IRST
Parish Priest:
Fr. Kevin Dillon P.P. A.M.
Office: 150 Yarra St., Geelong 3220
Ph: 5222 1977 Fax: 5229 0587
Christ the King Church, 79 Wilsons Rd, Newcomb
St Margaret’s Church, 46 Lomond Tce, East Geelong
St. Robert’s Chapel, Mervyn St., Newtown.
Website: www.stmarysgeelong.com.au
Deanery Website: www.deanerygeelong.cam.org.au
Mobile: 0421 777 360
Fr. Maurice Barry oCarm
Pastoral Associate: Sr. Anne Lourey
Business Manager
Mr Mark Bennett
Pastoral Worker – St Margarets – Mrs Anna Demetriou
Wing and a Prayer:
Ms Kerrie Ryan
5229 4660(h) Pager No1300 555 555 (ask for No. 17657911237)
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
5222 1977
5221 4451
EMERGENCY
ATTENDANCE
OF A PRIEST
0421 777 360
THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH (YEAR B) -December 28, 2014
Over the days leading up to Christmas, Pope
Francis made a number of important public
statements. In his Christmas blessing to crowds
assembled in St. Peter’s Square, he lamented the
brutal persecution of religious minorities, in places
like Ukraine, Libya, Syria and Iran. He reminded
the world of the “tears of Christmas”, singling out
the brutal murder of nearly 200 school children in Pakistan as an horrific
example.
Yet perhaps his strongest and perhaps most significant words were directed to
the inner operations of the Church itself - specifically to the bureaucracy of the
Vatican Curia. He used strong words of disappointment and disapproval, a
lamentation that the central of the mission of the Church has been either
forgotten or abandoned by many of those meant to be responsible for the most
effective spread of the Gospel. Instead, the Holy Father was forced to use
expressions such as “chaotic noise”, and “closed circles” when referring to his
key leaders.
This means that the Pope himself is dismayed by key elements in the
governance of the Church, and is calling for a much more Christ-centred focus
in its work. And what is that mission? Simple: “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep”
(John 21:15).
Is this happening? Are the “sheep” - in our global village with its technological
wizardry - truly being cared for? The answer, probably as always, is “Yes” and
“No”. “Yes” in that there is still much effective, Gospel-based work being
undertaken by the Church in the name of Jesus Christ. And “No”, when we
realise just how much that mission is compromised if those who lead it have little
or no idea of the real issues effecting the day-to-day lives of the sheep.
Most likely, very few of those Curia members to whom Pope Francis was
speaking would have any significant, let alone ongoing pastoral experience.
This means the shepherds don’t know the sheep - so how can they care for
them?
This is the same problem the Holy Father acknowledged when he felt the need
to remind priests to “bring the healing power of God’s grace to everyone in
need, to stay close to the marginalised and to be shepherds living with the smell
of the sheep.” If this is true for priests (and it certainly is), then it surely applies
to all who profess to lead the Church mission. The Holy Father has set a new bench-mark, not just for the Curia, but for
Church leaders across the world.
POLE POSITION (first time notices)
MASS TIME CHANGES FOR THIS
COMING WEEK:
WEEK-DAY MASS: During the coming week,
from Monday December 29 through to Friday
January 2 (inclusive) there will be NO 7am.Mass
at St. Mary’s. The only daily Mass (for this week
only) will be at 10am.
NEW YEAR’S EVE—WEDNESDAY
DECEMBER 31: Mass at St. Mary’s Basilica at
11pm (followed by supper in the Narthex, and a
welcome to 2015).
MASS AT ST. FRANCIS CHAPEL “WING
AND A PRAYER”): Mass will NOT be celebrated
at St. Francis Chapel during Christmas week or
New Year’s week. This means there will be no Mass
on Dec. 30, Dec. 31 & Jan. 1.
Mass will resume on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays at 1.05pm as of Tuesday January 6.
FETE APRONS: Please return ironed aprons to
the Parish Office as soon as possible.
ST MARY’S PIETY STALL: Christmas/New Year
period - Closed until Monday February 2, 2015.
For this period the Stall will open Sundays ONLY
10.30am-12.15pm.
Normal opening times will resume from Monday
February 2.
Monday-Friday 10.30am- 1pm
Saturdays CLOSED
Sundays 10.30am-12.15pm
To all parishioners, friends, visitors and customers Warmest wishes on the beautiful feast of Christmas
and every blessing for 2015.
THANK YOU to all who assisted in the preparation
and execution of Christmas liturgies and activities.
Our Basilica Choir, the “Mixtures”, the Junior Choir,
Readers, Special Ministers of the Eucharist, Altar
Servers, the Spina Brothers (Cribs and outdoor
Christmas tree), Annmarie Villanti (indoor tree and
Advent wreath), and especially Sr. Anne, Sr. Lesley
and the Liturgy Committee - and sincere apologies
to anyone overlooked in the above list. (Blame is on
post-Christmas weariness!).
