Our Lady of the Mission
Nov 29th 2020 - First Sunday of Advent
+ Next Sunday is the Second Sunday of Advent +
Message from Fr Cyp
Greetings and Peace to you all!
Father Francis and I welcome you all; praying and hoping we are all kept well, safe and in good health by the grace of God. We congratulate all our young people who have made their Confirmation in our parish over this passing month. May the Holy Spirit find a home in them, their families and in indeed, in every member of our Whitford Catholic Parish Community. We consciously remain on the path to some new sense of normality while remaining committed to federal and state governments’ advice and policies as well as advice from the Archbishop’s office in regards to COVID 19 RoadMap. This commitment is now more crucial as WA strong border has been relaxed from 14th November to a controlled border, allowing travellers from the eastern states to enter Western Australia; with no need of any form of quarantine for some. Advent and Christmas seasons are fast approaching and so a busy time in our parish. Whilst things can change very fast (hopefully not), we are on course to celebrate our Christmas Masses as always including Christmas Eve outdoor Mass at 06.00pm on the Oval. Please stay tuned to our parish weekly newsletter when we provide you relevant details. We look forward to celebrating with you and all your loved ones. As always, Fr Francis and I assure you of our ongoing prayers. Please keep us in yours. We commend one and all of you to the powerful intercession of Our Lady, Mother of Good Counsel.
Fr Cyprian M Shikokoti - PP.
MASS TIMES 30th November to 6th December 2020
All Masses will be held in the Church
Monday 30th November - St Andrew - 7.00am & 9.00am
Tuesday 1st December - 7.00am & 9.00am
Wednesday 2nd December - 7.00am & 9.00am
Thursday 3rd December - St Francis Xavier - 7.00am & 9.00am
Friday 4th December - 7.00am & 9.00am
Saturday 5th December - 8.30am & 6.30pm
Sunday 6th December- Second Sunday of Advent - 8.00am, 9.30am, 11am & 5.45pm
Prayer of the Week
Lord, we look forward to your coming. Help us to prepare our hearts to receive you in a special way at Christmas.
Introduction:
As we begin the season of Advent, we ask God to prepare us for change in our lives so that we may be ready to greet the child Jesus when he comes in Bethlehem at Christmas.
1st Reading: Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1. 3-8
The prophet prays that God would tear open the heavens and come down.
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
St Paul prays that his community will be open to God’s Spirit as they await the coming of Christ.
Gospel: Mark 13:33-37
Jesus tells his disciples to stay awake as they await the return of their master.
Antiphon to the Psalm:
Lord, make us turn to you, let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Parish Notices - Sunday 29th November
1.COVID 19 Protocols at Church: Under phase four of COVID 19 RoadMap here in WA, and given our large parish church size, we are able to operate at usual capacity with strict adherence to 2sqm rule until it is relaxed at the appropriate time. Our parish priests, staff, cleaners and volunteers are doing their very best to keep the space safe for us all. We are grateful to one and all of you for supporting us in this commitment of making OLM a safe and COVID 19-Free community.
2. WYFI Christmas Closure: Our parish youth group is now on Christmas break from Friday 27th November and will return on Friday, 29th January 2021. We wish all our young people a safe and blessed Christmas and summer break.
3. Eucharist Adoration: Fr Cyprian warmly invites all on roster and all visitors to Eucharistic Adoration Friday 4th Dec. at 6.30pm., whereupon Father will offer Holy Mass for our intentions. Light refreshments will follow in church hall. This date will be the closure for Eucharistic Adoration for the year 2020 and will reopen at 9.30am on Wednesday 13th January 2021.May God bless you and your families with the ' Peace ' of that first Christmas. St. Joseph protect you and may Our Blessed Mother never let go of your hands.
4. St Vincent de Paul: Many thanks for your generous support for our Christmas appeal this weekend and sponsored hampers program. Many local struggling families can now look forward to a brighter Christmas. We remind you that all sponsored hampers are due back to the parish centre next weekend 5th & 6th December (after any Mass). Please text Peter: 0491 048 207 if there any concerns.
5. Thanksgiving Mass: Wednesday 9th of December at 9am we will celebrate Thanksgiving Mass with Students from Whitford Catholic Primary School. You are welcome to join us in celebrating this special Mass if you can.
