John the Baptist Catholic Parish Mount Street, Bonnyrigg Heights
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John the Baptist Catholic Parish Mount Street, Bonnyrigg Heights (incorporating Bonnyrigg Heights, Green Valley, Edensor Park, Abbotsbury, Cecil Hills & Elizabeth Hills) Parish Administrator: Rev Fr James McCarthy Parish Pastoral Centre: Email: [email protected] 45 Mount Street, Bonnyrigg Heights, 2177 Assistant: Rev Fr Phan Nguyen Office: 9823 2572 Fax: 9822 9954 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] website: www.johnthebaptist.org.au Deacon: Rev Mervyn Francis Email: [email protected] Parish Secretary: Leanne Lang Bookkeeper: Yvonne Smolinski Youth Ministry Co-ordinator: Joe Sullivan Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Tuesday- Friday 10am to 4pm MASSES THIS WEEK Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) PSALTER 3 21st and 22nd January, 2017 ‘Prayer of the Church’ Morning Prayer is prayed at St John the Baptist “From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, ‘Repent, for the 10 minutes prior to kingdom of heaven is close at hand’” ( Cf. Matthew 4: 17) weekday morning Masses The Gospel according to Matthew in today’s reading introduces us the moment of Jesus’ public ministry. On this episode of the Gospel according to Matthew, we encounter the Monday - No Mass moment of change and renewal in the land of Jesus’ upbringing Galilee. This change was Tuesday - 9:10am St Francis de Sales, bishop, not about geographies or about politics. It was the change on the understanding about the doctor prophecy and the message of Saint John the Baptist. For John Rappai (sick) This starting point of Jesus’ public ministry, according to Mathew, happened after the Wednesday - 7:00pm arrest of Saint John the Baptist. We can see that the message of Saint John the Baptist was The Conversion of St Paul, continued by Jesus in Galilee. The beginning of Jesus’ public ministry in Galilee as apostle Mathew interprets is the fulfillment of the prophecy (Matthew 4: 15-16). Historically, the For the soul of Arcadio Napuli Thursday - 9:10am tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali occupied lands north and west of the Sea Galilee. In the Australia Day eight century BC, these territories were overrun by the expanding Assyrian Empire and the Friday - 9:10am Israelites inhabited in these lands were hauled off into exile (2 Kings 15:29). St Angela Merici, virgin It is very interesting to note that the imperial policies of Assyria deported most of the Sts Timothy and Titus educated and influential persons of Israel and made them servants somewhere else in the Saturday - 9:10am St Thomas Aquinas, priest, empire, while they left much of the peasant population behind in the land. It was this doctor painful memory from Israel’s past that stood behind the darkness and death spoken by the prophet Isaiah – “the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those who NEXT SUNDAY dwelling in a land overshadowing by death light has arisen” (cf. Isaiah 8:23-9:1). The SUNDAY 28/29 JANUARY beginning of Jesus’ mission at his upbringing town gives a significant change to the ( Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Galileans. It suggests that those Israelites experienced the darkness of conquest and exile Time) will now be the first to see the light of God’s goodness in the person of Jesus, the Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:30pm Sunday Masses : prophesied Messiah. 8:00am, 10 :00am and 5:30pm It is important to keep in mind the subject of Jesus' preaching which expresses the same 4th Sunday of the Month: massage of Saint John the Baptist that is “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at 5:30pm Mass in Tagalog hand”. This is what Jesus and his disciples have done and we now in our time continue to Reconciliation: listen and bring this message to the end of the earth as Jesus’ command. The message urges Saturdays— 4:15 - 5:00pm the audience to change the direction of their lives, to adopt a new way of thinking and acting. Why ‘Repentance’ is important for the kingdom of heaven? Repentance is the effort Reflection Questions one deliberately makes to turn away from all that is sinful and selfish and to accept the ♦ Simon, Andrew, James and responsibility and the consequence of one’s action in accordance with the laws of God. In John all “left their nets” to other words, repentance is the act of one making commitment to live up the commandments follow Jesus. At this point in my life, what I have to leave of God and avoid sins. Indeed, repentance is one of the important conditions for one to gain in order to follow Jesus access to the kingdom of heaven. Repentance is the acceptance of one’s failure before God. more fully is.. It signifies the transformation of one’s attitude from pride to humility. One cannot ♦ I experience the inbreaking