Bridgeside Bulletin The weekly bulletn of the Catholic Parish of Forster Tuncurry Holy Name of Jesus Parish Church 33 Lake Street, Forster St Mary, Star of the Sea Church Cnr Kent & Peel Streets, Tuncurry Proclaiming Christ to the communites of Forster, Tuncurry and the surrounding districts
Reconciliaton is available on Saturday mornings at Tuncurry from 8:30am untl the beginning of the 9am Mass, on Saturday afernoons at Forster from 4:45pm untl 5:15pm.
Baptsms are celebrated on Sundays, either during any of our Sunday Masses or afer the 9am Mass. The next Baptsmal Preparaton meetng will take place in the Parish Halls meetng rooms on Monday 13th October commencing at 7pm. Please contact the Parish Ofce for more details, or visit the Parish website.
Weddings are celebrated by arrangement and with at least three (and preferably more) months notce. Please contact Fr Andrew for more details, or visit the Parish website.
A Sacramental Preparaton process runs each year in the Parish for children wishing to complete the celebraton of the Sacraments of Initaton as part of the Parish community. Please contact the Parish Ofce for more details, or visit the Parish website.
The Parish hosts the Rite of Christan Initaton of Adults process for those adults wishing to be baptsed or be received into the communion of the Catholic Church. Please contact the Parish Ofce for more details, or visit the Parish website. Search for us on Facebook as Catholic Parish of Forster Tuncurry
Follow us on Twiter: @fcatholic Holy Name Parish School (K-6) Ms Brooke Schumann (Actng Principal)
41 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428 PO Box 243, Forster NSW 2428
P: (02) 6554 6504 F: (02) 6554 8895 E: admin@forster.catholic.edu.au W: www.forster.catholic.edu.au St Clares High School, Taree (7-12) Mr Peter Nicholls (Principal)
Wednesday15th October St Teresa of Jesus 9am Mass @ Forster 9:30am MenALIVE @ Forster 11:15am Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help @ Forster 5.30pm Pastoral Council @ Forster
Thursday16th October 9am Mass @ Morning Prayer 10am Caring Group @ Forster 7pm Womens Bible Study Group
Friday17th October St Ignatus of Antoch 9:30am Mass @ Forster
Saturday18th October St Luke, Evangelist 8:30am Reconciliaton @ Tuncurry 9am Mass @ Tuncurry 4:45pm Reconciliaton @ Forster (untl 5:15pm) 6pm Mass @ Tuncurry
Sunday19th October 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mission Sunday) 7am Mass @ Tuncurry 9am Mass @ Forster 5.30pm Evening Prayer@ Tuncurry Regular Activities in the Parish Secular Franciscan Fraternity The Secular Franciscans Fraternity meet on the 1st Wednesday of each month. They will next meet on Wednesday 5th November, coming together for Mass at 9am, followed by a cuppa at 9:30am and then the meetng 10am to 12pm.
The menALIVE Groups Our Parish currently hosts two menALIVE groups. The morning group will next meet on Wednesday 22nd October afer the 9am Mass, while the evening group will next meet on Thursday 30th October at 7:30pm.
Womens Bible Study Group Our Parish hosts a Womens Bible Study Group that meets every Thursday evening from 7pm to 8pm. For more informaton contact Natasha on 0407 589 935. Christan Meditaton Our Parish hosts a number of opportunites for the practce of Christan meditaton. These opportunites takes place on Tuesdays at two distnct tmes, 9am and 5:30pm. For more informaton contact Bob on 6555 5914. Maintenance & Gardening Group The Parish is lucky to be served by a very dedicated band of volunteers who tend to the upkeep of the grounds and gardens of our two church sites. They do a fabulous job, and are always ready to welcome new members to the group. Our next reunion will be on Thursday 16th October. Contact Howard 6557 6826 for more informaton. Singing Practce The Singing Group will resume this week on Tuesday 14th October at Forster at 5.30pm. Collecton of Foodstufs for Homebase The next collecton of foodstufs in support of Homebase will next take place today, Sunday 2nd November. Holy Hour The Parish community observes a Holy Hour each Tuesday afernoon in the Tuncurry Church from 3:30pm untl the beginning of Mass at 4:30pm. Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help The Novena is prayed every Wednesday in the Forster church commencing at 11:15am and is followed by a cuppa in the Parish Hall. For more informaton contact Shioney on 6554 9468. Evening Prayer & Benedicton The Parish community celebrates on the frst Sunday of each month at 5:30pm in the Tuncurry church. It will celebrated on Sunday 2nd November. All welcome. Christmas Lunch On Monday 24th November at 12.00pm. Angela and Lou Hope are organising a Christmas Lunch in our Church Hall. All welcome. Please save the date. Prayer for Peace We have lately all been made aware of the terrible sufering and torture of people in war torn countries throughout the world. We are partcularly concerned with the plight of Christan people at the mercy of ISIS in Iraq. We pray for an end to this violence and a peaceful soluton to these conficts. 3
From the Pastors Desk Another Parable This week we have another gospel parable. In His context, Jesus would have known about wedding celebratons and the joy of the party aferwards. Certainly, Jesus would have atended and shared in these wedding celebratons. In the circumstances of rural Galilee these events were happy occasions and the cause for feastng and socialising. Invitatons were generous and Jesus shared in the event.
