11th / 12th November, 2017 Year A: Vol.42 No.51

PARISH STAFF:

Monsignor Ron McFarlane

Father Joby Kadambattu MS

Father Alfonsus Nahak SVD

Maria Hyson

(Sacramental Coordinator)

Michelle Sultana &

Joe Clemson

(Office staff)

PARISH OFFICE:

Phone: 9622 0817

Fax: 9671 7971 40 Breakfast Rd, Marayong 2148

[PO Box 4345]

Email Address:

saapm@bigpond.com

Office Hours:

Monday to Friday

9.00am to 4.00pm

After hours phone: 9676 7960

PRESBYTERY:

41 Breakfast Rd, Marayong

WEEKEND MASSES:

Saturday (Vigil) 6.00pm

Sunday:

7.30am, 8.45am, 10.30am

SUNDAY SCHOOL:

Each Sunday morning

after the 8.45am Mass.

Weekday Masses: Monday: 9.00am

Tuesday: 9.00am

Wednesday: 9.00am

Novena & Mass: 7.00pm

Thursday: 8.00am

Friday: 9.00am

Saturday: 9.00am

Mass for the Sick:4th Saturday

of the month at 9.00am

Rosary: After each morning

Mass and before the

Saturday Vigil Mass

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE

• After weekday morning

Masses.

• Saturday: 4.30pm - 5.30pm

• Anytime by arrangement.

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

Baptisms: 1st & 3rd Sunday

of each month at 11.45am

Baptismal Preparation:

2nd Wednesday of each month

at 7.30pm

in the Fr Byrne Centre.

Please book for Baptisms

with the Parish Office.

PIETY STALL:

Open after Masses on Saturday

night and Sunday morning or

by asking for an appointment

at the Parish Office.

FR. BYRNE CENTRE:

(Parish Meeting Rooms)

38 Breakfast Rd, Marayong.

PARISH SCHOOLS:

ST. ANDREW’S PRIMARY

Principal: Mr M. Tonnet

Phone: 9671 6622

Address: 36 Breakfast Road

Marayong 2148

ST. ANDREWS COLLEGE

College Principal: Mr N. Vidot

Phone: 9626 4000

Campus -

JUNIOR CAMPUS (YRS. 7-10)

Address: 116 Quakers Road

Marayong 2148

SENIOR CAMPUS (YRS. 11-12)

Address: 50 Breakfast Road

Marayong 2148

We are an active and welcoming Catholic community,

where people of all ages draw closer to God.

His love is expressed through each one of us by prayer,

liturgy and reaching out in service to one another.

Pari sh Vi si o n St atem e nt

Please visit our Parish Website: www.standrewsmarayong.org.au

32nd SUNDAY in

ORDINARY TIME

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL PARISHIONERS

We are pleased to announce the launch of The Catholic Foundation next weekend (18 & 19 November), when it will officially replace the Diocesan Works Fund as the central charity for the

good works of the Diocese of Parramatta.

The Catholic Foundation will support the Seminary, CCD, the Ephpheta Centre and Catholic

Care.

In support of The Catholic Foundation, our Parish will be holding a special collection next weekend. Appeal Envelopes will be provided at the Masses, and we invite all Parishioners to support the good works of the Diocese of Parramatta, by coming prepared and giving

generously to The Catholic Foundation Appeal next weekend. This will be an appeal Sunday where our parish of St Andrew the Apostle is expected to raise $15,500. In recent appeals we

have not reached our target which means that money is made up from Parish funds. Obviously, we are totally dependent on the generosity of our parishioners to survive financially and to

develop this parish community.

Once again, we ask you to be as generous as you possibly can as this appeal, apart from being

a set quota on the parish, it also provides the possibility of developing ministries across the broad spectrum of the diocese which are helpful to so many people. One of the other advantages is that this appeal is tax-deductible, so it is important that people do fill out the

appropriate documentation on the envelopes and state that they do wish a taxation deduction.

