Feast of the Holy Family
This feast always occurs on the Sunday after Christmas. The Holy Family like most families, had it's trials and joys. As Catholics, we can look to the Holy Family as a role model. They have qualities that make a family unit work. They also tell us that you don't need to be perfect to be a family. Joseph and Mary had faith in each other and love to build the family. As we see in todays readings, for a family to work, there needs to be a few main characteristics. Love is of course the most important one. Love is the glue that keeps families together. The love between a husband and wife is so important.. Love embraces trust and safety. A family without love is not going to be happy. Children should respect their parents. Mutual respect makes relationships comfortable and easier in the long run. Showing respect and love takes knowledge and experience. Children learn these in families by making mistakes along the way. It's a growing process that even Jesus had to through.
A Prayer for the Family
O God,
bless our family
and all its members and friends;
bind us together by your love.
Give us kindness and patience
to support each other;
and wisdom in all we do.
Let the gift of your peace
come into our hearts
and remain with us.
May we rejoice in your blessings
for all our days.
Amen.
Thank You
As 2009 draws to a close we The Parish Assembly and the Priests of the Parish take this opportunity to thank you for you help and support. Every parish is a kind of family – an extended family. Together united in faith, hope and love, groups of followers of Jesus Christ gather in mutual support to live a Christian life. Together we worship God, especially at Mass; together we share our faith with others. Such it is, or should be, in every parish.
We thank God that in our Parish of Christ the King there are so many families and individuals who live the faith they profess. There are many people whose special contribution to parish life is essential and immense. Through their often unnoticed work, the Parish runs smoothly and parish life is enriched. Today we offer our special thanks to these – Those who care for the Church and clean it every week, look after the flowers and altar linens, Ministers of Word and Eucharist, the Choir, Altar Servers, Church Collectors, Sacristan, Parish Dues Collectors, those who care for the sick and elderly. St Vincent de Paul Society, St. Josephs Young Priests Society. Legion of Mary, The Parish Baptismal Teams and Bereavement Group. We thank those who put up the Crib, Easter and Remembrance Gardens and decorated the sanctuary so beautifully. We thank you for your generosity in the offertory collection each week for the upkeep of the Church and payment of staff. Our thanks to the Pariah Finance Committee. Our Child Protection Representative. We the members of the Parish Assembly work on behalf of the entire faith community and ask your continued support. May the Holy Spirit guide us in the year ahead. We wish you a very happy and peaceful New Year.
The Parish Assembly, Fr. Kerry & Fr. Charlie.
A New Beginnings
As the New Year starts and the old year ends,
There's no better time to make amends
for all the things we sincerely regret
and wish in our hearts we could somehow forget.
We all make mistakes and it's human to err,
but no one need ever give up in despair,
for God gives us all a brand new beginning,
a chance to start over and repent of our sinning.
We thank the people of our Parish who contributed so
generously to the following causes during 2009:
Trocaire Lenten Campaign 12,662
Lourdes Fund 2.014
Episcopal Commission 1,349
Holy Places 1,235
Pastoral Planning 1,489
Popes Collection 2,133
Education Fund 2,053
Mission Sunday. 3,310
Marriage Care : 1,254
Flood Relief Appeal 1,900