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Ezek 33, 7-9; Rom 13, 8-10; Mt 18, 15-20
Praise be to you, O Lord Dear sisters and brothers, as I was walking back from Clear Vision, Riddiford St, Newtown to Holy Cross Presbytery, Miramar after my eye examination, it was a torture. I could hardly see anything without my specs, the sun was too strong, it was breezy, and my eyes were teary. I remembered Jesus say, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your vision is poor, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Mt 6, 22-23. It calls for appreciation that every little part of the body is so vital, thing we see, and every person exist in this world. They are all gifts from God for us to help us see God’s love for us. It calls us to respect and be responsible for the creation, our neighbour and myself. Pope Francis begins the encyclical letter “Laudato Si” (on care for our common home), “LAUDATO si’, mi’ Signore”, meaning “praise be to you, my Lord”. This statement recognises the creator and all that is created are from God. the whole creation cries out for love and care for it. Crown of the creation is human being, you and me. This month gives us an opportunity to act responsibly for the care of our home and provide social justice (6-12 September social justice week) as church asks us to. Reflecting on the care of our common home, reminds us that it needs to begin with you and me, that is care of one another. Prophet Ezekiel provides warnings and calls for reconciliation for the harm we do to one another. If we fail in our duty to our brothers, sisters, spouses, children or other dependant, those harm the holiness of the whole society, creation and the church. we can’t shrug them off as no concern of our saying: ‘I can’t be bothered, too busy, nothing to do with me, anyway.’ We cannot afford to be indifferent to the creation. Gospel brings the truth home as the evangelist says, “despite the presence of the Christ in the Christian community there are going to be disagreements and misunderstandings in every community and every family. The vital thing is to sort them out and not to let them fester.” He also highlights the value of forgiveness by Jesus’ teaching, “forgive not just seven times but seventy-seven times.” Dear sisters and brothers, Christ is present in his community always. The same promise is given at the beginning and the end of the gospel, “I am with you to the end of time.” Therefore, the strength of the community both to reconcile grievances and to make further requests of the Father lies in the presence of Christ within it. It is especially striking that the same promise is here given to the Church as had earlier been given to Peter himself. Paul describes the process of salvation won for us by Christ’s loving obedience to his Father. He teaches us to live as Christian by loving neighbours as we love ourselves. Thus, love covers all our faults and commits us to grow in charity. This way we evolve ourselves into a people who love and care not only fellow human beings but whole creation. St Francis is one of the most joyful persons to have lived closest to the creation and praised God with all his heart for his creation. He reconciled humanity with animals with the example of the wolf of Gubbio. Dear sisters and brothers, today we celebrate Father’s Day, let us remember to pray for their love, care, support and understanding in leading us to be a responsible person. Happy Fathers’ Day. May God be praised for our dads. Every blessing to you all. Fr Ephrem Let us pray for all those who are unwell especially Barney Scully, Hazel Kingston, Nesi Tan, Warren Stevenson, John Cairns-Cowan and Graeme Adams and those recovering at home including Eddie Wilkins. And we pray for the wonderful people who are caring for the everyday needs of the sick in our Community. We also pray for the members of our Parish families who have died recently especially Mary McArthur and Philipine Calllanan and those whose anniversaries occur around this time; Nola Foley. All Masses are suspended till we are back in alert level 1; Faithful are dispensed from Obligation of Mass as long as the restrictions remain. All churches are now closed except Holy Cross Church which will be open for personal prayer between 9am - 2pm each day. Following rules apply
Fr Ephrem is offering Mass every day from the prayer room in the presbytery at the following times till we are back at level 1
