THE PASTOR’S POST
People of the Resurrection
When British journalist, social commentator and convert to Catholicism, Malcolm Muggeridge, was nearing his own death, he wrote about how comforting were Jesus’ words “I am the Resurrection”. He referred to these words as an “outrageous claim”, not because he didn’t believe them, but he was indicating that to people who knew nothing of Jesus’ life and message, this concept would sound so incredible and radical.
Most people have no difficulty believing that a good and righteous man named Jesus lived and had a deep and lasting effect on those who heard him.
Similarly, people have no trouble believing that he was wrongly accused and he became a political scapegoat for both the Jews and the Romans, but when it comes to ‘resurrection’, people hesitate and caution themselves against accepting something so confronting.
Is there really something more than the physical existence that we know? If I believe that death is not the end, what difference does this make to the way I live?
They really are words which bring with them an outstanding opportunity and challenge. Generations following on from those who first heard these words have grappled with both their meaning and application. They are words, which if true, have the power to completely change the direction and intentions of a person’s life. They are words which could overturn the values of people who only accept a secular world and crush the ambitions of those who only follow the attraction of material gain.
It was Christ’s own belief in these words, “I am the Resurrection”, that gave him the wisdom and courage to stand before Pilate and survive his trial of humiliation. The words gave him the strength to endure his agonising suffering and death. Yet these words were not simply said to give Jesus courage. They were meant for those who needed what the words offered, not simply a validation of the life and horrible death of Jesus, but that goodness and truth would endure, far beyond the historical Jesus. Today, Easter celebrates, not the ugliness of his suffering and death and what people did to him, but the enduring and compelling power of his life and love, which invites us to forever know ourselves as believers in the one who invited us to be resurrection people. Now is the time to ask the question again.
What difference does it make to the way I live that Jesus was raised from the dead and that we shall do the same? Do you genuinely believe it or are you just hedging your bets?
Fr Peter Dillon PP.
PASCHAL CANDLES
On Holy Saturday Night last week, in Surfers Paradise Parish, the Paschal Candles for each of the parish churches were blessed, commissioned and lit at the Easter Vigil, (in the absence of the assembly, but with the people united with us in prayer from their homes).
The Paschal Candle (Easter Candle) represents the Light of Christ who came into the world to scatter the darkness of sin and death and make us children of God. This candle is lit for the Easter Season, and also at Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals, as well as sacraments such as Confirmation, and other special times.
The Year of Our Lord, 2020.
Christ yesterday and today,
the Beginning and the End,
the Alpha and the Omega.
All time belongs to him,
and all the ages.
To him be glory and power,
through every age and forever. Amen
May the light of Christ rising in glory,
dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.
The Light of Christ.
R/ Thanks be to God.
FAITH AT HOME
It is so important for the good of all the community and every member of it that we do take special time at home to praise God and listen to his word, particularly on Sunday, (or Saturday evening), and especially at this time when public masses and gatherings cannot occur. Bless you all.
Below you can see Fr Warren celebrating the Easter Vigil for communities far and wide. Additionally, there is a wonderful photo from a parishioner’s family who marked the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord at Easter in their home with a special plant arrangement of the empty tomb. People have been also creatively using what they have at hand, in the absence of gathered Masses, with home symbols and special prayer spaces. God bless you all.
In these stressful times, we probably all need a smile to keep us going.
So here is a special treat for the readers of this newsletter. As you know we have been preparing the audio-blog which featured readings, prayers and homily and the Mass for the Easter and weekend masses. The readings are sometimes very tongue twisting and it’s easy to trip over a pronunciation or lose the track of the sentence. Fr Paul, as with everyone, does not get it right all the time, so here is a collection of “outtakes,” where either the line of the reading or homily gets mixed up or something else happens to throw off the concentration.
Please enjoy this as a little smile for the Easter Season.
Image. Licensed by Shutterstock photo ID: 147203093. Old magnetic tape reel. By Gyvafoto
To all our supporters, frontline workers, our partners in the field and all the healthcare professionals - Team Caritas Australia extends a heartfelt Thank You for your generosity this lent and beyond.
