St Bernadette’s Parish Carlton 10 Argyle Street, Carlton, NSW 2218

St George Deanery Archdiocese of Sydney

PASTORAL CARE The HOLY FAMILY of Jesus, Mary & Fr Ballawig Administrator & Hospital Chaplain 27 December 2020, Yr B OTHER SACRAMENTS Deacon Frank Zacka Permanent Deacon Sacrament of Baptism: Call the Parish Office for registration & orientation. Time of Baptisms: 11.00 AM Sunday. Parish Secretaries - Volunteers Sacrament of Reconciliation: Postal Address Saturdays 5.00-5.25 PM; Sundays 8.30-8.55 AM Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays after morning Mass PO Box 4067 or during Adoration.

Carlton NSW 2218 Sacrament of Marriage: By appointment (six months’ notice) Tel: 9587 4246 Sacrament of the Sick/Anointing: Fax: 9587 1397 By appointment/call anytime for the elderly, sick & dying at home, Nurs-

Email: [email protected] January 1, 2021 Solemnity: MARY, the Holy MOTHER OF GOD. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ Mass Time: 8:30AM StBernadetteCarlton

Web Page: stbernadettescarlton.org.au

Weekday Masses

Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat: 8.30 AM (followed by Adoration).

Tuesday: 6.00 PM - Adoration & Rosary 7.00 PM - Liturgy of the Word & Holy Communion

Weekend Masses

Saturday Vigil: 5.30 PM

Sunday: 9.00 AM

Every First Friday of the month: Lord, we offer You our families. We offer every 8:30AM relationship, be it good or difficult, and we offer every Mass with Anointing of the Sick. challenge we face. Please come and sanctify our 7:00–11:00PM Mass, Cenacle, Sacred families, making them holy in imitation of your Holy Heart Devotion, Rosary, Adoration Family in Nazareth. Amen.

Holy ROSARY WELCOME visitors, friends & those who 20 mins before every Mass. are new to this Parish... For the healing/fast recovery of the sick: Jonita Russel, Viring Jacinto, Smith, Estela Darwin, Phillip Kenyon, Whiteley, Manuel Godinez, Kate.

November Mass intentions for the repose of the souls of the following: David Pereira family, Dominic & Anthony Fernandes, Cardos family, D’silva family, Ancestors family, Albert D’sonza, Marcs family, Christopher Pereisa, Gregory Crasto, Cardoz Ancestors, Tammy, Etta, Camilo, Homer, Pamposa, Agustin, Juvy, Amy, Perdo, Glenda, Guido, Romeo, Ruperto, Clarissa, Tarcela, Aurelia, Gregorio, Milagros, Adele, Tiburcio, deceased members of Liv & Hiv family, Joseph, Cecilia & Anthony Teo, We Kong Whatt, baby Josephine, Paul William, Wan Yu Wong, Sarah Wong, Estela C de Sturniolo, Jose Sturniolo, Noela Darwin, Maude Tebb, Joyce Smith, Antonio Sturniolo, Conception de Sturniolo, Emilio Manuele Zino…

And ALL our deceased loved ones and parishioners…

[SORRY, if some of the deceased names’ spelling are wrong, not written legibly as submitted & copied from the envelopes]

For the souls of our deceased Parishioners, our loved ones and for the poor souls in Purgatory. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.. Part of the ’s Christmas Messsage…

Dear brothers and sisters,

Christmas invites us to reflect, on the one hand, on the drama of history, in which men and women, wounded by sin, ceaselessly search for truth, the search for mercy, and the search for redemption; and, on the other hand, on the goodness of God, who has come towards us to com- municate to us the Truth that saves and to make us sharers in His friendship and His life. And this gift of life: this is pure grace, not by any merit of our own. There is a Holy Father who says: “But look there, over there, there: seek your merit and you will find nothing other than grace”.

Everything is grace, a gift of grace. And this gift of grace, we receive it through the simplicity and humanity of Christmas, and it can remove from our hearts and minds the pessimism that has spread even more nowa- days as a result of the pandemic. We can overcome that sense of disquieting bewilderment, not letting our- selves be overwhelmed by defeats and failures, in the rediscovered awareness that that humble and poor Child, hidden away and helpless, is God Himself, made man for us.

