Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year A

We come together to hear the story that God loves us with a love that surpasses all understanding; to break the bread of the Eucharist, so that we might be broken as Bread in service to others; that through our belief in Jesus, we may joyfully go forth knowing that our lives have purpose and that we will live forever.

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, Year B 14 February , 2021

Reflection St Brendan’s We know that we will all have to face some - 34 Collins Street, Annandale

kind of suffering, and so we try to prepare

St Michael’s Catholic Church ourselves for it. Yet when it comes, as - 69 Clarendon Road, Stanmore prepared as we try to be, it can overtake us Postal Address: with such fury that we fall back defenceless. 34 Collins Street, We look to others for support and Annandale 2038 assistance, and if we are fortunate, we find Parish Office Hours it. However, even in the most supportive of Tuesday, Thursday and Friday communities, suffering tends to alienate us 8:30am to 3.00pm from those who are healthy and secure.

Suffering reminds us of our own finitude and the contingent nature of all of life. It threatens our sense of order. Email: [email protected] Jesus is not deterred by human suffering. He welcomes all who approach him; Website: his healing touch reincorporates those who have been ostracised; his loving www.stbrendan.org.au embrace reassociates those who have been alienated. In the reign of God, there are no outsiders. All belong to Jesus, and, therefore, all belong to each other. When the one afflicted is embraced by the community, the community is an authentic manifestation of the inclusive reign of God. St Michael’s School In suffering we witness human vulnerability and our desperate need of each Principal: Mrs Allison Travers other and of God. There, at the edge of life and on the fringes of the Telephone: 9569 7479 community, we may experience the tenderness and compassion of God. The Mass Times This Week loving touch of Christ that can heal our souls, if not our bodies. It is there that St Brendan’s: we may most authentically participate in the cross of Christ. Joined to him we Wednesday - 9.10am are anything but unproductive or worthless. Thursday - 9.10am © Dianne Bergant CSA Friday - 9.10am Sunday - 9.30am Loving God, at times we each in our differing ways feel as though we are outcasts –

St Michael: alienated from you and each other. When that darkness comes upon us, send us your Spirit Saturday - 5.30pm to help us turn to Jesus. He knows our pain and isolation. May his love touch and heal us. We ask this in his name confident that you will hear us. Baptism Bookings Baptisms will be held only at St Brendan’s till further notice every third Sunday of the month at 11.00am. Please contact the parish for all Baptism enquiries. Project Compassion Sunday 14 February Marriage Please take home a Project Compassion box and/or a set of By appointment only. donation envelopes and support Caritas this Six months notice required. Lenten season themed “Be More”. Rosary: The Rosary is recited at St As Saint Oscar Romero said, “Aspire not to have more, but Brendan’s on the last Sunday of the to be more.” month. Through your generosity and by aspiring to “Be More”, you PLEASE NOTE: An extended are assisting some of the world’s most vulnerable people version of the bulletin can be build better futures for themselves, their families and their found on the parish website. communities. Thank you for being more!

You can donate through Parish boxes and envelopes, or by visiting www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or phoning 1800 024 413.

