"Lord, your mercy is my hope,
my heart rejoices in your saving power.
I will sing to the Lord for His goodness to me."
|
Most Holy Rosary
|
|
- by Sy Miller & Jill Jackson
- Hymn 308 on the Chatswood Catholic Parish Hymn Book
- Sang by the St Therese Parish (Mascot) choir |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
For the month of November
| 1, Sunday |
- |
All Saints Day
First Reading,
Second Reading,
Gospel,
Sermon |
| 2, Monday |
- |
All Souls Day |
| 8, Sunday |
- |
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading,
Second Reading,
Gospel,
Sermon |
| 15, Sunday |
- |
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading,
Second Reading,
Gospel,
Sermon |
| 21, Saturday |
- |
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| 22, Sunday |
- |
Solemnity of Christ the King
First Reading,
Second Reading,
Gospel,
Sermon |
| |
- |
Advent Booklet
Don't forget to obtain your copy of “Lectio Divina – Praying the Scriptures in Advent”.
For more information, click here. |
| |
- |
Vocation Enquiry Day
Seminary of the Good Shepherd @ 50-58 Abbotsford Road, Homebush.
Registration at 9.00 am – Mass, Testimonies, Questions, Talks - concludes at 6.00pm.
Enquiries & Registration: please call 9890 5970 or send an email. |
| 23, Monday |
- |
Thinking of Becoming a Priest?
Year of the Priest…now’s the best time to apply!
Seminary applications for 2010 close today.
Enquiries: Director of Vocations Fr Michael de Stoop on 9390 5288 or send an email. |
| 25, Wednesday |
- | Mass for Remembrance for the Deceased
A Mass for all those who have died at the St George Public and Private Hospitals
6.00pm in St Patrick’s Church, 143 Princes Hwy, Kogarah
All very welcome. |
| 27, Friday |
- | St Joseph’s Primary School Outdoor Movie Night
Come along to St Joseph’s Outdoor Movie Fundraising and Social Night!
Enjoy the movie “Race to Witch Mountain”, rated PG with a running time
of 94 minutes. Screening starts at 6.3pm.
Available to purchase on the night to enjoy while watching the movie will be a
sausage sizzle, drinks, fairy floss as well as the mobile coffee machine for parents.
So come along to what will be a great night for all. Please ring the school office on
9599 2541 if you would like to purchase tickets for this event.
Ticket prices are: Child $5; Adult $10; Family $25 (2 Adults/2 Children) |
| 28, Saturday |
- | Ordination of Deacons
10.00am in St Mary’s Cathedral
For more information, click here.
|
| |
- | Calvary Health Care Christmas Fair
8.00am to 2.00pm at Calvary Hospital, Rocky Point Road, Kogarah
Come along and enjoy this bi-annual event!!!!!
Many fantastic stalls including antiques, pre-loved clothes and books, White
Elephant, cakes, puddings, Christmas cards, jams & pickles and much more. |
| 29, Sunday |
- | First Sunday of Advent |
| |
- | Blessing of the outdoor Nativity Scene
The magnificent 12 piece life size Nativity scene at St Mary’s Cathedral will be
blessed by Cardinal Pell following the 10.30am Mass. We invite everyone to come,
reflect and celebrate on the true meaning of Christmas – the gift of God’s Son.
The Galilean Food Markets will follow the blessing presented by Embrace, the
Youth Group of St Mary’s with food stalls and some Christmas entertainment in the
Cathedral grounds. We look forward to seeing you there. Let us all have a great time! |
For the month of December 2009
| 5, Saturday |
- |
Lourdes Day Mass
12.00 noon at St Mary’s Cathedral
Principal Celebrant: His Eminence George Cardinal Pell
The Order of Malta invites all parishioners to Lourdes Day Mass 2009.
A blessing of the sick will follow the celebration of the Liturgy with water brought from the
spring at the Shrine of Lourdes.
If you are attending and are confined to a wheelchair or require other special assistance
at the Cathedral, please advise J Sullivan on 02 8394 9599 before 27 November. |
|
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
May the Lord God console and strengthen those left behind. Amen.
|
| |
|
|
Source: Parish Weekly Bulletin |
| |
| |
Heavenly Father,
I thank-you for the gifts with which my life abounds:
the people, the circumstances, the events.
They are signs of Your faithful love.
I thank-you, too, for the difficult things
that I do not recognize as gifts,
for I believe that, through all things,
You are leading me more deeply
into Your life and will.
Source: Madonna, reprinted in the bulletin of the Holy Cross Church
|
Prayer Request
|
Please pray for the poor, the sick and all those recovering from surgery.
