YEAR B 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Page 4 Welcome to

St Joan of Arc Parish Haberfield

Ministers Clergy Parish Secretary Parish School Principal

Every baptised Fr Frank Furfaro Office Phone: 9798 6657 Mr Bernard Carey

and confirmed Mons. Dino Fragiacomo Tuesday, Wednesday Office Phone: 9798 9780

member of the 9.30am - 2.30pm St Joan of Arc Villa

Parish Community Phyllis Hoole

Phone: 9799 8753

We invite you to share in the Sacraments of:

EUCHARIST:

Saturday Vigil: ............................................................................ 5.00pm

Sunday 8.30am, 10.00am (Italian) &......................................... 6.00pm

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday ............ 9.00am

Friday ...................................................................................... 9.15am

RECONCILIATION

Saturday 4:15pm

BAPTISM

Celebrated on the SECOND Saturday and the FOURTH Sunday of the month at

11.00am MARRIAGE

Arrangements for a wedding must be made at least four months in advance.

Attendance at a Pre-Marriage Course is encouraged. ANOINTING OF THE SICK

We are pleased to administer the Sacrament of the Sick to those in need. The

Eucharist will also be brought to those who are ill or housebound upon request.

Please notify the Presbytery if members of your family or other parishioners are in

need of the Eucharist.

GO FORTH….

• Telling the Good News

• Sharing in the breaking of

Bread

• Enriching the community

through our talents, treasure and

time

NEW PARISHIONERS are invited to register in person at the Presbytery after Sunday Masses.

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME YOU.

1909 - 2009

Catholic Presbytery

97 Dalhousie Street

Haberfield NSW 2045

Phone: 9798 6657

Fax: 9799 4275

Email:

admin@stjoanofarc.org.au

Web:

stjoanofarc.org.au

St Joan of Arc

Haberfield

RECONCILIATION

First Rite of Reconciliation Thursday 22nd December 2011 5pm - 6pm

Friday 23rd December 2011 9.45am - 10.45am

Second Rite of Reconciliation Tuesday 20th December 2011

Five Dock - Haberfield - Drummoyne

All Hallow‟s Five Dock

7.30pm

CHRISTMAS LITURGIES

Christmas Eve Saturday 24th December 2011

5pm Children‟s Mass

9pm Vigil Mass

Midnight Mass

Christmas Day Christmas Day 25th December 2011

8.30am English

10am Italian

YEAR B 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Page 2 YEAR B 4TH SUNDAY IN ADVENT Page 3

NEW PARISHIONERS

We extend a warm welcome to new Parishioners at St Joan of

Arc. If you would like to be listed on the Parish Roll, or be a

part of the Planned Giving Program, please complete the

following:

PARISH ROLL AND PLANNED GIVING Please complete this form and place it in the collection basket.

Please indicate:

I wish to contribute to the Parish on a

regular basis

I wish to be listed on the Parish Roll

Please circle your choice:

Automatic Payment (credit card/

direct debit)

Weekly Envelopes Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms_____________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________

_____________________________ PCode: _____________

Phone: ____________________ Mob: ___________________

Fax: ______________________________________________

Email: _____________________________________________

MINISTERS ALWAYS NEEDED

Readers, Ministers of Eucharist, Acolytes, Altar Servers and

Church Wardens are always needed for Sunday Mass. Training

and information will be provided and you will be rostered at a

mutually agreed time. If you would like to be part of our

Ministry here at St Joan of Arc, Haberfield call into the Sacristy

after Mass and ask for a Ministry sheet.

THE MASS

At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, Jesus

instituted the Eucharist, or the Mass, to perpetuate the sacrifice

of the Cross throughout the ages until he should come again.