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, Year B 14 February, 2021

Entrance Antiphon Gospel: Mk 1:40-45 Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. A reading from the holy Gospel ac- For you are my rock, my stronghold! cording to Mark Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name. The leprosy left him and he was cured. First Reading: Lv 13:1-2. 44-46 A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on A reading from the book of Leviticus his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you As long as he is unclean, he must live alone, outside can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his the camp. hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘If a swelling or scab or cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. shiny spot appears on a man’s skin, a case of leprosy of Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, the skin is to be suspected. The man must be taken to ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show Aaron, the priest, or to one of the priests who are his sons. yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your ‘The man is leprous: he is unclean. The priest must declare healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your him unclean; he is suffering from leprosy of the head. A recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking man infected with leprosy must wear his clothing torn and about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that his hair disordered; he must shield his upper lip and cry, Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to “Unclean, unclean”. As long as the disease lasts he must stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people be unclean; and therefore he must live apart; he must live from all around would come to him. outside the camp.’ Communion Antiphon Responsorial Psalm: Ps 31:1-2. 5. 11. R. v.7 God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life. (R.) I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation. © The scriptural quotations are taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Co Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. Happy the man whose offence is forgiven, whose sin is The English translation of the Psalm Responses, the Alleluia and Gospel Verses, remitted. O happy the man to whom the Lord imputes no and the Lenten Gospel Acclamations, and the Titles, Summaries, and Conclusion guilt, in whose spirit is no guile. (R.) of the Readings, from the Lectionary for Mass © 1997, 1981, 1968, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. The prayers are from the English Translation of the Roman Missal © 2010 But now I have acknowledged my sins; my guilt I did not International Committee on English in the Liturgy Inc. (ICEL). All rights hide. I said: ‘I will confess my offence to the Lord.’ And reserved. you, Lord, have forgiven the guilt of my sin. (R.) ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord, exult, you just! O come, ring If you're watching Mass online or on TV, you can say this out your joy, all you upright of heart. (R.) prayer at the time of Communion. My Jesus, I believe that you are present in Second Reading: 1 Cor 10:31 – 11:1 the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians all things and I desire you in my soul. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Since I cannot now receive You Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever you do sacramentally, come at least spiritually at all, do it for the glory of God. Never do anything into my heart. I embrace You as though offensive to anyone – to Jews or Greeks or to the Church You were already there, and unite myself of God; just as I try to be helpful to everyone at all times, wholly to You. Never permit that I should not anxious for my own advantage but for the advantage ever be separated from You. Amen. of everybody else, so that they may be saved. Take me for your model, as I take Christ. PLEASE NOTE: From this Friday, February 12, an unlimited number of people can attend Mass, provided that theone Gospel Acclamation person per 2m2 rule is observed. Now that the 2m2 rule Alleluia, alleluia! has been reinstated, Archbishop Anthony has lifted the A great prophet has appeared among us; dispensation from our Sunday Mass obligation. The God has visited his people. Catholic faithful are once again obliged to attend Mass on Alleluia! Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation when this is reasonably possible. If restrictions are once again A gesture of tenderness, a gesture of compassion tightened, and attendance at places of worship limited to one person per 4m2, the dispensation will once again be …. Let us ask you: when you help others, do you look in place. Those who are of great age, have health them in the eye? Do you embrace them without being conditions or are otherwise anxious about the risks of afraid to touch them? Do you embrace them with tender- COVID-19 are free to remain at home and find another ness? Think about this: how do you help? From a distance way of keeping the Sabbath holy . or with tenderness, with closeness? If evil is contagious, so is goodness. Therefore, there needs to be ever LIVESTREAMED MASSES ACROSS THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY more abundant goodness in us. Let us be infected The Archdiocese is continuing to publish details online of by goodness and let us spread goodness! parishes which are offering livestreamed Masses on this webpage: https://www.sydneycatholic.org/live-masses/ 14 SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, Year B 14 February, 2021

