Dear Brothers and Sisters,

​Since we are beginning the season of Lent. I thought it would be good to send a letter to you, in the hope that it will help you think about the meaning of Lent.
          Each year we enter Lent aiming to prepare ourselves for Easter. As each year comes and goes we think of what to do and what to give up, almost as if Lent is an exercise in holiness. I want to ask you a simple question: “Have your Lenten exercises made you into a better person?”, because if they have, each Lent should build on the previous Lent in such a way that you are indeed becoming a better person.
             We might give up chocolates in Lent only to splurge on Easter Sunday. We might pray more and read the bible in Lent, only to give up for the rest of the year. If this is the case, Lent has made no real impact on your life. I think that each Lent should be a step on our way to holiness, so that as the years progress, we change for the better.
           Unlike Advent which asks us to focus on our giftedness, Lent asks us to focus on our weaknesses and failings. If you are like me, you would prefer not to look at your weaknesses. The paradox of life is this - God has given us our weaknesses so that through them we might achieve a real freedom and learn how to love. My weaknesses are mine, and God wants to break into my life through them. I must learn how to live in my frailty.
                I suggest that we all look at ourselves and choose one weakness and, for the duration of Lent, try to counteract it. This is real penance. To give up something which I don’t really enjoy and which is not really a problem for me can, in the full picture of life, be a waste of time. Just as to do something loving, which I enjoy doing, will not make me a better person. Lent asks us to work against our selfish instincts.
                If you are a greedy person, fight the weakness and each day give up something which you want. If you are impatient, each day work against the impulse by giving a little time to someone you would normally avoid. If you are selfish with your time, live as if your time was not yours, and do things for others. I could give more examples. Spend a few days thinking about yourself and work out the ways in which you need to change, and then gently begin to counteract your weaknesses in Lent.
            Don’t try to do too much because you might fail in your resolve. Take it gently and as each Lent moves into Easter you will be a slightly better person, and as the years move on you will be on the path to holiness.
          One last thing, add to your Lenten exercise time for prayer and reading the Gospel. Prayer and thoughtful reading of the Gospel will guide you.
                Thank you for the wonderful welcome which you have given to me as your new bishop. Please pray for me. I am looking forward to meeting you as I travel around the diocese.
                With my prayers and good wishes,
 
                Bishop Greg Homeming OCD

PLEASE NOTE THE TALKS WILL NOW BE HELD IN ST MARY'S CHAPEL
​
Bishop Gregory Lenten Introduction to Carmelite Spirituality.
5 Tuesdays – 3 Saints.
Using the contemplative tradition of the Carmelite Order we will look at the Lenten themes of “Prayer”, “Penance”, “Almsgiving”, “Mercy” and “Forgiveness” to uncover the deeper spiritual meaning of this Holy Season. St Teresa of Avila, St John of the Cross and St Therese of Lisieux have a profound understanding of sacred scripture, human nature and the love of God. We will bring their wisdom to the readings of Lent and to our own experience of life.
 
Tuesday 7 March – St Teresa of Avila and Prayer.
Tuesday 14 March – St Teresa of Avila on Penance and Self-Knowledge.
Tuesday 21 March – St John of the Cross on Almsgiving and Love.
Tuesday 28 March – St John of the Cross on Beauty and the Word of God.
Tuesday 4 April – St Therese of Lisieux on Forgiveness and the Mercy of God.
 
The talks will be held from now in St Mary's Chapel from 6pm to 7.30pm.
​Everyone is welcome to attend.    

A Wonderful Night of Prayer                   The Diocese of Lismore and the Cathedral Parish joined in prayer to welcome Bishop Gregory Homeming as the sixth Bishop of Lismore on Wednesday night.  People, Clergy, Religious,   students and families have expressed their joy in   being part of the Prayers.
We really welcome Bishop Gregory into our Parish family as our Bishop, whose leadership, governance and preaching will assist us greatly on our journey with Jesus. 
We pray with and for Bishop Gregory at every Mass. We also look forward to Bishop Gregory in his pastoral work as a successor to The Apostles in our Cathedral.                                                                                     
 
A Quote from Bishop Gregory:                                                                                                                                        Following the ordination Bishop Homeming told the congregation, ‘I am your bishop; with the emphasis        on “your”. I belong to you. The people, religious and priests of Lismore will show me my job. I will listen to you, and together we will discern God’s will for  our diocese. Our weaknesses and failings will not be an obstacle because, I believe, they will guide us. As Our Lord said to St Paul, “I am strong in your weakness”. My role is that of a shepherd who leads his people, with a simple focus, to stand in the presence of God. I pray that I will not be an obstacle. I pray that you will come to know the love of Christ and be filled with the utter fullness of God,’ he added.

