Today is known as Guadete Sunday. It is a word meaning to REJOICE. There is something special about the word rejoice, because it implies happiness but it does not stop at joyfulness. There is something implied in the word that pushes us toward HOPE. When we rejoice in something or someone it is because what has happened gives us a joy about what is to come – a new hope. Again we hear the gospel of John the Baptist heralding the coming of Christ. So I invite you to focus on the first reading today, the one from Isaiah. This is a real “Guadete” reading. One that gives hope to the people who are downtrodden in the society of the time – and perhaps in our time. Let us reflect on what a modern understanding of this liberation passage might be:

The Spirit of the Lord has been given me…. Each of us are imbued with the gifts of the Holy Spirit TODAY

The Lord has sent ME to bring good news to the poor…. Good News of compassion, love, giving, prayer, forgiveness

To bind up hearts that are broken…… to give another chance, to forgive, to heal, to nurture,

To proclaim liberty to captives…… to move on, to let go, to not judge, to bring peace,

To proclaim a year of favour from the Lord….

to set goals, to begin again, to remember God’s love, to renew our lives and commit ourselves to being Christian.

Traditionally, the third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday, the

Sunday of Joy. The joy of this Sunday comes both from the message of the

readings and from the anticipation that Christmas is nearing. As described in

the Isaian passage, the Messiah is the one imbued with the spirit and with the

power of the prophet, the one who will fulfil the promises of God. It becomes

obvious in the Gospel that the Messiah is the one proclaimed by the Baptist.

John cleared a path for the coming of the anointed one, and from that time on

the lives of believers have been the pathway through which the Messiah has

entered the world.

Fancy a game of Indoor Bowls or Cards?

Come along to the Parish Centre at 9.30am on the 18th December. New faces very welcome to this

social morning.

Thank you to Father Sean Lynskey, from Inglewood for kindly celebrating the baptism, while I was away, of Kees Reuben de Gier, son of Lars and Kirsty,

brother to Maddison, Imogen and Ashleigh.

May the celebration of Christmas bring them much joy and happiness.

Columban Calendars now available. You will find

them next to the Catholic Leaders. Please place

$10.00 on the collection plate.

Don’t forget our commitment to

DRIVER REVIVER! You will find

the roster on the front table.

GROUNDS ROSTER

DECEMBER: T. RYAN & G. MCGOVERN

JANUARY: THOMPSON FAMILY

VOLUNTEERS MASS TIMES Tuesday (19/12)……Kaloma…….11.00am

Wednesday (20/12)……Rosary 5.10pm….Mass 5.30pm Thursday (21/12)….Adoration 5.00pm – 6.00pm

Friday (22/12) ………………………12.15pm

16th/17th December, 2017 SUNDAY MORNING: 9.00am Goondiwindi

23rd/24th December, 2017 SATURDAY EVENING: 6.00pm Weengallon SUNDAY MORNING: 9.00am Goondiwindi

Christmas Eve: 6.00pm Goondiwindi Christmas Day: 8.30am Goondiwindi

30th/31st December, 2017 SUNDAY MORNING: 9.00am Goondiwindi

Monday, 1st January, 2018

5.30pm Goondiwindi

6/7th January, 2018 SATURDAY NIGHT: 6.00pm Goondiwindi

No Masses at Weengallon or Daymar as Father Michael will be going to the Diocesan Retreat.

WE PRAY FOR Those who have entered your kingdom:

including, Vince O’Brien (Roma), Bishop John Gerry, Laurance Martyn,

Frank Brosnan, Max Hohn, Kath Johnson, Muriel “Sis” Plain (Len Cleal’s

sister), Robert Miller, Elaine Symes, June Corish, Ted Heironymus,

Gloria Glasser, Therese Sullivan, Helen Farrell, Fr. Merv Ziesing, Joan

Lawson, Thea McNaulty, Kevin “Skeet” McMaster, David Hollis, Frank

Lawless (Stasia’s son), Pauline Pollock, Monica Peters (Kath Gore’s

Aunt), John Clancy, Margaret Cook, Marie Dutton, Patricia MacBeth

(Lismore), Kevin Heironymus, Patricia Manton, Helen Zeller, Richard

Everingham, Rosemary Keehn, Jim Coleman, Tim Murphy, Margaret

Piedl, Margaret Murphy, Glen Manton, Father Tom Sheeran, Veronica

Rayner, Grant Carrigan, Isabel Coleman.

For all whose anniversary is at this time: including Leslie “Cloudy”

Marsh, Willy Heynen, Kevin Percival, David Webster, Joan Smith, Irene

“Ronnie” Blomley, Marj McMillan, Patrick Burns, Beth Cook, Thelva

O’Shea, Lynn Sutton, Rachel Cowmeadow, Barbara Bishop, Fay Gore,

Desley Hawker, Alicia Devine, Joan Spink, Norman Phillips, Byron

Carrigan, Ann-Maree Hoole, Sue Reardon, Beverley Brumpton, Kenneth

Robinson, Howard Mullins, Harold Clayton, Carmain “Bub” Porter.

