8-9 June 2019 Year C

The Holy Spirit Recently I was accosted by a fundamentalist Christian in the street. He asked me whether I had given my life to Jesus Christ. I have. He asked me if I spoke in tongues. I can, but don't. He asked me if I had made the necessary sacrifices for the Holy Spirit to come into my life. At this point I said that as a Jesuit I was poor, chaste and obedient for Christ, which I think is a decent effort in that direction. Mind you, in saying I take the vow of poverty I always think of my mother, who, on seeing Jesuit real estate for the first time said, ‘If this is poverty, I'd like to see how you guys live chastity – it all seems pretty loose and fast to me.’ The problem with our evangelical brothers and sisters is that they often think the Holy Spirit can be reduced to external signs. We know, however, from the first Pentecost and from our own experience that the Spirit works in unpredictable AND ordinary ways. From the Acts of the Apostles we learn that where the Spirit of God is active all sorts of gifts are present: - boldness to stand up for what we believe; - the ability to hear and listen; - an end to fear that locks us in on ourselves; - confidence in the salvation won for us in Christ; - fidelity to Jesus' commandment to love; - clarity about what's true; and - an ‘at homeness' with God. The problem for many of us is working out where the Holy Spirit is leading us. This requires the gift of the discernment of spirits. St Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, left the church a guide for working out how we can tell if and where the Holy Spirit is leading us. One summary of them goes like this: 1. Don't make a decision when you're down. Let the crisis pass and take time to weigh all the options. 2. The Holy Spirit enables us to let go of our unhealed past and not live in the unknown future. The Holy Spirit draws us to deal with the here and now, as it is,

not as we may like it to be. 3. The Holy Spirit frees us up to bring out into the open anything we keep buried in the dark. There is nothing that has ever happened to us that is beyond the Spirit's healing. 4. The Holy Spirit breaks down isolation and draws us into community with other people. 5. Be careful of things that appear too perfect, they sometimes have a sting in the tail and can be destructive. 6. Be guarded about all things that are urgent. The Holy Spirit brings a sense of perspective to problems. 7. The Holy Spirit is always present where compassion and forgiveness are demonstrated. Not bad for a guy who died in 1556. So Pentecost is not the charismatic movement's birthday. It is God's promise to abide with us come what may. And living in the power and love of the Spirit and claiming her direction is an intensely practical affair. It is with this type of confidence that can sing the ancient chant,

‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they will be created,

and you will renew the face of the earth.’

© Richard Leonard SJ.

OUR VISION "Everything is to be oriented towards the praise and glory of God".

OUR MISSION

The St Agnes' Parish Community strives to make our Vision a reality by a commitment to:

holiness in the image of Christ.

proclaim the good news of salvation.

minister within the faith community.

the service of all, particularly those in need.

Pentecost Sunday

Public Holiday - Monday, 10 June

As Monday, 10 June is a public holiday, the following parish offices will be closed. Parish Administration Centre. Presbytery & Pastoral Assistant’s offices. Diocesan Investment Fund. Property Services. MacKillop Gift Shop.

Praise and Worship Join us on Sunday, 16 June for Praise and Worship to be held in St Agnes’ Parish Hall from 2.00pm to 4.30pm. Following Praise and Worship join us for 5.00pm Family and Youth Mass.

Parish Hospitality Parishioners are invited to stay after Mass and meet/chat with fellow parishioners after 9.00am Mass on Sunday, 16 June hosted by Catholic Men’s Club. Thank you to the St Vincent de Paul volunteers for hosting last Sunday’s hospitality after 9.00am Mass.

Ladies Morning Tea Parish ladies are warmly invited to morning tea at Lake Cathie on Thursday 13 June at Middle Rock Eatery, opposite Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Lake Cathie at 10.30am. For further information please call Suzanne Cooper on 6584 8192.

Wraps with Love

Thank you to the knitters, sewers and for wool donations. Last year 167 finished wraps were sent away (that’s 4676 x 25cm squares!) We are again asking for donations of leftover 8ply yarn and knitters. Squares or finished wraps can be left at the Parish Office or phone Helen on 6583 5391 or

Irene on 6583 7430.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Monica Doyle, the co-ordinator of “Wraps with Love”. She worked tirelessly and passionately for this charity. Monica is surely “wrapped with love”.

Parish Directory

The 2019 edition of the Parish Directory is available from the parish website: www.stagnesparish.org.au. There are printed copies available from the Parish Office.

