St Thomas More Parish

St Thomas More Parish
98 Bay Street, Brighton le Sands, NSW 2216, Australia
Fr Manuel Santiago Parish Priest
Peter Dowling Secretary/ Coordinator
Tel: 9567 3589 Fax: 9567 7905
Email: [email protected]
Website: ttp://www.thomasmorebrighton.org
Mass Times:
Sat: 5.30 pm, Sun: 8.00 am, 10.00 am
Mon: No Mass (Communion Service)
Tue-Fri: 9.00 am
1st Friday Exposition/Adoration 8.15am
Confession: Sat: 4.30 pm
4th Sunday of Lent (B) 15 March 2015
FIRST READING
2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23
A reading from the second book of
Chronicles
All the heads of the priesthood,
and the people too, added
infidelity to infidelity, copying all
the shameful practices of the
nations and defiling the Temple
that the Lord had consecrated for
himself in Jerusalem. The Lord, the
God of their ancestors, tirelessly
sent them messenger after
messenger, since he wished to
spare his people and his house. But
they ridiculed the messengers of
God, they despised his words, they
laughed at his prophets, until at
last the wrath of the Lord rose so
high against his people that there
was no further remedy.
Their enemies burned down the
Temple of God, demolished the
walls of Jerusalem, set fire to all its
palaces, and destroyed everything
of value in it. The survivors were
deported by Nebuchadnezzar to
Babylon; they were to serve him
and his sons until the kingdom of
Persia came to power. This is how
the word of the Lord was fulfilled
that he spoke through Jeremiah,
'Until this land has enjoyed its
sabbath rest, until seventy years
have gone by, it will keep sabbath
throughout the days of its
desolation.'
And in the first year of Cyrus
king of Persia, to fulfil the word of
the Lord that was spoken through
Jeremiah, the Lord roused the spirit
of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a
proclamation and to have it
publicly displayed throughout his
kingdom: 'Thus speaks Cyrus king
of Persia, "The Lord, the God of
heaven, has given me all the
kingdoms of the earth; he has
ordered me to build him a Temple
in Jerusalem, in Judah. Whoever
there is among you of all his
people, may his God be with him!
Let him go up."'
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. Let my tongue be
HOLY GOSPEL
silenced, if I ever forget you!
John 3:14-21
SECOND READING Eph. 2:4-10
A reading from the holy Gospel
according to John
A reading from the letter of St Paul
to the Ephesians
God loved us with so much love
that he was generous with his
mercy: when we were dead
through our sins, he brought us to
life with Christ - it is through grace
that you have been saved - and
raised us up with him and gave us
a place with him in heaven, in
Christ Jesus.
This was to show for all ages to
come, through his goodness
towards us in Christ Jesus, how
infinitely rich he is in grace.
Because it is by grace that you
have been saved, through faith; not
by anything of your own, but by a
gift from God; not by anything that
you have done, so that nobody can
claim the credit. We are God's
work of art, created in Christ Jesus
to live the good life as from the
beginning he had meant us to live
it. The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
John 3:16
God loved the world so much,
he gave us his only Son,
that all who believe in him
might have eternal life.
Jesus said to Nicodemus: 'The Son
of Man must be lifted up as Moses
lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so that everyone who believes may
have eternal life in him.
Yes, God loved the world so
much that he gave his only Son, so
that everyone who believed in him
may not be lost but may have
eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the
world not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world
might be saved. No one who
believes in him will be condemned;
but whoever refuses to believe is
condemned already, because he
has refused to believe in the name
of God's only Son. On these
grounds is sentence pronounced:
that though the light has come into
the world men have shown they
prefer darkness to the light
because their deeds were evil.
And indeed, everybody who
does wrong hates the light and
avoids it, for fear his actions should
be exposed; but the man who lives
by the truth comes out into the light,
so that it may be plainly seen that
what he does is done in God.'
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
St Thomas More Primary School: Tel: 02 9597 5884 - Principal Mrs Jenny Frost
President Pastoral Council: David D’Amato
Chairman Finance Committee: Pat Bugden
St Thomas More Church is fitted with an audio loop for the hearing impaired.
LITURGY ROSTER FOR NEXT SUNDAY
5th Sunday of Lent (B) Mar 21 - 22 2015
Commentator
Lectors
Extraordinary Ministers of
Communion
Acolytes
5:30 PM (Sat)
A Mackenzie
A Mackenzie
N Azar
N Azar
Y Muthuanene
D Coyte
8:00 AM (Sun)
B Trott
B Trott
T Liaw
K Parajes
G Thumboo
T Thumboo
10:00 AM (Sun)
Ave Maria Choir
P McGovern
A Diel
R Ventura
M Cencigh
M Diel
COUNTERS
16/3 F McManus, L Holder
23/3 A Mackenzie. G Daniel, P Harding
Please pray for the Poor, the Sick and the Faithful Departed of the Parish:
Recently Deceased: A.J. Jabonero (Died Thursday March 5 in United States); Tadeo Benzon (R.I.P.); Fr James Joseph
Gallen (former Parish Priest at Pagewood – Died 1.3.15); Fr Lawrence Vincent Pedemont (Died 25.2.15); Michael
(Mick) Comensoli (Died 16.2.15).