Perhaps it is this remembrance by Jesus that informed his communicaton about the experience of God. In the teaching of Jesus, God is interpreted as preparing a banquet for all Gods people. God wants them all seated in communion with God enjoying forever the life of happiness.
We can say that Jesus understood his own life as a large invitaton to the fnal banquet in Gods name. But Jesus does not impose an invitaton by force. There is no pressure. He announces the gospel; He awakens confdence in the Father; He lights up hope in their hearts. The invitaton is given to all.
What is this invitaton from God? Who announces it? Who is listening? Where in the Church do we speak about this invitaton to a fnal banquet? Satsfed with our own wellbeing and immediate interests, we are ofen deaf to this invitaton embedded in the text of the gospel narratve. Yet it is precisely this message that ofers to nourish and enliven our hope for fnal blessing.
Jesus seems to have felt this indiference. He perhaps knew that the invitaton would be rejected. In this parable about those invited to the wedding feast, Jesus addresses various reactons by those invited. Some reject the invitaton outright: they did not want to go. Others responded with complete indiference: they paid no atenton. Of more importance were the farming of felds and the conduct of business.
According to the parable God is not discouraged by human indiference. There will be, in any case, and as part of Divine love, a fnal feast in the heavenly presence. Gods desire (Will) is that all women and men share in the fnal banquet; that the hall will be flled with the invited guests. That is why it is necessary to go to the crossroads, where so many wandering people walk, who live without hope or future. The Church needs to faithfully announce and joyfully proclaim Gods invitaton as proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pope Francis is himself concerned that preaching is too obsessed with the disjointed transmission of a multtude of doctrines to be insistently imposed. The great danger, according to the Pope, is that now it is not the gospel which is being preached, but certain doctrinal or moral points based on specifc ideological optons. The message will run the risk of losing its freshness and will cease to have the fragrance of the gospel.
Thank-You
Father Andrew Doohan returns to the parish this weekend. I am sure that we hope and pray that he had a restul break. Its been a privilege to help out in his absence. Greg and Sharon and many parishioners have joined me in parish life during his absence. I thank you for all your ministry to this actve community.
One thing, which I always notce when supplying in a parish, is the constancy you feel in a parish. In educaton and working on projects you can beter set your own tmetable. This leaves me in greater admiraton for those who work so trelessly day afer day to minister the gospel of joy. You really make a diference to our lives. Thank-you.
Father Dennis Rochford msc Rebuilding the Church in Gaza The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is coordinatng a response from the Church to assist the Catholic communites in Gaza to rebuild afer the recent tragic events. The Order is the primary source of funds to support the Latn Patriarchate of Jerusalem (the local diocese), and the task of assistng the reconstructon in Gaza is immense. It is for that reason the Order, with the support and encouragement of Bishop Bill, is extending this appeal to local Catholic communites. This appeal provides an opportunity to support the people of the Holy Land in this tme of need.
If you would like to make a contributon to this appeal, please place it an envelope and send it either directly to the Parish Ofce or on either of the collectons over the coming weekends. Please be aware that it will not be possible to claim a tax deducton for donatons made to this appeal as the Order does not enjoy charitable status in Australia.
If you would like further informaton on the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, you can visit www.eohjsaustralia.org or speak with Fr Andrew. 4
Our Parish Collections a) The Parish Collecton, providing for the needs of the parish and its ministry, is taken up during the presentaton and preparaton of the gifs (the ofertory). This is the envelope collecton. This money stays within the Parish.
b) The Diocesan Clergy Collecton, providing for the remuneraton and support of the clergy of the diocese, will be taken up afer communion (during the Thanksgiving Hymn or a similar tme). This money is pooled across the diocese to ensure all clergy have access to a suitable remuneraton. Vocation View The Lord of hosts will provide a feast of rich food. May the Lord be the source of our salvaton and peace, for the things of this world pass away. (Isaiah 25:6). For more informaton regarding Vocatons contact Fr Brian Mascord on 02 4979 1112 or vocatons@mn.catholic.org.au Catholic Newspapers Available Both The Catholic Leader (Brisbane) and The Catholic Weekly (Sydney) newspapers are available at a cost of $2 each from our churches. Holy Name School Fete - TODAY! Please join us today from 10am to 2pm at the annual Holy Name School Fete. Plenty of toys, books, clothes, white elephant goods and plants for sale. Stay for cofee and cake. Please show your support for this worthwhile event.
