2015-04!26!4th Sunday of Easter B

Sunday 26th April, 2015 Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B

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

Parish Fr Greg Barker (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: (02) 6554 6304 F: (02) 6554 6425 W: [email protected]

www.forstertuncurrycatholic.org.au

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 Hall’s meeting rooms on Monday 11th May 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 Greg 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.

Search for us on Facebook as ‘Catholic Parish of Forster Tuncurry’

Follow us on Twitter: @ftcatholic

Holy Name Parish School (K-6)

Mr Chris Waters (Principal)

41 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428 PO Box 243, Forster NSW 2428

P: (02) 6554 6504 F: (02) 6554 8895 E: [email protected] W: www.forster.catholic.edu.au

St Clare’s High School, Taree (7-12)

Mr Peter Nicholls (Principal)

Davis Street, Taree NSW 2430

P: (02) 6552 3300 F: (02) 6552 3656 E: [email protected] W: www.tareesc.catholic.edu.au

mailto:[email protected]

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The Parish Diary…(for the week ahead)

Monday—27th April

Tuesday—28st April Memorial of St Peter Chanel 9am Christian Meditation (Bob 6555 5914) 3:30pm Holy Hour @ Tuncurry 4:30pm Mass @ Tuncurry 5:30pm Christian Meditation (Bob 6555 5914) 5:30pm Singing Practise @ Forster

Wednesday—29th April Memorial of St Catherine of Siena 9am Mass @ Forster 11:15am Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help @

Forster 5.30pm Social Justice @ Forster

Thursday—30th April 9am Mass @ Forster 7pm Women’s Prayer Group (Natasha 0407 589 935)

Friday—1st May 9:30am Mass @ Forster

Saturday—2nd May Memorial of St Athanasius

8.30am Reconciliation @ Tuncurry 9am Mass at Tuncurry 4.45pm Reconciliation @ Forster (until 5:15pm) 6pm Vigil @ Tuncurry

Sunday—3rd May 7am Mass @ Tuncurry 9am Mass @ Forster (includes Children’s Liturgy)

5:30pm Evening Prayer & Benediction @ Tuncurry

Regular Activities in the Parish

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.

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

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.

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.

Singing Practice Singing group will take a break over the Easter holidays and will resume at Forster on Tuesday 28th April at 5:30pm.

The menALIVE Groups Our Parish currently hosts two menALIVE groups. The daytime group will next meet on Wednesday 13th May after the 9am Mass and the evening group meets on the last Thursday of each month at 7.30pm.

Secular Franciscan Fraternity The Secular Franciscans Fraternity will next meet on Wednesday 6th May 2015, coming together for Mass at 9am, followed by a cuppa at 9:30am and then the meeting 10am to 12pm.

Maintenance & Gardening Group The gardening team will have their next working bee will on Thursday 21st May. Contact Howard 6557 6826 for more information.

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 3rd May 2015. All welcome. (Not celebrated in April—Easter Sunday)

Children’s Liturgy of the Word The next Liturgy of the Word for children aged 4-12 will be on Sunday 3rd May 2015 at the 9am Mass. A morning tea will follow Mass.

Collection of Foodstuffs for Homebase The next collection of foodstuffs in support of Homebase is Sunday 3rd May 2015.

Children’s Faith—An opportunity for you to assist Volunteer scripture teaching positions are available to those who have a couple of hours to spare on a Friday. What a wonderful opportunity to commit to this important ministry, to be instrumental in growing children faiths in our primary schools. Please be encouraged to support our local kids.

Scripture classes continue in the Parish community at Forster 9.30 – 11.00am, Tuncurry 11.20am – 12.30pm and Pacific Palms PS. Currently, because of family, health and work the current SRE teachers require enthusiastic, caring, supportive volunteers to help with classes on Fridays of the school Term. All support will be offered to assist you, to include mentoring. For more info contact [email protected] / 0408 895 951 or parish office 6554 6304.


