PDF version of this parish newsletter here:
Also, you can access an online copy of the newsletter *here*
“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49)
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.Stock Vector ID: 1889011288. Division -ripping paper with the symbol of the house. Vector. Vector Contributor. jiris
ANNUAL CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN (Date Claimer) - OFFICIAL COLLECTION
SCHEDULED FOR 20 - 21 August 2022 *Please click here to give now*Care to those who have cared for us. Your gift ensures our elderly priests have the support they need to retire with dignity, knowing they have a community of the faithful invested in their wellbeing.
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
THIS MONDAY THE 15TH AUGUST IS THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. THIS IS USUALLY A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. THE MASS WILL BE 9 AM AT SACRED HEART. (THERE IS STILL AN EXEMPTION FROM THE OBLIGATION TO ATTEND HOLY DAYS DURING COVID AND FLU PRECAUTIONS.
catholicfoundation.org.au/catholic-campaign/
(Pictured below is Fr Clem Hodge, (who is Fr Paul’s uncle), and also Fr Denis Long).
The Annual Catholic Campaign is our Archdiocese of Brisbane's official appeal to support its central mission activities. The A.C.C. is SCHEDULED FOR 20 - 21 August 2022 *Please click here to give now*
Next weekend, our parish is delighted to support the Annual Catholic Campaign. It is the one time a year that all of the parishes in the Archdiocese come together to help vital works of our church and the local community.
Funds raised will support ministries that directly impact this parish. The Campaign supports training future priests, caring for our elderly and retired priests, helping local families in dire need access to Catholic education, and caring for those physically and emotionally suffering in our community.
Please take a Campaign brochure and giving envelope, which will be available at church this weekend. with you when you depart from mass this weekend. You can either pop it in the mail or return it next week. Of course, if you have a pen in your bag, feel free to fill it in today and place it in the collection. Thank you, and God bless.
ANNUAL CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN (Date Claimer) - OFFICIAL ARCHDIOCESAN COLLECTION SCHEDULED FOR 20 - 21 August 2022 *Please click here to give now*
PASTOR’S POST. Personal Best
To be painfully honest, I’m not much of a sportsman. Sure, like most people I had a go, and dreamed a little bit more than my capacity to be a star. I’ve played tennis, golf, squash and I’ve even tried my hand (or rather my legs) at snow and waterskiing (hence the wobbly knees). While I actually enjoyed these pastimes at the time, I lacked that one essential quality of the good athlete – commitment. In fact, I suspect that I would have been an outstanding sportsperson, if only I didn’t need to train and practice and forgo many other enjoyments. If only I was prepared to have been out on the road running in all types of weather at ridiculously early hours, eating only nutritious and muscle-building food. If only I was prepared to not have a social life or a regular job, then I could have been up there with the most mediocre of sporting celebrities. Hitting that ball, swinging that club, overcoming boredom and fatigue to hone my skill, day after day, month after month.
As you’ve probably guessed I’ve been watching the Commonwealth Games (I can actually recall them being called ‘The British Empire Games”. The name was changed in 1966). I’ve been viewing these gladiatorial feats from the comfort of my lounge chair for years, occasionally yelling at the TV, offering sound coaching advice to a range of competitors, in some sports I’ve never even attempted e.g. javelin and judo, none of which seemed to be followed or have any effect. If only the Australian decathlete Daniel Golubovic had followed my advice to run faster and stride longer, then he could have shaved off those three seconds that lost him the gold medal. I’ve also been musing on which sport I would like to have attempted in order to reach championship level. However, I have finally accepted that until marbles, darts or easy crosswording are deemed an international competition of note, then I’ll just stay seated and pretend I might have been a contender.
However amid all the glittering prizes, I have been watching the “also rans”, those brave souls who have trained as long and hard as the winners, yet end up trailing the field, sometimes being lapped as they persevere to the end. Perhaps these are the ones who most of us should identify with as they stand to the side as they watch others mounting the podium to receive their laurels. These tail-enders are also trying to do their very best for believing they have as much hope as their rival competitors. It cheers me to see that many of them have achieved what the sports commentators refer to as their” personal best”, and that is why the spectators applauded them loudly, because they recognise what training and struggle has gone into their efforts and in that lies another sense of glory.
If only that was the standard we all strived for, not just in sport but in our relationships, in charity, in attitude, the practice of our faith and in our daily work. To compete against ourselves and setting the bar as high as we know we can reasonably achieve. While it may be an honour to be the one who takes the lead, there is enormous satisfaction in pushing ourselves to overcome the daily hurdles and hazards that hold us back, or pressure us into thinking good enough will do. There are certainly no prizes, public or private, for holding back on our personal best, and there is an enormous medal in knowing I gave it my best shot.
