Sunday 24th August, 2014

Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Bridgeside Bulletin
The weekly bulletn 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 communites of Forster, Tuncurry and the surrounding districts

Parish
Fr Andrew Doohan (Parish Priest)
Mr Greg Byrne (Pastoral Associate)
Mrs Sharon Fowle (Administraton Associate)
Sr Kathryn McCabe (Aboriginal Catholic Ministry)

The Parish Ofce is at the rear of the Parish Hall and is
normally stafed on Wednesday and Friday from 10am
to 4pm.

Items for inclusion in Bridgeside Bulletn should be
received by midday on Thursday.

33 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428
PO Box 67, Forster NSW 2428

P: (02) 6554 6304
F: (02) 6554 6425
E: forstertuncurryparish@gmail.com
W: www.forstertuncurrycatholic.org.au

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

Celebratng the Sacraments
Reconciliaton is available on Saturday mornings at
Tuncurry from 8:30am untl the beginning of the 9am
Mass, on Saturday afernoons at Forster from 4:45pm
untl 5:15pm, or other tmes by contactng Fr Andrew.

Baptsms are celebrated on Sundays, either during any
of our Sunday Masses or afer the 9am Mass. The next
Baptsmal Preparaton meetng will take place in the
Parish Halls meetng rooms on Monday 8th
September commencing at 7pm. Please contact the
Parish Ofce for more details, or visit the Parish
website.

Weddings are celebrated by arrangement and with at
least three (and preferably more) months notce.
Please contact Fr Andrew for more details, or visit the
Parish website.

A Sacramental Preparaton process runs each year in
the Parish for children wishing to complete the
celebraton of the Sacraments of Initaton as part of
the Parish community. Please contact the Parish Ofce
for more details, or visit the Parish website.

The Parish hosts the Rite of Christan Initaton of
Adults process for those adults wishing to be baptsed
or be received into the communion of the Catholic
Church. Please contact the Parish Ofce for more
details, or visit the Parish website.
Search for us on Facebook as Catholic Parish of
Forster Tuncurry





Follow us on Twiter: @fcatholic
Holy Name Parish School (K-6)
Ms Brooke Schumann (Actng Principal)

41 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428
PO Box 243, Forster NSW 2428

P: (02) 6554 6504
F: (02) 6554 8895
E: admin@forster.catholic.edu.au
W: www.forster.catholic.edu.au
St Clares High School, Taree (7-12)
Mr Peter Nicholls (Principal)

Davis Street, Taree NSW 2430


P: (02) 6552 3300
F: (02) 6552 3656
E: admin@tareesc.catholic.edu.au
W: www.tareesc.catholic.edu.au
2

The Parish Diary(for the week ahead)
Twenty First Week in Ordinary Time

Monday25th August

Tuesday26th August
9am Christan Meditaton (Bob 6555 5914)
3:30pm Holy Hour @ Tuncurry
4:30pm Mass @ Tuncurry
5:30pm Christan Meditaton (Bob 6555 5914)
5:30pm Singing Practce @ Tuncurry

Wednesday27th August
Memorial of St Monica
9am Mass @ Forster
9:30am menALIVE morning group @ Forster
11:15am Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help @
Forster

Thursday28th August
Memorial of St Augustne
Fr Andrew to Newcastle for Clergy Fund Commitee.
9am Morning Prayer @ Forster
7pm Womens Bible Study (Natasha 0407 589
935)

Friday29th August
Memorial of the Passion of St John the Baptst
9:30am Mass @ Forster

Saturday30th August
8:30am Reconciliaton @ Tuncurry
9am Mass @ Tuncurry
4:45pm Reconciliaton @ Forster (untl 5:15pm)
6pm Mass @ Tuncurry

Sunday31st August
7am Mass @ Tuncurry
9am Mass @ Forster
Regular Activities in the Parish
Secular Franciscan Fraternity
The Secular Franciscans Fraternity will next meet on
Wednesday 3rd September, coming together for
Mass at 9am, followed by a cuppa at 9:30am and then
the meetng 10am to 12pm.

