sfx bulletin

3rd Sunday of Lent (YC) 7th March 2010

Vocation Views: Each Lent should bring us closer to our God. There is no failure, except that of no longer trying. You can still follow Jesus more closely.

Project Compassion

To bring about the kingdom of God, we must be transformed within ourselves and our community. This week’s story takes us to east Timor where Domingas is being supported in a Caritas-funded family and Community Violence Prevention
Program. Domingas, like many women in her
community was the victim of violence and abuse. The program has provided her with ongoing
counselling and a small grant to enable her to build a business and give her economic independence. Your donation to Caritas Australia’s Project
Compassion helps to support women survivors of violence and to work for just relationships.

O ANTIPHONS FOR AUTUMN

O SEASON FULL OF REMEMBERING

Come! come with your golden shawl.

Come scattering the beauty of well-aged leaves.

Strengthen us for changing our old patterns.

Give us memories that sustain our dreams

O Come!

The Circle of Life (Joyce Rupp & Macrina Wiederkehr)

MORNING TEA

Stay and enjoy a cuppa to celebrate
TODAY SUNDAY,
March 7th after the 9:30am Mass.

BAPTISM PREPARATION session for
parents/godparents. The next meeting will be held in the parish meeting room THIS TUESDAY, 9th March
commencing at 7.30pm.

St John’s School Family Mass will be held THIS Friday, 12th March at 9am.

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross are held at 6.30pm each
Friday evening during Lent in St. Francis Xavier’s
Cathedral. Please come and join in this traditional
commemoration of our Lord’s passion in preparation for Easter.

Message from Fr Geoff

1. With Lent under way its good to see more people at weekday Mass. Other Lenten opportunities are the Stations on Fridays, 6:30pm, “Evening with Fr. Corapi” on Mondays and reflection “Evening with prayer and songs” with Br. Michael Herry (in person) this Tuesday at 7:30pm

2. Acolytes and Ministers of Communion please note a meeting coming up Saturday, 27th March in the Parish meeting room to help in preparing for Holy Week and Easter. We are also looking for more lay Ministers of Communion to help
distribute Communion at Mass and to the sick. These are appointed by the Parish Priest, but if anyone is
interested please contact Fr. Geoff or Fr. Gerard or leave your name at the parish office.

God wants the collaboration of each of us.

An evening of Prayer and Song with
Br. Michael Herry fms

You are invited to come to this evening with Br.
Michael on Tuesday 9th March in the Catholic
Centre at 7:30 pm. This is a great opportunity for all ministries to experience a prayer formation
evening during Lent. Br. Michael will also
introduce us to a new hymn which he has written for Mary MacKillop.

Entrance : Gold coin donation.

Br. Michael will have some of his music/CDs.
available for sale for those who may wish to
purchase.

Please ring Centre for Parish Life & Mission on 9964 2716 if you would like to attend to help with the planning.

THE ROSARY STATUE

The Statue will be at the home of

Mr. & Mrs. J. Gaudio

155 George Street, Geraldton

this week.

The Rosary is prayed on Saturday and
Sunday at 4 pm, Monday to Friday at 6 pm.
All are welcome to join in.

Saint of the week

8th March -Feast of St. John of God

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in Glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Message from Sr. Goretti

Evening with Fr. Corapi! Monday, 8th March .
This segment contains Conscience.

All are invited to attend any or all sessions. A great
opportunity to learn about our Catholic faith. 2nd
session 7:30pm Monday, at the parish meeting room. The
following sessions will continue each Monday; same time, same place.

“THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK” Six-minute daily meditations on the Passion according to
Matthew. This excellent book is available this weekend for $4 a copy. The Daily reflections start the Sunday
before Ash Wednesday.

Legion Of Mary

ACIES

Sunday, 21^st March 2010

at 2pm

St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral

Afternoon tea in the Crypt

after the ceremony.

A plate would be appreciated.
All welcome.

PROJECT COMPASSION LENTEN SPEAKER

Jim Smith, the Perth Director for CARITAS Australia will be visiting Geraldton on the weekend of March 13th and 14th. Jim will be our Guest Lenten Speaker for Project Compassion 2010 and will be speaking at the weekend Masses as well as visiting the local schools before traveling up to visit Karratha and Port Hedland.

An Invitation :

Friday, 19th March 2010 Nazareth House will be
hosting an open day from 10am to 2 pm to celebrate

HARMONY WEEK

We will be taking this opportunity to show the general community and other health professionals what life at Nazareth is about. Harmony week also provides us with an opportunity to embrace & celebrate our diversity.

A Conducted Tour will be held at 2pm

An opportunity to meet the Sisters, and of course our residents. A smorgasbord of authentic cultural delights (morning tea) will be available with a $5 donation on entry. Raffles will also be available. See notice board.

RSVP by 12th March to 9923 5000.

