Mersey Leven Catholic Parish
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
Weekly Homily Podcast: mikedelaney.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.
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
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 - 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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….
- 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.
- 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
No comments:
Post a Comment