2016 Christmas at St Mary’s

 WISDOM OF GOD BEYOND WISDOM OF MEN

 How difficult it is to ‘see’ God-with-us in a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in an animal’s manger!

How difficult it is to ‘see’ God-with-us working as a carpenter in a workshop in Nazareth – ‘can anything good come from there?’!

How difficult it is to ‘see’ God-with-us in one dying as a criminal on the Cross – ‘If you are the Son of God, come down.’!

How difficult it is to ‘see’ God-with-us in a small wafer of consecrated bread: ‘This is My Body’!

How difficult it is to ‘see’ God-with-us in my neighbour: ‘whenever you do it for the least of these, you do it for Me.’

However, the Shepherds saw Jesus and worshipped him. The Wise Men saw Jesus and worshipped him, bringing gifts.

Our souls, weighed down by the flesh, by the world and all its demands, make it difficult, but we too can ‘see and worship’ Jesus, and echo the song of the angels: Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.”

In simplicity of heart, with an openness to the mysteries of God – beyond, but not against reason – we can truly, with the eyes of faith, ‘see’ God in the infant Jesus, in the Carpenter, in Jesus dying, in His Eucharistic Presence, and in my brothers and sisters.

Pride obstructs belief. Beware of it.

Turning to the mystery of GOD-WITH-US in the Baby of Bethlehem, let us bow in heart, in mind, in spirit, and in our soul, and murmur the words that Thomas the Apostle said to Jesus risen from the dead: “My Lord and My God.” (Jn 20:28)

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CHRISTMAS BLESSING

Priest: “May the Lord bless you and keep you;

May His goodness shine upon you through Christ born today,

may you seek His face and live in His peace

all the days of your life.” ALL: Amen.

……….

Remember in Prayer 

Maureen King, John Kingston, Chris Erickson, Lillian Donald, Stefan Svarc, Frank Murphy,  Frank Tuck, Shannon Elmore, Doris Robinson, Mick Fitzgerald, Kevin & Pat Seymour, Frances Hanrahan, Alan Whitty, Carmen O’Donoghue, Marie Kaitler, Christine Byrne, Carmel Alderman, John Nolan, Bernice Gale, Iris Drum, Kevin Hewitt, Marj Strathen

……….

DATE CLAIMER: FAREWELL DINNER FOR FATHER HART

Fri 27^th Jan. 6pm at St Mary’s School Hall

Fr Paul Hart will retire as Parish priest at the end of January and move to Wagga. From there he hopes to travel in his retirement and occasionally fill in as a “locum” or supply priest. The dinner will celebrate his 20 years as Parish priest at Corowa, and just over 46 years as a priest in the Wagga Diocese.

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LITURGY ROSTER Dec 31^st – 1^st Jan 2017

Gifts:

6.30pm Sandral Fm

9.00am Svarc Fm

Lectors:

6.30pm J Schnelle J Lowden

9.00am P Lemmon

Special Minister:

6.30pm K O’Halloran C Salmon

9.00am K Roberts

Altar: M Fitzgibbon

Welcomers:

6.30pm Sandral Fm

9.00am C Sutcliffe

Altar Servers:

6.30pm

9.00am Z Rippingale

Collection: B O’Shea

Counters:  M Kelly & K King

 MASS INTENTIONS CHRISTMAS WEEK

Sat 24^th Dec CHRISTMAS EVE

6.30pm (Missing / absent family members)

Sun 25^th Dec BIRTH OF THE LORD

9.00am Mass (All Parishioners)

Mon 26^th – Tue 27^th No Masses in Corowa

Wed 28^th

9am M (Brianna Aitcheson, Asmussen & O’Brien families)

Thurs 29^th 11.40 Novena & 12pm Mass (John Kingston; Doris & Lyn Robinson)

Fri 30^th

9am M (Bernice, Chetcuti & Stone fm; Henry Kingston)

Sat 31^st

9am M (Phyllis Robinson, Bette Griffin, Arthur Collins)

6.30pm (Jim Collins, Brian Dunn, Len Samball)

 

THANK YOU Thank you all helpers, ministers, locals and visitors who share St Mary’s Parish life. Your participation and support is most appreciated. – Fr Paul Hart.