For those who are ill: including Donna Lindores, John Abbot, Angus

Rigney, Steve Aspinall, Jan Jan Charles, Tom Turvey, Bill Dyer, Trish

Dyer, Brian Freeney, Pat & Teresa Mullins, Deanna Dawson, Anne

Hunt, Kevin Lawless, Ray Mackie, Peter Keehn, Joan Fleming, Gloria

Bale, David Croft, Tim Bourke, Joe Cowmeadow, Shirley Schluter,

Stasia Lawless, Paul Lloyd, Mavis Gordon, Jean Ramada, Stella

McGovern, Jean Sizer, Francis Lloyd, Madonna Nicoletti, Kathy

McDonald, Steph Adamson, Bailey Brennan, Pauline Robinson, Win

Skinner, Sonya Horrigan, Helen Paige, John Toohey, Marie Cook, Phillip

Carney, Shirley Riley, and Joseph Hord; also those ill at home, in

hospital and for those in Kaloma.

WELCOMERS AT DOOR

DOREEN IRELAND & SHAN PURCELL (17/12)

VOLUNTEER NEEDED (23/12)

PAULINE CORCORAN &

DENISE MCCORMACK (31/12)

WELCOMER AT MICROPHONE

ROBYN LINDORES (17/12)

VOLUNTEER NEEDED (23/12)

PAT THOMPSON (31/12)

1ST

READER/PSALM

CAMILLE KELLOWAY (17/12)

VOLUNTEER NEEDED (23/12)

CLAIRE CHARLES (31/12)

2ND

READING/ALLELUIA

ANDREW ERBACHER (17/12)

VOLUNTEER NEEDED (23/12)

VOLUNTEER NEEDED (31/12)

EUCHARIST MINISTERS

MARY BURCHELL (17/12)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (23/12)

PAULINE CORCORAN (31/12)

DATA PROJECTOR

MARY COLLINS (17/12)

VOLUNTEER NEEDED (23/12)

PAT THOMPSON (31/12)

MONEY COUNTERS

DENISE MC CORMACK & JENNIFER LAWLESS

(17/12)

MARY COLLINS & ROS PHILLIPS (24/12)

CLAIRE CHARLES & KERRY O’CONNOR (31/12)

Thank-you for your contributions:

11/12/17

Envelopes: $474.00 Loose: $142.45

Parish Bank A/C Details

A/C Name: ADF St Mary’s Parish

Goondiwindi

BSB: 064-786

A/C Number: 518826001

If paying by direct deposit, please use your

initials/surname as the reference.

THANK-YOU FOR YOUR Contributions: 2

ENVELOPES $324.00 LOOSE $165.00

3RD

SUNDAY OF ADVENT

17TH

DECEMBER, 2017

Introduction Today we are in the rhythm of both

gratitude and yearning. Between the two, there is great space for hope. We are

learning to be a patient people, continuing on, grateful but also impatient, in hope. We don’t give up hoping just because some of

the things we long for in God’s reign of peace and justice have already happened. We’re there, and yet we’re not. So much

remains unfinished; so many have not yet experienced what has been promised.

First Reading

Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 The prophet announces glad tidings and

vindication.

Responsorial Psalm My soul rejoices in my God.

Second Reading

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Awaiting Christ’s promised return.

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring Good News

to the poor. ALLELUIA!

Gospel John 1:6-8, 19-28

“There is one coming among you...”

Prayers of the Faithful

The church is called to rejoice and be grateful, and yet we yearn because there is so much more to come … so in hope

and anticipation, we pray

We have tasted peace, yet so many live in the midst of violence and war ... so in hope

and anticipation, we pray

We live in freedom, but so many are held captive by inequality, prejudice and lack of opportunity … so in hope and anticipation,

we pray

There are signs of love around us, but we are a flawed, often unloving people … so

in hope and anticipation, we pray

For a spirit of quiet hope in this

community, especially among the sick, the

dying and the grieving … in hope and

anticipation, we pray

Let us pray together:

God of hope, we thank you and rejoice for all you have already done for us. We

see your work in many ways and places. But our yearning is not yet

satisfied, and there are those who have lost hope. Keep us mindful of your

promises and ready to welcome your Son among us. We ask this in his holy name,

Amen.

.

Parish Priest: Fr. Michael O’Brien Phone: 0422 308 955 or 4671 1091

St Mary’s School: Mr Brett Pollard Ph: 4671 1730 Care for the Aged Co-ordinator: Mrs Jane Blomley Ph: 4675 4132 Parish Safeguarding Rep: Mrs Carmel Schaumberg 0419 786 738 Father Michael’s house Phone: 4671 1091 stmarysgdi@bigpond.com 69 Callandoon Street or PO Box 45, Goondiwindi 4390

Parish Secretary:

Mrs Kath Gore

Mobile No:

0427 771 478

Office: 4671 5087

Friday:

9.30am – 3.30pm

PARISH INFORMATION