Feast of the Baptism of the Lord 10th / 11th January 2015 Parish Clergy Fr Kevin Flanagan PP Parish Office Fran Kernaghan Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9.00 am – 2.00 pm Phone: 60251516 Fax: 60404016 Web: http://sacredheartnorthalbury.com/ Mass Times SATURDAY VIGIL: 6.00 pm SUNDAY: 8.30 am; 10.30 am WEEKDAYS: 9.30 am Monday, Wednesday, Friday (in the church) First Tuesday of the month: 11.00 am Mass at Mercy Place. RECONCILIATION SATURDAY: 4.45 PM-5.45 PM WEDDINGS—By appointment. Preparation course: 6051 0222 BAPTISMS—By appointment. Preparation Course: 0411 883 661 (A Greek Orthodox interpretation of the baptism of Jesus Christ) Throughout the ages, Christians have celebrated Christmas as a season, including the twelve days between Christmas and the Epiphany as one long Christmas "day". The season of Christmas ends with our celebration of the Lord's baptism. Jesus' public life begins with his baptism by John in the Jordan . (Lk 3:23; Acts 1:22). "The Baptist hesitates, but Jesus insists and receives baptism. Then the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes upon Jesus and a voice from heaven proclaims, "This is my beloved Son.'(Mt 3:13-17) This is the manifestation ("Epiphany") of Jesus as Messiah of Israel and Son of God." (CCC 535) Recounted in our liturgy through the proclamation of the gospel of St. Mark, chapter 1, verses 1-11, the baptism of the Lord is "on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God's suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already 'the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.' "(CCC 536) We pray for those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith especially: RECENTLY DECEASED: Joyce Horan, Anna Ryc, Denis Rule, Barry Quigley. ANNIVERSARIES: Joy Bruton, Tom Drum, Leslie Maloy, Frank Tracey, Frank Esler Snr., Doris Hourigan, Daren Fisher, Michael Mullavey, John Packer, John Whyte, Marie Sullivan, Geoffrey Kimball, Marianna Kalenikovs, Alma Putnam, Geraldine Krautz, Katherine Wishart, Nola Toner, Lynette Dosenko, Bill Cromarty, Sr Monica Esler, Ann Bellett, Raymond Fogarty, Keith Hertzog. Gather our loved ones into your arms. Quiet our doubt and anger and send us your healing grace. Through Christ our Lord. Rosters Sat / Sun: 10th / 11th January Ministry Vigil 8.30am 10.30am Commentator Lector 1 Lector 2 Ed Brown Gordon Robison Karen Purtle Richard Parkinson Gavin Dykes Nicola Hanzic Jane Murtagh Ray Murtagh Sr Carina Morton Eucharistic Ministers Pauline Mulquiney Stephen O’Connor Mary Lefevre Joanne Dykes Fran Kernaghan Sr Marie Jean Cantor Musicians Catherine Cutler & Judy Lindsay Judy Foley Counters: Nardia Scarvell & Liz Simon Timo Van Kerk Oerle Mary Buckley Val Hayes Cleaning Group: Group 6 Sat /Sun: 17th / 18th January Ministry Vigil 8.30 am 10.30am Commentator Lector 1 Lector 2 Brian Waters Paula Waters Anthony Foley Colleen Day Michael Byrnes Rosalie Martin Terry Hillman Wendy McFerran Volunteer Eucharistic Ministers Judy Lindsay Jeneice Harding Colette Glennon Frank Glennon Carey Menz-Dowling Pauline Willis Cantor Musicians Brian Waters Judy Foley Counters: Desmond Lum & Jane Togher Timo Van Kerk Oerle Anne McIntyre Val Hayes Cleaning Group: Group 7 60th Anniversary of the Parish Parish Council News 2015 is a significant year for our parish as it was founded on the fifth Sunday of January 1955. On the weekend of 31st January/ 1st February 2015 we will be acknowledging this significant event with the celebration of two Masses: Saturday 6pm and Sunday 9.30am. We need volunteers to help with the watering of Church and Presbytery grounds during the hot summer months. Contact Kevin Kennedy on 0403 454 987. Throughout the year various events will occur with the formal recognition on the weekend of the feast of the Sacred Heart 12th June, 13th June and 14th June. A Parish Luncheon will take place on Sunday 14th June at which will be launched a book outlining a snapshot of our history. Also: With the beginning of our 60th Anniversary celebrations, there will be morning tea after the 9.30am Mass on 1st January. Please bring a plate to share. Anyone wishing to contribute their recollections of events in our parish or record an account of a parish group that has been operational over the 60 years are still most welcome to do so for the book being prepared. These will all need to be handed in by the end of February 2015 and can either be left with Fran at the Presbytery or handed to Sr Anne Hagan. Feastdays of the Week January 13 -St Hilary, Bishop and Doctor Hilary (Hilarius) of Poitiers (c 300–c 368) was Bishop of Poitiers and is a Doctor of the Church. He was sometimes referred to as the ‘Hammer of the Arians’ (Latin: Malleus Arianorum) and the ‘Athanasius of the West.’ His name comes from the Latin word for happy or cheerful. His optional memorial in the General Roman Calendar is January 13. In the past, when this date was occupied by the Octave Day of the Epiphany, his feast day was moved to January 14. Baptism of the Lord – Year B Readings: Isaiah 55: 1-11: 1 John 5: 1-9; Mark 1: 7-11 Responsorial Psalm You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation. Reflection on the Readings: Baptism marks the beginning of mission Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! John saw Jesus approaching him, and said: ‘This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world’ Alleluia! “The baptism by John in the river Jordan would not have been easy for the first Christians to understand. On the face of it, this undergoing of a ritual of repentance did not seem to make sense. It can only have been included in the Gospel tradition because it really happened. However, the account we have in Mark’s Gospel shows us that reflection upon this event led to an understanding of its great significance - as the defining inauguration of the mission of Jesus. It was the Father’s authorisation of the public role he was about to assume, and a prefiguring of the climax to which his career would lead – the Paschal Mystery – which he was later to look forward to as ‘a baptism’ (Lk 12:50). “The destiny of each of us has its origin in the Father’s decision, before time began, to create us and to call us to a unique place in the divine plan of creation. Our response to God’s call is made as we take up the issues of our lives. Because he ‘has been put to the test in exactly the same way as we ourselves are, apart from sin’ (Heb 4:15), the Eternal Son’s life among us followed the same pattern as ours. His baptism by John was a decisive moment in his human life. Come to carry forward the designs of God among the chosen people, Jesus came and mingled with the enthusiastic crowd listening to John’s preaching. Submitting to John’s baptism was a moment of compassionate solidarity that he would have prayerfully shared with the Father. Suddenly, Mark’s account takes an unexpected turn - ‘the heavens are torn open’ and a Trinitarian drama unfolds as the presence of God’s Spirit is made manifest, and the incarnate Son receives a commission from the Eternal Father, indicating what is in store for him in the public mission he will undertake: ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you’.” (An extract from a homily by Fr John Thornhill) All music used in worship at Sacred Heart, North Albury, is used with permission. All rights reserved. Australian Agent: Word of Life Licence No 613