WE URGENTLY need new LENT 2021 Catechists. The Season of Lent There are 3 basic courses, of a few Lent is a period of preparation in the hours, to be done, on line – Church’s Liturgical Year that orients the safeguarding, using the curriculum community towards Holy Week and the and classroom management and Season of Easter. It is a time of prayer, obtaining a Working with Children BECOME A CATECHIST fasting and good works. It is also a number . special time of solidarity with those who The Parish SRE coordinator, Mary Cain can help you with any or are entering their final period of all of this and show you the manual with lessons set out and preparation for initiation into the Christian community at activity books and provide any resources needed. For next year – 2021 we need Catechists for the following classes: Easter. The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and Stanmore public school concludes on Holy Thursday Evening (the Vigil of Good Mondays : Kindy 1,40 – 2.20pm; Year 1, 1.40 – 2.20 pm; Friday). Ash Wednesday is designated as an obligatory day Year 3, 2.20 – 3pm; Year 4, 2.20 – 3pm of fasting and abstinence. Annandale North Public School LENT COMMENCES WITH ASH WEDNESDAY NEXT Tuesdays: Years 5 & 6, 9.40 – 10.10am WEDNESDAY 17 February . Contact: Mary Cain 0403 856 430 [email protected] Ashes will be distributed at Mass . “Catechists are people who keep the memory of God alive; - Time of Mass: 9:10 am at St Brendan’s . they keep it alive in themselves and they are able to revive THE NEED IS ACUTE! it in others” - Low-income communities are RECEIVE THE GRACE TO GO MAKE not asking us for money or gifts. DISCIPLES: They reject degrading dependence. A Lenten Companion is a to meditate They want you to share your upon those foundations of spiritual skills to help develop self-reliance and sustainable renewal for individuals and communities solutions to poverty. The call is to all trades and that are at the heart of our Archdiocesan professions to assist build the ability of their people and mission plan, Go Make Disciples, and to the capacity of their organisations. To properly prepare for ask for the grace to grow where growth is needed. a 2022 placement you do need to enquire now. This practical resource includes the Sunday Gospels, Visit palms.org.au , call Palms on 02 9560 5333 or email reflection questions, devotional resources such as [email protected]

Stations of the Cross, and also a spiritual reflection on Companions Matter is a foundations of the Christian life as explored in the Sunday community program that assists Gospel, with reflections by Prof Tracey Rowland, Peter people in reconnecting with the Holmes, Fr Chris Ryan MGL, Mother Hilda Scott OSB, Fr Kelvin community by offering courses, Lovegrove, Fr David Braithwaite SJ, and Dr Paul Morrissey. workshops and social gatherings, Please take a copy from the table at the entrance of the at St Mary’s Catholic Parish, church. Erskineville. We are looking for Weekly Online Lenten Group - volunteer companions who could commit to supporting Join Fr Noel Custodio, host of The Furnace podcast, as he attendance at a course, attend morning teas after leads an online Lenten Group which will use Receive the workshops or seminars, make a weekly phone call, catch Grace to Go Make Disciples: A Lenten Companion. up for a coffee and/or walk. For further information, you Dates: Wednesdays of Lent, commencing 17 February (Ash are invited to attend an online Zoom information session, Wednesday). Time: 7:30pm – 8:15pm on 18 February at 7.30pm . Register: www.gomakedisciples.org.au To register, please contact DAY OF THE UNBORN CHILD 2021 [email protected]

Join Family Life International on the Feast of the Annunciation – Our dead - “Lord grant them eternal this year celebrated on Sunday 21 March – for Mass and a peace and joy and to their families and procession to NSW Parliament. All details can be found at friends strength and comfort.” www.lifeandfamily.com.au Recently deceased: THE MARRIAGE KIT Sir Tommy Moore, John Cavanagh, Joan - Online Seminar Williams, Anneleise Scerri, Helen Join us for a six-week workshop Pudovskis, Archbishop Phil Wilson series for married couples wanting a lasting, passionate (former Archbishop of Adelaide), relationship. This initiative is in partnership with the Jacqueline Cahalan, Bishop Geoff Robinson, Sandy Chalmers, Catholic Diocese of . Denis Lenihan, Fr Robert Flaherty, Fr Maurice John Sullivan. START DATE: MONDAY EVENING - 15 FEBRUARY Anniversaries: Angelina Green, Marion Jones, Sr Dorothea COURSE COST: $25.FIND OUT MORE: Meaney , Kathleen Hartley, Ian Ingate, Paul Ingate, Jim Withers, www.smartloving.org/rockhampton Luciano Salzone, Juana Cabasal. Also: Antonina Salzone.

Our sick- “Lord, grant them and their carers strength and courage”. Julian Jeffris, Tony Egan, Luca Andreucci, Vasilios Hatzigeorgalis, Joseph Zhengtiao Han, Caecilia Chuanhua Wu.

COVID—19 UPDATE—LATEST NSW GOVERNMENT PUBLIC ORDER St Brendan’s and St Michael’s Parishes are following the restrictions that have been set out by the latest NSW Government Public Health (COVID-19) Order. Places of worship are now allowed to have one person per two-square- metres with no maximum cap from Friday 12 February.

