The Parish is also served by 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 Sunday 1st June, 2014 Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Year A Bridgeside Bulletin The weekly bulletn 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 communites of Forster, Tuncurry and the surrounding districts Celebratng the Sacraments Reconciliaton is available on Saturday mornings at Tuncurry from 8:30am untl the beginning of the 9am Mass, on Saturday afernoons at Forster from 4:45pm untl 5:15pm, or other tmes by contactng Fr Andrew.
Baptsms are celebrated on Sundays, either during any of our Sunday Masses or afer the 9am Mass. The next Baptsmal Preparaton meetng will take place in the Parish Halls meetng rooms on Monday 9th June commencing at 7pm. Please contact the Parish Ofce for more details, or visit the Parish website.
Weddings are celebrated by arrangement and with at least three (and preferably more) months notce. Please contact Fr Andrew for more details, or visit the Parish website.
A Sacramental Preparaton process runs each year in the Parish for children wishing to complete the celebraton of the Sacraments of Initaton as part of the Parish community. Please contact the Parish Ofce for more details, or visit the Parish website.
The Parish hosts the Rite of Christan Initaton of Adults process for those adults wishing to be baptsed or be received into the communion of the Catholic Church. Please contact the Parish Ofce 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
Follow us on Twiter: @fcatholic 2
The Parish Diary(for the week ahead) Seventh Week of Easter
Today1st June 5:30pm Evening Prayer & Benedicton @ Tuncurry
Monday2nd June
Tuesday3rd June Memorial of St Charles Lwanga & companions 9am Christan Meditaton (Bob 6555 5914) 10:30am Mass @ Beaumont Terrace Nursing Home 3:30pm Holy Hour @ Tuncurry 4:30pm Mass @ Tuncurry 4:30pm Family Ministry Commitee Meetng @ Forster 5:30pm Christan Meditaton (Bob 6555 5914) 5:30pm Singing Practse @ Forster
Wednesday4th June 9am Mass @ Forster 9:30am Secular Franciscans meetng @ Forster 11:15am Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help @ Forster 2pm Mass @Kularoo Gardens Nursing Home 4:30pm Parish Team meetng @ Forster 7pm Confrmaton Preparaton Meetng @ Forster
Thursday5th June Memorial of St Boniface 9am Mass @ Forster
Friday6th June 9:30am Mass @ Forster
Saturday7th June 8:30am Reconciliaton @ Tuncurry 9am Mass @ Tuncurry 4:45pm Reconciliaton @ Forster (untl 5:15pm) 6pm Mass @ Tuncurry
Sunday8th June 7am Mass @ Tuncurry 9am Mass @ Forster Regular Activities in the Parish Secular Franciscan Fraternity The Secular Franciscans Fraternity will next meet on Wednesday 4th June, coming together for Mass at 9am, followed by a cuppa at 9:30am and then the meetng 10am to 12pm.
The menALIVE Groups Our Parish currently hosts two menALIVE groups. The morning group will next meet on Wednesday 11th June afer the 9am Mass, while the evening group will next meet on Thursday 5th June 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 19th June startng at Tuncurry at 8am and then on to Forster. Contact Howard 6557 6826 for more informaton.
Singing Practce The Singing Group will resume practces on Tuesday 27th May at 5:30pm at Holy Name Church, Forster. All welcome.
Collecton of Foodstufs for Homebase On the frst Sunday of each month we undertake a collecton in order to support Homebase. The next collecton will next take place on Sunday 1st June.
Holy Hour The Parish community observes a Holy Hour each Tuesday afernoon in the Tuncurry Church from 3:30pm untl 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 informaton.
Evening Prayer & Benedicton The Parish community celebrates on the frst Sunday of each month at 5:30pm in the Tuncurry church. It will next be celebrated on Sunday 1st June. All welcome. 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. Rosters Liturgical rosters for June and July are now available from the rear of the church. Washing Machine Needed If anyone can source a washing machine for someone in need, please contact Sr Kathryn on 6554 6970. 3
Planned Giving The Financial Year will soon come to end, and the Parish would like to thank all those who contnue to generously support the life of the Parish.
