Mersey Leven Catholic Parish
To be a vibrant Catholic Community
unified in its commitment
to growing disciples for Christ
Parish Priest: Fr Mike Delaney Mob: 0417 279 437; mike.delaney@aohtas.org.au
Priest in Residence: Fr Phil McCormack Mob: 0437 521 257
Postal Address: PO Box 362
Parish Office: 90 Stewart Street
Secretary: Annie Davies / Anne Fisher
Pastoral Council Chair: Jenny Garnsey
Parish Mass times for the Month: mlcpmasstimes.blogspot.com.au
Weekly Homily Podcast: mikedelaney.podomatic.com
Parish Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for gathering us together
and calling us to serve as your disciples.
and calling us to serve as your disciples.
You have charged us through Your Son, Jesus, with the great mission
of evangelising and witnessing your love to the world.
Send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we discern your will
for the spiritual renewal of our parish.
Give us strength, courage, and clear vision
as we use our gifts to serve you.
as we use our gifts to serve you.
We entrust our parish family to the care of Mary, our mother,
and ask for her intercession and guidance
as we strive to bear witness
as we strive to bear witness
to the Gospel and build an amazing parish.
Amen.
Our Parish Sacramental Life
Baptism: Parents are asked to contact the Parish Office to make arrangements for attending a Baptismal Preparation Session and booking a Baptism date.
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)
Care and Concern: If you are aware of anyone who is sick or in need of assistance in the Parish please visit them. Then, if they are willing and give permission, could you please pass on their names to the Parish Office. We have a group of parishioners who are part of the Care and Concern Group who are willing and able to provide some backup and support to them. Unfortunately, because of privacy issues, the Parish Office is not able to give out details unless prior permission has been given.
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Archdiocesan Website: www.hobart.catholic.org.au for news, information and details of other Parishes.
Weekday Masses 21st - 24th February, 2017 Next Weekend 25th & 26th February, 2017
Tuesday: 9:30am Penguin Saturday Vigil: 6:00pm Penguin
Wednesday: 9:30am Latrobe Devonport
Thursday: 12noon
Devonport … St Polycarp Sunday
Mass: 8:30am Port Sorell
Friday 9:30am
Ulverstone 9:00am Ulverstone
10:30am
Devonport 11:00am Sheffield 5:00pm
Latrobe
Every Friday
10am - 12noon, concluding with Stations of the Cross and Angelus
Devonport:
Benediction with Adoration - first Friday of each month.
Legion of Mary: Sacred Heart Church Community Room,
Ulverstone, Wednesdays, 11am
Christian Meditation:
Devonport, Emmaus House - Wednesdays 7pm.
Prayer Group:
Charismatic Renewal - Devonport, Emmaus House - Thursdays
7.00pm
Meetings, with Adoration and Benediction are held each
Second Thursday of the Month in OLOL Church, commencing at 7.00 pm
Ministry
Rosters 25th & 26th February, 2017
Devonport:
Readers: Vigil: P Douglas, T Douglas, M Knight
10:30am A
Hughes, T Barrientos, P Piccolo
Ministers of
Communion: Vigil
M
Heazlewood, B Suckling, M O’Brien-Evans, G Lee-Archer,
M Kelly, P Shelverton
10.30am: M
Sherriff, T & S Ryan, D & M Barrientos, M O’Brien-Evans
Cleaners 24th
Feb: M & R Youd
3rd March: M.W.C.
Piety Shop 25th
Feb: H Thompson 26th Feb: O McGinley
Flowers: M Knight, B Naiker
Ulverstone:
Reader: R Locket Ministers of Communion: M Murray, J Pisarskis, C Harvey, P Grech
Cleaners: G & M
Seen, C Roberts Flowers: M Swain Hospitality:
M Byrne, G Doyle
Penguin:
Greeters: G & N Pearce Commentator: J Barker Readers: E Nickols, A Landers
Ministers of
Communion: M
Hiscutt, A Guest Liturgy: Penguin Setting Up: E Nickols
Care of Church: J & T Kiely
Latrobe:
Reader: M Chan Minister of Communion: Z Smith, M Mackey Procession of gifts: J Hyde
Port Sorell:
Readers: G Bellchambers, G Duff Ministers of Communion: B Lee
Clean/Flow/Prepare: G Bellchambers, M Gillard
Readings this Week 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
First Reading Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48
PREGO REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL:
As I come to my place of prayer I ask God to open my heart
so that I might better listen to his word.
I read the Gospel text slowly, pausing on phrases and passages that speak to my heart.
After a period of silence I read the text again.
