Friday 25 April 2014

2nd Sunday of Easter

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 
FaceBook: Mersey Leven Catholic Parish
Weekly Newsletter: mlcathparish.blogspot.com.au

Parish Newsletter: mlcathparishnewsletter.blogspot.com.au
Secretary: Annie Davies/Ann Fisher
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)



Weekday Masses 29th April - 3rd May, 2014
Tuesday:         9:30am  Penguin
Wednesday:    9:30am  Latrobe
Thursday:       12noon  Devonport
Friday:            9:30am  Ulverstone, Devonport
Saturday:        9:00am  Ulverstone

Next Weekend 3rd & 4th May, 2014
Saturday Vigil:     6.00pm     Penguin
                                         Devonport
                                              
Sunday Mass:       8:30am    Port Sorell   (L.W.C.)   
                           9:00am    Ulverstone
                         10:30am    Devonport
                         11:00am    Sheffield   
                           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.
                    

Ministry Rosters 3rd & 4th May, 2014
Devonport:
Readers: Vigil:  M Kelly, B Paul, R Baker 10.30am E Petts
K Douglas, K Pearce
Ministers of Communion: Vigil M Doyle, M Heazlewood, S Innes
M Gerrand, P Shelverton
10.30am: B Peters, P Bolster, F Sly, J Carter, E McLagan, B Schrader Cleaners 2nd May: M.W.C.
9th May: S Riley, A Stegmann
Piety Shop 3rd May: H Thompson 4th May C Schrader  Flowers: J Cox, S O'Rourke

Ulverstone:
Reader:  K McKenzie Ministers of Communion: E Standring, M Fennell, E & K Reilly
Cleaners: K Bourke, L Griffiths  Flowers: G Doyle Hospitality: M & K McKenzie
Penguin:
Greeters: G & N Pearce Commentator:          
Readers: A Landers, M Kenney
Procession: M & D Hiscutt  Ministers of Communion: A Hyland, E Nickols Music: M Bowles
Liturgy:  Sulphur Creek J Setting Up: A Landers Care of Church: G Hills-Eade, A Landers

Port Sorell:
Readers:  V Duff, G Duff   Ministers of Communion:    D Leaman, L Post  
Clean /Prepare/Flowers: B Lee, A Holloway

                                  
                  
Your prayers are asked for the sick:
Zeb Stafford, Kieran McVeigh, Tony Becker, Rex Evans, Tom & Nico Knaap,
Kieran Simpson, Shanon Breaden, Jamie Griffiths and Anne Johnson

Let us pray for those who have died recently:
Lillian Stubbs, Sandy Cowling, Brian Harradine, Jane Dutton, Sr Valerie
and Nancye Callinan.
               
Let us pray for those whose anniversary occurs about this time:
David O'Rourke, Brian McCormick, Michael Harvey, William Cloney, Catherine Johnson, Julie Horniblow, Peter Rae, Mary Edmunds, Robert Cooper and Courtney Bryan
May they Rest in Peace

Readings This Week: 2nd Sunday of Easter - Year A
First Reading: Acts 2: 42-47; Second Reading: 1 Pet 1:3-9; Gospel John 20:19-31

Prego Reflection on the Gospel

As usual, I ready myself slowly. I ask the Holy Spirit to help me enter the Gospel scene ... I try to feel the fear and tension of the disciples.
I might be able to recall times in my life when I may have locked myself away from certain people, or difficult situations. Are there circumstances now when I close the door of my heart to the Lord or to others?
I stay with this for a while noticing how I feel.
I then watch as the Lord enters the room. I let the joy of the disciples wash over me. I look intently into the face of the Lord as he says to me ‘Peace’. How does this make me feel?
When I am ready, I listen to Thomas’ cry of recognition:“My Lord and my God!” Where and in whom do I recognize the Risen Lord?

Before ending my prayer, I simply spend some quiet moments in the presence of my Lord and my God , letting him love me.

Readings Next Week: 3rd Sunday of Easter - Year A
First Reading: Acts 2:14,22-33  Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-21  Gospel:   Luke 24:13-35
                                     

FROM FR MIKE:

Thanks to everyone who assisted, participated in or simply was part of the Ceremonies of Holy Week and the Easter Masses last weekend.  This was my first experience of a larger Parish Community since my days as the PP of Glenorchy which ended with my appointment to New Norfolk in 1995. In recent years I have worked with much smaller communities so to be able to share these special days with larger communities was really great – thank you.

