First Sunday in Lent —Year A 1 March 2020

St Brigid’s Marrickville In the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia

One Family, Alive in Christ Est 1886. Under the Pastoral Care of the Passionists since 1887

392 Marrickville Rd (PO Box 237), Marrickville NSW 2204 Tel: 02 8577 5670 Fax: 02 8577 5679

Email: parish@stbrigid.org.au Web: www.stbrigid.org.au FaceBook: St Brigid’s Marrickville

Administrator: Fr Erick Niyiragira CP (pp@stbrigid.org.au)

Sr Elena Daton CP (elena@stbrigid.org.au) Sr Elenita Flores CP (elenita@stbrigid.org.au),

Fr Thomas Nguyen CP (thomas.thanh@stbrigid.org.au Fr Dominic Samamba CP (dominic@stbrigid.org.au)

Deacon Christopher Roehrig (christopher@stbrigid.org.au) Sue King (SRE Co-ordinator/Safeguarding) catechetics@stbrigid.org.au

Jenny Solo youthministry@stbrigid.org.au Parish Secretary: Ms Terrey Trethowan (9.30am - 4pm)

We stand at the Crossroads of life for many people

FACING AND FIGHTING TEMPTATION

A fruiterer was watching a boy standing in front of his fruit stall and gazing at all the beautiful fruit on display. After a while he could restrain him-self no longer. 'What are you trying to do, young man,' he asked, 'steal my apples?' 'No sir,' said the boy, 'I'm trying not to.' That little story says that the child had come to understand that he was not a puppet on a string, but faced a choice: Will I do the right thing or the wrong thing? It also says just how real temptations of all kinds can be, and just what a tension and struggle it can be, not to give in to temp-tation.

Thank God we still have the living memory of Jesus - his teaching, example and presence - to re-mind us that by turning to him for strength and sup-port, we can overcome our temptations. Even if our past record in resisting temptation has been spotty, to say the least, we can eventually triumph, not by our own sheer will-power and determination, but through our faith and trust in Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. As a priest once put it to a man that he met outside the monastery gate. 'We fall down, we get up. We fall down, we get up. We fall down, we get up. The saints are just the sinners who fall down and get up!’

Today we remember Jesus' own secret in re-sisting temptation. But doing so was no easier for him than it is for us. In fact, he went through a terri-ble struggle to choose between God and self. The tension and agony of it all is spelled out for us today in Matthew's dramatic story of the temptations in the desert. What they have in common is that they are temptations to selfishness. First the tempter suggests to Jesus, who is extreme-ly hungry after his forty-day fast in the desert: 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into [loaves of] bread.' In other words, make use of things, not for the benefit of others but for your own

satisfaction, comfort and convenience. But even though Jesus’ stomach is rumbling, and he is near to desperation for a bite to eat, he will not dally with this desire, not even for a moment. Instead he seeks nourishment of a different kind in God’s clear mes-sage in Scripture - 'One does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' The second temptation which taunts Jesus is to go to the very top of the temple in Jerusalem, and defy the law of gravity by taking a flying leap from there. Surely a stunt like this, a bit of razzle-dazzle, will attract a horde of followers, and prove to Jesus personally whether God cares about him or not. The very thought of it is fascinating. Jesus, however, completely banishes the idea from his mind as he remembers and relishes God's clear command in Scripture: 'You must not put the Lord your God to the test.' Jesus has survived two kinds of temptation. But the idea that comes to him next is more subtle and more appealing. This is to use his intelligence, his ability to organise, and his personal charm, to gather round him the rich and powerful from every nation, and become a great political leader, even king of the world. This is a temptation to seek world attention and become a celebrity, and a temptation to be a political messiah pursuing fame, fortune, and empire-building. The attraction of this temptation is the very opposite of what God has said in Scripture about his chosen messiah, the saviour of the world. God clearly means his messiah to be a humble, suf-fering servant, someone willing to sacrifice his young life in love. Jesus remembers this and takes it to heart. So he simply blitzes the suggestion with yet another clear command of God in Scripture: 'You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.'

Remember! Jesus is feeling very weak, very frag-ile, and very vulnerable. He has had nothing to eat or drink for forty days. But his fidelity and love towards God don’t waver for a moment. What is his secret, then? It’s his reliance on hearing and heeding the Word of God in the Scriptures. He just keeps nourish-ing his mind, his heart, his attitudes, and his life, by remembering the Word of God.

You and I have often been exposed to tempta-tions of one kind or another - to pride, anger, lust, glut-tony, greed, jealousy, sloth, etc. Like Jesus we have surely turned to God for guidance and strength when tempted. Perhaps we have relied especially on the power of those healing sacraments - Reconciliation and Eucharist.