The Second Vatican Council, in a famous passage from the Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, tells us that this event concerns every one of us: “For by His incarnation the Son of God has united Himself in some fashion with every man. He worked with human hands, He thought with a human heart, acted by hu- man choice and loved with a human heart. Born of the Mary, He has truly been made one of us, like us in all things except sin” (Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 22). But Jesus was born two thousand years ago, what does this have to do with me? It affects you, and me, each one of us. Jesus is one of us: God, in Jesus, is one of us.

This reality gives us much joy and courage. God did not look down on us, from afar, He did not pass us by, He was not repulsed by our misery, He did not clothe Himself only superficially in a body, but rather He ful- ly assumed our nature and our human condition. He left nothing out except sin: the only thing He does not have. All humanity is in Him. He took all that we are, just as we are. This is essential for understanding the Christian faith.

St. Augustine, reflecting on his journey of conversion, writes in his Confessions: “For I did not hold to my Lord Jesus Christ, I, humbled, to the Humble; nor knew I yet whereto His infirmity would guide us” (Confessions VII, 8). And what is Jesus’ “infirmity”? The “infirmity” of Jesus is a “teaching”! Because it reveals to us the love of God. Christmas is the feast of Love incarnate, of love born for us in Jesus Christ. Je- sus Christ is the light of mankind shining in the darkness, giving meaning to human existence and to the whole of history.

And this is what God brings us, today: a wonderful wan in which God wanted to come into the world, and this revives tenderness in us, the human tenderness close to that of God. And today we are in great need of tenderness, we in great need of a human touch, in the face of so much misery! If the pandemic has forced us to be more distant, Jesus, in the crib, shows us the way of tenderness to be close to each other, to be human. Let us follow this path. As we reflect and pray before the Christmas crèche may we become more aware of the closeness and tender love of God, who took flesh for our salvation. This Christmas, may Jesus be born anew in each of us, so that by our lives we may bring joy and new hope to all.

Merry Christmas!

[More on: Pope Francis prepares us for the coming of Christ on Christmas | America Magazine] NOTICES, REMINDERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS ... COVID-19 UPDATE—BACK TO STRICT RESTRICTIONS...

We are back to the 4m2 rule for indoor Masses. The following new restrictions will apply throughout the Christmas period until further instructions/notice:

 congregational singing (even of Christmas carols) is suspended once again;  churches are permitted up to 5 singers only, well distanced;  mask wearing is encouraged (not compulsory);  please observe the other measures previously applied: avoiding people mingling;  registering with details before Mass is a must for contact tracing;  receive holy Communion by hand;  dispensation is granted by the Archbishop to those not attending Mass on Sunday & on Christmas Day. Additional Time of Mass Parish Church Open There will be another Christmas Day Mass at Our Parish church is open during the day for prayer and 10:45AM (after 9:00AM Mass) to encourage Adoration until 11:00PM, Monday to Saturday. the participation of the faithful at the Sacred Christmas Liturgy or for those who may avoid To those who take extra-precaution and not attending other crowded Masses. one of the Masses or prefer to watch livestream Mass at home, “We miss you and are praying for you at Catholic Weekly—25 December 2020 Issue Christmas”. Good articles for reading & reflection this Christmas: 1. To Us He Comes Unseen GO MAKE DISCIPLES 2. How we found the Church 3, Good radiates out Copies of the Sydney Archdiocese’s new Mission 4. True happiness Plan GO MAKE DISCIPLES (summary) are 5. Have hope. You are loved available on the table at the entrance. 6. To India with Love: The Mary Glowrey story Grab a copy... 7. The best gifts you can give children at Christmas 8. Youngest non-martyr 9. Love in uncertain times, & plus more…

CHRISTMAS GIVING:

May the gifts of love, Those who want to give to the needy (the elderly, the homeless & kids on the street), you may bring your gift on peace & joy be yours this the 24th & 25th & place them on the Christmas crib before Christmas season. the image of the Infant Jesus. We will give them to con- cerned Catholic charity of the Archdiocese for proper distri- butions later on…. God bless & protect you & “A blessed and joyful Christmas your loved ones. to you and your loved ones, near and far.” Wishing you a safe & - Anthony Fisher, OP Grace-filled New Year! Archbishop of the Sydney Columban Calendars are now available for sale… $8.00 each.

