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Our Lady Queen of Apostles Parish, Stafford
[A Parish of the Brisbane North West Deanery]
Vision: “To follow the example of Jesus by serving others.”
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
(YEAR B)
Dear Parishioners and Visitors,
Here’s a brief History of Marriage in the Church and some
challenging questions:
(From: LITURGY NEWS September 2014 by Dr Fr Tom Elich
(Archdiocese of Brisbane Liturgical Commission))
WHEN THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS meets in October to reflect
on the family, it will have to deal with some very challenging input
received from last year’s wide consultation with lay people. In their
beliefs and practice, it seems that Catholic lay people — at least in
the Western world — have accommodated pastoral situations
sharply at variance with official Church teaching on sexuality,
marriage and the family. Since the Church bases its teachings on
natural law, one would expect that the principles might reveal
themselves to the discernment of all thinking people. Yet the sensus
fidelium uncovered by the consultation for the Synod would suggest
otherwise.
The liturgical connection with the myriad pastoral and theological
issues with which the Synod will grapple is the Rite of Marriage. It
relates to the situations of cohabitation before marriage, people living
in de facto relationships, annulment and the status of those living in
second marriages, and the recognition of committed same-sex
relationships. A common catchcry is that we cannot redefine the
nature of marriage. Yet a glance at the history of the Rite of Marriage
suggests that we can and have.
The Council of Trent in its 24th session on 11 November 1563
boldly redefined the nature of marriage. It came at the end of a long
history in the Middle Ages of railing against ‘clandestine
marriages’. The Council, while acknowledging that there is no
doubt that secret marriages entered by free consent of the parties,
are true and valid marriages as long as the church has not made
them null nevertheless stated that the Church has always detested
and prohibited such marriages; then, in its famous decree Tametsi,
it proceeded to decree null and invalid marriage otherwise than in
the presence of the parish priest or another priest with the
permission of the parish priest or the ordinary and two or three
witnesses, The church finally took control of marrying away from
couples and their families.
Let us entertain for a moment a different hypothesis. Until the 12th
century, there was debate about what constituted a valid marriage: in
the Roman tradition, it was held to be the mutual consent of the
couple, while in a northern European understanding, it was
established by sexual intercourse after consent. Gratian, professor at
Bologna, devised a compromise solution: consent ratifies a marriage
(ratum), sexual intercourse completes it (consummatum).
The consent could take two forms. The consent de futuro (I will take
you to be my wife/husband) was a promise to marry or a betrothal
that established a spousal relationship. The consent de praesenti (I
now take you to be my wife/husband was the wedding itself that
established the couple as husband and wife. What then of a couple
who promise to marry in verba de futuro, and then begin to live
together? Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century argued that this
would express inward consent and so constitute a valid marriage.
Since judgement needs to be made in the external forum, and since
nothing is more expressly significant of consent than carnal
intercourse, it follows that in the judgement of the Church carnal
intercourse following on betrothal is declared to make a marriage
(Summa, Suppl,46,2). For Aquinas, this leaves the wedding liturgy
unrelated to the essence of the marriage but belonging rather to its
solemnisation.
For the period before the Council of Trent, marrying was the
business of lay people, with a church blessing often coming at the
end of a process. Betrothal or a promise to marry might be followed
6th/7th December, 2014
by cohabitation with a view to marriage and eventual pregnancy,
leading finally to the wedding celebration. When cases relating to
clandestine marriages came to the episcopal court of Ely in the l4
century, for example, couples were not penalised for marrying
without the religious formalities, they were not required to separate
pending the solemnisation of the marriage, but were encouraged to
do so at a convenient time and place.
At the stroke of a pen, Trent established the public wedding ritual as
the act that made a valid marriage, albeit a rite that relied on the
couple’s exchange of consent, which became indissoluble when the
marriage was subsequently consummated. The Roman Ritual
produced after the Council further tipped the balance towards the
constitutive nature of the liturgy by having the priest say, Ego vos in
matrimonium coniungo (I join you in matrimony), words which were
mistaken for a sacramental formula along the lines of the priest’s
words in the sacrament of baptism or penance. This redefinition of
marriage established new relationships between marriage, the
wedding liturgy, and the sexual activity and procreation. What was
previously legitimate in the in- between state between betrothal and
the wedding is now deemed sinful ‘premarital sex’.