Fr Peter Dillon PP
Bold & the Beautiful Friendship Group
Lunch 12 noon, Thursday 25th August at Surfers Paradise Golf Club. Everybody Welcome. Leona Kelly 56308206
A MESSAGE FROM THE “CATHOLIC GUY”
On Monday, 15 August, we are starting a new Daily Devotional series called, 'Knowing Jesus,' which is aimed at helping Catholic people in their personal prayer and devotional life.
Jesus is arguably the most well-known person that ever lived. This new series called, 'Knowing Jesus,' based on the holy Scriptures and the wisdom of the Church will be a new and different perspective on the life of Christ and His work - His teaching, His miracles, His death, and resurrection - and ultimately, who He was and why He came.
Each day, people will receive a free short 5-10 minute video directly into their inbox.
Would you please include the following information in your Parish Bulletin, social media posts or Parish Communications for the next two Sundays so that people can join in what we pray will be a powerful life-changing series.
For more information, please contact me at Bruce@BruceDownes.org - Thank you for helping us share Christ. God bless, Bruce Downes,
The Catholic Guy
Surfers Paradise Parish
CATHOLIC LEADER - MONTHLY NEWSPAPER (Copies may still be available from last week, while stocks last)
Catholic Leader promotional points for August 2022
• Three new priests ordained for Queensland province
• The Plenary Council coverage highlighting the motions that will shape the future of the Church
• Darwin Bishop Charles Gauci talks about the challenges faced by country parishes.
• Theresa Grace shares her story overcoming health challenges to achieve her success in her studies.
• Meet Linda Perrett, who will be Blessed Carlo Catholic College's foundational Principle
• Columns from Archbishop Mark Coleridge and BCE executive director Dr Sally Towns
Africa Food Crisis
Drought and conflict in the Horn of Africa have left over 18 million people facing severe hunger. Four consecutive failed rainy seasons have devastated the crops of millions across the region.
We must act now and Make Hunger History.
Your generous donation means our partners in countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Eritrea can respond quickly to support vulnerable communities during this crisis.
Visit www.caritas.org.au/food-crisis or call 1800 024 413 toll free to donate now.
Social Justice Statement - 2022-23
(now released in anticipation of Social Justice Sunday 28th August)
Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse points out that the roots of domestic and family violence “lie in the abuse of power to control and dominate others” and that “this stands in contrast to the relationships to which God calls us”.
Our relationships should be “marked by equality and reciprocity rather than domination and violence, respect and freedom rather than coercion and control”.
We know that most often those who suffer violence and abuse in homes and families, in workplaces, and in communities, are women and children while the perpetrators are most often men. We support women in calling for respect in relationships; their lives and those of their children are sacred.
The Statement affirms the work being done by faith communities and organisations to support those who experience domestic and family violence and abuse, and to address the drivers and enablers of violence. It points to further ways in which we can all respond to spiritual violence.
Finally, it calls for faith communities to support and believe those going through domestic and family violence and abuse, to hold perpetrators to account and work towards individual and social transformation.
The Statement and many resources are available here: https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/2022/08/02/sjs2022-23/ . A national gathering will take place later in the year. The statement will be available in electronic form only and a file suitable for commercial printing will be available for you to organise your own print run. https://www.catholic.org.au/shop/acbc-shop#!/Social-Justice/c/35837019
Initially Prep to Year 3, with an extra year level being added each year until 2026. The school is master-planned to accommodate approximately 550 students. - Website: Star Of The Sea Merrimac and Facebook Page: Star of the Sea
MASS TIMES: SURFERS PARADISE MASS TIMES
***PLEASE NOTE: ITALIAN MASS WITHIN PARISH SUSPENDED UNTIL OCTOBER
The celebration of the Italian Sunday Mass at the Sacred Heart Church Clear Island Waters WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR THREE MONTHS (JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2022) and will resume regularly as from Sunday 2nd October 2022.
Fr Angelo Cagna, the present Chaplain, will be on sabbatical leave for six months (30 June 2022 - 31 December 2022). Fr Savino Bernardi, a Scalabrinian priest from Sydney, will supply the Italian Sunday Mass for October, November and December 2022. For any other matters regarding the Italian Chaplaincy and Community, Giovanna Santomauro (Mob 0418 198 437) will be the liaison officer.
