Serving The Communities Of Star of the Sea, Crescent Head

St Patrick’s, Gladstone/Smithtown

All Saints, Kempsey

Our Lady Star of the Sea,

South West Rocks

St John’s, Willawarrin

Parish Office 52-58 Marsh Street

West Kempsey, NSW 2440.

9.30am-3.30pm, Tuesday-Friday.

P: 02 6562 5182

E: pastoraloffice@mvcp.org.au

W: www.mvcp.org.au

Postal Address:

PO Box 3007,

West Kempsey, NSW 2440.

Parish Priest: Fr James Foster

Schools St Joseph’s Primary School,

Kempsey

Principal: Mrs Melissa Turner

P: 6562 5501

W: www.kmpplism.catholic.edu.au

St Paul’s College, Kempsey

Principal: Mr Kevin Lewis

P: 6562 7200

W: www.kmpslism.catholic.edu.au

Aged Care Vincent Court

Acting Manager: Mrs Janet Reay

P: 6562 6062

W: www.vincentcourt.org.au

Social Services & NDIS Centacare

Manager: Mrs Lorraine Cornell

P: 6562 3918

W: www.stagnesparish.org.au/centacare

ASSET RICH AND CASH POOR

A farmer named Muldoon lived alone in the Irish countryside except for a pet dog he doted on. The dog finally died, and Muldoon went to the parish priest, saying, ‘Father, the dog is dead. Could you possibly be saying a mass for the poor creature?’ Father Kelly refused point blank, ‘No, we can't have services for an animal in the church, but I'll tell you what, there's a new denomination down the road, and there is no telling what they believe in, maybe they'll do something for the animal.’ Muldoon said, ‘I'll go right now. By the way, do you think 10,000 pounds is enough to donate for the service?’ to which Father replied, ‘Now why didn't you tell me the dog was a Catholic!’

A cheap jibe regularly levelled at the Church is that while we preach about justice and development for all people, we are one of the world’s wealthiest multinationals. Sometimes Catholics are stung by this criticism. There is something healthy about that because there is always more we can, and should, do about our detachment from materialism. At the same time, however, our accusers should be reminded of a few facts that spoil their good story.

In commercial terms the Church is asset rich and cash poor. Many established churches through good planning and generosity have a large plant on decent real estate, but I don’t know a diocese, religious order, parish or Church agency that does not need to carefully look at its cash flow. We rely on your goodness to keep going each year. Our real estate is often our only collateral for our borrowing; always done to improve the services we can render the People of God.

The greatest thing going for the Catholic Church, however, is you, Christ’s faithful people who witness day in and day out to the power of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. We are also asset rich in terms of the quality of the women and men – lay, professed and ordained – who selflessly serve the Church and the world.

When we are attacked for the land and buildings we have it’s always good to remember some facts about our Catholic family’s commitment to the poor: outside the United Nations and governments, Catholicism is the largest provider of education, health, welfare, personal assistance and Third World development in the world; we have the largest and lowest-paid charitable workforce of any international group; we have been trying to serve God, not money, for two thousand years; and from the earliest Christians to this very day, some Catholics have loved and served the poor so faithfully, that they die with them, and for them.

Where all of this is concerned, we are our own worst enemies. False humility has meant we have not sufficiently celebrated what Grace has done in and through us in regards to poverty and the world’s poor.

None of this excuses us from the direct challenges in today’s Gospel. We all know how seductive money is and how quickly greed can throw our moral and spiritual compasses off course. In moral theology, however, intention is critical and even money, seductive as it is, can be, and is, put to good service in Christ’s kingdom. It’s always a question of where the heart is.

By not publicly acknowledging the service done in our name and with our assistance, we do the Church and ourselves an injustice. When we fail to explain the number of times and places Christians clearly put Jesus ahead of money we allow the Church’s critics to have the last word, as though it was the only word on the subject.

May this Eucharist, this meal of Christ’s poor, assist us to be detached from anything that masters our deepest desires away from Christ and keeps us from serving his kingdom of justice, development and peace for all people everywhere.

© Richard Leonard SJ, LiturgyHelp.

