First Sunday of Advent - Year B
5:30 pm Novena to Our Lady
6:00 pm Mass in English
First Reading:
ISAIAH 63:16-17; 19 64:2-7
A Prayer of Penitence
Doubtless you are Our Father, though Abraham was ignorant of us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your Name. O LORD, why have You made us stray from Your ways, and hardened our heart from Your fear? Return for Your servants' sake, the tribes of Your inheritance. We have become like those of old, over whom You never ruled, those who were never called by Your name.
As fire burns brushwood, As fire causes water to boil - To make Your name known to Your adversaries, That the nations may tremble at Your presence!
When You did awesome things for which we did not look, You came down, The mountains shook at Your presence.
For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned - In these ways we continue; And we need to be saved.
But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities.
"The Word of the Lord"
Second Reading
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Grace to you and peace fromGod our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Jesus Christ, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that yu may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
"The Word of the Lord"
Gospel Reading
MARK 13:33-37
Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming - in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning - lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!
"The Gospel of the Lord"
St. Joseph Church News:
· Catechism class holidays started on 19th Nov 2011 and resume on 7th Jan 2012.
· 26th Nov. Sunset Mass starts the new liturgical year with Sunday Readings Cycle
B and Weekday Reading Year II.
· If you would like to received the parish bulletin by e-mail . Please write to
stjoseph@ymail.com your: Name, contact number, resident address and
e-mail address.
2011 December Penitential Services
7.30 pm: Examination of Conscience/Spiritual Preparation
8.00 pm: Sacrament of Reconciliation
13th Dec, Tuesday - Immaculate Conception, JB and Skudai Catholic Centre
14th Dec, Wednesday - Sacred Heart Cathedral, JB
15th Dec, Thursday - St. Joseph, Plentong and St. Theresa, Masai
16th Dec, Friday - Christ the King, Kulai
19th Dec, Monday - Holy Family, Ulu Tiram and St. Elizabeth, Kota Tinggi
Introduction to Spiritual Course by:
Rev. Fr. Dr. Norris Seenivasan, S.J.
Date: January and February, 2012
The course involves weekly lectures on Thursdays.
Time: 8.00 pm to 9.30 pm
Venue: Majodi Centre
For further inquiries, please call Mr. Francis Soh at 07-3861625
The registration forms are available at the church office.
Please register as soon as possible as the course is limited to 30 participants.
Introduction to Spiritual Course by:
Rev. Fr. Dr. Norris Seenivasan, S.J.
Date: January and February, 2012
The course involves weekly lectures on Thursdays.
Time: 8.00 pm to 9.30 pm
Venue: Majodi Centre
For further inquiries, please call Mr. Francis Soh at 07-3861625
The registration forms are available at the church office.
Please register as soon as possible as the course is limited to 30 participants.
RESTORING THE VISION OF OUR SPIRITUAL HERITAGE
Come celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Opening of Vatican II Council with an 11
day FORMATION Pilgrimage to Italy. Daily Mass and Formation provided.
Extension available to Portugal, Spain & France.
Travel date: 23 April to 3 May 2012
Deadline of Registration: 30 Nov 2011 with deposits. Itinerary and Booking Form can be obtained at the Church main entrance or call John @ 012-7040948
A Pilgrimage cum Formation
Portugal, Spain & France
Date: 2nd May to 13 May 2012
Please call John @ 012-7040948 for further information.
World AIDS Day – 1st December 2011
Theme: “Getting to Zero” - Zero New HIV Infections
- Zero Discrimination and - Zero Aids Related Deaths
Malaysian Statistics:
2010 – 98,000 persons infected with HIV/AIDS
2011 – 95,000 persons infected with HIV/AIDS
In Johor Bahru alone we have:
14,000 HIV/AIDS (2010) reported cases
15,301 HIV/AIDS (Jan-Sept 2011) reported cases
For your reflection: What thoughts arise as you read these statistics?
and response: Would you like to be more pro-active in bringing about
HIV/AIDS awareness?
Marriage Banns
There is a promise of Marriage between:
Michael Ng Tee Kiang & Veronica Quek Siew Hoon
on 31st December, 2011 @ 11 am
The Melaka-Johor Counselling Ministry now has two hotlines. To arrange for initial
appointment with a counsellor or request for further information, please call 016-
7099465 (Melaka) or 010-7135894 (Johor). If calls are unanswered, please SMS
message to the hotlines.