December 24 & 25, 2016 - THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD - Year A Issue Number 722

The Massabielle The Weekly Newsletter of St Bernadette’s

Parish Community, Castle Hill, NSW

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION PROGRAMME 2016 - 2017:: Please continue to keep all our parish children and their families in your prayers. Reconciliation ceremonies and Tours of the Church can be booked by contacting Alice at the parish office on 9634 2622 or sc@stbernadette.org.au. Please ensure you submit required information regarding first holy communion Mass allocations by March 2nd, 2017. Next event: Session 1 – A Sacramental Life on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 February at 7.30pm in the church for parents only. BISHOP VINCENT LONG’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE: In his first Christmas message as the Bishop of Parramatta, Bishop Vincent calls on us to “live the spirit of Christmas which is to be found in self-giving love. Then, we will experience the true joy which comes from him who is our source of peace and love.” Watch a video of Bishop Vincent’s Christmas message at www.catholicoutlook.org.

A GIFT BEYOND CHRISTMAS APPEAL - Support for Loyola Senior High School, Mount Druitt: Thank you very much to all parishioners who have generously contributed to this appeal over the last few years. Here is a sample selection of the causes you have supported:

School and personal materials for students living in local refuges

Financial support for a student working long nights in a factory to support their family

Payment of Soccer registration and soccer boots for a student whose family could not afford them

Assist a family whose house recently burnt down

Uniform items for students unable to afford them

It has been a great joy witnessing a number of these students graduate this year with dignity and pride. Thank you for the difference you have made in their lives. Your ongoing support is very much appreciated. Envelopes are available from the Christmas Tree in the Church. Place them in the box under the tree, on the collection plate or drop them into the parish office.

Envelopes are available in the foyer for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. The envelopes can be dropped into the Vinnies Poor Box, put onto the collection plate or dropped into the parish office (letterbox at front door).

PARISH COUNCIL: At the beginning of 2017 the St Bernadette’s Parish Council will recommence. The first part of this process is to form a working party with a view to understanding the elements of a parish council and then to arrange for elections to the Parish Council. Are you interested? Please see Monsignor John or contact Peter Grace, Acting Parish Council Administrator on 9659 5350.

Next Week: Mary the Mother of God -Yr A

Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21 REPARATION PRAYER GROUP is having a Christmas break and will resume on Tuesday 17 January in the Parish Basement from 8.00 to 9.00pm.

OFFICE CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS The Parish Office is closed for Christmas holidays

and will re-open on Tuesday 3rd January.

FRONT PAGE: Madonna and Child by Filippino Lippi (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City). This exquisite Madonna and Child was painted about 1483-84 for the wealthy Florentine banker Filippo Strozzi. Through an arcade decorated with his armorial emblems (three crescents) is a landscape that was probably intended to suggest the countryside around the Strozzi villa near Florence where the picture probably hung in a private oratory.

Dear Parishioners,

I wish you a Happy and Holy Christmas. May the blessings of the Christ-child be with you and yours throughout this holy season. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your contribution to parish life throughout the year. You make this the great parish that it is. Merry Christmas.

Monsignor John

LIFE TEEN would like to thank everyone who has participated in and supported our youth ministry throughout the year. Wishing you all a wonderful and very blessed Advent and Christmas. We hope to see you all at our Christmas Eve Mass at 9.30pm.

Into LIFE Friday 7pm - 8:30pm for years 7 - 8: Resumes Friday 3 February 2017.

Life NIGHT Sunday 7pm - 8:45pm for years 9 - 12: Resumes Sunday 5 February 2017.

More information? Please contact James Hay on 0403 933 732, Twitter: @StBernadettesYM, Instagram: StBernadetteYouth or ym@stbernadette.org.au.

COOKING FOR THE NEEDY: Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Cooking for the Needy Ministry this year and for your efforts in providing meals for St Vincent de Paul. As usual we are looking for more volunteers for 2017. If you would like to join this worthwhile ministry could you please email Malcolm and Sandra Chaney at sandra.chaney@gmail.com or phone 9629 9880. If you are unable to continue with the Cooking for the Needy ministry could you please contact as well. MASS FOR THE HOLY INNOCENTS: 28 December The principal celebrant for the 23rd annual pro-life Mass will be Sydney’s Bishop Richard Umbers. Mass at 11am at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, 8 Diana Ave, Kellyville followed by a rosary procession to the Franciscan Shrine of the Holy Innocents for devotions and benediction. All welcome A luncheon will be provided – please bring a plate to share. Inquiries 9629 2595.

