Sunday 21st June, 2015 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Bridgeside Bulletin The weekly Bulletin of the

Catholic Parish of Forster Tuncurry

Holy Name of Jesus Parish Church 33 Lake Street, Forster

St Mary, Star of the Sea Church Cnr Kent & Peel Streets, Tuncurry

Proclaiming Christ to the communities of Forster, Tuncurry and the surrounding districts

Search for us on Facebook as Catholic Parish of Forster Tuncurry

Follow us on Twitter: @ftcatholic

Parish Fr Greg Barker (Parish Priest) gregory.barker@mn.catholic.org.au Emergency Contact 0417 321 209 Mr Greg Byrne (Pastoral Associate) Mrs Sharon Fowle (Administration Associate/Bulletin) Sr Kathryn McCabe (Aboriginal Catholic Ministry) Loretta Heffernan (SRE Co-Ordinator)

Office Hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 9:30am to 1pm and on Friday from 9am to 4pm.

Items for inclusion in Bridgeside Bulletin should be received by midday on Thursday.

Parish Office Located at the rear of the Parish Hall Forster: 33 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428 PO Box 67, Forster NSW 2428

P: (02) 6554 6304 F: (02) 6554 6425 E: Forster-Tuncurry.Parish@mn.catholic.org.au W: forstertuncurrycatholic.org.au

Celebrating the Sacraments

Reconciliation Saturday 8:30am - 9am @ Tuncurry Saturday 4:45pm- 5:15pm @ Forster

Baptisms Celebrated most Sundays Next Baptismal Preparation Monday 13th July @ 7pm

Weddings are celebrated by arrangement and with at least three months notice. For further information contact Fr Greg. A Sacramental Preparation process runs each year in the Parish for children wishing to complete the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation as part of the Parish community.

The Parish hosts the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process for those adults wishing to be baptised or be received into the communion of the Catholic Church.

Holy Name Parish School (K-6) Mr Chris Waters (Principal)

41 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428 PO Box 243, Forster NSW 2428

P: (02) 6554 6504 F: (02) 6554 8895 E: admin@forster.catholic.edu.au W: www.forster.catholic.edu.au

St Clares High School, Taree (7-12) Mr Peter Nicholls (Principal)

Davis Street, Taree NSW 2430

P: (02) 6552 3300 F: (02) 6552 3656 E: admin@tareesc.catholic.edu.au W: www.tareesc.catholic.edu.au

Please contact the Parish Office or visit the Parish website for more details on the above listed items.

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The Parish Diary(for the week ahead)

Monday22nd June Memorial St John Fisher

Tuesday23rd June 9am Christian Meditation (Bob 6555 5914) 10am Seminar: ReligionCatalyst for Violence

or Peace @ Forster 3:30pm Holy Hour @ Tuncurry 4:30pm Mass @ Tuncurry 5:30pm Christian Meditation (Bob 6555 5914) Wednesday24th June Solemnity of The Nativity of St John the Baptist 9am Mass @ Forster 9:30am MenALIVE @ Forster 11:15am Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help @

Forster 5:30pm Social Justice Meeting @ Forster Thursday25th June 9am Mass @ Forster 7pm Womens Prayer Group (Natasha 0407 589 935) 7:30pm MenALIVE @ Forster

Friday26th June 9:30am Mass @ Forster

Saturday27th June 8.30am Reconciliation @ Tuncurry 9am Mass at Tuncurry 4.45pm Reconciliation @ Forster 6pm Vigil @ Tuncurry

Sunday28th June 7am Mass @ Tuncurry 9am Mass @ Forster

Regular Activities in the Parish Christian Meditation Our Parish hosts opportunities for the practice of Christian meditation on Tuesdays at two distinct times, 9am and 5:30pm. Phone Bob on 6555 5914 for further information.

Womens Bible Study Group Our Parish hosts a Womens Bible Study Group that meets every Thursday evening from 7pm to 8pm. For more information contact Natasha on 0407 589 935.

