Pius News

Pius News
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time—10th February 2013
PRAYER AS SANITY AND BALANCE by Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI
Our generative years are a marathon, not a sprint, and so it's difficult to sustain graciousness, generosity, and patience through
the tiredness, trials, and temptations that beset us through the years of our adult lives. All on our own, relying on willpower
alone, we too often fatigue, get worn down, and compromise both our maturity and our discipleship. We need help from
beyond, from somewhere even beyond the human supports that help bolster us. We need God's help, strength from something
beyond what's human. We need prayer.
But too often we think of this in pious rather than realistic terms. Rarely do we grasp how much prayer is really a question of
life and death for us. We need to pray not because God needs us to pray but because if we don't pray we will never find any
steadiness in our lives. Simply put, without prayer we will always be either too full of ourselves or too empty of energy, inflated
or depressed. Why? What's the anatomy of this?
Prayer, as it is understood in all its best traditions, Christian and other, is meant to do two things for us, both at the same time:
Prayer is meant to connect us to divine energy, even as it makes us aware that this energy is not our own, that it comes from
elsewhere, and that we may never identify with it. Genuine prayer, in effect, fills us with divine energy and tells us at the same
time that this energy isn't our own; that it works through us, but that it's not us. To be healthy, we need both: If we lose
connection to divine energy we drain of energy, depress, and feel empty. Conversely if we let divine energy flow into us but
identify with it, somehow thinking that it is our own, we become grandiose, inflate with self-importance and arrogance, and
become selfish and destructive.
Robert Moore offers a very helpful image to illustrate this, that of a small fighter-plane having to fuel-up inflight. We have all
seen video footage of a small fighter-jet fueling-up while still in the air. Hovering above it is a mother-plane with a huge reserve
of fuel. The little plane has to fly close enough to the mother-plane so that a nozzle from the mother-plane can connect with it
so as to refill its fuel tank. If it doesn't make this type of contact it runs out of fuel and soon crashes. Conversely, if it flies into
the mother-plane, identifies with it, it goes up in flames.
Few images capture as astutely the importance of prayer in our lives. Without prayer, we will forever find ourselves vacillating
between being too empty of energy or too full of ourselves. If we do not connect with divine energy we will run out of gas. If
we do connect with divine energy but identify with it, we will destroy ourselves.
Deep prayer is what energises us and grounds us, both at the same time. We see this, for example, in a person like Mother
Teresa, who was bursting with creative energy but was always very clear that this energy did not come from her, but from God,
and she was merely a humble human instrument. Lack of real prayer makes for two kinds of antithesis to Mother Teresa: On
the one hand, it makes for a wonderfully talented and energetic man or woman who is full of creative energy, but is also full of
grandiosity and ego; or, on the other hand, it makes for a man or woman who feels empty and flat and cannot radiate any
positive energy. Without prayer we will forever be bouncing back and forth between grandiosity and depression.
Thus, unless I have real prayer in your life, if I'm sensitive, I will more than likely live inside a certain habitual depression, afraid
that really accessing my energies and acting on them would lead others to think I'm full of myself. Since my sensitivity won't
allow that, I entomb many of my best energies on the unconscious premise that it's better to be depressed than be accused of
being an egoistic. But Jesus, himself, in his parable of the talents, warns us strongly about the price that's to be paid for burying
one's talents, namely, emptiness, anger, and lack of delight in our lives. Often times, if we check beneath our angers and
jealousies, we will find there a buried talent that's bitter because it has been suppressed. Virtue at the cost of suppressing our
energies leads to bitterness.
Conversely, if I don't care if people think me an egotist and I don't have real prayer in my life, I will let the divine energies flow
freely through me, but I will identify with them as if they were my own, my talents, my gifts, and I will end up full of ego and
grandiosity, with those around me wishing I was depressed!
Catholic Church Dernancourt— 1 Avoca Street Dernancourt 5075 Telephone: 08 8261 2428
Email: [email protected]
ABN 21465985101 Web: www.oblates.com.au/dernancourt
CHANGES IN OUR MASSES
Responsorial Psalm - Our Priests and our Liturgy Committee would like to return to a common practice of other parishes
throughout Australia, of the Reader first reciting the Response, then the Congregation repeating it. This is then followed by
the Reader reading each of the verses, with the congregation reciting the Response after each verse. This will change as from
the First Sunday in Lent onwards. The Overhead display will now show only the Response, and not each of the Verses.
After each of the Readings , our Readers also make a short pause, before the Psalm or the Alleluia verse is recited. This is
intended for personal Reflection time on the Scriptures just read.
You will also have noticed a slide saying “Homily Reflection Time” after the Priest’s Homily. A full minute is devoted to
personal Reflection on the Homily before the Collection commences. We encourage you to use this time well for your own
reflection. It is meant to be a quiet time. We ask you to wait till the Collection is announced before looking for your money &
envelopes for the Collection.
