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“ The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”
(Matthew 21:42)
Licensed Shutterstock stock photo ID: 1744797461. Tower of San Martino della Battaglia Italy. Cumulus clouds in the background of blue sky, Lake Garda. Vineyard plantation at high altitude. By Andrea Berg
DON’T FORGET TO BOOK FOR FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH MASS AT SACRED HEART CHURCH, 9AM. (3/10/20)
THE PASTOR’S POST
I really enjoy celebrating Baptisms, particularly here at Sacred Heart. We usually average about 170 baptisms a year, give or take. We mostly have about three families at each celebration, although I can remember many years ago celebrating a ceremony for 13 children, filling the church with family and friends and an enormous amount of crying. It was a crazy day, but despite the unruly crowd, it was a festive atmosphere and I have since celebrated the wedding of two of those children baptised on that day. Something must have stuck.
Baptism seems to be the one sacrament that has not lost its popularity, possibly because new parents are always anxious to let their world know of their new gift and gathering with family and friends is an excellent way to show the new arrival to those most important to them. We do try to get the parents and godparents to come to a preparation session before the big day just to let them know what will be happening, and for them to ask questions and to think more deeply about what they are doing for their child, as well as what responsibilities they are undertaking for themselves. Unfortunately it is not always practical for both parents to come to the preparation, and sometimes neither parent can actually make it. It’s not uncommon for a grandparent to come along instead, duty of telling their grandchildren about God and what it means to believe in him probably because they know that ultimately they will be the ones who will take on the ?????????
The reason I enjoy being the celebrant for these ceremonies is that everyone who gathers is doing so with a real sense of joy. Babies represent a hope for wonderful possibilities and they remind us of the precious and innocent life that is sometimes taken for granted. People are usually dressed well and proud grandparents sit back and watch the passing on of their faith to their grandchildren, hopefully feeling proud that they have passed something of their family faith tradition on to their own children. The children to be baptised, mostly babies, are decked out in gowns used by generations of their family, or perhaps starting a new tradition. Phone cameras are taking in the entire ritual and the mood is one of happiness and celebration.
I use this time of gathering to instruct all who have gathered about the significance of Baptism, not just for the people gathered, but for the whole church, the people of God. I talk about how our parish is now a richer community for having welcomed these new members into our midst. I also impress upon the new parents how their children may never get to know who God is if they don’t tell them about him. If God is not a part of their family conversation and prayer is not a common occurrence in their parenting, then where will the children learn who God can be for them? I think I am very clear to say that as a church community we want to be able to share the growth of their children in faith and maturity. That they are part of who we are now and we want to share the reasonability of caring for them. I sometimes get a bit worked up about this, because I realise this is both a short and precious time to make the parents aware of what they have taken on. Judging by the attentive way the congregation appears to be taking in what I am saying, I sometimes wonder if we will need an extra Mass next Sunday to accommodate the newly enthused families. And then next Sunday arrives and . . . . nothing.
Sadly, we have discovered that less than one percent of children baptised in our church (and from what I hear from other priests, the same statistic is found in nearly all Australian parishes) revisit the church of their baptism in the first 2 months. We might see 6 or 7 at the children’s Christmas Mass, but it is safe to say that between the baptismal ceremony and the trip home, the glow of religious fervour shown at the ceremony seems to have evaporated, replaced by the harsh reality of parenting a small baby. Teaching and leading their child in the ways of faith, comes in a long second place when feeding, changing, bathing and finally sleeping wins the race for time.
Time, or perceived lack of it, seems to be the real issue whenever I am brave enough to ask parents how they are managing with the ‘faith thing’. “We cannot find the time.” I do not doubt that good intentions are certainly there, but somehow they have convinced ourselves, that God can wait. This understanding, forgiving, thoughtful God, who is always there, will have to wait his turn until there is a Sunday morning when no other activity will be more important than spending some time in His presence. He has waited for thousands of years, so a few more won’t hurt, besides, as some people tell me earnestly, “That’s what Catholic schools are for.” As you can see, I still have much work to do.
