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

Sunday 6th April, 2014 Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year A

Parish
Fr Andrew Doohan (Parish Priest) Mr Greg Byrne (Pastoral Associate) Mrs Sharon Fowle (Administration Associate) Sr Kathryn McCabe (Aboriginal Catholic Ministry)

Celebrating the Sacraments

Reconciliation is available on Saturday mornings at Tuncurry from 8am until the beginning of the 9am Mass, on Saturday afternoons at Forster from 4:15pm until 5:15pm, or other times by contacting Fr Andrew. Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays, either during any of our Sunday Masses or after the 9am Mass. The next Baptismal Preparation meeting will take place in the Parish Halls meeting rooms on Monday 14th April commencing at 7pm. Please contact the Parish Office for more details, or visit the Parish website. Weddings are celebrated by arrangement and with at least three (and preferably more) months notice. Please contact Fr Andrew for more details, or visit the Parish website. 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. Please contact the Parish Office for more details, or visit the Parish website. The Parish hosts the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process for those adults wishing to be baptised or be received into the communion of the Catholic Church. Please contact the Parish Office for more details, or visit the Parish website. The Parish can also be found online: Search for us on Facebook as Catholic Parish of Forster Tuncurry

The Parish Office is at the rear of the Parish Hall and is staffed on Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 4pm. Items for inclusion in Bridgeside Bulletin should be received by midday on Thursday. 33 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428 PO Box 67, Forster NSW 2428 P: F: E: W: (02) 6554 6304 (02) 6554 6425 forstertuncurryparish@gmail.com www.forstertuncurrycatholic.org.au

Fr Andrew can be emailed directly using the address: fr.andrew.doohan@bigpond.com

Holy Name Parish School (K-6)

Ms Brooke Schumann (Acting Principal) 41 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428 PO Box 243, Forster NSW 2428 P: F: E: W: (02) 6554 6504 (02) 6554 8895 admin@forster.catholic.edu.au www.forster.catholic.edu.au

The Parish is also served by

St Clares High School, Taree (7-12)

Mr Peter Nicholls (Principal) Davis Street, Taree NSW 2430 P: F: E: W: (02) 6552 3300 (02) 6552 3656 admin@tareesc.catholic.edu.au www.tareesc.catholic.edu.au

Follow us on Twitter: @ftcatholic

The Parish Diary(for the week ahead)

Fourth Week of Lent Today6th April 5:30pm Evening Prayer & Benediction @ Tuncurry Monday7th April Tuesday8th April 9am Christian Meditation (Bob 6555 5914) 11am Anointing Mass @ GLAICA House 3:30pm Holy Hour @ Tuncurry 4:30pm Mass @ Tuncurry 5:3pm Christian Meditation (Bob 6555 5914) 7pm Singing Practice @ Tuncurry Wednesday9th April Fr Andrew to Deanery Meeting at Raymond Terrace No Mass this morning. 9am Morning Prayer @ Forster 9:30am menALIVE morning group @ Forster 11:15am Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help @ Forster 5:30pm Finance Committee meeting @ Forster Thursday10th April Fr Andrew to Newcastle for College of Consultors and Council of Priests meetingsNo Mass this morning. 9am Morning Prayer @ Forster Friday11th April 9:30am Mass @ Forster 12:30pm Holy Week Liturgy @ Holy Name School Saturday12th April 8am Reconciliation @ Tuncurry 9am Mass @ Tuncurry 4:15pm Reconciliation @ Forster (until 5:15 pm) 6pm Mass @ Tuncurry Sunday13th April 7am Mass @ Tuncurry 9am Mass @ Forster

Regular Activities in the Parish

Secular Franciscan Fraternity The Secular Franciscans Fraternity will next meet on Wednesday 7th May, coming together for Mass at 9am, followed by a cuppa at 9:30am and then the meeting 10am to 12pm. The menALIVE Groups Our Parish currently hosts two menALIVE groups. The morning group will next meet on Wednesday 9th April after the 9am Mass, while the evening group will next meet on Thursday 24th April at 7:30pm. Maintenance & Gardening Group The Parish is lucky to be served by a very dedicated band of volunteers who tend to the upkeep of the grounds and gardens of our two church sites. They do a fabulous job, and are always ready to welcome new members to the group. The next date is Thursday 17th April starting at Tuncurry at 8am and then on to Forster. Contact Howard 6557 6826 for more information. Singing Practice The Singing Group will next gather in the Tuncurry church on Tuesday 8th April for a 7pm start. All are welcome as we gather to practice hymns for our Sunday Masses. Collection of Foodstuffs for Homebase On the first Sunday of each month we undertake a collection in order to support Homebase. The next collection will next take place on Sunday 6th April. 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. Contact Shioney (6554 9468) 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 next be celebrated on Sunday 6th April. All welcome.

