DEVOTIONAL PRAYER FOR DECEMBER
Prayer to the Holy Family
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we contemplate the splendour of true love; to you we turn with trust. Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic Churches. Holy Family of Nazareth, make us more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, and its beauty in God’s plan. Jesus, Mary and Joseph graciously hear our prayer. Amen
Entrance Antiphon
A child is born for us, and a son is given to us; his sceptre of power rests upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Messenger of great counsel.
1st Reading (Is 52:7-10 )
A reading from the prophet Isaiah.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of one who bring good news, who heralds peace, brings happiness, proclaims salvation, and tells Zion, “Your God is king!” Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices; they shout for joy together for they see the Lord face to face, as he returns to Zion. Break into shouts of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord is consoling his people, redeeming Jerusalem. The Lord bares his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God
2nd Reading (Heb 1:1-6)
A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews.
At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets, but in our own time, the last days he has spoken to us through his Son, the Son that he has appointed to inherit everything and through whom he made everything there is. He is the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of his nature, sustaining the universe by his powerful command, and now that he has destroyed the defilement of sin, he has gone to take his place in heaven at the right hand of divine Majesty. So he is now as far above the angels as the title which he has inherited is higher than their own name. God has never said to any angel: You are my Son, today I have become your father, or: I will be a father to him and he a son to me. Again, when he brings the First-born into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God worship him.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia. A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations and adore the Lord. Today a great light has come upon the earth. Alleluia!
Gospel (Jn 1:1-18)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be; not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower. The Word was the true light that enlightens all men; and he was coming into the world. He was in the world that had its being through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to all who believe in the name of him who was born not out of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself. The Word was made flesh, he lived among us and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Communion Antiphon
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Next Week’s Readings
Num 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21
Feasts of the Week
Mon, 26 Dec - St. Stephen
Tue, 27 Dec - St. John
Wed, 28 Dec - The Holy Innocents
Fri, 30 Dec - The Holy Family
PARISH NEWS
JESUS, THE REASON FOR CHRISTMAS
Jesus, in remembering your birth this Christmas, let us guide our thoughts towards the reason for this celebration. Let us feel joy in your presence and thank the Father for such a beautiful gift. Let us always bear in mind the reason why you came to the world. Amen
FR. VINCENT & THE PARISH TEAM wish all our parishioners a wonder-filled Christmas and every blessing as we welcome the Christ Child into our hearts and into our homes. May you have the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of His love at Christmas and in 2023.
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM ARCHBISHOP COMENSOLI In his Christmas message for 2022, Archbishop Peter A Comensoli reflects on the God who came to dwell with us and for us, touching the earth with the bare soles of his feet. He invites us to ‘stand barefoot with Jesus’, encouraging us this Christmas and in the year ahead to ‘come before him barefoot in our frailties yet alive in the wonder of our humanity—made in his image—ready and willing to live as the people of God he has created us to be—fraternally, lovingly, caringly; generous, forgiving and hopeful. Continue reading: A Christmas Message from Archbishop Comensoli
| MASSES | ||
| 24 Dec CHRISTMAS DAY | 6:30pm 8:30/10:30am 1:15pm | Carols before Mass Carols before Mass Spanish Mass |
| Christmas Day No 5:00pm Mass | ||
| 26 Dec | 8:30am | Weekday Mass |
| 31 Dec |
9:00am 6:00pm |
Mass followed by Holy
Hour of Thanksgiving Vigil Mass |
| 1 Jan |
8:30/10:30am 5:00pm 1:15pm |
Normal Weekend Masses Spanish Mass |
| WEEKLY PARISH DATES |
| SUNDAY 9:15am to 10:25am – Sunday School for children attending non-Catholic Schools - Finished for the year 2022. 10:30am Mass – Children’s Liturgy held 1st and 3rd Sundays - Finished for the year 2022. After 5:00pm Mass – Youth Group for youth 12 to 17 years on 2nd and 4th Sundays - Finished for the year 2022. 6:00pm in Theatrette – Young Adults (SPYA) meet 1st and 3rd Sundays. Finished for the year 2022. |
| MONDAY Bible Study sessions have finished for the year 2022 and will resume in Feb 2023 |
| TUESDAY 7:00pm - Online Zoom Rosary - Meeting ID: 885 6089 8246. Passcode: 968780. The next Online Zoom Rosary will be on 10th Jan at 7pm. 7:00pm - RCIA Meeting in Theatrette. Contact Francis Thomas 0401787372 or Dario Carreno 0438525148. |
| WEDNESDAY 7:00pm Mass followed by Mother of Perpetual Succour Novena. |
| FIRST FRIDAY 7:00pm to 8:15pm Mass & Adoration. |
| SATURDAY 2:30pm to 4:00pm St. Peter’s Charismatic Prayer Community Praise & Worship in Church. Resumes February 2023. 1.30pm to 4:00pm - Healing Mass on 1st Saturday of the month. Next Healing Mass on Saturday 4th February 2023. |
| BAPTISM 12 noon – Baptisms held 1st & 3rd Sundays. Baptism Preparation Meeting held on 1st Monday of the month at 7:00pm. Next Baptism Preparation Meeting Mon 6th February 2023 at 7:00pm in Church. |
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 and the school children and staff of St. Peter’s school 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 120 hampers. A special thank you to Kathleen English for organising donation of boxes to fill hampers.
