Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 Through the Incarnation the generosity and mercy of God have finally appeared among us - in the life of one who is the very expression of the Father’s greatness. And so from earliest times the Church’s Christmas celebration has made reference the Epiphany or ‘Manifestation’ of the Lord – symbolised in the story of today’s gospel but also realised in a special way in the Lord’s baptism and in the ‘first sign’ he worked at the marriage in Cana. It comes as no surprise when we hear it read to find that today’s first reading from Isaiah has a very ancient association with this festival: ‘Arise shine out Jerusalem. The nations come to your light and kings to your brightness’. This passage – from the writings of the Isaian tradition from the period after the return from the exile – expresses a vision of Israel fulfilling its role as ‘a light to the nations’. Sharing in the ‘glory’ (or incomparable greatness) of the Lord himself the holy city will attract the wealth of the nations as the kings of the earth share in its rebuilding. This Old Testament text and its parallels (see Ps 72:10) may have inspired the story recounted by Matthew in today’s gospel. It is possible that an unusual astronomical event may also have contributed to its inspiration calling to mind the prophecy of Balaam ‘a star is emerging from Jacob’ (Num 24:17). As it stands the story is filled with symbolic meaning. The Magi represent the nations of the earth finding the Saviour of the world – in contrast to the scribes of Israel familiar with the scriptures but not recognising their fulfilment; the gifts of the Magi are symbolic of the world’s confession of faith in Christ – gold for royalty frankincense for priesthood myrrh for the one who is to die; notoriously ruthless Herod reminds us of earthly powers that obstruct the designs of God. We should note especially the significance of the words ‘going in they saw the child with his mother Mary’. While Luke’s narrative of Christ’s conception and birth has Mary as its central figure Matthew’s account of the virgin birth is centred on Joseph. The words we have quoted however reflect the importance already given to Mary in the community that gave us Matthew’s gospel. The second reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians continues the theme of ‘manifestation’ as it takes us into the depths of Paul’s vision of faith in Christ. For Paul of course God’s dealings with the human family have come to a magnificent climax in what God has done for the world in Christ. As we read in the opening lines of the letter to the Ephesians Paul interprets Christ’s saving work as the revelation of a great ‘mystery’ - the real purpose God has had in mind since the beginning of creation: ‘He has let us know the mystery of his purpose to bring everything together under Christ as head everything in the heavens and everything on earth’. Through his ministry Paul has seen the realisation of what is symbolised in the story of the Magi – the whole human race is called with old Israel to share ‘the same inheritance’ to be ‘parts of the same body’ to share in ‘promise’ that the ‘gospel’ has brought to the world ‘in Christ Jesus’. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Church Catholic Archdiocese of Perth Western Australia Parish Priest: Fr Patrick Lim Email: [email protected] Address: 175 Corfield St, Gosnells WA 6110 Entry by:1 Isdell Place, Gosnells Postal Address: PO Box 297, Gosnells WA 6990 Telephone: 9398 2331 Facsimile: 9398 8491 PARISH OFFICE HOURS Tuesday to Friday 9.00 am - 1.30pm Entry by: 1 Isdell Place, Gosnells Parish Secretary: Maureen Byrne Tel: 9398 2331 Email: [email protected] Catechist Coordinator: Barbara Ingram Tel: 9398 2864 Pope Francis Christmas Message In his Christmas “Urbi et Orbi” blessing Pope Francis prayed for all affected by war and conflict asking that the salvation of the infant Jesus be given above all to children who suffer. "The Child Jesus. My thoughts turn to all those children today who are killed and ill-treated be they infants killed in the womb deprived of that generous love of their parents and then buried in the egoism of a culture that does not love life " the Pope said on Christmas Day Dec. 25. "Be they children displaced due to war and persecution abused and taken advantage of before our very eyes and our complicit silence ” he said and also denounced the death of many children due to bomb attacks including in