Newsletter

Fourth Sunday in Lent – Year C –13/14 March

First Reading: Joshua 5:9-12

In this reading we hear an ancient example of the importance of the Passover as the living experience of the people encouraged them to trust the Lord God’s shepherding of the people.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Consistent with the Season of Lent the passage from St Paul is one of the strongest declarations of how we are reconciled with God through Christ and his Spirit in the Church. That we are ambassadors for Christ is the perfect way of living our Baptismal responsibility this Lent.

Gospel Reading: Luke 15:1-3. 11-32

In this prime time of Lent the full text of Luke 15 could well serve as a strong indicator of the need, now, for all of us to examine our attitudes and behaviour without being selft-righteous like the older brother.

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Parish Priest: Fr Francis Onwunali

Deacon: Rev Russ Nelson

Pastoral Ministry Coordinator: Mrs Caroline Smith

Sacramental Programme Coordinator Mrs Margaret Kerwick

Parish Office hours 8:30am to 1:30pm

Secretary/Admin: Ms Trish Sharkey
Admin Assistant: Mrs Colleen Tracey

1 Kenmore Rd (PO Box 54) Kenmore

Tel: 3878 6655 Fax: 3378 9741

Website: www.rc.net/brisbane/ourladyrosary

E-mail: olrknmre@gil.com.au

Parish School:

Principal: Mr Andrew Oberthur 3378 2412

Below is a list of our Parish Pastoral Councillors. Councillors may be contacted via the Parish Office.

Paul McGlade (Chair) Anna Stewart Margaret Kerwick Andrew Oberthur

Erin Geaney John Donovan Rowena McNally Stephanie Molony

Michael Doyle Phillip Shipard Daniel Piat Matt Brugioni

I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad. R

Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free. R

Laetare Sunday is the popular name for the Fourth Sunday in Lent. Laetare means "Rejoice". Because the midpoint of Lent is the Thursday of the third week of Lent, Laetare Sunday has traditionally been viewed as a day of celebration, on which the austerity of Lent is briefly lessened. This is reflected in Isaiah , "rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow." Laetare Sunday is also known as Rose Sunday or Refreshment Sunday, and it has a counterpart in Advent: Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, when purple colours are exchanged for rose ones. The point of both days is to provide us encouragement as we progress toward the end of each respective penitential season. Today’s gospel also brings us a message of encouragement and rejoicing after the Son who was lost returns home!

Religious people of his time often criticized Jesus for eating and associating with sinners. But these people did not realize that everyone needs God's mercy and love. In today's gospel Jesus wants us to know what God's mercy is like. When anyone sins and is sorry for that sin, God rushes out at top speed to embrace that person. Even when we feel that we may be undeserving of God's love, Jesus tells us that God rejoices like the father in the story. And what of the elder brother who shunned the rejoicing . Have you ever felt that someone else in your family or among your friends "has it better" or easier than you do? Are you tempted to compare yourself with others? Each child in a family is different. Sometimes, to meet each child's needs, parents cannot treat each child the same. How did the father in this parable meet the needs of each of his sons? How does God meet your needs?
During this Lent let us ask for forgiveness and to forgive generously as God does and rejoice that we are God's children. We do not have to compare ourselves with others. Our needs are being met as God knows best. Finally we need to see ourselves in the attitude and love of the Father. What sort of conditions do we place on our willingness to forgive others? What sort of attitudes do we have in our hearts that puts limits on love and forgiveness, attitudes that put limits on God's generosity and infinite capacities? We need to strive to be like the prodigal son’s father and measure the capacities in our hearts to be Godlike in our love, compassion, care, and concern in loving others.

OLR 9.30 am Sun: Tony Forder, Mary Forder, Brian O’Hare, Roz Mathews, Colleen Tracey

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PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED FOR:
Recently deceased: Philipp Schafer, Barry Roveta. Dorothy Cooksley, Gregory Lasrado, Agathe Gosslar, Ailsa Hartidge, Neil Bloxsidge, Catherine Hemp

Sick: Eilish Pickmere, Penny Jane, Jeanette Gravett, Louise Chappell

Anniversaries: Terry Patterson, Ken Barton,

Carmel Evans, Noel Glynn, Jack Keane, Cyril Warnick,

Jorge de Araujo and for all whose anniversaries occur about this time.

