15 March 2020 3rd Sunday of Lent - Year A Catholic Parish of St Canice We acknowledge the Gadigal people, the traditional custodians on whose land this Church was built. Water everywhere This Sunday we begin the first of the 3 major themes in preparation for Easter: water, new sight, and risen life. For the vast majority of us, when we turn on a tap, fresh water reliably flows, water perhaps for drinking, cooking or cleaning. As I write this, though, I am being reminded of the drought, of Sydney receiving 400 mm of rain in 4 days, and of tiny drops that carry a virus. Water can be a mixed blessing, as in an inch of rain too much, or too late. For Moses, finding water in the desert was such a blessing. As we hear in today’s first reading, water from the rock will bring his people relief, but also demonstrate that they had lost faith and hope in the very one who had given them freedom. For a lot of Australians, plunging into the waves or the pool is especially a relief from heat of summer. The word “baptism” comes from this very idea of ‘plunging’, and a little known method of Catholic adult baptism is to plunge a person’s head into water three times; young boys love it! And few realise that the notion of “Christening” refers to the anointing that immediately follows the plunging. So what is the purpose of the waters of baptism? Commonly, they are thought of as cleansing— washing away the stain of sin—though this is an effect, not a central purpose; it derives from what John the Baptist did. Rather, what baptism does is to plunge us into the mystery of Christ’s death so as to join him in his resurrection, which St Paul takes entirely for granted; the waters of apparent death are transformed instead into the water of life. As Jesus says to the Samaritan woman today, a spring inside us “welling up into eternal life.” In that risen life we are invited to know God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to experience God as the source of love that has called us into life—even now—through Christ. As the apostle reminds us today, the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. So baptism can call to mind those many associations of water: drowning, life, threat, relief—relief from the consequences of sin and the finality of death—and cleansing. Lent particularly challenges us to that difficult dying, dying to self so as to join Christ in the waters of death… and of life. PF Parish Directory St Canice Parish 28 Roslyn Street, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011 Tel: 9358 5229 Website: www.stcanice.org.au Email: [email protected]Parish Priest Paul Fyfe SJ [email protected]Assistant Priest Gaetan Pereira SJ [email protected]Parish Manager Lynelle Lembryk 9358 5229 [email protected]Community Relations Manager Carrie Deane [email protected]Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council To be advised Director JRS Carolina Gottardo [email protected]Jesuit Refugee Service - Australia www.jrs.org.au 9356 3888 Mass Times Saturday Vigil - 6pm Sunday– 8:30am and 10:30am Tuesday to Friday– 7:00am Saturday– 9.00am Vigil- 6:00pm Public Holidays– 9:00am Reconciliation Before Vigil and Sunday Masses or on request Anointing As requested - please contact the Parish Office Healing Mass 11:00am - First Thursday of each month otherwise by request Weddings, Child Sacraments, RCIA Contact Parish Office Tel: 93585229
Transcript
15 March 2020 3rd Sunday of Lent - Year A
Catholic Parish of St Canice We acknowledge the Gadigal people, the traditional custodians on whose land this Church was built.
Water everywhere
This Sunday we begin the first of the 3 major themes in preparation for Easter: water, new sight, and risen life. For the vast majority of us, when we turn on a tap, fresh water reliably flows, water perhaps for drinking, cooking or cleaning. As I write this, though, I am being reminded of the drought, of Sydney receiving 400 mm of rain in 4 days, and of tiny drops that carry a virus.
Water can be a mixed blessing, as in an inch of rain too much, or too late. For Moses, finding water in the desert was such a blessing. As we hear in today’s first reading, water from the rock will bring his people relief, but also demonstrate that they had lost faith and hope in the very one who had given them freedom.
For a lot of Australians, plunging into the waves or the pool is especially a relief from heat of summer. The word “baptism” comes from this very idea of ‘plunging’, and a little known method of Catholic adult baptism is to plunge a person’s head into water three times; young boys love it! And few realise that the notion of “Christening” refers to the anointing that immediately follows the plunging.
