PDF version of this parish newsletter here:
Also, you can access an online copy of the newsletter *here*
MAY GOD GRANT YOU A HAPPY AND HOLY CHRISTMAS
AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
Image - The Holy Family in Bethlehem - Nativity- Icon - in silver and gold, and paint.
THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING YEAR - Farewell from Seminarian Bradley Davies
Thank you for an amazing year.
It feels like it has gone so fast. I have really enjoyed myself this year, and thank you for being a part of my parish experience.
I have learned a lot from engaging with you this year and from the different aspects of parish life in which I have been involved. I have preached at Mass, visited some of you in your homes, visited some of you in hospital and age care homes, gone to schools, volunteered with Rosies, and enjoyed countless cups of coffee with you. I feel that I have grown so much this year as a person and as a seminarian, as I have had many opportunities to engage full-time in pastoral and parish ministry.
A big thank you also, of course, to Father Peter and Father Paul for having me in the parish. It has been great to learn from you and to experience life with you in the presbytery.
Also, as many of you know, I recently went with the Seminary on a two-week pilgrimage to Rome while also spending a day in Pompeii and two nights in Assisi. It was an epic experience, and it was wonderful to gain a broader perspective of the wider church. I have included a few photos from the trip. Thank you once again.
God bless you, and please keep me in your prayers. You will certainly be in mine.
Blessings, Bradley Davies.
ST VINCENT de PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL
Thanks so much to the local St Vincent de Paul conference and all the wonderful helpers. Thank you to the community for the wonderful work and help in donating, preparing, and delivering the Christmas hampers to many needy families. Thanks, too, for the donations to the work of the local conference for all-year support. This is Christianity in action at its clearest. Should you wish to understand more about our conference's good works or have any questions, you can email our conference at sv4217@svdpqld.org.au, the President Craig.McMahon@svdpqld.org.au, or the Treasurer Adrian.Biermann@svdpqld.org.au. Best regards, SVDP Surfers Paradise Conference
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES
{NO SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION ON CHRISTMAS EVE OR CHRISTMAS DAY}
STELLA MARIS CHURCH, BROADBEACH
{Stella Maris. 254 Hedges Avenue, Broadbeach, 4218}
Christmas Eve: 5.00 PM VIGIL MASS.
Christmas Day: 7.00 AM
ST VINCENT’S CHURCH, SURFERS PARADISE
{St Vincent’s. 40 Hamilton Avenue. Surfers Paradise 4217}
Christmas Eve: 5.00 PM VIGIL MASS. (SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MASS TIME ONLY)
Christmas Day: 8.00 AM & 10.00 AM
Also, Sunday night, 25th December - Christmas night Mass (Sunday 25th) at 5:30 pm at St Vincent's Church, run by the Hispanic Community.
SACRED HEART CHURCH, CLEAR ISLAND WATERS
{Sacred Heart - 50 Fairway Drive. Clear Island Waters, 4226}
Christmas Eve (vigil): 5.00 PM - FAMILY MASS with Children’s Nativity Play
(See note below for more information)
8.00 PM SPECIAL MASS (Christmas Eve only).
Christmas Day: 9.00 AM (No Sunday night mass at SH, except the 4 pm Italian Mass)
12.30 PM POLISH MASS (confirmed) - Sacred Heart (25th and 26th)
4 PM ITALIAN MASS. (confirmed) - Sacred Heart
SPANISH MASS AT ST VINCENT’S SUNDAY NIGHT (25/12/22)- 5:30 PM
A CHRISTMAS “CORINTHIANS”
THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY THIS YEAR WILL BE THIS FRIDAY 30TH DECEMBER
To access the Podcast of the Mass for this Feast, please visit here:
Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Year A - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/weekday-feast-friday-30-12-22-faith-hope-and-love-the-holy-family-year-a-episode-398/s-D35mXHOwtVK
A NOTE RE PENANCE AT CHRISTMAS
To assist people who are unable to attend what would ordinarily be pre-Christmas reconciliation.
You can access the podcast for the Penitential themed Mass here:
Eucharist is, of course, effective in the forgiveness of all venial sin. The actual rule is that all Catholics are ordinarily bound by an obligation TO receive communion at least once a year. This would mean that reconciliation is only compulsory for any serious sins and would be best confessed as soon as possible - Please note that this does not oblige people to go to confession once a year but simply that we are obliged to receive Holy Communion at least once a year, and that implies confessing any serious sins that we know of. And also, "without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.” But when these instructions are read together and with the current circumstances of covid caution, only those who need to confess serious sins are obliged to seek confession. A private confession with a priest outside the usual mass times can be arranged in this situation. Please avoid the pre-Christmas rush. We will not be available for hearing confessions just before Christmas masses. We encourage most people, where possible, to make use of personal acts of contrition, participation in the Eucharist, and penitential services, in these present times, for their preparation for Christmas. Some interesting information from the Catechism of the Catholic church:
Para 1393: Holy Communion separates us from sin. The body of Christ we receive in Holy Communion is "given up for us," and the blood we drink is "shed for the many for the forgiveness of sins." For this reason, the Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from future sins: For as often as we eat this bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the death of the Lord. If we proclaim the Lord's death, we proclaim the forgiveness of sins. If, as often as his blood is poured out, it is poured for the forgiveness of sins, I should always receive it so that it may always forgive my sins. Because I always sin, I should always have a remedy.
