until Christmas night. The theme is Joy to the World and will feature an extraordinary animation of the timeless Christmas tale, the Nutcracker Suite along with a pictorial journey of Christmas decorations through the ages. Beginning with a choir performance the lights can be seen from 7:30 p.m. to midnight. John Portelli O R G A N I S T Weddings and Special Occasions Available to Travel to Your Church Telephone John.Portelli@granvilleparish.org

6 Saints & STUFF The Immaculate Conception The Immaculate Conception was the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, free from original sin by virtue of the foreseen merits of her son Jesus Christ. The Church teaches that Mary w a s c o n c e i v e d b y n o r m a l biological means, but God acted upon her soul (keeping her immaculate ) at the time of her conception. The Church celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 th. In many Catholic countries, it is a holy day of obligation or patronal feast, and in some a national public holiday. CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH The Bishop 886 The individual bishops are the visible source and foundation of unity in their own particular Churches. As such, they exercise their pastoral office over the portion of the People of God assigned to them, assisted by priests and deacons. But, as a member of the episcopal college, each bishop shares in the concern for all the Churches. The bishops exercise this care first by ruling well their own Churches as portions of the universal Church, and so contributing to the welfare of the whole Mystical Body, which, from another point of view, is a corporate body of C h u r c h e s. Th e y e x t e n d i t especially to the poor, to those persecuted for the faith, as well as to missionaries who are working throughout the world. 888 Bishops, with priests as coworkers, have as their first task to preach the Gospel of God to all men, in keeping with the Lord's command. They are heralds of faith, who draw new disciples to Christ; they are authentic teachers of the apostolic faith endowed with the authority of Christ. CATHOLIC Trivia The Acolyte The acolyte is instituted to serve at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon. In particular, it is his responsibility to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if it is necessary, as an extraordinary minister, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful. In the ministry of the altar, the acolyte has his own functions, which he must perform personally (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n. 98). The first known reference to acolytes was in the year 251 in Rome. At that time there is mention o f 4 2 a c o l y t e s i n R o m e. Specifically, seven acolytes would carry torches in processions with the Pope, a custom that still exists today when seven candles are placed on the altar when the Bishop offers the Mass. In the early church It [was] the duty of acolytes to carry the candlesticks, to light the lamps of the church, to administer wine and w a t e r f o r t h e E u c h a r i s t. Additionally they also assisted with the thurible, the washing of the hands, and, at the moment of Holy Communion, carried the Blessed Sacrament to the assisting Priests. While today it is no longer a minor order a seminarian is required to be instituted as an acolyte before ordination. 28A South Street, Granville (02)

7 JUNIOR WORDSEARCH From David s family will come a king A K I M B S J W T W H V Y B Q G B N S C R I P T U R E S A I L O R O B E S M O S E A J P S V N J F V J A S E Y E I M T A B G U L R W R W N Z A W Q I I Y X D G B R D Q A L N G Y S A N A G X G F P Z P U Y X N T H A Q E Q V C A L V E S X C X W H R M M G X B Z F O L L O W A I O E W O L V E S R I V E R T E H N T F B Q M N K V Q T T E X G T B W C H E E R F U L J R M S G E L O Y B E F C O C F L F J Z D O M J K Q B F G W Y R C W R I X S C A M E L S S Q S 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A [N02ADSUA_2004_WS3.rtf ] Try to find these words: Baptist calves camels cheerful follow Isaiah judgement river robes scriptures water wolves Is 11:1-4a b Ps 72:1 and R.v. 7 Rom 15:4-6 Mt 3: Creative Ministry Resources Pty Ltd

8 2 nd Sunday of Advent, Year A The Readings First Reading The Prophet Isaiah (11:1-10) A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots: on him the spirit of the Lord rests, a spirit of wisdom and insight, a spirit of counsel and power, a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. (The fear of the Lord is his breath.) He does not judge by appearances, he gives no verdict on hearsay, but judges the wretched with integrity, and with equity gives a verdict for the poor of the land. His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless, his sentences bring death to the wicked. Integrity is the loincloth round his waist, faithfulness the belt about his hips. The wolf lives with the lamb, the panther lies down with the kid, calf and lion cub feed together with a little boy to lead them. The cow and the bear make friends, their young lie down together. The lion eats straw like the ox. The infant plays over the cobra's hole; into the viper's lair the young child puts his hand. They do no hurt, no harm, on all my holy mountain, for the country is filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters swell the sea. That day, the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples. It will be sought out by the nations and its home will be glorious. Responsorial Psalm (Ps 71:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17.. cf. v. 7). Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king s son your justice, that he may judge your people in justice and your poor in right judgement.. In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails. He shall rule from sea to sea, from the Great River to the earth s bounds.. For he shall save the poor when they cry and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak and save the lives of the poor.. May his name be blessed for ever and endure like the sun. Every tribe shall be blessed in him, all nations bless his name.. Second Reading The Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (15:4-9) Everything that was written long ago in the scriptures was meant to teach us something about hope from the examples scripture gives of how people who did not give up were helped by God. And may he who helps us when we refuse to give up, help you all to be tolerant with each other, following the example of Christ Jesus, so that united in mind and voice you may give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It can only be to God s glory, then, for you to treat each other in the same friendly way as Christ treated you. The reason Christ became the servant of circumcised Jews was not only so that God could faithfully carry out the promises made to the patriarchs, it was also to get the pagans to give glory to God for his mercy, as scripture says in one place: For this I shall praise you among the pagans and sing your name. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia! Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all people shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia! Gospel The Gospel of Matthew (3:1-12) In due course John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. This was the man the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said: A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight. This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins. But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, Brood of vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming? But if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit, and do not presume to tell yourselves, We have Abraham for our father, because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these stones. Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees, so that any tree which fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire. I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.