Mount Street, Bonnyrigg Heights

(incorporating Bonnyrigg Heights, Green Valley, Edensor Park, Abbotsbury, Cecil Hills & Elizabeth Hills)

Parish Priest: Rev Fr Dominic Dinh Email: pp@johnthebaptist.org.au

Assistant: Rev Fr Phan Nguyen Email: curate@johnthebaptist.org.au

Deacon: Rev Mervyn Francis Email: info@johnthebaptist.org.au

MASSES THIS WEEK

PSALTER 2 ‘Prayer of the Church’

Morning Prayer is prayed at St John the Baptist 10 minutes prior to

weekday morning Masses

Monday - No Mass Tuesday - 9:10am

Wednesday - 7:00pm Thursday - No Morning

Mass 7:oopm Mass of the Lord’s

Supper Friday - 10:00am Stations

of the Cross 3:00pm The Lord’s Passion

Saturday - 9:10am Morning Prayer

NEXT SUNDAY

SUNDAY 31 MAR/ 1 APR

(Sunday of the Resurection Year B)

Saturday Vigil Mass:

5:30pm Sunday Masses:

8:00am, 10:00am and 5:30pm

4th Sunday of the Month: 5:30pm Mass in Tagalog

1st Friday of the Month:

7:00pm Mass in Vietnamese

Reconciliations:

Saturdays — 4:15—5:00pm

St. John the Baptist Catholic

Michael Toohey

Candidate for Permanent Deaconate

Parish Pastoral Centre: 45 Mount Street, Bonnyrigg Heights, 2177

Office: 9823 2572 Fax: 9822 9954 Email: info@johnthebaptist.org.au Website: www.johnthebaptist.org.au

Office Hours: Tue- Fri 10.30am to 4pm Parish Secretary: Leanne Lang Bookkeeper: Yvonne Smolinski

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord (Year B)

24th and 25th March, 2018

Palm Sunday begins our Holy week, the celebration of the Paschal mystery of Christ, the climax of the history of salvation and the greatest of the Christian feasts. Pope John Paul II wrote: “What God accomplished in Creation and wrought for His people in the Exodus has found its fullest expression in Christ’s life, Death and Resurrection, though its definitive fulfilment will not come until the Parousia, when Christ returns in glory” (Dies Domini, n18). The Passion reading from the Gospel of Mark deepens our understanding of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. Why did the high priests and the Pharisees plot to get rid of Jesus? Mark makes it clear that these men were motivated by hatred, jealousy and insecurity. They were trying to pose as devout religious men but Jesus exposed them as hypocrites. What they do is not for God’s glory but their own selfishness. At the same time the people were disappointed and later became angry because Jesus did not do what they expected i.e. to free them (by using force) from the domination of the Roman empire.

With Palm Sunday, we celebrate the beginning of our liberation from sin and death by uniting our lives to Christ crucified. We need to see Him not as a powerful and domineering king, who will show forth power and strength, but He is a gentle and humble king, who is willing to suffer for others. Marks tells us plainly that though Jesus showed himself as Son of God by the wonder of his works, it was through obedience to the Father, dying the death of a criminal that he proved himself as the Son (15:39). During the Holy week, we recall the events of Christ passing from this world. It is a solemn passage through loneliness, betrayal, injustice and brutal suffering. It is a movement from life to death which then opens to new life. Through this week we are invited to accompany Christ on his final journey, bearing our own crosses, embracing our own loneliness, depression and struggle in faith with complete trust in the healing presence of God. Catechism of the Catholic Church 613 Christ’s death is both the Pascal sacrifice that accomplishes the definitive redemption of men, through ‘the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’, and the sacrifice of the new Covenant, which restores man to communion with God by reconciling him to God through the ‘blood of the covenant, which was poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’. Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who

treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't.

We congratulate the family of Charlie LE who will be baptised here this Saturday 24th March.

Your Prayers are requested for the Your Prayers are requested for the Your Prayers are requested for the Your Prayers are requested for the following, for whom Mass will be following, for whom Mass will be following, for whom Mass will be following, for whom Mass will be offered:offered:offered:offered:

Sick: Pamela LEVERS, Horace O’DWYER, Nancy VARTULI, Doug ANDERSON, Jessie ZAMMIT, Ronald & Ruben SAPIN

Recently Deceased: Mario LAMY, Slava STEGU. Concetta GIAMPIETRO, Saviour BUGEJA, Carmello CAUCHI, Sava PREDIC Death Anniversary:

Other: Special Intention

ANNOINTING OF THE SICK If you have a family member or know of anyone who is sick and needs anointing please contact the Parish office on 9823 2572 or in an emergency please contact Fr Dominic on 0423 420 639.

BIBLE STUDY: Every Thursday 10am - 11am Gathers in the Church Meeting Room (after the 9:10am Mass and

Rosary). For further information please contact Meding on 9823 7121 or 0410 177 673.

