CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION AND ST. PAUL OF THE CROSS

Catholic Parish of Dulwich Hill, Archdiocese of Sydney, Established in 1907 532 New Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill NSW 2203 PO Box 149 Dulwich Hill NSW 2203 Ph: 9558-3257 Fax: 9559-3752 Facebook: www.facebook.com/StPotC Website: dulwichhillparish.org.au Email: church@dulwichhillparish.org.au, or secretary@dulwichhillparish.org.au Weebly: http://sacramentsatsaintpaul.weebly.com/

Bishop Richard Umbers DD VG (Bishop in Residence) Fr. Andrew James (Parish Priest), Deacon Rev Louis Azzopardi

PARISH WEEKEND MASS ROSTER 29 Feb & 1 Mar 2020

Acolyt e 5:30pm Andre 8:00am 10:00am Philip

Readers: 5:30pm S Draysey R Lazarus 8:00am B Devine C Phillips 10:00am J Duru C Alam

Music: 5:30pm Justine & Choir 8:00am Beauti & Choir 10:00am Sri & Choir Flowers: No Flowers during Lent Counters: Sherlin, Greg, & Roberta

Parish Office Maria - Mondays Cecilia –Wed-Friday 9.30am - 2:30pm

Parish & Hall enquiries 9558 3257

Mass Times Sat: 5:30pm (Vigil) Sun: 8am & 10am Mon to Fri: 9:00am Sat: 9:30am

Family Mass with Children’s Liturgy 3rd Sunday of the Month 10am Mass Family Rosary & Morning Tea - 2nd Sunday of the Month after 10am Mass in the Church Hall

Filipino Mass 1st Sun 11:30am

Il Gruppo di Rosario Italiano Il gruppo di preghiera Italiano, si raduna ogni giovedi alle ore 10 nella salla parrocchiale.

Sacraments Confession Sat 8:30-9:20am, 4:45pm or any time by appointment

Baptism Every 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sunday 11.15am

Marriage At least 6 months notice required

Anointing of the Sick Any time on call

Devotions Holy Hour & Rosary Sunday - Friday before morning mass

Rosary & Benediction Sat 8:30-9:30am

Elsa George Rosary Group Second Saturday of the month at 2.30pm 9716 6676 All welcome

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Wednesday 7pm

With St Paul of the Cross we pray …

For the sick Lourdes Tee

Fr Jim Duggan Paul Weber

Kevin Russell Pat Allport

Cardo, Zennie, Ian, Pat Martin Welfare

Frank Katra Francheska Bechara

Recently Deceased Inez de Hessel Dorothea Belzer

Death Anniversary

Anastacio De Oliveira Emanuel Spiteri Andres Paraiso

Armando Salvagno Bruno & Rosa Lamni Pasquale & Giusseppe

For the Souls

Umberto, Angela & Antonio Chiarella

All forgotten Souls and Holy Souls in Purgatory

Special Intentions Rathmanner Family

Ian Pinto Rian Galliott

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Ph: 9558 5308 Fax: 9558 4909 Principal: Ms Frances Stewart REC: Ms Jo-Anne Ross

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time / A 23 February 2020

“Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy” The Book of Leviticus, the source of our first reading this week, is often the end point for anyone misguided enough to try to read the Bible “from cover to cover”. It begins with very detailed instructions about different kinds of offerings, how to sacrifice animals, which foods and practices are ‘pure’ or ‘impure’ and then, after a long chapter outlining what sexual practices are not acceptable to God, comes the extract quoted in today’s reading. What are we to make of a book such as this that describes in minute detail attitudes, practices and customs that are now part of history? In the second century, Marcion had a very clear answer. He rejected the whole of the Old Testament (and some of the New Testament as well), claiming that the God of the Old Testament wasn’t truly God since he seemed to approve wars, to change his mind and to contradict himself. He produced his own ‘scriptures’ which focused only on Jesus. Some prominent atheists advocate much the same thing now with their focus on the ‘enlightened and loving values of Jesus’ compared to the God of the Old Testament. Leviticus is part of what Jewish people have always called the Torah, “the teaching”. The Torah is made up of the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Long before Jesus’ time, these books were considered to be the most sacred part of the Bible since they described the making of God’s covenant with Israel. This was a special relationship with God that began with a free offer to them on God’s part. They responded in faith by agreeing to take on the responsibility of worshipping and obeying only this one God. When the people of Israel are urged to “be holy”, they are being asked to model their lives on God, who alone can be considered “holy”. The word for ‘holy’ in Hebrew is qaddosh, a word that has the basic meaning of ‘being set apart’. God alone is ‘holy’ because he is ‘apart from’ his creation in the sense that he is its Creator and is not controlled by it in any way. The people of Israel were to be ‘holy’ in the way that their way of life and worship set them apart from other people. This is outlined in the detailed instructions we find in Leviticus. They were the ways in which Israel would show that it was unique among nations, reflecting the uniqueness of the one God who had chosen them. Other nations would see in their way of life an image of God that was totally different to the gods they themselves worshipped. Because of Christ, most of these detailed instructions are no longer relevant to us. Some however still challenge us to “be holy” in our very different world: “You will treat foreigners who reside with you as though they were native born and love them as yourself, for you yourselves were once foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God”. (Lev 19:33-34) Deacon Louis

