Dimboola – Horsham – Murtoa – Natimuk - Rupanyup - Nhill

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time –3rd February 2019 PRAYER FOR SICK and CARERS Compassionate and ever-loving God, You are the source and creator of all healing power. We entrust our sick to your loving care. We pray your blessings upon all in

their own homes, in hospitals, nursing Our School families and Parishioners homes, hospice care, palliative care. May You be their source of comfort are invited to when they experience pain, their PARISH CONTACTS SMJ School Opening Mass Parish : Fr. Peter Hudson source of hope in moments of despair, this Friday February 8th at 9.30am Parish Secretary: Anita Masiero sorrow, woundedness, their in SMJ Church. inspiration and solace when they are 10 Roberts Avenue, Horsham 3400 PO Box 212, Horsham Vic 3402 unable to lift their hearts, minds and Phone:5382 1155. Fax: 5382 3016 School Staff Commissioning Mass voices to You in prayer. Bless them all

[email protected] next Sunday February 10th at 10.30 with the courage and faith to place Diocesan Website: and a Cuppa after. their trust in your healing touch and www.ballarat.catholic.org.au healing love.

SCHOOLS SBC Yr 12 Retreat February 6 to 8. Bless caregivers, as channels of your Ss Michael & John Primary SBC Yr 7 Camp at Robe Feb 13 - 15. love, they are your very hands on Principal: Andrea Cox earth. Give them gentleness as they Phone: 5382 3000 SMJ Family Night and Tea this help the sick, to respect their dignity St Brigid’s College Thursday February 7th from 5.30 in and value to You. Principal: Peter Gutteridge Give them patience as they manage Phone: 5382 3545 the School grounds. their time, to best serve those who are Our Lady Help of Christians SBC Opening Mass Monday Feb 18 needful of their care. Give them Acting Principal: Cathy Grace Phone: 5385 2526 in SMJ Church at 9.30am. courage to continue to serve when weakened by constant demands and We welcome Fr John OLHC Murtoa Opening Mass at when they need your enduring help. 12nn on Tuesday February 26th in St Give them love and understanding to Mary’s Church. be a caring companion, on the path of Feastday of pain and sadness with the sick. St Alfonso St Patrick’s Nhill Opening Mass on Bless the ministry of those who take Maria Fusco, Sunday February 17th at 10am. Holy Communion to the sick, elderly, Founder of and those in Homes and in Hospital. ASH WEDNESDAY is March 6th. the Baptistine Sisters, is this LENTEN GROUPS: This year’s The Sacrament of Reconciliation for Thursday Feb 7 Children in Grade 3 and above will be theme is Trust. Anyone interested in We will holding a home group meeting, please prepared for in Term 1. Parent Infor- celebrate the sign the Sheet in the Foyer today with mation Night will be on Tuesday February 26th at 7pm in the Parish Feastday with your phone number and time. These Mass in SMJ Church at Centre. The Sacrament will be meetings will commence on the week celebrated on Wednesday March 27th 5pm this Friday February starting Monday 11th March and go from 5 to 6pm, and on Thursday 28th 8th, with an invitation to tea through to Palm Sunday. For further from 5 to 6pm, and 7 to 8pm. with the Sisters after Mass information on these meetings, please Eucharist and Confirmation Masses in the Parish Centre. see Fr. Peter or Anita in the Office. June 15 & 16, 22 & 23.

