BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
SUNDAY REFLECTION
First Communion is always a joyful occasion and we are pleased to be welcoming 50 young people to full membership of the Church this Saturday evening. It is an occasion for families to come together and celebrate and rightly so. Such milestones leave a lasting imprint on our lives. So our prayers go out to these young people and their families that the Holy Spirit may indeed touch their hearts and draw them closer to Him.
The Eucharist is at the heart of our life as Catholics. As is often said the Eucharist makes the Church and the Church makes the Eucharist. Take this away and communities begin to disintegrate. Recently I was at a family reunion celebrating the 150th anniversary of the marriage of my great-grandparents in the Church at Parnell. I made the decision to celebrate it with a Mass in large part for the Mass was what kept the spirit of the Irish people alive during those dark years when huge force was placed on them to shift their allegiance to the English Crown. They refused in face of enormous suffering yet it is out of that suffering that the Irish Diaspora was created in countries such as the US, Canada, Australia and ourselves. My family is like most of Irish Catholic origin; the old people were very staunch in the practice of the faith but with subsequent generations it has become watered down to nothing in many cases. People say glibly that you don’t have to go to Church to be a Catholic Christian but the fact remains unless your faith is nurtured by the Scriptures, the Eucharist and your own prayer life it gradually becomes just nominal.
We are fortunate in this country to have a Catholic school system that continues to be a draw-card for Catholic parents. The school here serves as part of the Church’s evangelising mission. It is an uphill battle in a secular society such as ours to keep faith alive and this is where we need to support one another. It is for this reason that we are planning a parish retreat day in October and a parish pilgrimage to the Hokianga in January. It is important to know our history and it is the Sacrament of the Eucharist that has been the central life force of that history. The 50 young people who make their First Communion this day may wander off in all directions but at least imprinted in them is something they can come back to that is life-giving.
Peter Murphy
Parish family Pilgrimage – January 2015 – Fundraising
Sunday 21 June, 11.30am – 1.30pm in the hall, come along for the drawing of the “Lord’s Supper” raffle. Cake stall and cup of tea and yummy food for sale, bring your money along.
Parish Morning Tea – in the Ryder Rm following the 8.30am Mass on 21 June. Hosted by the knitting group.
Parish Retreat – Saturday 17 October at La Valla, Tuakau.
Speaker: Dr Tony Molloy. See Fr Peter for information
Master-plan for Development of Church Buildings and Site. On Friday May 15 the Parish Council, Finance Committee and Liturgy held a meeting to explore the development of a master plan for our site and buildings. There will be additional meetings forthcoming.
Bishop Pat has appointed a co-ordinator for an Auckland Catholic parish network in opposition to the legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide. A major purpose is to facilitate the flow of information and resources that may be needed on the issue.
A direct contact network with parishes is being developed and this requires a contact person within each parish, if you are interested in supporting this initiative or would like more information please contact Fr Peter or the parish office. Informative sites: NZ Catholic Bishops Bio-Ethics Centre: www.nathaniel.org.nz
Euthanasia-Free NZ www.euthanasiafree.org.nz
World Youth Day Auckland Experience: 11 & 12 July 2015, The event that we all look forward to is back!! One of our many themes is social injustice. Bishop Pat has challenged us to research and share creatively about an issue or need in our local area. Group, Individual and Volunteer registrations now open.
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.
Mercy Spirituality Centre, 104 The Drive, bookings 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
Papakura Community Dinners – Anglican Hall Tuesdays at 6pm – over 100 attending.
Meeting this Tuesday 9th June at 7.30pm in the hall. A call for anyone who might consider joining or doing a little more for the community dinner.
A person for admin/volunteer liaison. To check PCD emails and reply/forward etc.
A person to organise the roster. The volunteer lists are already made and the basic structure of the roster is available. Contact Danielle 021 299 3477 ordmorleyjohn@gmail.com.
Prolife facts: In 1963, New Zealand doctor Professor Sir William Liley pioneered a technique for carrying out blood transfusions on preborn children endangered by rH incompatability with their mothers. This was the first time a preborn child had been successfully treated as a patient in medicine. The medical speciality of perinatology was established and Sir William became known as the “Father of Fetology”. For pro-life information, visit www.voiceforlife.org.nz or phone (09)4430995.
Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand: NZQA accredited diplomas: Understanding Sacraments/Apocalyptic Literature, see the notice board today, or contact m.beaumont@tci.ac.nz.
Ministers of the Word: Readings for June in the Sacristy today.
Parish Groups:
Stations of the Cross – 5pm Fridays. Michael Sharp ph 298 9295
Holy Rosary – 8.30am weekdays
The statue of Our Lady is available for families, your name to the list in the foyeror ph Jean 2965486
Medjugorje prayer meetings: Mondays, 4pm @ 2/1 Clark Rd, Joseph 2982297.
Legion of Mary – Meetings Tuesdays at 5.30pm in the hall committee room.
Mothers Prayers. Wednesdays 1-3pm – Ryder Rm, ph Jean Keown ph 2984502 for dates.
Children’s Liturgy – for children 4 – 8yrs, Sundays 10.30am Mass.
We are looking for new leaders please contact Tina 0221644073 or 2927764, training given.
Choir – meets each Wednesday for practice, newcomers welcome. Ph Judith 2681884
Music for Mass: Once a month a small group of ‘young adult’ musicians lead a communion hymn, we are wanting one more vocalist and a guitarist to join this group, if you would like to join or know more please contact Judith ph 2681884
Meditation Groups:
Tuesdays 9.30am Fr Ryder Rm Tuesdays 5pm at 8A Ashdown Place, Bev 2989943
Thursdays 7.30pm, 51A Willis Rd, Richard 9088566
Young Meditators: Sundays at 5pm, Fr Ryder Rm – Anthea 2982297
St Vincent de Paul Office and Shop Mary 2984622/shop 2965052
– thank you everyone for ongoing donations of food to the pantry and also cash donations, we are currently low on flour and sugar.
Knitting group meets 2nd/4th Tuesdays (12 May) – 1-3 pm Ryder Rm. Jenny ph 2977292 .
English classes Thursdays, Ryder Room at 10am, all welcome. Jenny ph 2977292
Playgroup – Wednesday mornings 9.30 – 11.30am, hall, welcome.
Environmental Care Group – meets monthly – 7pm Crossroads Methodist – monthly at 7.30pm
Exercise Classes – Tuesdays/Thursdays Parish Hall 10-11am – low impact exercise in your own time to music while seated or standing, come join us.
Working Bee Group – if you require help around your home with gardening, cleaning etc contact Lavinia Tuila 0211875889
Faith Walks – reconnecting with the land. Next walk – date to be advised. All Welcome.
FIT FOR MISSION: Let us all remember this: one cannot proclaim the Gospel of Jesus without the tangible witness of one’s life. Pope Francis
How have your actions witnessed to the Gospel this last week?