PDF version of this parish newsletter here:
You can also access an online copy of the newsletter *here*
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Vector ID: 2021313725 - Christian illustration. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world.Vector Contributor: Bibleboxone
PASTOR’S POST - Saints Preserve Us.
As far as I can recall, all of the children at my convent primary school (as they were called back then) were catholic and had saint’s names, with wonderful variations on those names for the children with ethnic heritage. Parents were carefully instructed to find a saint’s name for their newborn infant; otherwise, the priest would not baptise them. Not that any of the sanctity associated with those names seemed to rub off on them, it was just the done thing for children of that time to be named after a saint, which was often a name common in your family history. It was called a family tradition and seemed to work until parents either decided that they wanted something unique for their child’s name (Cinnamon, Apple, Beyonce, Puff Daddy), or they thought it was a better tradition to name them after football teams or motor vehicles (Storm, Bronco, Austin, Ferrari, Cooper).
Like most children of the time, I was fascinated by stories of the saints’ lives, even more so if they were martyrs who died gruesome deaths (it was a boy thing). What has interested me more as an adult is how many saints there are in the Roman calendar, possibly a thousand or so, and how many have been forgotten or neglected. While many of these saints come from the 3rd and 4th centuries, others canonised over the last two centuries almost have to compete for devotional attention. Many of the nuns who taught me in primary school were also given saints' names when they took their final vows, but clearly, many of the popular names were already taken by the senior sisters, so names like Ethelburga, Attracta and Scholastica replaced the baptismal names of some of these younger women. No wonder they were so anxious to return to their given names when they were allowed to do so in the early 70s.
Even though the church has no serious treatment of the saints in contemporary theology, nevertheless devotion to the saints has been kept alive by a combination of myth, history, tradition and the need to connect with people who have known our world and its imperfections and have still been able to live exemplary lives, after which we might model our own. For people in the Middle Ages, the saints and their stories were the subjects of colourful stained windows and statues. Many nations readily identified with their patron saints in churches and cathedrals. Anyone who has travelled to South America or the Philippines is amazed at the range of colourful depictions of long-forgotten saints who have parades and festivals celebrated every week. We here in Australia need look no further than St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop, whose picture is found in every Catholic school classroom in Australia and whose life is familiar to every student. Judging by the sales of medals at our piety shops, devotion to the saints is in danger of declining any day soon.
Whatever the reason for our devotion to a particular saint or all of them, they confirm in us the hope that holiness is an achievable goal. They live in history, are shaped by it and, in turn, often shape it themselves. Many of them create a new and often challenging way of life, but they show that living a life that may seem impossible is made possible by a deep connection to Christ.
A friend selects a new saint to accompany their payer throughout each new year. They read up on the life of that saint and hope to be inspired by their example of a selfless life. Why not google the lives of the saints and see if one of them might set you on the journey, if not to canonisation, at least to a happy, meaningful and satisfying life?
Fr Peter Dillon PP
PAULA GARDINER MOVES TO BRISBANE. FAREWELL, AND MAY YOU KNOW ALWAYS THAT GOD AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY GO WITH YOU.
Surfers Paradise parishioner Paula Gardiner farewells us here and has moved to Brisbane to be closer to her family. Here Paula is being farewelled by parishioner Robyn Hunt and Fr Paul. Paula was with some of her daughters at the Wednesday Mass (11th Jan) before heading to Brisbane with them. Paula was surrounded by many well-wishers at this Mass and also at the Stella Maris 7 am Sunday morning Mass (8th Jan), where organist and vocalist Christeen Harth played a beautiful Marian hymn, ( “As I Kneel Before You” - Lyrics and music by Maria Parkinson (b 1956), published c1975), to pray for a beautiful new chapter in her life. Thank you so much, Paula, for your loving, prayerful, and generous presence. Paula and her late husband Jim lived many years here at Broadbeach, coming previously from Ashgrove. Beloved husband, Jim, passed into eternal life on the 8th of February 2018, aged 81 years. Paula, God’s blessing to you and all your family, and please know that you will always be a treasured member of the parish family and fondly remembered here too.
ITALIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES FOR ADULTS.
GOLD COAST DANTE ALIGHIERI SOCIETY
2/18 FAIRWAY DRIVE, CLEAR ISLAND WATERS
ENROLMENTS in ROOMS 4.30 - 6 P.M. TUESDAY 17 JANUARY. CLASSES FOR ALL LEVELS COMMENCE END OF JANUARY. www.dantegoldcoast.com.au
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL RITA ON 55270797 OR GIOVANNA ON 55395528.
Christian RI (Religious Instruction) needs you.