A VOCATION VIEW:
Jesus wants to set our faith on fire so we can share His love with zeal. (Luke 12). To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION -
“Do you think I have come to give you peace on Earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Luke 12:51
Many of us like to play it safe, not cause waves with our family and friends, especially regarding politics and religion. We don’t want to cause any turmoil. However, many times this is at the expense of the truth. The truth is Jesus Christ. Too many people are misguided because they rely on their limited human ability to reason and do not allow faith in God to guide them. Form your conscience; take a stance for life, marriage and religious liberty. The vision of Stewardship speaks in every aspect of life, inviting everyone to be thankful, generous and accountable for what each has been given.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Tom Ross, Joanne Parkes, Joan Simmonds, Maria Manuela, Jack Barretto, Kath Kiely, Joanne Mooney, Doug Chester, Kathy Stevens, Stephen Cokim, Nellie Bellinger, Leslie Clarke, Raymundo C. Isaga, Kristy Peat, Leon Mostert, Anna Janiek, Andrew McPherson, Louise Holmes, Ray Burton, Don Williamson, Michael & Denise Tracey, Betty & Patrick O’Connell, Margaret Cook, Fred Grioli, Lynn Nunan, Elaine Casonati, Michael Murtagh, Kim Parkes, Cecily Cellinan, Kevin Brennan, Margaret Cusack, Fabiola Menzs, Peter O’Brien, Rachel Raines, Mary Jackson, Nenette Csundo, Vince Shanahan, Ilene Simpkins, Claire Perera, Jayani Antony, Panfilo Bantugan, Sandii Wall, Therese Mullins, Michael Connell, Zeb Deane, Miriam Hill, Amando A. Mirasol Jr., Gus Reeves, John & Molly Robinson, Laila Mikael, Jean Di Benedetto, James Goodwin, Scott Mitchell, Malcolm Ward, John O’Brien, Ludwig Mueller, Kent Vince, Colleen Grehan, Carmelita Dulu, Bobby Courtney, Lisa Mangan, Robyn Skein, Kye Oh, Olga Hamshari, Margaret Haerse, Milka Barac, Rodney & Norma McLennan, Lois & Doug Wood, Duncan Dawson, William Franklin, Maria Mihalic, Annie Scicluna, Margaret Thompson, Patricia Moor, Helen Bohringer, Savannah Ayoub, Maeve Lombard, Arthur Haddad, Michelle MacDonald, Mary Kerr. And all suffering from Covid-19 and its effects.
RECENTLY DECEASED: Michael Armstrong, Bryan Jones, Bruce Smith, Sr Cecilia Anning rsj, Barbara Arthurson, William Walker, Remi Young, Ken Ledster, Alan King, Carmen Nicolas, Alvin Smith, Billy Edmonds, Ellen Moffitt, Anne Logan, Noel Watson, Alice Morrasayan, John Tobin, Daphne Andreas, Kwang Hua Lim, John Gerard Robinson Jnr, Joseph Kania, Joe Hilton, John Massingham, Paula Stafford, Luke Tansey, John Vincent Davis.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: Sylvia Moray, George Neville Jensen, Fausto Mascia, Barry John Arderne, Marie Peters, Maria Di Certo, Bernie Crane, Justin McCarthy King, John Richard Gardner, Giuseppina Rovella, Carolyn Cameron, Frank Covino, Rose Mary Saldanha, Dorothy Heather Girle, Patricia Medway. And Also: Samir Moussa, Raymond Mye, 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, Slavko Saric, Fausto Mascia, Margaret Gore, Vera Endrody, Nea Mary Butler, Stewart Gallagher, Bruce Milgate, Nicholas Anthony Kyle (two days old) (his brother also passed away in infancy), Noelle Hope Matthew, Alyce Catherine Boswell, Francesco Mennella, Russell Forrestal, Charles Cam, Janine Ailsa (Jan) Bastian, John Joseph Sesta, Gary Foster, Patricia (Pat) Sievers, Mary (Molly) Biltoft.
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH: Make some noise for justice
An award-winning and respected Civil rights activist once said he hoped “young people might get in trouble.”
He hastened to add - "Good trouble, necessary trouble," he specified.
He wished that a passion for what's right might compel our young citizens to "find a way to get in the way" of injustice. A young prophet named Jeremiah once got in the way, winding up at the bottom of a well and nearly starving to death for causing trouble for his king. Jesus promises the same sort of trouble in our families if some members are baptized with fire while others don't feel the burn. Find yourself some good trouble. "He will die of famine on the spot, for there is no more food in the city." Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10.
“Faith is the realisation of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1-2). SIGN UP FOR "TAKE FIVE" DAILY ww.takefiveforfaith.com/subscribe.
MASK WEARING
The risk of Flu and of Covid is still present, and there are quite a few vulnerable people in our community, so please consider using masks and hand sanitiser and reasonable social distancing where possible still highly prudent.
BAPTISM for Children in Surfers Paradise
Baptism is the first of three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Surfers Paradise Parish follows the policies of the Archdiocese of Brisbane as it welcomes each person into the family of the Church through the waters of Baptism.
Infants and children are baptised at the request of parents. Within the Baptism ritual, parents promise to accept the responsibility of training their children in the practice of the faith and to raise their children to understand and live God’s commandments. Parents can request baptism for their child by filling out an enrolment form, available on our parish website www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au Once the online baptism form has been received, the Parish Office will email details for preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism and confirm the online booking.