For some reason I keep my hopes high that one day my little teaching sessions will hit the mark. Meanwhile I do hope godparents, and particularly those ever-faithful grandparents will continue to keep the rich graces of Baptism alive, so that these kids don’t miss out on having the chance of the same relationship with God that their parents had. A gentle reminder in the right ear might be all that’s needed.
Fr Peter Dillon PP.
Please Note:
Usually the 4th of October is the Feast day of the great Saint Francis of Assisi. However, in the calendar year, there is a certain order of priority for certain feasts and solemnities which means that, if a Saint’s day lands on a Sunday, the Sunday celebration takes higher priority and usually overrides it. (This happened in 2019 to St Patrick’s feast day which landed on a Sunday and so the usual Sunday celebration took priority and that feast got moved to the Monday immediately after, and some people were shocked).
Here is a basic priority list. The Holy Triduum of Easter, Easter Sunday and the Easter Octave, Holy Week, Advent, Christmas and the octave of Christmas, Pentecost, Solemnities of the Lord, Solemnities of the Mary, Solemnities of Saints and apostles, Sundays of Lent, Sundays of Advent followed by the Ordinary Sundays of the year, then followed by major Saints Feasts and Memorials. As important as Saint Francis’ life is, the preeminent feasts are the Lord’s feast days, especially those which are celebrated every Sunday of the year. I am sure our humble saints are perfectly happy to take second place to Our Lord and his blessed Mother.
(image credit: Shutterstock licensed. ID: 452602423. ZAGREB, CROATIA - DECEMBER 08: Neri di Bicci: St. Francis of Assisi, Old Masters Collection, Croatian Academy of Sciences, December 08, 2014 in Zagreb, Croatia. By Zvonimir Atletic).
Also, please be aware of scam emails purporting to be from priests of this archdiocese.
The sender name is similar to the priest’s email (but not precisely), and of course the address is fraudulent. The Parish will not ask for you to give donations through gift cards etc. Some previous scams purported to be asking for help for a sick priest, but as we know the archdiocese provides for the needs of ill and elderly priests already. The Parish has proper integrated systems for planned giving that are separate to email requests. Contact the Parish Office if you have any questions or concerns.
We congratulate the Roberts and Davidson families, whose children Louis Edmund and Violet Florence will be baptised in our Parish this weekend.
As Louis and Violet begin their faith journey, please keep the Baptism families in your prayers.
World Mission Sunday – Brisbane 17-18TH October 2020
“…the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.”
If we do not honour the call from God, to produce a bountiful harvest, to bring good fruit into the world, we do not honour the promises of our baptism or our confirmation. These promises are at the heart of Mission: to share the Good News, in word and in deed, in thought and in action. One small but significant way that we can produce fruit is by supporting the missionary work of the Church, through agencies such as Catholic Mission.
This year, parishes across the Brisbane Archdiocese, including ours, are being invited to support the missionary work of the Church in Cambodia, on the same weekend (October 17/18). This is when the Universal Church marks World Mission Sunday so it is fitting that we join other Brisbane Catholics in responding with our prayers and donations.
Just as there are many fruits, there are different ways you can give this year:
Text the word GIVE to 0488 854 436 (enter your parish name in the notes) and follow the prompts; by donating online at catholicmission.org.au/Cambodia or by using the appeal envelopes that will be made available on World Mission Sunday (Oct 17/18).
On behalf of the people of Cambodia, including those affected by disabilities caused by landmine injuries, we give thanks for all of you who choose to embrace “the servants from the vineyard” – the missionaries like Bishop Kike – and make it possible for them to Reach out and Bring Life.
Fr Warren livestream Mass on ShalomWorld.org website
Fr Warren will celebrate Mass live on “ShalomWorld TV” each Friday afternoon for the next few months at 2pm (Brisbane time).
If you want to join in you do this through a browser on your mobile device or computer (or by downloading the ShalomWorld app on a Smart TV or to your device).
The link is:
You then need to get to choose “SW PRAYER” from the menu
It seems that all the browsers work a bit differently so we cannot give more precise details. Chrome, Edge or Safari are recommended. Firefox seems to have some difficulties.