the Holy Land where Jesus was born. "Even today their impotent silence cries out under the sword of so many Herods. On their blood stands the shadow of contemporary Herods." John Thornhill sm Next Weekend Readings St Munchin’s Primary School Principal: Mr Robert Romeo Address: 1 Isdell Place, Gosnells Postal Address: PO Box 172, Gosnells WA 6990 Telephone: 9234 7555 Facsimile: 9398 1581 [email protected] 11th January 2015 Baptism of the Lord Year B Isaiah 55:1-11 1 John 5:1-9 Mark 1:7-11 4th January 2015 Feast of the Epiphany Year B Parish Liturgical Schedules Mass Intentions this week Weekend Masses Saturday 6.00pm Vigil Mass Sunday 7.30am & 9.30am Mass Weekday Masses Monday 8.00am Communion Service (Mass on Solemnity only) Tuesday 6.00pm Mass - 1st Tuesday Mass of Anointing Wednesday & Thursday 8.00am Mass Friday 9.00am Mass & (1st Friday 7.00am Mass at Sisters house) Reconciliation Saturday 5.15-5.45pm or anytime by appointment Buckley Centre 2nd Friday of the month 10.00am Mass McMahon Centre 1st Thursday in Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct, Dec 10.45am Mass 6 Tue 6.00pm Ece & Luigi Panici (Anni) Rosary After weekday Masses 7 Wed 8.00am Elizabeth Low (RIP) Exposition Tuesday 5.00-6.00pm with Benediction; Sunday 6.00-7.00pm 8 Thu 8.00am No Intention 4th Sunday Naming and Welcoming at the 9.30am Mass 2nd Sunday during 9.30am Mass 3rd Sunday after Mass at 11.00am 9 Fri 9.00am No Intention Baptism Marriage By appointment - Minimum of SIX MONTHS of notice Jan 3 Sat 6.00pm Daphne Kelly (Recently Deceased) Louisa Smith (Anniversary) 4 Sun 7.30am Special intention for James, Rita & Odette Murphy (From Vilma & Bette) 9.30am Ece & Luigi Panici (Anni) Cyril Barelli (Anni) Erika Magness (Thanksgiving) 10 Sat 6.00pm For Parishioners 11 Sun 7.30am Thanksgiving (Bridget Soh) 9.30am For Vocations Parish Calendar Jan 4 Sun 6-7.00pm Church Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Please pray for those who have died recently especially Sally Webster and Deadline for Bulletin Daphne Kelly (sister of Mary Ballantyne), OUR BULLETIN is printed on Thursday. Any items to be included should be received by Wednesday at the latest. Please pray for those who are sick especially Gary Robless Kay Ford Ian Ballantyne Theresa Walker Rodney Anthony Helen Whitfield Jacqui Richardson Maria Siciliano Melissa Marklew Marc Rodrigues Mavis Hall Rudy Ring Paula Office closed The Parish Office is closed until Tuesday 3rd February 2015. Prayers for the Sick For emergency please contact my mobile 0424 979 187 Fr Pat Please notify the Parish Office every four weeks if prayers are still required. ROSTER THIS WEEKEND MASSES 3/4 January Masses Readers Commentators Extraordinary Ministers Acolytes Greeters Choir Sat 6.00pm Kaye Cox Suzanne Bazzica Vivian Loh, Bridget Soh, John Parker, Norman Rodgers, Theresa Spicer & Dan Hewitt Volunteer Louise Ireland Carolyne Ireland Recorded Music Sun 7.30am Jeanette Pedulla Anne Ralston Clint Barnes, Russell Lally, Moiya McAtee, Yvonne Padua Yvonne Padua Sandra Reid Recorded Music Sun 9.30am Volunteer Hanna Allen Servite Sister, Maureen Byrne, Helen Magness, Geraldine Pereira, Kay Nigel Hayward Ford & Carolina Hayward Jackie Vogels Hanna Allen Recorded Music Geoff Mills Telling Sue & Vincent Frawley, Chloe PereiraSmith ROSTER NEXT WEEKEND MASSES 10/11 January Sat 6.00pm Pam Davies Lynette Lieveaux Vivian Loh, Bridget Soh, John Parker, Norman Rodgers, Theresa Spicer & Dan Hewitt Volunteer Louise Ireland Carolyne Ireland Recorded Music Sun 7.30am Silvana Sciorilli Deb Wild Clint Barnes, Russell Lally, Moiya McAtee, Yvonne Padua Yvonne Padua Sandra Reid Recorded Music Sun 9.30am Volunteer Mary Ballantyne Servite Sister, Maureen Byrne, Helen Magness, Geraldine Pereira, Kay Nigel Hayward Ford & Carolina Hayward Jackie Vogels Hanna Allen Recorded Music Geoff Mills SVDP Emergency Relief Phone 1300 794 054 Marycare Contact Maureen 9398 7375 Anne 9490 3377 Brian Cutjar, Elvira & Ken Panici-Allen The SVDP Society is low on wool stocks for their Knitting Ladies Group. Any old / new wools would be appreciated. Please also remember the Vinnies 2015 Calendars available in the foyer would make a practical Christmas gift. Thanks for your generosity. Children's Liturgy of the Word Golden Age Club Your Bible Questions Answered The Club is in recess until the new year. The Club’s first meeting for 2015 will be Tuesday 20th January. “Want to know Jesus better?” Get to know the Bible better! For daily Gospel reflections