Granville Catholic Church Record

Vol. 3. No. 49 December 9, 2018 2nd Sunday of Advent

The Official Bulletin of Holy Trinity Parish at Granville and Holy Family Parish at East Granville

The Month of the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

The Church dedicates the month of December to the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In teaching that Mary was conceived immaculate, the Catholic Church teaches that from the very moment of her conception, the

Blessed Virgin Mary was free from all stain of original sin. This simply means that from the beginning, she was in a state of grace, sharing in God’s own life, and that she was free from the sinful inclinations which have beset human nature after the fall of mankind.

Scripture points to this truth. In the book of Genesis, in which the parallel between Mary and Eve: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed: he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (3:15). The early Church saw this passage as referring to the struggle between Christ and Satan, and so the Church sees in “the woman” a prophetic foreshadowing of Mary. If there is to be enmity between the woman and the serpent, then she was never in any way subject to him at all. This implies an immaculate conception. The dignity of being Mother of God is of infinite dignity. Yet Christ taught that the holiness coming from hearing the word of God and keeping it is something greater still. Mary’s holiness is great: “none greater under God can be thought of, and no one but God can comprehend it.” Even though Mary was full of grace at the start of her life, yet she could still grow, for, as it were, her capacity for grace could increase. A soul will grow in proportion to these things: firstly, the greater the dignity of the person, the greater the merit. In Mary’s case, the dignity of Mother of God is the highest possible. Secondly, the greater the work, the greater the merit: Mary’s cooperation in the redemption was the greatest work possible to a creature. Thirdly, the greater the love, the greater the merit. Love of God means the attachment of our will to His. Mary’s will adhered supremely, with no obstacle at all, so that even ordinary household duties, which she saw as the will of the Father for her, were supremely valuable.

HOLY FAMILY CHURCH

Holy Mass

Tuesday, 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, 9:15 a.m. Thursday, 9:15 a.m.

Friday, 9:15 a.m. Saturday, 9:15 a.m. Sunday, 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Wednesday, 6:00 p.m.

Holy Rosary Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

Children’s Liturgy

Third Sunday of the Month, 8:30 a.m.

Rosters Altar Society Group 4: S. Elias, J. Nakkoul, R. Connor

Readers

8:30 a.m. Vicky Devine

5:00 p.m. Claudette Takchi

Counters T. Burden and D. Meredith

Bus Driver John McIntyre

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

Holy Mass Monday, 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 8:15 a.m. Thursday, 8:15 a.m. Friday, 8:15 a.m.

Saturday, 8:15 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Sunday, 10:00 a.m.

Holy Mass and Adoration

of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. First Friday of the month, 7:00 p.m.

Traditional Latin Mass

First Thursday of the month, 7:00 p.m.

Ghanaian Chaplaincy Mass Second and last Sunday of the month,

11:30 a.m.

Vietnamese Chaplaincy Mass Sunday, 5:00 p.m.

Children’s Liturgy

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.

Rosters

Church Cleaning Group 3: Thi Vi Vu and the Vietnamese community

Readers

Vigil Paul El-Husseini,

Katherine Jenner, Mary Mbugua

10:00 a.m. Jasmine Miranda, Sisters,

Jake Fili

Children’s Liturgy Elmo and Shanthi

THE PARISH OFFICE

Address 200 The Trongate, South Granville, N.S.W. 2142

T 0497 190 444 E granville@parracatholic.org

Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Andrew Bass PP

Business and Projects Manager Mr. John Portelli

Director of Music Mr. John Portelli

Acolytes Co-ordinator Mr. Jim Newell

Catechist Co-ordinators Mr. Joe Elias Mrs. Lana Leatherby

Sacraments and T.Y.M. Co-ordinator Miss Rosette Chidiac

Webpage Co-ordinator Mr. Frank Bugeja

Piety Shop Mrs. Mary Bazelmans Mrs. Elsie Bugeja Mrs. Christine Tembo Miss Thorie Tembo Mrs. Annette Wirz

Missionary Sisters of Mary, Queen of the World — Australia Sr. Justina Pham T (02) 9637-1827