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From the Pastor’s Desk… Dear Friends,

One of my very favourite movies is ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’, closely followed by ‘Death At A Funeral’ which is I suspect another story. The ‘Marigold’ is a lovely feel good movie where everything works out in the end – sort of! It is also a work in progress as we get to see in the ‘Second Best Marigold Hotel’ – a work in progress. Equally “feel good” with potential for us to go to a third movie as the work in progress whilst nearly complete, is still not quite. If I had to define in one sentence the theme of the movie I would only have to go to a line delivered by the main character Sonny: “Everything will be all right in the end... if it's not all right then it's not yet the end”. It’s hard to know who really said it in the first place. My friend, Google search, tells me it may be attributed not to Sonny but John Lennon, or more likely to a Brazilian writer Fernando Sabino who wrote it as a quote from his father: “No fim, tudo dá certo. Se não deu, ainda não chegou ao fim.” ‘In the end, everything will be okay. If it's not okay, it's not yet the end.”

Whatever the authorship it’s not bad advice really for teaching resilience, perseverance and hope. Us older members of the community I suspect need to be very overt in reflecting something of this to the younger members following on behind and watching our every faith move. It’s such good advice for teaching resilience. I’ve noticed this inspirational quote on the walls of more coffee shops and restaurants in recent times than any other piece of advice – even here in Tuncurry! Walk along the main street and read some of the things on the walls in the coffee shops and you’ll see what I mean – at the very least you’ll see this saying.

I wish more people could tuck it under their belt as they walk along. I suspect too many of us give up on some important values or causes without really trying, or reflecting or discerning – now there’s a word and really looking at what we might be called to do or be or live! I heard people say; “if it gets a bit tough we see it as a sign that it isn’t right”; “if it doesn’t go smoothly or easily enough the heavens are telling us to move on”; “if we get lots of opposition it means we should stop and find something else”. All of those sayings could well be true – or not! Without properly discerning in a prayerful and faith filled way I suspect that our own resilience levels or perseverance levels are on a low end. What would we want to teach our young people about dark days, hard times, obstacles, solutions? What did our parents and grandparents

teach us about tomorrow and the next day? I remember someone once saying something about the sun coming up and the start of a new day. I can’t help but think in this Easter Season that the resurrection is fundamentally about that.

I’ve also love pop music. I’ve been listening quite a bit to Jessie J and whilst not all of her music is my taste I’ve loved her latest ‘Masterpiece’. Can I quote the chorus? ‘I still fall on my face sometimes, And I can't colour inside the lines, 'Cause I'm perfectly incomplete, I'm still working on my masterpiece, And I, I wanna hang with the greats, Got a way to go, but it's worth the wait, No, you haven't seen the best of me I'm still working on my masterpiece.’ I’m happy for young people to hum that as they go along.

I’d like to leave you this week with a quote actually from John Lennon, not sure when he said it or where he originally wrote it but it is good for thinking about this week:

“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.”

Kind regards,

Greg (Father)

Friendship Group (Seniors) Celebrating 19 Years!

Normally we celebrate our birthday in the Parish Hall. However the venue is changed for this year and we will be celebrating at 12pm at the Polynesian Village Hall, 12 Goldens Road, Forster on Tuesday 19th May. Newcomers welcome! For more information please contact Lorraine on 0409 494 652.

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Social Justice Group Social Justice is a central dimension of the proclamation of the Gospel. The Church’s social teaching touches upon almost every area of our collective contemporary life. Every human person needs to have their rights protected and be given the opportunity to grow in freedom, dignity and love. As was said by Pope Paul VI, the true test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. The poor, vulnerable and marginalised have a particular moral claim on the conscience of any society. (At Home With God’s People, 2011).

What are some of the issues of injustice in our nation, our church and our local community? Are there possibilities for action here?

The local social justice discussion group creates opportunities for interested people to share ideas and respond to the social justice challenges of our time. The Parish Social Justice Group is open to the community and all are invited to attend the next meeting on Wednesday 26th April at 5:30pm in the Parish Hall Meeting Room, Forster.

Mark Allan Zoe Allen

Leteesha Amato Izaac Boag

Georgia Daley Ruby Daley

Madison Darcy Rhyan Dodds

Rory Falk Alice Fowle

Ashleigh Harris Keegan Herb Kade Hickson Lily Hodges

Bayley Joughin Amelia Joughin

Olivia Keen Harrison Le Rougetel

Bridan McNamara Savannah Murray

Cooper Payne Mitchell Provost

Mauro Ragno Joseph Reardon

Amelia Robertson Amy Rowell

Clare Rozario Clary Russell Rory Russell

Olivia Van Haren Genevieve Wayte

Grace Wicks

Under One Sky The African Children’s Choir Australian Tour 2015 includes a performance at the Manning Entertainment Centre on Monday 1st June, at 7.30pm. The St. Joseph’s Primary and St. Clare’s High Schools Combined Choir will also be performing. Adults $25, Children/Concession $15. Tickets available from the Manning Entertainment Centre on 6592 5466.

