Upper Mt Gravatt Wishart Parish Patrick Molony ASSOCIATE PASTOR Fr Stephen Kumyangi PASTORAL ASSOCIATE Mrs Trish Stapleton [email protected] ...

St Bernard’s Church 4 Klumpp Rd., U.M.G.

St Martin’s Church Cnr Logan & Chester Rds

Eight Mile Plns, Bne.

St Catherine’s Church 388 Newnham Rd., Wishart.

PARISH PRIEST Fr Patrick Molony

ASSOCIATE PASTOR Fr Stephen Kumyangi

PASTORAL ASSOCIATE Mrs Trish Stapleton [email protected]

PASTORAL MINISTERS VOLUNTEERS Mrs Debbie James E: [email protected]

YOUTH & YOUNG PEOPLE Edwin Pereira E: yaya.umg @bne.catholic.net.au

PARISH MANAGER Mignon Telford E: [email protected]

PARISH OFFICE Michelle Baldi Lorraine Neagle Phone: (07) 3849 7158 Emergency: 3830 5178 Fax: (07) 3849 8742 E: [email protected]

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 16/17 December 2017

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT/B READINGS: Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

GOSPEL: John 1:6-8, 19-28

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.

Adapted from Richard Leonard SJ LiturgyHelp.com

Lighting of the third rose Advent Candle Priest: The Advent wreath is a circle with no beginning and no end. It is a

symbol of God’s unending love and faithfulness. Isaiah the prophet calls us to prepare for the coming of Jesus by making straight all that is crooked for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Let us prepare for Jesus the Christ, anointed by God, to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and release to the prisoners then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.

The third ROSE candle is then lit as we say:

All: Prepare the way of the Lord. We light this candle in Joy, the joy that we

have in Jesus our saviour. Let us prepare then the way of the Lord.

Gaudete Sunday (today) is, literally, the ‘rejoicing’ Sunday when we look more directly at Jesus’ coming at Christmas.

To enable us to look at Jesus we start with the man who heralded his mission in the world, John the Baptist. In today’s Gospel John the Baptist is the model of humility, opening the way for the Kingdom of Jesus to break in upon the world. We should never underestimate talent spotters, for as this story demonstrates, they all have John the Baptist as their patron saint.

Fleming was a poor Scottish farmer in the nineteenth century. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse cottage. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. ‘I want to repay you,’ said the nobleman. ‘You saved my son's life.’ ‘No, I can't accept payment for what I did,’ the Scottish farmer replied, waving away the offer.

At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family home. ‘Is that your son?’ the nobleman asked. ‘Yes,’ the farmer replied proudly. ‘I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow up to be a man you can be proud of.’ And that is what he did.

In time, Farmer Fleming’s son graduated from St Mary’s Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin. The nobleman's name? Randolph Churchill. His son’s name? Sir Winston Churchill.

John the Baptist, the embodiment of the old covenant, recognises who Jesus is for the world and encourages his foes and friends alike to welcome in the Christ, the new and everlasting Covenant. Just like Farmer Fleming or Lord Randolph Churchill, he could not have known the implications of what he was doing.

John the Baptist simply saw Jesus and knew that Love had taken human form. Through his talent spotting and in his promotion of Jesus he enabled the first generation of Christians to see and believe that the promises made to their ancestors had been fulfilled. No wonder we have him as our focus on Gaudete Sunday. And so may we all rejoice today, not only because salvation is always close at hand in Christ the Lord, but because we are also called to spot his love in every act of goodness we see, encourage and promote it as best we can and then watch nature and grace do the rest.

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ADVENT/CHRISTMAS

ADVENT EVENING PRAYER

Monday 18 December 5.30 pm Tuesday 19 December 5.30 pm Wednesday 20 December 5.30 pm Thursday 21 December 5.30 pm Friday 22 December 5.30 pm

First Rite Reconciliation

Sat. 23 Dec., St Catherine’s 5.00 pm Sat. 23 Dec., St Bernard’s 5.15 pm

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES

ST CATHERINE’S CHURCH

SUN. - CHRISTMAS VIGIL - 24 Dec. Celebrating with young families

(Carols 4.45 pm) 5.00 pm (Carols 6.45 pm) 7.00 pm

MONDAY – CHRISTMAS DAY

(Carols 8.15 am) 8.30 am

ST MARTIN’S CHURCH SUN. - CHRISTMAS VIGIL - 24 Dec.

(Carols 8.45 pm) 9.00 pm MONDAY - CHRISTMAS DAY - 25 Dec.

