Catholic Outlook March 2016
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The inter-church law service was held in St Patrick’s Cathedral. Photos: Elizabeth McFarlane.<br />
Inter-church service for law year<br />
An inter-church service to<br />
mark the commencement of<br />
the <strong>2016</strong> law year was held in<br />
St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta<br />
on 3 February. The service is an<br />
opportunity to pray for guidance for<br />
those seeking or dispensing justice<br />
during the coming year.<br />
Participants included magistrates,<br />
judges and members of the legal<br />
fraternity, Members of Parliament<br />
and other civic leaders and<br />
dignitaries, members of the NSW<br />
Police Force, representatives and<br />
members of local Christian churches<br />
in the Parramatta region.<br />
The Dean of St Patrick’s<br />
Cathedral, Very Rev Bob Bossini,<br />
presided at the service. The readings<br />
were proclaimed by Rev Neil Atwood,<br />
representing Rt Rev Ivan Lee, Bishop<br />
of the Western Region, Anglican<br />
Diocese of Sydney, and His Honour<br />
Justice Foster.<br />
The Gospel was proclaimed by<br />
Rev Keith Hamilton, Senior Minister,<br />
Uniting Church in Australia, and<br />
Group CEO of Parramatta Mission.<br />
The prayer of intercession was<br />
prayed by Supt Dean Smith of NSW<br />
Police and Mr Chris Maley.<br />
Other participants included<br />
Most Rev Kevin Manning, Bishop<br />
Emeritus of Parramatta, and Rev<br />
Fr Chris de Souza, Delegate of the<br />
Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev<br />
Peter Williams.<br />
The address was given by Rev<br />
Fr Paul Roberts, Director of the<br />
Institute for Mission in the <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Diocese of Parramatta. Fr Paul spoke<br />
of the relationship between justice<br />
and mercy as “not two contradictory<br />
realities but two dimensions of a<br />
single reality that lead us higher”.<br />
He said that in encouraging a<br />
Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis<br />
stresses justice as both a necessity<br />
for civil society and as that which is<br />
rightly due to each person.<br />
“In his background document,<br />
Misericordiae Vultus, … he also<br />
highlights, as in our religious history,<br />
that law as legalism rather than for<br />
serving and embracing a higher<br />
possibility misses the boat,” Fr Paul<br />
said.<br />
“Francis paints a picture of<br />
religious leaders whose righteousness<br />
lacks any abandonment to the higher<br />
gift that is the source of good. Mercy<br />
on the other hand is the way of<br />
reaching out gratuitously to offer<br />
transformation.”<br />
Fr Paul went on to say that “Pope<br />
Francis makes the big call that if God<br />
limited Himself to only justice, He<br />
would cease to be God, and would<br />
instead be like those who ask merely<br />
that the law be respected.<br />
Superintendent Dean Smith of NSW Police<br />
chats to Fr Paul Roberts.<br />
Rev Neil Atwood proclaims the first reading.<br />
“And limited only to this<br />
appeal he points out will lead to the<br />
destruction of the law, for it needs<br />
also the transformation it serves.<br />
So from a faith perspective, God<br />
doesn’t deny justice but holds it and<br />
then surpasses it with mercy and<br />
forgiveness.”<br />
“Let’s ask blessing on the<br />
endeavors of our work; especially the<br />
various roles and works of the law<br />
that are represented here and likewise<br />
by our networks of colleagues and<br />
friends,” Fr Paul said.<br />
“For most people exercising<br />
these roles and works there was an<br />
ideal that led them there, a hope that<br />
life would be influenced and made<br />
different, lifted and imbued with<br />
possibility. And yet the shine can<br />
quickly dull and the pressure or even<br />
the mundane can overwhelm.<br />
“And may our service of others,<br />
in the midst of their hopes and goals,<br />
and our service of others amidst some<br />
of their more dramatic and broken<br />
experiences of life, hold and continue<br />
to reorient them.”<br />
Members of the legal profession<br />
joined together in praying the prayer<br />
of commitment.<br />
To view photos from the<br />
service, visit www.flickr.com/<br />
parracatholic/albums<br />
11<br />
12<br />
17<br />
19<br />
21<br />
23<br />
8-10<br />
MARCH CALENDAR<br />
PENITENTIAL SERVICE<br />
