Bridgeside Bulletin

The weekly Bulletin of the

Catholic Parish of Forster Tuncurry
Holy Name of Jesus Parish Church
33 Lake Street, Forster

St Mary, Star of the Sea Church

Cnr Kent & Peel Streets, Tuncurry

Proclaiming Christ to the communities of Forster, Tuncurry and the surrounding districts

Sunday 18th January, 2015

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Parish
Fr Andrew Doohan (Parish Priest)
Mr Greg Byrne (Pastoral Associate)
Mrs Sharon Fowle (Administration Associate/Bulletin)
Sr Kathryn McCabe (Aboriginal Catholic Ministry)

The Parish Office is at the rear of the Parish Hall and is

normally staffed on Monday, Thursday and Friday
from 10am to 4pm.
Items for inclusion in Bridgeside Bulletin should be
received by midday on Thursday.
33 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428
PO Box 67, Forster NSW 2428
P:
F:
E:
W:

(02) 6554 6304

(02) 6554 6425
forstertuncurryparish@gmail.com
www.forstertuncurrycatholic.org.au

Fr Andrews email: fr.andrew.doohan@gmail.com

Search for us on Facebook as Catholic Parish of
Forster Tuncurry

Follow us on Twitter: @ftcatholic

Celebrating the Sacraments

Reconciliation is available on Saturday mornings at
Tuncurry from 8:30am until the beginning of the 9am
Mass, on Saturday afternoons at Forster from 4:45pm
until 5:15pm.
Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays, either during any
of our Sunday Masses or after the 9am Mass. The next
Baptismal Preparation meeting will take place in the
Parish Halls meeting rooms on Monday 9th February
2015 commencing at 7pm. Please contact the Parish
Office for more details, or visit the Parish website.
Weddings are celebrated by arrangement and with at
least three (and preferably more) months notice.
Please contact Fr Andrew for more details, or visit the
Parish website.
A Sacramental Preparation process runs each year in
the Parish for children wishing to complete the
celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation as part of
the Parish community. Please contact the Parish Office
for more details, or visit the Parish website.
The Parish hosts the Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults process for those adults wishing to be baptised
or be received into the communion of the Catholic
Church. Please contact the Parish Office for more
details, or visit the Parish website.

Holy Name Parish School (K-6)

St Clares High School, Taree (7-12)

Ms Brooke Schumann (Acting Principal)

Mr Peter Nicholls (Principal)

41 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428

PO Box 243, Forster NSW 2428

Davis Street, Taree NSW 2430

P:
F:
E:
W:

P: (02) 6552 3300

F: (02) 6552 3656
E: admin@tareesc.catholic.edu.au
W: www.tareesc.catholic.edu.au

(02) 6554 6504

(02) 6554 8895
admin@forster.catholic.edu.au
www.forster.catholic.edu.au

The Parish Diary(for the week ahead)

Regular Activities in the Parish

Second Week of Ordinary Time

Secular Franciscan Fraternity

The Secular Franciscans Fraternity will next meet on
Wednesday 4th February 2015, coming together for
Mass at 9am, followed by a cuppa at 9:30am and then
the meeting 10am to 12pm.

Monday 19th January

Tuesday 20th January
9am
Christian Meditation (Bob 6555 5914)
11am
Mass @ GLAICA House
3:30pm Holy Hour @ Tuncurry
4:30pm Mass @ Tuncurry
5:30pm Christian Meditation (Bob 6555 5914)

The menALIVE Group

Our Parish currently hosts a menALIVE group. They
will next meet on Wednesday 28th January after the
9am Mass.

Wednesday 21st January

Memorial of St Agnes
9am
Mass @ Forster
11:15am Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help @
Forster

Womens Bible Study Group

Our Parish hosts a Womens Bible Study Group that
meets every Thursday evening from 7pm to 8pm. For
more information contact Natasha on 0407 589 935.

Friday 23rd January

9:30am Mass @ Forster

Christian Meditation
Our Parish hosts opportunities for the practice of
Christian meditation on Tuesdays at two distinct
times, 9am and 5:30pm. Phone Bob on 6555 5914 for
further information.