Sacrament of CONFIRMATION 2022
We are excited to announce that we have begun our preparation for Confirmation with 120 children. The children’s parents have attended an Introductory Meeting that focussed on the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion, as well as one of the Sacraments of Healing - Reconciliation (Penance). The meaning of the Sacrament and the essence of each childhood Catholic Sacraments were explained. Also, the Brisbane Archdiocese’s Sacramental Policy was presented to parents so they could understand the changes around an order of sacraments that have occurred since their childhood faith journey began.
Each family has received a copy of the At Home Preparation for Confirmation. Over the next month, families will pray together and work through the videos and activities to complete the preparation. The celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation will take place in Surfers Paradise Parish on Friday, September 2, at 5 pm and 7 pm.
Sacrament of EUCHARIST - First HOLY COMMUNION 2022
The last group of our parish children for First Holy Communion 2022 will celebrate this weekend, Saturday August 13 at the 5 pm Vigil Mass at Sacred Heart Church. As these seven children participate fully in the sacrament of the Eucharist for the very first time, they will complete Surfers Paradise Parish’s First Communion celebrations for 2022.
Fr Peter, Fr Paul, and everyone at Surfers Paradise Parish are looking forward to celebrating the second, third, fourth, and many subsequent Holy Communions with these children who have brought many blessings to our parish family.
2023 First Communion Preparation and Celebration dates will be included in the newsletter later this year.
Sacrament of PENANCE - RECONCILIATION
If you missed the March opportunity for your child to celebrate their First Reconciliation, we would like to offer you another opportunity this year. The First Rite of Reconciliation will be celebrated on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 5:30 pm in Sacred Heart Church.
Reconciliation is a Sacrament of Healing. Within the Children’s Sacramental Program, Reconciliation, also known as Penance; follows Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion.
The Surfers Paradise Sacramental Team has prepared a program similar to the Confirmation and First Communion At Home Preparation Programs. If your child was previously enrolled in the Surfers Paradise Parish Sacramental Program and has received the sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion, there is no requirement for you to complete a new online enrolment form.
Children who have made their First Communion in June 2022 are also eligible to participate in this Preparation for Reconciliation.
If you are unsure if your child will be included in the group or interested in your child being included in the next group, please email our Sacramental Coordinator, Cathy Anderson, at andersoncm@bne.catholic.net.au
THIS WEEKEND’S GOSPEL - REAL BUT UNINTENDED CONFLICT
We believe that the Lord is the King of Peace... the Lord of Love.... His Kingdom values are about compassion, service, self-forgetting love, mercy and inclusion. which is why the readings this weekend seem more than a little jarring...
Our Lord says, he has come to start a fire... and wishes it were blazing already... he warns of divisions in even the closest relations...
But of course, it is not Our Lord who desires divisions and strife... yet, he needs to warn his followers that the conflict in values will lead to terrible persecution and estrangements - (The price of peace would be watering down God's message... and telling people what they want to hear instead of the truth, and that is unacceptable). But the values Christ represents are life-giving and beautiful and well worth the cost... +++
Poor Jeremiah, the prophet! It could not get any worse for him. The enemy is holding his people to siege. There is no way out. God tells his faithful prophet Jeremiah: "This is what you must tell the people// and also tell the King - Surrender! Leave the city, or you will surely perish !"
This is definitely NOT what the King and his people want to hear. They want to keep resisting. They want to win. But Jeremiah will not tell them what they want to hear. there are plenty of others who will tell them what they want to hear, if not to save their skin and so as not to annoy, but to climb up the ladder of influence, or so they think.
Jeremiah, however, only speaks God's word, and he does so at a great cost. So, what do they say about him for doing his job faithfully? "Let Jeremiah be put to death: he is unquestionably disheartening the remaining soldiers in the city, and all the people too, by talking like this. The fellow does not have the welfare of these people at heart so much as its ruin." // It makes one wonder how often people have been accused of disloyalty and lack of care for the welfare of others just because they see a major disaster resulting. The problem for poor Jeremiah is that he can do nothing else but speak the truth, irrespective of the response. And so, he gets thrown down a muddy well for his troubles, sinks deep into the mud and becomes hopelessly stuck. he will die there unless someone helps him. As it is, someone who feels sorry for him manages to drag him out of the muddy well.
There is a name in the Bible for people who tell others only what they want to hear: They are called "false prophets." False prophets get pretty short shrift from God.
Then, by contrast, we see the likes of Jeremiah, who steadfastly and devoutly speaks God's word, in and out of season, irrespective of popularity or whether or not people want to hear it. he simply MUST speak the truth.
But just as there are "false prophets" who tell people things they want to hear even when the truth is quite different, there are also "false critics." These people go around telling people unpleasant things and "telling things like it is" in a way that divides and hurts. These are not necessarily real prophets because they are getting rejected and causing divisions. That would be a grave mistake too.
There may be people walking around with a 'kick me' sign on them whose words and behaviour almost provoke or invites rejection or uproar. The test of whether a person is speaking prophetically is not that they are causing trouble and having to hire security guards, nor merely because they have ruffled others' feathers. Such people may be self-defeating stirrers.
