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29TH JANUARY 2012

THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME



JESUS CAME TO HEAL BOTH BODY AND SOUL

For  Mark the Gospel is fundamentally about freedom.  This Jesus might be a good preacher and teacher but he is much more than that. He is the only one who can release us from all that binds us, from all our inner demons, from all our sinfulness.  He is our liberator in the very deepest sense of that word.

More of the implications of this passage may reveal themselves if we remember the narrative context into which Mark places it.  After this cure of the demoniac, Jesus cures Simon’s mother-in-law and many others afflicted either by illness or by evil spirits.
It is with these acts of power done out of compassion for the needs of others that Jesus begins his public life.

There is considerable debate about whether the people whom Jesus healed were really possessed by the devil or were mentally disturbed. The debate is utterly beside the point. These individuals were deeply troubled and Jesus healed them. Jesus came to heal both body and soul.  Most scripture scholars now agree that miracles were an important part of Jesus’ ministry and of the memory of that ministry in the early church.  We simply cannot abandon them to please those who say miracles are impossible. The precise explanation of how these healings were accomplished is another matter and perhaps one that is also beside the point.  Jesus did not work miracles to prove anything. Rather they were signs that God’s healing love is at work in the world.

…… Fr Dispin John

Hot news from Fr Kevin

Dispin, you are very welcome
In the absence of the Archbishop, Bishop Les Tomlinson has appointed Rev. Dispin John as the assistant priest of our parish from 18 January. Before his studies for the priesthood Dispin was in the computer industry. He completed his priestly studies in Corpus Christi College, Carlton and was ordained in 2008. He has ministered in the parishes of Castlemaine and Epping which includes also Mernda and Whittlesea where together last year they celebrated 218 Baptisms!

Fr Martin Ashe
As he has completed his appointment to the Ministry of Priests where he cared excellently for us 320+ priests of Melbourne, Fr Martin has now been appointed to a vast new parish which covers King Lake, Mernda and Whittlesea– a growth area which has been formed from parts of the parishes of Diamond Creek and Epping. The new parish has three churches in each of the three communities and two schools at Mernda and Whittlesea. There is no parish centre or offices. It is interesting his uncle, Fr Tom Ashe was Parish Priest  of  Diamond  Creek  in  the  early  1950’s.  Let  us  keep  Fr  Martin  and  his  new parishioners in our prayers.

.......…...Kevin McIntosh

For the Sunday Readings click on the Bible image

The latest copies of the Parish Bulletins can be found here.

Parish Bulletin Archive including all 2011 Bulletins can be found here.

A report from the last PCT meeting (30th Nov 2011) can be found here on the Parish Report page of the Parish Blog.
The next meeting will be on the 21st Feb 7.40pm.

MASS TIMES

SATURDAY
6.00pm St Anne's Church
SUNDAY
8.30am St Anne's Church
10.30am St Anne's Church
5.30pm Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church
WEEKDAYS
Monday 9.15am St Anne's Church
*Liturgy of the Word
Tuesday 7.00pm Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church
Wednesday 9.15am St Anne's Church
Thursday 9.15am St Anne's Church
Friday 9.15am St Anne's Church
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday 10.00am-10.30am Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church