PDF version of this parish newsletter *PDF here*:
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“The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him.” (Luke 2:33)
Shutterstock Licensed Photo. Stock Photo ID: 2112004010 - Russian orthodox church. Presentation of Jesus at the Temple - Saint Petersburg. Russia. 12-23-2012. Important information. Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor: godongphoto
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THE CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS SO BEAUTIFUL. AND ALL WHO HELP OUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
A Blessed, Happy and Healthy Christmas to you all. And a grace-filled new year filled with blessings and possibilities.
May God bless you and guide you through the coming year.
"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light!" (Isaiah 9:2)
“His mother treasured all these things in her heart” -
(Image: Shutterstock licensed image ID: 487877368-
Christmas religious nativity scene, Holy family abstract watercolour illustration Mary Joseph and Jesus in the starry night with copy space for text, with names of Jesus. Contributor- Thoom)
Pastor’s Post:
Hello everyone, and happy Christmas season… I hope you have been having a peaceful and blessed Christmas.
The Christmas season is not just one day. It is an "Octave"… Eight days that allow us to more deeply experience the joys and significance of this great feast of Christ's birth. God made flesh and living among us. And what better feast than today's celebration, very fittingly within this Octave of Christmas.. the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This holy family had real difficulties and hardships throughout their lives, and their prayers and example help us today as we are inspired by their constant response to God of profound faith, hope and love.
Fr Paul.
To tune in to The Holy Family Mass and also the Mass for Monday the First of January, The Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God, please visit regularly the following link: To listen to the Mass (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - (it is updated at intervals just before the next feast - https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Also found at - https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk
PILGRIMAGE WITH FR DAN RYAN -FRANCE, PARIS AND LOURDES 2024
(With Fr Dan Ryan, as he celebrates 50 years of priesthood).
Would you like to travel to France from mid-May to mid-June next year with me, Fr Dan Ryan, on a French Saints Pilgrimage, with a possible extension to Rome?
I have organised a pilgrimage with Harvest Journeys to travel through France and visit the Places of Saints.
The trip will include Paris (2nights), Rouen, Lisieux(2), Mont-Saint-Michel (2), Chartes, Nevers (1), Taize, Paray le Monial (2), Ars, La Salette (1), Avignon, Lourdes (3), Montserrat(1), and Barcelona (1), Optional Rome Extension (3)
If you would like more information, you can contact Harvest Journeys on 1800 819 156 or https://bookings.harvestjourneys.com/pv2445. If you contact Harvest Journeys, mention my name and the pilgrimage is the French Saints Pilgrimage. There are a few brochures at the back of the church. Father Dan Ryan. A copy of the brochure is available here as well: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EuOjctr5PMLmUrxxhut9-IoMAI3OMQXQ/view?usp=sharing
“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God.”
(Luke 1:30)
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 661574125 - TURIN, ITALY - MARCH 15, 2017: The fresco of Annunciation in church Chiesa di San Dalmazzo by Luigi Guglielmino (1916). Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova
CHILDREN’S SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2023/24
To begin or to continue the journey of faith with your child, please use the information provided in the table below.
MASS TIMES: SURFERS PARADISE MASS TIMES
“TAP `N” GO CASHLESS DONATIONS -
AVAILABLE AT THE ENTRANCES OF THREE CHURCHES - tap once to donate $10, and tap again (when it has re-set) for another $10, and so on.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: (Alphabetical)
Jack Barretto, Nellie Bellinger, Kevin Brennan, Tim Brown, Margaret Buckingham, Diana Castro, Cecily Cellinan, Doug Chester, Jo Clark, Leslie Clarke, Tina Conidi, Margaret & George Cook, Alfonso Covino, Margaret Cusack, Geraldine Daniels, Nia Falekakala, John Fisher, Rosie May Fisher, Sally Gage, Lorraine Gallagher, Laurel Goddard, Fred Grioli, Jacob Haddad, Jenny Haines, Dion Herft, Mary Hirst, Lena Hiscock, Louise Holmes, Kim Ingram, Anna Janiek, Pat Jones, Leona Kelly, Marianne Kennedy, Kath Kiely, Betu Kim, Jan Kristenson, Bob Lahey, Diane & Steve Land, Sue Langham, Patrick Joven de Leon, Nathan Lepp, Joseph Ah Lo, Ann Marie Loder, Sarina Losurdo, John Nathaniel Maher, Maria Manuela, Andrew McPherson, Phil McWilliam, Fabiola Menzs, Joanne Mooney, Maryann Moore, Hugh Morand, Amy Elizabeth Morgan, Michael & Lesley Murtagh, Joanna Muthu, Lynn Nunan, Stephen O’Brien, Peter O’Brien, Natalie O’Reilly, Letty O’Sullivan, Joanne Parkes, Kay Pitman, Rachel Raines, Gus Reeves, Patricia Roberts, Rogelio Rodriguez, Bob Rogers, Felipe S Cataquiz (Senior), Thor Skjaerbaek, Kathy Stevens, Brenda Stewart, Jim Stewart, Rose Stewart, Betty Taylor, Liza Teo, John Thomas, Baby Samuel Timothy, Leonardo Torcaso, Denise Tracey, Rick Murphy (USA), Karen Vestergard, Billy Webb, Lois Wood.