Fr Warren Kinne
THE GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND
[shutterstock licensed image: stock illustration ID: 1625826427. Heart Made Of Concrete Or Stone Near Stone Fragments. 3d Rendering.By Kostsov
[“’gospel’ values included in the readings:” God is long suffering, patient, trusts us, gives us what we need, calls us back to obedience. God expects us to bear the fruits of the Kingdom of Heaven]
This gospel says a lot of really good things about our God and some very disappointing things about our human response to God's generosity and patience.
The image of the unsatisfactory vineyard would be a very familiar one to the people of Israel, as shown by the first reading. The Lord puts all this love and care into building for his people a fruitful and life-giving environment, and what he gets back is "sour grapes."
What causes bitter grapes is too much acid and not enough sugar. The fruit might be too small and too crowded or just be a wild variety of grape. It is a fitting image because if we foment bitterness, resentment, harshness, negativity and a lack of cordiality in our lives, and if we crowd out our time and energy with too many competing priorities, or if we allow pride and willfulness to be our way, it will produce a bitter and pitiful harvest. The fruits will not be good.
It is quite clear from this gospel parable that our Lord KNEW he was going to be killed for simply calling people back to obedience and love of God. The wilful and so-called righteous will not give back to God what is right, so they will kill the beloved son, who is the last and greatest, of a long line of messengers.
There are some beautiful aspects to this parable when we look closely at it. We see that God is extremely loving. God not only gives us the vineyard but actually ensures we have the resources we need to produce the good fruit. This is shown by the fact that the owner of the land did not just give them an empty parcel of land and said, "there you go, now build a vineyard and give me the fruits of it." Rather, the Master plants it himself, fences it off, builds accommodation and security and then builds the wine-press for the fruits to be processed.
The landowner is not a control freak. He hands over the vineyard and does not stand over them or set up an oppressive system to make sure they do the right thing. He trusts his tenants and entrusts the job to them and then steps back from it to give them time to do their job unhindered.
The Master is extremely patient. He is certainly not ruthless. After the very first messenger was sent and rejected, he would have been entitled to destroy the wicked tenants immediately, but instead, he continues to give them the benefit of the doubt, (Perhaps there has been a miscommunication. Perhaps there is a reason for this shocking behaviour). The master is being more than reasonable. He sends a long line of messengers to ask for what is his. There is no acid or bitterness to be found in God, his fruits are all patience, forbearance and compassion. He is very long-suffering, giving many chances for change and growth, but in the end, he must have the fruits of the vineyard as he deserves.
The master spares nothing. He even risks his most precious treasure, his beloved son, and sends him to sort this out peacefully. As the great Easter hymn says, "To ransom a slave, God gave away his own son!" What an astounding act of love and unearthly generosity to his ungrateful people.
Finally, when their rebellion and arrogance is no longer in doubt, the Master demands the fruits be given, and again acts prudently and lovingly, he hands over the vineyard to people who will care for it and use it as intended. It is really beautiful.
Although this parable was aimed at the Pharisees and Sadducees who were arrogant and hypocritical in their attitude towards God, this parable still challenges all of us who are called to servants and workers in God's Kingdom. God is loving, generous and patient, and for that greatness, we respond in humility and gratitude and nurture the fruits of the trust He puts in each one of us, or else we too will find ourselves outside of the vineyard. And other surprising characters entering into the vineyard instead.
Are our priorities and actions promoting positivity and openness and avoiding bitterness and spite? Will we cooperate with pruning away inconsistent choices and re-focusing our priorities? Are we open to the many different ways, and people, God sends to us, inviting us to widen our hearts and adjust our attitudes? Meanwhile, with God’s help, we continue working peacefully, positively and respectfully; and with grateful hearts.
Fr. Paul Kelly
[Reference: Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Matthew. Part II. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press].
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION:
“The stone the builders rejected has become the corner stone…” - Matthew 21:42
Jesus was rejected by the religious and political leaders of his day, as well as ordinary citizens. Living a stewardship lifestyle may cause you to be “rejected” by others in today’s society. For example, saying grace before a meal in a restaurant may attract some strange looks from some. But to others it is a sign that God is alive and well!
