All Churches
and Parish Office buildings closed until further notice
Parish Office: (07) 5572 5433 (9am – 12pm Mon-Fri)
Email: surfers@bne.catholic.net.au
Emergencies: Priest
contactable via office phone (after hours follow the menu prompts)
50 Fairway Dr, Clear Island Waters, Q, 4226
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E-Newsletter 4th Edition
Sunday, April 26th 2020
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Third Sunday of Easter - Year A
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Readings
for 3rd Sunday of Easter A
FIRST
READING: Acts
2:14, 22-33
PSALM: Ps 16:1-2a+5, 7-8, 9-10, 11. “Lord,
you will show us the path of life.”
SECOND
READING: 1
Pet 1:17-21
GOSPEL
ACCLAMATION: (cf.
Luke 24:32). Alleluia, alleluia! Lord Jesus, make your word plain to us. Make
our hearts burn with love when you speak.
GOSPEL: Lk 24:13-35
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Emmaus
Shutterstock licensed stock photo ID: 664526395.
BERLIN, GERMANY, FEBRUARY - 14, 2017
The mosaic of Jesus with the disciples on the road
to Emmaus on the facade of church Emmauskirche by workroom Deutschen Glasmosaik
- Gesellschaft Puhl & Wagner.
Photo by Renata Sedmakova
THE
PASTOR’S POST
Are We
There Yet?
“Take care of the new, for the sake of
tomorrow. Always creatively, with simple creativity, capable of creating
something new every day. Inside the home that’s not hard to discover, but don’t
run away, don’t take refuge in escapism, which in this time is no use to you” Pope Francis, March 2020
I have become a bit impatient in recent days,
asking the questions on everyone’s lips. “How long will this thing last”. This
thing being the pandemic, the isolation, the idleness and the frustration that
comes with staying in the same place day after day. And the answer to that
question is the one I would get from my parents when we were on a family trip.
“It will be over when it’s over. We’ll get there when we arrive”. Hardly a
comforting answer for a restless child, but it should suffice for those of us
who have made a few long trips in our life.
Unlike the many journalists and writers of letters
to the editor of newspapers, who think that social isolation and restrictions
are going too far, I feel quite secure with the directions and information that
I am getting from our political leaders and health professionals, who seem to
be giving us regular and informative instructions about how to beat this thing,
this thing that we, and they, have never had to face before, at least in recent
years. Call me gullible, but in the absence of personal knowledge, I am content
to listen to those who, at least, are talking to the professionals, the ones
whose expertise is far more informed than mine, and in my case,
non-existent in the area of medical science.
So how do we adults, we more mature people, who
have had a reasonable go at life hold our nerve? How do we put these
crazy days into perspective and navigate a passage through these waters that
have uncertain currents, but probably would not lead us to fall off the edge of
the world?
One of the great contributions that the outstanding
program of Alcoholics Anonymous has made to the wider community are the
life-enhancing instructions they offer as to how we can order our life with
ordinary disciplines which are so grounded in truth, as well as practicality.
In the recent days of isolation, confinement,
hibernation or whatever we choose to call it, the mantras of “Live one day at a
time” and “ to accept the things we cannot change” from the Serenity Prayer are
so relevant for what we are trying to live out.
While having to stay at home for weeks, maybe
months on end, I know a number of people have found this virtually impossible.
They use words like incarcerated or imprisoned, locked down or living in exile.
There are also others who have seen this as a time of great learning and helpful
realignment of what is really important. I, for one, who is always complaining
about lack of time to do the important things, have now got my wish, and am
finding it energising to discover new ways to make sure time is not wasted and
that tasks, sensible tasks, are achieved. But is a sensible task one that
produces something that we can see or touch, or is it something that improves
me or mine. Can it be something we have learned or experienced that gives us a
richer picture of daily life or longer?
I am finally discovering what the myriad of apps on
my computer and IPad are actually used for, the pile of paper mounting up on my
desk over the years has at last been reduced to a manageable level by filing or
trashing. My true addiction to books has now been arranged into ‘must-read,
will read, never will read and gifts to the library’. I’m finally trying to
write down some of those items that have been swimming around in my head,
hoping to contribute to some homily or newsletter in the future. I have faced my
fear of Skype and WhatsApp (these are communication applications for those of
you technologically-challenged like me) and already participated in three
meetings via these magical programs. A little bit more exercise than usual and
a lot more discipline with my eating habits and voila (that’s
French for ‘behold’, courtesy of another app on my phone), a happier healthier
me.
I no longer have to fill every waking moment with physical activity and have become quite content giving myself a new learning
pursuit each day. See, that’s how you do “one day at a time”, slow and steady.
