PASTOR'S PERSPECTIVE - The Ascension - 'It's Not Over Yet!' - Catholic ...
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In the care of the Augustinians
LEST WE FORGET
16th May 2021 Yr B
Cnr White & Wanganella Sts 2 King Street
Parish Priest: Fr Dave Austin OSA
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity parishoffice@northharbourcatholic.org.au
NATIONAL FAMILIES WEEK www.northharbourcatholic.org.au
Parish Office: 9949 4455
PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE – The Ascension - ‘It’s Not Over Yet!’
Dear Friends,
Easter is a 50-day Feast and we need to celebrate and allow ourselves to
be drawn fully into this magnificent mystery of Christ. Both the Ascension and
Pentecost are part of this Easter Season and for that reason we light the Easter Candle
up to and including Pentecost. It was not always so in the Church during a time when
it was extinguished on the Ascension.
Celebrating well for a brief period is not easy, so what about fifty days?
Perhaps you have experienced a significant birthday or life event where the
celebrations went on for several days – parties, dinners, lunches, etc. Some can
manage it but it’s not for the faint-hearted.
This post-Easter time provides us with ‘days of clarity’ and the Scripture
readings help us to unpack the message in fresh ways. Having the Paschal
Candle lit is one way to help us experience this continuity, not just at Mass but
at other times of sacramental and community prayer. The lit candle at funerals
reminds us of the incredible mystery and grace of the Risen Christ in the
significant moments of our lives.
Another way in which the Church highlights the 50 days of Easter is by
limiting the number of days where feasts of Mary and the saints are celebrated
during the week. Celebrations are usually of Easter days with a focus on the
daily scripture readings, especially from Acts, the account of the Spirit at work
in the developing Christian communities – calling forth fresh faith and energy
from our own community. The final days between the Ascension and Pentecost
are days of prayer and anticipation of the outpouring of the gift of the Holy
Spirit.
Like the other days of the Easter Season, the Ascension celebrates not a
departure but Jesus’ abiding presence with us. The Paschal Candle still burns in
its customary place – Christ has not left us but is with us always! In the words
of Fr John Byrne OSA, ‘The Ascension marked the end of the visible presence
of Jesus, but he was with them in other ways.’ He goes on to ask whether we can experience the unseen
presence and influence of a parent, a friend or an inspiring leader after they have died. We know well that we
can even though we may struggle with this at times.
Believing in Jesus who is now with the Father in glory, our faith should s-t-r-e-t-c-h our minds and
belief. The late Fr Russell Hardiman (Pastoral Liturgy, Volume 39, 2-3) once summed up the Ascension in
this way:
‘We are left with a sense of tremendous awe before the Mystery of Love. That God’s love for us would be
such that everything is for our sake! What all our words come down to is that there are no words. There
can only be a holy silence. Remember the words of the two messengers to the
disciples, ‘Why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been
taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him
WELCOME, FR JEPSER BERMUDEZ!!
Warm welcome to Fr Jepser Bermudez who has joined the Parish Team as an Associate Pastor.
He is based at the Augustinian Community in Brookvale where he is Director of Formation. Fr
Jepser was ordained on 18 October 2013 and has served in various parish and formation
ministries, including as Novice Master and Assistant Novice Master at International
Augustinian Novitiate in Cebu, Philippines. He presided at the Parish Youth Mass in St
Kieran’s Church last Sunday evening.
SPECIAL MASSES – BICENTENARY OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION
Special Masses will be celebrated in Parishes and Schools across Australia on Monday 24 May
at 10.30am, the Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians, to celebrate the Bicentenary of
Catholic Education in Australia. In North Harbour Parish, Mass arrangements are as follows -
subject to COVID guidelines at that time:
• St Kieran’s Church – Parish Mass at 10.30am. All parishioners are invited,
particularly past students, teachers and catechists. Representative groups of students
and staff from St Kieran’s School and St Augustine’s College will participate. We have
much to be thankful for and so you are encouraged to attend.
• St Cecilia’s School – School Mass at 10.30am in the school grounds, weather
permitting. Parents and parishioners are welcome.
• We hope you will be part of this historic celebration as we give thanks for Catholic
Education in the life of the Church in Australia.
