Parish of Corio/Lara St Francis Xavier Church, Corio St Anthony of Padua Church, Lara Archdiocese of Melbourne Australia

4th Sunday in Advent4th Sunday of Advent

Sunday 24th December, 2017Today’s Gospel is from Lk 1:26-38Jesus and Satan have an argument as to who is the better computer programmer.Eventually they agree to hold a contest with God as the judge. They set themselves before their computers and begin. They type furiously for several hours; lines of code streaming up the screen. Seconds before the end of the competition, a bolt of lightning strikes and takes out the electricity. Moments later, the power is restored, and God announces that the contest is over. He asks Satan to show what he has come up with. Satan is visibly upset, and cries, ‘I have nothing! I lost it all when the power went out.’ ‘Very well, then,’ says God, ‘let us see if Jesus fared any better.’ Jesus enters a command, and the screen comes to life in vivid display, the voices of an angelic choir pour forth from the speakers. Satan is astonished. He stutters, ‘But how? I lost everything, how can Jesus' program be intact?’ God chuckles and says, ‘Ah – because Jesus saves.’

On this final Sunday of Advent the Church moves our gaze to the Annunciation. The whole scene hinges around one word: ‘Yes.’ Mary's fiat sets in motion the entire Christian drama. In his film Jesus of Nazareth Franco Zeffirelli pictures the Annunciation this way: Mary is asleep at night when a gust of wind opens a high window. Afraid at all the commotion Mary gets up and starts to pray. As she prays, we see her face change and her body bend over. With tears in her eyes, Mary looks up through the window to the moonlit sky and simply says, ‘Yes’. The swirling wind dies down at once.

In recent years successive popes have reminded us that the best devotion to Mary is one that leads us to do what she did: say ‘yes’ to Jesus. Mary is not a stop on our journey of faith; she is a guidepost that always sends us on to Christ. Mary does not save us, for we believe she needed to be saved by Christ as well. That's why she could say yes in the first place. Mary recognised the gift and the giver and became the bearer of God for the world.In this final week of Advent let's keep reminding ourselves of this simple but life-changing fact: Jesus saves us. Jesus saves us from death. Jesus saves us from living lives devoid of purpose and meaning and Jesus saves us from ourselves.We don't save ourselves. We cannot earn salvation by good works or prayers or penance. And, as difficult as it is to hear, we cannot save anyone else. That includes our children, spouse, grandchildren, parents or friends.Our prayers, good works and faith are the responses we make to the salvation of Christ we claim here and now. And how we live is the way by which those we love will find the gift of God's salvation for themselves.In the midst of this frantic final week before Christmas when so many other things can distract us from what this grace-filled feast is really all about, let's take a moment to join Mary in accepting into our lives and hearts the greatest of all gifts – our undeserved salvation, Jesus Christ the Lord. Richard Leonard SJ

PARISH PRAYER We, the people of Corio/Lara Catholic Parish give thanks and praise to God the Father. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we become more like Jesus: listening to the Word of God and celebrating the Eucharist; sharing each other’s lives and forgiving one another; respecting creation and taking responsibility for our world. Like St Francis Xavier, may we offer light to those in darkness, and warmly welcome all people. Like St Anthony of Padua, may we nourish the hungry with wise words and kind deeds. St Francis Xavier, pray for us. St Anthony of Padua, pray for us.

PARISH MISSION STATEMENT We, the Catholic people of Corio/Lara guided by the Spirit, participate in Christ’s Mission.

With our gifts we create a Parish that welcomes all people.

PARISH CALENDARMONDAY25th Dec

TUESDAY

26th Dec

WEDNESDAY27th Dec

THURSDAY28th Dec

FRIDAY29th Dec

SATURDAY30th Dec

SUNDAY31st Dec

CHRISTMASDAY9am Mass, Lara10.30am Mass, Corio

9am Communion Service, Corio

9.15am Communion Service, Lara6.30pm Rosary, Novena.

9am Communion Service, Corio

9.15am Communion Service, Lara7:00pm Bingo7:00-9:00pm Adoration, Corio

7pm Mass, Corio

9am Mass Lara.10:30 Mass Corio.