WEEKDAY MASSES: Tuesday 5 Feb 5.30pm Andrew Taylor anniv PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION God, my creator, breathe on me, renew St Paul Miki & Companions. O.P.Jose ann Wed 6th Feb 9.30am me, refresh me, extend my abilities, St Josephine Bakhita. UN Day to end Slavery comfort me in adjusting to changes in health, mobility and activity. Body of Thursday 7th AWC 9.30am Christ flow through every fibre of my 9.30 SMJ School Opening Mass being. Keep me well, and hope filled, always. Friday 8th Feb 5pm Feastday Mass of St Alfonso Maria Fusco Holy Spirit use me in my situation, for the good of others. Amen Saturday 9 Feb 10am D’Agostin annivs. Please Remember in Your Prayers ROSTERS RECENT DEATHS: Peter Glare, Len Friend, 2/3 Feb 2019 Vigil 6.30pm Sunday 10.30am Margaret Rose Lane (Perth, Joan Lane-Storey’s mother) John Parker Faye Wills Simon Lynch Bob Pritchett ANNIVERSARIES: Silvio & Reginetta D’Agostin, Bob Hayes Cate Rigby Eucharistic Andrew Taylor, Irene Gannon, Lucy O’Toole Anne Newton Tim Lannen Ministers SICK: Brian Rice, Carmel Cannard, Joan Glen, Debbie Geoff Simpson Alison McKinnon Nolan, Ken Dowsley, Una Bartlett, Cathy Mintern, Fleur Sr Tirsa Bale Kingsley Dalgleish Anthony Amor Karen Hill Armstrong, Jill & Christie Higginbottom, Rosetta Cafarella, Betty Fitzgerald, Heather McPhee, Maurice Brennan, Ailsa Commentator Tess Hayes Dianne Noy Swalwell, Sr Geraldine Stapleton, Rachel O’Connor, Maree 9/10 Feb 2019 Vigil 6.30pm Sunday 10.30am Frew, Brian O’Loughlin, John McNamara, Zander Fergusson, Readers Sr Jacinta Rice Bob Pritchett Emergency Care: Contact Betty 53826688 Commentator Peter Gutteridge Andrea Cox Confessions on Saturday after 10am Mass (10.25) Sr Jacinta Rice Anna Robertson Each Saturday Morning: Bernadette Trounce Neville Strachan Joan Parker Lynda Hutchinson Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 9 to 9.20 Maree Plazzer Rosie Taylor Ministers Rosary 9.30. Prayer of the Church 9.40. Mass 10am Micky Robarts Zita Cannane Lorraine Clancy Mary Dalgleish Next Sunday 2nd Sunday of the Month Pat Glaubitz Andrea Cox 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 10th February 2018 Projector Anita Masiero Shayne Keenan Horsham Saturday - 6.30pm. Sunday - 10.30am Musicians Chris Robarts Men’s Choir Dimboola Sunday Mass 8.30am Gavin Hynam Mary Dowsley Welcomers Murtoa Sunday Mass 8.30am Judy Bryan Nanette Freckleton Nhill Sunday Mass 10.00am Prayers Lesley Price & Mary Dalgleish 10th February 17th February Rosary, Litany of Mary & Divine Mercy Chaplet Church Helen Hunter Zita Cannane HORSHAM Wednesdays at 4.30pm. All welcome. Cleaning & Margaret Fischer Mary Lawson Flower Dianne Quinn Lorraine Clancy Regular Activities in the Parish Arranging Maureen McInerney Veronica Barker Craft Group Every Monday - Parish Meeting Room Mornings - 9.30am to 11.30am. Evening - 7pm to 9pm. BYO FINANCE: 1st Collection (Presbytery Account): Craft - Gold Coin Donation. Contact Anita at Parish Office Natimuk $ 30.00 Murtoa $ 72.00 Meditation Group: Church Meeting Room Tuesdays 2.00pm. Horsham $ 853.00 Dimboola $ 47.00 CWL Meetings 1st Tuesday of Month 1.30pm. Meeting Room. Total $ 1002.00 Men’s Group Meeting will be at the 3rd Thursday of the 2nd Collection (Parish Account) month in the Parish Centre. Contact Patrick 0428847455 Envelopes $ 1031.00 Loose $ 52.40 St Vincent de Paul Conference. Meets twice monthly. Available Total $ 1083.40 Monday & Friday 11am-12pm for assistance. Phone 53812371 BAPTISM PREPARATION. 3rd Thursday of month at 7.30pm. Sharing the Tradition: ‘The mission of Christ and the Holy For appointment contact Parish Office 53821155. Spirit is brought to completion in the Church. At the heart of the church’s action in the world is the program adopted by CHOIR PRACTICE 2nd Wednesday 6pm in the Church Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth. The continuation of the mission to bring hope to the hopeless and inclusion to the Affordable Counselling from Centacare Ballarat, for outcast motivates many agencies of the church, both locally families, individuals. Free Call 1300 303 988 for appointment and globally. All Christians have a role to play in this task: ‘By living with the mind of Christ, Christians hasten the coming of Pope’s Francis’ First 2019 address: Prayer involves the reign of God, a kingdom of justice, love and peace’. recognising myself as God’s beloved Child. Christians are not Symbols and Images: This episode marks the first of better than other people, but they do know that God is their many rejections experienced by Jesus. The final rejection Father and they are called “to reflect a ray of his goodness in was, of course, to lead to the cross, but the cross is not the this world thirsting for goodness, waiting for good news”. end of the story, nor is this rejection in Nazareth. Jesus Proclaiming the Beatitudes, Jesus affirms the blessedness simply slips away and continues on the path h has chosen. and happiness of “a series of categories of people, who, in Daily Prayer: God of the prophets, your love reaches far his time, but also in ours, are not particularly esteemed. beyond the boundaries of covenant and command. Blessed are the poor, the meek, the merciful, the humble of Redeemed by a love so patient and kind, may we offer that heart. This is the revolution of the Gospel! Where the Gospel same love to others and so proclaim you to the world by the is, there is revolution because the Gospel does not leave witness of our lives. things as they were”. The core of the Sermon on the Mount is Marriage Tip: Courtesy goes a long way in marriage. “You are sons and daughters of God who is in heaven”, which calls “May I?” one of the three “magic words” of is why Jesus then teaches the crowd to pray the Our Father. family life. Being polite and kind to your family members is A Christian knows how to stand before God with awe, to call always a good idea. upon him and try to reflect his goodness in the world. “If you Vocational View: The Lord says: "Before I formed you in go to Church, live like a child [of God] and like a brother or the womb I knew you; before you were born I dedicated you." sister” to others. “He asks only that we keep open a channel Always listen to an Old Friend. of communication with him to discover continually that we are his beloved children.” “Never discourage anyone who continually “A Journey can become a sacred thing” makes progress, no matter how slow”