There will also be a public workshop on Tuesday 2nd June at 7pm. Adult $15, Child/Concession $10. Tickets available from St. Joseph’s in Taree on 6557 7031.

Further information is available at the rear of the church.

Women’s Community Shelter The community of Forster Tuncurry have pledged its support for a domestic violence shelter to be built this year. A petition in support of this endeavour and to encourage funding is available to sign at the rear of the church.

Little White Books Enjoy six minutes of daily reflections for the Easter season with a little white book. Available from the rear of the church for $5.

Vocation View This is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The world needs worthy leaders, Good Shepherds of the 21st Century, caring unselfishly for the needs of God’s people. Please, pray for Vocations. For more information regarding Vocations contact Fr Brian Mascord on 02 4979 1112 or [email protected]

Pacific Emergency Appeal

Many thanks to all who donated to the appeal which raised a total of $1,608.50. Further donations can be made directly via the Caritas website: www.caritas.org.au

Parish Family Fun

This month’s family activity is tenpin bowling in Forster. We will meet at there at 6pm on Friday 1st May. Cost is $20 per person and includes “all you can eat” pizza. Bookings are required. If you are interested in coming along please contact Sharon at the parish office:

E: [email protected] P: 0407 006 666

Enrolment Sunday This Sunday is Enrolment Sunday for children involved in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Prayer cards which include the name of each of the children are available from the rear of the church. We invite our parish family to take the prayer cards home for display or inclusion in a prayer book so that you can pray for the children every day.


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Communion from the Chalice when Sick The occurrences of colds and flu are currently increasing, a reminder to everyone to consider the wellbeing of your fellow parishioners.

If you are not feeling well, we would respectfully ask you to please refrain from receiving Communion from the Chalice during Mass.

Parishioners in Hospital/Aged Care Due to “Privacy Legislation” the parish can no longer ascertain names of people in hospitals or aged care facilities. It is essential that family and friends inform the Church office if one of their loved ones is admitted to such a facility.

Direct Debit Planned Giving We now have direct debit facilities available at the office. We would like to encourage you to use this option for your weekly planned giving, particularly if you think you will be spending time away during the year. Application forms can be found at the rear of the church. If you have any questions please contact the Parish office.

Gardening Group Needs Your Help Please consider joining the Gardening Group. They are fun to be around and always have the most delicious cake available to share at morning tea, following their endeavours. Their next working bee is on Thursday 21st May. Call Howard 6557 6826 for more information.

Homily by Richard Leonard SJ Sometimes a piece of theatre can be so powerful it stays with you for your whole life. Many years ago I saw Jesuit dramatist Michael Moynahan perform his mime entitled ‘Come-Passion’. It starts with a clown happily doing tricks and juggling for the audience. Soon, Jesus is led in by the soldiers and is crucified. The clown watches on in horror. When Jesus dies and the soldiers go home the clown remains at the foot of the cross. He removes the nails from the hands and feet of Jesus and cradles the corpse in his lap, as in Michelangelo's Pieta. He weeps for the evil that saw a just man crucified. Just then, the soldiers return and find the clown grieving over the body of Jesus. They crucify the clown. The clown suffers and dies on the cross. As they leave Jesus is raised to life, he sees the suffering clown, removes the nails, cradles him in his arms and holds him for what feels like an eternity.

When I saw this mime you could have heard a pin drop, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

The word compassion comes from the Latin word compati meaning to bear or suffer with. It's not pity, sympathy or commiseration. Those words imply that we stand outside an experience and feelingly look in on it. Compassion is about ‘fellow-feeling’. It's what the Good Shepherd embodies, and what Easter is all about. If we are worthy followers of Jesus we will all have our fair share of Good Fridays, but Easter Sunday tells us that just as the Father remained faithful to Jesus, so Jesus will remain faithful to us, as one with us.