COVID UPDATE
Some NSW Government COVID regulations are still in place. Those that affect
Parish life and worship are as follows:
• Masks need to be worn by all who are present in the church as has been
our experience in the past. Priests who are presiding may remove their
masks whilst engaging in presidential prayers.
• An ample supply of masks is available at the church doors.
• Congregational singing is not permitted but it is possible, however, for a cantor or a small choir to sing,
provided that they are socially distanced. It is certainly possible for music, such as an organ or other
instruments, to be played.
• Social gatherings after Mass should be limited to avoid mingling, so as to be careful not to put our most
vulnerable at risk.
• Seating density - Please note that there has been no change to the regulations around density: therefore the
same number of people currently accommodated in our churches remains unchanged. Please follow the
markings on the seats and observe the 2 square metre rule.
• COVID-Safe behaviours such as the practice of good hand hygiene and social distancing continue to keep
our communities safe.
• QR Codes and SIGNING-IN are most important especially given the proximity of recent positive results.
Under NSW Law, the Parish must continue to keep accurate records of all attendances. This is to enable fast
contact tracing in the event of any community transmission. Please continue to check in at the churches and/or
Parish Centre every time you visit.
National Families Week is Australia’s annual celebration of the importance
of families. It is timed to coincide with the International Day of Families (15
May). As we celebrate Families Week we reflect on Pope Francis’ insights in
The Joy of Love, which affirms that families are the building blocks of a healthy society and a place where
children learn to love, respect and interact with others. Among other things he mentions unemployment,
today’s fast pace of life, particular challenges for young people, caring for family members
with disabilities, the effect of severe stress on families and the transformation of love in relationships
spanning five or six decades. He wants us to remember “that there is no stereo-type of the ideal family,
but rather a challenging mosaic made up of many different realities, with all their joys, hopes and
problems".
Please collect your Families Week children’s activities from the back of both churches.
MAY From St Augustine
17 PPC Meeting parish centre 7.00pm Let me know You, my
18 SVDP Meeting parish centre 7.00pm Father, let me know You
23 Yr 2 Family Mass SC 9.00am as I too am known. Enter
24 Bicentenary of Catholic Education in Australia my soul, You Who are its
Masses 10.30am at SK Church & SC School ground strength, and make it what
JUNE You want.
7 Justice and Peace Talk—Fr Tony—7.30pm parish centre Confessions 10, 1
Readings for this week: Acts 1:1-11 Ephesians 4:1-13 Mark 16:15-20
Response: ‘God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord’
Readings for next week: Acts 2:1-11 Galatians 5:16-25 John 15:26-27, 16:12-15
NEXT WEEK’S READERS —WEEK 4—May 23 2021
SK: 5.30: Maria, Ronda 7.30: John, Tim 9.30: Kaye, Anne 6.00pm Leanne, Caroline, Christine
SC: 9.00: School parents or children
JUSTICE AND PEACE TALK - Monday 7 June
Parishioners are invited to a talk on the work of the Augustinian Order in
the area of Justice & Peace on Monday 7 June at 7.30pm, in the Parish
Centre. Speaker will be Fr Tony Banks OSA, Assistant General of the
Order based in Rome and member of the Order’s International
Commission on Justice and Peace. Please RSVP to the Parish Office if you
wish to attend.
This weekend of 15 & 16 May parishes are asked to include the gender of those
attending Mass and on the 22 & 23 May parishes are asked to include ages of
those attending. In the past this information was collected via individual responses
through the National Church Life Survey (NCLS). The Diocese of Broken Bay will not be
participating in NCLS this year, hence the additional request for data in the Mass Counts.
PARISH YOUTH MASS
Thank you to all who attended the Parish Youth Mass at St Kieran’s Church last Sunday
and to our youth and all who made it special, especially those involved in music and singing,
proclaiming the Scriptures, presiding and serving, and other ministries. This Youth event is
held twice a term. Remaining date for the first semester is Sunday 13 June (Term 2).
This Sunday begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a week where we
unite with other Christians to pray that all may be one, as Jesus desires.
This year’s theme is “Abide in my love and you shall bear fruit” (John 15:5).
Sacramental Program News for parents of children in Year 3 and older
CONFIRMATION INFORMATION SESSION FOR ALL PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM
(approx. 1 hour): Tues 8 June, 9.30am OR Wed 9 June, 7.00pm both in St Kieran’s Church.
