Bridgeside Bulletin

The weekly Bulletin of the

Catholic Parish of Forster Tuncurry
Holy Name of Jesus Parish Church
33 Lake Street, Forster

St Mary, Star of the Sea Church

Cnr Kent & Peel Streets, Tuncurry

Proclaiming Christ to the communities of Forster, Tuncurry and the surrounding districts

Sunday 21st December, 2014

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B
Parish
Fr Andrew Doohan (Parish Priest)
Mr Greg Byrne (Pastoral Associate)
Mrs Sharon Fowle (Administration Associate/Bulletin)
Sr Kathryn McCabe (Aboriginal Catholic Ministry)

The Parish Office is at the rear of the Parish Hall and is

normally staffed on Monday, Thursday and Friday
from 10am to 4pm.
Items for inclusion in Bridgeside Bulletin should be
received by midday on Thursday.
33 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428
PO Box 67, Forster NSW 2428
P:
(02) 6554 6304
F:
(02) 6554 6425
E:
forstertuncurryparish@gmail.com
W: www.forstertuncurrycatholic.org.au
Fr Andrews email: fr.andrew.doohan@gmail.com.
Search for us on Facebook as Catholic Parish of
Forster Tuncurry

Follow us on Twitter: @ftcatholic

Celebrating the Sacrament

Reconciliation is available on Saturday mornings at
Tuncurry from 8:30am until the beginning of the 9am
Mass, on Saturday afternoons at Forster from 4:45pm
until 5:15pm.
Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays, either during any
of our Sunday Masses or after the 9am Mass. The next
Baptismal Preparation meeting will take place in the
Parish Halls meeting rooms on Monday 9th February
2015 commencing at 7pm. Please contact the Parish
Office for more details, or visit the Parish website.
Weddings are celebrated by arrangement and with at
least three (and preferably more) months notice.
Please contact Fr Andrew for more details, or visit the
Parish website.
A Sacramental Preparation process runs each year in
the Parish for children wishing to complete the
celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation as part of
the Parish community. Please contact the Parish Office
for more details, or visit the Parish website.
The Parish hosts the Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults process for those adults wishing to be baptised
or be received into the communion of the Catholic
Church. Please contact the Parish Office for more
details, or visit the Parish website.

Holy Name Parish School (K-6)

St Clares High School, Taree (7-12)

Ms Brooke Schumann (Acting Principal)

Mr Peter Nicholls (Principal)

41 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428

PO Box 243, Forster NSW 2428

Davis Street, Taree NSW 2430

P:
F:
E:
W:

P: (02) 6552 3300

F: (02) 6552 3656
E: admin@tareesc.catholic.edu.au
W: www.tareesc.catholic.edu.au

(02) 6554 6504

(02) 6554 8895
admin@forster.catholic.edu.au
www.forster.catholic.edu.au

The Parish Diary(for the week ahead)

Christian Meditation
Our Parish hosts a number of opportunities for the
practice of Christian meditation. These opportunities
takes place on Tuesdays at two distinct times, 9am
and 5:30pm. Phone Bob on 6555 5914 for further
information.

The Novena of Christmas

Monday22nd December
9am
Mass @ Forster
Tuesday23rd December
9am
Christian Meditation (Bob 6555 5914)
3:30pm Holy Hour @ Tuncurry
4:30pm Mass @ Tuncurry
5:30pm Christian Meditation (Bob 6555 5914)

Maintenance & Gardening Group

The Parish is served by a very dedicated band of
volunteers who tend to the upkeep of the grounds
and gardens of our two sites. A big thanks for the
great work during the year. Particular thanks to our
new recruit Peter who has brought plenty of
enthusiasm to the team. Their next reunion will be on
Thursday 22nd January. Contact Howard 6557 6826
for more information.

Wednesday24th December
9am
Mass @ Forster
9:30am menALIVE morning group @ Forster
11:15am Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help @
Forster
6:30pm Christmas Vigil Mass @ Holy Name
School

Singing Practice
There will be no Singing Group get together until the
New Year. Details to be confirmed.