SISTERS OF THE HOLY ANGELS: A warm
invitation is extended to join us for our Golden
Jubilee in Australia (1964-2014). Commencing with
11am Mass on Saturday January 24, 2015 at Holy
Family Church, Bell Park followed by morning tea at
Marcia Hall. RSVP Dec 30 5277 3620, 0421 470
490.
GEELONG CONFERENCE OF ST. VINCENT
DE PAUL wishes to pass on sincere thanks to all
the generous parishioners who contributed to our
Christmas Appeal. The response was excellent. We
would also like to thank all those who made regular
donations of food during the year. The Conference
wishes all our supporters a Happy Christmas and a
productive and joyful New Year.”
SAMARITAN HOUSE: The Board and staff wish
to thank all our donors and volunteers for their
wonderful support in 2014. Our guests used their
time with us to find long term accommodation. 70%
were successful. We remain in contact with them as
they have become part of the Samaritan House
family.
A new house commences construction in January
2015 with another 9 beds. In order to run this facility
we require more overnight volunteers, either male or
married couples. You can volunteer or donate online
www.samaritanhousegeelong.com.au or ring 0413
426 716. Training will be provided.
ACCOMMODATION REQUIRED for a young
girl coming to study at Deakin University (Waurn
Ponds campus) beginning March 2015. She comes
from a Catholic family and is kind, respectful and of
good conduct. Looking for a Catholic family to live
with and willing to pay reasonable board /
accommodation fee. For more details, please
contact her father, Edwin on 0403 005 962.
PRINCIPAL AT ST. MARGARET’S SCHOOL:
Following the appointment of Ms Gabe Driscoll to
the position as Principal at St. Patrick’s School,
Ballan, Mr. Brian Everett has been appointed as
Principal of St. Margaret’s School, East Geelong.
Brian was Principal of St. Mary’s School from 2004
to 2006, and has since served as Principal at Holy
Family School, Bell Park. We welcome (back) Brian
to a significant position of leadership in our parish,
and sincerely thank Gabe for her magnificent
contribution to St. Margaret’s School over the past
nine years, which have seen great developments at
the school on all levels.
SHIRLEY MILLS “PLAZA” THEATRE:
$3 per head would be appreciated - please be on
time out of consideration for the other patrons.
New Years Eve: Wed Dec 31, 8.45pm “ONE
CHANCE” starring James Cordon, Alexandra
Roach, Julie Walters. The true story of Paul Potts, a
shy, bullied shop assistant by day and an amateur
opera singer by night. He became a phenomenon
after being chosen for, and ultimately winning,
“Britain’s Got Talent”. PG
Fri Jan 2, 7.30pm “HEALING” starring Hugo
Weaving, Don Hany, Xavier Samuel. At the end of a
16-year sentence, an inmate is sent to a lowsecurity, pre-release prison with a special
programme that pairs men with injured game birds,
and bonds are formed that change lives. Rated M
Sun Jan 4, 1.30pm “THE FACE OF LOVE
starring Annette Bening, Ed Harris. A widow falls for
a man who bears a striking resemblance to her late
husband. PG
Fri Jan 9, 7.30pm “ELVIS SPECIAL” “Follow
That Dream” movie, followed by a light supper.
Sun Jan 11, 7.30pm “ROOM MATES” starring
Peter Falk, D.B.Sweeney. An elderly yet young-atheart man moves in with his grandson, and both
their lives are turned upside down. PG
Fri Jan 16, 7.30pm “MAGIC IN THE
MOOLIGHT” starring Colin Firth, Emma Stone.
Romantic comedy about an Englishman brought in
to help unmask a possible swindle but personal and
professional complications arise. PG
WANTED: Bedsitter/flat for 26 yr old young man,
neat and tidy actively seeking work in chicken/meat
industry. Contact Josephine 0413 426 716.
WANTED: Flat screen small digital TV’s for men
moving from Samaritan House to permanent
accommodation. If you are upgrading to a large TV
for Christmas, please think of these men or refugees
who are also moving to flats. Contact Josephine
0413 426 716.
SACRED HEART ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: An
open invitation is extended to all members of our
community to the Sacred Heart Maguire Celebration
- annual awards presentation and launch of the
2015 school year. 6.45pm Monday February 2,
2015, Simonds Stadium, Geelong Football Club,
concluding with refreshments in the Deakin Cats
Community Centre at Simonds Stadium.
HOLIDAY MOVIES:
A suggested donation of $3 per head for children and
adults would be appreciated.
Sessions are at 10.30am & 2pm.
