Upper Mt Gravatt Wishart Parish...Saturday 16 December, 9.30 am St Bernard’s Church. Margaret, Jack and their family were involved with many of the Upper Mt Gravatt Parish ministries

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 9/10 December 2017

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT/B READINGS: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; 2 St Peter 3:8-14

GOSPEL: Mark 1:1-8

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

Blessing of Wreath & Lighting of 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. Its light reminds us of Jesus, the light of the world. In Him was life and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. Once you were

darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light. The second mauve candle is now lit as we respond:

All: Prepare the way of the Lord. We light this candle in love, The love of our coming saviour, Jesus.

Let us prepare then, the way of the Lord.

Please note: Advent Penitential Services THIS COMING WEEK we will celebrate the Penitential

Services for Advent in our parish.

Monday 11 December, St Catherine’s Church 7.00 pm. Tuesday 12 December, St Bernard’s Church 9.15 am.

Tuesday 12 December, St Martin’s Church 7.00 pm.

We pray with Mary:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

For He has done great things for me! Lord have mercy!

… It’s the portrait of a lover...

We often think that we can bargain with God to get the best possible deal out of life. The problem with this bargaining image is that it cannot be rec-onciled with a Christian faith which believes in Advent. The bargaining im-age of God is the furtherest thing from the mind of the writers of today’s readings – Isaiah, Psalm (84) 85, St Peter and St Mark.

These scriptures remind us that God has not held back one thing in his love for us. By becoming one with us in our flesh, God has done everything he can to assure us of his saving love. He has shown us all what can be shown about how to live lives of sacrifice, justice and love and how to transform our world for better.

The image of us ‘doing a deal’ with God is so prevalent in our theology and prayer that we can find ourselves lapsing into it all the time. ‘If you make me well, God, I will lead a better life.’ ‘I will return to Sunday Mass if I pass my exams.’ ‘I will raise my children Catholic if I have a fine day for my wedding.’ This is all dreadful stuff. And the Church has to take some responsibility for this and correct it.

The scriptures tell us from the beginning of time to the preaching of John the Baptist, to the life, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ and to the continuing work of the Holy Spirit among us today, that we have a God who risked everything so that we might know love and life in this world and in the next.

We hold and proclaim, in season and out of season, a God who emptied himself of power and might and came to us as a baby.

That’s not the profile of a deal-doer. It’s the portrait of a lover.

So this Advent let’s not ransom ourselves to a benevolent dictator. Let’s ask for anything we need with confidence that God has heard our words and so sent love itself in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Saturday

Evening Mass

Time Changes

CHANGES BEGIN SATURDAY 6 JANUARY 2018

4.15 pm: Sacrament of Penance, St Bernard’s Church, Upper Mt

Gravatt 5.00 pm Mass, St Bernard’s

Church, Upper Mt Gravatt 6.15 pm Mass, St Catherine’s

Church, Wishart.

Congratulations!

Congratulations Roshea Buksh on being accepted into the Order of Catechumens and Bec Cooper on being Confirmed and receiving First Holy Communion this weekend at the 7.00 am Mass. This is a wonderful outcome from the ladies attending the ‘At Home with God’s people’ sessions and being supported by other Catholic members in our parish. Welcome to the family Roshea and

Bec!

If any parishioners are interested in enhancing their faith or knowing more about the Catholic Faith or becoming a Catholic, sessions will start again on January 21, 2018 at 8.00 am in the parish Meeting Room. Other times and venues are a possibility also. Just ask!

Vinnies Christmas

Appeal

Let us love, not with words but with deeds.

Parishioners have the opportunity to respond to the recent declaration by Pope Francis of the World Day of the Poor by supporting the Vinnies Christmas Appeal to provide food hampers for needy families. Gifts of non-perishable food items or cash will be gratefully accepted OVER THE NEXT WEEK. Non-perishable food items may be left in the baskets in each church. Cash donations may be put in the envelopes available in the pews and then placed on any collection plates. No age related gifts this year. Thank you for your generosity.

BAPTISMS Congratulations to

Beau Madden, son of Ryan & Rebecca. He

will be baptised this Sunday in St Bernard's Church. We also congratulate Aden Alexander, son of Philip & Brooke. He will be baptised this Monday at St Bernard’s.