This time I imagine that I am sitting with Jesus and hear this teaching for the first time.
I ponder what this teaching means for my life.
Who are the people with whom I struggle to get on ... people who have hurt me or been unjust towards me?
Are there people or situations in the world that I deeply disagree with?
With the help of Jesus, I recall these people and situations.
Using my imagination, I surround them with God’s love, and see myself as a conduit of that love in the world.
When I am ready to bring my prayer to a close, I spend some time talking to Jesus as a dear friend about how I feel now.
Whatever my response to this time of prayer, I can be confident that Jesus accepts and loves me.
I finish my prayer making the sign of the cross.
I read the Gospel text slowly, pausing on phrases and passages that speak to my heart.
After a period of silence I read the text again.
This time I imagine that I am sitting with Jesus and hear this teaching for the first time.
I ponder what this teaching means for my life.
Who are the people with whom I struggle to get on ... people who have hurt me or been unjust towards me?
Are there people or situations in the world that I deeply disagree with?
With the help of Jesus, I recall these people and situations.
Using my imagination, I surround them with God’s love, and see myself as a conduit of that love in the world.
When I am ready to bring my prayer to a close, I spend some time talking to Jesus as a dear friend about how I feel now.
Whatever my response to this time of prayer, I can be confident that Jesus accepts and loves me.
I finish my prayer making the sign of the cross.
Readings Next Week 8th
Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
First Reading: Isaiah 49:14-15
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Gospel:
Matthew 6:24-34
Your prayers
are asked for the sick: Willhelm Kramer, Sr Joy
Hanrahan, David Welch, Connie Fulton
& …
Let us pray
for those who have died recently: John
Maguire, Aileen Reynolds, Annenaka Kramer, Nell Nettlefold,
Joy Griffiths, Ivan Bourke, Angela Lester, Joanne Nash-Lade, Val
Palmer, Desmond Sainsbury & Lola Bromfield.
Let us pray
for those whose anniversary occurs about this time: 15th – 21st
February
Venus Martin, Audrey Cabalzar, Lyell Byrne, Nancy Kelly,
Geraldine Piper, Leo Castles, Brian Maller, Frederick Breen,
Bobby Rothwell, Mervyn Burke, Joyce McConnon, Enid Stubbs, Lisa
Natoli, Nenita Macapil, Michael Ravaillion.
Also Ponciano & Dominga Torbiso, Santos & Abundia
Makiputin, Rengel Gelacio, Ceron Fat and deceased relatives and friends of the Ravaillion &
Robertson families.
May
they rest in peace
Weekly
Ramblings,
Last Friday I met with Chris Ryan (Catholic Development
Fund), Ben Wilson (Wilson Homes), Corey McGrath (Chair, Parish Finance
Committee) and Fr Phil to discuss the Emmaus House and Units project for 88
Stewart Street. Subject to the signing of contracts this week it is anticipated
that work will begin within the next fortnight. The 6 units will belong to
Housing Tasmania and will be for aged persons with the top unit and the
redeveloped Emmaus House belonging to the Parish. I’m uncertain at this stage
as to the process of how the units will be allocated (or if we will have any
input) but as soon as I have further information I will make it known.
Each week I upload the newsletter to the internet -
mlcparish.blogspot.com.au – and I usually add some extra articles that provide
an opportunity for deeper reading and reflection. This weekend (and next) I
have included an extract from a blog by Fr Val Farrell, a retired priest friend
from England. Both are reflections on Lent and are well worth reading. For
anyone else wanting to read his reflections you can go to
evalfarrell.blogspot.com.au – he has some quite wonderful reflections and
thoughts.
Next week (Monday & Tuesday nights) we start our
Sacramental Preparation Program for 2017. In the coming weeks we will be
welcoming the children and their families at Mass as they continue their faith
journey – please pray with and for them over these coming months.
Also, could I say a very big thanks to all those who assisted
with the preparation and catering for the Reception after Aileen Reynold’s
funeral on Monday. The support of the community was wonderful and I know John
and his family were extremely appreciative of the efforts that so many people
made to support them. Special thanks to Mary Webb for co-ordinating the effort.
Please take care on the roads and in your homes,
Mersey Leven Parish Community welcome
and congratulate
the following children on their Baptism this weekend;
the following children on their Baptism this weekend;
Caleb & Fletcher Stevens sons of
Antonia & Sean and
Mireya Hartigan daughter of Narayana
& Dominique.
LITURGY PLANNING FOR LENT:
All are welcome to participate in our parish's liturgical
planning for Lent. We will meet at Emmaus House this Sunday 19th
February at 2.30 pm. For further information call Peter on 0437 921 366.