The vision of Stewardship speaks in every aspect of life, inviting everyone to be thankful, generous and accountable for what each has been given.
HELP FOR MARRIAGES UNDER STRESS:
The BreakThrough Online Course created by SmartLoving will enable you to identify your conflict triggers, learn strategies to de-escalate an argument and find constructive ways to re-establish connection.
Restore hope for your relationship’s future.
Visit: smartloving.org/breakthrough
Public Rosary to be held at Sacred Heart Church, Saturday 10 October 2020, at 2.30pm
The Public Rosary will be recited outdoors under the large fig tree near Casey Hall.
For further information please phone Grace Sulfaro mobile 0415 551 991
The Public Rosary is an international campaign to pray the rosary together in commemoration of the last apparition of Our Lady (October 13, 1917) at Fatima. It is a great opportunity for prayer groups and communities to join together in public prayer.
"Public prayer is far more powerful than private prayer to appease the anger of God and call down His mercy, and His mercy, and Holy Mother Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, has always advocated public prayer in times of public tragedy and suffering."
BREAK OPEN THE WORD, DAILY MASS BOOK & ORDO
Orders will be placed shortly for the 2021 BREAK OPEN THE WORD for YEAR B, which commences the First Sunday of Advent. Cost $22
The Parish will subsidise the book as previous years if you are a rostered parish reader.
All readers are invited to order a copy to enable you to practice the reading prior to your rostered Mass. If you have copies of the books for Years A, B, or C, from previous years, these can be used, by following the appropriate Liturgical Sunday of the year.
A reminder that we follow the New Revised Standard Version which is found at the back of the book. The Jerusalem translation can be found at the front of the book along with a commentary.
Orders are being taken now for
2021 DAILY MASS BOOK, which starts 1st Sunday of Advent, cost $22.
ORDO 2021, starts 1st Sunday of Advent, is a reference book highlighting the particular commemorations in the General Roman Calendars of Australia and New Zealand and also shows those commemorations displaced from their usual day in the General Roman Calendar, cost $12.
If you would like to order a copy of these books please email the Parish Office surfers@bne.catholic.net.au or telephone 55 725 433 9am-12pm Monday - Friday
PARISH FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Now, more than ever, your support is needed to help our Parish to continue valuable pastoral activities and to provide ongoing sustainability.
To assist you to support the Parish during this time of isolation, you can give via http://parishgiving.brisbanecatholic.org.au
If you are able to continue to support us, we would be most grateful. For all those who have been making payments via credit card and those who have donated directly into the parish account, we thank you. At the Sacred Heart and St Vincent’s churches we are now able to accept tap and pay donations via our contactless eftpos machines. The spirit of generosity is alive in our Parish. If you would like confirmation of your donation or a receipt emailed to you please contact me at manager.surfers@bne.catholic.net.au
Yours faithfully, Sonya Slater, Parish Manager
MASS TIMES (PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED)
Additional to the above times, we continue to celebrate weekday Mass at Sacred Heart at 9am. The 9am Saturday Mass will be on the First Saturday of the month (3rd Oct) at Sacred Heart. You will be informed via the parish website or E-Newsletter when this situation changes.
Please remember that as per restrictions we are still expected to book and check in for mass, maintain a social-distance of 1.5metres, receive Holy Communion in the hand only, refrain from physical contact when offering the Sign of Peace, and to sanitise when entering and exiting the premises. We ask that people consult the parish website https://www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au, to keep up to date with any changes relating to masses. Mass Booking: https://bookeo.com/catholicmassgoldcoast or
Or, if you are unable to book online, please ring the parish office between 9am and 12 noon Mon-Fri. Ph: 5572 5433
Compiled by the Missionary Society of St. Columban – Oceania. Suva, Fiji Islands.
Theme: Ecological Vocation Sunday (Mission Month“Here Am I, Send Me”) (https://www.eficor.org/ecosunday)
Ecological Vocation Sunday is observed to remember our responsibilities as stewards of God’s creation.
