Friday 28 December 2018

Feast of the Holy Family (Year C)

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 
Assistant Priest: Fr Paschal Okpon
Mob: 0438 562 731
paschalokpon@yahoo.com
Priest in Residence:  Fr Phil McCormack  
Mob: 0437 521 257
Postal Address: PO Box 362, Devonport 7310
Parish Office: 90 Stewart Street, Devonport 7310 
(Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am - 3pm)
Office Phone: 6424 2783 Fax: 6423 5160 
Secretary: Annie Davies
Finance Officer: Anne Fisher
Pastoral Council Chair:  Felicity Sly
Mob: 0418 301 573
fsly@internode.on.net

Mersey Leven Catholic Parish Weekly Newslettermlcathparish.blogspot.com.au
Parish Mass times for the Monthmlcpmasstimes.blogspot.com.au
Weekly Homily Podcastmikedelaney.podomatic.com 

Archdiocesan Website: www.hobart.catholic.org.au  for news, information and details of other Parishes.


Parish Office Closed until Tuesday 22nd January, 2019
OLOL Piety Shop will be closed until 3rd February, 2019



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.

Parish Prayer


Heavenly Father,
We thank you for gathering us together 
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.
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
 to the Gospel and build an amazing parish.
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)

Devonport Friday Adoration:  Recommences 1st February, 2019.
Devonport:  Benediction (1st Friday of the Month) - Recommences Friday 1st February, 2019
Prayer Groups: Charismatic Renewal – In Recess until Monday 4th February, 2019 - Healing Mass sponsored by CCR will be held at St Mary’s Church Penguin on Thursday 14th February, 2019


Weekday Masses 1st - 4th January
Tuesday:        9:30am Penguin
                     12noon Devonport
Wednesday:    9:30am Latrobe
Thursday:       12noon Devonport
Friday:           9:30am Ulverstone
                     12noon Devonport
Weekend Masses 5th - 6th January
Saturday:         9:30am Ulverstone
Saturday Vigil: 6:00pm Penguin
                         6:00pm Devonport
Sunday:            8:30am Port Sorell
                         9:00am Ulverstone
                        10:30am Devonport
                        11:00am Sheffield
                        5:00pm Latrobe
                                   

Readings this week –The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Year C)
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

PREGO REFLECTION ON TODAY’S GOSPEL:
Before starting my prayer, I take a few deep breaths, then breathe normally, conscious of the life -giving air filling my lungs. Full of gratitude for this gift of God, I turn my attention to the text above and read it slowly and prayerfully. What strikes me as I imagine the everyday life of the Holy Family? Does it bring to mind instances in my own life? I speak to the Lord about any similar incidents with my children or grandchildren, my nephews and nieces, or my young neighbours. Maybe I was the difficult adolescent? I read the story again. I try to experience the initial relaxed response of Mary and Joseph ... then their worry, followed by relief ... and eventually puzzlement at their son’s apparent lack of concern. How does it make me feel? I may want to pray for all parents who struggle to come to terms with their rebellious children. I entrust them to the Lord and to his mother, whom the poet compares to a virtuous rose. I conclude my prayer: Gloria in excelsis deo ! Gaudeamus!
Readings next week –The Feast of the Epiphany (Year C)
First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
Second Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12


Your prayers are asked for the sick
Christiana Okpon, Joy Kiely, Robert Harcourt-White, Rose Grimes, Isabelita Santos, Vic Slavin, Lionel Faustino, Marg Stewart & …
Let us pray for those who have died recently:
Carmel Cook, Gladys Ballini, Nestor Manundo, Fortunata Paule, Pat Faulkner, Denise Payne, Zeta Mahoney, Monica Piggot, Isabel Archery 
Let us pray for those whose anniversary occurs about this time: 29th December – 5th January
Claude Coad, Thelma Batt, Barbara George, Rob Belanger, Pearl Sheridan, William Cousins, Bill Kruk, Ian Stubbs, Tori Enniss, Nicola Tenaglia, Roy Beechey, Cavell Robertson, Joshua & Elizabeth Delaney,   Tess Landers.
                                          