PARISH NEWS St AGNES’ CATHOLIC CHURCH | PORT MACQUARIE

Parish Planned Giving

The 2018-19 planned giving year ends on 30 June and receipts will be posted to you in early July.

Important note: in the past year if you have had any changes to your contact, or personal details please contact the Parish Administration Centre on 6588 7444, or email the changes to

:pac@stagnesparish.org.au

as soon as possible.

First Holy Communion Communion candidates and their families will be celebrating the Sacrament of First Holy Communion at 6.00pm on the following dates: Tuesday, 18 June, Wednesday, 19 June, Thursday, 20 June.

Please note there will be no 5.15pm Masses held in St Agnes ’ Church on these dates. Parishioners are welcome to attend the First Communion Masses.

To cater for these very special events, the MacKillop Centre welcomes you!

They are fully stocked with beautiful and affordable

gifts, cards and books that are available for purchase.

Their normal trading hours are Monday – Friday

10am – 2pm. The lovely volunteers are also opening the doors

on Saturday the 15th June 9.30 – 12.30pm to ensure you have time to get that special gift.

We look forward to seeing you.

MacKillop Centre – 106 Horton Street Port Macquarie

(nearly opp NRMA)

Parish Ministry Volunteer Forms

Ministry Volunteer forms are available from the Presbytery Office and at the entrance to the Church and from the Chapels.

If you currently volunteer in any capacity in the Parish we would appreciate you completing a form as well. Completed forms can be returned to the Presbytery Office or placed on the collection plates at Mass.

Remember, no matter where your talent or interests lie, no matter now much or how little time you can give, we become a stronger, more united faith community through your choice to be involved with the ministries of the Parish.

Adult Faith Formation Opportunity

We believe that everyone should have the chance to explore their faith, ask questions and share their point of view. Alpha offers the opportunity to do just that – in an informal, friendly and open environment. Some people who attend Alpha may be already part of a Christian Community, some may be sceptical, others may have lost their faith and others may be new to the Christian Faith. Alpha is for everyone, a journey for all. It is about the BIG questions in life! Alpha is a series of sessions and conversations exploring the Christian Faith and can journey into the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.

Interested and want to know more?

Register your expression of interest by entering the following into your address bar https://forms.gle/BMcv5bQaeT6SjCxGA or contact the Presbytery Office. Feedback from previous participants.

“We are really grateful that we had the opportunity

to participate in the Alpha program. At first we weren’t really sure what it would be about or

whether we could commit to finishing the course. However, we thoroughly enjoyed watching the first Alpha episode and we then looked forward

to the session each week. The episodes were beautifully filmed and inspiring to watch. They

deepened our understanding of the Christian faith, ourselves and the world around us. We highly recommend the Alpha course for everyone.”

Vinnies Winter Appeal For parishioners who missed out on donation envelopes for the Vinnies Winter Appeal, there are still some available at the church entrances. Donations can also be placed in plain envelopes clearly marked ‘Vinnies Winter Appeal’. Envelopes can be placed on the weekend collection plates.

From the Catacombs - here & beyond

Recently Deceased: Michael Donovan, Lola Rooke, Valma Cowell, Lorraine Kenny, Christopher Clare, Helen Deakin, Walfredo Tajao, Arthur Webber, Frederick Mullen. Anniversaries: Audrey Coleman, Aileen Duff, Fr Bernard Kenny, Dan & Pat Quinn, Mary Peoples, Petrus van de Pas, Marciano Corsanes. Other Mass Intentions: Deceased members of Peoples, Daly, O’Brien & Scott families, Cyril & Eileen Bennett, Beryl Thomas, Letty & Roger Balidoya, Marija Miller, donor intentions and masses of thanksgiving.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Journey Into the Catholic Faith

for Teens Young people aged 13-18 years are invited to participate in this weekly program which incorporates the Rite into Christian Initiation of Children. Please note that the program now runs on Tuesdays from 3.45 - 5.15pm at the Youth Hub in Horton St. Registration forms can be completed online at https://forms.gle/58D1ydYGANcsTK328. For further enquiries please contact Vanessa Denham on 0447 992 986 or email vdenham@pac.stagnesparish.org.au

Reflection - Pentecost In the very old days, the ‘Holy Spirit’ was known as the ‘Holy Ghost’. It comes from the old English word ‘gust’ which ‘blows wherever it pleases’. St Luke’s account of Pentecost tells of what ‘sounded like a powerful wind from heaven’. This is the

Divine Wind, this is the Holy Gust, the Holy Spirit. Out of nowhere, this mighty Gust burst into the disciples’ lives with gale force, sweeping away their fear.

