Parish of Our Lady of Fatima
159 Northway, Durban North, 4051 E-Mail Website: www.fatima.org.za Tel 0315635554 Fax 0315634684

Parish Priest: Rev Fr Desmond Nair

Deacon: Rev Peter Venter
Pastoral Assistants: Irene Helsdon and Anne Chatteris
22nd December 2013
Fourth Sunday of Advent ~ Love Year A
Missal References Page 33 (W86)
Eucharistic Prayer No 2
Memorial Acclamation No 2
Missal References: Midnight Mass Page 41 (W115)
Christmas Day Page 51 (W120)
Next Sunday’s Scripture Page 56 (W124)
Next Sunday Feast of the Holy Family
Feasts of the Week
Monday St John of Kanty, priest
Thursday St Stephen, martyr
Friday St John, apostle & evangelist
Saturday Holy Innocents, martyrs

Entrance Antiphon

Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One;
let the earth be opened and bring forth a Saviour.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 24

Let him enter; he is the king of glory.
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,
the world, and all who dwell in it.
It is he who set it on the seas;
on the rivers he made it firm.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The clean of hands and pure of heart,
whose soul is not set on vain things.
Blessings from the Lord shall he receive,
and right reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the people who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Let him enter; he is the king of glory. /

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son;
and his name shall be called Emmanuel: God is with us. Alleluia!

Communion Antiphon

Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel.

This Week’s Diary
/
Monday / Mass / 9.00am
Tuesday / Mass
Carol Service / 6.30am
11.15pm
Midnight Mass / 12.00am
Wednesday / Christmas Day - Masses / 7.00am & 9.00am
Thursday / Mass – St. Stephen (Day of Goodwill) / 9.00am
Friday / Communion Service / 9.00am
Saturday / Communion Service / 9.00am
Sunday / Masses - Feast of the Holy Family / 7.00am; 9.00am & 5.45pm
7.

Please pray for the Sick especially:

Relatives:

Tris Tillard’s sister; Joy Lees’ grandniece; May Dormehl’s daughter & brother-in-law; Peter Squires; Gladys Cole’s brother; Dolores Beardwell’s mother; Maryse Bowman’s nieces; Charles & Lynn Govender’s son-in-law; Louise Kin’s sister; Renee Armstrong’s sisters; Mary Kidd’s granddaughter; Josiane & Marie-Claude Maujean’s brother; Jessie Naidu’s brother; Leanne Hoar’s mother;Nancy Chettiar’s mother; MG D’Ercole; Jan Huiskamp’s mother; Annette Hoyer’s parents; Stuart McGregor; Debbie Macpherson’s sister; Graham Naude’s mother; Hana Toman’s father; Esme Hallot’s nieces. / Anne Appelgren’s husband sister & aunt; Elsa Pearton’s son Michael, sister & granddaughter; Zelda Byrne’s daughter-in-law; Marjorie Mawbey’s nieces; Alma Osborn’s grandson; Anna Esterhuizen’s mother; Nicole Blackburn’s daughter; Irene Helsdon’s niece; Peggy du Plessis’ daughter-in-law; Jean & Pauline Leclezio’s son & daughter-in-law; Brenda Ogle’s granddaughter & sister; Margaret Beechey’s mother; Denise Irvine’s daughter; Candice Behrens’ grandfather; Maryse Wardell’s mother; Gill Yelland’s daughter-in-law; Josè Martins’ mother: Caron Martins’ father & sister; Lyn Alborough’s brother;Tottie Bremner’s father & nephew;John Bremner’s nephew. / Nadine Paul’s mother & cousin; Warren Walker’s uncle; Charles Sturgess’ cousin; George & Carol Urquhart’s mothers; Ancilla Donaldson’s parents; Linda Gorlei’s parents; Fr Egbert O’Dea; Jo James’ nephew; Norlie McDonogh’s sister-in-law; Colin Melville’s sister; Theresa Hoogewerf’s uncle; Maureen Hutton’s daughter-in-law; Gail Rossiter’s daughter; Lynne Tillard’s brother; Ugo Surian’s sister; Liz Newberry’s husband; Mary Ann Salvage’s brother; Roger & Eve Tostee’s daughter; Michelle Lock’s father; Jabu Marescotti’s brother; Fr Des’ nephew & brother.