So what is the purpose of the waters of baptism? Commonly, they are thought of as cleansing— washing away the stain of sin—though this is an effect, not a central purpose; it derives from what John the Baptist did. Rather, what baptism does is to plunge us into the mystery of Christ’s death so as to join him in his resurrection, which St Paul takes entirely for granted; the waters of apparent death are transformed instead into the water of life. As Jesus says to the Samaritan woman today, a spring inside us “welling up into eternal life.” In that risen life we are invited to know God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to experience God as the source of love that has called us into life—even now—through Christ. As the apostle reminds us today, the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
So baptism can call to mind those many associations of water: drowning, life, threat, relief—relief from the consequences of sin and the finality of death—and cleansing. Lent particularly challenges us to that difficult dying, dying to self so as to join Christ in the waters of death… and of life. PF
Parish Directory St Canice Parish 28 Roslyn Street, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011 Tel: 9358 5229 Website: www.stcanice.org.au Email: [email protected] Parish Priest Paul Fyfe SJ [email protected] Assistant Priest Gaetan Pereira SJ [email protected] Parish Manager Lynelle Lembryk 9358 5229 [email protected] Community Relations Manager Carrie Deane [email protected] Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council To be advised Director JRS Carolina Gottardo [email protected] Jesuit Refugee Service - Australia www.jrs.org.au 9356 3888 Mass Times Saturday Vigil - 6pm Sunday– 8:30am and 10:30am Tuesday to Friday– 7:00am Saturday– 9.00am Vigil- 6:00pm Public Holidays– 9:00am Reconciliation Before Vigil and Sunday Masses or on request Anointing As requested - please contact the Parish Office Healing Mass 11:00am - First Thursday of each month otherwise by request Weddings, Child Sacraments, RCIA Contact Parish Office Tel: 93585229
R emembering those who have gone before us... Recently Deceased: Bishop John Bathersby, Geoff Meagher SJ
Anniversaries: Chris Gration, William Harding Deceased: Peter Novetski, Joseph Chen
L et Us Pray For... Recently ill: Kevin Matthews, David Lynch, Gwen Feeney, Aloysious Mowe SJ, Jack Ryan Duffy, Anne
O’Sullivan, Susanne O’Sullivan, Belen Latorre, Anne Brennan, Rosemary O’Hare, Michael Taylor, Tony Catt,
Siobhan Pearson, James Toohey, Maria Grazia Orlandi, Robert Horder, Clive Adams, Patrick Brogan, John
Laing, Linda Stein, Ruby Naidu, Sandra Holyeak, Ray Walsh, Omar Soliman, Dulcie Kennedy, Flynn Cawood,
Valentino Close, Ronald Soussa, Sophie Napier, Veronica Rainbird, Joan Agbor.
Our RCIA candidates: Jessie & Neil. If you would like the parish to pray for someone or to bring them Holy Communion, please contact Lynelle at the Parish Office on 9358 5229 or email
[email protected]. Please note you must have a person’s permission for their name to be on the bulletin’s sick list.
Parish Calendar
Sun, 15th Mar 9.30am, 1st Reconciliation Lesson, Parish Hall
6pm, Meditation, Church
Mon, 16th Mar 6.30 - 7.30pm - Depression Anonymous, Parish Hall
Tue, 17th Mar St Patrick’s Day
Thu, 19th Mar 6.30pm, 1st Reconciliation Liturgy, Church
Feast of St Joseph (Patron of the Jesuits)
Thu, 26th Mar 6.30pm, Lenten 2nd Rite of Reconciliation, church
Sat, 28th Mar 1pm, David’s Place Mass, David’s Place
Next Week’s Readings: 21/22 Mar
First Reading: Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13
Second Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14
Gospel: John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38
The following publications are available at the back of the church:
• Catholic Weekly - $2 - please place $2 in SVDP box on wall near back table of church
• Australian Catholics - gold coin donation in SVDP box
Roster for Eucharistic Celebrations
14/15 Mar
W. Fothergill J. Freckman A Devarajan
B. McSoriley J. Higgins C. Coggins
Ministers of the Eucharist
As available As available 1 Eucharistic
Minister Req’d
21/23 Mar
G. Losurdo N. Peters S. Barnes
W. Fothergill D. O’Brien M. Musgrave
Ministers of the Eucharist
As available As available 1 Eucharistic
Minister Req’d
Third Sunday of Lent
Barry grew up in a tough environment. With the support of a program from Caritas Australia’s part-ner, Red Dust Healing, Barry has overcome many of life’s challenges. He is now an inspirational fa-ther to his four girls and a leader in his community.