a weekly Bible Q&A and a monthly Bible guide visit www.thebiblicalfoundation.org.au. A Happy New Year to all our members Share your food with the hungry and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Isaiah 58:7 Please note that there is no Children’s Liturgy at the 9.30am Mass until the new year. Parents we have printed some work sheets for your children which can be collected from the Foyer. After Mass please take one home for your children. HAPPY NEW YEAR! The Prospective Students Office at The University of Notre Dame Australia wishes you and your family a happy and prosperous New Year. There Is Still Time! The University of Notre Dame Australia is still accepting applications for Semester 1 2015. Please feel free to contact the Prospective Students Office on 9433 0533. Our office is open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 - 5:00pm no appointment necessary. For more information please email [email protected] or phone 9433 0533. BIG THANK YOU Thank you Lord for generous hearts from Perth and Singapore who lovingly packed Shoeboxes for Jesus in the last 2 months now in the hands more than 1500 destitute and Haiyan children despite threats from typhoon Ruby! Likewise to Perth schools like Liwarra Primary School with Jane Borg Angela Watts of Bull Creek Primary School Raewyn & Sherita of Loreto Primary School and Holy Rosary Parish Fr Patrick and Silvana of Gosnells Parish Joyce Rodrick Fierze and Gap Youth Group of Willetton Parish & Maida Vale Parish too! And may individuals young and old! Especially all the amazing volunteers who gave up their weekends for SFJ! God bless you all! Flame Ministries International 25th Annual Flame Congress "HOPE" at John 23rd College Claremont - Jan 23 24 25 2015. Five International Speakers. Evening Sessions at 7.30pm and Day Sessions including Mass on Sunday. Refer to the notice board for more information or contact [email protected] - ph 93823668. Our parish has raised some money from the sale of Spring Rolls for One of these houses above. Each of this house the size of a double garage cost A$2 000. Truth, Justice and Healing Council is coordinating the Catholic Church’s response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse with a commitment to co-operation openness and justice for victims and survivors. It has been established in recognition of the imperative for the Church to address the past openly and honestly the good with the bad. There are flyers available in the foyer explaining the work of the council. For more information on the Council visit www.tjhcouncil.org.au www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au FAST EFFECTIVE & AFFORDABLE Tile and Grout Cleaning Perth Sealing of Grout lines Cleaning and sealing of natural stone Porcelain wax removal and sealing Grout colour sealing Independent Contractor Problem solving Mobile 0424 950 611 Grout repairs [email protected] Antislip treatment Sidney D’Souza www.turboforce.com.au Mend A Bath offers a cost effective alternative for rejuvenating your bathroom. * Bath tubs - cast iron, metal, fibreglass, plastic & acrylic Don’t replace * Hand basins resurface! * Wall tiles Contact: NORMAN * Shower recess (M):0426492711 * Chip repairs ABN:64878538808 * Polishing service Fully insured + National Police Cleared FREE Quotes + Seniors Discount www.mendabath.com.au [email protected] CALATOMIC ENTERTAINMENT All Type of Tree Work MUSIC PRODUCTION, RECORDING, LIVE SOUND Joseph Boundy Mobile: 0427 912 939 Office: 9493 7755 Fax: 9493 5439 Preferred Western Power Contractor Email: [email protected] For personal and professional service and with over 24 years Real Estate experience contact Rick & Jean Rispoli 0413 119 032 or email [email protected] MC’s AND BANDS DJ SERVICES WEDDINGS, KIDS PARTIES, SCHOOLS, PUBS & CLUBS, LIVE PERFORMANCE, EVENTS & CORPORATE FUNCTIONS Calvin: 0432 352 064 Craig Renshaw Simply Local Manager Respectful Simply Affordable Simply Australian T 9390 3000 F 9390 3111 M 0419 745 840 138 Third Avenue Kelmscott WA 6111 [email protected] www.simplicityfunerals.com.au FULL PACKING SERVICE Cartons tapes bubble wrap & paper Metro - Country - Office - Interstate Storage (CCTV alarm monitored) Polite Courteous Uniformed Staff Fleet of small medium & large vans OUR SPONSORS Please support our sponsors who are helping us to cut down the cost of the production of our Weekly Bulletin Hills Area [email protected] [email protected] Osborne Park Bayswater 9295 1716 9446 8333 9272 4711