Thursday25th December
Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord
12am
Midnight Mass @ Forster
7am
Mass @ Tuncurry
9am
Mass @ Tuncurry

Collection of Foodstuffs for Homebase

The next collection of foodstuffs in support of
Homebase will be on Sunday 4th January 2015.
Holy Hour
The Parish community observes a Holy Hour each
Tuesday afternoon in the Tuncurry Church from
3:30pm until the beginning of Mass at 4:30pm.

Friday26th December
Feast of St Stephenno Mass today
Saturday27th December
Feast of St Johnno morning Mass or reconciliation
today.
4:45pm Reconciliation @ Forster (until 5:15pm)
6pm
Mass @ Tuncurry

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

The Novena is prayed every Wednesday in the Forster
church commencing at 11:15am and is followed by a
cuppa in the Parish Hall. For more information contact
Shioney on 6554 9468.

Sunday28th December
Feast of the Holy Family
7am
Mass @ Tuncurry
9am
Mass @ Forster
5pm
Mass @ Forster

Evening Prayer & Benediction

The Parish community celebrates on the first Sunday
of each month at 5:30pm in the Tuncurry church. It
will celebrated on Sunday 1st February 2015. All
welcome.

Regular Activities in the Parish

Childrens Liturgy of the Word

The next Children's Liturgy of the Word for children
aged 4-12 will be on the 1st February 2015. Bring
along your children or grandchildren to the 9am Mass
at the Forster Church so they can be a part of this
great new program. We also welcome you to join us
for a cuppa after Mass.

Secular Franciscan Fraternity

The Secular Franciscans Fraternity will next meet on
Wednesday 4th February 2015, coming together for
Mass at 9am, followed by a cuppa at 9:30am and then
the meeting 10am to 12pm.
The menALIVE Groups
Our Parish currently hosts a menALIVE group. They
will next meet on Wednesday 24th December after
the 9am Mass.

In your charity, please pray for:

Those recently deceased.
Tori Johnson, Katrina Dawson.

Womens Bible Study Group

Our Parish hosts a Womens Bible Study Group that
meets every Thursday evening from 7pm to 8pm. For
more information contact Natasha on 0407 589 935.

Those whose anniversaries occur about now.

All those in our community who are sick.
2

From the Pastors Desk

us, who are unseen and unknown. All can be agents of

salvation. Gods future is in our hands. Human history
is really the history of salvation. Each turn of Gods
revealing causes us to wonder at what might come
next. In this tension, mystery is revealed. What was
hidden is now made known. Jesus establishes a
people of covenant promise. Still, the mystery is
unknown, for it continues to come to us from the
future, revealing more and more of itself in the
junctures of history.

With the arrival of the Fourth Sunday of Advent we

have shifted our liturgical focus from the coming of
Jesus at the end of time to the more proximate
coming of Jesus in the Incarnation.
As we prepare for the celebration of Christmas, the
great Solemnity of the Nativity of Jesus, we focus on
the great gift we have received from God: the gift of
God himself in human flesh. This precious and wonder
-filled giftcompletely gratuitous and, in one sense,
undeservedreminds us of exactly how much God
loves those who have been created in the very image
of God.

The waiting of Advent is over. In the face of the

impossible, God works the possible. During Advent,
we have been waiting for the realisation of the
promise made to David. We have been waiting for
Marys yes. With this yes, hope is enlivened, and
history is changed. There is an unimaginable future for
all people, a future that comes from God. Salvation is
created among us, and the fate of history is altered by
a godly presence. This salvation resides in the hearts
of those who believe in the gift, and who stay awake
eagerly to know its coming. With David we await it,
with the nations we long for it, with Mary we behold
it.

This gift of Gods love was the opening act in the

great drama of humanitys redemption, as promised
by God, a drama that will have its ultimate fulfilment
in the Cross and the Resurrection. This act of love
changes who we are, who we should seek to be, and
how we should attempt to live our lives in this crazy
world.
Having been loved by God in such a profound and
dramatic way, surely we are called to live as people of
love in similarly profound and dramatic ways. Such a
task is not always easy, particularly in a world that
seems to prefer fear and hatred, yet how can we act
in any other way?

