Vol 30 No 05 1 February 2015 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Dear Parishioners and Visitors, I find it is very easy to miss the main point that a gospel passage is making. But after a bit of exploring, I think I know what today’s gospel is about. It is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Mark’s Gospel. It takes place in a synagogue and sets the tone for the whole gospel. The world is understood to be largely under the evil power of Satan. Jesus has come to dramatically break that power. As a dramatic illustration, he drives the devil out of a possessed man, which leaves him “with a loud cry”, realising that its power is being taken away. In the person of Jesus, Mark is telling us, we are facing the presence and power of God. In one sense Jesus’ struggle with the power of evil comes to a glorious victory in the death and resurrection of Jesus. But in another sense it continues in human lives until Jesus comes again in glory. However, we now know that the power of evil cannot win. Father Tom PARISH HAPPENINGS LOOKING AHEAD Monday 2 February - 7pm Italian Prayer Group - Church - 7.30pm Parish Pastoral Council - Library Tuesday 3 February - 9.30am Scripture Group – Library - 9.30am Playgroup – Hospitality Area - 7pm Legion of Mary – AQ Rm - 7pm Parish Social Justice Meeting - Library Thursday 5 February - 9.30am Playgroup – Hospitality Area - 9.30am Italian Bingo – Aquinas Room Friday 6 February - 11am St Martin’s Opening School Mass - 7.30pm 500 Card Group – Aquinas Room Anniversaries: Let us remember in prayer Pavica & Jerko Protich, Judy Simons, Laurie Rossow, Peter Vallely, Margaret Swords, and all whose anniversaries occur at this time. Are you called to serve the people of God with your gifts? Have you ever considered using the talents and gifts that God has given you by being involved with your parish through the different Ministries in 2015? We have had a few people step down over the year and would like to find replacements so please prayerfully consider joining one or more of the following ministries: Eucharistic Ministers at 9am & 6pm Mass Coordinator at the 6pm Vigil Altar Serving at 6pm, 9am & 5.30pm Children’s Liturgy at the 9am Data projector operators at all Masses Making tea and coffee at the cuppa and chat after the 9am Mass Transporting parishioners to any of the Sunday Masses Taking communion to those who are house bound Helping at the barbecues after Mass. Altar Society - dust the church pews, sanctuary, statues, Stations of the Cross etc. If you are able to assist with any of these ministries please write your name and contact details on the list provided and we will be in contact soon. Many thanks to those who have already put their names forward. We will be in contact with you as soon as we have a few more names on the list. Dear Parishioners, If you haven’t YET joined a prayer-group, HERE is YOUR CHANCE!! With the permission and blessing of Fr Tom Cassidy, there will be commencing a “Two Hearts Prayer Group,” in honour of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, in this Parish. The prayer group will take place after the 9am Mass, every third Thursday of the month. Starting time around 9.30am. At this stage only once a month. Those willing to join, please contact: Barbara – 3348 8075 or 0401 755 939. The prayer group involves the following: Rosary; Chaplet of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary; or Divine Mercy; interspersed with songs in Honour of Jesus and Mary; a short Bible Reading; Consecration to the Two Hearts and ten minutes of your own silent prayers. Total time will be 1 hr. Yes, Only 1 hr. Liturgy Committee At the January meeting the committee reviewed the various ministries directly involved in our Sunday Masses. They include Mass Organisers, Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Musicians, Projectionists, Collectors, Altar Servers, Children’s Liturgy Ministers, Florists, Welcomers, Cuppa and Chat Providers, Cleaners (including those who wash the purifiers etc). As you can see – a lot of organisation goes into our Sunday Liturgy and that is one reason we are looking for more volunteers. At our meeting we gave special attention to providing live music at all our Sunday Masses, taking into account the particular composition of the communities at each of our weekend Masses. Our goal is to provide music and singers to encourage the congregation to join in the singing. We are also keen to provide instruction for each ministry group to promote the smooth running of our liturgies. Finally, we discerned a special need to ensure that all our parishioners and visitors feel welcome to any celebration in our parish. IMPORTANT NEWS For the next four weeks we will have builders on site erecting new toilets and a new office space. During that time the present toilets in the corridor will not be available for use. However, toilets will be available for parishioners at the foot of the stairs leading down to the Aquinas Room from the church door next to the statue of St Joseph. Fr Tom Scripture Classes 2015 Scripture classes begin on Tuesday 3rd February in the library at 9.30am. We welcome newcomers to join us in our reflections on the Word of God especially on the Scriptures that are appointed to be read on the following Sunday. Thus on Tuesday, 3rd February we will read and discuss the liturgy of the Word for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. This year is the year of Mark and so the gospel of Mark will feature in our reflections. If you have a Bible bring it along. However copies of the readings will be distributed at the beginning of each class so don’t worry if you don’t have one. Just come as you are! Classes finish at 10.45am. Morning tea follows for those who wish and perhaps continue to share their thoughts on the readings. Father Joe Our Lady of Graces parishioners meet once a month at Pacific Golf Club, 430 Pine Mountain Road Carindale, for a relaxed and enjoyable evening with a meal and lively conversation. We would love more parishioners to join us. Our next get together is Wednesday 11th February at 6pm. For further information contact Ros Dallas 3398 7495 or Josephine Coyne 3398 2411. St Teresa of Avila on Prayer His voice reaches us through words spoken by good people, through listening to spiritual talks, and reading sacred literature. God calls to us in countless little ways all the time. Through illnesses and suffering and through sorrow he calls to us. Through a truth glimpsed fleetingly in a state of prayer he calls to us. No matter how halfhearted such insights may be, God rejoices whenever we learn what he is trying to teach us… May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us. Parish 500 Card Group meets for the first time in 2015 next Friday evening 6th February at 7.30pm in the Aquinas Room. New players are most welcome. For further information, contact Josephine Coyne 33982411. Religious Instruction at Whites Hill College and Mayfield State School A small band of dedicated people continue to represent this parish in the local state schools delivering religion lessons across the primary classes. This weekend we would like to remind people of the work being done and invite more people to join us. Lessons are 30 minutes duration and preparation time adds at least another hour to the commitment. Student workbooks and Teacher’s Manuals are provided to make the job easier. Please phone parish office 3398 2977 or Carole Danby (W) 3324 3445 (M) 0400 332928 or email Carole [email protected] if you are interested in learning more. We will be commencing classes in March and teach through to the end of November. New volunteers would be partnered with an experienced teacher. COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS Catholic Leader this week: * Nigerian priests in Brisbane speak of their concern about Boko Haram violence in their homeland, * Bishops’ migrant and refugee advocate calls for truth about Manus Island detention centre * Missionary says keeping refugees on Nauru ‘devoid of logic, fairness and compassion’ * Young pro-lifers on walk from Brisbane to Melbourne asked to leave shopping centre because their campaign shirts deemed ‘offensive’ * Papal astronomers promote harmony of science and faith Catholic Leader, available every weekend from the church entrance, costs just $2. Pope Francis: Workaholic fathers turning children into ‘orphans’ Many children today are effectively orphans because their fathers are absorbed with work and do not play with them, Pope Francis has said, and urged fathers to “waste time” playing with their offspring, reports The Catholic Herald (Sydney).