PARISH NEWSLETTER

ST MARY STAR OF THE SEA

24/25 DECEMBER 2011

Page 4

PARISH NEWSLETTER

24/25 DECEMBER 2011

Page 1

PARISH & OTHER NOTICES

S T M ARY S TAR OF THE S EA S T M ARY S TAR OF THE S EA

CATHOLIC CHURCH CATHOLIC CHURCH
33HowardStreet,WestMelbourne3003 33HowardStreet,WestMelbourne3003 Telephone:93283474Fax:93283203Email:info@stmaryswestmelbourne.org Telephone:93283474Fax:93283203Email: info@stmaryswestmelbourne.org AnopendoortoJesusthroughMary.www.stmaryswestmelbourne.org
PARISH INFORMATION Parish Priest: Fr Max Polak Assistant Priest: Fr Joseph Pich Catechetics Coordinator Fr Edward Barry Restoration Coordinator Thomas Hazell AO Parish Administrator Birute Janina Kymantas Administrative Officer Linas Kalade Sacred Music Centre Andrew Mariotti Office hours Mon-Fri: 10.00 am-2.00 pm
For urgent matters, you can contact Fr Max on 0438 942 043 and Fr Joseph on 0427 238 933.

Popes Midnight Mass to be broadcast on ABC 1 Christmas morning

The Midnight Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peters Basilica will be broadcast at 11am Christmas morning (on ABC 1 TV). The traditional transmission of this Mass all over the world reaches millions of viewers in some 70 countries. Coverage is magnificent, highlighting aspects of St. Peters interior and of the Square with its Nativity Scene, the huge congregation of people from all over the world, and other interesting aspects of Christmas in Rome. The Pope has, in the past, blessed nativity scenes (the Presepe, in Italian) that children bring to St. Peters Square and has probably done the same this year. He has been encouraging these traditional customs of Christmas.

AnopendoortoJesusthroughMary.

Vigil Mass and Midnight Mass of Christmas 2011

He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good. Jesus is born for us. Jesus is truly our Saviour. The second reading of the midnight Mass captures these words of St Paul that bring home to us the real meaning of Christmas. This is a day of great joy for all men and women who have come to know that not only is there a solution for all of lifes challenges, sorrows and enigmas but this solution is given to us by God sacrificing himself out of love for us. It is given by God emptying himself, as St Paul says elsewhere, that is by God the Son taking upon himself the limitations of our humanity, our created nature. He has become one with us. He has immersed himself in human history. He has become an infant born of a woman Mary of Nazareth. He has become part of a family an extended family. He has learned to work with his hands, the hands of a carpenter an apprentice to his guardian father Joseph. He has rubbed shoulders with the citizens of a town not really known for its friendliness, or its religious life and good morality. As Nathaniel commented pointedly to Philip years laterCan anything good come out of that place? He was speaking of Nazareth. The sacrifice of love of Jesus would not stop there. He would sacrifice himself through his readiness to face distrust, opposition, hatred and even unjust punishment on a Cross. A touching and imaginative Spanish carol has the naked Christ Child seeking shelter in a humble household. When the matron asks him his parentage and his place of origin, he answers My Father is of heaven, my mother as well. I came down to earth so as to suffer. He has come to suffer out of love, to be with us out of love. To show us the real value our humanity God became human without ceasing to be God. And through his holy humanity He has shown us what the greatest kind of love is. What is more, He has taught us the value of family, of ordinary work, of friendship, of noble social customs, of solidarity with the suffering and the needy. He has enabled us to see that pain, discomfort, toil, loss, and poverty are not the ultimate evils each of these can be turned to good in the lives of men and women. Each of these can be purifying, drawing us to the higher truths and the greater good. The great evil is sin the deliberate turning away from God and his loving will. Yet Jesus has come precisely to save us from sin and bring us to eternal life and happiness. Christmas is not just a feast for children. It is for everyone. We cannot possibly outgrow it. Instead we must continually rediscover it and deepen in its meaning for us. It is a day and a season to contemplate the face of Christ, to learn to love God more deeply God made man - and to know that he saves us from all that we fear and from all that can definitively harm us.

