Mersey Leven Catholic Parish
OUR VISION
To be a vibrant Catholic Community
unified in its commitment
to growing disciples for Christ
Parish Priest: Fr Mike Delaney
Mob: 0417 279 437
Mob: 0417 279 437
Assistant Priest: Fr Paschal Okpon
Mob: 0438 562 731
paschalokpon@yahoo.com
Priest in Residence: Fr Phil McCormack
Mob: 0437 521 257
Mob: 0437 521 257
Postal Address: PO Box 362
Parish Office: 90 Stewart Street
(Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am - 3pm)
Office Phone: 6424 2783 Fax: 6423 5160
Email: merseyleven@aohtas.org.au
Secretary: Annie Davies
Finance Officer: Anne Fisher
Finance Officer: Anne Fisher
Parish Mass times for the Month: mlcpmasstimes.blogspot.com.au
Archdiocesan Website: www.hobart.catholic.org.au for news, information and details of other Parishes.
PLENARY COUNCIL PRAYER
Come, Holy Spirit of Pentecost.
Come, Holy Spirit of the great South Land.
O God, bless and unite all your people in Australia
and guide us on the pilgrim way of the Plenary Council.
Give us the grace to see your face in one another
and to recognise Jesus, our companion on the road.
Give us the courage to tell our stories and to speak boldly of your truth.
Give us ears to listen humbly to each other
and a discerning heart to hear what you are saying.
Lead your Church into a hope-filled future,
that we may live the joy of the Gospel.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, bread for the journey from age to age.
Amen.
Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us.
St Mary MacKillop, pray for us.
Come, Holy Spirit of the great South Land.
O God, bless and unite all your people in Australia
and guide us on the pilgrim way of the Plenary Council.
Give us the grace to see your face in one another
and to recognise Jesus, our companion on the road.
Give us the courage to tell our stories and to speak boldly of your truth.
Give us ears to listen humbly to each other
and a discerning heart to hear what you are saying.
Lead your Church into a hope-filled future,
that we may live the joy of the Gospel.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, bread for the journey from age to age.
Amen.
Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us.
St Mary MacKillop, pray for us.
Parish Prayer
Heavenly Father,
and calling us to serve as your disciples.
as we use our gifts to serve you.
as we strive to bear witness
to the Gospel and build an amazing parish.
Amen.
Our Parish Sacramental Life
Eucharistic Adoration - Devonport: Every Friday 10am - 12noon, concluding with Stations of the Cross and Angelus
Weekday Masses 4th - 7th September
Tuesday: 9:30am Penguin
Wednesday: 9:30am Latrobe
Thursday: No Mass Devonport
Friday: 9:30am Ulverstone
Weekend Masses 8th & 9th September, 2018
Saturday Vigil 6:00pm Penguin
6:00pm Devonport
Sunday Mass: 8:30am Port Sorell
9:00am Ulverstone
10:30am Devonport
11:00am Sheffield
5:00pm Latrobe
Ministry Rosters 8th & 9th September,
2018
Devonport: 
Ministers of Communion:
Vigil: B, B & B Windebank, T Bird, R
Baker 10:30am: S Riley, M Sherriff, R Beaton, D & M Barrientos Cleaners: 7th Sept: M.W.C. 14th Sept: P Shelverton, E Petts
Piety Shop: 8th Sept:
H Thompson 9th Sept: O McGinley Presbytery Mower roster - Sept: T Ryan
Ulverstone:
Penguin:
Latrobe:
Port Sorell:
Readings this week –Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
PREGO REFLECTION ON TODAY’S GOSPEL:
I do this in the manner that works best for me:
attention to breathing, focus on a light or favourite object, repeat of a
well-loved phrase from Scripture.
Eventually, I pick up the leaflet and read
the text slowly, several times, pausing now and again when a phrase strikes me.
The Jews disagree with Jesus about the best way to prepare for a meal.
How do I
prepare for encountering him at the Eucharistic meal?
What steps do I take to
be physically and spiritually clean?
How much importance do I give … to Church
tradition? … to the 'commandment of God'?
I tell the Lord how I feel and what
is in my heart.
Perhaps I read again Jesus’s final response.
I, too, want to
'listen and understand'.
I search my heart.
Once more I turn to the Lord and
speak to him about my ponderings.
If necessary, I express my sorrow, trusting
that he understands any weakness I struggle with.
Eventually, I close my prayer
with my own words of gratitude.