The Bishop-elect Fr Greg Homeming will receive  Episcopal Ordination on 22 February 2017 at 7pm in St Carthage’s Cathedral at which our new bishop will also take canonical possession of the See in assuming the Cathedra as Sixth Bishop of Lismore.
 Everyone is invited to attend this wonderful celebration for the Diocese of Lismore. 
Seating Allocation for the Ordination                           There will be some 230 seats available for parishioners to be seated in the Cathedral and an additional 330 seats in a marquee set up outside in front of Doyle House.  A number of video screens will be place in the those areas not in sight of the altar, including the marquee.   The Cathedral will not be opened to unreserved seating until 5.30pm from that time it will be first come First served, and the available seats must be occupied immediately with no reservations.
Live Streaming Link information
Please find some information for the link to the live streaming for the Episcopal Ordination which will take place on Wednesday evening at 7pm.
Go to the Diocesan website lismorediocese.org and click on the LIVESTREAM (yellow box) on the homepage far right;  or
http://events.gigtv.com.au/go/bishopoflismoreinauguration2017/
Generally, subject to the number of people acessing the website, advice we have received suggests that the LINK will provide better clarity.

 SIXTH BISHOP OF LISMORE
Pope Francis appoints Fr Gregory Homeming O.C.D. as sixth Bishop of Lismore and accepted the resignation of Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett. Bishop Jarrett has served the Diocese of Lismore for the past 15 years.
Fr Homeming is currently the Regional Vicar of the Discalced Carmelite Friars in Sydney, Australia. Speaking about his appointment today, he said, ‘I am humbled by the news. I knew that I had to say yes after the past 31 years as a Friar. There is a lot that I have to learn. I hope that the people and the priests of the Diocese of Lismore will teach me how to be their bishop.                                                                                                                              
​Fr Homeming brings wide experience as a retreat-giver, spiritual director and leader. His gifts will be a great enrichment to the Church in Australia.’
Born in Sydney on 30 May 1958, to an Australian Chinese family, Fr Homeming completed his primary education in Shepparton, Victoria and secondary school at St Aloysius College, Milsons Point. He took degrees in Economics and Law at Sydney University and then worked as a lawyer in a Sydney law firm from 1981 to 1985.
At the end of 1985, Fr Homeming joined the Discalced Carmelite Order making his first profession on 1 February 1987. He then studied a Bachelor of Theology at Melbourne College of Divinity and a Masters in Philosophy at the University of Melbourne.
Fr Homeming was ordained a priest on 20 July 1991. As a Discalced Carmelite, he has held the positions of Major Superior, Novice Master, Prior and Retreat Director.
In addition to his love of spiritual direction and retreat formation, Fr Homeming enjoys reading, classical music, art and cooking Chinese meals for the friars. 
​Arrangements regarding the episcopal ordination are yet to be determined.


  

​The 2016 National Church Life Survey (NCLS) is underway in thousands of churches across Australia, during October and November. This survey is considered the world’s largest longitudinal study of church life, reaching 25 years in 2016. Our church community of the St Carthage's Parish including Dunoon and Goolmangar will participate in the survey on the weekend masses at St Carthage's Cathedral on the 26 and 27 November.
 
Your participation in the survey ensures your voice is heard and will assist in identifying our strengths and build on our vitality for a stronger community for all. Details of the NCLS can be found at http://www.ncls.org.au/default.aspx?sitemapid=7258.
 
Any parishioner unable to participate on the 26 and 27 November at Cathedral masses is encouraged to contact the Parish Office for a survey form. Please return all surveys to the Parish Office by 10am on Monday 28 November.

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A good day was had by our pilgrims who travelled to Marian Valley last month. We offered prayers for our parish and families during Mass and a procession. 

St Carthage’s was immensely blessed by the visit of Fr Declan Gibson and Deacon Michael Donnelly from the Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist. They presented afresh the wonder of the priceless gift of the Holy Eucharist, Christ Himself present under the appearance of bread. Participants we stirred to renew devotion to Our Saviour who never tires to remain with us in the humble mode of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Visit ​http://www.mostholyeucharist.org to find out more about the missionaries.