NEW YEAR'S EVE MASS - SATURDAY 31ST DEC 9:00AM MASS FOLLOWED BY HOLY HOUR OF THANKSGIVING
As the year draws to a close, we give thanks to our Lord for the many blessings and graces received throughout 2022. Please join us for the 9:00am Mass followed by a Holy Hour of Thanksgiving including, Exposition, Praise & Worship, quiet reflection/prayer time, Divine Mercy Chaplet, concluding with Benediction. All Welcome.
FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS, MARTYRS - WEDNESDAY 28th DEC, 8:30AM & 7:00PM MASSES
A special Blessing will be given to all babies and children at both the 8:30am and 7:00pm Masses in memory of the young children of Bethlehem, put to death by Herod who sought to kill Jesus. These innocent victims bear witness to Christ, to a world which would not receive Him.
JANUARY 2023
Please note that there will be NO Healing Mass or Baptism Formation Meeting in January. The Healing Mass and Baptism Formation meeting will resume in February 2023.
RECENTLY DECEASED
We pray for Ellen Everett, Darnell Te heuheu, Arthur Morales, Mary Cassar, Charmaine DeNiese, Oscar Braza, Joachim McCavanagh, Romeo Puato, Robert D’Sa, Fr Joseph Patrick Hynan PE, Joan Mogford, Murray Wright, Philomina Gonsalvez, Neil Sequeira, Michael Charters, Jacinta D’Lima, all who have died due to COVID-19 and all who have passed away recently.
DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
We pray for Noel Rego, Baby Shania Albuquerque, Florence Thomas, Patricia Musarra, Michael & Clementine D’Cunha, Eugenia Duran, Joseph Nguyen, Jerome Concessio, Patrick Foster, Juanita Vincent, Bob Meehan and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
We pray for Sean Donaldson, Wilfredo Villareal, Helen Kelly, Gordon Newman, Thais Long, Vincent Margaret, Dale D’Souza, Franklin Quintanilla, Jean Cameron, Arturo Bacani, Vivienne Gantar, Magda Symons, Malia Kautai, Lindsay Coates, Violet Lawrence, Yvonne Caruana, Robert Martinez, Charlotte D’Souza, Tae Yoon Jim, Jeffrey Dalton, Maureen Wilson, Clint D’Souza, Sandra Farrelly, P P Davies, Kevin Suares, Joaquin Romero, Annette O’Brien, Ronnie & Ramon Dayao, Cecilia Lazum Htu Bu, Alster Firth, Gayle Ryan and all who are ill in our Parish.
ROSTERS
| Lerna Vasquez / Teresita Grisancich / Luzviminda De La Cruz |
Roster for Readers – 31 Dec 22/1 Jan 23
| 6:00pm | Davy Fernandez |
| 8:30am | Kitty Stuttad |
| 10:30am | Rosemary Hibbert |
| 5:00pm | Jerilee Cardoz |
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion – 31 Dec 22/1 Jan 23
| 6:00pm | D&J Roga / G. Linning / G. Aldcroft |
| 8:30am | R. Johnson / Bernice S. / G. Sharman / Pauline S. |
| 10:30am | G. Schembri / D. Dalton / S. Graham / Volunteer |
| 5:00pm | 4 Volunteers |
Music Ministry –31 Dec 22/1 Jan 23
| 6:00pm | Footsteps |
| 8:30am | Volunteer |
| 10:30am | Volunteer |
| 5:00pm | Volunteer |