Readings next week –Twenty Third Sunday
in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Your prayers
are asked for the sick:
Joy Kiely, Charlotte Milic, Carmel Covington, Trish Ridout,
Deborah Leary, Edgar Nool, Mary Webb, Rosalinda Grimes & ….
Let us pray for those who have died recently:
Let us pray for those whose anniversary
occurs about this time: 29th August – 4th September
May they Rest in
Peace
God our Father,
Weekly Ramblings
This weekend the children who have been part of our
Sacramental Program for 2018 complete the formal part of the preparation as
they receive the Eucharist for the 1st Time. On behalf of us all I
would like to thank them and their families for their efforts over these many
weeks and I invite you to join me in praying that they will continue to grow in
their faith journey and that they will find support and encouragement from the
Parish Community. Congratulations.
This weekend the homily will be introducing
a new initiative for prayer in our Parish – or at least it is new as far as
recent memory allows us to recall. During the 30 days between 6th/7th
October and 3rd/4th November all parishioners are being
encouraged to join the Parish Pastoral Team in making some extra time for
prayer with a purpose. Our prayer
focus will be – What is God asking of me and of us in our families, our Parish
Community and our Church at this time?
During this time of prayer you will also
be invited to join us in fasting on each of the 4 Wednesday’s acknowledging
that might be difficult for some but very possible for others. The intention of
our fasting is not to go without for the sake of going without but rather to
freely choose to allow ourselves to be more open to God because we have been prepared
to be ‘empty’ before him. There will be more details about the various
opportunities for prayer and how we might gather the fruits of this intentional
time of prayer over the next fortnight.
Fr Smiley is supplying at Kings Meadows
for the next two weekends – we wish him all the best as he supports them with
his priestly ministry and gifts.
For those who want to read Pope Francis’
Letter to the Church from 20th August on sexual abuse and the harm
it is doing to God’s people here is the link:
Please
take care on the roads and I look forward to seeing you next weekend.
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM:
This
weekend the Sacramental Candidates from across our Parish will receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first
time.
We congratulate the children
and their families
and we continue to pray for these special young people:
Lucas Chakouch Oliver Gretton Alexander
Sherry Selena
Wyett
We
also congratulate George MacMillan and
Angus Partridge who will receive the Sacrament
of Confirmation and Eucharist for the first time this weekend.
The Sick and Aged Priest Fund was established to
ensure that all diocesan priests incardinated into the Archdiocese of Hobart
would receive adequate accommodation, health care and support needed in their
retirement, or should they become ill. Retirement expenses are currently met by
the Sick and Aged Priest Fund via donations and bequests, and by priests
themselves. There are no federal or state government grants to support clergy
in retirement.
FROM THE PARISH PASTORAL TEAM (FELICITY SLY – CHAIR)
CATHOLIC
CHARISMATIC RENEWAL TASMANIA:
MERSEY
LEVEN ROSARY GROUP:
Early reminder that our annual Rosary Pilgrimage will be
held Sunday
7th October. A bus will be provided for those needing transport.
For further details contact Hermie 0414 416 661, Paschale 0439 570 924 or
Michael 0447 018 068.
BINGO - Thursday Nights - OLOL
Hall, Devonport. Eyes down 7.30pm!
WORLD YOUTH
DAY – 2019:
Discernment versus Decision Making
This article is taken from the Daily Emails from Fr Richard Rohr OFM and the Center for Action and Contemplation. You can subscribe to receive the emails here
The holiness of Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), like all holiness, was unique and never merely a copy or imitation. In his Testament, he tells his brothers, “No one showed me what I had to do,” [1] and then, at the very end of his life, he says, “I have done what is mine; may Christ teach you what is yours!” [2] What permission, freedom, and space he thus gave to his followers!
We are each unique incarnations of God, bringing to visible and tangible expression God’s presence in the world. Sr. Ilia Delio paraphrases Francis’ message from his Later Admonition and Exhortation:
When love transforms our actions in a way that Christ is “represented”— then we become mothers, sisters and brothers of Christ. This birthing of Christ in the life of the believer . . . is a way of conceiving, birthing, and bringing Christ to the world in such a way that the Incarnation is renewed. It is making the gospel alive. [3]
So, how do we discover what is ours to do? How do we connect with our sacred vocation in service to the needs of the world? How do we give birth to Christ in the world? How do we renew the Incarnation and give flesh to the Word? First, we must go through a process of discernment. Henri Nouwen explains:
Christian discernment is not the same as decision making. Reaching a decision can be straightforward: we consider our goals and options; maybe we list the pros and cons of each possible choice; and then we choose the action that meets our goal most effectively. Discernment, on the other hand, is about listening and responding to that place within us where our deepest desires align with God’s desire. As discerning people, we sift through our impulses, motives, and options to discover which ones lead us closer to divine love and compassion for ourselves and other people and which ones lead us further away.
