33rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B 18th NOVEMBER 2018 Dear Parishioners, I used to work with someone who was very paent with those he met and rarely expressed anger in public. But as I got to know him beer, I began to recognise the small signs he gave off when he was irritated. His lips ghtened. He would start tapping his fingers or moving his foot when seated. When that happened, we all knew to leave him alone as he worked out what he wanted to do. We also could act as sounding boards, helping him see different ways of looking at things. I thought this sign-seeing only went one way unl one day he so accurately described what I do when I start feeling stressed out that it made me laugh. I thought I hid my stress very well, and I probably did to those who didn’t work with me every day. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus talks about the signs that will precede the coming of the Son of Man. He quotes the prophet Daniel, and the signs are disturbing: the sun will darken and the stars will fall. Such apocalypc images (referring to the end mes) are oſten found in mes of persecuon. This passage was wrien close to the destrucon of the Temple by the Romans and encourages readers to remain faithful in what seems like end mes because Christ will come again. Of course, not everyone has faith or finds hope in what they see. The queson posed to us - to all - is this: “Have we been with Christ long enough to know and see the signs that he will come again, or do we need to pay closer aenon to him?” Let’s look around our lives, in our family, in our Parish and in our Church for the signs of Christ’s presence …. If we can’t for whatever reason see or experience him, then we really need Advent to come along so we can ‘prepare the way’ for Christ! Have a good week, Stephen ofm OUR CHURCHES St. Mary’s - Elizabeth Street, Woodend St. Brigid’s - Matthew Street, Rosewood Mater Dei - Cnr Ferrett Street and Rowland Tce, Sadliers Crossing St. Joseph’s - 42 Pine Mountain Road, North Ipswich Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal - Robertson Rd, Eastern Heights Immaculate Heart of Mary - 22 Old Toowoomba Road, Leichhardt UPDATE ON THE RECENT PLANNED GIVING: Thank you to everyone for considering your donaon to the works of the Parishes. Below you will see the pledges so far. A HUGE BOUQUET OF THANKS TO ALL who responded so generously to our recent Planned Giving Renewal Program conducted in each of the Churches of the Ipswich Catholic Community. Your response will greatly assist in covering the never-ending expenses of our Parishes, and to budget for the next year. If you missed the program, and wish to join our Planned Giving Program, or perhaps consider an increase in your current giſting to your Parish, there are forms available in a white envelope beside the Collecon Box in each of the Churches. By compleng and returning your form, you will assist us to budget for the needs of our Parishes. Special thanks to all of you who chose to Direct Debit. Again, THANK YOU, for your contribuons and your support. I connue to be amazed at your generosity for our Churches! Leichhardt Nth Ipswich Rosewood Ipswich Forms returned 28 56 30 127 New Contributors 1 7 5 11 Amended contribuons 14 25 15 46 Connuing as same 13 24 10 70 Presumed connuing 16 41 17 107 Total Givers 44 97 47 234 Previous Weekly Giving $643 $1,476 $494 $3,303 New Weekly pledge $977 $1,876 $810 $4,608
Transcript
33rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B 18th NOVEMBER 2018
Dear Parishioners,
I used to work with someone who was very patient with those he met and rarely expressed anger in public. But as I got to know him better, I began to recognise the small signs he gave off when he was irritated. His lips tightened. He would start tapping his fingers or moving his foot when seated. When that happened, we all knew to leave him alone as he worked out what he wanted to do. We also could act as sounding boards, helping him see different ways of looking at things. I thought this sign-seeing only went one way until one day he so accurately described what I do when I start feeling stressed out that it made me laugh. I thought I hid my stress very well, and I probably did to those who didn’t work with me every day. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus talks about the signs that will precede the coming of the Son of Man. He quotes the prophet Daniel, and the signs are disturbing: the sun will darken and
the stars will fall. Such apocalyptic images (referring to the end times) are often found in times of persecution. This passage was written close to the destruction of the Temple by the Romans and encourages readers to remain faithful in what seems like end times because Christ will come again.
Of course, not everyone has faith or finds hope in what they see. The question posed to us - to all - is this: “Have we been with Christ long enough to know and see the signs that he will come again, or do we need to pay closer attention to him?” Let’s look around our lives, in our family, in our Parish and in our Church for the signs of Christ’s presence …. If we can’t for whatever reason see or experience him, then we really need Advent to come along so we can ‘prepare the way’ for Christ!
