4th sunday of advent, year c - 19 december 2021
TRANSCRIPT
4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR C - 19 DECEMBER 2021
O ANTIPHONS: The Great Os
T HE COVID HEALTH and safety measures have also impacted our liturgy. Thus, congregational and choir singing are rather restricted and so we often hear in our daily Mass antiphons recited at the
Entrance and Communion. In an ideal liturgical setting, antiphons are usually chanted by a cantor. This ancient practice of using antiphons is said to have started by St Ignatius of Antioch in the first century and by the third century, the practice was well-entrenched into our liturgical tradition, with St Ambrose as one of the more famous ecclesiastics who favoured their usage. By the 6th century, the O Antiphons of Advent are a major component of the season. Modern English speaking churches often sing these antiphons during Advent each time they sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!” These remaining days of Advent we will hear once more the O Antiphons, so called because the Latin version starts with “O”. These antiphons contain scripture based, theological reflections about the indentity of the coming Messiah. For 17 December, we have O Sapientiae (O Wisdom); 18 Dec: O Adonai (Lord); 19 Dec: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse); 20 Dec: O Clavis David (O Key of David); 21 Dec: O Oriens (O Dayspring); 22 Dec: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations); 23 Dec: O Emmanuel (O God-with-us). Oh, there’s more! I’m not making this up: the first letters form a Latin reverse acrostic: ero cras, which is “tomorrow I will be [present]”. Let us consider how privileged are we to receive this awesome ancient spiritual insight and treasure of a tradition by our faith-ancestors. As this is the last newsletter for the year, may the remaining days of Advent be truly fruitful that we may have a truly Merry Christmas and a New Year that is full of Christian hope! Blessings, Fr Rico & Fr Marlon
EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW
(Quotes from the past) “Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?” (Lk 1:43)
L ET US TOO arise with joy and run in spirit to meet our Saviour. Hailing him from afar, let us worship him, saying: Come, Lord, “save me and I shall be saved!” Come and “show us your face, and we shall all be
saved. We have been waiting for you; be our help in time of trouble. This was how the prophets and saints of old ran to meet the Messiah, filled with immense desire to see with their eyes, if possible, what they already saw in spirit. We must look forward to the day, so soon to come, on which we celebrate the anniversary of Christ’s birth. Scripture itself insists on the joy which must fill us - a joy which will lift our spirit out of itself in longing for his coming, impatient of delay as it strains forward to see even now what the future holds in store. I believe that the many texts of scripture which urge us to go out to meet him speak of Christ’s first coming as well as his second. Between these two comings of his, the Lord frequently visits us individually in accordance with our merits and desires, forming us to the likeness of his first coming in the flesh, and preparing us for his return at the end of time. He comes to us now, to make sure that we do not lose the fruits of his first coming nor incur his wrath at his second. His purpose now is to convert our pride into the humility which he showed when he first came, so that he may refashion our lowly bodies into the likeness of that glorious body which he will manifest when he comes again. - Guerric of Igny, Second Sermon for Advent
+ + + Guerric of Igny (c.1070/1080-1157), about whose early life little is known, probably received his education at the cathedral school of Tournai. He seems to have lived a retired life of prayer and study near the cathedral of Tournai. He paid a visit to Clairvaux to consult Saint Bernard, and is mentioned by him as a novice in a letter to Ogerius in 1125/1256. He became abbot of the Cistercian abbey of Igny, in the diocese of Rheims in 1138. A collection of 54 authentic sermons preached on Sundays and feast days has been edited. Guerric’s spirituality was influenced by Origen.
VACCINE PASS MASSES It is now the norm to show Vaccine Passes when entering Masses.
Please remember to bring a mask, your Vaccine Pass and scan/sign in on arrival.
MUSIC AT MASSES There will be NO congregational singing at this stage. The Archdiocese will review this at the end of January.
Parish Priest: Fr Rico de la Torre Ph: 021 205 6476 Assistant Priest: Fr Marlon Tebelin Parish Secretary: Jane Lee Ph: 232 5611 169 Main Road, Tawa Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9.30am-12 noon Parish Pastoral Council Chairperson: Marie Prescott Ph: 232 7679 Parish Finance Committee Chairperson: Graeme Hansen Ph: 232 4360 Marist Sisters: Srs Francine McGovern & Margaret Vaney Ph: 232 5151 St Francis Xavier School: Joan Woods, Principal Ph: 232 8927 St Pius X School: Michele Whiting, Acting Principal Ph: 236 7006 Bishop Viard College: Chris Theobald, Principal Ph: 237 5248
MASSES: Godofredo Alcantara, RIP (20); Healing for Arnel Galvan (22).
