In the care of the

Cnr White & Wanganella Sts 2 King Street Priest: Fr Dave Austin OSA 12th July 2020 [email protected]

Parish Office: 9949 4455 15th Sunday Ordinary Time (yr A ) www.northharbourcatholic.org.au PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE – ’Imagine… a Middle Class of Holiness!’

Dear Friends, Today’s Gospel of the Parable of the Sower helps us to reflect on our responsibilities as Church, as families, Parish and School Communities, and as Augustinians. God the Sower is almost wasteful in scattering the seeds wildly but then God’s love is like that. The parable could apply to the many areas of our lives where our openness to the Spirit varies – times when we are very receptive to God’s grace, times when we’re perhaps a bit shy, and times when we resist strongly. Life knocks us around – certainly our recent experience - but thankfully Jesus’ parables turn reality on its head. A seven-fold return was considered a good harvest but Jesus says otherwise, ‘Imagine… imagine the kind of seed that can produce up to a hundredfold in spite of the difficulties involved!’ Keeping our faith fresh is an engaging task at any time and we must ‘imagine’ and ’keep sowing’! Comments from parishioners ‘returning’ to our churches reflect relief and fresh energy that we can now gather again. Some of you may find spiritual support in a favourite ’app’. Francis’ homilies and reflections can be found on the App or the Click to Pray App. I find Laudate particularly helpful because it has a remarkable menu which includes the Prayer of the Church, the Daily Readings, prayers and devotions, the Order of Mass, the Catechism, 2 versions of the Bible, major Vatican documents from the and Vatican II, and even the Code of Canon Law – in case I ever need it! Liturgy nourishes our faith! Even in the current ‘Ordinary Time’, for Christians the ordinary is rarely ordinary! Our Sunday journey is ‘ordered’, our ‘weekly Easter’, the most basic feast of our liturgical cycle. Sunday liturgy should bring us to life as we read from a particular Gospel, each with a different approach. In 2020, we read from Matthew and are invited to listen to those who proclaim the Word and to receive the Word in our hearts. Ordinary Time is not ‘time off’, never routine, but a time to journey with the Lord and reflect on how well we are living out the mysteries we celebrate in the festive seasons and how welcoming we are of others - How do we create a hospitable atmosphere as we gather? How do we welcome visitors and strangers? Do some go home sad? Some years ago, spoke about everyday holiness: To be sure, the testimony of faith comes in very many forms, just as in a great fresco, there is a variety of colours and shades; yet they are all important, even those which do not stand out. In God’s great plan, every detail is important, even yours, even my humble little witness, even the hidden witness of those who live their faith with simplicity in everyday family relationships, work relationships, friendships. These are the of every day, the ‘hidden’ saints, a sort of ‘middle class of holiness’, as a French author said, that ‘middle class of holiness’ to which we can all belong… Let us all remember this: one cannot proclaim the Gospel of Jesus without the tangible witness of one’s life. In our day, we need to listen to those who rarely come and seek to understand them. Thankfully, our God never deserts any of us and his grace continues to work in all. Ordinary Time can be a very rich time and lift us ‘out of the ordinary’! CATECHIST HELP FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2020 We are in need of some parishioners to fill in for our regular Catechist teachers (who are in the vulnerable group for Coronavirus) until the end of this year. If you think you can help out our Catechists, please ring Ursula on 0423 595 204. The times of classes needing teachers are:

 Kindergarten Seaforth PS: Wed 1:10-1:40pm

 Year 4 Seaforth PS: 11:45am-12:15pm

 Kindergarten Manly Vale PS: 9:00-9:30am

 Year 5 Balgowlah PS: 10:30-11:00am

SUNDAY MASS ARRANGEMENTS Numbers in our churches are now being determined by the size of the church and the 4 sq m rule:  Sunday Masses – REVISED number limits as follows: - St Kieran’s – 140 per Mass - St Cecilia’s – 80 per Mass  NO Bookings required – All persons attending must SIGN-IN on arrival.  Hygiene and Social Distancing - Please use the hand sanitiser and observe the marked seating (tick) and correct spacing. Families can sit together;  If you are unwell, please stay at home. All are urged to follow medical advice.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL NOMINATIONS—’The Church is open!!’

‘Buildings are closed, not the Church. We are the Church… and we remain open in faith, hope and love!’ This important statement a few months ago heralded a new awareness among us as the spread of Covid-19 increased – a new awareness as Church! This was a call to action….

Well, it’s time again - time for action! We need nominations for membership of the Parish Pastoral Council for 2020 onwards. The PPC and its members serve the Community of North Harbour through Our Parish Mission to witness to and to proclaim the word of God and to pray and celebrate the Liturgy in word and sacraments so that we may be of service to others and form a community of “one mind and one heart on the way to God.’ (St Augustine).

The PPC promotes our Parish Vision to be a community which is welcoming, friendly and hospitable; open to change, willing to learn, grow and collaborate; served by the rich diversity of our talent and ethnic composition; paying particular attention to the needs of families and youth; celebrating both socially and liturgically; striving to be Christ centred while reaching out to others

Like to know more? Talk to a member of the PPC or one of the Augustinians. The Parish Office can arrange for a PPC member to contact you.

NOMINATIONS PROCESS - Parishioners are invited to nominate a fellow parishioner to the PPC. Forms to facilitate this are available in our churches. Please give prayerful consideration as you reflect on this important duty and speak to the person beforehand. PLEASE RETURN THE ORANGE FORM TO THE PARISH OFFICE NO LATER THAN MONDAY 13 JULY 2020.