READERS ROSTER 16/17 December

Please arrive 20 mins before Mass St Bernard’s: Vikki Enright, Linda

Goh, Betty Breakspear; Nathalie

Dudson, Patrick McNevin, Vera

McNevin; Navodya Heath, Sean

Szetoo, Loretta Reedman; Pauline

Thomas, Patrick Vialle, Liz Ryan.

St Martin’s: Cristy Gardner,

Jasmine & Jacob Cheruvankalayil.

St Catherine’s: Brian Rayfield,

Novita Jurry, Tricia Tully; Blythe

Bishop, Epifanio Pereira, Hannah

Sisson.

Upper Mt Gravatt Wishart Parish

Morning Tea

Roster 2018

Appeal

On the first Sunday of every month after the St Bernard’s 9 . 3 0 a m M a s s morning tea is provided by dedicated groups of people and we urgently require additional volunteers for this roster. It is a wonderful way to meet new people and support your community. If you can spare one hour a year and would like to be involved contact Debbie James, our Volunteer Coordinator, E: [email protected] or phone 3849 7158.

Children’s

Masses at

Christmas

All children are invited to participate in the Christmas Eve, Sun. 24 December, children's Masses 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.

JESSE TREE SYMBOLS

In the second week of Advent we place the symbol of Joseph’s coloured coat and a clay water pot for Gideon. Joseph and God’s Providence Pharaoh has Joseph brought before him. Joseph hears the dreams and correctly interprets their meaning. Pharaoh agrees and appoints Joseph, vizier, second in authority only to Pharaoh himself to carry out the plan. Joseph marries an Egyptian woman and has two sons. The first he names Manasseh (“forgotten”) to

show that his previous suffering has been forgotten. The second is Ephraim (“God has made me fruitful.”) Read more—Genesis 37.

Gideon’s unlikely Victory Gideon, a farmer, is threshing his wheat in a winepress so that he can hide it from the Midianites. When God tells him that he will lead the Hebrew people against their enemies, Gideon ridicules the idea. God wants to emphasize that when victory comes, it comes from God. The Hebrew people will never win if they depend on themselves. Read more: Judges 6-8

Evening Prayer…

on your way home from

work!

All are invited to celebrate in prayerful waiting for the coming of the Lord in the final week of Advent.

Evening Prayer

Monday 18 December to Friday 22 December, 5.30 pm, St Bernard’s Church, Upper Mt Gravatt.

Come along and bring a friend!

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Upper Mt Gravatt Wishart Parish

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLICS MAGAZINE The Summer Edition of the

Jesuit Magazine ‘Australian

Catholics’ is now available at

our parish churches. Please

feel free to take a copy.

Sponsored by the local SVdP

Conference.

ANNIVERSARY MASS The family of Margaret & Jack

Bradley invite all to a 20 year and 40

year death anniversary Mass, on

Saturday 16 December, 9.30 am St

Bernard’s Church. Margaret, Jack and

their family were involved with many of

the Upper Mt Gravatt Parish ministries

over numerous years. Enquiries Monica

0407 120 117.

HEARTFIT Will continue for the next

couple of weeks, then we will

have a small get together to

celebrate the year. All

participants current, past and new are

welcome to come along.

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.

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.

WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED Especially Ken Morris (husband of

Ann), Madeline Moloney (mother of

Margaret Gal lagher) , Kathleen

Matthews, Gerard Seeto, Kevin

Desbois, Angela Perricelli, Kazimierz

Kolarski, Ralph McIver, Todd

Meredith, Paul Bakes, John Xavier and

Ronald Darmody who have died

recently, also Lucy Yates, Fr Justin

King, Sophie Papas, Brian Lawton, Rita

Galea, Simon Tinh, Laura Sim, Dr

Hilary & Cleta De Souza, Freddie

Brandon, Gwen O’Shea, Jack Jacobsen,

Christie Fellowes and Mick Crocker

whom we remember at this time.

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.

CHRISTMAS LITURGY SIGN ON We are call ing 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.

C H R I S T M AS M U SI C PRACTICE Practice for St Bernard’s musicians and

choir will continue this Tuesday

12 Dec., 7 pm, St Bernard’s Church.

St Catherine’s next rehearsal time will

be 4.30 pm, Saturday 16 December.

Help make our Christmas ceremonies

prayerful & joyous.

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.

SVdP STALL The Piety Stores now have supplies of

Christmas Cards, $3 for pkt of 8 cards,

Josephite Calendars $7, and Columban

Calendars $9.

MISSION TO FIGHT POVERTY Catholic communities all over the

world are looking for teachers, health

and community development workers,

administrators and others to mentor

workers in their fields of expertise.

