Feast of the Ascension Year A Cyle II 24 May 2020

P arting is such sweet sorrow, as Juliet said to her beloved Romeo. Sweet, because she knew she would see him

again, and because their new love was deepened by the feeling that parting engendered. Sorrow, because of

the feelings of loss and loneliness while parted from the beloved - such emotions will be particularly intense if

the loved one is going off to face danger, or may never return. There are probably more songs and poems about

the loss of love than about almost anything else. In the lyrics of the popular song If You Go Away, by Jacques Brel,

the singer puts it to his beloved that if she goes, she might as well take the sun away - the sense of the loss in

parting is so acute, so painful.

Today’s feast celebrates something that both is and is not a parting. Like many of the major events in the Gospel

story, it contains a paradox. The ascension is a parting of the risen Jesus from the disciples on one level, the

physical, so as to enable him to be present to them, and to all of us, in a new and truly awesome way.

He parts from them in the only way that such a cosmically significant event could be described, going ‘up’. There

are only three directions to go - up, down or sideways. Downwards would be hardly appropriate and sidewards

would sound like he had just moved to another part of Palestine. (continued over page)

See Website for Updates: www.ourladyoftherosary.org.au

Going Up

The Church is Open!!

W e are very pleased to be able to open the Church again for private prayer from 9am to 4pm weekdays.

There is a limit of 10 people at a time in the Church, who must sign in and out at the door, with contact

details (a public health requirement), use hand sanitiser provided and keep social distance in the pews. As yet we

will not be having Masses.

Baptisms can go ahead with the limited numbers by appointment only. Reconciliation is available by appoint-

ment with Fr Vincent or Fr Bill, in the interview room of the parish office. Please call us on 4332 2216 to book.

The lessening of restrictions also allows for Bible Café to return with Beauty, Truth, Goodness on Wednesdays in

the Muldoon Room.

There is a website called massregister.com.au where parishioners may register their details once only for Church-

es of intended visits. This way you only need initial your entry and exit of the Church when visiting.

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Going Up (continued) Instead, Jesus was going somewhere that can only be written of symbolically - first

with the use of the image of the mountain, where so many divine encounters

happened, such as when Moses received the Ten Commandments. The cloud that hid

Jesus from sight is to remind us of the prophetic vision of Daniel: “I saw, coming on

the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man.” Jesus is that Son of Man, and having

accomplished his mission, he now goes to sit at God’s right hand.

The language of the incarnation was of descending, so now to complete the cycle of

love we have an ascending. The language of being higher than others indicates success:

think of all the ways of saying that - rising above, being head and shoulders above

the rest, coming out on top, and so on. So in one way Jesus’ going up can signal his

triumph over death and the powers of this world. They are “under his feet,” beaten

down, conquered. Jesus goes up from the world - a world that cannot trap him - but at

the same time he is not distant from it, but is now able to be, as God always has been,

right at the heart of it. As Nicholas of Cusa put it in the fifteenth century, “Christ has

ascended above every place and every time, since he is Truth itself and does not sit, as

it were, on the edge of the cosmos, but at the centre.”

The disciples could not dwell on the parting from their friend and master. They had

to take up their daily lives again - until Pentecost, when their lives would be turned

around. No longer near the body of Christ, they would become the Body of Christ,

as we are. Like them, we have the promise that where Christ is now, we will one

day follow.

While the physical Jesus could reach only the people who could get near him, now,

through the power of the Spirit which he is to send, he is to be available, with his

loving forgiveness, to the whole world. But that is not to be accomplished without us -

his friends and disciples - to testify to his identity and to all that he has done for us.

It’s a mistake to think that the command of Jesus to be his witnesses throughout the

world applies just to the apostles and to those who have followed them through the

ages - the bishops, the clergy, those we see as ‘professionals’ in the field of mission. It

applies to us all. We are the Church, the Body of Christ; and as members of this body

we all have our own graced way of fulfilling this command. Christ calls us to make

disciples, to bring people to faith, and to walk with them on their baptismal journey.

Christ also calls us to teach them - by example is the best method. We need not be over-

awed at this calling, for we have the promise that Christ is with us to the end of time.