ANNIVERSARIES TO END OF YEAR: Sydney Sullivan (20); Ruby Stinson (21); Ella Watson, Suluo’o Alosio-Logotuli, Susan Newland (22); Avis Fitzpatrick, Jean Ellis, Eileen Houston (23); Owen Harris, Clive Barry, Norman Hodge, Geoffrey Ellis, Mura Pignet (24); Phyllis Cameron, William Wyatt, Patrick Bolton (25); Jean Holyoake, Vernon Beveridge (27); Claude Taylor, Kevin McCool, Soonafai Kiong (28); Rosetta Rolston, Stanley Alekna, John Leamy, Lorraine Moore (29); Wayne Butler, Alfred Gibbons, Lawrence Gage, Catherine Buckley, Taeu Carter, Mary Glover (30); Grace Reilly, Marie Sharp, Mary Sinclair, Maureen McCarron, Louise Heraud, Teresa McKerlie, Jack Kidd (31).
May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen
R.I.P
20-26 DECEMBER - MASS & SERVICE TIMES for Vaccination Pass Required Masses
(apart from Sunday 7pm Mass)
OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHURCH TAWA
ST PIUS X CHURCH, TITAHI BAY
Monday 9am Mass, 7pm Simbang Gabi
Tuesday 9am Mass, 7pm Simbang Gabi
Wednesday 9am Mass, 7pm Simbang Gabi
Thursday 9am Mass, 7pm Simbang Gabi 10am Mass
Friday 9am Mass, 7pm Vigil Family Mass, Midnight Mass
Saturday 10.30am Christmas Day Mass 9am Christmas Day Mass
Sunday NO 8.30am Mass 10.30am Mass
9am Mass 7pm Mass Booking required
Weekday Masses may be replaced by a Funeral Mass
Our regular Mass schedule will operate in January: Vaccine Pass Required Masses: Tawa: Mon-Sat 9am; Sunday 8.30 & 10.30am. Titahi Bay: Thurs 10am; Saturday Vigil 5.30pm. Non Vaccine Pass Required Mass: Titahi Bay Sunday 7pm.
DAILY READINGS Monday, 20 Dec: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24; Luke 1:26-38 Tuesday, 21 Dec: Zephaniah 3:14-18; Psalm 33; Luke 1:39-45 Wednesday, 22 Dec: 1 Sam 1:24-28; Res 1 Sam; Luke 1:46-56
Thursday, 23 Dec: Malachi 3:1-4,23-24; Psalm 25; Luke 1:57-66 Friday, 24 Dec: 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-11,16; Psalm 89; Luke 1:67-79 Saturday, 25 Dec: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18 Sunday, 26 Dec: 1 Samuel 1:20-22,24-28; Psalm 83; 1 John 3:1-2,21-24; Luke 2:41-52
Daily Readings: 27 Dec - 2 Jan
Monday: John 20:2-8; Tuesday: Matthew 2:13-18; Wednesday: Luke 2:22-35; Thursday: Luke 2:36-40; Friday: John 1:1-18; Saturday: Luke 2:16-21 Epiphany of the Lord, Year C: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6: Matthew 2:1-12
Daily Readings: 3-9 Jan
Monday: Matt 4:12-17,23-25; Tuesday: Mark 6:34-44; Wednesday: Mark 6:45-52; Thursday: Luke 4:14-22; Friday: Luke 5:12-16; Saturday: John 3:22-30
Baptism of the Lord, Yr C: Is 40:1-5,9-11; Ps 103; Titus 2:11-14,3:4-7; Luke 3:15-16,21-22
Daily Readings: 10-16 Jan
Monday: Mark 1:14-20; Tuesday: Mark 1:21-28; Wednesday: Mark1:29-39; Thursday: Mark 1:40-45; Friday: Mark 2:1-12; Saturday: Mark 2:13-17 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Yr C: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 95; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11
Daily Readings: 17-23 Jan
Monday: Mark 2:18-22; Tuesday: Mark 2:23-28; Wednesday: Mark 3:1-6; Thursday: Mark 3:7-12; Friday: Mark 3:13-19; Saturday: Mark 3:20-21 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Yr C: Nehemiah 8:2-6,8-10; Psalm 18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Luke1:1-
4,4:14-21
Daily Readings: 24-30 Jan
Monday: Mark 3:22-30; Tuesday: Mark 16:15-18; Wednesday: Mark 4:1-20; Thursday: Mark 4:21-25; Friday: Mark 4:26-34; Sat: Mark 4:35-41 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C: Jeremiah 1:4-5,17-19; Psalm 70; 1 Corinthians 12:31-
13:13; Luke 4:21-30
NZ CATHOLIC We are providing, free of charge, a digital link to our latest issue which has the following headlines in it: Masses celebrated under traffic light system. SVDP toy shop in Wellington. Replica planned for damaged bishop’s chair. Redefining obedience to stop spiritual abuse alongwith many other interesting articles.
