Bridgeside Bulletin The weekly bullen 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 communies of Forster, Tuncurry and the surrounding districts
The Parish is also served by St Clares High School, Taree (712) 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 Celebrang the Sacraments Reconciliaon is available on Saturday mornings at Tuncurry from 8:30am unl the beginning of the 9am Mass, on Saturday aernoons at Forster from 4:45pm unl 5:15pm, or other mes by contacng Fr Andrew.
Bapsms are celebrated on Sundays, either during any of our Sunday Masses or aer the 9am Mass. The next Bapsmal Preparaon meeng will take place in the Parish Halls meeng rooms on Monday 14th July commencing at 7pm. Please contact the Parish Oce for more details, or visit the Parish website.
Weddings are celebrated by arrangement and with at least three (and preferably more) months noce. Please contact Fr Andrew for more details, or visit the Parish website.
A Sacramental Preparaon process runs each year in the Parish for children wishing to complete the celebraon of the Sacraments of Iniaon as part of the Parish community. Please contact the Parish Oce for more details, or visit the Parish website.
The Parish hosts the Rite of Chrisan Iniaon of Adults process for those adults wishing to be bapsed or be received into the communion of the Catholic Church. Please contact the Parish Oce 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 Twier: @catholic 2
Tur Pnnisu Dinnv(for the week ahead) Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
A reminder that Fr Andrew is aending an intensive course this week and is away.
Today6th July 5:30pm Evening Prayer & Benedicon @ Tuncurry
Wednesday9th July 9am Morning Prayer @ Forster 9:30am menALIVE morning group @ Forster 11:15am Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help @ Forster 5:30pm Parish Finance Commiee meeng @ Forster
Thursday10th July 9am Morning Prayer @ Forster
Friday11th July Memorial of St Benedict 9:30am Morning Prayer @ Forster 6pm Mass @ Forster
Saturday12th July 8:30am Reconciliaon @ Tuncurry 9am Mass @ Tuncurry 4:45pm Reconciliaon @ Forster (unl 5:15pm) 6pm Mass @ Tuncurry
Sunday13th July 7am Mass @ Tuncurry 9am Mass @ Forster Rrcutnn Ac1ivi1irs iN 1ur Pnnisu Secular Franciscan Fraternity The Secular Franciscans Fraternity will next meet on Wednesday 6th August, coming together for Mass at 9am, followed by a cuppa at 9:30am and then the meeng 10am to 12pm.
The menALIVE Groups Our Parish currently hosts two menALIVE groups. The morning group will next meet on Wednesday 9th July aer the 9am Mass, while the evening group will next meet on Thursday 31st July 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 July starng at Tuncurry at 8am and then on to Forster. Contact Howard 6557 6826 for more informaon.
Singing Pracce The Singing Group are taking a well earned break and will resume pracces on Tuesday 22nd July at 5:30pm at Holy Name Church, Tuncurry. All welcome.
Collecon of Foodstus for Homebase On the rst Sunday of each month we undertake a collecon in order to support Homebase. The next collecon will next take place on Sunday 6th July.
Holy Hour The Parish community observes a Holy Hour each Tuesday aernoon in the Tuncurry Church from 3:30pm unl 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 informaon.
Evening Prayer & Benedicon The Parish community celebrates on the rst Sunday of each month at 5:30pm in the Tuncurry church. It will next be celebrated on Sunday 6th July. All welcome. Vocn1ioN Virw We are to live a life in the Spirit, pung to death the works of the esh. Ask God to help you always live as a child of the Light (Romans 8:13). For more informaon regarding Vocaons contact Fr Brian Mascord on 4979 1112 or by email to vocaons@mn.catholic.org.au. **Ptrnsr Pick Ur Youn ** PtnNNro GiviNc ENvrtorrs Planned Giving envelopes are now available to be picked up from the rear of the Church. Please take a minute to locate yours this weekend. 3
FnoM 1ur Pns1ons Drsk I dont know about you, but every now and again I have what I like to describe as a Hmmmm moment. Im sure you probably know what I mean: its that moment when you see or hear something that makes you stop in your tracks and go Hmmmm. They are, quite simply, those moments in life that make you stop and think.
I like to think of these moments as moments of parcular grace, where God puts something before you in order to deliberately make you think and reect.
