THE JOYFUL COMMISSION February-March 2021 In this edition A Word from the Pastor Alpha, St Joseph, Restoration, Convent, Holy Week, COVID-19 and World Day of Prayer Alpha Update - Autumn Alpha starts soon Bishop’s Lenten Message - Lent 2021 The morality of COVID-19 Vaccinations What does the Church teach? Becoming Catholic RCIA Candidates 2021 Encounter Evening - Turn back to God Year of St Joseph - A summary of Patris Corde 24 Hours for the Lord Frequently Asked Questions RISEN 2021 - Youth Gathering in Perthville
OUR VISION: SURRENDER DISCIPLESHIP MISSION The Parish of St Mary and St Joseph is a healthy, growing Catholic community that worships God, welcomes the searcher, and invites people to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Members of our community surrender their life to Jesus through an experience of the Holy Spirit, commit to life-long discipleship, and joyfully accept the mission to go out and make disciples.
FR GREG BELLAMY, PARISH PRIEST
A WORD FROM THE PASTOR Alpha, St Joseph, Restoration, Convent, Holy Week & COVID
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Autumn Season of Alpha am so encouraged at the number of people from within and from outside the parish who have now done Alpha. Almost everyone has had an overwhelmingly positive experience and, as the testimonies of past participants show, people who were sceptical at first were surprised at how positive an experience it was. If you have not done Alpha yet, get your engine going and go do it! You will be pleasantly surprised and perhaps even transformed by the experience. If you are not sure this is for you, there is only one way to find out: come along! If you think it sounds like a waste of time, be courageous and open-minded enough to give it a go. Alpha is a permanent part of parish life: we are not just doing it once or twice and then moving on to something else. We need a place for inviting people to encounter Jesus. We are going to run two seasons of Alpha every year. It is a tool for helping Catholics renew their faith. But also, importantly, it is a way of reaching out to those who are not participating in the parish: absent Catholics, Buddhists, atheists, sceptics, searchers, and everyone in between. This is something you can invite family and friends to come and try if they are not sure about the Catholic Church or the Christian Faith. It’s a great space for being yourself, asking questions, and not being judged.
We are running Alpha at two times this year: Dinner Alpha on Tuesday evenings and Coffee and Croissant Alpha on Wednesday mornings. We have introduced the Wednesday morning Alpha with two groups particularly in mind: older parishioners who can come in the morning, but don’t necessarily want to come out at night (particularly in winter) and for young parents who drop their children to school and then have a couple of free hours in the morning. The parish will thrive only through a culture of invitation. So, I invite you to come to Alpha and I challenge you to invite someone else to come try Alpha. Let’s get inviting! Register your interest here: alphaorange.org.au or give the parish office a call if registering online is a problem for you. The Year of St Joseph To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis called a Year of St Joseph from 8th December last year to the 8th December this year. This year is an opportunity to reflect on the figure of St Joseph and seek his intercession. Fr Karl has written a summary of Pope Francis’ letter which is published in this edition of The Joyful Commission. It is worth reading the summary or indeed the original letter Patris Corde in its entirety.
by then, we will also celebrate the occasion with a ticketed parish dinner at a local venue. More specific information will be available soon. For the time being, please mark 30th April in your diary.
In the 33 days leading up to the Solemnity of St Joseph on 19th March I invite everyone to pray the Consecration to St Joseph each day at home as a family. We will also pray the consecration at each Mass over the 33-day period at the conclusion of the General Intercessions. Each week the consecration will be printed in The Parish Overview and cards with the prayer are available in all the churches. The Anniversary of the Opening of St Joseph’s Church In this year of St Joseph, we also celebrate 150 years since St Joseph’s Church was blessed and opened by Bishop Quinn. There is some disagreement about the exact date. The foundation stone was laid a couple of years prior to the opening in 1871 and cannot now be located. Some sources quote May as the opening, but a plaque in the church indicates 30th April as the date. So, that is what we are going with. The 150th Anniversary of the opening of St Joseph’s will be celebrated with a 5.45pm Mass on Friday 30th April. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop McKenna. Provided COVID doesn’t spring any surprises on us
The Restoration of St Joseph’s We have had a big focus on St Mary’s church for the last 18 months. The work there is all but complete, though there are still some defects and problems with the sound and video system to be fixed. Soon, we will be turning our focus to St Joseph’s. Aware that St Mary’s needed to be renewed before the St Joseph’s project began, our restoration committee did not get very far in its work. I’m grateful to those who put their hand up to be part of the committee which has been in abeyance for some time. In 2021 we will again begin to focus on preparing for a restoration project at St Joseph’s. That will involve, among other things, re-forming the restoration committee, commissioning a conservation management plan, and developing a strategy for funding the project. Of course, this process will need to involve the local community. I anticipate this work alone will take the rest of the year. So, at present, I do not expect major structural works at St Joseph’s to commence until at least 2022.