Dianne Bergant CSS

Christmas Day Masses

Wrapping ourselves in the love of God made manifest

in the Incarnation of Jesus as one like us, we set out to
do our best to live in love, to resist those who seek to
drag us down into fear and hatred, and to show the
world in which we live that there is another way.

Our timetable of Masses for Christmas Day is as

follows:

Another week has gone by, a week filled with both

tragedy and hope, and our nation has been forever
changed because of the week that has been. We can
only pray that change will be for the better rather
than for worse.

Wed 24th Dec

6:30pm

Holy Name School, Lake

St, Forster

Thu 25th Dec

Midnight

Holy
Name
Church,
Forster
St Mary, Star of the Sea
Church, Tuncurry
St Mary, Star of the Sea
Church, Tuncurry

7am
9am

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Prince of

Peace, I pray that peace may reign in your hearts and
in your homes...and in the world.

Weekend Masses in January

Until next week

During the Christmas/January holiday period, our

weekend Masses will be celebrated as follows:

Fr Andrew

Reflection by Dianne Bergant CSS

The world in which we live and the events of which we
are a part are the stage upon which the drama of
salvation is enacted. God works through real flesh and
blood people, those like David, who occupy the seats
of power and influence as well as those like Mary and

Saturdays

6pm

St Mary, Star of the Sea

Church, Tuncurry

Sundays

7am

St Mary, Star of the Sea

Church, Tuncurry
Holy Name of Jesus
Church, Forster
Holy Name of Jesus
Church, Forster

9am
5pm
3

The Parish St Vincent de Paul Conference would like to

extend a huge thank you to all who contributed to the
Christmas Appeal. At the present time $6,123.25 has
been raised. These funds have been used to assist
local families and individuals to enjoy a much more
relaxed and enjoyable Christmas. Thank you for your
incredible generosity. Our St Vincent de Paul
Conference would like to wish everyone a Happy and
Holy Christmas and a wonderful and safe New Year.

A Little Humour
Jesus and Satan have an argument as to who is the
better computer programmer. Eventually they agree
to hold a contest with God as the judge. They set
themselves before their computers and begin. They
type furiously for several hours; lines of code
streaming up the screen. Seconds before the end of
the competition, a bolt of lightning strikes and takes
out the electricity. Moments later, the power is
restored, and God announces that the contest is over.
He asks Satan to show what he has come up with.
Satan is visibly upset, and cries, I have nothing! I lost
it all when the power went out. Very well, then, says
God, let us see if Jesus fared any better. Jesus enters
a command, and the screen comes to life in vivid
display, the voices of an angelic choir pour forth from
the speakers. Satan is astonished. He stutters, But
how? I lost everything, how can Jesus' program be
intact? God chuckles and says, Ah because Jesus
saves.

A message from Catholic Mission Team

This special time of year in our faith and calendar is
time to stop, reflect and give thanks. In your own lives
stories are written of joy and sorrow, personal
triumphs and grief. Over the last few days in Sydney
we have witnessed events that remind us more of the
trials and sadness of Good Friday, than the hope and
expectation of Advent.
The enormous impact of the #illridewithyou campaign
speaks to the potential for leadership and influence of
each person with a passion for a cause. A single act of
personal connection quickly grew into a global
phenomenon. It was not social media that made this
happen: it was social media users that made this
happen. A human act of kindness opened the door to
a flood of interconnectedness and the recognition that
amidst fear, grief and anger, it is possible to choose
something bigger. Sydneysiders and the global
community have chosen to celebrate life and
goodness rather than be diminished by these tragic
events.
Were reminded that each day all over the world, the
experience that Sydney has now tasted is daily fare.
Many of you have first-hand experience of this, having
lived and worked in places where fear and violence
are not rare. Your stories of how the joy of the Gospel
is able to shine in this darkness are the stories we
need to hear and share. It is easy enough for us to say
that Easter follows Good Friday, but it is your stories
of daily living and leading that make Gospel joy come
alive in each heart.
4

Christmas Day Lunches

As Christmas approached in 1986, the local Catholic
Priest, Fr. Tony Brady, became aware of some people
in our community who would be spending Christmas
Day alone. In an effort to reach out to these people,
Fr. Tony instigated a Christmas Lunch in the Catholic
Church Hall, Forster.
This event has continued each year since that time,
catering to folk who may otherwise find the
celebration of Christmas Day a rather lonely time.
Each year single people, families and friends gather in
the Hall to share the festive season with each other
and relax in each others company. 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.
Over the years we have discovered that Christmas can
be a sad time for older family members who may be
separated from their children and grandchildren by
large distances and feel detached from the love and
joy that Christmas is meant to bring. Sharing the day
with other families can ease some of that pain.