These moments can take many forms: a beauful sunset, news of illness, the sound of wisdom from the mouth of a child. But each of these moments is denitely an opportunity to stop and wonder at the presence of God in our world.
If we let them
In a world that seems to be increasingly lled with more demands on our me and aenon, constantly rushing from one place and one thing to another, there is a risk that these Hmmmm moments can be missed, or indeed lost, in the cut and thrust of the day to day. And to miss these graced moments because we are too caught up in the busyness of life would be a tragedy indeed.
Im not saying that we can avoid the legimate demands that various people and commitments place on our me and aenonthat would be both wrong and sillyyet even in the midst of busyness we can be aware of Hmmmm moments, those precious glimpses that God gives to us, and pay them the kind of aenon that they so richly deserve. All it takes is the preparedness to be aware and to respond
Catholic Mission Appeal Thank you for your generous response to the Catholic Mission Appeal last weekend, and for the welcome extended to James Odoh during his visit.
If you took an envelope home last weekend and havent yet returned it could I please encourage you to do so by next weekend at the latest so that the Parish appeal can be nalised.
Thank you again for your generosity.
Unl next week... Fr Andrew IN1rnNn1ioNnt LuNcu
Our Internaonal Lunch will be held on Saturday 2nd August. Last years event was a great success and we hope to see more of the same support this year. We encourage all those interested in providing a culinary delight to be involved. A poster is provided at the back of the Church to indicate your interest and country of choice. You may like to consider geng together in groups to provide a range of tastes from the same country. AnoniciNnt nNo Tonnrs S1nni1 IstnNorn SuNonv The rst Sunday in July each year is set aside by the Australian Bishops as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday. To mark this day, perhaps it is mely to remember these words from Pope Benedict XVI from World Youth Day 2008:
For thousands of years before the arrival of Western selers [in Australia], the sole inhabitants of the land were indigenous peoples, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Their ancient heritage forms an essenal part of the cultural landscape of modern Australia. Thanks to the Australian Governments courageous decision to acknowledge the injusces commied against the indigenous peoples in the past, concrete steps are now being taken to achieve reconciliaon based on mutual respect. Rightly, you are seeking to close the gap between indigenous and nonindigenous Australians regarding life expectancy, educaonal achievement and economic opportunity! This example of reconciliaon oers hope to peoples all over the world who long to see their rights armed and their contribuon to society acknowledged and promoted.
Have we lived up these words of the Holy Father in the six years since? FnirNosuir Gnour (SrNions) Due to lack of numbers we had to cancel our bus trip however we have decided to meet for breakfast at the Dorsal from 8:30am on next Tuesday the 8 th of July. All welcome. A call to Lorraine on 6554 7056 would be appreciated. I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth 4
Pnnisu Socint FuNc1ioNs ron 2014 The dates for the remaining Parish Social Funcons for 2014 are: 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. Sour LuNcuroNs nnr Bnck The next Parish Soup lunch will be on Tuesday 8th July at 12pm. Please add your name to the list at the back of the church if you are aending. If you are minding grandchildren during the school holidays then please bring them along.
Anyone able to make soup for the next luncheon please phone Angela Hope on 6555 5825. Kios ConNrn 5
CoMMuNioN rnoM 1ur Cunticr wurN Sick As we approach the colder months and occurrences of colds and u, a reminder to everyone to consider the wellbeing of your fellow parishioners.
If you are not feeling well, we would respecully ask you to please refrain from receiving Communion from the Chalice during Mass. SrnsoNs ron Gnow1u The Seasons for Growth educaonal program uses the seasons as a metaphor for change, loss and grief in our lives.
The three hour Understanding change, loss and grief seminar for adults will provide you with the opportunity to examine the meaning of grief, review the range of changes and losses experienced in life and reect on the relaonship between change, loss and grief.
The seminar will take place on Thursday 7th August from 10am to 1pm in the Forster Parish Hall. The cost is $15 and will cover your workbook and morning tea (concessions are available). Please RSVP by 31st July to Zoe or Jenny by phone on 4979 1355 or by email to seasonsforgrowth@mn.catholic.org.au.