22 September 2019, 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

SPECIAL MASS FOR SVDP VOLUNTEERS

This Sunday our Kempsey 9.30am Mass will especially honour and

celebrate the wonderful work of our St Vincent de Paul volunteers who serve tirelessly through the local conference and shop.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SCHOOLS On Thursday night St Joseph’s Primary staff and students produced a most wonderful School Spectacular, Shrek. The kids had a great time and so did the audience! It was a really professional night- great performances; great atmosphere; great backdrops, costumes, sound and lighting; great food, great energy and all students truly shone. All their hard work truly paid off! Congratulations! St Paul’s College has been selected to participate in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in Schools 2019 hosted by the CSIRO. This event will bring together STEM professionals, parliamentarians and schools to celebrate STEM careers. The program commences at the end of October. Congratulations! We also commend both our schools on their excellent NAPLAN results. The hard work of the staff, students and their families has been a great achievement – well done!

On the 25th October 2019, St Joseph’s will be celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Catholic Education in Kempsey. If any parishioners have any photos or memorabilia they would like to share to be put on display, they can be dropped into the School Office 8.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday. Please save the date and tell all your friends about this wonderful occasion. More details to follow.

PARISH TO JOIN IN GLOBAL ROSARY INITIATIVE

On the weekend of 12/13 October 2019, parishes across the world are being encouraged to pray the Rosary together, especially for the intentions of our nation, for world peace, for the dignity of life and families, and for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Our parish family will celebrate this on Saturday 12 October, 9.30am Mass at South West Rocks church, followed by Rosary in the church grounds.

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be held on

Friday 18th October, 5.30pm, at All Saints

Church Kempsey. Please keep the children, their

sponsors and families in your prayers.

Our parish family wishes

Ruth a most wonderful and

blessed 80th Birthday!

May your celebrations with

family and friends be extra special.

Welcome to our Family!

BAPTISM PREPARATION NIGHT

Wednesday 2nd October, 7pm

Parish Meeting Room

Please contact the Parish Office

to advise of your attendance.

Our leaders for this meeting will

be Ron Walker & Isabel Browne

Those who are Recently Deceased: Connie Laverty, Veronica Worthing, Merv Isaac, Errol Hickey, Tess Hammermeister, Sr Lucia RSM. Those whose Anniversaries are at this time: Aiden Hodges, Dawn VanDerVeer, Bill Mainey, Jean Hinchcliffe, Brian Hinchcliffe, Fr Daniel Doyle, Fr Bernard Gunn. Special Remembrance: Holy Souls in Purgatory Special Intentions: Jan Clarke, Peter Clarke, Jill Bishton, Paul Kirkman,

Toby Tyne, Colin Clarke, Tom Purcell, Maureen Morris, Ruth Usher (80th Birthday)

SOUTH WEST ROCKS

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S SOCIAL GROUP

First Wednesday of each month,

SWR Church Hall from 10.30am.

Please bring a plate.

Next meeting will be 2nd October 2019

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Yr C

First Reading: Amos 6:1, 4-7

Responsorial Psalm: Praise the Lord, my soul!

Second Reading: Timothy 6:11-16

Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus Christ was rich but he became poor,

to make you rich out of his poverty.

Alleluia!

Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Every human project can first be approved

and then end up shipwrecked. But every-

thing that comes from above and bears the

“signature” of God is destined to last.

NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS

POPE FRANCIS ON TWITTER

VISITATIONS TO THE SICK AND ELDERLY Our parish family is blessed to have a wonderful team of volunteers taking Holy Communion to the sick every week. We also have

parishioners who can assist with transport to Sunday Mass. Also, if you or a family member are in hospital, please let us know. If you know someone who would like a visit, or who needs transport, please advise the parish office. Fr James is always more than happy to visit and support those in need.

ALL HALLOWS COLLEGE VISIT

This weekend we welcome some staff and students from All Hallows School Brisbane to our parish. They are in transit on their way to their annual snow trip to Perisher and we wish them a Happy Holiday!

