Morphett Vale

Catholic Parish Bulletin

Our Parish Vision:

“The people of Mary Help of Christians Parish will seek to know and love God, and serve God

by nurturing and sustaining our whole community.”

Second Sunday of Advent - Year C 5th December 2021

Parish Priest: Fr Roman Palma CR Retired Priest : Fr Marian Szablewski CR

Parish Office: 3 Venning Street, Morphett Vale SA 5162 Office Open: Monday; Wednesday; Closed Tuesday; Thursday; Friday; 10.00am - 3.00pm

\Phone: 8326 1555 E-mail: admin@mhocsa.org.au Web Site: https://mhocsa.org.au xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mary Help of Christians Church: Corner Bains and Main South Roads, Morphett Vale

Cana Chapel: Hay Street, Happy Valley Mary MacKillop Chapel: Todd Street, Woodcroft

Antonio School: Bains Road Morphett Vale Phone 8325 4500

Emmaus School: Todd Street, Woodcroft Phone 8322 7211

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Weekend Masses Weekday Masses

Saturday MHC 6.00pm Vigil Monday 9.15am MHC Sunday MHC 9.30am Tuesday 9.15am MHC Sunday MHC 12Noon - Polish Wednesday 9.15am MHC Sunday MHC 5.30pm Thursday 9.15am MHC Friday 9.15am MHC xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Reconciliation: 11.30am-12noon Saturday or by appointment

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Wednesdays - 10.00am to 4.00pm; Fridays 7.30pm

Rosary: 7.30pm Monday at Mary Help of Christians and after 9.15am Mass each day

Divine Mercy Devotion: 1st Sunday at 3.00pm - MHC Church

Devotion to Mary: Mass 1st Saturday of month - Mass - 10.30am

Devotion to the Sacred Heart: 1st Friday of month, Mass 7.30pm; Exposition; Benediction.

Baptisms: 3rd and 4th Sundays of the month. Enquiries please ring the Parish Office.

Marriages: Six months notice is requested. Phone the Parish Office for an appointment.

Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent - Year C

2nd Sunday of Advent 3rd Sunday of Advent 5th December 2021 12th December 2021 First Reading Baruch 5:1-9 Zephaniah 3:14-18 Second Reading Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11 Philippians 4:4-7 Gospel Luke 3:1-6 Luke 3:10-18

PSALM RESPONSE: The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

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

GOSPEL: In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, 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 sayings of the prophet Isaiah: A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill laid low, winding ways will be straightened and rough roads made smooth. And all mankind shall see the salvation of God.

Did You Know? • Luke goes to great lengths to describe the geographical and political world into

which Jesus is born. God enters into human history at a specific time and place. The coming of Jesus for the salvation of the world is not a vague notion but a concrete event in time.

• The prophets of the Hebrew tradition were specially chosen people who spoke the word of God to Israel. St John the Baptist was sometimes referred to as the last of the great prophets.

Symbols & Images The Baptist’s words call us to a new beginning. This time of preparation for the coming of the Lord of history at Christmas is a time for us to re-align our road, to straighten our path so that the coming of Christ into our lives is made easier. We must prepare to welcome the Christ Child.

Planned Giving Up-Date October 2021

Monthly Pledged 2021: $ 9337.25 Received: $ 8631.75 Loose Plate: $ 1484.65 Priest’s Collection: $ 3729.65

St Vincent de Paul Society Poor Box Collection $ 903.40

CURRENT COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

Density requirement - 3 persons per 4 square metres. Social Distancing of 1.5mts. Masks are mandatory for indoor places unless you have a Medical

Exemption which must be produced on request. (Celebrants exempt) Singing permitted but masks must be worn. Weddings and Funerals numbers increased to 150 people. Contact Tracing required. Covid Marshalls required.