Certainly medieval clandestine marriage created some problems —
whether they were vows privately exchanged, or secret marriages
performed by a cleric (as illustrated in the fateful intervention of Friar
Laurence in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet). The public status of
the couple was uncertain. That is why the Fourth Lateran Council
(1215) insisted on the publication of the banns of marriage and all the
sacramental education of the late medieval period encouraged the
public exchange of consent in front of the church door in the presence
of the priest.
Today, however, an exclusive focus on the Rite of Marriage as the
sole ‘how and when’ of establishing a couple as husband and wife has
created its own raft of problems. Our society has been able to register
a range of situations from do facto relationships to civil partnerships
to marriage itself. Whereas for the Church, the precise demands of
canonical form have stymied our ability to deal with new and
developing pastoral realities. When I was ordained forty years ago,
couples coming to marriage preparation would carefully give
different addresses. Today most would regard it as totally
irresponsible to enter into the serious life-long commitment of
marriage without a period of cohabitation to prove the viability of the
relationship. I wonder if it would be pastorally helpful to reflect on
the practice of marriage for the first 1500 years of our history.
What would it look like if we were to accept a form of betrothal
which enshrined a promise to marry in the future? Could we consider
cohabitation as a kind of catechumenate for marriage? We do not
immediately celebrate the sacraments for an adult who wishes to join
the Church but rather we begin a catechumenal process of learning
and conversion of life. What would it do to the liturgy of our
Marriage Rite if it were to be regarded as the crowning moment at the
end of a process of marriage?
Perhaps the inclusion of an Order of Blessing an Engaged Couple as
an appendix to the forthcoming Order of Celebrating Marriage might
be taken as a tiny step in this direction. However I do not imagine this
‘marriage process’ unfolding under clerical control. The consent of
the couple constitutes the sacrament of marriage.
Could we not leave the business of establishing a
relationship and moving towards fidelity and
marriage to lay people — to the couple and their
families. The priest then is invited in at the end to
bless a committed relationship and make of it a
sacrament. This might be like the early Middle
Ages, when the Church’s only involvement in
marriage could be for the priest to arrive at the
home and bless the couple in bed.
NEXT WEEK’S READINGS
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR B)
C
S
1st Reading:
Isaiah 61:1-2,10-11
2nd Reading:
Gospel:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8,19-28
OUNTERS ROSTER: Monday 8th December, Team F:
Margaret Sheehan, Darryl and Val Wilson.
TAFFORD KEDRON CHURCHES TOGETHER pray this
week for parishioners at Chermside-Kedron Uniting
Church.
Q.1 Why can’t you bend a coin?
R
ELIGIOUS GOODS SHOP: 2015
CALENDAR, are here — buy one before
they run out!!Have you dropped in lately to see
what is available? There are gifts for many
occasions as well as a good supply of cards.
Come and see. Don’t forget to pick up your
Catholic Leader here. There are Bibles, daily
reflection books, Memorial Cards, Statues,
Candles, CHRISTMAS CARDS and more!!
COLUMBAN
I
NDOOR BOWLS CLUB: After 27 years
the Bowls Club have only a small number of regular
players. Rather than close the club just yet, we will continue
into the new year and see whether our numbers increase. If
you are shy, bring a friend. If you haven’t played before,
come and try it out. Someone will help you. We play every
second Wednesday in the Hall. If you are interested in
joining, please ring Mary on 3356 2172. All age groups
welcome.
A
Church door will be opened at 8am on Mondays,
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during School
Holidays (which start on Monday). The Church will be
closed on Wednesdays – if you wish to use it AND there is
someone in the office, it will be opened for you. The
church doors will be CLOSED from Boxing Day (26th Dec)
to New Years Day (inclusive) except of course for Sunday
28th Dec!
S
T. VINCENT DE PAUL ANNUAL CHRISTMAS
APPEAL — each week of Advent, at each of the
Masses. You may place your
envelope on the Collection Plate if you
have a donation. We thank you for
your generosity and wish you a
peaceful and joy-filled Christmas.
