Second Sunday of Lent - Year A

              Mersey Leven Catholic Parish

Parish Priest:  Fr Mike Delaney   mob: 0417 279 437; 

email: mike.delaney@catholicpriest.org.au

Assistant Priest:  Fr Augustine Ezenwelu 

                           mob: 0470 576 857

Postal Address: PO Box 362, Devonport 7310

Parish Office: 90 Stewart Street, Devonport 7310 

Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 

                                     10am - 3pm

Office Phone: 6424 2783 Fax: 6423 5160 

Email: mlcathparish-dsl@keypoint.com.au 

FaceBook: Mersey Leven Catholic Parish

Weekly Newsletter: mlcathparish.blogspot.com.au

Parish Newsletter: mlcathparishnewsletter.blogspot.com.au
Secretary: Annie Davies  Pastoral Council Chair:  Mary Davies

Archdiocesan Website: www.hobart.catholic.org.au  for news, information and details of other Parishes.

Our Parish Sacramental Life

Baptism: arrangements are made by contacting Parish Office. 

Parents attend a Baptismal Preparation Session on first Tuesday of February, April, June, August, October and December. 

Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist: Are received following a Family–centred, Parish-based, School-supported Preparation Program.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: prepares adults for reception into the Catholic community.

Marriage: arrangements are made by contacting one of our priests - couples attend a pre-marriage Program

Anointing of the Sick: please contact one of our priests

Reconciliation:  Ulverstone - Fridays    (10am - 10:30am)
                         Devonport -  Saturday (5:15pm– 5.45pm)

                         Penguin    -  Saturday (5:15pm - 5:45pm)

Scripture Readings:  Second Sunday of Lent - Year A

FIRST READING: Genesis 12:1-4 

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (R.)  Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
SECOND READING:   2 Timothy 1:8-10
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ! From the shining cloud the Father's voice is heard: this is my beloved Son, hear him. Glory and Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

GOSPEL: Matthew 17:1-9

Prego Reflection on today's Gospel

I try to find a few moments to be alone with the Lord Jesus.

I take time to become still and quiet in His presence.

I may want to get in touch with how I am feeling as I come to pray. Whatever my state of mind and heart, I know that Jesus welcomes me with great love........... and that “it is wonderful to be here”.

When I am ready, I read the Gospel slowly, perhaps several times. If it helps me, I put the text to one side and gently try to picture the scene in my mind’s eye: watching Jesus and the apostles, listening to the words spoken. I share with the Lord my thoughts and feelings evoked by this scene

I watch how Jesus is “transfigured” - lit up from within - by His Father’s affirmation and love, as He reveals all that He truly is. . I ask that I too may be transformed by the love of God, to become all I am called to be, so that my actions may bring His love to others.

I may want to spend some time in silence with the Lord. I listen as God speaks to me: “You are my beloved; Do not be afraid.”

I end my prayer slowly, perhaps with a Sign of the Cross

Weekday Masses 18th - 21st March, 2014

Tuesday:         9:30am  Penguin

Wednesday:     9:30am  Latrobe

Thursday:       10:30am Karingal 

Friday:            9:30am  Ulverstone

Next Weekend (22nd & 23rd March, 2014)

Saturday Vigil:     6.00pm     Penguin

                                         Devonport

                                               

Sunday Mass:       8:30am    Port Sorell  

                          9:00am    Ulverstone

                         10:30am    Devonport

                         11:00am    Sheffield      (L.W.C.)  

                           5.00pm    Latrobe

Eucharistic Adoration:

Devonport:  Every Friday 10am - 12noon, concluding with Stations of the Cross and Angelus

Devonport:  Benediction with Adoration - first Friday of each month.

Prayer Groups:

Charismatic Renewal - Ulverstone (Community Room) Every second and fourth Monday of the month 7:30pm                                                                  - Devonport (Emmaus House) Thursdays - 7:30pm

Christian Meditation  - Devonport, Emmaus House - Wednesdays 7pm.

Stations of the Cross:  Our Lady of Lourdes Devonport Fridays 7pm, Sacred Heart Church  Fridays 7pm and  10am Tuesday's, St Joseph's Mass Centre Port Sorell Wednesdays 3pm and St Patrick's Church Latrobe Fridays 7pm.

