Tuesday 23rd March

Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday) 28th March

Monday 29th March

Tuesday 30th March

Wednesday 31st March

Stations of the Cross

Confession and Absolution

The Triduum — The original Christian feast

Holy Thursday 1st April

Good Friday 2nd April

Holy Saturday 3rd April

Easter Sunday

Fathers Michael, PJ, Stan and Charles wish you every joy and blessing this Easter and thank you for your support.

Please use this Service as an opportunity to make your Easter Confession.

A stained glass window in the Lady Chapel at St. Joseph’s Church

We extend a very warm welcome to all visitors and friends who come to celebrate and share with us the joy of this Christmas Season.

Father Michael, Father PJ, Father Stan and Father Charles thank you for your continued support in 2009 and join together in wishing you a very peaceful and joyful Christmas.

2010

PARISH RECONCILIATION SERVICE

Thursday 17th December 7:00pm St. Joseph’s Church

Opportunities for Confession in preparation for Christmas will be as follows:

Saturday 19th December
St. Joseph and St. Mary 10:30—11:00am
Notre Dame du Rosaire 4:30—5:20pm
Our Lady Star of the Sea 5:00—6:00pm

and

following daily Mass Monday 21st—Thursday 24th December.

• The collection at the Christmas Masses is for the personal use of the priests of the parish. Envelopes for this collection are available in the church porch.
• The offerings for the cribs are for the needs of the Christian children in the Holy Land and administered by the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.

The ‘Reason for the Season’

Some ideas for the home

1. Advent wreath: The Advent wreath, which has German origins, is probably the most recognized Advent custom. It symbolizes the many years from Adam to Christ in which the world awaited its Redeemer; it also represents the years that we have awaited His second and final coming. The wreath holds four equally spaced candles, the three purple ones, and a pink one for the joyful third Sunday in Advent.
2. The empty manger: Each child may have his own individual manger, or there may be one manger for the whole family. The idea is that when acts of service, sacrifice, or kindness are done in honour of Baby Jesus as a birthday present, the child receives a piece of straw to put into the manger. Then, on Christmas morning, “Baby Jesus” is placed in the manger. Encourage your children to make Jesus’ bed as “comfortable” as possible through their good deeds. In the process, explain Christ’s incomparable self-gift at Christmas and Easter that enables us to be part of God’s family.
3. The Jesse tree: The Jesse tree tells about Christ’s ancestry through symbols and relates Scripture to salvation history, progressing from creation to the birth of Christ. The tree can be made on a poster board with the symbols glued on, or on an actual tree.
4. St. Nicholas Day: The feast of St. Nicholas is on Dec. 6th. It is a highlight of the Advent season. Each child puts out a shoe the night before St. Nicholas Day in the hope that the kind bishop, with his bag of gifts, will pay a visit.
5. The Christ candle: Any large white candle can be used for the Christ candle. The idea is to decorate it with symbols for Christ. Use old Christmas cards, sequins, holly, etc. The candle can be lit on Christmas Eve to show that the Light of the World has arrived. Then continue to light the Christ candle throughout the year at Sunday dinner to remind your family of our waiting for Christ, as well as celebrating His birth and Resurrection.
6. The Nativity scene: This is the event in which the entire family shares – setting up the Christmas manger. Mary and Joseph should be far off travelling and their approach to Bethlehem can be adjusted daily. Older children can make life-size Nativity models, carve them, cut them out from cardboard, or set up pre-made figurines. The creative ideas are without limit. Make sure to place the Nativity scene where many can admire the children’s efforts to give God glory.
7. Christmas baking: There are many recipe books available to find great traditional Christmas baking ideas. The baking usually starts around December 20th. As Christmas approaches, the house will smell of baking and fresh wreaths. The glory of Christmas is at hand! Move the manger to a focal point, add lights to the Nativity to be lighted on Christmas Eve, and anticipate together.
8. Blessing of the tree: More and more frequently families are blessing their Christmas trees. It is good to remind children that “the tree” relates to many aspects of our faith. For example, we are reminded that our first parents were not allowed to eat from one tree, and that Christ paid the great price for our redemption by hanging on a tree (cf. Acts 5:29-32).

A family that participates together in Mass and other activities will grow closer in Christ –
“The Reason for the Season” – and give a great witness to friends and relatives.

Carol Service at Les Cotils Centre.

Sunday 13th December, 6:00 for 6:30pm.

Father PJ will be leading the service.