S 2 D 2018F S A ,Y C

Inner Newcastle Parish: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Newcastle West; St Joseph’s Church, The Junc on; St Mary, Star of the Sea Church, Newcastle; Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Tighes Hill; St Laurence O’Toole Church, Broadmeadow. Mayfield Parish: Christ the King, Mayfield West. Stockton Parish: St Peter‐in‐Chains, Stockton.

C P S B ’ I N ,

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Our Parishes incorporate suburbs located on the tradi onal country of the Awabakal and Worimi peoples. We acknowledge their cultural heritage, beliefs and con nuing rela onship with the land, pay respect to their Elders past and present, and commit ourselves to work together for reconcilia on and jus ce.

ProclaimingChristintheinnersuburbsoftheCityofNewcastleC S

By Fr Michael Tate When my father died some years ago, the light went out of my mother’s life: there was an intense longing to be reunited with him. The in‐between me was almost devoid of meaning.

His life on earth was full of construc ve, good ac vi es in many spheres. But for the boys, we sons, there is a sense of things unfinished, of a legacy which has to be worked at before we see the really final working out of the plan of his life.

I think it was exactly the same for the followers of Jesus a er his crucifixion and resurrec on and then the withdrawal of his physical presence.

The light seemed to go out of the lives of many of the disciples; there was an intense longing to be reunited with him; the me between his earthly ministry and his return in glory at the end of history had to somehow be given a meaning.

For his followers there was a sense of things unfinished, so the meaning came from the disciples working on his legacy, so that they could contribute to the really final working out of the plan of Jesus’ life.

It is the same for us. We have to work at transla ng the legacy of Our Lord Jesus Christ. He has, in principle, rescued us from the Power of Darkness. We have to work at transla ng that legacy into our personal lives, into the life of the Church, into the life of our society.

And don’t we at mes intensely long for Our Lord to

more clearly manifest himself? Some mes our own lives, the life of the Church, the life of our society, so clearly cry out for Jesus to come again and rescue us. In some instances, and to varying degrees, we can become conscious of Jesus’ saving, transforming power in a par cular situa on. But, for the whole of humanity across the millennia, we do not know the day or the hour when death and all its warriors such as disease and violence, will be absolutely vanquished by Christ in glory.

This can lead to a type of pain which finds solace in all those things which dull the spirit. Our Lord gives examples: debauchery, drunkenness. Today he might have added ‘living in the virtual world’. Rather, Our Lord wants us to live in the real world on high alert. In the mean me each one of us can be a signal of what is to come. I am thinking of: – the heroic love of a parent for a child or, the some mes harder, heroic love of a child for a parent, – taking a risk with a friendship or your place in work or society, by speaking up where you see an injus ce or some degrading of our world, – being joyful in an over‐the‐top, extravagant way.

All these signal that the kingdom is already being established on earth. These can give you and me and those we care about hope in the future and faith in the power of unselfish love. They are real foretastes of the real future.

Let us con nue to give reasons to each other for our hope and faith that: Christ has come, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

©Fr Michael Tate, www.liturgyhelp.com.au

T P D …(fortheweekahead)1st Week of Advent

Monday– 3 December Memorial of St Francis Xavier

Tuesday—4 December 7:30am Mass @ The Junc on 8:20am Mass @ The Cathedral

Wednesday—5 December 7:30am Mass @ The Junc on 8:20am Mass @ The Cathedral 9.15am Mass @ Tighes Hill

Thursday—6 December 7:30am Mass @ The Junc on 8:20am Mass @ The Cathedral 9:15am Mass @ Broadmeadow 5:30pm Mass @ Seafarers’ Centre

Friday—7 December Memorial of St Ambrose 8:20am Mass @ The Cathedral Diocesan End of Year Staff Mass 10:15am Mass @ The Junc on 11am Exposi on @ The Cathedral (un l 12pm) 11am Reconcilia on @ The Cathedral (un l

12pm) NOON Mass @ The Cathedral

Saturday—8 December The Immaculate Concep on of the Blessed Virgin Mary 9.20am Mass @ The Cathedral 10am Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help @