https://indd.adobe.com/view/ec3d8d91-1f86-4c52-948e-16a861c4ab70 Please enjoy reading New Zealand’s only national Catholic newspaper.
CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY MASS This will be held at 7pm on Friday, 24 December at Our Lady of Fatima Church. Please bring your children dressed as angels and shepherds. Please also bring a food item for the St Vincent de Paul foodbank. This is a VACCINE PASS REQUIRED event.
FR MARLON’S FAREWELL All parishioners are invited to attend Fr Marlon’s Farewell which will be held at 3pm on Sunday 30 January at Our Lady of Fatima Church foyer. People are asked to bring a plate of finger food.
To contribute to the farewell gift, please place an envelope marked “Fr Marlon’s farewell” in the collection baskets at Mass; OR leave donations at the Parish Office OR make a direct credit payment with the reference: Farewell to the Parish account 02-0552 0033740 00.
We will require some help on the day, so please contact Marie Prescott 232 7679 if you are available to assist. This is a VACCINE PASS REQUIRED event.
Adoration will cease for 2021 at 12 noon on Wednesday, 22 December and resume on Wednesday, 19 January 2022 following 9am Mass and conclude at 12 noon. This is a Vaccine Pass required event. Please remember to social distance, scan or sign in, wear a mask and sanitise your hands on arrival.
Due to Covid, we are unable to provide reflection books for your use during Adoration.
A B I G thank you to Evelyn, Vitolina and their helpers for getting the gardens at Our Lady of Fatima church looking so lovely. They are very colourful and brighten spirits. Also, thank you to Eugene and his helpers for water-blasting our churches and giving them a much needed clean before we celebrate Christmas.
SIMBANG GABI This is a 9 Day Novena in anticipation of Christmas and to honour
the Blessed Virgin Mary. All parishioners are welcome and encouraged to attend the
Novena Masses which will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Tawa and celebrated in English.
Vaccine Passes are required at all Simbang Gabi Masses. There will be NO Congregational singing.
Simbang Gabi Masses will also be held at 7pm from 15-23 December in:
St Martin de Porres Church, Avalon; St Francis de Sales Church, Island Bay; St Teresa’s Church, Karori
Thank you for your support.
May we have a fruitful celebration of the Birth of Jesus.
DATE TIME SPONSORS
Sunday 19 December 7pm Kenepuru Filipino nurses
Monday 20 December 7pm Pinoy SelectioNZ and BM Express
Tuesday 21 December 7pm Weimer Lilly
Wednesday 22 December 7pm Jim’s Cleaning and Balay Pinoy
Thursday 23 December 7pm Tawa Filipino Choir
** Please note this is NOT a Vigil Mass
ST VINCENT DE PAUL FOOD PARCELS A new roster to deliver food parcels to Elsdon and Titahi Bay areas is being prepared for 2022. * Do you like helping others? * Do you have a couple of hours free once a month on Wednesday or Friday afternoons? * Do you have a reliable vehicle ? * Are physically fit to carry a banana box full of groceries? * Are you double vaccinated with a My Vaccine Pass? If you are able to answer yes to all of the above, please get in touch - I'd love to hear from you. Thanks, Marie Nicol ph: 027 215 1553 or email: [email protected]
2022 COLUMBAN CALENDARS These are available from the Parish Office for $12 each (cash only). Please call in to pick up a copy for yourself or a loved one.
