Author: Fr John Hill

Catholic Parish of Woy Woy Peninsula

The Voice

2nd November 2014

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Psalter Week 3

Interfaith Relations

OF YOUR CHARITY PRAY FOR THE SOULS OF
Recently deceased: Elsie Taylor, Mark Dwyer, Judy Murphy, Juanita Rose, Robert John Brewington. Terence Gould.
Anniversaries: Pat Hennessy, Shirley Job, Phillip McMahon, Jack and Lily Mortimore, Val and Ellen Cubis, Yousif Koro, Tereza Hanna.
Remembrances: Marion and Alfred Johnston, Sook Bee, Kai Tai and David Cang Snr. Renato, Constancio and Soriano Paz, Toni Townsend, Jesse Geronimo.
And the sick: Doris Tancred, Sr. Leo Taylor, Fr. Bill Meacham, Beryl Allen, Lola Proctor, Renee Glase, Grace Williams, Alan Harland, Margaret Woodward, Brother Michael Knights, Gada Selim, Evangeline Cusay, Neil Cameron, Olive Brittliff, Peter Crookes.

The Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay places great value on its relationships with members of other faith communities.
In recent times we have been particularly blessed by the opportunities and friendship offered to our Diocese by members of the Jewish community and the Muslim community in Sydney. These have resulted in shared experiences such as Iftar dinners, Torah study groups, public lectures, and other gatherings of an educational or social nature.
It is of great concern that in recent months Australia has witnessed a spike in anti-Semitic activity. This has included some especially abhorrent literature and incidents directed against Jewish residents in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. We are aware, too, that there are Jewish families living in Sydney’s northern suburbs who have experienced anti-Semitic verbal abuse and in some cases physical harassment.
No one should ever be made to feel unsafe walking our streets and living in our neighbourhoods for the mere fact of being Jewish.
Similarly, we are deeply concerned about a recent surge in negative and judgmental attitudes in Australian society directed towards Muslim communities. In specific hateful incidents, abuse has been hurled at Muslim women wearing the hijab, mosques have been vandalised, an Islamic school has come under threat, and there has been an escalation of threats on social media.
No Muslim should ever be subjected to hateful judgments and intimidation because of his or her cultural or religious identity.
Our concern intensifies, too, for our own Christian brothers and sisters who in some parts of Sydney have been subjected to verbal abuse and threats.
This current wave of unrest in Australian society rightly increases our need for vigilance and awareness as citizens but also, more importantly, calls for our wakefulness as Christians. Centred on Christ, we are a people called to witness to God’s love for all humanity. The tragic political conflicts occurring in the world must never be an excuse for the venting of racial prejudice or religious bigotry. On the contrary, they should cause us to intensify our commitment to fostering interfaith friendships and intercultural harmony.
Most of us are not in a position to directly influence major events happening overseas, however we can all take responsibility and action within our own personal sphere of influence – our neighbourhoods, our parishes, our places of study and work, and our social circles.
With the clergy and other leaders in Broken Bay Diocese, I urge everyone in our Diocesan community to stand firm in our commitment to developing lifegiving relationships with people of other faiths. Let us do everything within our means to foster among our people a deep understanding and embodiment of the teachings of the Church on interreligious relations as expressed at Vatican II in Nostra Aetate and articulated in subsequent church documents. In this way we can be leaven for peace within Australian society.
Further information on these church teachings can be accessed at our Diocesan website: www.dbb.org.au/ecumenism-interfaith.
In the words of Pope Francis, reiterated by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue: “May the God of peace stir up in each one of us a genuine desire for dialogue and reconciliation.”
Fr Vincent R. Casey
Diocesan Administrator

Inside this issue:

Psalm Response

© Colin D. Smith cfc

Notices and News	2
November Feasts: Saints Alive	3
Conditional Baptism	4
Directory	4

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! This is the will of my Father, says the Lord, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day. Alleluia!

