First Sunday of Advent Year A Cyle II 1 December 2019

A t the start of the Church’s year, we enter the wondrous season of Advent with an exhortation to ‘stay

awake’. We begin a time of preparation and anticipation as we look forward to welcoming the Christ Child

into the world at Christmas. Christ calls each of us today to be awake to his presence in every moment, so that we

may stand ready to greet him when he comes again in glory.

In the Gospel, Jesus encourages his followers to live within this state of preparation and anticipation, so that they

may be ready to welcome the Son of Man when he comes.

Staying awake has nothing to do with not getting a good sleep. It is about being consistent in doing good always

because we do not know when Jesus will come again.

Jesus does not want his disciples to be caught unawares as in the time of Noah, when the people were busy

eating, drinking, and merrymaking, unmindful of warnings on the coming disaster. They were not interested in

knowing why Noah was building the ark.

Christians must always be on high alert. They must use their time and resources doing the will of God. If they are

carefree and do not take seriously God’s message to stop violence, immorality and crimes, they will not be spared

the devastating consequences when the time of reckoning comes.

Paul specifies how to wake from sleep. Christians should avoid drunkenness, debauchery, licentiousness,

quarrelling, jealousy and self-gratification. They should be prepared to meet the Lord.

The prophet Isaiah anticipates the Lord’s first coming. The Messiah will attract people to Jerusalem to worship

the Lord and be instructed by him. He will exercise judgment on all peoples. He will make people reconcile with

one another. All their weapons of war will be recycled into farm implements.

In this season of Advent, we await the coming of the Lord on his birthday, as predicted by Isaiah. We also await

his second coming to judge us. Have we truly listened to his voice or have we made the world our only home.

365 Days with the Lord Cielito Almazan OFM

Preparation & Anticipation

T he Vinnies Christmas Appeal is being held this weekend. Envelopes are available and will be collected at

all the Masses. The Christmas Tree is decorated with food donation cards and baskets are at the doors of

the Church for your donations. As in previous years a donation box is in front of the Christmas Tree for a special

collection towards a gift card for the children of families assisted by The Entrance Conference of St Vinnies.

These donations will need to be in by Sunday 15 December. We thank you for your continued support.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

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Preparing Ourselves

T oday is the first Sunday of Advent, the season which starts off a new liturgical

year. It’s the time when we prepare to celebrate the astonishing truth that God

became one of us. Our first reading reminded us that Jerusalem was dear to the Jews

because it was, they believed, God’s own dwelling place. But never did God draw so

near to us as when Jesus took our human nature and was born in Bethlehem. The idea

of Advent is not that we should try to revive the emotional ‘Christmasy’ feelings of

childhood days but rather that we should grow in appreciation of the startling truth of

the Incarnation, God’s Son coming to dwell in our midst.

However, the readings we have heard make it clear that we are meant to have in mind

not only the first coming of the Lord Jesus but also his second coming at the end of

time. And, as Jesus makes clear in the gospel, since we cannot know the day or the

hour of his coming, the only sensible thing is to be in a permanent state of readiness.

With a touch of humour, he points out that no man in his right mind would fail to

make suitable preparations, if he knew that a burglar was due to arrive at his house!

How much more should we prepare, we who know with certainty that the Lord him-

self is one day to be our visitor?

Advent, then, highlights the truth that here and now we exist in an in-between stage -

looking back to Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and forward to his coming at the end of time

- and so, not surprisingly, it urges us to make the most of present opportunities. Paul

promises that “it will be daylight soon,” his way of describing the second coming of

Jesus; so now, he says, we must “stay awake” (no slipping into the night of sin); we

must live like soldiers, always ready for the only contest which really matters, that on

which our eternal future depends. “Let your armour,” he says, “be the Lord Jesus

Christ;” we have to “put him on” in the sense of enveloping ourselves in his teaching,

allowing his standards and his sentiments to direct our lives. It’s not so much a

question of undertaking a new way of life as of renewing our ordinary way of life so

that more and more it reflects a genuine love of God and of our fellow men and

women. Paul, you remember, was able to say: “I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in

me.” (Galatians 2:20) If, in our own small way, we are striving to live a truly Christ-like

life, then we are indeed preparing ourselves well to celebrate the anniversary of the

greatest event in human history, the Incarnation; and at the same time making the ideal

preparation for the greatest event in our own personal history, that meeting with the

Lord when he comes again.