As mentioned in last week’s Newsletter, and at the Masses I celebrated, next Friday, 2nd May, is the next ‘Meet and Greet’ Party within the Parish – this time to be held in the Community Room at Sacred Heart Church, Ulverstone. The gathering will commence at 7.30pm and will be in the same style as the February gathering at Devonport – nibbles and wine provided – any other poison is BYO. It will also be an opportunity to update the Community on the state of play as regards the Affordable Housing project and the other plans that have been proposed for the Ulverstone Church Precinct and where we are up to with them.  Parishioners are invited to come to the Church Community room at 6.30pm next Friday for a brief meeting and then stay for the ‘party’ when we will either celebrate what is coming or ‘drown our sorrows’ – depending on what people want to do.

I mentioned when I arrived that I would like to be able to arrange to see all those parishioners who are housebound who receive Communion regularly (and also hoping to find out if there are others whom we should be visiting) – unfortunately that hasn’t been as successful as I would have hoped. But I would ask that if you are one of those wonderful parishioners who take Communion to the sick and/or housebound could you please give a list of your current parishioners to our Parish Office – please write the names and addresses down with phone numbers (if possible) and send it in.

This week I have been at the funeral of two wonderful people. The first as a concelebrant – the funeral of the late Brian Harradine – was a wonderful example of what we do as Catholics to acknowledge the glory of the Resurrection with all the ceremony that the liturgy provides. The second was the funeral of a close friend where the pomp and ceremony were not present but the real glory of the Resurrection was just as evident. In spite of the differences in the celebrations both reminded me that we are an Easter People and that we all share in the glory of the Risen Christ and in our lives we are called to proclaim this wonderful mystery to all the world.

Until next week, take care on the roads and in your homes,
Fr Mike
MACKILLOP HILL:

Spirituality in the “Coffee Shoppe”
Come and enjoy  a relaxed morning coffee. Chat about some of the issues of living a Christian life. All welcome!
Monday 28th April – 10.30am – 12 noon

Prayer: Our Deepest Longing
Together we will explore the richness of prayer and develop a way that engages our hearts to commit to praying on a regular basis. Facilitator: Maureen O’Halloran Bookings appreciated.   Cost: $50 Five sessions on Thursday evening during May: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th

CANCELLATION
Due to unforeseen circumstances the seminar  entitled  “The Josephite Spirit” -  Saturday 3rd May is cancelled until further notice. 

Men & Spirituality with  Drasko Dizdar
The next men’s gathering  will be at MacKillop Hill, Forth on Monday  5th May,  7.30pm - 9 pm.     This is an opportunity for men to gather, share and search for the deeper meaning in their lives. All men welcome! Bring a friend!

Mother’s Day Morning Tea
Friday 9th May  10.30 - 12noon Cost $8.00 a head. Come and celebrate Mother’s Day with morning tea at our Centre.   Make up a party or come on your own.  Fun for all! Bookings necessary by the 6th May to help with the catering.

Email: rsjforth@bigpond.net.au                                      Phone: 6428:3095


  

HEALING MASS - St Mary's Catholic Church Penguin

Catholic Charismatic Renewal, are sponsoring a HEALING MASS at St Mary’s Catholic Church Penguin on Thursday 8th May 2014, commencing at 7.30pm.
All denominations are welcome to come and celebrate the liturgy in a vibrant and dynamic way using charismatic praise and worship, with the gifts of tongues, prophecy, and healing.
After Mass, teams will be available for individual prayer.
Please bring a friend and a plate for supper and fellowship in the adjacent hall.
If you wish to know more or require local transport, please contact Celestine Whiteley  on 6424 2043, or Michael Gaffney on 0447 018 068 at Devonport  or Zoe Smith at Latrobe on 6426 3073

CARE AND CONCERN:
Please remember that Care and Concern is available in the Parish. If you are aware of anyone who is in need of assistance and has given permission to be contacted by Care and Concern, please phone the Parish Office on 6424:2783.