Holy Hour The Parish community observes a Holy Hour each Tuesday afternoon in the Tuncurry Church from 3:30pm until the beginning of Mass at 4:30pm.

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help The Novena is prayed every Wednesday in the Forster church commencing at 11:15am and is followed by a cuppa in the Parish Hall. For more information contact Shioney on 6554 9468.

Singing Practice Singing group will be taking a break during the mid-winter weeks and will resume at a date to be announced.

The menALIVE Groups Our Parish currently hosts two menALIVE groups. The daytime group will next meet on Wednesday 8th July after the 9am Mass and the evening group meets on the last Thursday of each month at 7.30pm.

Secular Franciscan Fraternity The Secular Franciscans Fraternity will next meet on Wednesday 1st July 2015, coming together for Mass at 9am, followed by a cuppa at 9:30am and then the meeting 10am to 12pm.

Maintenance & Gardening Group The gardening team will have their next working bee on Thursday 16th July. Contact Howard 6557 6826 for more information.

Evening Prayer & Benediction The Parish community celebrates on the first Sunday of each month at 5:30pm in the Tuncurry church. It will celebrated on Sunday 5th July 2015. All welcome.

Childrens Liturgy of the Word The next Liturgy of the Word for children aged 4-12 will be on today, Sunday 21st June 2015 at the 9am Mass. A morning tea will follow Mass.

Collection of Foodstuffs for Homebase & Soup Kitchen As we have begun supporting the Soup Kitchen in our Parish Hall, we will be accepting donations on a weekly bases.

New Parish Office Hours The Parish Office will now be staffed on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 9am to 1pm and Friday from 9am to 4pm. Please also note that the deadline for bulletin notices is Thursday 5pm.

Parish Email Accounts Changed Please note the parish email accounts have changed. Old email addresses will discontinue and we will be unable to respond to messages received on the gmail accounts.

Please ensure to send all email correspondence to forster-tuncurry.parish@mn.catholic.org.au.

Greg Byrnes new email address is greg.byrne@mn.catholic.org.au. Thank you.

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From the Pastors Desk

Dear Parish Family,

Some of you may remember a 2008 movie called Yes Man starring Jim Carrey. A quick synopsis of the movie: Carl Allen (played by Carrey) is on a downward spiral. His life is going nowhere and suffers from a very negative world view. His friends convince him to attend an inspirational seminar where the basic premise is to seize every opportunity, and so take on a more proactive and more positive view of the world. To make a long movie short Carl agrees to make a contract that he will only say yes to every invitation, request or opportunity regardless of who or what is being asked: he becomes a Yes Man! In the short term Carls life sky-rockets: promotion, new girlfriend and wonderful experiences. His life takes on a much more exciting and spontaneous look.

In the beginning of the movie we are as an audience asked to contemplate what that experience might be like for us; to say yes without analysis, contemplation or weighing up the risks. In some ways I suspect thats our faith story. Whilst we know that opportunity and faith dont only knock once we are in some ways asked to make a Christ like response to every invitation, request or opportunity that comes our way as opportunities for proclaiming the word. I wonder what our lives would look like if we were to do that without questions? It is, I think, sometimes the message of the Gospel. Jesus calls us by name to make an immediate response to his call and to do that in the same spontaneous and exciting way that the first of the disciples leave their boats.

That spontaneous response is reflected when Johns disciples approach Jesus and ask 'where do you live?' and he says to them come and see (John1:38-39) and they do go with him. That same response is found in the first of the disciples when they are asked to put out their nets (Luke 5:4 - 11) even though they have fished all night and caught nothing and then when they end up with the catch to end all catches Jesus says come follow me and they do, leaving the nets and homes behind. What we notice though whilst the response is immediate it is followed with a great deal of reflection and contemplation. They spend quality time learning what the master wants of them and there are some amazing moments where they go off to either a mountain or some quiet place where they can pray. The yes as in the Yes man is immediate but our response is never blind or uncertain. Our response comes from a deep and personal relationship with Christ, a relationship that is always being renewed through prayer and sacrament.