6. Advent/ Christmas Reconciliation: Please mark in your diary Wednesday 9th of December at 7.00pm in the Church – we will have a number of priests come to assist Fr Cyprian & Fr Francis in celebrating this wonderful sacrament in our parish as we prepare for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts.
7. Christmas Invite Leaflets: Please take a bundle of fifty Christmas invite leaflets to deliver in your street/s to invite family, friends and neighbours to our Christmas Masses. Please mark the area you are covering so we don’t double up. Thank you for your kind assistance.
8. Volunteers for Christmas Liturgies: Acolytes, Extraordinary Ministers, Readers (all masses except the outdoor Mass) and Altar Servers are invited to write their names on the Volunteer Sheets in the Sacristy. Many thanks
9. Overseas Mission: We would like to thank everybody for the kind contributions and donations made to the plant sale, it was much appreciated.
10. The Record: Please help yourself to a FREE copy to the Record magazine on your way out; the official magazine for the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth, WA.
11. Advent Journal 2020: Beautiful advent journals for 2020 are Now available from the Piety Stall for $15 with daily readings and space for your personal reflections.
12. Baby Jesus: We are seeking newborn babies for our Christmas Masses as follows: Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Also the 8am, 9.30am and 11am Masses on Christmas Day. Each baby will receive a special certificate as a memento. Kindly contact the office on 9307 2776 to provide details of your baby.
13. 2020 Christmas Eve Outdoor Mass Nativity Play: We are looking for children to be involved in the Nativity Play, which is a feature of the Parish Christmas Eve Mass on the Whitford school oval. Those children who feel they would like to a reading, and/or play the parts of Mary, Joseph, herald, innkeepers, shepherds and angels are invited to a practice on SATURDAY 19TH DECEMBER AT 10AM. We will meet on the oval side of the church. Characters will be chosen from those present at the practice. All children are welcome to join us. Enquiries: Leanne Fragomeni 0424 584 460
14. St Vincent de Paul Christmas Cards: From this weekend we have a limited number of Christmas cards for sale, $5 per packet. Please use the envelopes provided and put the money in the Poor Box. God Bless.
15. Religious Goods Stall: A reminder that your 2021 rosters are ready to pick up from the back of the Church.
16. 2020/21 RCIA Program: Would you like to become a Catholic or know more about our Catholic Faith? Please come join us on Thursdays at 7.30pm in the parish centre. Contact Mrs Ann Cunneen on 0410 616 517 for more information or you are welcome to just come join us.
17. Come Alive in Scripture Bible Study – Update: The group has successfully completed the study on Romans for 2020. We are pleased to announce our next study is planned for 2021 – “Wisdom” with a planned start date of 2nd & 3rd February 2021 (8 weeks), followed by a study on the Gospel of John. A reminder will be sent closer to the start date so you can secure your spot in the program. For more info contact Ramona: r.lapuz@gmail.com
18. Advertising Vacancies: If you would like to advertise in our Christmas edition of our Just Faith magazine, please contact the office on 9307 2776. As well as promoting your business through our community, you will be helping to support this publication. Rates are very reasonable.
19. Plenary Council: Please note the change of plenary council key dates. Events will now be held in October 2021 in Adelaide and in July 2022 in Sydney. You may also like to have a read of the recently published discernment papers of the six National Themes https://plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/continuing-the-journey-of-discernment/
20. Visit to the sick in homes and hospitals: Fr Cyprian and Fr Francis are now able to visit our sick parishioners in homes and hospitals. If you know a family member or parishioner who may benefit from such visit, please let us know. Also, some of our Acolytes and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion continue to bring Communion to the sick and home-bound on Sundays as required.
21. Whitford Catholic Primary School: Whitford Catholic Primary School is a community that celebrates faith and achievement and promotes excellence in all we do. Please visit our website www.whitfordcatholicps.wa.edu.au, our Facebook page or call (08) 9404 4200 for more information. We are currently taking expressions of interest and interviews for enrolment across the 7 year groups.
22. Padbury Catholic Primary School: Padbury Catholic Primary School is a welcoming, inclusive and faith-filled community which caters for students from Pre-Kindy to Year 6 in a double-stream setting. We actively promote our school values of Respect, Excellence, Sacredness and Togetherness. Please visit our website www.padcath.wa.edu.au or call 9404 4000 to express your interest or request an interview (no interview required for Pre-Kindy.