SRE Encouragement Day Hunter Christan SRE (Catechist) Encouragement Day Tuesday October 14 th 10.30am to 2.30pm Forster Catholic Church hall. Opportunity to gather with others united in Ministry to share successes and challenges and ways to answer difcult questons in SRE lessons. Morning Tea provided, please bring lunch to share. Phone Loreta 0408 895 951 to register or sre@mn.catholic.org.au Volunteer Garden Co-ordinator The Forster Community Garden was established in 2007 with 'seed' funding from the State Government as a community capacity building initatve.
Since then the Forster Neighbourhood Centre (Forster NC) has managed to develop and grow their own garden as well as support the establishment of other community gardens, produce a manual for preschools to establish gardens (see: www.fnc.org.au) and educated over 500 residents in how to grow their own organic food.
The garden hortculturalist is on site Tuesday mornings to direct garden volunteers and teach people how to establish their own gardens and grow food organically.
The Forster NC desperately needs a volunteer Garden Co-ordinator to work the hortculturalist and Forster NC Manager to advance the prospects of the garden, identfy and garnish funds and help with organising garden events. It is envisaged that the co-ordinator would work approximately 7 hours per week - it depends! Contact Trish 02 6555 4351 at the Forster NC if you're interested. Volunteer Driving Instructor Forster Neighbourhood Centre (Forster NC) is pilotng a driver training program to support young people gain their 120 hours driving experience.
The FNC vehicle would be used and students would donate $15 towards petrol for each lesson.
The program is designed to support young people who have no family nor friend who could help them and/or who are disengaged from family. Referrals from community workers will have to support this strict criteria. If you're interested in donatng your tme towards this pilot project (which will be reviewed December 2014) please contact Trish Wallace at Forster NC on 6555 4351. A working with Children check would be required for this volunteer positon. Caring Group Caring Group will meet at 10am on Thursday 16th October. Thank You from Kairos The Kairos team of 2014 have expressed their thanks for our prayers, donatons of biscuits and fnancial support. They believe this years event has touched the prison residents in a very special way and request that we contnue praying to ensure Jesus remains present in their lives. 5
Parish Intercessory Prayer Group Our Parish is blessed to have an Intercessory Prayer Apostolate. This group is comprised of a loose knit group of parishioners who simply pray during their normal daily prayers for people on a list updated and distributed each month.
There are no meetngs and no cost whatsoever and each member may remain anonymous if desired.
Because there are no meetngs this group is very suitable for all parishioners, especially some of our housebound or incapacitated folk to enable them to play an important role within the parish community, so allowing them to play an important and actve role within the life of the parish community.
If you are interested in joining this group, just ring Bob Cashman on 6555 5914 or leave your name and phone number with the Parish Ofce. To request prayers for someone in need of prayer please contact Bob on 6555 5914 leaving your name and contact details. Formation for Ministry Program comes to Forster A series of formaton units developed especially for members of Parish Leadership Teams, Parish Pastoral Councils, Parish Finance Councils and Parish Pastoral Teamsas well as those involved in other parish groups and ministriesis being ofered in our own Parish Hall. The course has begun and contnues for another 4 sessions.
All units completed can be credited towards a Certfcate in Ministry. Brochures and fyers are available at the rear of the churches. There is no cost for partcipatng in the program.
The next session will take place in our Parish Hall on Saturday 18th October.
For more informaton on the program, please email Sharon Murphy in the Diocesan Chancery on sharon.murphy@mn.catholic.org.au or the Tenison Woods Educaton Centre by email twec@ssjl.org.au. Red Cross Ebola Appeal Sr Diana Santleben op, from Penola House, is asking people to consider donatng to the Red Cross Ebola Appeal. Many African Australian families living in Newcastle have family in Africa where this crisis is playing out.
