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Jer.33:14-16; 1Th. 3:12-4:2; Lk.21:25-28,34-36 - Liberation is at hand
The First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year, a new pilgrimage. Advent means ‘coming’ - the coming of Christ. In fact, we can speak of three different comings of Christ namely (a) historical, (b) every day of our lives through his Word, Eucharist, sacraments, persons and daily events, and (c) ‘the second coming of Christ’, when each one will receive his or her due reward. During advent, in fact, in the very first Sunday of Advent, we are invited to be prepared and ready for the coming of Jesus. We are exhorted to be always awake and vigilant for we do not know the hour and the time of the arrival of the Son of Man. The Gospel passage of today offers us a description of the end of the world not to frighten us, but to make us aware of the urgency of being ready and vigilant for the day of the Lord. St Paul suggests us certain ways and means to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord that is to enrich ourselves in our love for one another, to lead a life of holiness and to continue to make progress in the good that we do. As means of preparation, the Gospel invites us to pray because we will have the strength to escape everything that is about to happen (Lk 21:36). It encourages us to be optimistic even at the “end of the world,” because our liberation is at hand. The invisible presence of God that we experience in prayer makes us recognize our own strength. Hence, with a life of love, holiness, growth and prayer, we shall prepare ourselves to meet the Lord when he comes. The best model for our spiritual preparation during this time of waiting and active vigilance is Virgin Mary who waited for the promised Messiah with great hope. Church has given us this grace filled four weeks for our spiritual preparation to welcome the Lord in our hearts, homes and families. Fr Paul Holy Trinity Parish Vision We are a prayerful and diverse Catholic community in the Eastern suburbs of Wellington, drawing strength from one another to grow and become fully alive as missionary disciples. Advent Advent is a season of hope, expectancy and, particularly in the last nine days, preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord. Colour adds beauty and with floral and lighting atmosphere waits for new life. Joyful music, carols with symbols in display doubles the joy. The wreath and candles with Jesse Tree telling the story Jesus coming into this world makes the season to look forward to. I encourage you to build a crib and light a candle in every household and pray, especially from 15th – 23rd December leading up to Christmas. St Patrick’s Church Christmas working bee – Saturday 9th December between 9 – 12pm; Parishioners are welcome to come and help us spurce up inside and outside the church in preparation for Christmas. Just turn up - many hands make light work. Christmas Appeal St Vincent de Paul Society Seatoun & Miramar Conference A three week donation appeal for food items, toiletries, treats and gifts to be placed in or beside sign-posted bins in the foyer any time of the week when the Church is open. You might even like to make up a hamper. On Friday 14 December 2018 our team of drivers and helpers will deliver the boxes of food and items to over 50 families in the district. If you wish to provide a gift could you please wrap it and place a note as to the age and gender the gift would suit. A brief note for you suggesting ideas for donating items or making up hampers are available in the foyer. This collection is a practical way we can reach out to bring Christ’s love to the homes of our neighbours who are really struggling and for whom this extra help will alleviate their burden. Please note: Last collection day will be the Sunday 9th December. (Contacts: Clare Maddock, ph 388 8548; Brendan Quirk ph 388 9708) News and Views. This is a magazine delivered by email or to a letterbox to most parishioners on the parish roll on a monthly basis. The Pastoral Council has decided that this will now be distributed on a quarterly basis. We are seeking 3 or 4 parishioners or a family who could help with this publication. Essentially this would involve identifying any information which may be of faith-based interest to both active parishioners and those who are not regular attenders. Help with final copy is available. Please contact the office if you think you can help with this important communication. Are you a child who would like to take part in the St Patrick’s Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve?? Would you like to do a reading, read a prayer of the Faithful, carry the offertory, take part in a play? We need your help to make this Mass happen. If you volunteer, you will be given help to do your best. Please phone Clare Lundon the Mass Organiser 0212278363 or Patricia O’Donnell St Patrick’s Liturgy Chairperson 934 3179. Christmas Novena 15 – 23rd December - St Patrick’s Church 7pm All are welcome to come join us praying a novena for the nine days leading up to Christmas Eve. There will be a priest available for reconciliation each night during the Novena. Christmas Eve Mass at St Patrick's Church. If you are a parishioner planning to attend, would you like to be
The key for St Patrick’s toilet is missing. The key for the toilet is missing from the sacristy. It is on a yellow tag and if you’ve accidently forgotten to return it, can you either put it back or give to the priest. Thank you. "REAL CHRISTMAS CARDS". St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas cards will be on sale soon in our Church foyers after Sunday Masses at Holy Cross, St Anthony's and St Patrick's churches, same price as last year's. Religious-theme cards "Keeping Christ in Christmas", $2.50 per pack of 5 cards with envelopes. Proceeds to our local St Vincent de Paul Conference activities in the eastern suburbs. Contacts: Holy Cross Church (Julian Knap, ph 970 3905), St Anthony's Church (Andrew Monahan, ph 021 772 350), and St Patrick's Church (Frank Quirke, ph 387 4977). GET IN QUICK – ALMOST SOLD OUT! only available through the office $12 each You can either put your money or cheq (made out to Holy Trinity Parish) in an envelope with your details and pop in the collection basket, or email, phone or drop into the Parish Office. Alternatively pay by internet banking to Holy Trinity Parish 02-0536-0185031-00 and use CALENDAR as the reference. When you have paid, email the office holytrinity.wgtn@xtra.co.nz with the following details: the amount paid, the number of calendars ordered, which Church you will collect your calendars from or if you would like to collect them from the office. Once payment has cleared, the Calendars will be left for you in the back of your chosen Church or in the office for you to collect. Charity knitting Many thanks for all the knitting you continue to do for needy children. I have just sent away 250 garments and 50 hats, which are very much appreciated. Keep up the good work. God bless you all, Margaret Wednesdays 5 and 12 December Take time out in Advent for contemplative reflection and prayer series led by Sr Sue Cosgrove. 