The Mass is an act of thanksgiving to God for his saving work;

it is a sacred meal which nourishes us spiritually and anticipates

the heavenly banquet, and it is a holy sacrifice, making present

the one true sacrifice of Christ our Saviour. Catholics believe

that Jesus Christ is truly present at the Mass; in the assembly

gathered as the Body of Christ, through his Word made present

in the scripture, but supremely under the appearance of bread

and wine.

In the Eucharist the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus

Christ is wholly and entirely present. Strengthened by this

sacred food, we go forth to build up the Body of Christ in this

world, and to bring his healing and salvation to all peoples.

In keeping with the Privacy Act names cannot be published in our Parish Bulletin

without the permission of the persons themselves or their next of kin. Please

specify on your Mass Envelope your intention to include the person‟s name in this

Bulletin or contact the Parish Office on 9798 6657

BAPTISMS - December, 2011

We welcome these children into God’s family

and our parish community

Paul Sacchetti, Isabel Camarda

RESPONSES TO THE MASS

18th December, 2011

Entrance Antiphon: Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the

earth bring forth a Saviour. Responsorial Psalm: Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory. Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! A virgin will give birth to a

son; his name will be Emmanuel: God is with us. Alleluia! Communion Antiphon: The Virgin is with child, and shall bear a son,

and she will call him Emmanuel.

Scripture Readings for next week: Isaiah 52:7-10,

Hebrews 1:1-6 John 1:1-18 Scripture Readers for next week:

Saturday Vigil: Christmas Eve Children‟s Mass

Sunday 8.30am: Christmas Day Mass

Sunday 10.00am: Patrizia Cester, Angelo Moiso, Giovanni Gurrieri

Sunday 6.00pm: Christmas Night - No Mass

Ministers of Communion for next week:

Saturday Vigil: Christmas Eve Children‟s Mass

Sunday 8.30am: Christmas Day Mass

Sunday 10.00am: Frank Capra, Giorgio Moiso, Andrea Carnuccio

Sunday 6.00pm: Christmas Night - No Mass

WEDDINGS - December, 2011 And the two shall become one

Franco Mazzotta & Josephine Scaltrito

Adrian Pintabona & Virginia de Lafoix

LORD, WE PRAY WELCOME HOME THOSE WHO HAVE DIED

Recently Deceased: Marie Moir, Augusta Cossetto, Filomena Petrino,

Vincenzo Grasso, Salvatore Bottazzo, Vittoria Campagna, Joan Rogers,

Michele Santapia, Elsa Bertoia, Frank Talia, Antonino Lazzara, James

Lucas, Gennaro Sallustio, Giuseppina Fiorio, Sister Mary John OLHC,

Margaret McCabe, Giuseppe, Maiorana, Jim Kingston Rest in Peace: William Curteis, Celia Curteis, Maria Curteis, Mauro

Altomare, Val Constant, Concetto Pappalardo, Carolina Spardaro,

Salvatore Cavallaro, Cata Klapan, Rita Barbagallo, Francesco De Grazia,

Rosario Ciancio, Mr Michele Bavaro, Salvatore Sorbello, Angela

Nucifora, Mariano Nucifora, Sid Nucifora, Ida Gortani, Anton Planinc,

Slavko Lrbec, Giuseppe Martino, Matilda Dragar, Karl Dragar, Pia

Zanella, Cirillo Zanella, Lattari & Aversa Families, Fr Mecham, Ted

Constant, Giuseppe Giuffre, Stan Laing , Noreen Winning In your love and concern please pray for the following ill members of

our community: John Simington, Anne Simington, Harry Neely, Ted

Fox, Naomi Fox, Pasquale Ramirra, Annibale Pagura, Fr Peter Lynch,

Angela Lopert, Stephan Ferenc, John Huie, Carmel Speranza, John &

Gemma Madsen, Rosaline Ashing, Giancarlo Budda, Mario Bianco,

Tony Sulfaro, Maria Costa, George Myers Special Intentions: Huie & Ashing Families

This Christmas we would like to surround the Altar and Crib with pots

of Christmas Poinsettias

We invite you to donate a pot of

Poinsettias, maybe in memory of a

family member or friend who has

died, or in thanksgiving for a grace

received during the year.