The true test of a prophetic person is their consistency with the words and behaviour of Christ and his Kingdom values - That is, the whole picture, not just selectively chosen elements. Jeremiah spoke what God asked him to speak, not just his own hobby-horse of issues, and nor did he speak out for his own adulation (or for his own rejection, for that matter). That is a major difference.
I also think that if we are tempted to be challenging, we ought to start with ourselves and challenge and unsettle the deep-seated pride, selfishness and enmeshment that we find in our hearts before starting to change the world and getting others offside. And also, no matter how "true' something is, no matter how much we might want to "fix up" a situation or a person (which is probably an unhelpful way of approaching matters), if we do not act with love, or speak with love, it will (as Saint Paul says) "do me no good whatsoever." I doubt our words would affect us if we spoke the truth without love.
True prophets are not self-proclaimed, nor are they self-appointed. And really, I think we need to live the gospel more than go around pointing out errors. Putting the gospel values into action in our lives is one of the greatest acts of discipleship: proclaiming the Gospel by our actions.
It has always struck me that Jesus went around doing good and living the gospel, and it was most often, others followed behind him, saying, "why did you do that?" or "stop doing that." Meanwhile, Our Lord had already moved on to the next project for building the Kingdom and the next set of good work and actions. He indeed preached, but even more, he acted, and mostly it was others doing the questioning and the finger-wagging.
Jesus warns his followers to know what they are getting into. Jesus is not encouraging and desiring conflict, opposition, and division, but he KNOWS that there are no "fence-sitters" in the Kingdom of God. You are either with him or against him. Jesus is declaring the sad reality that he and the Good news he is proclaiming and the Kingdom of God he establishes will become like a "lightning rod" to all who hate what the Kingdom represents. Despite deeply desiring peace and love, he KNOWS that people will line up on one side or another. This division (based on conflicting values) will not fall along political, religious or even filial (family) lines.
Do you know the irony of all this? The divisions were over values we cherish so deeply. The divisions occurred because Jesus taught us to be gentle, to reach out to the outcast and offer the hand of forgiveness to the sinner and the outcast. The conflict and division occurred because Jesus was LIVING the message of true peace… and the fullness of the new image of God's Kingdom, which included all people. This led to the most violent opposition by those whose interests were not served by Christ’s Kingdom views. Jesus turned on its head the unjust and "un-Kingdom-like" standards which kept some on the 'inner' and many people hopelessly left on the 'outer,' with no way of inclusion. Those few who were the 'inside' wanted things to stay as they were. It was very cosy and profitable for them as things were. No wonder Jesus went to great lengths to prepare his disciples for trouble. He taught them to be "wise as serpents but as gentle as lambs."
As Jesus reminds us in the Gospel, neither family ties nor fear of submitting to rejection, ridicule or persecution should stand in the way of salvation which comes from an uncompromising and costly proclamation of the good news and of standing up for the truth as taught by Christ. **
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(References: Fr Paul W. Kelly; THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF LUKE. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY; **Joel Schorn: PrepareTheWord.com. PrepareTheWord.com, ©2012, TrueQuest Communications, LLC. 20th Sunday of the Year. - C. 18th August 2013).
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.Stock Illustration ID: 1946673763- A depiction of the events in the prophecy of Daniel chapter 9, a religious illustration. Messianic New Testament fulfillment on the baptism and crucifixion of Jesus, with the gospel to the Gentiles. Illustration Contributor - joshimerbin
To listen to the 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.
AUGUST 13 - Saint Pontian, pope, and Saint Hippolytus, priest, martyrs
“Fly to the Catholic Church! Adhere to the only faith which continues to exist from the beginning, that faith which was preached by Paul and is upheld by the Chair of Peter.” St Hippolytus
AUGUST 15 - S - The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“While she lived on this earth, she could only be close to a few people. Being in God, who is close to us, actually, “within” all of us, Mary shares in this closeness of God. Being in God and with God, she is close to each one of us, knows our hearts, can hear our prayers, can help us with her motherly kindness and has been given to us, as the Lord said, precisely as a “mother” to whom we can turn at every moment.”
“St Augustine says: “Before conceiving the Lord in her body, she had already conceived him in her soul”. She had made room for the Lord in her soul and thus really became the true Temple where God made himself incarnate, where he became present on this earth. Thus, being God’s dwelling place on earth, the eternal dwelling place has already been prepared; it has already been prepared forever. And this constitutes the whole content of the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary, body and soul, into heavenly glory, expressed here in these words. Mary is “blessed” because – totally, in body and soul and forever – she became the Lord’s dwelling place. If this is true, Mary does not merely invite our admiration and veneration, but she guides us, shows us the way of life, how we can become blessed, how to find the path of happiness.”
