Parish Calendar
December
Sun 01 1st Sunday of Advent Year A
Tue 03 Morning Prayer of the church 8.15am SK
Baptism Preparation Course 11am SK
Sun 08 Plenary Council Parish Conversation 11am - 12.30pm
Tue 17 Communal Rite of Reconciliation 7.30pm SK
Tue 24 Christmas Eve Reconciliation 4pm-5pm SK and SC
Mass SC 5.30pm, 7.30pm; Mass SK 6pm, 8pm, midnight
Wed 25 Christmas Day Mass SC 9am, SK 7.30am, 9.30am NO EVENING MASS
PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE—ADVENT—’A Time of Quiet Waiting!’
Dear Friends,
As I write this, there’s a storm overhead and the sound of sirens and other traffic noise on Condamine Street. Quiet is often elusive here, part of our experience in modern living where silence can almost feel threatening, yet we are invited into the Advent Season of waiting, stillness, reflection and expectation.
In the northern hemisphere, dwindling daylight sets the scene as the natural environment moves towards the growing darkness out of which emerges the newborn Saviour, Jesus the Light of the World! The Gospel for the First Sunday of Advent bids us to be ready and watchful for the Lord’s coming in glory. The Lord is coming to us and we in turn must come to him and be receptive to him.
As this new liturgical year begins, we are waiting for Christmas, a time of expectation and hope even as we deal with the tension between the secular and religious moods, the former focusing mostly on us, the latter focusing mostly on God. Even when we become caught up in the busyness and noise, something within us may crave at least some quiet time.
Our Scripture readings emphasise that ‘the time’ has come. The people of Isaiah’s time knew well the disastrous destruction of Jerusalem and their treasured Temple and looked forward to a future of restoration. So many in our country resonate with that experience in the wake of chronic drought and destructive bushfires. Always the question - Is our human spirit resilient enough to hope for restoration and healing?
SVDP Christmas Appeal
This weekend, St. Vincent de Paul at North Harbour Parish commence their Christmas Appeal, with speakers at each Mass. This Appeal, together with the Winter Appeal, is the main source of revenue that the Society utilise to respond to the needs of the poor within our community. Envelopes are attached to the Parish Bulletin and loose on the seats
The World Day of the Poor established by Pope Francis, celebrated its third anniversary a few weeks ago. Pope Francis on 18 November 2018 said “…. We Christians cannot stand with arms folded in indifference or thrown up in the air in helpless resignation. That is why it is important for all of us to live our faith in contact with those in need.” SVDP appeals give us the opportunity to stand with the poor.
Morning Prayer of the Church
Parishioners are invited to pray Morning Prayer of the Church with the Augustinian Community this coming Tuesday at 8.15am in St Kieran’s church prior to the 8.30am Mass. We hope to gather on the 1st Tuesday of each month during the coming year (except for January)
PLENARY COUNCIL 2020 – INVITATION TO ‘CONVERSATION’
Preparation for the Plenary Council 2020 continues and the next phase
of consultation has begun. The 6 themes that will be the focus of the second phase of consultation are:
How is God calling us to be a Christ-centred Church that is:
Missionary and Evangelizing;
Inclusive, Participatory and Synodal;
Prayerful and Eucharistic;
Humble, Healing and Merciful;
A Joyful, Hope-filled and Servant Community;
Open to Conversion, Renewal and Reform.
PARISH LITURGY RENEWAL
A few months ago, the Parish Council nominated a Liturgy Working Party to look at areas where the Parish needs support in our celebration of the liturgy. Priorities include recruitment and training of ministers in all areas, as well as establishment of a Parish Liturgy Committee during 2020. We have approached ACU’s Centre for Liturgy for assistance and sessions are being arranged for Readers, new and continuing, early in the coming year. The date will be advised as soon as it is available.
COMMUNAL RITE OF RECONCILIATION – 17 December at 7.30pm
In preparation for Christmas, the Communal Rite of Reconciliation (Second Rite) will be celebrated in St Kieran’s Church on Tuesday 17 December at 7.30pm. This is a special opportunity for us all to come together as a Faith Community and to reflect on our shared weakness and sinfulness and to seek forgiveness.
Invitation to All Catechists
An invitation is extended to all past, present and future catechists to our Annual Catechist Mass to be celebrated by Fr Dave at St Kieran’s Church, Manly Vale on Monday 9th December at 12pm followed by a lovely lunch in the Parish Centre.
Please bring a small plate to share if you are coming to the lunch and RSVP to Ursula Halloway on 0423 595 204 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
THANK YOU FROM AFA
Many thanks to all those who were able to attend the AFA Christmas Dinner Party last Saturday night at the Wakehurst Golf Club. It was a fantastic night which was well attended by 132 people raising $5,660 which is amazing. We would also like to thank all those who weren't able to attend but gave a donation or purchased a ticket for a priest or student. Also, thanks to everyone who donated raffle prizes on the night and to Liz Lovell for the beautiful Christmas hamper lucky door prizes. Many thanks to our major sponsors Ann Wilson Funerals, Cunninghams Real Estate, Matt McEwan of McGrath Real Estate Manly and Harvey Norman. A big thank you to Katja and her team at Wakehurst Golf Club who again did a wonderful job.