Saturday 24th January

Memorial of St Francis de Sales
8:30am Reconciliation @ Tuncurry
9am
Mass @ Tuncurry
4:45pm Reconciliation @ Forster (until 5:15pm)
6pm
Mass @ Tuncurry

Maintenance & Gardening Group

The Parish is served by a very dedicated band of
volunteers who tend to the upkeep of the grounds
and gardens of our two sites. Their next reunion will
be on Thursday 22nd January. Contact Howard 6557
6826 for more information.

Sunday 25th January

7am
Mass @ Tuncurry
9am
Mass @ Forster
5pm
Mass @ Forster

Singing Practice
There will be no Singing Group get together until the
New Year. Details to be confirmed.

Thursday 22nd January

9am
Mass @ Forster

Collection of Foodstuffs for Homebase

The next collection of foodstuffs in support of
Homebase will be on Sunday 1st February 2015.
Holy Hour
The Parish community observes a Holy Hour each
Tuesday afternoon in the Tuncurry Church from
3:30pm until the beginning of Mass at 4:30pm.
Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
The Novena is prayed every Wednesday in the Forster
church commencing at 11:15am and is followed by a
cuppa in the Parish Hall. For more information contact
Shioney on 6554 9468.

Weekend Masses in January

Saturdays

6pm

St Mary, Star of the Sea

Church, Tuncurry

Sundays

7am

St Mary, Star of the Sea

Church, Tuncurry
Holy Name of Jesus
Church, Forster
Holy Name of Jesus
Church, Forster

9am
5pm

Evening Prayer & Benediction

The Parish community celebrates on the first Sunday
of each month at 5:30pm in the Tuncurry church. It
will celebrated on Sunday 1st February 2015. All
welcome.
Childrens Liturgy of the Word
The next Children's Liturgy of the Word for children
aged 4-12 will be on the 1st February 2015 at the 9am
Mass.
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From the Pastors Desk

Office Closure Times

The challenge of being in Ordinary Time is that

sometimesat least in my experiencewe can be
tempted to think that because its not one of the
major liturgical seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, or
Easter) our attention to the everyday stuff of the
Christian life can, whilst not being ignored completely,
be considered in a different light.

The Parish Office will be closed from Friday 2nd

January to Monday 19th January while Greg and
Sharon take some Leave.
For urgent enquiries during this time, please make
contact with Fr Andrew.

A Big Thank You!

We can, so to speak, focus too much on the ordinary

as opposed to the Ordinary. Sometimes we can seek
to move from major liturgical season to another, and
see the time in betweensee Ordinary Timeas the
chance to recover from what weve just celebrated
and plan for the next.

A really big Thank You to Philip and Tresna Witheriff

for cleaning the windows in the Forster Church
recently. Your contribution is much appreciated!

Parking in Forster
As mentioned recently at Mass, please take care when
parking near and around the Forster Church, and
particularly in the lane (Wallis Lane) that runs behind
the church building. Parking contrary to the posted
signs is never permissible under any circumstances.

The mystery of Gods revelation is of course not

limited to the major liturgical seasons, and, in fact,
one could mount a strong argument that it is the
major liturgical seasons themselves that are out of
step with a more orderly presentation and
celebration of Gods redemptive love for humanity.

In particular, parking in Wallis Lane makes it extremely

difficult for our neighbours to come and go from their
homesnot the kind of message a Christian
community should be giving.

Although this year, the first part of Ordinary Time will

be relatively short (only some five weeks), it is during
Ordinary Time that the rubber hits the road (to use
the clich), where the true reality of living out our
response to Gods love for us is made manifest.

Your cooperation with the limitations of our parking

situation in order to ensure our neighbours are not
inconvenienced is appreciated .

Over the coming short period of Ordinary Time, can I

encourage you to wallow in the everyday nature of
the Good News of the Kingdom of God, and seek
always to live our daily response to that Good News in
the common and everyday events that approach us.

Hospital & Home Visits

Because of the restrictions imposed by Australias
Privacy Laws, the Parish relies on family and friends to
inform us about those who are unwell in our
community. If you know of anyone needing a visit or
Communion in hospital or at home please contact the
Parish Office or Fr Andrew.

January Is Almost Over

There is only one more week of the traditional
Christmas/January holiday period left, and we have
been blessed by the large number of visitors who have
shared our local community with us over that time.

Mass ad libitum

With the end of the holiday period, and the return of

school, the life of our Parish community will start to
return to its normal pattern (however one might
define normal in the context of contemporary parish
life).

