Thompson Street Lotto.... For all your Tattslotto needs, Newspapers, Drycleaning services and Tobacconist Supplies.

8 Thompson Street, Frankston

Ph: 9781 4975

Welcome and thank you for worshipping with us at

St Francis Xavier.

Please let us know if:

You are new to the parish Recently changed your home address Need Thanksgiving envelopes

Please fill in your details and drop it in the collection bag or hand it to the Priest.

Name: _______________________________

Address: _______________________________

Phone: _______________________________

WEEKLY MASS TIMES Sunday Masses

Vigil Mass: Saturday Evening 6.00pm

Sunday 8.30am, 10.30am, 5.30pm

Weekday Masses

Tuesday - Saturday 9.15 am

Monday - 1st + 3rd of month

Liturgy of Word & Communion Service

Monday - 9.15am 2nd + 4th + 5th Mondays of month

Exposition of Blessed Sacrament & Adoration

Wednesday 8.40am-9.10am

Friday after 9.15am Mass

First Friday of the Month, 24hour following Mass

The Sacrament of Baptism 1st Sunday of month during 10.30am Mass. 4th Sunday of month 11.30am

(after the 10.30am Mass) Baptism Preparation: 2nd Thursday of the Month prior

to Baptism

Children’s Liturgy

Every Sunday during 10.30am Mass

Reconciliation Saturday: 10am & 5.30pm

Anointing of the Sick Mass

First Thursday of month 9.15am

Rosary

Wednesday after 9.15am Mass

Before Mass Tuesday and Saturday

Weddings and Funerals Please contact the Parish Office.

PARISH INFORMATION

Parish Child Safety Team: 0410-715-267

Parish Schools: St Augustine 9781 3007

Principal - Jan de Koning

St Francis Xavier 9783 3424

Principal - Stephen Peart

John Paul College 9784 0200

Principal - John Visentin

Second Sunday of Advent —Year A, 8th December 2019

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER PARISH 60 Davey Street, Frankston 3199 Parish Office: 9.00am - 4.00pm Monday to Friday Phone: 9783 3484 Email: frankston@cam.org.au Web: www.frankstoncatholic.com.au

Parish Priest: Fr. Chinua Okeke, CSSp. Email: chinua.okeke@cam.org.au Assistant Priest: Fr Jude Agorchukwu CSSp. Secretary: Christina Williams & Bethany Plowright

Please Pray for OUR SICK -Ross Monterosso, Evan, Jan Buckner,

Adrian Gobel, Margaret Humphries, Len Crowe,

Alex Millins, Alfredo Fiorenza, Tim Fitzgibbon, Samual Joyce,

Ann Wood, Joan Semmel Nellie Curry, Frank Gianini, Chara ,

Gianini, Salih Basic, Ailish Fitzgibbon, Tania Richards, Robyn

Finch, Jack Torcaso, Michael Johnson, Joseph Jelleff, David,

Hilda Slayford, Coral Kellett, Kathleen Hodgson, Breda Smyth,

Manickam Sebastian, Fifi Boctor, Carmel Spencer, Fr. Minh

Tranh, Lou Brewer, Dulce Talty, Victoria Waldock, Maree

Hambidge, Irene Sinclare, Chris O’Kearney, Gwen O’Kearney,

Della Pezzi

REMEMBRANCE -Leticia & Irene Canding,

Delima Muranda, Caroline & Trevor Habs, Carridio Aurellio,

Anna Remy, Aloysius & Mary Fernandez, Frederico Electra,

Edvardo Electra, Laurie Johnson, Margaret Black,

RECENTLY DECEASED -Nelia Jacinto , Greg McConzilla

SPECIAL INTENTION -Lea Marinas, James & Family,

Bessy Gis

This Sunday’s Readings

1st Reading : Is 11:1-10

2nd Reading : Rom 15:4-9

Gospel: Mt 3:1-12

Thank you for your continued support

Church $1401 Presbytery $870

GOSPEL Matthew 3:1-12

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.

