CHRISTMAS MASS AND CONFESSION TIMES

BOOKINGS FOR MASS ESSENTIAL SEE PARISH WEBSITE – BOOKINGS OPEN MONDAY 7PM

THURSDAY 24TH DECEMBER

9.00am Mass

CHRISTMAS EVE

6.30pm Carols

7.00PM VIGIL MASS OF CHRISTMAS

11.15pm Carols

12.00 MIDNIGHT SOLEMN MASS

FRIDAY 25TH DECEMBER CHRISTMAS DAY

9.00AM SOLEMN MASS

CONFESSION

Saturday 19th December 10.00 – 11.00am; Tue 22nd, Wed 23rd, & Thu 24th December

following 9.00am Mass till 10.00am.

St. Philip’s Catholic Parish 60 Junction Road, Blackburn North VIC 3130 Telephone: 03 9878 6597 Fax: 03 9878 6583 Email: stphilipsblackburnnorth@gmail.com Website: http://stphilipsblackburnnorth.weebly.com

www.facebook.com/stphilipsblackburnnorth Parish Priest: Rev. Father Nicholas Dillon

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B) – 20 DECEMBER AD2020

PLEASE NOTE THAT BOOKINGS FOR MASS ARE STILL NECESSARY BECAUSE OF RESTRICTED NUMBERS & TRACING REQUIREMENTS

MASS TIMES THIS WEEK (temporary Sunday timetable) CONFESSION Saturday Evening 7.00pm Vigil Saturday 10.00am – 11.00am – other times by request Sunday Morning 8.30am; 10.30am; 12.30pm (Latin) EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Monday – Friday 9.00am Resumes February 2021 Saturday 9.00am (Latin Mass 1962 Missal)

ENTRANCE: DROP DOWN DEW FROM ABOVE, YOU HEAVENS, AND LET THE CLOUDS RAIN DOWN THE JUST ONE; LET THE EARTH BE OPENED AND BRING FORTH A SAVIOUR.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: FOR EVER WILL I SING THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA! I AM THE SERVANT OF THE LORD: MAY HIS WILL FOR ME BE DONE. ALLELUIA!

COMMUNION: BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A SON; AND HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED EMMANUEL. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gabriel was sent from God “The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” What is said of the house of David applies not only to Joseph but also to Mary. It was a precept of the law that each man should marry a wife from his own tribe and kindred. Saint Paul also bears testimony to this when he writes to Timothy: “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my Gospel” (2 Tm 2:8) (…)

“He will be great, and will be called the son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.” The angel refers to the kingdom of the Israelite nation as the throne of David because in his time, by the Lord’s command and assistance, David governed it with a spirit of faithful service (…) As David had once ruled the people with temporal authority, so Christ would now lead them to the eternal kingdom by his spiritual grace (…)

“He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever”. The house of Jacob here refers to the universal Church which, through its faith in and witness to Christ, shares the heritage of the patriarchs. This may apply either to those who are physical descendants of the patriarchal families, or to those who come from gentile nations and are reborn in Christ by the waters of baptism. In this house Christ shall reign for ever, and “of his kingdom there will be no end”. During this present life, Christ rules in the Church. By faith and love he dwells in the hearts of his elect, and guides them by his unceasing care toward their heavenly reward. In the life to come, when their period of exile on earth is ended, he will exercise his kingship by leading the faithful to their heavenly country. There, for ever inspired by the vision of his presence, their one delight will be to praise and glorify him.

- ST BEDE THE VENERABLE (C.673-735) HOMILIES FOR ADVENT ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THE ORDER OF MASS

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON

PENITENTIAL ACT

I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, (STRIKING THEIR

BREAST, THEY SAY:) through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

THE NICENE CREED

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, (ALL BOW)

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. (RISE) For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

RORATE CAELI

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

(VERSES CHANTED BY CANTOR)

1. Be not angry, O Lord, and remember no longer our iniquity: behold the city of thy sanctuary is become a desert, Sion is made a desert. Jerusalem is desolate, the house of our holiness and of thy glory, where our fathers praised thee.