Our world and everything in it belongs to God. It has been entrusted to us, human beings, and to all living things that inhabit this land. Our practices that cause ecological crises are also a call for us to acknowledge our ecological sins. It includes not only our destructive behavior but also the things that we have failed to do to care for our common home. We are called for a total conversion of heart and to turn away from our indifferences and selfishness.
Each one of us has received the vocation to care for our fellow creatures on this planet. This mission that God entrusts to us leads us to realize that we are part of the earth community. We are totally interdependent and interrelated to one another. Our vocation springs from the love of God for us and for the whole of his creation.
During this difficult time brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, people across the world experience suffering from illness, fear, isolation, hunger, and poverty. We are called and challenged to be responsible with everyone and the rest of God’s creation. The present situation calls us to bear witness to the love and compassion of God in the midst of suffering and uncertainties. May we have the courage to respond to God’s question: Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord send me!
LITURGY SPOT
Eucharist Means “Thanksgiving” in Greek!
The basic structure and flow of our modern day Mass, or Eucharist, is the same as it was one thousand eight-hundred and sixty-five years ago. Saint Justin Martyr in his first century writing called the “First Apology”, sets out what happened at a typical Eucharist of the time.
(I have added elements in brackets for further information):
“On the day named after the sun, (Sunday), all who live in the city or countryside assemble, [in houses] and the memoirs of the apostles [gospels] or writings of the prophets [Old Testament] are read for as long as time allows. [Sundays were not always days off, so people had to go off to work after this celebration, so time was short].
When the lector has finished, the president addresses us, admonishing us and exhorting us to imitate the splendid things we have heard. [Homily]
Then we all stand and pray [Prayers of the Faithful], and, as we said earlier, when we have finished praying, bread and wine and water are brought up. The president offers prayers of thanksgiving, according to his ability, [Note that the Eucharistic Prayer was not in a book but was ad-libbed by the Presider according to a certain pattern and depending on the natural ability of the presider for such kinds of speech], and the people give their assent with ‘Amen!
Next, the gifts over which the thanksgiving has been spoken are distributed, and each one shares in them, while they are also sent via the deacons to the absent. [Communion to the sick]
The wealthy who are willing, make contributions, each as they please, and the collection is deposited with the president who aids orphans and widows, those who are in want because of sickness or some other reason, those in prison, and visiting strangers; in short, he takes care of all in need. [The collections were very much part of the celebration, as they were connected to justice and charity]
The reason why we all assemble on Sunday is that it is the first day: the day on which God transformed darkness and matter and created the world, and the day on which Jesus Christ our saviour rose from the dead.”
Isn’t this a wonderful text. And even though it has been written almost two thousand years ago it is very familiar to us and shows us the essence of what we celebrate is the same. It is wonderful that we still follow this ancient pattern of Gathering, Listening, Petitioning, Praising and Going out into the world to love and serve the Lord.
Fr Paul
(image credit: shutterstock licensed image
ID: 593171561. Reenactment scene of Jesus breaking the bread during Last Supper, saying "this is my body, take and eat".By Anneka).
SACRED HEART & ST VINCENT’S RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS
Many interesting religious items suitable for that special occasion and or Sacramental gifts available for purchase before and after Mass at St Vincent’s Church, and through the Parish Office weekdays 9am-12pm only Monday - Friday at Sacred Heart. Telephone enquires ph 0404 805 819
St Paul Liturgical Calendar for 2021 Cycle B - Year 1 $6. Only a few copies available in store.
STAYING CONNECTED
Have you ensured that your contact details are up to date with the Parish:
Please fill out this form if you are unsure. SURFERS PARADISE PARISH - CENSUS UPDATE
Are you on our mailing list for the weekly e-newsletter, weekly homily/Mass audio blog and occasional breaking news alerts?
If not, please email us at paulwkelly68@gmail.com. Note: sometimes we have added a person to our email-list but the email is going to their ‘spam’ or ‘junk-mail’ folder. It is a good idea to check these folders to see if it isn’t there. If that is happening to you, you can mark these emails as ‘approved’ or ‘not-spam/junk’, so your email server lets them get through to you.
