1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

with the enthusiastic crowd listening to
John’s preaching. Submitting to John’s
baptism was a moment of compassionate
solidarity that he would have prayerfully
shared with the Father. Suddenly, Mark’s
account takes an unexpected turn - ‘the
heavens are torn open’ and a Trinitarian
drama unfolds as the presence of God’s
Spirit is made manifest, and the incarnate
Son receives a commission from the
Eternal Father, indicating what is in store
for him in the public mission he will
undertake: ‘You are my Son, the Beloved;
my favour rests on you.
Readings:
Isaiah 55:1-11
1 John 5:1-9
Mark 1:7-11
The baptism by John in the river Jordan
would not have been easy for the first
Christians to understand. On the face of
it, this undergoing of a ritual of
repentance did not seem to make sense.
It can only have been included in the
gospel tradition because it really
happened. However, the account we have
in Mark’s gospel shows us that reflection
upon this event led to an understanding of
its great significance - as the defining
inauguration of the mission of Jesus. It
was the Father’s authorization of the
public role he was about to assume, and a
prefiguring of the climax to which his
career would lead – the Paschal Mystery –
which he was later to look forward to as ‘a
baptism’ (Lk 12:50).
The destiny of each of us has its origin in
the Father’s decision, before time began,
to create us and to call us to a unique
place in the divine plan of creation. Our
response to God’s call is made as we take
up the issues of our lives. Because he ‘has
been put to the test in exactly the same
way as we ourselves are, apart from
sin’ (Heb 4:15), the Eternal Son’s life
among us followed the same pattern as
ours. His baptism by John was a decisive
moment in his human life. Come to carry
forward the designs of God among the
chosen people, Jesus came and mingled
This commission echoes two Old
Testament traditions. ‘You are my Son’ the gospels make it clear that Jesus was
sustained throughout his public life by his
relationship with his Father. Though the
phrase ‘son of God’ meant originally no
more than an adoptive sonship (as, for
example, in honour of Israel’s kings (e.g. Ps
2:7), when Mark’s gospel was written,
applied to Jesus these words referred to
the unique, strictly divine sonship that was
one of the basic themes of the New
Testament. ‘You are the Beloved; my
favour rests on you’, echoes God’s words
to the ‘Suffering Servant’ in Isaiah: ‘here is
my servant; the chosen one in whom my
soul delights’ (Is 42:1). This remarkable
‘Servant’ tradition takes us to the very
threshold of the Christian Gospel. It
foretells - in the time of the nation’s exile
humiliation - a future triumph of God,
through one will ‘astonish the nations’ as
he embodies the nation’s true destiny, ‘a
man of sorrows’, ‘led like a lamb to the
slaughter house’, bringing ‘healing’ to the
people as he ‘bears the sorrows’ of all (cf.
Is 52-53). The commission of the Father
indicated,
therefore,
that
the
compassionate solidarity that led Jesus to
undergo John’s baptism would be the
pattern of the mission he was about to
undertake. Today’s first reading from
Isaiah (closely associated with the
‘Servant’ prophecies) celebrates the
glorious future the Saviour will inaugurate:
God’s banquet, a new exodus, an
everlasting covenant, the triumph of God’s
Word.
John Thornhill sm
Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Church
Catholic Archdiocese of Perth
Western Australia
Parish Priest: Fr Patrick Lim
Email: pp@gosnellsparish.org.au
Address: 175 Corfield St, Gosnells WA 6110
Entry by:1 Isdell Place, Gosnells
Postal Address: PO Box 297, Gosnells WA 6990
Telephone: 9398 2331
Facsimile: 9398 8491
PARISH OFFICE HOURS
Tuesday to Friday 9.00 am - 1.30pm
(Closed until 3rd February 2015)
Entry by: 1 Isdell Place, Gosnells
Parish Secretary:
Maureen Byrne Tel: 9398 2331
Email: secretary@gosnellsparish.org.au
Catechist Coordinator:
Barbara Ingram Tel: 9398 2864
What Pope Francis said
As Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis
expressed his desire to take on the
experiences of those living in the
“eternal city,” recalling the witness of
the martyrs Saints Peter and Paul.
Reflecting on the recently-revealed
corruption cases in Rome, he called for
a conversion of hearts, as well as for a
“renewed commitment to create a
more just and stable city, where the
poor the weak, and the marginalized
are at the center of our concern and
our daily activities.”
The poor and weak, when cared for,
“reveal the treasure of the Church” and
of society, he said. On the other hand,
when the poor are ignored,
“persecuted, criminalized,” and forced
into a life of crime, the society is
revealed to be “impoverished to the
point of misery.” This society “loses
freedom and prefers the 'garlic and
onions'” of slavery.
Such a society ceases to be Christian,
he said.