RECENTLY DECEASED: (Chronological - Most recent first):
June Carnovale, Annie Scicliuna, Michael Plant, Arthur “John” Robinson, Tracy Appleyard, Peter Harford, Helen Bohringer, Josip Burda, Pascual Tantengco Jr., Carmel Wilkinson, Dr Frank Miau.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: (Alphabetical)
Mark Addison, Victor Paul Aguggia, Santo Auteri, Jim Lepanto Avuri, Stephen James Baker, Pauline Bocking, Fr James Brosnan, Kevin Patrick Carmody, Maurie Cass and Monica Cass, Fr Patrick Coleman, Fr Reginald Copley, Ms Lesley Court, Merv Cross, Fr Michael Egan, Patricia Gado, Michael Joseph George, Kevin Gleeson, Fr Pat (Doc) Kenny, John William Maddocks, Brian J Maher, Gregory Robert Mahoney, Dalibor Novak, Barry Owens, Noreen Jessie Patterson, Trevor Ralfe, Alan James Russo, Pamela Elane Shelton, Zora Spiranovic, Dale Strode, Donald Ralph Thomas, Sally Tristram, Kenneth Alfred Walker, Fr William Whelan, Fr Cornelius Whyte, Kevin Wills, Janet Anne Winks, Margaret Wotherspoon.
And Also: (Alphabetical):
Dell Emma Bloomfield, Joan Sadie Brown, Patricia Anne Burton, John-Paul Camilleri, Fr Vincent Carroll, Carmen de Celis, Joseph (Joe) Che, Mr Vivian David (Viv) Cogar, Mons Daniel Cremin, Fr Martin Doyle, Lionel Stanley Duggan, Dorothy “Dolly” Dyer, Alec Edwards, Johan (John) Egner, Percy Felsman, Denis Graham, “Young Harold”, Herta Haselhorst, Norma Heather, Bill Heather, Sue Hewitt, Marian Howell, Trevor Jones, Ferdinand Paul (Paul) Kiely, Neil Davey Lawrence, Betty Lloyd, Ellice Mayhew, Fr Patrick McHugh, John Francis Moore, Fr Daniel O'Hare, Nora and Harold Stanley Ragan, Caterina Di Losa (Cathy) Randazzo, Robert Henry Rathborne, Mons Cornelius Roberts, Maria Sidic, Ernest Vincent (Vin) Smith, Rodolfo Solatan, Mariette Anna Stradiotto-Alda, Dolly Tan, Bp John Torpie, Marian Ware, Penny Natalie Woodman.
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 and speedily 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. Please help us service the region effectively and help prevent delays in response by calling the nearest parish.
Robina Hospital - Burleigh Heads Parish. 5576 6466
Pindara Hospital - Surfers Paradise Parish. 56717388
John Flynn Hospital - Coolangatta-Tugun Parish. 5598 2165
University & Gold Coast Private Hosp.- Southport Parish. 5510 2222
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES.
The shops are open before and after Mass at the Sacred Heart and St Vincent’s churches
FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held on First Friday, 5th January at Sacred Heart Church from 7pm to 8.30 pm. All welcome. Enquiries: Helen 0421935678. "Could you not watch one hour with Me" Mt 26:4
FIRST SATURDAY MASS AND BENEDICTION
First Saturday Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters. 9 am 6th of January.
Followed by adoration and Benediction. {This is a votive Mass for the Blessed Virgin Mary}.
OUR LADY OF FATIMA - MARIAN VALLEY
Please come and join us at the Marian Valley for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on the 13.01.2024. The bus will be picking up at 8.15 am at the Sacred Heart Church Clear Island Waters. The Cost for the bus fare $25.00 return. You can secure your seat with contact name and contact phone number with Xavier Solomon 0404 843 260, Madeleine on 0405 252 367 or 5529 1573, All are welcome.
OUR LADY’S STATUE -
Praying the Rosary - Our Lady’s Statue in the Parish -
Details of the Statue of Our Lady are going around the Parish.
If you want her in your home and say the Rosary,
Please contact Maxine or Pat on 0412 519 404.
Our Lady’s Statue details for the next four weeks are
01/01/2024 Kathy & Erwin Chevron Island
08/01/2024 Bernadette Hensley Arundel
Please phone Maxine Sela on 0421 051 193 if you want the Statue.
BIBLE STUDY/PRAYER GROUP - ST VINCENT’S CHURCH, SURFERS PARADISE.