IN OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS AT THIS TIME
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Margaret Paterson, Rodney McGrath, Emmanuel Cominos, Paul Kennedy, Doug Reiser,
Helen Bohringer, John Zappa, George Cook, Caterina (Cathy) Randazzo, Peter O’Brien, Baby Charbel Raphael, Angela Duvnjak,
Judy Dempsey, 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, Ron Perry,
Kim Parkes, Rosslyn Wallis, Jabour Haddad, Yvonne Lofthouse, Maureen Murphy, Peter Walsh, Arthur Haddad, Jean Di Benedetto, Damian Callinan, Rosemary Wales, Peter Allsopp, Yvonne Campesi, Louis Couch, Michael Tracey, Joanne Mooney, Joanne Parkes, Michelle MacDonald, John & Molly Robinson, Mary Kerr, Eileen McCarthy. And all those suffering from the effects of Covid-19.
RECENTLY DECEASED: Yvonne Henrietta Lofthouse, Stella Maria Cross, John Webber, Michael Moroney, Teresa Montgomery, Nan Gorman, Josie Hegarty, Mario Podrecca, Carol Rose Williamson, Del Enid Anderson, Joan Margaret Gibbon, Carina Barrington, Thearsa Johnston.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: Frank Alcock, Muriel Rasey, Leo Brennan, Bessie Rice, Barry Harth, Sylvia Moray, Elaine Presswood, Ted Szczesny, Tom Killin, Keith Smith, Lee Cross, Ernest Barrett, Olive May Cam, Margaret Netting, John Hanna, Rita McCarthy, Dominica Borgia, Neville Coorey, Fanny Macky, Alan Taranto, Shirley Alford, Muriel Doris Miller, Nea Mary Butler.
DECEASED: Ronald Keene, Bruck Wheeler, and the Wheeler, Westwell and Woodgate families.
ALLAMBE GARDENS MEMORIAL PACKAGE FOR SALE IN CATHOLIC SECTION
Due to family needs Mr and Mrs Swift have returned permanently to live in the UK. As a result of this decision they no longer require two burial plots at Allambe Gardens. Allambe does not arrange resale of their packages but the owner can arrange for the sale privately. The plot includes a double depth burial site, a polished jet black headstone (with 100 characters of gold leaf inscription), and two gold finished aluminium vases.
If you are considering purchasing a burial plot this could be to advantage as Jim is willing to sell below cost price.
If you are interested in negotiating with Jim and Linda please email on jfs.swift@gmail.com
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 help stay in touch with our Parish and celebrate Mass at home:
Liturgy for you at Home (produced by SPP): https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Weekly Homily (produced by SPP): https://homilycatholic.blogspot.com
Surfers Paradise Parish Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/surferscatholic/
Breaking Parish News (SPP Blog): https://news-parish.blogspot.com/
Access the digital Catholic Leader: https://catholicleader.com.au/digital-newspaper-covid19
Readings for Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year A
FIRST READING: Isaiah 25:6-10a
Ps: Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 “I shall live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life.”
SECOND READING: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Gospel Acclamation (cf. Eph 1:17-18): Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of your heart. That we might see how great is the hope to which we are called.
GOSPEL: Matthew 22:1-14 or 22:1-10
BECOMING CATHOLIC
Are you interested in becoming Catholic or learning about the Catholic faith?
Welcome!
The Catholic Church’s mission is to offer people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to deepen their understanding and relationship with Jesus Christ.
Becoming Catholic involves a journey of faith, accompanied by the support of a parish community. This process is called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA. During the RCIA process you meet with others to share, reflect, pray and learn more about the Catholic faith. There are ceremonies or ‘rites’ at each stage to signify the steps along the way. If you or someone you know would like to know more about becoming Catholic or would like to start the process of becoming Catholic as an adult, please contact our Parish Office.
Three Churches One Parish
RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
St Augustine, a great Saint of the Church, said, “Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in you.”
The RCIA is for all seeking to become members of the Catholic Church.
