The Catholic Community of North Harbour

2 King Street, Manly Vale NSW 2093

Phone: 99494455 Fax: 9949 3413

Email: parishoffice@northharbourcatholic.org.au

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time 19th February 2017

GOSPEL SYMBOLS AND IMAGES Be holy temple of god

Readings this Sunday Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Matthew 5:38-48 Responsorial Psalm “The Lord is kind and merciful’ Readings next Sunday Isaiah 49:14-15 Corinthians 4:1-5 Matthew 6:24-34

in the care of the augustinians

Today’s Gospel is a continuation of the teaching read last week. Followers of Christ must go beyond minimum requirements and strive for the perfection witnessed in Christ, the perfection of the Father.

When Jesus advises us

that we are to be as perfect

as our heavenly Father is

perfect he seems to be

setting us an impossible

task. And when he then

lists all the ways we are to

love our enemies and pray

for those who persecute us

we block our ears in

disbelief. The truth we are meant to absorb is

that God does not stop loving when we stop

loving. As Jesus says, God pours rain and

sunshine down upon us whether we behave

well or badly. If we want to know the kind of

perfection on which we are to set our sights

and towards which we are to direct our life, it

should be the kind of completeness which we

see in God. After all, God is our Father, our

Mother, the source of our life and the one who

continues to nurture us with his love, and we

are made in just that image.

Last year I came across a passage from the

famous German theologian, Karl Rhaner S.J.

which offered me a way into understanding

what Jesus meant when he said “Turn the

other cheek”. Instead of allowing the wounds

of life to destroy me – especially the thrusts

coming from criticism or indifference of others

– he suggests that we quench the grip our ego

has on us by allowing God’s grace to heal and

work in our hearts so that we do not add to the

warfare that is the normal way of the world. In

this way the bitterness that is engendered

against one another does not develop any

further into external action. I made the

decision not to contribute to the destructive

forces we can unleash on one another, but to

stir the waters of God’s grace within me so as

to quench the fire of resentment, touchiness or

fear that otherwise might stay flickering there.

We may all have to learn to stop submitting to

aggressive behaviour, from our partner, from

our children, or from others in our life. We may

have to learn to stop biting back, using our

tongue to give vent to our frustration and to get

even with those who hurt us. Let us watch

Jesus and learn from him the strong but gentle

virtue of refusing to add to the tearing apart of

God’s kingdom.

Jesus tells us what he means by love: it

means to pray for those who offend us (5:44),

to do good to them (5:55) and to greet them in

peace (5:47), however badly they might treat

us. In a nutshell it means “to use myself for

the good of another” so that we displace

ourselves from the centre of everything and

focus on honouring (loving) God in that person

in the same way we (love) honour God in

ourselves.

Dear Fellow Parishioners

The newly released Martin Scorcese movie ‘Silence’ tells the story of two Portuguese Jesuit missionaries who travel to Japan in search of their missing confrere at a time when Christianity was outlawed and their presence forbidden. Silence is a testament to the courage and conviction of those who witness to faith in Jesus Christ in the face of oppression and torture. Rated ‘MA15+’ for its contextualised violence,

Silence has variously been described as “magnificent,” “beautiful,” and “masterful.” It’s a challenging reminder of the ultimate price paid by some in following Jesus, and bringing others to a relationship with him. Recommended viewing, Silence opened in theatres across the country on 16 February. For more information and to watch the trailer, go to

http://www.transmissionfilms.com.au/films/silence

The next Baptism of Young Children Program (for children aged 7 – 11 years) will commence in May 2017, prior to the beginning of the 2017 – 2018 Children’s Sacramental Program;

Advance notice - The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated by Bishop Peter A Comensoli on Friday 25 August 2017 at 5.30pm OR 7.30pm.

All relevant forms can be downloaded from the parish website at www.northharbourcatholic.org.au under the Sacraments tab. For further information please contact Janette on 0408 866 521 or at sacraments@northharbourcatholic.org.au .

Beginning on

Wednesday March

1 (Ash Wednesday)

and running through

the six weeks of

Lent, Project

Compassion raises

both funds and

community

awareness about important global issues, empowering our

neighbours across the world to build a brighter future.

Our theme this year is Love Your Neighbour, with six

inspiring stories from the Philippines, Timor-Leste,

Australia, Vietnam and Fiji.

www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion

Director of Youth Ministry – Pittwater Parish An exciting opportunity has arisen to become part of the vibrant team at the Catholic Parish of Pittwater. Job Description The Director of Youth Ministry aims to uphold the following goal for Youth Ministry in the Parish of Pittwater – ‘To develop and maintain a young Catholic community of disciples that really lives the Gospel’. The Youth Minister will work under the leadership of the Parish priest and with other parish staff and leaders, and will be responsible for the youth programs and events in the parish. Personal attributes It is vital that the Youth Minister:

- has a deep faith and a strong relationship with Jesus. - demonstrates love in serving others through this ministry. - engages the young people of our parish community

- is highly motivated and pro-active in leadership skills

- can work effectively in a team and can work well with adults and students. Classification: Part Time (18-20 hours) For full job description and details please visit www.pittwaterparish.org or email office@pittwaterparish.org

Theme 2017: PHILIPPINES

“Am I being unfair to you?”

Friday 3rd March

St Matthew’s Church, Corso, Manly

10.15am morning tea 11am Mass

Everyone is welcome.

