Catholic Parish of Lindfield-Killara

Transcription

1 Catholic Parish of Lindfield-Killara Diocese of Broken Bay Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church, Killara Holy Family Parish Church, Lindfield LINDFIELD: KILLARA: MASS TIMES: Saturday 6:00pm Saturday Vigil: 5:30pm Sunday: 8:15am Sunday: 9:15am 10:15am 12:00 (Chinese Community Mass) 6:00pm (for both our communities) Weekdays: Monday 9:15am 7:30am Tuesday 12:15pm (see p.3) 7:30am Wednesday 9:15am 6:00pm (Yr Grad n Mass) ~ Thursday 9:15am ~ Friday ** 9:15am 7:30am 11:15am (School Advent Mass) Saturday 9:15am ~ SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturdays 5:00 5:30pm (Lindfield) For 15 minutes after the 5:30pm Mass (Killara) *** Healing Mass for whole parish at 10am each 2nd Friday of each month (except Jan.) THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT GAUDETE ( REJOICE ) SUNDAY This week: Is 35:1-6, 10; James 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11 Next week : Is 7:10-14; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-24 LIGHTING OF THE THIRD CANDLE OF THE ADVENT WREATH Celebrant: Lord Jesus Christ, you are our Saviour, the true light who has come into our world. We ask you to send your blessings on this community who gather around this wreath, which we honour as a remembrance of your first coming at Bethlehem, your daily coming amongst us in grace and your final coming in glory. Strengthen our hearts with the example of your love that we may receive you with joy and gladness on the day of our redemption, when you will come to reign as Universal King for ever and ever. The third (rose-coloured) candle is lit. Cel: Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. All: Come and lead us to the eternal life you promise. Cel: Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd who knows his flock & calls each by name. All: Come and lead us to the eternal life you promise. Cel: Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd ready to search out & look for the lost sheep. All: Come and lead us to the eternal life you promise. Celebrant: During the Advent season may almighty God lead us to worship his Son and fill our hearts with joy at the coming of Jesus and lead us to life everlasting. All: Amen. Please join in singing one more verse of the Entrance Hymn.

2 2 Parish Staff and Contact Information We are the one parish of Lindfield-Killara containing our two distinct but collaborating and cooperating communities centred on our two churches at Killara and Lindfield. Holy Family Church: Cnr Pacific Hwy and Highfield Rd, Lindfield Immaculate Heart of Mary Church: Cnr Fiddens Wharf Rd and Charles St, Killara Parish Priest: Fr Colin Blayney Ass t Priest: Fr Thomas Alackakunnel VC thomas@lindfieldkillara.org.au Apart from the case of emergency please restrict the use of the above numbers to between 9:30am and 5:00pm. For office or routine enquiries please contact the Parish Office during office hours. PARISH OFFICE: Parish Secretary: Philita Marundan: philita@lindfieldkillara.org.au Address: Level 1, 2 Highfield Road (cnr Pacific Hwy) Lindfield NSW 2070 (Postal: PO Box 22, Lindfield NSW 2070) Ph: Fax: parish@lindfieldkillara.org.au Parish Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30am-1:00pm and 1:30pm-4:00pm Catechist Coordinator (Primary Schools): Sue-Anne Sherwood sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au Sacramental Programme Coordinator: Sue-Anne Sherwood As above Parish Bookkeeper: Alison Williams Parish Facilities Coordinator (voluntary): Anthony Cassidy Parish Primary School: Holy Family School 4 Highfield Rd, Lindfield 2070 Principal: Mr Lou Dogao Ph: Fax: info@holyfamily.nsw.edu.au School Website: Parish Website: Saturday 10 Dec 17 Dec Lindfield 6:00pm Fr Colin Blayney Fr Colin Blayney Killara 5:30pm Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Sunday 11 Dec 18 Dec Lindfield 8:15am Fr Colin Blayney Fr Colin Blayney Killara 9:15am Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Lindfield 10:15am Fr Colin Blayney Fr Colin Blayney Lindfield 12:00noon Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Lindfield 6:00pm Fr Colin Blayney Fr Thomas Alackakunnel CHRISTMAS MASSES LINDFIELD CHRISTMAS EVE EVENING: KILLARA Children s Vigil Mass 6:00pm: Fr Colin 5:30pm: Fr Thomas Mid-evening (early Midnight ) Mass 10:30pm: Fr Colin 8:00am (NOT 8:15am) 9:00am (NOT 9:15am) 10:15am CHRISTMAS MORNING: Fr Thomas Fr Colin Fr Colin