Para 1394: As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life; and this living charity wipes away venial sins.231 By giving himself to us, Christ revives our love and enables us to break our disordered attachments to creatures and root ourselves in him: Since Christ died for us out of love, when we celebrate the memorial of his death at the moment of sacrifice we ask that love may be granted to us by the coming of the Holy Spirit. We humbly pray that in the strength of this love by which Christ willed to die for us, we, by receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, may be able to consider the world as crucified for us, and to be ourselves as crucified to the world. . . . Having received the gift of love, let us die to sin and live for God.
Para 1395: By the same charity that it enkindles in us, the Eucharist preserves us from future mortal sins. The more we share the life of Christ and progress in his friendship, the more difficult it is to break away from him by mortal sin. The Eucharist is not ordered to the forgiveness of mortal sins - that is proper to the sacrament of Reconciliation. The Eucharist is properly the sacrament of those in full communion with the Church.
Even more interesting is this teaching from The great Doctor of the Catholic Church, St Thomas Aquinas: (also known as the Angelic Doctor). St. Thomas Aquinas explains:
"As stated above (III:87:3), there is no remission of any sin whatever except by the power of grace, because, as the Apostle declares (Romans 4:8), it is owing to God's grace that He does not impute sin to a man, which a gloss on that passage expounds as referring to venial sin. Now he that is in a state of mortal sin is without the grace of God. Therefore no venial sin is forgiven him" (Summa Theologica, Third Part, Question 87: The remission of venial sin, Article 4).
For those, however, who only have venial sins on their souls, the Angelic Doctor continues by explaining what the means for remitting the venial sins are:
"No infusion of fresh grace is required for the forgiveness of a venial sin, but it is enough to have an act proceeding from grace, in detestation of that venial sin, either explicit or at least implicit, as when one is moved fervently to God. Hence, for three reasons, certain things cause the remission of venial sins: first, because they imply the infusion of grace, since the infusion of grace removes venial sins, as stated above (Article 2); and so, by the Eucharist, Extreme Unction, and by all the sacraments of the New Law without exception, wherein grace is conferred, venial sins are remitted.
"Secondly, because they imply a movement of detestation for sin, and in this way the general confession [i.e. the recital of the Confiteor or an act of contrition, the beating of one's breast, and the Lord's Prayer conduce to the remission of venial sins, for we ask in the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses."
"Thirdly, because they include a movement of reverence for God and Divine things; and in this way, a bishop's blessing, the sprinkling of holy water, any sacramental anointing, a prayer said in a dedicated church, and anything else of the kind, conduce to the remission of venial sins" (Summa Theologica, Third Part, Question 87: The remission of venial sin, Article 3)
Thus, we learn that the Sacraments, such as receiving Holy Communion, remit venial sin, although we, of course, may never receive Holy Communion without prior Sacramental Confession for mortal sin. We also learn that the Confiteor, the Our Father, and blessing ourselves with Holy Water all remit venial sin.
So if you find yourself away from the Sacrament of Confession, do not lose heart. Make use of the prayers and Sacramentals at your disposal.
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT FOR JANUARY 2023
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for First Friday, 6th January 2023, at Sacred Heart Church from 7 pm to 8.30 pm. All welcome. Enquiries: Helen 0421935678.
"Could you not watch one hour with Me?" MT 26:40
Becoming Catholic! A Journey of Faith
Are you interested in becoming Catholic or learning about the Catholic faith? Welcome! The Catholic Church’s mission is to offer people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to deepen their understanding and relationship with Jesus Christ. Becoming Catholic involves a journey of faith accompanied by the support of a parish community. This process is called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). During the RCIA process, you meet with others to share, reflect, pray and learn more about the Catholic faith. Ceremonies or ‘rites’ at each stage signify the steps along the way. If you or someone you know would like to know more about becoming Catholic or starting to become Catholic as an adult, please contact
Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, Clear Island Waters Q 4226. Phone: 5671 7388 surfers@bne.catholic.net.au
DURING CHURCH SERVICES - FANS IN THE CHURCH DURING the HOT WEATHER ARE TO BE LEFT ON AND DOORS TO BE LEFT OPEN FOR AIR CIRCULATION AND BREEZES!
Please Don't Ask The Coordinator To Turn Them Off. Also, please do not close the doors of the church as we need a flow of fresh air. Coordinators are following Church Health and Safety directions. It may be necessary to relocate to another seat that suits your needs or bring something warm to put on.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
HOSPITAL CALLS - AROUND THE DEANERY -
HELP THE PRIESTS OF THE DEANERY RESPOND TO URGENT CALLS EFFECTIVELY BY CALLING THE FOLLOWING PARISHES FIRST RESPONDERS TO NEEDS WITHIN THE HOSPITALS LISTED.
To efficiently deal with the pastoral needs around the Catholic Parishes of the Gold Coast, the parishes within this Deanery have the practice of having the first call for emergencies going to the priests of the parish where the hospital is located. Here is a helpful guide to the hospitals and their attendant priests. A nursing home call also follows this procedure, where the first priest to call is a priest from the parish within which the Nursing Home is located.
Robina Hospital - Burleigh Heads Parish on 5576 6466
Pindara Hospital - Surfers Paradise Parish 56717388
John Flynn Hospital -Coolangatta-Tugun Parish on 5598 2165
University & Gold Coast Private Hosp-Southport Parish 5510 2222
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Vector ID: 340202321 - Christmas star and the birth of Jesus, illustration. Vector Contributor: losw
A HAPPY AND SAFE CHRISTMAS!
