BAPTISM OF THE LORD
The feast of the Baptism of our Lord presents us with something of a puzzle: Jesus, the Sinless One, baptised! What is going on there at the Jordan? Well might we empathize with John the Baptist when he objects: “It is you who should baptise me.”
The Baptism of Jesus was an indelible ‘rite of passage’. It was the moment when he passed from the obscurity of village life as ‘the carpenter’s son’ in Nazareth onto the public stage of his mission of proclaiming God’s Kingdom.
At the River Jordan, where John the Baptist had begun his ministry, the scene unfolds. John was preaching in the wilderness and was baptizing all those who would respond to his message of repentance.
The purpose of his ministry of preaching and Baptism was to direct people toward Jesus who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus came from Galilee to the River Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist. Jesus subjects himself to this simple act of repentance and is baptized by his own cousin.
Baptism is an acknowledgement of sin and yet Jesus was totally sinless. He had no need of repentance or forgiveness. Yet this was the beginning of his mission as was planned by his Father. The Baptism of Christ is recorded in all four Gospels and each makes clear it is a revelation of the Holy Trinity and that it marks the commencement of the public ministry of Jesus.
When Jesus came out of water after his Baptism the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him in the form of a dove. There is also the voice of the Father that comes from the cloud, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
You are baptised with the Holy Spirit. God lives in you. Are you aware of God’s holy Presence within you? Pray for it.
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
24 Jan (Sunday) Federation Festival Corowa NB 8.00am Mass at St Mary’s;
9.30am Ecumenical Service on the Mound.
11.00am Parade in Sanger Street, Corowa.
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LIFE & FAMILY CONFERENCE
21st-24th January 2016: Life & Family – National Conference “Defending the Defenceless” at Lake Hume Resort, via Albury. Major National and international speakers, including Archbishop Julian Porteous (Hobart) and Bishop Cesare Bonivento (Papua New Guinea).
“This conference is a unique opportunity to combine education, inspiration and fellowship with local and international pro-life heroes.”
Other international speakers include:
- Mr Steve Mosher (USA) Founder of Population Research Institute (check it out: https://www.pop.org) The Institute, i.e. “PRI has helped cut $800 MILLION from anti-natalist budgets.”
- Dr Angela Lanfranchi (USA), President of the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute (Check it out: http://www.bcpinstitute.org/home.htm). The Institute was started in 1999 by a scientist and three physicians to educate women and medical professionals.
- Dr Vice (‘vee-chay’) John Batarelo (Croatia) – Co-ordinator of the successful Croatian ‘peoples’ referendum in favour of traditional marriage.
Online bookings are preferred – http://www.fli.org.au
Flyers on the Conference are available on that back table in St Mary’s church, Corowa.
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ANOINTING OF SICK MASSES
Next Mass Fri 5th Feb 10am at Karinya.
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Rosaries
* Nora Kingston, 24 Alfred St ph. Wed 4.30pm
* McLean’s, 5a Lindsay St., Wed 5.30pm
* Karinya chapel – Sundays 11am
* St Mary’s Church, Sat 8.45am+ 9am Mass
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Remember in Prayer
Fr Warren Mossfield, Brian O’Neill, Fr Baltrame, Betty Griffin, Laurie Talbot, Mary Hodgkin, Ray Currie, Pat Seymour, Ursula Bartlett, Michelle Hogan, Len Sambell, Michael Scown, Joan Sandral, Imelda Gauci.
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MASS INTENTIONS 9th Jan – 17th Jan
Sat 9th
6.30pm (John Nolan; Ray Knight)
Sun 10th Baptism of the Lord
9.00am Mass (For all Parishioners)
Mon 11th
9am No Mass
Tue 12th
9am No Mass
Wed 13th St Hilary
9am M (Howard & Mark Fitzgibbon; Patsy Regan)
Thurs 14th
11.40am Nov. & M. (Flo Whittaker; Agnes Gannon)
Fri 15th
9am M (Imelda Gauci; Shane Clohessy)
Sat 16th
9am M (Kevin Hanrahan; Brian Nagle)
6.30pm (Charlie Cleary; Vin Fitzgerald)
Sun 17th
9am Mass – (For all parishioners)
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LITURGY ROSTER for 16th – 17th Jan
Gifts:
6.30pm P Culhane M Macqueen
9.00am CWL
Lectors:
6.30pm R Packer A Norman
9.00am M Milthorpe
Special Minister:
6.30pm I & F Brooks
9.00am B Christy R Taylor
Altar: M Doyle
Welcomers:
6.30pm M Clohessy M Skehan
9.00am C Sandral
Altar Servers:
6.30pm E Tidd
9.00am S & O Aitkin
Collection: J Taylor
Counters: L & N Hughes
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