Chrism Mass 2014

The Diocesan Chrism Mass will be held on Tuesday 15th April at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hunter Street, Newcastle West commencing at 7pm. It will be followed by light refreshments. All members of the Diocesan community are invited to join with Bishop Bill, the clergy and laity of the Diocese in this annual celebration. Volunteers Sought Any parishioner who is planning on attending the Diocesan Chrism Mass and who would be prepared to assist in the collection of the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens are asked to contact Fr Andrew or the Parish Office.
2

From The Pastors Desk...

For all its dramatic energy, todays Gospel is only the dress rehearsal for what lies ahead for Jesus and for us. While we can be silent, critical, or distant spectators during a dress rehearsal, the power of the real drama lies in its capacity to draw the spectator into the depth of his or her soul, awaken powerful emotions, and throw out a personal challenge. In every good drama we transcend the spectator role. Instead, we are plunged into the actor persona. While we can feel emotionally awakened by the story of Lazarus, Resurrection must sink deep roots deep into our psyche, making us the actors caught inevitably in the drama of life. If the temporary raising of Lazarus gives us a hint of what God can do in his effort to gift us with life, Holy Week and Easter proclaim what God actually does, definitively for each of us. Caught up in the humanity of Jesus, our ultimate destination is an explosion of life with end in spite of and out of death. In the raising of Lazarus, we are given the sign of Gods life-giving presence in our midst. In Jesus Resurrection we have the final and unchanging expression of what we are in the mind of Goda God whom not even death could keep away from us. Lazarus calls us to faith in spite of death. Easter reveals the ultimate result of this faith. If the story of Lazarus invites us to confront the inhumanity of suffering, the horror of looking at death in the face, and the darkness of walking through death, for the believer it also points inevitably to fullness of life. Easter reassures us that we are not alone in our journey to life through death. God has done it all before, and God will do it over again with every human being who accepts his life-giving presence in life and in death. And through it all, the crucial question that Jesus addressed to Mary resonates powerfully and persistently for us too, Do you believe this?. Until next week Fr Andrew

Celebrating the Sacrament Reconciliation During Lent

of

During the Season of Lent, that time each year when we are called to examine our lives, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available for extended periods each Saturday:

On Saturday mornings at Tuncurry from 8am until the beginning of the 9am Mass; and On Saturday afternoons at Forster from 4:15pm until 5:15pm. It has not been possible to organise a Second Rite of Reconciliation prior to the celebration of the Easter Triduum. Instead Fr Andrew will be available to celebrate the Sacrament at additional times during Holy Week:

Monday 14th April from 10am to 11am at Tuncurry Monday 14th April from 6pm to 7pm at Forster Thursday 17th April from 10am to 11am at Tuncurry

There will be no opportunities for Reconcilition once the Triduum commences except in grave cases. Fr Andrew is also happy to celebrate the Sacrament at other times outside the above schedule, although this is subject to his availability. Please contact him directly to arrange this.

Parish Hall Kitchen

The Kitchen in the Parish Hall is currently being renovated (with some new stainless steel benches) and will not be accessible until this is completed. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Prayer at The Tanks

In the lead up the Easter Sunday Sunrise Service, you are invited to join with our Christian brothers and sisters to pray for the ongoing preparations for the Service and for its success each Thursday morning at 8am at The Tanks. In the case of inclement weather, the prayer will take place in the Forster Baptist Church.

Secondary School Enrolments

Everyone who lives and believes in me will not die for ever, says the Lord.
3

St Clares High School, Taree is now accepting enrolments for Year 7, 2015. Forms for enrolment may be collected from the School Office, or an information pack can be posted to you by contacting the School on 6552 3300. Families with students enrolled in a Catholic primary school will receive an enrolment form via their school.

Kids Corner Jesus raises Lazarus from the Dead.

In todays Old Testament reading, God promised His people that He would raise them from their graves. In the Gospel story Jesus raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. At the end of time God will raise everyone from the dead.