Weekly Ramblings
Over these past twelve months we have been focussing on deepening our relationship with God through our prayer life and the scriptures. Many of you have been using the Saviour program during this Advent & Christmas Season and we will again be having small groups that will meet during Lent and Easter to further this important part of our faith journey.
Another aspect of our focus this year has been our participation in the preparation for Plenary 2020 and we will continue to look at ways to allow parishioners to contribute their stories and reflections on what God is asking of us as Church into the future.
As we come to the end of another year (my 5th year as your PP) I would like to express my thanks to everyone who has done so much to help me in so many and varied ways – there are too many to mention in all the centres who work to ensure that our Liturgy is celebrated well, our Churches are clean, tidy and looking good, our counting and fundraising activities are both celebrated and successful. 
I would particularly like to express my thanks to Fr Paschal and Fr Smiley for their forbearance and friendship to me and for their priestly ministry amongst us. To Annie, Anne and Digna for their assistance and friendship in the house, the Office and in the Parish – thanks. To John and Grainne who support Fr Paschal and I as members of the Parish Leadership Team – your assistance and friendship has been wonderful – I would not be able to do it without your support. 
Please take care on the roads and I look forward to seeing you next weekend.


                                                  

Justice Close to Home
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  

Over the last few weeks I’ve explored justice in a broad way. Today I’d like to bring it closer to home, in a little longer meditation, so you get a fuller picture and some of the nuances in my own life.

My first assignment as an ordained deacon in 1969 was working with the Acoma Indians, a Pueblo people living west of Albuquerque. I quickly fell in love with this multi-cultural and beautiful “Land of Enchantment.”

In 1986 when I felt called to start the Center for Action and Contemplation, I returned to New Mexico. Its physical proximity to the U.S./Mexico border, Franciscan legacy (both good and bad), extreme poverty (only Mississippi and U.S. territories have higher poverty rates in the U.S.), and history of nuclear testing made this seem like a good place to live in solidarity with suffering and practice contemplative approaches to justice and peacemaking.

I am still learning to hold the tension of our stunning landscape and rich art with so much injustice and pain. I’ll share just a few examples of New Mexico’s complex past and present.

The Catholic “Doctrine of Discovery” sent Spanish Conquistadors in search of gold, beginning in the sixteenth century. [1] As the area was colonized, many indigenous peoples were massacred, enslaved, or forced to assimilate. Colonial governor Juan de Oñate (1550-1626) had one foot cut off of each man in Acoma Pueblo after they rebelled against Spanish domination. By the late eighteenth century, approximately one-third of New Mexico’s native population was enslaved. [2]

The exploitation of Native Americans continued under Mexican and then United States rule. In the late 1800s, two federal “Indian” boarding schools in the state tried to “remove the cultural and individual identity” of Native American children by prohibiting them from “practicing their native language and beliefs.” [3] Anglo settlers stole land from both Native Americans and Hispanic residents. The U.S. Army forced the Navajo or Diné people onto a small reservation on the eastern side of the state in 1864; the “Long Walk to Bosque Redondo” from the Navajos’ home in western New Mexico—which covered 300 miles of desert and mountains—was an attempt at ethnic cleansing. [4]

The U.S. government has formed numerous treaties with tribes and pueblos, only to blatantly disregard them and give preference to corporations and private interests. Today Native Americans continue to struggle to protect their land, water, and diverse cultures. Even while many in the U.S. try to keep immigrants from crossing our country’s borders, they have broken promises to respect the boundaries of those who were here before us.

Migration—whether chosen or forced—is a reality we must continue to face. U.S. interference in Central America has led to destabilization and violence. In 1986, the year before the Center for Action and Contemplation officially opened, our governor declared New Mexico the country’s first “State of Sanctuary,” a welcoming place for those fleeing civil wars in Central America. Albuquerque’s mayor, Tim Keller, recently affirmed that we are an “Immigrant Friendly” city, limiting city resources in the enforcement of federal immigration laws. [5] I support this decision and applaud the faith communities who are sheltering undocumented immigrants!