Join us for a brief celebration with refreshments in the St Marys Crypt after tonights Midnight Mass
Christmas offering (special appeal) envelopes
Please consider making a special offering to St Marys sometime in this season to assist us in the upkeep of this splendid place of prayer and worship. You may use the special collection envelopes available from today. Monthly Mass in Latin according to the Novus Ordo (post Vatican II liturgy) will be celebrated on every second Saturday
of the month at 10.30am beginning on Saturday January 14, 2012.

Goodreadingavailable INFORMandSt.CanisiusPamphletspro videexcellentreadingonmattersofCatho licfaithandcontemporaryissues.These itemsareforsaleatlowpricesinthefoyer (entryarea)ofthechurch.Pleasedeposit themoneyinthewhitemetal Publicationsboxnearby.

MASS TIMES Saturday Vigil: 6.30 pm Sunday: 10.30 am 12.00 noon (Lithuanian) Monday to Friday: 12.30 pm CONFESSIONS Saturday: 11.00 am12.00 noon 5.456.15 pm Sunday: 9.4510.15 am Monday to Friday: 12.00 noon12.25 pm 1.051.30 pm Tuesday: 5.00-6.00 pm BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS By appointment. DEVOTIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES Eucharistic Adoration: Thursdays 1-2 pm Legion of Mary: Fridays 6:30 pm at the presbytery. Family Catechism: Sundays 11:30am during school term Other activities as posted in church

Summer is here! If you are on holidays,

please dont get quickly bored. How about these obvious suggestions?
Read some great books. Watch less TV. Use the internet wisely and sparingly. Have BBQs with friends and other families. Do some of those pending repairs. Try some bush walkingleisurely or strenuous. Visit the inspiring Renaissance art exhibition in the National Gallery of Australia in Canberrathen visit the War Memorial or Parliament House. Go cycling with the kidstry the Yarra Trail or the Merri Creek Trail. Go bowling or miniature golf. Build something or put something together. Visit someone who needs good company. Get to Mass during the week. Do 15 min of mental prayer each day. Learn to cook better. Read to the children. Practice playing an instrument or have a sing-a-long. Pass on to Fr Joe or Fr Ed your own suggestions!

Parish Office Arrangements

The Parish Office will not be open to take bookings from Friday 23rd December until Tuesday 3rd January 2010., while the Office Manager is on Christmas break. Matters of urgency will be handled by Fr Joe (0427 238933) and Fr Ed. Fr Max will be away from Dec 26 until Jan 19.

May we all have a really joyful and contemplative Christmas!

PARISH NEWSLETTER

ST MARY STAR OF THE SEA

24/25 DECEMBER 2011

Page 2

PARISH NEWSLETTER

ST MARY STAR OF THE SEA

24/25 DECEMBER 2011

Page 3

Christmas carols before Midnight Mass

Alma Redemptoris 200 Once in Royal Davids City Sussex Carol 73 20

Congregational hymns are in the New Living Parish Hymn Book and also in the Christmas booklet, printed in alphabetical order.

Schola Congregation and choir Schola

and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified, but the angel said, Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly with the angel there was a great throng of the heavenly host, praising God and singing: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy his favour. Profession of Faith: (All genuflect at the words, and was made man.) Offertory hymn: 6:30pm 243 The first Nowell Midnight 243 The first Nowell Lamb of God: Holy, Holy, Holy:
Acclamation: Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free

God rest ye Merry Gentlemen Congregation Angels We Have Heard on High Congregation St. Joseph's Carol Schola Congregation