Photo credit: Trevor Bunning
This year we will continue the slow process of removing, restoring, and securely storing our precious stainedglass windows. Having the windows completed means they can all be returned to the church in a few years’ time, once all the other work has been completed. The next stage will be the removal of the large windows on the southern side of the church (Byng St). This is scheduled for mid-May and, for safety reasons, will most likely involve a temporary closure of St Joseph’s church for a 15-day period. We will confirm this closer to the date. Please be patient with this brief closure: it is for the safety of the public and the workers, and to ensure the disruption to parish life can be minimised. Watch out for more information next month.
Church at 3.00pm Sunday 16th May. This will include before-and-after photos and some examples of the newly restored windows. This is a great opportunity to hear from the artisan herself and ask questions about the process and particular challenges she has encountered. The Old Mercy Convent This year the current agreement with Centacare for the use of the Old Mercy Convent in Byng St will expire. Centacare has indicated that they will be searching for other premises that more suits their needs and will not continue to occupy the building beyond the end of the year. Centacare’s occupancy over the last ten years has been of the ground floor but not upstairs. The first floor has therefore deteriorated significantly over that time. If the building stands empty for an extended period, we can expect the deterioration to continue and spread to the ground floor. A challenge in 2021, particularly for the Finance Council, will be deciding what to do with the building. In preparing for that discussion, it seems to me that there are three important principles we should bear in mind: 1. The Old Convent is a heritage building that is an important part of the history of the parish, the Sisters of Mercy, and the broader Orange community, and so should be preserved into the future.
Information Session on the Stained-Glass Windows Would you like to see some of the progress that has been made on our stained glass windows? Our expert Robbie Seville, who has been working on our windows for almost two years, will run a demonstration and information session at St Joseph’s
2. The Old Convent should not be left unused for an extended period of time, which would result in the building deteriorating and becoming a safety concern.
3. The Old Convent and its administration should not become a significant drain on the finances of the parish nor the time and energy of the parish staff. At present we do not have any specific plans around the future use of the building. This will, however, be a question for the Finance Council and for the local community at St Joseph’s to address over the course of 2021. At present, if any parishioner has any initial suggestions, I would welcome your reflections. Lent and Holy Week As we begin Lent, I invite you to really consciously enter into this Penitential Season. As usual, you can mark this season in a number of ways. I draw your attention to these five important parts of our Parish’s Lenten programme: 1. Project Compassion envelopes are available in all the churches so we can give to those in need around the world. Help support the work of Caritas.
prayerful evening of Adoration and music during which the priests are available for individual confession/ reconciliation. There will also be extra times for individual confession in Holy Week. 5. Please pray for our three candidates for full communion who will be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. They are profiled elsewhere in this edition of The Joyful Commission. We are busy planning Holy Week as I write this. This is a difficult task with COVID-safe principles impacting various aspects of our liturgies: singing, processions, physical contact, etc. We also have the challenge of planning for bigger crowds with attendance restrictions: we don’t want to be in the situation of turning people away if we can avoid it. More information about our Holy Week liturgies will be available soon.
2. The Lenten Programme from the Diocese of Wollongong, this year entitled Comfort, is available from the parish office. This programme is a great way to consciously enter into the readings at Mass each weekend through Lent. Books are $8 and CDs are $15. 3. We will still mark 24 Hours for the Lord this year just before the 4th Sunday of Lent. This is 24 hours of continuous Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with times at which the Sacrament of Penance will be available. 4. At the start of Holy Week we will have our Encounter Evening. This is our
COVID-19 Vaccine There have been some ethical questions raised around the COVID-19 vaccines that will be available this Monday since some vaccines have been developed from celllines that were grown from the tissue of aborted foetuses. The Vatican has published a document that addresses
these ethical concerns. I have written a brief summary elsewhere in this edition of The Joyful Commission for your information. I would like to encourage everyone to continue to observe the COVID-19 guidelines for the use of our churches and not become complacent. We don’t want to panic or be draconian, but we simply want to sensibly continue doing the right thing: registering your attendance when you enter the church building, observing social distancing in the pews and communion line, washing your hands, and wiping down the pews before leaving. Doing the right thing at church is a part of being a good citizen and caring for our community, particularly the sick and elderly. As always, if you are sick or showing any flu-like symptoms you might consider staying home until you are feeling better and have received a negative COVID-test result.
