Parish Matters Parish Office Hours: see revised hours during holiday season

Office Phone: (02) 9663 5343

Secretary: Therese Poulton (Mon & Wed), Maria Awad (Tue, Thu & Fri)

Office Address: 74 Rosebery Ave, Rosebery NSW 2018 Postal Address: PO Box 1067, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012

roseberycatholic@gmail.com | www.citysouthcatholiccommunity.org.au

Fr Paul Smithers | Parish Priest | Follow on Instagram & Twitter: @frpaulsmithers

After hours emergency contact 9698 2869

NATIVITY OF THE LORD

The Parishes of City South acknowledge the Gadigal People, the traditional custodians, who have walked upon and cared for this land for thousands of years. We acknowledge the

continued deep spiritual attachment and relationship of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to this country and commit ourselves to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation of

this land.

WEEKEND MASS TIMES

ST JOSEPH’S, ROSEBERY

Adoration 4.00pm—5.00pm

Benediction: 5.00pm

Saturday Vigil: 6.15pm

Sunday: 7.30am &

9.30am (Kids Children’s Liturgy)

RECONCILIATION

Saturday 5.15pm—6.00pm

24 Hour Adoration chapel.

Contact the office for the code.

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL,

WATERLOO

Saturday Rosary & Benediction 4.30pm

Saturday 10.00am

(First Saturday of the Month Mass)

Saturday Vigil 5.00pm

Sunday 9.00am

ST VINCENT DE PAUL, REDFERN

Sunday 11.00am

WEEKDAY MASSES

ST JOSEPH’S ROSEBERY

Monday 7.00am Communion Service

Tuesday to Thursday 7.00am

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL, WATERLOO

Tuesday 5.00pm (followed by Adoration)

Friday 9.00am (School Mass)

1st Saturday of Month 10.00am

ST VINCENT DE PAUL, REDFERN

Wednesday & Thursday 9.00am

Friday 8.00am

BAPTISMS: by appointment

MARRIAGES: by appointment with 6

months notice

Please contact the Parish Office.

Fr Gerard Woo Ling

Assistant Priest

Facebook: parishesofcitysouth

Instagram: @parishesofcitysouth

New Catholic Community of City South website launched now LIVE

Dear Friends,

At the Nativity of the Lord the angels sang: Glory to God in the Highest! That must have been some song! The wonder and awe

at the Nativity of the Son of God highlights that this is no ordinary child. This is not another prophet or wise guru. This baby is

God with us.

As we contemplate the Nativity of the Lord again, the story and the person of Jesus draws us deeper and deeper into

communion and discipleship with God. We should not be afraid to want to explore what it means to really follow Jesus. Our

parish offers us the space and the opportunity to deepen our relationship with Jesus.

The word ‘parish’ comes from a Greek word paraikos which means pilgrim or passing stranger. Is not every church called to be a

pilgrim house centred on prayer, hospitality, respect, and love. Our parish ought to be a place of welcome respect and support, a

place where we can encounter Jesus in the sacramental life of the Church and through each other.

But could our parish also be a place of life long learning, a centre that encourages our creativity, a social meeting spot, a place to

nurture the whole self?

During the year I began a consultation process as Rosebery, Redfern and Waterloo became the united Catholic Community of

City South. As a result of feedback, we developed guiding principles around the core values of Love, Truth and Beauty. They

and other items are contained in the Catholic Community of City South bag, which is my Christmas gift to you. I want to

acknowledge and thank the Archdiocese of Sydney for their support in producing this material.

As we launch out into another year I hope and pray that we may continue to explore the possibilities for our united Catholic

Community.

A Happy and Blessed Christmas

Fr Paul Smithers

PARISHES OF CITY SOUTH PRAYER INTENTIONS

Those who are sick: Joan Buist, Erica Angeles, James Smithers, Maria Cepus, and all the housebound.

Remembered in the Masses and names recorded at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Mt Carmel: Oswald Agius; Fr. Terence Purcell; Michael Poulton; Annie Poulton; Mary & Edgard Caffari; Shirley Turner; Str. Patricia Wilkinson; Anna, Stanley, Jim Atkins; Bill, Muriel, Marc Wickert; Therese & Alfred Scerri; Isabel Fenech; Margaret & Joseph Fenech; Carmen Bonello; Bonello Family; Arthur & Janine Gray; Ethel & George Gray; Bill & Pat Clarke; Sydney & Violet Green; Arthur & Edna Dennett; John & Eileen Dennett; Hazel Holly; Arthur & Rose Dennett; Jay Rosenstrauss

Birthdays: Kath Atkins (23 Dec.); Manuel Lascano (24 Dec.); Will Jackson (25 Dec.); Cornell Harjanto & Dullce Burgher (26 Dec.); Wayne Lobo (27 Dec.); Jake & Georgia Sciberras; Michelle James (28 Dec.)

Death Anniversaries: Moya Banfield (22 Dec.); John Agnel D’Souza & Crajapalling (26 Dec.);

Wedding Anniversary: Laura & Greg (27 Dec.)

If you would like your name included in this section please email the parish office. For Mass offerings, please use the envelopes available on the notice tables.

www.citysouthcatholiccommunity.org.au

NATIONAL REDRESS SCHEME

You may have heard discussion in the media about the Church’s participation in the National Redress Scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. The Archdiocese is committed to joining this Scheme. Senior church officials have spent the past few months finalising the procedures and documentation required for all dioceses linked to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference to join the Scheme. This has been a complex process both for Church entities and for the Commonwealth Government.