When you are not feeling too good, click here. |
Prayer for Rain
|
FATHER IN HEAVEN, we know that You love us, care for us and provide for us. We know that we in Australia are singularly blessed by You in many ways. Yet we come to You to ask that You look mercifully on us in our present time of need. We have not always come back to say "Thanks". Many in the world are so much poorer and in need of Your help and love than we, nevertheless we ask You to provide sufficient rain to our country, to teach us to appreciate what we have and to help us show our gratitude by our generosity to all who are in need.
|
|
Source: Parish Weekly Bulletin, 17 November 2002 |
Pope’s Prayer Intentions
|
| * |
"That the Christians of the Middle East may live their faith in full freedom and be an instrument of peace and reconciliation". |
| * |
"That the Church may be the seed and nucleus of a humanity reconciled and reunited in God’s one and only family, thanks to the testimony of all the faithful in every country of the world". |
|
Pope’s New Encyclical
|
On 7 July the Pope Benedict’s third encyclical, ‘Caritas in Veritate’ – ‘Charity in Truth’ – was released in Rome. Preparation of the encyclical over the past two years has taken place against the backdrop of the global financial crisis.
The document spells out the fundamental prerequisites for a just society, noting that " the development of peoples depends, above all, on a recognition that the human race is a single family". The Pope addresses key issues such as globalisation, technology, finance, energy, right to life, and the development of Third World countries. A central theme is that efficiency and profit cannot be the exclusive focus of economic activity: " The economy needs ethics in order to function correctly, not any ethics whatsoever, but an ethics which is people-centred."
To download the encyclical, click here.
Source: 18-19 July Weekly Bulletin
|
Messages from Fr. Jim - 2003 |
Let us keep praying for peace in the world remembering how blessed we are and how so many millions are in need of prayer and material help. Mother of the Lord intercede for them.
The Holy Father urges us to pray for the sick and disabled throughout the world particularly on the first Sunday of the month.
|
| |
Communities in Crisis |
With the spread of typhoons across the Asia Pacific severely affecting the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia, a tsunami in the Pacific devastating communities in Samoa and Tonga and the earthquake in Indonesia centering on Padang in Sumatra, people across our region are in desperate need.
Before, during and after the crises Caritas Australia and our local partners are making a real difference for these communities and we are committed to rebuilding and restoring hope in the long-term. We have made an initial allocation of $250,000 but we need more support to lend a hand for the rehabilitation. Caritas Australia is responding to all these crises with people on the ground delivering life saving assistance. You can help these people in our neighbourhood by giving generously to the Caritas Australia Communities in Crisis — Asia Pacific Appeal -
| | online at www.caritas.org.au or |
| | phone 1800 024 413 (toll-free) or |
| | by posting a cheque/money order to our office:
Caritas Australia
24-32 O’Riordan Street,
Alexandria, NSW 2015 |
- Caritas Australia
|
World Day of Prayer for Vocations
|
On the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday) the Church across the world celebrates World Day of Prayer for Vocation. On this day, the Church is called to pray for those who are serving in the vocations to Priesthood and Religious Life and for those whom God is calling to those vocations today. World Day of Prayer for Vocations was initiated by Pope Paul VI in 1963. The theme for 2008, chosen by Pope Benedict XVI, is "Vocations at the service of the Church on mission" (For the full text, click here.)
A Vocation StoryMichael Malone is the Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle. As a schoolboy, three times Michael ticked the "Doubtful" box on the form handed out by the priest who promoted vocations at his Sydney school each year. But Michael entered the seminary and was ordained at 25 years of age. However, until his mid-thirties, the now Bishop Michael admits that he lived in the shadow of "the Catholic ghetto". Appointed as a chaplain to Concord Repatriation Hospital was a watershed, because he experienced life in a secular workplace: "I often feel I grew up at Concord Hospital, and I’m grateful for that growing." In fact, Bishop Michael feels strongly that every priest should "step outside and work in an open environment to get that sense of ’the other’"
To the question "What’s good about being a priest?" unhesitatingly his reply is " The way people let you into their lives is quite remarkable. At difficult times, it is the priest who has something special to offer, and others who may not have faith are often profoundly respectful of that gift."
There is the sacramental dimension to ordained ministry: "To celebrate Eucharist is a pretty awesome thing to do. I have a great sense of communion with the people."
Bishop Michael would encourage young- and not so young men to consider priesthood a rewarding, challenging way of life. He understands, however, that when the average family has one or two children, the realism of one considering priesthood is questionable. He feels that sometimes those who bemoan the shortage of priests are not prepared to encourage a vocation in their own circle.
