Church News 17 November 2024

17 November 2024

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Sunday’s Readings
1^st Reading –Daniel 12.1-3
2^nd Reading –Hebrews 10.11-14,18
Gospel Reading –   Mark 13.24-32
Responsorial Psalm – “Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.”

Eucharistic Acclamation –“We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection, until you come again.”

We Pray For Our recently departed, RIP: 

Anne Beckett (7/11), Julie McDonald (5/11), 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)

Mass Intentions/Anniversaries: 

Darren Wright (30/11), John O’Brien (4/11), 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:

Harvey Gunn, Belinda Blackler, Nicky Burmeister, Ann Toomey, Patricia Lowe, Janet Anderson, Maurice McDonald, Mikulas Oros, Rod and Mary Bennett, Betty Donaldson, Sr Helena Fouhy, Dianne 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 is 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 9 am and Friday, 6 pm to 7 pm.
• Anointing Masses: Our Lady of Lourdes Wednesday, 4 December at 10 am followed by hospitality.
• 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.

The Time of Distress

(Mark 13: 24 – 32)

Jesus said, “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. And so it is with you. When you see all these things, you know he is at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too – these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.” (Mark 13: 28 –  31)

Some of us respond quicker to bad news than to good. That’s how the news media manages to garner our attention. Dire headlines grab eyeballs. We’re conditioned to respond to the bad, because the consequences of not responding can be costly.

Jesus does deliver some bad news in the gospels. Make no mistake: this world is passing, and it’s all going away for each of us personally and for all creation eventually. We can’t hang our hopes on the sun, moon, and stars, because even these mighty forces are mere creatures with built-in obsolescence. And if we’re willing to hedge our bets about the end of the world, wagering that our time will not see the end-time, then we’re still left to comfort our own mortality in the mirror every morning. Some days we may feel invincible, but you don’t want to found your future on a feeling.

Because gospel means good news, the message can never end on a dire note. Creation’s last chapter is coming, but the words of Jesus belong to eternity. If we’re looking for an escape route through inescapable death and destruction, Jesus is the door.

How do the words of Jesus bring new life to you?

Pray

God of our life, impatiently we stamp our feet, yelling “now!” Yet empty, we are filled with your life; desperate, we are gifted with your hope; unable to see your future, you open our eyes to faith. May it be in the waiting that we find you. Amen.

Ponder

You may be in a time of distress right now or know someone who is. Seek the avenue of hope and life, and share your strength in faith with someone else. “Sky and earth will not wear out; my words won’t wear out. But the exact day and hour? No one knows that.”

Kid’s Corner

Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin. (Hebrews 10: 18)

When we take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we tell Jesus our sins through the priest. When we come in sorrow for our sins and do the penance given to us by the priest, we are forgiven by God. Our sins are forgiven forever. They are gone. The weight is off our shoulders. Our job now is to avoid committing those sins again. God gives us graces in the sacrament to strengthen us, but it’s still up to us to do the work.

Take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation whenever you can. It is God’s loving way of helping you grow into the best person you can be.

Jesus, show me how to be more loving and forgiving. Amen.

Cathedral Building Update – as we carried out the repairs following the fire, it was noted that our beautiful rose window had deteriorated and due to aging a number of budges (weight of the lead forces the glass to bulge) had been identified and was in need of urgent repair.  This work commenced this week.    The small windows have been removed, and replacement ‘plastic’ pictures installed for weatherproofing.  These will be taken back to Christchurch to be worked on and returned sometime in the first quarter of 2025.  Date not yet confirmed.  At the front of the Cathedral you will notice more scaffolding.  This is for the roofer to make repairs which will fix the leaking problems around the steeple which has recently impacted the vestry.  We thank you for your patience as we carry out this work.

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!