ENROLMENT INFORMATION EVENING – Year 7 2020

An invitation is extended to Grade 5 Parents and Students to an Information Evening on Monday 26th March, 2018 at 6:30pm in the Michael Addicoat Centre (followed by a tour of the College).

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WOMEN GROUP Hi Ladies, those of you that would like to come to the dinner at 6:30pm on the 27th March at the Tafe at Wetherill Park, on the Horsley

Drive, please let me know this week on 0403 647 399 so I can finalise the booking. I am trying to start this group so we can get to know each other a bit better. I will try to organise more outings.

Thanks Mary Fraser

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend – relationship enrichment for married couples 27th – 29th April at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre,

Varroville, NSW Bookings online at www.wwme.org.au or Adrian and Janet Sullivan: on 0490 774 419 or adrian.janet1@bigpond.com

FREEMAN CATHOLIC COLLEGE

A MASS & BLESSING FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM: In CELEBRATION Of Autism Awareness Month and to honour all those in our community with autism, the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney invites you to the annual Mass and Blessing for People with Autism, to be celebrated by Bishop Anthony Randazzo. WHERE: St Benedict’s Church, Broadway. WHEN: Sunday 8th April, 2018, 2:00pm. For enquiries or to RSVP by Tuesday 3rd April please contact LMFevents@sydneycatholic.org or phone (02) 9307 8404.

‘COME AND SIT WITH THE LORD’ CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

Every Tuesday at 8pm for 8:15pm start Give 30 minutes of your busy day to Jesus

and experience the difference in your life. Held in the Church chapel. If you are new to the meditation group can you please allow one hour. For further information, contact Frances on 0438 213 313.

APRIL RETREATS MOUNT CARMEL RETREAT CENTRE

See Church notice board for more information

HELP NEEDED FOR WEEKLY MORNING TEAS AFTER THE SUNDAY 10AM MASS

Fr Dominic would like to hold morning tea every Sunday following the 10am Mass. If you can

help in anyway and would like to go on a monthly roster please call the parish office on 9823 2572.

Good Friday Collection 2018Good Friday Collection 2018Good Friday Collection 2018Good Friday Collection 2018 The annual collection for the support of the Church in the Holy Land takes place on Good Friday. This collection promotes the missionary work of the Church in the Holy Land and is also used to maintain 74 Churches and Shrines associated with the life of Jesus. Your donation on Good Friday will be greatly appreciated.

CHRISM MASS

This Years Chrism Mass will be on Thursday 29/3/18 at 10.30am, St Mary’s Cathedral. All Welcome.

DISCERNMENT RETREAT FOR MEN Friday April 6 (5pm) - Sunday 8th (3:30pm), 2018 Little Sisters of the Poor, 70 Market Street, Randwick

Cost: $99.00 RSVP: Wednesday 28th March, 2018

Note: Participants of this retreat must be 18 or over.

This discernment retreat is a stop along the journey to ex-plore God’s purpose for one’s life. It offers a chance to come away, to be with others on a similar path, and to find a place of quiet to listen so as to hear God speak. It is a time of discovery, not necessarily decision. This is a retreat for men at all stages of their discernment who are considering a vocation to the Priesthood. The weekend includes; talks, time for personal prayer, sacra-ments, spiritual guidance, Q & A with seminarians and dis-cussions. Keynote opening address with Bishop Tony Randazzo, Vicar for Formation.

Facebook Event Page Discernment Retreat for Men 2018 For more information contact us via email at vocationcentre@sydneycatholic,org or (02) 9307 8424.

ATTENTION READERS: The new roster is now available and please take home your copy of “Break Open the Word” which is located in the Church

alcove. Thank you.

ATTENTION EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS: The new Roster is now available for collection after all Masses this weekend.

PARISH SACRAMENT INFORMATION

Baptisms - If you wish to Baptise your child here in the Parish you will need to attend 10:00am Mass on Sunday 1st April. Following Mass Fr Dominic, Fr Phan and Deacon Mervyn will meet with you in the Parish Meeting Room.

First Holy Communion - Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th June, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June and Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June.

Reconciliation - There will be NO Sacramental Program for Reconciliation this year. The Reconciliation Sacramental program will recommence in November 2019 for children

Year 3 and above.

Confirmation - Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th September.

Please keep watching this space for changes and updates or contact the Parish Office for more information.