ROSTERSTIME ANDDATE

READER/COMMENTATOR EUCHARIST MINISTERS

FLOWERS, ST FRANCIS XAVIER CHURCH, CLEANERS

30th Dec 2017 7pm Corio

L PankhurstK McCarthyHospitality-A & B Randall

M DelacF MoloneyA Randall

CORIO – F GeertsLARA- V BrennanCLEANING- F Geerts & E Bonafacio

31st Dec 2017 9am Lara

N MeadeM TitfordWelcomers-L & J CookHospitality-G Hynes & T McManus

D WhelanG FoleyB LeeR ShannahanN MeadeP Limsowtin

10.30am Corio T Van Der HoevenT Van Der HoevenWelcomer-S FloodHospitality-E Barry & V Bennett

K TancioV NeriM NeriA BuayaR Buaya

NEXT WEEKS READINGS- Gen 15:1-6,21:1-3 or Sirach 3:2-6,12-14; Ps:104:1-6,8-9, Heb 11:8,11-12,17-19 or Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:22-40

Death anniversaries: Shirley Quiamco and Vicente Quiamco, Salvatore Servello and Natalina De Giorgio.Sick: Nicholas Francis, Emily Gilson, Kirk Watson, Greg & Sally Brown and Jessica de Grandis

Prayer Intention of Pope Francis for December 2017: For the Elderly: That the elderly, sustained by families and Christian communities, may apply their wisdom and experience to spreading the faith and forming the new generations.

Vocation View: Every person who has ever born a child, and every person who has freely vowed away his honour, helps in some mysterious way to bring Jesus

Christ into this world again. Can you say: “Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord”?

CHRISTMAS TIME TABLE -Christmas Eve Masses-

St Anthony’s, Lara, 9amSt Francis Xavier’s, Corio 10.30am

Family Masses- St Francis Xavier’s, Corio 6pm St Anthony’s, Lara 8pm

Christmas Day Masses- St Anthony’s, Lara, 9am St Francis Xavier’s, Corio, 10.30am

Join us for Christmas Carols at 5.30pm before the 6pm Christmas Eve Mass at St. Francis Xavier, Corio.

Thank you from Pauline- for your friendship and support over the years as Parish Secretary in your wonderful parish. When I decided at the beginning of this year to retire, it was a tough decision, and as the time draws closer, its even tougher ! I will always remember you all and value the treasured memories of my years here. Thank you, again, for everything. Pauline

Arlean Alex will be our new Parish Secretary and will start work on 2nd January 2018 and will be working Monday to Friday from 8am to 1pm each day. Please make her welcome into the Parish.

SACRISTAN AT ST ANTHONY’S LARA-After many years of dedicated service as one of the Sacristans at St Anthony’s Lara, Marie Titford is retiring due to health issues. Therefore we are urgently seeking a new person to fill that shared position as soon as possible. If you are interested please speak to Angela, Marie, or Fr Pius or let the Parish Office know. Marie and Angela would be happy to speak to anyone about what the ministry entails.

2018 SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN ATTENDING NON-CATHOLIC SCHOOLS- If you have children attending non-Catholic schools, or know of anyone who does, who are eligible for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist or Confirmation, please be advised that enrolments are now open. The children need to have been baptised and are in at least grade 3. Please note Confirmation classes for these children will begin on 4th February 2018. Please call into the Parish office to enrol.

THE YEAR OF YOUTH 2018 – “Dear young people, Jesus give us life, life in abundance. If we are close to him we will have joy in our hearts and a smile on our face” Pope Francis