So this week lets remember that we are always in a place of saying Yes to the Lord but it is always from a deep seeded personal relationship we develop through being people of prayer, people fed and nourished at the table and tempered through the crosses we all carry with the proactive and positive world view of the Yes Man.

Best wishes,

Fr Greg

TAX TIME

Please may we draw your attention to this important information.

Please read this if you:

1. need planned giving envelopes for FY 2015/2016;

2. would like to be involved in planned giving;

3. require a tax receipt;

4. have committed to paying via Credit Card or Direct Debit.

1. Envelopes for Financial Year 2015/2016 are

available from the rear of the church.

2. If you would like to join the Planned Giving Programme, please contact the Parish Office. Direct debit options available.

3. Please note that due to a new accounting system in the Diocese, tax receipts for money given to the Planned Giving envelopes will now be managed by the Diocesan Office for tax purposes. If you require a receipt you MUST indicate by writing TAX on your envelope before the end of June. If we do not receive your request by June 30th, unfortunately we will be unable to provide you with a receipt.

4. For those involved in direct debit or credit card options, please note that the Parish is required to assign a number to your account. The number that is being used is your previously used envelope number. The envelopes are available to pick up at the rear of the church. Please feel free to continue using the envelopes if you choose, however there is no requirement to do so as we will be deducting your account.

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the storm and hush the sea. The disciples dont get it! All the signs point to the fact that Jesus is God in their midst. Mark presents Jesus mainly in human terms, and only rarely does this Gospel give a hint that Jesus is something more. What looks like a miracle is in fact a major demonstration of Jesus identity for those who can read the symbols, and see the signs.

In the letter to the Corinthians, we find today one of only two places in the New Testament that speaks of a New Creation. This offers a very rich and contemporary possibility for interpreting the significance of the Jesus event. Far too often, the meaning of Jesus life, death and resurrection, is spoken of in terms of a model of fall and reparation where the Genesis story is taken literally. The dominant model of redemption has been that of Anselm with Jesus making restoration to an angry, insulted God. This model has little relevance in todays world where the story of the universe stretches back millions of years. The New Testament has many different images that try to make sense of Jesus for their different audiences. In recent weeks, I have noted some of these: new birth as children of God, atonement sacrifice, and today new creation. Last century Teilhard de Chardin came to understand that the Risen Christ reveals the ultimate destiny of all creation, but this destiny has now become present and active in the entire cosmos (see Romans 8:16). Teilhard saw that in Christ, all time and all Gods creative processes had their beginning and end. The prodigious expanses of time that preceded the first Christmas were not empty of Christ, for they were imbued with his power. (The Hymn of the Universe. London: Collins, 1970, 168.)

In the Gospel, Jesus disciples miss the signs and their faith crumbles. As our knowledge of the universe expands today, can we see in this the signs of God? Can we see the signs of God in our own lives?

Mary Coloe

Dont Miss the Signs 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-41

Who is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him.

Although we call this season, Ordinary Time there is nothing ordinary about the dramatic scene of todays Gospel. Until this scene, Jesus has been teaching and healing in Galilee beside the large lake, but now he decides to cross the lake, which will take him into the land of the Gentiles. This scene is rich in symbolism and presumes that the listeners are familiar with the Old Testament. For listeners today this will need much explaining.

Mark calls the Lake, the Sea reminiscent of the primordial Sea that existed at the beginning of creation. The Sea is frequently symbolic of evil and chaotic powers. In the creation story of Genesis 1 God speaks a word over the sea to bring order and life from this chaos. In Marks gospel, the Sea is like a geographical barrier between the word of the Jews, on the western side, and the Gentiles on the Eastern side. When Jesus crosses the Sea to go to the Gentiles there is a struggle, as in this gospel and then again in Mark 6:45-52. When Jesus travels in the other direction, the journey is easy (5:21). It is as if when Jesus tries to take his mission to the Gentiles the powers of evil rise up against him.