But for better results when we tempted, we would do well to also do what Jesus did - read the Scriptures, reflect on the Scriptures, and pray the Scriptures. The texts of the Masses for Lent provide us with a guided reading program, a program for changing our minds, hearts and lives. It’s not too late to make Lent what it is meant to be, a time for correcting our faults and raising our minds and hearts to God. A time for personal and community conversion! A time for personal and com-munity renewal! A time for coming face-to-face with God - our origin, purpose and destiny - and being changed for the better and forever, by that healing en-counter!

bgleesoncp@gmail.com

“Tap and Go” Donation Machines For your convenience, there are two donations stands, one on either side of the pillars as you walk into the church. One is marked for St Brigid’s Parish and the other is marked for the Passionists. Please check before you donate that you are donating to the correct entity. At this stage the donation amount is set at $10.00 per tap

PRAYER LABYRINTH FOR LENT This year for Lent, St Brigid’s Primary School has

hired a Prayer Labyrinth for students and families to walk during the Season of Lent. An invitation has been extended to parishioners, and the time set aside for us is

NEXT Thursday March 5 from 12.30pm to 1.15pm in the School Hall.

Flyers explaining what the Labyrinth is and how to use it are available in the church or from the Parish office.

“How can we help create a More Trustworthy Soci-ety in which we can all have some Confidence? Saturday 14 March 2020, 10.30am-3.00pm at The Grail Centre, 22 McHatton St , Nth Sydney. Presented by Eva Cox AO, social researcher, writer and activist. Contact grailsydney@ozemail.com.au BEFORE 11/3/20 Message from the Safeguarding Office Child sexual abuse is a crime. The appropriate people to deal with crimes are the police. If you—or anyone you know– have been abused, please contact the police. Alter-natively, you can contact the Safeguarding and Ministerial Integrity Office on Safeguarding enquiries @ sydneycath-olic.org OR 9390 5810. You may also want to speak to your Parish Priest who will be able to provide support and guid-ance. The Archdiocese has a legal obligation to report crimes to the police.

LENTEN REFLECTION 2020

Our Lenten programme this year will take place each TUESDAY evening from 6-7.00pm

in the Parish Centre meeting room. Copies of the text, “Be Opened—A Journey to New Life” are available from the Piety Stall.

Cost: $10.00. Next session: Tuesday 3 March 2020

Information Directory

St Brigid’s Primary School

9558 6926

Casimir Catholic College 9558 2888

Baptisms Preparation: 1st Sundays 10am-11.30am Presentation: 2nd Sunday 9am/ 10.30amMasses Baptisms: 3rd & 4th Sundays at 12 noon

Marriages Saturday: 10am—3.00pm

Preferably 6 months notice Contact: Parish Secretary 8577 5670

Pastoral Ministry Contacts:

Adult Sacraments: Sr Elena Bereavement Ministry: Sr Elenita Care of Sick & Aged Fr Thomas CCD in State Schools Sue King Children’s Sacraments Sr Elenita Sunday Children’s Liturgy Sr Elenita Ecumenical & Interfaith Jim Yeo Family Groups Contact: Adrienne Harverson Finance C’tee : Hamish Flett Justice & Peace Network Peter Jennings Liturgical Ministries Fr Erick, Sr Elena Maintenance C’tee: Michael Daher/Pongia Fenukitau Men’s Club: Arthur Kassis; John Skinner, Mick Ward Parish Safeguarding Support: Sue King Pastoral Council Co-chairs Peter Jennings, Arthur Kassis. Youth Ministry: Jenny Solo

We Remember Recently Deceased: Anniversaries: Alfredo Errichiello; Bishop Joseph Thong Duy Vu; Froctoso Kilat; William Matthews; Anthony Casey; Dalal Tou-ma; Ludwig Johan; Gregoria Latagan; Patricia Lowe; Rong Van Ta; Joseph Toan Nguyen; Thomas O’Connor; Bishop Paul Doc Van Nguyen; Eric Whitby ; Manuel Rebelo. Carrying Severe Illness: Pearl Howard; Geoffrey Leask.

Mass Texts: Lent 1 (A)

First Reading: Genesis 2:7—9; 3:1-7 Response: Have mercy on us Lord, for we have sinned. Second Reading: Romans 5:12-19 Gospel: Matthew 4: 1-11 Intercessions Response: Lord, graciously

hear us.

Mass Texts: Lent 2 (A)

First Reading: Genesis 12: 1-4 Response: May your love be upon us O Lord, as we place our hope in you. Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1: 8-10 Gospel: Matthew 17: 1-9 Intercessions Response: Lord, graciously hear us.