The policies of separating families at the U.S./Mexico border and of criminalizing those who seek asylum are disgraceful. Throughout Scripture we see God’s mercy toward the outsider and the vulnerable. Jesus makes our treatment of "the least of these brothers and sisters" the only real criteria for the final judgment (see Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus himself was a refugee, and his life and teaching show us what it means to welcome the stranger in our midst. Without love, "law and order" mentalities too often lead to dehumanization, concentration camps, and genocide. In today’s political arena there is a lot of finger-pointing; we need to move beyond blame and rhetoric to take action on behalf of those who are suffering.

With its high desert environment, New Mexico is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The Rio Grande, which begins in Colorado and finally borders Texas and Mexico, often dries up in the summer before it reaches the Gulf of Mexico, and droughts will only worsen. The over-consumption of fossil fuels in the U.S. has significantly contributed to global warming. Those in power must take responsibility for caring for the people and places most impacted. We’ll all have to come together as a community to find creative ways of sharing and preserving our resources.

Our history is complex and layered. There is no single side of the story, though history is often written from the perspective of the “victor.” [6] We continue to peel back the layers and learn more about the many people who call New Mexico home, often displacing or marginalizing the previous residents. I can only touch on a few of the issues I’ve learned about. In doing so I hope to spark curiosity about your own place in the world. Who lived on “your” land before you? If you don’t know, find out. [7] How might this awareness change the way you live and your attitudes and actions toward indigenous peoples and immigrants?

[1] For more on the Doctrine of Discovery, see Sunday’s meditation, [link to 6/17 DM].
[2] Learn more about the Genízaros, Native American slaves sold to Hispanic families under Spanish rule, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/28/us/indian-slaves-genizaros.html. See also “Of Bloodlines and Conquistadors,” https://latinousa.org/2018/05/18/ofbloodlinesanconquistadors/.
[3] See Santa Fe Indian School, http://www.sfis.k12.nm.us/about_sfis. See also Albuquerque Indian School, http://www.navajotimes.com/entertainment/2009/0709/070909remembering.php.
[4] See Mark Charles, “The Historically Accurate Abraham Lincoln,” http://wirelesshogan.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-historically-accurate-abraham-lincoln.html.
[5] See City of Albuquerque, https://www.cabq.gov/mayor/news/mayor-keller-stands-up-for-albuquerque-families-signs-immigrant-friendly-resolution.
[6] For an in-depth exploration of the negative impact of colonization upon Native Americans, see Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States (Beacon Press: 2015).
[7] See “Tribal Nations Map,” https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/06/24/323665644/the-map-of-native-american-tribes-youve-never-seen-before.
                                     

How to be grateful


‘Gratitude, being nearly the greatest of human duties, is also nearly the most difficult,’ wrote G.K. Chesterton. Luckily, St Ignatius is on hand to help us to cultivate gratitude, so that our hearts may be disposed ‘to receive more, to appreciate more, to love and be loved more.’ Sarah Broscombe views gratitude through psychological, spiritual and Ignatian lenses, helping us to see how and why growing in gratitude is a priority as well as a joy. Sarah Broscombe is a freelance trainer, facilitator, retreat guide and coach, from the UK but now mainly working internationally. Her connection with the Jesuits began in 2002 in the field of social justice, then international development, and is now in the fields of leadership and spirituality.
Virtually every language has words for it, and all the world religions encourage it.[1] Positive psychology is researching its sources, attributes and impact, and popular psychology is extolling its virtues. Gratitude, long understood as a spiritual heavyweight, is now known to be a psychological heavyweight, too. But why? What is it? Why is it important? And how can we use St Ignatius Loyola’s insights to cultivate gratitude in our lives?
You can find the complete article on the ThinkingFaith.org website by clicking here