(Carols 7.45 am) 8.00 am

ST BERNARD’S CHURCH

SUN. - CHRISTMAS VIGIL - 24 Dec. Celebrating with young families

(Carols 4.15 pm) 4.30 pm

Celebrating with families (Carols 6.00 pm) 6.15 pm (Carols 8.15 pm) 8.30 pm

MIDNIGHT MASS (Carols 11.45 pm) 12 midnight

MONDAY - CHRISTMAS DAY - 25 Dec. (Carols 6.45 am) 7.00 am (Carols 9.15 am) 9.30 am

(NO EVENING MASS)

Changes to Mass Times CHANGES BEGIN

SATURDAY 6 JANUARY 2018 4.15 pm: Sacrament of Penance, St Bernard’s Church, UMG 5.00 pm Mass, St Bernard’s Church, Upper Mt Gravatt 6.15 pm Mass, St Catherine’s Church, Wishart.

BAPTISMS Congratulations to Amel ia Edmonds, daughter of Ross &

Deborah; Jazper Leung, son of Sheung & Crystal; Hudson Smith, son of Murray & Angela; and Mateo Milic, son of Steven & Zoe. They will be baptised this Sunday in St Bernard's Church. We also congratulate Kai Wright, son of David & Emma. He will be baptised this Sunday at St Catherine’s.

READERS ROSTER 23/24 December

Please arrive 20 mins before Mass St Bernard’s: Marj McCrystal,

Amanda Fitzpatrick, Denis

Fitzpatrick; Lyn Rebecchi, David

Stubbs, Lisa O’Neill; Shalomi

Arachchige, Shelley Allen, Dick

Allen; (no 4th Advent evening

Mass).

St Martin’s: Mary Campisi, Diane

Broe, Maree Courtnay.

St Catherine’s: Mary Cusack,

Darryl Petersen, Brian Rayfield;

Marian Fernando, Leanne Murray,

Fay Lynn.

Upper Mt Gravatt Wishart Parish

ADVENT/CHRISTMAS A take home flyer is available detailing the times of Advent/Christmas Liturgies and Masses. Please take one to keep at home or take a few to distribute locally.

4th Sunday Advent Masses 23/24 Dec

St Bernard’s Saturday 6.15 pm Sunday 7.00 am Sunday 9.30 am

St Catherine’s Saturday 6.00 pm Sunday 8.30 am

St Martin’s Sunday 8.00 am

Vinnies Appeal

Sincere thanks to parishioners who donated food items and cash during the recent Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Due to your generosity Vinnies members, with assistance from some volunteers, have been able to pack and deliver 100 Christmas hampers to needy families throughout the parish area during this past week. Some of the cash donated will also enable the two Vinnies Conferences to continue supporting needy families in the New Year.

Morning Tea

Roster 2018

A big thank you to the generous parishioners who offered to help with Morning Teas after St Bernard’s 9.30 am Mass each month. We are still looking for volunteers to help after 9.30 am Masses in July, September and October. If you can spare one hour a year and would like to be involved, contact Debbie James. E: [email protected] or phone 3849 7158.

JESSE TREE SYMBOLS

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. In the third week of Advent we place

Moses and the burning bush and Miriam’s Tambourine.

Moses and the Burning Bush The burning bush is a reminder of Moses and his meeting with God, sending him to save his brothers and sisters in slavery.

Miriam’s Tambourine

Miriam’s tambourine and her dancing and rejoicing after Moses [her brother] led them to the freedom of God’s promised land.

Children’s Masses

Christmas Eve, Sunday 24 December

4.30 pm at St Bernard’s and 5.00 pm at St Catherine’s. St Bernard’s Practices:

Sunday 17 Dec. 11.30 am and Saturday 23 Dec. at 1 pm.

St Catherine’s Practice: Following the 8.30 am Mass, Sunday 17 December.

Philippa (St Catherine’s) 3349 4309 Shella (St Bernard’s) 0420 314 974.

3

Upper Mt Gravatt Wishart Parish

ST MARTIN’S ROSTERS Arcare Roster. The new roster covering the January /

March quarter in 2018 is now available

in the sacristy.

Welcoming Roster The new roster covering the January /

June period in 2018 is now available in

the sacristy.

CHRISTMAS LITURGY SIGN ON We are calling for volunteers for the

Christmas Masses: Extraordinary

Ministers of Communion, Collectors,

and Junior Ministers. If you can help

please add your name to the lists this

weekend.

URGENT ASSISTANCE Assistance is needed with transport and

taking Communion to those unable to

attend Mass at our parish churches.

to provide transport for

parishioners to weekend Masses

to take communion to our

homebound parishioners.

If you are able to assist in these

important ministries please contact the

parish office on 3849 7158.

