Bridgeside Bulletin

The weekly Bulletin of the

Catholic Parish of Forster Tuncurry
Holy Name of Jesus Parish Church
33 Lake Street, Forster

St Mary, Star of the Sea Church

Cnr Kent & Peel Streets, Tuncurry

Proclaiming Christ to the communities of Forster, Tuncurry and the surrounding districts

Sunday 28th December, 2014

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
Parish
Fr Andrew Doohan (Parish Priest)
Mr Greg Byrne (Pastoral Associate)
Mrs Sharon Fowle (Administration Associate/Bulletin)
Sr Kathryn McCabe (Aboriginal Catholic Ministry)

The Parish Office is at the rear of the Parish Hall and is

normally staffed on Monday, Thursday and Friday
from 10am to 4pm.
Items for inclusion in Bridgeside Bulletin should be
received by midday on Thursday.
33 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428
PO Box 67, Forster NSW 2428
P:
F:
E:
W:

(02) 6554 6304

(02) 6554 6425
forstertuncurryparish@gmail.com
www.forstertuncurrycatholic.org.au

Fr Andrews email: fr.andrew.doohan@gmail.com

Search for us on Facebook as Catholic Parish of
Forster Tuncurry

Follow us on Twitter: @ftcatholic

Celebrating the Sacraments

Reconciliation is available on Saturday mornings at
Tuncurry from 8:30am until the beginning of the 9am
Mass, on Saturday afternoons at Forster from 4:45pm
until 5:15pm.
Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays, either during any
of our Sunday Masses or after the 9am Mass. The next
Baptismal Preparation meeting will take place in the
Parish Halls meeting rooms on Monday 9th February
2015 commencing at 7pm. Please contact the Parish
Office for more details, or visit the Parish website.
Weddings are celebrated by arrangement and with at
least three (and preferably more) months notice.
Please contact Fr Andrew for more details, or visit the
Parish website.
A Sacramental Preparation process runs each year in
the Parish for children wishing to complete the
celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation as part of
the Parish community. Please contact the Parish Office
for more details, or visit the Parish website.
The Parish hosts the Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults process for those adults wishing to be baptised
or be received into the communion of the Catholic
Church. Please contact the Parish Office for more
details, or visit the Parish website.

Holy Name Parish School (K-6)

St Clares High School, Taree (7-12)

Ms Brooke Schumann (Acting Principal)

Mr Peter Nicholls (Principal)

41 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428

PO Box 243, Forster NSW 2428

Davis Street, Taree NSW 2430

P:
F:
E:
W:

P: (02) 6552 3300

F: (02) 6552 3656
E: admin@tareesc.catholic.edu.au
W: www.tareesc.catholic.edu.au

(02) 6554 6504

(02) 6554 8895
admin@forster.catholic.edu.au
www.forster.catholic.edu.au

The Parish Diary(for the week ahead)

Regular Activities in the Parish

The Octave of Christmas & Christmas Time

Secular Franciscan Fraternity

The Secular Franciscans Fraternity will next meet on
Wednesday 4th February 2015, coming together for
Mass at 9am, followed by a cuppa at 9:30am and then
the meeting 10am to 12pm.

Monday 29th December

Tuesday 30th December
9am
Christian Meditation (Bob 6555 5914)
3:30pm Holy Hour @ Tuncurry
4:30pm Mass @ Tuncurry
5:30pm Christian Meditation (Bob 6555 5914)

The menALIVE Group

Our Parish currently hosts a menALIVE group. They
will next meet on Wednesday 14th January after the
9am Mass.

Wednesday 31st December

9am
Mass @ Forster
11:15am Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help @
Forster

Womens Bible Study Group

Our Parish hosts a Womens Bible Study Group that
meets every Thursday evening from 7pm to 8pm. For
more information contact Natasha on 0407 589 935.

Thursday 1st January

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
10am
Mass @ Forster

Christian Meditation
Our Parish hosts opportunities for the practice of
Christian meditation on Tuesdays at two distinct
times, 9am and 5:30pm. Phone Bob on 6555 5914 for
further information.

Friday 2nd January

Memorial of Sts Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen
9:30am Mass @ Forster

Maintenance & Gardening Group

The Parish is served by a very dedicated band of
volunteers who tend to the upkeep of the grounds
and gardens of our two sites. Their next reunion will
be on Thursday 22nd January. Contact Howard 6557
6826 for more information.