Please donate to Project Compassion 2020 and help vulnerable people like Barry, so that they are em-powered to assist members of their communities in Australia.
Let’s Go Further, Together. You can donate through Parish boxes and envelopes, by visiting www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or phoning 1800 024 413.
Are you around for our Easter Services? Then you might like to participate in any of our Liturgies as readers, eucharistic ministers, or greeters. Please write your name on the blank roster located on the bench in the Sacristy. A firm roster will be set up and we will be in contact in the next few weeks. Further Enquiries: Lynelle on 9358 5229.
Invitation to join our Lenten Program This year our Lenten Program will feature the Diocese of Wollongong Program “Grace”. You are invited to join Fr Gaetan in one of 2 ways:
1. Sunday Mornings @ 9.30am in the Church:
2. Tuesday Evenings @ 6.30pm in the Church:
Further Enquiries: Lynelle on 9358 5229.
Good Friday 3pm Service Would you like to be involved? This year we invite you to be involved in organising and taking an active role in our Good Friday 3pm Service. Further Enquiries: please speak directly with Lynelle or Fr Gaetan on 9358 5229.
Easter Choir This year we would like to invite interested people to sing at one or both of our Holy Thursday Mass (9th April) and Saturday Easter Vigil Mass (11th April) Please join us on the following dates for rehearsals: Thursday @ 6pm in the church 19th March, 26th March, 2nd April Further Enquiries: Claudine 0413 333 270
Taking Communion to the Sick An important part of our pastoral ministry here at St Canice is taking Holy Communion to the residents of Lulworth and Trebartha Aged Care Facilities. We need more people to join this important ministry. Further Enquiries: Lynelle on 9358 5229.
First Reconciliation This Thursday evening 6 children form our parish will be making their First Reconciliation at St Canice’s. We ask that you keep the children and their families in your prayers.
Memorial Service: Geoff Meagher SJ Will be held on Tuesday 17 March at 10 am at St Mary’s North Sydney.
CoronaVirus policy: St Canice's 1. No holy water. 2. Bow or smile at the sign of peace. 3. Communion: no chalice; in the hand. 4. Ministers use hand sanitiser.
St Vincent’s College Open Day Discover St Vincent's College at our Open Afternoon on Wednesday 18 March 3:30pm to 6:00pm! We look forward to welcoming you to our Potts Point campus where our students and staff will be delighted to share our story with you. Discover St Vincent’s College - Register now at https://enquiry.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/events/
First chaplain to the Poles in Australia 50th anniversary On 7 April 1870, a Polish Jesuit, Fr Leon Rogalski SJ arrived in Sevenhill SA, quite pos-sibly the first dedicated migrant chaplain brought to Australia. Descendants of early Polish settlers are in-vited to the Clare Valley on the weekend of 20 - 21 March to celebrate. Cf. http://polishfederation.org.au/pilgrimage.pdf
Parish Notices
A message from the Archdiocese of Sydney
Abuse is a crime. The appropriate people to deal with a crime are the police. If you – or anyone you know – have been abused, please contact the police. Alternative-ly, you can contact the Safeguarding and Ministerial Integrity Office at (02) 9390 5810 or [email protected]. You may also want to speak to
your Parish Priest who will be able to provide support and guidance. The Archdiocese has a legal obligation to report crimes to the police.
Last Weekend’s Mass Collections 1st: $656.05 inc. planned giving envelopes 2nd: $525.05
Jesuit Refugee Service Lenten Food Appeal
Thank you for your donation of Tinned Tomatoes/Chickpeas/red kidney beans this week.
Next Week’s Food Item: Long Life milk
29th March: Pasta or Spaghetti
Lenten Programs
See the Jesuit’s Creighton University ministry site for Lent: https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/
CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/
Brisbane: “Be opened: a journey to new life” http://evangelisationbrisbane.org.au/assets/uploads/brochure-
Prayerful and Eucharistic: What could I change in my home to make Christ more central, and encourage deeper prayer? What routines or enquiry could help me better engage with God's Word?
Is God calling me to a deeper involvement in church community, liturgy, ministry or music.