Rosters - 6th December 2020
NEWSLETTER NOTICES DEADLINE: Wednesday at 12pm Noon.
RELIGIOUS GOODS STALL: Cathy Mola/ Carol Farber/ Bernadette Nabham/ Angela Sanderson/ Samantha Thompson.
READERS: Georgia Bull & Margy Reeler/ Roslyn Trestrail & Colin Trestrail/ Carol Wright & Volunteer/ Ronellie Lenon & Lyne Acacio/ Emma Machesani & Siena Machesani.
COUNTERS: Sunday 13th December: Loretta Lewis/ Vicky Ryan/ Catriona West/ Cara & Timothy Hermann.
CLEANERS: Saturday 5th December: Maria Mammone/ Darlene McKenzie/ Regaine Tokimatsu/ Raluca Gavriliu/ Cathy Maloney.
BAKERS: Glory Be Café is still closed.
SERVERS: Glory Be Café is still closed.
STATUE OF FATIMA: From 12th December to the 19th December the Statue of Fatima will be with Eagle family in Ocean Reef. Those wishing to join them in saying the Rosary can call 08 9300 4415 to arrange. From the 19th December the statue will be the Shirley-Ann in Hillarys.
DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS: Is held on the first Friday of every month during 9.00am Mass. The next Devotion will be on Friday the 4th December.
EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: Adoration is held on Wednesdays 9.30am–7pm and Fridays 9.30am–7pm.
PRAY FOR THE SICK: We pray for all those in our parish’s Book of the Sick. You are most welcome to add names to this book in the foyer of the Church. Please cross out when our prayers are no longer needed.
Death & Anniversary
All the Masses this week will be offered especially for all those names mentioned in the Book of Life and whose name lies beneath the Altar and all our departed loved ones Holy Souls, all those recently deceased and those who have their anniversary around this time.
Stewardship Corner
We are the servants of God, each with his or her own task. We will be judged good stewards if, at His coming, He finds us ready and conscientiuosly pursuing the tasks to which we have been called.
General Notices
1. St Marys Cathedral: Perth’s St. Mary’s Cathedral will be shining as bright as the Star of Bethlehem for a one night only performance of “Christmas with the Giovanni Consort”. Perth’s finest young singers will be presenting an evening of glorious Christmas music. This magical concert will be performed at St Mary’s Cathedral on Friday December 11, commencing at 7.30pm. There is ample parking available at the City of Perth car park located next to the Westin Hotel. Due to stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions, there will be limited seating available and booking is essential. Tickets can be purchased at www.giovanniconsort.com.
2. Aid to the Church in Need Lebanon Update: Immediately following the Beirut explosion, ACN provided an initial emergency grant of $400,00 AUD for food. ACN has just announced a further commitment of $8 million for the repair and reconstruction of churches and convents. ACN thanks everyone who has already donated to their national appeal and welcomes any further support. Visit www.aidtochurch.org/Lebanon or call 1800 101 201.
3. Catholic Education Office: Advent Retreat Saturday 5th December 2020, 9.15am to 2.30pm. Please see notice at back of Church for more information.
Fr Cyprian's Weekly reflection: First Sunday of Advent - B
Our life journey is punctuated by seasons. Our conception, our birth, our childhood, adulthood, our old age and eventually our return to our gracious and loving heavenly Father; without discounting all the events that come between these seasons of our life. The gains and loses! For those of us here in the southern hemisphere and those in the northern hemisphere, we are no strangers to yearly cycles of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Depending on what we do in life, our health or so, we look forward to different seasons with different anticipations. Some of us love summer, some love spring, some are in awe of winter, others love autumn while there are others who are not fussed by these seasons.
Last week, we concluded Church’s liturgical year cycle A and this weekend, we begin a new Church liturgical year, cycle B. As is always the case when we come to an end of a particular segment of our life’s journey, we take time to do a ‘postmortem’ of the gone segment with a view of taking the lessons into the new segment of our life’s journey. For this past year 2020, there have been and there remain lots of lessons that will shape this new year. The gospel on this First Sunday Advent sets us on such path; stay awake! Whilst there is so much that keep us awake in our life, this gospel makes an urgent call on each of us to get to know what exactly we must stay awake for; the arrival of the master, Jesus Christ.