The Living Word Redemptorist Publications

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Quote for

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God wants us to do great things for him, and the greatest thing

of all is our own holiness.

Mother Angelica EWTN Founder

Praying in Hard Times

T here is no question that today there is a burning desire for prayer, even if at times

the individual isn’t necessarily conscious of it. The more troubled the times

become, the more the soul yearns to pray.

The great Doctor of Prayer, St Therese of Lisieux, tells us “for me, prayer is a surge of

the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love,

embracing both trial and joy.” Another great Doctor of the Church, St Alphonsus

Liguori, tells us “the man who prays is saved. The man who does not pray is not.”

Such is the blunt language of the saints. Prayer, in order to be effective and even at

times very elevated, should not be a matter of ‘rocket science’. It is most of all simple,

humble and trusting. It is in fact the prayer of a confident child to a loving father.

Let’s strive to learn the ways of prayer, then teach others by our example first, then by

our words.

Shop Locally!

Please support the shops in the

Carnival Hall building in the

shopping centre. These shops

support our Parish.

Beauty Truth Goodness is Back!

The Fundamentals of Catholicism

is returning Wednesdays

10:30-11:30am and 7-8pm in the Muldoon Room.

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Mary & Fraternal Charity

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C harity is one in its essence, because of the oneness of its object: God loved in him-

self, God loved in the neighbour. Hence, the more a soul loves God, so much the

more does it love its neighbour. Now if charity toward God reached its peak in Mary,

we must also say that her charity toward her neighbour was boundless. This is the

peculiar quality of true love of God; far from narrowing the soul of one who possesses

it, charity dilates the soul, that it may pour out on others the wealth it has accumulated.

Such was the characteristic of Mary’s charity. Although she was completely filled with

the love of God, wholly recollected in the contemplation of the divine mysteries which

were taking place in and around her, it did not hinder her from giving attention to her

neighbour; on the contrary, we see her always gracious and attentive to the needs of

others. Furthermore, her own interior wealth urged her to desire to share with others

the great treasures which she possessed. This is the attitude described in the Gospel,

when, immediately after the Annunciation, she undertook a journey “in haste,” as

St Luke says, to visit Elizabeth. It would have been very pleasant for her to remain at

Nazareth, adoring in solitude and silence the divine Word incarnate in her womb, but

the Angel had told her of the imminent maternity of her aged cousin; this was enough

for her to feel obliged to go to Elizabeth and offer her humble services. We can say

therefore, that Mary’s first act after becoming the Mother of God was an act of charity

toward her neighbour. God gave himself to her as a Son, and Mary, who gave herself

to him as his “handmaid,” wished also to give herself as the “handmaid” of others.

The close union which exists between charity toward God and charity toward the

neighbour is singularly evident here. Her act of charity toward Elizabeth is in perfect

accord with the act of sublime love in which Mary gave herself wholly to God when

she pronounced her “fiat.”

At the birth of Jesus it was the same. Mary, in ecstasy, contemplated him, her divine

Son, but this did not prevent her from offering him to the adoration of the shepherds.

Here is Mary’s supreme charity to men: giving Jesus to them almost as soon as he gives

himself to her. She does not wish to be the only one to enjoy him, but would with all

men share her joy.

Another aspect of her charity toward others is evidenced in her tactfulness. The

marriage in Cana gives us an example. While all were occupied with the feast, she

alone, although so recollected, noticed the embarrassment of the bridal couple when

the wine gave out, and handled the matter so delicately that it passed unobserved,

even by the chief steward.

Mary teaches us that when our love of God is really perfect, it flows at once into

generous love of our neighbour, because, as St Thomas says, one who loves God, loves

all that God loves. If then, we have to recognise that in dealing with our neighbour we

are not very charitable, nor very kind to them, nor attentive to their needs, we must

conclude that our love for God is still very weak.

Divine Intimacy Fr Gabriel OCD

Our Parish is com-mitted to fostering

communities of safety and care for all people, especially for children and others in the community who are vulnerable. Our commitment is un-derscored by our

faith in Jesus Christ.

Planned Giving Envelopes

2020 envelopes are now available from

the parish office. Credit card

donations may also be arranged. Your giving will keep us going!