Parishioners:

Lou Elliott; Sue & Des Bloom;
Cathy Hogg; Isabel Akal;
Sr. Catherina; Irene Gliddon;
Luc Pous; Milly van Gogh; Hendrika Brock; Cameron Smith; Jabu Marescotti; Jenny Ducray; Clare Whatmore; Felicity Harrison; Gordon Urquhart. / Pat du Trevou; Judith de Marigny; May Dormehl; Virgile Bonhomme; Stella Barber; Shân de Chalain; Simon Webb; Anthea Jack; Gail Rossiter; Randolph Tryon; Olga Newby-Fraser; Natalie Modari; Dorothy Warburton; Leigh Went; Maryse Bowman; Daphne Rahmer; Mary Kidd. / Lynne Govender; Caron Martins; Mick Armstrong; Roger Brouard; Deryk Bayman; Pam Farr; Patricia Melville; Kelvin Quinn; Pierette Lenferna; Stella Gomes; Fr Des; John Evans; Sandra Teodosio; Joao Farinha.

PLEASE PRAY for the repose of the souls of Vadi Govender and the son-in law of Maria Farinha. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, AMEN.

MINISTRY OF CARE

Do you have a need? Do you know someone in need? Please contact Deacon Peter Venter: 031 5635554 during office hours or 031 5638188 after hours, in order for us to assist.

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

Sirach 3:2-6.12-14; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-15.19-23.

THANKS

The Main-Baillie and Molnar families would like to thank :

·  Fr Des, Deacon Peter, and wonderful Fatima Family for their prayers, support, compassion and love.

·  And thanks to the fantastic Fatima choir for their amazing singing and send off for Jamie.

We are blessed to a part of such a wonderful parish.

DUTY LISTS FOR CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR

Duty lists are on the Notice Board at the main entrance to the Church. Ministers of the Eucharist, Word & Hospitality, Sacristans and Altar Servers are asked to please fill your names in the appropriate spaces.

MASS DIARY FOR 2014

The Mass Diary for next year is open. To book your Mass intentions in advance please contact Theresa at the parish office. Stipends for Masses are R40,00 per Mass.

Christmas Mass Times

Tuesday 24th December

Midnight Mass Commencing with a Carol Service at 11.15pm

Wednesday 25th December

Christmas Day 7.00am & 9.00am

Thursday 26th December

Feast of St. Stephen, First Martyr 9.00am

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY – YEAR OF THE FAMILY

The Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated on Sunday 29 December.

We wish to encourage families in the parish to attend Mass and to sit together where possible. A special invitation should be extended to non-Catholic spouses to attend this Mass during which we will have a renewal of marriage vows and a special blessing for all families.

At this Mass we will inaugurate the Year of the Family in our parish.

NEW YEAR’S DAY

Wednesday 1 January is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. You are invited and encouraged to celebrate this feast and to mark the first day of New Year by attending Holy Mass which will be celebrated at 9.00am.

YEAR PLANNING 2014

In preparation for our annual Year Planning Meeting, all groups, organizations and committees in the parish are asked to please hand in the dates for their activities during 2014, to the Parish Office during office hours 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. For those who have not yet done so, please send these in this week as we are now well past our deadine. Thank you.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY – BANKING DETAILS

The Fatima SVDP is desperately in need of regular monthly income for their ongoing projects – Ottawa, Wylie House, Missionaries of Charity and St Theresa’s Children’s Home – their currently monthly commitments being approx R20 000 per month. The monthly parish collection, income from sales of second hand goods at Golden Hours and a few debit orders leaves them with a shortfall every month when a donation of R100 per month from 50% of our parishioners would bring in the necessary monthly funds to meet their obligations!

We encourage you to make the St Vincent de Paul Society your charity of choice by contributing to the collection for the poor on the First Sunday of every month or by depositing your contribution into their bank account:

Bank First National Bank

Branch Durban North

Branch Code 220426

Account No 62033860786

Account Holder Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

An 18A Tax Certificate for all annual/monthly donations or debit orders: exceeding R500 can be supplied on request.