The Living Word Redemptorist Publications

Beauty, Truth, Goodness

The Fundamentals of Catholicism Wednesdays

10:30-11:30am and 7-8pm.

Refreshments provided.

Bring a friend!

Nursing Home Mass

Mass and Anointing of the Sick

will be celebrated at Killarney Court Nursing Home Killarney Vale on Monday 2

December at 11am.

The Things Above

M ary is an example and support for all believers: she encourages us not to lose

confidence before the difficulties and inevitable problems of every day. She

assures us of her help and reminds us that it is essential to seek and think of “the

things above, not those of the earth.” (cf Col 3:2)

Caught up in daily activities we risk, in fact, thinking that here, in this world in which

we are only passing through, is the ultimate goal of human existence. Instead, Paradise

is the true goal of our earthly pilgrimage.

How different our days would be if they were animated by this perspective! It was this

way for the Saints. Their lives witnessed to what they lived, with their hearts continu-

ally directed to God. Earthly realities are lived properly because the eternal truth of

divine love illuminates them.

Marian Thoughts Pope Benedict XVI

The Pope’s Prayer Intention

For December

The Future of the Very Young:

That every country take the measures

necessary to prioritise the future of the very young,

especially those who are suffering.

Christmas Ministry Roster

Availability Please advise the

office of your availability for

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Masses.

Christmas

Ministry

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Bible Study

Join Fr Kevin for a short Bible Study of the next Sunday’s

Gospel. Tuesdays in the Muldoon Room

after 9am Mass. All welcome!

Kids Club Christmas Party

Safeguarding

We the people of the Diocese of Broken Bay The Entrance Parish are committed to

fostering communities of safety and care for all people, especially for children and

others in the community who are vulnerable. Our commitment is underscored by our

faith in Jesus Christ.

Parol-Making & Traditional Filipino Dessert Competitions

Parol is a Filipino word for Christmas Star Lantern. You are invited to share your

creative talents and join the Parol-Making Contest and the Traditional Filipino Dessert

Competition at the Launch of Christmas Novena Masses in Waitara on Saturday

14 December. Starts with a 7pm Mass at Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral, with Bishop

Anthony Randazzo as main celebrant, followed by a program at the Light of Christ

Centre, 23 Yardley Avenue Waitara.

Rosa Mystica Hour of Grace

T he Hour of Grace will be held on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Monday 9 December from 12-1pm with Rosary, Exposition and Benediction.

The Blessed Virgin promised that whatever a person asked her for during this Hour of

Grace (even in impossible cases) it would be granted to them, if it were in accordance

with the will of the eternal Father. “With this exercise one will receive numerous

spiritual and bodily graces. Our Lord, my Divine Son Jesus, will be abundantly

merciful so long as good men go on praying for their fellow men.”

Adoration - All Saturdays of Advent

S eeking peace and quiet during the hustle and bustle of Advent? Adoration is a

good way to prepare for Christ’s return. The act of coming to adore the Lord in

the Eucharist echoes preparation of coming to adore the Lord at the nativity and his

second coming. It gives us a chance to prepare and be at peace, which is the whole

focus of Advent itself. Adoration is held on each Saturday of Advent in the Prayer

Room, from 9:30am to Benediction at 5:30pm. All welcome!

Christmas Mass & Confession Times

Second Rite of Reconciliation Friday 20 December 6pm

Reconciliations Saturday 21 December 9:30am-10am and 5pm-5:30pm

Christmas Eve Carols 4:30pm, Children’s Mass 5pm, Christmas Vigil Mass 7pm,

Carols 11:30pm, followed by Midnight Mass

Christmas Day Midnight Mass 12am, Morning Masses 8am and 9:30am. (No Mass

Christmas Night)

Congratulations

Fr Bill Stevens on the occasion

of your

51st Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood 7 December 2019!

Blessings

2nd Rite of Reconciliation

Friday 20 December 6pm

Many visiting Priests will be assisting with Confessions.

Anointing

of the Sick will be celebrated

Friday 6 December

during 11:45am

Mass for those over

65 or with serious

or long-term illness.