The description of Jesus asleep in the boat echoes the description of Jonah. Jonah was missioned by God to travel away from the people of Israel to the Gentiles in Nineveh, and Jonah fled from this mission. The mighty storm in the Jonah story eventually brought Jonah to Nineveh to preach to the gentiles there.

These parallels may reflect the struggles Marks community is experiencing as it brings the gospel to the wider Roman world. It is thought that Mark was written for a Gentile audience in the late 60s when there was great persecution of Christians by the Emperor Nero.

The language Jesus uses is very strange. Jesus rebukes the wind and the sea; he speaks to them as if they were personal forces. This is the language of an exorcism. Mark uses the word rebuked when Jesus casts out demons (1:25). This miracle is therefore presented as an exorcism. Jesus has power over the forces of chaos and the demonic. The disciples question is the whole point of this episode; Who is this, that even the wind and sea obey him? In the Old Testament, the one who has mastery over the sea is God. The words of todays Psalm speak of this power God stilled the storm to a whisper: all the waves of the sea were hushed. In this miracle, Jesus demonstrates that he has Gods power to still

Sr Louises 70th Anniversary of her Religious Profession Sr Louise will be celebrating the 70th Anniversary of her final profession this year. In honour of this event we will be having 11am Mass in Forster followed by lunch on Saturday 4th July in the hall.

Parishioners are invited to attend. If you would like to join us please provide your name at the rear of the church before Saturday 27th June.

There will be a retiring collection at the end of Mass next weekend for those who would like to donate towards a gift for Sr Louise.

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The Parish will be holding the annual Catholic Mission Church Appeal on 4th July. This year we are invited to reach out and support the life- saving work of Catholic Mission in Madagascarto help provide clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as formation and spiritual support to children in desperate need. Please give generously. Thank you.

Religion - Catalyst for Violence or Peace? Brought to us by Broken Bay Institute, please join us for a webinar (seminar via the internet) in the Forster Church meeting room at 9.45am for 10am to 2:30pm on Tuesday 23rd June. Morning tea supplied, please bring something to share for lunch or your own. RSVP: Loretta Heffernan 0408 895 951 or Parish office or loretta.heffernan@mn.catholic.org.au

Parish Retreat The Secular Franciscans have invited Fr John Cooper OFM Cap to conduct a one day retreat on Saturday 11th July in our parish. The subject of the retreat is Living the Gospel in Todays World. The retreat will commence with morning tea in the Church Hall, Forster, following the 9am Mass at Tuncurry. Bring your own lunch or lunch to share. For more information ring Kay Griffiths on 6554 5553.

Sunday 28th June 5:30pm We invite young people and their families to ignite their faith, inspiring a deeper understanding of being in relationship with God by attending an Ignite Praise and Worship evening. The event will take place on Sunday 28th June at 5:30pm at the Catholic Church in Forster and will feature a young, local Christian band. Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult. The event will be followed by with Pizza and activities. For more information contact Sharon at the Parish Office on 6554 6304/0407 006 666.

Pizza

Baptised with Water and the Spirit This weekend we witness the baptism of Shay Underwood, daughter of David and Rebecca.

May the gift of baptism received strengthen Shay in her journey of life and faith she will share with us. Please remember Shay and her family in your prayers.

Table & Chairs Needed Thank you for your generous response to appeals. A young couple meed a table and chairs if anyone has a spare.

Sr Kathryn

Friendship Group (Seniors) This months over 50s lunch is on Tuesday 23rd June from 12pm at Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club. All welcome. For more information please contact Lorraine on 0409 494 652.

Ecumenical Gospel Concert Peter Christie is a Country Gospel artist from the Blue Mountains. He has recently returned from the USA where he won 2 major awards at the Gospel Music Fan Fair, held in Kentucky. Currently, his first single in the USA My Fathers House is in the top 20 on two major charts for Country Gospel Music!

