THE BULLETIN ST THERESA’S PARISH

14 MAY 2017 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A

HEALING FOR THE SICK: Br Luke Quinn (Christian Brother) Trish Marshall

Parishioners:

Stephen Watchman

Rosemary Carter Len Pauli

Neville Preece Mike Green

Chris McNally John Robinson

Raymond Saad

John Thompson

Philomena Fry (Peter Conaghan’s Aunt) Shona Kraayvanger

(Gabrielle Adam’s daughter) Joe Short (Powell family group) Enrico Marsili (Raul Ruffini’s nephew)

John Gagen (Peter Kenny’s brother-in-law)

Indiana Harman

(Ray & Madeline Taylor’s Granddaughter)

Louis Gandini (Lina Pervan’s brother)

Connie Bamgart (Lina Pervan’s friend)

Elaine Dillon (Vivienne Pr ice’s mother)

Pamela Dyson (Sandra Madden’s sister)

Br Tom Hickey (former Marist Brother in the Diocese)

Patricia Jenkins (Thel Jelley’s cousin)

Roslyn Morton (Patr ick’s sister)

Simon Riethmuller (Shir ley’s son)

Max Shearer

(Grandson - Tom & Judy Shearer)

John Mullen (Helen McNaught’s nephew)

Archie Mullen

(Helen McNaught’s brother)

Reet Hughes (ex Par ishioner and close

friend of Bette Flamsteed)

Br Ed Collins OH

ANNIVERSARIES

Maryanne Otto Minnie Spies Mary Ryan Margaret R Fletcher Vicki Spanjol Richard (Dick) Butler Mons. Concannon Mary Kalinowski

MISSION STATEMENT St Theresa’s Catholic Parish is a vibrant, inclusive and welcoming community committed to living and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Under our baptismal mission and inspired by the Spirit we are bread for one another and nourished we reach out to make a difference in the world.

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REFLECTION BY: THOMAS DUNCAN

5th Sunday of Easter Year A

The Gospel of John, which we have heard a lot from over this Easter season has long been labelled the “spiritual Gospel.” This is largely because of its very rich mystical theology, its vivid and poetic details, and its notoriously difficult-to-decipher passages. Today we hear part of Jesus’ farewell discourse, which draws us into the very life of God, who has “many rooms.” Meister Eckhart, the great 14th century mystical theologian spoke of this Gospel passage in one of his sermons. He penetrates Jesus’ metaphors and sees that the place being prepared for us is God’s very self: “In [Jesus] we have already sent one clod of earth to heaven. For this reason, the entire earth must belong to heaven, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s resting place is nowhere else than in union with his Father. For as God is threefold in Persons, so he is one in nature, they having one being and one life. Thus our Lord Christ has prepared the place where our being and our life shall be eternally in divine union.” However, the place prepared for us is not something that belongs solely to our future hope of heaven. Jesus and the Gospel’s neither belong to the past or the future, nor do they refer to someone else. Instead, the bible is always here and now, and we are the ones caught up in the story. Last Sunday morning, Fr Paul McCormack spoke in his homily about a technique of reading scripture. He said that the characters we encounter in the bible are like mirrors in which we can find ourselves reflected back. Take the apostle Phillip in today’s Gospel: Scholars point out that the use of the word “to satisfy” or “to be enough” is found only twice in John’s Gospel, and both times it is found on the lips of Phillip. It has been suggested that Phillip embodies all of humanity, and our deepest longing for the ultimate fulfilment that only God can give us. “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied,” says Phillip. And Jesus replies to us, “have I been with you all this time, Phillip, and you still do not know me?” For “If you know me, you know my Father too.” Since “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” Here Jesus takes us into the heart of who he is, and he asks us to come in. But he doesn’t say “if you know of me, or if you know things about me…” No, he says, “If you know me.” Now the Greek word he uses, while it does have many nuances, refers to experiential knowledge acquired through personal interaction. In this case the word also carries a sense of intimacy, for it is often used as an idiom to refer to sexual relations between husband and wife. While this usage probably isn’t as strong as that, here Jesus is drawing us beyond simply knowing about him as a character in a story, to enter into the place prepared for us by coming to know him and remain in communion with him right here, right now. For “this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God”(Jn 17:3).

PARISH MASSES

St Theresa’s Parish

READINGS BAPTISMS

MON NO MASS

TUE NO MASS

WED 9AM MASS

THU NO MASS

FRI 9AM MASS

SAT 6PM MASS

SUN 9.30AM MASS

RECONCILITATION IS

AVAILABLE BEFORE MASS

OR BY APPOINTMENT

First Reading: Acts 6: 1-7

They elected seven men filled with the Spirit and wisdom.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32: 1-2

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Second Reading: Peter 2: 4-9

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood.

