St Patrick’s Parish Oamaru, Kurow, Omarama, Otematata & Hampden DECEMBER 2020 68 Reed Street Oamaru JANUARY 2021 Phone: 03-434-8543 Email: [email protected] Parish Priest: Father Wayne Healey Parish Centre Administrator:Elaine Hurley Phone: 03-434-8543 Father’s Emergency Mobile 027-348-7681 Volume XXXVIII Issue XI Website: www.oamarubasilica.org MASS TIMES BASILICA Saturday, Vigil Mass 5:00pm (68 Reed St Oamaru) Sunday 9:30am KUROW 1st & 3rd Sundays 12:00 Noon (Sacred Heart Church) (Main Road Kurow) HAMPDEN 2nd & 4th Sundays 11:30am Our Lady Star of the Sea Church (Hampden) WEEKDAY MASSES ETC DEAN O’REILLY LOUNGE Mon-Tue-Wed-Fri 9:15am (Replaced by a Funeral Mass) 1st Friday 9:15am Mass of Anointing Thursdays 9:15am (During school holidays etc) BASILICA Thursdays 9:15am (During Term times) ST KEVIN’S (Chapel) y Frida 12:20pm (57 Taward St) - Except School Holidays and any term breaks RECONCILIATION (Basilica) Thursday after Mass ROSARY (Lounge) Wednesday after 9:15am Mass COMMUNITY ROSARY (Lounge) Saturday 2:00pm Dear Parishioners By the time you read this letter I will have the newest and best hip in North Otago from 27th November. Well that’s my story anyway. I certainly hope so. However, this year since March has been one of uncertainty. COVID-19 has and continues to create havoc, fatalities, depression, hardship, economic ruin and violence to name some of the atrocities inflicted upon the world over. It comes home to us how vulnerable the human being really is and the need to be vigilant and not take too much for granted. The season of Advent has begun and we strive to prepare ourselves for the celebration of Christ Jesus’ birth once again. May we treasure the gift of Christ and that more and more will return and see the wonderful gift Christ Jesus is to humanity. In wishing you a very Happy Christmas I would like to thank you all. Christmas Day is very special but you are gifts to me and within the parish all year round for which I truly appreciate and learn from your examples both young and old in season and out of season. Blessings to you all Fr. Wayne Editorial DECEMBER 2020 - JANUARY 2021 ROSTERS There are three Gospel readings for Christmas Day. Morning Tea Sunday The first for Midnight Mass, the second for Dawn 6/12/2020 Espie Orlowski Mass and the third for Daytime Mass. The daytime Mass 13/12/2020 Roseanne Sheridan is taken from the Gospel of John and starts with ‘In 20/12/2020 Demi McLaren the beginning,’ John in his gospel refers us back to the 27/12/2020 Vanita Malekar creation of the earth but speaks of a presence already 3/01/2021 Eufrosina Finlayson there which was the Word. ’In the beginning was the 10/01/2021 Stephanie Leong Son Word and the Word was in God’s presence and the Word 17/01/2021 Espie Orlowski was God. This Word was present to God and through this 24/01/2021 Roseanne Sheridan Word all things came into being.’ God was not alone at 31/01/2021 Demi McLaren the creation; the Word was there present, and this Word 7/02/2021 Vanita Malekar became flesh and dwelt among us. Counters In Wisdom 18 we are told that this almighty Word leapt 6/12/2020 Ria Keogh down to be with us. When we go leaping about it is as 6/12/2020 Christine Hall if we are filled with exuberance and excitement. This 6/12/2020 Mary Dwyer Christmas we recall and remember this mighty deed 13/12/2020 Gloria Mansfield when God came among us to be one with us. Came with 13/12/2020 Carmen Sutherland excitement so that each of us can share in this fullness 20/12/2020 Dave Marriott of God; not just at Christmas but each day and in every 20/12/2020 Larraine Marriott event of our life. The excitement of Christmas is so 27/12/2020 Pat Finlay present when small children unwrapping gifts go leaping 27/12/2020 Anthea Finlay about and get so excited seeing parcels under the tree 3/01/2021 Lorraine Bremner wondering what is for them and what will be hidden 3/01/2021 Marie Watson under that paper. 