MASS READINGS -YEAR A

THIS SUNDAY:

32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

First Reading: Wisdom 6:12-16

Psalm: Ps 62:2-8

Second Reading: 1 Thess 4:13-18

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13

NEXT SUNDAY:

33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME First Reading: Prov 31:10-13. 19-20. 30-31

Psalm: Ps 127:1-5

Second Reading: 1 Thess 5:1-6

Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

Please contact the

Parish Office, if you are

unavai lab le for your

rostered Ministry.

From Monsignor Ron … Today, we are reminded that we are all preparing for eternal life. We are encouraged to wait with hope for the coming of Christ and to use the wisdom that is brought to us in the Sacred Scriptures as well as through the teachings of the Church. We are encouraged to stay awake because we do not know either the day or the hour. The foolish bridesmaids are an example to us in that they were not sufficiently prepared, and they were not focused on the right things. The wise bridesmaids were totally prepared.

As well, today, we can be comforted by the words from the book of Wisdom which advise us to “be on the alert for wisdom and anxiety will quickly leave you.” As well, in our second reading Paul encourages us to remain in the state of readiness because in that way we will surely meet the Lord. Also, he tells us to comfort each other with such thoughts as these.

We can apply this weekend’s readings to our approach to life and also to the importance of praying for those who have died.

As part of our preparation, it is important to accept that being prepared is more than saying a few prayers, it actually involves our whole lives. The way we approach life and the way we do things should reflect a state of readiness. What is interesting is that if we have this approach to life, we will also help to transform the approach to life of all the people around about us.

As I said, we can apply this weekend’s readings to our experiences of loss. One of the prayers of the Funeral Mass reminds us that in death "life is changed, not ended.” The lives of our deceased loved ones go on. They are with God, and although

we cannot see or hear them, we believe that they are still with us. Because we believe that the resurrection of Jesus has overcome the power of death, we believe that through Christ the bond of love we shared remains alive, strong, and personal.

We pray for our loved ones not only so that they may live eternally in God's presence, but also to remember and to strengthen the bond we share with them. We pray for them, just as they pray for us, so that one-day we may be fully united, in a new and deeper way than ever before. We ask them to join us in prayer for our shared concerns, and we may ask them to pray especially for certain people. We pray for our loved ones; and we pray with our loved ones. And we do this for the simple reason that we love each other, and we love our God who sustains us in every second.

THIS WEEK’S ROSTER: 11th / 12th November 2017 [2nd Sunday of the Month - Odd Month]

M INISTRIES 6.00pm 7.30am 8.45am 10.30am

ACOLYTE Romy Gapud

Emmanuel Tabone

Gus Kaster

Edsel Paltoo

Noe Adan

Mario Picart

Robert Bautista

Ferdi Chin

COMMENTATOR Nenette Gapud Claire Blunt Lita Picart Peter Maw

FIRST READER Ralph Vaz Antonette Elogious Roseanne Victoria Allen Brady

SECOND READER Myra Estrera Belinda Elogious Rose Rotik Maury Villaneuva

PROJECTOR OPERATORS

Nicholas King Derica Elogious Nicholas Mathias Abigail Chin

WELCOMER Annette Hudson Claire Blunt Agnes iligan

Mathias Family

MUSICIANS Hearts NO Music Mass Couples For Christ Dingalings

MINISTERS OF COMMUNION - Second Sunday of the Month

NEXT WEEK’S ROSTER: 18th / 19th November 2017 [3rd Sunday of the Month - Odd Month]

