The Christmas Gatherings in Sacred Heart Parish Westmead

The spirit of joy, thanksgiving, and festivity inherent in the Christmas season pervaded Sacred Heart Parish Westmead last December 2009.  Pastors and parishioners gathered on certain days to pray and celebrate together.

On December 13, Fr. Dado, parish priest, tendered a thanksgiving dinner for the parishioners.  Usually, it’s the parishioners who take charge of refreshments and meals for parish gatherings.  But roles reversed on Dec. 13.  It was the parish priest who provided the edible fare as a gesture of deep appreciation and gratitude to all the parishioners, particularly those involved in parish ministries.  Integrated into the occasion was a special moment of offering birthday greetings and a birthday cake to Fr. Giulio, whose birthday is on December 10.

Three days later the “Misa de Gallo” began.  Fr. Mike, who assists Fr. Dado in the parish, said that in its fifth year, the nine Masses held at 5:00 in the morning seemed to have drawn greater attendance.  They noted that the parish church which can seat around 200 was almost filled to capacity.  The six Camillians in the Australian Delegation took turns in presiding at the Masses.  While one of them presided, the rest served as the “Camillian Choir” with Fr. Nilo as guitarist.  After the last Mass on the 24th, the congregation joyfully shared a hearty “bring-a-plate” breakfast.

A first of its kind happened after the Sunday Vigil Mass on December 19.  Instead of the usual “Carols by Candlelight” event, the parish held an evening of multi-cultural Christmas Carols, which was organized by the newly formed Socials Committee of the Parish Council.  Fr. Mike explained that the event reflected how the “parish is a microcosm of multi-cultural Australia, which though diverse is still one.”  The parishioners grouped according to their nationalities sang their traditional Christmas carols.  Thus, the diversity of Hindi, Sri-lankan, Filipino, Japanese, Peruvian, Italian, Maltese, and Zimbabwean songs delighted the listeners and increased their appreciation for one another’s culture.  The program finale was the presentation of Fr. Dado, Fr. Jojo, Fr. Nilo and Fr. Mike, which perhaps gave the parish a glimpse of “Camillian Culture.”  The lights were dimmed as the quartet sang Filipino carols and waved glow candles, some of which were distributed to the audience.

On the 21st the staff Christmas party was held.  All the personnel working in the presbytery and in the Camillian community house gathered for Mass and dinner at the community house in Wentworthville. 

Finally on the 24th, the parish celebrated the Nativity Mass which was highlighted by the dramatization of the Gospel by the children.  At the end of the liturgical service, the people broke into a joyous exchange of greetings in celebration of another Christmas that brings the timeless message of God’s infinite love incarnated in the Infant Jesus. 

(The Camillian Update thanks Fr. Mike Gimena who graciously provided the information for this news item.)