PDF version of this parish newsletter here:
Also, you can access an online copy of the newsletter *here*
"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)
(Shutterstock ID:1979797673- Adelaide, Australia, September 23, 2014, Saint Francis Xavier's Catholic Cathedral, Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop Statue. -Adelaide SA, Australia -By jepretan_ibu)
DUE TO THE LOGISTICS OF DEALING WITH A POSSIBLE LATE OPENING UP FROM LOCKDOWN ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON (8th August), (OR POSSIBLY AN EXTENSION OF THE LOCKDOWN),- IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THE SUNDAY EVENING MASS THIS WEEKEND WILL NOT BE ON. WE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH YOU IF THIS SITUATION CHANGES. BUT AT THIS STAGE (UNLESS OTHERWISE POSTED HERE ONLINE AND ON THE MAILING LIST) NO MASSES THIS WEEKEND. THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE. THERE ARE SEVERAL UNFORESEEN LOGISTICS THAT HAVE ARISEN, THAT MAKE A FAST RE-OPENING UNLIKELY. ALL OTHER MASSES THIS WEEKEND 7-8TH AUGUST, ARE DEFINITELY CANCELLED). PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO OUR ONLINE AUDIO PODCAST OF THE MASS.
https://homilycatholic.blogspot.com/ OR https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
THE PASTOR'S POST:
The Sign of a Winner
One of the benefits of lockdown (and there aren't many) is being able to watch the Olympics, guilt-free, or almost. I'm actually trying to be quite disciplined during these days of tension and uncertainty, so I don't turn on the telly until after lunch, using the morning to tidy, then re-tidy my desk and start to think about homilies, newsletters and all the issues that will flood in once we are back on our semi-regular track. Of course, I'm not beyond getting into what I refer to as my "loafing chair" and get stuck into some of the books I had intended to read while on vacation recently. (More on those titles in another post). For some reason, I have decided that if paper and words are involved in any activity, then that can be classified as learning something, possibly something that will help me in my work, therefore reading a novel is 'work-related'. Can you see how a broad conscience has helped me deal with some of life's difficult choices?
One interesting observation I have had as I watch these incredibly gifted athletes preparing for their event is the number, mainly from Africa and Eastern Europe, who make the sign of the cross as part of their pre-race ritual. Automatically do I wish them good luck, knowing that even if they are not part of the Australian team, they are part of another team that I belong to, the community of Christians who call on God help for a myriad of reasons, so why not helping them focus on a high jump or 800 metre race?
Of course this universal sign of belief in the power of the cross, begs the question as to what are they prayer for. A first thought would be that they would win the event, and receive all the resulting adulation, but this creates a dilemma when two or more competitors pray for the same thing. I've also noticed that only a few of these devout sportspeople go on to win, so has God not listened or have they prayed for the "wrong" intention, something that might not be in their best interests, according to God. I'm just speculating here. But the ones who are simply asking God to keep them calm and focussed, so that they can concentrate of what they have trained for, and that the result best fitting their skills will be achieved, then that athlete will never be disappointed.
The Sign of the Cross has become such a symbol of hope in a world that thirsts for it. I see it has a sign that victory does not always come with a champion's laurel. The victory of the cross is not always sweet or evident, sometimes until much later. Seeing Jesus dying on the cross would surely not have been seen by those observing at the time, as the pinnacle of his ministry, yet it has become the great symbol of perseverance and acceptance. That preparedness to take on particular trials and training to ensure that life's burdens and disappointments are not losses, but learnings. For these young gladiators, who unashamedly put their belief in God out there for all the world to see, I have an added admiration, and know that they are already winners on some lap of life's marathon.
If in the future, synchronised eating is permitted as an Olympic, and I am chosen to represent our great nation on the world stage, look for the sign that God is with me, just before I keel over with terminal gluttony.
Fr Peter Dillon PP.
Fr Dan Carroll - (Parish Priest of Darra-Jindalee) - Rest in Peace
Fr Dan Carroll succumbed to his sudden illness and passed into eternal life on Thursday 5th August. His unexpected death will have a great impact on his family, and also his beloved Parish of Darra-Jindalee where he has been Pastor for over 50 years. Please remember Fr Dan Carroll in your prayers, and particularly his family, including his sister Mary Jackson who is a parishioner here at Surfers Paradise Parish, and his beloved parishioners at Darra-Jindalee. May he Rest in the Peace of Christ.
CATHOLIC CHURCH OPPOSITION TO VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING LAW
(The proposed law to allow voluntary assisted dying is expected to be debated by Queensland's Parliament in September 2021).