NEXT THURSDAY MASS – OLOL DEVONPORT:
Sr Anna Durkin, who lives in Hobart, has just celebrated 70
years as a Sister of St Joseph. Sr Anna grew up in Devonport and attended OLOL
School. As part of celebrating Sr Anna’s jubilee, Mass will be offered for her
parents Margaret and Alban and the deceased members of the Durkin family on Thursday
23rd February at 12noon. 
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM: Families with children
in Grade 3 or above are warmly invited to participate in our
Sacramental Program to prepare to celebrate the sacraments of
RECONCILIATION,
CONFIRMATION and EUCHARIST this year.
Information
sessions to explain the preparation program will be held:
Monday 20th
February, 7.00pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Stewart Street, Devonport or
Tuesday 21st
February 7.00pm at Sacred Heart Church, Alexandra Road, Ulverstone
For further
information please contact the Parish Office 6424:2783
LENTEN PROGRAM 2017:
A Lenten Program is planned to begin on Thursday
2nd March starting at 10am until 11:30am at Emmaus House, 88 Stewart Street
Devonport. We will meet for six weeks finishing on 6th April. If you
would like to join the group contact Clare Kiely-Hoye 6428:2760
SACRED HEART CHURCH ROSTERS:
If you are interested in being a reader, minister of communion or able to help with church cleaning, flowers or hospitality, please phone the Parish Office on 6424:2783 or contact Barbara O'Rourke.
CARE AND CONCERN:
If you are aware
of anyone who is sick or in need of assistance in the Parish please visit them.
Then, if they are willing and give permission, could you please pass on their
names to the Parish Office. We have a group of parishioners who are part of the
Care and Concern Group who are willing and able to provide some backup and
support to them. Unfortunately, because of privacy isues, the Parish Office is
not able to give out details unless prior permission has been given.
Thursday Nights - OLOL Hall,
Devonport. Eyes down 7.30pm!
Callers for Thursday 23rd
February Merv Tippett & Terry Bird.
NEWS FROM ACROSS THE
ARCHDIOCESE
FATHER EDWARD ZAMMIT
OFM 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION:
Our Lady Star of
the Sea Parish Pastoral Council invites all parishioners to a Thanksgiving Mass
on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Ordination of Father Edward Zammit
OFM Saturday 11th March, 11.00am at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church,
33 Goulburn Street, George Town. A light luncheon will follow in the parish
hall. RSVP would be appreciated to assist with catering to Fr Edward on 63
82 1489 or Mrs Wendy Harrap on 6304:2829 or email Mrs Wendy Fittler - wfittler@bigpond.com.
In keeping with the Franciscan tradition, no gifts please.
WELCOMING THE STRANGER
An article by Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI. The original article can be found here
In the Hebrew Scriptures, that part of the bible we call the Old Testament, we find a strong religious challenge to always welcome the stranger, the foreigner. This was emphasized for two reasons: First, because the Jewish people themselves had once been foreigners and immigrants. Their scriptures kept reminding them not to forget that. Second, they believed that God’s revelation, most often, comes to us through the stranger, in what’s foreign to us. That belief was integral to their faith.
The great prophets developed this much further. They taught that God favors the poor preferentially and that consequently we will be judged, judged religiously, by how we treat the poor. The prophets coined this mantra (still worth memorizing): The quality of your faith will be judged by the quality of justice in the land; and the quality of justice in the land will always be judged by how orphans, widows, and strangers fare while you are alive.
Orphans, widows, and strangers! That’s scriptural code for who, at any given time, are the three most vulnerable groups in society. And the prophets’ message didn’t go down easy. Rather it was a religious affront to many of the pious at the time who strongly believed that we will be judged religiously and morally by the rigor and strictness of our religious observance. Then, like now, social justice was often religiously marginalized.
But Jesus sides with the Hebrew prophets. For him, God not only makes a preferential option for the poor, but God is in the poor. How we treat the poor is how we treat God. Moreover the prophets’ mantra, that we will be judged religiously by how we treat the poor, is given a normative expression in Jesus’ discourse on the final judgment in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25. We are all familiar, perhaps too familiar, with that text. Jesus, in effect, was answering a question: What will the last judgment be like? What will be the test? How will we be judged?
His answer is stunning and, taken baldly, is perhaps the most challenging text in the Gospels. He tells us that we will be judged, seemingly solely, on the basis of how we treated the poor, that is, on how we have treated the most vulnerable among us. Moreover at one point, he singles out “the stranger”, the foreigner, the refugee: “I was a stranger and you made me welcome … or … you never made me welcome.” We end up on the right or wrong side of God on the basis of how we treat the stranger.