World Day of Prayer Lastly, I draw your attention to the World Day of Prayer. The focus country this year is Vanuatu and the theme is ‘Build on a Strong Foundation’. This is an ecumenical initiative and all are welcome. In years past this initiative was just for women, now everyone is welcome. The 2021 service in Orange will be held at the Uniting Church Hall, in Anson St, next door to the Ex Services Club, beginning at 10.00am on Friday 5th March. Under COVID-safe rules, the hall can hold 100 people. You can read more about the World Day of Prayer here: www.worlddayofprayeraustralia.org Important Dates to Note: Tuesday 2nd / Wednesday 3rd March Autumn season of Alpha commences at St Mary’s Gathering Space. Friday 5th March - World Day of Prayer service 10.00am at Uniting Church Hall, Anson St. Friday 30th April - 150th anniversary of the consecration and opening of St Joseph’s Church: 5.45pm Mass followed by ticketed dinner. Sunday 16th May - Demonstration and Information Session on the Restoration of the stained glass windows at St Joseph’s at 3.00pm in St Joseph’s Church. Mid-May - planned temporary closure of St Josephs for 15 days for the removal of the southern-side stained glass windows (to be confirmed).
JOSH DUNN, FAMILY EDUCATOR
ALPHA UPDATE Autumn Alpha Starts Soon
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ow many times do we think the weeks are just passing by in a flash and almost roll from one into another? Or are we ever part of a great experience and hardly remember some of what happened? Or do we ever have conversations with people, but our minds are so far removed we have struggled to recall what was said? Alpha gives us a chance to stop and hop off the ‘treadmill’ of our lives. To connect with others, to think, reflect and be challenged, and to be a part of discussions on the meaningful things in our lives. Oh! And the delicious food! Like most people considering Alpha for the first time, I held all the sceptical ideas… I don’t normally go to things like this, it’s definitely not for me, I won’t get anything out of it, once a week is too much of a commitment, why bother? But it took just one personal invite and some gentle encouragement for me to change my thinking from why? to why not? and say ‘Yes!’ to that invitation. Our parish would now like to extend that invitation to you! Take the first step and register your expression of interest at alphaorange.org.au to give me the chance to get in touch with you to chat about Alpha and to answer any questions and concerns you may have. This may then lead you towards joining us for the upcoming season of Alpha!
ALPHA AUTUMN SEASON DINNER ALPHA TUESDAY NIGHTS, 6-8PM
COFFEE & CROISSANT ALPHA WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, 9-11AM ST MARY’S CHURCH (GATHERING SPACE), BEGINNING 2/3 MARCH.
REGISTER TODAY alphaorange.org.au
FR GREG BELLAMY, PARISH PRIEST
THE MORALITY OF COVID-19 VACCINES What does the Church Teach?
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s I write these words, the federal government has announced that the first supplies of COVID-19 vaccines will immanently arrive in Australia and be available for use by some groups by the end of February. You may have heard in the media that there are some ethical questions about the various vaccines that have been developed. This seems like a good moment to summarise the concerns around some vaccines and the teaching and guidance that Catholics have received from Rome. On 21st December 2020 the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith issued a note On the Morality of Using Some Anti-Covid-19 Vaccines. This note was published because of ethical concerns raised by many Catholics when it was revealed that some COVID-19 vaccines employed cell lines drawn from tissue that had been obtained from two abortions that occurred decades ago. It does not address scientific questions: whether the various vaccines are safe and effective. Rather, it addresses the moral dimension of the production and use of such vaccines. The main points of the document are summarised below: 1.
