OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY PARISH
3rd Sunday of Lent
Year B Cycle l
8 March 2015
Jesus Understands Well Our Human Nature
Common during this season of Lent are retreats and
recollections. Our commemoration of the suffering and
death of Jesus touches, it seems, a unique spot in our
human hearts that are usually easily moved by the
sight of pain and sorrow. We slow down, and we take
time to reflect on the great love manifested in the
unimaginable and ignominious passion of Jesus. Likewise, we take time to consider: How have our lives both personal and communitarian - expressed our
appreciation and gratitude in exchange for Jesus’
sacrifice? Lent thus also becomes an interior journey
into our humanity.
In the First Reading, we are reminded of the Commandments God gave to Moses. The words of the Law
make us realise: God did not mean the law to be a
burden, but a ‘tutor’ or a ‘pedagogue’ (cf Gal 3:24).
God’s law and commandments are a first stage in
God’s plan to rescue man. God’s law and commandments are then meant to be holy, spiritual, and good.
Paul teaches that the special function of the law is to
guide human nature to goodness by disclosing and
denouncing sin in all its forms. Along this line, the law
may be enslaving in that it may overwhelm us with
lessons on how weak and broken our human nature is.
Parish BBQ
Parishioners are invited to a Parish BBQ next Sunday
15 March after 9:30am Mass. Cost $7.50 includes
morning tea, coffee, lunch, fruit juice and wine!
Please pay at the parish office before Friday 13 March
for catering purposes. The BBQ will be held at the
Muldoon Room and canteen.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity for fun, food and
friendship. All welcome!
The law tends to condemn us!
Hence, God sent his Son Jesus. The cross of Jesus is
the fullness of God’s plan to reach out to us. The cross
may appear as a stumbling block or a scandal (Second
Reading). This is so because when we simply focus on
the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross, we cannot but ask the philosophical question: ‘Can God die on
the cross?’ However, for us who believe and seek God,
the cross of Jesus is a lesson of God’s great love… a
love that gives all amidst human sins and cruelty.
Hence, Paul proclaims: ‘The weakness of God [the
death of God] is stronger than human strength.’
In the Gospel, Jesus ‘cleanses’ the temple of
Jerusalem. Jesus is not just interested in cleansing and
restoring order to the physical temple of historic
Jerusalem. Jesus is interested in resurrecting the
temple of our human nature. His human body that will
be put to death… then raised up on the third day… is
the ‘firstborn,’ the prototype of what God wants to do
with our own chaotic and crowded human nature.
Beautifully, John the evangelist declares: Jesus ‘did not
need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself
understood it well.’
365 Days With the Lord Fr Gil Alinsangan SSP
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2
The year of consecrated life
Meek
Bible Café
The Gospel
of Luke
A great series with
scripture scholar
Frances Hogan
Wednesdays
10:30-11:30am
(15mins later in Lent)
& 7-8pm in the
Muldoon Room.
Congratulations
Fr Kelly
on the occasion of
your
57th Anniversary
of
Ordination
8 March 2015
Congratulations
Frank & Nina
Grech
on the occasion
of your
45th Wedding
Anniversary
7 March 2015
Quote
for the
Week
Don’t ever be afraid
to admit you were
wrong, it is like
saying you are
wiser today than
yesterday.
Because Jesus once described himself as
‘meek and humble of heart’ (Mt 11:29), a
lot of Christians see him as some kind of
unassertive, weak-kneed pushover. And
countless images and statues of him,
which present him as an asexual sissy,
sadly reinforce this wrong impression. But
today’s gospel episode should dispel
these misleading images. Jesus was not a
softy. Sometimes he could experience
very strong emotions - anger in particular and express them unequivocally. This
might be shocking for some Christians,
who automatically associate anger and
sin, as if feeling anger were itself sinful.
But anger is not a sin. It is a God-given
passion intended for various purposes:
self-defense, protection of others, defense
of the weak, service of justice, and so
forth. What can be sinful is the excessive
or inappropriate expression of anger.
In the present case, what caused Jesus’
anger was the fact that the Temple was
used for commercial purposes by the chief
priests instead of being used as a house of
prayer. Jesus was offended by this abuse.
Not that he was particularly pre-occupied
with his Father’s dignity, for he knew that
our sins cannot ‘offend’ God personally.
What ‘offends’ God is the fact that we act
against our own good or the good of
someone else. In the case at hand, the
abuse committed by the chief priests
deprived the people of an adequate place
to pray. How could visitors to the Temple
find an appropriate atmosphere for inner
recollection with all these financial transactions taking place all around them? It is
to protect them and their prayer life that
Jesus reacts with such passion. The chief
priests are spiritually harming a lot
of people by their Temple business.
That is what ‘offends’ Jesus and provokes
his anger.
365 Days With the Lord Fr Nil Guillemette SJ
Listen to Pray
In praying to God we must listen
In a conversation, if you are the wisest, it
makes sense for you to do most of the
talking. If the other person is wiser, it
makes sense for you to do most of the
listening. The wiser the other is, the more
listening you want to do. Well, prayer is
conversation with God, and it makes no
sense for us to do most of the talking. We
ought to be listening most of the time.