"Legislation to allow access to voluntary assisted dying in Queensland was introduced in Parliament on the 25 May,- the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021 – this is to be scrutinised by the parliamentary Health and Environment Committee, and is to go through further public consultation. The parliamentary Health and Environment Committee has only a short time now to undertake scrutiny of the Bill and members of the public and stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide submissions. Submissions can be sent through via the following government page. Click Here - Also please see the excellent resources and information on this important topic here - Catholic church resources on Euthanasia. Also, A Call to Action against Voluntary Assisted Dying - anti-VAD
SOCIAL JUSTICE STATEMENT 2021—2022
This year's Australian Bishops' Social Justice Statement will be launched on August 5th of 2021 with the theme Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor. The statement affirms that "we human beings need a change of heart, mind, and behaviour" and draws from Scripture, from the theological tradition, from Catholic Social Teaching, and from the wisdom of the world, including the insights of the First Nations.
The statement is available for download from the ACBC Office for Social Justice website here: https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/2021/06/24/social-justice-statement-2021-22/
SOCIAL JUSTICE PRAYER:
God of all creation,
the heavens tell of your glory
and the earth is full of wonders
that sing of your goodness.
Sun, moon, stars and sky,
rain, snow, wind and water,
animals, birds, trees and flowers:
all are shaped by your loving hand.
Open in us an attentiveness
that recognises and welcomes
the holy that enfolds us and calls our name.
Form us to be people who delight
in life as your gift
to be revered, savoured, and nourished.
AMEN.
PRAYER FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN THE PANDEMIC
With so much stress on our Health Care Workers in Queensland today, and with over 400 of these remarkable people currently in quarantine, may we pray for them and let them know that we are truly appreciative of their dedication to the community. A short prayer is printed below.
In prayerful solidarity, Father Gerry Hefferan.
Prayer for Health Care Workers
Loving God,
we pray in gratitude,
for all Health Care Workers
and for their families and friends.
We give thanks for their service
and we pray for their safety.
We ask your blessing on each of them.
Amen.
CATHOLIC LEADER - MONTHLY NEWSPAPER - AUGUST PRINT EDITION AVAILABLE NOW. $4.
You can also subscribe (or give a gift subscription) to the Catholic Leader Print Newspaper: $50 per annual subscription. Receive The Catholic Leader print newspaper at your preferred postal address for 12 months.
FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION- CANCELLED
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament- First Friday, 6th August at Sacred Heart Church from 7 pm to 8.30 pm, has been cancelled this month due to the lockdown Enquiries: Helen 0421935678.
CANCELLED - First Saturday Mass and Benediction at Sacred Heart
9 am Saturday 7th August.
WHEN LOCKDOWNS ARE LIFTED
CHECK IN TO MASS….
Please check-in by mandatory Check-In Qld app. We are so pleased with how this is going with your continued cooperation.
Please show our volunteers at the door your before entering the church.
Ask for assistance from our volunteers if you are experiencing difficulty in getting the Qld App onto your phone. If by chance you are not able to get the App because your phone is too old or is not compatible or you don't have a mobile phone, only then are you required to write down your name and contact number, please. Please remember that if you are experiencing any symptoms, get a COVID test and quarantine at home until you receive a negative result. Thank you for keeping our parish communities safe.
Masks must be worn
CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN - ANNUAL ARCHDIOCESAN COLLECTION COMING SOON
TO DONATE ONLINE PLEASE CLICK HERE -
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
CONFIRMATION
Each family that has completed an online application for their child/ren to enrol in Preparation for Confirmation on October 15, 2021, should soon receive an email from our Parish Sacramental Coordinator, Cathy Anderson. These emails will be sent early next week. Parents are required to attend an introductory meeting at Sacred Heart Church on either Monday, August 30 at 5:30 pm or Tuesday, August 31 at 7:00 pm. Please mention to your friends or relatives who may have overlooked this opportunity that Confirmation enrolments will close on Friday, August 27. Please ask them to go to the parish website www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au and complete an online enrolment application. Please use the drop-down menu under Sacraments and click on Confirmation (under Sacraments), read the explanation of the sacrament and then scroll down to and click on CHILDREN'S SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM APPLICATION FORM (in the blue box). Complete the form and click on submit. Once you have submitted the form, you should receive an automated response to indicate that your application has been received by the parish team.
RECONCILIATION
In the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Reconciliation follows the Sacraments of Initiation, that is, it follows Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion. The Sacramental Team's plan for Reconciliation is to prepare a program similar in style to the Confirmation and First Communion Preparation Programs. This will be a lengthy task so we are unable to provide an exact date for you to expect an email inviting your child to participate.
I do hope that you will hear from our Sacramental Team before the end of the year. In the meantime, please check the parish newsletter regularly (www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au then go to newsletter archives) for any updates. Thank you to all families who have patiently and regularly checked in with our team to find out about the timing of Reconciliation in Surfers Paradise Parish.
Whenever the Sacramental Team completes the work for the Reconciliation Preparation material, our Children's Sacramental Coordinator will email an invitation to participate, to the families of all children who received their First Communion in 2020 or 2021. If you have any further questions, please email our Children's Sacramental Coordinator, Cathy Anderson andersoncm@bne.catholic.net.au
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION -
God knows that committing to a stewardship lifestyle is difficult. However, we were not designed to do it on our own, we need His help. Fortunately, God gave us the greatest gift of all, His son, Jesus. Through the gift of the Eucharist we join our sacrifice with the sacrifice of the Holy Mass and receive the strength and courage to be His joyful disciples.