Principal of Holy Family School Mrs. Yvette Baird

Principal of Holy Trinity School Mrs. Helen Boyer

Principal of Delany College Mr. Rob Muscat

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK

Janelle Allan, Marlene Ashton, John Augustus, Ann Blesson, Antonia Bonaci, Vincenzo Colosimo, Leslie Cotter, Eileen Dean, Carmel Galea, Samir Gibrine, Evangeline Grabato, John Graham, Thomas Hayek, Elizabeth Hicks, Ruth La Rosa, Jacob Lee, Ester Matos, Scott Moulton, Tony Moussa, Ben Nursoo, John Pickering, Flory Pinto, Don Provest, Peter Rahme, Anna Saunig, Therese Smeal, Phil Thompson, Ricardo Tognini, Miriam Welangoda and those who care for them. Saint Raphael, who are called ‘the Remedy of God’ and ‘the Angel of Health,’ pray for them. Amen.

IN MEMORIAM

Gil Adato, Juanita Adato, Kathleen Bradbery, Paul Bradbery, Diego Canovo, Dib Family, Diane Dib, George Dib, Ellen Gobbi, Joseph Hage, Marie Ladkani, Valeriano La Rosa, Anthony Magro, Domingo Marbella, Maryse Mariasson, Charles Micallef, Sam Moussa, Samantha Moussa, Philip Edmund Procter, Geoffrey Senior, Ray Watts, Jill Elizabeth Williams, Dib Zaiter, Mansour Zane, Maroun Aboud Zeid. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

CONFESSIONS

Holy Trinity Church

Saturday, 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Holy Family Church

Sunday, 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Mass

Important Notice

Holy Trinity Primary School will be celebrating its farewell to Year 6 this Tuesday, 11 December, at 6:00 p.m. with Holy Mass. Because of this Mass there will not be the usual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 6:30 p.m. or Holy Mass at 7:00 p.m. The following Tuesday, 18 December, Holy Family Primary School will be celebrating their farewell to Year 6 with at 6:00 p.m. with Holy Mass at Holy Family Church. Because of this Mass there will not be the usual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 6:30 p.m. or Holy Mass at 7:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church.

Holy Trinity Piety Shop

With Christmas only a few weeks away this is the time to visit the Holy Trinity Piety Shop and to have a look at the wonderful arrangement of gifts. Mary Bazelmans and Annette Wirz spend a great deal of time looking after the shop and always have a delightful assortment of gifts. 2019 Columban Art Calendars are also available to buy for $10 and support the Columban Mission Society. So make sure to stop by before or after Mass to have a look at what is available.

Holy Trinity Friendship Group

The Holy Trinity Friendship Group are having a luncheon at Merrylands Bowling Club’s Food Choice Restaurant on Tuesday, 11 December. If you are able to attend, please arrive at the club between 11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. For more information, please contact John Borg on 9644-8263.

HOLY TRINITY CHURCHGranville

Holy Trinity Parish Appgranvilleparish.org.au Holy Trinity Granville @holytrinitygranville

Readers for Christmas Masses

If you would like to read at one of the Masses this Christmas please list your name and contact details on the forms by the doors of the church. Holy Mass for Christmas will be said at Holy Trinity Church on Chr i s tmas Eve , Monday, 24 December at 6:00 p.m. and at midnight, and on Christmas Day, Tu e s d a y, 2 5 D e c e m b e r a t 10:00 a.m.

We will be holding our annual solemn Carols by Candlelights service at Holy Trinity Church on Friday, 21 December at 8:00 p.m. Those who have attended in previous years have said it was one of the most beautiful carols services they have seen and so make sure that you come along that evening as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Our Lord at Christmas. To see videos of last year’s carols check out our Facebook page under the videos tab.

Thank You

Thank you to Rafael Rahme for his generosity in removing the old gates and benches from behind the church. We are very grateful to him for taking the time to cut these apart and to remove them. The grounds behind the church look much tidier now thanks to his generous service to the parish.

Readers for Christmas Masses

If you would like to read at one of the Masses this Christmas please list your name and contact details on the forms by the doors of the church. Holy Mass for Christmas will be said at Holy Family Church on Monday, 24 December at 6:00 p.m. and at midnight, and on Tuesday, 25 December at 8:30 a.m. and at 5:00 p.m.

