PARISH NEWS
GIVING TREE – ST VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY
To help with our Christmas Hampers for people in need in our parish area, please take a tag from the tree at the front of the church and return your gift of food by 10th December. A Christmas card to a family is very welcome as many lonely people do not receive a card at Christmas. Please return the TAGS for RE-USE next year. Please DO NOT stick them to the package as this prevents us re-using them. Thank you for your generosity.
ROSTERS for Lectors & Eucharistic Ministers, Piety Store and Communion to the Sick are all available for collection from the church hall. Please pick up your copy as soon as possible as they start from December.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR PARISH
| Sundays | 6:15 – 8:15pm HSI School of Discipleship in Community Centre. |
| Fri, 1 Dec | 7:00pm to 10:00pm, First Friday Mass & Adoration. |
| Sat, 2 Dec | 2:30 – 4:30pm Healing Mass |
| Sun, 3 Dec | 1st Sunday of Advent |
FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION – DECEMBER 1ST
Conducted by the Alliance of the Two Hearts. Starts with Holy Mass at 7:00pm, followed by an hour with the Blessed Sacrament, then Holy Rosary, Divine Office, Divine Mercy Novena and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. All are welcome.
PARISH YOUTH PROGRAM
Taking off from the Melbourne Archdiocese Year of the Youth Program, our parish intends to start a Youth Program for youth aged between 18 to 29 years commencing December 2017. Initially we are looking for leaders who have experience in working with youth or have expertise in sports, education, entertainment, music, etc. If you would like to join the leadership team please call Royden on 0426 071 375. Thank You.
PIETY STORE
Come and see our Nativity Sets, ornaments, etc. All are very reasonably priced. Divine Mercy and Columban Calendars, Religious Christmas cards and Advent calendars are now available.
SOME CHANGES TO TIMES OF ROSARY & DEVOTIONS
Please note that with effect from 4 December, the following changes will occur:
| Mon to Fri | 7:50am Morning Prayer 8:10am Rosary |
| Sat | 9:00am Morning Prayer 8:40am Rosary |
| Sun | 8:10am Rosary |
| Tue to Thu | 8:00am Exposition |
| Fri | 9:00am Exposition & Divine Mercy Chaplet |
| Sat | 2:30pm (Feb to Nov) Exposition, Praise & Worship, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Benediction & sharing Good News |
There will be no other changes to Mass times or any other devotions at this time.
LOURDES DAY MASS
Lourdes Day Mass is a service of solidarity and support for those who are aged or infirm. The Lourdes Day Mass in Melbourne this year will be held at 10:30am on Saturday 2 December 2017 at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Bishop Terry Curtin will be the principal celebrant. The Mass attracts a large congregation of older people, carers, and family members. Each person attending is given a gift pack containing water from the Lourdes grotto in France, rosary beads and other devotional material. The ceremony is most dignified and respectful, and can be quite moving for those who attend. Disability access is available at the Cathedral.
JOSEPH’S CORNER FUNDRAISING
There will be a Bric-a-Brac stall to help raise funds for Joseph`s Corner (a free counselling service for Families of Persons suffering with addiction). This will be held after all Masses on the weekend of 2nd/3rd December. You may find that Special Christmas gift you are looking for. Many thanks Sr. Jean.
MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE, 15 NOV 2017
Any change to marriage law must include protections for religious freedom
Parliament must work to unify Australians by respecting different views on marriage, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Denis Hart said today in the wake of the result of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. “The Catholic Church, and many others who sought to retain the definition of marriage as it has been understood for centuries, continues to view marriage as a special union between a woman and a man, which allows for the creation and nurture of children," Archbishop Hart said. “A change in civil law does not change the Catholic understanding of the nature of marriage. “The Catholic Church continues to respect the dignity of LGBTIQ Australians and our ministries will continue to care deeply about the dignity and value of all people we encounter. “Parliamentarians must recognise and respect the concerns of the more than 4.8 million Australians who opposed a change to the definition of marriage by putting in place strong conscience and religious freedom protections. “These protections must ensure that Australians can continue to express their views on marriage, that faith-based schools can continue to teach the traditional understanding of marriage and that organisations can continue to operate in a manner that is consistent with those values.”
INSPIRING QUOTE
“Moral Principles do not depend on a majority vote.
Wrong is wrong even if everybody is wrong.
Right is right even if nobody is right”
.......................Ven. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
RECENTLY DECEASED
We pray for and all who passed away recently.
DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
We pray for John Walsh & Simon Simonides and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
We pray for Shirley & Leo Linehan, Angela O’Brien, Lydia (Aleida) Van Susteren, Peter McGlade, Gary Spotswood, Stan Walkden, Diane Cameron, Edith Street, Georgette Maalouf, Jamilton Dabu, Carmen Mifsud, Bob Meehan, Sean Donaldson, Liam Parr, Barbara Grogan, Sr. Eileen Brown, Eugenie Rinaldi, Keith Gill, Imelda Rundell, Brian Jones, Carmen Sherri, Melissa Caroline, Carmen Agius, Josie Tabone, Geff Grech, Carmel Negline, Dot Mulquiney, Virginia Kallio, Edwinda Francisco, Frank Fazio, Alwyn White, Hamish Stott, Marcus Lyngdoh, Elizabeth Slee. Excelsa Tejada and all who are ill in our Parish.
ROSTERS
Money Counters – 3 Dec 17
| Les Jones / Tini & Barrie Hope / Grace Sharman |
Readers – 2/3 Dec 17
| 6:00pm | Angela Francis |
| 8:30am | Bev Jones |
| 10:30am | Sunil Vaz |
| 5:00pm | Jeslin Shahji |
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion – 2/3 Dec 17
| 6:00pm | Sharon A. / H. Durski / Michelle N. / Davy F. |
| 8:30am | L. Jones / C. Coelho / Karen F. / G. Sharman |
| 10:30am | S. Sipiliano / N&R Golaw / N. Costa |
| 5:00pm | M&D Etiennette / C. Skinner / VOLUNTEER |
Music Ministry – 2/3 Dec 17
| 6:00pm | Eagles Wings |
| 8:30am | Shirley & Group |
| 10:30am | Samoan Choir |
| 5:00pm | FilOz |