Shutterstock Licensed Image: Stock Vector ID: 1552511834 -
People celebrating Christmas in summer partying on the beach and exchanging gifts - Vector Contributor: elenabsl
A VOCATION VIEW: Nurtured within Families
Vocations are born in the family. The deacons, priests, sisters, and brothers of tomorrow are being born in our local hospitals and playing in our own backyards. To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION - TRUST!
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us….”John 1:14. God made us for an eternal relationship with Him. He loves each of us individually. Through sin, our relationship with God was broken. He gave us Jesus to restore our relationship. Being disciples of Jesus, we are given the model to obtain eternal life in Heaven. Christmas isn’t about the material gifts we receive, and it’s about the love that God, Our Father, gave us by giving us His Son, Jesus – the best gift we could ever receive.
The vision of Stewardship speaks in every aspect of life, inviting everyone to be thankful, generous and accountable for what each has been given.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Diane & Steve Land, John & Molly Robinson, Peter Barry, Phil Bawden, Kath Kiely, Natalie O’Reilly, John Nathaniel Maher, Peter O’Brien, Betty Taylor, Rosie May Fisher, Denise Tracey, Millicent Monteiro, Sally Gage, Jean Di Benedetto, Sebastian Condon, Maria Manuela, Rogelio Rodriguez, Gus Reeves, Patrick Joven de Leon, Baby Samuel Timothy, Maria Yuna, Peter Lofts, Maria Teresa Gutierrez, Geoffrey Dixon, Margaret Haerse, Annie Scicluna, Jo Clark, Kay Pitman, Michael Murtagh, Leslie Clarke, Lena Hiscock, Shirley Montford, Beryl Dorfield, Joanne Mooney, Patricia Roberts, John Thomas, Tom Ross, Joanne Parkes, Jack Barretto, Doug Chester, Kathy Stevens, Nellie Bellinger, Leslie Clarke, Kristy Peat, Anna Janiek, Andrew McPherson, Louise Holmes, Betty & Patrick O’Connell, Margaret & George Cook, Fred Grioli, Lynn Nunan, Elaine Casonati, Kim Parkes, Cecily Cellinan, Kevin Brennan, Margaret Cusack, Fabiola Menzs. And all suffering from Covid-19 and its effects.
RECENTLY DECEASED: The two Queensland Police Officers who were murdered whilst performing their duties: Constable Matthew Arnold (aged 26) and Constable Rachel McCrow (aged 29). With Honour They Served!; and civilian Alan Dare (aged 58), Brian Quinlan, Maureen Jobling, Dao Jensen, Del Lange, Eleanor Wilson, Felix Grech, Maria Magdalena Bizzotto, C. L. Kennedy, Helen Margaret White, Dorothy Whiteman, Donald Greenwood, Paul Broughton, Jan Falk, Bernece Brown, David Joshua Maher, Michael Thomas Fitzgerald, Fr Dennis Riley, Julio Enrique Astorga, Dr Michael Tracey, Joseph Horvatt, Ian Richard Kentley, Angela Hawes, Michelle Thomas, Aniela Halina Hedditch, Precious Bautista, Marco Mazic, John Bastable, Jameal Tooma, Dean Leigh Smith, Clare Hammond, Anthony Hendry, Pauline Dolan, Rita Donaldson (mother of Fr Paul Taubman), Lawrence Byrne, Acushla (Margaret) Patton, Vivian Williams, Florence (Flora) Smith, Leo Lampago, Ray Burton, Patrick Byrnes.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: Magdalena & Josep Johanes, Klaus Diga, Stacey Pickering, Augustus Snr & Terry Tanquintic, Caterina Di Losa (Cathy) Randazzo, Colin Peter Randazzo, Joseph (Joe) Che, Maria Sidic, Marian Howell, Herta Haselhorst, Neil Davey Lawrence, Percy Felsman, Johan (John) Egner, Joan Sadie Brown, Carmen de Celis, Ernest Vincent (Vin) Smith, Dorothy “Dolly” Dyer, Robert Henry Rathborne, Mr Vivian David (Viv) Cogar, Penny Natalie Woodman, Ferdinand Paul (Paul) Kiely, Betty Lloyd, Trevor Jones, Sue Hewitt, Marian Ware, John Francis Moore, Mariette Anna Stradiotto-Alda, Norma Heather, Bill Heather, Dolly Tan, Rodolfo Solatan, Maurice Cass, Patricia Anne Burton, Nora and Harold Stanley Ragan, “Young Harold”, Alec Edwards, Ellice Mayhew. And also: Itufa Ah Lo, John Agustinus Ngati, Grazyna Zyner, Barry Charles Day, Henry Martin Prince, Noel (Max) Patrick Christmas, Gary John Moore, Walter de Launey, Margaret Borg, Abina Jean (Jean) Saalmann, Stanley (Stan) Kassulke, Murray James Hill, Denis Graham, Maureen Fitzgerald, Maria Vos, Frankie Anne Mackedie (baby), Mary Jean Lenthall, Alfred Ernest (Alf) Symonds, Ada Teresa Bradshaw, Patricia Lazaro, John Brian McCabe, Jack O'Brien, Caridad Duazo, Robert John (Bob) Thorburn, Paul Thomas Grennan, Bill Magno, Imelda Mary Rundell, Patricia Nolan.
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH - “Merry”
Christmas is the only day of the year designated as "merry." While most birthdays are declared "happy" in the celebration of life, the birth of God among us recommends merriment: a festival of delight, high spirits, good fellowship, and feasting. Yet Saint Théophane Vénard observed that our faith asks even more of us: "Try to fulfil each day's tasks steadily and cheerfully. Be merry, really merry. The life of a true Christian should be a perpetual jubilee, a prelude to the festivals of eternity." Capture the spirit of Christmas in your being. Resolve to bring joy to the world every day of the year. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:1-6).
