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Pro 31, 10-13. 19-20. 30-31; 1 Thess 5, 1-6; Matt 25, 14-30
Dear brothers and sisters, In today’s Gospel master gives servants money to care for a while he is away. Two of the servants invest the money and can give back more than they were given when their master returns. The other, afraid of losing the money, buried it to protect it and so was able to give the master exactly what he had been entrusted with. The two rewarded but the one reprimanded and taken away whatever he had. He thought he would be praised for not losing the money. Returning the coins was the least he could do. Lack of initiative to go above and beyond. The others took a risk and blessed with, but the third servant was afraid of such a situation and chose to take the safer route and preserve the money. If he got in trouble for returning the exact amount, what would have happened if he had lost the money? We are those servants. What will we do with what God has given us? Will we hide our light under a bushel, or will we take risk and make the best use of our talents and give back more than we have been given. Preserving our lives is the least we can do. We can use our hearts and minds to give glory to God and to help each other. We can be like the wife in the first reading who takes her husband’s love and gives back even more. We should be like the enterprising servants who take a risk, but return even more than they were given. Let’s risk our family, social life and spiritual life and invest God’s goodness given to us, invest them for peace and harmonious living of our life. Remember there is no gain without pain. Fr Ephrem Holy Trinity Parish Vision We are a prayerful and diverse Catholic community in the Eastern suburbs of Wellington, drawing strength from one another to grow and become fully alive as missionary disciples. Please pray for our children as they prepare for First Holy Communion. We congratulate our children from St Patrick’s for their First Holy Communion today: Keira Delaney, Liam Delaney, Roman Harrington, Ella Hansen, Elijah Higgins, Aaron Mathew, Beatrice Noriega, Aryan Prasad, Angela Robert, Gerard Sera Jose, Maria Sullivan, Rave Kim Update: former St Patrick’s Presbytery building You will have seen information regarding the former St Patrick’s Presbytery in the last News and Views. We are now in the process of arranging costings for the demolition of the former presbytery and attached building. In the short term the plan is for the area to be cleared which will will provide a much needed car park area for Mass and funeral attendees at St Patrick’s Church. The front garden area will remain as a prayer and reflection space. The Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Committee acknowledge that the St Patrick’s sites are important for the ongoing future development of our Parish. We look forward to working together to help implement the Parish Pastoral Plan to realise their potential in the coming years. There will be a short meeting for those who would like more information and discussion Sunday 26 November after the 10.00 Mass down in St Patricks Parish Centre. Holy Trinity Parish Finance Committee November 2017 Christ the King Feast is celebrated on 26th November. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held in St Patrick’s Church from the end of 7.30am Mass till the beginning of the 10am Mass. Catholicism – journey around the world and deep into the faith All parishioners are invited to watch a ten-part documentary series by Rev Robert E Barron to be screened after the 5pm Mass continuing to the 26th November in the Parish Centre at Holy Cross Church Miramar. The Catholic faith as you’ve never experienced it before – witness the most significant story ever told. Journey with acclaimed author, speaker and theologian Fr Robert Barron to more than 50 locations throughout 15 countries. 19th November – Episode 9 The Fire of His Love 26th November – Episode 10 World Without End Holy Cross Happy Hour Seniors are reminded of our next meeting in the Holy Cross Parish Centre at 11 am, Wednesday 6th December. NO FOOD REQUIRED. All welcome. Could you also bring a small gift under $5 to exchange Knitting for babies and children. Many thanks to all parishioners and friends for your continued support. Since beginning in 2011, we have created 3850 items for children in need - keep up the great work! Donations of double-knitting wool/yarn, or cash donations for same, greatly received. Contact Margaret 3882-840 Christmas Appeal. St Vincent de Paul Society Seatoun & Miramar Conference Today we start a three week donation appeal to you for food items, toiletries, treats and gifts to be placed in or beside sign-posted boxes in the foyer any time of the week when the Church is open. You might even like to make up a hamper. On Friday 15 December 2017 our team of drivers and helpers will deliver the boxes of food and items to over 50 families in the district. If you wish to provide a gift could you please wrap it and place a note as to the age and gender the gift would suit. We have placed a brief note for you on the church pews suggesting ideas for donating items or making up hampers. More copies are available in the foyer. This collection is a practical way we can reach out to bring Christ’s love to the homes of our neighbours who are really struggling and for whom this extra help will alleviate their burden. Please note: Last collection day will be the Sunday 10th December Clare Maddock: 388 8548 Thank you to all the Parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish Without your generous support, in time, financially and especially your prayers, we, your local conference, could not carry out this work. “People helping people’ in God’s name. "REAL CHRISTMAS CARDS". St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas cards will be on sale after Sunday Masses at Holy Cross, St Anthony's and St Patrick's churches. Religious-theme cards "Keeping Christ in Christmas", $2.50 per pack of 5 cards with envelopes. Proceeds to our local SVdP Conference activities. Contacts for supplies are: Holy Cross Church (Julian Knapp ph 970 3905) and St Anthony's Church (Andrew Monahan, ph 021 772 350) St Patrick’s Church (Frank Quirke ph 387 4977) A Caring Space An invitation for those who care for a loved one, to spend a few hours creatively exploring with God, what scriptures says about their role as carer. Led by Gill Schaap and Veronica Parton Monday 27th November at the Home of Compassion, 11am – 2pm - Hot drinks provided, please bring you own lunch. Cost: $10 For more details and to register contact Veronica Parton [email protected] 10 copies of Len Fifield playing the Southward Car Museum Wurlizer Organ have been generously donated to sell with all proceeds going to the Parish. CD’s - $20 each. Contact Andrew Greening at St Patrick’s Church if you would like to purchase a copy. Teaching Night @ St Anne’s Hall, Newtown Wed 22nd Nov at 7:30pm. Speaker: Michael Powell Theme: The gift of Word of Knowledge. Evening includes Praise & Worship, group discussion and fellowship. 