Country Mass Times: VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED Feb 10th: Murtoa 8.30. Dimboola 8.30am. Nhill 10am The St Vinnies Retail Shop in David Feb 17th: Murtoa 8.30. Dimboola 8.30am. Nhill 10am Street, Horsham desperately require Feb 24th: Natimuk 8.30. Murtoa 8.30. Dimboola 11.30 volunteers to sort and price in the store. Nhill 10am The shop is open 7 days a week Interested people must be over the age of 15 years Plenary Council 2020 - If interested please contact the store on Listening and Dialogue Encounters 53824003. You will be required to fill out Everyone is invited to participate in the Listening an application form, have a Working with Children’s Check and Dialogue process to contribute to the Plenary and a Police Check. Council agenda. Information Cards are available in the Foyer, At 10.30 Mass next Sunday February 10th, and more information on the Diocesan website Sr Maureen Bourke, a Loreto, and a former Youth Leader in the Ballarat Diocese, will speak on her www.ballarat.catholic.org.au. All of us are invited to reflect on the question: ministry of teaching Maths to children in South “What do you think God is asking of us in Australia Sudan. We commission the School Staff that day at this time?” Questions for individuals or groups: CWL MEETING DATES 1. What do you think God is asking of us in Our Horsham CWL celebrates Australia at this time? 90 years this year. 2. What questions do you have about the future of CWL meets this Tuesday 5th February at 10.30am in the Church for the Plenary Council to consider in the Parish Meeting Room, and on Tuesday 5th March at 2020? 10.30am in the Church Meeting Room. 3. Do you have a story of your experience of faith, or the Church you would like to share? 29 January 2019 School and Parish Communities

I write to you from Ballarat this morning where I attended the Our Parish Gatherings are in the Central Zone Mass to mark the beginning of the Catholic Ed- Parish Centre on ucation year. Our theme for the year is: Listen with the Ear of Tuesday 19th February at 7pm Your Heart. In order to discern the way forward when courage and compassion are needed, we must first do our Thursday February 21st at 2pm own “inner work”: Authentic hearts are needed to Leslie Price will lead these Gatherings. persevere on the journey we are beginning. There is the utter necessity of doing our own ‘inner work’ so that Responses need to be submitted by Ash Wednes- courageous and compassionate conversations happen. day, March 6th, at www.plenarycouncil.org.au They will not happen if we hold any resentment towards others, or if, in the pursuit of the particular passion of our The Ballarat Diocesan Historical Commission meets four own hearts, we fail to listen to our fellow travellers. With- times a year in Ballarat. Members are interested in the history out a profound awareness of our emotions and how we of the whole Diocese. Nominations for four vacancies on the share them… the road will be too long and difficult for us, Commission are being sought. Contact: The Archivist, Catho- too many obstacles around and within us, and our great lic Diocese of Ballarat, PO Box 121, Ballarat 3353 or Email: little hearts will just give up. [email protected]. au As our students begin provide a little space for that “inner