Discernment reveals new priorities, directions, and gifts from God. We come to realize that what previously seemed so important for our lives loses its power over us. Our desire to be successful, well liked and influential becomes increasingly less important as we move closer to God’s heart. To our surprise, we even may experience a strange inner freedom to follow a new call or direction as previous concerns move into the background of our consciousness. We begin to see the beauty of the small and hidden life that Jesus lived in Nazareth. Most rewarding of all is the discovery that as we pray more each day, God’s will—that is, God’s concrete ways of loving us and our world—gradually is made known to us. [4]
When I moved to New Mexico in 1986, Henri Nouwen personally told me to forget the many things I try to teach and just teach one thing—contemplation! This is why I am still doing it.
[1] Francis of Assisi, The Testament, line 14. See Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, vol. 1 (New City Press: 1999), 125.
[2] Francis of Assisi, quoted by Thomas of Celano, The Remembrance of the Desire of a Soul, chapter 162. See Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, vol. 2 (New City Press: 2000), 386.
[3] Ilia Delio, Franciscan Prayer (Franciscan Media: 2004), 150-151.
[4] Henri Nouwen, Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life (HarperOne: 2013), 17.
HOW TO RESPOND
This article is taken from the archives of Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI. You can find the original article and many others here
Sometimes all you can do is to put your mouth to the dust and wait. That’s a counsel from the Book of Lamentations and while perhaps not the best response to the recent revelations of clerical sexual abuse and cover-up in the Roman Catholic Church, it seems the only helpful response available to me as Roman Catholic priest today. Beyond prayer, I’ve been hesitant to respond otherwise to this current situation for three reasons.
My first hesitation has to do with the seeming futility of yet another apology and breast-beating. Since the report on sexual abuse and clerical cover-up was released in Pennsylvania a few weeks back, there have been apologies issued by virtually every diocese, every parish, and every priest in America, including one from the Pope himself. While these apologies have been almost universally sincere, non-defensive, and rightly focused on the victims, they’ve also for the most part not been well-received. More generally the response has been: “What good does that do now! Where were you when this was all happening?” The apologies have generally met with more cynicism and anger than acceptance. And yet it’s important that they be made, though I’m not sure my adding another one will be helpful.
My second hesitancy stems from the fact that there’s so much anger and grief around this issue right now that words, even the right ones, generally don’t hit their mark, akin to telling someone freshly grieving the death of loved one that “she’s in a better place.” The words are true, but moment’s too raw for the words to be heard. They only become effective later. And that’s the situation now; we’re in a time of raw anger and dark grief. These are in fact the same emotion (just that one’s hard and the other soft) and so for many people dealing with the revelations of clerical sexual abuse and cover-up right now, apologies, while necessary, are not being heard. The moment is too raw.
And, one last hesitation: As a priest with a vow of celibacy I’m painfully aware that right now I’m at an understandable disadvantage to speak out on this. Victims speak from a position of moral privilege, rightly so, their voices carry extra authority; but those who stand symbolically connected to the perpetrators, and that’s me, are understandably heard with suspicion. I accept that. How could it be otherwise? At this particularly charged moment, what moral authority can my voice carry on this issue? What does my apology add?
But, for what it’s worth, even given those caveats, I do offer an apology: As Roman Catholic priest, I want to publicly say that what’s happened in the church in terms of sexual abuse by the clergy and cover-up by the hierarchy is inexcusable, deeply sinful, has harmed thousands of lives irrevocably, and needs radical redress in terms of reaching out to the victims and of prompting structural change in the church to ensure that this will never happen again.
Let me add something else: First, as a Roman Catholic priest, I do not distance myself from this by morally separating myself from those who have done wrong by declaring: “They’re guilty and I’m not!” The cross of Jesus doesn’t allow such an escape. Jesus was crucified between two thieves. He was innocent, they weren’t; but he didn’t protest his innocence, and those looking at three crosses that day didn’t distinguish between who was innocent and who was guilty. The crosses were all painted with the same brush. There are times when one does not protest one’s innocence. Part of Jesus’ mission, as our liturgy puts it, was “to become sin for us”, to risk having his innocence mixed in with guilt and be perceived as sin so as to help carry darkness and sin for others.
