Church News 29 September 2024

29 September 2024

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday’s Readings
1^st Reading –Numbers 11.6a, 17c, 25-29
2^nd Reading –James 5.1-6
Gospel Reading –  Mark 9.38-43, 45, 47-48
Responsorial Psalm – “The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.”
Eucharistic Acclamation –“Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.”

 

We Pray For Our recently departed, RIP: 

Josefina Serrano (Philippines), Sister Kathleen Fitzsimmons RSM (CHCH), Janice Mary Dowd (10/9), Bernadette Mary Humphrey (18/9), Maureen Murphy (1/9), Brendan Kavanagh (Hawera), Lynne Keogh (6/9), Vincent (Vinnie) William Carroll (1/9), Bishop Denis Browne (1/9), Maurice Dolan (31/8), Elisa Nuñez(Philippines), Teresita Sta. Ana,(Philippines), Anna Feldberg (24/8), Noeline Creighton (22/8), Fr Denis O’Hagan S.M. 14/08, Brian Tiejens, Peter Kelly (Auck.),Fr Jim Nicholas (Chch), Jacob Vijoy (Fr. Vijoy’s father-India, 1/8)

Mass Intentions/Anniversaries: 

Shona Gilligan (11/9), Siemyin Rattanachatree, Cheryle & Megan Hunter (17/8), Raymond Paul Walduogel (31/10), Frank O’Brien (23/7), Colin Brown (29/7), Paula Brown (18/8)

We Pray For those in our community who need our prayers:

Nicky Burmeister, Martin Wall, Ann Toomey, Peter Waldron, Patricia Lowe, Janet Anderson, Maurice McDonald, Mikulas Oros, Rod and Mary Bennett, Betty Donaldson, Sr Helena Fouhy, Dianne Jordan, Sonya Jordan, Angela Marlow, Michael and Mary O’Connor, Maurice Takarangi, Gye Beehre, Peter Angland, Chloe Young and May Young.

PLEASE NOTE:  Due to issues with the building, the Cathedral Gathering Area and Lounge will be closed for a short period of time.  For mobility access to the Cathedral, please use the main front doors or the side door by the office.  There will be no children’s liturgy or hospitality following the 9.30am Mass this Sunday.  We apologise for any inconvenience.

 

WHAT’S ON

Hospitality of Cathedral – 1^st Friday after the 12.05 pm Mass, we offer hospitality. Please bring some food to share.

Palmerston North Young Adult Ministry – During the term(s), Mass at Massey is happening on Wednesdays at 12:05, the Centre (opposite the bus stop).  All Welcome.

Wednesday Evening Rosary – Wednesday evenings at 5pm, you are invited to pray the Rosary. For further information, contact Ian Sutherland 06- 356-7555.

Shining Stars (Pre-School Music Group) – Thursday mornings (during school terms) starting at 9:30am in the Cathedral Lounge.  Come along for music fun, followed by morning tea and play.

Praying the Sunday Gospel is held every Friday in the Parish Office Meeting Room at 11.00 am.  This is a time for quiet contemplation and reflection on the Gospel.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament of the Cathedral is on Monday-Friday, 7.30am to 9am and Friday, 6pm to 7pm.

Our Lady of Lourdes Mass Time Vigil is 5.30 pm Sunday, 9.30 am Wednesday-Friday, 10am Friday Rosary, 9.30 am Reconciliation after Mass & Exposition.

Cathedral of Holy Spirit Mass Time Vigil is Sunday 7.30 am, 9.30 am and 6pm. Tuesday – Friday, 12.05 pm, Tuesday 5.30 pm and Saturday 9 am

 

Unauthorised Goodness

(Mark 9: 38 –  48)

John spoke up, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t in our group.” Jesus wasn’tpleased. “Don’t stop him. No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut me down. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally. Why, anyone by just giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side. Count on it that God will notice.” (Mark 9: 38 – 41)

Like the good citizens around Moses, the disciples around Jesus are jealous for the copyright to goodness. Anyone who teaches the ignorant, heals the sick, or feeds the poor without joining their Master’s guild has got to be from the devil. Obviously it escapes the disciples that this is precisely the charge that’s been levelled at Jesus by the religious leaders of the Temple. Righteousness is private property. Unauthorised goodness is strictly forbidden.

It may be natural to feel a twinge when, say, the Hare Krishnas open a soup kitchen in our parish, beating up the good witness. We feel embarrassed that it’s come to this. But right is right, not matter what the source is. The proper response is to praise God, grow in humility, and persevere in our own attempt to support the cause of righteousness.

Where might you become a source of “unauthorised goodness” for others?

PRAY

Strengthen us, God, to choose to live faithfully in all the situations we face. Make us bold and courageous advocates for those who are facing danger and risk. Help us be wise, persistent stewards of all that you entrust into our care. Amen.

Ponder
 
Be on the alert for agreement and common values between you and those who seem  most alien: the younger/older generation, people of another race, tongue, religion or political persuasion. The stranger may be a friend. “If you give one of these simple, childlike believers a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t”.

 

KID’S CORNER

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” (Mark 9: 38)

Does it seem like the Apostles are being tattletales here? It does to me. But Jesus tells them not worry about people trying to do good in Jesus’ name. He says, “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ … will surely not lose their reward.” God’s people don’t always agree about how to do things. Many Christians choose to worship in different ways, for example. Yet, all people everywhere have one important thing in common. We are all created in God’s image. When we remember this, it’s easier to look past our differences and see God’s goodness in each person.

Loving God, teach me to respect all people everywhere. Amen.

 

 

 

12 September 2024

 

Dear Members of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

I want to update you on progress since the two consultation meetings we had last month to discern a way forward for the Lady of Lourdes community. The two meetings were well attended and those who wanted to speak at that time were given that opportunity. Others in the community have written to me directly. I thank everyone who was able to attend the meetings or take part in some other way with this first round of consultation.

Several themes came out of the dialogue we had. Firstly, a strong and unanimous view that parishioners are proud of their community of faith and want it to continue as a Catholic place of worship. Secondly, recognising how few priests we have, there was support for establishing more structures for lay leadership. Thirdly there was an acceptance that the current mass timetable is serving the parish well but an understanding that having the same mass time as the Cathedral parish on the Sunday morning is untenable. Finally, there was a desire to make good use of the parish presbytery now that it is vacant.

Again, I thank you all for these good and reasonable conclusions. I would like to respond with the following.

It is my thinking, as I expressed at our meetings, that the family of faith at Our Lady of Lourdes should be encouraged and fostered by maintaining a regular mass timetable there and providing for the reception of the sacraments in this community. There is no intention from me to close down the church or restrict the provision of mass. I think that it is possible for this community to be served by a collaborative relationship between our priests and the already functioning and new lay leadership structures.

My current thinking is to bring our parishes and communities of Foxton, Shannon, Rongotea, Our Lady of Lourdes, and the Cathedral together as one. This would mean a single mass timetable and the sharing of administrative resources. My hope is that this will allow us to serve our communities with the small number of priests that will soon be our reality. Before any decisions are made, I wish to speak with each of these faith communities so to hear the wisdom of parishioners as to how we may move forward in an anointed and effective way. My intention is to speak with each community before the end of this year.

Upon my return from Rome, we will plot our way forward via a series of community meetings. The status quo will be in place until the end of the year. I will keep you posted as to further developments as we move forward from here.

 

Yours faithfully in Christ