year a/2 second sunday of lent liturgical colour: violet · lent is a time of reparation, renewal,...
TRANSCRIPT
OH! WHAT A FEELING!
Lent is a time of reparation, renewal, new life, enlightened hope, and great joy – even excitement.
On our second Sunday of Lent – which doesn’t count as one of the forty days of Lent, no Sunday does - we are challenged by the Gospel reading to reflect on just how excited we are about being in covenantal relationship with Jesus. With recent scandals, not just within the Church, but also within governments, corporations, unions and, no doubt, our own families, we could be excused for being tempted to just give up on this “Jesus thing”. Many already have - and more, no doubt, will follow. But society, particularly the young, are aching for moral and virtuous leadership in these times of unprecedented, calamitous change. It is, sadly, very lacking.
And it is pretty tough when we buy into a faith-based lifestyle, into faith in the Christian message/story, to have the long-held moral and virtuous ramparts of that lifestyle ripped out from under our feet in society generally. Where there once was largely concurrence between Christian morality and secular law, there now exists massive diversity if not outright rejection/confrontation – abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, euthanasia, and so on. None of these are life-giving or life-valuing but rather snuff out life for a variety of reasons including mere convenience. You dare not speak out against them – lest you become labelled a bigot or some sort of “phobe”. Even the traditional nuclear family is ridiculed and lambasted as inconsistent with secular values. This is all encapsulated within the dreaded pill of “human folly”. Many of our friends might even start to agree with them, some even advocate them – and that makes it even tougher for us to stand our ground and remain faithful to the Scripture, despite all of the good things that are continuing within the Church and society today.
So how do we do that?
Things weren’t that much different in Jesus’ time – indeed the Bible is replete with salacious and murderous stories of awful leaders who ironically became great leaders in faith – King David and St Paul are classic examples! Their society had some of the most draconian and oppressive laws and practices imaginable. Indeed, Jesus Himself was murdered simply for being a good person, and all of His disciples suffered a similar fate. But that didn’t discourage them, because Jesus showed them compassionate, virtuous and moral leadership in everything He did. They were excited by Him. The words spoken by the Father on the mountain, the same words effectively as heard at Jesus’ baptism, “This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!”, are a resounding and forceful call to us to listen to and hear Jesus’ teachings – in action and words. We always listen but seldom hear! But hearing also is not enough of itself. We should be excited by them and must act in accordance with those teachings.
St Peter’s growing awareness of how exciting it is to be with Jesus leads to his impulsive outburst “Lord! It is good to be here!” despite all of the atrocities and persecutions he knew would follow.
So let’s not be discouraged by current misgivings and shortcomings within our society, the Church, our own families, and ourselves. Let’s rather focus on the personal covenant (and that of a people of faith) we have with Jesus – to listen to Him, to hear Him, and to act for Him – and to be transfigured by Him. We will hopefully then realise and experience the feeling of excitement of being a Christian disciple and exclaim, just like that ad, “OH! WHAT A FEELING!” or as St Peter would say, “Ghee! It’s great to be here!” Deacon Peter
Grovely Presbytery 67 Dawson Parade, Keperra 4054
Mitchelton Presbytery 11 Suez Street, Mitchelton 4053
St William’s School 67 Dawson Parade, Keperra 4054
Ph 3355 5122 Fax 3354 3330
St Andrew’s School Cnr Hogarth & Upper Kedron Roads
Ferny Grove 4055 Ph 33516886 Fax 3851 1054
Our Lady of Dolours School 2 Willcocks Street, Mitchelton 4053
Ph 3355 7763 Fax 3855 2641
Mt. Maria College 54 Prospect Rd, Mitchelton 4053
Ph 3550 3400
YYY Radio FM 87.6 Ph 0466 964 664
Email: [email protected] www.yyyfmradio.org
Parish Pastoral Council [email protected]
Clergy: Fr. Nigel Sequeira PP Phone: 3355 2667
Rev. Peter McDade, Deacon
Secretary: Katrina Bailey (Mon - Fri) Phone: 3355 2667 Ext 1 [email protected]
Pastoral Associate: Local Safeguarding Rep: Mrs. Sue Allen (Wed - Fri) Phone: 3355 2667 Ext 2 [email protected]
Sacramental Coordinator: Mrs. Marie-Louise Singson (Mon - Wed) mornings & Thurs Phone: 3355 2667 Ext 3 [email protected]
Administration Assistant: Megan Carroll (Thurs-Fri) Newsletter items to: [email protected]
Administration Assistant: Sandra Henry (Thurs) Phone: 3355 2667
Finance: [email protected] ACC NAME: St William’s Parish BSB: 064 786 ACC: 006526001
PARISH OFFICE 67 Dawson Parade, Keperra 4054
Ph 3355 2667 Email: [email protected]
www.gsmparishes.com.au Hours: Mon 8am - 1pm; Tues - Fri. 8am - 4pm
Year A/2 Second Sunday Of Lent
8 March 2020 Liturgical Colour: Violet
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Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Wednesday 6:00pm - 7:00pm St. William’s Church
Eucharistic Adoration will also be offered during the Sundays of Lent from 2pm - 4pm at Our Lady of Colours Church. Everyone is welcome to this time of silent prayer in the presence of Our Lord.