                    

Ministry Rosters 22nd & 23rd March, 2014

Devonport:

Readers: Vigil:  P Douglas, T Douglas, M Knight  10.30am: H Williams, D Williams, J Phillips

Ministers of Communion: Vigil – M Heazlewood, B & J Suckling, G Lee-Archer, M Kelly,

T Muir

10.30am: G Taylor, M Sherriff, T & S Ryan, M & B Peters

Cleaners 21st March: K.S.C.  28th March: B Paul, D Atkins, V Riley

Piety Shop 22nd March: H Thompson 23rd March: C Schrader

Ulverstone:

Reader:  E Standring Cleaners: G & M Seen, C Roberts 

Ministers of Communion: E Standring, M Fennell, E & K Reilly  Hospitality: M McLaren

Penguin:

Greeters: A Landers, P Ravaillion   Commentator:  Y Downes Readers: T Clayton, E Nickols

Procession: M & D Hiscutt  Ministers of Communion: M Kenney, A Guest Music: M Bowles

Liturgy: Sulphur Creek J  Setting Up: F Aichberger Care of Church: J & T Kiely

Port Sorell:

Readers:  M Badcock, T Jeffries  Ministers of Communion: D Leaman, L Post  

Clean & Prepare: A Hynes

Latrobe:

Reader:  P Cottrell  Ministers of Communion: M Kavic, H Lim  Procession: Cottrell Family Music:

                                  

                  

Your prayers are asked for the sick:  Tom Knaap, Kieran Simpson, Tony Becker, Shanon Breaden, Jamie Griffiths,  Jane Dutton, Anne Johnson & ...

Let us pray for those who have died recently:
Kate O'Driscoll, Amaya Stevens, Geoff McBain, Ernie Collings, Michael Norquay, Irene Kilby, Glen Clark, Michael Duggan, Thea Nickolas and Robert Rothwell.

               

Let us pray for those whose anniversary occurs about this time:
Mavis Jarvis, John Smink, Jim Suckling, Myra Dare, Peggy Leary, Ken Bates,
                                                 Max Fulton and Bernie & Frances O'Sullivan.

                                                                       May they Rest in Peace

Readings Next Week; Third Sunday of Lent - Year A

First Reading: Exodus 17:3-7  Second Reading: Romans 5:1-2. 5-8  Gospel:   John 4:5-42

BAPTISM:

We welcome and congratulate

 Alyse Hardy and Emerson Viney

who are both being baptised this weekend.

FROM FR MIKE:

Don't forget - each weekend the online version of the Newsletter contains more material that we are not able to include in the printed edition because of space constraints. In last weeks edition there was a report of an interview with Pope Francis who on Thursday (13th) celebrated 1 year since his election as Pontiff.

An aspect of Church Life that we don’t deal well with is the practice of ‘succession planning’. A couple of instances of the need to broaden our resource (personnel) base have arisen lately - one in the parish Office and the other is the Catholic contribution to Gran’s Van Sunday Stew and Bun run (I quickly add that neither are in immediate danger of ending but help is needed).

The Gran’s Van issue is a little more immediate as we would like to have someone helping out this APRIL - our next once a year turn for the Sunday night program. If anyone is able to assist  please contact the Parish Office or me for further information.

Unfortunately, due to a whole range of more immediate events, I have not been able to contact those who responded to the previous invitation to indicate interest re assisting in the Office - hopefully I will get back to them within the next week (or so). It is not too late to contact me regarding this invite.

Early next week Archbishop Julian will be spending two nights here in the Parish as he travels to Burnie for the Commencement Mass at Marist Regional College. It will be my first time with the Archbishop in the Parish but his third trip so he is winning that race.

At the back of the Churches are some Enrolment Brochures for St Brendan-Shaw College - interested Parishioners are invited to take a copy and pass it onto family members as appropriate.

As we go to print we don’t know the winners of the 1st Week of our Footy Margins Comp - congratulations to whomever you are x 3 - and good luck to everyone for next week.

