RESPONSORIAL PSALM

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

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all

people shall see the salvation of God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Baruch 5:1-9 Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11 Luke 3:1-6

Please pray for our departed loved ones, especially Phoebe Eales, Arthur (Alan) Wilson, Magda Coulam, Emmanuel (Willie) Falzon and Geoffrey Cardillo recently deceased and also for Erin Begley, Reg Sladen, Les Aylward, Conrado Daffon, Adelaido Herrera, Stan Grzegrzolka, Leoncio Rodriguez, Feliza Rodriguez, Lyons family, Salvador Rodriguez, Dennis Duncan, Erline Marshall, Roy Jones, Kathleen Geraghty, Andrew Geraghty, Kath and George Nolan, Margaret Turpin and Harrold Turpin.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

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

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all

people shall see the salvation of God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Baruch 5:1-9 Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11 Luke 3:1-6

Please pray for our departed loved ones, especially Phoebe Eales, Arthur (Alan) Wilson, Magda Coulam, Emmanuel (Willie) Falzon and Geoffrey Cardillo recently deceased and also for Erin Begley, Reg Sladen, Les Aylward, Conrado Daffon, Adelaido Herrera, Stan Grzegrzolka, Leoncio Rodriguez, Feliza Rodriguez, Lyons family, Salvador Rodriguez, Dennis Duncan, Erline Marshall, Roy Jones, Kathleen Geraghty, Andrew Geraghty, Kath and George Nolan, Margaret Turpin and Harrold Turpin.

6th December 2015 (Year C)

fxvÉÇw fâÇwtç Éy TwäxÇàYEAR of MERCY

A world-wide Jubilee Year of Mercy begins on Tuesday, the solemn feast of the Virgin Mary’s Conception. It will be the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council. The theme of God’s mercy is a strong one in the teaching of Pope Francis and follows the two Synods in October 2014/2015 looking at issues surrounding the family.

To focus on God’s unbounded mercy sets up a pastoral approach for the Church which is less concerned with enforcing the rules and more concerned with understanding the human condition and offering forgiveness. It leads each of us individually to forget about holding grudges and

seek reconciliation. A life of mercy helps us to care about others, not to judge, not to gossip (face to face or Facebook), not to retaliate.

In the coming year, we will be reading from the Gospel of Luke at Sunday Mass. It abounds in beautiful parables of mercy: the prodigal son, the lost sheep, the good Samaritan… and is filled with Jesus’ example of healing the sick and helping those in need.

Reconciliation. One of the most powerful ways of receiving God’s mercy and changing our hardness of heart is through the Sacrament of Penance. Make a note of our special parish celebration of the sacrament together with a celebration of Eucharist on Wednesday evening 16 December at 7pm.

Pilgrimage. Traditionally, Jubilee is associated with pilgrimage. A number of Pilgrim Days have been advertised for the picturesque Santa Teresa Spirituality Centre at Ormiston. I wonder if it would be a good idea to get a group together from the parish. May I suggest Sunday 13 March for our parish? It would be an ideal Lenten exercise. The day begins at 9.30 and finishes at 3.30 and is limited to 60 participants. There is no cost and lunch is provided. We would need to get in early for a group booking. It is a retreat day of prayer and reflection. We will be able to visit the Carmelite chapel next door. Individuals can register for other days, but would you be interested to join a parish group? Contact the parish office and leave your name as an expression of interest.

We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity and peace. Our salvation depends on it. Mercy: the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us… Pope Francis, establishing the Year of Mercy. More information as the year unfolds.

� TOM ELICH parish priest � MARY RANDLE SGS pastoral associate � HELEN PRICE and HELEN COLE parish secretaries � ANN-MAREE NICHOLLS SGS school principal �

Please remember the sick in your prayers – Karen Cassady, Molly Xavier, Annabel Mahony, Leo Maher, Paula Maher, Rory Kelly, Margaret Anne Pritchard, Lucy Gibb, Matilda Swain and Julie Wessely.

DATE CLAIMERS 2015 Monday 7 December RCIA Group meet at 7pm Tuesday 8 December Liturgy Committee meet at 7pm Wed 9 December Parish Pastoral Council at 7.30pm Thursday 10 December Playgroup Cleanup in the Hall St Vincent de Paul meet at 6pm Wednesday 16 December Mass of Reconciliation 7pm Friday 18 December Community Christmas Carols 6pm

SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING THE SICK – will be celebrated at the 9:30am Mass on Friday 11 December, followed by morning tea. We will arrange transport for the housebound. This sacrament is for those who are seriously ill and offers the healing of Christ and the support of the

church. All parishioners who have a significant health difficulty are welcome to come to celebrate this sacrament and have a cuppa afterwards in the Parish Hall.

RCIA – Please continue to support our candidates in prayer, help them by example and welcome them through our friendship. Their journey continues in the New Year

ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS TREE - gifts for children in need – please take a tag with a suggested age and return a suitable unwrapped gift to under the tree by Sunday 6 December. Thank you.

VOCATION VIEW – Who, today, is willing to make ready the way of the Lord, to clear him a straight path? God, I prayed you would help me discern and make a straight path out of

the wilderness. Pray for vocations. To talk to someone about your vocation, please contact the Vocation office on 3336 9392 or vocation@bne.catholic.net.au

MESSE EN FRANÇAIS – Several times a year. Fr Tom celebrates Mass in French for the French-speaking community. It will be held at Sts Peter and Paul’s 3pm Sunday 20 December. All French speakers and students welcome.