IMPLEMENTING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM AT OUR CHURCHES
New Zealand has moved to the traffic light system for vaccinated/unvaccinated people from 3 December. Therefore when you come to any Masses, liturgies,
meetings/seminars or other events within our Parish buildings and properties, people aged 12 years and over will be required to show your Vaccine Pass (or an exemption certificate) before you are allowed entry. The exception to this is the 7pm Mass at Titahi Bay which is a no vaccine pass required Mass which people must register to attend. In Cardinal John’s letter of 2 December he says “We want our churches to be open and welcoming places, but at the same time we must also work within the Government’s Covid-19 Protection Framework.” Attending Mass People no longer need to register to attend the 5.30 Vigil, 8.30 and 10.30 Sunday Masses as these are Vaccine Pass required Masses. These Masses are regulated by the traffic light system and under Orange there is no limit on numbers. People must show their Vaccine Pass, scan/sign in, wear a mask and sanitise their hands on entry. The same rules apply for our weekday Masses. Rosters A B-I-G thank you to those who’ve already forwarded the Parish Office a copy of their Vaccine Pass. Can all other people involved in Parish rosters please either email a copy of their Vaccine Pass to the Parish Office or pop in for Jane to sight it and note it in our records. In the email, can you please include what rosters you are on. We need this information so you can continue to be part of our Parish ministries as all people providing ministries in our churches need to be fully vaccinated. URGENTLY REQUIRED: VOLUNTEERS TO CHECK VACCINE PASSES We need to have people on the door at all of our Masses to check Vaccine Passes (or exemptions). Would you be willing to do this role? If so, can you please contact Jane in the Parish office: email: [email protected] or phone: (04) 232 5611. We ask all people attending Masses to treat these volunteers with kindness and respect as they implement a Government mandate which we are legally required to enforce.
NON VACCINE PASS MASSES AVAILABLE IN OUR PARISH AND OTHER WELLINGTON PARISHES
St Pius X Church, Titahi Bay St Theresa’s Church, Plimmerton - Sunday 7pm (Church open - Saturday Vigil 4pm from 6pm for private prayer) St Teresa’s Church, Karori St Mary of the Angels, Wellington - Sunday 5pm - Sunday 7am St Anne’s Church, Newtown Sacred Heart Church, Petone - Saturday 6pm - Sunday 5.30pm St Joseph’s Church, Upper Hutt - Saturday 6pm Mass Registration After the 4th Sunday of Advent (19 December), the Archdiocesan website will not be operating the Mass registration system. For 7pm Mass at St Pius Church, you will need to email the parish office: [email protected] between 9am Wednesday to 9am Friday, to register to attend this Mass. If you wish to attend Mass at other Parishes, please check out the individual Parish websites for Mass registration details. Under the Orange traffic light, the cap for these Masses is set at 50 people. We have been advised by the Archdiocese that people MUST REGISTER to attend these Masses as we are NOT allowed to have walk-ins. People attending these Masses must scan or sign in, wear a mask, sanitise their hands and maintain social distance. LIVESTREAM AND BROADCAST MASSES Sunday 9.30am - Our Lady of Kapiti livestream Mass https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9bV8i1FYR3nRi8qvyQ5qg Sunday 2pm - Mass on Shine TV. This Mass is broadcast on Free-to-air TV Channel 25 or Sky TV Channel 201. It is pre-recorded in Auckland under the restrictions of the Covid-19 Traffic Light level.
CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR MASS TIMETABLE
Our Lady of Fatima Church, Tawa Friday, 24 December - 7pm Christmas Vigil Family Mass
Friday, 24 December - Midnight Mass
Saturday, 25 December - 10.30am Christmas Day Mass
Sunday, 26 December - 10.30am Feast of the Holy Family
Monday, 27 December - Friday, 31 December - 9am Mass
Friday, 31 December - Midnight Mass for New Year
Sunday, 2 January - 8.30am & 10.30am Masses
St Pius X Church, Titahi Bay
Saturday, 25 December - 9am Christmas Day Mass
Sunday, 26 December - 9am Feast of the Holy Family
Sunday, 26 December - 7pm (Non Vaccine Pass Mass)
Saturday, 1 January - 9am New Year’s Day Mass
Saturday, 1 January - 5.30pm Vigil Mass Feast of the Epiphany
Unless otherwise stated, all Masses will require a Vaccine Pass
We will try and arrange to have one of our Christmas Masses livestreamed.