Office Closure Times

The function also gives people the opportunity to

display the true meaning of Christmas, showing love
and care and concern for our fellow human beings. It
is the chance to give to others after having received so
much ourselves.

The office will be closed from Friday 2nd January to

Monday 19th January. For urgent enquiries contact
Fr. Andrew during this time.

Christmas Cards

We have heard that Santa will not forget us and he

should arrive in time for lunch. One of our families
have also promised to lead us in singing some
Christmas Carols, adding to the joy of the occasion.

A second batch of St Vincent de Paul Christmas Cards

has arrived and will be available for purchase from the
parish office for $6 per pack of 10 cards.

Little Blue Books

This year the Hall will be opened from 11.30am and

lunch will be served at 1pm. Everyone is welcome to
come along and join us. For more information contact
Greg & Lauranne Byrne on 65548045 or 0427 918 568.

Spend 6 minutes a day reflecting on your faith with

the aid of the Little Blue Book. $5 each.

Witnesses Required

Greg Byrne

The Parish has produced business card fridge magnets

for distribution over the holiday period. We are calling
on parishioners to be witnesses to their faith by
presenting them to members of the congregation and
other visitors to our Church. We encourage you to

take this opportunity to introduce yourself or strike up

a conversation if possible. We hope that this will help
ensure all parishioners and visitors are welcomed by
the Forster Tuncurry community. If you believe you
could be an ambassador, please contact the Parish
Office for further details.
5

Opportunities Outside The Parish

We are the Church

Since Vatican II we have been proudly professing that
WE ARE THE CHURCH. If we truly believe this then
we must ask ourselves, how am I contributing to the
life of the Church and is there more I could be doing?

The Christian Formation Course

Unit 1.3 of this course will commence on Thursday
29th January at the St Laurence Centre,
Broadmeadow. For more information contact the
Tenison Woods Education Centre on P 4930 9601 E
twec@ssjl.org.au.

There are many ministries in our Church. In particular

we are at present in need of Sacristans to set up for
our weekend Masses and also for Funerals during the
week.

Before We Say I Do
Weekend marriage education course will be held on
Saturday 31st January, commencing at 9.30am in the
Toohey Room, Diocesan Office, 841 Hunter Street,
Newcastle West. Two Saturdays (also 7th February)
from 9.30am 4.30pm. For more information P 4979
1370 E marriageeducation@catholiccare.org.au W
www.catholiccare.org.au.

Caritas Christmas Gifts

A Journey in the Heart

Pilgrimage to India and Sri Lanka will begin on
Monday 2nd February, led by Fr Michael Whelan SM
(Aquinas Academy, Sydney). Itinerary includes
Mumbai, Coorg, Bangalore, Shantivanam (Fr Bede
Griffiths Ashram), Colombo, Kandalama, Kandy,
Colombo. For further details, please contact Marie
Fonseca on 0418 265 117 or Andre Rasquinha on 0403
569 079. Website: www.spiceodyssey.net.au.

By choosing a Caritas Global Gift this year, you are

helping to spread the message that together, as one
global family, we are making the world a better place.
There are six Caritas Australia Global Gifts which
encompass the range of Caritas Australias community
development programs including food, healthcare,
education and water, as well as the unique gift of
emergency assistance. They range in price from $10 to
$250. Visit www.caritas.org.au/globalgifts for more
information.

Interested people will receive the proper formation,

training and support. Please rush to the Parish Office
to display your willingness to be involved.

