Author: Royston

Reflection
We stand today at the beginning of Advent and joyfully anticipate the celebration of Christmastide which awaits us. Our pilgrimage invites us to re-visit and partake in the drama and the events surrounding Jesus' fist coming, his birth and entry into human history when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Since the beginning Advent has been a season in which we reflect on the first coming of Christ but also prepare for his second. The deepest longing of the Holy Spirit is expressed in the cry, 'Come.' This is the cry the Holy Spirit gives to the Church. The prayer of the Spirit and the Church will always be, 'Come, Lord Jesus, come.'
God always has in view the end towards which the whole history of salvation is directed. Our desire to prepare for the return of the Lord is proportional to the relationship we currently enjoy with him. The return of Jesus is not just the coming of a kingdom, of a new order of things, but the return of the Lord of Lords, the Servant King who loved us and died for us. The call throughout the New Testament is to be active, to prepare, to be watchful and to be holy as God is holy.

MASS TIMES
Sunday Eucharist
Saturday 6.00pm
Sunday 8:00am and 9.30am
Weekday Eucharist
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9.15am
Saturday 8:00am
First Friday (Mass of Healing & Anointing of the sick) 9:15am
First Friday Adoration followed by Mass 6:00pm
SACRAMENTS
Reconciliation: Every Saturday 8:30am to 9:30am
Baptisms: Every Saturday (by appointment) 11:00am
Please see the Church noticeboard and Website as well

NEXT SUNDAY (12th February 2023)
6th SUNDAY Ordinary Time - Year A
SCRIPTURE READINGS
1st Reading: Sirach 15:15-20 Vast is the wisdom of the Lord, he is almighty and all seeing.
Psalm: Ps 118 Happy are they who follow the law of the Lord!
2nd Reading: 1 Cor 2:6-10 No eye has seen, no ear has heard all that God has prepared for those who love him
Gospel: Mt 5:17-37 Jesus has come, not to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to complete them

The roster for various ministries is on the notice board and website. If you are not available, please arrange your own replacement. Thank you to all our ministry volunteers for your generous service to our Parish.

Sat 6:00pm: Shane Mascarenhas, Ethan Misquitta,Moriel Dabre,
Swinth Rodrigues (T)
Sun 8:00am: Javier Soares, Jason Dash, (T) Eva Hu (T), Elisha Yang (T)
Sun 9:30am: Carlos Pulini (T), Amanda Chid (T), Thea Bhreatnach (T)
Jeremy Xing, Sean Joseph,

ALTAR SERVERS

OTHER MINISTERS

	Sat 6:00pm	Sun 8:00am	Sun 9:30am
Hospitality:	Chryslyn Pinto		Youth
1st Reading:	Amanda Dalgado		Youth
2nd Reading:	Gidget Mendonca		Youth
Ministers of	Jessie Dalgado		Lisa Kachappilly
Communion:	Judy Kwan		Natasha Pinto
Projectionist:	Goretti Sheppard		Sylvester D'Souza
Chief Collector:	Josh Tham		Josh Soares
Co-Ordinator:	Joyce		Mabel
Music:	John Smit		YOUTH

CHURCH CLEANING ROSTER
Tepano and Maria (11th February 2023)