LITURGY TIMES
9th - 15th March
Grovely St William’s
Monday 9:00am St Andrew’s Year Level Mass 9:15am Mass CANCELLED
Wednesday 6:00pm Adoration 7:00pm Mass
Thursday 9:00am Mass CANCELLED 11:00am Mass for the Evergreens
Friday 7:00am Mass 7:00pm Stations of the Cross
Saturday: 7:00am Mass
Next Weekend Masses
Saturday: 5:00pm Reconciliation CANCELLED 6:00pm No Mass
Sunday: 6:30am, 8:00am, 9:30am, 5:30pm
Oxford Park St. Joseph’s
Sunday 9:30am Mass
Mitchelton Our Lady of Dolours
Monday: 8:30am Mass
Tuesday: 8:30am Mass 10:30am Mass of Anointing at Madonna Villa
Friday 8:30am Mass CANCELLED
Saturday: 3:45pm - 4:30pm
Reconciliation
Next Weekend Masses
Saturday: 4:30pm Mass
Sunday: 8:00am No Mass
Samford Sacred Heart
Thursday 6:00pm Liturgy of the Word
Next Weekend Mass
Sunday: 8:00am Mass
MITCHELTON
Family Rosary This week: Minda Wright Next week: Lloyd & Lynette Eikenloff
Mitchelton Parishioners are cordially invited to the Lent program in the Daley Centre
GROVELY
Counters this week: Bernadette Bowles, Pat Nixon, Alexis & Wayne Lambley
Meditation Group: Tuesday 7pm in the Church, in the Benedictine Fr John Main Tradition. Enquiries to Bob 0428 813 483 All Welcome
Baptisms: We joyfully announce the baptisms of Liam Pascoe, Harvey McGrath and Hugh McGrath and welcome them into our faith community.
COMBINED COMMUNITIES’ NEWS
SAMFORD
Lenten Little Black Book, a six minute daily reflection. $4 each
Samford Parishioners are cordially invited to the Lent program in the Daley Centre
Anointing of the Sick
A Mass for Anointing of the Sick will be held Monday March 16 at Regis Aged Care commencing at 10:30am
There will also be a Mass for Anointing on Tuesday March 11 at Madonna Villa commencing at 10:30am
New Weekend Mass Times
These changes will begin in the 1st week of Lent (Feb 29/Mar 1)
Sat 4:30pm (Vigil): OLD, Mitchelton Sun 6:30am, 8am, 9:30am & 5:30pm: St William’s, Grovely Sun 8am: Sacred Heart, Samford Sun 9:30am: St Vincent’s Nursing Home, Oxford Park
Sat 5pm Reconciliation and 6pm Mass at Grovely is CANCELLED Sun 8am at Mitchelton is CANCELLED
This Week’s Readings Second Sunday Of Lent
Gen 12: 1 - 4 2 Tim 1: 8 - 10
Mt 17: 1 - 9
Next Week’s Readings Third Sunday of Lent
Ex 17: 3 - 7 Rom 5: 1 - 2, 5 - 8
Jn 4: 5 - 42
CHANGES TO LITURGY TIMES
Please check the weekday Liturgy Times carefully
Stations of the Cross Join us during Lent for Stations of the Cross every Friday, 7pm at St William’s and every second Friday after 8:30am Mass at OLD. This is a great opportunity for prayer and reflection. All welcome!
National Advice On Liturgical Implications In Light of Corona Virus
Archbishop Mark Coleridge has advised on the following protocols due to the current understanding of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the risks outlined by health authorities in this state:
• Parishes should refrain from distributing Holy Communion from the chalice until further notice, with a reminder to the faithful that Christ is fully present under either species
• All ministers of Holy Communion should wash their hands before and after distributing, and provision should be made for this
• When exchanging the Sign of Peace, people should avoid shaking hands but say “Peace be with you” with some eye contact and perhaps an
appropriate gesture
• Holy water should be temporarily removed from fonts at the doors of churches, though still be available for people to take home
• Parishes and other settings where liturgies are celebrated should make alcohol-based gels or rubs (or like products) available near the entrances
• It would be preferable and perhaps prudent for people to receive Holy Communion in the hand rather than on the tongue, but the decision on this is left with the communicant at this stage
The Archdiocese will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further advice as required. In the meantime, we pray fervently that the threat of COVID-19 will ease, that those suffering from the virus will be cured and that those working for its relief will be strengthened.