Beyond our apologies, all of us, clergy and laity alike, are invited to do something for the church right now, namely, help carry this scandal as Jesus did. Indignantly separating ourselves morally from this sin is not the way of Jesus and the cross.
Like Mary standing under the cross, we must not replicate the anger and darkness of the moment so as to give it back in kind. Instead, like her, we must do the only thing possible sometimes when standing beneath the consequence of sin, that is, let our posture, like Mary’s, speak deeply through a voice that, unlike bitterness or collapse, says: “Today, I can’t stop this darkness, nobody can. Sometimes darkness just has its hour. But I can stop some of the sin and bitterness that’s in the moment by absorbing it, not distancing myself from it, and not giving it back in kind.” Sometimes darkness has its moment and we, followers of Jesus, may not self-servingly distance ourselves from the sin but need to help absorb it.
Sometimes all we can do is put our mouths to the dust … and pray … and wait. Knowing that, at some future time, the stone will again roll away from the tomb.
Spiritual and Religious: The Benefits of being Both
Many people today define themselves as ‘spiritual but not religious’, but is it really that easy, or healthy, to separate spirituality and religion from one another? James Martin SJ thinks not, and in an extract from his popular book, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, he explains why religion should not be dismissed so readily.
Everybody seems to be spiritual these days – from your college roommate, to the person in the office cubicle next to yours, to the subject of every other celebrity interview. But if ‘spiritual’ is fashionable, ‘religious’ is as unfashionable. This is usually expressed as follows: ‘I’m spiritual but just not religious.’ It’s even referred to by the acronym SBNR.
There are so many people who describe themselves as SBNR that sometimes I wonder if the Jesuits might attract more people if they gave the Spiritual But Not Religious Exercises.
The thinking goes like this: being ‘religious’ means abiding by the arcane rules and hidebound dogmas, and being the tool of an oppressive institution that doesn’t allow you to think for yourself. (Which would have surprised many thinking believers, like St. Thomas Aquinas, Moses Maimonides, Dorothy Day and Reinhold Niebuhr.) Religion is narrow-minded and prejudicial – so goes the thinking – stifling the growth of the human spirit. (Which would have surprised St. Francis of Assisi, Abraham Joshua Heschel, St. Teresa of Ávila, Rumi and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
You can read the complete article by clicking here
and calling us to serve as your disciples.
as we use our gifts to serve you.
as we strive to bear witness
Amen.
Our Parish Sacramental Life
Baptism: Arrangements are made by contacting Parish Office. Parents attend a Baptismal Preparation Session organised with a Priest.
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)
Eucharistic Adoration - Devonport: Every Friday 10am - 12noon, concluding with Stations of the Cross and Angelus
Benediction with Adoration Devonport: First Friday each month.
Legion of Mary: Wednesdays 11am Sacred Heart of Church Community Room, Ulverstone
Prayer Group: Charismatic Renewal – Mondays 7pm Community Room Ulverstone
Weekday Masses 4th - 7th September
Tuesday: 9:30am Penguin Wednesday: 9:30am Latrobe
Thursday: No Mass Devonport
Friday: 9:30am Ulverstone
Weekend Masses 8th & 9th September, 2018
Saturday Vigil 6:00pm Penguin
6:00pm Devonport
Sunday Mass: 8:30am Port Sorell
9:00am Ulverstone
10:30am Devonport
11:00am Sheffield
5:00pm Latrobe
Your prayers
are asked for the sick:
Please
take care on the roads and I look forward to seeing you next weekend.
WORLD YOUTH DAY – 2019:
Sunday Mass: 8:30am Port Sorell
9:00am Ulverstone
10:30am Devonport
11:00am Sheffield
5:00pm Latrobe
Ministry Rosters 8th & 9th September,
2018
Devonport:
Readers Vigil: A McIntyre, M Williams, C Kiely-Hoye
10:30am: F Sly, J Tuxworth, T Omogbai-Musa
Ministers of Communion:
Vigil: B, B & B Windebank, T Bird, R
Baker 10:30am: S Riley, M Sherriff, R Beaton, D & M Barrientos Cleaners: 7th Sept: M.W.C. 14th Sept: P Shelverton, E Petts
Piety Shop: 8th Sept:
H Thompson 9th Sept: O McGinley Presbytery Mower roster - Sept: T Ryan
Ulverstone:
Reader/s: D Prior Ministers of
Communion: B
Deacon, K Reilly Cleaners: K.S.C.