Caritas Australia would like to THANK YOU for supporting Project Compassion 2020. If you still have your Project Compassion box or set of envelopes at home, please bring them back next week or visit www.caritas.org.au to make your donation online.
Through your generosity you will be empowering the world’s most vulnerable communities to grow stronger and share their strengths with their communities to lift themselves out of poverty.
PARISH FINANCIAL SUPPORT
A NEW WAY TO PARISH GIVING
Donations and Financial Contributions Welcome
We will continue to serve you through online resources and webcasts. If you are able to continue to support us, we would be most grateful.
You can make a donation via our Parish Giving online payment system or download and use the Parish Giving mobile applications.
You will need to create an account the first time you log in. After you are logged in, you will need to select the Surfers Paradise Parish from the group and fill out the prompts. Please click on one of the buttons below to make an online payment to the Parish. Alternatively, you can visit parishgiving.brisbanecatholic.org.au
For all those who have been making payments via credit card and those who have donated directly into the parish account we thank you. The spirit of generosity is alive in our parish.
Yours faithfully,
Sonya Slater, Parish Manager
Thank you to the parishioners who contributed to the Stations of the Cross online presentation which was conducted in the absence of the usual outdoor stations. If you didn’t get to see it online, here is the link:
Audio-Visual presentation of the Stations of the Cross
(From Surfers Paradise Parishioners)
If you are missing browsing for that small religious gift or a spiritual item at our Religious Goods Shop, please contact Pat and she will be happy to help you out. Give her a call anytime and she will let you know what is available. Pat’s mobile number 0404 805 819
THE CATHOLIC LEADER
Digital edition is now available Here
The flipbook is downloadable in PDF and printable. First, enter full-screen mode by clicking the ‘full-screen’ button in the centre of the pages. Using the icons above the newspaper, you can select print or download.
Alternatively, you can visit the website: https://catholicleader.com.au/
SPP FEATURED ON 7 NEWS
Did you see us on the Channel Seven Gold Coast News on Tuesday the 7th?
You can find the story of our preparations for a different kind of Holy Week and Easter at the below link
COVID-19 REMINDERS
Let us remember the safety recommendations by the Health authorities with respect to the Parish and our services:
- Stay home unless urgent and observe the social spacing requirements.
- Meetings ought to be replaced with phone calls, emails or other distance technology.
- Funerals can only have a maximum of ten people (not including the celebrant, but including the funeral directors), in the building while also observing social spacing of four square metres.
- Weddings (can only have five people including the couple, the priest and the two witnesses) and baptisms, sacramental programs and other gatherings should be postponed.
- Unfortunately, communion to the sick and the housebound is only to be given in extreme situations where the person is in imminent danger of death. This is to be conducted by the Priest alone with the sacrament of Viaticum (the sacrament for the dying). Sadly, we cannot give people hosts to take home with them. Communion to the sick and the housebound by special ministers is to be suspended until further notice.
Thank-you to Essential Medical Workers
A special thank you and blessings and prayers to the medical teams making a huge difference in our communities near and far. God’s healing work is being experienced through them. We pray too for the emergency services and all who are showing care, leadership and practical assistance at this time. God bless and sustain your tireless work.
Amended Parish Operating Protocol
Just a reminder that, in line with health guidelines, the office is not open for pop-in visits. The parish has phone contact hours Monday to Friday 9am until 12 noon, where we will endeavour to answer the phone for any inquiries. We are also contactable anytime via email surfers@bne.catholic.net.au. In the case of emergencies, there is also the same parish number (with a button option to press for emergency contact) for the on-call priest 24/7. The less face-to-face contact in these times of pandemic, the quicker we hope this situation can return to “normal.” Parish ph: 5572 5433.
