Second Sunday in Advent. Parish Christmas Morning Tea & Cake Stall Next Sunday 11 th December After the 8am and 10am Mass. Parish Christmas Cards

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1 3 rd /4 th December 2016 Vol. 35 No. 2 Second Sunday in Advent Just as the 1 st Sunday contained a hint of the Easter mystery of Jesus suffering, death and resurrection, the 2 nd Sunday of Advent evokes the gift of the Spirit whose outpouring on humanity is celebrated at Pentecost. In words that have found their way into the rite of confirmation, the prophet Isaiah speaks of one who will be endowed with the spirit of the Lord. This servant of God will herald a new creation in harmony and peace. In turn the gospel reports the preaching of John the Baptist to reveal that it is Jesus of Nazareth who will communicate God s Spirit to humankind. This is now the mission of the baptised to live in the Spirit of Jesus and let the Spirit s gifts be seen and shared. We give thanks for the people of Spirit who have made a difference in our lives and in the life of the world. Can we welcome others into the freedom, joy and love that the Spirit brings? Parish Christmas Morning Tea & Cake Stall Next Sunday 11 th December After the 8am and 10am Mass Last year your contributions from the sale of cakes were allotted to the Society of St Vincent De Paul Society s St George s Conference, in Kerala, India, which is a twin conference of our Woodlands conference. This year we propose to send collections from the sale of cakes to the Dominican missions in the Solomon Islands. It will be a very fitting way for our Parish to conclude the celebration of the 800 years Dominican Jubilee. If you wish to donate cakes for sale, please attach an ingredients list. Parish Christmas Cards As in previous years, we would like to have a Parish Christmas card delivered to every home in the Parish. To make this happen we need your help! Please take the bundle of cards relevant to your street and streets near you, and distribute them to your neighbours. Cards will be ready for collection on Wed 7 th Dec.

2 A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 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 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 camelhair 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. Commentary on the Gospel Like his fellow evangelist Luke, Matthew devotes the first two chapters of his gospel to the story of Jesus birth and childhood. With chapter three, he moves fast forward to the preaching of John the Baptist. The longawaited Messiah is about to come on stage. But essentially this passage is focused on the past. It portrays the Baptist as the prophet who is bringing centuries of Israel s hope and expectation to their climax. As Jesus will make clear, John remains within this horizon even as he points beyond it to the log-awaited Messiah. Inter-churches Pre-Christmas Celebration This year s annual Inter-church Celebration will be held at St Pauls Anglican Church, Brompton Road, Wembley Downs on Wednesday 7 th December at 7:30pm. The theme will be Joy at Christmas. For more information contact Margaret Lobo at the parish office. Vinnie s Christmas Hampers Baskets will be available for Christmas Hamper donations after all masses this weekend, to be returned next weekend 10 th /11 th December. We are grateful for all donations no matter how large or small. Thank you. Christmas Cards The St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas cards will be on sale after each Mass this weekend. Pack of 5 for $2.50 Pack of 8 for $4.00 Christmas Timetable Reconciliation: 19 th Dec: 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm 24 th Dec: 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm Mass: Christmas Eve: Family Mass: 6:00 pm Christmas Carols: 8:30 pm Vigil Mass: 9:00 pm Christmas Day: 8:00 am & 10:00 am Choir Practice Choir practice for the Christmas Vigil Mass will commence this Tuesday 6 th December at 7:30 pm.