On weekdays in Ordinary Time, the priest may choose

the Mass texts from :

the previous Sunday in Ordinary Time or any other

Sunday in Ordinary Time,
an optional memorial of any saint inscribed in the
martyrology for that day with texts from a suitable
common,
a Mass for Various Needs and Occasions, a Votive
Mass or a Mass for the Dead.

Most of our regular activities will return from the

beginning of February, and they will feature in the
Parish Diary to be found on page 1 of Bridgeside
Bulletin each week.
I would encourage you to make note of that feature
every week so you can participate in those events and
activities that of interest to you.

In arranging the celebration, the Priest should be

attentive to the common spiritual good of the People
of God.

Until next week

Fr Andrew

General Instruction to the Roman Missal 355c, 352

3

Encountering God via Lectio Divina

procedure but simply guidelines as to how the prayer

normally develops. Its natural movement is towards
greater simplicity, with less and less talking and more
listening. Gradually the words of Scripture begin to
dissolve and the Word is revealed before the eyes of
our heart.

Lectio divina, Latin for divine reading, is a traditional

Benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation
and prayer intended to promote communion with God
and to increase the knowledge of God's Word.It does
not treat Scripture as texts to be studied, but as the
Living Word, a source of prayer.

How much time should be given to each stage

depends very much on whether the practice is used
individually or in a group. If lectio divina is used for
group prayer, mre structure is obviously needed than
for individual use. In group prayer, much will also
depend on the type of group.

The roots of Scriptural reflection and interpretation go

back to Origen in the 3rd century, after whom St
Ambrose taught them to St Augustine. The monastic
practice of lectio divina was first established in the 6th
century by St Benedict and was then formalized as a
four step process by the Carthusian monk, Guigo II, in
the 12th century.

Lectio divina may involve discussing the implications of

the Word of God for daily life but it cannot be simply
reduced to this. The movement of the prayer is
towards silence. If a group is comfortable with silence,
more time could be spent resting in the Word.

In the 20th century, the constitution Dei Verbum of

the Second Vatican Council recommended lectio
divina for the general public, and Pope Benedict XVI
emphasized the importance of Lectio Divina in the
21st century.

The practice of lectio divina as a way of praying the

Scriptures has been a fruitful source of growing in
relationship with Christ for many centuries, and in our
own day is being rediscovered by many individuals and
groups. The Word of God is alive and active, and will
transform each of us if we open ourselves to receive
what God wants to give us.

There are various ways of

practising lectio divina either
individually or in groups but
Guigos description of the four
steps remains fundamental:
Step 1: The first stage is lectio
(reading) where the Word of
God is read, slowly and reflectively so that it sinks into
us. Any passage of Scripture can be used for this way
of prayer, but the passage should not be too long.

We have come to know and to believe

in the love that God has for us. (1 Jn 4:16)

Step 2: The second stage is meditatio (meditation)

where we think about the text we have chosen and
ruminate upon it so that we take from it what God
wants to give us.
Step 3: The third stage is oratio (prayer) where we
leave our thinking aside and simply let our hearts
speak to God. Our is inspired by our reflection on the
Word of God.
Step 4: The final stage of the journey of lectio divina is
contemplatio (contemplation) wherein we let go not
only of our own ideas, plans and meditations but also
of our holy words and thoughts. We simply rest in the
Word of God. We listen at the deepest level of our
being to God who speaks within us with a still small
voice. As we listen, we are gradually transformed from
within. Obviously this transformation will have a
profound effect on the way we actually live, and the
way we live is the test of the authenticity of our
prayer. We must take what we read in the Word of
God into our daily lives.
These stage of lectio divina are not fixed rules of
4

Whats In A Name?

only to the man who receives it. (Rev 2:17)

Whats in a name?

This is the name by which God has known and loved

me since the moment of my conception. It is the name
which will reveal my true identity as desired by God
just as Simons true identity was revealed by Jesus
calling him Peter.

A lot, if it is God who confers the name.

In the beautiful imagery of the Jewish scriptures, God
names a creature Adam. The Creator bestows a
name which means creature of earth, earthling.

Each of us has a name of which we are given an inkling

during our life, even if we cant quite articulate it. All
will be revealed at the moment of death.