You can donate to the Red Cross Ebola Appeal online at www.redcross.org.au or by postng a cheque or money order to Ebola Outbreak 2014 Appeal, Australian Red Cross, GPO Box 2957, Melbourne 8060. Part-time Roles Available in Pastoral Placement The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is ofering a pastoral placement program for people seeking to explore opportunites to serve God and Gods people through various ministries. These paid positons would suit people who are keen to work in the following felds: Social Work, Psychology, Teaching, Religious Educaton, Chaplaincy, Youth Ministry, Religious Life and Priesthood. Applicatons close Friday 28th November 2014. For further informaton visit www.mn.catholic.org.au/placement or P 4979 1346. Combined Churches Mens Annual Conference This event will be held on Saturday afernoon, the 25th October and will be in the Church Of Christ building 14 Douglas Av. Tuncurry. This year we have chosen a sportng theme and called it 'On the Winning Team'. Come dressed in your favourite team's colours no mater which code, and get into the atmosphere of the afernoon. Our guest speaker is Ken Clendinning, who for the last 21 years has been chaplain to the Canterbury Bulldogs Rugby League Club. Ken will share some excitng stories from the professional world of sport having rubbed shoulders with top sports people for many years.
Ken is patron of the NSW Churches Cricket Associaton, and he also served as a chaplain in the Olympic and Paralympic Villages during the Sydney 2000 Games.
In 2008 Ken was the Head Chaplain for the Rugby League World Cup Tournament. So with such a varied background he is well qualifed to share his insights and experience as a Christan chaplain to people who are ofen revered as 'the gods of sport' in our naton. Make Saturday afernoon the 25th October from 2pm to 5pm a priority, and invite all your friends to share in what will be an unforgetable day. The cost is $20:00 a head which includes a substantal afernoon tea during a 1/2 hour break, followed by a BBQ at the end of the day Please either book with your own church's men's actvites coordinator, or ring Gef on 0412 681 700 or Graeme on 6553 8272. Double Bed Required Sr Kathryn would be grateful to receive a double bed for someone in need. If you can assist please contact Sr Kathryn on 6554 6470. 6
Kids Corner Try to find these words: army banquet farms furious good guests king room servants son Street wedding
C Y E Z E B H F A R M S O F M C T B K C N M R D Z D O B U A I Q P S T S E R V A N T S R C B A N Q U E T S L O P M E I U B D F O Q H Y O P H S V K O O Q G W C E X C H B F V N B U S Z W E D D I N G E D X A F S T N F R O O M G H L I Y J K O R D Q Y Q C U U S F L H E W O E G D J G E C E S O N L Z H W E J R F M N W S L I X J H X D T V Y N R G J T A R M Y M A Y P J B C T U K S J K F K I N G L H B G O O D V L S Y D H Q C Z 7
Opportunities Outside The Parish
Tuning into Kids Emotonally Intelligent Parentng will be held on Tuesday 14th October at 10:30am at Newcastle University, Callaghan. A free 6 week group program for Parents and Carers wishing to improve their parentng skills and assist their children's emotonal development. To book, P 49216291 (limited places so bookings are essental). Feast of St Luke Celebraton Feast of St Luke Celebraton - Ministry of Healing and Care will be held on Friday 17th October at 7:00pm at Corpus Christ Church, Plat St, Waratah. Holy Trinity Parish invites all clergy, religious, parishioners and their families to join medical, nursing and allied health professionals with Bishop Bill for a Celebraton of the Eucharist, followed by refreshments in the hall. ACTiv8 Spring Retreat The ACTiv8 Spring Retreat will be held on Friday 17th October at Lake Mac Outdoor Recreaton Centre, Balcolyn. The cost of the Retreat is $115 per person. For more informaton visit www.actv8chisholm.org or email actv8chisholm.youth@gmail.com
menALIVE Weekend A menALIVE Weekend will be held on Saturday 18th and 19th October at St Michaels Primary School, Sproule St, Nelson Bay. menALIVE is an event which has been held in dozens of parishes around Australia these last 8 years. It is an enjoyable and encouraging experience for men to enjoy. There is a chance to share insights, and the weekend serves to help men focus on lifes essentals again, including our faith. All are welcome to come! Contact St Michaels Parish Ofce on 4981 1069 for more details.
Two Bishops Dialogue Adult Gathering will be held on Tuesday 21st October beginning at 6:00pm at St Thomas Anglican Church, Thomas St, Cardif. An opportunity to gather as an Ecumenical and Interfaith community, with both Bishop Greg (Anglican) and Bishop Bill (Catholic). Both Bishops invite you to share questons and concerns with them to explore ways to further develop our relatonships as a Christan community. For further details: Brooke Robinson at the Diocesan Chancery Ofces P 4979 1111 or E events@mn.catholic.org.au.