The group will resume in the new year on Thursday 18th January.
The Bible Study Prayer Group Thursday from 5-6 pm at St Vincent’s Church, 40 Hamilton Ave Surfers Paradise. Come along and read/study Break Open the Word once a week on a Thursday evening from 5 to 6 pm—For further enquiries, Ashley at 040984069.
MEDITATION PRAYER GROUP
In the Morris prayer room, Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The Meditation Group would very much like to welcome new members. Please phone Pam Egtberts at 0428090703.
ART AND CRAFT GROUP - NOW ON HOLIDAY RECESS - RESUMPTION DATE 24 JANUARY 2024
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.)
various kinds of Craftwork (Knitting, Embroidery, Crocheting, Card making, Sewing, etc.)
making Rosary Beads (later sent to the missions)
and any other activities that individuals may have an interest in or you can bring in your ideas
A very relaxing and social environment - meet new friends! You are most welcome to join.
For further information, phone John 0412 759 205 or the Parish Office.
THE SACRED HEART BRIDGE CLUB- NOW ON HOLIDAY RECESS - WILL RESUME ON THE 8TH JANUARY 2024
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” - It 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.
PRAYER GROUP - SPANISH SPEAKER
Jesus de la Misericordia. Invites you to participate every 2nd Saturday of the month from 11 am to 2 pm. Place: Hospitality Room. Sacred Heart Church. “We praise, We praise, We grow spiritually from the Word of the Lord.” For more information, please ring Grace: 0410 006 484.
EXERCISE CLASS - LOW IMPACT - FOR HEART HEALTH - NOW ON HOLIDAY RECESS - WILL RESUME ON 16TH JANUARY 2024
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.
YOGA AT THE PARISH HOSPITALITY CENTRE -NOW ON HOLIDAY RECESS - WILL RESUME ON 9TH JANUARY 2024
Join us for our social class in the Parish Hospitality Centre next to the Parish Office. Classes run every Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. Learn to relax yet gain greater flexibility, inner strength, body awareness and concentration 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, please arrive by 10:30 a.m. to prepare adequately for class). For more information, call Ruth on 0421338110.
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) or vulnerable adults. The organisation is fully committed to child safety and has zero tolerance for abusing children or vulnerable adults.
A VOCATION VIEW:
Families must encourage one another in their vocational calls, living out holiness and responding to the call of Christ for our lives. How will your family focus on Christ today? The voice of God is first heard in the voice of a mother and father. (Sir 3:2) Make a commitment to make your home a domestic church where the Lord’s call can be heard and nourished. (Col 3:16)
To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP -
“…as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive.” - Colossians 3:13
Forgiving is one of the hardest things for people to do. We can’t give what we don’t have. We need to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness before giving it to others. Go to the sacrament of Reconciliation and receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. Then, share the gift of forgiveness with someone – a family member, a friend or a co-worker. Pick up the phone or text someone right now.
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They are a model for all families! And just as the Holy Family is holy, our families, too, are called to be holy. This may seem like a daunting task at times! Yet, as Christian stewards, we know this holiness is achievable by living as disciples of Christ.
Our First Reading, from the book of Sirach, teaches us about the reverence and honour of the members of our family, particularly the elders. “My son, take care of your father when he is old… even if his mind fails, be considerate of him.” No matter our age, we are called to serve and honour our family members. Sometimes, loving and serving those closest to us can be the hardest. But we have to remember that our families are a gift from God, and it is in serving them that we show our gratitude for this gift.
What more can we do to honour the blessing of the family? St. Paul shares in our Second Reading a word of advice on how to do just that. He calls us to put on “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another… as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.” This is how we ought to treat our family — with the love, compassion and mercy that God gives to us. If God can see every thought in our mind and every action we commit, good and bad, and never change His love for us, can we not share that same love and mercy with our family members? God has been so generous to us, so let us “[give] thanks to God the Father” by being good stewards of His love and mercy in our homes and our family members near and far.
Our Gospel today says a great deal about trust and surrender to our Lord — two trademark words of a steward. As the Holy Family brought the Infant Jesus to the temple, they encountered two key individuals, Simeon and Anna. Upon seeing the Infant, both praised the Lord, rejoiced in the coming of their Savior and prophesized about what was to come. It says, “The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.” We can imagine that two parents would be taken aback by these words! Yet, through all this, the Holy Family surrendered their lives to God and had unwavering faith and trust in His plan. Thankfully, they did because the fulfilment of this plan meant salvation for man!
Believe it or not, God also has a plan for our lives. Oftentimes, we get in the way of what He has in store for us. Although our plan might be “good,” God’s plan is great and will fulfill our hearts more than we could have imagined. Like the Holy Family, we need to trust, surrender and be attentive to God’s voice.