3 3 RICHARD ROHR S MEDITATION: THE WEEDS AND THE WHEAT Can true humility and compassion exist in our words and in our eyes unless we know we too are capable of any act? St Francis of Assisi Jesus uses a number of images that illustrate the tension between good and evil. They seem to say this world is a mixture of different things, and unless you learn how to see deeply, you don t know which is which, and you don t notice that God allows both good and bad to grow in the same field (Mt. 13:24-30). When a student asks Jesus if he should pull out the weeds, Jesus says to let them both grow together until the harvest (13:30). Then, at the end of time, God will decide what is wheat and what is a weed. In a certain way, he is saying it is none of our business to fully figure it out. This is really quite risky of God and it takes tremendous courage on our part to trust God and ourselves here. We are all a mixture of weeds and wheat and we always will be. As Martin Luther put it, we are simul justus et peccator. We are simultaneously saint and sinner. That s the mystery of holding weeds and wheat together in our one field of life. It takes a lot more patience, compassion, forgiveness, and love than aiming for some illusory perfection that is usually blind to its own faults. Acknowledging both the wheat and weeds in us keeps us from thinking too highly of ourselves and also from dismissing ourselves as terrible. To avoid cynicism and negativity, you have to learn to accept and forgive this mixed bag of reality that you are and everyone else is, too. If you don t, you ll likely become a very angry person. To accept the weeds doesn t mean that you say, It s okay to be ignorant and evil. It means you have some real wisdom about yourself. You can see your weeds and acknowledge when you are not compassionate or caring. You have to name the weed as a weed. I m not perfect; you re not perfect; the church is not perfect. If we must have perfection to be happy with ourselves, we have only two choices: We can blind ourselves to our own evil (and deny the weeds), or we can give up in discouragement (and deny the wheat). It takes uncommon humility to carry both the dark and the light side of things. The only true perfection available to humans is the honest acceptance of our imperfection. This is precisely what Divine Perfection can help us do; only God in us can love imperfect and broken things. By ourselves, we largely fail. Learning how to love which is our life s project is quite simply learning to accept our messy reality. If you love anyone, then you have learned to accept them despite their faults. You see a few things you d like to change in your partner, your children, yourself. By the Largeness of God within you, you are able to trust that the good is deeper than the bad, and usually well hidden. This is probably why so many of Jesus parables are about hiddenness, seeking, and finding. CATECHIST MASS AND LUNCH The end of year Catechists Mass and luncheon takes place this Tuesday 13th December commencing with 12:15pm Mass. Please note that this 12:15pm Mass will be celebrated upstairs in the Shirley Wallace Centre. All are welcome to attend this Mass.