The evenings music consists of contemporary Country Gospel as well as a number of traditional Gospel songs that people love to sing along with.

The concert will be held at the Salvation Army, South Street, Tuncurry on Saturday 27th June beginning at 6.30pm and concluding at 8.00pm. The concert will be followed by supper. All parishioners welcome.

Gardening Group Thanks! Even with a lack of regulars helping out, the gardening group managed to achieve a lot this month. A big thanks goes out to those who assisted, youre doing a wonderful job.

Those considering helping this important and rewarding task please contact Howard on 6557 6826.

Fr Greg

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Kids Corner Jesus calms the storm Mk 4:35-41

Try to find these words:

afraid

asleep

boat

calm

disciples

faith

lake

obey

pillow

quiet

sink

waves

B Y Z H Q S Z R E K T K M Z Q R R

O V W X X B E I X A V E P K Y F R

W G Z G Z B T V O L D B M S G Y E

E Z H O W P T B A M M S E S B D E

I M P D H Q Y U L W P L F A R M B

S P A B T P V U O S P E Q M V W I

B E V B F Z I Z N I I S I O L M Y

H W H J L D K V C H E N P V L O W

D F U D S E A S O B E Y K A D L V

Q I R D O O I P Z W R V C W A Z M

Z C A G T D X U N P O O F K M P W

E D B R F A I T H N I L E A L Q C

P I T F F W V R Y T Q G L W U S N

L R G W N A S L E E P F C I U I T

Y O Y A V C B J Z Z I A E J P N H

K A E X N I K L Q P J T N O L O P

H M A U H J Q K T Y Q G W U A I V

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Opportunities Outside The Parish

Talk on Anxiety Dr John Irvine will be speaking on Tuesday 23rd June at 6:30pm at St James PS Muswellbrook. Come along and hear him speak about "Anxiety: What to look for & what parents can do to support their children". Light refreshments will be served from 6:30pm.

Movie Exploring Aboriginal Life Utopia will be held on Saturday 27th June at 3pm at Wesley Uniting Church Hall, 35 William St, East Maitland. A movie by John Pilger explores life and issues some Aboriginal people face in modern Australia, especially those in remote communities. The movie is challenging and thought provoking. A cup of tea, nibbles and conversation after the movie. Questions and RSVP (not essential) to Trish Bevan - 0431 031 158.

The Joy of the Gospel A call to live the Joy of the Gospel will be held on Sunday 28th June at 6pm at St Clement's Retreat and Conference Centre, Galong NSW . Presented by Fr Anthony Kelly CSSR and Fr Frank Moloney SBD. A joyless world? A joyless church? Join two world-leading theologians in reflecting and talking about Pope Francis' exhortation on the Joy of the Gospel. RSVP P 02 63805222 E info@stclement.com.au

A Day of Reflection Prayer with Bishop Bill will be held on Friday 3rd July at Kotara. All are welcome to join Bishop Bill Wright for a day of reflection and prayer. The theme of the day is "In Principio Verbum" - In the Beginning, the Word. Coffee, tea and juice provided. Please bring lunch to share.

NAIDOC Family Fun Day will be held on Wednesday 8th July at 9am at Baker Park, Wyong. Netball Comp, Kindi Farm, Kiddies Corner, Commando Kids, Snow Cones, Fairy Floss, Raffles, Sausage Sizzle. For information E darkinjung@dlalc.org.au or P 4351 2930.

NAIDOC Touch Football Day will be held on Thursday 9th July at 9am at Wallsend Touch Football Grounds, Lewis St, Wallsend. Free community comp with prize for winner. Jumping Castle, Prizes, BBQ, Stalls available. More Information, E paul.douglas@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au or P 0428 404 804.