FLOWER ARRANGEMENT ROSTER
Goretti Sheppard

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
1st Reading : Is 58:7-10 Your light will shine like the dawn.
Psalm : Ps 111 The just man is a light in darkness to the upright .
2nd Reading: 1 Cor 2:1-5 I came to you to proclaim Christ crucified .
Gospel: Mt 5:13-16 You are the light of the world .
5th February 2022
• God created us in the image of Christ, the light of the world. We are made to shine brightly. Too often, forces of sin and evil try to act as bushel baskets. Racism, patriarchy, colonialism —these are just a few oppressive systems attempting to extinguish the flames of many. What are the bushel baskets in your life? These baskets can seem so sturdy. Thankfully, our light—the light of Christ—is even stronger. Try to cover it up and the basket itself will soon be engulfed in holy flames. Nothing will ever defeat the light of the world.
• The prophet Isaiah connect works of mercy—like feeding the hungry and clothing the naked—with the breaking forth of light. These acts of loving service for a neighbour are beacons of divine light in an often-dark world. Each time we give of our resources, our time or our very selves, the light of the Lord breaks forth like the dawn. The Lord remains with us, fanning our flames and answering our calls with a resounding “Here I am!”
• Jesus draws on the images of salt and light to call his disciples to lives of service. Neither element exists just for itself. Salt helps people taste. Light helps people see. How are you being of service to others this week? In what way could you help strengthen someone’s sense of divine? ~ Living Liturgy 2023
Making Connections
The first reading share the light imagery of the gospel and gives us more explicit instructions for becoming light to the world. We are to provide food, shelter, and clothing for those in need. In readings of the previous weeks this has been identified as God’s work, as God’s special area of interest. When we perform these deeds, we participate in God’s preferential love for those who are poor. And we share in the beauty that God is continuously bestowing on the world in God’s infinite generosity.
~ Living Liturgy 2023

34 Bolton Street, PO Box 48097, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland

PARISH PRIEST
Fr Ephrem Tigga
Presbytery Phone: 626 2238
Email: fretigga@gmail.com

PARISH OFFICE
Office Phone 6266 207
email: stdominicsparish@xtra.co.nz
Mon, Wed, Fri - 9:00am - 4:00 pm
website: blockhousebaycatholic.org.nz

Parish News
MORNING TEA: There will be a morning tea after the 9:30am Mass on Sunday 5th February 2023, as it is the first Sunday of the month. Please bring a plate to share. All are welcome.
COLUMBAN CALENDARS 2023: are still available for sale at a reduced price of $8 each. The sale of the calendars is a main source of income for the missionary work of the Columban Fathers.
St Dominics Pastoral Mission Christmas drive, for the Mother of Divine Mercy refuge and Monte Cecilia housing trust. Please sponsor a child or family for our Christmas toy drive 2022. Gift bags will be available in the church foyer, please help yourself and leave your name and number on the list provided. All gifts can only be dropped off, to the parish centre, on Sunday, 18 December 2022 by 12pm please. THANK YOU.
CHURCH CLEANERS: We are in urgent need of volunteers to clean the church on a weekly roster. If you can help then please contact Graham at the Parish Office. It’s usually once in two months. Thank you.
CATHOLIC WOMENS LEAGUE: All are welcome. Contact Marie 627 9193 or 027 381 3361
PARISH REGISTRATION: Registration forms are available in the foyer.
ST DOMINIC’S FOUNDATION: We encourage you to support the Foundation, which works behind the scenes, supporting families in need. We use this fund to help our families with: Food parcels, School fees, Transport, Scholarships, Uniform costs, supporting learning while families are isolating due to Covid. The Donation account number is: 12-3034-0276615-00 All donations are welcomed!
PLANNED GIVING: We would like to encourage those who can, to donate using internet banking directly to our parish bank account. Please email stdomspgc@gmail.com for your planned giving number for internet banking.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please advise the parish office if you have changed your address recently.
“REQUESTS FOR MASS” Envelopes are available at the back of the church. Please write the details on the front, place your donation inside envelope and hand to Fr Ephrem.
PLEASE ALSO SEE OUR WEBSITE & NOTICE BOARD IN THE CHURCH FOYER

DONATIONS / PLANNED GIVING
To join our Planned Giving scheme please send an email to: stdomspgc@gmail.com or contact the Parish office.
For online contributions please use the following details:
Account Name : RC Bishop of Auckland Blockhouse Bay Parish
Account No. : 02 0100 0120958 10 Ref : Your name and planned giving number