4 4 CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS Our parish, with its two churches of Immaculate Heart of Mary at Killara and Holy Family at Lindfield warmly invites you to join us for our celebrations of the Lord s birth at Christmas. Our celebrations are as follows: CHRISTMAS EVE EVENING : CHRISTMAS MORNING : Lindfield: 6:00pm Christmas Vigil Mass Killara: 5:30pm Christmas Vigil Mass These are the Children's Masses. (please note that once again the Children s Mass at Lindfield will be celebrated in the church, not in the hall). A CHILDREN S CHRISTMAS GIFT TO THOSE IN NEED: We invite the children at both Children s Masses to bring an envelope containing a donation towards the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. We will invite the children to come forward at the time of the Presentation of the Gifts to put their envelopes in the boxes under the Christmas Tree. Lindfield: 10:30pm Mass (an earlier Midnight Mass ) preceded by Carols at 10pm. Lindfield 8:00am Mass (not 8:15am) Killara 9:00am Mass (not 9:15am) Lindfield 10:15am Mass Lindfield 12 Noon Chinese Mass NO evening Mass on Christmas Day. Children s Involvement in our Christmas Masses We invite the children to be actively involved in our Children s Christmas Vigil Mass at either Killara (5:30pm) or Lindfield (6:00pm), or in the children s choir at the 8:00am Mass on Christmas Day: ~ AT KILLARA ~ For those interested in being part of the Children's Vigil Mass: nativity play, choir and readers please carolannisb@hotmail.com. The rehearsal will be held on Thursday 22nd December at 3:00pm in Killara church. ~ AT LINDFIELD ~ For those interested in being part of the Children's Vigil Mass: nativity play, choir and readers please Rose at: roseingham@optusnet.com.au. The rehearsal will be held on Friday 23rd December at 10:15am in Lindfield church. The younger children, as they are each Sunday, are also welcome to form the choir leading the singing at the early Mass (8:00am) on Christmas Day. The rehearsal for children wishing to take part in this Mass will be on Friday 23rd December at noon in Lindfield church.

5 5 DATES FOR SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMMES IN 2017 A letter giving all the details and dates for our Sacramental Preparation Programmes for First Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion in 2017 is now available as follows: on the parish website ( under Sacraments Children s Sacraments. from the foyers of both our churches BOOK AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE Fr Neil Brown s new book Believing in God Challenges of the 21st Century is available at the Parish Office for $25. No proceeds from this sale go to the parish we simply want to help to make this important book available. A Review: 'Neil Brown's Believing in God combines seamlessly an in-depth rebuttal of New Atheism and a nuanced portrayal of faith in the God of Jesus Christ. The spirit in which Brown pursues his project is especially noteworthy: his critique of atheism is neither sneering nor triumphalistic; his affirmation of faith is hope-filled and challenging. If Christian communities and individuals are to engage fruitfully with contemporary questions, good resources are crucial; this book's clarity of thought and expression, which build on its rich scholarship, mark it as a most welcome companion on the pilgrimage of faith.' Rev. Dr Richard Lennan, Professor of Systematic Theology, Boston College - School of Theology and Ministry. FLOWERS FOR THE ALTAR AT LINDFIELD The system for providing flowers at Holy Family church is that we have a number of parishioners who provide an annual donation towards this cost and then Betty Harris our coordinator orders the flower arrangements each week from the florist and these are delivered on the weekend. The cost is $120 per week. We currently have sufficient donors to cover 28 Sundays of the year. If you would be willing to adopt a Sunday and contribute this cost could you please contact the Parish Office as soon as possible. Many thanks. ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY - CHRISTMAS APPEAL The annual appeal for funds takes concludes this weekend in both Lindfield & Killara Churches. Funds donated are used to support the works of the Society within the Parish and the Broken Bay Diocese. Your local Conference is providing support for five families within the Parish with their living expense particularly food and energy costs. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. Envelopes are available throughout both churches. Include your name and address for your receipt.

6 6 CHRISTMAS OFFERING ENVELOPES are available near the doors of both our churches. The contributions via the Christmas Offering supplements the funds raised via the First Collection for the support and upkeep of priests. The fund it goes to depends very much on these special contributions at Christmas and Easter, without which it struggles to meet its commitments. This diocesan fund not only provides the living allowance and household costs for the priests of the parish, but also provides funds for health care for priests and maintains priests in their retirement. Please support the Christmas Offerings. The envelopes can be placed on either plate at Masses over the next few weeks. The Season of Advent... THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: provides a forum for reviewing our discipleship and preparing for a new beginning as we enter another liturgical year. There will be a celebration of the Second Rite of Reconciliation on Wednesday 21st December at 7:30pm which will be for the whole parish and will be held in Holy Family Church at Lindfield. We will have a similar celebration in Lent, on which occasion it will be held in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church at Killara. The Second Rite of Reconciliation takes the form of a communal celebration with a short liturgy leading us into the time of individual confessions (we will have a number of priests present) & concluding with a common prayer of thanksgiving and final blessing. Advent and hope There are two days in the Season of Advent that mark a turning point: * The liturgical colour for today, Gaudete Sunday, is rose, symbolising that the light of what we re waiting & preparing for is breaking through the darkness of our searching and waiting: it s as though the light of Christmas shines through the purple of our waiting, the purple of our searching, the purple of Advent lightening it to a rose colour. Today is a day of hope, reminding us that the God who was made flesh is present with us even in our searching and longing and waiting, even in the dark moments of our life. * The 17th of December is a liturgical turning point in the Season of Advent. Until then Advent is focussed on the theme of preparing for the coming of the Lord, in each present moment, at the hour of our own death, and at the end of time. But from the 17th Advent focuses specifically on preparing our spirit to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We move from the first to the second Preface of Advent in our Eucharistic Prayers as it prays that when he comes he may find us watching our hearts filled with wonder and praise.

7 7 Our Parish SCRIPTURE STUDY GROUP meets on the second Wednesday of each month (therefore the next meeting is THIS Wednesday 14th December) from 10am 11am. The new venue is the Library in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre. We are working through John s Gospel and so it would be helpful to have read John chp. 6 for the coming meeting. All welcome. Fr Colin A FAREWELL AND THANK YOU to Trish Rodgers as Assistant Sacramental Programme Coordinator. Trish has been working as assistant to Sue-Anne Sherwood since 2013 and has been a wonderful member of our parish team and a tremendous worker for our parish community. Trish is finishing up in this role at the end of this year to give more time to teaching. We thank her for all that she has done and we re glad of course that she will still be with us as a member of our parish. Fr Colin SOME THINGS ABOUT OUR PARISH HALL AT KILLARA The repairs and renovations are progressing well and the hall, looking fresh and beautiful, should be re-opened by the end of January. However a few things: when we built the new St Brigid s Hall in the Shirley Wallace Centre at Lindfield we were blessed to have the cost of the new lightweight tables and chairs donated by members of the parish. If you would be willing to help with this cost please contact the Parish Office. as you know, as part of the renovations we are putting a much-needed new kitchen into the hall. If you have a second-hand dishwasher, oven, stovetop or rangehood in good condition and would be prepared to donate it please let us know as soon as possible (we were likewise blessed to have many of these items donated for the kitchen in the Shirley Wallace Centre) as we will otherwise soon need to order these items trough the kitchen installer. to prepare for the final works in the hall we need to move all the furniture currently in the hall up to the garage on the carpark (we will subsequently take what is not needed to the tip). We are having a WORKING BEE for this purpose next Saturday 17th December at 2:00pm. Please be there to help. PLAYGROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY This Wednesday 14th Dec. from 10am-12.30pm in St Brigid s Hall in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre. Join us for a feast, jumping castle and for a visit from Fr Christmas. Please rsvp to sueanne@lindfieldkillara.org.au as there are details you need to know about the visit from Fr Christmas. New comers welcome. This is the last playgroup for the year and we begin next year on Wednesday 1st Feb 2017, 10.30am-12pm. Register at

8 8 THE PRAYERS AND RESPONSES OF MASS We abstain from the joyful words of the Gloria during these days of Advent as we prepare our hearts and our community to celebrate once again the birth of the Lord Jesus INVITATION TO PRAYER LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST: Celebrant: Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours.. May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise & glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church. SANCTUS: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION: Celebrant: Behold the Lamb of God All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION:

9 THE PSALM PS 145:6-10. It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever, who is just to those who are oppressed. It is the Lord who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord, who sets prisoners free. It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind, who raises up those who are bowed down, the Lord, who protects the stranger and upholds the widow and orphan. It is the Lord who loves the just but thwarts the path of the wicked. The Lord will reign for ever, Zion s God, from age to age. At Masses at which the Psalm is sung the response is: Lord, come and save us. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION : Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring Good News to the poor. Alleluia! 9 THE APOSTLES CREED I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, (all bow at the following words in bold): who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen RESPONSES TO THE PSALM FOR WEEKDAY MASS: Mon : Teach me your ways, O Lord. Tues: The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Wed: Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Saviour. Thurs: I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. Fri: O God, let all the nations praise you! Sat: Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK: Third Week in Advent Tues.: Memoria of St Lucy Wed.: Memoria of St John of the Cross ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS ON THE PARISH WEBSITE All the events for Advent and Christmas in the parish along with the Christmas Mass timetable - can be found by clicking the Advent and Christmas hotlink box on the homepage of our parish website.