The RCIA is best described as a journey of faith that passes through a number of different phases and focuses on conversion of heart and mind to Christ. It is a gradual journey tailored to the needs of the individual.
It is a faith journey of adults to initiation through the unified rites of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Grounded in the four pillars of Word, Liturgy, Community and Mission, adults are provided with a sponsor, meet regularly to learn about Catholicism and become part of the fabric of the Parish prior to initiation.
The faith journey is adapted for children of catechetical age (8-17 years) and adults who are already baptised in another Christian tradition. It is a process for those who have not been Baptised at all, for those who have been Baptised into another Christian tradition and also for those who have been Baptised Catholic but have not throughout their lives been involved at all in the Catholic faith but are now wanting to make that Faith journey/commitment in their lives, and for all to become full members of the Catholic Church.
The RCIA process follows four stages of initiation
Inquiry Period
The Period of Evangelisation and Pre-catechumenate or Inquiry is the first stage of the journey. It is a time to explore and question your faith, uncover the basic message of the Gospel and begin to discern how to live this in your life.
It is a time of discovery with no fixed structure or duration. This is described as a time for inquiry and introduction to the gospel values; an opportunity for the beginnings of faith. This period begins when you make your enquiry and continues to 1st November 2020.
Catechumenate Period
The Period of the Catechumenate is a time for you to deepen your understanding of the Catholic faith and relationship with Jesus. It is a time for suitable pastoral formation and guidance. It can be thought of as an apprenticeship.
At the heart of the Catechumenate period is conversion of heart, the conversion to Jesus Christ. This period will commence on 1st November 2020 and continues to 16th February 2021 (with a break over the Christmas period).
Period of Purification
The period of Purification and Enlightenment is a time for reflection and prayer and a time to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus. This is a period of more intense spiritual preparation, consisting more in interior reflection than catechetical instruction.
This period occurs in the Church during the season of Lent before Easter – Wednesday 17th February 2021 to Saturday 3rd April 2021.
Easter Vigil – 3rd April 2021
Your Baptism and Reception into Full Communion with the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil Mass Celebrations.
Post Baptismal Period or Mystagogy
This is a time when the newly baptised (neophytes) begin their lifelong commitment to living a Christian life. It marks a shift from learning about faith to living faith in everyday life and a shift from looking within to looking outside, to the community.
PARISH INVOLVEMENT
The RCIA process does not happen without the involvement of the Parish community. So we are asking you to pray about whether you will become involved in sharing with our Catechumens and Candidates your faith journey, your relationship with Jesus Christ and your spreading of the Kingdom beyond the doors of the church to your neighbour. You too are most welcome to join them on their journey and our continued journey of faith!
Parish Office: 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters Q 4226
Phone: 07 5572 5433
Email: surfer@bne.catholic.net.au
Parish Priest: Fr Peter Dillon
PROTECT OUR UNBORN BABIES
“If (during an abortion) a live birth occurs…do not provide life-sustaining treatment…
Document the time and date of death”
(Queensland Health’s clinical guidelines for abortion.)
Under present legislation, abortions in Queensland can be performed at any time during a pregnancy, right up until the end of the third trimester. These laws are amongst the most extreme in the world where, if it is allowed at all, abortion is normally only allowed in the first two trimesters (the first 6 months) of pregnancy.
Archbishop Coleridge recently said, “My thoughts were made very clear when the debate on abortion was going on in the state (of Queensland), and the Church’s position is unequivocal on it. I think the legislation that was passed was seriously mistaken. I’ve made no secret of that. Therefore, I would support legislative change.
This is a major issue in the upcoming State election.
If you want to help stop this barbaric practice, phone (07) 3871 2445
or go to http://www.cherishlife.org.au/volunteer
“The Archdiocese of Brisbane holds that children and vulnerable adults are a gift from God with an intrinsic right to dignity of life, respect and security from physical and emotional harm. They are to be treasured, nurtured and protected from any harm.”
As a Parish Community, we pray for a change of heart, that we respond to our grief by reaching out to one another in truth and love.
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