Fifth Sunday of Lent 21st / 22nd March 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 Coming Events: Tuesday 24th March Lenten Reconciliation Thurs 2nd April: Holy Thursday Mass 7pm Fri 3rd April: Good Friday Stations of the Cross 10.30 am Liturgical Celebration 3pm Sat 4th April: Easter Vigil 6pm Sun 5th April: Easter Sunday Mass 9.30am Today we hear Jesus tell a story about wheat and how it can live in a different way after it has died or broken down. The whole purpose of Jesus’ existence is to redeem us through Calvary and his life. In the first reading we hear how the law and covenant that Jeremiah wanted replaced, that was written on stone and had been handed down from Moses, was to be rewritten in the hearts of the people because, as Jeremiah saw, unless the covenant and the law of God are taken to heart, conversion from sin is impossible. Jesus by his message and life that speaks to the hearts of all people has become the archetype for that conversion of heart. And the message of today’s Gospel is unless you die to yourself you will not have life in you and so the call of Lent for a change of heart, a turning back to God is echoed once more. It is Christ’s journey to death and resurrection that draws us to him, we are, in a way, the fruits of that journey and within us is implanted its seed. We pray for those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith especially: RECENTLY DECEASED: Bill McNamee, Errol Edmunds, David Tutt, Eileen Kliese, Kevin Costigan. Prayer for the Sick We pray for all those who are sick. May they draw strength and healing from God’s presence ANNIVERSARIES: Jack Livermore, Arnold Thorne, Catherine Brogan, Leslie with them and from our Evans, Vince Ryan, Roy Quin, Penny Murphy, Catherine Condon, William Grant, Molly Cooper, Paul Husz, Attilio Bellina, Leonard Vogel, Robert Salzke, Glenn McPherson, Lindsay Anderson, Dawn Ridley, Ethel Shipard, Margaret O’Dwyer, Harry Flood, Michael Mitchell, George O’Neill, Catherine Caton, Jack Livsey, Billie Walsh, Connie Barber, Susan Dawson, Mary Cudmore. prayers and thoughts for them. Gather our loved ones into your arms. Quiet our doubt and May they have peace in their hearts and know they are greatly loved by all. We offer our prayers believing anger and send us your healing grace. Through Christ our that God’s presence and power Lord. can do more than we can know. Amen Rosters Sat / Sun: 21st / 22nd March Ministry Vigil 8.30am Prayer for the Fifth Week of Lent 10.30am Commentator Lector 1 Lector 2 Nano Clancy Justin Clancy Michael Byrnes Roy Thompson Nicola Hanzic Richard Parkinson Terry Hillman Virginia Mitsch Barbara Godde Eucharistic Ministers Colette Glennon Frank Glennon Pamela McIntosh Trish Parkinson Pauline Willis Carey Menz-Dowling Cantor Musicians John Van Lint Mary Minchin Timo Van Kerk Oerle Margaret & Ed Brown Val Hayes Counters: Nardia Scarvell & Liz Simon Cleaning Group: Group 2 Sat /Sun: 28th / 29th March Ministry Vigil 8.30 am 10.30am Commentator Lector 1 Lector 2 Anthony Foley Kellie Gordes Ed Brown Colleen Day Anne Duck Bede Hart Sr Carina Morton Wendy McFerran Ray Murtagh Eucharistic Ministers Jeneice Harding Geoff Jervois Robert Brown Noelene Cruise Carmel Butts Fran Kernaghan Cantor Musicians Judy Lindsay Judy Foley Bernadette & Wendy Timo Van Kerk Oerle Counters: Desmond Lum & Jane Togher ever Cleaning Group: Group 3 God we cry to you: When we see you in a stranger and look the other way, forgive us and encourage us to reach out in friendship and hospitality. When we hear your voice in another language, forgive us when we turn away, move our hearts and minds that we might listen with respect and care. When you are without a home uprooted by racism and violence forgive us when our ears are closed, open our arms wide with mercy and compassion. We pray this through Christ who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever. Amen A Thought for the Week: ‘ Christians are called to care for the vulnerable of the earth… the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and the abandoned, and… unborn children, the most defenceless and innocent among us.’ ( Pope Francis) Please Note Sunday Mass Time Changes Beginning with Easter Sunday, our Parish will be celebrating only ONE Mass on Sundays. The new time will be 9.30am for a trial period of six months. Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors for Easter There are still a couple of Mass times to be filled. Please put your name down on roster if you are available for any of the Easter Masses/ Ceremonies. Roster is on noticeboard in church. MASS TIMES FOR EASTER CEREMONIES Holy Thursday—7pm; Good Friday Ecumenical Stations of the Cross commencing at St Mark’s Anglican Church—10.30am; Good Friday—The Lord’s Passion—3pm; Holy Saturday Easter Vigil—6pm; Easter Sunday—9.30am. First Communion Classes Classes for children not attending Catholic Schools will be commencing next term. Please call 6025 1516 if you wish your child to begin these classes. Footy Tipping Competition Once again the footy season is about to begin. Please phone the office if you are interested in joining our Footy tipping competition. Invitation to an evening with Gemma Sisia, founder and director of the School of St Jude, Africa’s largest charity funded school providing over 1,900 students with a free, high quality education. Gemma is an Australian girl who grew up in Northern NSW on a sheep farm and who believes in ‘fighting poverty through education’. St Mark’s Anglican Church, Gulpha St, North Albury at 5.30pm Sunday 29 March. For more info phone Leasa Brown 0409 827 531. Choir Practice For Easter Ceremonies Our Choir practice continues this Thursday 26 March at 7pm in the Church. New singers most welcome. Could our regular choir members please advise their availability for the Easter Ceremonies. Contact Val 6025 5904. Parish Council News Working Bee to be held on Saturday 28 March at 9.30am. Please come and lend a hand to tidy up around our Church and Presbytery grounds ready for the Easter Celebrations. You are invited—St Anne’s School Community is holding a Stations of the Cross evening at the school on Wednesday 1 April, between 7-8pm. The purpose of the evening is for each of us to reflect on Jesus’ Good Friday journey and our own Lenten journeys. You and your family are invited to walk through each of our classrooms (at your own leisure), where a Station of the Cross will be depicted. Good Friday Collection 2015 This collection promotes the missionary work of the Church in the Holy Land by providing welfare assistance to local Christians in areas such as health, education, employment and housing. The collection is also used to maintain 74 churches and shrines associated with the life of Jesus. Last year Australian Catholics donated $1.3 million to this cause, despite tough economic times, natural disasters and increasing costs of living. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Please remember the Christians of the Holy Land again on this Good Friday. Please also pray that peace and harmony will become a reality in the birthplace of Jesus, the ‘Prince of Peace’. Feast Days of the Week Wednesday 25th March –Feast of the Annunciation This feast is nine months before the celebration of the Birth of Christ, it is when Jesus was conceived within the body of the Virgin Mary as she accepted her call to be the Mother of God. "Mary’s consent at the Annunciation and her motherhood stand at the very beginning of the mystery of life which Christ came to bestow on humanity" (Evangelium Vitae, 102). Fifth Sunday of Lent —Year B Readings: Jer 31: 31-34, 19-23; Heb 5: 7-9; John 12: 20-30 Responsorial Psalm Create a clean heart in me, O God. Acclamation: Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ! If you serve me, follow me, says the Lord: and where I am, my servant will also be. Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ! Reflection for Lent—Caritas Story Cristian’s story Cristian is a 33 year-old farmer who lives in a remote Andean village in Peru. The community live a traditional life, and without irrigation, farmers have always relied on the rains to water crops. “When there were no rains we suffered a lot, because sometimes the fields would not produce,” says Cristian. In 2012, Cristian and 14 other young farmers in his community participated in the Rural Development Program run by Caritas Australia’s local partner, Caritas Huacho. The program offers materials, capital and training that supports farmers in rural areas to establish sustainable farms that will produce reliable, profitable and long-term crops. The program helped the young men secure land to farm, and provided them with seedlings and agricultural training so that they could grow and harvest sustainable, high-value orchard crops, including peaches, custard apples and avocados. They also received the materials and training they needed to build an irrigation system to water their fields. The farmers have helped one another to learn and achieve, and are now beginning to reap the rewards of their hard work– a healthy, nutritious new range of fruits in their diets and a steadily increasing income for all their families. “The fact that I and the other partners can grow and develop together makes me proud,” says Cristian. “We are less worried now, because we are focussed on development, and with that in mind we are improving ourselves, with the help of Caritas, on the best way to produce.” Please donate to Project Compassion 2015 and help farmers in Peru grow and harvest sustainable crops, providing their families with food for life. 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