Who knew there was so much stuff in life that I didn’t know?
Fr Peter Dillon PP.
Photo by Karsten Würth on Unsplash
ANZAC
DAY MASS FOR YOU AT HOME
Saturday the 25th of April is very special for us
in Australia and New Zealand. Every year the two nations stop and
remember the sacrifices made in a time of war, and pray for peace in our world.
The pandemic has prevented us from gathering physically but we will still
be united in remembrance and prayer.
This date marks the landing of the Australian and
New Zealand soldiers at Gallipoli, in 1915, during World War I. This national
day of remembrance honours the courage and self-sacrifice of those who served
in all wars, conflicts and peace-keeping operations. In the Catholic Mass for you
at home on this day, we particularly recognise the sacrifice of the fallen. We
commend them to God's eternal care, and we also fervently pray that the justice
and peace for which they sought to defend and preserve will dwell richly in our
land and in our world.
We are all acutely aware of the fact that the
health crisis at present has made it impossible for the usual extremely
well-attended gatherings to remember and pay our respects at Anzac Day.
Nevertheless, in many different ways, and within the ability of each and every
household, we still commemorate this time. And we remember the
sacrifices, the bravery and the loss now, as always. We also look forward to
the day when we can gather again as a community to mark this important day.
The emotion and the significance of these events in
no way lessens with the passage of time…
For a nation of 5 million people as we were back then… 61,511 young Australian
lives were lost.
In all wars and military operations, including
peacekeeping operations… Australia has, in total lost 102,930 - and that's an increase of 85 human lives lost in the last six years. With
226,060 injured (another 187 added in the last six years), and 34,733
taken as prisoners of war (an addition of three.. which although thankfully low,
is bad enough). And surely 100% of those who served and returned have
been profoundly affected in ways that one could hardly put into words….
The sheer size of these numbers (let alone
the human effects behind it- and countless more lives which were changed
forever, are almost impossible to fully comprehend…
We hear from the Lord’s own lips, “No one has
greater love, says the Lord, than those who lay down their lives for their
friends,” and today we commemorate the ultimate sacrifice of those who served
in times of war… and those who risked life and limb for those they loved…
Lest We
Forget.
Please join us in prayer through the audio
recordings of the Anzac Day Mass from our parish, featuring the readings,
prayers and reflections for Anzac Day, April 25th 2020, by clicking this link
here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/easter-anzac-day-memorial-mass-2020/s-YTyGfS13tiV
Also a
livestream Mass from the Cathedral:
Livestream
Catholic Mass (from
Brisbane Cathedral, Anzac Day around 11.30am): St Stephen’s live webcast
Image
Credit: Shutterstock Licensed stock vector ID 1055357618. Silhouette of a soldier
paying respect at the grave, vector. By Sea.
THE PROMISE OF A QUIET EASTER
Fr Warren Kinne’s Holy Week and Easter
experience
It
looked like it was going to be a very quiet Easter with all the Churches
closed. I had already started up a small family and friends group on various
internet platforms for Mass on Sundays. In China, they use We Chat as most other
apps are banned, but Australian friends didn’t like the idea of We Chat with
their Chinese servers. I found a happy compromise on Zoom and the small and
intimate group was pleased with the interaction from our various locations.
Then, just before Palm Sunday a
friend in Shanghai, a Malaysian Chinese convert to the Church, who had
previously involved me with her bible study groups, contacted me with a
request. The ex-pat English-speaking Catholic community in Shanghai, whom I had
formerly had a lot to do with, were without Easter ceremonies. The Chinese
priests who ran the three parishes with English Masses were in lock-down and
all confined to the huge Cathedral priests’ residence and said they were unable
to be of practical assistance. Her request was, would I be able to do some
online services for them.
Now Anne Chai is a very persuasive
person and for some reason or other she calls me Barnabas and I am not sure
why. She is very knowledgeable about the scriptures. I, of course, tried to
fend off her request from my relaxed Easter with a few books and alone here on
the Gold Coast. I asked where the local priests were. But in the end, I agreed
to do the Easter ceremonies from my desk in my apartment with whatever
resources I had at hand.
Little did I know that I was in for
meetings with multiple groups preparing the different celebrations for the
number of ceremonies that take place over Easter. One meeting for the Easter
Vigil took two and a half hours online, and then my We Chat snapped and
crackled for hours on end as everyone in the preparatory groups had their say. People that I hadn’t spoken to for years
wanted to chat and with the time change, it made for very long days and short
nights.
