Website:http://umgwcatholic.org.au/ F: Like us: http://www facebook.com/umgwparish
DEANERY www.parishes.bne.catholic.
net.au/south/index.html
ST VINCENT DE PAUL Welfare: 1800 846 643
ST BERNARD’S SCHOOL 1823 Logan Rd., U M G Phone: 3849 4800
ST CATHERINE’S SCHOOL 388 Newnham Rd., Wishart Phone: 3349 7188
CLAIRVAUX MACKILLOP COLLEGE
24 Klumpp Rd., U M G Phone: 3347 9200
NEWSLETTER 22/23 December 2018
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT/C READINGS: Micah 5:1-4; Hebrews 10:5-10
GOSPEL: Luke 1:39-44
Upper Mt Gravatt Wishart Parish
Guided by the Holy Spirit, we aim to be an evangelising, faith-filled parish whose members care for one another and are welcoming and inclusive.
‘Blessed is the fruit of your womb…’ Have you ever seen one of those ultrasound photographs of embryonic life in a mother’s womb? For us men, it shows us how lively life in the womb can be. Women know this from the kicking and movement which must be an incredible sensation. This little gospel story tells us that ‘the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped’ and not merely leaped, but leaped ‘for joy’. Is this just poetic hyperbole? No, modern technology tells us what mothers instinctively know, that beautiful music can have a wonderful effect on that earliest phase of life. Here, the presence of Jesus, being carried by Mary in her pregnancy, had a wonderful effect on the life carried by Elizabeth. Good vibrations – very good vibrations.
This is why this story is told by Luke. From the moment of the conception of Jesus, good vibrations reverberated out to all human beings. The good news is that you and I and every human life ever conceived is ‘visited’ by Our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Risen Lord can be at any and every point in human history. He chooses to be at our very origins, at our conception. We receive that visit as Original Blessing. Whatever original sin is, it is not nearly as powerful as this Original Blessing which brings about a beautiful relationship with God overpowering any fracturing of that relationship by ‘original sin’. (Paul in Romans 8:15-21) This gospel is good news for each one of us. Reflect on this for a moment. At your origin you received a Divine Blessing. This leads to a reflection on a further and consoling truth. Of course, no words can fill the emptiness, but I want every mother who has lost a baby too early, I want every father who has shared the anguish, to know with the confident trust that comes from hearing this story penned by St Luke, that … the same extraordinary sense of Jesus’ presence which was felt by the baby in Elizabeth’s womb, that same extraordinary sense of Jesus’ presence was felt by your baby. That Divine Presence conferred an Original Blessing on that life within the womb, and that same Presence accompanied your baby into the everlasting embrace of Divine Love in Heaven. This was so experienced by John that he kicked for joy in the womb. When John kicked for joy in the womb Elizabeth realised that it was the baby carried in Mary’s womb who was responsible! But it is to Mary that she exults: ‘Of all women, you are the most blessed and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’ We repeat this every time we recite the Hail Mary. On the eve of Christmas, let us join Elizabeth in celebrating Mary’s most wonderful pregnancy, by reciting the Hail Mary.
Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE Reader: The Advent wreath is a circle with no beginning and no end. It is a symbol of God’s unending love and faithfulness. The Shepherds were the first to hear the joyful announcement of Jesus’
birth-the good news of great joy for all the people. Upon seeing the baby Jesus, the shepherds spread the word about this
child and all who heard it were amazed. We have also heard this wonderful news. We welcome the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. Though we have not seen Jesus we love him. And though we do not see him now, we believe in him.
The fourth mauve candle is then lit. All: Prepare the way of the Lord. We light this candle in peace, The peace that Jesus our saviour gives to the world. Let us prepare then the way of the Lord.
daughter of Meegama & Saumya; Oliver Egan, son of John & Karla; and Thalia Blanco, daughter of Oscar & Alana. They will be baptised this Sunday in St Bernard’s Church.
READERS ROSTER 30/12/2018
Please arrive 15 mins before Mass. St Bernard’s: Linda Goh, John
Cassidy, Marj McCrystal; Jim
McDougall, Greg Marshall, Lyn
Allsop; Carol Wilson, Dick Allen,
Shelley Allen; Michele Alexander, Tito
Ah Toon, Rosaleen Carroll.