If you would like to join the Planned Giving Programme, please contact the Parish Ofce. New envelopes for 2014-15 will be available in the next few weeks. To assist in the distributon would you please write FORSTER or TUNCURRY on your envelopes so that we can have your new envelopes in the right church for you. If you will be seeking a Tax Receipt for this current fnancial year, would you please write TAX on your envelope. Communion from the Chalice when Sick As we approach the colder months and occurrences of colds and fu, a reminder to everyone to consider the wellbeing of your fellow parishioners.
If you are not feeling well, we would respectully ask you to please refrain from receiving Communion from the Chalice during Mass. Ministry in Aged Care Facilities In order to comply with Federal legislaton covering screening of all people who work in aged care facilites (nursing homes, hostels, etc), the Diocese is going to facilitate the necessary screening checks via the Diocesan Ofces.
I would ask all those who minister on behalf of the Parish in aged care facilites within the Parish to make contact with me as soon as possible so that this procedure can be put in place.
Please note: This requirement only applies to those volunteers who carry out their task on behalf of the Parish, and not for those who wish to visit family or friends in local facilites. If in doubt, please check with me. Fr Andrew Pentecost Ecumenical Service The Christan Churches of the area will gather on Pentecost Sunday 8th June from 6pm in the Forster Baptst Church. As part of the service the Chaplains to the High SchoolAndrew Jones and Lynn Noonan will be introduced, and a collecton taken up towards the ongoing work of the chaplaincy.
A supper will follow the service, and you are invited to bring a plate to share.
This ecumenical service is an opportunity for our churches to gather in fellowship and worship. From the Pastors Desk Trial of New Liturgical ResourceLiturgyHelp.com The Diocesan Liturgy Council has organised a diocese wide free trial of the LiturgyHelp.com resource as a means of determining whether a diocesan wide licence should be made available to parishes to assist them in their liturgical planning.
As part of this trial, which will run untl 31st August, the Parish has access to a small number of full access subscriptons (which will be distributed to the relevant users) and to a limited number of partal access subscriptons.
These partal access subscriptons would be suitable for use by such ministers as our Readers, Communion to the Sick ministers, Catechists, etc, as they focus on access to the texts of readings, and provide access to refectons and commentaries.
If you fall into the later category who might beneft from trialling a partal access subscripton, and have access to the Internet at home, I invite you to contact me BY EMAIL so that I can provide you with access to the site. All I would ask is that you make use of the login and be prepared to provide some feedback at the end of the trial.
Given that the number of these partal access subscriptons are limited, they will be allocated on a frst come basis.
LiturgyHelp Workshop As part of the diocesan wide trial a number of workshops on using the LiturgyHelp.com resource are being run in the Diocese by their CEO, Patrick Nesbit. Our Parish will be hostng one of these workshops during which Patrick will demonstrate the capabilites of the resource.
This workshop will take place in the School Hall on Saturday 21st June from 1pm to 3pm.
If you are interested in partcipatng in the workshop it would be appreciated if you could let Sr Louise Gannon know by phone on 4979 1135 or by email to louise.gannon@mn.catholic.org.au by Friday 6th June.
You can alternatvely let me know BY EMAIL and I will pass the numbers/names on to Sr Louise.
If you have any questons, please do not hesitate to contact me, although since I am a part of this trial as well I may not be able to answer themIll do my best though.
Untl next week... Fr Andrew 4
Parish Social Functions for 2014 The dates for the remaining Parish Social Functons for 2014 are:-
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 claim these dates in your diary now and watch for further details as they are released closer to each event. Vocation View Go and make disciples of all natons! (Mathew 28:19). We are called to proclaim the Truth that comes to us from Christ; embrace the call to be a witness of Christ to the ends of the world! For more informaton regarding Vocatons contact Fr Brian Mascord on 4979 1112 or by email to vocatons@mn.catholic.org.au. Sacramental Preparation Programme The fnal preparaton meetng for the children preparing for Confrmaton will take place on Wednesday 4th June at 7pm in the Parish Hall.
The Sacrament of Confrmaton will be celebrated on Friday 13th June with Bishop Bill beginning at 7pm. All welcome. 10th National eConference The 10th Natonal eConference hosted by Broken Bay Insttute will be held on Wednesday 11th June from 10am to 3pm.