AUGUST 16 - Saint Stephen of Hungary
“Be HUMBLE in this life, that God may raise you in the next. Be truly MODERATE and do not punish or condemn anyone immoderately. Be GENTLE so that you may never oppose justice. Be HONOURABLE so that you may never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be CHASTE so that you may avoid all the foulness of lust like the pangs of death.”
“Be merciful to all who are suffering violence, keeping always in your heart the example of the Lord who said, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.'”
“Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life; rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things and when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same understanding Father who cares for you today, will take care of you then and every day.
AUGUST 19 - Saint John Eudes, priest
“Let us, therefore, give ourselves to God with a great desire to begin to live thus, and beg Him to destroy in us the life of the world of sin, and to establish His life within us.”
“A Christian has a union with Jesus Christ nobler, more intimate and more perfect than the members of a human body have with their head.” -- John Eudes
“Faith is a beam radiating from the face of God.”
“Our wish, our object, our chief preoccupation must be to form Jesus in ourselves, to make his spirit, devotion, affections, desire, and disposition live and reign there.”
“Any innovation in matters of faith is extremely pernicious and utterly damnable!”
(source: ©2022 TrueQuest Communications. TakeFiveForFaith.com; mail@takefiveforfaith.com. All rights reserved. Noncommercial reprints are permitted with the following credit: Reprinted with permission from TakeFiveForFaith.com. Scripture citations from the New American Bible Revised Edition. For more information about TAKE FIVE and our regular contributors, go to PrepareTheWord.com.Free daily email and app available online at TakeFiveForFaith.com/subscribe.)
APPEAL FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE - Caritas International (Catholic)
Ukraine Crisis
Over 2.6 million people have fled their homes in Ukraine, and there have been at least 1,581 civilian casualties.
You can help the Caritas Ukraine staff on the ground to provide families with emergency food, water, shelter and hygiene support.
POPE FRANCIS: Digital media raises serious ethical issues
Although modern means of communication can be “a powerful means of fostering communion and dialogue within our human family,” they can also become “places of toxicity, hate speech, and fake news,” warns Pope Francis in a message to the lay communications network SIGNIS, which is holding its annual World Congress in Seoul in August.
“It is appropriate,” the Pope says, “that, in these days marked by new outbreaks of violence and aggression in our world, you have chosen as the theme of your World Congress ‘Peace in the Digital World.”
Serious ethical issues
Pope Francis notes, “The use of digital media, especially social media, has raised several serious ethical issues that call for wise and discerning judgment on the part of communicators, and all those concerned with authenticity and the quality of human relationships.” SIGNIS, he continues, “can play an important role” in meeting this challenge, especially through “media education, networking Catholic media, and countering lies and misinformation.”
In his message, the Pope encourages SIGNIS members to persevere in their efforts by helping people “develop a sound critical sense, learning to distinguish truth from falsehood, right from wrong, good from evil, and to appreciate the importance of working for justice, social concord, and respect for our common home.” At the same time, recognising that many communities have limited access to “the digital space,” he calls on SIGNIS communicators to make “digital inclusion a priority” in their planning.
The value of listening
The Holy Father also calls attention to the importance of listening “as the first and indispensable ingredient of dialogue and good communication,” an issue he highlighted in his message for World Communication Day 2022.
“Communication is not just a profession, but a service to dialogue and understanding between individuals and larger communities in the pursuit of a serene and peaceful coexistence.”
Listening, he says, “is likewise essential to the synodal journey that the whole Church has undertaken in these years,” recalling the ongoing Synod on Synodality that will culminate at the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2023. “It is my hope,” Pope Francis says, “that, in your communication, you will contribute to this process by assisting the holy and faithful people of God in our commitment to listen to one another, to the Lord’s will, and to grow in the awareness that we participate in a communion that precedes and includes us.”
“In this way, your efforts to foster ‘Peace in the Digital World’ will help to create an ever more ‘symphonic’ Church, whose unity is expressed in a harmonious and sacred polyphony.”
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.Stock Photo ID: 1946367511 - Assisi (Pg), Italy - October 04 2013: His Holiness Pope Francis during his visit in Assisi. The celebration of the mass in the Lower Square of San Francis.. - Photo Contributor - GIACOMO MORINI
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS ARE AT THE SACRED HEART CHURCH AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCH
Statues, rosary beads, medals, inspirational plaques, holy cards, greeting cards, sacramental gifts and much more are available at the Parish Religious Good Shops, which are open before and after the weekend Masses. Other times please contact the Parish Office.
Bold & the Beautiful Friendship Group
Lunch 12 noon, Thursday 25th August at Surfers Paradise Golf Club. Everybody Welcome. Leona Kelly 56308206
MEDITATION PRAYER GROUP
In the Morris prayer room Tuesdays from 10 am to 12 noon. The Meditation Group would very much like to welcome new members. Please phone Pam Egtberts 0428090703
ART AND CRAFT GROUP - Every Wednesday in the PHC from 9 am until 12noon.
