Reflection

  “The Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart’. What a promise! The church offers that Antiphon today to help us desire to respond to John the Baptists call to “Prepare the road for the Lord to travel on; widen the pathway before him, level the mountains, fill up the valleys, straighten the curves, smooth out the ruts, and then all shall see the Saviour sent from God.” Luke 3:4-5 (Living Bible translation).

In ancient times huge roadworks took place to welcome royalty. I was once caught in a traffic diversion to clear the route for a visiting dignitary. It was swept for snipers or protesters, with flags and flowers lining the way. Security surrounded the cavalcade. Planning was huge. Santa Parades, Round the Bays and the Auckland marathon offer similar examples. Advent invites us to ponder what clearing of our hearts is needed to prepare for Jesus. Our Advent Reconciliation is this Wednesday at 7pm. What ruts or potholes have I developed? Are there inner snipers or protestors ambushing my relationship with God or others? What habits or life patterns of prayer and action can secure and protect my faith journey? Do some areas in my life need filling, smoothing, levelling or straightening out as I make way for the Lord’s joy to fill my heart?

Repentance is not just a negative thing. Yes it means turning away from sin and making life changes which is always challenging. But it also means turning toward God. That’s where the joy comes in. That’s why we desire to change and be transformed. Repentance is our turning toward God who then super-abundantly restores and renews us, drawing us into an embrace of perfect love where we are truly known and forgiven. God’s glory is the Holy Spirit filling us every day to walk a new path in a new way, with hope, joy and peace, in communion with one another. God’s voice is heard in joy within our hearts, and that joy attracts and draws others to Christ. The Holy Spirit is like a blazing fire which consumes and cleanses but also warms and enlivens, lighting our days with life-giving energy, joy and fruitfulness to live and serve in love. This is the promise of Advent, and we are invited every year to reinvigorate our desire for God.

Bev McDonald

The last Joy Healing Ministry for this year

Will be after the 10.30am Mass today at St John’s Church Mass.

This is a special meeting for families, parents, caregivers and grandparents to receive prayer (and offer prayers to others too if they like). All welcome. Tea and coffee to follow.

Advent Reconciliation

On Wednesday 10 December, 7pm at St John’s Church.

We pray for:

We pray for all the sick in the community and those recovering from surgery including Angelina Thompson.
We pray for the recently deceased including Terence Stephenson, Doug Waddell, Donald McIntyre and Mary Turner. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in eternal peace and may their families be comforted in their grief.
We pray too for those whose anniversaries occur around this time especially Judy George.

Caring for our community in need.

Christmas Hamper Appeal 2025:
Hope you all had fun preparing your hampers for our Christmas appeal.
A reminder these are to be returned to the meeting room at St John’s Church before/after the 5.30pm and 10.30am Masses today 6/7 December and to the Chapel at St Francis Church before or after the 8.30am Mass today. Please only drop off on designated times for logistics around storage and distribution.
If you know of any families who are experiencing financial difficulty and could benefit from a hamper, please email Theresa.
(confidentiality will be maintained).

Serving Spoons:

Thank you for your donations in November which totalled $2,300. This will allow us to provide 46 families/individuals with a $50 Pak’nSave voucher, allowing them to buy some fresh veggies/fruit or protein for their Christmas dinner.

Love Soup collections:

If you weren’t able to provide a Christmas hamper, perhaps you would like to add some tinned foods or other non-perishable food items to the Love Soup containers in the foyer. These will be included in their Christmas hampers for those in need on the Hibiscus Coast.

CATHNEWS NEW ZEALAND 

Advent Reconciliation North Shore Deanery:

Sun - 7 Dec - Devonport - 7pm
Tues - 9 Dec - Torbay - 7pm
Wed - 10 Dec - Orewa - 7pm
Thurs - 11 Dec - Takapuna - 7pm
Tues - 16 Dec - Northcote - 7pm
Wed - 17 Dec - Glenfield - 7pm
Fri - 19 Dec - Beach Haven - 7pm

Advent – a season to prepare for the coming of Jesus.

Take time to ponder His Word; to love him in the quiet of your heart.
Gospels - 7pm Saturdays and Meditation daily 6.15am through Advent, on Zoom.
Contact Dianna Fouhy, diannaf@cda.org.nz

Scripture Focus this Advent:

You are invited to prepare for Sunday Mass by reading and reflecting on the Scripture you will hear. Marist priest Fr Frank Bird has for several years been helping people make those preparations through his Living the Word project. As the name suggests, Living the Word is an invitation for Catholics and others to allow the Word of God to shape their lives.
You can download the resources at www.livingtheword.org.nz/pray

Congratulations to .....

Melodie Sylvester & Rangi Chapman
who were married in St John’s Church on Saturday 22 November.
May they enjoy a lifetime of love and happiness together.

Meditation at St John’s will end ...

On Thursday 18 December and start on 15 January, and end at St Francis on Monday 22 December and resume on 12 January.

Columban calendars ($15) and daily mass calendars ($4) on sale

In the parish office weekdays and in the foyer at St Francis after 8.30am Mass.
The calendars, Christmas cards and God’s Word 2026 are on sale at Never Ending Books, Shop 3, The Village, Moenui Ave, Orewa.

To help your reflection on the Sunday Gospels

Go to The Center for Liturgy Sunday Web Site
http://liturgy.slu.edu/

Youth group ....

Our last youth group for the year will be on Friday 12 December. Join us for a night of fun, games, food and fellowship. 6.30pm-8pm in St John's Hall. For youth in Years 6-12.
Any enquires email hbcpyouth@gmail.com

Volunteer Sexton needed:

Our thanks to Peter George who has volunteered to be the assistant sexton at St John’s memorial garden.
Peter and his family were involved in building the memorial garden so he has a special connection to this sacred space.
We are now seeking a sexton for the St Francis memorial garden.
We thank Gavin Bell for all the time he has volunteered over the years to this ministry at St John’s, then at St Francis. He feels it is time to pass on the role to another volunteer.
We are seeking a reasonably fit parishioner able to dig and prepare the holes for the ashes, attend the interments and replace the soil and plants afterwards. Interments occur very irregularly so it is not a demanding role. Training provided. Please call Gavin Bell, 027 590 0063 to find out more details or to volunteer.

Eucharistic Adoration:

Will end at St John’s on Wednesday 10 December and resume on Tuesday 3 February. At St Francis it will end on Friday 12 December and resume on Friday 6 February.

Bible study group 

The bible study group will be in recess until the new year, date to be advised.

Engaged/Planning a Wedding?

Catholic Diocese of Auckland - Approved Marriage Preparation Course.
Book in for the course 1 year prior to the wedding in NZ and 18 months for overseas weddings.
Register and book here: www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/discipleship/our-courses/
For more information contact:
Gerry at gerrys@cda.org.nz or phone 021 0224 7442.

Catholic Enquiry Centre:

Visit their website to explore Catholicism, find out about our faith, order booklets or to make a donation: 
https:/www.catholicdiscovery.nz/  

GET YOUR NEWSLETTER EMAILED
During the lockdowns our weekly newsletter was still being produced.
Please pass the message on to others that if they would like the newsletter sent to them directly, to visit the parish website www.hbcparish.org.nz and
CLICK HERE

TELEPHONE PRAYER CHAIN
Is anyone sick?
Call upon the church community to pray for you (James5:14).
Please telephone any of the parishioners listed below.
We would love to pray for your intentions in our daily prayers.

Norma McGrath (Coordinator); 424-8460
Maureen Nancarrow; 426 7921
Janet Dimbleby; 427 5850
Raewyn Taylor; 424 1414
Maree Lochead; 428 4648