St Josephine Bakhita - the of Sudan. Feastday work” and the ‘deep listening” which might prepare our authentic hearts for the journey we share together in Catholic February 8th. Born in 1869 she was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery. She suffered great cruelty for over 14 years Education and in our Church community this year. We pray and eventually found safety in Italy. May we remember the as we enter into this school year that the times of “deep many who today live in slavery as well as our South Suda- listening” and our attention to “inner work” may help us to nese friends whose relatives in Sudan live with daily violence. make space to listen to God’s call to each of us and to our Diocesan Education community. May we be fully present with “Let us fruitfully transmit to those who come after us the those who accompany us on this journey and may we contin- example of virtue we have received from those who ue as partners in Catholic Education, and open to God’s have come before us.” presence in pursuing fulness of life for all. Every blessing for the year, Audrey Brown, Director of Catholic Education Rite of Election for those on the RCIA journey, at St Patrick’s Cathedral, on Saturday 2nd March at 12.30pm. Jasmine Smith whom we received into the fullness of the Parish Pastoral Council Members: Church on Saturday 26th January, will attend. Chris Robarts (Chair), Peter Gutteridge, Andrea Cox, Fr Peter, Lesley Price, Alison McKinnon, Daryl Wren, Bob ‘Love is patient, love is kind.’ The Australian Jesuit theolo- Pritchett,Garry Heinrich, Marg Kingham, Cathy Grace gian Gerald O’Collins, treasures today’s reading from 1 Corin- Joan Lane-Storey, Anita Masiero (Sec) thians 13: It comes alive repeatedly when I substitute the name of “Jesus” or “my own name” for “love.” ‘[Jesus] is patient, [Jesus] is kind. [Jesus] is not jealous, is not pompous, Child Safety Standards. Ss Michael & John Parish has [Jesus] is not inflated, is not rude, [Jesus] does not seek his Bob Pritchett as our Safeguarding Officer. We have a own interests, is not quick-tempered, [Jesus] does not brood over injury, [Jesus] does not rejoice over wrongdoing but Child Safety Policy to ensure the safety and wellbeing rejoices with the truth. [Jesus] bears all things, believes all of children in our care. A Child Safety Code of Conduct things, hopes all things, endures all things.’ has been adopted for all who work with children in the

Parish Pastoral Council Meeting Thursday Feb 21st. Parish. Our Parish seeks to always be a child safe Parish

First Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 my mother's womb you have been Gospel Acclamation: Luke 4:18 In the days of Josiah, the word of the my help. Alleluia, alleluia! The Lord sent me to Lord was addressed to me, saying, My lips will tell of your justice and bring Good News to the poor and 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew day by day of your help. O God, you freedom to prisoners. Alleluia! you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I have appointed you have taught me from my youth and I Gospel: Luke 4:21-30 as prophet to the nations. So now brace proclaim your wonders still. Jesus began to speak in the synagogue, yourself for action. Stand up and tell I will sing of your salvation. 'This text is being fulfilled today even as them all I command you. Do not be Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: you listen.' And he won the approval of dismayed at their presence, or in their Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I all, and they were astonished by the presence I will make you dismayed. I, for am going to show you a way that is gracious words that came from his lips. my part, today will make you into a better than any of them. If I have all the They said, 'This is Joseph's son surely?' fortified city, a pillar of iron, and a wall of eloquence of men or of angels, but But he replied, 'No doubt you will quote bronze to confront all this land: the kings speak without love, I am simply a gong me the saying, "Physician, heal yourself" of Judah, its princes, its and the booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have and tell me, "We have heard all that country people. They will fight against the gift of prophecy, understanding all happened in Capernaum, do the same you but shall not overcome you, for I am the mysteries there are, and knowing here in your own countryside."' And he with you to deliver you—it is the Lord everything, and if I have faith in all its went on, 'I tell you solemnly, no prophet who speaks.' fullness, to move mountains, but without is ever accepted in his own country. Responsorial Psalm: Ps 70:1-6, 15, love, then I am nothing at all. If I give 'There were many widows in Israel, I can I will sing of your salvation. away all that I possess, piece by piece, assure you, in Elijah's day, when heaven remained shut for three years and six In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me months and a great famine raged never be put to shame. in your throughout the land, but Elijah was not justice rescue me, free me: pay heed no good whatever. Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love sent to any one of these: he was sent to to me and save me. is never boastful or conceited; it is never the widow at Zarephath, a Sidonian Be a rock where I can take refuge, a rude or selfish; it does not take offence, town. And in the prophet Elisha's time there were many lepers in Israel, but mighty stronghold to save me; for and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins but none of these was cured, except the you are my rock, my stronghold. Free Syrian, Naaman.' When they head this me from the hand of the wicked. delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure everyone in the synagogue was It is you, O Lord, who are my hope, whatever comes. Love does not come to enraged. They sprang to their feet and my trust, O Lord, since my youth. On an end. In short, there are three things hustled him out of the town; and they you I have leaned from my birth, from that last: faith, hope and love; and the took him up to the brow of the hill their greatest of these is love. town was built on, intending to throw him down the cliff, but he slipped away.