PARISH CALENDAR

FEBRUARY Sat 25/26 Ritual of the Cross Sun 26 11.30am Baptism of Older Children SK church 9.00am Yr 3 Family Mass SC church 9.30am Yr 2 Family Mass SK church 2.00pm Healing Mass SK church—Alan Ames MARCH Wed 01 Ash Wednesday Masses SK 10am, 7.30pm, SC 9.15am Fri 03 10.15am World Day of Prayer St Matt’s, Manly Sun 05 11am Baptism Preparation Course SK Centre1 Fri 10 Youth Assembly 6.30om Sun 19 9.30am Yr 4 Family Mass SK 20 Joseph, Husband of Mary Th 23 7pm 1st Reconciliation SK Sat 25 Annunciation Sun 26 9.00am Yr 2 Mass SC Tue 28 7pm 1st Reconciliation SC and SK

LENTEN PROGRAM 2017

Lent begins on Wednesday 1st March this year and the Lenten Program for 2017 is available from the parish office for home group discussions or individual private use.

Reflection booklets ($10 each) and cds are available for easy method of leading discussion.

If you would like to advertise in the bulletin your availability, we will see how many groups can be facilitated during Lent.

Junior Altar Servers –

Boys and girls from Yr 3–Yr 6 who are interested in becoming a junior altar server for the 9:00am (SC), 9:30am (SK) and 6:00pm (SK) masses in our parish, please register for the training sessions in March. Limited slots! (four training sessions, to be accompanied by a guardian. Day and time of the week to be announced very soon)!

Please ask your guardian, or mum or dad to message your complete NAME & AGE to Deacon Francis. Mobile No.: 0400-924-073 Email: youthministry@northharbourcatholic.org.au

Calling all the YOUTH in our parish, Years 9-12, or Ages 15-30! There will be a YOUTH ASSEMBLY on 10 MARCH, 2017 (Friday, 6:30pm onwards).

This Youth Assembly is organised to gather the young people, to share ideas with one another, and to discuss the direction of the Youth Group in the Parish. Be heard! Be empowered to live as disciples of Jesus! Journey with one another on how it is to be ANOINTED & SENT!

Tuesdays 9.00am craft group parish centre 9.15am Meditation SK chapel 9.30am Playgroup parish Centre Thursdays 9.30am Tai Chi parish Centre Fridays 9.30am Senior Fitness parish Centre

Tai Chi classes have become so popular in the

parish centre on Thursdays that organiser

Dr Peter Chang is thinking of running another

class on Monday or Saturday mornings.

To register your interest, please call the parish

office and state your preference of day, and we

will see if we have enough interest to generate

another class.

REGULAR PARISH mass times REGULAR PARISH mass times St Cecilia’s, Balgowlah SUNDAY 9.00AM WEDNESDAY 9.00AM St Kieran’s, Manly Vale Saturday vigil 6.00pm SUNDAY 7.30am, 9.30am & 6.00pm Weekdays 8.30am except Wednesdays St Augustine’s Chapel, Brookvale Wednesdays 8.15am during term time

reconciliation St Kieran 5 – 6pm Saturday or by appointment.

Baptisms St Cecilia 10.30am Sun. by appointment 9.00am Mass on 1st Sundays of the month St Kieran 11.30am Sun. by appointment 9.30am Mass on 1st Sundays of the month

Baptism preparation is required for 1st baptisms. Contact parish office 9949 4455 marriages Require 6 months notice and include Pre-marriage Course as part of the preparation

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF NORTH HARBOUR PERSONNEL Office (Mon – Fri: 9am – 4pm) 9949 4455

Clergy: Fr Paul Maloney OSA Parish Priest Fr Senan Ward OSA Assistant Priest Fr. Minh-Tan Hoang OSA Assistant Priest Fr. David Austin OSA In residence Br Francis Belcina OSA Deacon/Youth Ministry

Administration: Chris Burrows Parish Manager Anne Ross Parish Secretary Jane Filacuridi Parish Secretary Jacky Worthington Compliance Officer

Pastoral Ministers (contacted through Parish Office 9949 4455) Janette Davidson Family & Sacramental Ministries Adriana Bowyer Catechist Co-ordinator Rosemary McKinnon Counsellor 0400 495 076 Ben Marshall Music Ministry 0411809072

We acknowledge the Gayamagal and Canalgal people, the traditional

custodians of this land and pay our respects to the elders past and

present, including those who may be with us today.

RECENTLY DECEASED Mark Caputo Jean Gillman Freda McGrath Concetta Toia

Carmine Buda

ANNIVERSARIES

Ethel Gilbert Thomas Treston Dr Norman Mangraviti

SICK Anne Towner Irene Hurrell Moira Watkins Aurora & John Francis Jack Homan Mary Nixon

Belinda Johnston Jarryd Timm Michael Armstrong

Chris McAuliffe JDG Nixon Ball Daniel Collins Jim Smyth Pat Leeder

Daniel Lister John Noonan Peter Coates Dave Miles Kath Zenetic Ricki Hayes

Desiree Whitton Kathleen Bunting Sean Bellenger

Dorothy Smith Kevin Smith Simone Young

Eddie Sharp Louis Hilton Stephen Ward

Elaine Smith Louise Allara Sr Joseph Conception (RSC)

Franz Hakvoort Martha Lois Veronica Laverty

Henry and Flavio Cataldo

PRAYER REQUESTS

“Come to me! I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)

From St Augustine

Lord, You get angry but remain calm.

Confessions 1, 4

Visiting sick at home

If you, or if you know of anyone who is unable to

attend Mass because they are unwell and would

like a home visit please contact the parish office to

organise for Communion or Anointing.

Friends of St Augustine

Augustine during Lent

Next Gathering

Thursday 9th March

7.30pm Parish Centre

All Welcome

Contact Jacky on

0403 834 043

with any queries