10 10 A celebration for Advent: Blessing of your Christmas Crib The Christmas Crib or manger scene helps us to focus our celebration of the Word made flesh. You might like to pray this prayer at home before your Christmas crib. Leader: As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we pause to bless this Christmas manger scene. The practice of erecting such mangers was begun by Saint Francis of Assisi as a means to set forth the message of Christmas. When we look upon these figures, the Christmas Gospel comes alive and we are moved to rejoice in the mystery of the Word made flesh. Leader: Let us ask God s blessing on this Christmas manger and upon ourselves, that we who reflect on the birth of Jesus may share in the salvation he accomplished. 1. For the Church of God, as we recall the birth of Jesus, that we may always proclaim his gift of new life for all people. R. Come, Lord, dwell with us. 2. For the world in which we live, that it may come to recognise Christ just as he was recognised and welcomed by the angels and the shepherds. R. Come, Lord, dwell with us. 3. For our homes, that Jesus who was laid in the manger may dwell with us always. R. Come, Lord, dwell with us. Prayer of blessing God of every nation and people, from the very beginning of creation you have made manifest your love: when our need for a Saviour was great you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary. To our lives he brings joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love. Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise up our thoughts to him, who is God-with-us and Saviour of all, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. All: Amen Parish Advent Home Celebration Adults and children are very welcome. Please contact the host to let them know that you re coming for catering purposes for the light refreshments which will follow the celebration: THIS Wednesday 14th December at 7pm at the home of the Kugel family. Please phone to rsvp and to obtain the address.

11 11 The Bishops Conference of England and Wales has launched this website in the line of the venerable Catholic tradition of Ars moriendi ( The Art of Dying ). As Christians how do we approach our own death and the death of loved ones? Please visit this site to help ponder this important dimension of our faith: WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP AS A CATECHIST FOR OUR STATE SCHOOLS: Because a few of our Catechists have found full time work, we are looking for a few more Catechists for next year. Please contact Sue-Anne (sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au). POSITIONS VACANT HERE IN THE PARISH The Catholic Parish of Lindfield-Killara is seeking a person to take on the role of Assistant Sacramental Programme Coordinator. The role involves a total of 300 hours per year, exercised flexibly in accordance with the needs of the Sacramental Preparation Programmes for First Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion. The successful candidate would work with the Sacramental Programme Coordinator, Sue-Anne Sherwood, and would focus especially on the administrative backup to the sacramental programmes. Applications should be sent to Fr Colin Blayney by Friday 20th January Please contact the Parish Office for an information pack on the role. The Catholic Parish of Lindfield-Killara is seeking a person to take on the role of Administrative Assistant in the Parish Office, with a specific focus of providing secretarial and administrative support to the Parish Priest in his role. The position involves a total of four hours per week. Applications should be sent to Fr Colin Blayney by Friday 20th January Please contact the Parish Office for an information pack on the role. The above two positions may be filled by a single person having the necessary skills, or may be applied for separately.

