In the care of the Augustinians

Parish Priest: Fr Dave Austin OSA

Parish Office: 9949 4455

parishoffice@northharbourcatholic.org.au www.northharbourcatholic.org.au

Cnr White & Wanganella Sts 2 King Street

Dear Friends,

We celebrate Christmas 2020 in the midst of the most amazing circumstances. Due to the situation on the Northern Beaches resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Christmas Masses at St Kieran’s and St Cecilia’s have been cancelled, also Masses on Sunday 27 December, Feast of the Holy Family, and all other public Masses until further notice.

We had a similar experience in Holy Week and Easter this year and the months of disruption to our family, work and school life are fresh in our minds. Hopefully this crisis will not last long but we should not underestimate its impact on people’s lives, especially during the Christmas Season with family gatherings and visits seriously limited.

Christmas and Family go together. This coming Sunday is the Feast of the Holy Family and its closeness to Christmas sharpens our appreciation of our own families and the great Feast of Christ’s Birth. Wherever you find yourself in these days – at home with family or friends, spending time with those we love, contacting those close to us, or for so many confined to home - we hope that this Christmas will be filled with God’s special blessings of peace and that you will enjoy happiness and good health in the New Year.

Especially in difficult circumstances, we need to celebrate ‘God-with-us’, the God who wants to enjoy us, shown so beautifully in the gift of Jesus, his Word of love and joy. In Sermon 184, St Augustine exhorts us

Rejoice, you just (Psalm 33:1); it is the birthday of the Justifier. Rejoice, you who are weak and sick; it is the birthday of the Saviour, the Healer. Rejoice, captives; it is the birthday of the Redeemer. Rejoice, slaves; it is the birthday of the one who makes you lords. Rejoice, free people; it is the birthday of the one who makes you free. Rejoice, all Christians; it is the birthday of Christ…

Despite the trials of the past year, there are many blessings for which we give thanks. In our families, many carry heavy burdens, religious, personal and social, yet this time is where God wants us - in this country and this Church - striving to live and model the Christian life for one another. This is our time, the best time!

The year 2020 may have raised new questions for us, but all of us are part of Christ and without our presence together, we are all the poorer.

May all of us go forward in our relationship with Christ and may the joy and communion shared in these days affirm us and help us to feel at home in this faith community.

May you enjoy God’s most special graces at Christmas and be blessed personally and in your family with the rich gift of life given us in Jesus.

PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE – ’Christ… Word Made Flesh… God with Us!’

The Parish Office will be closed between Christmas and New Year. Reopening Monday 4th January 2021.

CHRISTMAS/HOLY FAMILY 25—27 DECEMBER 2020

May you know the great heart of God in the gift of his Son at Christmas, and may the joy of Christ’s birth fill your hearts with peace and thanksgiving!

Readings for this week 27/12 Genesis 15:1-6, 21:1-3 Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 Luke 2:22-40

Readings for 03/01/ Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12

Readings for 10/01 Isaiah 55:1-11 1 John 5:1-9 Mark: 1:7-11

SUNDAY HOMILIES ONLINE are finished for the year and will return in 2021.

We will be livestreaming on Facebook the 6pm Christmas Eve Mass and 9.30am Christmas Day Mass, and also 9.30am 27th Dec. The link to the Parish Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/NorthHarbourCatholic/

We will also upload the Christmas Eve Mass to the Parish YouTube Channel and this will be available from midnight Christmas Eve. This can then be watched at any time. The link to the Parish YouTube Channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt8Dxm0ehFt-5r1ie9xOjLw

Marriage Tribunal – Diocese of Broken Bay

The Marriage Tribunal in the Diocese of Broken Bay is a service of the Diocese to assist with the

pastoral care of:

• divorced persons seeking to remarry in the Catholic Church;

• divorced and remarried persons seeking to have their marriage recognised in the Catholic

Church;

• divorced persons seeking clarification of their standing in the Catholic Church for peace of conscience or for

reassurance in developing relationships in the future.

Marriage Tribunal Contact Details

Diocesan Director: Fr Julian Wellspring JV

Administrative Assistant: Mrs Alda Mendezona

Phone: 9307 8309 Email: tribunal@bbcatholic.org.au

The Marriage Tribunal will reopen on Monday, 4 January 2021.