LITURGICAL MINISTRY COURSES: The diocesan Office for Worship is offering Liturgical Ministry Courses in 2017, open to all parishes and individuals seeking formation and training for serving at the altar. Held at the Diocesan Assembly Centre in Blacktown on Mondays and at St Nicholas of Myra Parish in Penrith on Thursdays, the formation courses are for anyone who is interested in becoming a Minister of the Word, Holy Communion, Communion to the Sick and Dying, Adult Altar Server or Acolyte. Enrolments close on 16 February 2017. For more information, please contact the Office for Worship on 8838 3456 or send an email to alobo2@parra.catholic.org.au. CHRIST CATHOLIC COMMUNITY PRAYER GROUP meets in the Marian Centre every Tuesday morning at 10.00am studying the coming Sunday’s Mass readings. All welcome. For more information phone Pauline on 0407 417 039.

SUNDAY CHILDREN’S LITURGY: At the 9.00am Mass every Sunday throughout the year children of primary school age are invited to leave the church and go to the Sunday Children’s Liturgy in the parish hall. It is not a Sunday school but rather the

same Liturgy of the Word as the adults are receiving in the church upstairs. The explanation of the readings given by a parishioner is more suited to a child of primary school age. Children enjoy hearing about Jesus and his teachings at a level and in language they can comprehend. It is not so much catechesis or teaching that happens but rather a sharing of faith. The “catechist” does not need to be a trained teacher but rather a man or woman of faith, skilled with communicating with children. Monsignor John is looking for parishioners who might help in this ministry. Please contact Danielle Vassallo on 0421 649 641 or sdvassallo@bigpond.com. MASS FOR WORLD DAY OF THE SICK: 9 February

2017 Everyone is welcome to this annual Mass in

acknowledgment of carers and those for whom they

care. Includes the Sacramental Rite of Anointing of the

Sick and Prayers for Healing. Bishop Vincent Long will

be the principal celebrant for Mass at 10.30am in St

Patrick’s Church, 51 Allawah St, Blacktown. Plenty of

parking – refreshments to follow.

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION GROUP: Meets in the Lourdes Centre, 31b Brisbane Rd, Castle Hill (follow the lighted pathway) on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 8:30pm. Enquiries: Lesley Maker 8677 8845 or jandlmaker1@optusnet.com.au. The group will resume on 2 February 2017.

HOUSE OF WELCOME NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT:

The House of Welcome is a work of St Francis Social

Services that supports refugees and asylum seekers.

They are moving into the former St Joseph’s Convent at

Granville and urgently need help to make the premises

ready to receive clients. St Francis Social Services will

be raising funds and seeking volunteers who can assist

with maintenance projects, kitchen installation,

carpeting, painting, etc. To make a contribution to

ensure this service can reach people in need, contact

www.houseofwelcome.com.au/donations/ or 9727 9290.

YOUR FREE PARISH CALENDAR IS AVAILABLE FROM THE CHURCH TODAY.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE SPONSORS WHO SUPPORT OUR CALENDAR.

NETBALL NEWS: The parish netball club is still welcoming players born in 2010 to join the 7 year olds next year. Also, ladies over 35 who are interested in forming a team can contact the registrar, Pauline Andrew at P.Andrew@mail.com or call 0403 762 796. The club will open registrations in the over 35 age group if it receives sufficient expressions of interest.

COLUMBAN CALENDARS ARE NOW ON SALE FROM THE BOOKSHOP - $10 EACH.

The sale of these calendars support the works of the St Vincent de Paul Society

Have you considered leaving a gift to the parish in your will? For further information please phone the Parish Office for a confidential discussion.

