From the APRIM

Dear Families

First Holy Communion

Hooray, at last! We finally celebrated 26 young people receiving Jesus for the first time at three Masses last weekend. The Sacrament Team and families were thanked at the conclusion of the Masses but we would also like to thank Connie and John Giles, Lesley Souter and Mark Black who assisted at the Masses with COVID marshalling and photography.

We were so blessed to be able to complete the program when many parishes in our own archdiocese and around the world have been unable to.

Mass Attendance

For the foreseeable future, people will need to book to attend Mass (both the Saturday 6pm and Sunday 9am Masses.) Online bookings open on the preceding Tuesday at noon. You can book for Mass by clicking or copying and pasting this link into your browser:

https://www.nativityparish.com.au/sunday-readings

Those without online access may ring the parish office from the preceding Tuesday on 82702158. All phone and online bookings close on the preceding Fridays at noon.

The Parish is required by law to provide a QR code check in for Mass. We strongly encourage people who have a compatible smartphone to download the free mySA gov app from the Apple App store or Google Play store, before you come to Church. This will allow you to use a smartphone to scan our QR code as a check-in for Mass. If you have not yet used this app you have to register your name and phone number when you arrive, just on first use, so we suggest you get to church 15 minutes before the start of Mass. We will still have our current manual registration system alongside the new QR code. You can also find more information about the reason for QR check-ins and SA Govt requirements: https://my.sa.gov.au/

Please note despite the new use of QR codes you MUST still book beforehand for Mass.

The parish is encouraging people to wear masks before entering and as they exit the church.

Christmas Masses

These will be held at 5.30pm, 7.30pm and 10pm on Christmas Eve and 9am on Christmas Day. The parish is hoping to be able to increase the numbers at the 5.30pm Mass with the installation of speakers outside of the church. Online bookings and bookings via the office will be available from Tuesday 15 December. For those people without internet access, you can book in person after the weekend Masses starting from 12 December. Regardless of which method is used, booking is essential.

Farewells

Thank you to all staff and students who are leaving this year, for sharing your gifts with our community. You will always be a part of Nativity:

May you lift up those around you.
May your voices speak of peace and justice in the world.
May your achievements grow and enrich your communities.
May you be inspired to let your true colours shine from this day forward.
May your integrity be a gift to the world, and may the Spirit of God be with you always.
We ask this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

As our year of ‘unprecendented times’ draws to a close, may I wish you all a happy Christmas and a safe and joyous New Year. May you have the opportunity to hug your loved ones up close and tightly.

Blessings

Sharyn Black
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission