28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Weekly Homily Podcast: podomatic.com/mikedelaney

Parish Magazine:  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)

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

FIRST READING: Isaiah 25:6-10

RESPONSORIAL PSALM:  (R.) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

SECOND READING: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our heart that we might see how great is the hope to which we are called. Alleluia

GOSPEL: Matthew 21:1-14

PREGO REFLECTION ON TODAY'S GOSPEL:

I give myself time to familiarise myself with this Gospel story. I settle down to read it slowly, over and over, letting its message seep down into my heart. Perhaps I read it from the perspective of those who have refused the invitation of the king. I could imagine that I have just been personally invited, by the king’s own servant, to the feast. What is my response? Are there ‘urgent matters’ that are preventing me from accepting God’s invitation? Am I able to choose God’s invitation freely, confident that this will always be the right choice? Or I might like to look at the text from the perspective of the king, as he makes preparations for the wedding. How does he feel as his invitations are rejected and he sees his hall filled with those from the ‘crossroads’, social and religious outcasts who are now invited guests? Does this challenge my notions of Kingdom membership and belonging? Maybe I read the parable from the viewpoint of the servants.

When I look at my own life can I recognise in myself a willing servant, ready to take the king’s invitation out to others, whatever the cost? I spend some time expressing my deep thanks for having been invited to the wedding banquet of my King and that Jesus willingly sacrificed himself to come and invite me personally. 

Weekday Masses 14th - 17th October, 2014

Tuesday:      9:30am Penguin 

Wednesday: 9:30am No Mass Latrobe...St Teresa of Jesus

Thursday:   10:30am Karingal

Friday:        11:00am Mt St Vincents ... St Ignatius

Next Weekend 18th & 19th October, 2014

Saturday Vigil:  6:00pm Penguin & Devonport      

Sunday Mass:   8:30am Port Sorell (LWC), 
                       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 -  Devonport (Emmaus House) Thursdays - 7:30pm

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

Ministry Rosters 18th & 19th October, 2014

Devonport:

Readers: Vigil: P Douglas, T Douglas, M Knight 10.30am: F Sly. J Tuxworth, K Pearce

Ministers of Communion: Vigil T Muir, M Davies, J Cox, M Gerrand, T Bird, S Innes

10.30am: C Schrader, R Beaton, E McLagan, B&N Mulcahy, L Hollister

Cleaners 17th Oct: K Hull, F Stevens 24th Oct:  P & T Douglas

Piety Shop 18th Oct: R Baker 19th Oct: K Hull Flowers: M Breen, S Fletcher

Ulverstone:

Reader:  F Pisano Ministers of Communion:  E Standring, M Fennell, L Hay, T Leary

Cleaners: M McKenzie, M Singh, N Pearce  Flowers: C Mapley 

Hospitality: Filipino Community

Penguin:

Greeters: G & N Pearce  Commentator:  Y Downes    Readers:  M & D Hiscutt

Procession: S Ewing, J Barker  Ministers of Communion: A Guest, J Garnsey

Liturgy:  Sulphur Creek J Setting Up: F Aichberger Care of Church: M Bowles, A Hyland

Port Sorell:

Readers:  P Anderson, T Jeffries  Ministers of Communion: L Post

Clean /Prepare/Flowers: K Hampton

Latrobe:        

Reader: H Lim  Ministers of Communion: M Mackey  Procession: J Hyde & Co  

Music: Jenny & May

                  

Your prayers are asked for the sick:  Anne Johnson, Archbishop Adrian Doyle, Joan Singline, Eloise Riley, Shanon Breaden, Shirley Fidler, Shirley White, Tom Knaap, Kath Smith, Jamie Griffiths,  Arlene Austria &.....

Let us pray for those who have died recently:  Sr. Josepha O'Dwyer op, Kieran McVeigh, Helen Kent, Leslie Lavelle, George Farrow, Jack Grant, Max Davis, Shirley Ranson, Kaye Jackson, Pauline Kennedy, Ted McCarthy, David Windridge, Peggy Scanlon, Betty Sylvester, Terence Doody and Allan Horton.