3 Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Thursday 8 th December On Thursday the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the solemn dogma defined by Blessed Pope Pius IX in The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, in its oldest form, goes back to the seventh century, when churches in the East began celebrating the Feast of the Conception of Saint Anne, the mother of Mary. In other words, this feast celebrates the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the womb of Saint Anne; and nine months later, on September 8, we celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Blessed Pope Pius IX proclaimed on December 8, 1854: "The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin." Pregnancy Assistance 20 th Anniversary Thanksgiving Mass. Please join us as we give thanks to God for 20 YEARS of His tender love and mercy flowing through the ministry of Pregnancy Assistance. We give thanks for you, our supporters. Your time, prayer and donation have enabled Pregnancy Assistance to provide free support to all women (and families) who are in need of compassionate care due to pregnancy or pregnancy loss. Date: Saturday 10 th December Venue: St Mary's Cathedral Victoria Square Perth Time: 10:30am Principal Celebrant: Bishop Don Sproxton Any queries please ring Lara info@pregnancyassistance.org.au " Columban Art Calendar You can buy your 2017 Columban Calendar after the 8 am & 10 am Mass this weekend. Kids Corner Rosarians The Domincan Sisters would like to thank the Rosarian Members who attended the Mass and afternoon tea last Tuesday for their generous donation of $ for the Dominican Missions. It is greatly appreciated. Rosary Care Short Term Assistance (Brochure available on notice board) Phone: Doris or Catherine For full colour images & other news go to the Parish website:

4 \ Entrance Antiphon O people of Sion, behold, the Lord will come to save the nations, and the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart. First reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 (He judges the poor with justice.) Responsorial Psalm: Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. Second Reading: Romans 15:4-9 (Christ, the hope of all people.) Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all people shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12 (Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.) Prayers for the sick Barbara Antonetti, Aiden Blechynden, Justin Boylan, Gerard Callaghan, Kit Doran, Rebecca Fry, Megan Garner, Ron Harland, Barbara Hickey, Chiing Ing &Yanni, Barry Johnston, David Kenny, Evonne Le Broy, Ray Marinko, Joan Meade, Norm Macaulay, Fr Aquinas McComb OP, Fr. Bernie Maxwell OP, Kathleen O Reilly, Rebekah Rowe, Henry Porter, Sue Prosser, Alice Ralph, Ken Ryan, Anthony Samy, Anne Tan, Julie-Anne Taylor, Di Watts, Jenny Zorich Recently Deceased Fr Peter Lucas OP To Be Remembered Rocco Bax, John Bryan, Dario Colotti, Bernie Doyle, Gerard Drew, Phyllis Ferguson, John Loreck, Susanna & Eliott Gornati, Theresa E McNamara, Margaret Sheahan, Margaret Sims, John Usnic May they rest in peace. Next Week Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11 ROSTERS: 3 rd / 4 th December Third Sunday of Advent 10 th / 11 th December Readers: Acolytes: EMHCs: Power Point: Music: Sonia & Grace Thomas Damien Giumelli & Mike Berry Sr Myrtle & Colleen Harland Peter Gillett Pat Kirwan & Kevin Susai Gordon Kendall & Laurie Smith Libby Dimmer, Sue Walker, Tony Wong Peta Berry, Elizabeth Re, Anne Taylor Cathy Bostock, John Hayes, Kaye Shervington Nicole Drinkwater Margaret Logo Susanne Whyte Carmel Charlton Lexi Wilkinson Kat Kinley Tony Curry Miranda Hickey & Laraine Penberthy Anne-Laure Gunson-Bouillet & Terese Johnston Michael Gillooly Peter Gillett & John Mordini Pat Kirwan & Kevin Susai Teresa & Bern Willett, Tony Wong Caty Bostock, Ann Bucat, Lina Vinci Pat Cullinane, John Hayes, Sr Imelda Doris Zambonetti Simon Wong Andy Sambuaga Lexi Wilkinson Julie Prior Counters: Bob & Maureen Walsh, Fred Symons Frank McCabe, Terry Lark, Bob Stidwell Altar Society: Children s Liturgy: Pilgrim Statue: Fay Tranter, Teresa Wong & Angela Swain (9 th December) Monica Yvonne & Jim Ferguson Valerie Rosser, Pauline Kirwan, Lina Vinci (16 th December) Carlie Patricia & Frank Malone

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