If aer the Seminar you would like to explore further The Seasons of Grief a further educaonal program will be oered in the Parish on Thursdays 28th August, 4th, 11th, and 18th September. Each session will run from 10am to 12:30pm. The cost for CSO and Parish Parcipants is $30 and for general parcipants $50 (concessions available). Please RSVP by 21st August to Zoe or Jenny by phone on 4979 1355 or by email to seasonsforgrowth@mn.catholic.org.au. S1 Mnnv MncKittors Frns1onv As the Sisters of St Joseph expanded throughout Australia and beyond, Marys endurance, coupled with her compassion and leadership, touched many peoples lives leaving a legacy that endures today
Share in celebrang St Mary MacKillops Feastday on 8th August, 2014. We invite you to share your celebraon and/ or any other events on the St Joseph website (www.sosj.org.au) and the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pages/SistersofStJosephof theSacredHeart) which reach thousands of people. Send your email with details to Niesha.allport@sosj.org.au. Pnnisu Gnirr Surron1 Gnour An inial meeng of the Parish Grief Support Group took place last Saturday (28th June) and was facilitated by Deacon Marn Johnson, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Newcastle. The next meeng is planned for 26th July, again facilitated by Deacon Marn, to connue the journey of establishing this group in the life of the Parish.
The Parish Grief Support Group will meet on a regular basis to support members through prayer, sharing, listening, understanding and being there for one another. Sharing with other people can help reduce the sense of isolaon and aloneness that comes with grief and can be of great benet to anyone dealing with their grief.
An invitaon to be part of the Parish Grief Support Groups is extended to men and women of the Parish who have lost a spouse through death, divorce or demena (or any other situaon).
If you would simply like more informaon, please speak directly with Fr Andrew either in person or via his mobile (0412 405 671). PiN1s Wi1u A Punrosr Pints with a Purpose is a popular iniave of the Diocesan Council for Ministry with Young People that sees guest speakers discuss issues around faith in an informal seng at The Kent Hotel, Hamilton.
You can now listen to recordings of the last three most recent talks by vising the Pints with a Purpose page on the Diocesan website (please visit www.mn.catholic.org.au/pints) where you will also nd other links and further informaon. Pnnisu IN1rncrssonv Pnnvrn Gnour The Forster Tuncurry Catholic Parish Intercessory Prayer Group, together with any other interested people, will be geng together for morning tea in the Parish meeng room aer the 9:00am Mass on Saturday 19 July. This will be a very informal gathering. Anybody who is interested in this excellent worthwhile group is welcome to nd out more. House bound people are especially welcome to join us as there are no meengs, we simply pray in our own homes at our own mes. This is the only meeng of this group for this year. If you require transport, please contact Bob Cashman on 6555 5914. S1 ViNcrN1 or Pnut WiN1rn Arrrnt Next weekend the St Vincent De Paul Society will be conducng their Winter Appeal. Please give generously so that the local Conference can assist the poor in our towns over the cold winter months. 6
Come to me, all who labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you, says the Lord. O1urn Ecctrsint CunttrNcrsPnn1 1 Lay people are, put simply, the vast majority of the people of God. The minority ordained ministers are at their service. There has been a growing awareness of the identy and mission of the laity in the Church. We can count on many lay persons, although sll not nearly enough, who have a deeply rooted sense of community and great delity to the tasks of charity, catechesis and the celebraon of the faith. At the same me, a clear awareness of this responsibility of the laity, grounded in their bapsm and conrmaon, does not appear in the same way in all places. In some cases, it is because lay persons have not been given the formaon needed to take on important responsibilies. In others, it is because in their parcular Churches room has not been made for them to speak and to act, due to an excessive clericalism which keeps them away from decision making. Even if many are now involved in the lay ministries, this involvement is not reected in a greater penetraon of Chrisan values in the social, polical and economic sectors. It oen remains ed to tasks within the Church, without a real commitment to applying the Gospel to the transformaon of society. The formaon of the laity and the evangelizaon of professional and intellectual life represent a signicant pastoral challenge.