2. See, O Lord, the affliction of thy people, and send him whom thou hast promised to send.

Send forth the Lamb, the ruler of the earth, from the rock of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion, that he himself may take off the yoke of our captivity.

3. Be comforted, be comforted, my people; thy salvation shall speedily come. Why wilt thou waste away in sadness? Why hath sorrow seized thee? I will save thee; fear not: for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Redeemer.

THE SANCTUS

THE MYSTERY OF FAITH

We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

THE AGNUS DEI

COMMUNION ANTIPHON

LO! HE COMES, WITH CLOUDS DESCENDING, once for favoured sinners slain; thousand thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train: Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia! God appears, on earth to reign.

2. Every eye shall now behold him, robed in dreadful majesty; those who set at nought and sold him, pierced and nailed him to the tree, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, shall the true Messiah see.

3. Those dear tokens of his Passion still his dazzling body bears, cause of endless exultation to his ransomed worshippers; with what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture gaze we on those glorious scars!

4. Yea, Amen! let all adore thee, high on thine eternal throne; Saviour, take the power and glory; claim the kingdom for thine own: O come quickly! O come quickly! O come quickly! Alleluia! Come, Lord, come!

(PLEASE OBSERVE THE MEN/WOMEN SECTIONS AT 10.30AM)

THE ANGEL GABRIEL FROM HEAVEN CAME, His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; ‘All hail,’ said he, ‘thou lowly maiden Mary,’ Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!

2. (MEN): ‘For know a blessed Mother thou shalt be, All generations laud and honour thee, Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,’ (ALL): Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!

3. (MEN): Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head; (WOMEN): ‘To me be as it pleaseth God,’ she said, ‘My soul shall laud and magnify His holy name.’ (ALL): Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!

4. (ALL): Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ was born In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn, And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say, Most highly favoured lady, Gloria! ********************************************************************************************

STEWARDSHIP ENVELOPES: The 2021 stewardship envelopes are available for collection in the narthex. They are set out alphabetically – please note that your giving number is likely to have changed. There is included in your 2

nd Collection

(Church) box a monthly “CAPITAL FUNDRAISING” envelope for donations towards the building project. We will have some good news about the project in the New Year. Many thanks to you all for your continued financial support of our Parish – especially during this difficult year. - Fr. Dillon

CHRISTMAS OFFERING ENVELOPES: It is customary for an offering to be made at Christmas and Easter for the support of the clergy. Envelopes for the Christmas offering are available in the narthex. Offerings may be placed in the 1st COLLECTION bucket any time over the next few weeks. Thank you!

MASS SCHEDULE: At present the Mass timetable is Vigil Saturday 7.00pm, Sunday 8.30am, 10.30am, & 12.30pm (Latin); Monday through Saturday 9.00am. Please find the Trybooking link on the parish website. Bookings essential. The Christmas Masses will need to be booked – a link will be sent to those on the parish email list and posted on the website.

PARISH CHOIR: In recess until 2021.

COLUMBAN CALENDARS 2021: Calendars for 2021 are available for $10 in the narthex.

ST PHILIP’S CHRISTMAS BASKET: Please contribute to our Christmas Basket this Advent. The gifts and donations will be distributed to those in need through the St Vincent de Paul Society. Non-perishable food items as well as small wrapped gifts marked with appropriate childrens age, e.g. 3 yr old boy or 6 yr old girl etc. may be dropped off. The basket will be in the Narthex of the Church during Mass times each day. Thank you in advance for your generosity. ********************************************************************************************

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THANKS TO: Summit Internet services for their generous assistance in enabling us to stream from St Philip’s Church. For all your business internet needs, contact them via their website at: https://summitinternet.com.au/ *************************************************************************

PLEASE TAKE THIS BULLETIN HOME WITH YOU