“The Lord's are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it.” (Psalm 24:1).
SIGN UP FOR "TAKE FIVE" DAILY ww.takefiveforfaith.com/subscribe.
MASK WEARING
The risk of Flu and Covid virus is still present, and there are quite a few vulnerable people in our community, so please consider using masks and hand sanitiser and reasonable social distancing where possible still highly prudent. If you feel unwell, please stay home until you feel better. The requirement to attend masses, even Holy Days of obligation, remains suspended at this time. No formal times for reconciliation are scheduled to ensure minimum crowd density. Venial sin is remitted by Eucharist, as also are acts of personal penance and contrition. Reconciliation is available by prior appointment - avoiding peak holiday times and Solemnities.
APPEAL FOR UKRAINE
In Ukraine. Find out more at: https://www.caritas.org.au/donate/ukraine-appeal/
SOME CHRISTMAS READING - LITURGY NEWS NOW READY FOR DOWNLOAD - VOL 52, NO 4. Summer 2022.
Archdiocese of Brisbane - Free Liturgy Magazine
To download your free copy of Liturgy News - please click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JOiU_eo43MjRYqIVBvq6ILjtvUz8E_YX/view?usp=sharing
Sacrament of BAPTISM for Children in Surfers Paradise
Baptism is the first of three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Surfers Paradise Parish follows the policies of the Archdiocese of Brisbane as it welcomes each person into the family of the Church through the waters of Baptism.
Infants and children are baptised at the request of their parents. Within the Baptism ritual, parents promise to accept the responsibility of training their children in the practice of the faith and to raise their children to understand and live God’s commandments. Parents can request Baptism for their child by filling out an enrolment form, available on our Surfers Paradise Parish website www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au.
Once the online baptism form has been received, the Parish Office will email details for preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism and confirm the online booking.
Sacrament of CONFIRMATION - 20 October 2023
The celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation for the Surfers Paradise Parish will be on the evening of 20 October 2023.
Within the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Confirmation is the second sacrament that children are invited to receive. Confirmation completes Baptism.
For the celebration of Confirmation in 2023, parents of children in Year 3 or older are invited to enrol their children in the continuing Sacramental Journey (Confirmation, then Eucharist and lastly, Reconciliation). In our parish, the Sacramental Journey involves preparation and celebration for children and their parents. It requires a small number of meetings and the completion of an At Home Preparation Program led by the parents and supported by the Parish Sacramental Team.
The enrolment form (one for each child) is available at our website www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au.
Once on the website, use the drop-down menu under Sacraments then click on Confirmation; scroll down the page to the Children’s Sacramental Program Application Form. Next, please complete the orange and red form and click Submit. You will receive an automated email indicating that your form has been received. In Term 3, 2023, you will receive an email from the Sacramental Coordinator, Cathy Anderson, providing further details regarding meetings and documentation required.
Please continue regularly checking the parish newsletter for Confirmation updates and further information.
Sacrament of EUCHARIST - First HOLY COMMUNION - Either May 28 at 11:00 am or June 4 at 11:00 am, 2023
Eucharist is the sacrament that completes the process of Sacramental Initiation. The Sacrament of Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. Through this sacrament, the child can fully participate in the Eucharist (also known as the mass) by receiving Holy Communion.
In 2023, children in Year 4 or greater who have previously been enrolled in our Surfers Paradise Parish Sacramental Journey are invited to participate in preparation for their First Holy Communion. During Term 1, 2023, these families will receive an email inviting their child to participate in the At Home Preparation
First Holy Communion for those who are new to our parish...
Parents of children in Year 4 or greater who have been baptised and confirmed elsewhere are invited to enrol their children in the continuing Sacramental Journey (Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy Communion and then Reconciliation) with Surfers Paradise Parish. The enrolment form is available at our website www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au.
Once on the website, use the drop-down menu under Sacraments to click on First Holy Communion; scroll down the page to the Children’s Sacramental Program Application Form. Next, please complete the orange and red form and click Submit. You will receive an automated email indicating that your form has been received.
In Term 1, 2023, you will receive an email from the Sacramental Coordinator, Cathy Anderson, providing further details regarding meetings and documentation concerning the At Home Preparation Program.
Please continue regularly checking the parish newsletter for First Holy Communion updates and further information.
Sacrament of PENANCE - RECONCILIATION November 9 at 5:30 pm, 2023
Penance is a sacrament of forgiveness and celebrates God’s love and mercy towards us. It is about acknowledging and naming those times when we know we have done wrong and then making peace and restoring the relationships with those who have been affected by our poor choices. The Sacrament of Penance is celebrated through the Rites of Reconciliation.
In Term 3, parents of children who have completed their Sacraments of Initiation with Surfers Paradise Parish will receive an email invitation to participate in the At Home Preparation Program for Reconciliation.
For those whose children who received the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) in other parishes and who wish their child to prepare for the Sacrament of Penance in Surfers Paradise Parish,
the enrolment form is available at our website www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au
Please continue to regularly check the parish newsletter for Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) updates and further information.
THIS WEEKEND’S GOSPEL - God With US!
Hello everyone, and happy Christmas. It is such a beautiful time this Christmas Season. We celebrate God, who loved us so much that he “pitched in his tent with us” and made his home with us… to share our joys and sorrows, our graces and temptations, our failures and successes.