Due to our open borders we will revert back to leaving every second pew empty, to try and ensure that people are social distancing as much

as possible. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Year of the Family Placemats As we approach Christmas, it is a good time to reflect on the joy and love of family life and to think of those less fortunate than us. You are invited today to take a placemat for each of your children as a gift from the archdiocese. We encourage you to use this mat at meal times and pray the prayer with your family. Pope Francis established the Year of the Family to help strengthen faith and live God’s joy more fruitfully in family life. We pray for you and your family as we approach this joyful season.

BLESSING OF THE CRIBS

3rd Sunday of Advent

9.30am Mass

Bring your family Nativity Scene to Mary Help of Christians Church

on Sunday 12th December at the 9.30am Mass

to be blessed in preparation for Christmas.

CHRISTMAS HAMPERS. St Vincent de Paul Society Morphett Vale Conference is again providing Christmas Hampers for families in our area who are currently experiencing hardship and we would be grateful for any support Parishioners can offer in helping us assist these families. Donation envelopes, with details of a specific household, will be available after Sunday Masses. Receipts will be provided on request by placing your name and address on the outside of the envelope when it is returned.

PARISH CHRISTMAS CAROLS CANCELLED Due to the uncertainty caused by the Covid restrictions

we have cancelled our Parish Christmas Carols again this year.

Divine Will Holy Mass In honour of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception will be celebrated by Fr Roman Palma CR on Thursday 9th December at 7.00pm at the Maronite Catholic Church, 379 Goodwood Rd, Westbourne Park. Supper following Holy Mass. All welcome!

THANK YOU! I wish to thank all the volunteers who assisted with

the Cemetery Working Bee on Saturday 27th November. Much work was done and the cemetery is looking beautiful!

God bless you all for your tireless generosity!

Joseph Collinson, Cemetery Honorary Curator

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS CHURCH GARDENS WORKING BEE Saturday 18th December from 9.00am to remove weeds, prune shrubs and trees, and generally tidy up. We intend to finish around midday. We ask that people please bring pruning saws, loppers and secateurs to assist with this work.

Everyone will be very welcome and Morning Tea will be served!

Neighbours Without Borders Cross-Cultural Training Palms Australia ‘s exciting new cross-cultural training initiative draws on 60 years of preparing people for cross-cultural mission. If you would like to attend, please register your expression of interest to Sarah Moffatt: smoffatt@adelaide.catholic.org.au See Notice Board!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY!

Divine Mercy Devotions Sunday 5th December at 3.00pm in MHC Church.

Rosary Monday 6th December at 7.30pm in MHC Church.

All Day Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Wednesday 8th December after 9.15am Mass concluding at 4.00pm.

Rosary Prayer for Priests with Mary and the Saints Every Wednesday after morning Mass we pray the Rosary for all priests.

Divine Will Prayer Group NO prayer group on Wednesday 8th December due to Hour of Grace Devotion.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - Polish Friday 10th December at 7.30pm in MHC Church.

Latin Mass Sunday 12th December at 10.30am in St Mary’s Church.

Parish Pastoral Council Meeting Tuesday 14th December at 7.00pm at Parish Office

Parish Finance Council Meeting Tuesday 21st December at 7.30pm at the Parish Office.

Feast Days and Memorials this week! Monday 6th December St Nicholas, Bishop - Optional Memorial Tuesday 7th December St Ambrose, Bishop & Doctor of Church - Memorial

Wednesday 8th December THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY - SOLEMNITY

Thursday 9th December St Juan Diego - Optional Memorial

Friday 10th December St Gregory III, Pope - Optional Memorial

Saturday 11th December St Damasus I, Pope - Optional Memorial

December is the month

of the Divine Infancy

Morphett Vale Catholic Parish

is a Child Safe and Family Friendly Environment.

Our Child Safe Contact Person is: Grace Juanta - 8326 1555

YOUR PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED!

Sick: Max Rutschack, Michael Cooper, Elizabeth Horne, John Newman, Von Stanley Lord, be with them and their carers at this time of anxiety and suffering!

Recently Deceased

Patricia McAssey, James Huppatz, Tony Khoury, Meelad & Kalil Dagar, Alice Cresp, Michael Fox, Pat Chibnal May God have mercy on their souls!