Thursday 20 December 2018

Fourth Sunday of Advent - Year C

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 
Assistant Priest: Fr Paschal Okpon
Mob: 0438 562 731
paschalokpon@yahoo.com
Priest in Residence:  Fr Phil McCormack  
Mob: 0437 521 257
Postal Address: PO Box 362, Devonport 7310
Parish Office: 90 Stewart Street, Devonport 7310 
(Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am - 3pm)
Office Phone: 6424 2783 Fax: 6423 5160 
Secretary: Annie Davies
Finance Officer: Anne Fisher
Pastoral Council Chair:  Felicity Sly
Mob: 0418 301 573
fsly@internode.on.net

Mersey Leven Catholic Parish Weekly Newslettermlcathparish.blogspot.com.au
Parish Mass times for the Monthmlcpmasstimes.blogspot.com.au
Weekly Homily Podcastmikedelaney.podomatic.com 

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.



Parish Prayer


Heavenly Father,
We thank you for gathering us together 
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.
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
 to the Gospel and build an amazing parish.
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 - recommencing 4th February


Mersey Leven Catholic Parish 
Christmas Mass Times 2018

OUR LADY OF LOURDES STEWART STREET, DEVONPORT
Christmas Eve     6.00pm Children's Mass
                             8.00pm Vigil Mass
                   
ST PATRICK’S, GILBERT STREET, LATROBE
Christmas Day    9.30am    Mass

HOLY CROSS, HIGH STREET, SHEFFIELD
Christmas Day    9.30am    Mass

ST JOSEPH’S MASS CENTRE, ARTHUR STREET, PORT SORELL
Christmas Day    8.30am    Mass

SACRED HEART ALEXANDRA ROAD, ULVERSTONE
Christmas Eve    6.00pm   Children's Mass

ST MARY’S KING EDWARD STREET, PENGUIN
Christmas Eve    8.00pm   Vigil Mass 

Weekday Masses 25th - 28th December 
Tuesday:        As per Christmas Roster in newsletter 
Wednesday:   9:30am Latrobe
Thursday:     12noon Devonport
Friday:           9:30am Ulverstone 

Weekend Masses 29th & 30th December
 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 29th & 30th December, 2018

Devonport:
Readers Vigil: V Riley, A Stegmann 10:30am: E Petts, K Douglas, K Pearce
Ministers of Communion: Vigil:  B O’Connor, R Beaton, T Bird, B Windebank, J Heatley
10:30am: K Hull, F Sly, E Petts, S Riley, S Arrowsmith
Cleaners: 28th Dec: P & T Douglas   4th Jan:  M.W.C.
Piety Shop: 29th Dec: H Thompson 30th Dec: K Hull

Ulverstone:
Reader/s: E Cox Ministers of Communion: M Murray, J Pisarskis, C Harvey, P Grech
Cleaners:  M McKenzie, M Singh, N Pearce   Flowers: M Swain  
Hospitality:  T Good Team

Penguin:
Greeters   J Garnsey, A Landers      Commentator:   J Barker       Readers: J Garnsey, M Murray
Ministers of Communion:    E Nickols, T Clayton                  

Latrobe:
Reader: S Ritchie   Minister of Communion: B Ritchie     Procession of Gifts: M Clarke



OLOL CHRISTMAS EVE READERS.
Children’s Mass 6:00pm: Michael Hartree, Zara Omogbai-musa, 
Tatianna Barrientos 
Vigil Mass 8:00pm: Pietro Piccolo, Anne Hughes, Clare Kiely-Hoye.