"Get up and eat or the journey will be too much for you!" - 1 Kings 19:7
The vision of Stewardship speaks in every aspect of life, inviting everyone to be thankful, generous and accountable for what each has been given.
We are in need of volunteers to man the library before and after mass during the weekends. If you are called to help in the library, we shall appreciate it if you can contact Esta Mostert by texting / WhatsApp her on
+61 410542427 or email her: esta@mostertfamily.com
Please text your name, WhatsApp or phone number and/or your email address to her as well as the times that you will be available. Alternatively, write your name on the Library Volunteer list at the back of the church. Ezekiel 2:9 Then I looked, and behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll was in it. Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Books
ADULT FAITH ENRICHMENT: REFLECTION & BIBLE STUDY
Just two weeks before we start - get your bookings in!
COMMENCING ON A SUNDAY MORNING AT 10 AM
IN THE PARISH HOSPITALITY CENTRE
FIRST SESSION 22ND AUGUST 2021
A Journey through the history of Catholicism!
This exciting 20-part (20 hours) DVD series takes you through the major people, places and events that make up the history of the Catholic Church. You will see the glory of the Church founded by Christ and understand where you fit into this Epic story.
Order your Study Set by ringing the Parish Office (55 725 433) between 9 am and 12 pm weekdays and giving your details – the Study Set will cost $44.99 (no mark up - just the internet advertised cost - freight is on us) and includes everything you need to participate and complete the 20-part study.
Please organise to pay the Parish Office for the Study Set by direct debit to the Parish account or by coming into the Parish Office to pay - either way arrange with the Parish Office, please.
The Study Set will be handed out on the first night (22nd August). If anyone is desperate to be a part of this but cannot afford the $44.99 or is able to just afford some of it - please DO NOT let this stop you from participating - we will find a way
This Study Set includes:
Epic Workbook
Epic Timeline Chart
Epic Timeline Bookmark
We, at the Parish, are excited to be able to bring this to you and look forward to both young and old (and in between) participating, as we want to hear you sharing your opinions, your stories, and your faith-filled personal relationship with God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - we all learn and grow from each other's input, so looking forward to a diverse group of people from all walks of life.
______________________________________________________________________________
CONTINUING OUR JOURNEY WITH ST PAUL
FORTNIGHTLY ON A TUESDAY NIGHT
In the Footsteps of Paul - With Tony Moore
ALL WELCOME: Our next session will be on 17th August at 6 pm (COVID Permitting) in the Parish Hospitality Centre or if that is taken for the night then we are in the Parish Office Staff Room
Because of the cancellation of the meeting on 3rd August due to COVID-19 Lockdown - we will still be doing the following:
The next video from the 20 Episode series is No 14: "Revivals & Riots at Ephesus" - Paul leaves Corinth and sails across to Ephesus and from there to Jerusalem but he kept thinking about Ephesus - he was anxious to see what had developed there following his preaching of the Good News that Jesus Christ was the Lord - Paul was on a mission - his path was leading him back to Ephesus
Prayer and Reflection on Letters - We have left Thessalonians behind and started on Corinthians -William Barclay, the author of The Letters to the Corinthians - The New Daily Study Bible, has one aim in his study series - 'to convey the results of scholarship to the ordinary reader (you and I) bringing God's word to readers in the language of their own time -the 21st century.
In those days, Corinth was a hotbed of vice, yet it was where some of Paul's greatest work was done, some of the mightiest triumphs of Christianity were won.' Other than Ephesus, Paul stayed longer in Corinth than in any other city, eighteen months. Corinth was the city of the Twin Harbours - on the western side the Gulf of Corinth and the eastern side, the Sardonic Gulf - merchants bringing their wares and goods from and to Asia Minor in the east and from and to Greece, Macedonia and Rome in the west. Paul was able to ply his trade there - making tents and sails for the ships that sailed in and out of these two ports. The isthmus that divided Corinth from Athens had a trackway made of rails of wood smeared with fat where goods and/or small ships were hauled from one harbour to the other (around 4 miles or 6.4 kilometres across but 320 kilometres to go around the dangerous horn). The Corinth Canal today cuts right through this isthmus - bringing together the Adriatic and Aegean Seas. Impressive man-made feat!
Paul's letters to the Corinthians were not collected together until around AD 90. In many churches they were on bits of papyrus and putting them together would have been a problem, so it seems that not all were discovered and some were not arranged in the right order - we're about to delve into a reconstruction of what happened and what letters are out or order - a summary of the letters from both 1 and 2 Corinthians. Don't know about you but this is exciting stuff which the majority of us had not heard of and eagerly await this revelation.
If you are wanting to start with us just give the Parish Office (55 725 433) your email address and turn up on the night. Blessings to all.