Flowers: A Miller Hospitality: K Foster
Penguin:
Greeters: G & N Pearce Readers: J Barker, A Guest Ministers of Communion: P Lade, T Clayton
Liturgy: SCC
Setting Up: F Aichberger Care of Church: Y & R Downes
Latrobe:
Reader: S Ritchie Minister of Communion: B Ritchie Procession of Gifts: J Hyde
Port Sorell:
Readers: L Post, P Anderson Minister of Communion: T Jeffries Cleaners:
C Howard
Readings this week –Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8
Second Reading: James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27
Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
PREGO REFLECTION ON TODAY’S GOSPEL:
I prepare myself to pray by trying to put some distance
between my everyday activities and the time I am going to spend consciously in
the presence of my loving God.
I do this in the manner that works best for me: attention to breathing, focus on a light or favourite object, repeat of a well-loved phrase from Scripture.
Eventually, I pick up the leaflet and read the text slowly, several times, pausing now and again when a phrase strikes me.
The Jews disagree with Jesus about the best way to prepare for a meal.
How do I prepare for encountering him at the Eucharistic meal?
What steps do I take to be physically and spiritually clean?
How much importance do I give … to Church tradition? … to the 'commandment of God'?
I tell the Lord how I feel and what is in my heart.
Perhaps I read again Jesus’s final response.
I, too, want to 'listen and understand'.
I search my heart.
Once more I turn to the Lord and speak to him about my ponderings.
If necessary, I express my sorrow, trusting that he understands any weakness I struggle with.
Eventually, I close my prayer with my own words of gratitude.
I do this in the manner that works best for me: attention to breathing, focus on a light or favourite object, repeat of a well-loved phrase from Scripture.
Eventually, I pick up the leaflet and read the text slowly, several times, pausing now and again when a phrase strikes me.
The Jews disagree with Jesus about the best way to prepare for a meal.
How do I prepare for encountering him at the Eucharistic meal?
What steps do I take to be physically and spiritually clean?
How much importance do I give … to Church tradition? … to the 'commandment of God'?
I tell the Lord how I feel and what is in my heart.
Perhaps I read again Jesus’s final response.
I, too, want to 'listen and understand'.
I search my heart.
Once more I turn to the Lord and speak to him about my ponderings.
If necessary, I express my sorrow, trusting that he understands any weakness I struggle with.
Eventually, I close my prayer with my own words of gratitude.
Readings next week –Twenty Third Sunday
in Ordinary Time (Year B)
First Reading: Isaiah 35:4-7
Second Reading: James 2:1-5
Gospel: Mark
7:31-37
Your prayers
are asked for the sick:
Joy Kiely, Charlotte Milic, Carmel Covington, Trish Ridout,
Deborah Leary, Edgar Nool, Mary Webb, Rosalinda Grimes & ….
Let us pray for those who have died recently:
Maurice Vanderfeen, Natasha Gowans, Fr Peter Wood MSC, Peter Shaw, Hilario Abarquez, Andrew McLennan, Antonia
(Toni) Ross, Nilo Floresta, Alan O’Rourke, June Bourke, Heather Margetts, Joseph Thi,
John Brown, Tony Barker, Anthony Shaddock-Johnston
Let us pray for those whose anniversary
occurs about this time: 29th August – 4th September
Rita Stokes, Dulcie McCormack, Lynette Otley, Robert
Sheehan, Mary Adkins, Ruth Healey, Margaret Newell, Laurance Kelcey, Terry McKenna,
Warren Milfull, Dorothy Leonard, Margaret Hayes, Theodore Clarke, Maxine
Milton, Audrey Enniss, John Coad, Ronald Finch, Geoffrey Matthews, Ken Gillard,
Jean Mochrie, Brian Astell, Len Bramich, Jack McLaren and all dads in heaven.
May they Rest in
Peace
God our Father,
In your wisdom and love you made all things.
Bless all fathers who
have accepted the responsibility of parenting.
Bless those who have
lost a spouse to death, separation or divorce, and who are parenting their
children alone.
Strengthen all fathers
by your love that they may be and become the loving, caring people they are
meant to be.