Presentation about GROW WA Support group in Geraldton

Wednesday, 10th March at 2:30pm to 4pm at the St. John of God Training Room,
Hermitage Street.

GROW holds weekly meetings of small groups of people who have experienced depression, anxiety or other mental or emotional distress, who come together to help each other deal with the
challenges of life.

For catering purposes bookings are essential 1800 558268.

International Women’s Day: SINCE 1911 International Women’s Day has been celebrated as the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. This day is an opportunity to reflect on the dignity and role of all women; in the family, society and the Church.

When it comes to setting women free from every kind of exploitation and domination, the gospel contains an even relevant message which goes back to the attitude of Jesus Christ himself. Transcending the established norms of his own culture, Jesus treated women with openness, respect, acceptance and tenderness. In this way he honoured the dignity which women have always possessed according to God’s plan and in his love. (n3) A letter from Pope John Paul II

We pray that we, the Church, ensure that women are encouraged to flourish within the Catholic Church in Australia and that all women are appreciated for the contribution they make to the fullness of the Church.

New Letter to women from the Catholic Bishops of Australia are available at the back of the Church.

St. John’s Mass with Anointing
on Tuesday, 16th March at 10am.

We invite all parishioners to come and prayerfully

support the elderly and sick in our Parish family.

Anointing of the Sick is offered to the elderly and those suffering physically or mentally – this
Sacrament graces the whole person — body, soul and spirit. The blessing over the oil for anointing asks God to "send the power of your Holy Spirit, the Consoler, into this precious oil. Make this oil a remedy for all who are anointed with it; heal them in body, in soul and in spirit, and deliver them from every affliction"
(Pastoral Care of the Sick, #123).

To be ignorant of the SCRIPTURE

Is not to know CHRIST.

( St. Jerome)

- Coming events -

Mon & Tue 15th & 16th March - First
Reconciliation in the SFX Cathedral at 6pm

Wed 17th March - First Reconciliation in the St. John’s Church, Rangeway at 6pm

Please pray for those who are ill: Robby Cook; Larry Bulos; Don McDonald; Dave Sue; Vilma Nunn; Sr.
Consuela (Iona); Hannah Valenti; Aidan Brown; Alice Adam USA; Epigenia Ruperto; Anne Canny; Jamie O’Leary; Christine Ivan; Lore Whittington; Philippa
Conway; Gwen Holly; Gerard Jackson; Danny
McMahon; Francesca Romeo (Albany); Emma Tatasciore; Sr. Maria Mori OMSC; Nora Bown (Sr. Lyn’s mum) ; Marion Micale (Fremantle); Maureen Kennedy; Nancy Parasiliti; Lorraine Plester; Molly Campbell; Martin van
Lievenogen;

For the deceased: Roman & Lilia Caraos; Joe Clancy; Alex Caratti; Severina Giudicatti; Ferdinando, Olympia, Philomena Ottranto; Francesco & Calogera Merendino; Frank Zinetti; Andrea & Maria Belotti; Emilio Marchetti. Gregoria Amodia; Eliseo Amodia;

Anniversaries: Fr. Gerhard Christoph; Norma Eckhart; Giuseppe Caputo; Maria Bagnato; Jackson Lanza;

Recently Deceased: Maureen Kennedy;

You cannot repent too soon, because you do not know how soon it may be too late!

We never walk alone

After his escape from execution in Egypt, Moses felt that life could not get much better. The pasture was good.
Water was plentiful. The sheep were flourishing. The family he had married into, loved him. He was right: life was about to get a lot worse.

He had been intrigued when that burning bush was not
reduced to ashes... and it was there that God was waiting for him —with a job offer rather less attractive than his present occupation. Moses did his best to argue his way out of it. But God was adamant.

So Moses left the peaceful security of his rural life, returned to Egypt, confronted the pharaoh and finally led the
Israelites out of Egypt and into the desert. For forty years he led them; a quarrelsome, obstinate group. Whenever anything went wrong, shortage of food or water, it was always Moses’ fault. Several times the people were ready to kill him. At times, he must have regretted his curiosity about the burning bush.

How does the burning bush affect us more the 3000 years later? Actually, it is one of God’s favourite ways of calling us to change direction. Many of us plan our day ahead so as to know exactly what we have to do. By the end of the day, we can look back with satisfaction on a good day’s work. However, God often calls to us from the burning bush, it might be in the shape of telephone call: “My car won’t start and I can’t get my two children to school. Could you please help me?” It might be the parish secretary. “The person who draws up the list of
readers and acolytes has the flu. We need the list for the coming
weekend. Do you think you could do it?” These are the little burning bushes that come our way frequently. God is calling us out of our comfort zone, way from our well-planned day, to go another, more inconvenient way.

Sometimes, it is a much bigger burning bush. It might be
retrenchment. . . . a child involved in an accident. . . . ,
financial ruin . . ., the death of a spouse. In all of these, God is calling us to a different future, not one we would choose
ourselves. It is a darker way, less secure, lonelier. All we know is that the desert stretches far ahead of us.