                                                                           

Readings this week –Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C)
First Reading: Micah 5:1-4
Second Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10
Gospel: Luke 1:39-44

PREGO REFLECTION ON TODAY’S GOSPEL:
On the eve of this Christmas season, I take some time to become quiet. I may be full of distraction; there may be demands all around me ... But perhaps like Mary, I recognise how important it is to draw apart into the company of someone who understands me. I can trust in the Lord’s presence with me as I pray. Mary goes to Elizabeth. In my prayer I go with her. I, too, may have things to ponder… Perhaps, like Mary, I feel invited to tell others of the Word of God, of how this miraculous birth touches me. How do I want to respond? If it helps, I share my thoughts with the Lord in the company of Mary. The Gospel text describes the very first meeting of John the Baptist with Jesus. Can I recall times when I have met the Lord? How do I herald him in my daily life? I pause … In the circumstances of everyday life, how do I live my faith? Whom do I visit when I need to share and be renewed? Who seeks me out? I think of them now. Can I share Elizabeth’s joy as I reflect on Christ’s coming? I spend some quiet moments resting in the delight that comes from trusting in the Lord’s promise. I end by slowly praying, as did Mary: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’

Readings next week –The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Year C)
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

Your prayers are asked for the sick:
Joy Kiely, Robert Harcourt-White, Rose Grimes, Isabelita Santos, Vic Slavin, Lionel Faustino, Marg Stewart &  ...

Let us pray for those who have died recently: 
Nestor Manundo, Fortunata Paule,  Pat Faulkner, Denise Payne, Zeta Mahoney, Monica Piggot, Isabel Archery, Jill Di Pietro, Brendan Kelly, Laszlo Kiss, Karen Farr, Denis McCormack, Geoff Goss.

Let us pray for those whose anniversary occurs about this time:  22nd – 28th December
Laurence Kelcey, Austin Florian, Eileen McIver, Neil Hensby, Fr John Wall, Gwenda Stones, Wallace Malone, Michael Quillerat, Max Anderson, Margaret Waddle, Maria Duggan, Violet Monaghan, Eileen Burrows,Jean Matthews, James Coad, Kathleen Sheehan,  Brian Salter, Grant Dell, Mavis Wise. Also Knight, Sheridan & Bourke families.


Weekly Ramblings
During this past year I have constantly reflected on the theme of ‘Surrendering to God in Prayer’. A comment was made recently that the word ‘surrendering’ wasn’t a word that some people felt comfortable with when talking about our relationship with God. I don’t apologise for using the word but perhaps an explanation might help understand why I think the word is appropriate.

We are all busy about many things especially if we take these past few weeks as an example. Finding time for prayer and reflection can be difficult – but if we are really committed to our faith journey prayer and reflection aren’t optional extras – they are central. So the challenge is – what do I have to let go of to allow time for prayer each day? What might I have to surrender to make time? I’d like to suggest that Surrendering isn’t about being passive and giving up and not trying.  Surrendering to God in Prayer is about being open so that we allow God into our lives, to speak to us in the stillness so that our response to God each day might be like the young Samuel in 1st Book of Samuel (3:9) – Speak, Lord, your servant is listening – and be better people because we dared to listen.
An update on Fr Paschal’s Mother – Christiana. She has (as of Thursday) had 2 sessions of Dialysis and these have been successful. She will have further treatment in the days to come and it is hopeful she will continue to improve.

Thanks to all those who have contributed to the life of our Parish in so many and varied ways during 2018. To try to mention names is way too difficult (but to paraphrase the words of a School Principal who constantly caught girls out for misbehaving on the bus) – you know who you are! – you have my appreciation and thanks for all you do.


Many of us will be catching up with family and friends in this next week or so and travelling to various parts of our state or interstate. Please take care on the roads and enjoy this special time. In case I don’t have a chance to personally see you in the days ahead I pray that you and your loved ones will enjoy a blessed and holy Christmas and I look forward to our journey as the Mersey Leven Catholic Parish in 2019.

Please take care on the roads and I look forward to seeing you next weekend.





