Church News 10 November 2024

10 November 2024

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Sunday’s Readings
1^st Reading –1 Kings 17.10-16
2^nd Reading –Hebrews 9.24-28
Gospel Reading –   Mark 12.38-44
Responsorial Psalm – “Praise the Lord, my soul!”
Eucharistic Acclamation –“We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and proclaim your Resurrection, until you come again.”

We Pray For Our recently departed, RIP: 

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), 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 (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:

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: Cathedral this Thursday 14 November at 12.05 pm, Our Lady of Lourdes Wednesday 4 December at10 am both followed by hospitality.
• A Bereavement Mass is being held at Our Lady of Lourdes at 7 pm this Thursday 14 November. Please bring some food to share for supper. There will be no 10 am Mass at OLOL on Thursday.
• 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 6 pm, Tuesday – Friday 12.05 pm, Tuesday 5.30 pm and Saturday 9 am. Reconciliation before Mass on Friday and after Mass on Saturday.

Widows Wanted

(Mark 12: 38 – 44)

Sitting across from the offering box, Jesus was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins – a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford – she gave her all.” (Mark 12: 41 –  44)

The older we get, the more widows we know. The way the math works out, women still outlive men in this country, and men often marry women who are younger to begin with. That makes for a good many widows. Since the early Church, the Christian mission has been powered by the extraordinary energy of this group. In the first three centuries, the Church formally recognised a quasi-religious status of widowhood as a position ranking below priests, deacons, and exorcists. Women frequently tithed their later years to the Church in works of prayer, charity, and service. Although we no longer speak of a consecrated order of widows, most of us still see a lot of them in church circles. They may be stripped of the dignity of rank but not of any of the responsibility they’ve always shouldered. Give me a committee of widows, and we’ll get the job done!

Widowers, though less numerous, are certainly welcomed in the ministry of the Church, and single people of any age, whatever the circumstances, keep most parishes afloat. This face is not often publicly acknowledged; let’s amend that unjust silence here.

How many “consecrated widows (widowers)” do you know?

Pray

God of all the small things, may those without voice be championed, those without hope be comforted, those without faith be uplifted. May we be rich in courage as we confront the greed that leads to oppression. May we be rich in compassion as we lament with the brokenhearted. Amen.

Ponder

Consecrate a portion of your week to the service of God’s reign. You can use that time to pray, volunteer, or give wholeheartedly to your family or those who need you most.

Kid’s Corner

Jesus continued, “All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford – she gave her all.” (Mark 12: 44)

Kelsey has a lot of leftover food from her birthday party, and it wasn’t the kind she liked very much. So, she brought it to church food pantry. Kelsey tried to feel good about her donation, but when she saw the people lined up outside, she knew she had to do more. Kelsey found out that what was most needed at the food pantry were things like peanut butter, nappies, cereal and shampoo. She used all her pocket money to buy those things, and she brought it back to the pantry. She felt better, but still, she wanted to do more. Do you have any ideas for Kelsey? For you?

Jesus, show me how to give more every day. Amen.

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!