Congratulations to JoAnn Cabilao who won the first prize of $1,000 and also to the other top 7 prize winners who were Orla Keane, Kerry Newman, Bill Williams, Melissa Zagari, Carmel Riddington, Diane Craig and Lina Caruso and to all the other people who won other raffle prizes on the night. Our 6 lucky door prize winners were Hu-Yao, Huy, Michael Caulfield, Roxan Estanislao, Rhonda Daly & Kathleen Smith. Our “Lucky Scratchie Tree” was won by Tom Maher so congratulations to all.
AFA are extremely grateful and thankful for all your support throughout the year and we wish you a very Holy Christmas and a Joyful 2020.
God Bless from Adriana Bowyer & the AFA Committee Members
National Prayer Campaign for Drought
The Catholic Bishops of Australia have announced a National Prayer Campaign for Drought to take place during November. People across the country are encouraged to pray for the gift of rain, for people affected by the drought and to provide practical support, where possible. The Bishops note that large parts of the country are directly affected by the drought, but the impact is national – and so should the response be national. Access resources and find out more at: www.catholic.org.au/drought
HELPING THE AUGUSTINIANS—DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS
AUGUSTINIAN APPEAL
Each year, supporters of the Augustinians from our ministries and elsewhere contribute generously to the work of the Province, particularly to the formation of our seminarians and our social justice outreach. Augustinian Seminary Trust Fund – These funds are used exclusively for the ongoing provision for our seminarians. Envelopes are available in our parishes and you can make a donation by cash, credit card, or direct deposit to
BSB: 082-146 Account No: 13-610-4220.
Other ways you can support the Province’s ministries are by donations to:Augustinian Volunteers Australia Trust Fund, or Bequests. Mailing address is:
Order of St Augustine , PO Box 7278, Warringah Mall, Brookvale NSW 2100.
For further information, please contact the Province Office on (02) 9938 0200 or Anna Heath at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Thank you for your generous support!
Donations are tax deductible
He Who has given us the gift of being also gives us the gift of being good. He gives it to those who have turned back to Him. He even sought them out before they were converted and when they were far from His ways. [St Augustine, On Psalm 103 (4), 2]
From St Augustine
St Augustine—
O Lord, my God, You alone do I love. You alone do I follow. You alone do I seek. You alone am I prepared to serve, for You alone justly rule, and under Your authority I long to be.
Soliloquies 1, 1
Information about the current Sacramental Program
- Welcome to the Sacramental Program 2019-2020
- Registration Form 2019-2020
- Photocard
- Parish News
- Baptism of Young Children Program
- Nurturing Faith
- Stations of the Cross
Would you like to learn more about Catholic Faith and Practice or how to become a Catholic?
A group in the parish is beginning this journey and you are most welcome to join us on Saturday 19 October between 10.30am and 2.30pm in the Parish Centre. Please contact Janette on 0408 866 521 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like more information.
Low Gluten Communion Bread
Low gluten hosts re now available on the table with the offertory gifts in both churches. Parishioners wishing to receive a low gluten host are asked to place a low gluen host in the pyx or glass dish marked low gluten before Mass. These hosts will be consecrated at Mass and available from the priest at Communion time. Alternatively, parishioners are welcome to follow our current practice and speak to the priest or senior server ahead of time to request a low gluten host.
Gluten Intolerant? - The Coeliac Society NSW has issued the following advice about low gluten Communion bread.
The low gluten hosts contain traces around 6 parts per million (ppm) and in Australia, the Food Advisory Board say that no detectable gluten must be found in order to label foods gluten free which is why the communion wafer is called low gluten. If low gluten products were on the supermarket shelves we wouldn’t be able to consume them.
Because communion is taken in such a tiny amount, it is an exception to the rule and therefore safe for Coeliac’s.
If you are gluten intolerant, low gluten hosts are available at the church. Let the priest know prior to Mass to receive one at Communion.
Children's Liturgy - we need more volunteers
The children’s liturgy ministry is always looking for new mums, grandparents and carers to be involved in this wonderful and rewarding ministry. Being a volunteer in this ministry involves helping with children’s liturgy that takes place on Sundays at the churches of St Cecilia and St Kieran’s. You will be placed on roster alongside another volunteer who is currently doing children’s liturgy to help out about once to twice a term. Children’s liturgy only takes place within the school term and doesn’t take place when school class family masses are scheduled. All information, resources and activities are printed off and provided by the children’s liturgy co-ordinator on a weekly basis. All volunteers will be required to obtain a working with children check number, but this is simple to do, and this is something that I can help you obtain.