Second Sunday of Lent Year C Cyle l 17 March 2019

The Glory Behind Ordinariness

N owadays, the concern for beauty or good looks knows no boundaries. The cosmetics and nutrition

industries have never been so busy and aggressive in responding to people’s call for products that make

them slimmer, younger and more beautiful. Cameras and videos address this frantic hunger; many apps have

been invented so that in just one click all the warts, blackheads, extra pounds and blemishes disappear, and

voilà, the flawless “you” appears!

Still, reality is reality. And we wonder whether there is an equal concern for how the inside can also be

“beautified,” whether the heart is being made purer and more loving so that the external beauty can be matched

with the inner beauty.

Jesus does not need cosmetics to let his real purity and splendour shine from within. At the Transfiguration,

the apostles Peter, James and John catch a glimpse of Jesus’ glory, and they do not want to come out of the

experience. The man whom they have been seeing as just like any one of them is now presented to them in full

glory and splendour. The experience surely leaves an indelible imprint on their soul. And what a privilege for

them to catch a glimpse, albeit momentary, of the glory of Jesus, the beloved Son, well-pleasing to the Father.

In his ordinariness as a human being, Jesus’ “glory” also shines. His coming down as a human being, letting go

of his being equal with God, his self-emptying (kenosis) shows his splendour. So also is his life totally dedicated

to saving people from various maladies, forgiving sins, driving out evil spirits, and preaching the good news of

the Kingdom.

The problem, however, is that the people of his time are stuck with his ordinariness and familiarity to them. They

are looking for a God on a pedestal, a celebrity of the highest degree, a God who does not mingle with ordinary

human beings, a God who is different from them. But God wants the contrary: God wills to be near us and teach

us how to be human and appreciate the beauty of being human, of being ordinary and yet beautiful and glorious

inside.

365 Days with the Lord Fr Renato R Repole SJ

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Beauty, Truth & Goodness!

W hy does Hell have to be eternal? Why did God create Angels? Where does evil

come from? Can Catholics believe in evolution? These are some of the

questions answered in “Beauty, Truth, Goodness: The Fundamentals of Catholicism,”

an outstanding explanation of the basic elements of the Catholic Faith, so we can know

and love the fullness of truth as revealed by God and taught by the Church.

Fr. Robert Altier provides insights on the fundamental building blocks of Catholicism

to help Catholics know, love, and live the fullness of our faith. Know and understand

your faith in order to love it, live it, teach it and defend it. Father Robert Altier presents

and explains the truth of the Catholic Faith in all its beauty. These lessons have result-

ed in bringing hundreds of converts into the Catholic Church and have also brought

Catholics to a much deeper understanding of the Faith.

This wonderful new series will start in place of Bible Cafe on Wednesdays from 20

March at 10:30am-11:30am or 7-8pm in the Muldoon Room. It is suitable for all so bring

a friend! Morning tea and supper provided.

Lenten Message of Pope Francis (Part 2)

T he destructive power of sin.

Indeed, when we fail to live as children of God, we often behave in a destructive

way towards our neighbours and other creatures - and ourselves as well - since we

begin to think more or less consciously that we can use them as we will. Intemperance

then takes the upper hand: we start to live a life that exceeds those limits imposed by

our human condition and nature itself. We yield to those untrammelled desires that the

Book of Wisdom sees as typical of the ungodly, those who act without thought for God

or hope for the future (cf. 2:1-11). Unless we tend constantly towards Easter, towards

the horizon of the Resurrection, the mentality expressed in the slogans “I want it all

and I want it now!” and “Too much is never enough”, gains the upper hand.

The root of all evil, as we know, is sin, which from its first appearance has disrupted

our communion with God, with others and with creation itself, to which we are linked

in a particular way by our body. This rupture of communion with God likewise under-

mines our harmonious relationship with the environment in which we are called to

live, so that the garden has become a wilderness (cf. Gen 3:17-18). Sin leads man to

consider himself the god of creation, to see himself as its absolute master and to use it,

not for the purpose willed by the Creator but for his own interests, to the detriment of

other creatures.