Reflection from the Archdiocese of Sydney
"...Australia was founded at a time when the Mass could not be celebrated on these shores. Following the most recent advice from the Commonwealth and State Governments, it may seem that we are again in that situation. But where our forefathers and mothers waited for years to receive the Holy Eucharist, it will be at worst a matter of months for us. But just as prayer sustained them through those times, so can it for us today. The spirit of those first Australian Catholics should inspire us through the times ahead."
Most Rev. Anthony Fisher, Archbishop of Sydney.
STAYING CONNECTED AND RESOURCES FOR PRAYER AT HOME
Are you or anyone you know not receiving emails with occasional updates regarding the Parish? If not, please email Fr Paul at kellyp@bne.catholic.net.au and we will put you on the email list. Please note that some people had previously given us emails but they have bounced or come back to us saying ‘undeliverable.’ We have tried to follow up on this but if you are in doubt, please email us and we will ensure you are on the list.
Home Resources:
You can visit the Stay Connected page on our website to find an extensive list of information and resources to help during these times of isolation.
Below are quick links to enable you to stay in touch with our Parish and help you celebrate Mass from home:
Liturgy for you at Home (produced by SPP): https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Surfers Paradise Parish Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/surferscatholic/
Livestream Catholic Mass (from Brisbane Cathedral, usually around 10am): St Stephen’s Cathedral live webcast
Video on Demand of Masses: https://www.youtube.com/user/CatholicBrisbane/videos
Mass for You at Home (free-to-air TV):
Channel 10, Sundays 6:00 - 6:30am and on demand at https://10play.com.au/mass-for-you-at-home
also available on Foxtel 173 Aurora Channel
For the repose of the soul of parishioner Ray Gardiner. Our thoughts and prayers are also with his beloved wife Maeber and their cherished family. May he rest in peace. May the Lord of the Resurrection raise him to the fullness of Eternal Life.
IN OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS AT THIS TIME
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: All suffering from the effects of Covid-19. Also, the following who are ill (not covid-19): Monica Bailey, Rachel Raines, Savannah Ayoub, Lisa Mangan, Colin Virtue, Ann Harris, Ann-Marie Loder,
Angel Salvador, Brian Woodgate, Kate Smith, Tricia Baumann, Gus Reeves, Baby Maeve Lombard, Kathy Kiely,
Brian Ellsmore, Greg Sharah, Sr. Christine Chia, Kurt and Betty Hilleshiem, Judy Ferraro, Ron Perry, Kim Parkes,
Rosslyn Wallis, Jabour Haddad, Yvonne Lofthouse, Maureen Murphy, Helen Bohringer, Peter Walsh, Arthur Haddad, Jean Di Benedetto, Damian Callinan, Patricia Bridge Wienand, Rosemary Wales, Peter Allsopp, Yvonne Campesi,
Louis Couch, Steve Wayt, Michael Tracey, Joanne Mooney, Joanne Parkes, Peter O’Brien, Michelle MacDonald,
John & Molly Robinson, Mary Kerr, Eileen McCarthy.
RECENTLY DECEASED: Ray Gardiner, Frank Conway (Hobart, Father of Liz Dickson), Noreen Flynn (Mother of Trish Fearnley), Miriam Zarb, Beau Massey, John “Jakes” Rennie, Vincenza Amato.
ANNIVERSARY: Stan Ryan, Joan Street, Greg Perkins, Norma Weise, Kath McMonagle, Shane McLoughlan,
Wilhelm Ciszewski, Bernadette Bartley, Iris Scharenguil, Patrick Matthews, Betty Egan, Frank Ceh, Nympha Mendoza, Kay Diane Blake, Peter Medlyn, Franciska Knap, Marie Therese Haney, Romulo Cosme, Fedele Palmisano,
Jim Rawlings, Arthur Kelly Burns, Kathleen Lenehan, Sam Tuele, Francesco & Nancy Posa, Peggy Miller, Sylvia David, Roland Vilotet, Gino Cappalazzo, Kerry Pattinson, Patricia Van Grinseven, Steven Wroe, Jim Coggan.
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