CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES

Wishing all Christians Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

May the coming of Jesus Christ brings us hope, love and peace always and forever!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Vigil Mass of Christmas - Year B

9:30 pm Christmas Musicals

10:00 Midnight Mass in Multi-Lingual

First Reading

ISAIAH 62:1-5

Assurance of Zion's Salvation

For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns.  The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory.  You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD will name.  You shall also be a crown of glory in the hands of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hands of your God.  You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land anymore be tyermed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah and your land Beulah; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married.  For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

"The Word of the Lord"

PSALMS 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29

Remembering the Covenant with David, and Sorrow for Lost Blessings

Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.In your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted.For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favour our horn is exalted.

Also I will make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

His seed also I will make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

Second Reading

ACTS 13:16-17, 22-25

Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:  "The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it.

And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.  From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior - JESUS - "after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel."  And as John was finishing his course, he said, "Who do you think I am?  I am not He.  But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose."

"The Word of the Lord"

Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 1:1-25

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. 

Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.  And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.  Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.

And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.  So all the geneerations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until Christ are fourteen generations.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:  After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."  "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."  So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to himhis wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn.  And he called His name JESUS.

"The Gospel of the Lord"

CHRISTMAS D

December 25, 2011 - Year Bunday, December 25, 2011

10:00 am Christmas Day Mass Multi-Lingual

First Reading

ISAIAH 52:7-10

God Redeems Jerusalem

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"  Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, with their voices they shall sing together; for they shall see yee to eye when the LORD brings back Zion.  Break forth into joy, sing together, You waste places of Jerusalem!  For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has made bar His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

"The Word of the Lord"

PSALMS 98:1-6

A Song of Praise to the LORD for His Salvation and Judgment

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!  For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.

The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. 
He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.

Sing to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, with trumpets and the sound of a horn; shout joyfully before the LORD, the King.

Second Reading

HEBREWS 1:1-6

God's Supreme Revelation

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.  For to which of the angels did He ever say:  "You are my Son, today I have begotten You"?  And again: "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son"?  But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him."

"The Word of the Lord"

Gospel Reading

JOHN 1:1-18

The Eternal Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and thw world did not know Him.  He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, "He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me."  And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  No one has seen God at any time.  The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

"The Gospel of the Lord"

St. Joseph Church New:

* Catechism class holidays started on 19-11-2011 and resume on 07-01-2012.

* If you would like to receive the parish bulletin by email, please write to

   stjoseph@ymail.com also state your name, contact number, resident address and  

   email address.

Yearly Event: Renewal of Marital Vows For all married couples: Date: 31-12-2011 Saturday Time: 6:00 pm during the Mass, after delivery of the Homily. Venue: All the Churches. For further details, please refer to the notice board. A letter from Bishop Paul Tan.

Training Programme in Counseling Skills 2012

The MJCM is having a Training Programme in Counseling Skills 2012, it is a 2 years programme commencing April 2012 to March 2014. For details of this program please refer to the poster at the parish bulletin board. For further inquiries please call Martine Lai (016-2197040) or Fr. Norris (010-8984353)

Christmas Open House

Date: 25^th Dec.2011

Time: 11.00 am – 12.30 pm
Christmas Musical Repertoire.

1.00 pm Lunch

Venue: Majodi Centre.

All are welcome!!

RELATIONSHIP SKILLS
Petrina Lazaroo (MA in Counselling) is giving a one-day session entitled “RELATIONSHIP SKILLS”

Date: Jan 15, 2012 (one-day session )

Venue: Good Shepherd Seminary, Melaka.

For details please refer to the poster. The registration forms are available at the church office. For further inquiries, please call Mr. Francis Soh (07-3861625), Ms. Angeline carol (0127881515) or Fr. Norris Seenivasan (010-8984353).

Retreats at Maranatha Retreat House, Janda Baik

Date: 12th – 15th Jan. 2012 (3 nights)

Co-heirs with Christ. Joyous discipleship is based entirely on the ‘wondrous exchange’ effected daily at the Holy Eucharist. All of this is the context of membership in the Body of Christ and in our mission of service to humanity.

Retreat Master : Dr. (Fr.) Fiorello Mascarenhas S.J.

Register with Margaret 017-6686429 (SMS during the day).
For more information, please check out our website: www.maranatharetreathouse.com

Introduction to Spirituality Course by:

Rev. Fr. Dr. Norris Seenivasan, S.J.

Date: January and February of 2012.

(The course involves weekly lectures on Thursdays)

Time: 8pm- 9.30pm            

Venue: Majodi Centre.

For further inquiries please call Mr. Francis Soh at 07-3861625.

The registration forms are available in the church office. Please register as soon as possible as the course is limited to 30 participants.

Marriage Banns

There is a promise of Marriage between:

Manjeev Singh A/LJ ugar Singh &  Sandy Geraldine Maman

on 26th December, 2011 @ 11.00 am (Monday)

Michael Ng Tee Kiang & Veronica Quek Siew Hoon 

on 31st December, 2011 @ 11:00 am (Saturday)

If there is any impediment to these marriages, all Catholics are

bound in duty to inform the Parish Priest (Canon 1069).