Exploring the Seasons of Grief Newcastle Program will be held on Saturday 25th October beginning at 9:30am at 841 Hunter St, Newcastle West. Using the metaphor of the changing seasons, partcipants explore the impact of change & loss. Other dates include 1st Nov. Cost is $50 for general partcipants, $30 for CSO or Parish partcipants. Bookings are essental. Phone Zoe 4979 1355 or E seasonsforgrowth@mn.catholic.org.au.
Diocesan Mission Mass Mass will be held on Tuesday 28th October at 11:30am at St Phillip's Catholic Church, 31 Vista Pde, Kotara. Catholic Mission has ofcially launched its campaign for this year's World Mission Month in October, which focuses on Jamaica - a country troubled by violence and crime - with the theme "When I grow up I want to be alive." RSVP by the end of Term 3 E richard.cootes@mn.catholic.edu.au.
A Spring Retreat Day On Saturday 1st November, the Tenison Woods Educaton Centre is ofering a retreat day with Fr Richard Shortall SJ on the new life that Spring ofers. Morning Tea is provided; please bring your own lunch. Cost $20, concession $10. See fyer at back of church for further details or call 4930 9601, E:twec@ssjl.org.au by October 28th.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend Marriage Encounter Weekend is a Marriage Enrichment experience for married couples set in peaceful, picturesque surroundings, away from the distractons of everyday life. During the weekend, couples have a unique opportunity to reconnect, rekindle and refresh their relatonship. Take tme out of your busy schedule, to invest in your most precious asset, your Marriage! Weekend date: 7th 9th November at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville, NSW. Bookings can be made to Ardell & Bill Sharpe on 02 4283 3435 or email wsharpe@bigpond.net.au. Welcome! We welcome to our community of faith Claire and Adrian Huurdeman, children of Nicholas and Rita. We also welcome Mathew Malferrari son of Emil and Elaine who will be baptsed with water and the Holy Spirit this weekend. Women of Faith Lunch The Women of Faith group (Anglican Parish of Forster Tuncurry) will be holding a lunch on Saturday, 18th October, 12pm, at St Alban's Church Hall, St Alban's Place, Forster. The speaker will be Jan Clark, a textle artst, who will bring samples of the beautful textles she creates. There will be good fellowship, delicious food and a fascinatng speaker. Cost $10 a head. Everyone is welcome - women of any faith or none. Further informaton from Janet Lawrence 6554 5981. 8
Ministers this Weekend... ...of the Word ...of Communion 6pm Tuncurry A: Colleen Cashman B: Bob Cashman Lou Hope, Michael Amato, Michael Siddle, Owen Carroll, Ruth Pearson. 7am Tuncurry A: Maree Gapps B: Cecile Malone Alex Matuszny, Cecile Malone, Genevieve Williamson, Kay Grifths, Maria Armitage. 9am Tuncurry A: Judith Shand B: Marie Keep Anne Moloney, Barbara Dolahenty, Barbara Kermode, Sharon Fowle, Trevor Turner. Ministers next Weekend... ...of the Word ...of Communion 6pm Tuncurry A: Maureen Stevens B: Michael Siddle Kathryn McCabe, Margaret Smith, Maureen Stevens, Pat Hooker, Valarie Ross. 7am Tuncurry A: Tony Knight B: Bronwyn Morse Edna Tucker, Graham Grifths, Lorraine Clark, Mark Mowbray, Norm Chapman. 9am Forster A: Sharon Fowle B: Marion ONeill Alan McCarthy, Anne Hartman, Coral McCarthy Elle Cairns-Cowan, Robyn Ryan. Please note: The above informaton refects the rosters as originally published, and doesnt take account of any swaps that may have been organised between individuals. Scripture Readings This Week Today Isaiah 25:6-10 Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20 Mathew 22:1-14 Monday Galatans 4:22-24, 26-27, 31 - 5:1 Luke 11:29-32 Tuesday Galatans 5:1-6 Luke 11:37-41 Wednesday Galatans 5:18-25 Luke 11:42-46 Thursday Ephesians 1:1-10 Luke 11:47-54 Friday Ephesians 1:11-14 Luke 12:1-7 Saturday 2 Timothy 4:10-17 Luke 10:1-9 Sunday Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 Mathew 22:15-21 Text: Excerpts from the English Translaton of the Roman Missal 2010, Internatonal Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL); Music: From the Mass of St Francis 2010, Paul Taylor. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Australian AgentLicenSing Online Lic No. 624844. In your charity, please pray for: Those recently deceased.
Those whose anniversaries occur about now.
All those in our community who are sick. Todays Liturgy of the Word Responsorial Psalm
Response: I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Gospel Acclamaton Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our heart that we might see how great is the hope to which we are called. Alleluia!