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Weekly letter from Fr Martin and Fr Peter
Friday, 29th November, 2020 Dear parishioners and friends, This morning we heard the great news that there have now been 28 days without a new case of Covid-19 being detected in Victoria: a milestone which most experts seem happy to call “elimination”. It is a great way to start a new Church year, this Sunday being the First Sunday of Advent. Nevertheless, significant restrictions remain, so while we are delighted to welcome everyone back to church, we have to ask you to assist us with keeping the rules. The next easing of restrictions will be announced on 6th December, so we are holding off decisions about Christmas Masses until we know exactly what the rules will be. We still must record contact details (at least first name and a phone number) for everyone attending Mass, and we are using Trybooking as the normal way to book a place. Please go to https://www.trybooking.com/BMUJF – there is a link on our parish home page – and follow the instructions. Bookings will open on Saturday morning for the Monday – Sunday following. If you do not have internet access, you can still book a place by telephoning the parish office between 9am and 10am Mon. – Fri. (Phone: 9912 6870, Extn. 3). Although the cap on church attendance has been raised to 150, the social distancing rules mean that we can only fit 80 in the nave. This applies to wedding and funerals, too. Mass is currently celebrated Monday to Friday at 7.00 am, 12 noon and 6.15pm, and on Saturday morning at 7.30, and Sunday Mass is celebrated on Saturday evening at 6.00pm and Sunday at 8am, 11am and 6pm. (Note that on Wednesdays the 6.15pm Mass is celebrated in the traditional rite in Latin.) There will be no 6.15pm Mass on 9, 10, 11 and 17 December, because the Sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred on those evenings. The 11am Mass on Sunday is live-streamed: http://fb.me/StDoms816 The existing restrictions (social distancing, masks, cleaning afterwards etc.) continue, and as explained last week, congregational singing is not permitted inside the church. We will have a cantor providing music at most of the Sunday Masses, but they will be singing solo. As numbers increase, we are also looking for volunteers to help with cleaning the pews after each Mass. If we get four or five per Mass, it should not take long: please contact Manuela, or add your name to a list at the door, if you can help. For the moment, the arrangement for confessions remains the same as it has been: come at any reasonable hour (say 9am – 5pm, avoiding lunch hour if possible) and ring the priory doorbell. A priest will be available. Updated information will be posted on our website, http://www.stdominics.org.au; you are welcome to call the office or email secretary@stdominics.org.au if you have any questions. We look forward to welcoming you all back to St Dominic’s! St Vincent de Paul Society Appeal Next Sunday the St Vincent de Paul Society will hold its traditional Christmas Appeal. You can donate in several ways. The main way is by using the on-line format: https://donate.vinnies.org.au/christmas-appeal. Please include “East Camberwell” Conference in the Comments/ Conference name field, so that your funds are allocated to our conference at St Dominic’s. Otherwise they will go to the general fund of Vinnies. Parishioners can also call the Vinnies donation line on 131812. Again, please ask that your donation be directed to the East Camberwell conference #402. The traditional envelopes will also be available in the church this Christmas, and so envelopes will be another option for parishioners attending mass. This year SVdP will not be able to physically distribute Christmas gifts, and instead we intend to distribute Christmas gift cards instead. For more details, see the full notice below. Some Catholic Trivia On a light note, the Collect or “Opening Prayer” of the Mass this week begins with the words “Stir up, O Lord …” It has been used in this last week of the year for centuries, and in England the custom grew up of using these words as a reminder to make the Christmas pudding this week! Everyone in the household was encouraged to give the pudding a good stir… while remembering that at Mass we prayed for the Lord to stir up our wills to cooperate with his grace. So if you haven’t done so already … it’s time to get stirring! Here are the liturgical feasts this week. Even if you cannot come to Mass, your prayer may be enriched by taking into account the celebration proper to each day. Sun 29th First Sunday of Advent, the start of the liturgical year. Mon 30th St Andrew, apostle. Thu 3rd St Francis Xavier God bless you all, Fr Peter Nguyen, O.P. Parish Priest Fr Martin Wallace, O.P. Assistant Priest SVDP CHRISTMAS APPEAL
On Sunday 6th December the St Vincent de Paul Society will hold its traditional Christmas Appeal to support poor families and individuals who request assistance. The St Dominic’s conference of SVdP is active in supporting the poor of the parish and the local area, and also a much larger number of people in the public housing areas of central South Melbourne.
The appeal will be held in a number of ways. The main way is by using the on-line format where parishioners can donate through https://donate.vinnies.org.au/christmas-appeal. When a donation is made via this web address, there is a section at the bottom of the page entitled: Comments/Conference name. Please include “East Camberwell” Conference in this section so that your funds are allocated to our conference at St Dominic’s. This will allow your donation to be allocated to our account, and from there it can be allocated directly to families that we assist. Otherwise it will go to the general fund of Vinnies. Parishioners can also call the Vinnies donation telephone number 131812. If you ring, then please ask that your donation be directed to the East Camberwell conference #402. The traditional SVdP envelopes will also be available in the church this Christmas, and so envelopes will be another option for parishioners attending Mass. Many parishioners like to donate Christmas gifts to the parish. This year SVdP will not be able to physically distribute Christmas gifts, and instead we intend to distribute Christmas gift cards through the mail or by other arrangements. Parishioners can either provide corporate gift cards to the parish mailbox, or make a donation for the purchase of gift cards through the on-line or telephone means above. After such a trying year your support will be greatly appreciated by the families we assist. |
ONLINE MASS BOOKING
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If you are unable to attend please come back into the booking system
and cancel your booking so others may attend.
