DEVOTIONAL PRAYER FOR DECEMBER
Advent Prayer
Father in heaven, the day draws near when the glory of your Son will make radiant the night of the waiting world. May the lure of greed not impede us from the joy which moves the hearts of those who seek Him. May the darkness not blind us to the vision of wisdom which fills the minds of those who find Him. May we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving. This Advent we pray for peace: peace in the world, peace in our homes and peace in our hearts. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
Entrance Antiphon
Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Saviour.
1st Reading (Micah 5:1-4)
A reading from the prophet Micah.
The Lord says this: You, Bethlehem Ephrathah the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old. The Lord is therefore going to abandon them till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth. Then the remnant of his brothers will come back to the sons of Israel. He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God. They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
2nd Reading (Heb 10:5-10)
A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews.
This is what Christ said, on coming into the world: You who wanted no sacrifice or oblation, prepared a body for me. You took no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin; then I said, just as I was commanded in the scroll of the book, ‘God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.’ Notice that he says first: You did not want what the Law lays down as the things to be offered, that is: the sacrifices, the oblations, the holocausts and the sacrifices for sin, and you took no pleasure in them; and then he says: Here I am! I am coming to obey your will. He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the servant of the Lord: may his will for me be done. Alleluia.
Gospel (Lk 1:39-44)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Communion Antiphon
Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel.
Next Week’s Readings
1 Sam 1:20-22, 24-28; 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk 2:41-52
Feasts of the Week
Sat, 25 Dec - The Nativity of the Lord
PARISH NEWS
A CHRISTMAS BLESSING
Lord, you came upon
a Midnight Clear
To bring Joy to the World
and draw us near.
It was a Holy Night
when you came from above
To fill our hearts with hope & love
Thank you Sweet Jesus
For clothing us with
Comfort and Joy
THANK YOU FROM FR. VINCENT JOHN CMI
I thank all of you my parishioners, for the love and support you have given me throughout 2021. I know it has been a very difficult year with all the restrictions placed on us due to the COVID pandemic. I thank you for your understanding and support. With restrictions easing, I pray that 2022 will be a better year for us all. May God bless you and your loved ones this Christmas and right through 2022.
Fr. Vincent John CMI
UPDATED PARISH GUIDELINES
Following Government announcements, Weekend and Weekday Masses resume as normal:
Weekdays
Monday to Friday 8:30am,
Wednesday 7:00pm followed by Mother of Perpetual Succour Novena,
Saturday 9:00am
Weekend
Saturday 6:00pm, Sunday 8:30am, 10:30am & 5:00pm
Kindly note the following:
- No bookings required for any Masses.
- No vaccination requirements or density limits.
- Registration via QR Code required. If you do not have a smart phone, Volunteers will assist.
- Face masks are optional.
- Please sanitise prior to entering church.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWLY BAPTISED
We welcome into our Church Adam Pabu-aya who is to be baptised this weekend. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the love of Parents, Godparents, family and friends, we pray that Adam will lead a life full of happiness, faith and love.
PARISH OFFICE CLOSURE
The Parish Office will close for the Christmas break at COB Thursday 23 Dec and re-open on Monday, 10 January 2022. Bulletins for 26 Dec, 2 & 9 Jan will be single sheets with mass readings. Normal bulletins will resume on the weekend of 15/16 January along with names for Death Anniversaries, Recently Deceased and Sick List. Parish Office staff would like to wish all our parishioners a Safe and Happy Christmas and New Year.
DAWN MASS NOVENA – SIMBANG GABI
We invite you to the 26th Year of the 9-Days Dawn Mass Novena celebrated at St. Peters which began on Thursday 16th Dec, finishing on Fri 24th Dec 2021. Masses at 5:00am daily. NO BOOKINGS required, however check-in via QR Code is still required. If you do not have a smart phone, Volunteers will assist. There will be no fellowship after Mass. For those who are unable to attend, Masses will be livestreamed via the Parish Facebook Page and via St. Peter Apostle Mission Parish YouTube channel.
