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/Anne 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)Devonport - Saturday (5:15pm– 5.45pm)
FIRST READING
RESPONSORIAL PSALM (R.) Lord, you are good and forgiving.
SECOND READING
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:
GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 24-43
PREGO REFLECTION ON TODAY'S GOSPEL:
I begin by asking the Holy Spirit to pray in me. Then, slowly, in the company of the Holy Spirit, I read the
text.
I see my all-powerful God presented as a farmer, patiently
waiting for harvest, or (from the extended gospel) as a man planting a mustard
seed, or as a woman leavening bread. Which image of God helps me and why?
I may wish to reflect on the seeds of my life. Where and in
what area of my life do I see good seed?
What could be represented by the darnel? Do I tend to see life as a simple matter of black and white
(weed seed versus good seed)? Perhaps there are occasions in my life when I am
sometimes tempted to force or come to a particular conclusion or fight a
certain situation.
What can I learn from the image of God, patient and loving? I spend whatever time is available allowing the Spirit to
pray in me. I remain still and at peace. I conclude my prayer by
thanking God for his care of me.
First
Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52
Weekday Masses
22nd July - 25th July, 2014
Tuesday: 9:30am Penguin
Wednesday: 9:30am Latrobe
Thursday: 12:00noon Devonport
Friday: 9:30am Ulverstone
Next
Weekend 26th & 27th July, 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 (In recess over winter) - Devonport (Emmaus House) Thursdays - 7:30pm
Christian Meditation - Devonport,
Emmaus House - Wednesdays 7pm.
Ministry Rosters 26th & 27th
July, 2014
Devonport:
Readers:
Vigil: M Gaffney, P McKinnon, H Lim 10.30am: E Petts , K Douglas, K Pearce
Ministers of
Communion: Vigil M Heazlewood, B & J Suckling, M Kelly, T Muir
10.30am: G Taylor, M Sherriff, T & S Ryan, M & B
Peters
Cleaners 25th July: KSC 1st Aug: M.W.C.
Piety Shop 26th July: R Baker 27th July: K Hull
Ulverstone:
Reader: S Willoughby Ministers of Communion: E Standring , M Fennell, L Hay, T Leary
Cleaners: M Swain, M
Bryan
Penguin:
Greeters: A Landers, P Ravaillion Commentator: M Kenney
Readers: M Murray,E Standring
Readers: M Murray,
Procession: Kiely Family Ministers of Communion: E Nickols , M Hiscutt
Liturgy: Sulphur Creek J Setting Up: F Aichberger Care of Church: M Murray, E Nickols
Port Sorell:
Readers: L Post, M Badcock Ministers of Communion: V Duff, G Duff
Clean /Prepare/Flowers: A Hynes
Clean /Prepare/Flowers: A Hynes
Latrobe:
Reader: Elizabeth Verhoeff Ministers of Communion: M Kavic, P Marlow
Procession: J Hyde
Procession: J Hyde
Your prayers are asked for
the sick:
Leanne
Boyd, Shirley White, Natasha Gutteridge, John Purtell, Shirley Ransom, Kath
Smith, Louise Murfet, Joan Stafford, Tom & Nico Knaap, Kieran McVeigh, Shanon
Breaden, Jamie
Griffiths, Anne Johnson, Lionel Rosevear, Kieran Simpson, Pauline Taylor, Arlene
Austria &..
Let us pray for those who have died recently: The Victims of the Malaysia Airline Tragedy, the fighting in Palestine, Syria and Iraq and victims of all tragedies; Clarrie Byrne, Suzanne Grimshaw, Lillian Brewer, Roy O'Halloran, Kathleen Edwards, William Wing, Len Hamilton and Flores McKenzie.
Let us pray for those who have died recently: The Victims of the Malaysia Airline Tragedy, the fighting in Palestine, Syria and Iraq and victims of all tragedies; Clarrie Byrne, Suzanne Grimshaw, Lillian Brewer, Roy O'Halloran, Kathleen Edwards, William Wing, Len Hamilton and Flores McKenzie.