The Voice

Around the Parish

All Souls Memorial Mass:
Parishioners are warmly invited to celebrate this special Mass of Light, at 6pm Mass this Sunday. Together as a parish community we will remember our deceased family and friends who have experienced the loss of a loved one this year.
All Soul’s Day Cemetery
Visits: Point Clare. Prayers start in the Green Hut 10.30am this Sunday. Palmdale. Prayers start 11.45am at the undercover area to the East of the Chapels (next to the Native Gardens).
The Book of the Names of the Dead is in the church during November. You are invited to write the name of the faithful departed in it. A lamp will be lit at all Masses.
November Mass Envelopes are available in the gathering area. The Bishops of Australia have set a stipend for November Masses at twenty dollar ($20).
Sympathy: St. John the Baptist family extend its prayerful
sympathy to family, relatives and friends of Annie Syddall & Terence Gould whose funerals occurred last week.
Charitable Works Fund Appeal will be held 8/9 November. Envelopes are available in the church for your convenience.
Jam and Cake Stall will be operating Sunday, 16th November at the 7.30am and 9.15am Masses. All proceeds will go towards the maintenance of our Parish bus. Enq: Mary 4344 2288.
Parish Christmas Hampers: We know that there are many in our community who may be aged, widowed, single parents or disabled. They may be alone or have no close family. They may be in a nursing home or other care facility. A Hamper Gift from you, a member of our Parish family, would be appreciated and will give much joy to someone in need at Christmas.
Lists of various hampers needed for you to choose from are on display next weekend 8/9 November. Please take note of each hamper’s code. Single items can be left in the gathering area from next weekend 8/9 November. No cigarettes, alcohol or perishables please.
Hampers will be collected at all Masses on the weekend of 6/7 December.
Note: This is a separate collection from St. Vincent de Paul’s Christmas collection.
Children’s Liturgy Roster 9/11/14: Christine French (L) Marianne Bowyer (L) Jenny Rid diford (H).
Anointing of the Sick will be administered during 4pm Mass this Friday, 7th November.
Volunteer Church Cleaning 7/11/14: Jo Salter. Kevin Glacken. Christina Thorsen. Elena Egan.
Cancer Support Group for those suffering from cancer or those wishing to pray for them, meeting this Tuesday, 4th November at 1.45 pm in the Leo Mahon room. Please note
earlier starting time of meeting. Enq: Phoebe 4341 6324.
Morning Tea/Coffee Roster 9/11/14: Parents and Friends.
Bus Trip to St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop’s Chapel has been cancelled.
Trip to Koala Sanctuary—Wed 12 Nov, leaving 8.30am. Cost $15 plus entry fee. Contact Susie 4344 1742 or 0403 417 639.
Summer Clothing Appeal: St. Vincent de Paul wishes to thank our parishioners for their
reponse to the recent appeal.
Faith Based Conversations:
Getting good at talking about your faith to family and friends takes practice (and grace). For some practice and tips on how to get better at it, come to the Leo Mahon room Saturday, 8th November, 10.30am-11.30am. Morning tea included.
Pilgrimage: Last weekend from 24th-26th October, six young parishioners undertook a 100km walking pilgrimage from Ballarat to Bendigo through beautiful countryside Victoria. Despite the odd blister and one rolled ankle, the pilgrimage was a great success. While the walk was physically demanding, it bore many spiritual gifts. Multiple rosaries, litanies and hymns were sung throughout each day, always keeping in mind the ‘Parish Scroll of Intercessions’, which was laid at the feet of Mary upon arriving at Bendigo Cathedral for the final Mass.
On behalf of the pilgrims who attended, I would like to thank all of the parishioners who prayed for us while we were away. Peace and blessings.
Samuel French.

Social Justice

Overcoming Poverty and seeking Economic Justice:
Pope Francis reminds us of Benedict XVI’s comment that the lack of fraternity between peoples is a significant cause of poverty. Absolute poverty is being reduced, the Pope says, but ‘on the other hand there is a serious rise in relative poverty’ - that is, in inequality between people living together in particular regions.

the other hand there is a serious rise in relative poverty’ - that is, in inequality between people living together in
particular regions.
Effective policies are needed to promote the principle of fraternity, securing for people—who are equal in dignity and in fundamental rights—access to capital, services, educational resources, healthcare and technology so that every
person...can develop fully as a
person.
World Day of Peace Message 2014.