Anniversaries: Ghassan Touma & Jannette Jabbour (Anniversaries 8th March); Mrs Catherine Banting (5th Anniv.
11.3.15); Mrs Erina Ulivelli (Died 2.3.2010).
Deceased: James Reid; Maria Nguyen Thi Mat & Phero Nguyen The Tho; Orazio & Rosa Di Pasqua, Vincenzo & Carmela
Camuglia, Maria Catena Sicarek, Giovanna Di Pasqua, Gary Green and all my relatives; James & Angela Vassallo; Ron
D'Astoli; Susan Elizabeth Gore; Giuseppe Currenti; Bartolo [Bob] Natoli; Charlie Pisani, Charles Baldacchino; Jim Pisani;
Sam Pisani; Frank Rozmus, Maxwell Szpoper; Herbert Fenech. Other: Holy Souls in Purgatory.
Prayers for the Sick: Bishop Geoff Robinson; Greg Doyle; Betty Borg; Peter Miller; Robert Collaro; Colleen Cartner (East
Gosford); Giuseppe Di Pasqua; Les Spiteri; Joe Vizzone; Lachlan Vella; Zac Mullens; George Kent; Hilda Das Neves;
Anthony Attard; Japeth Ryan Tolentino; Brigida Moniz; Anita Wong; Geoffrey Goodwin; Angela Formosa; Josi Duarte;
Rose Carlos-Cruz; Mitchelle Fisher; Maguy & Christian Ajaka; Jose De Ocampo Jnr.; Marie Kean; Brandon Bell; Mark
Squires; Neville Roper; Kelly Fox; Jimmy Wells; Joseph & Barica (Barbara) Kos; Paul Marvyn Villanueva; Billy Kennedy;
Louis Saadeh; Allen Ajaka; Josephine Albany; Joyce Barbuto; Fernanda Rosso; Joyce Martin; Yvonne Hoskins; Doris
Borg; Jaro Kolla; Nelly Swarez; Jean & Jack O’Brien; Pat & Brian Hutchinson; Frank Dannaher [senior]; Alfred [Fred]
Spiteri]; Pauline Sciberras.
Mass Intentions: To avoid secretarial errors, please indicate clearly the purpose of your Mass Intention.
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PROJECT COMPASSION APPEAL 2015. By supporting Project Compassion you are helping to
improve the life of some of the world’s poorest people. Your donation will support programs around the
world that provide vulnerable people with the skills and opportunities they need to establish sustainable
food sources for life.
Please take home a Project Compassion box and/or a set of Lenten donation envelopes and give
generously to the appeal this Lent.
You can donate through Parish boxes and envelopes, by visiting www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion
or phoning 1800 024 413.
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Seniors Group News: Next trip 13 April to Penrith area. Cost $35.00 pp incl. lunch. Departure 8.00 am sharp.
For tickets or further info. Ring John D’Amato 9588 2732 or Susan Barakat 0405 706 050.
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Parish AGM 2015
For your Diary. This year’s AGM will take place on Sunday 3rd May 2015 following the 10.00 am Mass.
Nomination forms for the new Pastoral Council are available from the benches at the main church entrance
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GRACES OF EASTERN EUROPE – PILGRIMAGE – Pilgrimage Chaplain: Fr Manuel Santiago
HARVEST PILGRIMAGES ‘GRACES OF EASTERN EUROPE”. Dates 17 June 2015 – 2 July 2015.
Harvest Pilgrimages 9390 5460. e-mail: [email protected].
Mass Times for Holy Week
Passion Sunday
Reconciliation for Lent
Holy Thursday
28-29 March
Normal Sunday Mass Times
31 March
7.00 pm
2 April
Mass of the Lords Supper 7.00 pm,
after Mass, Adoration until 10.00 pm
Good Friday
3 April
Holy Saturday
4 April
Stations of the Cross 10.00 am (parish Community)
Fr Manuel will be available for confession between 11.00
am & 12 noon)
Celebration of the Passion of the Lord 3.00 pm
Office of Readings & Morning Prayer 9.00 am:
Easter Vigil 6.00 pm
5 April
Mass 8.00 am & 10.00 am Mass 5.30 pm
Easter Sunday
NOTES FOR THOSE WILL HELP DURING HOLY WEEK
Reminders to all Readers & Holy Communion Ministers who will volunteer on Holy Week
Services; please arrive at the Sacristy early and present yourselves to the priest for some
instructions in the NARRATION OF THE PASSION (on Palm Sunday, Good Friday), and in
the Readings of EASTER VIGIL MASS and in the distribution of Holy Eucharist.