Please complete an envelope on the

seat and place it in the red box at

the altar of St Anne (offering $25).

(You are welcome to take your pot

of poinsettias home with you after

Epiphany i.e. January 6, 2011.)

THE SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS

When we celebrate Christ‟s birth, we commemorate

the unique moment when God broke into time and

history - in human form! The Son of God became a

human being so that he could redeem us all by His

life, death and resurrection.

Not only does Christmas remind us that this really

happened, it also reveals what kind of people received God‟s initial

gift of himself. Thus, it clearly points out how we may receive this

gift too.

In other words, the historical characters of the Christmas drama are

living symbols for us. By meditating on them , we discover what we

can do to permit the reality of Christmas to break forth in our own

lives now. For the Son of God wishes to be born again in each

human being - in you and in me - if only we will unlock our hearts

and welcome Him.

MARY

The first figure of Christmas is Mary, symbol of the human soul. An

angel, messenger of spiritual reality, tells her that she will have a

child without a husband. To this incredible announcement she

replies, “I am the Lord‟s servant. As you have spoken it, so be it.”

Today we often fail to appreciate Mary‟s heroism in being so

readily obedient. She knew what the women would whisper at the

village well. She could easily guess what doubts and questions

would plague her fiancé, Joseph. But she was willing nonetheless.

Her obedience involved the highest form of courage.

Mary says to each of us today that unless we have her kind of eager

openness to God in our souls, there can be no Christmas there, no

Christ born anew within us. Willing obedience - no matter what the

cost - is a prerequisite to new spiritual birth.

JOSEPH

And then there was Joseph. When he learned of Mary‟s condition,

he at first considered breaking off the betrothal. But this man was in

touch with the depth of himself. He listened to the angel of his

dream, and he was spiritual enough to believe and obey - as absurd

as it all sounded. Later he listened to the angel again and

immediately „got up and took the child and his mother and left that

night for Egypt.”

Joseph stands as the symbol of believing strength. He tells us to

listen to the secret depths of life and act with courage. There must

be in us that which will protect our new spiritual life when it comes,

or else it will be destroyed and our original obedience will be in

vain.

THE DONKEY

The donkey is an easily overlooked but essential figure in the

Christmas drama. In his silent, stubborn way he carried the pregnant

Mary for 75 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. He symbolizes

simple, tough animality.

Many of us Christians try to be so spiritual that we rule out our

animal nature. But if God had wanted us to be totally spiritual, He

would have made us that way. We are not pure spirit, but rather half

spirit and half animal. Unless we care for and cherish this dumb

animal, our body (What St Francis called “Brother Ass”), than we

will never bring the holy child to fruition in the place where He is to

be born. To ignore or reject our animal and physical side prevents

the birth of real spirituality.

THE INNKEEPER

Can‟t you see the innkeeper standing in the doorway, his huge bulk

outlined against the cold night by the fire blazing on the hearth

inside. Here is a bustling, practical man of the world. His inn was

filled. He did not want to be bothered. Oh, she as pregnant? That

was too bad, but lots of poor women are in the same situation.

How careful we must be not to filled with so many things that we

have no room for Christ when He comes. We can be immersed in so

many activities that when God tries to enter our life, He can find no

way to get in. Busyness is not of the devil - it is a devil! A totally

busy person is more effectively anti-religious than a violent atheist.

And this is true even if our busyness concerns church activities.

Detroit Catholic Charismatic Renewal

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

There will be Christmas Carol singing before the

9pm Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve beginning at

8.30pm, and also before the Midnight Mass

beginning at 11.30pm.

All Welcome!

CHRISTMAS CAROLS & BBQ

The Parish Christmas Carols & BBQ raised $1565.

Many Thanks to all involved.