Have a good week, Stephen ofm
OUR CHURCHES
St. Mary’s - Elizabeth Street, Woodend St. Brigid’s - Matthew Street, Rosewood
Mater Dei - Cnr Ferrett Street and Rowland Tce, Sadliers Crossing St. Joseph’s - 42 Pine Mountain Road, North Ipswich
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal - Robertson Rd, Eastern Heights Immaculate Heart of Mary - 22 Old Toowoomba Road, Leichhardt
UPDATE ON THE RECENT PLANNED GIVING: Thank you to everyone for considering your donation to the
works of the Parishes. Below you will see the pledges so far.
A HUGE BOUQUET OF THANKS TO ALL who responded so generously to our recent Planned Giving Renewal Program conducted in each of the Churches of the Ipswich Catholic Community. Your response will greatly assist in covering the never-ending expenses of our Parishes, and to budget for the next year.
If you missed the program, and wish to join our Planned Giving Program, or perhaps consider an increase in your current gifting to your Parish, there are forms available in a white envelope beside the Collection Box in each of the Churches. By completing and returning your form, you will assist us
to budget for the needs of our Parishes. Special thanks to all of you who chose to Direct Debit.
Again, THANK YOU, for your contributions and your support. I continue to be amazed at your generosity for our Churches!
10.00am-11.00am, Leichhardt Church 5.00pm-6.00pm, St Mary’s Parish Centre 7.00pm-8.30pm, St Mary’s Parish Centre 7.00pm-8.00pm, St Mary’s Church, Woodend
Nov 23rd, Fri
Meditation Group
Exercise Group
HIVE
7.45am-8.45am, St Mary’s Presbytery
9.30am-11.30am, Mater Dei
6.30pm, Mater Dei
Nov 24th, Sat
Mass and Blessing of Graves
9.00am, St Michael’s, Pine Mountain
Nov 28th, Wed
Christmas Eve Family Mass rehearsal Music Jam Plenary Council
5.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Woodend 7.00pm-8.00pm, St Joseph’s Nth Ipswich 7.00pm, St Mary’s Parish Centre
Dec 17th, Tues
2nd Rite of Reconciliation
7.00pm St Mary’s Church, Woodend
WEEKDAY MASS TIMES
Monday, 19th November - Weekday, Ordinary Time 33
7.00am St Joseph’s, Nth Ips 7.00pm Mater Dei
Tuesday, 20th November - Weekday, Ordinary Time 33
9.00am Immaculate Heart of Mary, Leichhardt
Wednesday, 21st November - The Presentation of Blessed Virgin Mary
9.00am St Mary’s, Wdend 9.30am St Brigid’s, Rosewood
Thursday, 22nd November - St Cecilia
9.00am St Joseph’s, Nth Ips 9.00am St Mary’s, Wdend, Yr1
Friday, 23th November - Weekday, Ordinary Time 33
8.00am St Mary’s College Chapel
9.00am OLMM, Eastern Heights
ADVENT in the Ipswich Catholic Community 2018 We will have two opportunities for an ADVENT PROGRAMME this year:
Tuesday nights (7.00pm) at Rosewood and Wednesday afternoon at St Mary’s (5.00pm). We will pray, reflect and discuss the Sunday Scriptures. Please consider coming along – all that is needed is your time and an open heart to reflect together on the Scriptures. Please register your interest at the Parish Office next week so groups can be organised.
We are looking for any volunteers to help prepare the Prayers of the Faithful for each of the Sundays of Advent. If you are interested in this or have never even considered doing anything like this before, but are willing to have a go, please see or contact Fr Stephen. You can work with Fr Stephen or have a go on your own – we will make available resources if you wish!
During Advent we will have the GIVING TREE in each of the Churches. Parishioners are invited to take an envelope from the Giving Tree (which will later become the Church Christmas Tree) and make a donation to either St Vincent de Paul, the Ipswich Hospice or Rosies. This will happen on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of Advent.
You are also invited to help decorate the Christmas Tree in each Church – Parishioners are invited to bring a bauble or a decoration to place on the Tree. You might like to bring a bauble with your family name on it, or the word ‘peace’, ‘joy’, ‘love’ etc. You are asked to place it on the Tree prior to Mass on the 3rd and 4th Sundays in Advent and that will become our Church Christmas Tree. The Christmas Tree is a symbol of hope and joy, so please help to decorate the Tree - it is a symbol of you bringing hope and joy to our Community!