Abortion and the use of tissue from aborted foetuses is evil. However, there are varying degrees of personal responsibility depending on a person’s level of cooperation. In organisations that use aborted tissue, those who make the
decision bear more responsibility than “those who have no voice in such a decision.” 2. In countries or regions where people cannot choose vaccines that have no ethical problems (in other words, where there is no option except vaccines produced from tissue that comes from an abortion, or authorities do not let people freely choose which vaccine they receive) “it is morally acceptable to receive Covid-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted foetuses in their research and production process.” 3. The reason it is morally licit for citizens to use such vaccines in the situations mentioned above is that the citizen’s cooperation in the original abortion is very remote and passive. The note explains that the moral responsibility to avoid such cooperation (to avoid using unethical vaccines) is not obligatory “if there is a grave danger, such as the otherwise uncontainable spread of a serious pathological agent.” The note therefore makes two important conclusions: A. In the situations mentioned above (where there is no choice but to receive a vaccine unethically produced) it must be considered that “all vaccinations recognised as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience”.
B. However, it is important to emphasise that such licit use of these vaccines does not “constitute a legitimation … of the practice of abortion, and necessarily assumes the opposition to this practice by those who make use of these vaccines.” 4. Needing to use unethically produced vaccines in no way represents moral endorsement of the use of cell lines that come from aborted foetuses. Pharmaceutical companies and government health agencies are encouraged to produce ethically acceptable vaccines that do not produce problems of conscience for those who produce and receive such vaccines. 5. Receiving a vaccination is not, as a rule, a moral obligation. It must be voluntary. Citizens should bear in mind that the duty to receive a vaccine, from a moral point of view, is not only about protecting one’s own health but also to ensure the common good of the entire community. The common good may recommend vaccination (even with unethically produced vaccines where there is no choice) in order to protect the weak. However, those who, “for reasons of conscience refuse vaccines produced with cell lines from aborted foetuses, must do their utmost to avoid … becoming vehicles for the transmission of the infectious agent.” 6. Governments and the pharmaceutical industry have a moral imperative to ensure vaccines are safe and effective, ethically acceptable, and available to poor countries. On the publication of the note, the Catholic Weekly spoke to Archbishop Anthony Fisher,
the Archbishop of Sydney. Archbishop Fisher emphasised that the note supports patients preferring ethically-uncompromised vaccines over ethically-compromised ones where they have a choice. He said: “For us in Australia that means preferring the Novavax or Pfizer vaccines (or the Moderna vaccine if it becomes available here) over the AstraZeneca vaccine”. However, he added, “were only the AstraZeneca vaccine available, people could choose to use it in good faith as their connection (today) to the abortion (in the 1970s) that led to the foetal cell-line used in the vaccine is so remote.” Finally, the Archbishop noted that “though the Church is in general pro-vaccination, the CDF document also emphasised that, like other medical treatments, COVID vaccination must be voluntary. Punishing or discriminating against non-users would itself be unethical.” Further Reading Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Note on the morality of using some antiCovid-19 vaccines. https://www.vatican.va/ roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/ rc_con_cfaith_doc_20201221_nota-vaccinianticovid_en.html Catholic Weekly, “Archbishop welcomes CDF statement on COVID vaccines.” https:// www.catholicweekly.com.au/archbishopwelcomes-cdf-statement-on-covid-vaccines/ Pontifical Academy for Life, Moral Reflections on vaccines prepared from cells derived from aborted human fetuses. https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC6699053/ Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Dignitas personae – On Certain Bioethical Questions.
AMY SULLIVAN, DIRECTOR OF MINISTRIES
BECOMING CATHOLIC RCIA Candidates 2021 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6)
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s we move into the Lent season, our candidates are preparing to be received into the Catholic Church and receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Please pray for Christian, Greg, and Josiah as they continue their journey towards Easter. Meet Our Candidates Greg Dial My name is Greg and I became a Christian a few years ago. Recently I have found that being in a faith community is an essential part of the walk for any Christian. It helps us to grow in faith, makes our contributions of self more effective and keeps us engaged and challenged. I ask for your prayers as I take these steps toward a closer relationship with God and his word in your community. Christian Richmond My name is Christian. As a lost sheep that searches for its shepherd, I was driven to find God. My journey started at Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France where I attended Mass
for the first time. Feeling the presence of God that day, I decided to become Catholic. My spiritual growth with our Saviour continues every day. The Lenten RCIA Journey After months of preparation, on the first Sunday of Lent, the catechumens celebrate the Rite of Election or Enrollment of Names. This Rite signals the beginning of a period of intense preparation for the sacraments. The Rite has two names, firstly as a sign that the Church has made its election, i.e. the choice and admission of those catechumens who are fit to take part in the sacraments of initiation. The Rite is also called Enrollment as the catechumens and candidates inscribe their names in a book that lists those who have been chosen for initiation. During Lent, the candidates celebrate the presentations. The Church entrusts the Creed and The Lord’s Prayer to the candidates in order to enlighten them. By learning and reciting these with the congregation, the candidates will grow in faith and realise the new spirit of adoption by which they will call God their Father. Are you thinking about becoming Catholic? Contact me at ministries.orange@cdob.org.au or call me at the parish office on 6362 2378. This is the first step on your journey to Becoming Catholic.