First, the gospel talks of the master having left His servants in charge and gone abroad. Who are the servants? They are all baptised members of the Church community and they are servants as far as they participate in the various ministries of the Church in proclamation of the Gospel. These ministries must have the sole purpose of building up the kingdom of God. A kingdom of love, justice and peace. We ought to evaluate our ministries in light of this gospel and see if we are actually contributing to the establishment and sustenance of God’s kingdom. That is to say: are we welcoming, forgiving, loving and compassionate?
There are also doorkeepers who must stay awake. These are the leaders of God’s Church; bishops, priests and superiors. They are called to lead in the footsteps of the Good Shepard. In so doing, they maintain tranquility and fidelity to the Gospel. Their own manner of life must not be scandalous to the people of God and so provide good example for others to follow with confidence. Through word and sacraments, doorkeepers administer charity that stems from the Sacred Heart of our Lord.
Figuratively, saint Mark reminds us that the master might arrive at any time that we do not know; evening, midnight, cockcrow or at dawn. It is interesting that the author of this gospel does not talk of daytime when there is light. He/she talks only of the dark hours – nighttime. The writer has conveniently not used daytime because as Christians, we are children of light. Day and night, we should be engaged in activities that give glory to God, striving to shun as far as we can, all the evils of the dark. We cannot even for a moment let the dark ‘hours’ of our lives steer us away from focusing on the power of Jesus. As saint Paul assures us, nothing can and I think should never separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
As we begin this new Church year, we abandon ourselves into the able hands of our maker, our creator, God the Father. It is Him the prophet Isaiah calls the potter and we, the clay. We let Him mold us into the people He wills us to be and set us on the path/s we should walk along our journey of faith. Ours is to remain awake to His call through His word and sacraments and so respond generously with our time, talent and loving witness. As a people awake to His call, we commit ourselves to prayer, giving comfort to the poor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, elderly, orphaned and all those left on the margins of life.
We take this time to appreciate a sense of new beginning or rather a kind of a fresh start even if only cautiously, given the disruptions we have experienced this passing year due to COVID 19. May our waiting and preparations for the birth of our Lord renew our hope for better days and things to come. He alone Has the power to conquer all adversity that threatens our life and all that put our faith to the test. May the bonds of mutual support that have stemmed from our collective fight against this virus bind us even closer in our faith and love for each other. Yes, it’s in order to say: Happy New Year and God bless us all!
Fr Cyprian Shikokoti, Parish Priest
Mass Readings
Entrance Antiphon: Psalm 24: 1-3
To you, I lift up my soul, O my God. In you, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame. Nor let my enemies exult over me; and let none who hope in you be put to shame.
Opening Prayer:
Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First reading: Isaiah 63:16-17,64:1,3-8
You, Lord, yourself are our Father, ‘Our Redeemer’ is your ancient name. Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your ways and harden our hearts against fearing you? Return, for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance. Oh, that you would tear the heavens open and come down! – at your Presence the mountains would melt. No ear has heard, no eye has seen any god but you act like this for those who trust him. You guide those who act with integrity and keep your ways in mind. You were angry when we were sinners; we had long been rebels against you. We were all like men unclean, all that integrity of ours like filthy clothing. We have all withered like leaves and our sins blew us away like the wind. No one invoked your name or roused himself to catch hold of you. For you hid your face from us and gave us up to the power of our sins. And yet, Lord, you are our Father; we the clay, you the potter, we are all the work of your hand.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps.79(80):2-3,15-16,18-19
Response: Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hear us, shine forth from your cherubim throne. O Lord, rouse up your might, O Lord, come to our help. R.
God of hosts, turn again, we implore, look down from heaven and see. Visit this vine and protect it, the vine your right hand has planted. R.
May your hand be on the man you have chosen, the man you have given your strength. And we shall never forsake you again; give us life that we may call upon your name. R.
Second reading: First Corinthians 1:3-9
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace. I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ. I thank him that you have been enriched in so many ways, especially in your teachers and preachers; the witness to Christ has indeed been strong among you so that you will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his Son, Jesus Christ; and God is faithful.
Gospel Acclamation: Psalms 84:8
Alleluia, alleluia! Lord, show us your mercy and love, and grant us your salvation. Alleluia!
Gospel Reading: Mark 13:33-37
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake. So, stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!’
Prayer over the Offerings:
Accept, we pray, O Lord, these offerings we make, gathered from among your gifts to us, and may what you grant us to celebrate devoutly here below gain for us the prize of eternal redemption. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Communion Antiphon: Psalm 84: 13
The Lord will bestow his bounty, and our earth shall yield its increase.