What also needs to be highlighted in this text about the last judgment is that neither group, those who got it right and those who got it wrong, knew what they were doing. Both initially protest: the first by saying: “We didn’t know it was you we were serving” and the second by saying: “Had we known it was you we would have responded.” Both protests, it would seem, are beside the point. In Matthew’s Gospel, mature discipleship doesn’t depend upon us believing that we have it right, it depends only upon us doing it right.
These scriptural principles, I believe, are very apropos today in the face of the refugee and immigrant issues we are facing in the Western world. Today, without doubt, we are facing the biggest humanitarian crisis since the end of the Second World War. Millions upon millions of people, under unjust persecution and the threat of death, are being driven from their homes and homelands with no place to go and no country or community to receive them. As Christians we may not turn our backs on them or turn them away. If Jesus is to be believed, we will be judged religiously more by how we treat refugees than by whether or not we are going to church. When we stand before God in judgment and say in protest: “When did I see you a stranger and not welcome you?” Our generation is likely to hear: “I was a Syrian refugee, and you did not welcome me.”
This, no doubt, might sound naïve, over-idealistic, and fundamentalist. The issue of refugees and immigrants is both highly sensitive and very complex. Countries have borders that need to be respected and defended, just as its citizens have a right to be protected. Admittedly, there are very real political, social, economic, and security issues that have to be addressed. But, as we, our churches, and our governments, address them we must remain clear on what the scriptures, Jesus, and the social teachings of the church uncompromisingly teach: We are to welcome the stranger, irrespective of inconvenience and even if there are some dangers.
For all sorts of pragmatic reasons, political, social, economic, and security, we can perhaps justify not welcoming the stranger; but we can never justify this on Christian grounds. Not welcoming stranger is antithetical to the very heart of Jesus’ message and makes us too-easily forget that we too once were the outsider.
5 STEPS TO DEVELOPING YOUR BEST TEAM EVER
From the weekly blog by Fr Michael White, Pastor of the Church of the Nativity, Baltimore. The original blog can be found here
As consultant and author (and my friend) Patrick Lencioni says, when it comes to succeeding, it’s not finances, strategy, or technology, but teamwork that is the ultimate advantage. You can invest a huge amount of time and energy into getting these other things just right, but without a good team, your vision cannot get off the ground.
We’re not talking about a perfect team. There is no “perfect” staff team, and that’s not a putdown for anyone. Every team is different, made up of unique personalities and skill sets, with assets and liabilities. And every time a team member is added or leaves, the team changes, it’s a different team. And since that happens all the time, in even the healthiest organizations, your team is a work in progress. Here are 5 ways we at Nativity consistently work to shape the best team we can be.
Pray as a Team
Once a week (Tuesdays at 11am to be exact), our entire staff puts everything on hold to gather in our chapel and pray together. We usually sing, lift up intercessory prayer for parishioners, and celebrate Mass.
Prayer is the foundation of faith and trust in a church community. So, I am actually surprised when I hear how many church staffs do not pray together on a regular basis, if ever. If your parish team doesn’t do anything else on this list, start praying together.
Learn as a Team
A few times a year our whole staff reads and discusses a book together over a number of weeks. The titles we select are not theology, nor necessarily super “churchy.” We focus more on leadership development, team building, organizational health, that kind of thing. We’ve read authors like Patrick Lencioni, Michael Hyatt, Bill Hybels, Jim Collins, Chip and Dan Heath.
We want to learn and grow together and together develop a shared source of wisdom and vocabulary that helps us think and communicate more effectively.
Train as a Team
One of the early game changers for our leadership team was attending church conferences at some of the largest, most successful churches in the country (Purpose-Driven at Saddleback, Drive at North Point, Willow Creek’s Leadership Summit, Fellowship Church’s Creative Pastors Conference). Now we make it a point to send interested staff to these conferences too. Conferences aren’t just for fun (though they are fun), but an opportunity to train with the best ministry teams out there.
While a little humbling, attending conferences at other successful churches can really inspire your team to catch a vision and try something new. Our experiences led our team to put on our own conference the last two years (and while we can’t host a conference currently because of construction on our campus, we’ll be offering another one in Spring of 2018).
Problem-Solve as a Team
The greatest test for any team is how to handle conflict, be honest about unpleasant things, and solve problems. Unfortunately, many teams have no strategy for how to resolve conflict, communicate effectively, or just work through a new challenge.
There are many helpful approaches. We find the Meyers-Briggs personality test a useful tool to improve communication and understanding. Even taking time apart for fun team-building games can be worthwhile.