Healthy retired people find it a most

gratifying and stimulating mission.

E: [email protected] or Roger

0431 995 058. 2018 applications

closing soon. See more than 40

v o l u n t e e r p o s i t i o n s a t

www.palms.org.au/projects/.

YOUTH AND YOUNG A D U L T M I N I S T R Y COORDINATOR Sunnybank Catholic Parish

invites applications for this

position and requires a self-motivated

individual who has a personal

commitment to the values, teachings

and mission of the Catholic Church.

Working 20 hours per week, the

successful applicant will be responsible

for facilitating and developing Life

Teen youth programs and activities

across the parish. Position commences

January 2018.

E: [email protected] or

P: 3345 3766. Applications close

Wednesday 6 December 2017.

CATHOLIC LEADER Battling the horror of child abuse

Five Australian Catholic teachers

heading to Myanmar next month

inspired by Pope Francis’ visit

Missionary congregation promises

four priests for Townsville diocese

Archbishop Coleridge advocates

reconciliation and healing in Advent

following same-sex marriage debate

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2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT/B - 10 December 2017 ♫ PROCESSIONAL: GATHER YOUR PEOPLE

Gather your people, O God. Here in this time and this place, As we wait, as we hope, as we long for Your coming, O God. (repeat)

T & M: Brown, Monica © 2002 Emmaus Productions ONE LICENSE #A-641326

FIRST READING: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 RESP. PSALM: LORD, LET US SEE YOUR KINDNESS Response: Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

1. I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace, peace for his people. His help is near for those who fear him and his glory will dwell in our land. R/

2. Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have embraced. Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven. R/

3. The Lord will make us prosper and our earth shall yield its fruit. Justice shall march before him and peace shall follow his steps. R/

Text: Ps 84/85 verses © the Grail. Music: Smith, Colin D © 1995 Revised 2016Willow Publications ONE LICENSE #A-641326.

SECOND READING: 2 St Peter 3:8-14 ♫ GOSPEL ACCL: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. All people shall see the salvation of God: Prepare the way of the Lord. 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: Mark 1:1-8 ♫ COMMUNION: COME TO US Refrain: Come to us, O Emmanuel. Come to us, O Emmanuel.

Cantor/Choir: Make a highway in the desert: All: Come to us, O Emmanuel. Cantor/Choir: Lift the valleys, level mountains: All: Come to us, O Emmanuel. Cantor/Choir: Let God’s glory be revealed. (Refrain)

Cantor/Choir: Though the people fade and wither All: Come to us, O Emmanuel. Cantor/Choir: Like the fragile grass and flowers: All: Come to us, O Emmanuel. Cantor/Choir: Still the Word of God endures. (Refrain)

Cantor/Choir: Bring glad tidings to the lowly: All: Come to us, O Emmanuel. Cantor/Choir: Bind up all the broken hearted: All: Come to us, O Emmanuel. Cantor/Choir: Set the weary captives free: (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 11-17 December 2017

St Bernard’s:

Mon. 11.00 am - Funeral Mass-Ken Morris

Tues. 9.15 am - Penitential Service

Wed. No Mass

Thurs. 7.00 am

Fri. 8.00 am

Sat. 6.15 pm

Sun. 7.00 am, 9.30 am, 6.15 pm

St Martin’s:

Tues. 7.00 pm - Penitential Service

Fri. 9.30 am

Sunday 8.00 am

St Catherine’s:

Mon. 9.15 am

Mon. 7.00 pm - Penitential Service

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. 11 December 2017

Funeral Mass - Ken Morris, 11 am, St Bernard’s.

HeartFIT - 11.30 am, Aspinall Centre.

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

Penitential Service - 7 pm, St Catherine’s.

Tues. 12 December 2017

Craft Group - Resumes 16 January 2018.

Penitential Service - 9.15 am, St Bernard’s.

Penitential Service - 7 pm, St Catherine’s.

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

Wednesday 13 Dec. - St Lucy

Beside Restful Waters - Resumes in 2018.

Thurs. 14 Dec. - St John of the Cross

Play Group - Resumes February 2018.

Bethany Prayer - Widowers & Widows, 6 pm

Aspinall Centre.

Friday 15 December 2017

Play Group - Resumes February 2018.

HeartFIT: - 10 am, Aspinall Centre.

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

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT/B - 17 Dec. 2017

READINGS: Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11;

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24.

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