St Nicholas Primary Principal : Ms Anita Knezevic Ph; 4752 3300 St Mary Mackillop Primary Principal : Mr Scott Buchan Ph; 4724
3200
No bookings required. We are able to accommodate 100 people in the Church. Please remember to bring your masks to Mass and observe social distancing. Read our Covid-19 Safety guidelines on Page 3.
GOSPEL REFLECTION
The feast of the Baptism is part of an ancient epiphany cycle with the accounts of the Magi (last Sunday), the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:41-52), the wedding at Ca-na (John 2:1-11), the feeding of the crowds (Matt 8:1-3), and Jesus on the lake (Matt 8:23-27). Each was understood as revealing Christ. Before the liturgical reform we used John’s account of the baptism, where the Baptist says “Behold the Lamb of God” and “This is God’s Son”—both statements of revelation. In the reformed Lectionary we read this year Mark 1:7-11, in which we hear the voice from heaven say to Jesus, “You are my son, the Beloved; my fa-vour rests on you.” We can approach this in different ways. First, we witness a private moment, as if eavesdropping on the Father speaking to the Son, in contrast to Matthew who has the voice speak about Jesus, and thus speaking to the audience and reader. Second, we may see the trinitarian image here when we remember in John that Jesus is called “the Word”: the heavenly one speaks, the action by which a mind conveys words into the world by the power of the breath (which is what “Spirit” means). Here then, through the Spirit moving in the world, the Father confirms in word that Jesus is the Son. This epiphany is about Jesus, but it is also trinitarian. Third, the words spoken are adapted from Isaiah 42:1, the opening line of the first Servant Song in which, as men-tioned last Sunday, he is appointed as “light to the nations”. That forms the first reading in Year A (Isa 42:1-4, 6-7), but it can be read each year. The second reading for Year B (1 John 5:1-9) introduces something else. It too refers to water, but, rather than point-
ing to baptism, its combination with blood points to the author of John’s gospel report of the death of Jesus when water and blood flow from his pierced heart. But some-thing in the opening lines distracts those cautious with translations: the second line reads more literally “whoever loves the begetter loves the begotten”….The distinction is important because John is not speaking exclusively of Jesus as begotten of God, as the next clause makes clear, (literally) “By this we know that we love God’s children; when we love God”. John is referring to loving each other, saying in effect: those who know Jesus are the children of God, and those who love God love the children of God, and the only way to show love for God is to love God’s children, both in Jesus and in fellow Chris-tians, and indeed in all others.
Excerpts from Rev Dr Barry Craig - Baptism of the Lord - Year B
P R A Y E R S F O R T H O S E I N O U R C O M M U N I T Y R E C E N T L Y D E C E A S E D : Margaret Mary Sullivan, William John Hopkinson, William Keith Wood, Veneranda Miranda & all those who have died from COVID-19. D E A T H A N N I V E R S A R I E S : Rosina Paulo, Joe & Imelda Bon-sors, Iris McRae, Matthew Edmunds, John Xiberras, Albert Goh, Rita Patricia Fernando, Claude & Evelyn Fernandez, Jerry D’Souza, Conchita Maliglig, Maria Kukac, James Carrier, Mark Paterson & all the Holy Souls in Purgatory. D E C E A S E D : John Nettar, Sr Maria Alipia & all the Holy Souls in Purgatory. S I C K : Esther Maria Biju, Ivanka, George Bell, Magi Gahli, Joan Mullins, Charlie Camenzuli, Carmela Dimunno, Ron Northman, Melina Lyonello, Jocelyn Powell, Romas Leveris, Olga Kiss, Thomas P J, Annamma Thomas, Mildred Fitzgerald, Jaime Calero, Ray-mond J Keuana, Ronilo Galido, Fab Chavez, Nympha Miller, Ken Beatson, Melanie Castle, Eva Gilmour, Joanne Portelli, Daniel Var-low, Theresa Jordan, Jane & Hugh McCann, Mark McSpadden, Pat McGovern and all who suffer from COVID-19.
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
G r o u n d e d i n F a i t h | G r o w i n g i n L o v e | L i v i n g i n H o p e
OUR MASS SCHEDULE
There is only one Mass from Monday to Friday at 9.30am in the month of January.
Saturday
Mass 9.00am Reconciliation 9.30am-10.30am & 5pm-5.45pm Adoration After Saturday Morning Mass Filipino Mass 11.00am (1st Sat of the month) Vigil Mass 6.00pm
Sunday Mass 7.00am, 8.30am 10.00am *(no Children’s Liturgy) 6.00pm Mass marked with an Asterix * is live streamed on Facebook and will be held simultaneously in the Church and Hall allowing for up to 50 people in the Hall.
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Parent Infor-mation Session
Tuesday 16th February 7.00 pm
Family Sessions Saturday 6th, 13th, 20th March 4.30 pm or Sunday 7th, 14th, 21st March 8.30 am
1st Reconciliation Thursday 25th March 7.00 pm
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Parent Infor-mation Session
Tuesday 27th April 7.00 pm
Family Sessions Saturday 15th, 22nd, 29th May 4.30 pm or Sunday 16th, 23rd, 30th May 8.30 am
1st Communion Mass
Saturday 5th June 6.00 pm Sunday 6th June 8.30 am or 10.00 am or 6.00 pm Saturday 12th June 6.00 pm Sunday 13th June 8.30 am or 10.00 am or 6.00 pm
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Parent Infor-mation Session
Tuesday 7th September 7.00 pm
Family Sessions Saturday 9th, 16th, 23rd October 4.30 pm or Sunday 10th, 17th, 24th October 8.30 am
Confirmation Mass
Tuesday 26th October 7.00 pm or Saturday 30th October 6.00 pm
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2021
Welcome to Church If you are new to this Parish, please complete a New Parishioner form and return it to any col-lection basket.
