13th Sunday Ordinary Time
SUNDAY REFLECTION
“God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living.” So reads the opening sentence from our first reading today from the Book of Wisdom. Death has been very much in the news of late owing to the case of Lucretia Seales’ to legally have her doctor administer an injection to terminate her life. The judge found against her saying it was the role of Parliament to change the law. As it was she died naturally in a Catholic hospice. I didn’t see this last fact described in the general media.
We are going to hear more and more about euthanasia. The irony is that it has come to the fore at a time when there is the least need for it. Palliative care has taken away much of the fear of dying a painful death. It doesn’t meet every need but it has certainly lessened the prospect of uncontrollable agony. It is natural to fear dying. I have been present at some beautiful deaths and this has helped to lessen the fear. There is in the missal a Mass for a Happy Death. Perhaps it is an intention we need to pray for more frequently. St Benedict says we should keep our death before us always.
“God created us for incorruption, and made us in the image of his own eternity, but through the devil’s envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his company experience it.” These are the last two verses of today’s first reading. Death here is identified with the work of the devil going back to the story of the Fall in Genesis 3 where the serpent is identified for the first time in the Scriptures with the devil. The pathway of death is not unlike the pathway of birth, only this time we are conscious of it. It is a passage into the unknown but how we journey through it is determined by how we have faced life. Jesus’ command to let go of self should be continually ringing in our ears. God created us for life and that is what we hang on to. “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground…” Jesus has shown the way to fullness of life and that remains the model for us.
Peter Murphy
Speaker today: Chairperson Parish Finance Council – Evan Fitzpatrick
Master-plan for Development of Church Buildings and Site – Sunday 12 July 1-2.30pm, hall.
Parish Pastoral Council meeting this Wednesday 1 July, 7.30pm. Contact Nigel Boyhan ph 296 2369
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion – training for new ministers, existing ministers are also encouraged to join in. This Tuesday 30 June, 7pm or Saturday 4 July 11am.
Please confirm you attendance to the parish office ph 2996056.
Children’s Liturgy:
Children of any age are welcome, children under the age of five must be accompanied by an adult please.
June Diocesan Youth Mass – annual Maori Miha. This Sunday 28 June, 7 pm @ St Patrick’s Cathedral. The theme for the Mass is “Kawea te Whakapono me to Oranga ki te ao. Be bearers of Faith and Healing in the world” hosted by the students and staff of Hato Petera College. With Fr Rodney Smythe.
Parish Retreat – Saturday 17 October at La Valla, Tuakau.
Speaker: Dr Tony Molloy. See Fr Peter for information
Parish Family Pilgrimage – January 2015 – welcome “young and old”
Papakura Community Dinners – Anglican Hall Tuesdays at 6pm – over 100 attending.
St Vincent de Paul have joined a warmer winter initiative to provide hot water bottles to those attending the dinners, the goal is to provide 100, those who wish to support by donating a bottle, a bottle cover (or both) please bring to the parish office by Tuesday, they will be distributed at the dinner this Tuesday 30 June.
It has been National Volunteer Week – 21 – 27 June. For all of you who volunteer in whatever capacity, here in the Parish , out there in the community – well done. Thank you for all the volunteering you do.
Men’s Retreat – Discovering the Divine Within 27 – 28 June 2015 (Sat 10am – Sun 2pm) St Francis Retreat Centre, Mt Roskill. $155pp (All incl.) Led by Br. David Leary, ofm (PhD in Counselling & Health Psychology) Book/info. 09-625 6651 or director@stfrancisretreatcentre.org.nz.
Notice To All Women – Dove Catholic Fellowship for Women warmly invites you to our next meeting. Come along, bring a friend. We would love to see you there. Tue 30 June, 7. 30pm at St Anne’s Parish Hall, 126 Russell Rd, Manurewa. Speaker: Annette Woodnut – on Patience. Rom 8:25: “but if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Info: Grace on 577 3479 or website,www.dove.org.nz
Catholic Young Professionals Fr John Dunn is speaker on Wednesday 1 July – 6.30pm at the Gus Fisher Gallery, 74 Shortland Street. We invite working Catholics in their 20s and 30s to attend ” Deepening our Understanding of the Mass” Come along to renew your faith and deepen your devotion to the Eucharist. Facebook at ‘Catholic Young Professionals’ or catholicyoungprofessionalsnz@gmail.com
MIT Maori and Pasifika Trades Training Scholarships – recruiting for Semester 2 – Free tuition fees for up to 1 year, specialised Support to ensure you are work-ready upon completion of your course to go straight into a trades apprenticeship or trades job. “Navigator” industry-focused support right throughout your course and into employment plus 6 months, to support your transition into sustainable employment, see Fr Peter or Fr Maliu.
Inner Healing Seminar – Come and experience the healing power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Saturday 4 July & Saturday 11 July , 9am – 5pm. Opening Mass 9.30am. Contact Betsy 09 8263937 for venue/ info. No registration required. BYO – Bible, notebook / pencil & Lunch.”
July: St. Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby
Putting a Human Face on Climate Change – Learn more about Pope Francis’ new encyclical, Laudato Si, and how a small community is coping with the loss of their island homes to sea-level rise: A Conversation with Ursula Rakova of the Carteret Islands. Friday 3 July: 5:30-7pm,
Diocesan Justice & Peace Commission and Caritas:www.catholicjusticeauckland.org.nz 360 3037
Fr. Brendan Ward, Rector of Holy Cross Seminary, will be speaking on “Discernment and surrender: Matching our plans with God’s” Fr. Brendan will be speaking about his personal journey from lay person to priesthood, in particular his personal challenges before finally accepting God’s mission for his life.
Tuesday 21 July, 6 – 7.15pm. A free event, register at Akld.CCN.Express@gmail.com
Mercy Spirituality Centre, 104 The Drive, ph 09 638 6238 orinfo@mercyspiritualitycentre.org.nz
- Early Images in Christianity – Three Empresses Protecting Early Icons and Mosaics with Anne-Marie Harvey rsm, Thursday 25 June, 7-9pm
- Enneagram Unit 2 – with Marie Corbett, Saturday 27 June, 9.30am-4.30pm
Consecrated Life Article. Christian Brother’s – on noticeboard today.