The menALIVE Groups
Our Parish currently hosts two menALIVE groups. The
morning group will next meet on Wednesday 27th
August afer the 9am Mass, while the evening group
will next meet on Thursday 25th September at
7:30pm.

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

Christan Meditaton
Our Parish hosts a number of opportunites for the
practce of Christan meditaton. These opportunites
takes place on Tuesdays at two distnct tmes, 9am
and 5:30pm. For more informaton contact Bob on
6555 5914.

Maintenance & Gardening Group
The Parish is lucky to be served by a very dedicated
band of volunteers who tend to the upkeep of the
grounds and gardens of our two church sites. They do
a fabulous job, and are always ready to welcome new
members to the group. Our next reunion will be on
Thursday 18th September. Contact Howard 6557
6826 for more informaton.

Singing Practce
The Singing Group will be meetng again on Tuesday
26th August at 5:30pm at Tuncurry. All welcome.

Collecton of Foodstufs for Homebase
The next collecton of foodstufs in support of
Homebase will next take place on Sunday 7th
September.

Holy Hour
The Parish community observes a Holy Hour each
Tuesday afernoon in the Tuncurry Church from
3:30pm untl 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 informaton contact
Shioney on 6554 9468.

Evening Prayer & Benedicton
The Parish community celebrates on the frst Sunday
of each month at 5:30pm in the Tuncurry church. It
will next be celebrated on Sunday 7th September. All
welcome.
Parish Social Functions for 2014
The date for the remaining Parish Social Functon for
2014 is:-

BLESSING OF THE FLEET/PARISH BBQ will be held
this year on Sunday 5th October.

Please claim this date in your diary now and watch for
further details as they are released closer to each
event.
Vocation View
Who do you say that I am? We, like Peter confess
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God
(Mathew 16:13-20). For more informaton regarding
Vocatons contact Fr Brian Mascord on 4979 1112 or
by email to vocatons@mn.catholic.org.au.
3

Liturgy Help Survey
The Diocesan wide trial of the LiturgyHelp.com
resource is coming to an end, and an invitaton is
extended to all those who have made use of the
resource to take part in a survey to help determine
whether the Diocese will contnue with use of this
resource.

For those who have used it, you can partcipate in the
online survey by visitng www.surveymonkey.com/
s/3VX7MZX.

The survey closes on 1st September and your
assistance in reviewing the LiturgyHelp.com resource
would be appreciated.
From the Pastors Desk
The Gospel from Mass on Wednesday this past week
should give everyone pause to think.

The account of the vineyard owner who hires workers
at various tmes of the day, and then rewards them
equally at the end of the day regardless of how much
work they have done, speaks powerfully of the
generosity of God towards those who embrace the
call to work for the bringing about of the Kingdom of
God.

It doesnt mater when an individual embraces the
call; it only maters that they have embraced the call.
Whether they have come on board at the frst hour
or at the last hour, Gods abundant generosity is made
manifest to them in equal measureat least in equal
measure from Gods point of view.

And therein lies the rub. The Gospel account of the
vineyard owner has those whove worked all day
grumbling that they get nothing more than those who
join the workforce later in the day. This sense of
enttlement because weve been at this a lot longer
and jealousy that they got the same as us speaks
volumes about the person doing the grumbling rather
than the vineyard owner.

It also speaks volumes, at least in my estmaton,
about a misplaced sense of whats really important. It
is the Kingdom, and the work of the mission to bring
about the Kingdom, that is the important thing to
focus on. Not what I can get out of working for the
Kingdom, nor my place in the reward structure of the
Kingdom. Only the Kingdom!

As we walk the path of the Christan life day by day,
playing our part in the proclamaton of the Kingdom of
God, our focus should not be on ourselves and whats
in it for me, but on making a contributon to that
mission that is consonant with our abilites. The
challenge is to focus not on what we can gain, but on
what we are prepared to contribute to the mission.