Let us pray for those whose anniversary occurs
about this time: Richard
Carter, Ronald Buxton, Brian Innes, Ronald Grieve, William Dooley, Edward
Mahony, Jean Braid, Robbie McIver,
Marie Foster, Fay Capell, Marie Kingshott, Peter Kelly, Joyce Cornick,
Michael Campbell and
Lola Rutherford. Also Abundia & Santos Makiputin, Ponciano & Dominga
Torbiso, Rengel Gelacio.
May they Rest in
Peace
FROM FR MIKE:
A final reminder that next weekend Sr Christina Nuenzerling
will be at the Community Room at Ulverstone for a workshop on the Spirituality
of Pastoral Care. Over the years the parish has offered days with Fr Elio Capra
to assist people in their faith journey. This workshop with Sr Christina is
another stage on this journey and I encourage Parishioners to make the effort
to come to this event and recognise the ways in which the Lord works in the
things we do with and for one another. See on next page for more details of
this event.
Thanks to all those who have indicated that they are
willing to be part of the Pudding Club. After the meeting on Wednesday night
there are a couple of steps that need to occur in the next few days to ensure
that all the ‘ducks’ are lined up and then I will be able to give an indication
as to when things will happen and how everything will run. Hopefully it will
mean that we can start before the end of August but more as soon as everything
is in order.
The Parish Pastoral Council are seeking comments/questions
on the Draft Pastoral Plan which has been available for the past few weeks –
for anyone who hasn’t got a copy yet please note the internet version is
available at mlcathparishplan.blogspot.com.au. The Draft Plan and
comments/questions will be discussed at the next Open House Gathering on 8th
August at the Community Room, Ulverstone after which the Plan will be presented
to the Parish as our Blueprint for the next few years.
Last weekend I mentioned that a request had been received
from the Burnie-Wynyard Parish to hold a combined training session for Lay
Leaders of Liturgy – renewal for some and initial training for others. I am now
asking for Parishioners to consider members of our Parish whom they consider
suitable to be nominated to assist in this important ministry. Some of the
qualities needed are a sense of Church and an ability to share their faith in a
clear and understandable way. If you know of any suitable person/s please pray
for them that they might be able to accept an invitation to undertake this role
in our Parish.
Also, at the last meeting of the Liturgy Team in Devonport
a request was made for some further training of Readers and Extraordinary
Ministers of Communion. A Meeting will be held at OLOL Church
An initial Planning Meeting will be held on Wednesday 6th
August for a MenAlive Weekend to be held in the Parish on the weekend of
15-16th November. This is a powerful weekend for Men and their faith journey
and has been highly successful both in Tasmania
and Australia
Please Note these DATE CLAIMERS:
8th
August (Friday) at 7pm in the Community Room, Ulverstone – Open House and possibility
to discuss the Draft Parish Plan
24th August (Sunday) at the 10.30am
Mass at OLOL, Devonport – Mass for Children
Until next week, take care on the roads and in your homes,
Fr Mike
PETER'S
PENCE COLLECTION:
This weekend our diocese will take up the Peter’s Pence
Collection. Peters Pence, is the name traditionally given to an annual
contribution or tribute (originally of a penny from each householder holding
land of a certain value) paid to the Holy See.
While regular contributions go to the local parish or
diocese, the Peter's Pence collection goes directly to Rome
In the first year of his Pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI
stressed the proper meaning of this offering in an address in 2006:
“Peter’s Pence’ is the most characteristic expression of
the participation of all the faithful in the Bishop of Rome’s charitable
initiatives in favour of the universal Church. The gesture has not only a
practical value, but also a strong symbolic one, as a sign of communion with
the Pope and attention to the needs of one’s brothers; and therefore your
service possesses a refined ecclesial character.”
AUSTRALIAN CHURCH WOMEN:
Will host Fellowship
Day Friday 25th July at St. Paul ’s Anglican
Church East Devonport at 1.30 pm.