May God bless all Dads
on earth and in heaven!
Weekly Ramblings
This weekend the children who have been part of our
Sacramental Program for 2018 complete the formal part of the preparation as
they receive the Eucharist for the 1st Time. On behalf of us all I
would like to thank them and their families for their efforts over these many
weeks and I invite you to join me in praying that they will continue to grow in
their faith journey and that they will find support and encouragement from the
Parish Community. Congratulations.
This weekend the homily will be introducing
a new initiative for prayer in our Parish – or at least it is new as far as
recent memory allows us to recall. During the 30 days between 6th/7th
October and 3rd/4th November all parishioners are being
encouraged to join the Parish Pastoral Team in making some extra time for
prayer with a purpose. Our prayer
focus will be – What is God asking of me and of us in our families, our Parish
Community and our Church at this time?
During this time of prayer you will also
be invited to join us in fasting on each of the 4 Wednesday’s acknowledging
that might be difficult for some but very possible for others. The intention of
our fasting is not to go without for the sake of going without but rather to
freely choose to allow ourselves to be more open to God because we have been prepared
to be ‘empty’ before him. There will be more details about the various
opportunities for prayer and how we might gather the fruits of this intentional
time of prayer over the next fortnight.
Fr Smiley is supplying at Kings Meadows
for the next two weekends – we wish him all the best as he supports them with
his priestly ministry and gifts.
For those who want to read Pope Francis’
Letter to the Church from 20th August on sexual abuse and the harm
it is doing to God’s people here is the link:
Please
take care on the roads and I look forward to seeing you next weekend.
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM:
This
weekend the Sacramental Candidates from across our Parish will receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first
time.
We congratulate the children
and their families
and we continue to pray for these special young people:
Isabella
Armstrong Ava Chamley Michael Hartree Sasha
Sherry
Matilda Banks Jasper
Chamley Ella Holland Henry
Summers
Ryan Brown Nathan Davis Alan
Leslie Flynn
Thomas
Mariana Caravia Felicity Downward Taya Mansfield Tom Wilkinson
Lucas Chakouch Oliver Gretton Alexander Sherry Selena Wyett
Lucas Chakouch Oliver Gretton Alexander Sherry Selena Wyett
We
also congratulate George MacMillan and
Angus Partridge who will receive the Sacrament
of Confirmation and Eucharist for the first time this weekend.
The Sick and Aged Priest Fund was established to
ensure that all diocesan priests incardinated into the Archdiocese of Hobart
would receive adequate accommodation, health care and support needed in their
retirement, or should they become ill. Retirement expenses are currently met by
the Sick and Aged Priest Fund via donations and bequests, and by priests
themselves. There are no federal or state government grants to support clergy
in retirement.
Please give generously to the Sick and Aged Priest Appeal this
weekend.
FROM THE PARISH PASTORAL TEAM (FELICITY SLY – CHAIR)
At masses this weekend, the Priests will be talking about the 30 Days of
Prayer event that we invite you to participate in next month. 30 days of prayer
will start at Masses on the first weekend in October (6/7) and conclude at Masses on Nov 3/4. You are invited to devote 10 minutes each day in prayer,
seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit on our Church. You are also invited to
fast each Wednesday in that month, in whatever way suits your personal health
and circumstances. Opportunities to pray in a community setting will also be
advertised. There will be more information available as we draw closer to
October 6.
CATHOLIC
CHARISMATIC RENEWAL TASMANIA:
Welcomes your attendance with Fr Alexander Obiorah to the Charismatic healing Mass at St Mary’s Catholic Church Penguin
Thursday
20 September at 7pm. After Mass, teams will be available for individual
prayer. Please bring a friend and a plate for supper to share in the Hall. Contacts:
Celestine 6424:2043, Michael 0447 018 068, or Tom 6425 2442.
MERSEY
LEVEN ROSARY GROUP:
Early reminder that our annual Rosary Pilgrimage will be
held Sunday
7th October. A bus will be provided for those needing transport.
For further details contact Hermie 0414 416 661, Paschale 0439 570 924 or
Michael 0447 018 068.
FOOTY
TICKETS:
Round 23 (Friday 24th August) Essendon won by 22
points. Congratulations to the following winners; Jan Peterson, Marlene
Heazlewood.
BINGO - Thursday Nights - OLOL
Hall, Devonport. Eyes down 7.30pm!
Callers for Thursday 6th
September – Rod Clark & Terry Bird.
