PRESBYTERY Phone 6686 2042 Administrator of Ballina Parish Father Peter Padsungay Assistant Priest Father Anselm Okeke Pastoral Associate Sr Kathryn Sweeney rsj Email kathrynsfxballinaorgau PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL Email parishcouncilsfxballinaorgau
PARISH ADMINISTRATION CENTRE Phone 6681 1048 Fax 6686 8774 Email adminsfxballinaorgau Mon to Fri 830 am - 400 pm - 53-57 Cherry Street - Postal Address PO Box 46 Ballina 2478 wwwsfxballinaorgau
AGED CARE Crowley Care Services 1300 139 099 - 154 Cherry St Ballina Independent Living Village Residential Aged Care Home Care Services
Today we want to be ready and well pre-pared for whatever it is that we are expect-ing to happen We want everything to be on time We donrsquot want to waste time waiting for something not knowing when it will happen This also applies to our discipleship jour-ney We want to know when the Lord is coming So that we can prepare and be ready for His coming But as Jesus tells us ldquoabout that day and hour no one knows neither the angels of heaven nor the Son but only the Fatherrdquo It might sound pessimistic It might even prompt some doubts in faith But Jesus does not intend to discourage us He assures us that His coming is certain but that its coming will be unexpected The season of Advent returns and a new li-turgical year begins as we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent today We will hear again and again these words ldquoThe hour is at hand you must be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hourrdquo Advent invites us to enter into the stage in which ldquothe coming of the Lordrdquo is promised but as for when it will happen no one knows The timing is not the cru-cial matter it is our preparation that mat-ters The Advent season provides us with an opportunity to prepare and be ready It in-vites us to be an Advent people waiting for the Lordrsquos coming It calls us to be active
in waiting confidently for his coming set-ting our hearts on God and deepening our relationship with God and His people Saint Paul says ldquoWe instructed you how to live in the way that pleases God and you are so living but make more progress stillrdquo Advent announces that the Lordrsquos coming will happen soon It is a time of prepara-tion It calls us to ourselves because we know that the Person who is coming has the power to change our lives and that He will take us into his own Kingdom where
we will share true joy and the fullness of life We must always be ready because He comes at an unex-pected time with no great fanfare or grand parades The Lord comes again because He loves us and wants our salvation Advent is a time to remem-ber Godrsquos great gift the gift of his own beloved Son made human to be one like us The Son then
shared His Fatherrsquos love by giving His own life for everyone who comes to Him Dur-ing this season of Advent we are invited to give in return our gift to God by preparing ourselves for his coming This is the time as todayrsquos gospel reminds us ldquotherefore you also must be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hourrdquo
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR RECENTLY
DECEASED John Curry (Ireland) Hilda Gilland
Delma Condon
THOSE WHOSE ANNIVERSARIES OCCUR AT
THIS TIME Donna Biddle Joanne Wunsch
AND ALSO FOR Armando Bordin Rina Charlie amp
James Volpatti James amp Mary Rogers Cath Waddell C amp
S Hosie Mick amp Gwynne Waugh Thama Walker Kathleen
Kelly Bill amp Jean Shay Cecilia amp Bill Condon Snr Stan
amp Mary McKeough Members of the SVdP Conference amp
Auxiliary amp for all faithful departed
AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE SERIOUSLY ILL Margaret
Pyne Kathleen Campbell Trish Warwarek Roslyn Evans Kaia Randall Mary Sullivan Garry Howard Joan Charteris
Darcy Martin Jim Walsh Charlie Clements Ted Murphy
Charlie Scotcher (17 yrs) (Aunty) Julia Paden Rev Ray Fishwick
Laurie Ianna Glenn Campbell Rita Williamson Jan Kelly Kay
Harth Maria Gorton Peter amp Reba Smidt Asha Ousby (17
months) Jeanie Marie Curry Fay Kerslake Darryl Simpkins
Betty Albertini Hilda Carter Rosemary Russell John Moreland
Dympna Sheehy Margaret Bermingham Greg Shore Margaret