Once again the Parish will hostng partcipaton in the eConference, which has the ttle Pope Francis: Modelling the Ministry of St Peter, and featuring as presenters Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, Sr Monica Cavanagh rsj, Fr Gerard Kelly, Ms Selina Hasham, and Fr Noel Connolly ssc.
You are invited to bring along a small plate of food to share or your own lunch. Cofee and tea will be provided.
Registratons for the eConference to the Parish Ofce or by email to Loreta Hefernan at loreta.hefernan@ mn.catholic.org.au Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults On Pentecost Sunday 8th June 2014 the Chisholm Region will hold a reunion to celebrate over 20 years of RCIA ministry!
If you have experienced RCIA in the parishes of the Chisholm Region - East Maitland, Morpeth, Maitland, Rutherford, Lochinvar, Beresfeld, Dungog and Gresford, we hope you will bring along your family and join us for a Reunion Mass at 11.00am in the Immaculate Concepton Church George St Morpeth.
We will then enjoy a BYO picnic lunch in the Corcoran Centre and church grounds afer Mass. If you have been a sponsor you might like to make contact with the person you sponsored. Contact: Loreto Lynch Ph: 49337425 or Email: loreto.lynch@exemail.com.au 2nd Spiritual Directors eConference The Conference of Spiritual Directors will be hostng their second eConference on Thursday 12th June from 9:30am to 3:30pm.
Unlike the Natonal eConference above, the CSD eConference, ttled The Trinity: A Place of Deep Listening, will have a smaller appeal: the Conference is primarily for spiritual directors, although it will be of interest to others interested in the place of the Trinity in the Gospel of John.
Tony Knight has ofered to host a small group of interested people (max 12 people) at his home at Tallwoods Village on the day.
For more informaton, or to register your interest, please contact Tony on 6559 2573 before the 8th June. I Was A Stranger And You Welcomed Me This is the ttle of a pamphlet produced by the Australian Catholic Migrant & Refugee Ofce to explain what the Catholic Church teaches on Asylum and Migraton.
The Parish has obtained multple copies of these and you are encouraged to take a pamphlet with you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, alleluia. Congratulations to the New Deacon! Congratulatons to Rev. Mr Peter Street, who was ordained to the Order of Deacons for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle by Bishop Bill on Friday night.
Deacon Peter will contnue to minister in the Chisholm Region as he prepares for his presbyteral ordinaton (hopefully) later this year. Please remember him in your prayers. 5
No to Sterile PessimismPart 2 In some places a spiritual desertfcaton has evidently come about, as the result of atempts by some societes to build without God or to eliminate their Christan roots. In those places the Christan world is becoming sterile, and it is depletng itself like an overexploited ground, which transforms into a desert. In other countries, violent oppositon to Christanity forces Christans to hide their faith in their own beloved homeland. This is another painful kind of desert. But family and the workplace can also be a parched place where faith nonetheless has to be preserved and communicated. Yet it is startng from the experience of this desert, from this void, that we can again discover the joy of believing, its vital importance for us men and women. In the desert we rediscover the value of what is essental for living; thus in todays world there are innumerable signs, ofen expressed implicitly or negatvely, of the thirst for God, for the ultmate meaning of life. And in the desert people of faith are needed who, by the example of their own lives, point out the way to the Promised Land and keep hope alive. In these situatons we are called to be living sources of water from which others can drink. At tmes, this becomes a heavy cross, but it was from the cross, from his pierced side, that our Lord gave himself to us as a source of living water. Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of hope! Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 86.
If you would like to read more of Evangelii Gaudium, copies are available for purchase ($10) or borrowing from the Parish Ofce. The Exhortaton is also available for downloading from the Vatcan website. Silence in the Liturgy We observe silence during our liturgy (on Sundays and weekdays) at the following tmes: 1. During the Penitental Act, afer the Presider invites us to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries in order to recollect ourselves; 2. During the Collect, afer the invitaton of the Presider to Let us pray again in order to recollect ourselves; 3. During the Liturgy of the Word, at the conclusion of the frst reading in order that we might meditate on what we have heard; 4. During the Liturgy of the Word, at the conclusion of the second reading in order that we might meditate on what we have heard; and 5. During the Liturgy of the Word, at the conclusion of the homily in order that we might meditate on what we have heard. Soup Luncheons are Back! Hope you are all ready for our frst soup lunch for 2014. It is intended to hold the soup lunches on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 12 noon throughout the Winter months in the Church Hall at Lake St, Forster.