A Heroine Among Us
Our recent Sudan Appeal raised $22,893.20 to assist refugees escaping the violence in South Sudan. The Appeal was initiated due to the actions of a 16 year old girl, Ayen Dong, who attends St Pius High School in Adamstown, Newcastle. On visiting her grandmother in Sudan last Christmas, Ayen realised the danger her family were in and after a life-threatening trip, managed to get them all to safety in Uganda. Her courageous story was published in last Saturdays Newcastle Herald. A copy is displayed on our notice board. Our Parishs generous response to this Appeal has no doubt resulted in the saving of some human life.

Holy Week & Easter Triduum Schedule

The following is the schedule of liturgies to be celebrated in the Parish from Passion (Palm) Sunday through to Easter Sunday. Sat (12/4) Sun (13/4) Mon (14/4) 6pm 7am 9am 10am 4:30pm 6pm 9am 7pm 9am 6pm 10am 7pm 10pm Fri (18/4) 10am 3pm 10am 6:30pm 6am 8am 10am 5pm
4

MassTuncurry MassTuncurry MassForster ReconciliationTuncurry MassTuncurry ReconciliationForster MassForster Chrism MassCathedral MassForster Stations of the Cross Tuncurry ReconciliationTuncurry Evening Mass of the Lords SupperForster Night PrayerParish Hall Morning PrayerForster Celebration of the Lords PassionTuncurry Morning PrayerForster Easter VigilTuncurry Ecumenical ServiceThe Tanks, Forster MassTuncurry MassForster Evening PrayerForster

Tue (15/4) Wed (16/4)

Little White Books

Six minute daily reflections for the Easter Season, beginning on 21st April and continuing through to Pentecost on 8th June. Get yours before they are sold out $5 each

Thu (17/4)

Vocation View
Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ! With this belief, Jesus is able to work marvels through those who trust in him, even to raising the dead to new life (John 11:27). For more information regarding Vocations contact Fr Brian Mascord on 4979 1112 or by email to vocations@mn.catholic.org.au.

Sat (19/4) Sun (20/4)

Catholic Newspapers Available

Both The Catholic Leader (Brisbane) and The Catholic Weekly (Sydney) newspapers are available at a cost of $2 each from our churches.

Poppies for ANZAC Day 2015

The craft group at St Albans Anglican Church invite all handcrafters (knitting, crochet, felting, etc) from local churches to join in making as many poppies in preparation for ANZAC Day 2015, and also for the rededication of the War Memorial in Tuncurry in February 2015. The official launch and first poppy making workshop will be held on ANZAC Day 2104 from 1pm to 3pm at the St Albans Anglican Church Hall in Forster. This will be followed by more poppy making workshops on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (commencing in May) from 10am until 12 noontea and coffee will be provided. For more information, contact Julie Davies on 0429 433 330 or by email to 5000poppiesgreatlakes@gmail. com.

Diocesan Tribunal Office

The Diocesan Tribunal Office extends a caring invitation to any divorced person who might wonder about applying for an annulment of their previous marriage to come and speak with us. Alternatively we would be only too pleased to speak with you by telephone. We would be happy to explain the process involved in approaching the Church for a ruling of nullity. You can be assured that your privacy will be respected. Should you wish to apply for an annulment, we will guide and support you through the process. For further information please contact Jane or Rose on 4979 1370 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Thursdays. The Tribunal Office is located near the Diocesan Offices, in Tudor Street, Hamilton.

Lent: Giving Money, or Yourself?

Communities in Asia, Africa and the Pacific seek people with qualifications and experience in education, health, administration, agriculture, tourism and other professional, technical and trades willing to volunteer to share their knowledge and skills for a minimum of twelve months from January 2015. PALMS Australia will be holding an Information Session on Thursday 10th April in the Toohey Room of the Diocesan Offices, from 5:30pm to 7pm. For more information and enquiries, contact Roger OHalloran on 9518 9551 or roger@palms.org.au.

Australian Catholics Magazine

This latest edition of Australian Catholics has the theme sharing the Joy and its articles deal with laughter and comedy in our faith lives. Copies of this issue are now available, free of charge, at the rear of our church buildings.

