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
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
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: (R.) The
waters of the river gladden the city of God
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! I have chosen and sanctified this house, says the
Lord, that my name may remain in it for all time. Alleluia!
GOSPEL: John 2:13-22
PREGO REFLECTION :
It is worth knowing that the animals being sold were for
sacrifice. Further, the activity took place in the part of the Temple Temple
I become still, and ask the Holy Spirit to open my mind and
heart to the Gospel message. Slowly I read the text.
I imagine myself arriving in the Temple Jerusalem ;
or a poor Jew from Jerusalem
I look at all the activity and listen to the noise? How do
I feel as I notice what’s going on? Is this what I expected?
I watch Jesus and what he does? What is his real concern?
How do I feel? Do I do anything? How do people around me react? Do I talk to
them about what’s happening? What do we say to one another?
After everything has calmed down, perhaps I go to Jesus.
What do I say to him? What does he say to me?
I end my prayer with Jesus, expressing whatever is in my
heart.
Weekday
Masses 11th -14th November, 2014
No weekday Masses due
to Priests on Retreat
Next Weekend 15th & 16th November, 2014
Saturday Vigil: 6:00pm Penguin & Devonport
Sunday Mass: 8:30am Port Sorell (LWC)
9:00am Ulverstone
10:30am Devonport
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 15th & 16th November, 2014
Devonport:
Readers:
Vigil: V Riley, A Stegmann 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, B&N Mulcahy, L Hollister
Cleaners 14th Nov: P Shelverton, E
Petts 21st Nov: K.S.C
Piety Shop 15th Nov: J DiPietrio 16th Nov: K Hull
Ulverstone:
Reader: D Prior Ministers of Communion: P Steyn, E Cox, C Singline, J
Landford
Cleaners: K Bourke Flowers: P Mapley Hospitality: M Byrne, G Doyle
Penguin:
Greeters: A Landers, P Ravaillion Commentator: M Kenney
Readers:
M Murray, E Standring Procession: Kiely Family
Ministers of Communion: T Clayton,
E Nickols Liturgy: Sulphur Creek J
Setting Up: F Aichberger Care of Church: M Bowles, A Hyland
Port Sorell:
Readers: D Leaman, T Jeffries Ministers of Communion: P Anderson
Clean /Prepare/Flowers: C
Howard
Latrobe:
Reader: S Ritchie Ministers of Communion: P Mackey, P Marlow
Procession: J Hyde & Co Music: Jenny & May
Your prayers
are asked for the sick: John Kirkpatrick, Mely Pybus, Melissa Gilbert,
Shanon Breaden, Shirley Fidler, Shirley White, Tom Knaap, Kath Smith, Jamie Griffiths &.....
Shanon Breaden, Shirley Fidler, Shirley White, Tom Knaap, Kath Smith, Jamie Griffiths &.....
Let us pray for those who
have died recently:
Margaret
Pratt, Helen James, Maurice Tate, Lemuel Macapil, Margaret Williams, Leon Breaden, Frances Roberts, Helen Kent and Christine
MacDonald.
Let us pray
for those whose anniversary occurs about this time:
Jessie Hope, Shirley Winkler, Finbarr Kennedy, Ronald
Garnsey, Catherine Fraser,
Olive Purton and Giuseppi Demasi. Also deceased members of the Legonaries of Mary.
Olive Purton and Giuseppi Demasi. Also deceased members of the Legonaries of Mary.
May they rest in peace
First Reading
Fr Mike
Last weekend I mentioned that there were nomination forms
seeking members for our Parish Pastoral Council. The fact that they weren’t
mentioned in the notices also meant that few, if any, were picked up in most
centres. Please, think about people you might like to see as members of our Pastoral
Council and consider making a nomination to help our Parish to continue to move
forward as we address the Parish Pastoral Plan, +Julian’s Start Afresh From
Christ and Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium.
Please keep those men of our Parish (and surrounding
Parishes) who will be attending the upcoming menALIVE weekend in your prayers.
The weekend is a 30 hour opportunity for men of all levels of faith to come
together and journey through a process of deepening their faith and renewing
the Parish. I know there are many demands on our time and energy but this 30
hours can be a life changer.
Thanks to all those who supported the friends and relatives
of the deceased of our Parish at the Mass at Devonport on Wednesday evening –
there was a great turnout and this will now be a regular yearly event.
In the next few weeks some gates will be installed at
various access points to Our Lady of Lourdes School .
These gates will be closed during School Hours to ensure the safety of the
children but will be open of a weekend. This will mean slightly less access for
funerals so I ask parishioners to be understanding on such occasions.
There are a number of people who are either coeliac or
gluten intolerant and so are unable to receive the Body of Christ at Communion
– would they please make themselves known to either Fr Augustine or myself and
we will ensure that they are able to receive the Precious Blood from one of the
Chalices.
Next week Fr Augustine and I will be on our Annual Retreat.
There are no Masses during the week but if an emergency arises please phone the
Parish Office and every effort will be made to meet any needs asap.