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Confirmation 2015
Confirmation this year will take place on Tuesday 2nd June in the Church at 6.30 pm. Parents who wish to enrol
their children are advised that applications for Enrolment will be available in the next few weeks from your
child’s class catechist or from Parish Office by phoning 9567 3589. On Tuesday 28 April a Parent Teacher
meeting will take place at 7.00 pm. This meeting will set out teaching program and provide all necessary
information for parents. On the next Sunday 3rd May children will be enrolled at the 10.00 am Mass. On the
Friday (29 May), prior to Confirmation the children will be required to attend a Retreat Day to help the children
prepare properly for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
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50th anniversary of the first Papal Mass in the vernacular
Pope Francis has appealed for Catholics to increase their “love for the house of God” as he marked the 50th
anniversary of the first Papal Mass in the vernacular, reports The Catholic Herald. Celebrating Mass in
Ognissanti (All Saints) church in Rome, where Blessed Pope Paul VI celebrated his first public Mass in Italian,
rather than Latin, he said: “The Church is calling us to have and to promote an authentic liturgical life, so that
there may be harmony between what the liturgy celebrates, and what we live in our daily existence.” Source.
CathNews.com.au
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ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL PRIMARY OPEN DAY. Primary boys and their parents are invited to the
Open Day from 1.30 – 3.00 pm on Friday, 13 March. Enrolments are open for boys in Year 3 for choir and
also as musicians. Years 4 - 6 enrolments are open for musicians only. Entry into the primary classes is
conditional on audition and committing to a choral and / or music and instrument study.
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SENIORS MASS AT ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL 19 MARCH 2015, 10.30am: You are invited to
attend the Seniors Mass celebrated by Fr. Geoffrey Plant with concelebrant Fr. Paul Hilder Dean of St Mary’s
Cathedral. This Mass is supported by Life Ascending Australia and concentrates on Spirituality, Friendship and
Loving Service for senior or retired people. Everyone Welcome! For more information telephone: Roy Cooke
9771 3609.
4th SUNDAY OF LENT (B) 15 MARCH 2015
Invitation to the Youth this Easter
Light to the Nations Easter Youth Pilgrimage (http://www.lttn.org.au/)
which has been organized by Disciples of Jesus Community.
The Pilgrimage Walk is an opportunity to join a tradition as old as Christianity, combining journeying to a holy
place with time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, spiritual reflection and companionship with
one’s fellow travellers. The walk leaves North Sydney on Saturday 28 March and arrive in Appin on
Wednesday 1 April in time to join the Light to the Nations Easter Youth Pilgrimage.
The Nations Youth Camp will be from 2 April (Holy Thursday) to 5 April (Easter Sunday) at Cataract Scout Park
near Appin. Camp under the stars and celebrate the Easter Liturgies in a huge marquee as well as receive other
spiritual input in the form of prayer, personal sharings, drama and music. The intention is to provide an
opportunity for young people’s faith to be renewed and bring them to a personal experience of the gospel.
Contact Anthony Ringrose-Voase for further questions Tel: 02-6296 1734 [email protected]
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WE ARE FOREVER LOVED BY GOD
Since love grows within you, so beauty grows.
For love is the beauty of the soul.
-St. Augustine
The most deeply moving truth that the Church preaches is that we are
forever loved by God. Christianity rests on the firm conviction that God’s
love reaches down into our sick, bruised and hurt world in the person of
Jesus. For every faithful heart this is the very essence of the gospel story. No
passage in Scripture puts in better than the words which Jesus spoke to
Nicodemus, “God so loved the world that he sent his only son, so that
whoever believes in him may not die, but may have eternal life.” Our love
for others comes nowhere near the kind of love God has for us. Such is the
extent of his love for the world, that he offers life to all and excludes
nobody. God loves each of us as if there is nobody else to love. He is the
father who wants to walk with his family as they go through life and who can be satisfied until all his wandering
children have come safely home.
We begin to realise the magnitude of God’s love for us by looking at the crucifix. This portrays the
image of the suffering Christ lifted upon the cross, absorbing the full brunt of the evil of our sins. All life’s
cruelties, hatreds and injustices are concentrated in that cross planted on the hill of Calvary. One of the amazing
facts about the passion and death of Christ is that it has become the supreme proof of God’s love. When all else
fails, the down and out, the despairing, and the lonely are drawn towards that far off cross on the hillside,
aware that there is someone to turn towards. The upright cross, once the sign of shame and humiliation, becomes
a channel of healing grace. The tree of death becomes the tree of victory.
[Reflections from: Desmond Knowles, Voicing a Thought on Sunday, Homilies and Prayers of the Faithful for the
Three—Year Cycle, 2002 Daughters of St Paul]
Fr Manuel Santiago