AMY SULLIVAN, DIRECTOR OF MINISTRIES
ENCOUNTER EVENING Turn Back to God
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ncounter Evening is back! The Encounter Evening is designed to create the space you need to have a personal and moving encounter with Jesus. Rather than a formal Second Rite of Reconciliation, this evening is an informal experience of music, readings, Adoration, and priests will be available for Reconciliation throughout the evening. You can come and go throughout, and if there are people still wishing to receive Reconciliation after the end, that is ok - priests will be available until everyone is finished. Why not give Encounter Evening a go?
evening designed primarily for reflection and prayer and give myself the opportunity to encounter Jesus.
Catherine Coster
Bernard Carroll It has been my good fortune to have been able to attend the recent Encounter Evening. As I have also attended most of its predecessors in this parish for quite a number of years. I found this one particularly engaging. The balance of singing and choice of songs; with the short interlude of music
In my busy everyday life finding time and opportunity to sit and be with God is a challenge. Too often another day, another week, another month is gone without any deepening of my relationship with Jesus. Thus it was wonderful to experience an
Jesus did not fail me and brought to my attention an area of my life that I had not even known was a roadblock in my relationship with him. I was then able to bring this new found insight into reconciliation which gave me immeasurable peace. I have learnt that when I show up with an open heart Jesus is already waiting for me. May I encourage you to show up and be amazed at what he can do in your life.
for reflection. Coupled with the excellent reading taken from the works of Pope Francis. The synergism of these elements I found produced a particularly fertile environment for the examination of my conscience, prior to the reception of the sacrament of Reconciliation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who made a contribution to the success of the evening. Josh Dunn It was with a sense of curiosity and wonder that I felt drawn to attend the ‘Encounter Evening’ just before Christmas last year [2019]. In recent years I had experienced previous ‘encounters’ with my faith and Jesus at other events, so it was with hope that this evening would be something similar. I was quick to discover that this ‘Encounter Evening’, although different to other experiences I’d had, would provide a great opportunity to encounter Jesus and connect with my faith. The atmosphere created in the church was one of peace, openness and comfort, which allowed me to quickly settle into a state of relaxation and mindfulness outside of my busy week. The readings sparked thoughts and ideas from scripture, but it was the music that really encapsulated me and
connected me to the evening. Our amazingly talented musicians composed an ongoing selection of music that at first captured, and then took us on a journey of praise and worship that truly enhanced the atmosphere in the church. All of this led us beautifully to the presentation of the blessed sacrament and time for adoration. Worship, prayer and reflection naturally occurred at this time before the evening concluded and I left into the evening feeling reconciled, renewed and alive! Maybe it is with curiosity and wonder you look at the invitation to attend the next ‘Encounter Evening’ in Lent, but I encourage you to take the same step I did and enjoy the experience that will follow.
MARK THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY: 7.30PM TUESDAY 30TH MARCH AT ST JOSEPH’S CHURCH
FR KARL SINCLAIR, ASSISTANT PARISH PRIEST
YEAR OF ST JOSEPH A Summary of Patris Corde “With the Father’s heart: that is how Joseph loved Jesus, whom all four Gospels refer to as “the son of Joseph”.”