Pope’s Prayer Intentions: March
Catholics in China
We pray that the Church in China may persevere in its
faithfulness to the Gospel and grow in unity.
COMBINED COMMUNITIES’ NEWS
March 8, 2020 - Second Sunday of Lent
“Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)
God calls all of us to leave behind our old ways and to follow Him, placing our complete trust in Him. Some of the old ways that we may have to struggle to leave behind might be materialism, selfishness, and greed. Yet God promises to show us a new land and a better way to live. Remember what St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “God does not call us to be successful, God calls us to be faithful.”
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Recently Deceased: Rebecca Agar, Bevan Horn, Kath Coyne, Leo Devereaux
Faithful Departed
We pray for: Vincent Arthur, Maureen Campbell, Dominic Condon, Kathleen Edden, Kieran Hogan, Jen Nilon, Joyce Powell, Cindy Roberts, John Mitchell, Susan Downey, Maureen Wilson, David Finlayson, Celeste Hallinan, Archbishop Emeritus John Bathersby
Please note All requests to have a Mass offered for someone, or newsletter requests for the name of recently deceased family members, prayers for the sick and anniversaries, need to be given to the parish office in writing. Forms and Mass request envelopes are available from the sacristy at all 3 churches, or from the Parish Office. Completed forms/envelopes can be given to the priest or handed in at the office.
We pray for the Sick
Faith Matters www.faith-matters-gsm.com.au and Plenary Council www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au
The first week of Lent is behind us. Were you able to pick up the prayer card for the first Sunday of Lent? The prayer for each week is short, inspirational and follows the theme for that week in the Archdiocesan Lenten program , currently occurring. For example – last week’s prayer card had the theme “To be Opened – to be Led by the Spirit”. This week’s theme is “To be Opened – Listen” – especially to the Spirit.
There is a card for each family or for an individual parishioner. Cards are at the entrance to all churches. Actually, the prayer is an excellent way to walk through Lent towards Easter, with Jesus
Three well known Church celebrations occur during March. March 17: St. Patrick, March 19: St. Joseph and March 25: The Annunciation of the Lord. The last one is a special one. Keep an eye out for these 3 days. You won’t have to worry about remembering St. Patrick’s day – he will be all over the news with parades across the world, especially in Australia the United States and Ireland.
The Faith Matters lending Library is in full swing at the Grovely church shop with quite a few books – why not pop in and have a look at the end of any Grovely weekend Mass. We are looking to post a list of available books at Mitchelton and Samford. Parishioners attending those Masses can ring the Grovely office (3355 2667) to borrow a book and a member of the Faith Matters team will follow up on it for you.
Elsewhere in this newsletter is a brief paragraph about one of the books on offer.
FAITHMATTERS—GSM
International Women’s Day 2020 Each year, International Women’s Day on 8th March, brings attention to the situation of women all over the world by celebrating their many achievements while also calling for a more gender-balanced world. The Catholic Church is no exception in wanting to achieve this goal.
In 1996, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference commissioned research into the participation of women within the Church. In 2000, in response to the final report, the bishops established the Council for Australian Catholic Women to work with them and "make more space" for women.
Last year, the Office for Social Justice published a collection of essays marking this anniversary called Still Listening to the Spirit: Woman and Man Twenty Years Later. It provides snapshots into the lives of Australian Catholic women today. Every essay contributes to ‘creating a range of opportunities in the Church for respectful listening and dialogue concerning the experiences, needs and aspirations of women.’ https://women.catholic.org.au/newsletter/resources/289-still-listening-to-the-spirit
As we acknowledge International Women’s Day this week, we give thanks for those women and men who have worked to improve the living conditions and educational opportunities for women throughout the world. May we continue to work for justice for all who are oppressed. “Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.”– Saint Teresa of Avila
SocialJusticeGroup
Sacramental Program: Our Sacramental families now have all their First Communion Celebration weekends firmly in place. Please understand that I have tried to accommodate all your requests.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. We would also like to just remind you that there will be no more changes accepted at this stage.
Dates to remember: March 8 (Sunday) Blessing Mass 8am & 9:30am at St William’s 8am at Sacred Heart March 15 (Sunday) Mass of the Liturgy of the Word 8am & 9:30am at St William’s 8am at Sacred Heart March 22 (Sunday) Mass of the Liturgy of the Eucharist 8am & 9:30am at St William’s 8am at Sacred Heart March 28 Communal Reconciliation 9:30am at St William’s March 29 (Sunday) Prayer Partner Mass 8am & 9:30am at St William’s 8am at Sacred Heart All corresponding masses also celebrated at the 4:30pm on Saturday at Our Lady of Dolours, Mitchelton
Please remember to fill in your Prayer Partner letter and put them in this week at the office.