FROM THE PARISH PASTORAL TEAM (Felicity Sly – Chair)
At the PPT meeting last Sunday, and in response to the plenary feedback session, we discussed our focus for 2019. These foci will be Prayer & Sacraments and Belonging.
The plenary feedback group that I facilitated focussed on our experiences of feeling we belonged to a worship community (and the times when this hasn’t happened). In 2019 we will be seeking opportunities for each community to host regular events, enabling community members to socialise and chat.
After the 8:00 Christmas Vigil Mass at Devonport we invite parishioners to join us for a light supper. If the weather is kind, we will host this in the foyer – and spread onto the lawn. If the weather is unkind, we will go to the Parish Hall. If you are able, please bring something to share.
Wishing you a happy and Holy Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.
                                           

PLENARY COUNCIL 2020:
You are invited to a follow-up gathering to develop our responses to the question:
What is God asking of us in Australia at this time?
Thursday 28th February, 2019 10am – 11:30am at Parish House, Stewart Street, Devonport. Contact Clare Kiely-Hoye 6428:2760
                            
WALKING TOWARD HEAVEN
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  

Last week I explored the fundamental importance of discovering and living out of our True Self, our imago Dei, the image of God that we are. In the Center for Action and Contemplation’s most recent edition of Oneing, “Anger,” actor, filmmaker, writer, and personal friend Josh Radnor writes about how living from our inherent divinity contributes to creating a just and loving world.

In his book Carpe Jugulum, Terry Pratchett has a character define sin thusly: “Sin, young man, is when you treat people like things.” [1] . . .
We’re seeing the consequences of this everywhere these days: People are being objectified. . . .

The translation of Namaste is one of infinite depth. It means: The divinity in me . . . salutes the divinity in you.

Here we have an antidote to objectification. Something infinite, immortal, mysterious, loving, and alive abides in me and it is from this light that I bow toward that which is infinite, immortal, mysterious, loving, and alive in you. What if this was our set-point, our baseline, the fundamental assumption we had about every single person we encountered? All our reputations precede us: We’re divine. . . .

Mystics from every tradition testify to the aliveness and sentience of all things, that the natural world is lit up with the flame of divinity. This does and must include us. We’re not taught this. In fact, most of what we’re taught opposes this.

There’s an urgency to this moment. We must choose between a world of subjects and a world of objects. To acknowledge the divinity of another, we must first accept our own, which is not nearly as easy as it sounds. . . . Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield [writes]:
Our belief in a limited and impoverished identity is such a strong habit that without it we are afraid we wouldn’t know how to be. If we fully acknowledged our dignity, it could lead us to radical life changes. It could ask something huge of us. [2]

. . . So many of us carry a kind of unspoken assumption that something is very, very wrong with us, that we’re damaged, guilty, and unlovable. Stepping into our divinity—acknowledging and accepting our fundamental nobility—is the ultimate paradigm shift. Kornfield is right. We cannot continue with business as usual after this. . . .

Namaste asks something huge of us: If the divinity in me recognizes the divinity in you, how could I abuse, debase, violate, or harass? I would, after all, only be punishing myself. . . .

St. Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335-c. 394) offered another beautiful, succinct, and useful definition of sin. Sin, he [suggested], is a refusal to keep growing. [3]
This is a growing moment. Growth is painful.
I don’t believe hell or heaven to be post-life destinations. I believe they are states of consciousness largely visible here and now. A world of objects is a kind of hell. A world of subjects—divine beings honoring the divinity in the other—is surely heaven. May we point our feet toward this heaven and begin the hard and necessary work of walking there.

[1] Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum (Harper Torch: 1998), 278.
[2] Jack Kornfield, The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology (Bantam Dell: 2008), 12.
[3] See Jean Daniélou, From Glory to Glory: Texts from Gregory of Nyssa’s Mystical Writings, trans. Herbert Musurillo (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press: 1979, ©1961), 60. In his works The Life of Moses and Commentary on the Song of Songs, Gregory of Nyssa used the Greek word epektasis (expansion) to describe the soul’s inherent and ever-increasing desire to grow toward God’s goodness.
Josh Radnor, “Saluting the Divinity in You,” “Anger,” Oneing, vol. 6, no. 1 (Center for Action and Contemplation: 2018), 47, 48-50.
                                        
THE DOUBLE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS

This is an article from the archives of Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI. You can find the original article here
I’ve never been happy with some of my activist friends who send out Christmas cards with messages like: May the Peace of Christ Disturb You! Can’t we have one day a year to be happy and celebrate without having our already unhappy selves shaken with more guilt? Isn’t Christmas a time when we can enjoy being children again? Moreover, as Karl Rahner once said, isn’t Christmas a time when God gives us permission to be a happy? So why not?

