Parish Bulletin
PARISH NEWS
Christmas These Days!
Preparations for Christmas these days are typically less focussed on Luke and Matthew’s nativity stories and some folks have only a jumbled notion of the feast we celebrate. And certainly, much is written about the commercialisation of Christmas. But still much can be learnt about preparation, consideration of others and reflection on values and circumstances beyond ourselves.
St Francis of Assisi might be said to have invented Christmas in the thirteenth century. His special devotion to Jesus, in what he considered the “feast of feasts”, highlights the incarnate Creator born to Mary in poor, simple, awkward, humble circumstances. Francis celebrated this earthy humanity, encouraging anticipation of the feast and introducing some of the symbolism remaining today. The world is a better place for Christmas preparations.
All three of our readings for this second Sunday of Advent are about preparedness, yearning and eager anticipation. That’s what Advent is about – preparation.
Baruch, a lesser-known Old Testament prophet, expresses the yearning of his people during times of sorrow and distress for a joyful future with God’s glorious coming (Bar 5:1-9), while the gospel (Lk 3:1-6) outlines John the Baptist foretelling the imminent coming of the Lord, his kinsman Jesus, Son of God. St Paul in his letter to the Philippians (Phil 1:3-6, 8-11), a few decades after Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is about preparation for the anticipated second coming of Jesus at some unknown time in the future.
All in all, the message is clear. Prepare with joy for Jesus’ first coming as a child in Bethlehem. We are familiar with the story, but that doesn’t make it any less exquisite. And whilst we anticipate the secular pleasures of Christmas, let us eagerly celebrate the Good News as well as prayerfully preparing ourselves too for the second coming of Christ.
Deacon Mark Kelly
2024 CHRISTMAS MASSES
Tuesday December 24th(Christmas Eve)
6.30 pm Marist Sion Hall (Carols 6.00 pm)
9.00 pm St. Ita’s Church Drouin (Carols at 8.30 pm)
Wednesday December 25th(Christmas Day)
9.00 am St. Ignatius Church Neerim South
9.00 am St. Joseph’s Church Warragul
10.30 am St. Ita’s Church Drouin
2ND RITE OF RECONCILIATION BEFORE CHRISTMAS
As well as regular times there is to be a communal service for Reconciliation at St. Ita’s Church on Tuesday 17th December at 7.00 pm. All parishioners are welcome.
Sacrament of First Reconciliation 2025
Attention: Families with Students in Grade 3 and Above in 2025.
Our program for the Sacrament of First Reconciliation begins early in Term 1, 2025. If your child is Baptized and will be in Grade 3 or above in 2025, and you would like them to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation, we invite you to attend our Information Meeting on Thursday 6th February, at 7 pm in the Marian Room at St. Joseph’s Church in Warragul. Our guest speaker is Rev. Dr. Fr. Elio Capra, SDB. He is a knowledgeable and engaging speaker. At this gathering, we will hand out information packs, containing enrolment forms, and outline the events and details concerning this wonderful Sacrament.
For further enquiries please feel welcome to contact Liz.
Email: Warragul.sacraments@cdsale.org.au
Ph: (03) 5623 1642