While Bishop Michael admits that there are fewer "models of priesthood that are younger, vibrant, and ’cool’", his story serves to remind each of us that in essence, to be a priest is to seek to make a difference in people’s lives, in Jesus name. That’s pretty cool.
Source: Tracey Edstein and published in the Parish Weekly Bulletin
For more vocational stories, click here.
Today, the students preparing for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Homebush come from a variety of cultural backgrounds: from Uganda, Hong Kong, Burma, Italy, Vietnam, China, Fiji, Ireland, Lebanon, Philippines - reflecting the diversity of the Catholic Church in Australia today. After ordination, some will return to their own countries while others will remain to work as priests in the Archdiocese of Sydney. In the words of the Gospel today,
"The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.
|
Divine Mercy
You are all invited to the St Patrick Church in Kogarah on the 1st Saturday of each month. Join us in the 9.15 am Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Rosary.
Sacrament of Reconciliation |
One of the most healing things that can happen to us in our lives is the experience of being forgiven. It does not mean that the past is forgotten or that the wrong we have done no longer matters. Our past sins are all part of the tapestry of who we are, but forgiveness makes it possible for us to weave them all into this tapestry without fear, so that we can be at peace again with ourselves, our fellow men and women, and our God. That is the meaning of reconciliation. Not just the words "I forgive you", but the deep down assurance that we are still loved despite what has happened.
The need to be forgiven and freed from guilt is a basic human need. That is why it is so important to be aware of God’s attitude to those who have sinned, and to realise that the way back to God is always open.
Sometimes we can get nervous about confessing our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We find ourselves confessing the same old sins as usual and so wonder if Christ is as bored with our list of failures as we are. We’re rather like the small boy who, told by his mother to say his night prayers, rather grumpily knelt down by the bed and said, "Dear God, same things as last night. Amen."The trouble is we concentrate too much on the confessing of our sins, too much concerned with what we have to say. And that is the mistake. There are two people in every celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation ?the penitent and Jesus, who is present in the priest. The most important words are not what we say but the words of welcome and forgiveness which come from Jesus himself. The Sacrament of Penance is primarily an experience of prayer and worship. One of the best loved prayers within the Eastern tradition of Christianity is called the "Jesus Prayer". It is said over and over again, something like the Hail Mary when we recite the Rosary. The Jesus Prayer is:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Source: Parish Weekly Bulletin from "At Home With God’s People; Your Faith: A Popular Presentation of the Catholic Church"
|
Retrouvaille
Retrouvaille is for helping hurting marriages. The programme concentrates on couples who are thinking about separation or divorce. If couples don’t know how to change or where to turn, Retrouvaille can help.
For confidential enquiries and further information, call (02) 9520 1496.
Y U C A N |
YUCAN is an organization that has run courses across Sydney over the past five years for young adults in their 20s and 30s, offering a range of faith sharing and social opportunities. These include Alpha and Branches courses which have been well supported by a number of parishes across Sydney.
For more information, click here or call
Fr Patrick Kervin on 9254 9855
Source: Parish Weekly Bulletin
|
Young-at-Heart
Gather a few of your friends and come along for some fun, friendship, a cuppa and a chat, on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 10.30am in the Parish Centre at Rockdale (entry via Parker St). The cost is ONLY 50 cents.
For more information, contact Zena on 9543 7758.
ALL welcome!
Club 20
|
Are you in the 20s to 30s age group? How about joining the Club 20? This is a social group for young adults who meet every 1st Sunday of the month. The details are as follows:
|
| When: |
Sunday, 1st Sunday of each month (except January) at 7.30pm |
| Where: |
Meeting Room
St Declan’s Parish
Penshurst |
| Enquiries: |
9774 1987 or 9525 3251
|
|
Year of the Priest
|
Pope Benedict XVI has announced the Church will celebrate a special year for priests to begin on June 19, the 150th anniversary of the death of a holy parish priest, the Cure d'Ars, St Jean Vianney.
The Year of the Priest is a chance for Catholics to recognise the great and often unsung work of priests, making a contribution to the lives of people, parish communities and the Church. Let’s thank, encourage and pray for our priests!
Throughout the year, the Archdiocese of Sydney will feature interviews and stories about your priests through the website www.sydney.catholic.org.au and on the online youth network www.xt3.com.
For more information, click here.
|
Messages from the Bible |
| Passage from the Bible |
(Note on how to access and read the Bible on-line: place the cursor on the space below the word Passage and type ((or cut and paste)) the book name, chapter and the verse or verses such as Acts 8:4-17 or Mark 1:12-15. Then hit/ click the Lookup button.)
|
|
| |
Our Thanks to Monica C and
Modified: 22 November 2009