T
HE CRIB IS UP, THE CHRISTMAS TREE IS
UP….. all signs that Christmas is just around the
corner. As we are all aware, many people don’t see
Christmas as a time of joy or celebration, because of
dire circumstances in which they find themselves. Too
many in our local area are in this situation. As in the
past, we are asking you to take a tag from the door of
the church, purchase the item listed and place it in the
tree/crib area. Final donations will be accepted on
Monday, 15th December so that our members have an
opportunity to pack and deliver the Hampers to those
who need a "hand up" this Christmas. Your efforts are
truly appreciated and make a big difference to the
recipients.
+
Archbishop Coleridge’s Advent message – there are
copies available at the back of the church this weekend.
K
ELVIN GROVE WIND ORCHESTRA
“Silver
Silver Screen Symphonies”,
Symphonies” Sunday 7th
December , 3pm at the Old Museum. Tickets
$22 for adults, $17 concession, $10 children.
Enquiries and purchase of tickets from Maree
Coe 3350 1472.
T
HE BISHOPS COMMISSION FOR PASTORAL LIFE
has produced a resource called What is Marriage? This is
one outcome of the Synod of Bishops on Family held recently. It
is a clear document and places special emphasis on the
importance of children in marriage. It has been produced to
circulate information and will be a useful
resource for anyone wishing to inform
others, or being questioned about the validity
of marriage. Copies are available from the
doors of the Church. Please take one.
P
arish Office Times over December
and January: The office will be closed from Christmas
Day until Sunday 18th January inclusive. There will be no
newsletters during this time. The answering machine will be
checked a couple of times a week and, of course, if you need
a priest in an emergency, ringing the office will give you
instructions how to contact Fr Denis.
CHRISTMAS SEASON LITURGY TIMES
Penitential Service: Mass for forgiveness of Sins
Thursday 18th December 7pm
(NB no morning Mass on this day)
Christmas Masses:
Christmas Eve: 6pm
9pm
Christmas Day: 8am (only Mass on this day)
Friday 26th, Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th: NO MASS
or LITURGY
New Year’s Eve — Wednesday 31st December
Mass for New Year 6pm
Friday 2nd January: NO MASS
Monday 5th January onwards: Usual Mass and
Liturgy times will resume.
C
HRISTMAS CONCERT: Come and enjoy a variety
of exciting music performed by Musica Antiqua
Collegii and Sinphonia, Virtuoso Trumpeter John
Coulton, Baritone Mark Jowett and Soprano Eleanor
Varnes Holland. Sunday December 7th at 2.30pm at
Queen of Apolstles Church, Stafford. Cost is $20.
Enquiries to Spencer Faulkner 3886 6483 or Michael
Herman 3350 1410.
P
arents with little Children: Help train your children in the
spirit of Advent, a spirit of hope and expectation! Before
or After Mass each weekend up to and including the Feast of
the Epiphany when we celebrate the coming of the Wise Ones
(the Magi), bring your children up to the nativity scene and
explore with them what might have changed since last
weekend and what they think might be there next weekend.
P
arents with Children 2 – How much can your children
see of what’s happening in the Sanctuary from where you
usually sit? When you think of it, their usual view is very
restricted by adults sitting in front of them – consider moving to
the front where they may feel more a part of the celebration
and where, not only will they see more, but they will be
‘immersed’ in the sound of the singing and responding from
the congregation behind and around them.
D
IVINE MERCY PRAYER AND ADORATION: Join with us
each 2nd and 4th Monday of the month for prayer and
adoration. We are changing the time to 6-7pm. This may suit
people a little better than the later start. For inquiries contact
the Parish Office, or if you wish to attend just come along on
Monday evening.
T
EAR AUSTRALIA Useful Gifts Catalogue is available at the
Church doors. Give a gift this Christmas that will help
contribute to a better tomorrow for people living in poverty. Gifts
range from $5 to $5000. Upon ordering you will be sent a card about
your gift and a tax deductible receipt.
I got a job at a bakery because I (kneaded) dough.