The Group meets in the Parish Hospitality Centre on Wednesdays, 9 to 12. Activities include art (watercolour, oils, acrylics, pen and ink drawing etc.), as well as various kinds of Craftwork (Knitting, Embroidery, Crocheting, Cardmaking, Sewing etc.), making Rosary Beads (later sent to the missions), and any other activities that individuals may 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, phone John 0412 759 205 or the Parish Office.
Praying the Rosary - Our Lady’s Statue in the Parish
Details of the statue of Our Lady which is going around the Parish. If you would like to have her in your home and say the Rosary: please contact Maxine or Pat on 0412 519 404
The Roster for the next six weeks are
15/8/2022 Helen & Thor Skjaerback - Merrimac
22/8/2022 Joanne Ferguson - Clear Island Waters
29/8/2022 Joanne Ferguson - Clear Island Waters
THE SACRED HEART BRIDGE CLUB- (20 Years Young)-
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 the format. No previous card playing experience is necessary. All are welcome.
For more information and to enrol, Please phone: Cheryl 5538 8821 or Mob 0417 772 701
Worldwide Marriage Encounter:
A weekend experience for married couples, priests and religious, away from the distractions of everyday living. Take time out of your busy schedule to invest in your most precious asset and revitalise your Sacrament. This is a unique opportunity to reconnect, rekindle and refresh your relationship. It allows you to grow in your relationship with your spouse or community.
Our COVID-SAFE live-in weekends will be held from Friday evening, 14 October, to Sunday afternoon, 16 October (including Mass) at Santa Teresa, Ormiston. For bookings/details, contact Maria and David Murphy: 0481 307 821 qldbookings@wwme.org.au Watch Archbishop Mark Coleridge’s support video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o_Wp6qGB44
Information website: www.wwme.org.au
EXERCISE CLASS - LOW IMPACT - FOR HEART HEALTH -
Spring has sprung! Join Rochelle for a fun, functional exercise class at Casey Hall. Low impact cardiovascular exercises for heart health, improve strength and balance- an all-around fitness class for over 65’s. Stretch and strengthen the whole body, make new friends and feel great. Tuesday mornings @9.30 Beginners welcome. Contact Rochelle for further information on 0438 333 308.
COMMUNION TO RESIDENTS AT NURSING HOMES. HELP IS STILL NEEDED!
We have had to reduce our visits with Holy Communion to the residents at Nursing Homes and urgently require more people to assist with this service. Can you spare 3 hours per month for this important Ministry?
Listed below are Nursing homes with their Day and time of visitation.
Lady Small Haven, Benowa. Tuesdays 9.30 am to 11.00 am
Merrimac Park Private Care, Merrimac. Wednesdays 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm
Bupa Nursing Home, Merrimac. Thursdays 9.30 am to 11.00 am
Tricare, Mermaid Beach Nursing Home, Mermaid Beach Fridays 10.15 am to 12.00noon
Tricare, Cypress Gardens Nursing Home, Clear Island Waters. Sundays after 9.00 am Mass Sacred Heart to 12.00 noon
For further information, ring the Parish Office or Maxine Sela on 0421051193.
ANNUAL CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN (Date Claimer) - OFFICIAL COLLECTION
SCHEDULED FOR 20 - 21 August 2022 *Please click here to give now*
YOGA AT THE PARISH HOSPITALITY CENTRE-
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.
PASSIONIST FAMILY GROUP GATHERING
ABOUT -A Passionist Family Group gathering for all ages - families, couples, singles. A weekend to celebrate our shared goals and values. Adult and children/young people group activities provided by the Passionist Youth Retreat team and PFGM team.
For more information: - https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=919030&
DATE Friday 2 September 2022 4:00 PM - Sunday 4 September 2022 10:00 AM (UTC+10)
Booking essential.
LOCATION Get directions Bornhoffen PCYC. 3510 Murwillumbah Road, Natural Bridge QLD 4211
Catholic Mission is Hiring! DIOCESAN DIRECTOR | Full-time | Permanent
For the Archdiocese of Brisbane and the Diocese of Toowoomba
• Permanent Full-time position based in Brisbane with responsibility for Archdiocese of Brisbane and Diocese of Toowoomba.
• Be part of a highly experienced and inspirational national and diocesan team.
• Become an integral part of a global network of Catholic development work. See https://www.catholicmission.org.au/jobs-at-catholic-mission for the Advertisement and the Position Description.
Position Vacant – Finance Officer - Southport
Applications are open for a position at the Southport Catholic Parish. A person with excellent finance experience required for a part time position of Finance Officer working 22.8 hours a week over 3 days.