12 12 ARE WE THERE YET? O so silently the heavens stir. O so silently the baby turns. In the womb of heaven the waiting has been long. How many false starts? How many No s! before this single Yes! How long yet to wait? How long before the baby s cry? O that you would rip open heaven and come to us now! Yet so silent the heavens. So silent the turning of the child. In the womb of heaven all speech has ceased, all the Word has to say is silenced, and the stars hold their breath. The waiting has just begun. Roddy Hamilton, Advent 1, Mucky Paws, 24/11/05 PHYSIOFIT Lindfield Parishioner PHYSIOTHERAPISTS: KERRY WESTON (Bogard) THERESA GUDE Hands on treatment Exercise prescription Exercise classes We are located at 7/345 Pacific Highway, Lindfield 2070 (Scholastic Building) Ph: Mob: kerry@physiofitlindfield.com.au FALLS PREVENTION CLASSES PHYSIOFIT LINDFIELD Assessment and bookings essential. Phone kerry@physiofitlindfield.com.au Henry & Gloria Cheung Parishioners Serving the Australian Construction Industry for 30 years UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS 326 Pacific Hway, Lindfield NSW 2070 Tel no Fax no E:sales@universalinstruments.com.au Address: 319 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, NSW King Street, Newton 6 Pitt Street Parramatta Phone: / FAX: W: E: wnbull@wnbull.com.au Member of Australian Funeral Directors Association Lindfield Dental Practice Dr Peter Chung DDS, MDS, PhD Clinical Assoc Professor Open: Mon-Sat P: Suite 1, 345 Pacific Highway (Scholastic Bldg) Next to Lindfield Medical Practice

13 13 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY The 2017 Columban Calendars are now available at the main entrance to both Lindfield and Killara churches. Sale of these calendars supports the work of the Columban Missionaries throughout the world. Cost: $8. Please place the money in the Poor Box. CHRISTMAS CARDS are now available in both Lindfield and Killara Churches. Two new designs are available this year and they come in packets of ten. Cost is $6 per packet. Please place money in the Poor Box 2017 PARISH RETREATS AT TARRAWARRA ABBEY ~ WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU ~ Next year s retreats will be as follows (Easter Sunday is 16th April): Wednesday 19th Apr. Tues. morning 25th April (falls in school holidays) Wednesday 26th Apr. Tues. morning 2nd May (falls outside school holidays) If you are interested in taking part in one of these retreats or just finding out more about what s involved please contact Fr Colin. We soon need to decide whether we will run both or only one retreat so please indicate your interest by Friday 16th December. CONGRATULATIONS TO Robin Moran and Joyce Lau who this weekend receive their diocesan certificates acknowledging five years ministry as Catechists. Members of the parish Young Adults Group worked for many hours last Thursday in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre to bake cakes and cookies for the cake stall for the Carols night to help raise funds for our parish youth ministry. A fuller report on the Carols night will appear in next week s bulletin as this bulletin was printed before the Carols night took place.