Well, it’s complex. Christmas is a time when God gives us permission to be happy, when the message from God speaks through the voice of Isaiah and says: “Comfort my people. Speak words of comfort!” But Christmas is also a time that points out that when God was born two thousand years ago there wasn’t any room for him to be born in all the normal homes and places of the day. There was no room for him at the inn. Peoples’ busy lives and expectations kept them from offering him a place to be born. That hasn’t changed.

But first, the comfort of his birth: A number of years ago, I participated in a large diocesan synod. At one point the animator in charge had us divide into small groups and each group was asked to answer the question: What’s the single most-important thing that the church should challenge the world with right now?

The groups reported back and each group named some important spiritual or moral challenge: “We need to challenge our society towards more justice!” “We need to challenge the world to have real faith and not confuse God’s word with its own wishes.” “We need to challenge our world towards a more responsible sexual ethos. We’ve lost our way!”  Wonderful, needed challenges, all of them. But no group came back and said: “We need to challenge the world to receive God’s consolation!” Granted, there’s a lot of injustice, violence, racism, sexism, greed, selfishness, sexual irresponsibility, and self-serving faith around; but most of the adults in our world are also living in a lot pain, anxiety, disappointment, loss, depression, and unresolved guilt. Everywhere you look, you see heavy hearts. Moreover, so many people living with hurt and disappointment do not see God and the church as an answer to their pain but rather as somehow part of its cause.

So our churches, in preaching God’s word, need first of all to assure the world of God’s love, God’s concern, and God’s forgiveness.  Before doing anything else, God’s word is meant to comfort us; indeed, to be the ultimate source of all comfort. Only when the world knows God’s consolation will it accept the concomitant challenge.

And that challenge, among others, is to then make room for Christ at the inn, that is, to open our hearts, our homes, and our world as places were Christ can come and live. From the safe distance of two thousand years we too easily make a scathing judgment on the people at the time of Jesus’ birth for not knowing what Mary and Joseph were carrying, for not making a proper place for Jesus to be born, and for not recognizing him as Messiah afterwards. How could they be so blind? But that same judgment is still being made of us. We aren’t exactly making room in our own inns.

When a new person is born into this world, he or she takes a space where before there was no one. Sometimes that new person is warmly welcomed and a cozy, loving space is instantly created and everyone around is happy for this new invasion.  But that isn’t always the case; sometimes, as was the case with Jesus, there is no space created for the new person to enter the world and his or her presence is unwelcome.

We see this today (and this will constitute a judgment on our generation) in the reluctance, almost all over the world, to welcome new immigrants, to make room for them at the inn. The United Nations estimates that there are 19.5 million refugees in the world today, persons whom no one will welcome. Why not?  We are not bad people and we are capable most times of being wonderfully generous. But letting this flood of immigrants enter our lives would disturb us. Our lives would have to change. We would lose some of our present comforts, many of our old familiarities, and some of our securities.

We are not bad people, neither were those innkeepers two thousand years ago who, not knowing what was unfolding, in inculpable ignorance, turned Mary and Joseph away. I’ve always nursed a secret sympathy for them. Maybe because I am still, unknowingly, doing exactly what they did.  A friend of mine is fond of saying: “I’m against more immigrants being allowed in … now that we’re in!”

The peace of Christ, the message inside of Christ’s birth, and the skewed circumstances of his birth, if understood, cannot but disturb. May they also bring deep consolation.
                               