Anniversaries: Julie Gamble, Alicia Bawden, Zita Roberts, Corazon Abasolo, Marcelo, Miren, Joel & MaryJane Panimdim, Raymundo, Milagros & Arnulfo Meneses, Cora Cruz, Ilija Komso, Violet Pivac, Giuseppe Despirito, Marin Zaknic, Silvio Mignone, Steven Mignone, Emilio & Argentina Mignone, John & Tina Mignone, Ciriaco & Leonilda Taddeo, Peter & Nevina Zarella, Maria Parente & Family, Mary Vanis, Kasciukaitis Family, Junokas Family, Dainutis Family, Steinertas Family, Charles & Doris Lyne, Sr Marie Teresa Lyne RSM, John & Beryl Lyne, Ken Lyne, Ron & Pat Bruton, Jack Horne, Phillip & James Horne, Jim & Pat Kinnane, Alf, Ellie & Ron Bennett, Billy Keenan, Tony & Pat Murphy, Gerry Thiele, Connie & Graham Stewart, Sangwian Satchar, George Adam, Members of the Zadey, Adam, Khoury, Hanna & Saba Families, Members of the Arnaweetie, Awker, Dahdah & Nemer Families, Marwon Khoury, Boutros Hanna, Louisa Hanna, Members of the Obayed Family, Katarzyne Jankowska, Kazimierz Jankowski, Danuta Bloch-Janowska, Bogdan Goliczowski Lord, grant them eternal peace in Your Kingdom!

Prayer List Policy: If you wish the names of your loved ones to be included in the Universal Prayers for the Sick, Recently Deceased or Death Anniversaries, then please contact the Parish Office. These will be listed for 4 consecutive Sundays in the parish bulletin. Names can be re-listed on request from the family to the Parish Office.

Meditation Meditation, like a tireless bee,

transforms the pollen of flowers into the nectar of life. St Padre Pio’s Spiritual Counsels

deprivations a weapon for merit and not for sin.

“Mary and I made all the deprivations of human nature into weights for your redemption. Even now my Mother suffers when She sees you so deaf to grace and rebellious towards Me. Holiness, I repeat, does not mean exclusion from pain, but rather the imposition of pain.

“Thank Mary, then, who gives Me with the smile of a mother, for all the pain which being my Mother has brought Her. You never think of thanking Mary, in whose womb I became flesh! This Flesh which I now give you to nourish you for eternal life. Enough. Contemplate and adore Me, radiant in the Eucharist, on the living throne which is the breast of Mary, my most pure Mother and yours”.

“I give the secret Intuition concerning the Beauty of Mary, her smile, her silence. They seem like things without weight. They have an infinite value.

“Mary has attracted millions of creatures to herself with these gentle arms of hers. She evangelised before I did with her reserved silence and her indescribable smile. It was enough for Her to appear in order for harsh or impure words to be hushed, resentments to collapse, and pains to be soothed.

“Her gaze purified, her silence uplifted, and her smile instructed. Nazareth remained perfumed by Her for a long time after her departure. The nascent Church was consolidated by virtue of her silence and her smile, more eloquent than all words, for from it there showed through the face of God, and the truth of her mission.

“I ask you only to look at and imitate my Mother and yours. Grow in spiritual beauty to resemble Her; from Her learn the silence which speaks to God and of God and the smile which teaches faith, generosity, and charity. Contemplate Mary and receive my peace. Nothing else is needed to be happy.”

Excerpt (September 7) taken from “The Notebooks 1943” by Maria Valtorta

(Note:- Our Lady’s divine maternity did not cause her any physical pain, which is the result of original sin, from whose stain She was preserved, but that Mary, as the Co-Redeemer suffered every kind of pain produced by circumstances and men, in regard to the virginal conception and birth as well);

MARY AS THE CIBORIUM OF

JESUS’ HEART

Jesus says:

“Today I will show you another Eucharistic truth. If the Eucharist is the heart of God, Mary is the ciborium of that Heart.