Take care on the roads and in your homes. Until next week
Fr Mike
WE BELIEVE
IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
By choosing a Global Gift this year, you are helping to
spread the message that together, as one global family, we are making the world
a better place. One gift at a time, we are helping to alleviate poverty,
enabling people to create healthier, happier futures for themselves, their
children and their communities.
Our range of Global Gifts encompasses many of the most
important areas of our work – from responding to emergency situations with food
and water to supporting education programs and training farmers in new
agricultural techniques that empower and sustain communities for generations to
come. Please, choose your gift now. Your purchase of a specific gift is
representative of the type of community development work done by Caritas Australia
LITURGY PREPARATION GROUP:
You are very warmly invited to join parishioners and
members of local liturgical and musical groups to assist in the preparation of
our parish Advent and Christmas liturgies. Meetings will be held at Emmaus House:
Advent: Sunday 9 November from 2.30 pm - 4.00 pm
Christmas: Sunday 30th Nov from 2.30 pm - 4pm. Further information contact: Peter
Douglas on 0419 302 435
CWL
DEVONPORT: Meeting Wednesday 12th Nov, 2pm
at Emmaus House, Devonport.
CWL ULVERSTONE: Meeting Friday 14th November, 2pm
Community Room, Ulverstone.
Help
is needed to accommodate the five Team members (presenters) of the menAlive Weekend on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th November, also with
breakfast Saturday and Sunday mornings. Anyone able to assist is asked to
contact the Parish Office ASAP.
HEALING MASS:
Catholic Charismatic Renewal, are sponsoring a Healing Mass
at St Mary’s Catholic Church Penguin on Thursday 20th November 2014,
commencing at 7.30pm. All 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 anointing for healing. After Mass, teams will be
available for individual prayer. Please bring a friend and a plate for supper. If
you wish to know more or require local transport, please contact Celestine
Whiteley 6424:2043, Michael Gaffney 0447
018 068, Zoe Smith 6426:3073, or Tom Knaap 6425:2442.
FAMILY MINISTRY:
Please come to our Children's Mass on Sunday 23rd
November at
ULVERSTONE CHRISTMAS PARTY:
The 2014 Ulverstone Christmas Party for the elderly will be
held Tuesday 2nd December. If you would like to help in
some way – perhaps posting invitations, baking, cutting sandwiches, or helping
out on the day, please ring Joanne Rodgers on 64255818. There are many little
jobs and any help will be very much appreciated.
Thursday Nights - OLOL Hall,
Devonport. Eyes down 7.30pm!
Callers for Thursday 13th
November are Tony Ryan and Bruce Peters.
SAINTS OF THE WEEK:
Nov 9 Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
The anniversary of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica,
erected by the Emperor Constantine in 333, has been observed on November 9
since the twelfth century. This is the oldest, and ranks first among the four
great ‘patriarchal’ basilicas of Rome
Its altar stands alone among all the altars of the Catholic
world in being built of wood and not of stone, and enclosing no relics of any
kind. The reason for this peculiarity is that it is itself a relic of a most
interesting kind, being the actual wooden altar upon which St Peter is believed
to have celebrated Mass during his residence in Rome
Nov 10 St Monitor
Go to a web page called Catholics Online and there are links to a whole litany of Saints, for each month. The information for this week’s chosen Saint of the Week was scant but we liked his name. If he is not the Saint of the lap-top or computer screen, perhaps he should be?
The twelfth bishop of Orleans , France
Nov 11 St
Martin of Tours
Born in Pavia ,
Italy
Nov 12 St
Josaphat Kuncevyc
St Josaphat was born in the little town of Volodymyr
in Lithuania Rome
NEWS FROM ACROSS THE ARCHDIOCESE:
ST MARY'S COLLEGE PAST SCHOLARS: Are invited to attend a Christmas
Luncheon at Two Oaks Restaurant, Somerset on Saturday 22nd November at 12noon.
Please
RSVP L. Hay 6428:2773 or F. Sly 6424:1933.
WHY IT'S GREAT TO BE CATHOLIC: A series of talks by Robert Haddad will
be held on Thursday 20th November at 7pm, Friday 21st November at 7pm and
Saturday 22nd November at 2pm, 4pm and 7pm at St Francis Xavier Church Hall.
Free Entry. For more information please phone 0411 064 742
Newsletter
items must be received before 12 noon Thursday – thank you.
Evangelii
Gaudium
“We are not
asked to be flawless, but to keep growing and wanting to grow as we advance
along the path of the Gospel; our arms must never grow slack. What is essential
is that the preacher be certain that God loves him, that Jesus Christ has saved
him and that his love always has the last word.”
Par 151
from Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis,
Nov. 24, 2013
Where
the rubber hits the road
In this section, we turn
our attention to a Catholic response, or perspective on significant societal
pressures, including economic and cultural forces. This week, we provide links
to several links on how Catholics could respond to the issue of human
trafficking.