There is something of the Divine breathed into each

one of us, but the name Adam which we share is a
reminder to stay grounded in our earthiness.

All will then be revealed, but perhaps it is permitted to

anticipate. In wondering what name God may have
bestowed on me, I came up with Amicus, the Latin
for friend. It carries the overtones of Jesus calling his
followers friends and Amicus Curiae friend of the
Court given my interest in the law.

We are stardust, earthlings, loved into existence as

human beings.
To be loved into existence, for what or for whom?
Each one of us has a unique and irreplaceable role in
the unfolding history of the universe. And there is a
name which sounds that role, which the Creator
desires each one of us to fulfil. I will come to that in a
moment.

Assuming that for one moment, I hope to make a

request of God.
I want the name to be hyphenated: Michael-Amicus,
or if God prefers, I would naturally accept, AmicusMichael. But I hope to have the courage to ask God:

Jesus of Nazareth knew the power of naming in

relation to vocation and destiny.

Please God, allow me to keep the name my parents

gave me. It is through them that I am related to you. It
is through them that I learnt to love you. It is MichaelAmicus who will relate to them and to you in Heaven,
who will love them and you in Heaven forever.

So, when Andrew brought his brother to Jesus, Jesus

exercised the divine prerogative. We read: [Jesus]
looked at him and said: You are Simon, son of John.
You are to be called Cephas. Cephas is the Hebrew
word for rock which in Greek is Petros, which in
English is Peter.

Fr Michael Tate

At one level, Jesus may be having fun at Simons

expense. Here is a man of such violent mood changes,
that he is like shifting sand. So, Jesus nicknames him,
Rocky!
But, we know what Simon would not have known at
the time. Jesus would play on that nickname: You are
Peter and on this rock I will build my church. (Matt
16:18)
Humanly speaking, this disciple is to be the solid,
secure, rock-like foundation on which the Christian
community will be constructed by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus knew the deep-down name of this man, Peter,
and pronounced that name which in fact identified his
future role.
I love my name, Michael, no doubt because it was
the name first heard from parents who loved me
dearly. It comes with all those wonderful associations.
But, apparently I do have another name. We read in
the Book of Revelations: The Spirit is saying to the
churches: to those who prove victorious [after
persecution] I will give the hidden manna and a white
stone a stone with a new name written on it known
5

Here is the Lamb of God

Kids Corner

Y T C H R I S T L A M B T
W E E K C S Z I N W Y N W
G N Q E K V N J E P W C O
D A N A F T E R N O O N F
N M E S S I A H A C P K O
P E T E R F O C I K Z WU
Z S Y V X H A X E J U L N
S V T W Z H D C Q C R M D
G M G W S F F F O U R P U
A A R U K Z C H P N C R G
P L A Z L R B R O T H E R
H A B M U H J C L Q G T E
V C B R H I L I V E D M V
C W I S T A Y H N X O H H

Try to find these words:

afternoon
Christ
four
lived
Peter
stay

brother
found
Lamb
Messiah
Rabbi
two

Jn 1:35-42

Opportunities Outside The Parish

We are the Church

Since Vatican II we have been proudly professing that
WE ARE THE CHURCH. If we truly believe this then
we must ask ourselves, how am I contributing to the
life of the Church and is there more I could be doing?

The Christian Formation Course

Unit 1.3 of this course will commence on Thursday
29th January at the St Laurence Centre,
Broadmeadow. For more information contact the
Tenison Woods Education Centre on P 4930 9601 E
twec@ssjl.org.au.

There are many opportunities for service in our

Church community. In particular we are at present in
need of Sacristans to set up for our weekend Masses
and also for Funerals during the week.

Before We Say I Do
Weekend marriage education course will be held on
Saturday 31st January, commencing at 9.30am in the
Toohey Room, Diocesan Office, 841 Hunter Street,
Newcastle West. Two Saturdays (also 7th February)
from 9.30am 4.30pm. For more information P 4979
1370 E marriageeducation@catholiccare.org.au W
www.catholiccare.org.au.

Interested people will receive the proper formation,

training and support. Please rush to the Parish Office
to display your willingness to be involved.

Catholic Newspapers Available

Both The Catholic Leader (Brisbane) and The Catholic
Weekly (Sydney) newspapers are available at a cost of
$2 each from our churches.