As we celebrate this Christmas season with joy and gladness for our Savior, let us deepen our commitment to Him through the love and service we give our family members, and the trust and surrender we place in God to take care of us each day.
The vision of Stewardship speaks in every aspect of life, inviting everyone to be thankful, generous, and accountable for what each has been given.
Take Five For Faith - Holy Family values
[By Alice Camille. (PrepareTheWord)]
The great marathon of festive gatherings is almost over. Most of the big meals have been cooked; most of the significant family gatherings have met. A stray uncle may still be in the guest room, and the kids aren’t back to school yet, but for all intents and purposes, the holiday season is on the wane. We can all start breathing again!
For many of us, the holidays are the best time of year, when people we love gather for a once-a-year festival of love and sharing. It’s time for feasting and gift-giving. It’s time to tell the old stories and a few new ones. It’s time to see the new babies and the old grandmas and to take a lot of pictures. The generations are on parade. It’s the family-at-a-glance, a snapshot of where we’ve come from and where our line is headed.
But the holidays can also be a tender and difficult time. We notice the empty chairs of those we’ve lost, some recently and some perpetually. We note the absence of those who didn’t come, couldn’t come, perhaps weren’t welcome to be among us. Maybe we were the ones who weren’t invited; or we weren’t convinced the effort to be a part of the picture was worth the price it would cost to be there. Or maybe we’re all that’s left of our family, and no new community has formed to take its place.
Holidays cut both ways, and families are at once the most important and the most potentially devastating people we know. We love them, despite any painful memories they bring up for us. They also drive us crazy, for not living up to our expectations, for not being the people we might have wished they were or needed them to be.
My family sure isn’t holy
What should we do with our families, especially those members that frustrate, hurt, and disappoint us? Should we forgive or just forget them? Can we live without them? Is it possible to honor the parent who was never there for us, or the child who seemed destined to push every one of our buttons? Do we have to acknowledge the older sister who joined the Mormons, or the father-in-law who gets disruptive when he drinks, or the niece who has pierced every available inch of her skin?
When the feast of the Holy Family arrives every year, these questions rise up in us, too. Because the scripture readings, which may seem out of step with our modern lives on any Sunday, on this feast in particular really seem from outer space!
First we have the wisdom reading from Sirach, who writes about an ideal: The generations should care for one another. The younger generation has a special obligation to honor and look after their elders, even if their minds fail. Well, some of us have and are taking care of our elders. Some experience the terrible burden of remaining faithful to the care of grandparents, parents, or spouses who have Alzheimer’s or other debilitating conditions. Even under the best circumstances, in relationships that have always been characterized by love and gentle responsibility, the task is hard.
People often ask: But what about my old man? He wasn’t around when I was growing up. Why should I be expected to honor him when he never honored his obligations to me? Or parents may ask: What about my child? She dropped out of school, is addicted to drugs, or lives with that man I told her to stay away from. Why should I honor our relationship when she has never honored me with obedience and has only brought me heartache and shame? Parents worry about the younger generation that doesn’t go to church. Grown children fret about the older generation who caused injury to their self-esteem, if not physical harm. How can we hold such families together? And why should we be expected to?
Jesus had a “perfect” family
Jesus had it easy, we think. Holy families like his didn’t have the problems real families have. Well, yes, his father was only his foster-father, and his mother was a teenager. And they had a baby in a barn because they were poor and traveling at the time of his birth. And not long after the baby was born, a powerful person tried to kill him and they had to leave the country to save his life. When presented in the temple, a prophet calls the baby a sign of contradiction, not a prince of peace! But other than that, theirs was a normal, stable, happy family life.
The myth of the “perfect” holy family hasn’t served our families well. Our families are hardly perfect. There are leaks in the family ark, and kinks in the family links. We have stories to tell, and we have secrets that we never tell. But what held the family of Jesus together and made them holy is the same power that’s available to us: the bond of love. Paul says in Colossians: “And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.” Families are never perfect, but love perfects the bond that holds us together.
Applying the word - How love binds us.
Saint Paul describes the situation very realistically. It takes compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and forgiveness to bring us all together. He acknowledges that we will have grievances against each other and that there are surely things to overcome. Let Christ’s peace control your hearts, he says. And be thankful. If we are working our way toward a holy family, this is the only road that leads there. But above all, love (1 Cor. 13).
Related scripture links:
Other advice for families: Deut. 5:16; 30:19; Mark 9:36-37; John 19:26-27
Plea for unity: Phil. 2:1-4
Be ye perfect: Matt. 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-36
Fruits of the Spirit: Gal. 5:22-23
But above all, love: 1 Cor. 13
(Reflection by Alice Camille).
ww.takefiveforfaith.com/subscribe.