By the end of 2012, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide exceeded 45 million, the highest level of displacement since 1994. These are men, women and children driven from their homes by war or civil violence.
Often these people are forced to seek refuge in countries that are themselves facing significant struggles. Eighty per cent of refugees are seeking protection in developing countries, making it even harder for those nations to lift themselves out of poverty.”
From the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Social Justice Statement 2013-2014: Lazarus at our Gate: A critical moment in the fight against world poverty.


FOOTY MARGIN:  Round 5 Richmond won by 43 points  Winners: A Davies, M Murray


                       
     




BINGO Thursday Nights - OLOL Hall, Devonport. Eyes down 7.30pm!
 Callers for Thursday 1st May are Jon Halley & Peter Bolster

                                                                                            

FAMILY MINISTRY
Thank you to all the children who have sent in their beautiful drawings.   We will share them with the parish over the coming weeks.  We would love to receive more pictures.  A colour copy can be sent to the parish office of emailed to mlcathparish-dsl@keypoint.com.au

by Luke aged 6
The Last Supper by Emmy


Jesus Died for us by Makenzi aged 9











Evangelii Gaudium

 ‘In all its activities, the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelisers. It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a centre of constant missionary outreach.’

Para 28  from Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis, Nov. 24, 2013

WHY CAN VENIAL SINS ALSO BE THE OBJECT OF SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION?
The confession of venial sins is strongly recommended by the Church, even if this is not strictly necessary, because it helps us to form a correct conscience and to fight against evil tendencies. It allows us to be healed by Christ and to progress in the life of the spirit.
From: Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Paragraph 306 (Contributed by the Catholic Enquiry Centre http://www.catholicenquiry.com)

Saint of the Week – St Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church (April 29)
Born in Siena, on March 25, 1347, Catherine was the youngest of 26 children. During her youth she had to contend with her parents trying to marry her off. However, she managed to retain the vow of virginity she took when she was 7, and her parents eventually let her join the lay order, the Third Order of St Dominic.
She lived in poverty, prayed extensively and routinely visited people who were sick, in hospital and in prison. Catherine was so effective at touching hearts that the Friars Preachers had to assign three priests to handle the confessions of her penitents.
A staunch supporter of the Papacy, she also dictated books full of doctrine and spiritual inspiration. She died on April 29, 1380 and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970.

SOCIAL JUSTICE – Proposed legislative changes pose concern
The Federal Government has signalled its intention to amend of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) has several concerns and questions regarding these amendments.
WORDS OF WISDOM
‘Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind.                                                               St Catherine of Siena

