14 May 2017Welcome to all who have joined us today. We hope that you feel ‘at home’ in our Parish Community. We are one Family.We acknowledge the traditional. custodians of the lands and waterways, the Ngunnawal people, and thank them for their

continued hospitality We pay our respects to them for their care of the land

St Patrick’sCnr Donaldson & Cooyong Sts, Braddon

St Brigid’sCnr Bancroft & Wilshire Sts,

Year A

Year APRESBYTERY & OFFICE: 2 Bancroft Street, DicksonMail - PO Box 127 Dickson ACT 2602Ph. 6248 5472 Fax 6248 7468 Email: canberracentral@cg.org.au Parish Priest: Fr Bernie PattersonParish Secretary: Ms Lorraine VahlandParish Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu, 9 am-12 pm

MASS TIMESSaturday6.00pm St Brigid’sSunday: 8:00 am St Patrick’s 9:30 am St Brigid’s 9.40am Children’s Liturgy St Brigid’s10.00 am St Patrick’s - German Mass Weekday Masses:Tues to Fri 9:00 am (St Brigid’s) 12:30 pm (St Patrick’s)Saturday 9:00 am St Brigid’sGoodwin Homes: 1st Wed. 10.30 am Sacrament of PenanceSaturday: 9:30 am - 10:00 am St Brigid’s Friday: 12:00-12:30 pm St Patrick’sPray the RosaryTues to Sat 8.35am St Brigid’sMEETINGSCharismatic Prayer GroupFriday 7.00 – 9.30pm St Brigid’s HallCommunity of the Risen Lord Youth Ministry Fellowship and Activities3rd Saturday 3.45 -5.30pm St Brigid's Hall, For 13 to 20 year olds, further information call 0481566050 Friday Prayer Group – Fortnightly(call 6241 7042 for next date if needed)10-11.30am Parish Office

To be read as the Priest starts to consume the host

St Brigid’s & St Patrick’s Presbytery: 2 Bancroft Street

DicksonPostal Address PO Box 127

Dickson ACT 2602

O sing a new song to the Lord, for he has worked wonders; in the sight of the nations he has shown his deliverance, alleluia..

I am the true vine and you are the branches, says the Lord. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, bears fruit in plenty, alleluia.

Entrance Antiphon

Communion Antiphon

M

ROSTERS THIS WEEK 13/14 MaySaturday 6.00pm St Brigid’sAcolyte Steve HackettAltar Servers Group 3 - Shirmali, ImanthiReaders Sasha Vukoja, Sandra FranceschiniOffertory Sasha Vukoja, Paula WestChalice Bill Meani, Janet MunroSunday 8.00 am St Patrick’sAcolyte John Skene Readers Ray Toohey, Mark CunliffeOffertory Mary Boyle, Ros WileyChalice Julie Williams, Ashley BawdenAltar Society St Boniface committee Sunday 9.30am St Brigid’sAcolyte Ken MaherAltar Server SebastianReaders Lorraine Vahland, Carmel BlakeOffertory Margot Whiley, Wai Ling YauChalice Paul Maher, Lorraine VahlandVisitation Paula WestCounting Margaret McGee, Marie FloodMorning Tea Anne Prendergast, volunteer

ROSTERS NEXT WEEK 20/21 MaySaturday 6.00pm St Brigid’sAcolyte Paul StewartAltar Servers Group 1- - Harry, ShenalReaders Terry & Elaine LarkinOffertory Eileen Wignall, Ann CollinsChalice Sr. Genny Ryan, Edsel SequeiraSunday 8.00 am St Patrick’sAcolyte Ashley BawdenReaders Pamela Starr, Mary BoyleOffertory Therese Okwudike, Pat McCullochChalice John Skene, Mark CunliffeAltar Society Audrey HealySunday 9.30am St Brigid’sAcolyte Carmel KinsellaAltar Server SebastianReaders Rodney & Elizabeth BaxterOffertory Paul & Claudette Maher

