Catholic Church

26 Swanston Street, St Marys, NSW 2760 Tel: (02) 9623 1962 Fax: (02) 9833 1063 Entrusted to the Email: [email protected] Parish Website: www.olrchurchstmarys.org.au

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD - Year B 6 - 7 January, 2018

Entrance Antiphon 3. The kings of Tarshish and the sea

Behold, the Lord, the Mighty One, has coasts shall pay him tribute. come; and kinship is in his grasp, and The kings of Sheba and Seba power and dominion. shall bring him gifts. Before him all kings shall fall First Reading : Is 60:1-6 prostrate, all nations shall serve him. The glory of the Lord shines upon you. (R.)

Arise, shine out, Jerusalem, for your 4. For he shall save the poor GOSPEL: (contd) light has come, the glory of the Lord when they cry and the Jerusalem. He called together all the is rising on you, though night still cov- needy who are helpless. chief and the scribes of the ers the earth and darkness the peo- He will have pity on the weak people, and enquired of them where ples. Above you the Lord now rises and save the lives of the poor. (R.) the Christ was to be born. ‘At Bethle- and above you his glory appears. The hem in Judaea,’ they told him, ‘for this nations come to your light and kings Second Reading: Eph 3:2-3, 5-6 is what the prophet wrote: to your dawning brightness. Lift up The revelation means that pagans now share the same And you, Bethlehem, in the land of your eyes and look round: all are as- inheritance, that they are parts of the same body. Judah, you are by no means least sembling and coming towards you, You have probably heard how I have among the leaders of Judah, for out your sons from far away and your been entrusted by God with the grace of you will come a leader who will daughters being tenderly carried. At he meant for you, and that it was by a shepherd my people Israel. ’Then this sight you will grow radiant, your revelation that I was given the knowl- Herod summoned the wise men to heart throbbing and full; since the edge of the mystery. This mystery that see him privately. He asked them the riches of the sea will flow to you; the has now been revealed through the exact date on which the star had ap- wealth of the nations come to you; Spirit to his holy apostles and proph- peared, and sent them on to Bethle- camels in throngs will cover you, and ets was unknown to any men in past hem. ‘Go and find out all about the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; generations; it means that pagans child,’ he said ‘and when you have everyone in Sheba will come, bringing now share the same inheritance, that found him, let me know, so that I too gold and incense and singing the they are parts of the same body, and may go and do him homage.’ Having praise of the Lord. that the same promise has been listened to what the king had to say, The word of the Lord made to them, in Christ Jesus, they set out. And there in front of through the gospel. them was the star they had seen ris- Responsorial Psalm: The word of the Lord ing; it went forward and halted over

(R.) Lord, every nation on earth the place where the child was. The Gospel Acclamation: sight of the star filled them with de- will adore you. Alleluia, alleluia! light, and going into the house they 1. O God, give your judgement to the We have seen his star in the East; saw the child with his mother Mary, king, to a king’s son your justice, and have come to adore the Lord. and falling to their knees they did that he may judge your people in Alleluia! him homage. Then, opening their justice and your poor in right treasures, they offered him gifts of judgement. (R.) GOSPEL: Mt 2:1-12 gold and frankincense and myrrh. 2. In his days justice shall flourish We have come from the East to worship the king. But they were warned in a dream not and peace till the moon fails. After Jesus had been born at Bethle- to go back to Herod, and returned to He shall rule from sea to sea, hem in Judaea during the reign of their own country by a different way. from the Great River to earth’s King Herod, some wise men came to The Gospel of the Lord bounds. (R.) Jerusalem from the east. ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they Communion Antiphon:

asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose and We have seen his star in the East, have come to do him homage.’ and have come with gifts to When King Herod heard this he was adore the Lord. perturbed, and so was the whole of PARISH TEAM Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults - RCIA Parish : Fr. Brendan Murphy SDB Do you know anyone interested in becoming a Catholic? Assistant Priest: Fr Guy Riolo SDB Please invite them to contact: Parish Secretary: Fleur Mathias Vera on 0416 008 582 or the Parish Office on 9623 1962 Parish Telephone: 9623 1962 Parish Email: [email protected] Web: www.olrchurchstmarys.org.au PARISH MINISTRIES Parish Fax: 9833 1063 St Vincent de Paul Society: meets every Tuesday at 7:00pm in the St Vincent de Paul Office beside the Parish Hall. For Enquiries Please Phone The Parish Office Junior : meets on Fridays, 4:30pm to 5:45pm in between 9:30am - 12:30pm & 1:30pm - 3:30pm, Mon-Fri the Parish Hall and Parish Meeting Rooms. Young people welcome Senior Legion of Mary: Tuesdays, 6:30-8pm in the Parish Hall Salesian Community: Phone: 9623 1220 Meeting Room. All Welcome to join. Rector: Fr John Walenciej SDB The Cenacle: Every Thursday after 9am Mass, you are invited to Don Bosco Youth Centre: Phone: 9623 0450 join us to pray the Cenacle of the Marian Movement of Priests. Co-Directors: Sr Jenny Doudle FMA Cuppa and Craft Club: Thursdays at 9:30am, Parish Hall. Fr John Walenciej SDB Contact Parish Office 9623 1962. Computer Class (50 years & over):Basic:9.30am-11.30am and Our Lady of the Primary School Advance:1.30pm-4pm, Parish Hall Mtg Rm. Please contact Parish Office. Principal: Mr Siciliano Rosary Statue: Mr & Mrs Bonnice, 169 Forrester Rd, St Marys. Phone: 9623 2500 RCIA: meets Thursdays, 7:30pm, Parish Meeting Room. Email: [email protected] Know someone who would like to be a Catholic? New enquirers welcome. Web: www.olorstmarys.catholic.edu.au Catechists: Teaching God’s Word in our State schools. Volunteers needed. Contact Maureen Watts 9623 9272. Emmaus Catholic College Mother’s Prayers: Every Monday, 10am at the Infant School.

Principal: Mr Robert Nastasi Ladies Auxiliary: 2nd Mon’s, Parish Office Meeting Room, 7:30pm Phone: 9670 4588 Youth Choir: Choir Practices on the 2nd Sunday of the month, Email: [email protected] 2.30pm – 4pm. Choir sings at the 9am Mass on the 4th Sunday Web: www.emmauskempscreek.catholic.edu.au of the month. All young people welcome, 6 -16 years. OLR-Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Apostolate (PMA) Rosary Prayer: every 4th Sunday of the month after the 10.30am Mass (11.45am) in the Church. All Welcome!

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Sat 6 Jnan Jesus the Healer, we commend to your gentle hands 6:00pm Antonia Nazal those who are sick

Sun 7 Jan THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Judith Urbano-Lopez, Denham de Silva, Mary Bonanno, Leanne Barlon, 7:30am Jack & Eileen Tasker Plaridel Santos, Kathy McMillan, Charlize McMillan, Soaad Halaka, Ester San- 9:00am Felix & Janina Jesionkowski tos, Jeblet, Greg , Sharan & Baby Larna, Anna R, Iris Warne, Donna, George 10.30am Stjepan Karlusic, Dragutin Ditrih Safi, Joan Law, Camilleri, Charlie Sultana, Maria Maciejewska, Peter 5:30pm Pro Populo Wetton, Maureen Cocks, Daniel Jacobson, Linda & William Weightman, Grazia Mon 8 Jan THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD Gullo, Tracey Bokor, Fuller, Sylvia Smith, Adrian Durando, Andrew 6.30am Holy Souls Boulos, Ricardo Herft, Grant Butterfield, Avalee, Dana, Garry., Meerle Steere, 9:00am Mr & Mrs Khokhar, Rehmat, Sheila Elivra Puyat, Renato Cazar, Vera Gould, Loyd, Carol Greentree, Tangey Fernan- des, Vitas Varnas, Luzia J. Vinuya, Joan Sattlar, Anna Clarke, Jim Kama, Allan Tue 9 Jan 9:00am Fr Jerry Breen Williams, Rosina Paulo, Ryan Cleary, Shaanan Pereira, Imelda & Joe Bonser, Wed 10 Jan Frank Campbell, Fr George O’ Mara, Wiloto Seng, Padraig Smith, Rosina 12 noon Maria, Antonio Anania Paulo, Sally McFarlane , Michael McDermott, Alicia Santos.Yu, Greg Hines, Sr Thur 11 Jan Jenny Doudle, Annette Axiak, Baby Cristiano, Maureen Cocks, Valeria Bruzzese 9:00am Holy Souls in Purgatory Fri 12 Jan 9.15am Warren and Family PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Please remember in your prayers our deceased Sat 13 Jan ST HILARY parishioners, family and friends especially 8:00am Ivan Jazo Jadwiga Walenciej, Alfred Farrugia. Francine Low, Sid Lawrence, Mario Daros, Daniel Samardzic, Sr Henriette, Jessie Gomes, Joe Rukavina, Mary Briffa, Matt Julian, William Melton, Fr Jerry Breen, Charlie Zammit, Alberto Garate., Ber- RECONCILIATION nadette Downey, Maria Teresa Urbina, Grazia Gullo, Nella Capasso, Vency Every Wednesday: 11:15am - 11:45am. Pinto, Brian Buan, Sejundina Sacun, Moises Sorrigaga, Francesca Premutico, Every Saturday: 9:00am - 10:00am, 5:00pm - 5:30pm Maria Castiglioni., Kevin Kennedy, Malcolm Wood, Betty Cox, Linda Dunn, Pamela Polland, Gwendoline Cash, Ron Hopkinson, Daniella Siciliano Carbone, ADORATION BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Rory Hampsey, Peter Murphy, Elizabeth Chidgey, Malek Athum Abaker. Wednesday: 11:15am - 11:45am, Mass at 12 noon Eternal rest grant unto their souls O Lord, let perpetual light shine Every Thursday: 9:30am - 6:00pm (after 9:00am Mass) upon them, may they rest in peace. Amen Friday: 8:30am - 9:00am. followed by Mass at 9:15am