GOD’S QUIET PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES

The original post can be found at http://ronrolheiser.com/en/#.U1sZtPmSw_Y
The poet, Rumi, submits that we live with a deep secret that sometimes we know, and then not.
That can be very helpful in understanding our faith. One of the reasons why we struggle with faith is that God’s presence inside us and in our world is rarely dramatic, overwhelming, sensational, something impossible to ignore. God doesn’t work like that. Rather God’s presence, much to our frustration and loss of patience sometimes, is something that lies quiet and seemingly helpless inside us. It rarely makes a huge splash.
Because we are not sufficiently aware of this, we tend to misunderstand the dynamics of faith and find ourselves habitually trying to ground our faith on precisely something that is loud and dramatic. We are forever looking for something beyond what God gives us. But we should know from the very way God was born into our world, that faith needs to ground itself on something that is quiet and undramatic. Jesus, as we know, was born into our world with no fanfare and no power, a baby lying helpless in the straw, another child among millions. Nothing spectacular to human eyes surrounded his birth. Then, during his ministry, he never performed miracles to prove his divinity; but only as acts of compassion or to reveal something about God. Jesus never used divine power in an attempt to prove that God exists, beyond doubt. His ministry, like his birth, wasn’t an attempt to prove God’s existence. It was intended rather to teach us what God is like and that God loves us unconditionally.
Moreover, Jesus’ teaching about God’s presence in our lives also makes clear that this presence is mostly quiet and hidden, a plant growing silently as we sleep, yeast leavening dough in a manner hidden from our eyes, summer slowly turning a barren tree green, an insignificant mustard plant eventually surprising us with its growth, a man or woman forgiving an enemy. God, it seems, works in ways that are quiet and hidden from our eyes. The God that Jesus incarnates is neither dramatic nor splashy.
And there’s an important faith-lesson in this. Simply put, God lies inside us, deep inside, but in a way that’s almost non-existent, almost unfelt, largely unnoticed, and easily ignored. However, while that presence is never overpowering, it has within it a gentle, unremitting imperative, a compulsion towards something higher, which invites us to draw upon it. And, if we do draw upon it, it gushes up in us in an infinite stream that instructs us, nurtures us, and fills us with endless energy.
This is important for understanding faith. God lies inside us as an invitation that fully respects our freedom, never overpowers us; but also never goes away. It lies there precisely like a baby lying helpless in the straw, gently beckoning us, but helpless in itself to make us pick it up.
For example, C.S. Lewis, in explaining why he finally became, in his words, “the most reluctant convert in the history of Christendom”, writes that, for years, he was able to effectively ignore a voice inside him, precisely, because it was almost non-existent, almost unfelt, and largely unnoticed. On the other hand, in retrospect, he realized it had always been there, a gentle, incessant nudge, beckoning him to draw from it, something he eventually recognized as a gentle, but unyielding, imperative, a “compulsion” which, if obeyed, leads to liberation.
Ruth Burrows, the British Carmelite and mystic, describes a similar experience in her autobiography, Before the Living God.  Chronicling her late adolescent years, Burrows describes both her religious flightiness and her lack of attraction to the religious life at that time in her life. Yet she eventually ends up not only being serious about religion but becoming a Carmelite nun. What happened? One day, in a chapel, almost against her will, triggered by a series of accidental circumstances, she opened herself to voice inside her that she had, until then, mainly ignored because it lay inside her precisely as a voice that was almost non-existent, almost unfelt, and largely unnoticed. But once touched, it gushed up as the deepest and most real thing inside her and set the direction of her life forever afterwards. Like C.S. Lewis, she too, once she had opened herself to it, felt it as an unyielding moral compulsion opening her to ultimate liberation.
Why doesn’t God show himself to us more directly and more powerfully so as to make faith easier? That’s a fair question for which, partly, there is no fully satisfying answer. But the answer we do have lies in understanding the manner in which God manifests himself in our lives and in our world. Unlike most everything else that’s trying to get our attention, God never tries to overwhelm us. God, more than anyone else, respects our freedom. For this reason, God lies everywhere, inside us and around us, almost unfelt, largely unnoticed, and easily ignored, a quiet, gentle nudge; but, if drawn upon, the ultimate stream of love and energy.

















Thursday 17 April 2014

Resurrection of the Lord (Easter Sunday)

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 
FaceBook: Mersey Leven Catholic Parish
Weekly Newsletter: mlcathparish.blogspot.com.au

Parish Newsletter: mlcathparishnewsletter.blogspot.com.au
Secretary: Annie Davies/Ann Fisher
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)



Weekday Masses 22nd - 25th April, 2014
Tuesday:         9:30am  Penguin
Wednesday:    9:30am   Latrobe
Thursday:       12noon   Devonport
Friday:           9:30am   Devonport & Ulverstone

Next Weekend 26th & 27th April, 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. 

FIRST READING: Acts 10:34, 37-43

We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead.
Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil. Now I, and those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and also to the fact that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand. Now we are those witnesses – we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead – and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name.’
                                                                                    The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
(R.) This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
1. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end. Let the sons of Israel say: ‘His love has no end.’ (R.)
2. The Lord’s right hand has triumphed; his right hand raised me up. I shall not die, I shall live and recount his deeds. (R.)
3. The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes. (R.)


Second Reading:  Colossians 3:1-4
Look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is.
Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ is revealed – and he is your life – you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.
                                                                                                                        The word of the Lord.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia Alleluia!
Christ has become our paschal sacrifice; let us feast with joy in the Lord.
Alleluia!


GOSPEL: John 20: 1-9
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
The teaching of scripture is that he must rise from the dead.
It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
The Gospel of the Lord.