On the Third Sunday of Advent we will set the Crib up in each of the Churches. During the weeks of Advent we prepare joyfully for the birth of Jesus in our lives: Emmanuel - God is with us!
2nd Rite of Reconciliation on Tuesday, 17th December at 7.00pm, St Mary’s Church, Woodend.
MASS AND BLESSING OF GRAVES: St Michael’s Church Pine Mountain Saturday, 24th November, 9.00am
Sausage sizzle, free tea & coffee All welcomed, bring your friends
up the hill past the Hall Contact John Wiseman on 07 546 43784
Throughout November we pray for those who have died, especially our deceased relatives, friends, and those who have no one to pray for them.
APPOINTMENTS: Archbishop Mark has made the following appointments effective on the 1st January 2019: Fr Enoch is appointed Associate Pastor of Sunnybank and Fr Thomas Zaranski is appointed as Associate Pastor of Ipswich Catholic Community. We will have the opportunity to farewell Fr Enoch in December and we extend a ‘big welcome’ to Fr Thomas.
We also welcome Seminarian Minje Kim to our Community for one month. Minje will live in the Presbytery from this weekend to middle of December. He will help out in many ways over the coming month of his placement with us. Welcome Minje!
CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY MASS: We are inviting all young children who will be attending the 6pm Christmas Eve Mass in St Mary’s to be part of the story of the birth of Jesus. This has become a very special moment for our young children and we encourage all primary school aged children to come forward and take part as it really is lots of fun. There will be a couple of practices before the event and these will begin on Wednesday, November 28th from 3-30pm in St Mary’s Church. (PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE AND TIME). If your child would like to take part
and these times don’t suit please let me know as I don’t want any child to miss out on the opportunity to participate. Please call the Parish office on 3281 2133 to register your child’s interest.
… What’s happening in the Ipswich Catholic Community ...
YOUNG ADULTS: ADORATION: The next Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held on Wednesday 21 November in St Mary’s Church from 7pm. All are welcome.
YOUTH: Our final youth night of the year will be on Friday 23 November from 6:30pm - 9pm at Mater dei Church, Sadliers Crossing. This will also be our Christmas celebration and we are so excited to celebrate a wonderful year with you! We are extending an invite to ALL CURRENT YEAR 6 STUDENTS to come along to this last event to see what The Hive is all about so you can join in next year!! Please bring a plate of food to share!
END OF YEAR BBQ: We would like to invite all parishioners to our last Hive Youth Mass of the year on Sunday 9 December, 6pm at St Mary’s. Following will be a free community BBQ to say thank you for all of the love and support and to celebrate a wonderful Year of Youth. Everyone is welcome!
SING A NEW SONG: Our next gathering will be on Wednesday the 28th November at St. Joseph's Church, commencing at 7:00pm. We have been preparing two new hymns for our Advent liturgies, and we will revisit some of the new hymns we have been exploring during the past few months. These sessions are not just for St. Joseph's parishioners, or the music ministers, but anyone who is interested in being able to participate more fully in our liturgies. This will be our last gathering for 2018, so why not come along and be 'prepared for the way of the Lord!'