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n 8th December 2020, Pope Francis proclaimed a “Year of St Joseph” to accompany the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St Joseph as patron of the universal Church. He accompanied this proclamation with the letter Patris Corde. The scriptures have very little to say about the life of St Joseph, but they tell just enough for us to understand the type of father that he was: they reveal a man who quietly lived according to God’s will, serving his family, living a hidden life in a tiny village and raising the Son of God as his own child. Pope Francis’ desire to reflect on St Joseph grew during the months of pandemic, where we all experienced how “our lives are woven together and sustained by ordinary people, people often overlooked. People who do not appear in newspaper and magazine headlines, or on the latest television show, yet in these very days are surely shaping the decisive events of our history. Doctors, nurses, storekeepers and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caregivers, transport workers, men and women working to provide essential services and public safety, volunteers, priests, men and women religious, and so very many others. They understood that
no one is saved alone… How many people daily exercise patience and offer hope, taking care to spread not panic, but shared responsibility. How many fathers, mothers, grandparents and teachers are showing our children, in small everyday ways, how to accept and deal with a crisis by adjusting their routines, looking ahead and encouraging the practice of prayer. How many are praying, making sacrifices and interceding for the good of all.” In these difficult times, Pope Francis provides an intercessor, a support and a guide, and reminds us that “those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation. Pope Francis identifies seven qualities in St Joseph as a father that make him especially praiseworthy. A beloved father St Joseph’s greatness is found simply in the fact that he was the spouse of Mary and the father of Jesus, and thus he was, in the words of Saint John Chrysostom “at the service of the entire plan of salvation”.
work through our fears and our weaknesses. An obedient father Through a series of dreams, God reveals his saving plan to Joseph. He was told by God to take Mary as his wife, to escape with his family to Egypt, to return from Egypt, and to lead his family to Galilee. Further, during his hidden years, Jesus “learned at the school of Joseph to do the will of the Father.” St Joseph was called by God to “serve the person and mission of Jesus directly through the exercise of his fatherhood”.
His fatherhood was expressed through his “sacrificial service to the mystery of the incarnation”, through his dedication to his work and the domestic love he showed to the “Messiah who was growing to maturity in his home”. For this reason, “St Joseph has always been venerated as a father by the Christian people.” A tender and loving father Through Joseph, Jesus experienced “the tender love of God”. Salvation is worked out through our weaknesses, which we must learn to look upon with tender mercy. “The evil one makes us see and condemn our frailty, whereas the Spirit brings it to light with tender love”. When we experience tender love we are freed from the one who only accuses. It is for this reason that we must encounter God’s mercy, and “experience his truth and tenderness”. Joseph teaches us that faith in God also means a believing that he can
An accepting father Trusting in the words of the angel, Joseph accepted Mary without question. He did not understand the bigger picture, and yet he still decided to protect Mary’s “good name, her dignity and her life”. When things happen that we don’t understand, our first instinct is usually disappointment and rebellion. Joseph teaches us the spiritual path of accepting, not in a way that is “passively resigned, but courageously and firmly proactive.” Like Joseph, we must not “look for shortcuts, but confront reality with open eyes and accept personal responsibility for it”. A creatively courageous father Once we have accepted the reality of our lives, we are called then to creative courage, which emerges in the way we deal with difficulties. Rather than giving up, creative courage helps us to engage with issues and “bring out resources we did not even think we have”. God gave St Joseph the tools he needed to solve the problems he faced: finding a stable when there was no rom at the inn; rising in the middle of the night to escape to Egypt.
“God always finds a way to save us, provided we show the same creative courage as the carpenter of Nazareth”. When we look at the plight of those in need, we must learn the same care and responsibility we find in St Joseph. A working father The Church has emphasised Saint Joseph as a worker since the first social Encyclical Rerum Novarum. “Saint Joseph was a carpenter who earned an honest living to provide for his family”. At a time when unemployment has soared, even in prosperous nations, we renew our appreciation of the importance of dignified work, whose model we find in Joseph. Through our work we participate in building the Kingdom of God, putting our gifts at the service of society. The pandemic should lead us to review our priorities and find creative solutions so that no one should be without work! A father in the shadows The Polish writer Jan Dobraczynski used the image of shadow to define Joseph: “In his relationship to Jesus, Joseph was the earthly shadow of the heavenly Father: he
watched over him and protected him, never leaving him to go his own way.” A father is one who introduces their children to life and reality, helping them to be “capable of deciding for themselves, enjoying freedom and exploring new possibilities”. Fathers are not called to live their children’s lives for them, but instead to open them up “to new and unexpected vistas”. Fatherhood is not about possession, but rather is “a sign pointing to a greater fatherhood”. ————————— Through his Apostolic Letter and the Year of Saint Joseph, Pope Francis is encouraging us “to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal.” Let us all take up this call as we grow deeper in devotion to Saint Joseph throughout this year. To read the full letter: http:// www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/ apost_letters/documents/papa-francescolettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html
CONSECRATION TO ST JOSEPH (PRAYED AT EVERY PARISH MASS UNTIL THE FEAST OF ST JOSEPH ON 19TH MARCH)
O dearest St Joseph, I consecrate myself to thy honour and give myself to thee, that thou mayest always be my father, my protector, and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a great purity of heart and a fervent love of the interior life. After thine example, may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary! And do thou, O Blessed St Joseph, pray for me that I may share in the peace and joy of thy holy death. Amen.