Postal address:

Level 7 Polding Centre

133 Liverpool Street

Sydney NSW 2000

CHRISTMAS ISSUE OF THE AUGUSTINIAN Keep up to date with news of interest from the Augustinian Order. The Christmas edition of The Augustinian magazine is now available in the church entrances and from the Parish Office.

Fr Dave as he is interviewed by the ABC

regarding Christmas Mass cancellations

Feast of the Holy Family 27 December 2020 Prayer for Families

Loving God, During the holy season of Christmas,

we ask for your blessing on all families. Let Mary’s openness to your wondrous ways

be an inspiration to place all trust in you. Let Joseph’s courage provide hope

during times of anxiety and uncertainty. Let Jesus’ life ignite all families with a spirit of love.

May the grace that encircled the Holy Family widen to embrace all families.

For this we pray. Amen

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL FROM THE PARISH TEAM.

THERE WILL BE NO BULLETIN ON 2/3 JANUARY— THE NEXT BULLETIN WILL BE PUBLISHED

FOR WEEKEND OF 9/10 JANUARY.

VINNIES THANK YOU! A big thank you from Vinnies to all who have contributed to their Christmas appeal with donations and preparation of hampers for those in need. The Christmas Collection raised $8,226 and over 100 hampers have been delivered - a truly wonderful effort.

NEW YEAR’S DAY MASSES At this stage, Mass times on New Year’s Day,

Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God, are as follows: St Kieran’s Church – 8.30am St Cecilia’s Church – 9.00am

PASTORAL CARE One positive note in the midst of our current situation is that residents of most of the aged care facilities in our Parish were able to attend Mass and/or receive the Sacraments of Eucharist and Anointing during December, most of them for the first time since March. In addition, many of the housebound were visited at home, thanks to Fr Abel who makes this his special ministry.

ANNIVERSARIES

Mary Robb Eric McKinnon

Fr Jim Bolton OSA Fr Pat Fahey OSA

Fr Pat Bourke OSA Fr John Barry OSA

Simon Gentry

RECENTLY DECEASED

John Ardill Jane Manning Maria Demasi Jerry Cassis Valerie Beatrice Courteney

PRAYER REQUESTS

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

For those with ILLNESS

Aurora Kogovsek Bruno Kogovsek Daniella Takchi Cathy Ewing Elsa Monsour Irene Martin Helen Richardson Irene Hurrell

Stella Brown Cecily Smellie Maria Bisazza Maria Kogovsek Norma Kogovsek Joan Killick Simone Young Bob McEwan Christopher Newman Michael Lennon Yvonne Hickey Jonathan Keil

Richard Paul Reynolds Margaret Appleby Kathy Osborne Bill Rein

Margot Massey Tony Quattroville Joan Kelly Andrew Scotland Steve Foresto Muireann Casey Chloe Zarb Peter & Jan

Van de Velde

Fr David Austin OSA Parish Priest 0419 265 317 Jacky Worthington Parish Manager 9949 4455

Fr Paul Maloney OSA Assistant Priest and Prior 0439 595 723 Marianne Deveza Music Co-ordinator 9949 4455 Fr John Sullivan OSA Assistant Priest and Prior 0423 634 029 Ursula Halloway Catechist Coordinator 9949 4455 Fr Senan Ward OSA Chaplain – St Augustine’s College Janette Davidson Sacramental Coordinator 0408 866 521

Fr Abel van der Veer OSA Retired 0409 368 449 Anne Ross Parish Secretary 9949 4455 Fr Peter Jones OSA Provincial—In Residence Jane Filacuridi Parish Secretary 9949 4455

This list will be reviewed every few weeks—contact the office for continued prayers

From St Augustine Let us devoutly celebrate this day. For just as the first ones to share

our faith adored Christ lying in the manger, let us adore Him reigning in heaven.

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF NORTH HARBOUR

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 8.10am during term time

reconciliation St Kieran 5 – 5.45pm 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

We acknowledge the Gayamagal and Canalgal people, the traditional custodians of this land

and pay our respects to the elders past and present.

Sign in

before Mass

Wear a facemask

& Follow signage

re seating

Maintain

social

distancing

Use hand

sanitiser

Do not

attend

if unwell

Catch up

outside at a

safe

distance

SICK CALLS AND OTHER URGENT MATTERS IF YOU NEED A PRIEST URGENTLY, PLEASE CALL THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER:

Business hours – Parish Office – 9949 4455 After hours (Evenings and weekends) – 0490 898 464