Mass at Villa Maria, Wantirna

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
on Saturday, 17th December, 2005, at 11.00am

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am delighted to be here with Father Noel Mackay and each of you as we prepare for Jesus’ coming at Christmas

Especially we remember those who live here, whether as residents, or come here as staff and carers, and we remember also your families whom you love.  In this Mass we bring your petitions to Jesus, who loves and understands us, for whose coming we wait again at Christmas.

Let us call to mind our sins, that we may be guided by faith and hope.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We have just read the story of the people who were preparing for the coming of Jesus.  Their Jewish names are unfamiliar to us, but the striking fact is that the world waited for Jesus to come to restore the imbalance lost by sin.  Jesus lived and died and rose again and through baptism offers us forgiveness of sins and new life and hope.  As we prepare for Christmas we remember that Jesus is our wisdom, guiding us, teaching us to walk in his ways.

In the free time that you have here you can make this a real place of prayer and love and waiting for Jesus.  Your own prayers, so generously said in this Chapel and in your rooms, your patience and thankfulness to those who are here as carers are all part of the great dawning of Jesus’ love and life for the world.

We do wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  He will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours and make them copies of his glorious body, as Saint Paul says.

May this Christmas Mass give you new hope that in Jesus there is life and hope.  Despite our sufferings and burdens, Jesus will never desert us.  His love and compassion will strengthen us.  His future call to be with him forever is our hope and our goal, where we will once again see those we love who have gone before us.  Jesus is our all, our Saviour, our way, truth and life.  May he be there for us, for those we love and for those who need our prayers.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.