Our frst one is scheduled for 10th June 2014. Please come along, especially those who haven't tried our gourmet soups before. This will be our frst opportunity to try out the improve facilites in our Church Hall Kitchen.
Dont forget to place your name on the list at the rear of each church to assist catering.
Looking forward to seeing you all on Tuesday 10th June. Man, Unique in the Universe The Spirit of God who, we are told in the Book of Genesis, breathed upon the waters at the very beginning of creaton (cf. 1:2), is the same Spirit of life who was breathed into man, so that "man became a living being" (ibid., 2:7). This is what makes us diferent from every other creature. In our bodies we are a mere speck in the vast created universe, but by virtue of our souls we transcend the whole material world. I invite you to refect on what makes each one of you truly marvellous and unique. Only a human being like you can think and speak and share your thoughts in diferent languages with other human beings all over the world, and through that language express the beauty of art and poetry and music and literature and the theatre, and so many other uniquely human accomplishments.
And most important of all, only God's precious human beings are capable of loving. Love makes us seek what is good; love makes us beter persons. It is love that prompts men and women to marry and form a family, to have children. It is love that prompts others to embrace the religious life or become priests. Love makes you reach out to others in need, whoever they are, wherever they are. Every genuine human love is a refecton of the Love that is God himself, to the point where the First Leter of Saint John says: "The man without love has known nothing of God; for God is love" (4:8). Pope John Paul II The man who worries morning and night about the dandelions in the lawn will find great relief in loving the dandelions. L.H. Bailey 6
Kids Corner
A n s w e r s : 1 . T r u e . 2 . F a l s e . 3 . F a l s e . 4 . T r u e . 5 . T r u e . 6 . F a l s e 7 . T r u e . 7
Opportunities Outside The Parish Pints with a PurposeAn Interfaith Insight Come along on Monday 2nd June to listen to Ashleigh Green share an interfaith insight from 6:30pm at Kent Hotel, Beaumont Street, Hamilton. Dinner from 6:30pm; talk begins at 7:30pm. Search Facebook for Maitland-Newcastle Youth for more informaton.
DioSounds Evening Performance 2014 The evening performance of DioSounds 2014 will be held on Wednesday 11th June commencing at 6:30pm at the Civic Theatre, Hunter Street, Newcastle. Tickets are available at the Civic Theatre or via Ticketek (phone 4929 1977 or visit www.tcketek.com.au) and cost $30 for adults, and $15 for students and concessions.
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 frst resident Australian Ambassador to 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 informaton call 4930 9601 or email twec@ssjl.org.au.
Marriage Encounter Weekend A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend will be held beginning Friday 13th June at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville. The weekend ofers married couples a special kind of tme out, a diferent kind of weekend getaway. Contact Ardell or Bill Sharpe on 4283 3435 or wsharpe@bigpond.net.au for more informaton.
Monastc Experience Weekend Tarrawarra Abbey in Victoria will host a Monastc Experience Weekend on 13th15th June this year. Do you wonder whether you might be called by God to the monastc life? Would you like to know more about the Cistercian life? If so, and you are a single Catholic male (Tarrawarra is community of monks), consider yourself invited. For more informaton contact Fr Joseph Chua ocso, Vocatons Director, Tarrawarra Abbey, Yarra Glen, Victoria 3775. Alternatvely, email Fr Joseph on vocatons@cistercian.org.au or phone him on 03 9730 1306. We would love to have you come and see.
St Catherines Catholic College Art Exhibiton St Catherines Catholic College is hostng its frst Fine Arts Exhibiton on Tuesday 17th June at 6pm in the McAuley Hall of the College. The event is expected to have great success in showcasing the wonderful talents of the College students, and is themed Art Infnite to encompass the never-ending and always changing process of art and creatvity. Opening Night Functon (entry by gold coin donaton) will feature gourmet canapes and orange juice.