PARISH MINISTRIESPARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL Barbara Anderson, Ann Collins, Liz Conway, Ursulla Gottlob, Remy Humphries, Shahandra Martino, Bill Meani, Brian O’Donoghue,Fr Berard Patterson, Dominica Rossi, Sr Genny Ryan, John Skene, Ray Toohey, Lorraine VahlandPARISH FINANCE COUNCIL Paul Maher, Lincoln Gonzales Advisors: Bill Meani, Lorraine VahlandPARISH LITURGY GROUP Sr Genny Ryan, Anne Derrick, Tony JohnsROSTER CO-ORDINATORRos Wiley

Please Pray for:

Thomas Cox, Beverley Dickson Josephine Kinnidy, Frank Mines, Tony Patterson, Peter Peters, Maria

Pizzano, Gail Sach Brian Shoebridge, Pat Sforcina, Nicola Sheehan, Joan Smith, Maggie Townrow, Ted

WhileyPlease notify the Office when sick parishioners have

recovered.

BaptismGrace Linda Chia

Faithful Departed Brian Cashburn, Desmond Howe

Give the Gift of WarmthWith Winter approaching we still needgloves, scarves, socks, jackets etc forthose that cannot provide warm clothingfor their family or themselves. If you are able to donate items to help they can be left in the basket in the foyer. They will then be delivered to those needing them

Children’s Liturgy – Sunday 9.30Mass St Brigids The Parish thanks Vanessa Nuessler for her magnificent contribution since mid 2015, however she is unable to continue at the present time. I would like this Ministry to continue as it’s a big benefit to the Parish. I am asking for

The word “church” finds its roots in the Greek word ecclesia. However, a correct translation of that word is actually “an assembly of people, called out of their homes into a public meeting place.” Thus, the Church is really the people who make it up; the use of the term in relation to a building has developed through time, but we must never forget that it is we who are indeed the Church. That is a basic part of something St. Peter writes in our Second Reading. Peter says, “… like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house,” in reference to the members. He is saying in effect that we are called to build a church with living stones, namely ourselves. We all also understand that for a structure to be most effective, every element is needed to keep it strong. We, as the Church and as our parish, are no different. We need each person, each part of what is really the Church, to be like a living stone, active and involved. We are a faith community, not just a community of worshipers, but a community to reach out and serve others. To really do that we need each member to offer something of himself or herself. In a message to a celebration about the Church being the people, Pope

Are you a candidate for Reconciliation, Eucharist , Confirmation. If so please speak to Fr Bernie or ring

PARISH FUNDRAISERTo raise funds the Parish has pens for sale only$2.50 each: They are Green, with a soft stylustip for smartphone/tablet use, and engraved“St Brigid and St Patrick Parish Central Canberra”. Pens are available in the foyer, please leavepayment in the white box provided

A Children’s Bulletin is available each week,if you have or know a young child/children please pick up a copy from the foyer/back of the church.The bulletin contains the weekly gospel and discussion, a prayer, colouring pages, and activities.

Saints, Memorials and Feasts ofSaints, Memorials and Feasts of the Weekthe Week

14 May Feast Matthias, ApostleA companion of Jesus and a witness to theresurrection.  Chosen by lot to take the placeof Judas and so to share the apostolic ministryof the twelve . He is named in Eucharistic Prayer I(The Roman Canon). 18 MAY Memorial John I, Pope, MartyrBorn in Tuscany in the late fifth century. Died in captivity at Ravenna on this day in 526. Remembered as a conciliator and peacemaker,the first bishop of Rome to visit Constantinople Imprisoned by Theodoric, ruler of Italy and an Arian, for excessive sympathy toward the Church of the East.

20 May Memorial Bernardine of Siena, PriestBorn in Tuscany in 1380. Died at Aquila on this dayin 1444. A Franciscan priest, theologian, reformer,and a popular preacher throughout Italy. Remembered as a preacher, as a promoter ofdevotion to the Name of Jesus, and for his efforts

