Page 1 Second Sunday of Advent, Year C

Bridgeside Bulletin The weekly Bulletin of the Catholic Parish of Forster Tuncurry

Proclaiming Christ to the communities of Forster, Tuncurry and the surrounding districts

Sunday 13th December, 2015 – Third Sunday of Advent, Year C

Unless otherwise stated, the advertisements placed in the Bridgeside Bulletin are placed by independent third parties who have no legal relationship with the Diocese. The activities or services of the advertisers are not supervised or controlled in any way by the Diocese. The Diocese is not in a position to endorse the advertisers or the services provided and makes no representation about those matters. Accordingly, the Diocese cannot accept any responsibility for the advertisers or the activities or services that are the subject of these advertisements

13 Filipino Christmas Party Forster 1pm

14 Baptismal Preparation Forster 7pm

15 Mass at Barclay Gardens Forster 11am

15 NO Singing Practise This week

16 Pastoral Council Forster 4:30pm

22 Singing Practise Forster 5:30pm

24/25 Christmas See Mass times P2

5 Mass at Beaumont Terrace Tuncurry 11am

6 Mass at Kularoo Gardens Forster 11am

11 Baptismal Preparation Forster 7pm

REFLECTION from Fr Greg… Dear Parish Family,

I was listening to the radio this week – talk back; you know radio is boring when all you can get is talk back! Any way the chatter was around Donald Trump and his candidacy for the White House. May God save us should he be elected as Barack Obama’s replacement and become the President of the United States. The main point currently surrounds comments he made with regard banning Muslims from entering America. I know that some of that will play on the minds of security conscious and nervous Americans particularly in light of recent shootings. And it may play on our minds too. Fear is an amazing emotion that can cause us to react irrationally and without much thought and can cause neighbour to turn on neighbour. It gives us wings for payback and can absolve us both individually and collectively of any ownership of a decline in Human Rights and the freedoms we enjoy. We’ve witnessed it in so many parts of the world already, remember Rwanda and the genocide that occurred there. Good Christian, Catholic people fell ‘foul’ of their fears and prejudices and people they had lived with, worked with, loved, died.

There is a risk to Christian living that we can sometimes overlook or at the very least play down. The risk of Christianity lies in the passages of scripture which talk about giving one’s life for a friend. Jesus reminds us that we are his friends when we do what he commands. He lay his life down on the cross so that we would know freedom, we would know hope, we would know salvation. He did that for all sinners and for all of us regardless of our denomination, creed, ethnic background, orientations. We are called to do the same, as hard sometimes as that is, to overcome our natural fears and need to protect our loved ones.

I often wonder if the heart of what we do is found in the challenge of living out our Gospel values to their fullest and by not taking our way of life and our religious freedoms for granted.

Sometimes we don’t know what we’ve got till it’s gone (they paved paradise and put up a parking lot to coin a phrase and one of my favourite singers!!!) and I do mean till it’s gone. In respecting another we also have to make some call for the conversations to be two way. There is room for each of us to celebrate and worship in the way that we feel we are called. Should we petition Councils to put up Christmas decorations? Absolutely! Should we call on Shopping Centres to allow Nativity scenes in Shop windows? Absolutely! We should politely and politically demand it. And to allow other faiths to celebrate respectively their high times and feast days!

However, in asking others to do our work we should be prepared to do the same. What are the signs in our lives of our Christian faith? What do we do to reflect our home as a Christian home and particularly a Christian home at Christmas time? So lets deck our Halls with Bells of Holy, tinsel, lights, Christmas trees, angels and a crib our homes all the way to Christmas!

Keeping Christ in Christmas Greg

Page 2 Second Sunday of Advent, Year C

Recently Deceased Norma Young

Anniversaries Peter Gapps

Bradley Metcalfe

Sick in the Parish Emily Wroblewicz.

Opening the Year of Mercy Pope Francis and Bishop Bill invite

you to the Opening of the Year of Mercy and the launch of 150 year

celebrations of the diocese today, Sunday 13th December. Liturgy at

4pm, beginning at Victor Peters Suite (near cathedral), food and

entertainment, and the sacrament of penance will be available

'al fresco'. .

Christmas Gardening Party The 17th December will be the last

gardening day for the year. This final event for 2015 will be followed by a tasty BBQ and a few beverages at approximately 10am. Please come along, particularly if you’re interested in considering being involved in the gardening and maintenance next year!

The Friendship Group will meet for Lunch at Club Forster on

Tuesday 15th December, at 12noon

Advent Hymn by Paul Geraghty

Refrain Your friends are waiting for You Lord, Your friends are waiting here We wait with quiet hearts and minds With love and not with fear.