Saturday 3rd January

8:30am Reconciliation @ Tuncurry
9am
Mass @ Tuncurry
4:45pm Reconciliation @ Forster (until 5:15pm)
6pm
Mass @ Tuncurry
Sunday 4th January
The Epiphany of the Lord
7am
Mass @ Tuncurry
9am
Mass @ Forster
5pm
Mass @ Forster

Singing Practice
There will be no Singing Group get together until the
New Year. Details to be confirmed.
Collection of Foodstuffs for Homebase
The next collection of foodstuffs in support of
Homebase will be on Sunday 4th January 2015.

Welcome!
We welcome to our community of faith Beau Murray,
son of Joshua and Kristyn who will be baptised with
water and the Holy Spirit this weekend.

Holy Hour
The Parish community observes a Holy Hour each
Tuesday afternoon in the Tuncurry Church from
3:30pm until the beginning of Mass at 4:30pm.

Weekend Masses in January

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

The Novena is prayed every Wednesday in the Forster
church commencing at 11:15am and is followed by a
cuppa in the Parish Hall. For more information contact
Shioney on 6554 9468.

Saturdays

6pm

St Mary, Star of the Sea

Church, Tuncurry

Sundays

7am

St Mary, Star of the Sea

Church, Tuncurry
Holy Name of Jesus
Church, Forster
Holy Name of Jesus
Church, Forster

9am
5pm

Evening Prayer & Benediction

The Parish community celebrates on the first Sunday
of each month at 5:30pm in the Tuncurry church. It
will celebrated on Sunday 1st February 2015. All
welcome.

Office Closure Times

Childrens Liturgy of the Word

The next Children's Liturgy of the Word for children
aged 4-12 will be on the 1st February 2015 at the 9am
Mass.

The office will be closed from Friday 2nd January to

Monday 19th January. For urgent enquiries contact Fr
Andrew during this time.
2

From the Pastors Desk

It was as predictable as the sun coming up in the East!
Christmas Day was barely over and already the focus
of societyby which I mean the focus of mainstream
mediahad already moved on to the next big thing,
be it the Boxing Day Cricket, the start of the Sydney to
Hobart, or the post-Christmas Sales that one
spokesman for a retail chain spoke of us the biggest
day in the year that weve been preparing for the
whole year.
Contrary to that shift in focus, for Christians the Feast
of Christmas DAY continues for the next week (the
Christmas Octave), while the Season of Christmas
extends through until the Sunday after the Epiphany
of the Lord (this year the 11th January).
For us, then, our celebration of the great Gift of God
that is Jesus continues for a while yet, and given the
significance of the Gift we have received it is only right
and proper that we revel in and celebrate that Gift not
only for as long as we can but as well as we can.
With every blessing for a happy, holyand safe
Christmas and Christmas Season. May you and yours
celebrate the Gift of the Christ Child in a spirit of
peace and joy.
Until next week
Fr Andrew
On a personal note, I would like to extend my thanks
to all those who have sent me Christmas Cards and
gifts for Christmas. I have been truly humbled by the
messages of support and thanks contained in the
cards and messages I have received.
Fr A

Creative Ministry Resources Pty Ltd

Text: Excerpts from the English Translation of the Roman Missal 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL); Music: From the Mass of
St Francis 2010, Paul Taylor. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Australian AgentLicenSing Online Lic No. 624844.

Ministers this Weekend...

...of the Word

...of Communion

6pm Tuncurry

A: Valarie Ross
B: Neil Pye

Kathryn McCabe, Lou Hope, Maureen Pye, Neil Pye,

Valarie Ross.

7am Tuncurry

A: Norm Chapman
B: Tony Knight

Cecile Malone, Cushla Drake, Graham Griffiths, Kay

Griffiths, Mark Mowbray.

9am Forster

A: Marie Keep
B: Marion ONeill

Barbara Kermode, Josi Beech, Robert Moran, Trevor

Turner, additional assistance required.

5pm Forster

A: Sharon Fowle
B: Patricia Cornish

Alan McCarthy, Coral McCarthy, Patricia Cornish, Ruth

Pearson, Sharon Fowle.

Ministers next Weekend...

...of the Word

...of Communion

6pm Tuncurry

A: Lou Hope
B: Michael Siddle

Carolyn Olliffe, Frank Hayman, Jeanette Goodacre,

Michael Siddle, Pat Hooker.

7am Tuncurry

A: Cecile Malone
B: Edna Tucker

Alex Matuszny, Edna Tucker, Maria Armitage, Norm

Chapman, Patricia Cornish.

9am Forster

A: Barbara Kermode
B: Trevor Turner

Alan McCarthy, Anne Moloney, Elle Cairns-Cowan,

Sharon Fowle, additional assistance required.