If we listen, God is reminding us that Jesus has already walked through the same desert. We are following in his footsteps. Leaving his peaceful life at Nazareth, Jesus then took a way that was far more bleak and dangerous, a way that led to Calvary and death. He remained faithful to his Father, and the Father in turn, raised him from the dead and made him Lord of heaven and earth.

When God calls us to walk these painful ways, we are not
walking alone. Jesus walks with us, assuring us that the desert will end and, with Him, we will enter the Promised Land.

Doing what I can

A crow, flying aimlessly across the fields, saw below, on a patch of dusty road, a magpie. The bird was lying on its back with its feet in the air. The crow swooped down and inquired of the magpie why it was lying in that peculiar position. The magpie replied, “haven’t you heard of the recent prophesy, that the sky is about to fall?” “Then why are you lying on your back with your feet in the air?” “To stop the sky from falling.” “You’ll never do that”, laughed the crow. The magpie replied, “One does what one can.”

So it was with the gospel today and the widow’s small coins that she placed in the treasury. So it was with the handful of meal and small amount of oil that fed Elijah, the widow of Zarephath and her son, for many days. So it was with the seven loaves and few small fish that fed the four thousand; and again with the small boy’s five barley loaves and two fish that fed the five thousand. It’s the small contributions that matter so much. God makes use of these in quite remarkable ways.

I recall what an experienced, elderly priest said to me many years ago, when I was planning to build a church for my parish. The small contributions of many people will build the church. He insisted that if I concentrated on looking for big donations, I would fail. Through the years this has proved to be true. Certainly some considerable assistance comes along from time to time from generous people. But it remains that the bulk of help in spreading the gospel comes from those
faithful who, through possessing little in material terms, give what they can.

Jesus said to us that he would choose the weak to
confound the strong. As with the Widow in today’s Gospel story, those who have little, give from the heart. And that is most acceptable to God. Those who make a donation from their abundance so often do so in order to receive praise and worldly fame. Such are the
philanthropists who see their donations as a monument to themselves – or even as a tax dodge. Those who do what they can and give from their heart with a true
concern for their neighbour are always most acceptable to God. On these people the Church is built. We all have something to give. It is a poor excuse to say we have nothing to offer, given our situation and its limitations. That is not being humble. Christ has chosen us to be his co-workers in bringing salvation to the world. We are called to contribute something, no matter how small it might appear. We are not on this earth simply to
receive, and not to give.

Don’t be concerned about what you can’t do. Be ready to give what you are able to contribute. As the magpie said, “One does what one can”.

PUT YOUR FAITH INTO ACTION
The De La Salle Brothers are offering young men (20 - 35yrs) an incredible volunteer opportunity in the remote indigenous community of Balgo Hills in Western
Australia. Spend 2 weeks (15th – 29th May) learning about the Brothers' life and work whilst helping young people in need. Applications close 29th March.

For details please visit www.delasallebrothers.com

Friday Fast– Philippines

A lovely letter of thanks from Sr. Maree is on the notice board at the Cathedral entrance. The first donation of $700 helped the Good Samaritian
Sisters at the Kinder School in Bacolod City to
extend the Feeding Program from 2 to 5 days a week. Sr. Maree has also been able to buy a toothbrush for each child and has sent a photo of them eagerly lining up to clean their teeth, this is a part of the health and hygiene program for the
children and their families.

FINANCES

PRIESTS’ COLLECTION SFX: $1083.65

PRIESTS’ COLLECTION R’WAY: $ 178.90

(Every parish sends these funds to a joint account from which all priests in the
Diocese receive their remuneration )

R’WAY PLANNED GIVING: $118.00

SFX PLANNED GIVING: $ 609.40

FRIDAY FAST: $ 53.65

Sincere thanks to all who contribute to Parish Finances.

Liturgy Corner:

During lent penance should be not only inwards and individual, but also outwards and social. (SC 110)

Eucharistic prayer for reconciliation I-II may be used when there is a theme of reconciliation. They may be used with other Prefaces which refer to conversion and penance, such as the prefaces of Lent.

What’s on?

01 MARCH 2010

2: 00 pm Mothers’ Prayer Group in SFX Cathedral

02 MARCH 2010

9: 30 am Legion of Mary meeting in the Crypt

7: 30 pm Mothers’ Prayer Group in SFX Cathedral

03 MARCH 2010

7: 30 pm Fathers’ Prayer Group in SFX Cathedral

04 MARCH 2010

9: 00 am Mothers’ Prayer Group in SFX Cathedral

9: 00 am Legion of Mary meeting in the Crypt

1: 30 pm Lenten Reflection Group in Parish Life & Mission office

8: 00 pm Divine Mercy Garden Hour of prayer

05 MARCH 2010

3: 00pm Divine Mercy Chaplet in the Cathedral

6: 30pm Stations of the Cross in the Cathedral