ONLINE ENROLMENT information will be available next week.
The Ordination to the Priesthood of Deacon Lê Tuấn Anh OSA by Most Rev Mark Coleridge,
Archbishop of Brisbane, will take place on Saturday 22 May, the Feast of St Rita of Cascia
OSA, at St James Catholic Church, Coorparoo, Brisbane, at 10am. Tuấn Anh will celebrate a
Mass of Thanksgiving on Pentecost at 9.00am. This is a time of great joy for his family in
Vietnam and for the Augustinians and we congratulate him most sincerely and assure him of our
prayers. Augustinians from our Sydney communities will attend the ceremonies.
SUNDAY HOMILIES are online. This weekend, Fr Tony is the homilist.
You can watch the video on the parish YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt8Dxm0ehFt-5r1ie9xOjLw
For those with ILLNESS
Aurora Kogovsek Bruno Kogovsek Daniella Takchi Cathy Ewing
ANNIVERSARIES Elsa Monsour Irene Martin Helen Richardson Irene Hurrell
Roseanna Walker Jack Lange Stella Brown Bill Rein Maria Bisazza Maria Kogovsek
Peter Keogh Bernadette Norma Kogovsek Joan Killick Simone Young Bob McEwan
Jackson Christopher Jim Rush Yvonne Hickey Jonathan Keil
RECENTLY DECEASED Newman
Robert Harris Tony Gilbert Richard Paul Margaret Joan Kelly Peter & Jan Van de
Reynolds Appleby Velde
Sam Barone Denis Batley
Margot Massey Chloe Zarb Andrew Scotland Shirley Barker
Peter Frize Shirley Robinson Muireann
This Casey
list will Bridie
be reviewed Lennon
every Michael Lennon
few weeks—contact the office for continued prayers
northharbourmusicministry@gmail.com
0404 865 241 (Marianne) 9949 4455 (Parish Office)
Approach any member of the ministry or see Fr Dave
NEED HELP ON THE FOLLOWING MASSES:
• St Kieran’s 6pm (4th Sunday)
• St Cecilia’s 9am (1st and 2nd Sundays)
SICK CALLS AND OTHER URGENT MATTERS
IF YOU NEED A PRIEST URGENTLY, PLEASE CALL THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER:
Business hours – Parish Office – 9949 4455
After hours (Evenings and weekends) – 0490 898 464
Sign in Use hand Do not Wear a facemask Maintain Catch up
before Mass sanitiser attend & Follow signage social outside at a
if unwell distancing safe
re seating
distance
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF NORTH HARBOUR
REGULAR PARISH mass times Baptisms
St Cecilia’s, Balgowlah St Cecilia 10.30am Sun. by appointment
SUNDAY 9.00AM 9.00am Mass on 1st Sundays of the month
WEDNESDAY 9.00AM St Kieran 11.30am Sun. by appointment
St Kieran’s, Manly Vale 9.30am Mass on 1st Sundays of the month
Saturday vigil 5.30pm
SUNDAY 7.30am, 9.30am & 6.00pm Baptism preparation is required for 1st baptisms.
Weekdays 8.30am except Wednesdays Contact parish office 9949 4455
St Augustine’s Chapel, Brookvale
Wednesdays 8.10am during term time marriages
reconciliation Require 6 months notice and include Pre-marriage
St Kieran 5 – 5.45pm Saturday or by appointment. Course as part of the preparation
Fr David Austin OSA Parish Priest 0419 265 317 Jacky Worthington Parish Manager 9949 4455
Fr Paul Maloney OSA Assistant Priest and Prior 0439 595 723 Marianne Deveza Music Co-ordinator 9949 4455
Fr Jepser Bermudez Assistant Priest 0410 203 601 Ursula Halloway Catechist Coordinator 9949 4455
Fr Senan Ward OSA Chaplain – St Augustine’s College Janette Davidson Sacramental Coordinator 0408 866 521
Fr Abel van der Veer OSA Retired 0409 368 449 Anne Ross Parish Secretary 9949 4455
Fr Peter Jones OSA Provincial—In Residence Jane Filacuridi Parish Secretary 9949 4455
We acknowledge the Gayamagal and Canalgal people, the traditional custodians of this land
and pay our respects to the elders past and present.
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