The Cathedral (followed by Reconcilia on un l 11am)

5:30pm Mass @ The Cathedral 5:30pm Mass @ Broadmeadow

Sunday—9 December 2nd Sunday of Advent Year C 7:30am Mass @ St Mary’s 8am Mass @ Tighes Hill 9am Mass @ The Junc on 9.30am Mass@ The Cathedral 10:30am Italian Mass @ Broadmeadow 11:30am Polish Mass @ The Cathedral 5pm Mass @ The Cathedral

Weddings are celebrated by arrangement with at least three (and preferably more) months no ce. Please contact the Parish Office for more details, or visit the St Benedict’s website.

Parish Bulle n The Parish Bulle n is published weekly. Prayer requests and items for the Bulle n should be received at the Parish Office by 5pm on Wednesdays.

Clergy of St Benedict’s Parish Fr Andrew Doohan (Parish Priest) Fr John Kedari (Assistant Priest) Fr Victor Babu Doss (Assistant Priest) Deacon Anthony Coloma (Deacon)

Parish Office—St Benedict’s Centre 25 Farquhar Street, The Junc on PO Box 6, The Junc on 2291 P: (02) 4979 1101 F: (02) 4962 4644 E: newcparish@mn.catholic.org.au W: www.newcastlecatholic.org.au

Parish Office Staff Chris Cootes (Parish Business Manager) Margaret Cox (Recep on & Administra on) Rebecca Millard (Sacraments & Administra on) Jade Simonsen (Administra on)

Office Hours: The Parish Office is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and closed for lunch from 1pm to 2pm.

Other Contacts Dr Anne Millard Director of Music & Liturgy Lingard Hospital Team Contact the Parish Office Mercy Pastoral Team Sr Patricia Whi en rsm (02) 4979 1116 St Joseph’s Pastoral Team Contact the Parish Office

Celebra ng the Sacraments

Reconcilia on is available at Sacred Heart Cathedral: Usually Fridays from 11am un l 11.55am and on Saturdays from about 10.30am un l 11am. Other

mes available by appointment.

Bap sms are celebrated on Sundays, either during or a er any of our Sunday Masses. A monthly Bap sm Prepara on mee ng takes place on the first Wednesday of each month—the next mee ng will take place in the Parish Office on Wednesday 5 December commencing at 5.30pm. Please contact the Parish Office for more details, or visit the St Benedict’s website.

A Sacramental Prepara on process runs each year in the Parish for children wishing to complete the celebra on of the Sacraments of Ini a on as part of the Parish community. Please contact the Parish Office for more details, or visit the St Benedict’s website.

For adults who wish to become part of the Church, the Parish offers the Rite of Chris an Ini a on of Adults for those who have not been bap sed, and the process of Recep on into Full Communion for those who have been bap sed in other churches. Please contact the Parish Office for more details, or visit the St Benedict’s website.

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Palms Australia Cup of Tea Palms cuppa to be held at St Joseph’s The Junc on on Sunday 2 December a er 9am mass. All dona ons go to Palms Australia. All Welcome

Advent and Christmas Reflec on Group. The parish will be holding a Advent group to reflect on the Saviour– The Daily Advent and Christmas Reflec ons. The group will be held each Tuesday of December star ng the 4th December 2018 at 11am in the Sacred Heart Cathedral Chapel. Pray and sing the liturgy of the hours, then stay for a cuppa and a chat. All welcome. Please contact the parish office for more informa on

First Friday Food and Fellowship The final FFF&F for 2018 will be held Friday 7 December, There will be an Advent Anoin ng a er 10.15am Mass followed by morning tea at the parish centre with a Christmas theme. All welcome.

First Friday Fish and Chips Friday 7 December at Bar Beach from 5pm. All Welcome BYO everything. Enquiries: Chris Dowling 0419265194

Merewether/Newcastle Inter Church Council Christmas Carols will host a Christmas carols event to be held at St Johns Anglican Church Cooks Hill on Sunday 9 December at 7.30pm

Men’s Breakfast The next Men’s Breakfast mee ng will be held in the Parish Centre, on Monday 10 December. Breakfast from 6.30 am for 7am mee ng. Rosanna Rossi, Financial Advisor, will speak on “Costs and Op ons in moving into Aged Care Facili es and Re rement Living”. Rosanna is a professional in this field. Members and friends are invited to ask wives, partners, family members, friends and carers to a end. All are welcome as this topic is of such importance to the family members, friends and carers of a person needing to consider moving into an aged care facility.