Memorial Mass for John Rogers – 12 September 2pm St Patrick’s Church Kilbirnie A memorial Mass will be celebrated for John who died on the 22nd March. Please note: This will only go ahead at level 1. If we are at level 2, this will be postponed to a later date. Holy Cross School baptism and feast of the Holy Cross – Monday 14 September 9am Father will be celebrating Mass on this day at Holy Cross School Hall to celebrate the feast of the Holy Cross and baptise some children from the school. Come join in this special occasion. Please note: there will be no liturgy of the word with communion on this day Finance Committee Meeting – 8th September 7pm, St Patrick’s Meeting Room Parish Council Meeting – 7th October 7pm, Gascoigne Room St Anthony’s St Vincent de Paul Eastern Suburbs Conference appreciates the assistance of food and donations given over the last few months by many parishioners of our Holy Trinity Parish. Our members have delivered food parcels to several families experiencing hardship during COVID, children's clothing and knitted items, and household items. Donations have been put towards supply of school uniform, shoes, jackets and activities for many local school students. Visits and phoning to elderly and isolated parishioners continue to show the parish cares for them. If you wish to help with these acts of charity, please consider a direct online donation to our local Conference account which is: BNZ Kilbirnie, St Vincent de Paul Society, A/c No. 02 0576 0017 817 06 , reference “ Donation ”. If you want a receipt of the donation for tax purposes, do please contact our Treasurer , Maria Pene, ph 022 428 0247, mpene20@gmail.com St Patrick’s Church Liturgy Committee are looking for someone to run the Sacramental Programme for the children in 2021. In this programme the children are prepared for Reconciliation, Confirmation and Holy Communion. Each Sacrament has 3 lessons each which are held in the Parish Centre before or after Sunday Mass. Resources are provided and help and support provided. Are you interested in taking part? Please contact the Chairperson of the Committee Patricia O’Donnell 04 934 3179. Thank you. Some possible options as we can’t attend Mass on Sundays: This link takes you through to four different types of online retreats including a “3-Minute Retreat” and an Audio retreat as well as daily scripture with Sacred Space and Pray as You Go. https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/prayer-online/ Auckland Liturgy Office https://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/liturgy/ “Celebration of the Word at home” with links to daily readings and music Reflections from John O’Connor, ‘Food for Faith’ have just started again. https://foodforfaith.org.nz Psalm 105: 1 “Oh give thanks to the Lord: call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!” https://indd.adobe.com/view/3d006405-1cb7-4d8a-9bf7-b0c140727602 Over the centuries, and by the light of the Gospel, the Church has developed several social principles which are fundamental, principles that can help us move forward in preparing the future that we need. I cite the main ones which are closely connected: the principle of the dignity of the person, the principle of the common good, the principle of the preferential option for the poor, the principle of the universal destination of goods, the principle of the solidarity, of subsidiarity, the principle of the care for our common home. These principles help the leaders, those responsible for society, to foster growth and also, as in the case of the pandemic, the healing of the personal and social fabric. All of these principles express in different ways the virtues of faith, hope and love. Pope Francis: General Audience address 5 August 2020 Liturgical Guide for Season of Creation 2020, by Tui Motu InterIslands Magazine https://tuimotu.org/a/3ngdBdW JOSHUA FELLOWSHIP Come and join other men on Thursday 17th September 2020. A cuppa available from 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start in 'LOAVES and FISHES' next to Anglican Cathedral of St Paul, corner Hill and Molesworth streets. Speaker: Jane Sutherland sharing an amazing story of forgiveness “Forgive a little/love a little; forgive a lot/love a lot”Want to know more? Ring Steve Ready 027-356-9555 or email: joshua.wgtn@gmail.com I want to sing to you – Fr Chris Skinner SM With an interlude from Kapiti Senior Singers. At our Lady of Kapiti Church on Sunday 20th September 2-4pm. Tickets $25 from Our Lady of Kapiti Parish Office 04 902-5815 or Mary Cook 027-298-3255 cookwellington@yahoo.com CDs for sale at the concert. KIWI ATHLETIC CLUB (est 1926) opening and enrolment nights 1st two Wednesday in October 5pm, Newtown Stadium. For College age to Veteran adults . Ideal for winter coders, newcomers. Contact Peter Jack 3886224 from 7pm Notices from Titipounamu Study & Joy Online Session (Evening): Mary, the Mother of God – A Contemporary