Let us pray this Christmas for all the values Christ was born to establish… These Christ-like values will take hold deeply in our hearts and our world… granting - peace, compassion, love, generosity, mercy, justice, and so many more… and above all, unconditional love!
Let us all rejoice in the Lord, for our Saviour has been born in the world. Today true peace has come down to us from heaven.
The Long Wait is over. The Christ-child is born to a world crying for his love and peace. A world so poor, in so many ways. As a poet writes:
"What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can,// I give Him; (I) give my heart. (1)
The wonder of this Christmas season is shown by the sight of so many people… family, friends, and parishioners gathered together at Christmas masses and wonderful gatherings for meals. Christmas is about family. And through the Birth of Our Lord, that first Christmas night, we are all made, forever, brothers and sisters in God's family. We are all one beloved family in Christ who loves us beyond words.
(Tonight/Today) we gather to give thanks and praise to God who loved us so very much that he became human (one of us), and came close to us, to share our joys and sorrows, our successes and failures, our hopes and fears and to save us from the mess we have made by any of our wrong choices and actions… and more wonderfully…to make us members of God's family forever. (And the beautiful thing is we didn't have to earn or prove that we somehow deserve this love); God's love for us is always "just there!" ... just like the love of unconditionally loving family and friends...
And it is never going away!
**the entrance into this world of God, as a vulnerable and needy baby…. It is a profound statement to us…. God became one of us… God is all-powerful… he could have come to the world any way he wanted….. In glory… in might… in majesty…. But no…. He came humbly … as one of us… sharing our condition completely…. And as a vulnerable baby….
This baby Jesus shows us and invites us to enter into the truth of real unconditional love…..
**(1)(an insight into what babies teach us about true love, comes from British philosopher Alain de Botton who writes insightfully……. “Children teach us that love is, in its purest form, a kind of service. The word has grown freighted with negative
connotations. An individualistic, self-gratifying culture cannot easily equate contentment with being at someone else's call
We are used to loving others in return for what they can do for us, for their capacity to entertain, charm, or soothe us. Yet babies do precisely nothing. There is, as slightly older children sometimes conclude with serious discomfit, no point to them, AND that is precisely their point!
They teach us to give without expecting anything in return, simply because (they completely need our help, care and love to survive) - and we are in a position to provide that love and care.
We are inducted into a love based not on admiration for strength but on surprising compassion for weakness, a vulnerability common to every member of the species and on which has been and will eventually be, our own. Because it is always tempting to overemphasise autonomy and independence, these helpless creatures remind us that no one is, in the end, 'self-made’: we are all heavily in someone's debt. We realise that life depends, quite literally, on our capacity for love - (to give it, and to receive it graciously!).
We learn, too, that being another's servant is not humiliating - quite the opposite. It sets us free from the wearying responsibility of continuously catering to our (self-focused desires). We learn the relief and privilege of being granted something more important to live for than merely for ourselves. (p.110}
The child teaches the adult something else about love; that genuine love should· involve a constant attempt to interpret with maximum generosity what might be going on, at any time, beneath the surface of difficult and unappealing behaviour.
The parent has to constantly second-guess what the cry, the kick, the grief, or the anger is really about in a small child. And what marks out this project of interpretation - and makes it so different from what occurs in the average adult relationship - is its charity. Parents are apt to proceed from the assumption that their children, though they may be troubled or in pain, are fundamentally good. Once the particular pin that is jabbing them is correctly identified, they will be restored to native innocence. When children cry, we don't accuse them of being mean or self-pitying; we wonder what has upset them. When they scream out, we know they must be frightened or uncomfortable. We are alive to the endless effects that hunger, a tricky digestive tract, or a lack of sleep may have on mood.
Parents learn another thing about love: how much power we have over people who depend on us and, therefore, what responsibilities we have to tread carefully around those who have been placed at our mercy. We learn of an unexpected capacity to hurt without meaning to - to frighten through unpredictability, anxiety or momentary irritation. We must train ourselves to be as others need us to be rather than as our own first reflexes might dictate.
How kind we would be if we managed to import even a little of this instinct into adult relationships - if here, too, we could look past the grumpiness and the arbitrariness in adult life and recognise the fear, confusion, and exhaustion, hurt and so on, which almost invariably underlie them. This is what it would mean to gaze upon the human race with love
{P112-113}
{This is what Our Lord did! - on that first Christmas eve… { and every day after that…….}. And it changed and saved the world!}
….Our Lord’s birth as a baby… reminds us that the only true release from our earthly self-focused longings may be to stop demanding a perfect love or being frustrated with the absence of perfect love at every turn and instead start to give love away (perhaps to a person in great need) - and give this love away with oblivious abandon, without jealousy, and without calculating the chances of it ever returning.
{P117}
It's not just the children who are childlike. Adults, too, are – (beneath the bluster) - variably playful, silly, fanciful, vulnerable, hysterical, terrified, pitiful, and in search of consolation and forgiveness. {We have just gotten better at clothing it in other garments}.
It is a wonderful thing·to live in a world where so many people are nice to children. (may this ever continue) - It would be an even better world if we lived in one where we were a little nicer to the childlike sides of adults as well ….. - for at different times… this could easily be all of us. {P122}” (2)
We remember today, the birthday of a person whose whole life (from birth, ministry, death to resurrection) speaks of complete self-giving and love.