If you have any difficulty with bookings or returns please email secretary@stdominics.org.au or call the office 9912 6870 ext.3.
It is important that you be in the Church at least 10 minutes before Mass
to enable sufficient time for signing you in
and finding a seat in the Church. Please don't forget your mask.
Do not come to Mass if you are sick.
and cancel your booking so others may attend.
If you have any difficulty with bookings or returns please email secretary@stdominics.org.au or call the office 9912 6870 ext.3.
It is important that you be in the Church at least 10 minutes before Mass
to enable sufficient time for signing you in
and finding a seat in the Church. Please don't forget your mask.
Do not come to Mass if you are sick.
MASS TIMES from now until 18 December :
Sunday Mass: Sat 6pm, Sun 8am, 11am, 6.00pm
Monday - Friday: 7.00am, 12 noon, 6.15pm*
Saturday morning: 7.30 am
(*Note: 6.15pm Wednesday Mass is a Latin Mass in the old Dominican Rite. Also, there will be no 6.15 Mass on 9, 10, 11 and 17 December, because the Sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred on these days.)
Sunday Mass: Sat 6pm, Sun 8am, 11am, 6.00pm
Monday - Friday: 7.00am, 12 noon, 6.15pm*
Saturday morning: 7.30 am
(*Note: 6.15pm Wednesday Mass is a Latin Mass in the old Dominican Rite. Also, there will be no 6.15 Mass on 9, 10, 11 and 17 December, because the Sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred on these days.)
A word from the Archbishop :
Advent: Great hope, expectation and patient waiting
This Sunday we begin a new liturgical year with the Season of Advent, a time of great hope, expectation and patient waiting. And as Archbishop Peter A Comensoli reflects, 'Haven't we done a lot of waiting in these last several months!' With places of worship opening up again, Archbishop Comensoli encourages us to visit our local parish and take up the opportunities to return to the physical celebration of Mass and the other sacraments. He's also excited to see parishes around the Archdiocese display their special Advent banners as a sign of welcoming Jesus Christ into our hearts this Christmas.
St Catherine of Siena Prayer Group
The St Catherine of Siena Prayer Group meets each Wednesday from 4pm till 5pm in the Church for exposition and adoration of Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Rosary and consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Please come and join us in prayer for the Catholic Church. Bookings are essential.
Please contact Kathryn O’Connor on 9830 5489 or kathryn@oconnortravelworld.com.au no later than midday on Tuesdays.
Please contact Kathryn O’Connor on 9830 5489 or kathryn@oconnortravelworld.com.au no later than midday on Tuesdays.
DIVINE MERCY PRAYERS AT ST DOMINIC'S
The Divine Mercy Prayer group meets on Fridays at 11am before Mass in the church.
The prayers will be offered for the Parish, the Church, families, young people, and the world. Those who wish to participate need to book for the Mass at noon also. Rosary will be said at 11.35 am. All are welcome. Please book online https://www.trybooking.com/BMUJF or call the Parish office to book at 9912 6870 ext. 3.
The prayers will be offered for the Parish, the Church, families, young people, and the world. Those who wish to participate need to book for the Mass at noon also. Rosary will be said at 11.35 am. All are welcome. Please book online https://www.trybooking.com/BMUJF or call the Parish office to book at 9912 6870 ext. 3.
There is a streamed Mass from the church at 11am Sunday. See our liturgies page, or go to https://fb.me/StDoms816
Contact us
816 Riversdale Rd, Camberwell, 3124
Tel: (03) 9912 6870
Email: secretary@stdominics.org.au
Parish Priest: Fr Peter Toan Nguyen, OP
Assistant Priest: Fr Martin Wallace OP
Pastoral Associate: Damiana Alvares
Secretary: Manuela Brambilla
or just fill in the Contact Form (click here.)
816 Riversdale Rd, Camberwell, 3124
Tel: (03) 9912 6870
Email: secretary@stdominics.org.au
Parish Priest: Fr Peter Toan Nguyen, OP
Assistant Priest: Fr Martin Wallace OP
Pastoral Associate: Damiana Alvares
Secretary: Manuela Brambilla
or just fill in the Contact Form (click here.)
Click on the Book of Remembrance above for the names of the deceased of the parish for this month. Please remember them in your prayers.
For other months, click here.
A CHILD-SAFE PARISH
At St Dominic's we hold the care, safety and well-being of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our parish. This commitment is drawn from and inherent to the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the Gospel.
At St Dominic's we hold the care, safety and well-being of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our parish. This commitment is drawn from and inherent to the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the Gospel.