Our bulletin is sponsored by the Diocesan Investment Fund (DIF) currently paying 2.15% at call. Local Agent: Roberts, First National Real Estate, 10 Bowra Street, Nambucca Heads

FOLLOWING THE MISSAL Preface of Easter I , Eucharistic Prayer III

FIRST READING ACTS 10:34. 37-43

Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil. Now I, and those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the country-side of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and also to the fact that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life and al-lowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen before-hand. Now we are those witnesses – we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead – and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name.’

RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 117:1-2. 16-17. 22-23

(R.) This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

1. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,

for his love has no end.

Let the sons of Israel say:

‘His love has no end.’ (R.)

2. The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;

his right hand raised me up.

I shall not die, I shall live

and recount his deeds. (R.)

3. The stone which the builders rejected

has become the corner stone.

This is the work of the Lord,

a marvel in our eyes. (R.)

SECOND READING COL 3:1-4

Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heav-en, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ is revealed – and he is your life – you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.

SEQUENCE

Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise.

The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb;

and Christ, the undefiled,

hath sinners to his Father reconciled.

Death with life contended: combat strangely ended!

Life’s own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign.

Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way.

The tomb the Living did enclose;

I saw Christ’s glory as he rose!

The angels there attesting;

shroud with grave-clothes resting.

Christ, my hope, has risen: he goes before you in-to Galilee.

That Christ is truly risen from the dead we know.

Victorious king, thy mercy show!

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 1 COR 5:7-8

Alleluia, alleluia!

Christ has become our paschal sacrifice;

let us feast with joy in the Lord.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL JN 20:1-9

It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the oth-er disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’

So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, run-ning faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was fol-lowing now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed. Till this mo-ment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

WEEKEND’S READINGS—EASTER SUNDAY —YEAR A

Next Week’ Readings: 2nd Sunday of Easter, Yr A

Acts 2:42-47; 1 Pet 1:3-9; Jn 20:19-31

Catholic Parish of the Nambucca Valley Corpus Christi, Bowraville St Patrick’s, Macksville Our Lady Star of the Sea, Nambucca Heads Christ the King, Taylor’s Arm

Administrator: Fr Shelwin Fernandez

Parish Secretary: Mrs Angela Argent

Parish Office: Postal Address: PO Box 38, Macksville 2447 Street Address: 78 Wallace Street, Macksville Telephone: 6568 1107 Fax: 6568 3671 Email: nvparish@lismore.catholic.org.au Urgent Matters: 0481 277 532

Office Hours Monday & Tuesday 8.30am to 2.30 pm Thursday 8.30am to 3.30 pm Nambucca Presbytery:

Telephone: 6568 6642 Parish Schools:

St Patrick’s Primary School—Macksville 32 Macksville Heights Drive, Macksville Ph: 02 6568 1397

St Mary’s Primary School —Bowraville Carbin Street, Bowraville Ph: 02 65647369

EASTER SUNDAY —YEAR A 16TH APRIL 2017

The ‘forever’ story

Jesus has risen, alleluia! On Easter Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord. As disciples of Jesus, this day provides an occasion for each of us to embrace our new lives in Christ.

Mary Magdalene showed us the importance of this ‘new life’ when she visited Jesus’ tomb in the early morning. She knew Jesus was the one who would provide new life but when she went back to the tomb on that Easter Sun-day morning, to her dismay, she did not find Jesus’ body. The empty tomb only served to deepen her sor-row.

The apostles were also greatly dismayed to discover his body was missing and that only his linen burial cloths remained in the tomb. Like Mary, they felt a deep sense of loss as Jesus had been their friend and mentor. But life was not to be found in the tomb. Early on, Mary Magdalene and the apostles were unaware of the ‘new life’ provided by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Howev-er, they soon learned of God’s generous and abundant gift to humankind.

Make no mistake, Jesus is the resurrection and the life. The new life Jesus brings is present among us and in our hearts. The resurrected power of Christ's life and love is always with those who open their hearts to the Lord. He leads and urges us to believe that He is the risen one.

Jesus’ death and resurrection is of course central to our Christian faith. Without Jesus, our world is an empty tomb. But with the resurrected Jesus we are a born anew. And because of Jesus the human story is no long-er just one of birth, life and death. It is about birth, life, death and eternal life. Easter not only provides a happy ending to Jesus' story. It is, rather, the story of a radical new beginning for God's people.