10/01/2021 Frank Plieger What will be the hidden gift of God for each of us this 10/01/2021 Sally Galvin Year? I don’t yet know. Perhaps it will be a new life or the 10/01/2021 Gina Fox ending of an old life. Perhaps a joy of something new but 17/01/2021 Mary Watson perhaps a burden to be carried. Yet each is a gift if we can 17/01/2021 Ngaire Henderson view it like that. 17/01/2021 Marion Morris 'Word' is an interesting metaphor to use for this 24/01/2021 Susan Henderson presence. We use words to express what we are feeling, 24/01/2021 Bernadette Rawson and we search for words to express what we don’t yet 31/01/2021 Ria Keogh know. Often words take on a life of their own. A poet uses 31/01/2021 Christine Hall words to say something important to him or herself but 31/01/2021 Mary Dwyer when I read the words, they become my own and take 7/02/2021 Gloria Mansfield on new life. I bring to the words images and experiences 7/02/2021 Carmen Sutherland that I have which the creator of the original words didn’t Church Cleaners have, and I give the words new meaning. 6/12/2020 Jenny Nyika So it is with this Word of God. This Word is forever new, 13/12/2020 Anthea Finlay giving life and newness in every generation never old; 13/12/2020 Coleen Blackmore forever a life renewed as we keep celebrating Christmas 20/12/2020 Anthea Finlay after Christmas year in year out. All our Christmases are 20/12/2020 Coleen Blackmore forever different like a renewing of all that is within us. 27/12/2020 Tony Perniskie Other gospels give us other images of the glory that came 27/12/2020 Bev Conlan among us in the form of angels singing and the brightest 3/01/2021 Tony Perniskie of stars shining glory all around. 3/01/2021 Bev Conlan John in the Gospel says ‘ Of this Word’s fulness we have 10/01/2021 Tony Kearns all had a share – love following upon love. For while the 10/01/2021 Pauline Orr law, as given through Moses, this enduring love came 17/01/2021 Tony Kearns through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God 17/01/2021 Pauline Orr the Only Begotten, ever at our Creator’s side who has 24/01/2021 Sharny Guthrie revealed God to us! 24/01/2021 Anne Sutherland May your Christmas be filled with the love and glory 31/01/2021 Sharny Guthrie of God. Sr Mary Horn 31/01/2021 Anne Sutherland 7/02/2021 Gloria Mansfield 7/02/2021 Roseanne Sheridan Altar Society Rosters continued Lounge & Parish Cleaning Altar Soc.Flowers 3/12/2020 Jenny Nyika Dec-20 Glenys Kearns 10/12/2020 Bev Conlan Jan-21 Jan Plieger 17/12/2020 Bev Conlan Feb-21 Glenys Kearns 24/12/2020 No Cleaning required 31/12/2020 No Cleaning required Altar Soc.Linen 7/01/2021 No Cleaning required 6/12/2020 Mary Watson 14/01/2021 No Cleaning required 13/12/2020 Anthea Finlay 21/01/2021 Susan Finlay 20/12/2020 Anthea Finlay 28/01/2021 Susan Finlay 27/12/2020 Sally Galvin 4/02/2021 Anthea Finlay 3/01/2021 Sally Galvin 11/02/2021 Anthea Finlay 10/01/2021 Cally McKenzie 17/01/2021 Cally McKenzie 24/01/2021 Jeanette Mansfield VOLUNTEERS This is your responsibility. 31/01/2021 Jeanette Mansfield Please arrange a replacement if you 7/02/2021 Laurette Robinson are not available for the Altar Soc.Cleaning time or date rostered. 6/12/2020 Anthea Finlay 13/12/2020 Phillipa Jones 20/12/2020 Phillipa Jones St Patrick's Parish 27/12/2020 Judy Linwood Prayer Group 3/01/2021 Judy Linwood 10/01/2021 Cally McKenzie “Glory to God in the highest and on 17/01/2021 Cally McKenzie earth peace to those on whom His 24/01/2021 Gloria Mansfield favour rests.” Luke 2:14 31/01/2021 Gloria Mansfield We wish all our Parish Family a very Happy and Holy 7/02/2021 Soane & Tuavale Misiloi Christmas and all God's richest blessings and safe travels in the New Year. Our Christmas function will be on the Altar Soc.Brass Cleaning December 1st December and we will restart our prayer meetings on Dec-20 Margaret Pink the 2nd Feb 2021. Dec-20 Marion Morris For enquiries, prayer requests or a visit phone Maurice 437 0338 or Fely 434 9118 Oamaru Churches Foodbank Remember the Food Bank PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS every Sunday of the month. St Vincent de Paul Society Opportunity Shop Tees Street Oamaru Hours: Monday 1pm-4pm Tuesday to Friday 10am-4pm We wish to thank everyone for their donations as the sale of these items assists people in need. All Enquiries to 434-5565 Happenings Today's Readings Baptisms: 6th DECEMBER 2020 We welcome into our Parish Family 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT Natalia McClellan Deaths: We remember in our Prayers Sr Madeleie McAleese OP Fr Frank Ferry SSC Introduction to the Mass Emma Kimura John the Baptist described himself as a voice which Mark Daly cries in the wilderness.