Once God’s law, the law of love, is forsaken, then the law of the strong over the weak

takes over. The sin that lurks in the human heart (cf. Mk 7:20-23) takes the shape of

greed and unbridled pursuit of comfort, lack of concern for the good of others and

even of oneself. It leads to the exploitation of creation, both persons and the environ-

ment, due to that insatiable covetousness which sees every desire as a right and sooner

or later destroys all those in its grip.

Project Compassion

T his Sunday we take a glimpse at our work in Indonesia. Tati lives in the remote

forest of West Kalimantan. She is a mother of three who was earning an income

working in a local rubber plantation. Since taking part in eco-tourism training with

Caritas Australia, Tati can now afford to send her children to school. With new hope

and commitment Tati aspires to a future free from poverty for her family. Please

donate to Project Compassion and help lift communities in Indonesia out of poverty.

Parish Morning Tea

The Simply the Best Family Group is hosting our

Parish Morning Tea this Sunday

17 March after 9:30am Mass.

Come along to the canteen for a cuppa

and a chat.

Join our Men’s Group for lunch and a

yarn. Wednesday 20 March 12 noon

Diggers @ The Entrance. We look forward to seeing

you there. Enq: Lui 4388 9510.

Secular Franciscans

We meet on the third Thursday of the

month (21 March) at 1pm in the

Muldoon Room. All welcome!

Enq: Rove Varman 0411 988 394.

High School Enrolment Interviews

Secondary interviews with

Fr Stevens are being conducted from next Tuesday 19 March.

Please ring the Parish Office for an appointment

4332 2216.

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The Light is ON for You!

Adoration in Lent

G od created us for relationship with him and one another. Lent invites us to renew

our relationship with God, in particular through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

You are invited to take part in The Light is ON Lenten initiative where our Church will

be open every Friday evening during Lent, from 7-8pm, for quiet time, prayer and the

Sacrament of Reconciliation. Make a space to let God’s light and peace into your life in

a new way. Invitation cards can be found at the doors of the Church. For further details

and participating Diocesan Churches please visit www.thelightisonforyou.org.au

The Seven Joys & Sorrows of St Joseph

S top in and spend some time with Jesus in a quiet atmosphere. We all need

moments of peace. "Could you not watch one hour with Me?" Jesus waits for us in

the Blessed Sacrament. He waits for our little acts of faith, adoration, love, thanks-

giving, repentance, reparation and charity that we can offer him as we contemplate his

divine majesty in the Blessed Sacrament.

Adoration is held on each Saturday of Lent in the Prayer Room following 9am Mass

and continuing throughout the day until Benediction at 530pm.

1. The perplexity of deciding whether or not to divorce Mary, who is with Child, and

the angelic revelation to Joseph of the Incarnation.

2. The anxiety of seeing Jesus born into abject poverty, and the awe of beholding the

Shepherds and the Magi as they adored the Christ Child.

3. The pain of seeing Jesus’s blood spilt during his circumcision, and the privilege of

bestowing the name “Jesus” on his child.

4. The agony of Joseph’s own soul on hearing Simeon’s prophesy of Mary’s pierced

heart, and the sweet knowledge that Jesus will bring salvation.

5. The burden of being told to flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s massacre of the

Bethlehem infants, and the honour of bringing the Living God to crush the

Egyptian idols.

6. The fear of Archelaus in Judea when returning from Egypt, and the wonder of see-

ing Moses’s prophesy fulfilled when the angel directs the Holy Family to Nazareth.

7. The terror of losing Jesus in Jerusalem for three days, and the relief of finding him

in the Temple.

Please Note

Catechist Coordinated Needed

If you have a little time and some computer skills you might consider the role of

Catechist Coordinator. You don’t need to be a Catechist, just the person who can

arrange schedules etc for the Catechists in our State Schools and be a contact person

with the Diocese. Please call the parish office on 4332 2216.

Saturday Sessions with Katie - Fertility Awareness Education

Educating with fertility care is for engaged couples, single women, married couples

and those wanting to know more about natural fertility, presented by Katie Fullilove,

Fertilitycare Practitioner. The next session is Saturday 4 May 10:30-11:30am at Level 8

Caroline Chisholm Centre, Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Road Pennant Hills. Bookings

are appreciated: 0413 997 861 katie.fullilove@bbcatholic.org.au

Bible Study

Join Fr Kevin for a short Bible Study of the next Sunday’s

Gospel. Tuesdays in the Muldoon Room

after 9am Mass. All welcome!

