Weekly Bulletin
Third Sunday of Lent —07.03.10
3a Domenica di Quaresima
International Womens’ Day

The Gospel accounts of the Galileans killed by Pilate and the people who were crushed when the tower fell on them illustrate our inability to understand why God allows certain events to occur. The parable of the fig tree throws no light on this conundrum either. Instead, it points to the need to trust in divine mercy, even in those situations we cannot explain.

Recently we have learned of hundreds of people being swept away by raging waters and have seen entire neighbourhoods ravaged by fire or destroyed by war. What did these people do to deserve this?

The readings offer two major admonitions. In today’s Gospel, Jesus twice calls his listeners to repent, to reform their lives. If we follow this admonition, will it guarantee our safety? Not necessarily. But the parable of the fig tree offers us a second admonition: trust in the mercy of God. Excerpt from a commentary by Sr Dianne Bergant



Since 1911 International Women’s Day has been celebrated as the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. This day is an opportunity to reflect on the dignity and role of all women; in the family, society and the Church.

The Letter of John Paul II to women reminds us that Jesus Christ provided a wonderful example of treating women:

When it comes to setting women free from every kind of exploitation and domination, the Gospel contains an ever relevant message which goes back to the attitude of Jesus Christ himself. Transcending the established norms of his own culture, Jesus treated women with openness, respect, acceptance and tenderness. In this way he hon- oured the dignity which women have always possessed according to God’s plan and in his love. (n.3)

We pray, that we, the Church, ensure that women are encouraged to flourish within the Catholic Church in Australia, and that all women are appreciated for the contribution they make to the fullness of the Church.

‘To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.’ John Henry Newman

PROJECT COMPASSION - To bring about the kingdom of God, we must be transformed within ourselves and our community. This week’s story takes us to East Timor where Domingas is being supported in a Caritas-funded Family and Community Violence Prevention Program. Domingas, like many women in her community was the victim of violence and abuse. Your donation to Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion helps to support women survivors of violence and to work for just relationships.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

LAUDS/MORNING PRAYER OF THE CHURCH will be prayed at 8.45 am. on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. Fr Hoctor will lead The Way of the Cross at 7.00 pm. on Fri. evening.
READERS RENEWAL EVENING will take place this Tuesday, March 9, at 7 pm. in the church.
ABBOT JOHN HERBERT OSB of New Norcia will celebrate the 10 am Mass next Sunday and preside at Evening Prayer at 4 pm. This special celebration for the 50th Anniversary of the Opening of the church celebrates the 80 years the Good Samaritan Sisters have been in our parish. It also commemorates Fr Michael Cave OSB, a former parishioner of St. Gabriel’s, who was the first Australian priest of New Norcia. Lunch follows the Mass. You are invited!
AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS LETTER TO WOMEN— a limited number of copies are available in the narthex.
CARITAS AUSTRALIA is accepting donations towards assisting the earthquake response in Chile. Donations may be made online at www.caritas.org.au or send your donation to Caritas Australia GPO Box 9830 Melbourne 3001.
CATHOLIC EDUCATION OFFICE Parent Seminar Series 2010 is advertised on the noticeboard in the narthex.
THE PIETY STALL has KAIROS (new ed.), AD 2000 $4, Handbook for Today’s Catholic $6. New stock: CTS pamphlets (from England) —Cure of Ars, Christmas Novena with Benedict XVI, Cardinal Newman’s Miracle, Fr Damien. $7 each.


A VOCATION VIEW: Each Lent should bring us closer to our God. There is no failure, except that of no longer trying. You can still follow Jesus more closely.

NEXT SUNDAY—DOMENICA PROSSIMA
4th Sunday of Lent—4a domenica di quaresima
Readings: Joshua 5:9-12; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32.

New Liturgical Ministry Rosters are in the narthex.

Dates for your Diary
Sun. March 14 Visit of Abbot John Herbert OSB.
Tues. March 16 Ministers’ Renewal
Tues. March 23 Rite of Penance and First Confessions


Laughs for the Week
A driver of a huge trailer lost control and plowed into an empty tollbooth, smashing it to pieces. He climbed down from the wreckage and within a matter of minutes, a truck pulled up and discharged a crew of workers. The men picked up each broken piece of the former tollbooth and spread some kind of creamy substance on it. Then they began fitting the pieces together. In less than a half hour, they had the entire tollbooth reconstructed and looking good as new. "Astonishing!" the truck driver said to the crew chief. "What was the white stuff you used to get all the pieces together?" The crew chief said, "Oh, that was tollgate booth paste."

After booking my 80-year-old grandmother on a flight I called the airline to go over her special needs. The representative listened patiently as I requested a wheelchair and an attendant for my grandmother because of her arthritis and impaired vision to the point of near blindness My apprehension lightened a bit when the woman assured me that everything would be taken care of. I thanked her profusely. "Oh, you're welcome," she replied. I was about to hang up when she cheerfully asked, ..."And will your grandmother need a rental car?"


Weekday Mass Intentions
Mon. 3rd week of Lent No Mass
Tues. 3rd week of Lent
Wed. 3rd week of Lent
Thurs. 3rd week of Lent Pacita Munoz—Rec. Dec’d.
Fri. 3rd week of Lent Connie McNamara, Frank Hanger—Anniv.
Sat. 3rd week of Lent


PROGRAMME OF CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS TO MARK THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLESSING AND OPENING OF ST. GABRIEL’S CHURCH, RESERVOIR
- 1960 -2010

Celebrating the Past - Opening out to the Future

Sun. March 14 10am. Mass and Solemn Vespers at 4 pm.
to celebrate the 50th Anniversary, and to mark the 80th Anniversary of the presence in the parish of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Rule of St. Benedict, and to commemorate the late Fr. Michael Cave OSB, a former parishioner of St. Gabriel’s who was the first Australian to be ordained a priest of New Norcia.
Principal Celebrant: Abbot John Herbert OSB of New Norcia
who will also preside at Vespers.

Tues. April 20 Young Parishioners Forum with Miss Jo Grainger 7 – 9 pm. with supper to follow.

Sun. July 11 Italian Fiesta with special guest Mr. Pat LaManna.
10 am. Mass with luncheon and an after lunch address.

Sun. Sep. 12 Back to St. Gabriel’s
Mass at 10 am. with BBQ lunch 11 am to 2 pm.
Commemorative Tree Planting at 2 pm.

October 11 -15 Called and Gifted Workshop and Parish Mission:
Each night (Mon. to Fri.) between 7 – 9 pm.

Sat. Oct. 16 50th Anniversary of the Blessing and Opening by Archbishop Simonds 16.10.1960 - 6.30 pm. Mass to be followed by supper.

Week beginning Mon. Oct. 25
Parish Primary School Production based on the history of the parish.

Fri. Oct. 29 10th Anniversary of the Solemn Dedication of the Church by
Archbishop Pell (29.10.2000) Mass at 7 pm. followed by supper


The dates of other guest speakers and organ and brass recitals have yet to be confirmed.



The Parish of St Gabriel’s, Reservoir, is committed to upholding and implementing the Privacy Principles set out in the 2001 legislation of the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments. A copy of the Parish's Privacy Policy is available to any Parishioner by contacting the Parish Office.