St Dominic’s School News
Across the Path - from the School Principal, Daniel Pepper:
We thank you for the continued support of the school and we love the relationship that we have with the parish community. We look forward to continuing and strengthening our relationship this year.
Thanks to those that help form the parish on our school Mass days and for the special events we have in the church. Your help and support makes these events easy and welcoming.
The mission of Catholic schools is not just to provide a high standard of academic learning for our students but also to help develop a Christ-centered faith relationship with Jesus Christ. We try our very best to deliver on this statement everyday here at St Dominic’s, with your love and support.
Notices from the Diocese
Franciscan Spirituality Series - Join us every first Sunday of the month to learn about St Francis of Assisi and living the Gospel according to his spirit.
Marriage & Family Life would like to invite to you consider becoming Marriage Educators. If you have 2 hours a fortnight and are passionate about helping engaged couples prepare for marriage and have been married for 5 years or more, please contact Gerry on 021 02247442
The Diocesan Pastoral Council met on Saturday 26 November. Their newsletter is available for everyone to read on the diocesan website https://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/November2022.pdf
WORLD YOUTH DAY 2023: Interested in being part of it? Email samuelb@cda.org.nz
.
PLEASE ALSO SEE OUR WEBSITE & NOTICE BOARD IN THE CHURCH FOYER

Please remember the following in the Eucharist and your personal prayer:
Recently Deceased: Margaret Baptista, Bernard Singh, Christine Wollard, Francis Laraman, Ruth Manley, Sr Mary Leonie, Francis Sementhy, Patras Tigga, Norman Periera, Ruby D’Silva, Margaret Rasch, Mavis Urlich, Pauline Lafotanoa, Imeleta Maddox, Junn Pascual, Pauline Unkovich, Pauline Gallagher, Lynne Carroll,
For the Sick: Fortuna Turnwald, John and Dolores Webb.
Please call the office if you need to place a name on this list.

Eucharist Times—Christmas & New Year
CHRISTMAS NIGHT MASS
Saturday Evening 24 December 2022
6:00pm: Family, seniors and children
9:30pm: Christmas Carols followed by Mass at 10pm
CHRISTMAS DAY MASS
Sunday Morning 25 December 2022
8:00am Mass
9.30 am Family Mass – Led by Children’s Liturgy group
NEW YEAR THANKSGIVING MASS
Saturday 31 December 2022 6:00pm
NEW YEAR THANKSGIVING MASS
Sunday Morning 01 January 2023 8:00am
SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD
Sunday Morning 01 January 2023 9:30am

	Sat 6:00pm	Sun 8:00am	Sun 9:30am
Hospitality:	Chryslyn Pinto	Donald Holder	Irae Pule
1st Reading:	Matthew D'Souza	Goretti Fernandez	Pearl Dharmai
2nd Reading:	Tamara Pinto	Leeda Ferdis	Natasha Pinto
Ministers of	Sunita Fernandes	Valyne	Karen Vivera
Communion:	Patrick Lim	N/A	Paul Reddy
Projectionist:	Jessie Dalgado	N/A	Vincent George
Chief Collector:	Allwyn Pereira	Josh/Mabel	Josh Soares
Co-Ordinator:	Joyce	Jewel	Valyne
Music:	TRINITY CHOIR	N/A	GRAHAM S

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMINGS: CHRISTMAS NIGHT MASS— Saturday 24 December 2022. 6:00pm: Family, seniors and children and 9:30pm: Christmas Carols followed by Mass at 10pm. CHRISTMAS DAY MASS—Sunday 25 December 2022. 8:00am Mass
and 9.30am Family Mass – Led by Children’s Liturgy and Samoan groups.

In the frantic life that is the couple of weeks leading up to Christmas let us hope we are able to take the time to pause and consider anew the reason for the season.

	Sat 6:00pm	Sat 9:30pm	Sun 8:00am	Sun 9:30am
Hospitality:	Irae Pule	Peter Dalgado		Children's Liturgy
1st Reading:	Sarah Flynn	Gidget Mendonca		Children's Liturgy
2nd Reading:	Joyce Rapheal	Karen Vivera		Children's Liturgy
Ministers of	Caroline D'Souza	Wilma Barboza		Teresa Joseph
Communion:	Sunita Fernandes	Stephen Mascarenhas		Valyne Koh
Projectionist:	Vincent George	Jessie Dalgado		Samoan Group
Chief Collector:	Richard Rapheal	Sandeep Gregory		Paul Reddy
Co-Ordinator:	Goretti	Mabel		Valyne
Music:	Graham S	John S		Samoan Group