Ministries Next Week 31 M/ 1 APR

Sat 5.30 pm

Sun 8.00 am

Sun 10 am

Sun 5:30 pm

READERS: Easter Volunteers

EXTRA– ORDINARY MINISTERS:

Easter Volunteers

COUNTERS: CHURCH ___________________

CLEANERS:

Group 3

M Davies

A Goria C Rositano

T Nascimben

B McNamara

R Kory

30/3/2018 1/4/2018 8/4/2018 15/4/2018

Sandra Nguyen

Karen Jekki

Rosa Marciano

Sandra Nguyen

ALTAR SOCIETY ROSTER

SIXTH SUNDAY OF LENT When Psyche Mae featured in Project Compassion 2008, she was living in a squatter settlement, on the edge of a giant rubbish dump outside Manila in the Philippines. Her family was forced to pick through the rubbish to sell what they could to

survive. Thanks to the support of individuals and Caritas Australia, in 2018, Psyche Mae is now a young social worker, achieving her dream of helping others struggling to leave poverty behind them, with plans to study a Master’s degree. Please donate to Project Compassion 2018 and help improve the health and wellbeing of communities in the Philippines so they can work towards eradicating poverty, providing a just future for all. A just future starts with your support! You can donate through Parish boxes and envelopes, by visiting www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or phoning 1800 024 413.

TREE LOPPING

We are in urgent need of a Tree Lopper for a small job in the Church. If we have anyone that could volunteer their services please contact Grant Dunn on 0409 958 744.

HOLY WEEK TIMETABLE

Monday 26th March - No Mass

Tuesday 27th March - 9:10am Mass Wednesday 28th March - 7:00pm Mass

Holy Thursday 29th March - No Morning Mass, Chrism Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral at 10:30am. Everyone is invited to the Mass.

7:00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Good Friday 30th March - 10:00am Morning Prayer and Stations of the Cross by Freeman students and will be outside finishing at the big white cross.

Confession: 1:30pm –2:30pm

3:00pm The Lord’s Passion

Holy Saturday 31st March - 9:00am Morning Prayer

Easter Vigil 7:00pm Mass

Easter Sunday 1st April 8:00am, 10:00am and 5:30pm

EASTER WORKING BEE Thank you to everyone who came to our Parish Working Bee. Your assistance was very much appreciated.

CANDLES FOR THE EASER VIGIL will be available for sale this weekend from the Piety Store for $2.00 each or $5 for 3. The candles can also be used when praying together as a family at home throughout the year.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING will be held at 6:30pm on Tuesday 27th March.

SINGERS FOR 10AM CHOIR WANTED PLEASE If you would like to share the gift of your singing voice with our parish, then please consider joining the Sunday 10am Choir. Due to people moving parishes and other church commitments we are in need of new talent-younger or older, it matters NOT. Just pop up and join in with us to have a sing one Sunday morning. We would love to have you enrich our Masses with the gift of your voice. We play on the first, second and third Sundays of the month. Enquiries - Tina on 0439 492 920.

RAISE YOUR VOICES!

Entrance Antiphon: Six days before the Passover, when the Lord came into the city of Jerusalem, the children ran to

meet him; in their hands they carried palm branches and with a loud voice cried out:

Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are you, who have come in your abundant mercy!

O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory! Who is this king of glory? He,

the Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory.

Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are you, who have come in your abundant mercy!

Communion Antiphon: Father, if this chalice cannot pass without my drinking it, your will be done.

Next Sunday:

Sunday of the Resurrection (Year B)

First Reading: Acts 10:34, 37-43

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-4

Gospel: John 20:1-9

Reflection QuestionsN.. ♦ I deny Jesus whenN.. I betray Jesus whenN.. I run

away from Jesus whenN.. ♦ I help Jesus carry the cross whenN.. ♦ I stand by Jesus whenN..

First reading Isaiah 50:4-7 31:31-34 A reading from the prophet Isaiah

The Lord has given me a disciple’s tongue. So that I may know how to reply to the wearied he provides me with speech. Each morning he wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord has opened my ear.

For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard; I did not cover my face against insult and spittle.

The Lord comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults. So, too, I set my face like flint; I know I shall not be shamed.

The Word of the Lord Responsorial Psalm 21:8-9, 17-20, 23-24 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

All who see me deride me. They curl their lips, they toss their heads. ‘He trusted in the Lord, let him save him; let him release him if this is his friend.’

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Many dogs have surrounded me, a band of the wicked beset me. They tear holes in my hands and my feet I can count every one of my bones.

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

They divide my clothing among them. They cast lots for my robe. O Lord, do not leave me alone, my strength, make haste to help me!

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

I will tell of your name to my brethren and praise you where they are assembled. ‘You who fear the Lord give him praise; all sons of Jacob, give him glory.

Revere him, Israel’s sons.

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Second reading Philippians 2:6-11 A reading from a letter of St Paul to the Philippians

His state was divine, yet Christ Jesus did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Word of the Lord Gospel Acclamation Philippians 2:8-9

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory! Christ became obedient for us even to death, dying on the cross. Therefore God raised him on high and gave him a name above all other names. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory! Gospel Mark 14:1-15:47 A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark

Please see overheads for the Gospel Reading

The Gospel of the Lord

Copyright © 1996-2015 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com. Scripture readings from the

Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and

Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. Text of the Psalms:

Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). Used with permission of A.P. Watt Ltd. All rights reserved.