But, you may object, we cannot hear
God’s voice as we can hear the voice of
another human being. True, but we can
hear God’s voice in other ways. We hear
him in nature, which is his art. We hear
him in his providential directing of our
lives, and in the lessons in human history,
and in the ‘still, small voice’ of our
conscience, God’s interior prophet. We
hear him loud and clear in Scripture, his
inspired Word deliberately given to us.
One way of praying is listening to God’s
voice in Scripture, reading Scripture as
God’s Word - which is exactly what it is!
And the best listening, the listening that
gets the closest to God’s heart, the listening that hears the most total revelation of
God, is listening to Christ, God incarnate,
God in the flesh, ‘very God of very God.’
‘The Word of God’ means the Bible only
secondarily; primarily it means Christ. In
the words of the Catechism, Christ is ‘the
Father’s one, perfect, and unsurpassable
Word. In him he has said everything; there
will be no other word than this one. (CCC
65) Praying by reading the Gospels
prayerfully and ‘listeningly’ is one of the
very best ways to pray.
We also need to hear what God says to us
at each moment of our lives. This is a habit we gradually develop, for God’s voice is
‘a still, small voice’. But he promised that
we would learn to recognise it: ‘The sheep
hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep
by name… and the sheep follow him, for
they know his voice.’ (Jn 10:3-4)
How do we listen to his voice? With the
ear of our heart. With love. Love has ears,
as love has eyes. Just be there, and love
him, and let him love you.
What will happen then? What will we
hear? Let God take care of that. Seek only
him, do not use him as a means to seek
any other end. He is not your Santa, he is
your Saviour. I cannot tell you what he will
give you, except for one thing; he will give
you himself. He will give you more of
himself the more you want him, that is,
the more you love him. He wants to pour
infinite riches into your soul; prayer is a
way of opening up your soul so that more
of God can enter.
Remember Project Compassion this Lent
Peter Kreeft PhD
THE MONTH OF ST JOSEPH
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3
International Day of Women - 8 March
International Women’s Day is a time to
reflect on progress made, to call for
change and to celebrate acts of courage
and determination by ordinary women who
have played an extraordinary role in the
history of their countries and communities.
This year’s theme, ‘Equality for women is
progress for all’ emphasises how gender
equality, empowerment of women, women’s full enjoyment of human rights, the
eradication of poverty and the elimination
of violence against women and their children are essential to economic and social
development. It also stresses the vital role
of women as agents of development.
For more info: www.un.org/en/events/womensday/
Sing With Us
Do you enjoy community
special talent needed) and
you like to join a small group
the 2nd and 4th Monday of
singing (no
if so, would
of people on
each month
1300PRIEST
(1300 774 378)
If you need a priest
in an emergency
and cannot reach
the parish number
(4332 2216) call
1300PRIEST for
assistance.
from 10-11am entertaining the dementia
residents at The Lodge, Nareen Gardens?
Please contact Margaret Kirkham for more
information 4333 8063.
More Lenten Suggestions
friend, relative, co-worker or neighbour
 Take a walk with one of your family
to your table for a simple meal today or
members one-on-one. Or work on a fun
a chat over tea or coffee.
project together. Spend time connecting and sharing joy.
 Pick out one snippet of Scripture or
part of the Mass and think about it
 Participate in ‘The Stations of the Cross
through the week. Invite your children
for Families’ and reflect as a family on
to do the same.
how each of The Stations can be
applied to our daily lives. (Download  Find ways to compliment/express
from www.dbb.org.au/family)
gratitude for every one of your family
members.
 Practice hospitality by welcoming a
Stations of the
Cross
Wednesdays
in Lent
9:30am
(after 9am Mass)
Faith & Families Forum
All are invited to a family evangelisation
forum on Thursday 26 March 8:45am3:30pm in the Parish Centre.
The work of evangelisation begins within
our own families – in our homes – and
also within the spiritual family, our parish.
The purpose of this Forum is to explore
together how parishes do/can support
families in their calling to live, pass on and
share their faith. The day will feature input
from Dr Aoife McGrath along with a variety
of workshop streams highlighting specific
ministry areas.
The keynote address will take a closer
look at what Pope Francis has called ‘the
art of accompaniment’ (Evangelii Gaudium).
For more information contact Janette
Davidson on 0409 074 908 or email at
[email protected]
Lenten
Adoration
All Saturdays in
Lent in the Prayer
Room following
9am Mass and
continuing through
the day until
Benediction
at 5:30pm.
All welcome!
William Parker’s Niche Blessing
Bill Parker’s inurnment and niche blessing
will be held on Saturday 14 March at
11am. For those who were unable to
attend the funeral due to the short notice
you are most welcome to attend.
20 Day Pilgrimage
Fr Dariusz of St Patrick’s East Gosford is
leading a pilgrimage to Poland, Prague,
Vienna and Budapest. Departs Wednesday 8 July returns Monday 27 July.
$6,600pp twin share. Enq: 4325 1042.