Stations of the Cross

Will be held each Friday of Lent following the

11:45am Mass.

Day of the Unborn

Child

Witness to the sanctity of human life

Feast of the Annunciation

Sunday 24 March 10:30am Mass Procession & Benediction

St Mary’s Cathedral.

Reconciliation Programme

This weekend we welcome our

Reconciliation Candidates as they are presented to the Parish. Please pray

for the children.

Serving the Catholic Community of The Entrance and extending the Kingdom of God

PARISH PRIEST & DEAN Fr Bill Stevens

SACRAMENTAL COORDINATOR Br John Verhoeven FSP

Office Hours Monday-Friday 9.30-5.00pm Tel 4332 2216 Fax 4333 5344

Postal Address PO Box 189 THE ENTRANCE 2261 Street Address 239-243 The Entrance Rd THE ENTRANCE 2261

Email info@ourladyoftherosary.org.au Website www.ourladyoftherosary.org.au

PROPERTY MANAGER Michael de la Motte Tel 4334 7600 (BH)

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY PRIMARY SCHOOL Tel 4332 5594

ST PETER’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE Tel 4351 2344 Fax 4351 2965

THE ENTRANCE PARISH DIOCESE OF BROKEN BAY

Mass & Devotions in Ordinary Time Sunday Masses Saturday Vigil 6:00pm Sunday 8:00am & 9:30am

Weekday Masses Monday - Thursday 9:00am Friday 11:45am Saturday 9:00am

Reconciliations Saturdays 9:30-10am & 5-5:30pm

Liturgy of the Hours Saturday 8:40am Rosary Monday-Thursday 8:35am Friday 11:20am Saturday 9:30am

Cenacle Wednesday 9:30am Christian Meditation Group Friday 10:30am-11:30am Muldoon Room. Come & join us!

Our Lady of the Rosary

GIFT CENTRE

For all your devotional needs...

Welcome everyone to our Gift Centre. We have lots of lovely gift ideas and goods to aid your prayer life and devotions, as well as gifts for the Sacraments, including Baptisms, Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Weddings and Confirmations. Come in for a browse.

Opening Hours:

Sunday 9am-9:30am & 10:30-11am Tuesday & Friday 9:30am-1:30pm

Phone/Fax 4332 5997

Keep Us In Your Prayers There is no gift more precious than prayer - Fr Benedict Groeschel

Recently Deceased: Ray Nolan, Margaret Mack, Ruby Alvir, Lois Hazlewood.

Funeral: The funeral of Ray Nolan was held during the week. Please pray for Ray and his family.

Anniversaries: Nora O’Sullivan, William Powell, Anthony Burgun.

Remembrances: Bruce Parry, Vincent & Dorothy Cribb, Noelene Corrigan, Maurice Cramsie, Maisie Gormley, Kathy Lowe-Scafidi, Alice Minogue, Fr Adrian Meany and all the Holy Souls.

Families: Bouchet, Cole, Attard.

Sick: Adam Thomsen (accident), Anne Drinan, Peter Vaughan, Irene Young, Rudy & Margaret Raeburne, Skye Turner, Janette Nolan-Cronin, Raymond & Tim Baker, Ted Lintott, Pat Wade, Santos Munoz, Colleen Dunn, Genevieve Shedden, Maria De Sousa, Patricia Muscat, Lisa Hennessey, Patty O’Leary, Ann Minogue, Antoinette Grech, Peter Connolly, Linda Read, Kelly Will and all those with cancer and long-term illnesses.

Welcome Newly Baptised: Maisie Barnes, Tom Breneger and Ardie Calthorpe.

2nd Sunday of Lent Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 9:28-36 Entrance Antiphon: Of you my heart has spoken, Seek his face. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; hide not your face from me.

Responsorial Psalm: The Lord is my light and my salvation. Gospel Acclamation: Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ! From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: this is my beloved Son, hear him. Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Communion Antiphon: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.

Pearly

Gates