10am sessions repeated at 7pm, Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay, Wellington, ph (04) 383-7769. CHARISMATIC MASS to be held on Wednesday 5 December at 7.30pm, in St Theresa's church, St Andrew's Road, Plimmerton. Celebrant Fr Kevin Connors. ALL WELCOME. Prayer teams and Supper to follow. Any queries please phone: Anne Dodds 027 311 0551 A few copies of Fr John Rea`s latest book, "Wonders Still Abounding" will be on sale. Greenstone Doors Annual Christmas Party is being held on 5th Dec 6:30pm-8:30pm at 106 Park Road, Belmont. Join us for an evening of music, entertainment, wine, nibbles and rolling raffles. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased from eventbrite.co.nz or contact us on 566 5037. Annual Harbour City Funeral Home Christmas Rememberance Service. The National March for Life NZ has been endorsed by the Catholic Bishops of NZ: Mark your calendars and prepare to join others on Saturday 8th December to celebrate the gift of life and send a message of love and hope to our community. Be a beacon of light for Kiwi families, mothers and the unborn! Gather at 2 pm in Civic Centre, 101 Wakefield St., ready to begin to walk to Parliament grounds. marchforlifenz.org.nz or phone Michael 021 825 955 NZ Rosary Crusade and Patron Bishop Patrick Dunn invite New Zealanders on 8th December to gather together in prayer in various locations (including at the National March for Life on the lawn of Parliament) to pray the Rosary for Life and Faith. If you are not coming to the March for Life please look up www.rosarycrusade.co.nz or phone Clare D. on 022 1912 886 or 03 359 2087 to find your nearest rosary venue. If there isn't one please consider arranging one in your town, suburb, church or home. Carols in Parliament – The Council of Wellington Churches invites you to attend Carols in Parliament on Sun. 9 Dec. at 7pm. RSVP is essential (for Parliamentary Security reasons) by 1 December to e-mail cwc1449@gmail.com Bach Choir of Wellington To St Cecilia and Music 2pm Sunday 16 December St Mary of the Angels, Boulcott Street. The Bach Choir presents choral music from the 16th to 20th Centuries in honour of St Cecilia, patroness of musicians: Hymn to St. Cecilia, Benjamin Britten; Messe Solennelle de Sainte-Cécile (St Cecilia Mass), Gounod; and music by William Byrd, Handel, Johannes Jeep and Gerald Finzi. The Choir will be joined by Nicola Holt (soprano), Jamie Young (tenor), Daniel O'Connor (baritone) and Douglas Mews (organ), under the direction of Shawn Michael Condon. Tickets available from Eventfinda, choir members, and at the door on the day. CARITAS GIFTS 2018 Caritas Gifts are a perfect way to show your friends and loved ones that you are thinking of them this year, while also making an important contribution on their behalf. Every single Caritas Gift purchased, also allows us to offer vital assistance and support where it is needed most. The range of Caritas Gift options are split across four specific areas; Hope Fund - supports our development work Life Fund - sustains emergency support Peace Fund - promotes healthcare, human rights and justice Learning Fund - supports education and environmental care Each one provides vital funds, supporting a variety of Caritas programmes. All are focused towards creating positive and long-lasting changes in the lives of some of the most vulnerable communities relying upon our help. For example, if you buy the gift of an Emergency kit from the Life Fund, the money you pay goes into that fund and is used to support emergency work where it is needed most. Or by purchasing a chicken or a goat gift, you will be supporting a community, helping to provide sustainable food options. When you purchase a gift from one of these funds the money you spend supports that area of Caritas' work. Even the smallest gifts make an incredible difference to those in need, whether it is $10 or $1000. Every Caritas Gift makes for a wonderful present to give family and friends while also helping to support the dignity of our brothers and sisters, both here in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the world. Caritas gifts can be ordered now by calling us directly on 0800 22 10 22 or by visiting the Caritas website: www.caritas.org.nz/caritas-gifts place your order by Monday, 10 December to ensure that your Caritas Gift is received in time for Christmas. Go you are sent to fellow christians 9(c) The Archdiocese engages in listening to interchurch couples to draw on their experience and address their needs. “Father, may they be one in us…” (John 17:21) Just as in each of our lives we always need to begin again, to get up again, to rediscover the meaning of the goal of our lives, so also for the great human family it is always necessary to rediscover the common horizon toward which we are journeying. The horizon of hope! This is the horizon that makes for a good journey. The season of Advent, which we begin again today, restores this horizon of hope, a hope which does not disappoint for it is founded on God’s Word. A hope which does not disappoint, simply because the Lord never disappoints! Pope Francis, Angelus 1 December 2013 Oberammergau 2020 Passion Play Fr Chris Friel from Christchurch will lead this tour to Germany in June of 2020. The famous play has been performed every 10 years since 1634. The tour includes a 6 day cruise down the Danube through Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Hungary. Ph 0800 356 728 for further info. Parish Council Meeting: Wednesday 5th December 7.30pm St Patrick’s Meeting Room Finance Committee Meeting: Tuesday 11th December 7.30pm Holy Cross Parish Centre We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died especially Gordon Copeland and those whose anniversaries occur around this time. Our prayers are also with those who are unwell especially Judy Chote, John Rogers and Graeme Adams and for the wonderful people who are caring for the everyday needs of the sick in our Community.
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