Despite
the glitches that go with a bonfire for the Easter vigil in Hong Kong, the
cantors in Shanghai, the priest in Main Beach, the host of the account in
Malaysia, everything worked out reasonably well. We had our fair share of
static; switching of the camera to the wrong
person at the wrong time; the maid yelling at the kids in the kitchen; and the fire that would not go out; but all in all, it was a great celebration with
many people shedding tears of joy over the experience.
There was a hiccup the first night
when many friends couldn’t get onto the site because it was overloaded. We had
only purchased a platform for 100 participants. Of course, this represented a
lot more viewers with a catechumen group of nine on one device and a family of
six on another. People projected the screen onto their TVs in their
living rooms.
For Good Friday, one kind person
offered to pay for an upgrade for us, for up to 300 devices. I needed to spend
time instructing a couple of octogenarian relatives and friends how to use Zoom
and log in with ID and Password with a long string of characters. Despite their
magnifying glasses and many frustrating attempts, they did eventually have some
success. I borrowed a purple scarf from one friend to cover the Good Friday
cross; an orchid from another friend to liven up Easter, and my French
Caribbean-born friend pedalled his bike with his daughter on the back to find
me an Easter candle in a line of shops that were largely closed. It was a group
effort.
Even as I write this Anne is ringing
to say wasn’t it providential that the surprise party for my
50th anniversary in Singapore which many from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan
had planned to attend was called off over the Coronavirus because now they
didn’t need to worry about visas, and plane tickets and quarantines. And in any
case, we had all met up for the most significant liturgies of the year. It is
indeed an ill wind, I was told, that blows no good.
She also commended me on my political
acumen in slipping St Columban into the optional Saint in the Masses and
recommending, at the end of the Easter Sunday Mass, that they take our great
experience back to their local parishes and goad the local priests into the
experience of new technologies.
My quiet
life might return.
Fr. Warren
Kinne
   |
A CATHOLIC (CHRISTIAN) RESPONSE TO
LOCKDOWNS
Freedom of the Holy Spirit vs
Fundamentalism
The events
of the last few months have turned out to be an unintended opportunity for us
to really reflect on our faith in action. Our thinking on some of the
implications of these lockdowns can reveal whether we have a deep and dynamic
understanding of our faith and our relationship with God and our neighbour, or
whether we might still be harbouring fundamentalistic ways of thinking that do
not actually match with the Catholic understanding. For example, it is
really important to see that there is a major
difference between
times and places in the Church’s history where Governments closed down churches
and forbade the practise of Religion as an act of oppression and persecution,
as opposed to a situation like the present when government and health laws require
the closing of churches and suspension of public liturgies in order to save
lives in a time of the contagious pandemic. In the first situation, the Christian
would be right to passively resist such oppression, and there are countless
saints in the Church’s history who resisted, suffered and even died for the
freedom of their religion. In the second example, though, the Christian thing
to do is to obey the health laws and policies so that people’s lives are saved
and the health of the community protected.
Occasionally
one will hear of comments that suggest the church’s freedom is being
restricted. This is fundamentalism and error! As Our Lord said once, the
Sabbath is made for people, and not people for the Sabbath, (Matthew 12:1-8,
Mark 2:23-28 and Luke 6:1-5).
This
reminds us that God made all laws for our good and for the benefit and welfare
of people. God’s laws and commands are not there to restrain our freedom to do
good and minimise harm. We take our example from our wonderful and
pastoral Pope Francis, and our Bishops, such as Archbishop Mark and follow
their advice and insight into these matters. These times suit perfectly the
meaning of the following passage from the Bible: “Let every person be subject to the governing
authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities
that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority
resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement,” (Romans 13:1-2 NRSV). Whilst it is
certainly a great cross to be unable to gather for Masses at the moment, we are
always united as the Body of Christ, near or far.
The church
authorities have, for health and pastoral reasons, lifted, (temporarily), the
requirement for people to attend mass or to receive the sacraments, and have
directed us to participate spiritually in the celebration of our faith. If you
come across anyone pushing a hobby-horse around, about how the Church should do
something different from how it has lovingly and pastorally chosen to deal with
this challenging emergency, then it might say more about them than the Church.
Fr. Paul
Kelly
HOW EARLY CHRISTIANS HANDLED THEIR own
‘COVID-19’
An excerpt from a Brian Stiller article
on the Christian response to the pandemic:
Early
Christians faced two life-threatening epidemics within the first 200 years of
the Church.
We aren’t
the first Christians to face a global pandemic. In fact, now is a good time to
learn how we might deal with this world-being-shut-down crisis. Those in the
early church faced two life-threatening epidemics within its first 200 years.
The first was in 165 A.D., in which up to one-third of Roman citizens died, and
the second was in 251 A.D.