It doesnt mater if we contribute a litle or a lot,
whether weve been doing it for years or just a while,
the reward will be the same: the Kingdom will come,
and we will be in Gods presence.

Untl next week
Fr Andrew
Social Justice Group
The Social Justce Group is open to the community
and all are invited to discussion meetngs held on the
last Wednesday evening of each month at 5:30 pm in
the Parish Hall Meetng Room, Forster.

Please note that there will be no meetng on
Wednesday 27th August as some members of the
group have expressed an interest in atending
"Recognise - Workshop for Church Leaders", at 7 to
9pm on Wednesday 27th August at St Augustne's
Anglican Church Hall, 37 Winsor Street, Merewether.
This workshop is about understanding the importance
and detail of recogniton in the Consttuton of
Australia's First Peoples and is open for anyone to
atend.

In support of this interestng workshop Bishop Bill
Wright, Catholic Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle
Diocese, recently stated that The Place of Indigenous
People in modern Australian society is a mater of
considerable importance to the Naton. It is tme to
consider how best to recognise our frst peoples. This
workshop provides signifcant opportunity for us to
deepen our refecton on these maters.

If anyone is interested in atending the workshop to
learn more about the recogniton in the Consttuton
of Australia's First Peoples please contact Tim Prescot
on 0428104512 or Greg Byrne at the Parish Ofce
before Wednesday as shared transport to Newcastle
may be available.

"Migrants and Refugees - Towards a Beter World" is
the inspired theme chosen by His Holiness Pope
Francis to celebrate the 100th World Day of Migrants
and Refugees next Sunday, 31st August 2014. Please
refect this week on how you will help create a beter
world.......
Dangerous Faith
Talks taking place in the region about being Christan
in the Middle East. Flyer is available from the rear of
the church with further details.
Catholic Newspapers Available
From the rear of the Church at a cost of $2.
4

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.

There are no meetngs and no cost whatsoever and
each member may remain anonymous if desired.

Because there are no meetngs this group is very
suitable for all parishioners, especially some of our
housebound or incapacitated folk to enable them to
play an important role within the parish community,
so allowing them to play an important and actve role
within the life of the parish community.

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 Ofce. To request prayers for
someone in need of prayer please contact Bob on
6555 5914 leaving your name and contact details.
Hospital & Home Visits
Because of the restrictons 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 Ofce or Fr Andrew.
Formation for Ministry Program
A series of formaton units developed especially for
members of Parish Leadership Teams, Parish Pastoral
Councils, Parish Finance Councils and Parish Pastoral
Teamsas well as those involved in other parish
groups and ministrieswill be ofered in Krambach
beginning on Saturday 13th September.

All units completed can be credited towards a
Certfcate in Ministry. Brochures and fyers are
available at the rear of the churches. There is no cost
for partcipatng in the program.

For more informaton on the program, please email
Sharon Murphy in the Diocesan Chancery on
sharon.murphy@mn.catholic.org.au or the Tenison
Woods Educaton Centre by email twec@ssjl.org.au.
Why We Do What We Do No. 3
Why do you, and some other parishioners, bow
during the saying of the Nicene Creed?

This is a very good queston. At the very heart of the
reasons behind this bow is a recogniton of the
profound nature of what it is that is being said at the
same tme.

The General Instructon of the Roman Missal tells us
that

The Symbol or Creed is sung or recited by the
Priest together with the people with everyone
standing. At the words et incarnatus est, etc
(and by the Holy Spirit...and became man) all
make a profound bow; but on the Solemnites of
the Annunciaton and of the Natvity of the Lord,
all genufect. (GIRM, 137)

The reason the profound bow is prescribed is in order
to honour the Incarnaton, God taking human form in
the person of Jesus, which is the most profound act of
Divine Revelaton in human history. Because of the
signifcance of this acton on Gods part, we respond
during the praying of the Creed (or Symbol of Faith as
it is also called) by making a profound bow at the
menton of Jesus taking on human form.