Pyne John McNamara Yvonne amp Peter Thurtell Mal Gillies
Cecelia Waldron Louise Wilson Michael OrsquoConnor Moore
Smith McCowan-Dann Webber Families Layton family Fitch
family Maria Hosking Kaley Nobbs Mick OrsquoBrien Graham
Robertson Gregory Thomas Gloria Greguric Joy Hepworth Leo
Lane Mary Topham Bob Grant Leisa Wotton Michael Everson
Pat Evans Virginia Sarah and Peter Kolhbach Samantha
Anderson Tony Lannan Kim del-Signore Crowley Village St
Andrewrsquos Nursing Home RSL Life Care Bupa Aged Care
THE SACRAMENTS IN OUR PARISH
BAPTISMS Will be held at any time in either Church on any day A weekrsquos notice prior to the preferred Baptism is essential for preparation and notification to the Priest Please contact Parish Admin 6681 1048 CONFIRMATION 28th May 2020 RECONCILIATION TBA FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 22nd March 2020 Parent Meeting 19th February Groups start 23rd February WEDDINGS In either church Arrange an appointment with a Priest Please allow at least 6 months for compulsory preparation ANOINTING OF THE SICK during Mass on dates to be advertised during the year and on request and at regular intervals at the hospital and aged care facilities HOSPITAL Catholic patients in Ballina Hospital are visited by a member of the parish team on a regular basis Given the difficulty we have in obtaining names of those in hospital a visit is made to those who tell us they are in the hospital We will only know someone is in the hospital if we are told by family or friends This is due to the Privacy laws that govern our nation
DIF PAYS 140 PER ANNUM BALLINA AGENTS Michael Shay L J Hooker 87-89 River St Ballina 6686 2711 - Crowley Admin Office Cherry St Ballina 1300 139 099
THIS WEEKrsquoS COLLECTIONS
First Collection Support of our
Diocese Priests $ 129925
Second Collection Support of the Parish amp
Ministries amp School Building amp Maintenance Fund
Loose Plate $ 68450
Planned Giving Envelopes Collected
$ 160030
Planned Giving Envelopes Weekly Target $ 200900
SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER PARISH BALLINA - PLANNED GIVING PROGRAM If you are a new parishioner to Ballina or an existing one and you would like to participate in the Planned Giving Program cards are available for completion in the foyer of the Church Please complete your details and place on the collection plate in the envelope provided or contact SFX Parish Admin office on 6681 1048 Monday to Friday 830 am to 400 pm For your con-venience we have the option of Direct Debit andor Envelope contribution
$000
$50000
$100000
$150000
$200000
28thOctober
4th Nov 11th Nov 18th Nov 25th Nov
Target
Collections
ROSTER 2nd Sunday of Advent Year A 7th8th December 2019 Readings Isaiah 111-10 Psalm 71 Romans 15-4-9 Matthew 31-12
600 pm Vigil Ballina
730 am Lennox Head
900 am Ballina
Offertory Procession
900 am ~ Ballina
Greeters Sue Hetherington Val Culican
Readers
Sr Kathryn Amelia Kearney
Kristie Coster Louise Martin
Nicole Sullivan
Maria Casamento
Ext Ministers Holy
Communion
Tess Colonso Anna Bonello
Hamish Valentine Phil Chapman
Maddie Pride Gemma Duffy Margaret Tay Denise Miller
Cathy Campbell
Mary OrsquoBrien
Maxine Cole
Sacristan
Phil Chapman
Marie Sullivan
Monica Anderson
Altar Servers
Allira Bateman Grace Quinn
Rhyah Bateman
Charlie Martin Luca Beasley-Kenk Annabella Clarke
Thomas Robbins Charlotte Kennedy
Clayton Pereira Fletcher Pereira
Childrenrsquos Liturgy
Chloe Puglisi Kaitlin Pieper
Carol amp Frank Lynch
REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEER CLEANERS AT SHERATON HOUSE
Sheraton House is a Parish run crisis accommodation fa-cility located at 87 Cherry Street Ballina (opposite the Ballina Hospital) Up to ten homeless men are cared for in five townhouses every night Volunteers are required to clean the units weekdays between 830 am and 1000 am Please contact Parish Administration on 6681 1049 if you are able to assist Thank you
OUR LADY OF FATIMA 1st Saturday Devotions
Rosary at Holy Family Church Lennox Head
This Saturday 7th December at 800 am
Everyone welcome