A special company has been established, Australian Catholic Redress Ltd, by which dioceses will interact with the Redress Scheme. This week the bishops of Australia are signing the Participation Deeds by which their dioceses will join the Company and hence the Redress Scheme. It is anticipated that the various legal formalities will be completed in the coming weeks thereby allowing survivors of child abuse in Catholic parishes and institutions to apply for redress.

A number of Catholic religious congregations have indicated that they will separately join the National Scheme.

The Catholic Church, like other bodies and indeed some State governments, is not delaying its participation in the Redress Scheme, but simply taking the necessary time in conjunction with the Commonwealth to put the most appropriate procedures in place.

Survivors of institutional child sexual abuse are encouraged to approach the Redress Scheme or to approach the Church directly should they wish to do so.

PARISH STEWARDSHIP

(electronic transfers only): Thank you for your contributions towards our Parishes.

Rosebery

Account Name: Rosebery Parish Church Account

BSB: 062 784 | Account No.: 053 750 02

Redfern

Account name: Redfern Parish Church Account

BSB: 062 784 | Account No.: 208 450 00

Waterloo

Account name: Waterloo Parish Church Account

BSB: 062 784 | Account No.: 062 750 01

We now have Credit Card facilities. Please contact the Parish Office for an Authority Form. Your nominated

amount will be debited monthly from your card.

Redfern Morning Tea

There will be no morning tea after the 11 am Mass at

Redfern on Sunday, 30 December.

The next morning tea at Redfern will be on Sunday,

27 January after 11 am Mass.

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON:

The Lord said to me: You are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON:

The Word became flesh, and we have seen his glory.

Modified Weekday Mass Times

December 26 2018 - 11 January 2019

Wednesday 26 December - No Mass

Thursday 27 December - No Mass

Friday 28 December - No Mass

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

9.00am Rosebery

9.00am Redfern

Wednesday 2 January - 9.00am Rosebery

Thursday 3 January - 9.00am Redfern

Friday 4 January - 9.00am Redfern

Saturday 5 January - No Morning Mass

Tuesday 8 January - No Mass

Wednesday 9 January - 9.00am Rosebery

Thursday 10 January - 9.00am Redfern

Friday 11 January - 9.00am Redfern

Normal Mass times resume

on Tuesday 15 January 2019

The Parish Office hours will be: Mon 24 Dec 10am - 12 nn, Thu 27 Dec closed, Fri 28 Dec 10am - 12nn, Mon 31 Dec closed,

Wed 2 Jan 10am - 12nn, Thu 3 Jan 10am - 2pm, Fri 4 Jan closed, Mon 7 Jan 10am - 12nn,

Tue 8 Jan 10am - 12nn, Wed 9 Jan 10am - 12nn, Thu 10 Jan 10am - 12nn, Fri 11 Jan 10am - 12nn.

Normal Office hours resume Monday 14 January 2019

Jokes for the Christmas lunch -

brought to you by Fr Paul…

What did the girl say to her grandfather when he fell in the

river?

Paddle, pop!

What is Santa’s favourite thing to do in the garden?

Hoe, hoe, hoe!

What happened to the man who stole an Advent Calendar? He got 25 days.

First Reading Is 9:1-7

A son is given to us.

The people that walked in darkness

has seen a great light;

on those who live in a land of deep shadow

a light has shone.

You have made their gladness greater,

you have made their joy increase;

they rejoice in your presence

as men rejoice at harvest time,

as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

For the yoke that was weighing on him,

the bar across his shoulders,

the rod of his oppressor,

these you break as on the day of Midian.

For all the footgear of battle,

every cloak rolled in blood,

is burnt

and consumed by fire.

For there is a child born for us,

a son given to us

and dominion is laid on his shoulders;

and this is the name they give him:

Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God,

Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.

Wide is his dominion

in a peace that has no end,

for the throne of David

and for his royal power,

which he establishes and makes secure

in justice and integrity.

From this time onwards and for ever,

the jealous love of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Responsorial Psalm

(R.) Today is born our Saviour, Christ the Lord.

1. O sing a new song to the Lord,

sing to the Lord all the earth.

O sing to the Lord, bless his name. (R.)

2. Proclaim his help day by day,

tell among the nations his glory

and his wonders among all the peoples. (R.)

3. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad,

let the sea and all within it thunder praise,

let the land and all it bears rejoice,

all the trees of the wood shout for joy

at the presence of the Lord for he comes,

he comes to rule the earth. (R.)

4. With justice he will rule the world,

he will judge the peoples with his truth. (R.)

Second Reading Ti 2:11-14

God’s grace has been revealed to all people.

God’s grace has been revealed to all people.

God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation

possible for the whole human race and taught us that what

we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to

God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-

restrained and live good and religious lives here in this

present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing

which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great

God and saviour Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in

order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a

people so that it could be his very own and would have no

ambition except to do good.

Gospel Acclamation Lk 2:10-11

Alleluia, alleluia!

Good News and great joy to all the world:

today is born our Saviour, Christ the Lord.

Alleluia!

Gospel Lk 2:1-14

Today a saviour has been born for you.

Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census of the whole

world to be taken. This census – the first – took place

while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to

his own town to be registered. So Joseph set out from the

town of Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Judaea, to the

town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of David’s

House and line, in order to be registered together with Mary,

his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there the

time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a

son, her first-born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes,

and laid him in a manger because there was no room for

them at the inn. In the countryside close by there were

shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to

watch their flocks during the night. The angel of the Lord

appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round

them. They were terrified, but the angel said, ‘Do not be

afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared

by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour

has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a

sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling

clothes and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly with the angel

there was a great throng of the heavenly host, praising God

and singing:

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven

and peace to men who enjoy his favour.’

Liturgy of the Word