RECONCILIATION If you would like the Sacrament of Reconciliation, please phone or text Fr Rico: 021 205 6476 to arrange a suitable time and avoid overcrowding. You will also need to let Fr know your vaccination status, as Reconciliation will be held at a different location for unvaccinated people.
CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR MASS TIMETABLE
St Theresa’s Church, Plimmerton
Friday, 24 December - 9pm Christmas Vigil Mass Saturday, 25 December - 6pm Christmas Mass
These Masses are NON VACCINE PASS REQUIRED.
Please email: [email protected] to book to attend as the ADW booking system is not operating.
PARISH OFFICE The office will close on Wednesday 22 December. From 17 January it will be open on Mondays from 9.30am-12 noon. Normal hours will resume on Tuesday 1 February 2022. If you require anything over the holidays please either email the office - [email protected] or leave a message on the answer phone (04) 232 5611 as these will be checked regularly. Wishing you all a Happy and Holy Christmas and safe holidays. Jane
World Day of the Sick Sunday 13 February 2022, 2pm, Our Lady’s Home of Compassion Join us at the Home of Compassion for an afternoon of pilgrimage and prayer led by Fr James Lyons, followed by a time of hospitality. The afternoon will begin in the Chapel at 2pm and we will then process to the Lourdes Grotto in the grounds of the Home. For more information phone (04) 383 769 or email: [email protected] Volunteer at the Home of Compassion
Would you like to volunteer with us? Roles offering hospitality to visitors include helping in the café, general housekeeping in the public spaces, and event hospitality. There are also regular roles as a Heritage Centre greeter and guide and Chapel Guardian. In 2022 there will be volunteer educator roles. You can register your interest now. Contact Sofia for more information by emailing: [email protected] Christmas Message from Sr Margaret Anne I would like to leave you with a reflection from Meri Hohepa Suzanne Aubert that she wrote 100 years ago, but is still very relevant today: “Let us pray today for the grace to see in others, a little of what God sees, and the grace to be able to treat them always with the respect they deserve.” God Bless you and your loved ones this Christmas.
For updates on regular Compassion events not listed, visit the website: compassion.org.nz
NEW ROSTERS for OUR LADY OF FATIMA & ST PIUS X CHURCHES covering Greeters, Readers, Musicians, Collectors, Offertory, Eucharistic Ministers, Counters, Flowers from 5 February to 29 May are soon being prepared. If you know you’re going to be unavailable during this time, please let Jane in the office know by 17 January - email [email protected] or phone 232 5611 and leave a message. Thanks
CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADERS WELCOME ROYAL COMMISSION REDRESS REPORT
The bishops and congregational leaders of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand will closely study the interim Redress report of the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care and look at how they can implement the recommendations. The report - He Purapura Ora, he Mara Tipu; from Redress to Puretumu - was tabled in Parliament today [15 December] and makes recommendations on how survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care should be heard and get redress for the harm suffered. It has been welcomed by the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference (representing the country’s Catholic bishops), the Congregational Leaders Conference of Aotearoa New Zealand (representing Catholic religious orders and similar entities) and Te Ropu Tautoko (the group formed to co-ordinate Catholic engagement with the royal commission. Sister Margaret Anne Mills, president of the Congregational Leaders Conference says: “I welcome this report and acknowledge the harm suffered by survivors of abuse and proposed actions to address and provide redress. We see the report as part of the vision to transform what we are doing today and into the future.” Cardinal John Dew, president of the NZCBC says: “We have been listening closely to what survivors have been telling the royal commission. We have previously indicated our support for the establishment of an independent redress scheme. This report gives a series of recommendations we can study to help us as we walk alongside survivors of abuse.” Catherine Fyfe, Chair of Te Ropu Tautoko says: “Te Ropu Tautoko members thank the commissioners for their work in preparing this report and look forward to helping Church leaders along the journey of reviewing and implementing the recommendations.” The Church has been working proactively while waiting for the commission’s report. Te Ropu Tautoko has created a roadmap of work that needs doing across all areas of the Church to make improvements in response to reports or disclosures of abuse in the care of the Catholic Church. “Setting it out in the Roadmap makes it clear to everyone the work that is needed and the progress being made,” says Catherine Fyfe. “This provides a sense of transparency and accountability.”
The Roadmap is here: https://tautoko.catholic.org.nz/roadmap/ The Royal Commission report is here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/papers-presented/current-papers/document/PAP_118258/abuse-in-care-royal-commission-of-inquiry-he-purapura