Church News 3 November 2024

3 November 2024

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Red Sunday

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Sunday’s Readings
1^st Reading –Deuteronomy 6.2-6
2^nd Reading –Hebrews 7.23-28
Gospel Reading –   Mark 12.28-34
Responsorial Psalm – “I love you, Lord, my strength.”
Eucharistic Acclamation –“We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and proclaim your Resurrection, until you come again.”

We Pray For Our recently departed, RIP: 

Martin Wall( 31/10), David Marriott (29/10), Peter Waldron (20/10), Gerard Fouhy, Terence Brosnahan (6/10, Taupo), Sister Mary Emmanuel (Eileen Frances Brosnahan), Timothy Hood (4/10, Adelaide), Louraine Nilsson, 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)

Mass Intentions/Anniversaries: 

John O’Brien (3/11), Dan O’Donoghue (25/11), Bob Bowe (25/10), Ivan Snook (19/10), Margaret Carde (19/10), Alfredo Abayon Sr.(13/10, Philippines), Rosie Frost (26/9), Bert Frost (5/10), Shona Gilligan (11/9), Siemyin Rattanachatree, Raymond Paul Walduogel (31/10)

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

Belinda Blackler, 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

WHAT’S ON

• ‘Holy Souls’ November is a special month to pray for and remember those who have died. For the remembrance of your loved ones, during November, there will be a box of ‘Holy Souls’ and forms that you can fill out with your deceased loved one’s name(s).
• Wednesday Evening Rosary – Wednesday evenings at 5 pm, 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 9:30 am 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 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, 7.30 am to 9am and Friday, 6 pm to 7 pm.
• Anointing Masses: Cathedral Thursday 14 November at 12.05 pm, Our Lady of Lourdes Wednesday 4 December at 10 am both followed by hospitality.
• Bereavement Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes, 7pm Thursday 14 November.
• Our Lady of Lourdes Mass Times: Saturday Vigil 5.30 pm Sunday 9.30 am Wednesday-Friday 10 am Friday Rosary, 9.30 am Reconciliation after Mass & Exposition until 12 pm.
• Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Mass Times: Sunday 7.30 am, 9.30 am and 6pm, Tuesday – Friday 12.05 pm, Tuesday 5.30 pm and Saturday 9 am. Reconciliation before Mass on Friday and after Mass on Friday and after Mass on Saturday.

Close to the Kingdom

(Mark 12: 28b – 34)

One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: “Which is the most important of all the commandments?” Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion, prayer, intelligence, and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.” (Mark 12: 28 –  31)

Play the Scripture game. Name a person in the gospels you would most like to be. For me, the unnamed scribe in this passage is a great choice. Of all the things that Jesus says to anyone in the four gospels, this is the one thing I dearly want him to say to me: “You’re almost there, right on the border of God’s kingdom.”

This anonymous scribe hits the jackpot. Like so many people of his generation, he heard about the great teacher and decided to check out the story. Being a student of Scripture, he wanted to see if Jesus was more learned than he was. Scholarship makes some people arrogant, but this man had come to be humbled by his education. If Jesus knew more about God than he did, he was ready to learn from him.

So he asks his question, which may well have been the guiding principle of his entire career. Which law is first among the commandments? What does God want most from us? If you have only one chance to ask a question, you want to be sure it’s the most important one. And the man is so impressed by the answer Jesus gives, he responds with sincere praise. For his part, Jesus finds himself in the presence of a rare understanding disciple. So he in turn praises the man with those thrilling words: you’re almost there. May each of us hear those words someday!

If you boiled down the mission of your life to one question, as the scribe in the gospel did, what would it be?

Pray

Even in the deep and shadowed places we are not alone. In the hard times we are nurtured, renewed, and made whole. God is with us on this journey. Spirit rejoices with us along the way. For all the extraordinary and subtle ways that love prevails, thanks be to God! Amen.

Ponder

Write a spiritual mission statement for your life. It can be one sentence, or a manifesto if you prefer. Reflect on steps you can take to make your mission a reality. “So lucid and accurate – that God is one and there is no other. And loving God with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself.”

Kid’s Corner

Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark 12: 31)

Aiden’s little brother Lucas has been driving him crazy. Last week, Lucas went in Aiden’s room and messed up Aiden’s science project. And lately, whenever Aiden’s friends come over, Lucas hangs around wanting to play too. On Saturday when Aiden’s friends were over, Aiden locked the door to his bedroom and kept Lucas out. Later that night, his dad had a talk with Aiden. “Lucas looks up to you,” he said. Aiden thought about that. He apologised to Lucas and spent some time playing with him. And do you know what? Aiden actually had fun. Who looks up to you? How can you love them today as Jesus does?

Jesus, help me to be kind to others. Amen.

Our Cathedral will be lit up at night with Red Spotlights over the weekend to mark this event. There will be hospitality offered after each mass at the Cathedral on Sunday.

Celebration of the Cathedral – 100 years!  Thank you to those who have signed up to help with the celebrations.  If you would like to help as a volunteer during the Jubilee celebrations, please put your name down on the boards are in the foyer for you to complete.  Sponsorship:   A huge thank you to those who have contributed towards sponsorship for our weekend. You can still support our celebrations – please use the envelopes being held in the foyer or else contribute online. Thank you!