Christian Meditation Group is held every Saturday at 930 am in Anawim Room Cenacle Marian Movement of Priests Monday 1100 ammdash1215 pm at 321 Swift Street Ballina Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Friday mornings from 1100 to 1145 am at SFX Church Ballina (except when there is a funeral that day) Ballina CCR Intercession from 1045 to 1145 am in the Anawim Room Prayer Meeting Mondays 215 to 400 pm in the Anawim Room Prayer of the Church and Rosary Saturday at 900 am SFX Ballina Parish Youth Group Saturday 600 pm Mass then to St Francis Xavier School Hall Crane Street- 700 to 830 pm Sisterhood Monday at 1000 am in St Teresa Room Parish Administration Building All Welcome
Parish Notices
JOSEPHITE 2020 CALENDARS Now available from the foyer of the church and the parish admin office The price is still $600 each and they do make a wonderful Christmas gift
ST VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY Ballina Conference
lsquoJESSE TREErsquo The Society will be distributing FOOD
VOUCHERS to needy people this Christmas which al-lows our clients to purchase food of their own choice for themselves and their families They will not be able to purchase non-food items such as alcohol or tobacco with our vouchers If you wish to help us in assisting these families please take one of the envelopes from the lsquoJesse Treersquo in the foy-er of St Francis Xavier Church The envelope with donation may be returned to a member of the SVDP Societyrsquos piety stall in the Church foyer at the weekend Masses or the Vinnies shop at 7 Martin Street during week days business hours 900 am to 400 pm Saturday 900 am until 1200 noon
Please return envelope by MONDAY 16th DECEMBER 2019 for distribution
before Christmas We thank you for your generosity in sharing of Godrsquos gifts and helping to make a familyrsquos Christmas this year a little brighter Every dollar goes directly to those most in need in our local community St Vincent de Paul Society
St Francis Xavier Conference Ballina
MASSES FOR THE GIFT OF RAIN Bishop Greg has asked that ALL Wednesday Masses until Christmas be offered for those who have suffered from the fires and the continuing drought
OTHER CEREMONIES IN OUR PARISH
Holy Family Church Lennox Head Wednesday 830 am ~ Rosary amp Chaplet of Divine Mercy
St Francis Xavier Church Friday 1100 to 1145 am ~ Exposition
Saturday 900 am ~ Prayer of the Church Saturday 900 to 1000 ammdashReconciliation
also on request
CHRISTMAS EVE VIGIL MASSES AND CHRISTMAS DAY ~ BALLINA
Trained readers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are required for our Christmas Masses Clipboard at the back of the church Please add your name if your are able to assist Tha nk you
St Francis Xavier Ballina
Tuesday Christmas Eve Vigil 24th Dec - 530 pm 730 pm (Carols sung from before the Mass at 730 pm to be advised)
Wednesday Christmas Day 25th Dec - 900 am
Holy Family Lennox Head
Wednesday Christmas Day 25th Dec - 730 am
SECOND RITE of RECONCILIATION
Wednesday 18th December - 600 pm SFX Ballina
ANOINTING MASS
Friday 20th December at 1000 am SFX Church Ballina
There will be NO 12 noon Mass that day
All are welcome to attend this Mass
The Christmas Offering is made to the Bishop and clergy of the diocese In the same way as all those in receipt of an income have an obligation to support the works of the Church through the Planned Giving Program it is a responsibility of all of us to support the clergy keeping in mind that they need to eat too We offer this support by giving to the first collection on Sundays and through Christmas and Easter Dues Those with Planned Giving envelopes will find a special envelope in the box and others can place an offering in an envelope and write ldquoChristmas Duesrdquo on the outside By the way the offering doesnrsquot go to individual priests but is added to the overall Clergy Fund collections for the whole year for the whole diocese Thank you for your support ENVELOPES CAN BE PLACED ON THE FIRST COLLECTION PLATE
ADVENT WREATH Lighting 1st Candle
PRIEST Lord Jesus you bring the promise of salvation PEOPLE COME AND AWAKEN US
PRIEST Lord Jesus you will come again in glory and power PEOPLE COME AND AWAKEN US
PRIEST Lord Jesus you are our guide and our Light PEOPLE COME AND AWAKEN US
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH will be in recess from Saturday 14th December and resume Saturday 1st February 2020