In due course John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message: 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.' This was the man the prophet spoke of when he said:

A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.

This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins. But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, 'Brood of vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming? But if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit, and do not presume to tell yourselves, "We have Abraham for our father," because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these stones. Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees, so that any tree which fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire. I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.'

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Next Sunday’s Readings

1st Reading : Is 35:1-6,10

2nd Reading : James 5:7-10

Gospel: Mt 11:2-11

For more information call:

Marie-France Monty: 0433 434 694 Pierre Monty: 0417 342 219 Email: mariemonty@optusnet.com.au

OFFERINGS —————————————————

GIVING BACK TO GOD

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUN 8 DEC MELBOURNE OVERSEAS MISSION

(SPECIAL COLLECTION)

MON 9 DEC IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MASS

TUES 10 DEC FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE MEETING

THU 12 DEC ANOINTING OF THE SICK MASS

FRIENDSHIP CLUB BUS TRIP

(CHRISTMAS BREAKUP LUNCH @ WARBURTON HOTEL)

BAPTISM PREPARATION MEETING

FRI 13 DEC ADVENT REFLECTION 9.15AM SFX

SUN 15 DEC ⸙SFX CHRISTMAS PARTY⸙

AFTER 10.30AM MASS

MON 16 DEC SIMBANG GABI COMMENCES 5AM

WED 18 DEC CHRISTMAS RECONCILIATION 7PM

TUES 24 DEC FAMILY MASS 6.30PM

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE DRAWN

WED 25 DEC CHRISTMAS DAY

SACRAMENTS 2020 We are now taking enrolment for the Sacrament of

Reconciliation and Holy Communion. All children who will be in year 4 from next year are eligible to enroll.

SFX FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE next meeting is on Tuesday 10th December 7pm in the

Quilter Room and they are looking for new members! If

you have any suggestions or you would like to help or

become a member please see Fr. Chinua or Fr. Jude or

speak with the Girls in the office.

Special Collection. Thank you for your

support.

Homily - Second Sunday of Advent, Year A

God’s Kingdom Is Near

As a family of God’s people, we continue to move in the hope of receiving the fulfillment of God’s promise through our ancestors in faith. On this second Sunday in Advent, the Church reminds us that while we are sustained by the great hope of the Lord’s coming, we have to pay heed to the voice of the one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight.” The Readings today invite us to recall God's saving deeds in the history of Israel, culminating in the coming of the promised Messiah.

In the First reading, Isaiah prophesied of the Lord’s coming in unequivocal terms. He equally, clearly described the qualities and marks of this promised king. First, he shall be filled with the spirit of God. He shall be a man of integrity. He shall judge with equity and righteousness. He will not only fear God, but shall respect his people.

What a great hope the prophet brings us this season! Isaiah reminds us that the future is bright in Christ our Messiah. He promises that he shall be different from other kings, and that his reign shall bring us freedom from evil and oppression. It shall bring us peace with God, and with one another. It shall strengthen our unity in spite of our diversities.

The prophet writes: “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion cub feed together with a little child to lead them…They will not hurt or destroy or do any harm on all my holy mountain.’’ Indeed, if we welcome Christ sincerely, this will not sound utopian as many think it does. Our world would be a place where we do not have to live in fear of one another and where the strong will no longer oppress the weak.

In the Second Reading, St. Paul continues with the same message of hope for all nations. He reminds us that: “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” It is this same hope that sustains us this season. It will keep us united in faith, in prayer and in love until what is written in the scriptures is fulfilled. Hence, through what has been written, Paul encourages us to rejoice and praise God for what he is about to do, and to accept and respect one another for the sake of God’s glory as Christ has accepted us.

In today’s Gospel, the fact of the appearance of John the Baptist is also a message of hope that the coming of the Messiah is near. The Gospel from John the Baptist encourages a change in our lives: We would look on ourselves and regret what we should regret – our sins, our meanness, our minor faults and failings, our injustices and hurt of others. However, John brings a very important message to us: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near!” Also, he employed the prophecy of Isaiah to exalt us to: “prepare the way of the Lord and make his path straight!” In doing this we should take encouragement from God’s word and never give up hope. As Christ encourages each one of us, we too should encourage each other.