For additional information, please visit the Archdiocese of Brisbane website https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/ and to careers. Applications close: 21 August 2022
Position Vacant – Parish Secretary 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 2-year contract position of Parish Secretary for 20 hours per week, 5 hours on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. For additional information, please visit the Archdiocese of Brisbane website- https://clientapps.jobadder.com/68451/aob-internal-career-opportunities
Closing date – 21 August 2022. Please note that short-listed applicants may be interviewed before this date. Interested applicants are therefore encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Position Vacant – Finance & Compliance Officer- Gatton Laidley
Applications are open for the above position at the Gatton Laidley Parish. The position is a part-time 10 hours a week with the days to be negotiated with the Parish Manager.
For additional information, please visit the Archdiocese of Brisbane website https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/ and to careers.
Applications close: 26 August 2022.
The Archdiocese of Brisbane has standards of conduct for workers to maintain a safe and healthy environment for children. Our commitment to these standards requires conducting ‘working with children checks’ and background referencing for all persons who will engage in direct and regular involvement with children and young people (0 - 18 years) and/or vulnerable adults. The organisation is fully committed to child safety and has zero tolerance for abuse of children or vulnerable adults.
ADULT FAITH - The Bible is not one book but rather a Divine Library of Holy Books
The Bible is not one book, but actually a library of different books and letters, collected together from a broad period of about four thousand years, and combined together by faith communities over that long time. When modern people comment about the bible and mention certain books that are not accepted parts of the Canonical Bible, they show a misunderstanding of the process of collecting the Bible. It is not the case that the bible is just a book that we “dug up” and everything in it we have to put up with. The bible is a living entity. It was gathered together as a collection of books (whilst other texts were rejected) on the basis that the community of faith from which or to which it belonged “accepted it as a true expression of what they believed.” The community of faith VALIDATES the text and not the other way around. The reason books like the (non-canonical) “Gospel of Thomas” and the likes are NOT part of the bible is because it contains things that even we can see today are odd and unacceptable and that the Community of Faith has consistently rejected as being “not representative of the true faith of the apostles as handed down in oral and written tradition.”
The different Bible books were written in different places, for different communities and with specific questions and experiences. The books of the Bible, we believe, are God's inspired word but are mediated through the experience, understanding and scientific knowledge of the writers of the time. This does not make them “wrong”. Still, one must develop a good appreciation that the writers of the Bible books are not scientists (in the modern understanding of the word). However, some were learned scholars and skilled in Scripture, Philosophy, Medicine, and so on). The books of the Bible were written first and foremost as definitive expressions of Faith and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which made use of their skill, intellect and knowledge as it stood at the time of writing to powerfully and authentically express the relationship of the people concerning their true experience of God.
(image - Shutterstock Photo ID: 2109836936- Photo Contributor- Sensay).
SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF POPE FRANCIS’ GROUNDBREAKING LETTER - LAUDATO SI’ - An excerpt from the Pope’s groundbreaking Encyclical.
40. Oceans not only contain the bulk of our planet’s water supply, but also most of the immense variety of living creatures, many of them still unknown to us and threatened for various reasons. What is more, marine life in rivers, lakes, seas and oceans, which feeds a great part of the world’s population, is affected by uncontrolled fishing, leading to a drastic depletion of certain species. Selective forms of fishing which discard much of what they collect continue unabated. Particularly threatened are marine organisms which we tend to overlook, like some forms of plankton; they represent a significant element in the ocean food chain, and species used for our food ultimately depend on them.
41. In tropical and subtropical seas, we find coral reefs comparable to the great forests on dry land, for they shelter approximately a million species, including fish, crabs, molluscs, sponges and algae. Many of the world’s coral reefs are already barren or in a state of constant decline. “Who turned the wonderworld of the seas into underwater cemeteries bereft of colour and life?”[25] This phenomenon is due largely to pollution which reaches the sea as the result of deforestation, agricultural monocultures, industrial waste and destructive fishing methods, especially those using cyanide and dynamite. It is aggravated by the rise in temperature of the oceans. All of this helps us to see that every intervention in nature can have consequences which are not immediately evident, and that certain ways of exploiting resources prove costly in terms of degradation which ultimately reaches the ocean bed itself.
42. Greater investment needs to be made in research aimed at understanding more fully the functioning of ecosystems and adequately analyzing the different variables associated with any significant modification of the environment. Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another. Each area is responsible for the care of this family. This will require undertaking a careful inventory of the species which it hosts, with a view to developing programmes and strategies of protection with particular care for safeguarding species heading towards extinction.
Acknowledgement of Country
This is Kombumerri Country - The Traditional Custodians of this region.
We respectfully acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First People of this country. We pay our respects to the Kombumerri people, who are the traditional custodians of the land, waterways and seas upon which we live, work and socialise throughout this Catholic Parish of Surfers Paradise. We acknowledge Elders, past and present and emerging, as they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of our Indigenous people. We pay tribute to those who have contributed in many ways to the life of the community. We affirm our commitment to justice, healing, and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
(see further: The Kombumerri People and https://kombumerritogetherproject.com/digital-resources/yugambeh-language/)
Commitment To Child Safety and Vulnerable-Adult Safety
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