From the Diocese and beyond

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Two up-coming seminars at The Broken Bay Institute:
A New Conversation in the Australian Church:
Mission and Culture Seminar, Friday 21/11/14. 9.30am—12.30pm. Book online at:
www.trybooking.com/FUIJ
Israel-Palestine: a Respectful Conversation: Thurs. 6/11/14, 6.30pm-8.30pm. Participate in an informed discussion about the complex relationship between Israel and Palestine. . Book online:
www.trybooking.com/FUIJ
Full details in gathering space.
Charity Event: The Rosemaree Freeman Trophy Charity Cricket Match is this Sunday 2nd November, St. Edward’s College and is raising funds for Lifeline—Central Coast. If you wish to support this event and help with the fund raising effort, go to:
www.everydayhero.com.au/rosemaree-freeman-trophy.
You have until Saturday, 29th November to donate, and to help reach the fund raising target of $1,000. Together, we can make a difference. If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

November Feasts: Saints Alive
Donna M. Cole

2nd November 2014

I once mentioned to a colleague that I thought the first line of “For All the Saints” was the longest sentence in my experience in hymnody:
For all the saints, who from their labours rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia, Alleluia! (Text: William W. How, 1823–1897)
Because of the way this verse’s lines are ordered, we may be confused by its meaning in much the same way we are confused by some of our newly translated Missal texts. At a glance, the text seems to mean that we are to forever bless the name of Jesus. Certainly we should, but this text is all about blessing and praise for the saints. The entire hymn speaks of faith, fidelity, communion, triumph, paradise, and the glorious time to come. It is at once a marching song, a fighting song, and it could even work as a drinking song.
“For All the Saints” is a good reminder of what we celebrate in the month of November. As we come to the end of the liturgical year, we begin this month with the solemnities of All Saints and All Souls. Throughout the month we celebrate and reflect on the communion of saints, offer intercession for those who have died, and prepare for the life to come. We conclude with the feast of Christ the King. “The feast is now the feast of Christ ‘King of the Universe’ and is assigned to the last Sunday in Ordinary Time. Beyond it we see Advent dawning with its perspective of the Lord’s coming in glory” (A. G. Mortimort, The Liturgy and Time [Liturgical Press, 1985], 107). November, then, is an appropriate time to reflect on those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith as well as on how each of us is called to live a life of holiness, to live as a saint in this world.
· November is a traditional time to visit graves. Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers and the Book of Blessings both include rituals for that (see, respectively, pages 178–180 and 649–655). Though we typically visit the graves of loved ones with family or friends, there may be some in your community who are alone (or recently bereaved) who would welcome company and/or a graveside ritual. If there is a military cemetery nearby, you might consider inviting veterans and family of military service members to take part in a service there (but check with cemetery officials first).
· November is a good time to visit those who have suffered a recent loss. This can be a time when people dread the thought of the upcoming holidays without someone who was a big part of their lives. A little personal interaction and encouragement can go a long way.
· Explore the Litany of the Saints (see, for example, Easter Vigil, 43). This litany can be used in baptisms, ordinations, blessings and consecration of persons, dedication of a church, and the commendation of the dying, but even so, many people have never experienced it. It is quite a powerful prayer and nourishes the imagination about the communion of saints and our part among them. November offers a number of opportunities for its use.
These suggestions just scratch the surface of what it means to deliberately live like a saint: the foundation is in faith in Jesus Christ; the rest comes from striving to do as he did.
In an age when there is a renewed awareness of the sufferings of innocent people, the saints will be those whose lives are spent working tirelessly to alleviate suffering. In an age when Christians must literally choose between life and death for the sake of the gospel, the saints will boldly choose life though the cost is death. In an age when there is a clash between the human dignity of all and the restrictive power of a few over all, the saints will name the sin. In an age when classism operates in society and in the Church, the saints will again proclaim the reign of God that is a communion of slave and free, Jew and Gentile, male and female. In an age when there is an ecclesial restriction of gifts of the Spirit to some groups but not to others, the saints will witness to the freedom of the Spirit to give gifts as the Spirit chooses, regardless of restrictive laws about use of the gifts. (L. Cunningham, “Communion of Saints,” in The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality, ed. Michael Downey [Glazier, 1993], 850) ML
Donna M. Cole is associate editor of ML. She holds a master's degree in pastoral ministry from Caldwell College, Caldwell, N.J., and has a passion for liturgy celebrated and lived to the fullest. With degrees in microbiology and biology, she spends her "spare" time in biomedical research, marveling at the wonder of God revealed in the complexity of science.From Ministry & Liturgy, copyright © Resource Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission under licence number 115216.