In the light of Christ's resurrection, our future journey is clear, as are the gifts of an eternal life. For those who believe, the risen Lord brings us back to life with Him. Easter opens our eyes to the hope of eternal life provid-ed by Jesus’ death and resurrection and passed on to us at baptism. Our faith in God the Father will save us. Easter is indeed the story that lives forever and brings joy to the Christian spirit. So, let us turn our eyes to the Lord who has given us the hope of ever lasting life.

Happy Easter and God bless you.

Redempt Jawa CSsR© Redemptorists 2017

Welcome everyone! Especially to the new members of our parish and to our visitors from near and far.

SPECIAL APPEAL of BISHOP HOMEMING: On behalf of the Diocese, I am establishing an appeal to help those who suffered in recent floods on the north coast of NSW. The Appeal will be administered through the Bishop of Lismore Charitable Works Fund. We are inviting people to make a contribution in the following ways: 1. CBA Account: BSB—062-565 Account No: 1085 4726

Name: Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church Diocese of Lismore

Reference: Your name 2. Online via payment link

www.dioceseoflismorefloodappeal.org 3. Special collection during the Easter Sunday Masses. All donations are tax deductible. To receive an income tax deductible receipt, please email confirmation of de-posit to appeals@lismore.catholic.org.au or call us on 02 6621 9444. Thank you! Yours in Christ — Bishop Homeming

Parish Diary

Tuesday 18TH APRIL

5.00 pm Reconciliation, Macksville

5.30 pm Mass, Macksville

Wednesday 19TH APRIL

9:00 am Rosary, Bowraville

9:30 am Mass, Bowraville

Thursday 20TH APRIL

9:30 am Mass & Benediction Macksville

Friday 21ST APRIL

9:00 am Mass & Benediction Nambucca Heads

Saturday 22ND APRIL

5:30 pm Reconciliation, Nambucca 6:00 pm Mass, Nambucca Heads

Sunday 23RD APRIL

8:00 am Mass, Nambucca Heads 10:00 am Mass, Taylors Arm

Bishop’s Parish Visitation

29th—30th April 2017 CONFIRMATION - please see changes highlighted:

Meeting with Bishop for all candidates, their families and the catechists: Saturday, 29th April, 5PM, OLSS Hall, Nambucca Heads.

Sacrament of Confirmation during Mass: Saturday, 29th April, 6.00pm at OLSS, Nambucca Heads.

Sunday, 30th

Mass, 8am, Macksville (Bishop, main celebrant)

Mass, 10am, Bowraville (Bishop, main celebrant)

*Morning tea to follow after 8AM Mass at Macksville *

St Augustine’s Parish Women’s Retreat 2017

Registrations open!

Women. Food. God. Is a retreat for women of all ages. Now in its 4th year running, the retreat will be held at the new venue of St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour on Fri-day 2nd June (6 - 9pm) and Saturday 3rd June (8.30am – 4pm). The retreat provides a wonderful opportunity to take time out of our busy lives to further nurture our faith and fellowship, with scrumptious food to boot!

To facilitate the retreat, we are very pleased to welcome international speaker Karen Doyle, who is an author and founding member of Sisterhood, an Australian National Catholic Women’s Movement. We also warmly welcome back the inspiring and energetic Sr Berna from the Missionaries of God’s Love in Melbourne.

Download registration forms at www.coffscatholic.com or contact the parish office on 66510000.

BE Weekend 5th-7th May 2017

The Beginning Experience (BE) Ministry is now in its 35th year in Australia and has helped hundreds of people in the Lismore Diocese of the Catholic Church since its introduction to this area over 30 years ago. Whilst the program was designed for and by Catholics all faiths are welcome.

The basic criterion for a weekend is belief in God. The weekend is symbolic of Christ in His “life, death and resurrection” experience, participants and team grad-ually working through their grief with the focus on rising to a new life in Christ, to be able to love self, others and God. Clergy are most welcome and are involved - reconciliation, forgiveness and forgiving are relevant and personal healing is evident. So often it is through the clergy and parishioners spreading the parish bulletin news, that the notification of the BE weekend reaches the estranged and wounded. At the weekend trained team members – who themselves are widowed, separated or divorced – give personal experience presentation which are followed by pri-vate reflection time and small group sharing.