Let us pray for those whose anniversary occurs about this time: Peter Beard, Mary Lube, Mary Guthrie, James Graham, Valda Burford, Jock Donachie, Wayne Radford, Winifred Byrne, Russell Doodt, Freda Jackson and Vonda Bryan.

May they rest in peace

  

Readings Next Week; 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

First Reading: Isaiah 45:1. 4-6     Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5    Gospel:   Matthew 22:15-21 

FROM FR MIKE:
The next stage of discernment for the training of new parishioners as Lay Leaders of Liturgy in the absence of a Priest will take place during the next week or so. Each week the Parish benefits from the support given by the present (and past) Lay Leaders and I’m grateful for their willingness to assist in this ministry.

Next week Fr Augustine and I will be in Hobart for a Pastoral Conference on Wednesday and I have a meeting in Melbourne on Thursday. Unfortunately this will mean that there will not be Mass at Latrobe on Wednesday otherwise weekday Masses are as normal.

The 2^nd edition of the Catholic Standard has been published – and for the second time we have had difficulties getting our copies. The first edition was delivered to OLOL School and mistakenly distributed to all the children (as had been the Tasmanian Catholic had been) – there were a few available for Devonport only. The 2^nd edition was addressed to 99 Stewart Street and so didn’t arrive until Tuesday but they are here now so please enjoy.

We are still looking for some winners from our Footy Margins Fundraiser during the year – please contact the Parish Office for the Round Numbers where we still need winners.

You might be surprised to know that I have a personal Blog (not updated that often) but this week I have started to add reports of the Synod of the Family – you can read it at http://mikeadelaney.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/synod-on-family-1st-post.html ; you can also get a good coverage at http://ncronline.org/. There are also reports, mainly video, to be found at http://synod14.vatican.va/content/sinodo/it/sinodo2014/events/day.html/2014/10/5  and moving through the pages.

There are several events coming up during the next weeks:

·         Mass for Deceased Parishioners at 7pm on Wednesday, 5th November at OLOL (this   year);

·         Open House at the Parish House, Devonport on 7^th November from 7pm;

·         menALIVE weekend retreat on 15^th-16^th November at St Patrick’s Catholic School,   Latrobe;

·         training for Lay Liturgical Leaders – dates to be confirmed

·         Sacrament of Anointing Mass 2^nd December at 10.30am OLOL.

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

Fr Mike

CATHOLIC STANDARD NEWSLETTER:

Available from all Mass Centres this weekend, please take a copy home with you today!

CATHOLIC MISSION:

Next weekend our parish will be holding the annual Catholic Mission World Mission Appeal. This year we are invited to reach out and support the crucial work of the Jamaican Catholic Church in helping people turn away from violence and crime to seek a new future through the power of education and the spirit of Jesus Christ. Please come prepared next weekend and give generously.

Freecall: 1800 257 296 catholic mission.org.au/Jamaica

MERSEY LEVEN ROSARY GROUP:

Remember next Sunday 19th October is the Mersey Leven Pilgrimage, please see Church noticeboards for more information. Sorry our free bus is booked out. Hoping to see you there, if you are unable to make it to all Mass Centres, please make it to your own as we pray for peace in the world.

MACKILLOP HILL:

MELBOURNE CUP LUNCHEON:

Tuesday 4th November - BBQ, salads and sweet lunch - BYO drinks (glasses provided). Best Cup Day Hat - female or male - Lucky Saddle. $15 per person, bookings essential by 28th October - Phone 6428:3095 or Mary Webb 6425:2781

NOVEMBER REMEMBRANCE BOOKS:

November is the month we remember in a special way all those who have died. Should you wish anyone to be remembered, write the names of those to be prayed for on the outside of an envelope and place the clearly marked envelope in the collection basket at Mass or deliver to the Parish Office by Thursday 23rd October.

ANOINTING MASS OLOL:

A meeting will be held at Emmaus House on Thursday 30th October  at 2 pm to make arrangements for OLOL Anointing Mass. If you would be interested in helping out please join us at this meeting!

   

OLOL PIETY SHOP:  Just arrived this week Christmas cards. The Piety Shop will be open before and after Mass Saturday evenings and before and after Mass Sunday mornings.

  

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

       Callers for Thursday 16th October are Rod Clark and Bruce Peters.