The NEW DAILY MASS 2021 books are Christmas Envelopes available for sale—$25 each. Contact Renato. are available at the pews for generous donors.

The EPIPHANY 3 January 2021 The Parish Hall is for Hire for 5.30PM 9.00 AM <> Baptism & Wedding receptions Readers Erin Khaw Charbel Rached <> Birthday celebrations Estela Darwin Peter Mann <> Call the Parish Office * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Prayers of the Faithful Anthony McDougal Marguerite Pillai THANK YOU TO … Acolytes Anthony Renato & Melencio All of you who are volunteering & serving here in our Parish in whatever Choir Groups Liz’s choir grp Red’s choir grp capacity you are helping. Your com- Counters (Dec 27) Peter Mann John Dwyer Mirella Petrocco mitment is very much appreciated.

Gospel Acclamation THE LITURGY OF THE WORD Alleluia, alleluia! In the past God spoke to our fathers the prophets; Solemnity: now he speaks to us through his Son. The HOLY FAMILY Alleluia! of Jesus, Mary & Joseph Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 First Reading: Genesis 15:1-6,21:1-3 When the day came for them to be purified as laid The word of the Lord was spoken to Abram in a vision, down by the Law of , the parents of Jesus took ‘Have no fear, Abram, I am your shield; your reward him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, – ob- will be very great.’ serving what stands written in the Law of the ‘My Lord,’ Abram replied ‘what do you intend to Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to give me? I go childless…’. Then Abram said, ‘See, you the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accord- have given me no descendants; some man of my house- ance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair hold will be my heir.’ And then this word of the Lord of turtledoves or two young pigeons. was spoken to him, ‘He shall not be your heir; your heir Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Sime- shall be of your own flesh and blood.’ Then taking him on. He was an upright and devout man; he looked outside he said, ‘Look up to heaven and count the stars forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit if you can. Such will be your descendants’ he told him. rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Ho- Abram put his faith in the Lord, who counted this as ly Spirit that he would not see death until he had set making him justified. eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit The Lord dealt kindly with Sarah as he had said, he came to the Temple and when the parents brought and did what he had promised. So Sarah conceived and in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law re- bore a son to in his old age, at the time God quired, he took him into his arms and blessed God; had promised. Abraham named the son born to him and he said: , the son to whom Sarah had given birth. ‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104(105):1-6,8-9 which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans Response: and the glory of your people Israel.’ The Lord remembers his covenant forever. As the child’s father and mother stood there wonder- ing at the things that were being said about him, Sim-

eon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You Second Reading: Hebrews 11:8,11-12,17-19 see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the It was by faith that Abraham obeyed the call to set out rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is for a country that was the inheritance given to him and rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul his descendants, and that he set out without knowing too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid where he was going. It was equally by faith that Sarah, bare.’ in spite of being past the age, was made able to con- There was a prophetess also, Anna the daughter ceive, because she believed that he who had made the of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in promise would be faithful to it. Because of this, there years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been mar- came from one man, and one who was already as good ried for seven years before becoming a widow. She as dead himself, more descendants than could be count- was now eighty-four years old and never left the ed, as many as the stars of heaven or the grains of sand Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and on the seashore. prayer. She came by just at that moment and began to It was by faith that Abraham, when put to the test, praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who offered up Isaac. He offered to sacrifice his only son looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem. even though the promises had been made to him and he When they had done everything the Law of had been told: It is through Isaac that your name will the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to be carried on. He was confident that God had the pow- their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the er even to raise the dead; and so, figuratively speaking, child grew to maturity, and he was filled with he was given back Isaac from the dead. wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.

Readers, you are not just reading God’s Word but Copyright © 1996-2020 Universalis Publishing Limited: see PROCLAIMING it. Read slowly. Be advised to read & medi- www.universalis.com. Scripture readings from the Jerusalem tate on the readings prior to reading before the congregation. Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by At the end of the reading, just say: ‘The word of the Lord’, Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of no longer, ‘This is the word of the Lord’. Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.