HEARTFIT Our sessions are running through

until Friday 22 December 2017.

In 2018 we resume:

Friday 12 January 10 am,

Monday 15 January 11.30 am,

in St Bernard’s Aspinall Centre.

Questions, Bruce 0408 740 543.

GUIDES AND WELCOMERS Do you enjoy meeting people? Do you

love your Cathedral? Do you revel in

good art and juicy history? Do we have

an opportunity for you! You are invited

to talk with us about becoming a

volunteer welcomer and guide at

the Cathedral of St Stephen. Join

us for an information session to

be held in the Hanly Room of the

Francis Rush Centre 1 February 2018,

10.30 am-12.30 pm. Contact Carmel

Devery 3324 3030 or

E: [email protected] by

25 January 2018.

WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED Especially Douglas Rebecchi (husband

of Lyn), Bishop John Gerry DD, Tony

Musso, Peg Hackett, Leona Orford, Ana

Figueiredo, Michael Burke, Ken Morris

Madeline Moloney, Kathleen Matthews,

Gerard Seeto, Kevin Desbois, Angela

Perricelli and Kazimierz Kolarski who

have died recently, also Fr Kevin

Aspinall, John Harrison, Peter Quinn,

George Do Rozario, Eileen Beiers,

Keith Mott, Percy Selman, Joy and

Neville Sondergold, George Stokes, Ivy

Stokes, Harold Meecham, Min Cole,

Jackie & Ted O’Sullivan, Rita Galea,

Simon Tinh, Laura Sim, Dr Hilary &

Cleta De Souza, Charles & Scott

Sullivan whom we remember.

BISHOP JOHN GERRY DD A funeral Vigil Liturgy for Bishop John

will be held at 7 pm, Wednesday

20 December, St Brigid’s Church, 78

Musgrave Rd., Red Hill. A Solemn

Funeral Mass will be held at 11 am,

Thursday 21 December, the

Cathedral of St Stephen, Bne. Rite of

Committal will follow at 2.30 pm

Nudgee Cemetery.

PARISH YOUNG SINGERS A reminder to our Parish Young

Singers that music practice will be at

9 am next Sunday 24 December for

the 9.30 am Mass..

CHRISTMAS MUSIC REHEARSAL Children are invited to sing in

the choir at the 5pm

Christmas Eve Mass in St Catherine’s

Church. Interested musicians are also

warmly invited to be part of the liturgy.

Please come and join in the rehearsal at

St Catherine’s church at 2pm,

Saturday 23 December. Enquiries and

RSVP: Leanne Laboo 0412 611 634.

Practice for St Bernard’s musicians and

choir will continue this Tuesday

19 Dec., 7 pm, St Bernard’s Church.

Help make our Christmas ceremonies

prayerful & joyous.

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLICS MAGAZINE The Summer Edition of the Jesuit

Magazine ‘Australian Catholics’ is

now available at our parish churches.

Please take a copy. Sponsored by the

local SVdP Conference.

CARITAS GLOBAL GIFTS Send a Christmas message to

those you love, and support

those in need. Choose a

Global Gift card to give to

family or friends and bring a

moment of joy and help create a

lifetime of change for some of the

world’s most vulnerable people. Order

at W: www.globalgifts.org.au or call

1800 024 413.

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP

Benedictine Abbey, Jamberoo

13-15 April 2018

Sr Hilda Scott OSB will be contributing

by giving talks on Sr Hildegard of

Bingen. Cost of program $200.

Accommodation fees depend on room

selected. P: (02) 4236 0533; E:

[email protected].

ROMERO CENTRE People seeking asylum in our

community are facing homelessness

and destitution. WE NEED YOUR

HELP. Cash donations or assistance

with rent payments are most welcome

as these families need ongoing support.

Information Beata 3013 0100 or

E: beata.ostapiej-piatkowski

@mercycs.org.au.

CATHOLIC LEADER 20,000 young people gather in

Sydney to meet Jesus Christ

Archbishop offers Mary as a model

for young people at Australian

Catholic Youth Festival

Royal Commission gives scathing

report on child abuse in Ballarat

diocese

New congregation of religious

sisters considering a move to

Brisbane.

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3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT/B - 17 December 2017 ♫ PROCESSIONAL: SING OUT EARTH AND SKIES

1. Come, O God of all the earth; Come to us, O Righteous One;

Come and bring our love to birth: In the glory of your Son.

Refrain: Sing out, earth and skies! Sing of the God who loves you!

Raise your joyful cries! Dance to the life around you!

3. Come, O God of wind and flame: Fill the earth with

righteousness; Teach us all to sing your name: May our lives

your love confess. (Refrain.)