Next Sunday’s Readings: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st and 2nd Collections: st 1st Collection: for the support of the priests of the parish 1 Reading: 1 3: 3-10, 19 2nd Collection: (including planned giving envelopes) goes Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 39: 2, 4, 7-10 towards the running costs of the Parish. 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 6: 13-15, 17-20 Thankyou for your ongoing support. Gospel: John 1: 35-42 WE WELCOME COMING EVENTS FOR THE DIARY 8 Jan: Parish Pastoral Council Exec Meeting, 6.30pm Mickayla Marie Vaotuua 9 Jan: Legion of Mary, Parish Hall Meeting Room 6.30pm

St Vincent De Paul, Parish Hall Mtg Room, 7:00pm into our Parish Family through the Sacrament of Baptism 10 Jan: Coogee Pilgrimage, Mass for Eileen O’Connor 12 Jan: Junior Legion of Mary, Parish Hall Mtg Rm, 5pm 25 Jan: Pre-baptism Programme, Church, 7.30pm OLR PARISH COMPUTER CLASSES Don Bosco Youth Centre closed from 28 Jan - 21 February We have an opening with limited seats for 2018 Basic Computer Class. If you are interested, please contact the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Parish office during office hours, to make a booking.

ADORATION CHAPEL Start Date: 15 February, 2018

Mondays & Tuesdays 8am - 9pm Venue: Parish Hall Meeting Room

Basic Class: 9.30am – 11.30am CHURCH (18 seats only - Basic computer class) Thursdays 9:30am - 6pm Advance Class: 1.30pm – 4pm ALL WELCOME (Please contact Joe directly for Advance class)

100'S CLUB FLOWERS FOR THE ALTAR East Timor Maubara Orphanage TERM JANUARY TO JUNE 2018. - Raffle Prizes -

It is that time of the year when we ask our dedicated 1st Prize - Marina Haines. members to join again and look forward to new members 2nd Prize - Janet Stafidas joining the Club which takes care of the Flowers for the 3rd Prize - Leo Quinn Altar . Collection Date for this term: Weekend of January Many thanks to all for your support of this raffle. 13th / 14th and January 20th / 21st. (2 weeks only). Core group members will be collecting after Masses. NEPEAN HOSPITAL - CHAPLAIN  Subscription $20 for 6 months. If you know anyone who is admitted to Nepean  A raffle will be drawn in the month of June 2018. Hospital, Public or Private and would like to receive  Prizes $500 in the Kitty Communion, please contact the hospital Chaplain on Please Note: 100 Members are required each term 4734 3150. Just the 2 weeks for registration and payment. The core group expresses sincere thanks to all members old (18 years) and new. OLR - DEFECT REGISTER (Parish Maintenance ) Your contribution keeps our Altar looking beautiful and If any Parish maintenance / safety issues need to God willing we will continue as long as we have the be addressed, please use the Defect support of you our generous parishioners. Register at the Parish office during office We take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy and hours (Monday - Friday) Healthy New Year. May Jesus and Mama Mary supply all Thank you for your co-operation, our needs. Parish Maintenance Team Core Group: Judy, Carmel, Antonia and Gladys.