St Bernadette’s Parish Community

Parish House, 367 Old Northern Road, Castle Hill, NSW 2154

Telephone 9634 2622 Fax 9899 3511 Email: admin@stbernadette.org.au

Web page: http://www.stbernadette.org.au

Parish Staff Mass Times for this Week Monsignor John Boyle, Parish Priest Sunday Sat 6.00pm Fr Michael Gathuku, Assistant Priest Sun 7.30am, 9.00am, 10.30am & Mrs Nancy Eberhaut, Pastoral Associate 6.00pm Parish LIFE TEEN Youth Mass Mr James Hay, Youth Minister Weekdays Mon 8.00am Mrs Alice Bradshaw, Sacramental Co-ordinator Tue 8.00am Mrs Frances Gallagher, Office Manager Wed 6.45am, 9.15am Mrs Monica Rubic, Parish Secretary (Finance: Mon-Thu) Thurs 6.45am

Mr Darren Edwards, Maintenance Fri 6.45am Sat 8.00am

Reconciliation Sat 8.30am - 9.00am, 4.30pm - 5.30pm Mass on Public Holidays at 8.00am

Baptisms: By appointment only. Contact the Parish Office. Please note the Church law: Parents are obliged to take care that infants are baptised in the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth or even before it, they are to go to the pastor to request the sacrament for their child and to be prepared properly for it. [Can. 867 §1]

St Bernadette’s Parish School: Mrs Leanne Nettleton (Principal) 9634 2898

Acting Parish Council Administrator: Peter Grace 9659 5350.

Sacramental Programme 2018 Information Nights - 16 & 17 October, 2017

Confirmation Programme 2017 Information Nights - 19 & 20 June, 2017 (Confirmation is on 16 September)

Please pray for Desmond Howard and Jeanette Mulholland who have died recently and for the anniversaries of Juliana Cesar, Martins Tilman, Jeronimo Madalena Fernandes and in remembrance of Simon Leighton, James Ingold, Carlo Leuzzi, Maurice Porter, Angelo & Maria Conceta Cammarata and Louis Urquhart. Prayers for the Sick: Sophie Kearney, Teresa Wagstaff, Maria Robayo, Keith Carlon, Carmela Visciano, Tori Cipriano, Xander Raineri, Ramon Preller, Carol Ho, Lisa Maruri, Nathan Garling, Aurora Haboc, Michael McCarthy, Fred Camilleri, Sue Keros, John Reynolds, Anthony Coorey, Ronald Tabila, Robert Waddell, Grace Boitano, Helen Shaw, Caroline Smyth, Adrienne Higgins, Peter Viler and James Redden.

ROSTERS FOR NEXT WEEKEND - 31 December & 1 January

ACOLYTES/ SERVERS LECTORS MINISTERS OF COMMUNION

VIGIL Special Roster

Louise Jongejan Gary Tierney

Cheryl Braisby

Iciar Quintana, Carol & Greg Williams, Harry Reyden, Monica & Matthew Fitzalan, Kathleen & John Abernethy,

John Geoghegan

7.30AM Special Roster

Judy McLeod Matthew Troy

Audrey Markowskei, Remy Sie, Bernard Rogers, Geoff Roney, Catherine Seddon

9.00AM Special Roster

Chin-Seong Chan Shane Robinson

Minna Koo, Catherine Chan, John Hogan, Margaret Chan, Ranmalee De Silva, Joan Claxton,

Lynda Sillick, Colleen Leong, Yvette Braganza

10.30AM Special Roster

John Eberhaut John McMahon Anthony Dwyer

Mary & Jeyaraj Winslow, Crystal & Bernie Good, Marian Dodd, Gaye Crammond, Lydia Flores,

Teresa Somasundram, Leo Stanton

6.00PM PARISH LIFE TEEN YOUTH MASS MINISTRY ROSTER - 1 January, 2017

Servers Aleksei Gracias Flor

Welcoming James Hay Tina Hay

Lectors Alisha Mathias

Chris Galea

Offertory Brendan Hassan

Projectionist Josh Becker

Communion James Hay

Maree Delvecchio Dom Jones Tina Hay

Veronica Ward Natalie Mathias Vanessa Muscat Susan Bennett

Singers Cassie Knezevic

Nic Holden Jason Irawan

Patricia Wibisono Rachel Chua

Kristen Mathias

Lauren Fernandez

CHILDREN’S LITURGY Jana Fizely

Pauline Andrew

FLOWER ROSTER Olivia Cheng

CHURCH HOUSEKEEPING Bernadette Logue, Marjorie Anderson,

Robyn Morgan, Kate Cowper

COUNTING (1st Collection)

COUNTING (2nd Collection) John Geoghegan, Kevin Johnson, Reg Sinha

BOOKSHOP Ryan Coelho / Catherine Seddon / Jenny & Brian Blacklock / Josie & Seng Yeoh / Ingrid Vergano

Piano Joelene Chua

Bass Erich Gracias Flor

Guitar

Drums Jamison Bonifacio