5. Come, O Justice, Come, O Peace; Come and shape our hearts

anew; Come and make oppression cease: Bring us all to life in

you. (Refrain) W&M: Haugen, Marty © 1985 GIA Pub. ONE LICENSE #A-641326

FIRST READING: Isaiah 6:1-2, 10-11 RESP. PSALM: MY SOUL REJOICES IN MY GOD Response: My soul rejoices in my God.

1. My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour. He looks on his servant in her nothingness; henceforth all ages will call me blessed. R/

2. The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy his name! His mercy is from age to age, on those who fear him. R/

3. He fills the starving with good things, sends the rich away empty. He protects Israel, his servant remembering his mercy. R/

Text: Lk 1:46-50, 53-54 R. Isa 60:10 © the Grail. Music: Smith, Colin D © 1995

Revised 2016Willow Publications ONE LICENSE #A-641326.

SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 ♫ GOSPEL ACCL: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit is upon me; he sent me to bring Good News to the poor; the Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Music: Mason, Paul © 2004 Text: Excerpts from the English Translation of

The Roman Missal © 2010 ICEL. Willow Pub. ONE LICENSE #A-641326

GOSPEL: John 1:6-8, 19-28 ♫ COMMUNION: COME TO US Refrain: Come to us, O Emmanuel. Come to us, O Emmanuel.

Cantor/Choir: Come announce a year of favour: All: Come to us, O Emmanuel. Cantor/Choir: God’s great day of vindication: All: Come to us, O Emmanuel. Cantor/Choir: Bringing joy to all who mourn. (Refrain)

Cantor/Choir: God shall bring a Reign of justice: All: Come to us, O Emmanuel. Cantor/Choir: Seal a covenant of blessing: All: Come to us, O Emmanuel. Cantor/Choir: Raise a garden filled with praise. (Refrain)

W&M: Haugen, Marty © GIA Publications ONE LICENSE #A-641326

♫ SONG OF PRAISE: Instrumental music.

♫ RECESSIONAL: A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

Refrain: A voice in the wilderness calls to prepare,

for we are standing on the edge of changes.

Across the desert sand and the mountain high

the Lord is coming. Make your way!

1. I will hear what the Lord will say; a voice of peace for all his

people. His voice is never far for those who know his glory

dwelling in our land. (R)

2. Faithfulness and mercy have met; peace and justice have

embraced here. Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and

justice look down from the sky. (R)

MASS TIMES 18-24 December 2017

St Bernard’s:

Tues: 9.15 am

Wed. No Mass

Thurs. 7.00 am

Thu. 10.00 am - Funeral - Doug Rebecchi

Fri. 8.00 am

Sat. 6.15 pm

Sun. 7.00 am, 9.30 am, 6.15 pm

St Martin’s:

Fri. 9.30 am

Sunday 8.00 am

St Catherine’s:

Mon. 9.15 am

Wed. 7.00 am

Sat. 6.00 pm

Sun. 8.30 am

RECONCILIATION

St Bernard’s - Sat. 5.15 pm

St Catherine’s - Sat. 5.00 pm

DENOTES CHANGE

THIS WEEK Mon. 18 December 2017

HeartFIT - 11.30 am, Aspinall Centre.

SVDP Meeting - 5 pm, St C’s Community Centre.

Evening Prayer - 5.30 pm, St Bernard’s Church.

Tues. 19 December 2017

Craft Group - Resumes 16 January 2018.

Christmas Music Practice - 7 pm, St Bernard’s.

Evening Prayer - 5.30 pm, St Bernard’s Church.

Wednesday 20 December 2017

Beside Restful Waters - Resumes in 2018.

Evening Prayer - 5.30 pm, St Bernard’s Church.

Thurs. 21 December 2017

Play Group - Resumes February 2018.

Arcare Mass - 10 am, Padstow Rd., EMP.

Funeral Liturgy - Doug Rebecchi, 10.00 am, St

Bernard’s Church.

Evening Prayer - 5.30 pm, St Bernard’s Church.

Friday 22 December 2017

Play Group - Resumes February 2018.

HeartFIT: - 10 am, Aspinall Centre.

Evening Prayer - 5.30 pm, St Bernard’s Church.

Upper Mt Gravatt Wishart Parish

3. The Lord, our God, will make us grow and

earth will bring its fruit in all its splendour.

Justice marches on before; he comes and

peace will follow in his way. (R) W&M: Robinson, Chris © 1990 PO Box 154 W, West Gosford NSW.

ONE LICENSE #A-641326

4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT/B - 23/24 Dec. 2017

READINGS: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16;

Romans 16:25-27.GOSPEL: Luke 1:26-38