NAIDOC Week NAIDOC Week Service will be held on Sunday 12th July beginning at 7pm at Christ Church Cathedral. This celebration is being hosted by the Anglican Diocese of

Newcastle in partnership with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and organisations. The event will include performances on the didgeridoo and a local dance group, as well as service talks from representatives of the Awabakal and Worimi communities. This is a free event.

Being Well Being Well will be held on Wednesday 15th July beginning at 6:30pm at Cessnock Leagues Club, 1-7 Darwin St, Cessnock. An evening with Craig Hamilton and Jaelea Skehan about building resilience and improving mental health and wellbeing. RSVP by 10 July. To Register visit www.stickytickets.com.au/27160 Gold coin donation.

Liturgical Reflection Day Looking Forward Looking Back on the Holy Triduum will be held on Saturday 18th July at 9:30am at TWEC Lochinvar. The Tenison Woods Education Centre & Diocesan Liturgy Council invite you to reflect on the meaning & nature of the Easter Triduum, discuss current issues & questions and participate in workshops.

Vocation View12th Sunday At times we can feel that we are being swamped by various troubles. Like the apostle Paul, we are overwhelmed, not by our troubles, but by the love of God made visible in Jesus Christ.

For more information regarding Vocations contact Fr Brian Mascord on 02 4979 1112 or vocations@mn.catholic.org.au

Soup Kitchen Thank you to all our generous parishioners who provided soup and other items for our Soup Kitchen.

We are in need of care packs and non-perishable foods and would be most grateful if you could provide them to us over the coming months.

Items can be left in the church or brought to the Parish office.

The Soup Kitchen will remain a weekly commitment by our Church for the foreseeable future. Please notify those you know who may be in need. Many thanks.

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Scripture Readings This Week

Today Job 38:1, 8-11 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 Mark 4:35-41 Monday Genesis 12:1-9 Matthew 7:1-5 Tuesday Genesis 13:2, 5-18 Matthew 7:6, 12-14 Wednesday Isaiah 49:1-6 Acts 13:22-26 Luke 1:57-66, 80 Thursday Genesis 16 1-12, 15-16

Matthew 7:21-29 Friday Genesis 17:1, 9-10, 15-22 Matthew 8:1-4 Saturday Genesis 18:1-15 Matthew 8:5-17 Sunday Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15 Mark 5:21-43

Todays Liturgy of the Word

Responsorial Psalm Response: Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia! A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people. Alleluia!

In your charity, please pray for:

Those recently deceased. Frances Mitchell, Trudi Metcalf.

Those whose anniversaries occur about now.

All those in our community who are sick. Ashley Hatton.

Ministers this Weekend... ...of the Word ...of Communion

6pm Tuncurry A: Neil Pye B: Maureen Stevens

Carolyn Olliffe, Jeanette Goodacre, Lou Hope, Maureen Pye, Jake Siddle.

7am Tuncurry A: Genevieve Williamson B: Fred Liackman

Cecile Malone, Cushla Drake, Fred Liackman, Lorraine Clark, Mary Greig.

9am Forster A: Kit Hornibrook B: Kyla Loring

Alan McCarthy, Anne Moloney, Coral McCarthy, Rob Temesvary, Trevor Turner.

Ministers next Weekend... ...of the Word ...of Communion

6pm Tuncurry A: Geraldine Mullin B: Michael Siddle

Frank Hayman, Margaret Smith, Neil Pye, Owen Carroll, Pat Hooker.

7am Tuncurry A: Fred Liackman B: Maria Armitage

Genevieve Williamson, Kay Griffiths, Mark Mowbray, Norm Chapman, Peter Wicks.

9am Forster A: Kyla Loring B: Trevor Turner

Barbara Dolahenty, Josie Beech, Lorna Vidler, Robert Moran, Robyn Ryan.

Please note: The above information reflects the rosters as originally published, and doesnt take account of any swaps that may have been organised between individuals.

Text: Excerpts from the English Translation of the Roman Missal 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL); Music: From the Mass of St Francis 2010, Paul Taylor. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Australian AgentLicenSing Online Lic No. 624844.