Jesus shows us how to act and respond purposefully with kindness and generosity to life, come what may. (Jesus, even in the face of the absolute worst things that an ungrateful world threw back at him, steadfastly refused to stop giving freely of his compassion, his mercy, his generosity, and his healing). In short. He loved unreservedly... He IS love and invites us to join him in living his love and giving this to others...
Amidst all this joy and hope, worry and messiness is indeed news of extraordinary joy and amazing wonder and significance. Joy (and news) to be shared by everyone - of every time and place!
References: Fr Paul W. Kelly; (1) "In the Bleak Mid-Winter." Christina Georgina Rossetti. This spiritual Christmas poem is very well-known, particularly the last verse, and a favourite to many; (2) Alain de Botton. “The Course of Love -By: ISBN: 9781501134517 - Penguin Books: 20th June 2017.
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Vector ID: 1220902873 - Biblical vector illustration series, nativity scene of The Holy Family in stable. Vector Contributor: rudall30
To listen to the Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Also found at - https://tinyurl.
St Stephen. The First Martyr
Died in Jerusalem at about 35. The feast of Stephen has been celebrated on this day since the fourth century. A Greek-speaking Jew, one of seven appointed by the apostles for special service (Diakonia). He died confessing Christ and seeking divine mercy for those stoning him. Named in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I). Remembered for preaching with wisdom and the Spirit (Acts 6:10), as one "full of grace and power" who "did great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8).
St John the Apostle
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God”
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
“Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus is with God’s people. Amen. (Revelation 22: 20-21)
Holy Innocents
“These then, whom Herod’s cruelty tore as sucklings from their mother’s bosom, are justly hailed as “infant martyr flowers”; they were the Church’s first blossoms, matured by the frost of persecution during the cold winter of unbelief.” St Augustine.
St Thomas Becket
I am ready to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and peace.
Remember the sufferings of Christ, the storms that were weathered... the crown that came from those sufferings which gave new radiance to the faith... All saints give testimony to the truth that without real effort, no one ever wins the crown.
Better are the blows of a friend than the false kisses of an enemy.
Many are needed to plant and water what has been planted now that the faith has spread so far and there are so many people... No matter who plants or waters, God gives no harvest unless what is planted is the faith of Peter and unless he agrees to his teachings.
©2022 TrueQuest Communications. TakeFiveForFaith.com; mail@takefiveforfaith.com. All rights reserved. Noncommercial reprints are permitted with the following credit: Reprinted with permission from TakeFiveForFaith.com. Scripture citations from the New American Bible Revised Edition. For more information about “TAKE FIVE” and our regular contributors, go to PrepareTheWord.com.Free daily email and app available online at TakeFiveForFaith.com/subscribe
POPE FRANCIS: (From Amoris Laetitia)
POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION AMORIS LÆTITIA OF THE HOLY FATHER, FRANCIS (19 March, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, in the year 2016).
Migration is particularly dramatic and devastating to families and individuals when it takes place illegally and is supported by international networks of human trafficking. (para 46)
Families who lovingly accept the difficult trial of a child with special needs are greatly to be admired. They render the Church and society an invaluable witness of faithfulness to the gift of life. (47}
“Most families have great respect for the elderly, surrounding them with affection and considering them a blessing. A special word of appreciation is due to those associations and family movements committed to serving the elderly, both spiritually and socially.” (48)
If a single mother has to raise a child by herself and needs to leave the child alone at home while she goes to work, the child can grow up exposed to all kinds of risks and obstacles to personal growth. (49}
The problems faced by poor households are often more trying. In such difficult situations of need, the Church must be particularly concerned to offer understanding, comfort and acceptance, rather than imposing straightaway a set of rules that only lead people to feel judged and abandoned by the very Mother called to show them God's mercy. (49}
Rather than offering the healing power of grace and the light of the Gospel message, some would 'indoctrinate' that message, turning it into 'dead stones to be hurled at others.' (49)
In many cases, parents come home exhausted, not wanting to talk, and many families no longer even share a common meal. Distractions abound, including an addiction to television. (50)
Violence within the family is a breeding ground of resentment and hatred in the most basic human relationships. (51}
The verbal, physical and sexual violence women endure in some marriages contradicts the very nature of the conjugal union. (54}
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed.Stock Photo ID: 1613763520 - Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Asatur Yesayants
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES
There are still a few Columban Calendars, Church Art Calendars, 2023 Daily Mass Books available, also a few copies of the popular God’s Word, which has the full seven days readings and daily reflection.
The Christmas edition of the Catholic Leader is planned to be available this weekend. We appreciate your patience with the slower deliveries over Christmas. Please be assured Australia Post collected the Christmas edition on Monday from our dispatch centre. The first 2023 edition of the Catholic Leader will arrive in February 2023.
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT FOR JANUARY 2023
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for First Friday, 6th January 2023, at Sacred Heart Church from 7 pm to 8.30 pm. All welcome. Enquiries: Helen 0421935678.
"Could you not watch one hour with Me?" MT 26:40
Praying the Rosary - Our Lady’s Statue in the Parish -OUR LADY’S STATUE
Details of the Statue of Our Lady, which is going around the Parish. If you would like to have her in your home and say the Rosary:
Please contact Maxine or Pat on 0412 519 404.
The Roster for the next four weeks are:
26/12/22 Merla & Rodney Antony
5/1/23 Merla & Rodney Antony
THE SACRED HEART BRIDGE CLUB- (Resumes on 21 January 2023)
Meets at the Sacred Heart - Parish Hospitality Centre, Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters.