Prego Reflection from today's Gospel
I choose my time and place of prayer . I might like to pray this in the morning, and outside if possible....
or I allow my imagination to take me to a quiet place at dawn.
What sounds, smells and signs of life can I sense?
My focus goes to Mary Magdalene. She has gone to the tomb early while it is still dark. I find myself reflecting on her companionship with Jesus. What would she be missing most ?
When Mary Magdalene looks into the tomb, what does she think? What are her immediate feelings? I take time to ponder her reaction. When I am surprised or frightened to whom do I turn ?
Now my attention moves to Peter and John. John is able to run faster and reaches the tomb first. I notice his reactions. Peter, the older man, arrives maybe out of breath. I watch his reaction. Does he remember this when he preaches to Cornelius’ household? .
What is my response to the reality of the empty tomb? I let this take root in me.
I talk to God about the meaning of the Resurrection for me in my own life. I might like to choose to speak to one of the three characters in this gospel about what all this means.
Whilst we are conversing, I may be moved to ask for gratitude and a sense of deep joy.
Reflection taken from Prego - a weekly reflection from St Beuno's Ignatian Centre in Tremerchion - Nr St Asaph, Wales

Ministry Rosters 26th & 27th April, 2014
Devonport:
Readers: Vigil:  P Douglas, T Douglas, M Knight 10.30am A Hughes, T Barrientos, C Morriss
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 25th April: K.S.C. 2nd May: M.W.C.
Piety Shop 26th April: R McBain 27th April K Hull  
Flowers: M Knight, S Fletcher


Ulverstone:
Reader:  B O'Rourke Ministers of Communion: B Deacon, J Allen, G Douglas, L Hay
Cleaners: K Bourke, L Griffiths  Flowers: M Swain Hospitality: B O'Rourke

Penguin:
Greeters: A Landers, P Ravaillion Commentator: E Nickols 
Readers: M Murray, E Standring Procession: Y & R Downes
Ministers of Communion: M Kenney, J Garnsey 
Music: L Keen
Liturgy:  Penguin Setting Up: M Murray Care of Church: M Murray, E Nickols

Port Sorell:
Readers:  V Duff, G Duff Ministers of Communion: D Leaman, L Post Clean /Prep/Flowers: B Lee, A Holloway

          
Your prayers are asked for the sick:
Zeb Stafford, Kieran McVeigh, Tony Becker, Rex Evans, Tom & Nico Knaap, Rex Bates, Terry McKenna, Lionel Rosevear, Kieran Simpson, Geraldine & Phillip Roden, Shanon Breaden, Jamie Griffiths, Anne Johnson & ...

                   Let us pray for those who have died recently:
                   Sandy Cowling, Brian Harradine, Jane Dutton, Sr Valerie Burns, Nancye Callinan, Glen Clark, Tom & Gerard Poll.
           
Let us pray for those whose anniversary occurs about this time:
William Newland, Edith Tierney, Wilma Bacchin, Andrew Smith, Marie Nichols, John Redl,
Flo Smith, Ellen Lynch, Ronald Allison, Delia Soden, Ron Batten and Cedric Davey.
Also Hedley & Enid Stubbs, George Windridge Sen, Leo Kingsley, Henry & Madeline Castles, Liam & Freda Wallace and and deceased relatives and friends of Knight, Sheridan, Bourke and Clark families.

May they Rest in Peace 

Readings Next Week; 2nd Sunday of Easter - Year A
First Reading: Acts 2:42-47  Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9  Gospel:   John 20:19-31




    BAPTISMS:
    We welcome and congratulate...
 Braxton Peden  who is being baptised this weekend.






FROM FR MIKE:

With Fr Augustine I would like to wish all parishioners and your families a Happy and Holy Easter – we hope that you are able to embrace the joy of the Risen Christ and celebrate this wonderful Feast. Remember that it is not only chocolate which brings to joy to the heart – it is also the gift of sharing ourselves with real openness and love which truly changes the world. We hope that these days of sharing and joy will be a time for you and your families to ‘recreate’ and be refreshed.

It was really wonderful to be able to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with so many people at both Devonport and Ulverstone during the week as well – I will say something more about the other Ceremonies of Holy Week and the Vigil in next week’s newsletter.

The Affordable Housing project is almost complete at Ulverstone and so I would like the opportunity to share something of the other plans that have been proposed for the Church Precinct and where we are up to with them.  Such an opportunity will occur on Friday 2nd May when I had originally suggested that there might be another whole of Parish gathering (a follow-up to the welcome at Devonport in February). If interested people are able to come to the Church Community room at 6.30pm on that night for a brief meeting and then stay for the ‘party’ then we would be either able to celebrate what is coming or ‘drown our sorrows’ – depending on what people want to do.