14 將臨期第三主日 11/12/2016 讀經一 ( 天主要親自來拯救我們!) 恭讀依撒意亞先知書 35:1-6,10 荒野和不毛之地必要歡樂, 沙漠 必要欣喜, 如花盛開, 盛開得有如百 合, 高興得歡樂歌唱, 因為它們將獲 得黎巴嫩的光華 加爾默耳和沙龍的 美麗 它們將見到上主的榮耀 我們 天主的光輝 你們應加強痿弱的手, 堅固顫動 的膝, 告訴心怯的人說 : 鼓起勇氣 來, 不要畏懼! 看, 你們的天主! 報 復已到! 天主的報酬已到! 他要親自 來拯救你們 那時, 盲人將會看見, 聾子將要 聽到 ; 那時, 瘸子必要跳躍如鹿, 啞 吧的舌頭, 必要歡呼 上主所解救的 人必要歸來, 快樂地來到熙雍 ; 永久 的歡樂, 有如冠冕, 戴在他們頭上 他們將盡享快樂和歡喜, 再沒有憂愁 和悲哀 上主的話 ( 默想片 刻 ) 答唱詠詠 146:7, 8, 9, 10 答 : 上主, 請你來, 拯救我們 ( 參閱依 35:4) 領 : 上主為被欺壓的人辯護 ; 上主賜 食物給飢餓的人 ; 上主使被囚的 人, 獲得自由 答 領 : 上主開啟瞎子的眼睛 ; 上主使傴 僂的人挺身 ; 上主喜愛正義的 人 答 領 : 上主保護旅客 ; 上主扶助孤兒寡 婦 ; 上主迷惑惡人的道路 答 領 : 願上主永遠為王! 熙雍, 你的天 主萬壽無疆! 答 讀經二 ( 該堅固你們的心, 因為主的 來臨已接近了 ) 恭讀聖雅各伯書 5:7-10 弟兄姊妹們 : 14 CHINESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 直到主的來臨, 你們應該忍 耐 看, 農夫多麼忍耐, 期待田地 裡寶貴的出產, 直到獲得時雨和晚 雨 你們也該忍耐, 堅固你們的 心, 因為主的來臨已接近了 弟兄們, 不要彼此抱怨, 免得 你們受審判 ; 看, 審判者已站在門 前 弟兄們, 應以那些曾因上主之 名講話的先知們, 作為受苦和忍耐 的模範 上主的話 ( 默想片 刻 ) 福音前歡呼 領 : 亞肋路亞 眾 : 亞肋路亞 領 : 上主的神臨於我身上, 派遣我 向貧苦的人傳報喜訊 ( 依 61:1) 眾 : 亞肋路亞 福音 ( 你就是要來的那一位, 或是 我們還要等候另一位?) 恭讀聖瑪竇福音 11:2-11 那時候, 若翰在獄中聽了基督 所行的, 就派遣他的門徒去問耶穌 說 : 你就是要來的那一位, 或是 我們還要等候另一位? 耶穌回答他們說 : 你們去, 把你們所見所聞的, 報告給若翰 : 瞎子看見, 跛子行走, 痲瘋病人得 到潔淨, 聾子聽見, 死人復活, 窮 苦的人得聞喜訊 凡不因我而絆倒 的, 是有福的! 他們走了以後, 耶穌就對群眾 講論若翰說 : 你們出去到荒野, 是為看什麼呢? 為看隨風搖曳的蘆 葦嗎? 你們出去到底是為看什麼? 為看一位穿細軟衣服的人嗎? 啊! 那穿細軟衣服的人, 是在王宮裡 你們究竟為什麼出去? 為看一位先 知嗎? 是的! 我給你們說 : 而且他 比先知還大 關於這人, 經上記載說 : 看, 我派遣我的使者在你面 前, 他要在你前面, 預備你的 道路 我實在告訴你們 : 在婦 女所生的, 沒有興起一位比洗 者若翰更大的 ; 但在天國裡最 小的, 也比他大 上主的話 ( 講道後默想 片刻 ) 華人天主教會北區中心 主日彌撒 12 時 彌撒後. Parish Hall 午餐聚會, 餐 費 $5.00 歡迎各教友參加. 牧職修女司徒金美修女 聯絡 中心聯絡 Gloria Cheung 聯絡 E :contact@ccc-inc.org.au Sunday School 12noon, Parish Meeting Room 25/12/ 時 聖誕節感恩祭, Fr. Kelly 主禮 在學校假期期間, 25/12/ /1/2017 午餐暫停供 應, 29/1/2017 恢復提供 2016 Family Camp 家庭營 26/12-28/12 St. Paul International College, Moss Vale 主講 : 廖雅倫神父, 主題 : 教宗方濟各的 願你受讚頌 通諭 E :contact@ccc-inc.org.au 廖雅倫神父是香港教區司鐸, 二零 零八年領受司鐸聖職 現任屯門贖 世主堂助理主任司鐸, 香港教區聖 神修院培育團成員 教區聖召委員 會委員 珠海學院天主教同學會神 師 除堂區服務外, 也協助青年人 分辨聖召, 擔任青年聖召同行者