If you have a queston that youve always wanted an
answer to, now is your chance to ask. Questons can
be submited for Fr Andrew either by email or by
writen note.
Who do you say I am?
Australian Catholic
Copies of the Australian Catholic Magazine are
available from the rear of the church.
Exploring Becoming a Catholic
Maybe you have friends or family who:

have wondered about becoming a Catholic;
are engaged or married to a Catholic and have
Catholic children;
are searching for answers to the big questons
about life and death;
are looking for a Christan community to which they
feel they could really belong;
are maybe just interested.

The fnal Enquiry night for anyone wishing to learn
more about the Catholic Faith through the Rite of
Christan Initaton of Adults process will be held on
Wednesday 27th August in the Parish Meetng Room
(located at the rear of the Parish Hall in Forster) at
7pm.

Please extend an invitaton (and give a brochure) to a
friend or family member who may be interested.
Brochures explaining the Rite of Christan Initaton of
Adults are on the table at the back of the churches.
For more informaton contact Anne Moloney
65558918.

5

Communion from the Chalice when Sick
The occurrences of colds and fu are currently
increasing, a reminder to everyone to consider the
wellbeing of your fellow parishioners.

If you are not feeling well, we would respectully ask
you to please refrain from receiving Communion from
the Chalice during Mass.
A Relationship with a Personal God
I am currently reading a book enttled Forming
Intentonal Disciples by Sherry A. Weddell. Sherry
interviewed thousands of self proclaimed Catholics in
her work in Canada and the USA with some startling
results. Sherry found that many Catholics who are
actvely involved in some form of Church Ministry did
not believe in a personal God and therefore did not
have a personal relatonship with God. In fact she
records that nearly a third of self-identfed Catholics
believe in an impersonal God.

She says that the majority of Catholics in the United
States are sacramentalised but not evangelised. No
doubt the situaton in Australia is very similar. Sherry
lists three concurrent Catholic journeys that are ofen
treated as separate;

The personal interior journey of a lived
relatonship with Christ resultng in intentonal
discipleship.
The ecclesial journey into the Church through
recepton of the sacraments of initaton.
The journey of actve practce (as evidenced by
receiving the sacraments, atending Mass and
partcipatng in the life and mission of the
Christan community.)

She adds; Ideally, discipleship and Catholic identty
would always be one and the same. Every Catholic
would be making all three journeys to be a
conscious disciple of Jesus Christ, a fully initated
Catholic and an actve parishioner as an integrated
whole. But what is ofen meant by the term Catholic
identty is simply regarding oneself as Catholic and
atending Mass with reasonable regularity. In this
view, there is no need to enquire into the nature of
ones lived relatonship with God. In short, many
Catholics think one neednt ask about the frst journey
if the second and third journeys are in place.

Weve got all the theory right. The Church teaches
that Christanity is not so much an obedience to a set
of values as a relatonship with the person of Jesus
Christ. Pope Benedict said in 2009; Faith is above all
a personal, intmate encounter with Jesus, and to
experience his closeness, his friendship, his love; only
in this way does one learn to know him ever more, and
to love and follow him ever more. May this happen to
each one of us.

God is Love. God is infnite. God wants a personal
relatonship with each of us. My relatonship with God
is unique in the same way that my relatonship with
another person is diferent to anyone elses
relatonship to that person. My personal
conversatons with God (call it prayer if you like) will
difer from that of others. Sometmes I join other
worshippers in community prayer (e.g. Mass, Prayer
Groups) but if I am to nurture my personal
relatonship with God I also need tmes of personal
prayer where I talk (ofen complain) to Him about
situatons in my life.

I heard a story last weekend about one mans
encounter with the resurrected Christ. Afer being
harassed for six years by his wife to partcipate in a
Cursillo Weekend, this man fnally gave in. There were
no great enlightenments for him on the weekend
plenty of sharing by others about Christ in their lives
and opportunites for sharing his faith but no bolts of
lightning from above for him.