I mentioned when I arrived that I would like to be able to arrange to see all those parishioners who are housebound who receive Communion regularly (and also hoping to find out if there are others whom we should be visiting) – unfortunately that hasn’t been as successful as I would have hoped. But I would ask that if you are one of those wonderful parishioners who take Communion to the sick and/or housebound could you please give a list of your current parishioners to our Parish Office – please write the names and addresses down with phone numbers (if possible) and send it in.



Until next week, take care on the roads and in your homes - Fr Mike.





DIVINE  MERCY:
Novena (as asked of St. Faustina by Jesus in the 1930's) will again be said in our parish this year - starting on Good Friday, Sacred Heart Church Ulverstone at 10:00 am each morning, and Emmaus House Devonport each evening at 6.30pm for 9 days. The devotion will conclude on Mercy Sunday (the next one after Easter) with 9:00am Mass at Sacred Heart Church Ulverstone.
We invite the whole Parish to be part of this, if you cannot make it to the Novena there will be pamphlets  in each Mass Centre. Mersey Leven Rosary Group.
                          

KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS:
Next meeting Sunday 27th April at Emmaus House Devonport 6.00pm for 6.30pm. Members and interested men invited to attend.



CARE AND CONCERN:
Please remember that Care and Concern is available in the Parish. If you are aware of anyone who is in need of assistance and has given permission to be contacted by Care and Concern, please phone the Parish Office on 6424:2783.


MACKILLOP HILL:

Spirituality in the “Coffee Shoppe”
Come and enjoy  a relaxed morning coffee. Chat about some of the issues of living a Christian life. All welcome!
Monday 28th April – 10.30am – 12 noon

Prayer: Our Deepest Longing
Together we will explore the richness of prayer and develop a way that engages our hearts to commit to praying on a regular basis. Facilitator: Maureen O’Halloran Bookings appreciated.   Cost: $50 Five sessions on Thursday evening during May: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th

The “Josephite Spirit”
Due to unforeseen circumstances the seminar entitled the Josephite Spirit. Saturday 3rd May is cancelled until further notice. 
Email: rsjforth@bigpond.net.au                                      Phone: 6428:3095



CWL ULVERSTONE:
$124.00 was raised for the Easter raffle held recently at Sacred Heart Church Ulverstone . Thank you everyone!


“The needs of people with disabilities remind us of the respect that must be accorded to the most vulnerable. The ministry we share with Christ reminds us of the sacredness of life from conception until death and the innate human dignity of each person throughout their life. In every person we see the image of God before us, no matter how great their need or challenging their circumstances.”
From the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Social Justice Statement 2013-2014: Lazarus at our Gate: A critical moment in the fight against world poverty.


FOOTY MARGIN:  Round 4  Collingwood won by 38 points  Winners: B Windebank, Smith Family.



BINGO Thursday Nights - OLOL Hall, Devonport. Eyes down 7.30pm!


 Callers for Thursday 24th April are Rod Clark & Bruce Peters






NEWS FROM ACROSS THE ARCHDIOCESE:

THANK YOU - PALM SUNDAY PILGRIMAGE:
Catholic Youth Ministry sends an enormous thank you to everyone who came along to join in Palm Sunday Pilgrimage and make it the great celebration of World Youth Day, our Tasmanian Church and Palm Sunday that it was! A heartfelt thanks to all who contributed in ways big and small to the running of the day, especially the Organising Committee, Special Guests, Musicians, Sponsors, Donors, and all Volunteers!
We appreciate the feedback of those who attended to assist in the planning of future events. Please take two minutes to complete our online survey at: www.cymtas.org.au/palmsundaypilgrimage


Evangelii Gaudium

‘I dream of a “missionary option,” that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channelled for the evangelisation of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation.’
-          Para 27 from Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis, Nov. 24, 2013

When is a person obliged to confess mortal sins?

Each of the faithful who has reached the age of discretion is bound to confess his or her mortal sins at least once a year and always before receiving Holy Communion.