The Church acknowledges the indispensable contribuon which women make to society through the sensivity, intuion and other disncve skill sets which they, more than men, tend to possess. I think, for example, of the special concern which women show to others, which nds a parcular, even if not exclusive, expression in motherhood. I readily acknowledge that many women share pastoral responsibilies with priests, helping to guide people, families and groups and oering new contribuons to theological reecon. But we need to create sll broader opportunies for a more incisive female presence in the Church. Because the feminine genius is needed in all expressions in the life of society, the presence of women must also be guaranteed in the workplace and in the various other sengs where important decisions are made, both in the Church and in social structures.
Demands that the legimate rights of women be respected, based on the rm convicon that men and women are equal in dignity, present the Church with profound and challenging quesons which cannot be lightly evaded. The reservaon of the priesthood to males, as a sign of Christ the Spouse who gives himself in the Eucharist, is not a queson open to discussion, but it can prove especially divisive if sacramental power is too closely idened with power in general. It must be remembered that when we speak of sacramental power we are in the realm of funcon, not that of dignity or holiness. The ministerial priesthood is one means employed by Jesus for the service of his people, yet our great dignity derives from bapsm, which is accessible to all. The conguraon of the priest to Christ the head namely, as the principal source of grace does not imply an exaltaon which would set him above others. In the Church, funcons do not favour the superiority of some visvis the others. Indeed, a woman, Mary, is more important than the bishops. Even when the funcon of ministerial priesthood is considered hierarchical, it must be remembered that it is totally ordered to the holiness of Christs members. Its key and axis is not power understood as dominaon, but the power to administer the sacrament of the Eucharist; this is the origin of its authority, which is always a service to Gods people. This presents a great challenge for pastors and theologians, who are in a posion to recognize more fully what this entails with regard to the possible role of women in decisionmaking in dierent areas of the Churchs life.
Youth ministry, as tradionally organized, has also suered the impact of social changes. Young people oen fail to nd responses to their concerns, needs, problems and hurts in the usual structures. As adults, we nd it hard to listen paently to them, to appreciate their concerns and demands, and to speak to them in a language they can understand. For the same reason, our eorts in the eld of educaon do not produce the results expected. The rise and growth of associaons and movements mostly made up of young people can be seen as the work of the Holy Spirit, who blazes new trails to meet their expectaons and their search for a deep spirituality and a more real sense of belonging. There remains a need, however, to ensure that these associaons acvely parcipate in the Churchs overall pastoral eorts.
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 102105.
If you would like to read more of Evangelii Gaudium, copies are available for purchase ($10) or borrowing from the Parish Oce. The Exhortaon is also available for downloading from the Vacan website. 7
Orron1uNi1irs Ou1sior Tur Pnnisu
Blessing of Newcastle Port The Port of Newcastle Blessing and Sea Sunday Service will be held on Sunday 13th July at 6pm at Christ Church Cathedral, Church St, Newcastle. The service is supported by the Mission to Seafarers and Apostolatus Maris. Please RSVP by email to chaplain@ mstnewcastle.org.au by 6th July
TWEC Chrisan Formaon Course The Tenison Woods Educaon Centre will oer their Chrisan Formaon Course beginning on Thursday 17th July beginning at 6:30pm at St Laurence OToole Centre, Broadmeadow Road, Broadmeadow. The program runs for tenweek terms, one night a week from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. For more informaon please contact the Secretary by phone on 4930 9601 or by email to twec@ssjl.org.au.
2014 Morpeth Lecture: TwoFace, Two Ways The 2014 Morpeth Lecture will be held on Wednesday 23rd July beginning at 5:45pm at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcommen Street, Newcastle. In the Lecture, Bishop Greg Thompson will reect on his experiences in the Northern Territory as he explores the concepts of closing the gap and reconciliaon for First Australians. For more informaon about the Morpeth Lecture phone 4921 7454 or email external.relaons@newcastle.edu.au
17th Annual Special Needs Mass The 17th Annual Special Needs Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday 29th July at St Patricks Church, Lochinvar beginning at 7pm. All are welcome to come along and help celebrate this wonderful, moving occasion.
Bonhoeer Conference 2014 The 2014 Bonhoeer ConferenceUsed and Abused: Bonhoeer for All Causeswill be held on Thursday 31st July at St Josephs Spirituality Centre, Kincumber. For more informaon contact Wendy Grant on 4921 5880 or Bonhoeerconference@ newcastle.edu.au.
