Saul set off and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand men chosen from Israel to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. So in the dark David and Abishai made their way towards the force, where they found Saul asleep inside the camp, his spear stuck in the ground beside his head, with Abner and the troops lying round him. Then Abishai said to David, ‘Today God has put your enemy in your power; so now let me pin him to the ground with his own spear. Just one stroke! I will not need to strike him twice. David answered Abishai, Do not kill him, for who can lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt?’ David took the spear and the pitcher of water from beside Saul’s head, and they made off. No one saw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them. David crossed to the other side and halted on the top of the mountain a long way off; there was a wide space between them. David then called out, ‘Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the soldiers come across and take it. The Lord repays everyone for his uprightness and loyalty. Today the Lord put you in my power, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed.’

(R.) The Lord is kind and merciful.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord, all my being, bless his holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings. (R.) It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion. (R.) The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy. He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults. (R.) As far as the east is from the west so far does he remove our sins. As a father has compassion on his sons, the Lord has pity on those who fear him. (R.)

The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; but the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit. That is, first the one with the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit. The first man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature;

the second man is from heaven. As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the heavenly man is, so are we in heaven. And we, who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.

Alleluia, alleluia! I give you a new commandment; love one another as I have loved you. Alleluia!

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

The scriptural quotations are taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton Longman and Todd Ltd

and Doubleday & Co Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. The English translation of the Psalm Responses, Alleluia and Gospel Verses, and Lenten Gospel Acclamations from the Lectionary for Mass © 1997,

1981, 1968, International Committee on English in the Liturgy.

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” —John Holmes

First of all, thank you very much to everyone who participated in Fr Vitalis’ farewells. It was lovely to see so many at Mass (we almost ran out of Holy Communion). The full Hall afterwards was wonderful. Soon, Fr Vitalis will write his own word of thanks, but I know that he is very grateful. Please keep him in your prayers.

The Gilroy Santa Maria Grade 12 retreat was a delightful affair, except for the flat tyre on the way back from Lake Eacham on the Thursday and the other flat tyre at Tully on the way home :( The students who attended participated incredibly well. It is a very small cohort this year and that really helped with the group bonding and the sense of common purpose. As always, the Mass on Thursday evening was the real highlight (at least for me).

This past week there have been three Start of Year masses for our schools. I write this before celebrating the one for Gilroy Santa Maria College. The Mass at St Peter’s was lovely. I was so impressed by our nine school leaders. That is the largest group we have had at the school in my time. They are a beautiful group of students.

On Thursday, I celebrated the Induction Mass for St Teresa’s College Abergowrie. The singing

started softly. But, as the Mass progressed, the boys really hit their stride. I received numerous comments from the staff about what a wonderful Mass it was. This year’s grade 12s are an outstanding group of young men. They will undoubtedly live up to their pledge to leave the College a better place because of their service.

It was really nice, after the Abergowrie Mass, to receive feedback from our Catholic Education Religion Adviser Mr Derek Worden about the Mass the week before with Fr Mobin. He told me that Fr Mobin gave an excellent homily and really engaged the lads. I was very proud.

I made my first visits to the Kindergarten for the year during this past week. I was really surprised by how many of the students that I knew, because I had married their parents, baptized them or their siblings or had simply come across in the course of ministering in this district. They were so comfortable with me because I was not a stranger. I had expected a 15 or 20 minute visit and it turned into over 50 minutes.

Please note that, from now on, Mass on a Saturday Morning will be in St Paul’s Chapel, off the front landing of the Presbytery.

The Church: a hospital for sinners, a training school for saints.

Saturday 6.00pm Sunday 8.30am Sunday 7.00pm

Sunday 7.00am

Sunday 10.00am

Sunday 10.00am

5.30pm St Patrick’s

5.30pm St Patrick’s Benediction at 5.15pm

8.45am St Peter’s 5.30pm St Patrick’s

8.40am St Teresa’s 5.30pm St Patrick’s

7.00am St Patrick’s

8.00am St Paul’s Chapel

Monday 9.30am St Patrick’s

9am-Noon in St Paul’s Chapel.

11.00am & 5.00pm Saturdays

Parish Contacts

Parish Priest: Fr Damian McGrath Associate Pastor: Fr Vitalis C Oguh

Priest in Placement: Fr Mobin Sebastian

Parish Secretaries: Pauline Pennisi & Julie Nowak & Marcella Cantatore (also RE Co-ordinator)

Bookkeeper/Compliance Officer: Beth Ingegneri Pastoral Care: Sr Nina Barra Senior Adult Ministry : Santina Cross

PO Box 375, Ingham Q 4850 4776 2600 parishoffice@inghamcatholic.com

www.inghamcatholic.com facebook.com/inghamcatholic

Office Hours: 9am to 12pm Monday to Friday, 1pm to 3pm Monday to Thursday

a function in the Mercy Hall, please call into the parish office during our work hours to have a look if any of these are yours.

The Women’s Group are holding the annual St Patrick’s Day Afternoon Tea on Sunday, 17 March 2pm (doors open at 1.30pm) Cost $15.00 per ticket

Tickets on Sale from Monday, 25th February, 2019

We kindly ask parishioners to support this event by donating prizes to be used in cent sale. Cent Sale prizes to be dropped at Presbytery by Friday, 8th March.

If you are able to bake or help for afternoon tea, please let Jeanette know on 0447720740.

Next Women’s Group Meeting will be on Saturday, 2nd March at 9am at Mercy Hall.