Next Weekend Readings
St Munchin’s Primary School
Principal: Mr Robert Romeo
Address: 1 Isdell Place, Gosnells
Postal Address: PO Box 172, Gosnells WA 6990
Telephone: 9234 7555
Facsimile: 9398 1581
admin@stmunchins.wa.edu.au
18th January 2015
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20
11th January 2015
Baptism of the Lord Year B
Parish Liturgical Schedules
Weekend Masses
Saturday 6.00pm Vigil Mass
Sunday 7.30am & 9.30am Mass
Weekday Masses
Monday 8.00am Communion Service (Mass on Solemnity only)
Tuesday 6.00pm Mass - 1st Tuesday Mass of Anointing
Wednesday & Thursday 8.00am Mass
Friday 9.00am Mass & (1st Friday 7.00am Mass at Sisters house)
Reconciliation
Saturday 5.15-5.45pm or anytime by appointment
Buckley Centre
Mass Intentions this week
Jan 10
Sat 6.00pm For Parishioners
11
Sun 7.30am Thanksgiving (Bridget Soh)
9.30am For Vocations
13
Tue 6.00pm Private Intention
2nd Friday of the month 10.00am Mass
14
Wed 8.00am Private Intention
McMahon Centre
1st Thursday in Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct, Dec 10.45am Mass
15
Thu 8.00am Private Intention
Rosary
After weekday Masses
Exposition
Tuesday 5.00-6.00pm with Benediction; Sunday 6.00-7.00pm
16
Fri 9.00am Private Intention
4th Sunday Naming and Welcoming at the 9.30am Mass
2nd Sunday during 9.30am Mass
3rd Sunday after Mass at 11.00am
17
Sat 6.00pm For the parish
Baptism
18
Sun 7.30am Peter Mack jnr (RIP)
Marriage
By appointment - Minimum of SIX MONTHS of notice
9.30am For all priests
Parish Calendar
Jan 11
Sun 6-7.00pm Church
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Deadline for Bulletin
OUR BULLETIN is printed on Thursday.
Any items to be included should be received by Wednesday at the latest.
Please pray for those who are sick
especially Gary Robless, Kay Ford, Ian
Ballantyne, Rodney Anthony, Helen
Whitfield, Jacqui Richardson, Maria Siciliano,
Melissa Marklew, Marc Rodrigues, Mavis
Hall, Rudy Ring, Paula
Office closed
The Parish Office is closed until Tuesday 3rd February 2015.
Prayers for the Sick
For emergency please contact my mobile 0424 979 187 Fr Pat
Please notify the Parish Office every four
weeks if prayers are still required.
ROSTER THIS WEEKEND MASSES 10/11 January
Masses
Readers
Commentators
Extraordinary Ministers
Acolytes
Greeters
Choir
Sat 6.00pm
Pam Davies
Lynette Lieveaux
Vivian Loh, Bridget Soh, John Parker,
Norman Rodgers, Theresa Spicer & Dan Hewitt
Volunteer
Louise Ireland
Carolyne Ireland
Recorded
Music
Sun 7.30am
Silvana Sciorilli
Deb Wild
Clint Barnes, Russell Lally, Moiya
McAtee, Yvonne Padua
Yvonne Padua
Sandra Reid
Recorded
Music
Sun 9.30am
Volunteer
Mary Ballantyne
Servite Sister, Maureen Byrne, Helen
Magness, Geraldine Pereira, Kay
Nigel Hayward
Ford & Carolina Hayward
Jackie Vogels
Hanna Allen
Recorded
Music
Geoff Mills
Telling
Brian Cutjar,
Elvira & Ken
Panici-Allen
ROSTER NEXT WEEKEND MASSES 17/18 January
Sat 6.00pm
Vilma Lyra
Geoff Mills
Vivian Loh, Bridget Soh, John Parker,
Norman Rodgers, Theresa Spicer & Dan Hewitt
Volunteer
Rosa Ford
Recorded
Leonie Higginson Music
Sun 7.30am
Cheryl Andrade
Cath Callaghan
Clint Barnes, Russell Lally, Moiya
McAtee, Yvonne Padua
Terance Daniel
Jackie Hall
Recorded
Music
Sun 9.30am
Pat Simm
Brian Cutjar
Servite Sister, Maureen Byrne, Helen
Magness, Geraldine Pereira, Kay
Nigel Hayward
Ford & Carolina Hayward
Nicolina Ierino
Cosimo Ierino
Recorded
Music
Geoff Mills
SVDP Emergency Relief Phone 1300 794 054
Marycare Contact Maureen 9398 7375 Anne 9490 3377
Jim & Anne
Brink and
Kerry Keys
The SVDP Society is low
on wool stocks for their
Knitting Ladies Group.
Any old / new wools
would be appreciated.
Please also remember the
Vinnies 2015 Calendars available in the
foyer would make a practical Christmas
gift. Thanks for your generosity.
Golden Age Club
Our Lady Statue
The Club is in recess until the new year.
The Club’s first meeting for 2015 will be
Tuesday, 20th January.
The Our Lady Pilgrim Statue needs
homes to go to for 2015! If you would
like to have it for a week for a prayer
devotion there is a book in the foyer for
all parishioners to put their names down
to indicate when they would like to take
it home.