AMY SULLIVAN, DIRECTOR OF MINISTRIES
24 HOURS FOR THE LORD Frequently Asked Questions What is 24 hours for the Lord? Each year, before the Fourth Sunday of Lent, churches around the world open for 24 hours, with continual Eucharistic Adoration and times for the sacrament of Reconciliation (confessions). When is it? The 24 hour period will begin after the Friday evening Mass on 12 March 2021, and will conclude in the afternoon on Saturday 13 March 2021. Where is it? St Joseph’s Church, cnr Hill and Byng Streets, Orange. How do I sign up? Sign up sheets are available at the crossaisle at St Joseph’s, the gathering space at St
Mary’s, or you can register online at https:// forms.gle/rdrWDAm5itzE2VnA8. The link to register online is also available on our Facebook page. You can also use the QR code on this page to sign up now. Why should I pre-register? Jesus is present in the Eucharist, and we can’t let Jesus be by himself outside the tabernacle at any time. To ensure the safety of both Jesus and participants, we ask that at least two people pre-register for each hour. I’m not sure about my work roster for that weekend. I can’t pre-register, can I still come? If you are unable to pre-register, you are welcome to come along whenever you are available. Can I come for more or less than one hour? Of course! You are welcome to spend time with Jesus for as long as you like. If you have pre-registered for a particular hour, please come for at least that hour. Why are you asking young people to preregister for the night hours? The path from Hill Street to St Joseph’s Church can be difficult to negotiate in the dark. We ask that younger people preregister for the late night and early morning hours so that less mobile parishioners can come at a time that is more suitable for them. Do I also need to sign in when I attend my session?
Yes. The booking system won’t be used for Covid-19 contact tracing. Please also sign in using the QR code or a manual register when you attend your session.
REGISTER ONLINE USING THE QR CODE:
What about other Covid-19 restrictions? We are still subject to Covid-19 restrictions. This event is being held at St Joseph’s Church due to the larger capacity than the Old Convent Chapel. Please sign in when arriving, and wipe down your seat when leaving the church. Where do I go for more information? Call the parish office on 6362 2378.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF FORMED? ‘CATHOLIC NETFLIX’ IS HERE. SUBSCRIBE AT FORMED.ORG
BISHOP MICHAEL MCKENNA, BISHOP OF BATHURST
BISHOP’S LENTEN MESSAGE Lent 2021
D
ear Friends in Christ, At the beginning of Lent last year, we
had no idea what the year ahead would bring. By the end of that penitential season, our churches were closed: and we had to find new ways of proclaiming the Resurrection. As always, we did the best we could with what we had available: and the power of the Spirit enabled us to celebrate Easter in different ways. For many people, it was just as deep and, in the midst of deprivation, for some even deeper. For Christians, the disruption of routines is an opportunity to renew our vocation of discerning between what is passing and what is enduring in our walk of faith. This renewal is at the heart of the observance of Lent, under whatever circumstances we must do it. A few years ago, the first word of advice that Pope Francis gave to a group of new bishops was: “Become holy!” It echoed the words of his predecessor, St John Paul II, to all Catholics at the beginning of the third millennium: “Since Baptism is a true entry into the holiness of God through incorporation into Christ and the indwelling of his Spirit, it would be a contradiction to settle for a life of mediocrity, marked by a
minimalist ethic and a shallow religiosity. To ask catechumens ‘do you wish to receive Baptism?’ means at the same time to ask them ‘do you wish to become holy?’” It is a journey of ‘becoming’ which will not be achieved fully until we see God face to face. It is not mere superficial piety, but a willingness to let the Lord into the ‘private room’ of my heart, to begin freeing me to go out from there and discover his presence in practising love, forgiveness and service for and with everyone he brings into my life. Yours in Christ, +Michael McKenna Bishop of Bathurst
RISEN 2021 Youth Gathering in Perthville “RISEN has allowed me to further develop my faith through connections with various types of people with an array of faith understandings. It gave me the opportunity to establish a sense of community, especially with the youth of the Bathurst Diocese. RISEN was an amazing experience for all who attended and allowed all participants to view faith in a joyous and harmonious way. I recommend RISEN to all people who are willing to grow in their faith as it was an experience that will never be forgotten and created a family that will never break apart.” At RISEN in 2021 there will be:
-Times of meditation and prayer -A practical service activity, giving attendees time to give back to the community.
