St Philomena's Parish

NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC:  Some headlines from the Dec 3– 17 issue of NZ Catholic:    Rugby stars about to kick off married life….. Number of Christchurch parishes to halve….. Women force Facebook to start backing down….. Faith a major part of new MP’s identity….  On sale now

VIGIL MASS MUSIC:  The Vigil Mass practise is cancelled for next week.  The next practise is on Sunday 18 Dec at 9.30am.  Anyone who is interested in singing in the choir for our Christmas Vigil Mass are welcome to come to this practise.

READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK:  For those who wish to view the readings for next week before coming to Mass.    

2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8-12, 14, 16.
Romans 16: 25-27.
Luke 1: 26-38.

THE PHILOMENA:  Contributions for the Christmas edition of the Philomena are now welcome.  Please send articles, photos, reports, comments etc to the Editor, Diane Kawana by Dec 11.  Ph 753 4956 or email dkawana@xtra.co.nz     Thank you.

GIFTING SUNDAY:  Today is Gifting Sunday.  Please bring up your gift with the Offertory.  Thank you.

CHRISTMAS MASSES:
St Philomena’s:   

Dec 24th, Vigil Mass.  Carols at 7.30pm with Mass at 8pm

St Joseph’s:   

Dec 24th, Midnight Mass.  Carols at 11.30pm with Mass at 12am
Dec 25th,  Mass at 8.30am and 10am.  

CHRISTMAS CARDS:  Christmas Cards for sale. $2 per pack of 5 cards.

SOCIAL AFTERNOON:  St Vincent De Paul Conference is hosting a social afternoon for elderly parishioners on Tuesday 13th December at 1.30 p.m at the hall of Our Lady Help of Christians Fitzroy.  Entertainment from the  pupils of St John Bosco & St Pius Schools.  Come and enjoy the talents of our children.  We look forward to seeing you.

Any queries or you need transport please phone Margaret 753 4544
 
HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE:  Enquiries are invited for a Holy Land pilgrimage in September 2012, led by Pat McCarthy, former editor of NZ Catholic, and with Bishop Colin Campbell of Dunedin as chaplain.  The 16-day pilgrimage will visit the holy places in Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem and around the Sea of Galilee. For a free brochure, ring Pat on (09) 480-4463 or email him on contact@seetheholyland.net.  You can also see the holy places on Pat’s website, www.seetheholyland.net

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WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY:  Mary, Today I see you as the highway through which holiness goes;  As he passes, streams of healing flows;  lame dance; blind see; deaf hear; mute sing; their joy reflects on everything as deserts bloom and shout for joy to herald coming of your boy.

First Reading:
Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11.   

1  Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 
2  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. 
3  A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 
4  Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 
5  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” 
9  Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 
10  Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 
11  He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.  Read the rest of this entry

CUP OF TEA: after Mass Today. Served by the Parish Council.

NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC: Some headlines from the Dec 3– 17 issue of NZ Catholic: Rugby stars about to kick off married life….. Number of Christchurch parishes to halve….. Women force Facebook to start backing down….. Faith a major part of new MP’s identity…. On sale now

VIGIL MASS MUSIC: Anyone who is interested in playing an instrument or singing in the choir for our Christmas Vigil Mass please come to practise at 9.30am on any Sunday.

READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: For those who wish to view the readings for next week before coming to Mass.

Isaiah 61: 1-2, 10-11.
1 Thessalonian 5: 16-24.
John 1: 6-8, 19-28.

THE PHILOMENA: Contributions for the Christmas edition of the Philomena are now welcome. Please send articles, photos, reports, comments etc to the Editor, Diane Kawana by Dec 11. Ph 753 4956 or email kawana@xtra.co.nz Thank you.

GIFTING SUNDAY: will be on Sunday 11 December. Today you are invited to take a card from the tree in the porch and donate a small gift (approx $5) to be given to a parishioner who is a shut-in or Rest Home resident. Relevant details are on the card. Please return the gift with the card attached next Sunday, Dec 11. Thank you.

CHRISTMAS MASSES:
St Philomena’s: Dec 24th, Vigil Mass. Carols at 7.30pm with Mass at 8pm
St Joseph’s: Dec 24th, Midnight Mass. Carols at 11.30pm with Mass at 12am
Dec 25th, Mass at 8.30am and 10am.

CHRISTMAS CARDS:  Christmas Cards for sale. $2 per pack of 5 cards.

COMMUNAL RITE OF RECONCILIATION: will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Church on Monday 5th December at 7pm.

SOCIAL AFTERNOON: St Vincent De Paul Conference is hosting a social afternoon for elderly parishioners on Tuesday 13th December at 1.30 p.m at the hall of Our Lady Help of Christians Fitzroy. Entertainment from the pupils of St John Bosco & St Pius Schools. Come and enjoy the talents of our children. We look forward to seeing you.

Any queries or you need transport please phone Margaret 753 4544
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WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY: Paul expresses serious concerns about Corinthian Christians who are sometimes excitable, but not invariably loving. Yet he still gives thanks for them here. He focuses on two spiritual gifts of which the Corinthians are particularly proud: ‘speech’ and ‘knowledge’ – in the Jerusalem Bible translated as ‘teachers and preachers’. What spiritual gifts do I have for which I should give God particular thanks?

First Reading:
Isaiah 63: 16 – 17, 19

16 For thou art our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us; thou, O LORD, art our Father, our Redeemer from of old is thy name.
17 O LORD, why dost thou make us err from thy ways and harden our heart, so that we fear thee not? Return for the sake of thy servants, the tribes of thy heritage.
19 We have become like those over whom thou hast never ruled, like those who are not called by thy name.

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