WantedVolunteer Workers

Prayer for Peace

The Diocese of Broome, WA, requires volunteers to

assist with the work of the local Church on Aboriginal
Missions. There are various important voluntary tasks:
administration, building maintenance, gardening,
shop staffing, cooking, cleaning, etc. Placements are
preferred for a period of 6 months plus.

Lately, we have all been

made aware of the
terrible suffering and
torture of people in war
torn countries throughout
the world.

For further details and an application form please

contact: Volunteer Coordinator, Anneliese Rohr on 08
9192 1060, E volunteers@broomdiocese.org, W
www.bromediocese.org, M PO Box 76, Broome, WA
6725.

We are particularly concerned with the plight of

Christian people at the mercy of ISIS in Iraq.
We pray for an end to this violence and a peaceful
solution to these conflicts.

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 AgentLicenSing Online Lic No. 624844.

Kids Corner
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Try to find these words:

afraid
confused
Elizabeth
Gabriel
holy
Israel
Jesus
Joseph
Mary
Nazareth
servant
son

Lk 1:26-38

Ministers this Weekend...

...of the Word

...of Communion

6pm Tuncurry

A: Neil Pye
B: Valarie Ross

Maureen Pye, Maureen Stevens, Michael Amato, Neil

Pye, Owen Carroll.

7am Tuncurry

A: Maree Gapps
B: Maria Armitage

Edna Tucker, Genevieve Williamson, Maria Armitage,

Norm Chapman, Patricia Cornish.

9am Forster

A: Sharon Fowle
B: Kris Koch

Alan McCarthy, Coral McCarthy, Genevieve Williamson,

Robyn Ryan, Shioney Neal.

Ministers for Christmas...

...of the Word

...of Communion

6.30pm Holy Name School

A: Kyla Loring
Anne Moloney, Frank Hayman, Genevieve Williamson,
B: Genevieve Williamson Michael Amato, Anne Hartman.

Midnight Mass Forster

A: Greg Byrne
B: Kris Koch

Frank Hayman, Greg Byrne, Kris Koch, Shioney Neal,

extra assistance required.

7am Tuncurry

A: Kay Griffiths
B: Mary Greig

Mary Greig, Kay Griffiths, Mark Mowbray, Valarie Ross,

extra assistance required.

9am Tuncurry

A: Patricia Cornish
B: Patricia Cornish

Alan McCarthy, Coral McCarthy, Robyn Ryan, Shioney

Neal, extra assistance required.

Ministers next Weekend...

...of the Word

...of Communion

6pm Tuncurry

A: Valarie Ross
B: Neil Pye

Kathryn McCabe, Lou Hope, Maureen Pye, Neil Pye,

Valarie Ross.

7am Tuncurry

A: Norm Chapman
B: Tony Knight

Cecile Malone, Cushla Drake, Graham Griffiths, Kay

Griffiths, Mark Mowbray.

9am Forster

A: Marie Keep
B: Marion ONeill

Barbara Kermode, Greg Byrne, Josi Beech, Robert

Moran, Trevor Turner.

5pm Forster

A: Sharon Fowle
B: Patricia Cornish

Alan McCarthy, Coral McCarthy, Patricia Cornish, Ruth

Pearson, Sharon Fowle.

Please note: The above information reflects the rosters as originally published,
and doesnt take account of any swaps that may have been organised between individuals.
PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING IF YOU RECOGNISE A SHORTFALL

Scripture Readings This Week

Today

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday

Friday

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16

Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
1 Samuel 1:24-28
Luke 1:46-56
Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Luke 1:57-66
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16
Luke 1:67-79
Vigil:
Isaiah 62:1-5
Acts 13:16-17, 22-25
Matthew 1:1-25
Midnight: Isaiah 9:1-7
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14
Day:
Isaiah 52:7-10
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18

Saturday
Sunday

Acts: 6:8-10, 7:54-59

Matthew 10:17-22
1 John 1:1-4
John 20:2-8
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Colossians 3:12-21
Luke 2:22-40

Todays Liturgy of the Word

Responsorial Psalm
Response: For ever I will sing the goodness of the
Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the servant of the Lord:
may his will for me be done.
Alleluia!
8