Sunday 20th December 2020
PARISH NEWS
ST THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC CHURCH, BATEMAN COLUMBARIUM PROJECT
Investing in our Community
St Thomas More Catholic Church (STMCC) columbarium project was initiated in response to a rising interest for a parish columbarium within the church grounds. Following parish community consultation, the Project Committee developed a columbarium brief and submitted to the Archdiocese for consideration. The columbarium project was approved by the Archdiocese in October 2020.
The features of the columbarium will blend into the current church design but have its own uniqueness. It is aimed at creating a peaceful and sacred environment for the internment of ashes of parishioners following cremation. It is intended especially for those who love and have an affinity with STMCC, which they wish to continue after death.
The Project Committee has previously met with two potential architects to evaluate their experience and capability of listening and working with a diverse parish community. A suitable architect with landscaping capability has been appointed and the design work has now commenced. It is anticipated that the preliminary concepts will be presented to the Parish community in the New Year.
A small Columbarium Management Committee will be formed to undertake the ongoing administration and management of the parish columbarium.
Contact registers will be mandatory from 5 December 2020
The Premier recently announced that mandatory contact registers, which was introduced on Saturday 5 December 2020, for specified venues such as places of worship. Maintaining a contact register is an extra safety measure and one of the most effective ways to control the spread of COVID-19.
Therefore, as from Saturday 5 December 2020, our parish church needs to record the location, date, name, and telephone number of parishioners and volunteers in various ministries at St Thomas More Catholic Church, Bateman Parish.
The State Government has released a free app – SafeWA – which provides our church with a unique QR code for parishioners to scan to register their attendance. The app securely saves the encrypted data for access only by Department of Health contact tracing personnel if needed. Churches and venues may also use alternative formats for registration, including other electronic or paper-based systems depending on what is suitable for the church, venue or individual.
ADVENT 2nd RITE OF RECONCILIATION SERVICE
The following parishes advised their Advent services:
- Canning Vale Parish: Tuesday 22nd – 7.00pm
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS EVE NATIVITY
Christmas is fast approaching and the Christmas Committee have commenced organising the Children’s Christmas Eve Outdoor Mass. So we are now encouraging all Primary aged children, who would like to participate in the Nativity to register at the Church foyer.
We request that the children be available for both rehearsals to be included in the Mass.
The Children’s Christmas Eve Outdoor Mass will be held on Thursday, 24th December at 6:30pm.
The practices for the nativity will be on: Saturday, 19 December at 2:00pm &
Wednesday, 23 December at 4:00pm
To register your interest, please use the sign-up sheet in the church foyer or contact Brenella on 0418877791.
Specific help in the following areas is also required – Please contact Brenella directly in these instances.
- 2 older primary aged students to assist as readers
- Any parent that wish to assist will be gladly appreciated. Thank you.
We need your help
Dear Parishioners, Christmas is a time for giving, and this year we need the gift of your time.
To make the Christmas Eve special (and last year the support we received was wonderful), we need the following helpers:
To help set up at 9.30am on Thursday 24th December 2020:
20 Helpers to put the chairs out
To help out before Mass:
20 Greeters/COVID Marshals
To help out during Mass:
3 Altar Servers
20 Collectors
24 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
To help out after Mass:
10 people to assist with the basket gifts
To register your assistance, please put your name down on the list at the back of the church or email Juliana at: bateman@perthcatholic.org.au
Security for your cars during Christmas Masses
We ask you to be aware and not to leave valuable items in your car when you come to church, especially for the Christmas Eve Outdoor Mass and all other Christmas Masses. We encourage you to carpool, or leave your car at home and walk to church if possible. For your peace of mind, the Parish will also arrange for the local Police and Melville City Council Security to patrol around the church complex during the busy services. Thank you for your attention and cooperation.
CATECHIST NEEDED FOR RE PROGRAM –
ST THOMAS MORE PARISH, BATEMAN
Our parish urgently requires Catechists for our after school Religious Education program.
It is a wonderful opportunity to share your faith and talents with the young people of our Parish. The program runs for the first 3 terms of each year on Wednesday afternoons from 4.00pm to 5.00pm. For more information, please contact Judy on 9310 1747 or email: catechist.bateman@perthcatholic.org.au.
(Tuesday at 8.30am – 4.30pm or Wednesday 10.00am – 5.30pm)
Sacramental dates for 2021: St Thomas More, Bateman
First Eucharist: 12th /13th June 2021
Confirmation: 11th/12th September 2021
Reconciliation: 23rd October 2021
ENROLMENT DAY: Wed 27th Jan 2021 4pm – 5pm (Church hall)
All children (from pre-school age on) who attend Government schools are warmly welcomed to attend the Religious Education after school program which commences on February 03rd, 2021 Special arrangements can be made for High School children (high school class commences 28th April 2021) and Catholic School children who may not have celebrated their age relevant Sacrament.
Please note that Confirmation is a 2 year program.
We wish all our Parishioners, A Very Holy and Blessed Christmas 2020. Please drive safely and keep safe. |
Enquiries: Mrs Judy Machado on 93101747 (Tues /Wed) or email catechist.bateman@perthcatholic.org.au
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES
Christmas Eve – Thursday 24th December 2020
Christmas Day – Friday 25th December 2020
Please note: there is no Mass at 5.30pm on Christmas Day
Boxing Day – Saturday 26th December 2020
Thursday – 31st December 2020 (New Year’s Eve) – 9.00am Mass New Year’s Day – Friday 1st January 2021
Due to government restrictions in our Church, we encourage parishioners to attend the Outdoor Mass at 6.30pm on Christmas Eve. Please bring portable chairs, and picnic rugs. |
YOUTH NOTICES
BATEMAN TEENS GROUP
The Bateman teens group will be back on the start of Term 1 of 2021. We thank all the parents, guardians, youth leaders and teens for the constant support and dedication towards the youth group. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
If you have any questions or are interested in your teens attending Youth Group, please do not hesitate to contact St. Thomas More Parish Youth Coordinators on youth@bateman.perthcatholic.org.au
DIOCESAN NEWS
THANK YOU MESSAGE AND CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS FROM CATHOLIC MISSION
All of us at the Perth Catholic Mission Office wish you a Holy Christmas and offer our gratitude for your prayers and generosity towards those in need despite the current economic challenges and worries about friends and family in Australia and overseas. Your Mission donations strengthen God’s loving presence amidst the on-going global pandemic. At Christmas, we are reminded that this presence came in the form of a helpless infant born of refugee parents into the poverty of a manger – a scene of life, hope and peace replicated in poor communities in the developing world where our missionaries work. Please remember them and those they serve in your Christmas prayers.
NORMA WOODCOCK
Weekly Reflections and Prayers with Norma Woodcock
Weekly Reflections—Sunday Readings with Norma Woodcock
https://normawoodcock.com/sundayreading
Weekly Prayers—Prayers & Teachings with Norma Woodcock
https://normawoodcock.com/youtube
[approx. 4-6 mins each—Cost—Free of charge]
Google—Norma Woodcock YouTube Channel
The Centre for Catholic Spiritual Development and Prayer
Phone: (08) 9487 1772
PO Box 696, Applecross, WA, 6153
Email: norma@normawoodcock.com
Director: Norma Woodcock
Website: www.normawoodcock.com Sunday Readings with Norma Woodcock
Prayers & Teachings with Norma Woodcock
Purchase Norma’s CDs on iTunes or Norma’s Website