5 OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAVE AS A CHURCH THIS CHRISTMAS

You can find this blog and many more thoughts about leading a Parish by visiting the weekly Blog of Fr Michael White, the pastor of the Church of the Nativity, Timonium, Maryland by clicking here 

In just a few days,  your church will be experiencing your greatest opportunity of the whole year. Are you just getting it over and done with or capitalizing on it for your long-term strategic advantage? Is Christmas only to be managed or can you make it all about your mission? Here are 5 things to do this Christmas Eve.
  1. Ask your regulars to help you out.
Your parishioners can help in many ways. They can choose to attend a less crowded Mass time and free up a seat for newcomers. They can park off campus and open up a parking space. They can invite an unchurched friend and accompany them to church. Best of all, they can serve on Christmas Eve by opening doors or greeting guests. Consciously ask your regular attendees to take steps to make your Christmas masses an irresistible environment for newcomers.
  1. Greet guests.
What if everybody at your church, from the pulpit to pews, acted like they’re glad so many guests have joined you for the evening? Smile, greet guests, make the experience joyful and welcoming. A simple greeting can completely change someone’s experience. The number one question your guests are asking themselves when they come to your church is, “Am I welcome?” Only you can convince them that they are.
  1. Preach to your guests.
Be very conscious and very careful to address your guests in the homily. Make sure it is free from “churchspeak” and insider references. Try to be especially relevant to the perspective of the unchurched, make it a message that means something to them. If guests feel like we have relevant things to say, it’s far more likely that they will return to church after you….
  1. Invite them back.
Before the service is over, make some kind of subtle invitation to return in the new year. Make it subtly and softly, make it sound attractive, not scolding. Share some of the upcoming events or activities your parish will be offering in the months ahead. Better yet, mention upcoming preaching themes or series that will be of interest to them. Maybe even have a printed invitation card inviting guests to return in the coming year… not a bulletin. Your bulletin has way more information than they want. Just use a card with Mass times and information on kids or student programs. That simplicity will appeal to newcomers and give them a clear next step.
  1. Don’t talk about money.
I know a parish that had a beautiful church, beautifully decorated every Christmas, and a fabulous music ministry. Christmas Eve was a very special experience until it came time for the collection. At that point the pastor would climb into the pulpit and make an extended and wholly annoying plea for support of the Christmas offering. It was entirely off-putting and absolutely killed the environment.
At no time, under any circumstances, talk about money. The unchurched can be very cynical about money (and the church) and they’re just waiting for you to nag them about it.
This Christmas you will face resistance from churchpeople who want Christmas Eve to be all about them. But following these steps will ensure that your Christmas experience appeals to everybody, especially newcomers.
                                
THOMAS MERTON: THE EMBRACE OF DIFFERENCE
Thomas Merton, the famed spiritual writer, died on 10 December 1968. His writings are still as relevant as his life story is fascinating, particularly his treatment of ‘difference’, a word that ‘now commands an attention that would never have been possible fifty years ago,’ writes Michael Barnes SJ. The fiftieth anniversary of Merton’s death, particularly as it falls in Advent, is an opportunity to contemplate with him the action of the Spirit. Michael Barnes SJ is Professor of Interreligious Relations at the University of Roehampton. The article is taken from the ThinkingFaith.org website - you can read the complete article by clicking here
It is fifty years since the death of Thomas Merton, the finest spiritual writer of his generation and a prominent icon of interreligious dialogue. By a strange chance, an even more influential Christian writer, the Reformed theologian Karl Barth, died the same day – 10 December 1968. The circumstances of their deaths could scarcely have been more different. Barth slipped away peacefully at home in Basle aged 82, widely regarded by both Protestants and Catholics – and by no less a figure than Pope St Paul VI – as the greatest Christian theologian since Aquinas. Merton was killed in a freak accident while at a conference in Thailand. He was aged 53; it was 27 years to the day since he had entered Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky in 1941.
You can continue to read the complete article by clicking here