Padua News Padua News is the official quarterly Newsletter of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Cnr Exford & Wilson Roads, Melton South, VIC 3338 Tel: 03 9747 9692; Fax: 03 9746 0422; Email: [email protected] This issue of Padua News is also published on the Parish Website http://stanthonysmeltonsouth.wordpress.com/padua-news/ Issue 46 December 1, 2017 From our ParishMessage Priest….. from Father Fabian In December 2010, we pur- generous donors, the figures were not exempt from the chased our present magnifi- arrived from Rome. We un- cares and trials of everyday cent nativity set. I can re- boxed them and set them life; from the moment of her up in the Holy Family conception, through her Father Fabian Smith member when I told the pa- Parish Priest rishioners in November Room and invited some pregnancy to journeying to 2009 that this nativity set children who were being Bethlehem to giving birth to cost $24,000, I heard a loud picked up by their parents Jesus in a stable, to finding gasp. But that gasp did not after school to come and refuge in Egypt, to living a have the first look. Each simple life in Nazareth, to deter us from going ahead to plan to purchase it at this one of them gasped in awe following Jesus to the foot of amount. I had asked for a upon seeing them. When the cross. Mary and Joseph’s sign from God as to whether God makes a promise he strong faith and deep trust in or not I should go ahead keeps it. God enabled them to be the Father John-Paul Mount Assistant Priest with this plan. best parents that God wanted This Christmas, when we them to be to Jesus. This was the plan: I was go- come and see the Christ- ing to take up a special col- Child in our manger, we What an amazing God we remember the promise ful- have! He chose Mary and lection at the Christmas masses and if the collection filled - God has come to be Joseph for Jesus to be ‘The amounted to $2000, which with his people. While we Holy family’, as an inspiration in itself will be ‘a miracle’ – look at the figure of the for all families. I know for a then I would go ahead to Christ-Child lying in the fact that though my parents Father Patrick Bradford manger, let’s not forget the are far from being compared Assistant Priest purchase this beautiful nativ- ity set, knowing that God two very important figures to Mary and Joseph, by the will provide the rest. If on on either side of him; Mary grace of God they have been the other hand the collection and Joseph. Of all the peo- perfectly suitable parents for amounted to less than ple in the world, God chose my sister and me. God want- $2000, even if it was a dollar Mary to be Jesus’ mother ed us to be loved and cared short, we would not pro- and Joseph to be his foster- for by these two very special ceed. After the last Mass on father. Two very specially people. Through every trial Christmas day with some graced people who will lov- and hardship in their lives, help the collection was ingly care for Jesus and their faith has never wavered counted. It amounted to watch over him as he grows and their love always con- Padua News Committee $2003. The sign could not into adulthood. stant. Their love for each Dolores Turcsan have been brighter! other and their faith in God Edwina La Rose Although chosen by God have helped us grow in our Lorraine Tellis After much fundraising and the Father, Mary and Joseph Rebecca Comini Continued on the next page Ken Dumandan Imalsha Silva Kim Barton The Padua News Committee Godwin Barton wishes all readers If you are interested in helping with any of the tasks in the a very joyful and blessed Christmas production of the Padua News, please contact any one of the and committee members or email: [email protected] a Happy New Year! Thank you. Issue 46 Page 2 Padua News Message from our Parish Priest (Continued from previous page) own faith and love towards holiness. The Nativity Scene at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Melton South Christmas is especially a time to cele- brate God’s generous grace-filled love in our lives and homes. In this joyous season of grace and goodwill, we are challenged in new and ever surprising ways to share the light, peace and love of the Christ-Child with all our loved ones. May Jesus bring each of you his peace and may his love for you be experienced in ever wondrous ways this Christmas. Wishing you a blessed Christmas! Father Fabian Smith Thanks to the dedication of a few men at St Anthony’s, at the start of Advent every year, the life-size Nativity Scene is set up for the reception of the baby Jesus at Christmas. The stable is dismantled for storage after the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord. First week - Mary and the angel. Mary listening to the angel. Second week - Joseph is added with the empty crib both awaiting the baby Jesus. Third week - the ox and ass is added. Fourth week - the shepherd and sheep is added. All awaiting the arrival of the Christ-Child. Epiphany - the arrival of the three kings. The Christmas Crib – a Catholic and family tradition Faith can be passed on through im- features in their windows, though cotton wool (to remind us of the miniature figures and animals still snow that fell, possibly in Bethlehem agery and simple words. The nativity appear, with one theme or another and in Saxony where she lived as a scene, a case in point, has come again unrelated to the birth of Christ and child, but never in summer in Mel- to St Anthony’s, inviting us to enter carrying the same invitation to enter bourne). and pray. the store and buy. Was the manger a poor, down-at-heel Tradition holds that St Francis of As- There was always a beautiful crib too place, as tradition might imply? sisi created the first crib in a cave near in our parish church in Gardenvale, “Certainly not”, Peter, my eldest Assisi using live animals and people. St James, to which we, the few Cath- brother (and Jesuit priest) would say His idea then spread rapidly across olic children in our street, would with confidence: Mary would not Europe and beyond, each culture mak- bring our non-Catholic friends to have been dismayed on arriving at ing its own creative reconstruction of come, look-see and pray. the manger. Far from it. She would the gospel narrative. have been full of gratitude in finding Christmas at home was always a hap- a clean, well-kept, sheltered warm A crib used to appear, when I was a py family affair, though I cannot re- place, so comfortable and adequate child, in the Myers window on Bourke member a crib. My mother, with her for their needs, specially prepared for Street in Melbourne. Queues formed German background, would bring her and her family by her loving to view it. It was cleverly built and into our front living room a large Father. And praising Him for so wondrous - certainly an enticement to potted plant for us to decorate with providing… enter the store! The crib no longer Continued on next page Padua News Issue 46 Page 3 The Christmas Crib – a Catholic and family tradition (continued from previous page) My family tradition The Origins of the Nativity Scene has its Catholic roots in London Nativity scenes have been a popular Advent 100 year ago, on a and Christmas decoration for centuries, and day in December – like most things glorious, time-honored, and holy – it originated with a Catholic 1917 when my par- Saint. ents first met. My father, a Catholic The Nativity scene tradition originated with and raised in Bac- St. Francis of Assisi in the year 1223 on Christmas Eve. A nativity scene, also called chus Marsh, was on a crib, or crèche, or manger scene, refers to leave from the any depiction of the birthplace of Jesus. front lines of WW1 It is believed that St. Francis was first in- following the great battle of Ypres; my later, a rosary, passed the love of the spired by this idea after visiting the histori- mother, an 18 year old girl of Lutheran Catholic faith she was given to each cal place of Christ’s birth on a pilgrimage to background, was fresh from boarding of her seven children. The daily ro- the Holy Land – the humble stable in a Beth- school. Their meeting resulted in her lehem cave. It is likely this event which sary was our lot, and a special time deepened his devotion to the Child Jesus, becoming a Catholic. She told of her was clearly given to Christmas. Its who was born into the world in such pov- conversion to a gathering at the Mel- Eve was our time of sharing presents erty, humility, and simplicity. In fact, Fran- bourne Catholic Library in 1948. The and the day itself was for Mass fol- cis founded his new religious Order to imi- first part of her talk tells of the im- tate these very virtues. lowed by a generous family lunch. St Francis recreated the scene of Christ’s portance of seeds planted by Catholic Boxing Day was a great festival of birth in a special ritual and Mass he held imagery and words: food and fun with relatives.