185 O Little Town of Bethlehem

Entrance hymn: 6:30pm 200 Once in Royal Davids City Midnight 85 Hark the Herald Angels Sing Lord, have mercy: Glory to God: First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7 The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone. You have made their gladness greater, you have made their joy increase; they rejoice in your presence as men rejoice at harvest time, as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils. For the yoke that was weighing on him, the bar across his shoulders, the rod of his oppressor, these you break as on the day of Midian. For all the footgear of battle, every cloak rolled in blood, is burnt, and consumed by fire. For there is a child born for us, a son given to us and dominion is laid on his shoulders; and this is the name they give him: Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince of Peace. Wide is his dominion in a peace that has no end, for the throne of David and for his royal power, which he establishes and makes secure in justice and integrity. From this time onwards and for ever, the jealous love of the Lord of Hosts will do this. Responsorial Psalm: 95 Response: Today is born our Saviour, Christ the Lord. 1. O sing a new song to the Lord, Sing to the Lord all the earth. O sing to the Lord, bless his name. R 2. Proclaim his help day by day, tell among the nations his glory and his wonders among all the peoples. R 3. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad, let the sea and all within it thunder praise, let the land and all it bears rejoice, all the trees of the wood shout for joy at the presence of the Lord for he comes, he comes to rule the earth. R 4. With justice he will rule the world, he will judge the peoples with his truth. R

Communion hymns: 6:30pm 28 Away in a Manger; 221 Silent Night 170 O Come, All Ye Faithful Midnight 28 Away in a manger, Schola: A Noble Flower of Juda, 211 Silent Night Adoration of the Child: Recessional: 6:30pm 85 Hark, the Herald Angels Sing Midnight Postlude

Archbishop Harts Christmas Message

Christmas comes to a world filled with families grieving the loss of young Australians in war, the inroads of sickness which cuts life short, anger and wanton violence. The birth of Jesus our Saviour as a baby reminds us that Gods love is light in darkness, constancy of love and faithfulness, which invites us to live by the love that he has first shown us. The blessings of Christmas are precious but fragile. A child is born into poverty. Kings worship at his crib, but another king threatens his life. This child becomes the worlds greatest teacher, who offers us new hope and the means to be saved. He offers us the possibility of giving to others; our time, our interest, our love, and he promises us a joy beyond what we can imagine. May Christmas be a time for God, who loved us first, and invites us to share his love with others. May we bring peace and hope to all we meet and receive it in rich measure ourselves, so that we can witness to the triumph of light and goodness over darkness and evil. May Christ give peace to our hearts and minds.

The Ox and Mule are back!

If you were looking for them it is because they were long gone, destroyed, sadly, in a fire back around the 60s. Mr Joseph Giansiracusa has remade them and painted them using the original molds! A beautiful job.

Our Australian Shearing Shed Manger

was an idea of Fr Joe who salvaged old timbers from the parish grounds, corrugated iron from the Ferraris backyard shed, and authentic vintage shearing gear. If Our Lord had been born in late nineteenth century Australia, this might have been the kind of place God the Father would have chosen! This year the Christmas Crib has added details as you can see by comparing with what you might remember from the last two years (see below if you cant!) - a wood burning fire (simulated of course!), running bore water spout, sounds of the Aussie Bush, some Australian fauna, and real sheared wool for the Child Jesus to rest on. Many thanks to Fr Joe, Mr Dennis Payne, architect, Nghia, his colleague, Darren Mason, and Damian Berger, engineer, and all the other volunteers who worked so hard and well to put it in place. May the Holy Family bless us all and our families at this sacred and joyful time together.

Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14 Gods grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good. Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Good news and great joy to all the world: today is born our Saviour, Christ the Lord. Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 2:1-14 Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census of the whole world to be taken. This census the first took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of Davids House and line, in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a son, her first-born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn. In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them

The priests and staff of St Marys wish all parishioners and friends a very happy and holy Christmas
Excerpts from the English translation of the Roman Missal International Commission on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Scripture readings are taken from the Jerusalem Bible 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday and Company Inc. Used by permission.

A prize for the child who first guesses how many animals there are in the Crib!