Gospel Acclamation:

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

Gospel: John 14: 1-12

I am the way, the truth, and the life. Next week’s readings. Acts 8: 5-8, 14-17 Peter 3: 15-18 John 14: 15-21

Today through Baptism we

welcome into our parish

Ryah Tasman Weier

&

Lachlan John Barbe.

Baptisms are celebrated on the

second and fourth Sunday of the

month either during Mass at

(9.30am) or after Mass at

(11.00am).

THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL Pope 136 - 137

Let us renew our confidence in preaching, based on the conviction that it is God who seeks to reach out to others through the preacher, and that he dis-plays his power through human words. Saint Paul speaks forcefully about the need to preach, since the Lord desires to reach other people by means of our word (cf. Rom 10:14-17). By his words our Lord won over the hearts of the people; they cane to hear him from all parts (cf. Mk 1: 45); they were amazed at his teachings (cf. Mk 6:2), and they sensed that he spoke to them as one with authority. (cf. Mk 1: 27). By their words the apostles, whom Christ estab-lished “ to be with him and to be sent out to preach” (9 Mk 3: 14), brought all nations to the bosom of the Church (cf. Mt 16: 15-20). The liturgical context. It is worthy remembering that “the liturgical proclamation of the word of God, especially in the Eucharistic assembly, is not so much a time for meditation and catechesis as a dialogue between God and his people, a dialogue in which the great deeds of salvation are proclaimed and the demands of the covenant are continually restated”. The homily has special importance due to its Eucharistic context: it surpasses all forms of catechesis as the supreme moment in dialogue between God and his people which lead up to sacramental communion. The homily takes up once more the dialogue which the Lord has already established with his. people. The preacher must know the heart of his community, in order to realise where its desire for God is alive and ardent, as well as where that dialogue, once loving, has been thwarted as is now barren.

ST VINCENT de PAUL CYCLONE DEBBIE RECOVERY APPEAL

In answering our fellow Queenslanders calls for help, the Society has mounted its

Cyclone Debbie Recovery Appeal to help fund the long term recovery, and provide

assistance for those who are piecing their lives back together.

If you are able to assist, there are donation forms and self addressed envelopes in the

foyer. Donations can be in the form of credit card, money order or cheque.

All donations greatly accepted.

St Theresa’s Parish

POSITION VACANT - PASTORAL ASSOCIATE St Theresa’s Parish is seeking to fill the position of

Pastoral Associate. The Pastoral Associate will work in partnership with the Parish Priest and will be responsible for the co-ordination and implementation of a range of programs and liturgies to meet the needs of the Parish community. If you have a strong commitment to the Catholic Faith and would like to work with members of the community to further their faith and the mission of Jesus, you are invited to apply for this position. Please apply in writing with the names and addresses of two referees. For an

information package, please contact St Theresa’s Parish.

Email: office@sttheresas.org.au Phone (07) 4639 4688 55 Curzon St East Toowoomba

Qld 4350 MISSING ITEMS

These items are missing from the parish kitchen - 2 storage boxes (one with pink lid and one with a

clear lid), 2 large blue bins and one stainless steel coffee pot. If you have borrowed any of these items, could you please return them as soon as possible.

BUS TRIP: MARIAN VALLEY

To honour the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. Saturday 20th May. Bus departs Neil St. outside Cathedral at 7:30 am. Cost $25/30. per person. For bookings contact Theresa on 4654 9805 mob. 0434 528 904. ST SAVIOUR’S COLLEGE OPEN EVENING

Catholic Day and Boarding School for Girls in Years 7 - 12 Tuesday 23rd May 2017 from 3.00pm – 6.00pm P&F BBQ operating from 3.30pm Enquires: welcomestsav@twb.catholic.edu.au ST URSULA’S COLLEGE OPEN DAY

Will be held on Sunday 28th May from 10am-2pm 38 Taylor St Toowoomba. Contact 4632 7611 Email: enrolments@st-ursula.qld.au