NEWS FROM ACROSS THE ARCHDIOCESE:

Solemnity of St. Teresa of Jesus: Wednesday 15th October, sung Mass will be celebrated - Carmelite Monastery, 7 Cambridge Street, Launceston at 9:30am. The Celebrant and homilist will be Fr Paul Maunder OCD.  Morning tea after Mass. All welcome to this celebration. A Novena of Masses and Prayers will be offered from 6th October. Intentions to be sent to Mother Prioress.

St Mary's College Past Scholars' Association - Annual Reunion & AGM: Saturday 8th November - 12noon Mass at St Mary's Cathedral, 1pm AGM and afternoon tea in the College's Student Resource Centre. Past Scholars are invited to join us for the Mass, AGM and afternoon tea with the opportunity to view the new Heritage Centre. RSVP by Wednesday 22nd October. For more information contact Melissa McLeod: mamcleod@smc.tas.edu.au or phone 6108:2560

SAINTS OF THE WEEK:

Oct 13           St Edward the Confessor

The patron saint of politicians, St Edward the Confessor was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England. Considered by some to be “unworldly and pious,” his reign became noteworthy because it seemingly led to the decline of royal power in England.

The word Confessor is added to his title because it recognises that he e lived a saintly life but was not a martyr. He was canonised in 1161 by Pope Alexander III, and is commemorated on October 13 by both the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.  Saint Edward was one of the national saints of England until King Edward III adopted Saint George as patron saint in about 1350.

Oct 15           St Teresa of Jesus (Avila)                

Founder of the Discalced Carmelites and Doctor of the Church. St Teresa spoke of prayer as ‘nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us. The important thing is not to think much but to love much and so do that which best stirs you to love. Love is not great delight but desire to please God in everything.’

So extraordinary were the attractiveness of her personality, her energy, gaiety and sense of fun – ‘May God preserves us from sullen saints!’ – that her own religious sisters could not believe her to be a saint. (Carmelite Ruth Burrows)

Oct 17           St Ignatius of Antioch        

Ignatius was a convert and a disciple of St John the Evangelist. St Peter appointed him Bishop of Antioch, which diocese he governed for forty years. Arrested in the reign of Emperor Trajan he was taken in chains to Rome and devoured by lions. He ended his saintly life exclaiming, ‘May I become agreeable bread to the Lord.’

Oct 18           Luke the Evangelist  

Author of Luke’s Gospel and Acts of the Apostles, a physician, probably born a Greek and a Gentile, a companion of St Paul on his travels. He portrays the loving kindness of Jesus and has a special connection with the women in Jesus' life, especially Mary. In Luke alone we hear the story of the Annunciation and Mary's visit to Elizabeth, including the Magnificat, the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, and the story of the two disciples who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

Evangelii Gaudium

“Let us renew our confidence in preaching, based on the conviction that it is God who seeks to reach out to others through the preacher, and that he displays his power through human words.”

-          Para 136 from Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis, Nov. 24, 2013

A will to shape the future

In this section, we are highlighting various Catholic charities your parishioners might like to consider supporting, by leaving a bequest. Some of these charities could already be recipients of the generosity of members of your community. So far, we have drawn attention to the St Vincent de Paul Society, Aid to the Church In Need and Rosies. This week, we commend to you the work of the St Columban Mission Society. St Columban’s Mission Society is committed to working with the poor in many countries throughout Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. “Many of our friends,” writes Regional Director Fr Gary Walker, “have discovered a new way to ensure that Columban missionaries and their people are supported for a long time to come.”

“They are including St Columban’s Mission Society in their wills. Perhaps when you are making or revising your will you, too, could remember to include St. Columbans Mission Society.”

http://www.columban.org.au/bequests/

Words of Wisdom – St Cyprian

‘May all Christians be found worth of either the pure white crown of a holy life or the royal red crown of martyrdom.’

http://quotecatholic.com/index.php/holiness-devout-life/st-cyprian-pure-white-crown/#more-1479

Meme of the week

I discovered a fantastic little business online during the week, Tiny Saints. According to its Facebook page, Tiny Saints is a family-owned business in the USA that “started in 2012 the way all new things start: someone got an idea.”

“That someone was us, the Klinker family. We wanted to meet our kids where they were at by designing saint products that look and feel like the toys and characters they see every day.”