Until next week, take care on the roads and in your homes,

Fr Mike

Until next week, take care on the roads and in your homes,

Fr Mike

OUR LENTEN LITURGY IN 2014:

The entire Christian community is invited to live this period of forty days as a pilgrimage of repentance, conversion and renewal. In the Bible, the number forty is rich in symbolism. It recalls Israel’s journey in the desert, a time of expectation, purification and closeness to the Lord, but also a time of temptation and testing. It also evokes Jesus’ own sojourn in the desert at the beginning of his public ministry, a time of profound closeness to the Father in prayer, but also of confrontation with the mystery of evil. The Church’s Lenten discipline is meant to help deepen our life of faith and our imitation of Christ in his paschal mystery. In these forty days may we draw nearer to the Lord by meditating on his word and example, and conquer the desert of our spiritual aridity, selfishness and materialism. For the whole Church may this Lent be a time of grace in which God leads us, in union with the crucified and risen Lord, through the experience of the desert to the joy and hope brought by Easter. Benedict XVI, 2013

Our liturgy too leads us ever deeper into the paschal mystery this Lent by:

• Use of violet/purple vestments. Violet recalls suffering, mourning, simplicity and austerity.
• Mass will begin with a sung Penitential Rite, Kyrie Eleison or Lord have mercy. On the 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th Sundays of Lent, the Rite of Sprinkling (Asperges) may take place after Father has reverenced the altar. The name ‘Asperges’ comes from the first word in the 9^th verse of Psalm 51 in the Latin translation, the Vulgate.
• Silence before and after the readings and after the homily RGIRM (2007) 45.
• At the breaking of the bread (the fraction rite) there will be a short reflection before intoning the Lamb of God.
• The absence of flowers due to the penitential nature of the season.
• The congregation leaves the church after the singing of a brief final hymn, then following the celebrant in respectful silence.
• There is no Gloria or Alleluia verse (replaced by a Gospel acclamation).
• Images are veiled immediately before the 5^th Sunday of Lent in accordance with local custom. 

Your donation to Project Compassion helps Caritas Australia pursue justice and assist those who are the most vulnerable to extreme poverty and injustice.

This week we meet Deng who is blind and had to flee his village during the civil war, returning to his home village in 2005. Thanks to Caritas Australia's partner, Hope Agency for Relief and Development, Deng and his family have received goats, chickens, fishing nets and a selection of seeds to plant.

With your support, families like Deng's can be confident of a more secure future and can rebuild their lives.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION PROGRAM

The preparation program for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Eucharist will begin in our parish very soon.  The children will be welcomed and receive a blessing for the journey at Masses during the weekend of 22nd and 23rd March.   We ask for the support and prayers of our whole parish community as the children continue their journey towards full initiation into the Catholic Church and our community.

Enrolments for children who are in Grade 3 or above are still being accepted.  However, these need to be finalised this week.  Thank you.

MACKILLOP HILL SPIRITUALITY CENTRE:

St Patrick's Day Soup and Sandwich Luncheon: A light-hearted celebration!    Bring a friend!  Enjoy a delicious lunch!     Wear a Shamrock …. Leprechauns welcome! Monday 17^th March  12 noon start. Bookings essential.     

     

Spirituality in the Coffee Shoppe:  Got something on your mind?  Come along for a round the table  chat about issues affecting your everyday life.   Relaxed atmosphere, good company.   All welcome! 10.30am - 12 noon on Monday 24th March.    Phone 6428:3095        Email: rsjforth@bigpond.net.au

LEGION OF MARY: Invite members of the Parish to their annual Acias (Consecration to Our Lady) at Sacred Heart Church, Alexandra Road Ulverstone Sunday 23rd March at 2pm with benediction followed by afternoon tea in the Community Room. For enquiries please phone Margaret Swain 6425:4050

“An international development plan beyond 2015 will need to increase commitment to reducing extreme poverty and injustice for Indigenous peoples around the world. The Australian Government should ensure that justice for Indigenous peoples is a priority in our overseas aid policy and in our own country, in accordance with the principles and recommendations of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Central to the Declaration, which Australia endorsed in 2009, is a commitment to work in genuine partnership with Indigenous peoples and ensure their fully informed consent before introducing policies and programs affecting their communities.”

From the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Social Justice Statement 2013-2014: Lazarus at our Gate: A critical moment in the fight against world poverty.

                                   

RELAY FOR LIFE:

A fundraiser will be held at Sacred Heart School in the Multi Purpose Room this Sunday 16th March, 9am - 2pm with all proceeds going to Relay for Life. For more information please phone Lythia Good 0400 722 670.

Come along and have some fun with BINGO 

Thursday Nights

OLOL Hall, Devonport Eyes down 7.30pm!

 Callers for Thursday 20th March are

Tony Ryan and Rod Clark.

