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Second Sunday of Advent, Year C

Bridgeside Bulletin
The weekly Bulletin of the Catholic Parish of Forster Tuncurry
Proclaiming Christ to the communities of Forster, Tuncurry and the surrounding districts

Sunday 13th December, 2015 Third Sunday of Advent, Year C

Unless otherwise stated, the advertisements placed in the Bridgeside Bulletin are placed by independent third parties who have no legal relationship with the Diocese. The activities or services of
the advertisers are not supervised or controlled in any way by the Diocese. The Diocese is not in a position to endorse the advertisers or the services provided and makes no representation about
those matters. Accordingly, the Diocese cannot accept any responsibility for the advertisers or the activities or services that are the subject of these advertisements

REFLECTION from Fr Greg

Dear Parish Family,

13 Filipino Christmas Party

Forster 1pm

14 Baptismal Preparation
Forster 7pm

15 Mass at Barclay Gardens

Forster 11am

15 NO Singing Practise
This week

16 Pastoral Council
Forster 4:30pm

22 Singing Practise
Forster 5:30pm

24/25 Christmas
See Mass times P2

Mass at Beaumont
Terrace
Tuncurry 11am

Mass at Kularoo
Gardens
Forster 11am

11 Baptismal Preparation
Forster 7pm

I was listening to the radio this week talk back; you know radio is boring when all
you can get is talk back! Any way the chatter was around Donald Trump and his
candidacy for the White House. May God save us should he be elected as Barack
Obamas replacement and become the President of the United States. The main
point currently surrounds comments he made with regard banning Muslims from
entering America. I know that some of that will play on the minds of security
conscious and nervous Americans particularly in light of recent shootings. And it
may play on our minds too. Fear is an amazing emotion that can cause us to react
irrationally and without much thought and can cause neighbour to turn on
neighbour. It gives us wings for payback and can absolve us both individually and
collectively of any ownership of a decline in Human Rights and the freedoms we
enjoy. Weve witnessed it in so many parts of the world already, remember Rwanda
and the genocide that occurred there. Good Christian, Catholic people fell foul of
their fears and prejudices and people they had lived with, worked with, loved, died.
There is a risk to Christian living that we can sometimes overlook or at the very least
play down. The risk of Christianity lies in the passages of scripture which talk about
giving ones life for a friend. Jesus reminds us that we are his friends when we do
what he commands. He lay his life down on the cross so that we would know
freedom, we would know hope, we would know salvation. He did that for all sinners
and for all of us regardless of our denomination, creed, ethnic background,
orientations. We are called to do the same, as hard sometimes as that is, to
overcome our natural fears and need to protect our loved ones.
I often wonder if the heart of what we do is found in the challenge of living out our
Gospel values to their fullest and by not taking our way of life and our religious
freedoms for granted.
Sometimes we dont know what weve got till its gone (they paved paradise and put
up a parking lot to coin a phrase and one of my favourite singers!!!) and I do mean
till its gone. In respecting another we also have to make some call for the
conversations to be two way. There is room for each of us to celebrate and worship
in the way that we feel we are called. Should we petition Councils to put up
Christmas decorations? Absolutely! Should we call on Shopping Centres to allow
Nativity scenes in Shop windows? Absolutely! We should politely and politically
demand it. And to allow other faiths to celebrate respectively their high times and
feast days!
However, in asking others to do our work we should be prepared to do the same.
What are the signs in our lives of our Christian faith? What do we do to reflect our
home as a Christian home and particularly a Christian home at Christmas time? So
lets deck our Halls with Bells of Holy, tinsel, lights, Christmas trees, angels and a crib
our homes all the way to Christmas!
Keeping Christ in Christmas

Greg

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Second Sunday of Advent, Year C

Christmas & Holiday Mass Services

Opening the Year of Mercy Pope Francis and Bishop Bill invite
you to the Opening of the Year of Mercy and the launch of 150 year
celebrations of the diocese today, Sunday 13th December. Liturgy at
4pm, beginning at Victor Peters Suite (near cathedral), food and
entertainment, and the sacrament of penance will be available
'al fresco'.
.

Christmas Gardening Party The 17th December will be the last

gardening day for the year. This final event for 2015 will be followed by
a tasty BBQ and a few beverages at approximately 10am. Please come
along, particularly if youre interested in considering being involved in
the gardening and maintenance next year!