A Prayer in a Time of a Pandemic
Holy God, you are our comfort and strength in times of Crisis, Pandemic and Uncertainty. Surround us now with your grace and peace through this global pandemic of COVID 19. By your Spirit, help those for whom the effects of this pandemic have been severe and even tragic. Sustain those who are working hard through it. Grant your wisdom to those governing and guiding us to a sense of normality. Fill us all with courage and hope of better days ahead. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our rock and redeemer. Amen.
Reflections from Pope Francis
Today we begin the journey of Advent, which will culminate in Christmas. Advent is the time we are given to welcome the Lord who comes to encounter us, and also to verify our longing for God, to look forward and prepare ourselves for Christ’s return. He will return to us in the celebration of Christmas, when we will remember his historic coming in the humility of the human condition; but he enters our heart each time we are willing to receive him; and he will come again at the end of time to “judge the living and the dead”. Therefore, we must always be vigilant and await the Lord with the hope of encountering him. Today’s liturgy introduces us precisely to this evocative theme of vigilance and waiting.
In the Gospel (cf. Mk 13:33-37) Jesus exhorts us to take heed and watch, so as to be ready to welcome him at the moment of his return. He tells us: “Take heed, watch ... for you do not know when the time will come.... Watch therefore ... lest he come suddenly and find you asleep” (vv. 33-37).
The person who takes heed is the one who, amid the worldly din, does not let himself be overwhelmed by distraction or superficiality, but lives in a full and conscious way, with concern first and foremost for others. With this manner we become aware of the tears and the needs of neighbours and we can also understand their human and spiritual strengths and qualities. The heedful person then also turns toward the world, seeking to counter the indifference and cruelty in it, and taking delight in its beautiful treasures which also exist and are to be safeguarded. It is a matter of having an understanding gaze so as to recognize both the misery and poverty of individuals and of society, and to recognize the richness hidden in little everyday things, precisely there where the Lord has placed us.
The watchful person is the one who accepts the invitation to keep watch, that is, not to let himself be overpowered by the listlessness of discouragement, by the lack of hope, by disappointment; and at the same time it wards off the allure of the many vanities with which the world is brimming and for which, now and then, time and personal and familial peace is sacrificed. It is the painful experience of the people of Israel, recounted by the Prophet Isaiah: God seemed to have let his people err from his ways (cf. 63:17), but this was a result of the unfaithfulness of the people themselves (cf. 64:4b). We too often find ourselves in this situation of unfaithfulness to the call of the Lord: He shows us the good path, the way of faith, the way of love, but we seek our happiness elsewhere.
Being attentive and watchful are prerequisites so as not to continue to “err from the Lord’s ways”, lost in our sins and in our unfaithfulness; being attentive and being watchful are the conditions that allow God to permeate our existence, in order to restore meaning and value to it with his presence full of goodness and tenderness. May Mary Most Holy, role model for awaiting God and icon of watchfulness, lead us to her son Jesus, rekindling our love for him.
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Contact us!
Parish Priest: Fr Cyprian M. Shikokoti
Ph: 0450 464 678
Assistant Priest: Fr Francis Quoc Tran
Ph: 0466 909 282
Parish Office
Secretaries: Christine List & Mary McGrath-Yek
Office Hours: Mon – Fri 9am –4pm
Email: whitford@perthcatholic.org.au
Sacramental Coordinator: Brigid Fredericks
Ph: 9307 2776
Email: sacramental.whitford@perthcatholic.org.au
Missioncare: Donna Moxey (Meals, Visiting & Family help)
Ph: 0434 637 355
Youth and Young Adult Contact Details
Youth Choir: Nicole Westneat - 0411 542 619
Youth & Family Choir: Fran Christie Zscherpel - 0433 852 967
WyFi: Luke 0401 822 932 or Amanda 0421 144 992
Safeguarding Officers:
Rachel Wood 0400 958 513
Margy Reeler 0458 509 054
Andrew DeMaio 0422 236 051
Email: whitford@perthcatholic.org.au
Website: olm.myparish.net.au
Location: 270 Camberwarra Drive, Craigie WA, Australia
Phone: 9307 2776
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Our-Lady-of-the-Mission-Whitford-Parish-105788500874671/?ref=br_rs