Please join us with a plate for afternoon Tea.
KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS:
Annual General Meeting Sunday 27th July, 6pm for 6:30pm at Sacred
Heart Church Community Room, Ulverstone. All parish men welcome!
CWL ULVERSTONE - INVITATION:
Catholic Women’s League is an organisation who have made a
difference in our Ulverstone Community since 1944. To help us celebrate our
70th birthday we invite any women of the parish and our Catholic Schools
communities to join us at 11am Mass on Tuesday 2nd September followed by lunch at the Lighthouse Hotel
Ulverstone. For catering purposes or any enquiries please phone Marie Byrne
6425:5774.
SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMENT:
“We cannot ignore the need to foster growth in our own
souls – the habit of heart that looks and sees who stands outside. Prayer and
reflection are not only ways to develop our religious life as individuals; they
are ways in which we can look beyond ourselves and put our ‘wants’ and ‘needs’
into perspective.”
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 17 Hawthorn won by 12 points. Winners: Chris Webb, Stephen Jones
BINGO Thursday Nights - OLOL Hall, Devonport. Eyes down 7.30pm!
Callers for Thursday 24th July are Jon
Halley & Merv Tippett
Evangelii Gaudium
‘Being Church means
being God’s people. This means that we are to be God’s leaven in the midst of
humanity. It means proclaiming and bringing God’s salvation into our world,
which often goes astray and needs to be encouraged, given hope and strengthened
on the way.’
-
Para
114 from Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis, Nov. 24, 2013
What are sacramentals?
‘Sacramentals
are sacred signs instituted by the Church to sanctify different circumstances
of life. They include a prayer accompanied by the sign of the cross and other
signs. Among the sacramentals which occupy an important place are: blessings,
which are the praise of God and a prayer to obtain his gifts, the consecration
of persons and the dedication of things for the worship of God.’
From:
Compendium of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church: Paragraph 351 (Catholic
Enquiry Centre www.catholicenquiry.com)
Feast Day of the Week – St Mary
Magdalene (July 22)
Most Scripture scholars today point out that there is no scriptural
basis for confusing the unnamed sinful woman who anointed the feet of Jesus and
the ‘real’ Mary Magdalene. The woman of ‘of Magdala’ was the one from whom
Christ cast out ‘seven demons’ (Luke 8:2). This is an indication that she was,
at the worst, ‘guilty’ of extreme demonic possession or, possibly, severe
illness.
Father Wilfrid J. Harrington, OP, writing for New Catholic Commentary,
says that ‘seven demons’ does not mean that Mary had lived an immoral life—a
conclusion reached only by means of a mistaken identification with the
anonymous woman of Luke 7:36.’ Father Edward Mally, SJ, writing in the Jerome
Biblical Commentary, agrees that she ‘is not...the same as the sinner of
Luke 7:37, despite the later Western romantic tradition about her.’
Mary Magdalene was one of the many ‘who were assisting them [Jesus and
the Twelve] out of their means.’ She was one of those who stood by the cross of
Jesus with his mother. And, of all the ‘official’ witnesses that might have
been chosen for the first awareness of the Resurrection, she was the one to
whom that privilege was given. She is known as the ‘Apostle to the Apostles.’
Words of Wisdom – GK Chesterton
‘I
doubt if anyone of any tenderness or imagination can see the hand of a child
and not be a little frightened of it. It is awful to think of the essential
human energy moving so tiny a thing; it is like imagining that human nature
could live in the wing of a butterfly or the leaf of a tree. When we look upon
lives so human and yet so small, we feel the same kind of obligation to these
creatures that [God] might feel.’
A cat might very well
have nine lives but, even so, this is one brave little kitty... This is a
sample of the type of memes found at the link below. It’s well worth clicking
through and scrolling through the range of images with text – there is
something to strike even the most discerning funny bone.