In today’s Gospel Reading, St. Thomas the Apostle questions Jesus and asks, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’.” We may recall that in last week’s Gospel Jesus explained that He was the Gatekeeper, the Good Shepherd. Our readings this weekend point again to the Lord as our guide in life. It is worth noting that the early Church was called merely “The Way.”The center of our lives should be Christ. Our work for Jesus and our love for others, no matter what our calling in life may be, should flow from this. When asked why she did what she did, St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) responded simply, “I do it for Jesus.”Our First Reading continues what we have been hearing about the early Church throughout this Easter season. The developments reported today, however, are still significant to the Church today. What is reported is the appointment of Deacons as an order within the Church. The Church was growing on a daily basis and as the numbers expanded it became increasingly difficult for the Apostles to serve all the needs of the people. They declared in response, “Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task.”They did not just appoint them though; they ordained them: “They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them.” This is still part of the way priests and deacons are ordained today. Part of that early decision was inspired by the fact that the Apostles, the first priests, felt they needed to concentrate on their central calling, which was prayer and the ministry of the Word. Deacons can perform some duties the normal lay person cannot because they are ordained. Nevertheless, it is through stewardship that more and more lay people are relied upon to serve and to be ministers within the Church as well. That is why it is important for each member to be involved and to be active in the Church.The Second Reading is also a continuation of what we have been hearing as it is drawn from the First Letter of St. Peter. If Jesus is indeed “the way” as explained in the Gospel today, then He needs to fulfill His role as the Cornerstone of the Church, and we need to recognize and acknowledge that. In a building and in its foundation the cornerstone is the first stone placed, and everything after that is based upon it. Thus, as St. Peter indicates in his letter, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”St. Peter goes a step farther though when he points out that each of us is a “living stone” and each of us becomes part of the overall structure of the Church. “Let yourselves be built into a spiritual house.” We often make reference to building the Kingdom of God. That is what we are to do as Church and as a parish. But we need everyone to be a part of that building. With Jesus as our cornerstone we can build a magnificent spiritual house indeed.In the Gospel Jesus makes reference to His Father’s House, and prompts us to never forget that this is part of His sacrifice for us and His promise to us — that we have a place in Heaven. Our whole faith life is dependent upon this belief, and we are to especially consider this from Lent through Easter and

The earliest known history of Mother's Day dates back to the ancient annual spring festival that the Greeks dedicated to maternal goddesses. Early Christians celebrated a day to honour mothers during a festival to honour the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ, this holiday was later expanded in England to include all mothers. The celebration was called Mothering Sunday.More recent history of Mother's Day dates back to the 1600s in England. A Mothering Sunday was celebrated every year to honour every mother. Children brought gifts and flowers for their mothers after a prayer service in church, to honour the Virgin Mary. Servants, apprentices, and other employees who were away from home were actually encouraged by their employers to visit and honour their mothers.The tradition of giving flowers, cards, chocolates, and other gifts has been adopted for Mother's Day, but whatever you give, the day is not meant for commercialism or to make money. The day is meant

They elected seven men filled with the Spirit and wisdom.A reading from the Acts of the ApostlesAbout this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked. So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them, 'It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them, and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.' The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased, and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith.The word of the Lord.

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just; for praise is fitting for loyal hearts. Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp, with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs. R.For the word of the Lord is faithful and all his works to be trusted. The Lord loves justice and right and fills the earth with his love. R.The Lord looks on those who revere him, on those who hope in his love, to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine. R.

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood.A reading from the first letter of St Peter

The Lord is the living stone, rejected by the people but chosen by God and precious to

That means that for you who are believers, it is precious; but for unbelievers, the stone rejected by the builders has proved to be the keystone, a stone to stumble over, a rock to bring them down. They stumble over it because they do not believe in the word; it was the fate in store for them. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

The word of the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia!I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except through me.Alleluia!

I am the way, the truth, and the life.A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to his disciples: 'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house; if there were not, I should have told you. I am now going to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too. You know the way to the place where I am going.'Thomas said, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus said: 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.'Philip said, 'Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.' 'Have I been with you all this time, Philip,' said Jesus to him 'and you still do not know me? 'To have seen me is to have seen the Father, so how can you say, "Let us see the Father"? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the

1st Reading: Acts 6: 1-7

Acclamation

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32:1-2. 4-5. 18-19

2nd Reading: 1 Peter 2: 4-9

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSScripture readings: LabOra Worship and Liturgy © liturgy Brisbane.

Jerusalem Bible © 1966, published by Dalton, Longman and Todd Ltd

GOSPEL: JOHN 14:1-12