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Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Today we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent, and light the candle of LOVE.  As we look forward to the celebration of birth of Jesus, we remind ourselves of God's great love for humanity, manifested in the gift of His Son.

Out of his desire to be closer to us, walk with us and redeem us, God took on human flesh in Jesus, and became one of us.  His love was incarnated.  All for the love of humanity.

His teachings and more so his encounter with people were an expression of genuine love, love in action.   During Advent and beyond, we are called upon to imitate him through the love we show towards others.  Sometimes through simple acts of kindness, generosity and compassion; sometimes through our dedication and life-long service of family and friends; and sometimes through our sensitivity to those in need.  People who act in this way serve as beacons of love to us all.

Opportunities to serve others are never far from us.   May the contemplation of the birth of Jesus prompt us to extend our love to the marginalized and the forgotten. By doing so, we are living out the call to love our neighbours as ourselves, fulfilling Jesus' commandment.

We have been speaking of Advent as a “waiting time”.  It is not a lazy or an I-do-not-care time.  It is an intentional time.  We await the birth of Jesus with hearts full of love, ready to overflow onto others, whether in the small or big things of life.  May we feel the transformation that love brings to us, especially on Christmas day.

Let us continue to pray that our hearts may be filled with the love of the Lord.  May we recognise God’s love in the gift of Jesus, His Son, and may it guide us, inspire us, and transform us to be more like him, showing love in action throughout the Christmas season and the New Year.

I would like to thank you all for your faithfulness, love and generosity throughout the year.  May this continue to enhance a sense of community and the creation of a more vibrant parish.

God bless you.

Fr Silvio

During October/November a Formation Course on the Mass, based on Bishop Robert Barron’s talks, was held at the Parish with the participation of 30 parishioners.  Here are a few comments and reflections...

“Bishop Barron's formation on the liturgy offers a profound opportunity to grow together as a community, deepening our collective understanding of the sacred mysteries of the Mass. By exploring the rich symbolism and significance of its parts, we come to appreciate the beauty and transformative power of the Eucharistic celebration. This shared journey not only fosters unity but also inspires us to embrace continuous learning, recognising that our faith is enriched by ongoing discovery. Such formation equips us to be more effective in our mission of evangelisation, as we are empowered to share the profound truth, grace, and joy of the liturgy with the world. In this communal endeavour, we find renewal and strength, united in our calling to be witnesses of Christ’s love.”  (Maria Vella)

“I found the course to be quite enlightening.  It gave me a deeper and more thorough understanding of the ritual and the relevant purposes of each of the segments of mass.

“While the videos (of the talks) were quite informative, I got a lot of satisfaction out of the group discussions, where people were able to discuss the topical questions and listen to people's various thoughts on the matters.

“The networking and socialising with the various parishioners before and after the session started and finished was also extremely rewarding.” (Michael Vella)

Many thanks to the course participants, Amanda, and Brendan (School Principal) for their contribution to this formation course.  Looking forward to more next year.

Fr Silvio

Saturday, 23rd November – “The Light Shines in the Darkness” (John 1:5)

The Lord works in wonderful ways to give us Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. On this blessed day, around 24 of us gathered to pray and prepare  ourselves for Advent. It was truly a special time as we awaited the coming of our Lord.

The retreat offered a serene and peaceful environment, allowing us to find stillness and listen to Him. In the quiet moments, the words of Psalm 46:10 resonated deeply within us: “Be still and know that I am God.”

This time of retreat and reflection was a precious opportunity to deepen our faith and draw closer to God. As we lit candles and shared in prayer, the light symbolized the hope and promise that shines even in the darkest of times.

We left the retreat with hearts full of gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to embrace the Advent season with anticipation and reverence. This time together was not only a testament to the power of prayer and reflection but also a       reminder of the ever-present light of God's love in our lives.

Audrey

Click on the links below to know more about the Prelature of "Santiago Apostol of Huancane'" in the South of PERU.  Thanks for being a part of their mission with prayers and support.

Be part of God's mission.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1385380002084851

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Be+part+of+His+mission

Paulist Missionary Seminarians Tran Dai Linh and Ngo Quang Luan are in Australia for a year of practical placement at St. Bernadette and St James (Hoppers Crossing).  While welcoming Brs Linh and Luan, we promise them our prayers.  May this year be a fruitful one for them, as they continue to walk on the missionary pathway.            

Welcome Brothers Linh and Luan!

Our Parish Piety Stall is now open with the help of these lovely people and a few more.  We have been blessed with wonderful Volunteers who will do their best to open the piety stall before and after every mass on Saturday 6.30pm, Sunday 8.30am, 11.00am and 7.00pm.

If you haven’t stopped to look for a while, please check out the new items, as we do try to add different things from time to time. 

Thank you for your on-going support. 

Our Scripture reflection sessions continue every Thurday at 7pm and it is a great way to connect with Parishioners during our lockdowns.  It has been great to see some new faces over the past few weeks.   These sessions are held using the ZOOM video platform so you do not need to leave the comfort of your own home to attend.

If you would like to attend these sessions, send Amanda an email to brownieab75@gmail.com  and she will send you the ZOOM link weekly.

We would love to see many more faces at our meetings!!

Normal Mass times:

Saturday 6.30pm and 8.00pm Neo-Catechumenal (Pioneers Hall)

Sunday 8.30am; 9.45am (Polish); 11.00am; 12.30pm (Vietnamese) and 7.00pm                                                                                                               

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9.15am

Wednesday Evening 7.00pm

Giờ Thánh Lễ bình thường:

Thứ Bảy 6:30pm

Chủ nhật 8:30am; 9:45am (tiếng Ba Lan); 11:00am; 7:00pm

KHÔNG CÓ THÁNH LỄ Ở TRUNG TÂM CỘNG ĐỒNG TẠI COOKE AVE

Thánh lễ tiếng Việt: Mỗi Chúa Nhật thứ nhất và thứ ba hàng tháng lúc 12:30pm

Thứ Ba và Thứ Năm 9:15am