Receiving Communion
So that we might receive Communion in a fit and proper way, please be aware of the following:

When we process forward to receive Communion, we have been asked by the Australian Bishops to adopt a common and unified gesture of reverence before doing so. In Australia that gesture is a bow of the head and shoulders (GIRM, 160). Any other form of reverence, including a genuflection, is no longer permitted, and you are asked to refrain from doing so. When the minister of communion presents the Host or Chalice to you, they say The Body of Christ or The Blood of Christ. Please ensure that you respond with Amen. Communion by self-intinction (self-dipping) is never permitted, since we receive Communion and never take Communion. Please refrain from this inappropriate action. We regret that we do not have the physical facilities to offer communion while kneeling, and respectfully ask you to refrain from kneeling to receive Communion while part of the procession, since this is contrary to the nature of the Communion procession itself. Your cooperation in honouring this request is very much appreciated, and we thank you for your consideration.
5

Autumn Fashion Parade

The Uniting Church in Forster will be hosting an Autumn Fashion Parade, courtesy of Margos Fashions, on Saturday 12th April at 1:30pm for 2pm. Entry is $10 and includes afternoon tea and lucky door prizes.

Community Appeal
You may have read in a recent edition of Great Lakes Advocate about young Dwayne Gumbleton, a local plumber who was electrocuted at work a few weeks ago. Dwayne is at present in a critical condition in John Hunter Hospital while his partner Priscilla is about to give birth to their first child. The Forster Tuncurry community is conducting an appeal for baby necessities or cash to assist this young family. Donations can be left at the Parish Office or given to Melia Belcher at 4/86 Head St, Forster, 0458 171 686.

Opportunities Outside The Parish

Ecumenical Way of the Cross The Ecumenical Way of the Cross will be held on Sunday 6th April beginning at 3pm at Kilaben Bay. All are welcome to join Bishop Bill as he leads the Ecumenical Way of the Cross in the grounds of St Josephs Conference Centre, 140 Wangi Road, Kilaben Bay. St John the Baptist Maitland Refurbishment Launch The launch of the project to refurbish the former cathedral of St John the Baptist, Maitland will be celebrated by Bishop Bill on Palm Sunday (13th April) beginning at 1pm in Cathedral Street, Maitland. If you, or any of your family members, were baptized, confirmed or married in this church or the ProCathedral, you would be especially welcome! For more information contact Michael Belcher on 4930 1458 or Mark Lees (Diocesan Offices) on 4979 1124. SRE Encouragement Day A SRE Encouragement Day will be held on Monday 28th April beginning at 10am at Cessnock. The theme for the day is Making the Most of SRE. To RSVP phone 4979 1328 or email manysuessmeier@mn. catholic.org.au. An Evening with Dr John Irvine Dr John Irvine is one of Australias most prominent child psychologists, and will be presenting a public lecture entitled Anxiety K-12: Red flags & what parents can do to support their children on Wednesday 14th May from 6:30pm at The Factory, St Pius X High School, Park Avenue, Adamstown. Please RSVP to Cath Garrett-Jones, Parent Liaison and Resource Office by phone to 4979 1303 or by email to cath.garrett-jones@mn.catholic.org.au. CatholicCare Masquerade Ball The 2014 CatholicCare Masquerade Ball will be hold on Saturday 17th May beginning at 7pm at Wests Leagues Club, New Lambton. The event is a fundraiser for CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Mannings Child & Family Services, and coincides with National Families Week (15th-21st May). The Ball is a great way to celebrate the vital role families play in our community. Tickets are $140ea (plus booking fee) and are available from www.stickytickets. com.au/14972 or by phoning 4979 1120. 2014 TWEC Dinner The 2014 TWEC Dinner will be held on Friday 13th June 2014 at The Therry Centre, East Maitland, 6:30pm for 7pm. The special guest speaker will be Mr Tim Fischer, former Deputy Prime Minister and more recently the first resident Australian Ambassador to
6

the Holy See, well known train enthusiast, writer and much more! The cost for hors doeuvres, drinks, main meal and dessert is $60 per person For more information call 4930 9601 or email twec@ssjl.org.au. 2014 Diocesan Youth Retreat Be, Grow, Show is the title of the 2014 Diocesan Youth Retreat which will be held from Friday 27th June to Sunday 29th June at Camp Elim, The Lakes Way, Forster. Save the date! For more information email youth.ministry@mn.catholic.org.au. Chisholm Region RCIA Anniversary On Pentecost Sunday 2014 the Chisholm Region will celebrate 21 years of RCIA ministry. If you have had any experience of RCIA in the parishes of the Chisholm Region, especially in the parishes of East Maitland, Morpeth, Maitland, Rutherford or Lochinvar, we hope you will bring a picnic lunch on Sunday 8th June 2014 to the Corcoran Centre, George St, Morpeth and celebrate with us. For more information please contact Loretto Lynch on 4933 7425 or loretto.lynch@ exemail.com.au. Marriage Encounter Weekend A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend will be held beginning Friday 13th June at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville. The weekend offers married couples a special kind of time out, a different kind of weekend getaway. Contact Ardell or Bill Sharpe on 4283 3435 or wsharpe@bigpond.net.au for more information.