Merry ChristmasChristmas Blessings! May you have a peaceful and joyful time with your families, and may 2018 be

filled with blessings for you all. Fr Pius.Today the Christmas celebration gains a new depth of theological meaning. At midnight, the birth in history was proclaimed. At dawn, the initiative of God's gift was declared and the community's joyful

gratitude was announced. In this third celebration, the identity of Christ and the new way of life that he brings is announced.If our eyes are open and alert, we can see that God has won a victory for us, one that is tangible and realised in our midst. It is an overwhelming victory, one that permanently conquers the enemy. This victory has a profound impact on every place, every time and every people. The birth of the infant, the king in David's line, promises salvation to all who long for it. This

salvation is a new vision of wisdom, one that has been realised in Christ, God's agent of grace in the world. It is a new world, one of inclusivity and of righteous honour. It is a new age, one that is ushered in by the child who is leading a victory procession.Ultimately, only eyes of faith allow us to see the fullness of God's revelation. The glory of the infant king is the very presence of God made flesh. Jesus is the eternal incarnate Word who has pitched his tent among us. Ours is not a distant God; the incarnate wisdom of God is among us, and we are called to a change of heart that will allow us to see this wonder. © Dianne Bergant CSS

FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK: St. Stephen 26th Dec -was the first deacon chosen by the apostles soon after the death and ressurection of Jesus. He took care of the needs of Greek-speaking widows among the Christian community in Jerusalem, and he was also known as a zealous preacher. But his preaching was considered blasphemy by the Jewish council and he was stoned to death in c.35 AD. Stephen became the first martyr for Christ and even as they threw stones at him, he asked God to forgive his attackers for their sins.

St John the Evangelist 27th Dec -was a son of Zebedee and brother of James. John and James (the Greater) were apostles of Jesus, who referred to them as the ‘sons of thunder’. He was a witness to many events including the Transfiguration, the raising of Jairus’ daughter and the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. As he stood at the foot of the cross, John was told by Jesus to accept Mary as his adopted mother. John was the first to reach the tomb when told of the resurrection and the first to recognise the Risen Lord when he appeared to them at Lake Tiberias. Towards the end of his life, John wrote the fourth Gospel as a witness to the Divinity of Christ. He also wrote three epistles contained in the New Testament, and is traditionally, though perhaps not correctly, identified as the author of the Book of Revelation.

NOVENA to our Mother of Perpetual Help is on every Wednesday with a Rosary at 6.30pm followed by Novena of Mother of Perpetual Help at St Francis Xavier Church, Corio.

Parish Care Group: Carers are there for you at both Corio and Lara. The Care Group was established to support members of the Parish who are experiencing grief, loneliness or difficult times. If you would like a carer to visit you please ring the Parish Office or Pam Fitzgerald in Corio area on 5275 2507 or Lou Schepers in Lara Ph 0413 802 623.

BINGO: Is held in the Xavier Centre, Corio every Friday night starting at 7.30pm. There is a friendly atmosphere, great prizes, cool drinks and supper available for sale and free tea and coffee.

Fr Pius Kodakkathanath Parish Priest Pauline Gilmore & Diane Saliba Secretaries Bill Geerts Chairperson, Parish Pastoral CouncilMaria Scala Principal, St Francis Xavier School, Corio Ph 52751974Natalie Heard Principal, St Anthony’s School, Lara Ph 52821415PARISH OFFICE 143 Bacchus Marsh Road, Corio 3214 VICTELEPHONE 5275 4120. email fxcorio@iinet.net.au Web: www.coriolaraparish.org.au OFFICE HOURS Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri - 9.00am - 4.00pm (1-1.30pm Lunch Break) Wednesday – Office ClosedWEEKEND MASS TIMES-Saturday- 7.00pm, St Francis Xavier, Corio. Sunday-9.00am - St Anthony’s Lara, 10.30am - St Francis Xavier, Corio.WEEKDAY MASS TIMES: Tuesday and Thursday-9am, St Francis Xavier, Corio, Wednesday,2nd &5th Friday 9.00am Anthony’s Lara. 1st &3rd Friday- 10.15am Hume Court Lara, 4th Friday- 11:30am St Anthony’s Lara. SATURDAY DEVOTION: Mass at 9:30am followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every 1st Saturday each month, St Francis Xavier Church, Corio.

RECONCILIATION-1st Sat of each month 10-10.30am and 6.15-6.45pm St Francis Xavier Church, Corio, 1st Sunday of each month- 8.15-8.45am St Anthony’s Church, Lara

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