In recent years the bishops, who are often called shepherds of the local Church, have come under extraordinary scrutiny. And rightly so. All of us who are living the Christian life are accountable for what we have done and have failed to do, and the bishops are no exception. It's a tough time to be the local shepherd. The flock is highly educated and we no longer follow anyone's lead with a herd mentality. We want to know our shepherd, hear his compassionate voice call for justice for victims everywhere, but especially ones who have been injured in any way by the Church. We want to be confident that what our local shepherd says and does is what Christ the Good Shepherd would say and do. Over these past years our sense of dismay has come from a very few bishops who have chosen the so-called good name of the church, its social status and power, their public profile and even the threat of moral and financial liability over the voices of the most vulnerable members of our flock.

Today's Gospel reminds us what Christian leadership

should look like. Jesus didn’t liken it to princes in palaces or governors of provinces. His metaphor was of a compassionate shepherd who sleeps in the field with his flock, one who knows them so well and loves them so dearly that he lays down his own life for them.

Let’s pray at this Eucharist that we always have the leaders we deserve, ones whose compassion is so transparent that it inspires us to be the same, even towards them.

© Richard Leonard SJ.

Email Addresses Further to Fr. Greg’s request, we have placed a form at the rear of the church to enable you to include your email details. There is also a box to place a business card as an alternative.

Please also note the new Parish email address is now [email protected]


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Kid’s Corner Jesus is the good shepherd Jn 10:11-16

Try to find these words:

flock

hear

know

Life

one

run

scatter

sheep

shepherd

together

voice

wolf

Y F G S B Y I K X J H E A R

A Q G T L M L X P I Q O X K

A R Z X A W L I F E H G C O

E Q Q P Z I H O P T R C T E

Y Q K L J Q O B E M B E S W

T O G E T H E R P F K T Q O

Y S G P U G J R U N N U L L

Y A U I S A R X I W O B N F

D I I Z E V O I C E W Z F J

P J W Q J F S A S D S R A F

J B T S H E E P O F L O C K

B X G Q A J J V N W R Z X V

B E G A R A S I E A Q R B O

T K V S C A T T E R B G O O

R M T K S H E P H E R D I G

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Opportunities Outside The Parish

Assembly of Catholic Professionals Luncheon—Kevin Bailey Lunch will be held on Thursday 30th April at 12pm at Fort Scratchley Function Centre, Newcastle East. Assembly of Catholic Professionals Members - Free, $110 guest. To book phone 4979 1261 or email [email protected]

Diocesan Formation

Remaining Faithful will be held on Saturday 2nd May at 9am at Holy Spirit Catholic Infants School Hall, Abermain. Part I of the diocesan formation for 'Sunday Celebrations in Anticipation of Eucharist' is being hosted by the Cessnock and Kurri Parishes on Saturdays in May. This is a community formation process and invites the participation of all members of the parish community.

Mum’s Night Out TWEC’s Mums’ Night Out will be held on Wednesday 6th May at 5:30pm at West Wallsend Workers Club, Carrington St, West Wallsend. RSVP 30th April on 4939 9601 or [email protected].

TWEC Dinner Annual TWEC Dinner with Phil Glendenning will be held on Friday 8th May at 6:30pm at the Therry Centre, New England Highway, East Maitland. Phil Glendenning is the Director of the Edmund Rice Centre and is currently President of the Refugee Council of Australia. RSVP by 30 April to Secretary P 4930 9601 E [email protected]. Cost for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, main meal and dessert is $60 per person. Tables of 10 & individual bookings are available.

Mission: One Heart, Many Voices Conference Conference will be held on Monday 18th May at SMC Conference Centre, 66 Goulburn St, Sydney. Mission: One Heart, Many Voices is for those inspired to strive creatively for justice, truth, peace, freedom, reconciliation and the Reign of God. Visit www.mohmv.com.au for more information or P Catholic Mission 9919 7800.

Annual Lord Mayor’s Prayer A breakfast will be held on Friday 19th June at 6:45am at Wests New Lambton, Starlight Room. The purpose of the Lord Mayor's Breakfast is to acknowledge God, the power of prayer and to invite the blessing of God over the City of Newcastle and her people. Visit www.lmpb.org.au for more information.

Family Faith Forum Faith Forum 2015 will be held on Friday 22nd May at Toohey Room, Diocesan Offices, 841 Hunter Street,

Newcastle West. Sacramental teams, catechists, teachers and priests are invited to explore how parishes might journey with families for the Sacraments of Initiation. Bishop Bill will launch the new policy, “Becoming Disciples”.