of the “gospel of the recognize his or her sins, shortcomings or weaknesses until he or she possesses the merits kingdom” when.. of repentance. We can see clearly that the kingdom of heaven in which proclaimed by Jesus ♦ Encountering Jesus’ Presence, the new teaching fulfills by his words and actions. Yes, Jesus humbled himself and became man. And Yes I hear is.. Jesus taught us to follow his example to find the entrance to the Kingdom of Light. So let ♦ The new healing is us start to live up the message which Jesus has given to us “Repent, for the kingdom of experience is.. ♦ The new Life I receive is.. heaven is close at hand”. Fr. Phan Nguyen Your Prayers are requested for the following, YOUTH CORNER for whom Mass will be offered: Sick : Fr John LANGTRY, Archbishop Anthony FISHER, Youth Prayer Intentions and Mass Sebastian AGUIAR, Maria KONTREC, Bishop George All the youth and young adults of JB Parish are invited PHIMPISAN, Fr John CHIANG, Maila CORKILL, Fahed JREISAT, to the weekly Wednesday night Mass to pray for Emmanuel ARAPA, Bishop Geoffrey ROBINSON, specific intentions (which will change each week). Anna MILLZARSKI, Bogdan MILLZARSKI, Justin ZERAFA, There will be a chance to celebrate Mass, pray for the Carmen SPITERI, Audrey SPITERI, Christine TRIGAS, intention during the Holy Hour as well as some time for fellowship with other youth. So please join us this Crystel SACOBOS, Guido BADINO, Sue SHERMAN, Wednesday 25th January at 7:00pm as we pray for the following Emmanuel POLJAK, Ciro PUNZO, Valerie McCARTHY, intention: For a safe and Christ-centred year in our hearts, Pamela LEVERS, Lily TANTIYA, Cecilia ABELA, Brindley & homes, lives and families If you would like to offer an intention Virginia CAVALLARO, Sarah CANCERI, Doug ANDERSON, one week, please contact Joe to do so. Come along for a chance Darren OWM, Joe SAMMUT, Giannino MORASSUT, to pray the rosary, celebrate Mass and worship Jesus in Diana VUKOV, Florence JIANG, Isabel TANTIYA, Eucharistic Adoration. Nguyet-Thi-PHAM, John CODNER, Robin ISHAC, Nancy VARTULI, Tan LE, Bibeth BUENCAMINO, Rhea Mae ABRAHAMS, Felicitas VALENCIA, Presley PETILLA, Bruno BORSATO, John RAPPAI Recently Deceased: Barbara JONG, Doris LIGHTOWER, Maria Here in our parish, we are starting the Youth Film Series, known as TRAN My Linh, Giuse TRINH Tong Chi, Donald JULIEN, Mirella Youth Alpha . This will be occurring once a fortnight and is BORSATO, Alma WOODS designed for those who are in years 10, 11 & 12 and anyone who Death Anniversary: Peter Nghia TRAN has recently finished school. It will be a chance for us to come Other: Arcadio NAPULI, Special Intention together to discuss Jesus and feel connected with God for just one hour every two weeks. There will be opportunities for us to come BIBLE STUDY: Every Thursday 10am - 11am together socially over some food and drink also. More details are to follow next week, so please make sure to read next week’s Gathers in the Church Meeting Room (after the bulletin for further details. 9:10am Mass and Rosary). For further information Please keep this in mind if you are trying to make more room for please contact Meding on 9823 7121 or 0410 177 673. God in your life but struggling to do so. This is something suitable for young people and is always fun and engaging. Make a New Years Resolution - Become involved in a Ministry! St John the Baptist Catholic Parish is a welcoming, supportive community of believers inspired to live and share the life of Jesus DEVOTIONS TO HONOUR OF LADY OF LOURDES Christ. We are called to make Christ present in our parish, local Mass and Blessing of the Sick will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes community and our world. Our mission is to know Christ and to make Grotto, Earlwood, on Sunday 12th February (behind Our Lady of him known; to be a community committed to discovering Christ Lourdes Church, Earlwood), entrance via St James Avenue, present in each person through our ministry to each other, our service commencing with recitation of the Rosary at 2:30pm followed by to the wider community, the joyful celebration of the Eucharist and Mass and the Blessing of the Sick at 3:00pm. The Principal other sacraments, and our active concern for social justice. celebrant will be Bishop Richard Umbers. By participating in ministries within the parish, parishioners grow in Disabled Parking will be limited to the main drive entrance to the their love and relationship with God. All Christians are called to share Grotto. Parking is also available in the surrounding streets and their God-given talents to promote the life of Christ and His Church. Council car park. Ministries are involved in all facets of the Parish life, ranging from Liturgical, Faith Development, Administration and Service together TOOLS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD with Prayer Groups, Mission and Social Justice.