This week
we would like
to thank
Marj Wiley
for many years
in our music
ministry playing
the organ.
Thank you Marj!
Please Note
St Peter’s College Information Evening
An information evening for Year 7 enrolments for 2016 is being held on Monday
16 March. Sessions run every half hour
from 4pm to 6pm in the College Hall, 84
Gavenlock Rd Tuggerah. Enq: 4351 2344
or [email protected]
Reflection Evening for Priesthood
An invitation for men who are interested in
discerning vocation to the priesthood will
be held at Holy Name Church 35 Billyard
Avenue Wahroonga Thursday 12 March
5:30pm. Enq: Fr Paul Durkin 9484 1427.
Serving the Catholic Community of The Entrance and extending the Kingdom of God
THE ENTRANCE PARISH
PARISH PRIEST & DEAN Fr Bill Stevens
ASSISTANT PRIEST Fr Shaju John OSH
PASTORAL COORDINATOR Anne Allen
Office Hours Monday-Friday 9.30-5.00pm
Postal Address PO Box 189 THE ENTRANCE 2261
Street Address 239-243 The Entrance Rd
Tel 4332 2216 Fax 4333 5344
Email [email protected]
Website www.ourladyoftherosary.org.au
DIOCESE OF BROKEN BAY
PROPERTY MANAGER Michael de la Motte
Tel 4334 7600 (BH)
GIFT CENTRE
Sunday
9:00am - 9:30am & 10:30am - 11:00am
Tuesday-Friday
9:30am - 1:30pm
Tel/Fax 4332 5997
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY PRIMARY SCHOOL
Tel 4332 5594 Fax 4334 5599
ST PETER’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE
Tel 4351 2344 Fax 4351 2965
Mass & Devotions in Ordinary Time
Sunday Masses Saturday Vigil 6:00pm Sunday 8:00am & 9:30am
Weekday Masses Monday -Thursday 9:00am Friday 11:45am
Saturday 9:00am
Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday 9:30am & 5:00pm
Liturgy of the Hours Saturday 8:40am
Rosary Monday-Thursday 8:35am Friday 11:20am Saturday 9:30am
Cenacle Wednesday 9:30am
Christian Meditation Group Friday 10:30am Muldoon Room
3rd Sunday of Lent Year B I
Gospel Acclamation
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!
God loved the world so much, he gave us his only Son,
that all who believe in him might have eternal life.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!
Communion Antiphon
The sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for her young: by
your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they
who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise.
Today’s Readings: Ex 20:1-17 1 Cor 1:22-25 Jn 2:13-25
Entrance Antiphon
My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues my feet from the
snare. Turn to me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and poor.
Responsorial Psalm
Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
Keep Us In Your Prayers
Recently Deceased:
Patrick Rooney, Fr Vince Pedemont,
Heather Wise, Gloria Fitzgerald, John Jenkins, Maryanne Madden,
Michael Comensoli, Eamon Egan, Marie Davis, Bernard Bond.
Funeral: The funeral of Fr Vince Pedemont was held during the
week. Please pray for Fr Vince and his family.
Anniversaries: Terence Rayner, Barry de Courcey.
Remembrances: Bruce Parry, Beryl White, Nora O’Leary,
Jean Workman, Col McLaurin, Dorothy Cribb, Gloria Shackleton,
Jean Beaton, Bruce Evers, Mary & Joe Pace, Noeleen Corrigan,
Maurice Cramsie, Alice Minogue, Gabrielle Ramondo, Tricia
Malone, John Tyrrell, William Hall and the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
Families: Bouchet.
Sick: Susann Magri, Susie Reyes, Lyn Moon, Roger & Grant
Thomas, Fay Gallagher, Cecily Bastick, Margaret Pizzuto, Sr Margaret Bubb, Stan Johnson, Mary Suckling, Taylor Grady, Michael
Sullivan, Gaye Llyk, Carol Jones, John Verhoeven Snr, Mary Camilleri, Julie Webb, Patricia O’Brien, Dorothy Patterson, Brian Crowe,
Mary Hughes, Pat O’Hara, Antoinette Grech, Bernie Lowe,
Sue Batten, Sue MacSween, Elaine Keyte, Lisa Hennessey,
Hayley Hartas, Brian & Valerie Staggs, Zoe Kidd, Jenny Carter,
Linda Read, Christopher Forster, Grace Miller, Delma Clarke,
Debbie Simonds, Jenny Rist.
Welcome Newly Baptised: Eila Drew.
Reconciliation Programme: We pray for the children & their
families who are preparing for First Reconciliations.
Pearly
Gates
Our Lady of the Rosary
GIFT
CENTRE
For all your devotional needs...
We have lovely gifts and cards for all occasions. The
Gift Centre specialises in gifts for Reconciliation,
Eucharist and Confirmation, as well as Baptisms and
all the Sacraments. Come in for a browse.
You’ll find us behind the Church carpark, corner of
Ashton and Copnor Avenues.
Open:
Sunday 9am-9:30am & 10:30-11am
Tuesday-Friday 9:30am-1:30pm
Phone/Fax 4332 5997