Your support is needed to help our Parish continue valuable pastoral activities and to provide ongoing sustainability. To assist you to support the Parish, 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. The pay-wave or tap-and-go machines on the timber stands in our Churches are also a safe and handy way to donate to the Parish. God bless you for your support.
If you would like confirmation of your donation or a receipt emailed to you please contact me at man.surfers@bne.catholic.net.au. To join planned giving, please contact the Parish Office: (07) 5572 5433 (9 am–12 pm Mon-Fri).
INSPIRING QUOTES: (Some taken from - .. Complete Quotes and Anecdotes - Tony Castle)
Here is a quote mentioned in mass the other week, for those who missed it: There is a beautiful reflection, attributed to Saint Teresa of Kolkata, (which was actually written by an American man named Kent M. Keith and published in a 1968 College Pamphlet. However, a framed copy of this reflection was kept on the wall in one of Mother Teresa's Orphanages). It goes like this:
"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centred;
forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior
motives; be kind anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you;
be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others may destroy overnight; Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous;
be happy anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten;
do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it may never be enough;
give your best anyway.
(Kent M. Keith. "The Paradoxical Commandments: Finding Personal Meaning in a Crazy World." October 25, 2001." (ISBN-10: 1930722052).)
The Wisdom of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
"Do not accept anything as love which lacks truth." ― Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
"All those who seek truth, seek God, whether this is clear to them or not." Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
"To suffer and to be happy although suffering, to have one's feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough paths of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father's right hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this world and ceaselessly sing the praises of God with the choirs of angels—this is the life of the Christian until the morning of eternity breaks forth." Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
"Intellect is the light which illuminates its path, and without this light, emotion changes back and forth. In fact, if emotions prevail over the intellect, it is able to obscure the light and distort the picture of the entire world…. Emotional stirrings need the control of reason and the direction of the will." Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
"At first, after her conversion she thought she would have to renounce all that was secular and live totally immersed in God, but then she realized that, even in the contemplative life, you cannot sever all connection with the world, that the deeper you are drawn into God, the more you must go out of yourself to the world in order to carry the divine life into it." ― Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein).
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/82877.Edith_Stein).
ST LAWRENCE -
"(St Lawrence) loved Christ in his life, he imitated Him in his death…After all, we shall not be able to give a better proof of love than by imitating His example… Christ humbled himself: you have something, Christian, to latch on to. Christ became obedient. – Why do you behave proudly? After running the course of these humiliations and laying death low, Christ ascended into heaven – let us follow Him there. Let us listen to the Apostle telling us, 'If you have risen with Christ, savour the things that are above and is, seated at God's right hand.'" (From a sermon delivered by St. Augustine in about 400 AD on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Lawrence.) (https://anastpaul.com/2017/08/10/quotes-of-the-day-10-august-the-feast-of-st-lawrence/)
The Prefect of Rome brought Saint Lawrence before him and demanded that he hand over the treasures of the church. Lawrence was given three days to gather the possessions, and he returned with what he claimed to be the church's true treasures. The Prefect expected money and other valuables. But Lawrence pointed to the humble people of God and their poverty. "Behold then, all our riches!" The Prefect was so incensed by this, that he ordered Lawrence be tortured and executed.
St. Clare of Assisi
"Love Him totally, who gave Himself totally for your love." ―
"We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become. If we love things, we become a thing. If we love nothing, we become nothing. Imitation is not a literal mimicking of Christ, rather it means becoming the image of the beloved, an image disclosed through transformation. This means we are to become vessels of God's compassionate love for others." ― St. Clare of Assisi
"Love that cannot suffer is not worthy of that name." ― Saint Clare of Assisi. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2981647.St_Clare_of_Assisi)
St. Maximilian Kolbe
"No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is the inner conflict. Beyond armies of occupation and the hetacombs of extermination camps, there are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we ourselves are defeated in our innermost personal selves?" ― St. Maximilian Kolbe
"In order that obedience be supernatural it must not proceed from reason, but from faith." ― St. Maximilian Kolbe, Let Yourself Be Led by the Immaculate. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/551010.Maximilian_Kolbe )
THE GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND: SAINT MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP
As Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop once wrote:
"Remember we are all but travellers here."
Saint Mary of the Cross is an Australian national Patron and also an official Patron of the Brisbane Archdiocese here, and so in Australia this feast day ranks locally as a Solemnity and so takes precedence over the usual Sunday of Ordinary Time.
Mary Helen MacKillop, was born in Melbourne (Australia) on 15th January, 1842. And entered eternal life in Sydney on this day (8th August) in 1909. Mary took the religious name "Mary of the Cross." Mary responded to the isolation of colonial families by pioneering a new form of religious life to provide education for their children. She and her sisters shared the life of the poor and the itinerant, offering special care to destitute women and children. Remembered for her eagerness to discover God's will in all things, for her charity in the face of calumny, and for her abiding trust in God's providence. [ I am sure that Saint Mary MacKillop will be interceding for us here in Australia, and for the whole world as it continues to work towards recovery from the great trials being caused by the ongoing covid-pandemic].