Choir Practice on Monday at 7pm in the Church every fortnight. Next choir practice will be on the 24 February 2020.

A message from the Archdiocese of Sydney Abuse is a crime. The appropriate people to deal with a crime are the police. If you – or anyone you know – have been abused, please contact the police. Alternatively, you can contact the Safeguarding and Ministerial Integrity Office at (02) 9390 5810 or safeguardingenquiries@sydneycatholic.org. You may also want to speak to your Parish Priest who will be able to provide support and guidance. The Archdiocese has a legal obligation to report crimes to the police.

Catechists urgently needed Catholic Special Religious Education in our government schools began this week. Unfortunately, one of our teachers at Dulwich Hill Public School is unable to continue because of new work commitments. If you are able to take his place (2:30-3:15pm Wednesday Years 3-4) please speak to me as soon as possible. Books and training will be provided. Deacon Louis

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Children's Liturgy third Sunday of the month during 10am Mass. Parents, please encourage your children to attend! We will have a Children's liturgy in the hall every third Sunday of the year during school terms. Children will have an opportunity to learn about their faith and to pray together with a qualified teacher.

De La Salle College Ashfield OPEN DAY

Wednesday 4 March 2020 3:00pm—7:00pm

24 Bland Street, Ashfield NSW 2131 Ph: 9797 3200 www.dlsashfield.catholic.edu.au *Take a tour of the College with our wonderful students *Converse with our dedicated staff *Experience our College in action *Be entertained by live student performances *Hear our Principal’s address

Visit Of The Relics Of St Thérèse Of Lisieux and Her Parents The National Pilgrimage of the Relics of Saints Thérèse, and her parents, Louis and Zélie, is returning to the Archdiocese of Sydney in March. The full itinerary is on the parish noticeboard so that parishioners are aware of where and when they can take this opportunity to venerate the relics of one of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints and her parents who helped nurture her faith.

Casimir Catholic College 200 Livingstone Road Marrickville Telephone: 9558 2888 Web: www.casimirmarrickville.catholic.edu.au

Come along and tour our school at the Casimir OPEN DAY for Year 7 2021 and 2022 on Friday 28th February 2020 3.00pm – 7.00pm All Families Welcome

Ash Wednesday

26th February

Masses: 9:00am School Mass 7:00pm

Stations of the Cross Fridays through Lent at 7pm. Beginning on the 28th February

Sacramental Program for 2020 A complete program for children preparing for the sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession), Holy Communion and Confirmation has now been organised by both our parish and our school for this year. Preparation classes will be on Saturday at 4pm or Sunday at 9am in the parish hall. Children can enrol in either class time. Class dates are: 7th/8th March (Registration and class); 14th/15th March (class); 21st/22nd March (class); 28th/29th March (class). First Reconciliation will be celebrated on Thursday 2nd April at 6pm An enrolment form and full details about the sacramental program for this year will be available next week Please speak to Fr Andrew or Deacon Louis if you have any questions.

Lenten scripture reflection and prayer During Lent we will have an opportunity to read, discuss and pray the readings for each Sunday of Lent using a program called Grace produced by the Diocese of Wollongong. This will be each Thursday at 7pm in the Parish Hall beginning on Thursday 5th March. Books are provided for those attending If you wish to preview the program, there is a sample on the Wollongong Diocese website under "Media and Resources".

Deacon Louis

Fr Anthony will be celebrating a 12noon Ash Wednesday Mass at St Mel’s Catholic Church Campsie.

the first day of Lent

Lent

fast - pray - give - good works