From: Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Paragraph 305 (Contributed by the Catholic Enquiry Centre http://www.catholicenquiry.com)

Saint of the Week – ANZAC Day (April 25)
There are no feast days listed for saints during the week after Easter. However, with ANZAC Day falling on the Friday immediately after this sacred time in the Church year, it is appropriate for parishes to acknowledge those who gave their lives in the service of their country. Just bear in mind, as you prepare Masses or Liturgies for this time: ‘the Octave of Easter takes precedence over any other commemoration. The Easter prayers and readings will provide suitable texts for remembering the fallen and ANZAC themese can find expression in the music, homily, intercessions and church decorations.’ (The Ordo, 2014 p 61).
In the meantime, to help you prepare for ANZAC Day, however your community chooses to celebrate it, here are some useful links:
The link below offers a reflection on the significance of ANZAC Day, by a staffer at the Catholic Enquiry Centre in Sydney.
This is a link to a conference paper that suggests that ANZAC Day could be considered as Australia’s All Soul’s Day.
 The website of the National Office for the Participation of Women offers a prayer suitable for ANZAC Day.


Environment
Website supports a Catholic response to climate change
If you and members of your parish have ever wondered about how Catholics could, and should, respond to the issue of global warming, this is a website worth checking out. The Catholic Climate Covenant (previously, the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change) was formed in 2006 with the support of both the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the National Religious Partnership for the Environment.

Words of Wisdom
According to the Ordo, ‘the 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost are celebrated in joyful exultation, as one feast day, or better, as one “great Sunday”.’ This resource also reminds those of us responsible for preparing liturgies and weekend Masses that ‘these [Sundays] above all others are the days for singing of the Alleluia.’
The Ordo 2014

Meme of the week
This meme is featured on a blog simply called A Lay Catholic. I like it, for its simplicity – simple lay-out, simple title and the simple quote at the top of the page, from GK Chesterton: ‘The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man.’ This meme also is pretty funny (especially if you are a fan of The Family Guy.)







Our History

Palms Australia started in Sydney in 1956 as the Paulian Association. Groups formed in around 100 communities to identify local issues, reflect on values and take appropriate action to address social inequality and assist people in need.
After identifying that similar issues needed to be addressed globally, in 1961, the program was extended to communities overseas which request the placement of volunteers to assist develop health, education and other facilities. More recently Palms volunteers have been “opening our hands to the world” in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, including communities in Tanzania, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and indigenous Australia.

Our Vision

People cooperating across cultures in order to achieve a just, sustainable, interdependent and peaceful world free of poverty.

Our Mission

Facilitate, and be open to mutual formation and inspiration, with those who volunteer to:
  1. Advance the awareness, enthusiasm and involvement of Australian and international communities in shared action to achieve just, sustainable, and peaceful development.
  2. Participate in an exchange of knowledge and skills to meet the requests of communities seeking to reduce poverty by developing the capacities of their people and organisations.

Our Approach (how we achieve our vision and mission)

The vision and mission will be enabled where all are prepared and inspired to engage mutually enriching and challenging relationships of understanding, acceptance and care, and to share worlds of meaning in the deepest sense, with a people of a culture different from one’s own. This is how we “open our hands to the world” and achieve the solidarity described in Palms’ Values Statement.

Our Values

Solidarity is the key energising value of Palms Australia. Solidarity is a principle arising out our reflection that all living creatures are interdependent and that relationship invites responsibility and therefore solidarity.
Solidarity involves liberation of victims, oppressors and innocent bystanders, allowing all life to live to the full and is not about a vague sort of compassion or shallow distress at others’ misfortune. The more who achieve this potential in life, the greater will be the contribution of all to a common or universal good.
In valuing solidarity we value love that is lived out in respect for the dignity of all life. We value humility lived out in personal integrity and responsibility. We value justice lived out in a willingness to challenge structures that prevent collective participation in creative solutions.
The interaction of these values calls us to further values. The interface of love and humility suggests transparency. The interface of humility and justice suggests ecological sensitivity. The interface of justice and love suggests participative community building. The interface of love, humility and justice gives grace to the value of peace. Movement to such deep peace will be a movement to solidarity.