Some wonderful quotes from the Life of Saint Mary of the Cross, Mackillop, give us a superb taste of her spirituality and faith:
"Whatever troubles may be before you, accept them bravely, remembering Whom you are trying to follow. Do not be afraid. Love one another, bear with one another and let charity guide you all your life. God will reward you as only He can."
And this quote:
"Find happiness in making others happy."
And this:
"We must teach more by example than by word."
"Let us all resign ourselves into His hands, and pray that in all things He may guide us to do His Holy Will . . When thoughts of this or that come; - I turn to Him and say: "Only what you will, my God. Use me as You will".
"Be eager in your desires but humbly patient in their accomplishment."
"Pray to be ever ready for God's will, even when it takes you by surprise."- 1880
"Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God."- 1891
"Try to at least excuse what you cannot understand." 1877
And my absolute favourite quote from her:
"Many things that seemed unaccountable worries have proved indeed to be hidden blessings." – 1870 (in this time of pandemic, these words ring even truer this year than previous years).
For most people… it is easy to be gracious when everything is going well. When people speak well of us and treat us nicely.- And everything is going our way.- Flowing according to plan. But it takes a saint to be gracious in times of intense difficulty…… when everything seems to be going wrong.
Jesus is the model for all saints… and a saint is so named because they allow the person and message (and qualities) of Jesus to shine through their lives and find a home in their actions and attitudes.
Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop is a wonderful example of that… It is an absolute miracle of God's grace that such a wonderful woman has been canonized by the church so that Mary MacKillop's life might be an inspiration to Christian discipleship everywhere.
It is utterly amazing that someone who was once excommunicated by the church, (albeit unjustly and wrongly – the judgement being reversed by the bishop who proclaimed it, and who repented of his mistake on his death-bed) would be proclaimed a saint, … whose praises are sung throughout the world. - But it is this 'grace under fire'-- This gracious reflection of God's love, faithfulness and justice, (even in the face of lies and condemnation), that shows the qualities that Jesus speaks of in the Beatitudes.
Saint Mary MacKillop's life is also an example of complete trust in God's providence.- But this is not some kind of helpless waiting around and doing nothing … but, rather, this saint of the Cross (Mary MacKillop) knew that God's providence was revealed through the love and care of human beings. So, Mary became famous for her attitude (and actions) summed up in that wonderful and memorable saying: "never see a need without doing something to help."
Mary saw a need for education, for shelter and for support of those most in need; namely poor children, and destitute women and men. And so, she set up schools and shelters for people in need.
We can all make a difference by responding to the needs around us and believing that we can make a difference, with God's grace and providence.
May Our Lord inspire us to be people of care, compassion, graciousness and love (in season and out of season) – to respond to the setbacks and acts of malice in the world the loving way Mary Mackillop did, with compassion and perseverance, and may we also continue to be people of practical action, making a difference to those most in need.
To listen to the whole Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https:- soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
{References: quotes, from various sources. Also, Daily Mass Book 2021 - Liturgy Brisbane }
{Image Credit: Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop (2009-10)- Paint and Tapestry Artwork by Mr Terry Lynch and the Maryborough Parish ladies- Located in Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Maryborough, where Saint Mary visited and set up a convent and school - . Second painting featured was the original impression prior to canonisation, which was painted-over by the update }
POPE FRANCIS: POPE PUTS USE OF PRE-VATICAN MISSAL UNDER STRICT CONDITIONS, FOR THE SAKE OF UNITY.
Despite reports to the contrary in some media, the Pope has not in fact banned the Latin Mass. Latin is still the official language of the universal church and any priest can celebrate the present ordinary form of the Mass in latin or any other language. What the Pope has done is AFTER CONSULTATION WITH BISHOPS OF THE WORLD restricted the use of the pre-1962 missal as permission in recent years, intended to allow some flexibility for those who desired the pre-vatican missal to have some leeway. Sadly, although this broad exception was meant to foster unity, it started to become clear that there was a significant group of people who were using this permission to cement the error that the pre-vatican Mass was better than the present ordinary form or somehow valid when the other was not. This was never intended by the pastoral concession done in charity for those who were struggling with the transition, and the erroneous negative attitude towards the ordinary rite implicitly goes against the spirit of the whole exercise. It could be said that permission was restricted again after some have mishandled it by, as the saying goes, "being given an inch and running a mile." (see the following article for more information on this - "It's Not About the Latin." By Robert Mickens: https://international.la-croix.com/news/letter-from-rome/pope-francis-announces-a-requiem-for-the-old-latin-mass/14665).
Also, here is the link to the actual document issued by Pope Francis:
And, further analysis on this issue:
- On Friday 16th July, the Vatican published a new motu propio, meaning an addition to Church law issued on the pope's own authority, titled, Traditionis Custodes, meaning "Guardians of Tradition," which tightened permission for celebration of the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass, also called contentiously by some the "Traditional Latin Mass," the use of which had been liberalized under Benedict in 2007.