A Visit From the Goddess of Night
an article by Fr Ron Rolheiser
found at http://ronrolheiser.com/en/#.U8mupfmSzAY
There are few more insightful studies into the
spirituality of aging than the late James Hillman’s book, The Force of
Character. Ironically Hillman was more critical of Christian spirituality
than sympathetic to it; yet his brilliant insights into nature’s design and
intent offer perspectives on the spirituality of aging that often eclipse what
is found in explicitly Christian writings.
Hillman begins this book, a discourse
on the nature of aging, with a question: Why would nature design things so
that, as humans, just as we reach the pinnacle of our maturity and finally get
more of a genuine grip on our lives, our bodies begin to fall apart? Why
do we suffer such a bevy of physical ailments as we age? Is this a cruel trick
or does nature have a specific intent in mind when it does this? What might
nature have in mind when the ailments and physical foibles of age begin to play
some havoc with our days and nights?
He answers these questions with a
metaphor: The best wines have to be aged and mellowed in cracked old barrels.
This image of course needs little explication. We all know the difference
between a mellow old wine and a tart young one that could still use some maturation.
What we don’t grasp as immediately is how that old wine became so mellow, what
processes it had to endure to give up the sharp tang of its youth.
Thus, Hillman’s metaphor speaks
brilliantly: Our physical bodies are the containers within which our souls
mellow and mature; and our souls mellow and mature more deeply when our bodies
begin to show cracks than they do when we are physically strong and whole, akin
to what John Updike wrote after undergoing a death-threatening illness. For
Updike, there are some secrets that are hidden from health. For Hillman there
is a depth of maturity that is also hidden from health.
With that fundamental insight as
his ground, Hillman then goes on in each chapter of the book to take up one
aspect of aging, one aspect of the loss of the wholeness of our youth, and show
how it is designed to help mellow and mature the soul. And since he is dealing
with various lapses in our bodies and our health, we can expect that what
follows will be pretty earthy and far from glamorous.
Thus, for instance, he begins one
chapter with the question: Why does it happen that, as we age, we find it more
difficult to sleep uninterrupted through the night but instead are awakened
with the need to go to the bathroom and heed a call of nature? What is nature’s
wisdom and intent in that?
Hillman answers with another
insightful analogy: In monasteries, monks get up each night while it is still
dark and do an exercise they call “Vigils”. If you asked them why they don’t do
this prayer during the day so as to save themselves getting up in the middle of
the night, they would tell you that this particular exercise can only be done
at night, in the dark, in the particular mood that the night brings. The night,
the dark, and the more somber angels this brings cannot be artificially
replicated during the day, in the light. Light brings a sunnier mood and there
are certain things we will not face in the light of day, but only when the dark
besets us.
So what happens when our aging
bodies make us get up at night to heed nature’s call? We heed nature’s call but
then often are unable to fall back into sleep immediately. Instead we lie in
our beds trying to will ourselves back to sleep when something unwanted and
unintended happens. We receive a visit from the mythical goddess of night, Nyx.
And she doesn’t come alone; she brings along her children: unresolved
bitterness, lingering grudges, unwanted paranoia, frightening shadows, and a
bevy of other dark spirits whom we can normally avoid and whom we refuse to face
when the lights are on. But now, in the dark, unable to sleep, we must deal
with them, and dealing with them, making our peace with Nyx and her children,
helps mellow our souls and helps us grow to a deeper maturity.
Monks already know this and so,
each night, they schedule a session with the goddess of night. They don’t call
it that of course and might even be offended by the reference to their Vigil
prayer as a visit with this mythical goddess, but their spiritual wisdom
mirrors that of nature. Both nature and monks know that a certain work inside
the soul can only be done in the darkness of night.
Monks have secrets worth knowing
and nature eventually teaches them to us, whether we want the lesson or not.
Nature eventually turns us all into monks: Our aging bodies eventually become a
monastic cell within which our souls deepen, mellow, and mature, like wines
being seasoned in cracked old barrels.
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