The day following the weekend he went to work but
found he couldnt concentrate the weekend
experience kept running through his head. He went
home and decided to go for a run to quieten his mind.
He ran along his normal track that included a steep hill
which always caused him to stop half way up for a
breather.

This tme as he approached the hill he found he had
extra energy that was driving him up the slope. He
began calling out Abba, Father which he had never
done before and had no idea where it came from or
why he was saying it. Tears streamed down his face
despite a lifetme of learning about Christ and
partcipatng in the Sacraments of the church he had
fnally come home to a personal relatonship with
God.

It is this personal relatonship with Jesus that
strengthens us in tmes of trial, tmes of sufering,
tmes of disappointment. He understands the pain
because he has been there before us.
Greg Byrne
Great Lakes Rural Australians for
Refugees (GLRAR)
The GLRAR recently ran a morning tea and fundraising
event for World Humanitarian Day, Tuesday 19th
August. The Morning Tea raised funds through the
sale of cakes, jams and recycled goods. The GLRAR
appreciates the support of the Catholic Parish.
6


Kids Corner

7

Opportunities Outside The Parish

Parish RCIA Teams Retreat Day
A Retreat Day for Parish RCIA Teams will be held on
Sunday 31st August beginning at 10am at Corcoran
Centre, George St, Morpeth. The day will be facilitated
by Rev Christan Sheppard OAM, a Unitng Church
Minister, who is trained in Retreat Ministry and
presently working part-tme at Newcastle East Public
School as a Student Welfare Worker. For more
informaton contact Loreto by phone on 4933 7425 or
email on loretto.lynch@exemail.com.au.

An Evening with Dr John Irvine
An evening with Dr John Irvine will be held on Tuesday
2nd September at 6:30pm at St James Primary
School, Skellatar Stock Route, Muswellbrook. Dr John
Irvine is one of Australias most prominent child
psychologists. Come along and hear him speak about
Anxiety K12: Red fags & what parents can do to
support their children. A Taree date also available on
Wednesday 10th September. Light refreshments will
be served from 6:30pm. Entry is by gold coin donaton,
with all proceeds will beneft charity. Visit
www.mn.catholic.edu.au/drjohn to secure your seat.

Broken Bay Bible Conference 2014
The 2014 Broken Bay Bible Conference will be held on
Friday 12th September at Caroline Chisholm Centre,
423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills. Join us for a
remarkable two days of uncovering fresh insights into
Johns Gospel with prominent Australian Johannine
scholars Fr Frank Moloney sdb and Dr Mary Coloe
ibvm, with the partcipaton of Bishop David Walker.
For further enquiries, please call 9847 0448 or email
registratons@dbb.org.au.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend
Marriage Encounter Weekend is a Marriage
Enrichment experience for married couples set in
peaceful, picturesque surroundings, away from the
distractons of everyday life. During the weekend,
couples have a unique opportunity to reconnect,
rekindle and refresh their relatonship. Take tme out
of your busy schedule, to invest in your most precious
asset, your Marriage! Weekend dates: 12 14
September & 7 9 November at Mt Carmel Retreat
Centre, Varroville, NSW. Bookings can be made to
Ardell & Bill Sharpe on 02 4283 3435 or email
wsharpe@bigpond.net.au.

Social Justce Dinner
A Social Justce Dinner, with guest Bishop Geofrey
Robinson, who will speak on Church in Crisis, will be
held on Friday 19th September at 6pm at Victor
Peters Suite, 841 Hunter St, Newcastle West. The cost
is $25 which includes a two-course dinner. Please
Hymn Give Thanks
Text: Henry Smith

Give thanks with a grateful heart.
Give thanks to the Holy One.
Give thanks because hes given Jesus Christ, his
Son. (x 2)

And now, let the weak say, I am strong,
let the poor say, I am rich,
because of what the Lord has done for us. (x 2)

(Last tme) Give thanks, give thanks, give
thanks.