This Christmas, you can give a unique and life-changing
gift. By choosing a Global Gift this year, you are helping
to spread the message that together, as on global family, we are making the world a better place.
A Global Gift makes a positive and real
impact on the lives of the poorest and most
marginalised communities around the world.
You can purchase a Global Gift by freecalling us on 1800 024 413, or by choosing
your gift online at www.caritas.org.au/globalgifts
A.1 Because change is hard!
M
ount Alvernia College is currently accepting Applications
for Enrolment for YEAR 7, 2018. Closing
date for Applications is 8 February 2015.
It is important that you lodge your application by
the due date to be considered in first round
offers. Second round offers are made subject to
availability.
Enrolment Forms are available via email request
from the Mount Alvernia College website www.mta.qld.edu.au
or contact Jodi Walsh on Ph: 3632 8508 for any further
information.
E
NGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES which run each
Wednesday will break for the holidays after next
Wednesday’s lesson. Those participating this year have
found it a great opportunity to practice speaking
English, and have made new friends along the way.
Classes will resume next February.
February The starting date will
be advertised in this newsletter, closer to the time.
N
ativity Play for Christmas Eve Mass:
If you would like to be part of the 10 minute nativity play before the
Family Mass at 6 pm Christmas Eve, please let us know. We are happy
to have volunteers who have, or have never, been in this play.
We hold one practice at the church on 21 December, at 6. 30 pm for one hour.
Scripts are available in advance.
The following people are in modern day clothes and read the play’s script at
the lectern. They need to be able to read fluently at a microphone.
1 — Adult narrator
1 – 2 children narrators
All of the following people dress in provided costumes and say one or two
lines each, using a microphone. (You can cheat and have your line written on
a prop.)
3 kings (teenage - adult men)
1 Inn keeper (teenager – adult)
1 – 2 shepherds (children or adults)
The following person speaks two short paragraphs, dressed as an angel.
1 Angel (Child or adult)
The following people do not speak (but are the most important roles):
Mary and Joseph and a young baby
After the 10 minute nativity play, all volunteers return to their seats to
participate in Mass, as usual.
If you are able to assist us with any of the above roles, please call Gwen
Moroney: 0431 234 443 and leave a message with contact details. Your
assistance would be greatly appreciated.
TELL ME ABOUT CHRISTMAS
Tuesday 16th December
9.00am-2.00pm
Cost: $5 per child
This is a Catechetical day when primary
school aged children can come for a time
of fun learning about the true
‘Spirit of Christmas’.
They will engage in craft activities,
songs, stories, and games,
all with a Christmas theme.
Morning tea and lunch will be provided.
To book your child/ren in for this day,
please email or call Rosemary at
[email protected] .au or
phone 3356 7155 during business hours.
New children (of primary school age)
are always welcome to join us.
I went shopping the other day and I was in there for
only about 5 minutes. When I cam out there was a
motorcycle cop writing a parking ticket. So I went up
to him and said, “Come on mate, how about giving a guy
a break?” He ignored me and continued writing the
ticket. So I called him a name I can’t repeat. He glared
at me and started writing another ticket for having
worn tyres! So I let out with another name. He finished
the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the
first. Then he started writing a third
ticket! This went on for some time. I
didn’t care. My car was parked around
the corner. It’s important to have a
little fun each day.