Christmas Eve
(24 Dec)

Vigil 6:30pm Holy Name School

Vigil 10pm
Tuncurry

Christmas Day
(25th Dec)

7am
9am

Tuncurry
Forster

Sunday Masses
Vigil 6pm
(27 Dec to 24 Jan) 7am
9am
11am

Tuncurry
Tuncurry
Forster
Forster

The Friendship Group will meet for Lunch at Club Forster on

Tuesday 15th December, at 12noon

Combined Churches
Advent Prayer and Worship Evenings

Thank you to the generous

parishioners & friends who kindly
donated the much needed
household furniture. God bless,

Recently Deceased
Norma Young

Anniversaries

Tuesday 15th DecemberBaptist

Church, Cnr Carawa & Maneela St,
Forster at 7pm.

Sick in the Parish

COME AND WORSHIP THE NEWBORN KING

Emily Wroblewicz.

Peter Gapps
Bradley Metcalfe

Sr Kathryn

Calling all Angels, Shepherds, Kings, Inn Keepers,Mary and Joseph!

If you are twelve years or younger
and would like to participate in
our Christmas Mass at Holy Name
School on the 24 December at
6.30pm you are invited to dress
for the occasion in Costume. A
practice will be held at the school
on Wednesday, December 23 at
10am. Mary is a coveted role and
if we have more than one Mary a
ballot will be held at the practice!

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH 2015

This year marks the 30th year in succession that Christmas Day Lunch has been
held in our hall. Each year between 40 and 50 people gather to share a meal and
enjoy each others company. Although the event was originally instigated to cater
to those who would otherwise be spending Christmas Day alone, in past years
many families as well as singles have joined us to celebrate the day together.
There are no costs involved for attendance and everyone is most welcome to join
us. The function is a very informal gathering where everyone plays a part in
preparing and serving the meal and sharing in the family atmosphere of the day.
This year the hall will be opened from 11.00am and lunch will be served at 1pm.
Everyone is welcome to come along and join us. For more information contact
Greg Byrne on 65548045 or 0427 918 568.

The St Vincent de Paul Society has

launched its Christmas Appeal for 2015.
A member of the local conference will
speak at each of the masses this
weekend. We thank you for your support
in the past and hope we can count on
your support this year. Your generosity
can make a real difference for many local
families this Christmas.

Advent Hymn by Paul Geraghty

Refrain
Your friends are waiting for You Lord,
Your friends are waiting here
We wait with quiet hearts and minds
With love and not with fear.
We call to mind your coming Lord,
Your coming long ago.
You came into the world you made
But You it did not know. Refrain
We call to mind your promise Lord,
To be with us the same,
Whenever two or three or more
Are gathered in your name. Refrain
We call to mind your promise Lord
To come to us once more
But will You come soft as the dew
Or with a thunder roar? Refrain

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Second Sunday of Advent, Year C

Ministers this week

of Communion

6pm
Tuncurry

.of the Word

A: Tony Stevens
B: Bob Cashman

7am
Tuncurry
9am

A: Bronwyn Morse
B: Edna Tucker
A: Peter Nicholls

Cushla Drake, Fred Liackman Mark Mowbray, Peter

Wicks, Mary Greig.

Forster

B: Kyla Loring

Carolyn Olliffe, Frank Hayman, Kathryn McCabe,

Maureen Pye, Michael Siddle.

Alan McCarthy, Anne Moloney, Barbara Kermode, Coral

McCarthy, Elle Cairns-Cowan.

Ministers next week

of Communion

6pm
Tuncurry

.of the Word

A: Kay Hall
B: Frank Hayman

7am
Tuncurry
9am

A: Genevieve Williamson
B: Maria Armitage
A: Marion ONeill

Lorraine Clark, Cushla Drake, Mary Greig, Cecile Malone,

Graham Griffiths

Forster

B: Elizabeth Sciacca

Kay Hall, Lou Hope, Margaret Smith, Maureen Stevens,

Ruth Pearson

Greg Byrne, Maureen Nicholls, Robert Moran, Robyn

Ryan, Shioney Neal.

Scripture ZoneThis week

Next Week

Gospel Acclamation
First Reading
Alleluia, alleluia!
Zephaniah 3:14-18
Micah 5:1-4
With gladness the Lord will rejoice over you. The Spirit of the Lord is upon
Second Reading
me; he sent me to bring Good
Hebrews 10:5-10
News to the poor.
Responsorial Psalm Response:
Gospel Reading
Alleluia!
Cry out with joy and gladness: for
Luke 1:39-44
among you is the great and Holy One
of Israel.
CHURCH ROSTERS & HOLIDAY SEASON
Gospel
9am mass: Truly, God is my salvation,
During the holiday season each year in our
Lk 3:10-18
I trust, I shall not fear.
Church we struggle with the welcome influx of
What, then,
visitors and the shortage of Ministers (Readers/
must we do?
Second Reading
First Reading

Min of Communion/Sacristans) to fill the

rosters and thus provide well served liturgies.

Phillippians 4:4-7
The Lord is near.