M INISTRIES 6.00pm 7.30am 8.45am 10.30am

ACOLYTE Stephen Debrincat Volunteer Required

Charles Hyson John Fernandes

Morie Balisbisan Volunteer Required

Robert Bautista Volunteer Required

COMMENTATOR Erna Ferrer Mary Anne Xuereb Chris Bettiol Carmelita Liceralde

FIRST READER Marian Fernandez Fely Perez Roseanne Victoria Therrie Chin

SECOND READER Edward Yin Laurinda Atienza Bernardo Rivera Eduardo Gatchalian

PROJECTOR OPERATORS

Volunteer Required Volunteer Required Jaden Victoria Rachel Berry

WELCOMER Melita DelosReyes Annette Hudson Denise Farla Dot Kaster

Peter Maw

MUSICIANS Lorraine's Group NO Music Mass St Andrew's Family Choir

Living Word Choir

MINISTERS OF COMMUNION - Third Sunday of the Month

When: Friday 17 November 2017,

after 7:00pm Mass

Where: St Andrew's Primary School Hall

Cost: $2 anyone below 18 and $5 for adults

(St. Andrews Youth Word And Teaching)

Our next SAYWAT will be held on:

Friday, 17th November, 2017 at 7.00pm.

SAYWAT'S GOT TALENT 2017 Parishioners are invited to come

along for a relaxing and enjoyable evening to watch our talented young

people share their gifts!

Prayer for the Holy Souls

In recent years, perhaps no Catholic doctrine has been more misunderstood by Catholics themselves than the doctrine of Purgatory. Consequently, we tend to downplay it, even seem a little embarrassed by it, and it is the Holy Souls who suffer because of our discomfort with the doctrine.

Purgatory is not, as many people think, one last trial; all of those who make it to Purgatory will one day be in Heaven. Purgatory is where those who have died in grace, but who have not fully atoned for the temporal punishments resulting from their sins, go to finish their atonement before entering Heaven. A soul in Purgatory may suffer, but he has the assurance that he will ultimately enter Heaven when his punishment is complete. Catholics believe Purgatory is an expression of God's love, His desire to cleanse our souls of all that might keep us from experiencing the fullness of joy in Heaven.

As Christians, we don't travel through this world alone. Our salvation is wrapped up with the salvation of others, and charity requires us to come to their aid. The same is true of the Holy Souls. In their time in Purgatory, they can pray for us, and we should pray for the faithful departed that they may be freed from the punishment for their sins and enter into Heaven.

We should pray for the dead throughout the year, especially on the anniversary of their death, but in this Month of the Holy Souls, we should devote some time every day to prayer for the dead. We should start with those closest to us—our mother and father, for instance—but we should also offer prayers for all the souls, and especially for those most forsaken.

We believe that those Holy Souls for whom we pray will continue to pray for us after they have been released from Purgatory. If we live Christian lives, we too will likely find ourselves in Purgatory someday, and our acts of charity toward the Holy Souls there now will ensure that they remember us before the throne of God when we are most in need of prayers. It's a comforting thought, and one that should encourage us, especially in this month of November, to offer our prayers for the Holy Souls.

Sunday 12

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Counters: Group 2

09:30 Sunday School

Monday 13

09:00 Mass

09:30 Rosary

19:00 Legion of Mary

19:15 RCIA

Tuesday

14 09:00 Mass SAP Kindy

09:30 Rosary

20:00 Music Committee Meeting

Wednesday 15

Saint Albert the Great,

Bishop, Doctor

09:00 Mass

09:30 Rosary

19:00 Novena & Mass

19:45 Parish Pastoral Council

Meeting

Thursday 16

Saint Margaret of Scotland

Saint Gertrude, Virgin

08:00 Mass

08:30 Rosary

19:00 SVDP Meeting

Friday

17 Saint Elizabeth of

Hungary, Religious

09:00 Mass

09:30 Rosary

16:00 Junior Legion of Mary

19:00 Youth Mass & SAYWAT

20:00 HJM Core Meeting

Saturday 18

Dedication of the Basilicas

of Saints Peter and Paul,

Saturday memorial of the

Blessed Virgin Mary

The Catholic

Foundation launch 09:00 Mass

09:30 Rosary

09:40 Jnr Legion of Mary

10:00 Church Cleaning L of M

16:15 Legion of Mary

PRAYER FOR NOVEMBER

Immortal God, holy Lord, Father and Protector of all You have created, we raise our hearts to You today for

those who have passed out of this mortal life.