A Journey in the Heart

Pilgrimage to India and Sri Lanka will begin on
Monday 2nd February, led by Fr Michael Whelan SM
(Aquinas Academy, Sydney). Itinerary includes
Mumbai, Coorg, Bangalore, Shantivanam (Fr Bede
Griffiths Ashram), Colombo, Kandalama, Kandy,
Colombo. For further details, please contact Marie
Fonseca on 0418 265 117 or Andre Rasquinha on 0403
569 079. Website: www.spiceodyssey.net.au.

Parish Intercessory Prayer Group

Our Parish is blessed to have an Intercessory Prayer
Apostolate. This group is comprised of a loose knit
group of parishioners who simply pray during their
normal daily prayers for people on a list updated and
distributed each month.

WantedVolunteer Workers

There are no meetings and no cost whatsoever and

each member may remain anonymous if desired.

The Diocese of Broome, WA, requires volunteers to

assist with the work of the local Church on Aboriginal
Missions. There are various important voluntary tasks:
administration, building maintenance, gardening,
shop staffing, cooking, cleaning, etc. Placements are
preferred for a period of 6 months plus.

Because there are no meetings this group is very

suitable for all parishioners, especially some of our
housebound or incapacitated folk enabling them to
play an important and active role within the life of the
parish community.

For further details and an application form please

contact: Volunteer Coordinator, Anneliese Rohr on 08
9192 1060, E volunteers@broomdiocese.org, W
www.bromediocese.org, M PO Box 76, Broome, WA
6725.

If you are interested in joining this group, just ring Bob

Cashman on 6555 5914 or leave your name and phone
number with the Parish Office. To request prayers for
someone in need of prayer please contact Bob on
6555 5914 leaving your name and contact details.

Text: Excerpts from the English Translation of the Roman Missal 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL); Music: From the Mass of
St Francis 2010, Paul Taylor. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Australian AgentLicenSing Online Lic No. 624844.

Ministers this Weekend...

...of the Word

...of Communion

6pm Tuncurry

A: Michael Siddle
B: Lou Hope

Kathryn McCabe, Lou Hope, Michael Siddle, Ruth

Pearson, Valarie Ross.

7am Tuncurry

A: Maria Armitage
B: Marie Gapps

Cecile Malone, Edna Tucker, Genevieve Williamson, Kay

Griffiths, Norm Chapman.

9am Forster

A: Trevor Turner
B: Judith Shand

Barbara Dolahenty, Barbara Kermode, Elle CairnsCowan, Robert Moran, Sharon Fowle.

5pm Forster

A: Maureen Stevens
B: Monica Hunt

Josi Beech, Maureen Pye, Owen Carroll, additional

assistance required.

Ministers next Weekend...

...of the Word

...of Communion

6pm Tuncurry

A: Colleen Cashman
B: Bob Cashman

Carolyn Olliffe, Jeanette Goodacre, Margaret Smith,

Maureen Pye, Ruth Pearson.

7am Tuncurry

A: Kay Griffiths
B: Bronwyn Morse

Alex Matuszny, Graham Griffiths, Lorraine Clark, Maria

Armitage, Patricia Cornish.

9am Forster

A: Kyla Loring
B: Sharon Fowle

Anne Moloney, Greg Byrne, Robyn Ryan, Shioney Neal,

Trevor Turner.

5pm Forster

A: Volunteer
B: Volunteer

Volunteers required.

Please note: The above information reflects the rosters as originally published,
and doesnt take account of any swaps that may have been organised between individuals.
PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING IF YOU RECOGNISE A SHORTFALL

Scripture Readings This Week

Today

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Todays Liturgy of the Word

1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19
1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20
John 1:35-42
Hebrews 5:1-10
Mark 2:18-22
Hebrews 6:10-20
Mark 2:23-28
Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17
Mark 3:1-6
Hebrews 7:258:6
Mark 3:7-12
Hebrews 8:6-13
Mark 3:13-19
Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14
Mark 3:20-21
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

Responsorial Psalm
Response: Here I am, Lord:
I come to do your will.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
We have found the Messiah:
Jesus Christ, who brings us truth and grace.
Alleluia!

In your charity, please pray for:

Those recently deceased.
Vincent Curtis.
Those whose anniversaries occur about now.
All those in our community who are sick.
8