THIS WEEKEND’S GOSPEL -
Image - Shutterstock licensed Image: stock photo ID: 150278416. Vranov, Slovakia. 2019/8/22. The Nativity Icon – the Icon of the Birth of Jesus. Chapel of the Convent of the Holy Trinity in Lomnica, Vranov nad Toplou, Slovakia. By Adam Jan Figel
GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND.
As we continue on our journey through this Christmas season, this Feast of the Holy Family is a really important celebration, straight after the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, And within the Octave of Christmas.
At this time of year, we give sincere thanks for the love, nurturing and support that family can give us. And the love, example and intercession the Holy Family give us on our life journey.
We think of our parents' and families' countless acts of kindness, love, and sacrifices. When we were young, we probably didn't appreciate the scale of it all. When we get older and have our own families or watch with admiration brothers and sisters and friends raising their own families, we start to appreciate what our parents must have given and sacrificed out of love. We are truly grateful for this.
We are also mindful of people whose family life has been extremely difficult and who did not have the support others take for granted. Not everyone in this world has been blessed with an unconditionally loving and accepting family who support one another. We thank God for mentors and all those who have been good role models and sources of care and protection for the young. These people have been family to others beyond the ties of blood.
We keep in mind, at this time, families worldwide who have had it really tough this year due to illnesses, distance, separation, financial hardship and worries.
The Holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, are the patron saints supporting each other and sticking together when everything is going wrong around them. for example, When we look closely at the very first Christmas, we quickly see that life for the Holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph was anything but smooth sailing. The joy and hope of this celebration come from the fact that God came into our world and made a home with us when everything was going really badly for the world. The first Christmas came at a time of incredible unrest for the people of Israel, who were suffering under foreign domination of a pagan empire that had values quite opposed to many of the sacred religious values of the Jewish people.
Mary and Joseph are forced to take a terribly difficult trip to Bethlehem when Mary is imminently due to give birth. This would have been a difficult trip at the best of times, but it must have been extremely difficult for an expectant mother at the end of her term. They arrive at their ancestral hometown, and there is nowhere to stay. They are forced to sleep in a barn, and Mary gives birth to a baby surrounded by animals. The baby is placed in a food trough, where the animals normally eat. The shepherds, some of the poorest and lowest "outcasts" in the society then, are the first to hear about the birth and come to pay their respects.
Very soon after the birth, Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus must flee for their lives, becoming refugees from King Herod's murderous jealousy. They escape into exile in a foreign land.
In today's gospel, which is truly wonderful, the prophet Simeon and the prophetess Anna, in the temple, praise God for Jesus, who is the one who will not only save Israel but who comes to save all the world. But then Simeon turns to Mary and warns her that her life will be touched by a sword of extraordinary suffering and sorrow, as the implications of loving and caring for her only son will touch her life deeply, too. Her beloved son must tread a loving path of indescribable suffering and sacrifice for our sakes.
Mary and Joseph also had countless incidents when they just had to trust in what God was doing and, all the while, were plunged into confusion about what it all meant. They trusted in God and supported each other, especially when things were unclear and did not make sense to them, and this made all the difference.
The Holy Family are our inspiration and our prayerful support for us.
And this feast day, and within the Christmas season, we give sincere and heartfelt thanks for family….. and the support and strength we can give each other along life's long journey, with all its joys and sorrows, graces and temptations.
Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Pray for us.
References: Fr Paul W. Kelly.
Image - Shutterstock licensed Image: stock photo ID: 150278416. Vranov, Slovakia. 2019/8/22. The Nativity Icon – the Icon of the Birth of Jesus. Chapel of the Convent of the Holy Trinity in Lomnica, Vranov nad Toplou, Slovakia. By Adam Jan Figel
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.com/FHLpwk
MASS FOR THE 1ST OF JANUARY - SOLEMNITY OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD.
9 AM at Sacred Heart Church. 50 FAIRWAY DRIVE. CLEAR ISLAND WATERS. QUEENSLAND 4226
To listen to the Mass of 1st January - please visit
SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD –
Episode 456 - (Years: A-B-C) - The First of January 2024.
SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD –(1/1/2024)
First Reading: Numbers 6:22-27
Psalm: Ps 66:2-3. 5. 6. 8. "May God bless us in his mercy."
Second Reading: Galatians 4:4-7
Gospel Acclamation: Hebrews 1:1-2. Alleluia, alleluia! In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; now he speaks to us through his Son. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 2:16-21
Image Credit: ID: Virgin Mary of Jerusalem. - Icon, in gold and silver. From Bethlehem.
Please listen to the audio recordings of the readings, prayers, and reflections for the Mary Mother of God. Year A - January 1, 2024, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/fhl-first-of-january-solemnity-of-mary-the-holy-mother-of-god-abc-2024/s-RVC0unVu9NC
HOMILY – - Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God. 1/1/24 - FR PAUL KELLY 2024.