“Look at my Mother, the eternal living ciborium into whom the Bread coming from Heaven descended. Whoever wants to find Me - find Me, that is, with a fullness of gifts - must seek my Majesty and Power, my Divinity, in the sweetness, purity, and charity of Mary. It is She who makes her heart the ciborium for the heart of her and your God.

“The Body of the Lord became a body in Mary’s womb, and it is my Mother who with a smile offers it to you as if She were offering you her most beloved Baby, placed in the cradle of her most pure, motherly heart. It is Mary’s joy, in Heaven, to give you her Son and her Lord. With the Son She gives you her unstained heart, that heart which has loved and suffered boundlessly.

“There is a widespread opinion that my Mother suffered only morally. No. The Mother of mortals experienced every kind of pain. Not because She deserved to. She was immaculate, and the pain-inducing inheritance of Adam was not in her. But because, as the Co-Redeemer and Mother of the whole human race, She had to consummate the Sacrifice to the very depth and in all forms. She thus suffered, as a woman, the inevitable sufferings of a woman who conceives a child; She suffered weariness in the flesh burdened with my weight; She suffered in giving birth to Me (see note at bottom of opposite page); She suffered in the hasty flight; She suffered a lack of food; She suffered heat, cold, thirst, hunger, poverty, and weariness. Why should She not have suffered if I, the Son of God, was subject to the sufferings proper to mankind?

“To be saints does not mean to be exempt from the deprivations of matter. To be redeemers, moreover, means to be particularly subject to the deprivations of the flesh, which is sensitive to pain. Holiness and redemption are carried out and reached by all means, even by way of tooth-aches, for instance. It suffices for the creature to make fleshly

Family Advent Wreath Lighting

Have 4 candles and light one each week in Advent. Some families have this ritual for Sunday dinner and then light the candles each meal. Begin with a prayer.

Come, Lord Jesus, be light for our darkness. Send us your Holy Spirit so that we might faithfully spread Your love into all places of people’s lives. Amen. Light the candle.

FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

THE ‘HOUR OF GRACE”

Wednesday 8th December 2021 12Noon - 1.00pm

Mary Help of Christians Church

The Blessed Virgin Mary promised that ‘whatever a person asked her for during the Hour of Grace (even in impossible cases) would be granted to them, if it was in accordance with the Will of the Eternal Father’.

The Blessed Virgin Mary also said to prepare for this Hour with prayers and penance and to pray Psalm 51 with outstretched arms 3 times. Our Lady said that ‘penance is nothing more than accepting all our crosses daily, willingly. No matter how small, accept them with love. During this Hour of Grace many spiritual graces would be granted. The most hard-hearted sinners will be touched by the grace of God.’

If you cannot join us in the Church, spend an hour in prayer reciting Psalm 51 three times, the rosary, spiritual reading and quiet meditation to benefit from Our Lady’s Hour of Grace. You can prepare for the Feast by starting a Novena on Tuesday 29th November 2021. Reconciliation is also recommended.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the size of the parish hall, there will be NO shared lunch this year!

Christmas Mass Times

Mary Help of Christians Church

24th December

6.00pm Mass

10.00pm Polish Mass

12.00am Midnight Mass

25th December 9.00am Mass 10.30am Polish Mass

New Year Mass Times

31st December 9.00pm Adoration

11.30pm Mass

1st January 10.30am Mass

12 Noon Polish Mass

No Booking required.

Limited seating due to Covid restrictions.

Solemnity of Mary,

Mother of God.

Friday 31st December 2021 Saturday 1st January 2022

Start at 9.00pm Mass at 11.30pm

Don’t know what to do on New Year’s Eve?

Come and join us, as we praise and thank God for all the blessings

He has bestowed upon us in 2021 and begin the New Year in His Presence.

9.00pm Prayer of Thanksgiving

9.30pm Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

10.00pm Prayer Asking Forgiveness

10.30pm Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary

11.00pm Te Deum

11.25pm Benediction

11.30pm Holy Mass