In Your loving mercy, Father of all, be pleased to receive them in Your heavenly company, and forgive the failings

and faults they may have done from human frailty.

Your only Son, Christ, our Saviour, suffered so cruelly that He might deliver them from the second death. By his merits may they share in

the glory of His victory over sin and death.

For all the faithful who have died we pray, but in particular for those dear to us, parents, relatives and friends. nor do we forget all who did good to us while on earth, who helped us by their

prayers, sacrifice and example. We pray also for any who may have done us harm, and stand in special need of Your forgiveness.

May the merits and prayers of our Virgin Mother, Mary, and those of all the Angels and Saints, speak for us and assist them now.

This we ask in Christ's name. Amen.

The last meeting was somewhat disappointing in regard to attendance which made it very difficult to plan for closing events this year and to begin looking at 2018. It is hoped that at least two people from each ministry and organisation in the parish will attend the next meeting. As well, parishioners who have something to contribute are invited to attend.

7:45pm on Wednesday, November 15 - after the Mass and Novena.

Parish Pastoral Council Meeting

Opening Prayer and Welcome

Apologies

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

Matters arising out of the Minutes

Correspondence

Finance Report

Report from Parish Priest

Reports from Parish Ministries

Planning the remainder of 2017

Looking towards 2018

General Business

Christmas Rehearsals for Sunday School Play

Rehearsals are on Sundays,

between 9.30am & 10.20am in the Church,

and will continue in the Church until Christmas.

Enquiries: Antonia on 9831-2109.

M u s i c C o m m i t t e e M e e t i n g

Members of the music ministry are

reminded that their next meeting will

take place on Tuesday, November 14

at 8:00pm in the Fr. Byrne Centre.

Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv statement on Manus Island

Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop Delegate for Migrants and Refugees has issued a

statement on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, following the closure of the

Manus Island Centre. He states: “The policy of offshore detention has failed and it is time for us to

deal with the issue of asylum seekers and refugees according to this nation’s proud tradition and the

best nature of its citizens. We can do a whole lot better, just as we did welcome “those who’ve come

across the seas” after the wars in Europe and in Southeast Asia. The concern for maritime border

security does not have to make us into a mean-spirited people. The policy of offshore detention has

cost Australia dearly. But it has cost the detainees and their families even more. I appeal to the

government and political leaders to act in accordance with our honourable tradition. It is time to find

an alternative and conscionable solution, including accepting New Zealand’s offer of resettlement

and bringing the remaining detainees on Manus Island to Australia for further processing.”

SPECIAL EDITION OF CATHOLIC OUTLOOK At the request of Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Catholic Outlook will be back in print for a special, one-off December 2017 Christmas edition. This special edition will be a beautifully bound, 40-page, A4 magazine and will showcase the work of the parishes, ministries and agencies of the Diocese of Parramatta. Look out for copies in your parishes and schools from Monday 4 December.

HEALTH CARERS AND THE ASSISTED DYING BILL 2017 The proposed legislation to legalise assisted suicide and euthanasia will be debated in the Parliament of New South Wales on the 16 November. A similar bill has passed the Lower House in the Victorian Parliament. Such changes will place at risk the most vulnerable patients as well as undermining the relationship between patients and Healthcare Professionals which is based on trust and mutual respect. Rather than the legalisation of assisted suicide and euthanasia all Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Professionals are asked to let your Members of Parliament know that you support increased access to better aged care and mental health services, disabilities assistance and excellent palliative care. There is an open letter against the legalisation of assisted suicide and a petition which has been organised by concerned healthcare professionals. You are asked to add your name to their petition by going to the link: www.healthprofessionalssayno.info

HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS: 24 November Everyone is welcome to join the Holy Hour for Vocations from 6:30pm-7.30pm for an hour of adoration, prayer, music and quiet time at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, St Marys. For information about priesthood in the Diocese of Parramatta and Holy Spirit Seminary, please contact Fr John Paul Escarlan, Director of Priestly Vocations, vocations@parra.catholic.org.au