According to the new norms, it is up to bishops whether to allow the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass in their dioceses.
Priests who already obtained permission and are currently celebrating the Latin Mass must now get permission from their bishop to continue doing so, and any priest ordained after Francis's new norms went into effect Friday must submit a formal request to their bishop, who in turn will consult with the Vatican before giving permission.
Specific times and places must be determined for where and when the Latin Mass can be celebrated, but it is no longer allowed to take place in parishes, and no new parishes exclusively for the use of the Latin Mass can be established.
The new rules also bar any new group wishing to celebrate the pre-1962 Latin Mass from being formed.
In a letter to the world's bishops published alongside the July 16 motu proprio, Pope Francis said that in the 13 years since Benedict XVI broadened access to the Latin Mass in a bid to foster unity, that openness has been "exploited" to create divisions.
"An opportunity offered by St. John Paul II and, with even greater magnanimity, by Benedict XVI, intended to recover the unity of an ecclesial body with diverse liturgical sensibilities, was exploited to widen the gaps, reinforce the divergences, and encourage disagreements that injure the Church, block her path, and expose her to the peril of division," Francis said.
In comments to Crux, Monsignor James Moroney, former chief of staff to the US bishops on liturgy, voiced his belief that the broadened access to the Latin Mass facilitated under Benedict XVI, a gesture intended to unify, has had the opposite effect.
"All one has to do is to surf the internet to read comments that 'priests are not fully of the Roman Rite unless they celebrate the extraordinary form,'" that there is an "'inalienable right' of priests to exclusively celebrate the extraordinary form," or criticism of "the many perceived defects of the last council and the liturgical reform which followed and the inadequacy of the bishops."
"There is the tendency among some of the most vocal proponents of the extraordinary form to set up a sort of competition between the 'vetus' and 'novus' Masses," Moroney said, noting that one Church commentator recently remarked that, "the post-Conciliar reform has definitively lost its grasp on the hearts and minds of the young."
What Pope Francis is doing, he said, joining his voice to the many bishops "who lament the divisive tone of these campaigns for the pre-conciliar form, campaigns which largely fail to acknowledge the need for the reform of those same rites which was called for by the Council fathers."
Moroney was appointed by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI as a consultor to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
On a practical level, Moroney said, the decision for how to regulate the celebration of the Latin Mass will be with the bishops, and not individual priests, who themselves often have different liturgical preferences.
The pope, he said, is simply responding to reports from bishops around the world "that without the capacity to regulate the extraordinary form's unbridled celebration, this has too often compromised the unity of the Church."
Asked whether he believes this decision from Pope Francis will in fact foster the unity he hopes to achieve by imposing stronger restrictions for the Latin Mass, Moroney said that "Those who see the sacred liturgy as the source and summit of our unity will respond to his call. Those who wish to use the liturgy as a political football will not."
At a pastoral level, Moroney said his advice for enthusiasts of the Latin Mass who are sad or disappointed by Francis's restrictions is to "take a deep breath and listen with humility to what the Holy Father and their Bishop ask of them. Too often in our consumer culture we look upon every experience as a product which can be customized to our desires."
Just as those who "arbitrarily customized" the liturgy to suit their own perceived needs were chastised in past decades, "so every faithful Catholic must realize the Sacred Liturgy is something we unworthily receive from the Church," he said. "Each of us," he said, "are unworthy of so great a work, and we must humbly join our voices to the voice of the Church in offering the great sacrifice of praise."
(source: https://cruxnow.com/interviews/2021/07/popes-clampdown-on-latin-mass-praised-as-prophetic-ripped-as-cruel )
(Image - ID: 173122346- ROME, ITALY - Basilica di San Paolo- By giulio napolitano )
FAITH AND WORSHIP - New and Varied Feasts Recently Announced
On 29th July 2021, many people came to mass expecting the Memorial Feast of Saint Martha of Bethany. And in a sense they celebrated that. However, this feast has been expanded recently by the declaration of Pope Francis. The Feast day is now the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, to include the three siblings who were close friends of Our Lord and offered him support, friendship and their devoted discipleship. This is very fitting. This is so new that the 2010 Missal we use for mass has not yet been updated with this and other newer celebrations since its publication. This is where books such as the Ordo of the annual publication of the Daily Mass Book from Liturgy Brisbane can be of assistance in alerting us to recent updates.
St. Martha's feast day will now include Mary and Lazarus, after change from Pope Francis:
Pope Francis approved the memorial for Martha, Mary and Lazarus after "considering the important evangelical witness they offered in welcoming the Lord Jesus into their home, in listening to him attentively, (and) in believing that he is the resurrection and the life."