15 15 (continued from page 16): 5) The struggle for interiority and prayer inside of a culture that in its thirst for information and distraction constitutes a virtual conspiracy against depth and solitude, the eclipse of silence in our world the struggle to move our eyes beyond our digital screens towards a deeper horizon. 6) The struggle to deal healthily with the dragon of personal grandiosity, ambition, and pathological restlessness, inside of a culture that daily over-stimulates them, the struggle to healthily cope with both affirmation and rejection the struggle inside of a restless and over-stimulated environment to habitually find the delicate balance between depression and inflation. 7) The struggle to not be motivated by paranoia, fear, narrowness, and overprotectionism in the face of terrorism and overpowering complexity the struggle to not let our need for clarity and security trump compassion and truth. 8) The struggle with moral loneliness inside a religious, cultural, political, and moral Diaspora the struggle to find soul mates who meet us and sleep with us inside our moral centre. 9) The struggle to link faith to justice to get a letter of reference from the poor, to institutionally connect the gospel to the streets, to remain on the side of the poor. 10) The struggle for community and church, the struggle inside a culture of excessive individuality to find the healthy line between individuality and community, spirituality and ecclesiology the struggle as adult children of the Enlightenment to be both mature and committed, spiritual and ecclesial. What s the value in a list of this sort? It s important to name things and to name them properly; although, admittedly, simply naming a disease doesn t of itself bring about a cure. However, as James Hillman used to quip, a symptom suffers most when it doesn t know where it belongs. Fr Ron Rolheiser omi (from the Centre for Liturgy, University of St Louis) FOR ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE Comfort Inn North Shore Family owned and professionally operated motel with on-site restaurant Address: 1 Gatacre Avenue, Lane Cove Phone: res@cins.com.au Website: Lord, in Jesus your Son, you restored to us the gift of everlasting life. Grant that life to: Recently deceased: Phil Ryan, Brona Doyle, Norma Armstrong, Adrian Selwyn, Anne McElvogue, Peter Norton, Cynthia Castillo-Alegre, Purificacion Jimez Sunico. Berna Wright (nee Finn). Please pray for those who are sick : Max Warren, Cyril Ferriere, Br Braden, Brian Couper, Geraldine Haydock, Kieran Norton, Sean Maguire, Pakie Maguire, Naneth Bernado, Marjorie Simpkins, Michael & John Swan.

16 16 REFLECTING ON THIS SUNDAY S SCRIPTURES.. Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another? (Gospel) THE TEN MAJOR FAITH STRUGGLES OF OUR AGE Sometimes the simple act of naming something can be immensely helpful. Before we can put a name on something we stand more helpless before its effects, not really knowing what s happening to us. Many of us, for example, are familiar with the book, The Future Church: How Ten Trends are Revolutionising the Catholic Church, by John Allen. The things he names in this book, even when they don t affect us directly, still help shape us for the better. As a journalist who travels the world as the Vatican analyst for both CNN television and the National Catholic Reporter, John Allen is able to provide us with a wider, global perspective on church issues than is generally afforded to those of us whose vision is more emotionally mired in our own local and national issues. Heartaches at home can make us blind to the wider concerns of the planet; just as seeing the concerns and pains of others first-hand can put our own concerns and pain into a healthier perspective. John Allen s global frame of reference, as outlined in the mega-trends he names in his book, helps us keep our own ecclesial concerns in a healthier perspective. What are the ten major faith and church struggles of our time? So here is my own attempt to name some things: Several years ago in an interview, John Allen asked me to draw up a list of what I considered to be the ten major faith and church struggles of our time. I took this as a healthy challenge and the list that follows, no doubt less global in perspective than Allen s ten trends (My vision, I fear, speaks more for Western and secularised cultures than for the world at large), is my own attempt to name the key faith and ecclesial struggles we deal with today. What are the ten major faith and church struggles of our time, at least as manifest within the more highly secularised parts of our world? 1) The struggle with the atheism of our everyday consciousness, that is, the struggle to have a vital sense of God within a secular culture which, for good and for bad, is the most powerful narcotic ever perpetrated on this planet the struggle to be conscious of God outside of church and explicit religious activity. 2) The struggle to live in torn, divided, and highly-polarised communities, as wounded persons ourselves, and carry that tension without resentment and without giving it back in kind the struggle inside of our own wounded selves to be healers and peacemakers rather than ourselves contributing to the tension. 3) The struggle to live, love, and forgive beyond the infectious ideologies that we daily inhale, that is, the struggle for true sincerity, to genuinely know & follow our own hearts & minds beyond what is prescribed to us by the right and the left the struggle to be neither liberal or conservative but rather men & women of true compassion. 4) The struggle to carry our sexuality without undue frigidity and without irresponsibility, the struggle for a healthy sexuality that can both properly revere and properly delight in this great power the struggle to carry our sexuality in such a way so as to radiate both chastity and passion. (cont d on page 15)