WORLD YOUTH DAY – 2019:
There are less than two weeks to go before applications for
the Tasmanian World Youth Day Pilgrimage to Panama officially close! The
pilgrimage has a limited number of spots available with applications due by Saturday 8
September so make sure to get them in soon if you haven’t yet done so.
WYD is the largest gathering of young people in the world
and is an opportunity to meet millions of other young Catholics on what is sure
to be a life-changing experience. The journey to WYD in Panama will take us
through Costa Rica and will include a number of incredible highlights from
celebrating Mass with the Pope himself to relaxing in hot springs in Costa
Rica! For more information on the pilgrimage and application details, please
visit https://hobart.catholic.org.au/faith/page/tasmania-pilgrimage-world-youth-day
Discernment versus Decision Making
This article is taken from the Daily Emails from Fr Richard Rohr OFM and the Center for Action and Contemplation. You can subscribe to receive the emails here
The holiness of Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), like all holiness, was unique and never merely a copy or imitation. In his Testament, he tells his brothers, “No one showed me what I had to do,” [1] and then, at the very end of his life, he says, “I have done what is mine; may Christ teach you what is yours!” [2] What permission, freedom, and space he thus gave to his followers!
We are each unique incarnations of God, bringing to visible and tangible expression God’s presence in the world. Sr. Ilia Delio paraphrases Francis’ message from his Later Admonition and Exhortation:
When love transforms our actions in a way that Christ is “represented”— then we become mothers, sisters and brothers of Christ. This birthing of Christ in the life of the believer . . . is a way of conceiving, birthing, and bringing Christ to the world in such a way that the Incarnation is renewed. It is making the gospel alive. [3]
So, how do we discover what is ours to do? How do we connect with our sacred vocation in service to the needs of the world? How do we give birth to Christ in the world? How do we renew the Incarnation and give flesh to the Word? First, we must go through a process of discernment. Henri Nouwen explains:
Christian discernment is not the same as decision making. Reaching a decision can be straightforward: we consider our goals and options; maybe we list the pros and cons of each possible choice; and then we choose the action that meets our goal most effectively. Discernment, on the other hand, is about listening and responding to that place within us where our deepest desires align with God’s desire. As discerning people, we sift through our impulses, motives, and options to discover which ones lead us closer to divine love and compassion for ourselves and other people and which ones lead us further away.
Discernment reveals new priorities, directions, and gifts from God. We come to realize that what previously seemed so important for our lives loses its power over us. Our desire to be successful, well liked and influential becomes increasingly less important as we move closer to God’s heart. To our surprise, we even may experience a strange inner freedom to follow a new call or direction as previous concerns move into the background of our consciousness. We begin to see the beauty of the small and hidden life that Jesus lived in Nazareth. Most rewarding of all is the discovery that as we pray more each day, God’s will—that is, God’s concrete ways of loving us and our world—gradually is made known to us. [4]
When I moved to New Mexico in 1986, Henri Nouwen personally told me to forget the many things I try to teach and just teach one thing—contemplation! This is why I am still doing it.
[1] Francis of Assisi, The Testament, line 14. See Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, vol. 1 (New City Press: 1999), 125.
[2] Francis of Assisi, quoted by Thomas of Celano, The Remembrance of the Desire of a Soul, chapter 162. See Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, vol. 2 (New City Press: 2000), 386.
[3] Ilia Delio, Franciscan Prayer (Franciscan Media: 2004), 150-151.
[4] Henri Nouwen, Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life (HarperOne: 2013), 17.
HOW TO RESPOND
This article is taken from the archives of Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI. You can find the original article and many others here
Sometimes all you can do is to put your mouth to the dust and wait. That’s a counsel from the Book of Lamentations and while perhaps not the best response to the recent revelations of clerical sexual abuse and cover-up in the Roman Catholic Church, it seems the only helpful response available to me as Roman Catholic priest today. Beyond prayer, I’ve been hesitant to respond otherwise to this current situation for three reasons.
My first hesitation has to do with the seeming futility of yet another apology and breast-beating. Since the report on sexual abuse and clerical cover-up was released in Pennsylvania a few weeks back, there have been apologies issued by virtually every diocese, every parish, and every priest in America, including one from the Pope himself. While these apologies have been almost universally sincere, non-defensive, and rightly focused on the victims, they’ve also for the most part not been well-received. More generally the response has been: “What good does that do now! Where were you when this was all happening?” The apologies have generally met with more cynicism and anger than acceptance. And yet it’s important that they be made, though I’m not sure my adding another one will be helpful.