In February, the Pope also approved three new memorials: Saint Gregory of Narek, a 10th-century Armenian monk - ( feast day Feb. 27) ; Saint John of Avila, the famed 16th-century preacher, confessor and spiritual writer - (feast day May 10); and 12th-century German abbess Saint Hildegard of Bingen, (feast day Sept. 17). For more information on these fascinating developments, please see the link following, in the source reference. (SOURCE: article by Junno Arocho Esteves - Catholic News Service, February 02, 2021 - https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2021/02/02/pope-francis-martha-mary-lazarus-feast-day-doctor-239897)
[IMAGE - Shutterstock licensed photo ID: 1550955998 --(cropped) - October 10, 2019 Larnaca, Cyprus. The church of St. Lazarus. The icon near the entrance to the church. By Altosvic ]
MASS TIMES: SURFERS PARADISE MASS TIMES
Please note that people entering the church are now required to scan the Check-In Qld app - Queensland Government, which will register you as attending that mass time.
Please load on your phone the QLD Check In App - this will allow entry into a church.
MASKS MUST BE WORN AGAIN THIS WEEKEND
FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION -
(cancelled due to lockdown) - Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament this Friday 6th August at Sacred Heart Church from 7 pm to 8.30 pm. All Welcome. Enquiries: Helen 0421935678.
SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT'S RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS
The Parish Shops are currently closed due to the lockdown. For enquires, please contact Pat 0404 805 819
THE SACRED HEART BRIDGE CLUB (There may be disruptions due to lockdown)
Meets at the Sacred Heart - Parish Hospitality Centre, Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters.
Playing Bridge keeps your brain active and increases your social network! So why not give us a try?
Learn to play Bridge at "Our Friendly Club" - Free Lesson. "Introduction to Bridge"
Easy to learn format, no previous card playing experience necessary. All are welcome.
For more information and to enrol, Please phone: Cheryl 5538 8821 or Mob 0417 772 701
PARISH ART AND CRAFT GROUP (There may be disruptions due to lockdown)
Our Art and Craft Group is up and running, and is alive and well! We meet in the Parish Hospitality Centre, next to Sacred Heart Church in Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters, each Wednesday from 9 am to 12 noon. Our activities include Art (watercolour, oils, acrylics, pen and ink drawings etc), as well as various kinds of craft work (knitting, embroidery, crocheting, card making, sewing) and the making of Rosary Beads that are later sent on to the Missions. We are open to all other activities that individuals have an interest in. We come together to enjoy each other's company in a relaxed environment. New members, both men and women, are most welcome to join. For further information, please contact John on 0412 759 205 or the Parish Office on 5572 5433 Monday to Friday 9 am to 12 noon.
YOGA AT THE PARISH HOSPITALITY CENTRE (There may be disruptions due to lockdown)
Come join us for our friendly class in the Parish Hospitality Centre next to the Parish Office. Classes run every Tuesday at 10:45 am. Learn to relax, yet gain greater flexibility, inner strength, body awareness and concentration, all while increasing your breath support and general wellbeing. Ruth is an IYTA accredited instructor with wide experience and runs a caring, carefully monitored one-hour session costing $10 (new attendees need to arrive by 10.30 am to prepare adequately for class). For more information, call Ruth on 0421338110.
WEEKLY Q
We thought we would bring a little joy into your lives in these difficult times, and perhaps bring out the inner sleuth in you.
- a weekly Trivia Q - the answer for which you will find in past Parish Newsletters which can be accessed via the website Newsletter Archive – Surfers Paradise Parish
- the first person to email the correct answer to pwkelly68@gmail.com will have their name documented and at the end of the year the one with the most correct (first in) answers will win a 'surprise' !!
Question 3. Several parents of grown-up children are upset at the fact our children no longer go to Mass. "I'd rather my children went to Mass while I am alive, rather than making a big show of things after I've gone.". Who was the person who said this?
Question 2. As Pope Francis tries to redefine the place of the laity in a Church he sees as being too clerical, he formally strengthened and consolidated a new 'ministry' for Catholic lay people recently, hoping to fundamentally change the Catholic Church from within. It is a ministry that is very familiar in developing countries, but it is something the Pope hopes will be of benefit to all nations, including the developed world. What is the name of that ministry?
Answer Question 2.
ANSWER found in Newsletter of 6 June 2021 - POPE FRANCIS: Institutes a new ministry for Catholic Lay People
"lay ministry of Catechist"
CONGRATULATIONS!
And the first person with the right answer to last week's Q 2. using the email pwkelly68@gmail.com was……….
Michelle Coyle - Her answer came in on Tuesday around midday.
So, answers are getting harder to find hopefully! Let's give Michelle a run for her money 😁 this week with Question 3 above. See if you can beat Michelle as she appears to be the one who is dominating the results so far. Good luck!
Thanks to Frs. Peter and Paul for the interesting articles submitted by them to our Newsletters - these have prompted this bit of fun!
FAN THE FLAME PLENARY COUNCIL REFLECTION
Towards Plenary Assembly One October 2021
'Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well' Matthew 6:25-34
The Church signifies and builds up the shared life of God's kingdom. This calls all members of the Church to continual conversion from self-serving egoism to self-giving love and a willingness to "bear each other's burdens" (Gal 6:2). (Instrumentum Laboris #83)
www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/fantheflame/
CARER GATEWAY - CONNECTING CARERS TO SUPPORT SERVICES
Emotional help and support available for carers Getting help early can make a big
difference to a carer's life by helping to reduce emotional and physical strain and improving their overall health and wellbeing. Supports and services are free for carers through Carer Gateway and are
designed to help if you are:
• feeling stressed
• experiencing anxiety
• have low moods
• find it difficult to manage feelings.