I Y C ,P R P :

R D : Nevia Consalvo, Maria Rollich, Beverly Taylor. A : Juila Kelly. Doris Carey, Shirley Carey S : Marion Bridges , Baby Marlie Zalanardo, Bishop Bill Wright

Names may be placed here by contac ng the Parish Office. Please refer to the Policy Document on the Parish website—visit

www.newcastlecatholic.org.au/downloads.

The Cathedral and St Joseph’s are served by a hearing loop—use the setting marked “T”.

ATTENTIONITALIANCOMMUNITYThe Italian Mass celebrated in St Laurence O’Toole church Broadmeadow on Sundays will now be celebrated at 10.30am (instead of 9.30am) un l further no ce

F F A And so we begin again.

The arrival of December means the arrival of a new liturgical year, the arrival of the usual round of ‘end of year’ ac vi es, and the arrival of Season of Advent.

The sense of arrival, par cularly arrival that we wait for pa ently, is palpable across the four Sundays of Advent, drawing our a en on to both the expected arrival of Christ at the end of me and the more immediate remembering of Christ’s arrival among God’s people in human form.

Both of these ‘advents’ of Christ will be/was the fulfilment of God’s promise to God’s people—to us!—and this annual me of hope‐filled expecta on is a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness to us.

May your celebra on of Advent be a me of joy‐filled prepara on for our remembering of God’s promise to us—and it’s fulfilment in the Incarna on and in the Second Coming.

Un l next me . . . Fr Andrew

C M S The 2018 schedule for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses will be published in next week’s Parish bulle n and then subsequently on the Parish website.

P C 2020Pope Francis has approved the Australian Bishops’ decision to hold a Plenary Council in Australia in 2020 and 2021. This is a significant moment for

the Church in Australia to make decisions about the future. To prepare the agenda for the Plenary Council, all of God’s people are invited to reflect on the question: “What do you think God is asking of us in Australia at this time?”.

Find out more about the Plenary Council 2020 by visiting the Council’s website, which can be found at www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au.

S V D P S :

Food Basket for the Needy: Items of dry goods or nned food e.g. (Vegemite, Cornflakes or breakfast

foods, sugar, packet or nned soup, sardines, tea, coffee, nned fruit etc but please NO peanut bu er) can be placed in the basket at the back of the church. St Vincent de Paul members will pick up for distribu on to the needy who are so grateful to receive the items. Please check EXPIRY DATES when dona ng foodstuffs.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal will commence THIS SUNDAY 2nd December. Envelopes will be available in the church pews. Dona on envelopes can be placed on the plate or mailed. Thanks, in an cipa on, for your generosity.

Vinnies Christmas cards & Columban calendars are on sale now.

This Week’s Liturgy

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 33:14‐16 I will cause a good seed to spring forth from David

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 24: 4‐5, 8‐9, 10, 14 (R.) To you, O Lord, I li my soul

SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 3:12– 4:2 When Christ comes may he strengthen your hearts in holiness. 

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia, alleluia. Lord, show us your mercy and love, and grant us your salva on, Alleluia,.

GOSPEL: Luke 21: 25– 28, 34‐36 Your redemp on is near at hand  

NEWCASTLETUDORSINGERS

Present a Christmas Concert, Joy is in the Air: Prepare. On Friday December 7 @ 7:45pm at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Come along to hear (and sing) carols new and known, directed by Anne Millard‐Daugherty with organist Peter Guy, Pianist Marcia Wall, and the Hunter Handbell Ringers. Tickets $15 and $10.