2019 Columban Art Calendars for Sale

Th e 2 0 1 9 C o l u m b a n A r t Calendars are on sale for $10 from the piety shop. The Columban Art Calendar is an iconic Catholic Calendar, well-known for its traditional religious paintings and liturgical information and is a major f u n d r a i s e r f o r C o l u m b a n Missionaries.

Have a look at these beautiful calendars now available for sale in the piety shop.

HOLY FAMILY CHURCH EAST GRANVILLE

eastgranvilleparish.org.au Holy Family Parish AppHoly Family East Granville

The annual Holy Family Parish Carols Concert will be held this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the grounds of Holy Family Primary S c h o o l a n d w i l l i n c l u d e performances by parishioners and students telling the story of the birth of Our Lord from the Gospel of St. Luke. If you would like to be a part of the concert and add your voice and perform please speak with Fr. Andrew. And make sure to join us on Thursday evening for our annual parish carols concert as we prepare to celebrate the great solemnity of the birth of Our Lord at Christmas.

Holy Family Piety Shop

Make sure to have a look at the Holy Family Piety Shop before or after Mass to see the new range of m e r c h a n d i s e a n d t h e n e w Christmas items. Have a look to see if there is anything you would like to give as a gift for someone or maybe you would like to have as decoration for your home this Christmas season. Sales from the piety shop support the parish. And the 2019 Columban Art Calendar is available for sale for $10, the proceeds of which supports the Columban Mission Society.

advertising space for

sale

PARRAMATTA

CATHOLIC FOUNDATION

PLEASE GIVE WITH A GENEROUS HEART

TO THE BISHOP’S CHRISTMAS APPEAL TODAY

The Catholic Foundation appeal will be held next Sunday at each Mass. Envelopes will be made available in the pews

or you can make a donation by visiting www.yourcatholicfoundation.org.au and help the parish meet its quota.

Funds raised support vital ministries including CatholicCare’s Houses to Homes service which gives help and hope to homeless young women in crisis.

Houses to Homes provides compassion, care and shelter to disadvantaged, homeless young mothers and mothers-to-be

who have nowhere and nobody else to turn to.

This Christmas, we’re counting on your faith, hope and charity to support homeless mothers and children in crisis.

Your compassionate gifts and prayers will support the shelter, independent living and parenting skills programmes

that homeless mothers desperately need.

First Reading The Prophet Baruch (5:1-9)

Jerusalem, take off your dress of sorrow and distress, put on the beauty of the glory of God for ever, wrap the cloak of the integrity of God around you, put the diadem of the glory of the Eternal on your head: since God means to show your splendour to every nation under heaven, since the name God gives you for ever will be, ‘Peace through integrity, and honour through devotedness’. Arise, Jerusalem, stand on the heights and turn your eyes to the east: see your sons reassembled from west and east at the command of the Holy One, jubilant that God has remembered them. Though they left you on foot, with enemies for an escort, now God brings them back to you like royal princes carried back in glory. For God has decreed the flattening of each high mountain, of the everlasting hills, the filling of the valleys to make the ground level so that Israel can walk in safety under the glory of God. And the forests and every fragrant tree will provide shade for Israel at the command of God; for God will guide Israel in joy by the light of his glory with his mercy and integrity for escort.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 125. ℟. v. 3)

℟. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, it seemed like a dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

on our lips there were songs. ℟.

The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels the Lord worked for them!’ What marvels the Lord worked for us!

Indeed we were glad. ℟.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage as streams in dry land. Those who are sowing in tears

will sing when they reap. ℟.

They go out, they go out, full of tears, carrying seed for the sowing: they come back, they come back, full of song,

carrying their sheaves. ℟.

Second Reading The Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians (1:3-6, 8-11)

Every time I pray for all of you, I pray with joy, remembering how you have helped to spread the Good News from the day you first heard it right up to the present. I am quite certain that the One who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes. God knows how much I miss you all, loving you as Christ Jesus loves you. My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia! Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all people shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia!

Gospel The Gospel of Luke (3:1-6)

In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the lands of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. He went through the whole Jordan district proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the sayings of the prophet Isaiah: A voice cries in the wilderness; Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled in, every mountain and hill be laid low, winding ways will be straightened and rough roads made smooth. And all mankind shall see the salvation of God.

2nd Sunday of Advent The Readings