The message of John this Sunday underscores the importance of this season. It is a time of not just-for-material preparation. Rather, it is a time of retreat, a time of deep reflection on the mystery that God is about to reveal to the world. It is a time of cleaning up and leveling the rough edges of our lives with the hope of receiving our Lord in a wonderful state of mind and body. It suffices to remind us here that John’s message is another way of telling us that: “Without Holiness no one will see the Lord,” (Heb 12, 14).

Repentance, reconciliation, and holiness of heart are the prerequisites for justifying our hope at the end of this season. Therefore, let us rid ourselves of everything that will hinder us from receiving Christ this season. In light of this, the Church encourages us to take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in order to prepare ourselves to receive our Lord and King.

Fr. Jude CSSp

Melbourne Overseas Missions Annual Appeal

continues to assist the disadvantaged and marginalized in Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Botswana, Peru and

Jerusalem. The work puts a key focus on the education

of young people in socially and economically

disadvantaged communities. Thousands of children

and young people will have access to safe and engaging

learning environments thanks to the generosity of the clergy and parishioners of the Melbourne Archdiocese.

Melbourne Overseas Missions very much appreciates

your generosity in facilitating this work and very much

hopes it will continue.

Tickets are now for sale: $2each Or 3 for $5

Lots of Prizes to be won!!!!

SIMBANG GABI

9 day Novena Dawn Mass Monday 16th - Tuesday 24th

December 2019 5:00am

at St. Francis Xavier Church

more information please contact: Maina 0401 101 428

Discover the warmth and love of our Frankston community as we share together an early morning coffee/tea and light breakfast.

Simbang Gabi (Filipino for “Night Mass”) Is a Devotional

series of 9 day masses in the anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ And to honour the blessed virgin Mary.

Children's Nativity and Children's Choir

members needed for the

annual Family Christmas Eve

Mass at 6.30pm.

Please sign your child up on

the sheet provided in the

foyer. Thank you.

24 December Christmas Vigil (Family Mass)

6.30pm

24 December Christmas Night

9.00pm

25 December Christmas Day Masses

7.00am (Siro Malabar)

8.30am

10.30am

5.30pm

31 December New Year’s Eve Mass

9.00pm

1 January 2020 New Year’s Day Mass

9.15am

Please join us 30 minutes prior to

Christmas Mass for Christmas Carols.

Advent Reflections Friday 13th December 9.15am

Our Parish Advent Reflection will be held on Friday week, starting with Holy Mass at

9.15am and concluding at 10.40am.

Christmas Reconciliation You are invited to participate in Christmas

Reconciliation on Wednesday 18th Dec at 7pm

My fellow Proclaimers of the WORD and Ministers of the EUCHARIST would you kindly consider the rosters for CHRISTMAS Masses. We need support from our Parish Family. My brothers and sisters including children ,you are welcome to participate in the OFFERTORY procession at Christmas Masses, Please add your name to the rosters in the FOYER. -Blessings Maureen

Fr. Chinua & Fr. Jude would like to invite you to the

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY

On Sunday 15th December after 10.30am Mass in the Hall

PLEASE BRING A PLATE TO SHARE

FR. JUDE’S

EXODUS PILGRIMAGE

EGYPT, JORDAN AND HOLY LAND “Following the Footsteps of Moses and Jesus”

28th SEPT - 14th OCT, 2020

14 Days $4,999 / Upgrade to EGYPT 6 Days $1,299 Contact Spiritual Director

Rev Fr Jude Agorchukwu CSSp.

Phone:(03) 9789 9672 Mobile: 0400 759 391 Email: jude.agorchukwu@cam.org.au

Fr. Chinua’s Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Footsteps of Jesus Departs 17 July 2019

11 Nights/12 Days For more information contact

Fr. Chinua or Christina on 9783-3484