S G In prepara on for the Solemnity of the Lord's birth, novena Masses will be celebrated at the St. Joseph's Merewether in the evenings of 15 December to 23 December 2018. The Christmas novena Masses, also known as Simbang Gabi to Filipinos, is a long tradi on brought by the Spanish Friars in the Philippines in 1669. The novena Masses are in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Expectant Mother of God, and serve as a prepara on for the commemora on of the Birth of Our Lord and Saviour. All are welcome and the Eucharis c celebra on promptly starts at 7pm.

E 2019S P .

A child’s catholic faith journey began with the Sacrament of Bap sm and con nues by the recep on of the Sacraments of Ini a on, Confirma on and First Eucharist.

The prepara ons for these sacraments in the Inner Newcastle Parish run between February and June of every year and is designed for children going into Year, 4, 5 or 6 in 2019. Prepara ons are done as a family with online ac vi es and volunteer work within the community.

Enrolments are now open for the 2019 program. If you are interested in being apart of the program next year please visit the parish website and complete the online enrolment form. h ps://www.newcastlecatholic.org.au/sacramental‐

enrolment‐form/

For more informa on please contact Rebecca Millard at the office on 49791101 or rebecca.millard@mn.catholic.org.au

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Liturgical Celebra ons

Monday, 3rd December 8:30am Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion @ Stockton

Tuesday, 4th December 8am Mass @ Mayfield West 8:45am Rosary @ Stockton 9.15 Liturgy with Holy Communion @ Stockton

Wednesday 5th December

10am Anoin ng Mass @ Mayfield Aged care

Thursday, 6th December 8am Mass @ Stockton 9am Mass @ Mayfield West 10am Marian Prayer Group ( all welcome) @ Mayfield West

Friday, 7th December 8:30am Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion @ Stockton 9.15 Mass @ St Columban’s Hall

Saturday, 8th December 5:30pm Rosary @ Mayfield West 6pm Mass @ Mayfield West

Sunday, 9the December 9am Mass @ Stockton 3pm Divine Mercy Group @ Mayfield West (all welcome)

Next week’s readings: 2nd Sun Advent, Year C Bar 5:1‐9, Phil 1:3‐6. 8‐11, Lk 3:1‐6

Those for whom we pray:

Recently Deceased: Leo Murphy

Anniversaries: Gordon & Lyn Paisley, Fr Tom Dunphy CSsR, Patricia Campbell, Alfredo Peverini,

Our Sick: Bill O’Brien, Anne Marie Richards, Shane Thompson, Tony Cox, Geraldine Bound

that they will be strengthened by the father’s love and prayers of the community.

Names may be placed here by contac ng the Parish Office. Please refer to the Policy Document on the Parish website—visit

www.newcastlecatholic.org.au/downloads.

Clergy of Mayfield West and Stockton Parish Fr Ma hew Muller Parish Priest Fr Joseph Figurado Assist. Priest Deacon Lawrence Caelli Pastoral Worker (Mayfield) Deacon John Mahony Pastoral Worker (Stockton)

Parish of St Peter’s Stockton (1919) 13 Dunbar Street Stockton, NSW 2295 Ph: (02) 4920 1703 Email: stockton.parish@mn.catholic.org.au

Parish of St Columban’s Mayfield (1924) Christ the King Mayfield West 388 Maitland Rd Mayfield West, NSW 2304 Ph: (02) 4979 1101

S S V P C A

Beneath our Christmas Tree are cards with the Age and Sex of Children needing Christmas Gi s. Also any gi s for adults, such as Soaps, Toiletries etc. would be much appreciated. We will also commence our collec on of goods for our Christmas Hampers for the less fortunate in our area. As we need to deliver our Hampers in that last week before Christmas, we will run our collec on for just 3 Sundays the 2nd; the 9th; and 16th December. We will commence with Breakfast goods, then move on to more substan al items and finish up with Sweets and Treats. We know you will give generously and thank you sincerely. Wishing you and your families a Christmas full of Peace, Joy and Happiness.