St Martin’s: Mary Campisi, Clare
Collins, Cristy Vecchio.
St Catherine’s: Novita Jurry, Joanne
Blanchfield, Tricia Tully; Judy Rudd,
Paul Robertson, Louisa Gough.
JESSE TREE SYMBOLS In the fourth week of Advent we place the symbols of the big fish and
flowers The prophet Isaiah promised that the chosen one, the Christ, would come from the family tree of David. During Advent we add the symbols of our salvation history to the Jesse Tree to remind us to wait patiently for the coming of Christ.
MORNING
TEA ROSTER
A big thank you to the generous parishioners who offered to help with Morning Teas each month this year, at our three communities. Your time and talent is much appreciated. We are looking for volunteers to help after the 9.30 am Masses on the first Sunday of each month (Feb.-Nov.) at St Bernard’s Church. If you can spare one hour a year and would like to be involved contact Debbie 3849 7158 or E: [email protected].
CHRISTMAS MASS
TIMES
ST BERNARD’S CHURCHST BERNARD’S CHURCHST BERNARD’S CHURCH
MON. - CHRISTMAS VIGIL -
24 December 2018
Celebrating with young families
(Carols 4.15 pm) 4.30 pm
Celebrating with families
(Carols 5.45 pm) 6.00 pm
(Carols 8.15 pm) 8.30 pm
MIDNIGHT MASS
(Carols 11.45 pm) 12 midnight
TUES. - CHRISTMAS DAY - 25 Dec.
(Carols 6.45 am) 7.00 am
(Carols 9.15 am) 9.30 am
NO EVENING MASS
ST CATHERINE’S CHURCHST CATHERINE’S CHURCHST CATHERINE’S CHURCH
MON. - CHRISTMAS VIGIL - 24 Dec.
(Carols 4.45 pm) 5.00 pm
(Carols 6.15 pm) 6.30 pm
TUES. - CHRISTMAS DAY - 25 Dec.
(Carols 8.15 am) 8.30 am
ST MARTIN’S CHURCHST MARTIN’S CHURCHST MARTIN’S CHURCH
MON. - CHRISTMAS VIGIL - 24 Dec.
(Carols 8.45 pm) 9.00 pm
TUES. - CHRISTMAS DAY - 25 Dec.
(Carols 7.45 am) 8.00 am
FIRST RITE RECONCILIATION
Sat. 29 Dec. St Bernard’s 4.15 pm
NEW YEAR’S DAY Tues. 1 January 2019
Mass St Bernard’s 9.15 am
A take home flyer is available with
details of the above times of
Christmas Liturgies and Masses.
Please take one to keep at home or
take a few to distribute locally.
Children’s
Christmas Mass
St Bernard’s PRACTICE:
Sunday 23 Dec. at 2.00 pm. [for the 4.30 pm Mass on Christmas Eve]
St Catherine’s PRACTICE: Following the 8.30 am Mass, Sunday 23 December [for the 5 pm Mass on Christmas Eve].
Please bring your children along to the rehearsal if you would like them to be involved. Roles will be allocated at the rehearsal. If you are unable to make the rehearsal but would still like your children to be involved, please ring Philippa (St Catherine’s) 3349 4309 and Fiona
(St Bernard’s) 0407 270 666.
Journeying in Faith
Please keep our Catechumens Barbara and Lewis and candidates Kevin and Sally, in your prayers as they journey towards full Initiation at Easter.
May the Holy Spirit walk with them as they discern and engage in their relationship with God, themselves and you, their
community.
Musicians Needed!
Do you play keyboard, piano or organ? Are you able to assist occasional ly? A reasonable standard of skill is required. Our ve r y g en e rou s m u s i c i an s , sometimes need a break for various reasons. Please contact Trish or Danuta if you are interested. We can offer assistance and help with resources and Liturgical needs.
The Big Fish Jonah was swallowed by a big fish and was taken to the place where God knew he would best use his gifts.
Flowers The prophet Isaiah assures us that when God is at work among us we can find beautiful flowers, even in the most difficult places, such as the desert.