Understanding of Mary with Br Kieran Fenn who has a wonderful way of bringing Scripture alive. Topic on Monday, 7 September, 7-8.30pm: Mary in the Gospel of Luke. Fee: $25/session. Special fees for groups of more than 2 persons. ZOOM. For more information and registration: info@studyjoy.nz See also: https://www.studyjoy.nz/events/virtual-teaching-mary-mother-of-god-i-with-kieran-fenn-fms-4/ Online Session (Retreat Day): Homecoming – A Journey of Transformation (Prodigal Son) with Eamon Butler. Saturday, 19 September, 10.30am-4pm. Fee: $60. For more information and registration: info@studyjoy.nz https://www.studyjoy.nz/events/retreat-day-with-eamon-butler-the-prodigal-son/ Youth Together – young people’s therapy group (Free) Monday 14 Sept – 7 Dec 3.15pm – 5pm Are you 13 – 17 years old? Have you had a refugee life experience? Do you want to meet others with similar experiences? Do you sometimes find life hard or stressful? Do you find yourself upset, angry or quiet? Would you like to have fun while developing skills to cope with school, family and making friends? If you speak enough English to complete your schoolwork without an interpreter then this group is for you. If you are interested contact Lorraine Singh (counsellor) 022 624 3699 or Lorraine.wingh@redcross.org.nz or Mary Cook (psychotherapist) 022 680 3084 mark.cook@redcross.org.nz Community Programme Inspire – open to Women from all Ethnicities with Refugee Experiences. Translators Available. Join Us Tuesdays 15 Sept – 01 Dec 2020 from 12pm – 2.30pm Central Wellington. For women 20years + register before 7 September by email or ph Anji Piper-Beckett 022 624 38703 or anji.piper-beckett@redcross.org.nz or Carolina Henriquez 022 354 2860 or Carolina.herriquez@redcross.org.nz Discover Maori Culture and world views how to balance your life and regain personal power. Create art, healing strategies, nurturing, cooking. Loear women’s rights in New Zealand strategies to build health lifestyles. September – Hepetema September is a busy month for Catholics in New Zealand: It’s the Season of Creation, this week is Social Justice Week, Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori starts 14th, plus the 6th is also Fathers Day! And everything is connected. Ā, kei te honono i ngā mea kātoa. There’s plenty to keep us thinking about, praying for and acting upon as members of Christ’s body, the Church on earth. Here are three quotes to help with some short meditations over the next week: Human life is grounded in three fundamental and closely intertwined relationships: with God, with our neighbour and with the earth itself. (Laudato si’ #66) We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental. Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature. (Laudato si’ #139) “A real concern today is that liturgy and social justice tend to be treated as two unrelated activities in the life of the Church... the equality we know at the table of Christ’s Body must be celebrated at all other tables.” (Cardinal Thomas Williams - Social Justice Week 2020 booklet p.2) In the spirit of Kaitiakitanga Stewardship may we all take action throughout this Season of Creation month, not just in prayer but in our daily lives too. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- Three R’s for a better planet – reduce, reuse, recycle.
Let us pray for the diversity of humanity: The gifts of the human race expressed in music and art, science and engineering, philosophy and literature, laughter and friendship. May we appreciate and embrace the diversity, creativity and vulnerability of those with whom we share earth’s journey. Enable us, God of love, to honour all of creation in our interactions with others and in our interactions with nature. We ask this through Christ your Son. AMEN Catholic Social Justice Week - Te Wiki o te Whai Tika Easy as CST: Unlocking the Church’s Potential. Let us take this opportunity to investigate our Church’s nine principles of social teaching and consider how we promote love, peace and justice for all. Good information for parishes at: https://caritas.org.nz/parishes/social-justice-week Human Dignity • Te Mana i te Tangata Solidarity • Whakawhanaungatanga Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable • He Whakaaro Nui mo te Hunga Rawakore Subsidiarity • Mana Whakahaere Stewardship • Kaitiakitanga Distributive Justice • Te Tika ka Tohaina Promotion of Peace •Te Whakatairanga i te Rangimarie Participation • Nau te Rourou, Naku te Rourou Common Good • He Painga ma te Katoa COVID 19 Alert Level 2 We’ve come so far and so well – do keep up with those safe practices – most of us want to keep this virus away.
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