My second hesitancy stems from the fact that there’s so much anger and grief around this issue right now that words, even the right ones, generally don’t hit their mark, akin to telling someone freshly grieving the death of loved one that “she’s in a better place.” The words are true, but moment’s too raw for the words to be heard. They only become effective later. And that’s the situation now; we’re in a time of raw anger and dark grief. These are in fact the same emotion (just that one’s hard and the other soft) and so for many people dealing with the revelations of clerical sexual abuse and cover-up right now, apologies, while necessary, are not being heard. The moment is too raw.
And, one last hesitation: As a priest with a vow of celibacy I’m painfully aware that right now I’m at an understandable disadvantage to speak out on this. Victims speak from a position of moral privilege, rightly so, their voices carry extra authority; but those who stand symbolically connected to the perpetrators, and that’s me, are understandably heard with suspicion. I accept that. How could it be otherwise? At this particularly charged moment, what moral authority can my voice carry on this issue? What does my apology add?
But, for what it’s worth, even given those caveats, I do offer an apology: As Roman Catholic priest, I want to publicly say that what’s happened in the church in terms of sexual abuse by the clergy and cover-up by the hierarchy is inexcusable, deeply sinful, has harmed thousands of lives irrevocably, and needs radical redress in terms of reaching out to the victims and of prompting structural change in the church to ensure that this will never happen again.
Let me add something else: First, as a Roman Catholic priest, I do not distance myself from this by morally separating myself from those who have done wrong by declaring: “They’re guilty and I’m not!” The cross of Jesus doesn’t allow such an escape. Jesus was crucified between two thieves. He was innocent, they weren’t; but he didn’t protest his innocence, and those looking at three crosses that day didn’t distinguish between who was innocent and who was guilty. The crosses were all painted with the same brush. There are times when one does not protest one’s innocence. Part of Jesus’ mission, as our liturgy puts it, was “to become sin for us”, to risk having his innocence mixed in with guilt and be perceived as sin so as to help carry darkness and sin for others.
Beyond our apologies, all of us, clergy and laity alike, are invited to do something for the church right now, namely, help carry this scandal as Jesus did. Indignantly separating ourselves morally from this sin is not the way of Jesus and the cross.
Like Mary standing under the cross, we must not replicate the anger and darkness of the moment so as to give it back in kind. Instead, like her, we must do the only thing possible sometimes when standing beneath the consequence of sin, that is, let our posture, like Mary’s, speak deeply through a voice that, unlike bitterness or collapse, says: “Today, I can’t stop this darkness, nobody can. Sometimes darkness just has its hour. But I can stop some of the sin and bitterness that’s in the moment by absorbing it, not distancing myself from it, and not giving it back in kind.” Sometimes darkness has its moment and we, followers of Jesus, may not self-servingly distance ourselves from the sin but need to help absorb it.
Sometimes all we can do is put our mouths to the dust … and pray … and wait. Knowing that, at some future time, the stone will again roll away from the tomb.
Spiritual and Religious: The Benefits of being Both
Many people today define themselves as ‘spiritual but not religious’, but is it really that easy, or healthy, to separate spirituality and religion from one another? James Martin SJ thinks not, and in an extract from his popular book, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, he explains why religion should not be dismissed so readily.
Everybody seems to be spiritual these days – from your college roommate, to the person in the office cubicle next to yours, to the subject of every other celebrity interview. But if ‘spiritual’ is fashionable, ‘religious’ is as unfashionable. This is usually expressed as follows: ‘I’m spiritual but just not religious.’ It’s even referred to by the acronym SBNR.
There are so many people who describe themselves as SBNR that sometimes I wonder if the Jesuits might attract more people if they gave the Spiritual But Not Religious Exercises.
The thinking goes like this: being ‘religious’ means abiding by the arcane rules and hidebound dogmas, and being the tool of an oppressive institution that doesn’t allow you to think for yourself. (Which would have surprised many thinking believers, like St. Thomas Aquinas, Moses Maimonides, Dorothy Day and Reinhold Niebuhr.) Religion is narrow-minded and prejudicial – so goes the thinking – stifling the growth of the human spirit. (Which would have surprised St. Francis of Assisi, Abraham Joshua Heschel, St. Teresa of Ávila, Rumi and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
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