Playing Bridge keeps your brain active and increases your social network! So why not give us a try?
Learn to play Bridge at “Our Friendly Club” - Free Lesson. “Introduction to Bridge”
Is Easy to learn the format. No previous card-playing experience is necessary. All are welcome.
For more information and to enrol, please phone: Cheryl at 5538 8821 or Mob at 0417 772 701.
EXERCISE CLASS - LOW IMPACT - FOR HEART HEALTH -
(Resumes on 24 January 2023)
Spring has sprung! Join Rochelle for a fun, functional exercise class at Casey Hall. Low-impact cardiovascular exercises for heart health, improve strength and balance- an all-around fitness class for over 65’s. Stretch and strengthen the whole body, make new friends and feel great. Tuesday mornings @9.30 Beginners welcome. Contact Rochelle for further information on 0438 333 308.
MEDITATION PRAYER GROUP (Resumes 7 February 2023)
In the Morris prayer room Tuesdays from 10 am to 12 noon. The Meditation Group would very much like to welcome new members. Please phone Pam Egtberts at 0428090703.
ART AND CRAFT GROUP - (Resumes on 18 January 2023)
The Group meets in the Parish Hospitality Centre on Wednesdays from 9 to 12.
Activities include art (watercolour, oils, acrylics, pen and ink drawing etc.), as well as various kinds of Craftwork (Knitting, Embroidery, Crocheting, Cardmaking, Sewing etc.), making Rosary Beads (later sent to the missions), and any other activities that individuals may have an interest in. We come together to enjoy each other's company in a relaxed environment. New members, both men and women, are most welcome to join. For further information, phone John 0412 759 205 or the Parish Office.
GOLD COAST PARISHES — 24 hours Adoration - Southport
Tuesday 1 pm to Wednesday 1 pm every week at Guardian Angels Church 99 Scarborough Street, Southport. Parking onsite, the church is secured from 6 pm to 8 am. We are joining the effort to have Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Archdiocese of Brisbane. To make this a success we need two people per hour. Please indicate your availability for a one-hour commitment. email brisbane.adoration@gmail.com - We will be in touch in mid-October to confirm your exact time and other details. We expect to start our Adoration cycle on the first Tuesday in November 2022.
YOGA AT THE PARISH HOSPITALITY CENTRE (Resumes on 10 January 2023)
Join us for our friendly class in the Parish Hospitality Centre next to the Parish Office. Classes run every Tuesday at 10:45 am. Learn to relax, yet gain greater flexibility, inner strength, body awareness and concentration, all while increasing your breath support and general well-being. Ruth is an IYTA-accredited instructor with wide experience and runs a caring, carefully monitored one-hour session costing $10 (new attendees need to arrive by 10.30 am to prepare adequately for class). For more information, call Ruth on 0421338110.
The Fabric of Our Lives - A Quiet Weekend for Women of Faith
God is the Master Crafter, and each day lived in relationship with God is an opportunity to create something wonderful - a life which is gradually woven by the coming together of relationships, events and experiences, and ultimately, overseen by the One who is love. This weekend is an opportunity to explore the bits and pieces of every day and the extraordinary moments that come together to create a life – our life.
Hosted and Facilitated by: Grace Harwood of Dragonfly Ministries
Friday 20 January at 6 pm – Sunday 22 January at 3 pm.
Where: Santa Teresa Spirituality Centre, Wellington Street, Ormiston
Cost: $380 ($350 for concessions) includes all accommodation, meals (an additional fee for special diets), resources, spiritual direction and facilitation.
To register or enquire: grace@dragonflyministries.net.au or 0409 524 283
SURVEY INTO ARCHDIOCESE WEBSITE…….
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https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/careers/
The Archdiocese of Brisbane has standards of conduct for workers to maintain a safe and healthy environment for children. Our commitment to these standards requires conducting working with children checks and background referencing for all persons who will engage in direct and regular involvement with children and young people (0 - 18 years) and/or vulnerable adults. The organisation is fully committed to child safety and has zero tolerance for abusing children or vulnerable adults.
SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF POPE FRANCIS’ GROUNDBREAKING LETTER - LAUDATO SI’ - An excerpt from the Pope’s groundbreaking Encyclical.
III. THE CRISIS AND EFFECTS OF MODERN ANTHROPOCENTRISM
115. Modern anthropocentrism has paradoxically ended up prizing technical thought over reality since “the technological mind sees nature as an insensate order, as a cold body of facts, as a mere ‘given’, as an object of utility, as raw material to be hammered into useful shape; it views the cosmos similarly as a mere ‘space’ into which objects can be thrown with complete indifference”.[92] The intrinsic dignity of the world is thus compromised. When human beings fail to find their true place in this world, they misunderstand themselves and end up acting against themselves: “Not only has God given the earth to man, who must use it with respect for the original good purpose for which it was given, but, man too is God’s gift to man. He must therefore respect the natural and moral structure with which he has been endowed”.[93]
116. Modernity has been marked by an excessive anthropocentrism which today, under another guise, continues to stand in the way of shared understanding and any effort to strengthen social bonds. The time has come to pay renewed attention to reality and the limits it imposes; this, in turn, is the condition for more sound and fruitful development of individuals and society. An inadequate presentation of Christian anthropology gave rise to a wrong understanding of the relationship between human beings and the world. Often, what was handed on was a Promethean vision of mastery over the world, which gave the impression that the protection of nature was something only the faint-hearted cared about. Instead, our “dominion” over the universe should be understood more properly in the sense of responsible stewardship.[94]
117. Neglecting to monitor the harm done to nature and the environmental impact of our decisions is only the most striking sign of a disregard for the message contained in the structures of nature itself. When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality that the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, or a person with disabilities – to offer just a few examples – it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself; everything is connected. Once the human being declares independence from reality and behaves with absolute dominion, the very foundations of our life begin to crumble, for “instead of carrying out his role as a cooperator with God in the work of creation, man sets himself up in place of God and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature”.[95]
118. This situation has led to a constant schizophrenia, wherein a technocracy that sees no intrinsic value in lesser beings coexists with the other extreme, which sees no special value in human beings. But one cannot prescind from humanity. There can be no renewal of our relationship with nature without a renewal of humanity itself. There can be no ecology without adequate anthropology. When the human person is considered as simply one being among others, the product of chance or physical determinism, then “our overall sense of responsibility wanes”.[96] A misguided anthropocentrism need not necessarily yield to “biocentrism”, for that would entail adding another imbalance, failing to solve present problems and adding new ones. Human beings cannot be expected to feel responsibility for the world unless, at the same time, their unique capacities of knowledge, will, freedom and responsibility are recognised and valued.