Vinnies are looking for volunteers to help at the Holden Hill Shop on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
from 10am – 4pm. Visit the shop for more information.
Reflecting on Lent
‘Lent is a time of introspection. We read Exodus, and watch the Israelites grumbling, even after the amazing things God had
done for them (Ex 17:3-7). In them, we recognise ourselves. For many of us, then, Lent is time for the spiritual equivalent of
New Year’s resolutions. We set aside work on ourselves for forty days so we don’t end up wandering around in the wilderness
for 40 years. We do things to burn off the excess fat that’s weighing us down, try to improve our spiritual diet, and do some
meaningful spiritual exercises to strengthen the muscles we call “virtues.”’
From Catholic theologian, Dr Marcellino d’Ambrosio, The Crossroads Initiative
Palm Leaves for Palm Sunday:- We need a new source of supply for Palm Leaves/Fronds for Palm Sunday for decoration to
the Sanctuary. If you know of anyone who could help out please would you let David know or ring Dan Donovan on 0429 810
588 so arrangements can be organised. Many thanks from the Liturgy Team
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Easter Raffle :- shortly our Easter Raffle tickets will be going on sale. We are looking for parishioners to donate Easter Eggs,
boxes of Chocolates etc for prizes. Prizes can be left at the parish office or with Dot or Lou after the 9:30am mass.
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES 11th FEBRUARY
You are invited to a celebration of the Holy Eucharist and Blessing of the Sick at a special Mass on Monday
February 11, 2013 at 10.00am in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Adelaide. Father John would like a ride if anyone could assist.
Thank you.
Archbishop Wilson invites all parishioners to celebrate the Northern Deanery Stational Mass with him on Tues
19th February at St Augustine’s Salisbury at 7.30pm. Parishioners will see this as their Lenten pilgrimage in preparation for renewal of Baptism vows at Easter. They will see a number of candidates being presented for Full
Communion of the Catholic Church, and welcomed by the Archbishop. Your support in coming to this Mass would
be greatly appreciated.
Southern Cross- Now Online: Please note our Catholic newspaper is now available online. To view your digital edition of The Southern
Cross newspaper, visit: www.thesoutherncross.org.au
Liturgy HELP!
We have a very dedicated group of people working together in our LITURGY TEAM, planning and discussing to
ensure that our Liturgical celebrations at St Pius X continue to be good, if not the BEST in Adelaide. However
there are certain times when EXTRA help is needed, for
example just NOW to put in place decorations such as for
LENT beginning Ash Wednesday, then PALM SUNDAY,
and quickly following on HOLY THURSDAY and EASTER
SUNDAY. Unlike the Liturgy Team who meet often during
the year on a regular basis, this ‘special’ help would only
be occasional. I would call this group LITURGY TEAM
AUXILIARIES. It would only need an hour or so of your
time as the need arises.
If you would like to be an AUXILIARY for the Liturgy Team
you can contact:
Dan Donovan 0429810588 or Fr. John 0405557914
We need you.
The Annual Clergy-Laity Golf Day at Adelaide
Shores Patawalonga Golf Course on Monday
18th March will commence with a 12.30pm
shotgun start. Attractive prizes for men and women.
The John Mahoney Parish Trophy will be awarded to the
parish with the best three Stableford scores. Spouses
and friends are welcome to attend the presentation dinner from 6.15pm. Cost for golf and dinner is $65
(discount for clergy and pensioners). Entries close on
Friday 8th March. Field limit of 100. Enquiries to Denis
Toohey on 8353 1273.
WYD – Oblate Youth - South Australia
World Youth Day 2013 Fundraising
Sausage Sizzle—16th / 17th February (all masses)
Bingo Night (hosted by Carmel Farrow) - Friday, 22nd
February at St Pius Hall—7pm (eyes down at 8pm)
We thank you for your incredible support as we embark on
this spiritual journey.
Contact details:
Sunil Mohanaraj 043265402; [email protected]
We thank you for your incredible support as we embark on
this spiritual journey!
Oblate Youth SA Meetings
Having just returned from an amazing Oblate Youth Encounter in Melbourne, the Oblate Youth of SA have been challenged to “leave nothing undared” as we embark on our
Christian mission! All youth between the ages of 16-35 are
invited to our gatherings, held every Thursday, 7pm at St
Pius X hall.
For further details email Sunil: [email protected]
*Important* The last day to register your interest as a
pilgrim and be involved in the WYD fundraisers has been
extended to 17th February. For more details please contact
Sunil. There will be no Oblate Youth Meeting for this Thursday 14th February. Meetings will resume on the following
Thursday, 21st February.
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Lent :- Lent begins on Wednesday 13th February. Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. The law of fasting binds those who have completed
their 18th year, until the beginning of their 60th year. (CCL
97, 1251f). Lent is a penitential season of prayer, self-denial
and helping others. In this way, the whole Church prepares
for Easter with those who are to be baptised. Why not
make a special effort at least once to attend the Stations of
the Cross on a Friday night during Lent at 7:30pm.
