General Notices for Visitors
The rubrics of the Extraordinary Form of Mass require that Holy Communion be given on the tongue and kneeling. Those who cannot kneel because of illness, frailty or old-age are not obliged to kneel and are welcome to stand when receiving Holy Communion (though still on the tongue).
Parking – Do not park in the under-cover parking bay on the immediate left of Charles O’Neill Way. Parking is available further down, or on West St.
Please do not park in yellow-striped bay which is reserved for the St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol vans.
Please leave closer parking bays available for elderly and less mobile Mass-goers.
Holy Family Education
Holy Family Education for children will resume this week, starting on Friday February 7th, 2020.
BBQ and Piety Stall next week
Following High Mass next Sunday, February 2nd, there will be a BBQ. The piety stall will also be open.
Candlemas
This year Candlemas will fall on Sunday. The rubrics require the blessing of candles to be done in conjunction with the procession (which will occur at the 10.30am Mass). If you are not attending the High Mass but wish to have candles blessed, please present them in a dignified way, clearly marked with your name so that you can retrieve them the following week.
Education Classes
Holy Family Education for children will resume Friday 7th February 2020
Adult Education will resume Wednesday 4th March 2020.
Following the 6pm Theology class, Mr Peter Kalina will be giving Latin classes at 7:15pm. These classes are for beginners and do not require prior studies. Cost of materials is $20.
The University of Sydney Continuing Education offers a number of Latin courses available for beginners, intermediate and advanced students.
https://cce.sydney.edu.au/courses/language-culture/latin
alternately phone (02) 8627 6700
Christmas Drought Appeal
Thank you to all who responded so generously to the Christmas drought collection. The total amount raised by our parish appeal was $6266.80. This will be forwarded for distribution through the diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes.
FSSP Retreats for 2020
Preached by Fr. Adrian Wee FSSP
Men’s Retreat: The Passion of Christ 25th-29th March 2020
Women’s Retreat: Devotion to Mary 14th-18th September 2020
at Hartzer Park, Bowral NSW
See leaflets at the Church for more information
New Mass Time TRIAL
Due to the ever-increasing numbers of Mass attendance on Sundays, we will add a third Mass (Low) at 7:15am on Sundays for a trial period starting 26th January 2020 and ending 29th March 2020. There will NOT be a 7:15am Mass on Palm Sunday or Easter Sunday, but an announcement will be made at the conclusion of the trial period as to whether the extra Mass will continue after Easter.
The sermon at the 7:15am Mass will usually be slightly abbreviated, to allow the next Mass to start on time.
Liturgies for New Year’s Eve and the New Year
New Year’s Eve, Tuesday Dec 31st 2019
5-6pm: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction
6pm: Low Mass followed by the Te Deum
Under the usual conditions, the Church grants a plenary indulgence for those who pray/chant the Te Deum in thanksgiving to God on the last day of the year.
January 1st (Circumcision)
8.00-8.50am: Exposition, Litany of the Precious Blood, Rosary, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
9am: Solemn Mass followed by Benediction
Solemn Mass will be preceded by the Veni Creator Spiritus.
Under the usual conditions, the Church grants a Plenary Indulgence for those who pray/chant the Veni Creator on 1st January to ask God for His assistance in the new year.
The Circumcision of Our Lord is described in the second chapter of St. Luke when Our Lord, out of His great love for us, shed His Most Precious Blood on the EIGHTH day after his birth. He teaches us the importance of obedience, since although He was not bound by the Law of Moses, He submitted to it in order to give us an example of obedience.
In this same Feast, we also honour Our Lady as Mother of God, who played such a major role in the Mystery of the Incarnation.
January 5th, Sunday
Litany of the Holy Name will be recited after Low Mass.
Great Blessing of Epiphany Water: 9.40am
The Blessing of Epiphany water in the Roman Rite contains the Solemn Exorcism.
This year we have 100ml bottles for you to fill up after the blessing, to take home.
If you would like a large quantity of water you may bring one large container of water, but please make sure that the mouth is large enough for the priest to be able to insert blessed salt in the form of a cross. Otherwise please bring an empty bottle and take water from our large canisters after the blessing.
January 6th, Monday
Blessing of chalk, gold, frankincense and myrrh