With peace and blessings, Marie-Louise F. Singson Sacramental Coordinator
Bible Quiz
Which well known Psalm of David contains the line, “he maketh me to lie down in green pastures”?
Answer next Week
Last Week’s question: How did the father first respond upon seeing the Prodigal Son returning home?
Answer: He ran out and embraced him (Luke 15:20)
What did the judges say when a cat won the popular vote at the dog show?
This is a cat-has-trophy
Mass is broadcast over
Radio Triple YYY 87.6 FM
Sat 5.00pm & Sun 10.00am
COMBINEDCOMMUNITIES’NEWS
GROVELY 9th - 15th March
Monday 9:30am 10:00am 7:00pm 7:45pm
Library Daley Centre Daley Centre Church
Inner Peace Lenten Retreat Faith Matters Lenten Program SVDP Grovely Choir
Tuesday 9:00am 7:00pm 7:30pm
Daley Centre Church Daley Centre
Playgroup St William’s Christian Meditation Faith Matters Lenten Program
Wednesday 8:30am 10:00am
Daley Centre Daley Centre
Mothers Prayers Evergreens Fitness
Thursday 9:00am 7:30pm
Daley Centre Library
ALPHA Faith Matters Meeting
SAMFORD 9th - 15th March
Monday 7:30pm Church Samford Choir
Friday 9:00am Church Samford Christian Meditation
MITCHELTON 9th - 15th March
Monday 9:00am Meeting Room SVDP
Tuesday 7:00pm Church Treble M Choir
Sunday 6:45pm Church OLD Choir
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PLEASE NOTE:
Leaflets, notices, and other papers are not to be placed in the Church without prior permission from Fr Nigel.
EVERGREENSEVERGREENSEVERGREENSEVERGREENS
The Evergreens are invited to attend Mass at 11am on Thursday March 12 at St William’s. Our commitment to the sacrament of Eucharist is whar brought us all together. Let’s celebrate!
The Mass will be followed by a light lunch in the St Mary MacKillop Centre.
Contact John & Joan Broderick for further info: 0455 503 713 or [email protected]
Mothers Prayers Is it in your heart to pray for your children? Mothers of all
ages and stages are warmly welcomed to Mothers Prayers. A traditional prayer group united with Mothers throughout the world, giving our children to Jesus, praying for our vocation of motherhood and for our children.
When: Wednesdays, 8:30am - 9:30am Where: Daley Centre
All Welcome!
ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES FAIR
It’s on again! Coming April 18 Find us on Facebook and Instagram at Aladdins Cave Keperra. Like us, share
us, follow us!
Also coming soon… the Aladdin’s Cave website!
www.aladdinscavekeperra.com Keep an eye out!
MORNING TEA COORDINATOR We are seeking someone from the Grovely community to coordinate the morning tea at the upcoming Aladdin’s Cave Antiques and collectables fair being held on Saturday April 18.
If you are willing to take on this role, contact Mary Baxter: 0400 654 790
Easter Cards are now available for purchase from Aid to the Church in Need. Each packet contains 12 Easter cards and envelopes. The first packet costs $23 (includes postage). Extra packets are $15 each. The Easter cards feature the religious paintings of Swiss artist, Bradi Barth and include a bible verse inside. Proceeds raised go toward ACN projects that support the Church where she is unable to support herself.
Order over the phone: 1800 101 201 or online: www.aidtochurch.org.
Books for Borrowing
One of the latest books for the library is “Opening Doors – a seeker’s reflection on the rooms of Christian living” by Kevin Treston. (5 copies).
Kevin invites us into eleven rooms for reflection, including the universe story, grace, God, church, ministry, women, ethics, spirituality and our place in the multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-faith and multi-faceted world. As Fr. Peter Maher says in his review of the book, “Treston invites adult reflection into the complexities of the current church crisis. However, he is always positive, leaving the reader hopeful that as a group of Catholic adult faith learners, we can together carve out a future based on gospel values”.
RCIA - The Rite of Election Our RCIA Candidates, Catechumens, families, sponsors and RCIA Team Members attended St. Stephen’s Cathedral last Sunday for the Rite of Election. Please pray for Inga Mertens-Walker, Lina Blazak, Diana Ward, Maurice Awhy, Roslyn Hill, Rachael Bloomer, Cassie Watson and Karen Reed as they continue their faith journey.
This Sunday at the 8am Mass at St. William’s, our Elect and Candidates will join together with the community for the Presentation of the Creed. They will be asked to profess their faith in accordance with the Creed and their reception into the Church at the Easter Vigil. In our liturgy today, we will take time to say the Creed, the statement of our faith, with thought and deliberation.
Bishop Ken Howell, the newly Elect, candidates and their friends and family