M W S V P C A St Vincent de Paul Mayfield West will have their Christmas Appeal at 6 pm Mass on Saturday 8th December 2018. Use envelopes on the seats and please give generously

R R Rite of Reconcilia on will be offered the week before Christmas. Tuesday 18 December at 6:30pm at Stockton Wednesday 19 December at 6:30pm at Mayfield West

O O P

Walk the Camino Portugués. Catholic Mission 17‐day

Pilgrimage: Lisbon, Fa ma, Porto, San ago de

Compostela. Two pilgrimages: May 2019 and June

2019. Small group led by Sr Veronica, O.P., (0451 387

906). See h ps://www.catholicmission.org.au/get‐

involved/immersions/camino‐portugues

C S P

St Joseph’s Primary School Mr Peter Treloar (Principal) Union Street, The Junc on NSW 2291 PO Box 183, The Junc on NSW 2291 P: (02) 4961 2827 F: (02) 4940 8499 E: admin@merewether.catholic.edu.au W: www.merewether.catholic.edu.au

Holy Family Primary School Mrs Sidonie Coffee (Principal) Pell Street, Merewether NSW 2291 PO Box 153, Merewether NSW 2291 P: (02) 4963 3009 F: (02) 4963 4065 E: admin@merewetherbeach.catholic.edu.au W: www.merewetherbeach.catholic.edu.au

St Columban’s Primary School Mrs Jenny Crichton (Principal) Church Street, Mayfield NSW 2304 PO Box 230, Mayfield NSW 2304 P: (02) 4968 3315 F: (02) 4967 7653 E: admin@mayfieldsc.catholic.edu.au W: www.mayfieldsc.catholic.edu.au

St Peter’s Primary School Mr Michael Punch (Principal) Dunbar Street, Stockton NSW 2295 PO Box 78, Stockton NSW 2295 P: (02) 4928 1861 F: (02) 4920 1736 E: admin@stockton.catholic.edu.au W: www.stockton.catholic.edu.au

St Dominic’s Centre Mrs Veronica McLoughlin (Principal) 76 Havelock Street, Mayfield NSW 2304 P: (02) 4968 1295 F: (02) 4968 0456 E: admin@mayfieldsd.catholic.edu.au W: www.mayfieldsd.catholic.edu.au

San Clemente High School Mr Sco Donohoe (Principal) Havelock Street, Mayfield NSW 2304 PO Box 405, Mayfield NSW 2304 P: (02) 4014 7300 F: (02) 4960 2782 E: admin@mayfieldsanc.catholic.edu.au W: www.mayfieldsanc.catholic.edu.au

St Francis Xavier’s College Br Robert Su on (Principal) 286 Parkway Avenue, Hamilton NSW 2303 PO Box 300, Hamilton NSW 2303 P: (02) 4961 2863 F: (02) 4961 2384 E: admin@hamilton.catholic.edu.au W: www.hamilton.catholic.edu.au

A Advent can be a busy me. It can be a me of frenzy preparing for Christmas ‐ food, presents, end‐of‐year par es and family reunions. In the midst of sending cards, making the Christmas cake and pudding, looking for a good ham, buying presents for children and grandchildren, what about the spiritual aspects of prayer and reflec on?

Origins & Colours of Advent The word ‘Advent’ comes from the La n Adventus which means ‘coming’. It is a me for quiet reflec on, prayer and conversion in an cipa on of the coming of Christ from two different perspec ves. Purple or dark blue is a symbol of royalty that an cipates the coming birth of Jesus. It also reflects a spirit of penitence and the need to prepare our hearts. In Australia the colour that is o en used is Jacaranda. Pink is a secondary Ad‐vent colour that symbolises the joy of the season. The evergreens in the Advent wreath signify eternal life that comes to us through Jesus.

Reflect on Advent as a me of wai ng. The idea of wai ng is not popular in our culture of instant gra fi‐ca on, but it creates in us a new kind of self‐discipline that helps us to appreciate the present moment and look to the future with peaceful an cipa on.

Please accept this Advent focus as an aid to finding some space for quietness and prayer.

Get More Out of Advent Turn your breathing into a prayer: take a few deep breaths throughout the day and imagine that God’s love is flowing through you to every part of your body. As you exhale let go of tension, worry and anything else that is not of God.