The Klinkers saw their products strike a chord with youth and adults as well. This is a meme they offered recently, to acknowledge Blessed Mary of Calcutta (otherwise known as Mother Teresa). 

SACRED PERMISSION TO BE HUMAN AND THE TOOLS TO HANDLE FRUSTRATION

An article by Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI. The original can be found at http://ronrolheiser.com/sacred-permission-to-be-human-and-the-tools-to-handle-frustration/#.VDhcYfmSzAY

Sometimes certain texts in the bible make you wonder: Is this really the word of God? Why is this text in scripture? What’s the lesson here?

For example, we have verses in the Psalms, in passages that we pray liturgically, where we ask God to bash the heads of the children of our enemies against a rock. How does that invite us to love our enemies? We see passages in the Book of Job where Job is in despair and curses not on only the day he was born but the very fact that anyone was born. It’s impossible to find even a trace of anything positive in his lament. Similarly, in a rather famous text, we hear Qoheleth affirm that everything in our lives and in the life of this world is simple vanity, wind, vapor, of no substance and of no consequence. What’s the lesson here? Then, in the Gospels, we have passages where the apostles, discouraged by opposition to their message, ask Jesus to call down fire and destroy the very people to whom they are supposed to minister. Hardly an exemplar for ministry!

Why are these texts in the bible? Because they give us sacred permission to feel the way we feel sometimes and they give us sacred tools to help us deal with the shortcomings and frustrations of our lives.  They are, in fact, both very important and very consoling texts because, to put it metaphorically, they give us a large enough keyboard to play all the songs that we need to play in our lives. They give us the laments and the prayers we need to utter sometimes in the face of our human condition, with its many frustrations, and in the face of death, tragedy, and depression.

To give a simple example: A friend of mine shares this story: Recently he was in church with his family, which included his seven year-old son, Michael, and his own mother, Michael’s grandmother. At one point, Michael, seated beside his grandmother, whispered aloud: “I’m so bored!” His grandmother pinched him and chided him: “You are not bored!” as if the sacred ambience of church and an authoritative command could change human nature. They can’t. When we’re bored, we’re bored! And sometimes we need to be given divine permission to feel what we’re spontaneously feeling.

Some years ago, for all the noblest of intentions, a religious community I know wanted to sanitize the Psalms that they pray regularly in the Divine Office to rid them of all elements of anger, violence, vengeance, and war. They had some of their own scripture scholars do the work so that it would be scholarly and serious. They succeeded in that, the product was scholarly and serious, but stripped of all motifs of violence, vengeance, anger, and war what resulted was something that looked more like a Hallmark Card than a series of prayers that express real life and real feelings. We don’t always feel upbeat, generous, and faith-filled. Sometimes we feel angry, bitter, and vengeful. We need to be given sacred permission to feel that way (though not to act that way) and to pray in honesty out of that space.

My parents, and for the most part their whole generation, would, daily, in their prayers, utter these words: To You do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Our own generation tends to view this as morbid, as somehow denigrating both the beauty and joy of life and the perspective that faith is meant to give us. But there’s a hidden richness in that prayer. In praying in that way, they gave themselves sacred permission to accept the limits of their lives. That prayer carries the symbolic tools to handle frustration; something, I submit, we have failed to sufficiently give to our own children. Too many young people today have never been given the symbolic tools to handle frustration, nor sacred permission to feel what they are feeling. Sometimes, all good intentions aside, we have handed our children more of Walt Disney than Gospel.

In the Book of Lamentations we find a passage that while sounding negative on the surface, is paradoxically, in the face of death and tragedy, perhaps the most consoling text of all. The text simply states that, sometimes in life, all we can do is put our mouths to the dust and wait!

That’s sound advice, spoken from the mouth of experience and the mouth of faith.

The poet, Rainer Marie Rilke, once wrote these words to a friend who, in the face of the death of a loved one, wondered how or where he could ever find consolation. What do I do with all this grief?  Rilke’s reply: “Do not be afraid to suffer, give that heaviness back to the weight of the earth; mountains are heavy, seas are heavy.”  They are, so too is life sometimes and we need to be given God’s permission to feel that heaviness.