Palms Encounters

Travel for 12 days to encounter Kiribati or Timor-Leste and visit a variety of development projects. For more information, visit our encounter page. Spaces are limited so early bookings are essential.
August 3 – 14, 2014 – Palms Encounter, Kiribati
September 22 – October 4, 2014 – Palms Encounter, Timor-Leste

THE RESURRECTION AS REVEALING GOD AS REDEEMER, NOT AS RESCUER
A Reflection by Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI
http://ronrolheiser.com/the-resurrection-as-revealing-god-as-redeemer-not-as-rescuer/#.U1Bji_mSw_Y
That’s a line from Daniel Berrigan that rightly warns us that faith in Jesus and the resurrection won’t save us from humiliation, pain, and death in this life. Faith isn’t meant to do that. Jesus doesn’t grant special exemptions to his friends, no more than God granted special exemptions to Jesus. We see this everywhere in the Gospels, though most clearly in Jesus’ resurrection. To understand this, it’s helpful to compare Jesus’ resurrection to what Jesus himself does in raising Lazarus from the dead.
The Lazarus story begs a lot of questions.  John, the evangelist, tells us the story: He begins by pointing out that Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary, were very close friends of Jesus. Hence, we are understandably taken aback by Jesus’ seeming lack of response to Lazarus’ illness and the request to come and heal him. Here’s the story:
Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary, sent word to Jesus that “the man you love is ill” with the implied request that Jesus should come and heal him. But Jesus’ reaction is curious. He doesn’t rush off immediately to try to heal his close friend. Instead he remains where he is for two days longer while his friend dies. Then, after Lazarus has died, he sets off to visit him. As he approaches the village where Lazarus has died, he is met by Martha and then, later, by Mary. Each, in turn, asks him the question: “Why?”  Why, since you loved this man, did you not come to save him from death? Indeed, Mary’s question implies even more: “Why?” Why is it that God invariably seems absent when bad things happen to good people? Why doesn’t God rescue his loved ones and save them from pain and death?
Jesus doesn’t offer any theoretical apologia in response. Instead he asks where they have laid the body, lets them take him there, sees the burial site, weeps in sorrow, and then raises his dead friend back to life.  So why did he let him die in the first place? The story begs that question: Why? Why didn’t Jesus rush down to save Lazarus since he loved him?
The answer to that question teaches a very important lesson about Jesus, God, and faith, namely, that God is not a God who ordinarily rescues us, but is rather a God who redeems us. God doesn’t ordinarily intervene to save us from humiliation, pain, and death; rather he redeems humiliation, pain, and death after the fact.
Simply put, Jesus treats Lazarus exactly the same way as God, the Father, treats Jesus: Jesus is deeply and intimately loved by his Father and yet his Father doesn’t rescue him from humiliation, pain, and death. In his lowest hour, when he is humiliated, suffering, and dying on the cross, Jesus is jeered by the crowd with the challenge: “If God is your father, let him rescue you!” But there’s no rescue.  Instead Jesus dies inside the humiliation and pain. God raises him up only after his death.
This is one of the key revelations inside the resurrection: We have a redeeming, not a rescuing, God.
Indeed, the story of the raising of Lazarus in John’s Gospel was meant to answer a burning question inside the first generation of Christians: They had known Jesus in the flesh, had been intimate friends with him, had seen him heal people and raise people from the dead, so why was he letting them die? Why wasn’t Jesus rescuing them?
It took the early Christians some time to grasp that Jesus doesn’t ordinarily give special exemptions to his friends, no more than God gave special exemptions to Jesus. So, like us, they struggled with the fact that someone can have a deep, genuine faith, be deeply loved by God, and still have to suffer humiliation, pain, and death like everyone else. God didn’t spare Jesus from suffering and death, and Jesus doesn’t spare us from them.
That is one of the key revelations inside of the resurrection and is the one we perhaps most misunderstand. We are forever predicating our faith on, and preaching, a rescuing God, a God who promises special exemptions to those of genuine faith: Have a genuine faith in Jesus, and you will be spared from life’s humiliations and pains! Have a genuine faith in Jesus, and prosperity will come your way! Believe in the resurrection, and rainbows will surround your life!
Would it were so! But Jesus never promised us rescue, exemptions, immunity from cancer, or escape from death. He promised rather that, in the end, there will be redemption, vindication, immunity from suffering, and eternal life. But that’s in the end; meantime, in the early and intermediate chapters of our lives, there will be the same kinds of humiliation, pain, and death that everyone else suffers.
The death and resurrection of Jesus reveal a redeeming, not a rescuing, God.