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. JULY Tue 14 SVDP Meeting 7.00-8.30pm Mtg Room Fri 17 ALPHA meeting 9.15-12.00pm Ctr 1 Senior Fitness 9.30-10.30am Ctr 2 Mon 20 Parish Council Meeting 7.30– 9.30pm Ctr 1 Wed 22 Toastmasters 6.30pm-10pm Ctr 1 & 2

Readings for this week 12/07: Isaiah 55:10-11 Romans 8:18-23 Matthew 13:1-23 Readings for next week 19/07 : Wisdom 12:13. 16-19 Romans 8:26-27 Matthew 13:24-30

Today is Sea Sunday, when the church prays for those who live and work on the sea. Stella Maris, Apostleship of the Sea is the official maritime welfare agency of the . Today’s Appeal supports seafarers both practically and spiritually. www.aos-australia.org During the COVID-19 pandemic, seafarers continue to bring products to sustain our population and economy, often at personal risk to their health. To support this ministry, please send your donations to: bit.ly/seasundayaustralia

Thanks from your St Vincent de Paul Manly Vale Conference Your Vinnies members wish to thank so many people for their generous support in such financially difficult times. The Winter Appeal raised a magnificent $9100 which we hope will keep us operating for another six months.

Sacramental Program Update

Parents of Children in Year 3 Congratulations to all the children who received the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in recent weeks.

An email was sent to all parents with an outline of dates for the preparation and celebration of First Communion which will commence Week 1 of Term 3. Please contact Janette if you did not receive this email. Your group facilitators will be in contact to organize your child’s family preparation group meetings which will commence in Week 2.

Parents of Children in Year 2 There has been no update from the Bishop’s Office to indicate a date for the Sacrament of Confirmation. However as restrictions ease we may have more information in Term 3. Please contact Janette on 0408 866 521 or at [email protected] if you have any questions on the above. For those with ILLNESS

PRAYER REQUESTS Aurora Kogovsek Bruno Kogovsek Daniella Takchi Cathy Ewing “Come to me! I will give Elsa Monsour Irene Martin Helen Richardson Irene Hurrell Stella Brown Cecily Smellie Jane Manning Maria Kogovsek you rest.” (Matt 11:28) Norma Kogovsek John & Joan Killick Simone Young Bob McEwan Christopher Newman Michael Lennon Yvonne Hickey Jonathan Keil ANNIVERSARIES Justin Torralba Kevin Smith Kathy Osborne Bill Rein Sue Caulfield Tom Meates Margot Massey John Ardill Joan Kelly Andrew Scotland Anne Manchee Peter & Margaret Richard Paul Reynolds John Colwell (Jnr) Steve Foresto Goldston RECENTLY DECEASED This list will be reviewed every few weeks—contact the office for continued prayers Caterina Bombardieri Jeanne Jarkey From St Augustine Marie Stoke James Jenner You, Who always are, both before we were and Julie Slack Margaret Costello before the world existed, have become for us a Mavis Oehler David Quinn refuge in which we have turned to You. Betty Williams Maria Abbruzzo Commentary on Psalm 89, 3

SICK CALLS AND OTHER URGENT MATTERS IF YOU NEED A PRIEST URGENTLY, PLEASE CALL THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER: Business hours – Parish Office – 9949 4455 After hours (Evenings and weekends) – 0490 898 464

Position Vacant - Facilities & WHS Officer, Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay The Chancery of the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay is recruiting for the role of Facilities & WHS Officer. This is a full time, one year fixed term role based at Pennant Hills. The Facilities & WHS Officer provides facilities management and expertise in maintaining Diocesan assets as well as assisting with the coordination and management of Chancery and Parish WHS responsibilities. For the full advertisement see the Positions Vacant page of the Diocesan website: https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/people/positions-vacant

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF NORTH HARBOUR

REGULAR PARISH mass times St Cecilia’s, Balgowlah St Cecilia 10.30am Sun. by appointment SUNDAY 9.00AM 9.00am Mass on 1st Sundays of the month WEDNESDAY 9.00AM St Kieran 11.30am Sun. by appointment

St Kieran’s, Manly Vale 9.30am Mass on 1st Sundays of the month Saturday vigil 5.30pm SUNDAY 7.30am, 9.30am & 6.00pm preparation is required for 1st baptisms. Weekdays 8.30am except Wednesdays Contact parish office 9949 4455 St Augustine’s Chapel, Brookvale Wednesdays 8.15am during term time marriages reconciliation Require 6 months notice and include Pre-marriage St Kieran 5 – 5.30pm Saturday or by appointment. Course as part of the preparation

Fr David Austin OSA Parish Priest 0419 265 317 Jacky Worthington Parish Manager 9949 4455 Fr Paul Maloney OSA Assistant Priest and 0439 595 723 Marianne Deveza Music Co-ordinator 9949 4455 Fr John Sullivan OSA Assistant Priest and Prior 0423 634 029 Ursula Halloway Catechist Coordinator 9949 4455 Fr Senan Ward OSA Chaplain – St Augustine’s College Janette Davidson Sacramental Coordinator 0408 866 521 Fr Abel van der Veer OSA Retired 0409 368 449 Anne Ross Parish Secretary 9949 4455 Fr Peter Jones OSA Provincial—In Residence Jane Filacuridi Parish Secretary 9949 4455

We acknowledge the Gayamagal and Canalgal people, the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respects to the elders past and present.