Lenten Discussion Groups:- Would you like to lead a group
this year? If you would like to volunteer to lead a group
contact the office on 82612428 or
[email protected] please indicate if you would
like to host a day or evening group and preferred time.
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World Day of Prayer
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me”
Members of St Andrew’s Church, 43 Church Tce,
Walkerville invite the parishioners of St Pius X Church to
join them for this year’s World Day of Prayer Service prepared by WDP Committee France.
Time: 7.30pm Friday 1st March 2013
An invitation is extended to anyone wishing to be part of
the choir. Practice Sunday 24th February at 3.30-4.00pm.
Mass Times at St Pius X
Saturday Vigil
Sunday
Tue, Wed & Fri
Thurs
6.30pm
9.30am & 5.30pm
9:15am
9:30am
Daily Morning Prayer: Tues, Wed, Frid 8.40am
Thurs, 8.55am
Rosary: Tues, Wed, Frid 8.55am. Thurs 9.10am
RECONCILIATION: Saturdays 11.30am-12noon
Exposition—Every Friday
9.50am—12 noon
6pm—7:30pm
Stations of the Cross 7:30pm
Today's Readings: Is 6:1-8; 1 Cor 15:1-11;
Lk 5:1-11
Next Week’s Readings: Deut 26:4-10; Rom
10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13
PLEASE REMEMBER THE SICK OF OUR PARISH IN YOUR PRAYERS
Alan Hughes, Alex Stirrat, Alicia Prince, Alison Hellams, Anna
Johnston, Anne McEvoy, Arthur Edmonds, Bowen Ferguson, Cherri
Hyde, Christine Brasser, Christine Gordon, David Beaven, Damian
Canavan, Don Brown, Emma Altin, Ev Lewis, Eva McCarthy, Fran
Lewis, Georgina Evans, Greg Cashmere, Helen Durkin, Hilda Langdon,
Italia Zollo, Jackie Chin, Jason Luis, Jean Keanan, Jet Robinson, Justin
Rowe, Katie Correll, Maria Schinella, Maria Galinato, Mark, Marthese
Cinelli, Mary May, Maryrose Aquilina, Maureen Cunningham, Merv
Barber, Michaela Matthews, Moya Nussio, Paul Klepczynski, Peter
Hale, Peter Kelly, Philip McKelliff, Ray Bragg, Renata Stirrat, Robert
Kean, Ron Todd, Ros Venn, Sheila Lawless, Stephen Hellams, Susie
Kudra, Stanley Sagucio, Stella O’Keefe, Susan O’Neill, Tania Altin,
Theresa Sara, Tony Siciliano, Trish Antenucci, Vic Purcell, Violet
Mikajlo, Virginia Ciechanowicz, Zena Pocock
Please pray for recently deceased and all those deceased in our Parish
Anniversary Book.
St Vincent de Paul Food Bank
This week— Breakfast Cereals. Thank You
Feast Days of the Week
Wed Feb 13 Ash Wednesday
The Day of Ashes (Latin: dies cinerum), the first day
of Lent, probably dates from at least the eighth century. On this day the faithful approach the altar where
the priest, dipping his thumb into ashes previously
blessed, marks the forehead of each with the sign of
the cross, saying as a reminder of our mortality:
‘Remember that thou art dust and unto dust thou
shalt return.’
The wearing of ashes is also a sign of repentance - for
example, in Job 42:6 we read: ‘I retract what I have
said and repent in dust and ashes.’ The ashes are
made by burning the blessed palms that were distributed the previous year on Palm Sunday.
Quote: ‘Ash Wednesday is a day when we stare
death in the face.’
Parish Prayer Network: Prayers for any need. All you
need to do is call one of the following:
Dan & Gail 8367 7879
Maureen 8261 6906 or Beth 8396 2079
Parish Diary
13th February 9.15am & 7.30pm Ash Wednesday
15 Feb
Stations of The Cross 7:30pm
22nd Feb WYD Bingo in hall 8pm
Faith Formation Classes for primary school children
not attending Catholic Schools will commence on
Tuesday 5th March at 4pm at Kildare College.
Mark Roberts , Christian author
Congratulations to Leah Lobo who celebrates 1st Eucharist
this weekend at the 9;30am Mass.
MINISTRY ROSTER 16/17 Feb
2013
C
Pat Beaven
C
Jos Hensing
C
Anne Goss
R1
R2
EM
Huguette Rignanese
Jasmine Paje
Anne Brown
Don Brown
Jean Canil
R1
R2
EM
Roderick Essery
Margaret Duggan
Dan Donovan
Tommy Morrison
Peggy McNeil
R
EM
Amy Bartjes
Stuart Feirclough
Sunil Mohanaraj
Judith Mohan
Philip Matthews
Charlie Baldacchino
Kevin Witkowski
M
Michael Carter
M
Ross Cunningham
James + Choir
CHURCH CLEANERS: Team E—Anderson, Matthews
M