Another week and we will be back!
Thanks - Bridget Soh
Children's Liturgy of the Word
Please note that there is no Children’s
Liturgy at the 9.30am Mass until the new
year.
Parents, we have printed some
work sheets for your children
which can be collected from the
Foyer.
After Mass please take one home
for your children.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The Prospective Students Office at The
University of Notre Dame Australia
wishes you and your family a happy and
prosperous New Year.
There Is Still Time!
The University of Notre Dame Australia
is still accepting applications for
Semester 1, 2015. Please feel free to
contact the Prospective Students Office
on 9433 0533. Our office is open from
Monday to Friday from 8:30 - 5:00pm,
no appointment necessary.
For more information please email
fremantle.recruitment@nd.edu.au or
phone 9433 0533.
Flame Ministries International
25th Annual Flame Congress "HOPE" at
John 23rd College, Claremont - Jan 23,
24, 25 2015. Five International Speakers.
Evening Sessions at 7.30pm and Day
Sessions, including Mass on Sunday.
Refer to the notice board for more
information or contact
fmi@flameministries.org - ph 93823668.
Columbarium News
The Special Container for this purpose is
in the Church foyer and welcomes all
those “useless” 5-cent pieces. All coins
collected help assist the maintenance of
the Parish Columbarium gardens. So far
almost $2800 has been collected. Thank
you for your continued support.
World Youth Day is not just a day or an
experience, but an ongoing pilgrimage of
faith for young people. These special days
and celebrations are meant to rejuvenate
and reinvigorate the spiritual life of youth
and young adults along their pilgrim
journey, which ultimately leads to Christ
Jesus.
Sponsorships
Fund Raising
Coin Collection
Garden Sponsorships are available for
sections of the Garden for $250.00,
which will include a quality plaque to
acknowledge your donation. Niche Wall
Sponsorships are available at $5,000
each. This sponsorship includes a double
niche reservation for the donor as well as
a plaque on the appropriate Saint’s Wall
to acknowledge the donation. Please
contact the Parish Office for further
information.
B.J Hickey Biblical Foundation
Scholarships
Interested in studying the Bible in the
Holy Land, or in Rome, or here in Perth,
or elsewhere?... Applications are now
open for scholarships for biblical studies
from the B.J. Hickey Biblical Foundation.
The scholarships are offered to lay
people residing in the Archdiocese of
Perth. You don’t need to be an academic
or have any other studies to your name.
What matters is a desire to know the
Bible better and to help others with that
knowledge. For more details visit
www.thebiblicalfoundation.org.au
Your Bible Questions Answered
“Want to know Jesus better?” Get to
know the Bible better! For daily Gospel
reflections, a weekly Bible Q&A and a
monthly Bible guide, visit
www.thebiblicalfoundation.org.au.
Our Christmas Raffle has netted $618
towards our support for those who would
like to attend the World Youth in 2016.
With thanks to those who supported.
The Rite of Election will be held
at St Mary’s Cathedral on:
Thursday 26th February 2015.
We are still looking for members to join
this wonderful choir which welcomes
adults seeking to be received into the
Catholic faith at Easter.
Please register your interest.
Hymns and rehearsals are attached.
Thank you also to those who have
already registered for this wonderful
choir.
God Bless
Karen
Telephone: 9207 3350
Fax: 9349 0362
Email: liturgy.centre@perthcatholic.org.au
Shoprider for sale
Fully serviced and checked in near new
condition with extras include New
Battery Charger, Sun Shade, Storage Bags
and Weather cover for $1,500.
Please phone Carmel 9398 2263 for
more information if you are interested.
Truth, Justice and Healing Council is coordinating the Catholic Church’s response to the Royal Commission into
Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse with a commitment to co-operation, openness and justice for victims and
survivors. It has been established in recognition of the imperative for the Church to address the past openly and honestly,
the good with the bad. There are flyers available in the foyer explaining the work of the council. For more information on
the Council visit www.tjhcouncil.org.au www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au
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All Type of Tree Work
MUSIC PRODUCTION, RECORDING, LIVE SOUND
Joseph Boundy
Mobile: 0427 912 939
Office: 9493 7755
Fax: 9493 5439
Preferred Western Power Contractor Email: Tagtrees1@bigpond.com
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contact
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Craig Renshaw
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T 9390 3000
F 9390 3111
M 0419 745 840
138 Third Avenue
Kelmscott WA 6111
crenshaw@simplicityfunerals.com.au
www.simplicityfunerals.com.au
FULL PACKING SERVICE
OUR SPONSORS
Please support our sponsors who are helping
us to cut down the cost of the production of
our Weekly Bulletin
Cartons, tapes, bubble wrap & paper
Metro - Country - Office - Interstate
Storage (CCTV, alarm, monitored)
Polite, Courteous, Uniformed Staff
Fleet of small, medium & large vans
Hills Area
guardianremovals@bigpond.com
operations@guardianremovals.com.au
Osborne Park
Bayswater
9295 1716
9446 8333
9272 4711