One of the most
comprehensive sites dedicated to the fight against this very issue is ACRATH
(an acronym for Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking)
In one of the latest entries on the website,
attention is drawn to a recent report on child marriage. The report, the
article said, indicates that the practice of child marriage is slowly
declining. “Progress is most dramatic when it comes to the marriage of girls
under 15 years of age. Globally, 1 in 4 young women alive today were married in
childhood versus 1 in 3 in the early 1980s.”
This site also offers a
beautiful theme, called Dawn’s Song.
It was composed for ACRATH “as a hymn of action against the horror of slavery
today.”
One active social
justice group is in the Toowoomba Diocese. It has a page dedicated to
supporting ACRATH. It is worth visiting in its own right, as a resource for
social justice material, insights and events.
Words of Wisdom – St Padre Pio on ‘fear’
“Stop entertaining those vain fears. Remember it is
not feeling which constitutes guilt but the consent to such feelings. Only the
free will is capable of good or evil. But when the will sighs under the trial
of the tempter and does not will what is presented to it, there is not only no
fault but there is virtue.”
Meme of the week
Don’t you love going to
Mass, or some other form of celebrating your Catholic faith, and you are with
people who have absolutely no idea? This meme acknowledges that some of the
things that we Catholics do, like genuflecting, can appear quite confronting to
those not imbued with the same cultural upbringing.
And besides, it’s always
good not to take ourselves too seriously... as the man called America
CARRYING OUR CROSS
An article by Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI. The original can be found at http://ronrolheiser.com/carrying-our-cross/#.VFxTLvmUfAY
Among Jesus' many teachings we find this, rather harsh-sounding, invitation: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
I suspect that each of us has a gut-sense of what this means and what it will cost us; but, I suspect too that many of us misunderstand that Jesus is asking here and struggle unhealthily with this invitation. What, concretely, does Jesus mean by this?
To answer that, I would like to lean on some insights offered by James Martin in his book, Jesus, A Pilgrimage. He suggests that taking up our cross daily and giving up life in order to find deeper life means six interpenetrating things:
First, it means accepting that suffering is a part of our lives. Accepting our cross and giving up our lives means that, at some point, we have to make peace with the unalterable fact that frustration, disappointment, pain, misfortune, illness, unfairness, sadness, and death are a part of our lives and they must ultimately be accepted without bitterness. As long as we nurse the notion that pain in our lives is something we need not accept, we will habitually find ourselves bitter – bitter for not having accepted the cross.
Second, taking up our cross and giving up our lives, means that we may not, in our suffering, pass on any bitterness to those around us. We have a strong inclination, almost as part of our natural instincts, to make others suffer when we are suffering: If I'm unhappy, I will make sure that others around me are unhappy too! This does not mean, as Martin points out, that we cannot share our pain with others. But there's a healthy way of doing this, where our sharing leaves others free, as opposed to an unhealthy kind of sharing which subtly tries to make others unhappy because we are unhappy. There's a difference between healthily groaning under the weight of our pain and unhealthily whining in self-pity and bitterness under that weight. The cross gives us permission to do the former, but not the latter. Jesus groaned under the weight of his cross, but no self-pity, whining, or bitterness issued forth from his lips or his beaten body.
Third, walking in the footsteps of Jesus as he carries his cross means that we must accept some other deaths before our physical death, that we are invited to let some parts of ourselves die. When Jesus invites us to die in order to find life, he is not, first of all, talking about physical death. If we live in adulthood, there are a myriad of other deaths that we must undergo before we die physically. Maturity and Christian discipleship are about perennially naming our deaths, claiming our births, mourning our losses, letting go of what's died, and receiving new spirit for the new life that we are now living. These are the stages of the paschal mystery, and the stages of growing up. There are daily deaths.
Fourth, it means that we must wait for the resurrection, that here in this life all symphonies must remain unfinished. The book of Proverbs tells us that sometimes in the midst of pain the best we can do is put our mouths to the dust and wait. Any real understanding of the cross agrees. So much of life and discipleship is about waiting, waiting in frustration, inside injustice, inside pain, in longing, battling bitterness, as we wait for something or someone to come and change our situation. We spend about 98% of our lives waiting for fulfillment, in small and big ways. Jesus' invitation to us to follow him implies waiting, accepting to live inside an unfinished symphony.
Fifth, carrying our cross daily means accepting that God's gift to us is often not what we expect. God always answers our prayers but, often times, by giving us what we really need rather than what we think we need. The Resurrection, says James Martin, does not come when we expect it and rarely fits our notion of how a resurrection should happen. To carry your cross is to be open to surprise.
Finally, taking up your cross and being willing to give up your life means living in a faith that believes that nothing is impossible for God. As James Martin puts it, this means accepting that God is greater than the human imagination. Indeed, whenever we succumb to the notion that God cannot offer us a way out of our pain into some kind of newness, it's precisely because we have reduced God down to the size of our own limited imagination. It's only possible to accept our cross, to live in trust, and to not grow bitter inside pain if we believe in possibilities beyond what we can imagine, namely, if we believe in the Resurrection.
We can take up our cross when we begin to believe in the Resurrection.
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