5pm Forster

A: Robyn Ryan
B: Anne Hartman

Barbara Dolahenty, Kathryn McCabe, Robert Moran,

Trevor Turner, additional assistance required.

Please note: The above information reflects the rosters as originally published,
and doesnt take account of any swaps that may have been organised between individuals.
PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING IF YOU RECOGNISE A SHORTFALL

Scripture Readings This Week

Today

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday

Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Todays Liturgy of the Word

Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12
1 John 2:3-11
Luke 2:22-35
1 John 2:12-17
Luke 2:36-40
1 John 2:18-21
John 1:1-18
Numbers 6:22-27
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21
1 John 2:22-28
John 1:19-28
1 John 2:29 - 3:6
John 1:29-34
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

Responsorial Psalm
Response: Happy are those who fear the Lord and
walk in his ways.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
and the fullness of his message live within you.
Alleluia!

In your charity, please pray for:

Those recently deceased.
Carmel Perry, Lindsay Thomas.
Those whose anniversaries occur about now.
The Manners Family, The Gorrie Family, The Hodges
Family, The Edstein Family, The Irvine Family.
All those in our community who are sick.
4

Opportunities Outside The Parish

We are the Church

Since Vatican II we have been proudly professing that
WE ARE THE CHURCH. If we truly believe this then
we must ask ourselves, how am I contributing to the
life of the Church and is there more I could be doing?

The Christian Formation Course

Unit 1.3 of this course will commence on Thursday
29th January at the St Laurence Centre,
Broadmeadow. For more information contact the
Tenison Woods Education Centre on P 4930 9601 E
twec@ssjl.org.au.

There are many ministries in our Church. In particular

we are at present in need of Sacristans to set up for
our weekend Masses and also for Funerals during the
week.

Before We Say I Do
Weekend marriage education course will be held on
Saturday 31st January, commencing at 9.30am in the
Toohey Room, Diocesan Office, 841 Hunter Street,
Newcastle West. Two Saturdays (also 7th February)
from 9.30am 4.30pm. For more information P 4979
1370 E marriageeducation@catholiccare.org.au W
www.catholiccare.org.au.

Interested people will receive the proper formation,

training and support. Please rush to the Parish Office
to display your willingness to be involved.

Prayer for Peace

Lately, we have all been
made aware of the
terrible suffering and
torture of people in war
torn countries throughout
the world.

A Journey in the Heart

Pilgrimage to India and Sri Lanka will begin on
Monday 2nd February, led by Fr Michael Whelan SM
(Aquinas Academy, Sydney). Itinerary includes
Mumbai, Coorg, Bangalore, Shantivanam (Fr Bede
Griffiths Ashram), Colombo, Kandalama, Kandy,
Colombo. For further details, please contact Marie
Fonseca on 0418 265 117 or Andre Rasquinha on 0403
569 079. Website: www.spiceodyssey.net.au.

We are particularly concerned with the plight of

Christian people at the mercy of ISIS in Iraq.
We pray for an end to this violence and a peaceful
solution to these conflicts.

WantedVolunteer Workers
The Diocese of Broome, WA, requires volunteers to
assist with the work of the local Church on Aboriginal
Missions. There are various important voluntary tasks:
administration, building maintenance, gardening,
shop staffing, cooking, cleaning, etc. Placements are
preferred for a period of 6 months plus.
For further details and an application form please
contact: Volunteer Coordinator, Anneliese Rohr on 08
9192 1060, E volunteers@broomdiocese.org, W
www.bromediocese.org, M PO Box 76, Broome, WA
6725.

The Parish St Vincent de Paul Conference would like to

extend a huge thank you to all who contributed to the
Christmas Appeal. At the present time $6,123.25 has
been raised. These funds have been used to assist
local families and individuals to enjoy a much more
relaxed and enjoyable Christmas. Thank you for your
incredible generosity. Our St Vincent de Paul
Conference would like to wish everyone a Happy and
Holy Christmas and a wonderful and safe New Year.

Our Welcoming Parish

The Parish has produced business card fridge magnets
for distribution over the holiday period. We are calling
on parishioners to be witnesses to their faith by
presenting them to members of the congregation and
other visitors to our Church. We encourage you to

take this opportunity to introduce yourself or strike up

a conversation if possible. We hope that this will help
ensure all parishioners and visitors are welcomed by
the Forster Tuncurry community. If you believe you
could be an ambassador, please contact the Parish
Office for further details.
Lavish love on others, receive it
gratefully when it comes to you.
Cultivate friendship like a garden. It is
the best love of all.
- Sr Helen Prejean
6