NOTICES

CARE AND CONCERN HEALING MASS

Invitations to the Care and Concern Healing Mass on 18th May at 10-00am have been issued. If you have been accidentally overlooked, please contact Moya Schaefer on 0429 400 290 or the parish office 4639 4688. Multidraw Raffle tickets are for sale in the foyer. Still only $1-00 each. ST THERESA’S CONFIRMATION/ FIRST EUCHARIST PROGRAM 2017 DATES Tues 6 June Practice for Confirmation 5.30pm Wed 7 June Confirmation evening 6.30pm or or Thur 8 June Confirmation evening 6.30pm Fri 28 July First Eucharist Practice 3.30PM Sat 29 July First Eucharist Celebration or at 6pm Mass Sun 30 July First Eucharist Celebration at 9.30am Mass There are a number of information leaflets in the foyer if you were unable to attend the information session on Tuesday 14th March. Please direct any further enquiries to Mrs Claire Howden at Mater Dei Primary School (07) 4637 6100 or St Theresa’s Parish Office on (07) 4639 4688. TRAMS TOOWOOMBA

(Toowoomba Refugee and Migrant Support) offers a variety of programs as a way of supporting families who are settling into our community. At the moment they are in particular need of: People to help in homework clubs (especially 3-5pm Wednesday afternoon). Extra child minders to watch young children while their mothers are in English class. (Monday 10am-12pm) Please contact 1300 477 433 or RSmith@catholiccare.services.

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE OPEN DAY

St Mary’s College Open Day will be held on Sunday 28th May, from 10.00am - 1pm. Enrolments are being taken for 2018-2019. Address: 129 West St Toowoomba. For further information there is a poster in the foyer or visit www.stmaryscollege.com

St Theresa’s Parish

CONTACTS

Consolation Message.

When someone you love become a

memory,

the memory becomes a treasure.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

MAY Consolation Team Meeting

Tuesday 16th May, 9.30am in the parish office meeting room.

First & Third Tuesday of the Month

St Vincent de Paul St Theresa’s Conference, 4pm 4636 0461

OUTBACK PRIESTS

Fr. Peter Murphy

Peter Murphy, a Toowoomba Diocesan priest, recalls the personalities, achievements and stories of 24 confreres who helped lay the foundations of today’s Church. The Diocese has been his life, these men his inspiration.

These stories are typical of the 200 men who have served in these parts since 1864, when Father Fulgentius Hodebourg became Toowoomba’s first resident priest.

Peter offers Outback Priests to the Diocese when it celebrated its 75th birthday on May 29, 2004.

Parish Priest:

Fr Brian Noonan 4696 7094 e-mail: brian.noonan@sttheresas.org.au

Parish Secretary:

Janet Weier 4639 4688 Fax: 4639 6538 e-mail: office@sttheresas.org.au

Church: Cnr Campbell & Curzon Sts, Toowoomba

Office: 55 Curzon Street, Toowoomba

Parish Website www.sttheresas.org.au Parish Pastoral Council

Fr Brian Noonan; Michael Murtagh; Francis Njoroge, Christine Harpham; Danny Carter; Kathy Sternes; Paul Apel; Gerry Ryan; Tim Burgess; Rhianna Conaghan; Gay Jorgensen; Jenny Ryan; Claire Howden. Tom Duncan; Finance Committee

Fr. Brian Noonan; Pat Morton; Warren Dredge; Ray Taylor: Shane Blakeley; Brian Wilson, Pat Richardson. Liturgy Team

Fr. Brian Noonan; Jan Mayo; Peter & Norma Kenny; Anne Thomas; Carole Rogan; Kathy Sternes; Libby Rosentreter ; Kay Gleeson; Elizabeth Stewart, Loretta Coman.

Baptism Team:

Cath Kelly; Jenny Ryan; Tracy George; Bernadette Hede; Alison Daniel; Anne Anderson; Jan Watkins; Maureen Burke; Angela Irvine; Mary Otto, Jane Burgess and Catherine Cooper.

Consolation Team:

Fr Brian Noonan; Mary Otto; Lyn McRae; Loretta Male; Peter Kenny; Bette Flamsteed; Pam Merritt; Alf Mason; Moya Schaefer, Josephine Nolan, Veronica Littleton osu; Kay McGrath rgs; Liz Phelan; Margie Sullivan; Anne Downs.

Welcome & Hospitality Team:

Paul & Kathryn Marangelli; Carole Rogan; Mary Otto; Maureen Burke;

Family Groups:

Coordinator: Brian Wilson.

Care & Concern Team

Coordinator: Moya Schaefer.

First Tuesday

Care and Concern Meeting, 9.30am Parish Office.

First Wednesday

Parish morning tea at 9.45am, Park House Café.

Second Sunday

Mad Toowoomba Group from 7.00pm at St Anthony’s. Parish Centre. (Grade 7-12 people)