Services such as counselling, peer support, and skills courses are available to help you in your caring role. Find out more at carergateway.gov.au or call 1800 422 737, Mon-Fri between 8 am and 5 pm local time.
JOBS AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE -
Position Vacant – Parish Secretary - Aspley Parish
Applications are open for a position at the Aspley Parish. A person with excellent administration and time management skills is required for a part-time job-share position of Parish Secretary working 15 hours a week, Monday to Wednesday (8.30 am to 1.30 pm). For additional information, please visit the Archdiocese of Brisbane website https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/ and to careers.
Applications close: 8 August 2021
Position Vacant – Administration Assistant - Acacia Ridge Parish
Applications are open for the above position at the Acacia Ridge Parish. The position is a casual role with the possibility of it becoming full time and will begin ASAP. For additional information, please visit the Archdiocese of Brisbane website https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/ and to careers.
Applications close: Sunday 8 August 2021
Position Vacant – Booval Parish
Applications are open for a position at the Booval Parish. A person with excellent administration and secretarial skills is required for a part-time 3-year contract position of Parish Secretary for 20 hours per week, 5 hours on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
For additional information, please visit the Archdiocese of Brisbane website- https://clientapps.jobadder.com/68451/aob-internal-career-opportunities/333164/parish-secretary-booval
Closing date – 19 August 2021
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Justin King, Bert Devich, Marija Mercep, John Davis, Peter Cotton, Bobby Courtney, Lisa Mangan, Doreen Slater, Christina Hendriksen, Diane Land, Robyn Skein, Sharyn Lucas, Kye Oh, Irene Carney, Michael James, Bill Gilmore, Olga Hamshari, Roy Ferraro, Margaret Haerse, Rosalind Lee, Milka Barac, Mary Ashton, Kurt Hillesheim, Bill Goodrem, Rodney & Norma McLennan, Lois & Doug Wood, Duncan Dawson, Sam Maxwell, William Franklin, Gerry Stoffels (Capetown, SA), Maria Mihalic, Annie Scicluna, Anne Logan, Dymphna Hogg, Margaret & Louise Thompson, Patricia Moor, Helen Bohringer, Peter O'Brien, Angela Duvnjak, Rachel Raines, Savannah Ayoub, Gus Reeves, Baby Maeve Lombard, Kathy Kiely, Rosslyn Wallis, Arthur Haddad, Jean Di Benedetto, Michael & Denise Tracey, Joanne Mooney, Joanne Parkes, Michelle MacDonald, John & Molly Robinson, Mary Kerr. And all suffering from Covid-19.
RECENTLY DECEASED: Fr Dan Carroll, Parish Priest, Darra Jindalee (for over 50 years),Helen Therese Moffat, Marcia Allman, Kathleen Vlasic, Ermis (Ernie) Moro, James Cunningham, Elaine Hannah Cotter, Nair Mercanti Richard, Joseph Shen (Jiasheng Shen), John Lenehan, Albert Lewis (Lew) Bush, Jill Cecelia O'Brien, Maureen Patricia O'Connor, George Higgs, Greg Sharah, Dave Binder (USA), Grace Cooper (UK), Leah Maher, Bill Wall, Jill Masters, Adam Minisini, Anthony Bennett, Bernard David, Lynette Lesley Larking, Patricia Tansey, Paul Conmy.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: Maria Victoria Fava, Joe Farrell, Sylvia Moray, Paolo Mario (Paul) Giacomantonio; Joe Vella; Reg Sheehan; Shirley Ann Hishon; Gloria June Louise Diamond; Joan Degan; Patrick Needham; Roslyn Mary Fisher; Wayne John Egan; Vera Endrody; Nea Mary Butler ; Stewart Gallagher; Bruce Milgate; Nicholas Anthony Kyle; Noelle Hope Matthew; Alyce Catherine Boswell; Francesco Mennella; Russell Forrestal; Janine Ailsa (Jan) Bastian; Patricia (Pat) Sievers; Mary (Molly) Biltoft; Barry John Arderne; Bernie Crane.
You can visit the Stay Connected page on our website to find an extensive list of information and resources.
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/
https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Acknowledgement of Country
We respectfully acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country, and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane. And here in this parish of Surfers Paradise, we particularly acknowledge and pay our respects to the Kombumerri clan of the Yugambeh people of the Gold Coast. We also acknowledge Elders, past and present and pay tribute to those who have contributed to the social, economic, cultural, political and spiritual life of our community. This acknowledgement affirms our commitment to social justice and the importance of healing and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Commitment To Child And Vulnerable Adult Safety
"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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