Santa visited playgroup this week. Merry Christmas to all the families

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CHECK OUT THE PARISH WEBSITE

www.bulimbacatholic.com GET THE PARISH NEWSLETTER ONLINE

School newsletter: www.stspp.qld.edu.au _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CHRISTMAS MASSES Christmas Eve 6pm (lots of children) Christmas Eve 8pm (a bit quieter) Midnight (special magic)

Christmas morning 8am (again exuberant children)

CALLING ALL SHEPHERDS AND ANGELS! At the Christmas Family Masses (6pm Christmas Eve and 8am Christmas Morning) we invite small children to come dressed as shepherds or angels. There will be a Gospel Tableau and they are invited to

come forward as a group to be part of the proclamation of the Gospel.

PRIZES FOR CHRISTMAS CAROLS RAFFLE: Non-perishable gifts are sought for prizes to be raffled at the Community Christmas Carols, Friday 18 December in the School Good Samaritan Hall. Some suggestions include: gourmet food, wine, Christmas decorations. Please place donations in the labelled box provided at the rear of the Church by 10

December – thank

you!

����VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CHRISTMAS���� To help at all Masses – Readers, Communion Ministers, Altar Servers and Collectors.

HOSPITALITY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED after each Christmas Mass to serve refreshments and hand out parish fridge calendars. Also needed are donations of fruit cakes – “Lions” cakes are great. If you are able to help with any of this please call the office on 3399 2386.

THANK YOU to Cecilia Wockner who is finishing her ministry of altar serving. She has been outstandingly faithful over many years and has been a particular help this year in training the young servers. On behalf of you all, Thank You!

CONGRATULATIONS to our graduating Grade 6 students. We celebrated a wonderful liturgy and graduation ceremony last Wednesday evening. Then the school year finished with a whole-school Mass on Friday morning. Blessings and best wishes to teachers and students for the holidays!

CONGRATULATIONS to parishioner and teacher at the school, Katherine Griffin, who will marry Robert Shears next Saturday afternoon. We pray God’s blessing upon your life together!

MORE CONGRATULATIONS to Sister Mary Randle, parish pastoral associate, who will be going to Sydney this week for the official celebration to mark her Golden Jubilee of Religious Profession! Fifty years of dedicated service: thank you and every blessing, Mary. The parish will celebrate this milestone at the beginning of next year (8 am Mass, Sunday 31 January) at a special Mass to mark the arrival of the Good Samaritan Sisters in Brisbane.

NO PARKING please on brick paved area in front of the church.

PARISH ROSTERS NEXT WEEK Readers, Communion Ministers, Sacristans and Altar Servers Team 2 - please arrange a substitute if you are not available.

Hospitality Roster 20 December – Brenda Hawke, Kevin and Natasha McCarthy 25 December – Help needed at all Christmas Masses

Casserole Bank Team 1 – Contact Kerry Pontikis. Attention all cooks – please note our casserole supplies are very low and extra help would be wonderful, please deliver directly to

the SVDP storeroom or the parish office. Thank you

+ Liturgy this Week 7 December – 13 December 2015

MONDAY 7:00am St Ambrose Mass

TUESDAY - The Immaculate Conception

of the Blessed Virgin Mary

-

WEDNESDAY 7:00pm Mass

THURSDAY 9:00am Mass

FRIDAY 9:30am Mass with anointing of the sick

SATURDAY 9:00am Mass

SUNDAY 6:00pm (Saturday), 8:00am and 6:00pm Mass: Third Sunday of Advent

Readings – Zephaniah 3:14-18 Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:10-18

OTHER LITURGY AND PRAYER

RECONCILIATION Saturday at 9:30am and 5:00pm

MEDITATION Tuesday at 7:00pm (Lourdes Hill Convent) and Wednesday at 9:30am (Parish Hall)

ROSARY for peace Saturday before 9:00am Mass

ANGELUS for vocations Saturday before 9:00am Mass

ENTRANCE HYMN PREPARE THE WAY

There was a man of God whose name was John. He came to speak for the light. The voice of one in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the Lord. Prepare the way of the Lord. Prepare the way of the Lord. Prepare the way of the Lord.

Mountains and hills shall be brought to the ground, The winding paths be straightened And all on earth shall see his face:

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PENITENTIAL ACT You were sent to heal the contrite of heart Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy You came to call sinners Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy

LAMB OF GOD Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Grant us peace.

MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION When we eat this bread and drink this cup, We proclaim your death O Lord until you come again. COMMUNION HYMN

IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

CHORUS

In the breaking of the bread We have known him; we have been fed. Jesus the stranger, Jesus the Lord; Be our companion; be our hope.

Bread for the journey, strength for our years, Manna of ages, of struggle and tears. Cup of salvation, fruit of the land; Bless and receive now, the work of our hands.

Bread of the promise, people of hope, Wine of compassion, life for the world. Gathered at table, joined as one body. Sealed in the spirit, sent by the word.

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RECESSIONAL HYMN PREPARE THE WAY

He’s the lamb of God and you must follow him who takes the sin of the world, For he has come to give you life.

Prepare the way of the Lord. Prepare the way of the Lord. Prepare the way of the Lord. Prepare the way of the Lord.

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