All current Year 6 students in the district are invited to Year 7 Transition Days at Gilroy Santa Maria College. These days are Thu 2 May, Thu 23 May, Thu 13 June, Thu 1 Aug, Thu 15 Aug—Time 8.30am to 11.30am. You are asked to please meet at the school office. Morning tea will be provided. Students are to wear your school uniform. A courtesy bus will return students to their respective schools. For further information contact the school on 4776 2888

There is only 1 week to go to #shareyourstory and contribute to the agenda, visit plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au to read about getting involved. Join with more that 68,000 people from across Australia to make a submission. Thank you to everyone who participated in small groups and gave their voice to the Plenary Council 2020. If you want to Subscribe to the Plenary Council e-newsletter PlenaryPost for the latest updates and news of what’s happening across Australia visit www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au

A Youth Commissioning Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Tim Harris on Sunday the 3rd of March, 10:00 am at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. All youth and interested community members are invited. At the Mass we will commission the Catholic youth leaders of our diocese, ranging from the leadership team, social justice and youth groups to high school leaders. Young people can stay afterwards for morning tea to celebrate and connect with like-minded Catholic youth. Contact: youth@tsv.catholic.org.au

❖ World Day of Prayer hosted by St Patrick’s—Friday 1 March.

❖ Ash Wednesday—6 March.

❖ St Patrick’s Day Afternoon Tea—Sunday 17 March

❖ St Patrick’s Day—Monday 18 March. Mass of the Holy Oils, 7.00pm Thursday 11

These will be on sale this weekend and next weekend (numbers permitting) for $3 each. Please look out for the person selling them at each Mass in Ingham and at Halifax, Canossa & Abergowrie.

The first meeting for St Peter’s Parish Council for 2019 will be held on Monday 4 March at 7.30pm in Capuchin House.

There are still some rosters to be collected at the church entrance. If you haven’t collected yours please do so this weekend and save us postage. The new rosters commence weekend of 3 March.

These sessions will commence on Tuesday 5 March at St Patrick’s Parish Centre from 9.30am to 11.00am and again at Canossa on Tuesday evening commencing 7.30pm (not 7.00pm as advertised last week). Cost $10. Please register at the parish office which session you would like to attend.

World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement led by Christian women, who welcome everyone, men and women, to join in prayer and action for peace and justice. The format for the service this year has been compiled by the World Day of Prayer Committee of Slovenia and the theme is "Come - Everything is Ready". The service is held each year on the first Friday in March and this year St. Patrick’s is the host church . The service will commence at 9.30am Friday 1st March and we look forward to seeing a great representation from our Catholic parishes. Please bring plate of food to share for morning tea afterwards.

We have lots of unmarked plates, platters, dishes, tupperware etc at the Parish Centre which we have been collecting for some time. If you brought the priests any food at anytime and forgot to collect your property or think you may have left a plate here or at

St Patrick’s, Ingham:

7.00am; 9.00am w/ Lourdes; 5.30pm

St Peter’s, Halifax

2.00pm w/ St Peter’s School

Canossa: 9.30am Ashes + Rosary

Gilroy Santa Maria College:

10.10am Liturgy of Word + Ashes

St Teresa’s, Abergowrie: Thursday 8.40am with College

Please Pray For: Ida Eva Rondoletti (died this week), Salvatore (Sam) Pavone, Leonino Bisson, Alma Giacobone, Flaviano Antoniutti, Angelo Guarrera, Romanina Sartor (annivs at this time), Janice Day, Olga Bartrim, Rosario Pavone, Vittorio & Maria Cantoni, Alfio Salvatore Russo, Baldo Fanti, Carlo & Maria Magoni, Elliott Francis Mathiesen, Carlo Valese, Angelo Fazio, Alfio Di Giacomo, Johnny Brezzo, Augustine & Mary Cauchi

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. Let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace. Amen. May their souls

and the souls of all the faithful departed,

Counters This Week:

J Leonardi S Cosentino M & L Castles

Counters Next Week:

R Doherty P & A Costanzo D Carey

Altar Servers 2/3 March: Sat 6pm: Ellie Lahtinen & Madeline Bullock Sun 8.30am: Volunteer Please Sun 7pm: Abby Melvin-Naughton & Charlotte Liddle

Children’s Liturgy Sat 2 Mar 6.00pm

Russell Andrews & David Pelleri

Organists 2/3 March: Sat 6pm: P Harris/P Cavallaro/Video Sun 8.30am: M Vitale/Video Sun 7pm: L Di Bella/Video

Commentators 2/3 March: Sat 6.00pm: Tahlia Nowak Sun 8.30am: Finie Spina Sun 7.00pm: Volunteer Please

Readers 2/3 March:

Halifax: Angie Scott

Canossa: C/1 Sam Spina 2/3 Beth Ingegneri

Sat 6pm: 1 Gerard Girgenti 2 Andrea Groundwater

3 Tahlia Nowak

Sun 8.30am: 1 Lorraine Pietrobon 2 Stefania Rutherford

3 Finie Spina

Sun 7pm: 1 Paula Martin 2 Flavia Menegon

3 Volunteer Please

Abergowrie: New Roster Needed

Special Ministers 2/3 March Halifax: Robyn Neitz & Betty Mahony

Canossa: Trevor & Julie Nowak (Fill-in)

Sat 6pm: Trevor & Julie Nowak Carmel Sorbello

Sun 8.30am: Madeliene D’Urso Carmel Fazio Viv Garrigon

Sun 7pm: John Kinbacher Lauren Kopeshke Giovanna Melvin

Abergowrie: New Roster Needed

Please keep in your prayers: Gerard Rosse, Terry Fenoglio,

Roger Wall, Angie Morris, William Bosworth, Patrick Leonardi,

Janine Mahony, Bernie Viklund, Paul McLennan,

Aley Kunnathumadappallil, Marlon Chiong, Jess Chiong,

John Simmons

May the Lord’s healing hand rest upon them