-Practical activities that connect
RISEN is back again in 2021. On 13th and 14th March, students in Years 10, 11 and 12 from across the diocese will descend upon St Joseph’s House in Perthville for a time of sharing friendship, listening to God’s word, growing in faith, engaging in great music, and share life with other young people from across the diocese. Our new Parish Youth Minister, Rebecca Geddes, has attended RISEN over the past few years and shares her experiences:
attendees more deeply with the environment as Pope Francis invites us to reflect more deeply on Laudato Si this year.
- The celebration of Mass and a Reconciliation Evening.
- A pilgrimage walk up Mount Panorama Due to an overwhelming demand, registrations for the event have already closed but we ask that you keep these young people from across the diocese in your prayers as they prepare for RISEN 2021.
OUR CATHOLIC COMMUNITY The Parish of St Mary & St Joseph, Orange The Parish of the Sacred Heart & St Lawrence O’Toole, Molong Mass Centres: St Mary’s (Orange) St Joseph’s (Orange) Sacred Heart & St Lawrence O’Toole (Molong) St Michael's (Manildra) St Brendan’s (Mullion Creek) St Patrick’s (Cargo) St Columbanus’ (Cudal)
Orange City Weekend Masses Saturday 6.00pm St Mary’s (400 max)
Orange City Confessions Friday 5.10-5.40pm St Joseph’s Saturday 4.15-4.45pm St Mary’s
Sunday 8.30am St Joseph’s (240 max) 10.00am St Mary’s (400 max)
Orange District Masses Saturday 8:00am Cudal (40 max) 9:30am Cargo (40 max) 6.00pm Manildra (80 max)
Orange City Weekday Masses Monday: 5.45pm St Mary’s (400 max) Tuesday: 9.30am St Mary’s (400 max) Wednesday: 5.45pm St Joseph’s (240 max) Thursday: 9.30am St Joseph’s (240 max) Friday: 5.45pm St Joseph’s (240 max)
Sunday 8.00am Mullion Creek (24 max) 10.00am Molong (80 max) Public Holidays: Mass 9.30am at whichever Orange Church usually has Mass that day. ANZAC day Mass is always 8.30am at St Joseph’s.
Orange City Eucharistic Adoration Monday: 5.00-5.40pm St Mary’s Wednesday: 5.00-5.40pm St Joseph’s
For information about weddings, baptisms, funerals, and visits to the sick, please contact the Parish Office.
Lenten Stations of the Cross Friday: 5.00-5.40pm St Joseph’s
Contact Our Parish Team PARISH CLERGY TEAM Fr Greg Bellamy Fr Karl Sinclair Fr Antony Vattakunnel
Parish Priest Assistant Priest Assistant Priest
PARISH MISSION TEAM Ms Amy Sullivan Ms Melissa Ryan Mr Josh Dunn Sr Frances McAleer rsj Ms Rebecca Geddes
Director of Ministries Sacramental Coordinator Family Educator Resident in Molong Youth Minister
PARISH MISSION SUPPORT TEAM Mr David Cuming Mr Michael O’Mara Ms Anne Wykamp
Administration Manager Project Manager Parish Receptionist PARISH OFFICE
Phone Email Address Facebook
6362 2378 office.orange@cdob.org.au 84 Hill Street (P.O. Box 44) Orange 2800 www.facebook.com/CatholicOrangeNSW
Office Hours
Monday 11.30am - 4.30pm Tuesday - Friday 8.45am - 4.30pm