Tues Jan 6 “DOLPHIN TALE 2” The team of
people who saved Winter’s life reassemble after the
surrogate mother’s passing, in order to find her a
companion so that she can stay at the marine hospital.
1hr40mins PG
Thurs Jan 8 “PLANES - FIRE AND RESCUE”
When Dusty learns that his engine is damaged and
he may never race again, he joins a forest fire rescue
unit to be trained as a firefighter. 1hr25mins PG
Tues Jan 13 “BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE”
starring AnnaSophia Robb, Jeff Daniels. A
mischievous dog befriends a lonely young girl in a
new town and helps her make new friends. 1hr40mins
PG
Thurs Jan 15 “HAPPY FEET 2” Mumble’s son,
Erk, is struggling to realize his talents in the Emperor
penguin world. Meanwhile, Mumble and his family and
friend discover a new threat, their home - one that will
take everyone working together to save
them.1hr40mins PG
Tues Jan 20 “MEET THE ROBINSONS” Lewis is
a brilliant inventor who meets a mysterious stranger
who whisks Lewis away in a time machine and
together they track down a bad guy “The Bowler Hat
Man”. 1hr35mins G
Thurs Jan 22 “JUNGLE SAFARI” A wacky pack
of mismatched jungle animals band together to fight
for their home in this funny and heart-warming family
animation. 1hr35mins PG
FETE SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: We
acknowledge with gratitude our sponsors for the
2014 Fete: Kings Funerals, 24 Myers St, Geelong
Ph 5248 3444.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Our thoughts are
precious. They are our very own and can’t be taken
from us.” - P.K.SHAW
HOW ABOUT THAT:
A grandmother and her young granddaughter went
to the Natural History Museum.
They looked at all the mounted animals: lions,
tigers, giraffes, elephants, hippos, hyenas, bighorned sheep, and zebras. When they got home, the little girl’s grandfather
asked her what she saw there.
She said, “A dead circus.”
WE PRAY FOR :
RECENTLY DECEASED: Mandy Murphy, Francesca Ficarra, Karen Mantovani.
CURRENT ANNIVERSARIES OF DEATH: Angelo Manganelli, Antonio Pantano, Ron Cox, Frank Moylan, Thomas
& Elizabeth Harper, Lil McCormack, Margaret & Les Wilkinson, Andrew Carroll.
St Mary’s Basilica, 136 Yarra St., Geelong
MON Dec 29
TUE Dec 30
WED Dec 31
THU Jan 1
FRI Jan 2
SAT Jan 3
SUN Jan 4
Octave of Christmas
10.00am
Octave of Christmas
10.00am
Octave of Christmas
10.00am, 11.00pm
Mary, Mother of God
10.00am
Ss Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen
10.00am
The Most Holy Name of Jesus 9.00am, 6.00pm (Vigil)
The Epiphany of the Lord
7.30am, 9.30am, 11.00am, 12.15pm (Polish), 5.30pm.
Christ the King Church HALL, Wilsons Rd., Newcomb
SAT Jan 3
The Epiphany of the Lord
5.00pm (Vigil)
St Margaret’s Church, Lomond Terrace, East Geelong (1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays at 9.45am)
SUN Jan 4
9.45am
SUN Jan 11
No Mass
Radio Mass: Sunday 10am on The Pulse 94.7 FM, and 7am on Light FM, 89.9 FM
ROSARY: usually recited before each Mass on Weekdays
RECONCILIATION AT ST MARY’S - Saturday 9.30am
NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP: Mondays after 10.00am Mass
ROSTERS FOR NEXT SUNDAY January 4, 2015 - The Epiphany of the Lord
Readings for next week:
Readers
Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6;
Matthew 2:1-12
Special Ministers
Christ the King Hall 5pm Mary & Terry Carracher Gifts & Special Minister: Helen Murphy
St Mary’s
6.00pm Brendan Sullivan
Gael & Richard Perry, Rhonda Sullivan, Margaret Hedt
7.30am Kate Parke
Barry Leith, Gary McIlvena, Nola Schwidlewski
9.30am Rieny Nieuwenhof
Frank & Marissa Harvey, Philip Redfern, Damian Moynihan,
Terry O’Brien, Jannifer Guinane
Margaret Hedt
Ian Kelly
Philip Redfern
11.00am Maria Monea
Robert Schmidt
5.30pm Linda Stacchino
Shirley Carroll, Moira Wilding, Georgia Cowdery, Maria Monea,
Bernardine Turner, Barbara Antony
NO Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Leonie Rastas, Pam Lazzaro, Elizabeth Fleming
Marijke Inei
St Margaret’s
9.45am Flavio Giurco
Michael O’Connell
Gifts: Horrobin Family
Special Ministers: Maryanne Villanti, Mary McKie
Cuppas: Leonie Cann