SLIM DUSTY CENTRE NEWS

Live Music with Tommy Kennedy on

Wednesday 25th September 11.00am -1.00pm $15pp including

lunch

Sunday Sessions $25 pp including lunch 12pm - 2.00pm

Sunday 22nd September with Simon Gudgeon Sunday 20th October with

Mat Brooker

'AN EVENING WITH JOHN PRIDMORE' - INTERNATIONAL GUEST SPEAKER COMING

TO COFFS HARBOUR

What: John will be sharing his powerful transformation, from 'Gangland to the Promised

Land' Who: Open to the general public

When: 5:30pm - 7pm Thursday 24th October Where: St John Paul College Theatre (contact Brendan Goswell at the college if you have any

questions) Cost: $5 per seat - tickets available through the

SJPC front office

BRAND NEW HOUSE FOR RENT

One of our parishioners has a brand new 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house for rent. If you or someone you know is interested, please leave your name with the parish office.

FOLLOWING THIS

SUNDAY’S MISSAL

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Yr C

First Reading: Amos 8:4-7

Responsorial Psalm: Praise the Lord, who lifts

up the poor.

Second Reading: Timothy 2:1-8

Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus Christ was rich but he became poor, to

make you rich out of his poverty. Alleluia!

Gospel: Luke 16:1-13

Preface II,

Sundays in Ordinary Time

Eucharistic Prayer II

Memorial Acclamation III

Other Mass Locations Date/Time

Crescent Head Thursday, 17 October, 6pm

Willawarrin Thursday, 26 September, 6pm

Macleay Valley House Wednesday, 6 November, 10.30am

Sth West Rocks Nursing Home Wednesday, 18 December, 10.30am

MASS & DEVOTIONS: 23 September – 29 September 2019

Monday 23rd No Mass

St Pius of Pietricina (Padre Pio)

Tuesday 24th 5.30pm: Mass, Kempsey Before Mass: Rosary for our Priests

After Mass: Exposition and Benediction

Wednesday 25th 8.00am: Mass, Smithtown Before Mass: Devotions

9.30am: Mass, Kempsey - SPC Yr 12 Graduation

Thursday 26th

9.30am: Mass , Vincent Court Kempsey

6.00pm: Mass, Willawarrin

4.30pm: Rosary Cenacle - Mercy Chapel, Kempsey

Sts Cosmas & Damian

Friday 27th 9.30am: Mass, Kempsey

St Vincent de Paul

Saturday 28th 6.00pm: Vigil Mass, Kempsey

Sunday 29th 7.30am: Mass, South West Rocks Before Mass: Rosary

9.30am: Mass, Kempsey

Before Mass: Rosary for Life

SUNDAY MASS ROSTERS: 28 & 29 SEPTEMBER 2019

MINISTRY KEMPSEY SAT 6PM STH WEST ROCKS SUN 7.30AM KEMPSEY SUN 9.30AM

Ministers of the Eucharist Peter Scott Bea Gray

Delphine Verrall Jan Clarke Therese Tedd

Readers Kevin Lewthwaite Margaret Franklin Lynn Wise Peter Eakin

Conrad Tamblyn

Offertory Procession Sally Kyle M & D Verrall Jerry & Clare Van der Veer

Hospitality Frances Dykes Violet Borg -

Commentator Help Needed Carmel Ball Maureen Richardson

Music Pat Hassett SWR Choir Lucy Barber

Children’s Liturgy - - No Children’s Liturgy

Cleaning KEMPSEY: Paula Capararo & Abiey Pius-Usiobafaio SOUTH WEST ROCKS: P & N Reilly

CRESCENT HEAD ROSTER –17/10/19 Reader: S Curnoe

Cleaning: S Kyle Offertory: Terrasson Family

Flowers: S Kyle Linen: G Steinmetz

THE Parrot’S parable:

“Life is not just about how

much you are earning,

Life is all about

how you are living it…”

DIOCESAN INVESTMENT FUND

PAYS 1.65%

No fees or charges on your accounts.

1800 802 516 / www.dif.org.au

Sacrament of Reconciliation Times

Saturday Kempsey, 5pm-5.45pm

Sunday South West Rocks, 7am-7.20am

Tuesday Kempsey, 5.50pm-6.20pm

Wednesday Smithtown, Before Mass