Reaching Out in Advent Buy a gi for a needy child ‐ or an adult. You may know someone in an Aged Care Facility who does not have family to visit at Christmas.

Bake some biscuits for a homebound neighbour and spend a li le extra me with them when you deliver the baking. Think about the special gi s and talents God has given you. How are you using these gi s

WEEKEND ROSTERS

TIGHES HILL WELCOMERS MINISTERS OF THE WORD PROCESSION WITH GIFTS MINISTERS OF COMMUNION

2 December 8am

Lawrie Hallinan Sr Moya Lantry

John Hayes Barry Reed

Trevor & Margaret Harrison

Julie Gurr, Brian O’Donnell, Peter Ryan (H)

9 December 8am

Barry Reed & Dorothea Norman

Barry Reed Brian O’Donnell

Kerrie Bannister Bob Frazer

Julie Gurr, Maureen Hall, Mary Samwell, Mark Toohey.

THE JUNCTION

WELCOMERS MINISTERS OF THE WORD

PROCESSION WITH GIFTS

MINISTERS OF COMMUNION

2 December 9am

Sidone Coffey Peter Treloar

M deSouza Anna Holz

Brad Dagwell Lena Josue, Michael Blake, Deb Docherty

COUNTERS

M.Williams, B. Straiton,C.Mowbray

9 December 9am

Sidonie Coffey Abbie Corby

K Walker Kathryn Russell

Mark Coyte Pam Dagwell, Sally Casey, John Cavenagh

R. Hampson R. Rossi

BROADMEADOW MINISTERS OF THE WORD MINISTERS OF COMMUNION

COUNTING TEAM WELCOMING TEAM

1 December 5.30 pm

Mary Rabbi Denis Nolan

Gwen Haggerty Judy & Denis Johns Eileen Howard Robin Cathcart

8 December 5:30pm

Sr Pauline Murray rsm Daniel Close

Chris ne Mason G. Haggerty, R. Cathcart T. Casey, T. Skehan

Eileen Howard & Robin Cathcart

READERS GIFT BEARERS MINISTERS OF COMMUNION

Stockton 2 December 9am

Lisa Y Mel

Gary Anne e

Wendy, Stan, Margaret

Mayfield West 1 December 6pm

J Belcher A Jenkins

D Bleakley Dc John Mahony, M Humphries, L Caelli

WELCOMERS

Dianne & Doreen

Dc John

Mayfield West 8 December 6pm

Dianne & Doreen

J. Edstein/ Boyes K. Raucsh

Sister Clare Conroy

Deacon J Mahony, Sister Ann, M. Caelli

Stockton 9 December 9am

Lisa Y Angela Sue M

Sue Harry

Bernie, Mark, Anne

The Cathedral ADULT SERVER MINISTERS OF THE WORD MINISTERS OF COMMUNION COUNTERS

1 December 5.30pm

Louise Outram D Vaughn John Wakely

Kath Williams, Pedrita Spence, Douglas Burke, Ching Burke

Anthony & Rachel 2 December

2 December 9.30am

Christopher Lovell

Sara Stankovic Vincia Mar n

Peter Owens, Trish O’Dowd, Be y Sto , Frances Barber

2 December 5pm

Allen Brierley David Hayes Teresa Brierley

Clare Walsh‐Gregory, Vera Walker, Ian Macleod, Elizabeth Keeling

8 December 5:30pm

Louise Outram Michael Fuller Kath Williams

M Simmons, Helen Bridges, S Jarmain, Pedrita Spence

John & John 9 December

9 December 9:30am

Peter Owens Gail Lovell Bernice Ma hews

Christopher Lovell, Frances Barber, Mick McBride, John Askew

9 December 5pm

Allen Brierley Clare Walsh Gregory Ian Macleod

Vera Walker, Clare Walsh Gregory Elizabeth Keeling, Ian Macleod

NEWCASTLE READERS PROCESSION WITH GIFTS MINISTERS OF COMMUNION

2 December 7:30am P.Clark, C. Prider Volunteers C. Allan, Ian Thomas

9 December 7:30am R. Rossi, T. Mather Volunteers K. Rees, Ian Thomas