The first
of these massive epidemics was smallpox (it is surmised) during the reign of
Marcus Aurelius in 165 to 180. A hundred years later another destructive
epidemic hit (it may have been measles), resulting in a massive loss of life.
However,
the extraordinary response from Christians contributed to the unprecedented
growth of the church. Christians projected a hopeful … portrait of the future.
...Christians
bolstered by their faith seemed to endure hardships better than others.
While the world is constrained by fear, we take on a different posture. We observe facts
and listen to scientists, those who are gifted to us by God to make us wise. We
then take their analysis and see it through the eyes of our eternal and caring
God, always framed by hope. He is our platform from which we observe and
respond.
How then
are we to respond?
How might
we think differently, contrary to the swirling anxiety that fills our media,
swamps our family conversations, and paralyses us when we think of our
finances? Below is a suggested way to frame our response. (These ideas from an
excellent article by Gary Hoag.)
First,
pray and avoid people. Listen to our medical experts and keep a distance while
praying. Prayer isn’t simple, nor is it always easy, but now we have time.
Prayer is God’s gift to us, allowing us to enter into conversation with him,
engaging in issues and in the lives of people, by “entreating” or speaking
persuasively to our Father. He is not nervous. He can handle our candid and
straightforward talk.
Second,
pause and write to people. Try taking out paper and pen and write your thoughts
and insights. Craft for others to read what you are learning from this
experience. Write the life-giving words of Christ to inspire others of his
power over all creation. (Of course, also use email and text.)
Cyprian,
bishop of Carthage, wrote: “The Lord had foretold that these things would come.
With the exhortation of His foreseeing word, instructing, and teaching, and
preparing, and strengthening the people of His Church for all endurance of
things to come.”
Christians
are called on to see life empowered by hope. List what you can do today and
tomorrow, for yourself and others, all the while relying on the Lord’s presence
and help. May HOPE be the defining word of our disposition, attitudes, and
resolve, always invoking the Spirit of the living God to enable us to think
differently than those who have no such hope.
Retrieved
from: https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2020/april/how-early-christians-handled-their-covid-19.html
FAITH AT
HOME: Spiritual Nourishment
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At this time, when many are based from home, it is
a perfect time for spiritual reading. We are fortunate that technology allows
us to access really good spiritual resources from the Internet; audible books
and e-books. Spiritual classics which were once out of print or hard to
access are now much easier to find. Reading is a wonderful source of strength
and nourishment, no matter whether you are reading a hardcopy book, listening
to an audiobook, or reading via an e-reader. I am really hooked on listening
to spiritual books via an audiobook subscription. There are many different ones
out there.
Recent books that I have found deeply spiritually
satisfying are:
Francis of Assisi: The Life - by Augustine Thompson
The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St.
Therese of Lisieux (narrated by Melissa Silvestro)
Jesus Transforms: The Heart of Teresa of Avila - by
Sr. Vilma Seelaus ocd.
Teresa of Avila: The Book of My Life
(translated by Mirabai Starr & narrated Gabrielle Made & Kathleen
Gati)
The Imitation of Christ - by Thomas À Kempis
(narrated by P.J. Ochlan)
The Samaritan Woman Reconsidered - by Eli
Lizorkin-Eyzenberg
For
something surprising, you might like to read the autobiography This Is Your
Captain Speaking: My Fantastic Voyage Through Hollywood, Faith & Life,
written by actor Gavin MacLeod, (yes the captain from the Love Boat!). It was
unexpectedly spiritually stirring.
Also, a book which is not overtly religious but clearly has Christian underpinnings is
called “Ego is the Enemy,” by Ryan Holiday, again available in hardcopy, e-book
and audio.
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.
Photo by
Aaron Burden on Unsplash
THE CATHOLIC LEADER
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.
RELIGIOUS
GOODS SHOP
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
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
STAYING
CONNECTED AND RESOURCES FOR PRAYER AT HOME
|
Current
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 office
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.” The Parish phone
number is 5572 5433.
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:
Livestream
Catholic Mass (from Brisbane Cathedral, usually
around 10am): St Stephen’s Cathedral live webcast
Mass for
You at Home (free-to-air TV):
also available on Foxtel 173 Aurora Channel
PLEASE
PRAY
|
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 Hillesheim, 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: For
the four Police Officers who passed away in Victorian Road Tragedy. Also for
Nicholas Braid, Yvonne Holt, Nicholas Leo (Nic) Angelucci, Ray Gardiner, Beau
Massey, John “Jakes” Rennie, Vincenza Amato.
ANNIVERSARY: Daniel Farrugia, Diane Sammut,
Nancy Mamo, Vincenza Luna, Shaun Cassar, Reno Zarb, Karl Horner, Shirley
Harris, Joan Street, Greg Perkins.
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