May this brand-new year be filled with blessings and many graces. We give thanks today to our Lord for so many gifts we receive each and every day. the gift of life, the gift of family, friends, parishioners, our community. We have so much to thank and praise our Lord for as we begin a new year of opportunities.
We dedicate this new year to the Lord …. So this is, truly, in every sense of the word: The year of the Lord 2024. May our thoughts, words and efforts all be directed to the Lord’s vision for the world and the Kingdom of God.
At the very start of a new calendar year, we say to the
Lord, “all things we have done pleasing to you, we offer to you in love and gratitude.”
any time we have acted contrary to your will. We are truly sorry and ask your mercy and pardon. May we redirect our efforts, in your gracious guidance, to build up your Kingdom of love and mercy and justice and care.
This new year, Oh lord, we accept from you as a pure gift… We desire not to waste this precious time nor take it for granted but to savour it and make use of the t for all that you desire- loving God. and we offer you our work and our efforts …. recognising this to be a gift filled with opportunities - to praise you, and love you, and show our love by how we treat one another - especially those most in need.
Mary is a perfect example of discipleship and a superb model of faith, joy, humility, attentiveness, a love of justice, a concern for the poor and complete trust in God.
What a perfect Lady ask for her intercessions to her beloved son and Our Lord, Jesus, as we begin this new year.
I think of two things, particularly that strike me from the readings today… one is the reference - which is mentioned a few key times in the gospel of Luke…. Our Lady treasured these things in her heart…. she pondered these things …. may we treasure everything that happens to us.
Our Lady pondered and treasured everything - when something wonderful happened, she treasured it in her heart. When something confusing and upsetting happened, she pondered it in her heart. When something unexpected or sad occurred, she stored it in her heart.
In everything, meditating on God’s word and reflecting on the mystery of God’s faithful plan for the world.
It is an invitation to really meditate and reflect with love and faith upon all of the events that happen to us. Sometimes we don’t get clarity or an answer to confusing or upsetting things, but we ponder and meditate on these things and keep trusting in God’s love and faithfulness to us - even when things are not clear
secondly - how much better would all our interactions be if we deepened this question in the situations we find ourselves in over the coming year…. “what would The Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Mother and the Mother of God do if she was here in this situation.” How would the Blessed Virgin Mary respond? What would she say? What would she refrain from saying? How would she show practical and heartfelt love for others in this and any situation - Particularly in those times of confusion or hurt or misunderstanding - or when there is a temptation to speak or act in ways that are not edifying for the kingdom? What would our blessed mother do? In difficult situations, how would she speak lovingly, honestly, constructively, and wisely?
The saints and esteemed teachers within the Church throughout history have reflected upon the importance of Mary. …….
· "O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all your necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity." - Saint Basil the Great
· "If you invoke the blessed Virgin when you are tempted, she will come at once to your help, and Satan will leave you." - Saint John Vianney
· "If you ever feel distressed during your day, call upon our Lady, just say this simple prayer: 'Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.' I must admit, this prayer has never failed me." – Saint Teresa or Kolkata
· "Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence." - Saint Francis de Sales
· "Even while living in the world, the heart of Mary was so filled with motherly tenderness and compassion for men that no-one ever suffered so much for their own pains, as Mary suffered for the pains of her children." - Saint Jerome
· "Just as seafarers are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided to heaven by Mary." - Saint Thomas Aquinas
· "Her [Mary's] example of faithful perseverance in doing the will of God and her heavenly reward are a source of courage and hope for all of us."
- Pope Benedict XVI
· "Mary was the first person to take the 'way' to enter the Kingdom of God that Christ opened, a way which is accessible to the humble, to all who trust in the word of God and endeavour to put it into practice."
- Pope Benedict XVI
· "Let us entrust to her intercession the daily prayer for peace, especially in places where the senseless logic of violence is most ferocious; so that all people may be convinced that in this world we must help each other, as brothers and sisters, to build the civilisation of love."
- Pope Benedict XVI
· "The greatest saints, those richest in grace and virtue will be the most assiduous in praying to the most blessed virgin, looking up to her as the perfect model to imitate and as a powerful helper to assist them."
- Saint Louis Marie de Montfort.
· "In trial or difficulty, I have recourse to Mother Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear." - Saint Therese of Lisieux
The world over these last few years has been suffering from terrible violence and war and injustice… as well as tragic disasters… natural as well as human-made…. And we ask the Blessed Mother of God to pray to her son on our behalf for the gift of Peace in the world and in the hearts and minds and decisions of people everywhere…
Have a blessed and grace-filled year…..
Mary, Mother of God… Pray for us.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Quotes: https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/quote-archive1/mother-mary-quotes#:~:text=%22O%20sinner%2C%20be%20not%20discouraged,in%20every%20kind%20of%20necessity.%22&text=%22If%20you%20invoke%20the%20blessed,and%20Satan%20will%20leave%20you.%22
Image Credit: Virgin Mary of Jerusalem. - Icon, in gold and silver. From Bethlehem.