We warmly welcome all new people to our Parish – visitors or new residents. If you are new parishioners please make yourselves known to one of our Parish Councillors at the welcome desks (side verandah at OLR and St V De P counter at St Catherine’s Moggill).

Would you please add your name to our newcomers list and take one of our Welcome Packs containing information about our Parish. We pray that your time in our Parish will be blessed.

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GOOD FRIDAY 2 April 9.00 am Ecumenical Service at St Catherine’s Moggill

A parish group will be meeting at St Catherine’s, Moggill, 1-3pm, every Tuesday from 16 February to 23 March. You do not have to attend every week to participate in the program. If interested please phone Amy on 3202 7614. Lenten books should be purchased from the parish office $10 each.

The March outing is on TUESDAY MARCH 16 at the El Dorado Theatre, Indooroopilly to see the movie "Blind Side", expected to commence at 10 a.m. Parking is available under the theatre. Anyone in need of transport please

Archbishop John Bathersby invites you to the annual Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St Stephen.

Any easy way to identify prayer workshops that you might like to attend is by looking at the various streams on offer.

eg If you want to learn more about prayer with the saints, you would look at the prayer workshops in the stream: Spiritual Teachers Old and New. For a full list of workshops in each of the 13 streams please come to the parish office and pick up a copy or visit the website www.pray2010.org.au. We would like to get as many parishioners involved as possible. This is a prayer opportunity not to be missed!

Venue: Clairvaux MacKillop College Mt Gravatt.

You are invited to experience the dynamic words and the spiritual wisdom of Order

Founder and Author Fr Ken Barker mgl. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to deepen your faith and be inspired by his infectious love of God .

A reminder to all parents and children involved in our Sacramental Programme that the Confirmation classes begin next week as follows:

We pray that this time of preparation will be a very blessed time for all the families involved.

Our speaker, Rev Dr David Pascoe is addressing the topic of Vatican II. Following his ordination in 1989, Fr David Pascoe served as a parish priest in the Brisbane Archdiocese until 1992. He travelled to the United States to pursue post- graduate studies at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Massachusetts, gaining his doctorate in 1997 and then was appointed to the Faculty at Pius XII Seminary in Brisbane following his return to Australia. He is a member of both the Australian Catholic Theological Association and the International Academy of Practical Theology. Fr Pascoe currently holds the position of Associate Professor, Facility of Theology and Philosophy, Australian Catholic University, and teaches at the Banyo campus in Brisbane. More details next week.

1. God of mercy and compassion,
Lord of life and blinding light.
Truth whom creatures would refashion,
force on us the gift of sight.

Refrain
Truth insistent and demanding,
love resented and ignored,
life beyond all understanding,
give us peace and pardon Lord.

2. God most holy and forgiving,
penetrate our pride and sloth;
on a people partly living,
force the gift of life and growth. R

3. Lord, who out of love consented
to the worst that we could do;
Lord, abandoned and tormented,
let us love and suffer too. R

I will rise and go to my Father and tell him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free. You are the Saviour of the world.

Refrain
In faith and hope and love
with joyful trust we move
towards our Father’s home above.

1. Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven to earth come down!
Fix in us your humble dwelling,
all your faithful mercies crown.

2. Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all your life receive;
suddenly return and never,
never more your temples leave.

Lord, we would be always blessing,
serve you as your hosts above,
pray, and praise you without ceasing,
glory in your precious love.

3. Finish then your new creation,
pure and spotless, gracious Lord,
let us see your great salvation
perfectly in you restored.

till in heaven we take our place,
till we sing before the Almighty
lost in wonder, love and praise.

Refrain
Seek, O Seek the Lord, while he is near;
trust him, speak to him in prayer, and he will hear.

1. God, be with us in our lives,
direct us in our calling;
break the snares the world contrives,
keep us from falling. R

2. God, increase in us the life
that Christ by dying gave us:
though we faint in mortal strife
His blood will save us. R

3. Strengthen in our hearts the love
we owe to one another;
how can we love God above
and not our brother? R