Any queries please email :

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY (Golden Hours Sunday Market)

Are collecting any second hand items such as toys, games, household utensils, costume jewellery, ornaments, CD’s, DVD’s, etc. in reasonable condition (damaged or broken items are not saleable). These items are to be sold and the proceeds raised will go towards feeding the poor and needy. Donations may be left at the Parish office from Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Contact: Josie Giannotti Tel: 031 563 1199 or Cell: 084 332 0690 if items need to be collected.

Please note: Collection in the Durban North Area only.

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE - RAFFLE

Grateful thanks to all who supported our Raffle which was drawn after the 9.00am Mass last Sunday. The winner of the hamper was Samuel McCall.

PARISH OFFICE CLOSED

Please note that the Parish office will be closed from 25th December to Monday 6th January 2014.

Mass Intentions

Sunday 22 December to 29 December 2013

Sunday

/ 7.00am / Hallot & Bowman Families (Esmé & Maryse)
9.00am / José Serrao RIP (De Sousa Family)
5.45pm / Pro Populo
Monday / 9.00am / Yvonne McDonogh RIP (Rory & Norlie)
Tuesday / 12.00am / Pro Populo
Wednesday / 7.00am
9.00am / Ercole & Giovanna D’Ercole RIP (Michael & Claudette)
Celebrant’s Intention
Thursday / 9.00am / Paul & Jeanne Nair RIP (Fr. Des.)
Friday / 9.00am / Communion Service
Saturday / 9.00am / Communion Service
Sunday / 7.00am / Holy Souls RIP (Maria Teodosio)
9.00am / Special Intention (Theresa Hoogewerf)
5.45pm / Pro Populo
Fourth Sunday of Advent ~ Love Year A
22nd December 2013 Joe Cullen, OP
Commentary
First Reading (Is 7:10-14)
King Ahaz had already sought help from the Assyrians; so his refusal to ask a sign of Yahweh is not religiously motivated but hypocritical. The sign of the birth of the child is given to the whole Davidic dynasty. Commentators have differed on the identity of the maiden who is with child, whether in its context of the time, it referred to a contemporary of Isaiah who would parallel the later coming of Christ or is more general in what it signifies. The term ‘the virgin daughter of my people’ is also used in the Old Testament to designate the people themselves as distinct from the surrounding nations. Christian tradition has identified this maiden with Mary, mother of Christ.
Second Reading (Rom 1:1-7)
The opening of the letter identifies Paul as an apostle and gives a resumé of the core of the Christian faith. To be a ‘slave’ of Christ Jesus is in no way demeaning for Paul. It is to share in the dignity afforded to the servants of a transcendent God as honoured in the Scriptures. In his human nature Christ was of kingly descent and in his divine nature in virtue of his resurrection, he is Son of God. So it is a wonderful grace to be called as an apostle to those who now belong to Jesus Christ. The passage ends with traditional greetings and blessings for these people to whom he will soon pay a visit.
Gospel (Mt 1:18-24)
There is a matter-of-fact tone to this passage which may lead us to forget that we are reading theology. Matthew is concerned to show Jesus as the fulfilment of the prophecy in Isaiah, to identify him clearly as the Saviour of humankind and to show him as the Davidic spiritual liberator of his people.
Matthew is anxious to highlight that Jesus was, in virtue of Joseph’s marriage to Mary, brought into the required family tree, as it were, and so the saviour was ‘of the house of David’ as had been foretold. The name ‘Jesus’ is a later derivation of ‘Joshua’. While ‘Joshua’ was originally understood to mean ‘Yahweh helps’, in the early Christian church it soon came to mean ‘Yahweh saves’. Jesus abolishes the gulf between God and humankind caused by sin and becomes ‘Emmanuel’, ‘God-with-us’.

Welcome New Parishioners

Change of Address And/Or Phone

/ / Need dedication information

New registration

/ / Registered but do not receive mail
Moving out of parish
Name
Address
City / Code
Phone
E-Mail

Place in the collection basket or hand to Minister of Hospitality