Grief to Grace OLR PARISH TRIVIA NIGHT Please mark this date in your Healing the Wounds of Abuse diary and come along with friends and family. - is a spiritual retreat for anyone who has suffered degradation or violation through Date: Saturday, 24 February 2018 physical, emotional, sexual or spiritual abuse. Time: 7.00pm The retreat will be held April 8th – 13th 2018. Venue: OLR Parish Hall. To request an application contact Anne by emailing We hope to see you there with your family [email protected] or phone 0407704539. and friends. Lots of gifts and prizes to win! For more information visit www.grieftograce.org

PLEASE DON’T FORGET: Any donations of Cash or unwanted (NEW) Christmas St Marys Gardens Nursing Home or birthday gifts please bring to the Parish Office for Communion Roster collection. These will be very much appreciated. Sun 7 Jan: Miranda Lim, Geraldine Doyle Thank You, Trivia Team Sun 14 Jan: White Family, Violet P, Marcy P, Mila H

ST ANTHONY’S CHOIR Musicians/Singers (Aged 18-35 years) are invited to join St Anthony’s Choir (3rd Sat, 6pm Mass). Please text: 0433 159 058 or email: [email protected] The Epiphany of theLord

January 6-7 2018: After several decades as a faithful who guided Feast of Epiphany of the Lord his flock, Obviar died on October 1, 1978. His cause for was opened in 2001 and has since been named a “.” Servant of God

Born in 1877 in , , Verzosa was provided a firm foundation in faith by his family. He also felt called to the priesthood in his youth and was Dear Parishioners, ordained in 1904.

Wednesday January 10: Coogee Mass for Eileen Verzosa was a zealous evangelizer in his early priest- O’Connor: Eileen O’Connor, co-founder of Our Lady’s hood, experiencing fierce resistance from those who Nurses for the Poor, died on January 10 1921. turned to the Aglipayan religion. He was almost killed A move to introduce her cause for canonisation is by a spear for his evangelization efforts. gathering momentum. The annual anniversary Mass will be held next Wednesday morning at 11am in the convent In 1916 he became the bishop of Lipa, and went to work building schools, seminaries, catechetical centers in Coogee. Parishioners interested in attending that Mass and convents. Verzosa was also known for allowing a are asked to see me or inform the office. particular site of an apparition to be venerated by the

I shall be away Jan 11-23. faithful. When it was later discovered that it was a hoax, Verzosa was humiliated and exiled from the God bless. public eye. In all things he accepted the will of God and the Church, saying on his deathbed, “Let us bow to Fr Brendan the will of the Church.” He died on June 27, 1954, with his cause for canoniza- ******************************** tion opened in 2013. He currently has the title of

3 Filipino on the road to canonization “Servant of God.”

Among the many causes for canonization being Servant of God Teofilo Camomot considered in Rome are those of three bishops from Born in 1914 in Barangay Cogon, Carcar, Camomot the . Each of the bishops lived in the 20th always had a special love of the poor. At first he century and was highly regarded for his sanctity. desired to be a simple farmer, but later felt God’s call to the priesthood. Camomot was ordained in 1941 and then elevated to the episcopate in 1955. He continued to serve the poor as a bishop and lived himself in simple poverty. One story from his life illustrates his care for the poor. His simplicity was attested by so many people, even fellow prelates. There were many stories about the ’s Franciscan-like poverty. Cardinal Vidal has once told that on one occasion he noticed that Alfredo Verzosa Teofilo Camomot Archbishop Camomot was not wearing his pectoral cross, the cross that a bishop wears on his breast. Servant of God Alfredo Obviar Curious, he asked Monsignor Camomot about it. He Born in 1889 in Lipa City, , Obviar started made some excuse. Later a priest told the Cardinal out life as an orphan, being taken care of by relatives. that the Archbishop had pawned his cross to give Nevertheless, his faith was nurtured throughout his some money to the poor. The Cardinal later gave him childhood, and he pursued the priesthood at an early a new cross and told him not to give it away. age. He died from a car accident on September 27, 1988, Obviar was ordained a priest in 1919 and possessed and was highly regarded for his sanctity. The cause for “an extraordinary charism for organizing catechists his canonization was opened in 2010, and he has as well as for teaching catechism most especially to received the title “Servant of God.” According to the the old folks. In Lipa City, where he became also the website of his cause, “his body remained incorrupt Parish Priest, he established many catechetical twenty years after his death.” centers in the poblacion and in the barrios.” When he was ordained a bishop, this charism followed him and he made it a priority to form rural catechists.