Our Lady, Queen of Apostles Parish
Parish School (“Queen of Apostles”)
Parish Office:
Address: 70 Appleby Road, Stafford 4053
Parish E-mail: [email protected]
Parish WEBSITE: www.staffordcatholicparish.org.au
Parish Pastoral Council: [email protected]
Parish Secretary: Rosemary Haydock
Office Hrs: M-Th 9.00am—4.30pm
Fri 9.00am—-10.00am
Office Telephone: – 3356 7155
Parish Administrator: Fr Denis Scanlan
Fr Denis’ E-mail: [email protected]
Parish Convent: (Sr Josita Paczkowska and
Sr Maureen Stemko) 3356 6185
School Office:
Address: 10 Thuruna Street, Stafford 4053
School email: [email protected]
School Team:
Principal: Nigel Bird
APA: Melissa Spiteri
APRE: Michael Bruynesteyn
School Secretaries:
•
Thuruna St:: Cathy McGraw, Vera Fitzgerald
•
Chuter St: : Mary-Anne Coppolecchia
School Office Hrs: 8.00am - 4.00pm
Telephone (Thuruna St:) - 3356 7755
Telephone (Chuter St:) - 3326 0400
THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH
Mon
8th
8.30am
6.00am
Mass
Divine Mercy Prayer and Adoration
Tues
9th
8.30am
7.00pm
Prayer of the Church with Holy Communion
Parent Sacramental Meeting
Wed
10th
Thurs
11th
8.30am
5.00pm
7.30pm
Mass
Social Justice Meeting
Parish Finance Council Meeting
Fri
12th
9.00am
Mass
Sat
13th
5.00pm
6.00pm
Reconciliation
Mass
Sun
14th
7.00am
9.00am
2.30pm
5.30pm
Mass
Mass
Rosary
Mass
Please leave MOBILE
PHONES turned OFF.
BAPTISMS in this Parish occur at 10.30am on
the Third Sunday of each Month (except during
Lent).
BAPTISM PREPARATION is on the First
Sunday of each month at 10.30am.
You may add a sick person’s
name to the list by phoning the
Parish Office (3356 7155). To
keep the list ‘fresh’ the last four
names each week will be deleted. If their
illness continues, let’s know and we’ll add
them to the start of the list.
For the Sick: Carmel Remphrey, Diane Stevens, Ashley Thornton, Hyacinth Morel, Margaret Munt, Tim Green, Neville Lamb, Joe
Donnelly, Caroline Adams, Kevin Wildermuth, Bianca Muir.. (Please read above notice about the sick list)
Those Recently Deceased: Tagifiaai Asuao (mother of Afa Taisia), Clare Smith, Diana Reid, Steven Byrne, Mary Grattan-Smith, Wanda
Molony, Darcy Mitchell.
Those We Remember: All those killed for their faith and all deceased Parishioners, their families and friends and all our brothers and
sisters in Christ maimed, killed or dispossessed because of their faith.
STAMPS FOR MARIST MISSIONS: We urgently require recent 70c and higher valued
Australian used stamps. Please leave them in the box to the left of the main Church door and
remember to leave a small border of paper on them, as they are worthless if damaged. Obviously
stamps are becoming more difficult to obtain with greater dependence on electronic media. Perhaps
you or someone you know work in an office which receives a high volume of mail. Could you
help us out by collecting the stamps that would otherwise be destroyed? This is an easy and
effective way of reaching out to the poor. Thank you for your ongoing support.
The Catholic Leader is available from the Religious Goods shop for $2. Purchase a copy
today to find out what’s happening in the local Church and in the world.
In this week’s issue:
* Brisbane archdiocese, parishes, schools, Church agencies count the cost and repair damage after
super storm
* Catholics around Australia celebrate Day of Solidarity with Christians of the Middle East this weekend
* Pope launches Year of Consecrated Life and urges all Catholics to thank God for gifts members of
religious orders bring to Church and the world
* Archbishop Mark Coleridge talks of his hopes for Synod on the family after being elected with Bishop
Eugene Hurley to attend second session
* Church joins in prayer for Test cricketer Phillip Hughes as his funeral was held in Macksville
* Bishops concerned for Aboriginal peoples threatened with closure of their remote homeland
communities in Western Australia
* Church migrant and refugee agency critical of proposed immigration law changes affecting asylum
seekers
* School staff scrap Secret Santa and nstead donate clothes for baby about to be born to parents in
immigration detention in Brisbane
VISITOR’S BOOK:
If you are new to the Parish there is a
visitor’s book at the main Church
door. In it there are brief census
cards. Please complete one and put it
on “the plate” or hand in to the
office.
Our Lady has asked us
to pray the Rosary for
peace. Rosary is
prayed here 1/2 an
hour before each
weekday Mass as well
as on Sundays 2.303.30pm.
Please join us.
Contact the Parish Office on
3356 7155 for
information regarding our Planned
Gifting Program