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
{{God's kindness, peace and grace to everyone!}}
On this special Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God,, trusting in God's timeless faithfulness, mercy, and love, let us first call to mind our sins.
· Lord Jesus, your beloved Mother is thereby the Mother of God. Lord have mercy
· Your beloved mother is the Help of Christians. Christ have mercy,
· Your beloved Mother is the Queen of Heaven. Lord have mercy
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PREFACE: Blessed Virgin MARY I
1st January - “Mary the Mother of God.” Solemnity.
Venerated as Mother of God from ancient times, the Virgin Mary was acclaimed Theotokos (God-bearer) in 431 by the Council of Ephesus and commemorated on this day in Rome in the seventh century. Soon eclipsed by other feasts of Mary. Restored to the liturgical calendar in 1931 and to this day in 1969. Celebrates Mary’s role in the mystery of the incarnation, enriches the octave of Christmas with a Marian perspective, and provides a solemn beginning to the New Year.
Saints Gregory Nazianzen & Basil the Great.
Very close friends Gregory Nazianzen & Basil the Great studied together in Athens (as did with them the future emperor Julian the apostate). They became monks and wrote the Rule governing monastic life in the Eastern churches.
Each became a bishop, and they are honoured today among the great teachers of the early church. Because of the Arian heresy, which denied the true humanity of Our Lord, each of these Saints had the vocation to explain and defend the mystery of the Word-made-flesh that we celebrate at this time of Christmas. Each of them suffered a good deal for their faithfulness.
The Most Holy Name of Jesus.
Commemorated by religious orders since the 16th century, the feast was extended to the Universal Church in 1721 and celebrated during the Christmas season. The monogram IHS was famous in the late medieval and baroque periods. By the Holy Name, Christians honour the person of Jesus, their Lord and Saviour. At the name of Jesus, every knee should bend… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:10).
POPE FRANCIS: Continuing the summary on Session one of the Synod on Synodality.
Matters for Consideration
In some parts of the world, the Church is poor, with those who are poor and for those who are poor. There is a constant risk, one to be carefully avoided, of viewing those living in poverty in terms of "them" and "us" as "objects" of the Church's charity. Putting those who experience poverty at the centre and learning from them is something the Church must do more and more.
Prophetic denunciation of situations of injustice, on the one hand, and efforts to persuade policymakers to act for the common good, which require recourse to diplomacy, on the other, must be maintained in a dynamic tension so as not to lose a clear focus or fruitfulness. In particular, care must be taken to ensure that the use of public or private funds by Church bodies does not limit the freedom to speak up for the demands of the Gospel.
The provision of services in the fields of education, health care and social welfare, without discrimination or the exclusion of anyone, is a clear sign of a Church that promotes the integration and participation of the most vulnerable in Church and society. Organizations active in this field are encouraged to consider themselves as expressions of the Christian community and to avoid charity becoming impersonal. They are also urged to network and coordinate with others.
The Church must be honest in examining how it meets the demands of justice among those who work in its affiliated institutions to ensure it acts with consistency and integrity.
In a synodal Church, solidarity manifests itself in the form of an exchange of gifts and in sharing resources between local churches from different regions. These relationships foster the unity of the Church by creating bonds between the Christian communities involved. There is a need to focus on the conditions necessary to ensure that priests who come to the aid of churches needing clergy are not merely providing a functional solution but represent a resource for the growth of both the Church that sends them and the Church that receives them. Similarly, it is necessary to ensure that economic aid does not degenerate into the mere provision of welfare but also promotes authentic evangelical solidarity and is managed transparently and reliably.
Proposals
The Church's social doctrine is a too little-known resource. This needs to be addressed. Local churches are invited not only to make their contents better known but to foster their reception through practices that put their inspiration into action.
The experience of encountering, sharing a common life and serving those living in poverty and on the margins should be an integral part of all formation paths offered by Christian communities: it is a requirement of faith, not an optional extra. This is especially true for candidates for ordained ministry and consecrated life.
As part of the rethinking of diaconal ministry, the Church should promote a stronger orientation towards service to those who are poor.
Church teaching, liturgy, and practice must more explicitly and carefully integrate the biblical and theological foundations of integral ecology.
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed.Stock Photo ID: 1447597685 - Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Square. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Riccardo De Luca - Update
Source: https://www.synod.va/en/synodal-process/the-universal-phase/documents.html
What is the purpose of Market On Fairway.?
A place where creativity and concern for personal income open doors to a world of dreams.
I invite you to participate without the commitment of a contract or exuberant exposure, your work has a lot of value as each discovers their talent. All applications will be emailed, I hope to hear from you. From Grace R. grace.flowers.art@hotmail.com
A MESSAGE FROM ARCHBISHOP MARK COLERIDGE ABOUT THE VATICAN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT BLESSINGS OF PEOPLE
RESPONDING TO “FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS.”