PLENARY COUNCIL 2020: Pope Francis is encouraging our Church to be a listening (synodal) Church. We’re invited to speak freely and honestly, sharing from our hearts and to listen humbly – to each other and to the Spirit. In our encounters with one another, we encounter and discern what God is asking of us. Please consider this as a personal invitation to be involved. We want to hear from everyone! For more information on the Plenary Council, please visit plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au Our remaining listening and dialogue sessions:
Wed, 21st November, 10.00am Leichhardt Church
Wed, 28th November, 7.00pm, St Mary’s Parish Centre
10 INSPIRING QUOTES FROM POPE FRANCIS’ Gaudete et Exsultate
1. “The Lord asks everything of us, and in return he offers us true life, the happiness for which we were created. He wants us to be saints and not to settle for a bland and mediocre existence.” n1
2. “Every saint is a message which the Holy Spirit takes from the riches of Jesus Christ and gives to his people.” n21
3. “We need ‘to acknowledge jubilantly that our life is essentially a gift, and recognize that our freedom is a grace. This is not easy today, in a world that thinks it can keep something for itself, the fruits of its own creativity or freedom’.” n5
4. “There is a hierarchy of virtues that bids us seek what is essential. The primacy belongs to the theological virtues faith, hope, charity, which have God as their object and motive. At the centre is charity.” n60
5. “We must never forget that when the New Testament tells us that we will have to endure suffering for the Gospel’s sake, it speaks precisely of persecution.” n92
6. “Those who really wish to give glory to God by their lives, who truly long to grow in holiness, are called to be single-minded and tenacious in their practice of the works of mercy.” n107
7. “Humility can only take root in the heart through humiliations. Without them, there is no humility or holiness. If you are unable to suffer and offer up a few humiliations, you are not humble and you are not on the path to holiness.” n118
8. “The Christian life is a constant battle. We need strength and courage to withstand the temptations of the devil and to proclaim the Gospel. This battle is sweet, for it allows us to rejoice each time the Lord triumphs in our lives.” n158
9. “When, in God’s presence, we examine our life’s journey, no areas can be off limits.” n175
10. “Mary our Mother does not need a flood of words. She does not need us to tell her what is happening in our lives. All we need do is whisper, time and time again: “Hail Mary…” n176
CHRISTMAS EVE MASS 6PM ST MARYS CHURCH: Choir practice for the Christmas Eve Mass at St Mary’s will begin on Sunday evening 2nd December at 7pm, in St Mary’s Church. If you enjoy singing and would like to be part of the Christmas Eve Family Mass please consider joining the choir. During the Mass there will be a presentation by children of the Christmas Story. This Mass is a wonderful opportunity for young families to be
involved and to celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth in a meaningful way. To register your interest in the choir please contact Frances O'Sullivan on [email protected]
TALKABOUT ITEMS REQUIRED FOR DECEMBER ISSUE Please email articles, news and photographs to Robyn at
ONE NON-PERISHABLE ITEM PER FAMILY EACH WEEK TO HELP THE NEEDY IN THE LOCAL IPSWICH AREA: Each week parishioners are invited to bring one item of non-perishable food to Mass, place it in the collection basket, which will form part of our Procession of Gifts and then passed on to SVDP Welfare to support those in need in our community. Thank you for supporting this initiative.
NEWS FROM AROUND OUR COMMUNITY
ATTENTION KNITTERS: The next gathering will be held at St Mary’s Parish Centre on Wednesday 28th November at 9.30am after Mass
for all those people interested in knitting squares to make rugs for the homeless. Or if you would like to donate wool (8ply acrylic) Please phone Jude 0431428752
MERCY COMMUNITY - Home and Community Care: Do you want to gain a better understanding of the My Aged Care process? Mercy Community is thrilled to introduce its Home and Community Care
Team - Julie, Lynn, Deb and Mandy - who would love to help you access all the in-home support you need to maintain independence in your home! Call the team today on 07 3260 9555 to find out more.
ST JOSEPH’S AND ST THOMAS’ LADIES
VISITING COMMITTEE... requires your help with
morning tea on Monday, 26th November at 9am in
the St Joseph’s School Hall. Pat Wilson 3201 4058.
CARE AND CONCERN MORNING TEA
(last one for the year) held on Tuesday, 20th November at 9:30am in the Immaculate Heart School Hall.
All Welcome. (The man in red may make an appearance!)
The SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SUPPORT GROUP WEST IPSWICH would like to say a big thank you to all parishioners for all the generous donations of food items each week. All these food items have been a great benefit to our clients.
PLEASE PRAY FOR: FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE HOUSE-BOUND AND RECEIVE COMMUNION AT HOME.
RECENTLY DECEASED: Margaret Sanewski, Glenys Morris, Ian Beal, Margaret Summers.
ANNIVERSARY: John Patrick Maguire, Martin Ryan, John and Jane Keenan, Lisa Heuston, Evan Thomas, Betty Badke, Joyce Molloy, Kathy Boyce, Joan Lindh.
ALTAR SERVERS: We are looking for new Altar
Servers in each of the Churches. This is an invitation
to boys and girls from Yr 3 and above to consider this
fun ministry. Please see one of the priests or phone
the Parish Office to express an interest. There will be
training in each Church early December.
MEALS ON WHEELS: Each year our parishes are asked to supply Drivers and Helpers for two days in December and three days in January to give the regular Meals on Wheels volunteers a well-deserved break.
The dates for the Ipswich Catholic Community this time are:
DECEMBER 2018: MONDAY (17th) and TUESDAY (18th); JANUARY 2019: MONDAY (7th and 14th), and TUESDAY (15th).