Please Note

Y ou’re invited! We’re having a party to celebrate Jesus’ Birthday! Saturday 7

December 4-6pm in the Muldoon Room. Come along to join in the fun! At this

Kids Club meeting, we’ll be listening to the Christmas story, decorating & eating

cookies, enjoying birthday cake, making Christmas cards and more! No need to RSVP,

just come along. *Children under the age of 5 must have a parent/carer remain present.

All children MUST be signed in and out. All parents/carers are welcome to stay. For

more info, call the Parish Office on 4332 2216.

Serving the Catholic Community of The Entrance and extending the Kingdom of God

PARISH PRIEST & DEAN Fr William Stevens ASSISTANT PRIEST Fr Vincent Varghese VC

SACRAMENTAL COORDINATOR Br John Verhoeven FSP

Office Hours Monday-Friday 9.30-5.00pm Tel 4332 2216 Fax 4333 5344

Postal Address PO Box 189 THE ENTRANCE 2261 Street Address 239-243 The Entrance Rd THE ENTRANCE 2261

Email info@ourladyoftherosary.org.au Website www.ourladyoftherosary.org.au

PROPERTY MANAGER Michael de la Motte Tel 4334 7600 (BH)

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY PRIMARY SCHOOL Tel 4332 5594

ST PETER’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE Tel 4351 2344 Fax 4351 2965

THE ENTRANCE PARISH DIOCESE OF BROKEN BAY

Mass & Devotions in Ordinary Time Sunday Masses Saturday Vigil 6:00pm Sunday 8:00am & 9:30am

Weekday Masses Monday - Thursday 9:00am Friday 11:45am Saturday 9:00am

Reconciliations Saturdays 9:30-10am & 5-5:30pm

Liturgy of the Hours Saturday 8:40am Rosary Monday-Thursday 8:35am Friday 11:20am Saturday 9:30am

Cenacle Wednesday 9:30am Christian Meditation Group Friday 10:30am-11:30am Muldoon Room. Come & join us!

The Gift Centre is located in the original Piety Stall in the Church foyer. We have lovely gifts and devotional materials for sale. (Please Note: EFTPOS is no longer available due to high bank fees.)

Opening Hours:

Saturdays before and after 6pm Mass Sundays before and after 8am & 9:30am Masses

& office hours by appointment 4332 2216

Keep Us In Your Prayers There is no gift more precious than prayer - Fr Benedict Groeschel

Recently Deceased: Fr Barry Nobbs, Marie Powell, Patrick Hennessey, Marcello Galazzo, Joan Hawke, Ron Mahoney.

Funerals: The funerals of Marie Powell and Patrick Hennessey were held during the week. Please pray for Marie, Pat and their families.

Anniversaries: Ralph Jayesuria.

Remembrances: Vincent & Dorothy Cribb, Maurice Cramsie, Joe Bond, George, Georgina, Anthony, Doris & Paul Grech, Fortunato & Georgina Zahra & the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

Families: Cole, Attard, Grech, Zahra, Grima, Camilleri, Cassar & Falzon. Sick: Antoinette Grech, Margaret Pizzuto, Peter O’Grady, Diane McCudden, Tanya Doorn, David Drinan, Valda Kelso, Maria De Sousa, Steve Crowe, Ann Minogue, Kaye Cincotta, Norah Liney, Agnes Burke, Dominic Pannell, Marie Lewis, Nereda Blake, Val Rayner, Delma Clarke, Chris Morley, Nick Hurst, Anthony Morrell, Raymond & Tim Baker, Genevieve Shedden, Linda Read, Kelly Will and those suffering with long-term illnesses.

Welcome Newly Baptised: Gracie Naylor.

1st Sunday of Advent Isaiah 2:1-5 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:37-44 Entrance Antiphon: To you, I lift up my soul, O my god. In you, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame. Nor let my enemies exult over me; and let none who hope in you be put to shame.

Responsorial Psalm: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Lord, show us your mercy and love, and grant us your salvation. Alleluia!

Communion Antiphon: The Lord will bestow his bounty, and our earth shall yield its increase.

Our Lady of the Rosary

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Pearly Gates

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