First Reading Responsorial Psalm Gospel Acclamation Reflection by Greg Sunter 2 Chr 36:14-16. 19-23 Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ! God's desire for us is life not R. Let my tongue be silenced if ever I A reading from the second book of Chronicles God loved the world so much, he gave us condemnation, salvation not destruction. The mercy of the Lord is revealed in the exile forget you! his only Son, that all who believe in him Jesus came to reveal this love of God to and liberation of his people. 1. By the rivers of Babylon there we sat might have eternal life. free people from fears and ignorance and All the heads of the priesthood, and the and wept, remembering Zion; Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ! lead them to accept such unconditional people too, added infidelity to infidelity, on the poplars that grew there love in joy and thanksgiving. Human guilt copying all the shameful practices of the we hung our harps. (R.) Gospel and self-doubt try to deny the potency of God's love so Jesus' death is a terrible nations and defiling the Temple that the 2. For it was there that they asked us, Jn 3:14-21 sign of the extent he was prepared to go to Lord had consecrated for himself in our captors, for songs, our oppressors, for A reading from the holy Gospel according say – ‘See, God loves you this much and I Jerusalem. The Lord, the God of their joy. ‘Sing to us,’ they said, ‘one of Zion’s to John am prepared to die so you will believe ancestors, tirelessly sent them messenger songs.’ (R.) God sent his Son into the world that we after messenger, since he wished to spare might be saved through him. this.’ his people and his house. But they 3. O how could we sing the song of the God’s love will ultimately lead Jesus to the ridiculed the messengers of God, they Lord on alien soil? If I forget you, Jesus said to Nicodemus: ‘The Son of cross where he will be lifted up. The despised his words, they laughed at his Jerusalem, let my right hand wither! (R.) Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up evangelist recalls a similar ‘lifting up’ moment in Israel’s history which was also prophets, until at last the wrath of the Lord 4. O let my tongue cleave to my mouth the serpent in the desert, so that everyone a moment of life and salvation. When we rose so high against his people that there if I remember you not, if I prize not who believes may have eternal life in him. look at the cross we are challenged to see was no further remedy. Their enemies Jerusalem above all my joys! (R.) Yes, God loved the world so much that he burned down the Temple of God, gave his only Son, so that everyone who the life and love of God given for us. demolished the walls of Jerusalem, set fire Second Reading believes in him may not be lost but may to all its palaces, and destroyed everything have eternal life. of value in it. The survivors were deported A reading from the letter of St Paul to the For God sent his Son into the world not to by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon; they were Ephesians Eph 2:4-10 condemn the world, but so that through to serve him and his sons until the When we were dead through sins, he him the world might be saved. No one who kingdom of Persia came to power. This is brought us to life. believes in him will be condemned; how the word of the Lord was fulfilled that but whoever refuses to believe is he spoke through Jeremiah, ‘Until this land God loved us with so much love that he condemned already, because he has has enjoyed its sabbath rest, until seventy was generous with his mercy: when we refused to believe in the name of God’s Feast of St Joseph (Mar 19th) years have gone by, it will keep sabbath were dead through our sins, he brought us only Son. St Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary throughout the days of its desolation.’ And to life with Christ – it is through grace that On these grounds is sentence and adoptive father of Jesus, was a in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to you have been saved – and raised us up pronounced: that though the light has descendant of King David and a carpenter fulfil the word of the Lord that was spoken with him and gave us a place with him in come into the world men have shown they by trade. During his betrothal to Mary he through Jeremiah, the Lord roused the heaven, in Christ Jesus. prefer darkness to the light because their became distressed when he heard that spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a This was to show for all ages to come, deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody she was with child, but an angelic vision proclamation and to have it publicly through his goodness towards us in Christ who does wrong hates the light and avoids reassured him that this was all part of displayed throughout his kingdom: ‘Thus Jesus, how infinitely rich he is in grace. it, for fear his actions should be exposed; God’s plan. After Jesus’ birth he was speaks Cyrus king of Persia, “The Lord, Because it is by grace that you have been but the man who lives by the truth comes warned in a dream to flee with his family to the God of heaven, has given me all the saved, through faith; not by anything of out into the light, so that it may be plainly Egypt, in order to escape from King Herod. kingdoms of the earth; he has ordered me your own, but by a gift from God; not by seen that what he does is done in God.’ Joseph showed great faith in his to build him a Temple in Jerusalem, in anything that you have done, so that willingness to do whatever God asked of Judah. Whoever there is among you of all nobody can claim the credit. him. St Joseph is the patron saint of many his people, may his God be with him! Let We are God’s work of art, created in Christ causes including families, expectant him go up.”’ Jesus to live the good life as from the mothers, workers and people in doubt. beginning he had meant us to live it. Safeguarding our Parish: 2021 Sacrament of First Child sexual abuse is a crime. The appropriate St Mary Queen of Heaven, people to deal with crimes are the police. If you, Reconciliation or anyone you know, have been abused, please An information session will be held on contact the police. Alternatively, you can contact Georges Hall the Safeguarding Office at 93905810 or Tuesday 4 May at 7pm in the Church [email protected]. The for parents/guardians wanting to enrol Archdiocese has a legal obligation to report their children in the Sacrament of 4th Sunday of Lent | Year B | Sun 14th March 2021 crimes to the police. Reconciliation. Supporting our Parish: Stations of the Cross Please note that children in Years 3 The Stations of the Cross, a traditional (1) Offering envelopes or the Planned Giving or above will be eligible after proper Program Lenten prayer form, will be prayed (2) Online Donations via the website preparation. each Friday of Lent at 7pm in the (3) Cashless tap devices Church. Fire in Georges Hall (4) Collection - the 1st collection is for Lenten Reflections Archdiocesan priests and the 2nd collection is Sadly, there was a house fire recently in The Archdiocese’s Go Make Disciples Lenten for parish expenses. Georges Hall, the occupier of the house, a parishioner (who wishes to remain Companion hosts a weekly online Lenten group PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR anonymous) needs our help. This weekend, 15 Georges Cres, Georges Hall and provides a Lenten Companion resource to PRAYERS: we will be taking up a collection to help this ✆ Phone: 9727 3759 accompany you through your Lenten Journey, to Sick: Bourke Gibbons, Christina Apolinari, family in need. Website: www.smgh.org.au access both: www.gomakedisciples.org.au. Or, Daniel Matesic, Daniel Clarke, David Sanders collect a Lenten Companion Resource from the Eileen Ellery, Heather Graham, Irma Buoro Choir Practice back of the church. Parish Priest: Fr Lawrence Cauchi John Sanders, Kerry Gibbons, Margaret Ward There will be choir practice on Thursday 18 Marie Reic, Mary Strambio, Phillip Nehme March at 7.00pm in preparation for the E: [email protected] Project Compassion Romela Onkowidjaja, Rosa Agostino 10.00am Mass on Sunday 21 March This year, the theme of Project Compassion is Tamara Kalass, Tony Strambio, Vic Ryan 2021.New members are always welcome. Secretary: Veronica Dening “Be More.” It challenges us to venture into a Warren Clarke. Please ring Pat Falvy on 0425 219 660 E: [email protected] new experience of compassion, to “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” Please collect Recently Deceased: Antonia Simeone, Facebook: fb.me/smgh2 Project Compassion boxes or envelopes and Bishop Bede Heather, George Voss Youth Group: Ephesus Mass Streaming: https://cutt.ly/StMarys return them to the back of the Church at Easter. Sunday fortnight 6pm - 7.30pm Anniversaries: Michael Grimes Costello Palms and Olive Branches Hanah May King, Robert Tozer , Maria Instagram: @smghephesus SUNDAY MASSES Palms and olive branches are needed for Passion Azzopardi, Joe Condello, John David Mayo Contact: Grace Mokdassi Saturday Vigil: 5pm Sunday. If you can donate some Purita Marindo, Vincent Mendez [email protected] Sunday: 8am, 10am, 5pm please bring to the church on Dean Howarth, Joan Patricia Costello Friday 26 March and place in the Donald Jeffcoate, Malcom Gibbons A huge thank you to everyone who joined us Vietnamese Masses: chapel. You are welcome to bring Cardinal James Freeman, Melva Baker, last Sunday! Our next night will be the last of Sat. Vigil: 6.30pm & Sunday: 3pm some for personal use on Passion Mick Baker, Molly Duff, Stasya Koualiauskas our Lenten Series. We’ll be discussing the Sunday. Thank you. Stan Kavaliauskas , Yvonne Beale, Lumia Dayha Resurrection and how we know it’s true! Bring Weekday Masses: Ronnie Boukaram, Luigina Fabbro a friend! Tuesday: 6pm Rosters George Stevenson, Ivy Dickson (Preceded by Holy Hour at 5pm) Acolytes, Commentators, Readers, Extraordinary Bishop Patrick Murphy, Peter Anthony Hunt St Mary’s Primary School Wednesday - Friday: 9am Ministers of Holy Communion - if you are available Eric Willoughby Ph: 9727 0000 to assist at any Mass on Passion Sunday and www.stmgeorgeshall.catholic.edu.au (Preceded by the Rosary at 8.45am) Eternal rest grant unto them Easter Sunday please write your details on the sheets at the back of the church. Thank you. O Lord and let perpetual light shine 2022 Enrolments are now open for our school. Reconciliation: upon them. May all the souls of all the Families are welcome to come to the school Saturday 4pm or by appointment Communion to the Sick faithful departed, through the mercy of office to collect an enrolment pack and book a Feast of St. Patrick - Wed. 17th March Anyone intending to take Holy Communion to God, rest in peace. Amen. tour of the school. Tours are held every Feast of St. Joseph - Fri. 19th March the sick, please speak to Father Laurie prior to Tuesday. Bookings are essential. Mass Join us to celebrate at 9am Mass.