Grow as a Team
Setting healthy and challenging goals encourages professional and personal growth. The past year we have put more care into helping each other identify and set ministry goals and give and receive feedback. These are not assigned “quotas” to fill, but goals set personally. Talking about our goals together lets the team know how we can help one another out. Also, socializing and having fun together, sometimes including spouses and family members can be a very effective way to grow as a team.
Planning for Lent
Taken from a blog by Fr Val Farrell. The original blog can be found here
Most of us have an instant personal plan for Lent, consisting of the big three:1.Prayer,
2.Fasting
3.Almsgiving.
But the church has an actual plan for Lent based on a plan OF Lent. It would be well worth our while getting to know this plan in much the same as it is good to see the wood as a whole as well as the individual trees that go to make up the wood.
What would be the point, for instance, of a football manager having a Master Plan to help his team win the game if his players simply concentrated on their individual skills and ignored the manager's master plan? The poor chap would have to face the Cameras after the match and try to explain why his team had crash-landed on the field of play.
The trouble is, as most of us know, parish workers including Parish Priests, often sound and act as if they've never even heard of a plan, being too busy with prayer intentions and rules for fasting and abstinence. But in fact the Church's master plan for Lent is no big secret; it's there for all to see in the way the Sunday Gospel readings are arranged. Watch.
The first two Sundays of every Lent are ALWAYS, the same; the temptations of Jesus, followed by the Transfiguration.
The next three Sundays vary according to which year of the Liturgical cycle we're in, but again are always the same for that particular cycle.
For instance, this year we are in Cycle A and after the first two Sundays the Gospel readings are (as always in this cycle),
1. The Woman at the Well meets Jesus
2. The cure of the man born blind
3. The Raising of Lazarus
Then, of course comes the Sunday of the Palms (now called Passion Sunday) followed by Holy Week and Easter.
Simple, clear, easy to follow, yes, but how does it help?
If you find yourself asking that question then for an answer think "vision". A master plan, if it's to be worthy of that name must have a vision.
Those of you with the R.C.I.A running in your parish will know already where I am heading. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults uses the scripture readings of the Sundays of Lent, especially year A, to receive new converts into the church. And there is the plan for Lent at its clearest. Lent is about receiving new converts into the church AND converting again those already in the church.
(More Next Week)
Making a Mandala
Taken from the daily email series by Fr Richard Rohr OFM. You can subscribe to receive the emails here
Mandala, the Sanskrit word for circle,
is a Hindu and Buddhist symbol for the universe. It represents the Whole of
which we are a part. In Carl Jung’s words, a mandala is “a safe refuge of inner
reconciliation and wholeness.” [1]
We might think of Christ as a
mandala—a symbol of matter and spirit cohering in and beyond time. Christ is
God manifest, both visible and invisible, darkness and light, bringing all
things to greater life and love throughout eternity. Christ’s love is the very
shape of the universe. Each of us are part of this pattern. Through our
conscious participation, we can grow into the fullness of love.
I invite you to create your own
mandala as a contemplative practice. Begin by gathering all the materials
you’ll need (a large sheet of blank paper, extra paper, scissors, pencil,
compass, coloring pencils, markers, paints, etc.). Find a quiet place where you
won’t be disturbed for an hour or so.
Bring to heart and mind four
areas in your life or the world for which you desire healing and wholing.
Record them on a spare piece of paper using words, symbols, or colors.
Cut the large piece of paper
into a square. Mark the center of the page with a small dot and use a compass
to draw a circle a couple inches from the edge of the paper (if you don’t have
a compass, trace a small plate or bowl). Within the circle, draw a square and
divide it into four quadrants. In each section, draw an image or design that
represents each of your desires.
Beginning at the corners of the
square and, moving outward, create concentric circles with shapes or curving
lines. Add color if you wish, slowly filling in the design.
When you have finished creating
your mandala, consecrate the time, energy, and focus you’ve given to the
healing and wholing of self and world. Spend some time simply gazing with
non-judgmental eyes at the mandala and surrendering your desires and
expectations.
Tibetan and Navajo rituals
involve ceremonially destroying their intricate sand mandalas after completion.
You might choose to intentionally burn, bury, or somehow let go of your
mandala.
[1] C. G. Jung, The Archetypes and the Collective
Unconscious, Collected Works of C. G. Jung, trans. R. F. C. Hull, 2nd ed. (New
York: Routledge, 2014), 384.
Adapted from Richard Rohr, A Spring Within Us:
Daily Meditations (CAC: 2016), 354.
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