Parish Social Functions for 2014

The Parish Pastoral Team organizes four social functions for the Parish each year. The dates for the remaining for 2014 are:

PARISH DINNER to be held on Friday 16th May. INTERNATIONAL LUNCH to be held on Saturday 2nd August. BLESSING OF THE FLEET/PARISH BBQ will be held this year on Sunday 5th October.

Please note these dates in your calendars now. Further details will be published closer to each event.

Parish Dinner
This years event will be held at the Reef Bar & Grill on Wharf Street, Forster at 6pm on Friday 16th May. Our guest speaker is Brendan Guiney from Mid Coast Water who will talk about Twinning and Water Aid in Samoa. Tickets are $30 and include a 2 course meal. They are available for purchase today and over the next few weeks outside the Church after Mass. Alternatively you may contact the Parish Office.

Behind this attitude [the idolisation of money] lurks a rejection of ethics and a rejection of God. Ethics has come to be viewed with a certain scornful derision. It is seen as counterproductive, too human, because it makes money and power relative. It is felt to be a threat, since it condemns the manipulation and debasement of the person. In effect, ethics leads to a God who calls for a committed response which is outside the categories of the marketplace. When these latter are absolutized, God can only be seen as uncontrollable, unmanageable, even dangerous, since he calls human beings to their full realization and to freedom from all forms of enslavement. Ethicsa non7

ideological ethicswould make it possible to bring about balance and a more human social order. With this in mind, I encourage financial experts and political leaders to ponder the words of one of the sages of antiquity*: Not to share ones wealth with the poor is to steal from them and to take away their livelihood. It is not our own goods which we hold, but theirs. Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 56. If you would like to read more of Evangelii Gaudium, copies are available for purchase ($10) or borrowing from the Parish Office. * The sage of antiquity is St John Chrysostom.

Ministers this Weekend... 6pm Tuncurry 7am Tuncurry 9am Forster Ministers next Weekend... 6pm Tuncurry 7am Tuncurry 9am Forster

...of the Word A: Lou Hope B: Valarie Ross A: Patricia Cornish B: Kay Griffiths A: Judith Shand B: Kris Koch ...of the Word A: Bob Cashman B: Colleen Cashman A: Cushla Drake B: Lorraine Clark A: Sharon Fowle B: Robyn Ryan

...of Communion Michael Amato, Owen Carroll, Burness Goodlet, Pat Hooker, Kathryn McCabe. Lorraine Clark, Cushla Drake, Cecile Malone, Alex Matuszny, Edna Tucker. Sharon Fowle, Barbara Kermode, Anne Moloney, Robert Moran, Robyn Ryan. ...of Communion Jeanette Goodacre, Lou Hope, Carolyn Olliffe, Ruth Pearson, Margaret Smith. Maria Armitage, Graham Griffiths, Kay Griffiths, Tony Knight, Mark Mowbray. Barbara Dolahenty, Alan McCarthy, Coral McCarthy, Trevor Turner, Genevieve Williamson.

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 AgentWord of Life International Licence no 195E.

Scripture Readings This Week

Today Ezekiel 37:12-14 Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45 Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 John 8:1-11 Numbers 21:4-9 John 8:21-30 Daniel 3:14-20, 24-25, 28 John 8:31-42 Genesis 17:3-9 John 8:51-59 Jeremiah 20:10-13 John 10:31-42 Ezekiel 37:21-28 John 11:45-56 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Matthew 26:1427:66
8

Todays Liturgy of the Word

Responsorial Psalm Response: With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption Gospel Acclamation Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ! I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me will not die for ever. Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Next Sunday

In your charity, please pray for:

Those recently deceased Those whose anniversaries occur about now: Martin Dunn, Zena Lonergan, Christina Phillips, Barry Lantry. All those in our community who are sick.