119. Nor must the critique of misguided anthropocentrism underestimate the importance of interpersonal relations. Suppose the present ecological crisis is one small sign of the ethical, cultural and spiritual crisis of modernity. In that case, we cannot presume to heal our relationship with nature and the environment without healing all fundamental human relationships. Christian thought sees human beings as possessing a particular dignity above other creatures; it thus inculcates esteem for each person and respect for others. Our openness to others, each of whom is a “thou” capable of knowing, loving and entering into dialogue, remains the source of our nobility as human persons. A correct relationship with the created world demands that we not weaken this social dimension of openness to others, much less the transcendent dimension of our openness to the “Thou” of God. Our relationship with the environment can never be isolated from our relationship with others and God. Otherwise, it would be nothing more than romantic individualism dressed up in ecological garb, locking us into a stifling immanence.
120. Since everything is interrelated, concern for the protection of nature is also incompatible with the justification of abortion. How can we genuinely teach the importance of concern for other vulnerable beings, however troublesome or inconvenient they may be, if we fail to protect a human embryo, even when its presence is uncomfortable and creates difficulties? “If personal and social sensitivity towards the acceptance of the new life is lost, then other forms of acceptance that are valuable for society also wither away”.[97]
121. We need to develop a new synthesis capable of overcoming the false arguments of recent centuries. Christianity, in fidelity to its own identity and the rich deposit of truth that it has received from Jesus Christ, continues to reflect on these issues in a fruitful dialogue with changing historical situations. In doing so, it reveals its eternal newness.[98]
Acknowledgement of Country - This is Kombumerri Country - The Traditional Custodians of this region.
We respectfully acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First People of this country. We pay our respects to the Kombumerri people, who are the traditional custodians of the land, waterways and seas upon which we live, work and socialise throughout this Catholic Parish of Surfers Paradise. We acknowledge Elders, past and present and emerging, as they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of our Indigenous people. We pay tribute to those who have contributed in many ways to the community's life. We affirm our commitment to justice, healing, and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
(see further: The Kombumerri People and https://kombumerritogetherproject.com/digital-resources/yugambeh-language/)
Commitment To Child Safety and Vulnerable-Adult Safety …….
See overleaf…….
LOOKING FORWARD: 2023-2025
The celebration of an ordinary Jubilee, (the next of which is 2025), entails years of preparation because of the demands involved in such an event. In these years of preparation, it is especially important to provide the particular Churches scattered throughout the world with tools that foster pastoral care that will most effectively convey the dynamic momentum necessary so that the Jubilee can be a truly ecclesial event that sustains faith and is a precursor for evangelisation.
Pope Francis has asked that these two years leading up to the Jubilee be focused on two particular themes.
The year 2023 will be devoted to revisiting the fundamental topics of the four Constitutions so that the Church can breathe anew the profound and timely teaching produced by Vatican II, whose 60th anniversary will be celebrated on October 11th, 2023. For this reason, a series of user-friendly resources, written in an appealing language, are being produced to arouse curiosity in those who have no memory of the event and to help them enter into the essence of the Council to discover the innovative longing that enabled the Church to enter the third millennium of its history consciously.
The Logo represents four stylised figures to indicate humanity from the four corners of the earth. They are embracing each other, to indicate the solidarity and brotherhood that must unite peoples. You will notice that the opener is hanging onto the cross. It is the sign not only of the faith that it embraces but of the hope that can never be abandoned because we need it always and, above all in moments of greatest need.
It is helpful to observe the waves that are below and are choppy to indicate that the pilgrimage of life does not always move in still waters. Personal and world events often impose a call to hope with greater intensity. It is for this reason that the lower part of the Cross must be underlined, which extends and transforms itself into an anchor, which imposes itself on the wave motion. As we know, the anchor has often been used as a metaphor for hope.
The anchor of hope is the name that, in seafaring jargon, is given to the reserve anchor, used by boats to carry out emergency maneuvers to stabilise the ship during storms. Do not overlook that the image shows how much the pilgrim's journey is not an individual fact but a community with the imprint of a growing dynamism that tends ever more towards the Cross. The Cross is by no means static, but dynamic too; it curves towards humanity as if to go towards it and not leave it alone, offering the certainty of its presence and the security of hope. Finally, the Motto of Jubilee 2025 is visible in green.
https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/it/logo.html
https://www.exaudi.org/jubilee-2025/
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