The Human Search A Buddhist-Christian Conversation will be held on Tuesday 9th June at 10am at Level 5, 141 Harrington Street, The Rocks. Aquinas Academy course allows participants to take part in a conversation that explores some fundamental questions relating to our being human together. When: 4 Tuesday mornings, 10am - 12pm, 9th-30th June. Where: Level 5, 141 Harrington Street, The Rocks Cost: $132/person (including notes).

Catholic Newspapers Available Both The Catholic Leader (Brisbane) and The Catholic Weekly (Sydney) newspapers are available at a cost of $2 each from our churches.

From Horseback to Hatchback Living an Authentic Pastoral Ministry Today Join with clergy, pastoral associates, parish pastoral council members, other parish ministers and workers at 9am on Tuesday 5th May to 3pm and Wednesday 6th May at Dooley’s Lidcombe Catholic Club, Sydney.

Explore our Catholic missionary origins in Australia, and apply our discoveries to our new missionary fields today. What mode of transport do we need for today and tomorrow? Where are the new fields and paddocks and laneways where we are called to serve?

The ongoing challenge of Pope Francis, is to smell like the sheep. Who are the sheep? Where are sheep these days? And what about the shepherds? Keynote speakers include: Bishop Eugene Hurley, Fr Ed Campion, Sr Kari Hatherell OSU and Mr Richard McMahon.

Early bird $150 until April 24. Full fee $175 until May 4. http://www.trybooking.com/128530. General enquiries to Christine 0450 371 983. Conference organised by NSW Association of Pastors, Pastoral Associates and Parish Workers.

Questions on Today’s Gospel What message does the image of Jesus, the good

shepherd, hold for you?

What contemporary image might convey the same

message as the image of the good shepherd?

Have you ever had an experience of being cared for

by someone you could call ‘a shepherd’?

Who do you need to ‘shepherd’?


http://www.mohmv.com.au

http://www.lmpb.org.au/

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Scripture Readings This Week

Today Acts 4:8-12 1 John 3:1-2 John 10:11-18 Monday Acts 11:1-18 John 10:1-10 Tuesday Acts 11:19-26 John 10:22-30 Wednesday Acts 12:24-13:5 John 12:44-50 Thursday Acts 13:13-25 John 13:16-20 Friday Acts 13:26-33 John 14:1-6 Saturday Acts 13:44-52 John 14:7-14 Sunday Acts 9:26-31 1 John 3:18-24 John 15:1-8

Today’s Liturgy of the Word

Responsorial Psalm Response: The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me. Alleluia!

In your charity, please pray for:

Those recently deceased. Fr Ron Pickin, Fr Jim Saunders, Lloyd Foley, Willy Lutz.

Those whose anniversaries occur about now. Ross Presgrave, Raymund Lyndon.

All those in our community who are sick. Ashley Hatton, Sue, Neil Pye.

Ministers this Weekend... ...of the Word ...of Communion

6pm Tuncurry

A: Valarie Ross B: Geraldine Mullin

Kathryn McCabe, Michael Amato, Valarie Ross, additional volunteers required.

7am Tuncurry A: Kay Griffiths B: Fred Liackman

Alex Matuszny, Cecile Malone, Cushla Drake, Edna Tucker, Kay Griffiths.

9am Forster A: Trevor Turner B: Barbara Dolahenty

Anne Moloney, Barbara Kermode, Greg Byrne, Rhiannon Temesvary, Rob Temesvary.

Ministers next Weekend... ...of the Word ...of Communion

6pm Tuncurry A: Valarie Ross B: Frank Hayman

Carolyn Olliffe, Frank Hayman, Maureen Stevens, Michael Siddle, Ruth Pearson.

7am Tuncurry A: Norm Chapman B: Anne-Marie Greene

Graham Griffiths, Maria Armitage, Mark Mowbray, Norm Chapman, Patricia Cornish.

9am Forster A: Barbara Kermode B: Greg Byrne

Elle Cairns-Cowan, Robert Moran, Robyn Ryan, Sharon Fowle, Trevor Turner.

Please note: The above information reflects the rosters as originally published, and doesn’t take account of any ‘swaps’ that may have been organised between individuals.

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 Agent—LicenSing Online Lic No. 624844.

2015-04!26!4th Sunday of Easter B

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