Advent Chant
(after the lighting of the Advent Candle each week )

Wait in joyful hope, a Saviour will come, Jesus Christ the Light of the World;
Wait in joyful hope, a Saviour will come, Welcome to the Word of God!

A roster has been drawn up to give us a starting

point and it would be appreciated if ministers
could make a special effort to fill these
positions. If that is not possible we would ask
that you find a replacement or, failing that,
inform the Office.
.
Please collect your roster today.
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 Agent
LicenSing Online Lic No. 624844.

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Second Sunday of Advent, Year C

Fr Greg BarkerParish Priest

gregory.barker@mn.catholic.org.au

Emergency Contact 0417 321 209

Mr Greg ByrnePastoral Associate
greg.byrne@mn.catholic.org.au
Mrs Sharon Fowle
(Administration
Associate/Bulletin)
Bridgeside Bulletin
Items for inclusion should be
received by midday on
Thursday.

Loretta Heffernan
SRE Co-Ordinator
loretta.heffernan@mn.catholic.org.au

Office Hours
Tues, Wed, Thurs
9:30am to 1pm
Fri
10am to 4pm

Baptismal Preparation
on 2nd Monday of each
month @ 7pm in Forster
Church Hall. Parish Office
6554 6304.

Maintenance & Gardening Group

Third Thursday of the month.
Howard 6557 6826.
Childrens Liturgy of the Word
First and third
Sunday at 9am Mass.
Natasha 0407 589 935.

Marriage
Celebrated by arrangement
and with at least three months
notice. Fr Greg 6554 6304

forster-tuncurry.parish@mn.catholic.org.au

Sr Kathryn McCabe
Aboriginal Catholic Ministry

Secular Franciscan Fraternity

First Wednesday of the month
after 9am Mass at Forster.

Baptisms
Celebrated most Sundays.

PARISH CONTACTS

Novena to Our Lady of

Perpetual Help
Every Wed, 11:14am at Forster.
Shioney 6554 9468.

Sacramental Preparation
Greg Byrne 6554 6304

Pastoral Team
First Wed, 4:30pm at Forster.
Greg Byrne 6554 6304

Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults
(RCIA) Parish Office 6554 6304

Finance Council
Second Wed, 5pm at Forster.
Greg Byrne 6554 6304

PARISH PASTORAL
GROUPS AND CONTACTS

Pastoral Council
Third Wed, 5:30pm at Forster.
Greg Byrne 6554 6304

Christian Meditation
Every Tues, 9am and 5:30pm.
Bob 6555 5914.

Holy Hour
Every Tues, 3:30pm at Tuncurry

Womens Bible Study Group

Every Thurs, 7pm to 8pm.
Natasha 0407 589 935.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Parish Office
Located at the rear of
the Parish Hall Forster:
33 Lake Street, Forster
NSW 2428
PO Box 67
P: (02) 6554 6304
F: (02) 6554 6425

menALIVE Groups
Day group meet second and
fourth Wed after 9am Mass at
Forster. Evening group meets last Thurs of
the month at 7:30pm at Forster. Michael
Amato 6554 5284

CHURCH
LOCATIONS
Mary Star of the Sea
15 Peel Street, Tuncurry
Holy Name of Jesus
33 Lake Street, Forster

Singing Practice
Every Tues, 5:30pm.
Ken Heffernan 6557 6569.

SUNDAY MASS TIMES

Social Justice
Last Wed, 5:30pm at Forster.
Tim Prescott 6555 8517.

St Clares High School

Mr Peter Nicholls (Principal)
Davis Street, Taree
P: (02) 6552 3300
E: admin@tareesc.catholic.edu.au
W: www.tareesc.catholic.edu.au

Intercessory Prayer Group

No meetings required.
Bob Cashman 6555 5914.

WEEKDAY EUCHARIST (subj. to change)

Mary Star of the Sea, Tuncurry Mary Star of the Sea, Tuncurry
Sat 6pm, Sun 7am
Tues 4:30pm, Sat 9am
Holy Name of Jesus, Forster
Sun 9am

Holy Name Parish School (K-6)

Mr Chris Waters (Principal)
41 Lake St, Forster
PO Box 243
P: (02) 6554 6504
E: admin@forster.catholic.edu.au
W: www.forster.catholic.edu.au

Holy Name of Jesus, Forster

Wed 9.30am, Thurs 9am, Fri 9:30am

AGED CARE MASSES (subj. to change)

Beaumont Terrace 1st Tues , 11am
Kularoo Gardens 1st Wed, 11am
GLAICA House 2nd Tues, 11am
Barclay Gardens 3rd Tues, 11am

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

RECONCILIATION

Mary Star of the Sea, Tuncurry

Holy Name of Jesus, Forster

Saturday 8:30am

Saturday 4:45pm