HOT MEAL CENTRE will have their Christmas lunch on Friday 20th December Lunch will be served on Tuesday 24th December then the Centre will be in recess until Tuesday 14th January 2020
NATIONAL PRAYER FOR DROUGHT
Eternal God In wisdom and love you created our earth to sustain us and give us life We turn to you now in faith hope and love asking you to look with favour on our drought-stricken land on our starving animals on our failing crops Strengthen sustain and give new heart to our farmers and to all who are affected by drought be with those who support them In your loving providence send abundant rain and restore our parched earth Father of all compassion hear our prayer through Jesus Christ your Son in whom the promise of new life has dawned and through the power of the Holy Spirit the Lord the giver of life Renew your faithful people Renew the face of the earth
Our Lady of the Southern Cross Mary help of Christiansmdash
Pray for us St Mary of the Cross MacKillopmdashPray for us
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference wwwcatholicorgaudrought
First Reading Is 21-5 A reading from the prophet Isaiah
The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem In the days to come the mountain of the Temple of the Lord shall tower above the mountains and be lift-ed higher than the hills All the nations will stream to it peoples without number will come to it and they will say lsquoCome let us go up to the mountain of the Lord to the Temple of the God of Jacob that he may teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths since the Law will go out from Zion and the oracle of the Lord from Jerusalemrsquo He will wield authority over the nations and adjudi-cate between many peoples these will hammer their swords into ploughshares their spears into sickles Nation will not lift sword against nation there will be no more training for war O House of Jacob come let us walk in the light of the Lord The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm
(R) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord
1 I rejoiced when I heard them say lsquoLet us go to Godrsquos housersquo And now our feet are standing within your gates O Jerusalem (R)
2 It is there that the tribes go up the tribes of the Lord For Israelrsquos law it is there to praise the Lordrsquos name There were set the thrones of judgement of the house of David (R)
3 For the peace of Jerusalem pray lsquoPeace be to your homes May peace reign in your walls in your palaces peacersquo (R)
4 For love of my brethren and friends I say lsquoPeace upon yoursquo For love of the house of the Lord I will ask for your good (R)
Second Reading Rom 1311-14 A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans
You know lsquothe timersquo has come you must wake up now our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted The night is almost over it will be daylight soon ndash let us give up all the things we prefer to do under the cover of the dark let us arm ourselves and appear in the light Let us live decently as people do in the daytime no drunken orgies no promiscuity or licentiousness and no wrangling or jealousy Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ
The Word of the Lord Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia alleluia
Lord show us your mercy and love and grant us your salvation Alleluia
Gospel Mt 2437-44
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus said to his disciples lsquoAs it was in Noahrsquos day so will it be when the Son of Man comes For in those days before the Flood people were eating drinking taking wives taking husbands right up to the day Noah went into the ark and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away It will be like this when the Son of Man comes Then of two men in the fields one is taken one left of two women at the millstone grinding one is taken one left lsquoSo stay awake because you do not know the day when your master is coming You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed any-one to break through the wall of his house There-fore you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expectrsquo
The Gospel of the Lord
Liturgy Help copy