Gospel Reflection – 4th Sunday Yr C against the neighbouring Syrians and town of Galilean Jews would resort to Veronica Lawson rsm Phoenicians. Their history is largely one murdering one of their own for what they This week’s gospel reading continues of conflict with neighbours, of struggle for see as a verbal assault. It would seem the story of Jesus in the synagogue at survival, and some are unwilling to that the gospel writer is putting elements Nazareth. At first he is universally relinquish their unhealed local and ethnic of later stories about violent treatment of accepted: the people of Nazareth marvel grievances. This story is about power Jesus and his followers into this episode at the gracious words he utters. They and control. When Jesus suggests that in order to foreshadow what is to come. identify him as Joseph’s son. By the end God’s prophetic and healing power is The story thus becomes a microcosm of of the story, however, these people accessible to and may even be more the gospel as a whole. When the actually try to kill him. So, what happens readily received among foreigners than message is comforting, the messenger is in between to cause such a dramatic within Israel, the anger of those who well received. When it is less palatable, change of heart? These are religious consider themselves “the chosen” knows the messenger is in danger of being people, not an unruly street mob. They no bounds: it spills over into violence. attacked or manipulated, more often than are friends of the family. They are They have little patience with the implicit not at the hands of people who are familiar with their sacred texts and criticism of their attitudes to outsiders basically good people like us. traditions and presumably want to and the challenge of his prophetic words. Unchecked assumptions, deep-seated understand them more fully. In fact, they One of the problems with the narrative is biases, and uncontrolled emotions will are like many of us who take time out on that Jesus seems to be deliberately function to bring the anointed prophet of a weekly basis to come together for provoking a negative reaction. There are the God of Israel to a violent death. This worship and prayer. These people seem other problems as well: there is no cliff in story invites us to check our assumptions to be carrying a sense of exclusive Nazareth from which the enraged crowd and our biases lest we turn to physical, entitlement to God’s favour, as well as could cast him to his death, and it is verbal, or emotional violence in the face some deeply entrenched prejudices highly unlikely that people of this tiny of a prophetic challenge.

Next Sunday’s Gospel: Luke 5:1-11 catch.' 'Master,' Simon replied 'we worked hard made; so also were James and John, sons of Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of all night long and caught nothing, but if you say Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. But Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round so, I will pay out the nets.' And when they had Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid; from him listening to the word of God, when he done this they netted such a huge number of now on it is men you will catch.' Bringing their caught sight of two boats close to the bank. fish that their nets began to tear, so they boats back to land, they followed him. The fishermen had gone out of them and were signalled to their companions in the other boat washing their nets. He got into one of the boats to come and help them; when these came, Fr Peter attends the 100th birthday - it was Simon's - and asked him to put out a they filled the two boats to sinking point. When of his cousin Sr Caroline Deurscher little from the shore. Then he sat down and Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of a Loreto Sister, at Nazareth House taught the crowds from the boat. When he Jesus saying, 'Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful Ballarat, this Monday February 4th. had finished speaking he said to Simon, 'Put man.' For he and all his companions were I will be home here for the SBC Yr 7 out into deep water and pay out your nets for a completely overcome by the catch they had Family tea on Monday night