The Divine Wind is nothing less than the Breath of God. ‘O Breathe on me Breath of God’ is one of the most beautiful hymns, sung to a traditional Irish melody. One verse goes: ‘O Breathe on me Breath of God . . . until this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine’. It is like a log at the back of the fireplace late at night. The log is intact but abso-lutely glowing through and through with fire. It is to be the same with us.

Peter was inspired to preach to the crowds ‘with a loud voice’ about ‘Jesus the Nazarene’ and the fact that ‘God raised him to life’. That is the gospel. That is the message which those who breathe with the breath of God have been preaching since the birthday of the Church at Pentecost.

We could pause for a moment to pray an ancient chant of the Church: ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they will be created, and you will renew the face of the earth.’ © Fr Michael Tate

PARISH NEWS St AGNES’ CATHOLIC CHURCH | PORT MACQUARIE

“The things that we love tell us what we are.”

St Thomas Acquinas

“Joy springs from a grateful heart.”

Pope Francis

READERS AND COMMENTATORS

6pm Vigil: Maureen Dick Alan Wheatland Barry Johnson

7.30am: Joanne Hogan David Hogan Brian Tierney

9.00am: Wendy Schumann Adelle Groenveld Peta Rourke

5.00pm: Miah Redfern Georgia Sinclair Conor Hudson

Daniel Ward

GIFT BEARERS ROSTER

6pm Vigil: L English & Family 7.30am: T & P Bolger 9.00am: E Gardiner & Family

THE STATUE OF OUR LADY Genevieve Ruhl

CHILDREN’S LITURGY Elise Gardiner, Cynthia Nosworthy, Rachael Nosworthy

Parish Priest Father Paul Gooley

Assistant Priest Father Peter Wood Visiting Priest Father Joe D’Souza OCD Parish Office 47 Hay Street Port Macquarie PO Box 23 T (02) 6583 1024 E pastoraloffice@stagnesparish.org.au

Office Hours: 8.30am - 4.30pm

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION

6pm Vigil: Lisa Toomey Joy Amos Thelma McFarlane Rudolf Szibrowski

7.30am: Jennifer Crossing Sandy Luschwitz Kay Farrawell Denise Smith

9.00am: Jacob Soerensen Jenny Soerensen Gary Gallagher Sandra Hartas

5.00pm: Kylie Kipreotis Debbie Rennes Karen Robson Sophie Priddis

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS The Most Holy Trinity Year C Proverbs 8:22-31 Psalm 8: 4-9 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15

ROSTERS 15-16 June 2019

DOGMA

While we try to teach our children all about life,

our children teach us what life is all about

___________________

FEAST DAYS

Monday 10 June Mary, Mother of the Church

Tuesday 11 June

St Barnabas

Thursday 13 June St Anthony of Padua

Saturday 15 June

Blessed Virgin Mary

ST AGNES’ CHURCH | Hay Street, Port Macquarie Tuesday & Wednesday: 5.15pm Friday: 12.05pm Saturday: 6.00pm Vigil Sunday: 7.30am, 9.00am, 5.00pm Please note: Weekday Masses at 9.00am on Public Holidays Reconciliation: Friday 11.30am - 12.00pm Saturday 11.30am - 12.30pm

ST FRANCIS CHAPEL | Lochinvar Place, Port Macquarie Contact: Sr Anne Hannigan Ph 6589 9814 or 0419 243 259. Communion Service or Mass: 9.30am Monday - Thursday Sunday Mass: 9.30am

CHRIST THE KING CHAPEL | Boronia St, Port Macquarie Contact: Sr Anne Hannigan Ph: 6589 9814 or 0419 243 259 Communion Service or Mass: 8.00am Thursday Mass: Saturday Vigil - 4.30pm Rosary: 1st Saturday of the month 4.00pm.

ST BERNARD'S, TELEGRAPH POINT | Rollands Plain Rd, Telegraph Point Thursday: 6.00pm.

STAR OF THE SEA, LAKE CATHIE | Ocean Drive, Lake Cathie Sunday: 8.00am.

DIOCESAN INVESTMENT FUND PAYS 2.15% There are no fees or charges on your account. AGENTS: Mrs Veronica Rinkin & Mrs Mary O’Brien

DIF Office, Parish Administration Centre, Phone: (02) 6583 7439 9am – 1pm Monday - Friday

PARISH MASSES www.stagnesparish.org.au