2014 Diocesan Youth Retreat Be, Grow, Show is the ttle 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 informaton email youth.ministry@mn.catholic.org.au.
TWEC Winter Refecton Day TWEC will host a Winter Refecton Day on Saturday 5th July beginning at 9:30am at St Josephs Convent, New England Highway, Lochinvar. The cost is $20; concession $10. Morning Tea is provided; please BYO lunch. RSVP by 1st July by phone to 4930 9601 or email to twec@ssjl.org.au.
Bonhoefer Conference 2014 The 2014 Bonhoefer ConferenceUsed and Abused: Bonhoefer for All Causeswill be held on Thursday 31st July at St Josephs Spirituality Centre, Kincumber. For more informaton contact Wendy Grant on 4921 5880 or Bonhoefer-conference@ newcastle.edu.au.
Proclaim Conference 2014 The 2014 Proclaim Conference on the New Evangelisaton will be held from Thursday 21st August at The Concourse, Chatswood. The theme of the Conference is Living the Joy of the Gospel in Parishes drawing on Pope Francis Apostolic Exhortaton Evangelii Gaudium. For more informaton, please visit www.proclaimconference.com.au.
2014 Natonal Pilgrimage In the Footsteps of Saint Mary pilgrimage commences in Melbourne on 22nd October and ends in Sydney. The cost per person, twin share is $2,740 (ex Sydney). For more informaton please contact Therese Leydon rsj by phone to 8912 4818, or by email to mmp. ministries@sosj.org. Aurora out next week! Aurora hits the newsstands again next week. As always you are encouraged to support our diocesan magazine and buy a copy of your local paper to receive your April editon of Aurora. The June editon of Aurora will appear in The Newcastle Herald and The Maitland Mercury on Tuesday 3rd June, in The Scone Advocate on Thursday 5th June and in The Muswellbrook Chronicle, The Manning River Times and The Singleton Argus on Friday 6th June. 8
Ministers this Weekend... ...of the Word ...of Communion 6pm Tuncurry A: Geraldine Mullin B: Michael Siddle Jeanete Goodacre, Kathryn McCabe, Michael Amato, Pat Hooker, Ruth Pearson. 7am Tuncurry A: Norm Chapman B: Bronwyn Morse Graham Grifths, Kay Grifths, Maria Armitage, Mark Mowbray, Norm Chapman. 9am Forster A: Marion ONeill B: Marie Keep Barbara Dolahenty, Elle Cairns-Cowan, Josi Beech, Sharon Fowle, Shioney Neal. Ministers next Weekend... ...of the Word ...of Communion 6pm Tuncurry A: Michael Siddle B: Frank Hayman Carolyn Ollife, Kathryn McCabe, Margaret Smith, Owen Carroll, Ruth Pearson. 7am Tuncurry A: Chris Matuszny B: Tony Knight Alex Matuszny, Edna Tucker, Mark Mowbray, Norm Chapman, Tony Knight. 9am Forster A: Marie Keep B: Judith Shand Barbara Kermode, Genevieve Williamson, Robert Moran, Robyn Ryan, Trevor Turner. Please note: The above informaton refects the rosters as originally published, and doesnt take account of any swaps that may have been organised between individuals. Scripture Readings This Week
Today Acts 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:17-23 Mathew 28:16-20 Monday Acts 19:1-8 John 16:29-33 Tuesday Acts 20:17-27 John 17:1-11 Wednesday Acts 20:28-38 John 17:11-19 Thursday Acts 22:30, 23:6-11 John 17:20-26 Friday Acts 25:13-21 John 21:15-19 Saturday Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 John 21:20-25 Sunday Acts 2:1-11 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23 Todays Liturgy of the Word
Responsorial Psalm Response: God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
Gospel Acclamaton Alleluia, alleluia! Go and teach all people my gospel. I am with you always, untl the end of the world. Alleluia! In your charity, please pray for: Those recently deceased: Cleopatra Berzi.
Those whose anniversaries occur about now. Bill Craig, Terry Hely.
All those in our community who are sick. Text: Excerpts from the English Translaton of the Roman Missal 2010, Internatonal 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 Internatonal Licence no 195E.