We call to mind your coming Lord, Your coming long ago. You came into the world you made But You it did not know. Refrain

We call to mind your promise Lord, To be with us the same, Whenever two or three or more Are gathered in your name. Refrain

We call to mind your promise Lord To come to us once more But will You come soft as the dew Or with a thunder roar? Refrain

Christmas & Holiday Mass Services Christmas Eve Vigil 6:30pm Holy Name School (24 Dec) Vigil 10pm Tuncurry Christmas Day 7am Tuncurry (25th Dec) 9am Forster Sunday Masses Vigil 6pm Tuncurry (27 Dec to 24 Jan) 7am Tuncurry 9am Forster 11am Forster

The St Vincent de Paul Society has

launched its Christmas Appeal for 2015.

A member of the local conference will

speak at each of the masses this

weekend. We thank you for your support

in the past and hope we can count on

your support this year. Your generosity

can make a real difference for many local

families this Christmas.

Combined Churches Advent Prayer and Worship Evenings

Tuesday 15th December—Baptist

Church, Cnr Carawa & Maneela St,

Forster at 7pm.

COME AND WORSHIP THE NEWBORN KING

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH 2015

This year marks the 30th year in succession that Christmas Day Lunch has been

held in our hall. Each year between 40 and 50 people gather to share a meal and

enjoy each others company. Although the event was originally instigated to cater

to those who would otherwise be spending Christmas Day alone, in past years

many families as well as singles have joined us to celebrate the day together.

There are no costs involved for attendance and everyone is most welcome to join

us. The function is a very informal gathering where everyone plays a part in

preparing and serving the meal and sharing in the family atmosphere of the day.

This year the hall will be opened from 11.00am and lunch will be served at 1pm.

Everyone is welcome to come along and join us. For more information contact

Greg Byrne on 65548045 or 0427 918 568.

Thank you to the generous parishioners & friends who kindly

donated the much needed household furniture. God bless,

Sr Kathryn

Calling all Angels, Shepherds, Kings, Inn Keepers,Mary and Joseph! If you are twelve years or younger and would like to participate in our Christmas Mass at Holy Name School on the 24 December at 6.30pm you are invited to dress for the occasion in Costume. A practice will be held at the school on Wednesday, December 23 at 10am. Mary is a coveted role and if we have more than one Mary a ballot will be held at the practice!

Page 3 Second Sunday of Advent, Year C

Ministers this week…

Ministers next week…

Gospel

Lk 3:10-18 What, then, must we do?

First Reading Micah 5:1-4

Second Reading Hebrews 10:5-10 Gospel Reading

Luke 1:39-44

Scripture Zone…This week

Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring Good News to the poor.

Alleluia!

First Reading

Zephaniah 3:14-18 With gladness the Lord will rejoice over you.

Responsorial Psalm Response: Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. 9am mass: Truly, God is my salvation, I trust, I shall not fear.

Second Reading

Phillippians 4:4-7 The Lord is near.

Next Week…

Text: Excerpts from the English Translation of the Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL); Music: From the Mass of St Francis © 2010, Paul Taylor. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Australian Agent— LicenSing Online Lic No. 624844.

….of the Word …of Communion

6pm A: Kay Hall Kay Hall, Lou Hope, Margaret Smith, Maureen Stevens, Ruth Pearson Tuncurry B: Frank Hayman

7am A: Genevieve Williamson Lorraine Clark, Cushla Drake, Mary Greig, Cecile Malone, Graham Griffiths Tuncurry B: Maria Armitage

9am A: Marion O’Neill Greg Byrne, Maureen Nicholls, Robert Moran, Robyn Ryan, Shioney Neal. Forster B: Elizabeth Sciacca

….of the Word …of Communion

6pm A: Tony Stevens Carolyn Olliffe, Frank Hayman, Kathryn McCabe, Maureen Pye, Michael Siddle. Tuncurry B: Bob Cashman

7am A: Bronwyn Morse Cushla Drake, Fred Liackman Mark Mowbray, Peter Wicks, Mary Greig. Tuncurry B: Edna Tucker

9am A: Peter Nicholls Alan McCarthy, Anne Moloney, Barbara Kermode, Coral McCarthy, Elle Cairns-Cowan. Forster B: Kyla Loring

Wait in joyful hope, a Saviour will come, Jesus Christ the Light of the World;

Wait in joyful hope, a Saviour will come, Welcome to the Word of God!