Entrusting Australia to Mary

U nder the title of Mary Help of Christians (Patroness of Australia) our nation will

be entrusted to Our Lady on her feast day. You can join Bishop Anthony as he

also prays for the entrustment of our Diocese during Livestreamed Mass at Our Lady

of the Rosary Cathedral 8:30am Sunday 24 May and at 7am on Monday 25 May.

Join Mass at https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/hornsby

Feast of Mary Help

of Christians

Patroness of Australia

This year the Feast will be celebrated

on Monday 25 May, with our Bishops

rededicating Australia to Our Lady.

Serving the Catholic Community of The Entrance and extending the Kingdom of God

PARISH PRIEST & DEAN Fr William Stevens ASSISTANT PRIEST Fr Vincent Varghese VC DEACON Paul Simmons

SACRAMENTAL COORDINATOR Br John Verhoeven FSP

Office Hours Monday-Friday 9.30-5.00pm Tel 4332 2216 Fax 4333 5344

Postal Address PO Box 189 THE ENTRANCE 2261 Street Address 239-243 The Entrance Rd THE ENTRANCE 2261

Email info@ourladyoftherosary.org.au Website www.ourladyoftherosary.org.au

PROPERTY MANAGER Michael de la Motte Tel 4334 7600 (BH)

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY PRIMARY SCHOOL Tel 4332 5594

ST PETER’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE Tel 4351 2344 Fax 4351 2965

THE ENTRANCE PARISH DIOCESE OF BROKEN BAY

Mass & Devotions See website for updates Sunday Masses Saturday Vigil 6:00pm Sunday 8:00am & 9:30am

Weekday Masses Monday - Thursday 9:00am Friday 11:45am Saturday 9:00am

Reconciliations Sat- urdays 9:30-10am & 5-5:30pm & 7-8pm during ‘The Light is On’ Fridays

Liturgy of the Hours Satur- day 8:40am Rosary Monday-Thursday 8:35am Friday 11:20am Saturday 9:30am

Gift Centre Open on Request

The Gift Centre will not be open on the weekends as there will be no Masses. We apologise for this temporary inconvenience. It will be open during the week as required, by personal request. Please call the parish office to make a time.

4332 2216

Keep Us In Your Prayers There is no gift more precious than prayer - Fr Benedict Groeschel

Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 1 Peter 3:15-18 John 14:15-21 Entrance Antiphon: Proclaim a joyful sound and let it be heard; proclaim to the ends of the earth: The Lord has freed his people, alleluia.

Responsorial Psalm: Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, Alleluia! All who love me will keep my words, and my Father will love them and we will come to them. Alleluia!

Communion Antiphon: If you love me, keep my commandments, says the Lord, and I will ask the Father and he will send you another Paraclete, to abide with you for ever, alleluia.

Pearly

Gates Revisited

Recently Deceased: Shirley Fallon, Nancy McKee, Len Walker, Barry O’Neill, Andree Farla.

A note from the family: Our dear mother Shirley Fallon passed away on Saturday 9 May at home surrounded by her family. She and Frank were active members of this Church for almost 70 years. Please pay for our mum who will be missed by all who knew her.

Anniversaries: Danny Goonan (1st), Kellie-Maree Burke Cameron, Bernard, Michael & Robyn McCudden.

Remembrances: Vincent & Dorothy Cribb, Patricia Mahon, Marie Powell, Jill O’Sullivan, Bernadette O’Neill, Sadie Eves (birthday), Peter Costello and all the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

Families:

Sick: Sue Simmons, Leo O’Meara, Jo Poynting, Amanda Priestley, Matthew Robinson, Andrew Kelly, Peter O’Grady, Martin Gosper, Linda Read, Antoinette Grech, Margaret Pizzuto, Pat & Diane McCudden, Tanya Doorn, David Drinan, Valda Kelso, Maria De Sousa, Steve Crowe, Ann Minogue, Agnes Burke, Val Rayner, Delma Clarke, Chris Morley, Anthony Morrell, Raymond & Tim Baker, Kelly Will, and those suffering from Covid-19 and long-term illnesses.

Our Lady of the Rosary

GIFT CENTRE

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