Liturgical Timetable

Mon—Fri: Mass at 6.45am followed by adoration until 8.45am.Benediction at 8.45am followed by Mass at 9.00am. (Communion service at 9.00am Monday)

Public Hols: Mass 9.00am only

Saturday: Mass 7.30 am; Reconciliation 9-9.45 am; Marriages 10-3 pm; Reconciliation 4-4.45 pm; Mass:5 pm; & 6.30 pm (Vietnamese) Sunday: Mass at 7.30 am, 9 am, 10 .30am (multilingual); 4.30pm (Viet); and 6pm.(Youth Mass on 4th Sunday)

Ministry of Care & Support to Aged and Infirm

Mass is celebrated monthly in all the Nursing Homes in Marrickville. Communion is taken to sick residents in Nursing Homes & in their homes on a weekly basis, either by Ministers of Care or family members.

Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is offered after Masses on First Fridays

Parish Collection

23/2/20 1st(Passionists): $ 2,045 2nd (Parish): $ 3,318 Cash & Envelopes: $ 2,177 Credit Cards: $ 1,141

16/2/20 1st (Passionists) : $ 1,920 2nd (Parish): $ 3,920

Calendar

March 2020 1 First Sunday of Lent Baptism Preparation: 10.00am Sunday in Annexe Catholic Schools Week begins 3 Lenten Programme : 6-7pm in

Parish Centre 5 Women’s Spirituality Group (1) 7.30-8.30pm in Parish Centre 7/8 Second Sunday of Lent Tongan C’ty Meeting: 6pm Saturday in Hall 10 Lenten Programme : 6-7pm in Parish Centre 14/15 Third Sunday of Lent Baptisms: 12 noon Junior Youth: Annexe at 4.30-5.45pm Snr Youth: Annexe at 6.45pm– 8.00pm 17 Lenten Programme : 6-7pm in Parish Centre 21/22 Fourth Sunday of Lent P/School Family Mass: 9.00am Baptisms: 12 noon Youth Mass: 6pm followed by Young Adults in Annexe 7-9.00pm 24 Lenten Programme : 6-7pm in Parish Centre Parish Pastoral Council: 7.30pm

Sunday Mass Ministries: Lent 1 and Lent 2 - Year A

1 March

7/8 March 1 March 7/8 March 1 March 7/8

5 pm Sat Kelelia Apikotoa Leila Walsh Michael price

Liz Buchel Margaret Dos Santos Michael Schiano

Carole Price Michael Price Carmel Cloran Paul Cloran

William Metlej Gabrielle Bietola Ofa Tupola Kelelia Apikotoa

Gary Tupola

Gary Tupola

7.30am Sun

Janice Schubach Marg Barrett

Carolan Ibbotson Pat O’Reilly

Maria Mansour Francis Seufale

Janice Schubach Theresa James

Dennis Maher Dennis Maher

9 am Sun John McGrath Bec Wong

Peter Jennings Sue King

Frank Cowell Jennie Oesman Justin Hartany John McGrath Joanne McGrath

Peter Jennings Bernadette Sara

Luke Nguyen

Luke Nguyen

10.30 am Sun

Rosetta Naticchia Catherine Vagnozzi

Kate Johnston Angie Chiapoco Tanya Hronopou-los

Angie Chiapoco Elvie Chiapoco

Maria Barlow Bernadette Yammine

Albert Naticchia Anthony Naticchia

Geoffrey Lean Aldrick De Vera Alfred De Vera

6 pm Sun Arthur Kassis Robert Gascoigne

Adrienne Harver-son Paige Bullen John Skinner

Anthony Kassis Alex Kassis Lea Paladino

Adrian Begg Xavier Rego Therese Skinner Pedro Moreira Diane Moreira

Tony Hayek Tony Hayek

Readers/Commentators Ministers Servers

ST BRIGID’S YOUTH GROUPS

Junior Youth (Yrs 7-9): 3rd Sunday of each month

from 4.30 to 5.45pm in the Annexe

followed by Mass at 6.00pm Next gathering : Sunday 15 March 2020

Senior Youth ( Yrs 10-12): 3rd Sunday of each month from 6.45 to 8.30pm in the Annexe after 6.00pm Mass.

Next gathering: Sunday 15 March 2020

Youth Mass: 4th Sunday of each month at 6.00pm followed by

Young Adults Gathering from 7-9.00pm in the Annexe

Next gathering: Sunday 22 March 2020

PROJECT COMPASSION 2020

Be sure to pick up your Lenten donation box if you have not yet done so.

Your support is life-saving for people experienc-ing poverty and oppression. Indigenous minori-ties in the Philippines face regular discrimination and disadvantage, limiting their access to educa-tion, employment and healthcare. Preventable diseases like tuberculosis and measles are com-mon and there is a high maternal and new-born mortality rate.

Jesus went into the desert for forty days—a place where he tested himself with questions on who he was, where had he come from, and where was he going. He remained steadfast in his commitment to his mission, rejecting temptations and choosing to live more simply. .

This Lent, how will we answer God’s call to go further together with Jesus into the desert, to challenge our understanding of our mission and trust in God’s vision for our global community?

Let us put our compassion into action— and GO FURTHER, TOGETHER

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can

do small things, with great love.” St Teresa of Calcutta