The Church recognises the Call to Continuing Conversion of<br />
Candidates who are preparing for Confirmation and/or Eucharist<br />
or Reception into the Full Communion of the <strong>Catholic</strong> Church.<br />
Time: 7.30pm in St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta, followed by<br />
supper.<br />
MERCY AND THE FEMININE GENIUS<br />
The Anima Women’s Network invites you to explore how women<br />
can make a unique contribution to the Year of Mercy. Speaker<br />
Karen Doyle is the co-founder of CHOICEZ MEDIA, an author<br />
and speaker. She is also the co-founder of Sisterhood, a national<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> women’s movement. From 9.30am-noon in St Patrick’s<br />
Cathedral Hall, Parramatta. Cost: $5 students & $10 adults. RSVP<br />
by 9 <strong>March</strong>: famlife@parra.catholic.org.au Details: http://goo.<br />
gl/2nFQFp<br />
HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS<br />
Everyone is welcome to join the Holy Hour for Vocations from<br />
7pm-8pm for adoration, prayer, music and quiet time in the<br />
Blessed Sacrament Chapel in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta.<br />
FEAST OF ST JOSEPH MEN’S BREAKFAST<br />
Learning from St Joseph – Living purity of heart in a porn<br />
saturated culture. Speaker Paul Ninnes is the Managing Director<br />
of Real Talk Australia, an organisation that focuses on the topics<br />
of sex, relationships and personal identity from a Christian<br />
perspective. Mass at 8am in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta,<br />
followed by breakfast with speaker, ends 10.30am with morning<br />
tea. Cost: $15 students, $20 adults. RSVP 16 <strong>March</strong>: famlife@<br />
parra.catholic.org.au www.parrafamlife.org.au/category/events/<br />
THE OFFICE OF TENEBRAE<br />
Join the Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev Peter Williams, for<br />
a special meditation liturgy during Holy Week. Tenebrae is a<br />
Liturgy of Psalms, Chanting, Motets and Scripture celebrated in<br />
the shadows of candlelight at 7.30pm in St Patrick's Cathedral,<br />
Parramatta.<br />
CHRISM MASS<br />
The Apostolic Nuncio will preside at this year’s Chrism Mass. The<br />
Oil of the Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick will be blessed<br />
and the Oil of Chrism consecrated. These holy oils will then be<br />
given to the parishes for use during the year. During the Mass,<br />
the priests renew their commitment to priestly service. Everyone<br />
is welcome. Mass at 7.30pm in St Patrick’s Cathedral.<br />
APRIL CALENDAR<br />
WEEKEND FAMILY CONFERENCE<br />
The National Association of <strong>Catholic</strong> Families is hosting a family<br />
conference at Merroo Christian Centre, Kurrajong, with talks and<br />
activities for all ages. Speakers include Bishop Peter A Comensoli.<br />
Family catechesis and prayer, evening social entertainment and<br />
the company of other <strong>Catholic</strong> families. Registration closes 11<br />
<strong>March</strong>. Details: nacf.sydney@hotmail.com or tel Mary (02) 9875<br />
3664 or Karen 0413 539 378. Register at: www.trybooking.<br />
com/159690<br />
For more events visit: http://catholicoutlook.org/event/<br />
Free e-book for computer, e-reader, tablet or iPhone<br />
Son of God:<br />
The Daily Gospel Year C-2<br />
This e-book is authored by Father Ted Tyler, Parish Priest of St<br />
Mary of the Cross MacKillop Parish, Upper Blue Mountains. Copies<br />
may be downloaded free of charge to a computer or e-reader or<br />
tablet.<br />
The e-book offers the Gospel for every day of this Liturgical Year<br />
C-2 (Sundays Year C, weekdays Year 2), together with a reflection<br />
of some 750 words on each daily Gospel. This Liturgical Year C-2<br />
continues till November <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
The e-book contains the Gospel passages not only for this present<br />
Liturgical Year, but for any C-2 Liturgical Year in the future,<br />
together with their reflections.<br />
It may be passed on to friends or acquaintances as desired. It<br />
carries the Imprimatur of Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP, Archbishop<br />
of Sydney.<br />
Son of God: The Daily Gospel Year C-2 may be accessed at:<br />
www.catholic-thoughts.info/ebook/<br />
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<strong>Catholic</strong><strong>Outlook</strong> | MARCH <strong>2016</strong> 23
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