Daily Mass in January (Mon-Fri) There is only one Mass from Monday to Friday at 9.30am in the month of January.
First Reconciliation for children in Year 3 Preparation for the Sacrament of First Reconcil-iation will be in Term 1 next year. To be eligible for First Reconciliation, children must be in Year 3 or above and must be baptised. Parents wish-ing to enrol their children in the program must attend an information meeting, here on Tuesday 16th February 2021 at 7.00pm. Further infor-mation regarding the program will be given at this meeting.
Anyone who would like to assist by being a facil-itator for the reconciliation family sessions which will be held at 4.30pm Saturday 6th, 13th, 20th March or 8.30am Sunday 7th, 14th, 21st March please contact Rodney Howard at [email protected]. Training will be provided if required.
Volunteers Needed We are short of an essential group of people that help us manage Masses on the weekend. If you can be at Mass half an hour before it starts to be a Door Volunteer please contact the Parish Office for training.
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ROSTER 16/17 JANUARY 2021
Please Note: January & February Rosters have been emailed out to all those who have indicated that they wish to be rostered at
this time.
A printed copy is in the Sacristy for pick up.
The Music & AV Rosters will be emailed this month
If you are unable to attend Mass please find a replacement. Thankyou
[VIGIL] Acolyte: D Welfare Altar Server: G Nemadic Reader: S Sequeira Comm. Rep: C Limjap Eucharist Minister : I Bentham & R Debono Music: CD AV: T & M Perera
[7.00 A.M] Acolyte : D Wiggins Altar Server: Reader: J French Comm. Rep: S Paterson Eucharist Minister : L Davie AV : N Davie [8.30 A.M] Acolyte : C Walsh Altar Servers: B Payy, E Benny Reader: J Musa Comm. Rep: R Walsh Eucharist Minister : U Gomez & E Isaaks Music: J Mizzi AV: Nicole [10.00 A.M] Acolyte : J Relunia Altar Server: A D’ Costa, S Dias Reader: M Varua Comm. Rep: O Kiss Eucharist Minister : D Streher & M Stynes Music: CD AV: U. Gomez [HALL] Acolyte: J Jordan Reader: Volunteer needed [6.00 P.M] Acolyte : R Wood Altar Server: T Keane Reader: Br Gordon Comm. Rep: K. Smith Eucharist Minister : K. Wrightson Music : CD AV : Volunteer needed
•The number of people inside the church is limited to 100
people, which allows for social distancing of 4quare meters.
This number excludes essential persons to the Liturgy.
•Please scan the Service NSW QR code outside the church or leave your name and contact details on the sign on sheet - these
will be kept confidential- but are necessary in case anyone con-tracts the virus.
•Please sanitize your hands as soon as you enter the church.
•There is only one extra Mass in the Parish Hall if the Church has reached maximum capacity. The hall allows a maximum of 50 pa-
rishioners on Sundays at 10 am. •Once we have reached maximum capacity, or the Mass has
started, there will be no entry into the Church. Parishioners will be redirected to Mass in the Hall if available or can choose to
remain socially distanced outside whilst listening to Mass and
receive communion outside. •The aisles and pews are marked to facilitate the observance of
social distancing practices. Please only sit where it is marked with a number on the pews. Groups to sit in smaller pews. There
is no standing permitted.
•Please occupy the central seat of pews first, starting from the
front pews of the church, so that others who come after you will
be able to occupy the aisles while observing social distancing.
• The congregation should not participate in any singing or chant-
ing
•Altar Servers are now rostered on
•The sign of peace will be exchanged without physical contact.
•During the communion, social distancing will be observed and
therefore communion will be brought to your seat. Communion
should be received only in the hand. •Only one acolyte/ senior server and one extra-ordinary minister
of communion would be required other than priests/ deacon to
serve during the Mass. •Wardens have resumed taking up the 1st and 2nd collection. The
collection baskets now have long handles to minimise contact.
Thank you for your stewardship. •As you prepare to exit the church please exit starting with the
rows that are closest to the entrances. •The obligation to participate in Sunday Mass is still lifted.
•It is important for everyone to maintain physical distancing and
follow all health and safety guidelines. Our utmost concern is the health and well being of our parishioners. Therefore, those who
are feeling ill, or who have symptoms of fever, cold, dry cough or sore throat should not come out to attend
Mass but watch our live stream Mass at 10am on Sundays.
•There is a separate QR Code for the
Chuch, Hall and Parish Office. You must sign in to those areas, each time you en-
ter,
COVID-19 SAFETY
If you wish to make a direct deposit of your Planned Giving en-velopes or a donation to the Parish, you can give through credit
card by contacting the Parish office or through your bank ac-count with the following details.
FIRST COLLECTION goes to the Clergy Support BSB 067 950 (Commonwealth Bank) Acct No 00004265 Acct Name Parramatta Diocesan Clergy Reference 6029 [SURNAME ] SECOND COLLECTION goes to the Parish Support BSB 067 950 (Commonwealth Bank) Acct No 00000487 Acct Name Penrith St Nicholas Catholic Church Reference [ENVELOPE N# OR SURNAME] IF YOU WISH TO CHANGE YOUR DIRECT DEBIT please contact Jacinta for a form.
PLANNED GIVING & DONATIONS
G r o u n d e d i n F a i t h | G r o w i n g i n L o v e | L i v i n g i n H o p e
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FR JOE
ROSTER
Wishing our Parish Priest a won-derful birthday on