1978 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (Administered by Crossroad
Distributors Pty Ltd). All rights reserved. Used with permission.
CCLI licence no
RSVP by 12th September by email (events@mn.
catholic.org.au) or phone (4979 1111). Payment can
be made to Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
BSB 062-808 Account 1025 5506. Please include
reference "your name" Robinson Dinner.

2014 Natonal Pilgrimage
In the Footsteps of Saint Mary pilgrimage commences
in Melbourne on 22nd October and ends in Sydney.
The cost per person, twin share is $2,740 (ex Sydney).
Contact Therese Leydon rsj by phone to 8912 4818, or
by email to mmp.ministries@sosj.org.
Soup Lunches
The organisers of our very successful Soup Lunches
sadly regret that, due to ill health, the lunches will be
temporarily discontnued.

Our sincere thanks go out to all those who have made
this venture possible over the last few years. The
eforts of our Cooks, Servers, Washing Up Team and
Cleaners have ensured the Lunches provided a
positve, joyful environment where many in our
community found friendship and support.

Our partcular thanks go to Angela & Lou Hope who
formed the backbone of this important work of caring
and sharing in our Parish. As good health returns we
can be sure of other similar charitable ventures from
this giving couple.
8

Ministers this Weekend... ...of the Word ...of Communion
6pm Tuncurry A: Lou Hope
B: Geraldine Mullin
Margaret Smith, Maureen Stevens, Michael Amato,
Owen Carroll, Ruth Pearson.
7am Tuncurry A: Kay Grifths
B: Edna Tucker
Cecile Malone, Cushla Drake, Edna Tucker, Kay Grifths,
Patricia Cornish.
9am Forster A: Barbara Dolahenty
B: Genevieve Williamson
Alan McCarthy, Anne Hartman, Anne Moloney, Coral
McCarthy, Elle Cairns-Cowan.
Ministers next Weekend... ...of the Word ...of Communion
6pm Tuncurry A: Bob Cashman
B: Colleen Cashman
Carolyn Ollife, Jeanete Goodacre, Kathryn McCabe,
Pat Hooker, Valarie Ross.
7am Tuncurry A: Norm Chapman
B: Cushla Drake
Cushla Drake, Graham Grifths, Mark Mowbray, Norm
Chapman, Patricia Cornish.
9am Forster A: Lauranne Byrne
B: Greg Byrne
Barbara Dolahenty, Greg Byrne, Josie Beech, Robert
Moran, Trevor Turner.
Please note: The above informaton refects the rosters as originally published,
and doesnt take account of any swaps that may have been organised between individuals.
Scripture Readings This Week

Today Isaiah 22:19-23
Romans 11:33-36
Mathew 16:13-20
Monday 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12
Mathew 23:13-22
Tuesday 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17
Mathew 23:23-26
Wednesday 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18
Mathew 23:27-32
Thursday 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Mathew 24:42-51
Friday Jeremiah 1:17-19
Mark 6:17-29
Saturday 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Mathew 25:14-30
Sunday Jeremiah 20:7-9
Romans 12:1-2
Mathew 16:21-27
Todays Liturgy of the Word

Responsorial Psalm
Response: Lord, your love is eternal;
do not forsake the work of your hands.

Gospel Acclamaton
Alleluia, alleluia!
You are Peter, the rock on which I will build my
Church
the gates of hell will not hold out against it.
Alleluia!
In your charity, please pray for:
Those recently deceased.
Erwin Richter, David Watkin, James Hewitson.

Those whose anniversaries occur about now.
Warwick Moulder, Monica Meighan, Thomas Walsh.

All those in our community who are sick.
Text: Excerpts from the English Translaton of the Roman Missal 2010, Internatonal Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL); Music:
From the Mass of St Francis 2010, Paul Taylor. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Australian AgentWord of Life Internatonal
Licence no 195E.