ST. PETER'S RITE I RECONCILIATION FOR ADVENT THURSDAY 23RD DECEMBER, 7:00PM
Please join us for our Rite I Reconciliation for Advent on Thursday 23rd December at 7:00pm in our Church. There will be multiple Priests available to hear confession. This is a great way to prepare ourselves to welcome Jesus our Saviour into our hearts this Christmas. All Welcome!!
CHRISTMAS FAMILY MASS – FRIDAY 24TH DECEMBER 6:30PM, CAROLS 6:00PM
All children are invited to dress up as a Nativity character e.g. angels, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, etc. for this family Mass. Please have the children ready and waiting in the hall by 5:50pm so they can process into Church for the start of the Carols at 6:00pm sharp.
LECTOR & EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF COMMUNION required for 5:00pm Mass on Sunday, 26th December. Thank you.
26TH DECEMBER, FILIPINO MASS
Unbox the greatest gift this Boxing day and celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family at our monthly Filipino Mass at midday, 26th December.
FATHER VINCENT ON LEAVE
Father Vincent will be on leave, for a well-earned rest, from Sun 26th Dec (after 5:00pm Mass) until Wed 29th Dec. Liturgy of the Word/Communion Service will replace the weekday 8:30am morning Masses for Mon, Tues and Wed. Father will be back to celebrate the 7:00pm Mass on Wed 29th Dec followed by Novena as usual.
NEW YEAR'S EVE MASS, FRIDAY 31ST DEC, 8:30AM FOLLOWED BY HOLY HOUR OF THANKSGIVING
This year has again proven to be very challenging however, we give thanks to our Lord for the many blessings and graces received throughout 2021. Please join us for the 8:30am Mass followed by a Holy Hour of Thanksgiving including; Exposition, Praise & Worship, quiet reflection/prayer time, Divine Mercy Chaplet, concluding with Benediction. All welcome.
THANK YOU FROM ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
All members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society would like to sincerely thank all the families in the parish who so kindly and generously donated items for the Christmas Hampers which we have now distributed to needy families in our community. We are overwhelmed by your generosity once again this year. We have distributed 132 hampers. A special thank you to Kathleen English for organising donation of boxes to fill hampers.
THANK YOU FROM THE YOUNG ADULTS & ST. PETER’S CHARISMATIC GROUP for supporting the Carols after the 6:00pm Mass last Saturday. They collected $1047.30. Thank you for your generous support.
ARCHDIOCESAN CAROLS SPECIAL
You are invited to join in celebrating the joy of Christmas with Archdiocesan Carols Special, Jesus is Christmas, to be broadcast Monday 20 December at 7.30pm on Channel C31 (Channel 44 on digital TV) and streamed live on the Archdiocesan YouTube channel.
CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR TIMETABLE |
|||
| MASSES | |||
| 16 – 24 Dec | 5:00am | Dawn Mass Novena | |
| 24 Dec Friday |
6:30pm | No 8:30am Mass Family Mass with Carols at 6:00pm |
|
| 24 Dec | 9:30pm | Vigil Mass with Carols at 9:00pm | |
| 24 Dec | 12 Midnight | Mass with Carols at 11:30pm | |
| CHRISTMAS DAY Saturday |
8:30am 10:30am 1:15pm |
Mass with carols at 8:00am Mass with carols at 10:00am Spanish Mass |
|
| Christmas Day – No 6:00pm Mass | |||
| 26 Dec Sunday |
8:30am, 10:30am, 5:00pm 12 noon |
Normal Weekend Masses Filipino Mass |
|
| 31 Dec Friday |
8:30am
|
Mass followed by Holy Hour of Thanksgiving | |
| 1 Jan Saturday |
9:00am 6:00pm |
Mass Vigil Mass |
|
| 2 Jan Sunday |
8:30am, 10:30am, 5:00pm
|
Normal Weekend Masses | |
| RECONCILIATION RITE I | |||
| 23 Dec | 7:00pm at St. Peter’s | ||
| CONFESSIONS AT ST. PETER’S | |||
| Wednesdays | 6:30pm | ||
| Saturdays | After 9:00am Mass | ||
RECENTLY DECEASED
We pray for Dcn. Charles English, Lorna Siriwardena, Magdalena Chabierski, Thelma Dioses, George Mendis, Felipe Pineda, Epifanio Delos Santos, Nick Garcia, Francia Espana, Cora Cordero, Doris O’Connor, Giselle Pereira, Msgr Joseph Stowers, Chris Bull, Marni Spitalieri, Peter Peart, Macario Pagdanganan Sr, John Cardoza, Seth Lariche-Waldron, Sunta Debrincat, Pasala Kristenamma, Heath Prior, Fr Christopher Seton, Miroslav Hledik, all who have died due to COVID-19 and all who have passed away.
DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
We pray for Noel Rego, Baby Shania Albuquerque, Florence Thomas, Patrick Foster, Fr. Manuel Delos Santos, Visitacion Delos Santos, Sally Dela Pena, Dante Lopez, Gliceria Tacata, Rebecca Tacata, Gigie Abrojena, Edith Platel, Basilio Angeles, Eufemio Mislang, Corazon & Roberto Dayao, Frank & Maria Cachia and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
We pray for Gary Spotswood, Sean Donaldson, Kath Meddings, Wilfredo Villareal, Brian & Helen Kelly, Trish Musarra, Steven & Helen Smith, Jean Cameron, Ann Gee Lee, Valerie Coates, Sylvia Aldersea, Vincent Margaret, Adrian McGill, Kevin Hynes, Jeffrey Dalton, Katherine Yin Ming Lee, Enid Gibb, Gerardo Monsalve, Carmen Sherri, Bruce Martinez, Dale D’Souza and all who are ill in our Parish.
ROSTERS FOR 24/25 DEC
Readers – 24/25 Dec 2021
| 6:30pm | David Roga |
| 9:30pm | Rosemary Hibbert |
| 12:00am | Francis Thomas |
| 8:30am | Sunil Vaz |
| 10:30am | Lerna Vasquez |
| 6:00pm | NO MASS |
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion – 24/25 Dec 2021
| 6:30pm | J Roga/KL Pham/ R Johnson/M Nelthropp/A Vesty/ K Fernandes |
| 9:30pm |
D Dalton/B Steinhauer/B Fernandes/S Martis / C Skinner/1 X Volunteers |
| 12:00am | M&C Peters / 4 X Volunteers |
| 8:30am | KL Pham/H Durski/E Angeles/G Siccita/ N&N Gooneratne |
| 10:30am | 6 X Volunteers |
| 6:00pm | NO MASS |
Music Ministry – 24/25 Dec 2021
| 6:30pm | Mater Dolorosa |
| 9:30pm | Footsteps |
| 12:00am | Youth Band |
| 8:30am | St. Philomena’s Choir |
| 10:30am | Mater Dolorosa |
| 6:00pm | NO MASS |
ROSTERS for 26 DEC
Counters – 26 Dec 2021
| Lerna Vasquez / Teresita Grisancich / Luzviminda De La Cruz |
Readers – 26 Dec 2021
| 8:30am | Kitty Stuttard |
| 10:30am | Rosemary Hibbert |
| 5:00pm | Volunteer |
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion – 26 Dec 2021
| 8:30am | R. Johnson / K. Fernandes / G. Siccita |
| 10:30am | B. Steinhauer / B. Fernandes / E. Mills |
| 5:00pm | 3 X Volunteers |
Music Ministry – 26 Dec 2021
| 8:30am | St. Philomena’s Choir |
| 10:30am | Domini Chorum |
| 5:00pm | KNK |