BISHOP’S ADVENT NOVENA
The nine days before Christmas are marked in our liturgy with special prayers imploring Christ to come among us. Each day addresses him with a different title, drawn from the prophets. We begin with “O Wisdom” and conclude with “O Emmanuel.” The prayers of these days express more strongly the Advent attitude of thanksgiving combined with expectation. The Son of God has already come among us in the flesh; we wait for him to come again in glory.
The Bishop will observe the novena this year by offering Mass each day at various times in the churches of the Cathedral parish.
To join in at least one of these celebrations would be a good way, in the midst of the world’s distractions, to focus on what we are really preparing to celebrate at Christmas.
Fri 19th – 6.00pm – St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Church, Wattle Flat
Sat 20th – 6.00pm – St Joseph’s Chapel, Perthville
Sun 21st – 6.00pm – Assumption Church, Bathurst
Mon 22nd – 10.00am – St Catherine’s Nursing Home, Bathurst
Tue 23rd – 6.30pm – St Dympna’s Church, Burraga
Wed 24th – Midnight – Cathedral of St Michael and St John, Bathurst
Thurs 25th – 10.00am – Cathedral of St Michael and St John, Bathurst
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES IN THE DIOCESE
Bathurst / Perthville / Wattle Flat:
- Christmas Eve: 6:00 pm at the Cathedral and Assumption,
8:00 pm at Perthville, 8:30 pm at the Cathedral,
and Midnight at the Cathedral (Carols from 11.30pm). - Christmas Day: 8:00 am at Assumption,
10:00 am at the Cathedral,
and 10:00 am at Wattle Flat.
Blayney / Carcoar / Mandurama / Millthorpe:
- Christmas Eve: 6:00 pm at Blayney, 7:00 pm at Mandurama, and 7:30 pm at Carcoar.
- Christmas Day: 7:30 am at Millthorpe, and 9:00 am at Blayney.
Coonabarabran / Baradine:
- December 24: 6:00 pm at Baradine, and 9:00 pm at St Lawrence’s, Coonabarabran.
- December 25: 9:30 am at St Lawrence’s Parish, Coonabarabran.
Cowra / Eugowra / Canowindra:
Christmas Eve: 6:00 pm at Eugowra (St John the Baptist Church),
6:00 pm at Cowra (St Raphael’s Church),
and 8:00 pm at Canowindra (St Edward’s Church).
Christmas Day: 9:00 am at Cowra (St Raphael’s Church), and 9:00 am at Canowindra (St Edward’s Church).
Dubbo:
Christmas Eve: 6:00 pm Family Mass at St Brigid’s Church, and 8:00 pm Vigil Mass at St Brigid’s Church.
Christmas Day: 7:30 am Mass at St Laurence’s Church,
9:00 am Mass at St Brigid’s Church,
and 6:00 pm Mass at St Brigid’s Church.
Dunedoo / Coolah / Elong Elong / Mendooran:
Christmas Eve: 6:00 pm at St Michael’s Dunedoo, and 8:00 pm at Sacred Heart Coolah.
Christmas Day: 8:00 am at St Teresa Elong Elong, and 10:00 am at St Mary’s Mendooran.
Gilgandra / Coonamble / Tooraweenah:
Christmas Eve: 6:00 pm at Gilgandra, 6:00 pm at Coonamble, and 6:00 pm at Tooraweenah.
Christmas Day: 9:00 am at Gilgandra.
Lithgow:
Simbang Gabi (Filipino tradition): 5:00 am at St Patrick’s Church, Lithgow, from December 16 to 24.
Christmas Eve: 12:30 pm Children’s Mass at St Patrick’s Lithgow,
6:00 pm Christmas Vigil at St Patrick’s Lithgow
and 10:00 pm Christmas Mass at St Patrick’s Lithgow.
Christmas Day: 10:00 am Christmas Mass at St Patrick’s Lithgow.
Mudgee / Kandos / Gulgong:
Mudgee Christmas Eve: 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm.
Mudgee Christmas Day: 7:30 am and 9:00 am.
Kandos Christmas Eve: 5:00 pm Carols and 6:00 pm Mass.
Gulgong Christmas Day: 9:30 am.
Oberon / Black Springs:
Christmas Eve: 5:30 pm at Black Springs, and 7:30 pm at Oberon.
Christmas Day: 9:00 am at Oberon.
Orange / Molong:
Christmas Eve: 6:00 pm Mercy Hall (James Sheahan Catholic High School), 8:00pm St Mary’s, 10:00pm St Joseph’s – Orange
Christmas Day: 8:30 am St Joseph’s, 10:00am St Mary’s – Orange
Orange District
Christmas Eve:
6:00 pm St Michael’s Manildra
7.30 pm St James’ Anglican Church Cudal
7.30 pm Cargo Community Centre
Christmas Day:
8:00 am St Brendan’s Mullion Creek
10:00 am St Lawrence O’Toole’s Molong
Portland / Wallerawang:
Christmas Eve: 8:00 pm Christmas Mass at St Vincent’s Portland
Christmas Day: 8:00 am Christmas Mass at Sacred Heart Wallerawang
Wellington / Stuart Town / Yeoval:
Christmas Eve: 5:00 pm at Stuart Town, and 7:00 pm at Wellington.
Christmas Day: 8:00 am at Yeoval, and 10:00 am at Wellington.