Under the current restrictions St Brendan’s can accommodate 120 people and St Michael’s 75 people.

THE QR CODE FOR CHURCHES IS NOW COMPULSORY. To use the QR Code you first need to download the Services NSW App. Those who do not have a smart phone their names and contact details must be recorded.

WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO

• REGISTER (to secure a place at Mass and to help us with our numbers) by calling the parish office - (02) 9550 3707 (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday ) for the 5.30pm Saturday Mass at St Michael and the 9.30am Sunday Mass at St Brendan’s. Please note: bookings will close at 3pm on Friday. Weekday Mass - Details will be taken at the door • DO NOT ATTEND (even if you have booked) if you are unwell or at high risk due to compromised immune or respiratory system and those that are over 70 should exercise caution. • SEAT on pews marked • PHYSICAL DISTANCING of 1.5m between persons not from the same household • SANITISE your hands when entering Church. • OBSERVE good hygiene practices when coughing or sneezing . • DO NOT MINGLE when leaving Mass. • THE PASSING OF COLLECTION PLATES has been suspended, (collection plates for First and Second Collection are placed on the table at the entrance of the Church. ‘Tap and Go’ station is available at the entrance of the church). • NO CONGREGATIONAL SINGING is permitted at Masses. • THE SIGN OF PEACE is offered without any physical contact. • HOLY COMMUNION is distributed and received on the hand only. • MASK WEARING - Parishioners are encouraged to wear masks where social distancing is not possible, but this is no longer mandatory. • DO NOT LEAVE the Parish bulletin in Church - take it home After every service Mass, Funeral, Wedding and Baptism, our Church is cleaned for the wellbeing of others. WE ARE ASKING TO COMPLY WITH THE COVID - 19 PLACES OF WORSHIP REQUIREMENTS TO KEEP OUR CHURCHES OPEN. CONTACTLESS DONATION: To provide another way to support the parish financially, we have installed contactless donation device in our Churches Simply tap your Visa, MasterCard or compatible device and donate to our parish, you may tap as many times as you wish. This will be considered as a general donation. There is no tax deducti- bility, receipt or refund available on this donation. During these difficult times we thank you for your donation. PLANNED GIVING - 2020/2021 (Tax deduction of 30% of contributions) How can I donate regularly to help my parish– St Brendan’s St Michael’s Please complete this form and place it in the collection basket or email to [email protected]. Please indicate: I wish to contribute to the Parish on a regular basis Please circle your choice: Automatic Payment (credit card/ direct debit) Weekly Envelopes Mr/Mrs/Miss/s______Address: ______PCode: ______Phone: ______Mob: ______Email: ______Credit Card Type: ______Credit Card Number: ______Expiry ______Name on Card ______Monthly Amount: ______

OR: ARRANGE FOR A MONTHLY CREDIT TO THE CHURCH ACCOUNT. Please contact the Parish office for further details.

I would like a tax receipt for the 2020/2021 Planned Giving Weekly Envelope Programme Yes / No We understand that many are under financial stress, but if you would still like to continue to make a weekly contribution to financially support our churches and ensure the continuing practical and pastoral works of the parish it’s grateful appreciated.

A MESSAGE FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY Abuse is a crime. The appropriate people to deal with a crime are the police. If you – or anyone you know – have been abused, please contact the police. Alternatively, you can contact the Safeguarding and Ministerial Integrity Office at (02) 93905810 or [email protected]. You may also want to speak to your Parish Priest who will be able to provide support and guidance. The Archdiocese has a legal obligation to report crimes to the police.

HOUSE OFWELCOME FoodBank

Foodbank provides household necessities for people seeking asylum who have limited or no income. People can access groceries on a weekly basis to alleviate the cost of living. The Foodbank program is largely stocked through the generosity of people in the community. No contribution is too small. Contact: [email protected] 197 The Trongate, Granville. Ph: 02 97279290 stfrancis.org.au/house-of-welcome