On the Feast of All Souls we pray for those who have gone before us and stand in judgment before God. May we share with one another the treasure of love’s memory, and console one another with the assurance of resurrection.

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Catholic Parish of Woy Woy Peninsula

Woy Woy, Woy Woy South, Umina, Umina Beach, Ettalong, Ettalong Beach, Koolewong, Blackwall, Booker Bay, St Hubert’s Island, Empire Bay, Horsfield Bay, Pearl Beach, Patonga, Woy Woy Bay, Daley’s Point ,Phegan’s Bay and Wondabyne

St John the Baptist Church, corner of Blackwall and Victoria Roads, Woy Woy

Parish Office Ethel Cox Parish Centre
P.O. Box 264 100 Blackwall Road.
54 Victoria Road
WOY WOY N.S.W. 2256

Phone: (02) 4341 1073
Fax: (02) 4341 0214
Email: parish@woywoycatholic.org.au

"He must increase, I must decrease"

Dr John Hill, Parish Priest
Fr Stephen Wayoyi ,A.J. Assistant Priest
Office Staff: Helen Cameron, Raelene McLenaghan & Margaret Cooper
Parish Nurse: Ellen Bevan
Office Hours: 9.30 a.m.—4.00 p.m., Monday to Friday
Deadline for The Voice: 3.30 p.m. Wednesday

SUNDAY MASS TIMES
Vigil Saturday 5pm; Sunday 7.30am , 9.15am, 6pm.
WEEKDAY MASS TIMES
Monday-Friday 7.45am (Monday & Tuesday with Lauds); Saturday and Public Holidays 9am; First Friday 4pm (with Anointing of the Sick).
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
Friday after morning Mass; First Friday, 3.30 p.m.; Saturday 11.30am; & 4.30pm ; Sunday 7.00 a.m.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
1st & 3rd Sundays, 11am; 5th Sunday, during 9.15 a.m. Mass.
Godparents are examples of faith to the child. They must be confirmed and practising Catholics, at least sixteen years old. If there is at least one godparent, a non-Catholic may act as a Christian witness. Parents and godparents must attend a pre-baptismal instruction, held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at 9.30 a.m.
EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Every Saturday after 9am Mass until 10am; every Monday until 9am (Public Holidays 10.15am).
PARISH CHOIR— Practice Wednesday nights in the church, 7 p.m.
Enquiries: 4341 3367.
St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School, 21a Dulkara Rd South Woy Woy 2256. p 024341 0884 f 0243 445049.
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST YOUTH GROUP For information and events contact Sam French 042 244 9539.
CATHOLICCARE Counselling and Family Relationships 4356 2600.
MARY MAC’S PLACE Volunteers provide nutritious, freshly cooked meals and information and referrals to appropriate community services. Open Monday to Friday, 11am-1pm, at the Ethel Cox Parish Centre. For more information, please contact Christine on 4341 0584.
CASH HOUSIE every Saturday night at Peninsula Community Centre, Cnr Ocean Beach Rd & McMasters Rd, Woy Woy. Games start at 7.30 p.m. and finish 10.20 p.m., cash prizes. Ticket sales from 6.00 p.m. Proceeds benefit Parish. Enquiries Rob: 0427 990818.

Interfaith Relations
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We’re on the Web!
www.woywoycatholic.org.au

Diocese of Broken Bay

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