19th November 2017 - First World Day of the Poor “let us love, not with words but with deeds” Riches and success are often equated with possessions and the independence that comes from having more than enough to live on. Poverty is usually described as having nothing, or lacking the essentials in food and shelter. But these contrasts collapse when we realise how equal we actually are. We are connected; we share a common home – Earth. We own nothing. All is gift. Approaching poverty in this way becomes a very humbling experience. I start to see the sense of looking out for one another, sharing what comes my way, and living responsibly, justly and lovingly. Pope Francis has initiated the first World Day of the Poor to help us recognise our poverty before God and to make greater efforts to respond to the enormity and richness of God’s love for us. Such recognition can help shape us into people of compassion, understanding and acceptance. With these qualities we not only respond to God’s love for us, but we reach out with open hearts and hands to the needs of our sisters and brothers In the words of Pope Francis, the World Day of the Poor is to encourage believers to react against a culture of discard and waste, and to embrace the culture of encounter. We do not live in the dark; we live in the light of Jesus Christ. So we cannot claim ignorance of the struggles that people face in coping with daily life... As Christians, we cannot bury our “one talent” – we cannot hide our light. We are called to be stewards of the gift we have been given – to place it at the service of others – our “one talent” becomes part of a great patchwork that draws the gifts of all together. Together we overcome the difficulties of each. Those with “many talents” risk becoming selfish – trading them for more; becoming richer at the expense of others. Manipulation, exploitation, greedily grasping the little others have... Blessed are the open hands that embrace the poor and help them – bring hope Blessed are the hands that reach beyond every barrier of culture, religion and nationality, and pour the balm of consolation over the wounds of humanity. Blessed are the open hands that ask nothing in exchange... These are hands that call down blessings upon their brothers and sisters. (Pope Francis) Those who are poor, whether financially, intellectually or spiritually, invariably feel powerless to effect any change. Those who are rich in resources can easily overlook or ignore the poverty of others. This first World Day of the Poor is an opportunity for a meeting of minds and hearts, regardless of circumstance. Poverty and richness can each contribute to the welfare of both, joining hands to understand need, to respect dignity, to work together. Every one of us is poor in spirit. It is the love of God that gifts us with life. It is our love for each other that enriches life. To watch the Cardinal’s message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_IrIO0xKcs&feature=youtu.be. National March for Life NZ: Parishes, groups and all people of goodwill are invited to be a part of this historic event. 2017 Theme : We Love Them Both. Be a beacon of light for Kiwi families, mothers and the unborn! Gather at 2 pm in Civic Square ready to walk to Parliament on Saturday 9th December. www.marchforlifenz.org.nz Mass and Holy Hour: Friday 8th December, Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM. starting at 7.30 pm on the Eve of the March in St Anne's Church, Newtown. Celebrant: Monsignor Burns. For more info Ph: 237 8343. Challenge 2000 Street Day Appeal Thursday 23rd November 2017 HELP US TO HELP THOSE ON THE PERIPHERIES One of the outcomes from the Synod was to challenge ourselves to change, to go, be sent to help those on the peripheries of our society. Here is an opportunity to challenge yourself and make that change. How? Our Annual Street Day Appeal is Thursday 23rd November 2017.
For more information on our work or how you can help, view our website www.challenge2000.org.nz 2018 Columban Calendars available through the office $12 each. Either put your money or cheq (made out to Holy Trinity Parish) in an envelope with your details and pop in the collection basket, or email, phone or drop into the Parish Office. Alternatively pay by internet banking to Holy Trinity Parish 02-0536-0185031-00 and use calendar as the reference. When you have paid, email the office [email protected] with the following details: the amount paid, the number of calendars ordered, which Church you will collect your calendars from or if you would like to collect them from the office. Once payment has cleared, the Calendars will be left for you in the back of your chosen Church or in the office for you to collect. See Andrew or Bernadette if you would like to purchase a copy from St Patrick’s Church NOVEMBER PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD: As November is the traditional month for special prayers for our loved ones, parishioners are asked to write the names and place them in the box in the Church, or give them to the priest. Envelopes are available in the foyer. Because of the large number of names, we will only print anniversaries or recent. All names will be remembered in Masses offered during November. We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died recently and those whose anniversaries occur at this time including Leonie Warwick, Rita Longhurst and Krystyna Witkowski. Our prayers are also with those who are unwell especially Graeme Adams and Steve Kuzmicich and for the wonderful people who are caring for the everyday needs of the sick in our Community.
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