For more info, please call 6624 1549

Bishop Homeming’s EASTER message and series of Lenten talks subsequently done the last 5 Tuesdays are being streamed now in sequence. To watch and listen, visit www.lismorediocese.org

LISMORE DIOCESE ANTIOCH REUNION

Do you know someone who used to be part of Antioch?

Join us for a REUNION on Sunday, 11th June, at the Bellingen Golf Club from 12.00pm. Come and share memories and reconnect with friends from long ago.

For more information, join the Facebook page (Lismore Diocese Antioch Reunion) or contact lismoreantiochreunion@gmail.com

RSVP to the above email by 31 May 2017

SAINT of the WEEK: St. Bernadette ( April 17)

BAPTISM THIS WEEKEND…

We welcome Ni Nyoman Mila Dewi Sukadana into our faith community through the sacrament of Baptism on 16th of April at Corpus Christi Church, Bowraville. Let us pray for Mila and the Sukadana family.

WE PRAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY...

Lord we ask healing for those who are sick. We thank you for those who have recovered. We pray for all who have died and those whose anniversaries occur at this time.

** Mass intention envelopes are located at the back of the church **

SICK: John Brown, Peter Murphy, Jennifer Harget, Donna Haysman, Marie Dalton, Gwenda Freeman, Bill Steller, Rino Costa, Frances Yorke, Al McCabe, Steven Carroll, Peter Henry, Pat Argue, Carmel Tape, Bob Jones, Linda Clark, Gordon Ryan, Gloria Connors, Ja-nine Hoffman, Esther Stevens, Frank Davies, Troy Miles, Lyn Costa, Ernie Thorne, David Coleman, Baby Lucy Clark

ANNIVERSARY: Dot Clarke, Max Mulvihill, Jack Mulvihill, Molly Forrester, Sam Pirrottina, Maria Metz, Jack Unterrheiner, Irene & Gordon McFadyen, Myra Hiles

RECENTLY DECEASED: Daphne Wilson, Raymond Rog-ers, Maria Junge, Toni Mesnik, Fr Bill Mills, Joan Rose-worn, Bonnie Dawson, Leo Grant, Colleen Carroll

SPECIAL INTENTION: Fr Frank O’Gorman, John Tome, Peter Tome

If you wish us to visit any family members who are in hospital or infirm, please notify the office so the Pas-toral Care team or Father can arrange a visit and or administer the sacrament for the sick.

PROJECT COMPASSION 2017

Your dollars at work: Caritas ensures that your donations are put to work serving the poorest of the poor across the globe. We strive to keep our administration and fund-raising costs at or below 10% of our income so more of your money goes to those who need it most. Other ways to donate:

By phone 1800 024 413, GPO Box 9830 Sydney NSW 2001 or online www.caritas.org.au/donate/online-donation?DonationCode=PC

Donation envelopes for this Easter Sunday are either on the pews or at the back of the Church. Thank you.

Nambucca Heads Easter Raffle. Tickets still on sale until just before the draw on Easter Sunday.

Ministry Roster—22nd & 23rd of April 2017

Nambucca Heads 6:00 PM

Macksville 8:00 AM

Taylors Arm

10:00 AM

Commentator J Summerville M Allan H Spear

Reader M Harris I Allan J Desmond

Extra-ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

J Ingold, D Nicholls, P McShane

B Casey, E Casey, I Allan

Procession of Gifts T & L Snowden M Smith, J Lennon

Greeters/Hospitality Betty/ Melina L Gurtman, B McBride Courtney, Jack & Brooke Desmond

Altar Servers M Smith E Kenny, N Kenny, J Donnelly

Sacristan J Ingold U Goodwin

Counters J Harris

Church Caring H Forrester

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY—23RD APRIL 2017

Divine Mercy celebration at 2pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Wauchope. Confession, Adoration and Holy Mass including Divine Mercy prayers. Please bring a plate to share. Enquiries: 6585 1464

St. Mary’s Easter Raffle Winners! 1st—Jacob Leece 4th—Tammy Truscott 2nd—Matthew Recklies 5th—Dave Whittingham 3rd—Isaac Hall 6th—Bren-Nita Buchanan

7th—Annie CONGRATULATIONS!!!