MERSEY LEVEN CATHOLIC PARISH

HOLY WEEK & EASTER CEREMONIES 2014

           DEVONPORT:    Our Lady of Lourdes Church

           Good Friday:    Commemoration of the Passion        3.00pm

           Holy Saturday:  Easter Vigil                                       7.00pm

          PORT SORELL: St Joseph’s Mass Centre

          Good Friday     Stations of the Cross                        10.00am

          Easter Sunday   Easter Mass                                       8.30am

          LATROBE:         St Patrick’s Church

          Good Friday     Stations of the Cross                        11.00am

          Easter Sunday   Easter Mass                                     10.00am

         SHEFFIELD:      Holy Cross Church

         Good Friday     Stations of the Cross                         11.00am

         Easter Sunday   Easter Mass                                      11.30am

         ULVERSTONE:   Sacred Heart Church

         Holy Thursday   Mass of the Lord’s Supper                  7.30pm

         (Adoration till 9pm followed by Evening Prayer of the Church)

         Good Friday     Commemoration of the Passion         3.00pm

         Easter Sunday   Easter Mass                                      10.00am

         PENGUIN:         St Mary’s Church

         Good Friday     Stations of the Cross                         11.00am

         Easter Sunday   Easter Mass                                        8.30am

NEWS FROM ACROSS THE ARCHDIOCESE:

YOUTH LENT RETREAT – NEXT WEEKEND!

Looking for something to add to your lenten journey to make it really count this year? Don’t miss your opportunity to hear from Fr Morgan Batt and spend some time in prayer, reflection, and a bit of fun too with other young adults from around the state. It is on next weekend, Fri 21^st – Sat 22^nd March in Launceston (transport and accommodation included). You must register asap at: www.cymtas.org.au/lent2014 or contact Rachelle: rachelle.smith@aohtas.org.au

PALM SUNDAY PILGRIMAGE 2014:

CYM are hosting the fifth Archdiocesan wide Palm Sunday Pilgrimage on Sunday 13^th April.  It includes all your favourites and incredible guests in Sam Clear and James Edwards! Filled with energy, spirit, witness and hope – make sure you don’t miss it! Register Now (& win some great prizes) at: www.cymtas.org.au

MYSTERIOUS MOVEMENTS – LENT RETREAT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE! Join CYM and the dynamic Fr Morgan Batt and Adam Burns from the Archdiocese of Brisbane to help us on our Lenten journey. Friday 21^st – Saturday 22^nd March at Emmanuel Centre, Newstead. Register by 6^th March to make use of the early bird discount rate! For more info go to: cymtas.org.au/lent2014 or contact Rachelle: rachelle.smith@aohtas.org.au    

RACHEL'S VINEYARD: can help you find your inner voice? It can help you experience God's love and compassion on a profound level. It creates a place where men and women can share, often for the first time, their deepest feelings about abortion. You are allowed to dismantle troubling secrets in an environment of emotional and spiritual safety. To speak to someone please phone Anne Sherston on the confidential phone line 6229:8739 or email rachelsvineyardtas@aapt.net.au The next retreat is on May 23rd to 25th 2014.

Evangelii Gaudium

‘Each Christian and every community must discern the path that the Lord points out, but all of us are asked to obey his call to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the ‘peripheries’ in need of the light of the Gospel.’

-          Para 20, from Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis, Nov. 24, 2013

Interior penance

Interior penance is the movement of a “’contrite heart. (Psalm 51:19) drawn by divine grace to respond to the merciful love of God. This entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, a firm purpose not to sin again in the future and trust in the help of Go. It is nourished by the hope of divine mercy.

-           

-          From: Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Paragraph 300

(Prepared & contributed by the Catholic Enquiry Centre http://www.catholicenquiry.com)

                  Saint of the Week – St Cyril of Jerusalem (bishop, doctor) – Tuesday, March 18

            http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1326

Conflict between Cyril and neighbouring Bishop Acacius led to the former being accused of insubordination and of selling church property to help relieve the poor. Probably, however, a theological difference was also involved. Whatever the reason, Cyril was condemned and driven from Jerusalem. In fact, half his time as a bishop was spent in exile (his first experience was repeated twice). He finally returned to find Jerusalem torn with heresy, schism and strife, and wracked with crime.

Words of Wisdom

‘Unless we believe and see Jesus in the appearance of bread on the altar, we will not be able to see him in the distressing disguise of the poor.’ – Mother Teresa

http://quotecatholic.com/index.php/eucharist-mass/mother-teresa-appearance-of-bread/#more-1491

Meme of the week -

The purpose of a ‘meme’ is to convey, using text and words, a truth or a statement, with a touch of humour. This one brought a smile to my face – maybe it could do the same to you?