2 King St, Manly Vale 2093 phone 9949 4455

Email : parishoffice@northharbourcatholic.org.au

Website: www.northharbourcatholic.org.au

4th Week of Advent (year B) 24 December 2017 You will conceive and bear a son.

Readings this Sunday 2 Samuel 7:1-5. 8-12. 14. 16 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38

Responsorial Psalm For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. Readings next Sunday Sirach 3:2-6. 12-14 Colossians 3:12-21 Luke 2:22-40

IN THE CARE OF THE AUGUSTINIANS

The Catholic Community of North Harbour

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Before school ended on Friday some kindergarten kids were preparing a Christmas play. One little girl did not like the part she was assigned to play. She wanted to change parts with her friend Monica. When the teacher

asked her why, she answered, “Because it is easier to be an angel than to be the mother of Christ.” The little girl is certainly right. To be the mother of Christ is no light matter. Yet difficult as it sounds, that is exactly what we are all called to be. In fact, we could say that even though Jesus was born in Bethlehem, his real desire is to be born in the hearts of each one of us, to be re-produced and brought forth to the world. ‘Mother of Christ’ is a title we usually reserve for Mary. But Mary is mother of Christ in two senses. She is mother of Christ in the physical sense that she carried Jesus in her womb and gave birth to him. This is an unrepeatable event and an honour that no other human being could share with her. But she is also mother of Christ in a spiritual sense. In this spiritual sense the role of being mother of Christ is available to all

Christians. We all, men, women and children, can and should become mothers of Christ. The idea of Christians called to be mothers of Christ are a very common theme among Christian mystics. St. Augustine himself told his congregation “We are never more like Mary than in her motherhood”.

“The Virgin bore him in her womb; let us bear him in our hearts. The Virgin was pregnant by the Incarnation of Christ; let our hearts be pregnant by our faith in Christ. The Virgin gave birth to the Saviour; let our souls give birth to salvation and praise. Let us not be sterile, let our souls be fertile for God”. (Sermon 189, 3,3)

In today’s gospel Mary shows us how this is to be

done. It is in hearing God’s word and saying yes

to God even when God’s will seems to go against

all our plans and hopes for the future. As

Christmas draws near, Mary reminds us that the

best Christmas, in fact the only true Christmas, is

that Christ be born not in the little town of

Bethlehem but in the inner

sanctuary of our hearts.

This last week of Advcnt is brief, but the message is profound. The fulfillment of God’s

promises is about to happen! This single day places us in a long line of yearning

people. Christmas is upon us, yet the task of endless anticipation is a sacred reality we

need to embrace. Just as with those who are inches away from relief, rescue or

reversal of any kind, still hang on. All of life is like this.

PARISH OFFICE OPENING HOURS

The parish office will be closed from Friday 22 December until Monday 8 January.

If you need a priest urgently during that time, please call 0490 898 454. If the matter is not urgent, you can contact one of our priests via the parish office 9949 4455 and follow the prompts.

REGULAR PARISH mass times REGULAR PARISH mass times St Cecilia’s, Balgowlah SUNDAY 9.00AM WEDNESDAY 9.00AM St Kieran’s, Manly Vale Saturday vigil 5.30pm SUNDAY 7.30am, 9.30am & 6.00pm Weekdays 8.30am except Wednesdays St Augustine’s Chapel, Brookvale Wednesdays 8.15am during term time

reconciliation St Kieran 5 – 5.30pm Saturday or by appointment.

Baptisms St Cecilia 10.30am Sun. by appointment 9.00am Mass on 1st Sundays of the month St Kieran 11.30am Sun. by appointment 9.30am Mass on 1st Sundays of the month

Baptism preparation is required for 1st baptisms. Contact parish office 9949 4455 marriages Require 6 months notice and include Pre-marriage Course as part of the preparation

ANNIVERSARIES Eric McKinnon Jean Coates

Douglas Watkins

RECENTLY DECEASED Moira Watkins Lolita Farmer

Morley Abala Shirley Galang

Nancy Burchard

PRAYER REQUESTS

“Come to me! I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)

Roster for next weekend, 5thSunday 30/31 Dec— Please swap with someone if you can’t make it

For those with ILLNESS Allan Tierney Eddie Sharp Louis Hilton Nola Harvey Audrey Murphy Elaine Smith Louise Allara Norma Hayman Aurora & John Francis Elsa Wunder Lyn Wagland Rosemary McKinnon Belinda Johnston Franz Hakvoort Madeleine Anderson Pat Reen Beryl Duncan Fred Jackson Maria Teresita Rafael Stachon

Catherine Saltwell Irene Hurrell Maria Ogaar Ricki Hayes

Catherine Smith Jarryd Timm Mary Nixon Rose Hoey Chris McAuliffe Jim Smyth Michael Armstrong Sean Bellenger

Daniel Lister Joe Corroto Michelle Grabham Simone Young

Dave Miles John Ziegler Moira Watkins Stephen Ward

David Martens Kath Zenetic Neil Reynolds Veronica Laverty

Don Jackson Kathleen Bunting Nicholas O’Bryen Titus Yeung Dorothy Smith Kevin Smith Nixon Ball

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF NORTH HARBOUR PERSONNEL

Office (Mon – Fri: 9am – 4pm) 9949 4455

Clergy: Fr Paul Maloney OSA Parish Priest Fr Senan Ward OSA Assistant Priest Fr. David Austin OSA In residence Fr Francis Belcina OSA Asst Priest/Youth M Fr Luca Park OSA Assistant Priest Administration: Jacky Worthington Parish Manager

Anne Ross Parish Secretary Jane Filacuridi Parish Secretary

Pastoral Ministers (contacted through Parish Office 9949 4455) Janette Davidson Family & Sacramental Ministries Adriana Bowyer Catechist Co-ordinator Rosemary McKinnon Counsellor 0400 495 076 Marianne Deveza Music Ministry

NEED A PRIEST URGENTLY? Please call 0490 898 464

If the matter is not urgent, please contact Priests via the Parish Office 9949 4455.

We acknowledge the Gayamagal and Canalgal people, the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respects to the elders past and present.