Advent Chant (after the lighting of the Advent Candle each week )

CHURCH ROSTERS & HOLIDAY SEASON

During the holiday season each year in our

Church we struggle with the welcome influx of

visitors and the shortage of Ministers (Readers/

Min of Communion/Sacristans) to fill the

rosters and thus provide well served liturgies.

A roster has been drawn up to give us a starting

point and it would be appreciated if ministers

could make a special effort to fill these

positions. If that is not possible we would ask

that you find a replacement or, failing that,

inform the Office. .

Please collect your roster today.

Page 4 Second Sunday of Advent, Year C

SUNDAY MASS TIMES WEEKDAY EUCHARIST (subj. to change) AGED CARE MASSES (subj. to change) Mary Star of the Sea, Tuncurry Mary Star of the Sea, Tuncurry Sat 6pm, Sun 7am Tues 4:30pm, Sat 9am

Holy Name of Jesus, Forster Holy Name of Jesus, Forster Sun 9am Wed 9.30am, Thurs 9am, Fri 9:30am

RECONCILIATION Mary Star of the Sea, Tuncurry Holy Name of Jesus, Forster Saturday 8:30am Saturday 4:45pm

Beaumont Terrace ­ – 1st Tues , 11am

Kularoo Gardens – 1st Wed, 11am

GLAICA House – 2nd Tues, 11am

Barclay Gardens – 3rd Tues, 11am

PARISH CONTACTS

Fr Greg Barker—Parish Priest gregory.barker@mn.catholic.org.au

Emergency Contact 0417 321 209 Mr Greg Byrne—Pastoral Associate

greg.byrne@mn.catholic.org.au Mrs Sharon Fowle

(Administration

Associate/Bulletin) Bridgeside Bulletin—

Items for inclusion should be

received by midday on

Thursday. forster-tuncurry.parish@mn.catholic.org.au Sr Kathryn McCabe

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Loretta Heffernan

SRE Co-Ordinator loretta.heffernan@mn.catholic.org.au

Office Hours

Tues, Wed, Thurs

9:30am to 1pm

Fri 10am to 4pm Parish Office

Located at the rear of the Parish Hall Forster: 33 Lake Street, Forster

NSW 2428

PO Box 67

P: (02) 6554 6304

F: (02) 6554 6425 CHURCH

LOCATIONS

Mary Star of the Sea

15 Peel Street, Tuncurry

Holy Name of Jesus

33 Lake Street, Forster

Baptisms

Celebrated most Sundays. Baptismal Preparation on 2nd Monday of each

month @ 7pm in Forster

Church Hall. Parish Office

6554 6304. Marriage

Celebrated by arrangement

and with at least three month’s

notice. Fr Greg 6554 6304 Sacramental Preparation

Greg Byrne 6554 6304 Rite of Christian

Initiation of Adults

(RCIA) Parish Office 6554 6304

PARISH PASTORAL

GROUPS AND CONTACTS Christian Meditation Every Tues, 9am and 5:30pm. Bob 6555 5914. Women’s Bible Study Group Every Thurs, 7pm to 8pm. Natasha 0407 589 935. menALIVE Groups Day group meet second and fourth Wed after 9am Mass at Forster. Evening group meets last Thurs of the month at 7:30pm at Forster. Michael Amato 6554 5284 Social Justice Last Wed, 5:30pm at Forster. Tim Prescott 6555 8517. Singing Practice Every Tues, 5:30pm. Ken Heffernan 6557 6569. Intercessory Prayer Group No meetings required. Bob Cashman 6555 5914.

Secular Franciscan Fraternity First Wednesday of the month after 9am Mass at Forster. Maintenance & Gardening Group Third Thursday of the month. Howard 6557 6826. Children’s Liturgy of the Word First and third Sunday at 9am Mass. Natasha 0407 589 935. Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Every Wed, 11:14am at Forster. Shioney 6554 9468. Pastoral Team First Wed, 4:30pm at Forster. Greg Byrne 6554 6304 Finance Council Second Wed, 5pm at Forster. Greg Byrne 6554 6304 Pastoral Council Third Wed, 5:30pm at Forster. Greg Byrne 6554 6304 Holy Hour Every Tues, 3:30pm at Tuncurry CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Holy Name Parish School (K-6) Mr Chris Waters (Principal) 41 Lake St, Forster PO Box 243 P: (02) 6554 6504 E: admin@forster.catholic.edu.au W: www.forster.catholic.edu.au St Clare’s High School Mr Peter Nicholls (Principal) Davis Street, Taree P: (02) 6552 3300 E: admin@tareesc.catholic.edu.au W: www.tareesc.catholic.edu.au

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________