“May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24, 26). The new document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Fiducia Supplicans (Trusting Supplication), bears the sub-title On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings, which is the key to understanding what it says. Before all else, it is a clear and penetrating reflection on the meaning of blessings of any kind. They are not all of a piece. Some blessings, like the Nuptial Blessing, are strictly liturgical and find their proper setting in the liturgical rites of the Church. Others – like the many and varied blessings a priest or deacon gives after Mass – are less formal and public. They tend to be spontaneous rather than scripted, private rather than public, responding to a need in a particular moment of a person’s life. These blessings are sacramentals rather than sacraments, and their proper setting is popular piety rather than the liturgy.
Requests for such blessings arise from a person’s sense of need and a recognition that the all-loving God will respond to that need. Need and faith converge to produce the request, and the ordained minister responds to the need by mediating the blessing of God. The faith of the whole Church is gathered up in the blessing, faith in a God who never ceases to bless and who is closest to those most in need.
When people request a blessing after Mass, the priest or deacon does not enquire about their worthiness. The blessing is given unconditionally. The same is true of those who, at Communion time, come for a blessing: a simple blessing is given, whatever their situation in life might be. This is a recognition that God’s blessing is not for the perfect but for those who, often in the face of great difficulty, are making their way step by step to the fullness of life in God. The blessing is God’s word of encouragement to them to keep moving, not to give up, and to know that God is with them on their way, whatever their imperfections, even their sins or sinful situations.
Against this background, the Holy See has said that it is possible to bless people in irregular unions, such as those remarried after divorce or those in same-sex relationships. To say that it is possible is not to say that it is mandatory; to say that you may is not to say that you must. No ordained minister is obliged to offer such a blessing, though those who prefer not to should reflect on why and consider referring the supplicants to someone who will.
Those who choose to offer a blessing must exercise pastoral wisdom and sensitivity to judge when, where and how the blessing is offered. It should not be done in a liturgical setting, and given its essentially private character, it would be best done without a large gathering or the glare of cameras. No texts or rituals will be provided by the Bishops Conference or the Archdiocese; the ordained minister himself must decide the words best suited to the situation. Such words could include a prayer that these two people will always strive to know more of the will of God in their lives, that they will keep moving on the path of faith towards the God who loves them, and that they will know his peace on the way and always be open to the joy of his forgiveness.
There should be no linkage of the blessing with a civil union, and none of the rituals or symbols associated with marriage should accompany the blessing. This is because the Holy See’s Declaration makes clear that the Church’s teaching on marriage remains intact: marriage is a free and life-long covenant between a man and a woman, which is open to new life.
The Declaration distinguishes between the doctrinal and the pastoral. The Church’s doctrine is not changed, but new pastoral possibilities are opened up in response to the reality of human experience and significant shifts at least in Western cultures. With couples in irregular unions, this means that the union itself is not blessed but the two people who seek the blessing. In that sense, the blessing is not a validation of the union but of two people who, amid life’s uncertainties and compromises, are seeking the peace and happiness that God wills for all his children.
One implication of this is that the blessing would not allow those blessed to receive Holy Communion, though it does mean that they remain children of the Church and will be accompanied by the Church in every way possible. A mother never ceases to be a mother to her children: that is at the heart of the blessing and what the Holy See has offered in Fiducia Supplicans. “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come’. Let whoever hears say, ‘Come’. Let those who thirst come; let those who desire, take the water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17).
+ Mark Coleridge. Archbishop of Brisbane. 22 December 2023
Further resource: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20231218_fiducia-supplicans_en.html
Commitment To Child Safety and Vulnerable-Adult Safety
……………..See overleaf …..
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, 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 our Indigenous people's memories, traditions, culture and hopes. We pay tribute to those who have contributed to the community's life in many ways. 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/)
RECONCILIATION
(SACRAMENT OF PENANCE)
SATURDAYS FROM 4 PM TO 4.30 PM
(PLEASE DO NOT JOIN THE QUEUE AFTER 4.20 PM).
ON CONCLUSION OF RECONCILIATIONS AT 4.30 PM, WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRIEST WILL THEN BE DOING THEIR FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF MASS.
CONFESSIONS CAN ALSO BE MADE BY PRIOR APPOINTMENT AT OTHER TIMES
[IF YOU NEED TO SPEAK WITH A PRIEST FOR A LONGER TIME THAN A BRIEF CONFESSION, PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE OFFICE FOR A TIME WHEN YOU CAN DISCUSS ISSUES WITH A PRIEST AT A LONGER APPOINTMENT]
St Kevin’s Catholic School, Community business directory: https://www.sk.qld.edu.au/Pages/Rainbow-Connection.aspx