TWEC Exploring The Joy of the Gospel The Tenison Woods Educaon Centre is holding a day on exploring The Joy of the Gospel Pope Francis Apostolic Leer on Saturday 2nd August at Lochinvar. Join Virginia Bourke rsj and a panel of local speakers as they invite your response to Pope Francis leer. RSVP to TWEC by July 29, 2014.
Proclaim Conference 2014 The 2014 Proclaim Conference on the New Evangelisaon will be held from Thursday 21st August at The Concourse, Chatswood. The theme of the Cn1uotic Nrwsrnrrns Avnitnntr Both The Catholic Leader (Brisbane) and The Catholic Weekly (Sydney) newspapers are available at a cost of $2 each from our churches. Conference is Living the Joy of the Gospel in Parishes drawing on Pope Francis Apostolic Exhortaon Evangelii Gaudium. For more informaon, please visit www.proclaimconference.com.au.
Broken Bay Bible Conference 2014 The 2014 Broken Bay Bible Conference will be held on Friday 12th September at Caroline Chisholm Centre, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills. Join us for a remarkable two days of uncovering fresh insights into Johns Gospel with prominent Australian Johannine scholars Fr Frank Moloney sdb and Dr Mary Coloe ibvm, with the parcipaon of Bishop David Walker. For further enquiries, please call 9847 0448 or email registraons@dbb.org.au.
2014 Naonal 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). Contact Therese Leydon rsj by phone to 8912 4818, or by email to mmp.ministries@sosj.org.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend Marriage Encounter Weekend is a Marriage Enrichment experience for married couples set in peaceful, picturesque surroundings, away from the distracons of everyday life. During the weekend, couples have a unique opportunity to reconnect, rekindle and refresh their relaonship. Take me out of your busy schedule, to invest in your most precious asset, your Marriage! Weekend dates: 12 14 September & 7 9 November at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville, NSW. Bookings can be made to Ardell & Bill Sharpe on 02 4283 3435 or email wsharpe@bigpond.net.au. CouNcit ron Aus1nntinN Cn1uotic WoMrN Sunvrv The Council for Australian Catholic Women provides advise to the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry about women and their parcipaon in the Catholic Church in Australia. In preparaon for a meeng of the Naonal Body a quesonnaire is being circulated concerning the parcipaon of women in decision making, leadership and ministry in the Diocese of Maitland Newcastle and the Church more broadly.
Anyone interested in compleng a quesonnaire can obtain a copy from the Parish Oce. 8
Ministers this Weekend... ...of the Word ...of Communion 6pm Tuncurry A: Monica Hunt B: Lou Hope Burness Goodlet, Frank Hayman, Jeanee Goodacre, Lou Hope, Pat Hooker. 7am Tuncurry A: Cecile Malone B: Mary Greig Alex Matuszny, Edna Tucker, Graham Griths, Mark Mowbray, Norm Chapman. 9am Forster A: Trevor Turner B: Lauranne Byrne Barbara Dolahenty, Elle CairnsCowan, Josi Beech, Sharon Fowle, Shioney Neal Ministers next Weekend... ...of the Word ...of Communion 6pm Tuncurry A: Valarie Ross B: Monica Hunt Kathryn McCabe, Maureen Pye, Michael Amato, Neil Pye, Ruth Pearson. 7am Tuncurry A: Patricia Cornish B: Lorraine Clark Cecile Malone, Kay Griths, Maria Armitage, Norm Chapman, Tony Knight. 9am Forster A: Judith Shand B: Kris Koch Barbara Kermode, Genevieve Williamson, Robert Moran, Robyn Ryan, Trevor Turner. Please note: The above informaon reects the rosters as originally published, and doesnt take account of any swaps that may have been organised between individuals.
Responsorial Psalm Response: I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God..
Gospel Acclamaon Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, you have revealed to lile ones the mysteries of the kingdom. Alleluia! IN voun cunni1v, rtrnsr rnnv ron:
Those recently deceased. Craig Huth.
Those whose anniversaries occur about now. Greg Payne, Florence Abberton, Fr. Tony Stace, Patrick Hardiman, Marie Kennedy, Patric Piccione.
All those in our community who are sick. Text: Excerpts from the English Translaon of the Roman Missal 2010, Internaonal 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 Internaonal Licence no 195E.