Did you know that well over 175,000* Queensland state school students have opted in to religious instruction?
In Queensland, parents consent for their children to participate in religious instruction. We need people like you to help them explore and discover faith and values.
Whatever your skills, we can use someone like you:
• instructors
• administrative support
• people to pray for RI
Regardless of their background, parents and carers want their children to grow up to be great adults with strong values.
RI gives kids the space and opportunity to question, explore and discover faith and values.
The lessons are fun and engaging and make a real difference.
We need more people like you to put their hands up to be RI Instructors.
RI can fit alongside your life commitments, and we'll be there every step of the way with high-quality training and ongoing support. We're committed to fulfilling our promise to deliver quality RI to schools. Get involved today - Go to www.christianri.org.au
Becoming Catholic! A Journey of Faith
Are you interested in becoming Catholic or learning about the Catholic faith? Welcome! The Catholic Church’s mission is to offer people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to deepen their understanding and relationship with Jesus Christ. Becoming Catholic involves a journey of faith accompanied by the support of a parish community. This process is called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). During the RCIA process, you meet with others to share, reflect, pray and learn more about the Catholic faith. Ceremonies or ‘rites’ at each stage signify the steps along the way. If you or someone you know would like to know more about becoming Catholic or starting to become Catholic as an adult, please contact
Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, Clear Island Waters Q 4226.
Phone: 5671 7388 surfers@bne.catholic.net.au
DURING CHURCH SERVICES - FANS IN THE CHURCH DURING the HOT WEATHER ARE TO BE LEFT ON AND DOORS TO BE LEFT OPEN FOR AIR CIRCULATION AND BREEZES!
Please Don't Ask The Coordinator To Turn Them Off. Also, please do not close the doors of the church as we need a flow of fresh air. Coordinators are following Church Health and Safety directions. It may be necessary to relocate to another seat that suits your needs or bring something warm to put on.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
HOSPITAL CALLS - AROUND THE DEANERY -
HELP THE PRIESTS OF THE DEANERY RESPOND TO URGENT CALLS EFFECTIVELY BY CALLING THE FOLLOWING PARISHES FIRST RESPONDERS TO NEEDS WITHIN THE HOSPITALS LISTED.
To efficiently deal with the pastoral needs around the Catholic Parishes of the Gold Coast, the parishes within this Deanery have the practice of having the first call for emergencies going to the priests of the parish where the hospital is located. Here is a helpful guide to the hospitals and their attendant priests. A nursing home call also follows this procedure, where the first priest to call is a priest from the parish within which the Nursing Home is located.
Robina Hospital - Burleigh Heads Parish on 5576 6466
Pindara Hospital - Surfers Paradise Parish 56717388
John Flynn Hospital -Coolangatta-Tugun Parish on 5598 2165
University & Gold Coast Private Hosp-Southport Parish 5510 2222
MASS TIMES: SURFERS PARADISE MASS TIMES
A VOCATION VIEW: GIFTS OF PRICELESS VALUE
Isaiah's vocation was to be a light to the nations. Nations and neighbourhoods need missionaries - lay, clergy and religious. Listen to the call! To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION - TRUE GENEROSITY
“Now the Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb...”Isaiah 49:5
God has given each of us different gifts. In order for God’s plan to work, you have to do what God is calling you to do and I have to do what God is calling me to do. And guess what? God has given each of us a different plan! So, stop comparing yourself to others. Don’t let envy and jealousy enter your life. Be thankful for the gifts God has given you and become the saint that God is calling you to be.
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: Geraldine Daniels, Diane & Steve Land, John & Molly Robinson, Peter Barry, Phil Bawden, Kath Kiely, Natalie O’Reilly, John Nathaniel Maher, Peter O’Brien, Betty Taylor, Rosie May Fisher, Denise Tracey, Millicent Monteiro, Sally Gage, Jean Di Benedetto, Sebastian Condon, Maria Manuela, Rogelio Rodriguez, Gus Reeves, Patrick Joven de Leon, Baby Samuel Timothy, Maria Yuna, Peter Lofts, Maria Teresa Gutierrez, Margaret Haerse, Annie Scicluna, Jo Clark, Kay Pitman, Michael Murtagh, Leslie Clarke, Lena Hiscock, Shirley Montford, Beryl Dorfield, Joanne Mooney, Patricia Roberts, John Thomas, Tom Ross, Joanne Parkes, Jack Barretto, Doug Chester, Kathy Stevens, Nellie Bellinger, Leslie Clarke, Kristy Peat, Anna Janiek, Andrew McPherson, Louise Holmes, Betty & Patrick O’Connell, Margaret & George Cook, Fred Grioli, Lynn Nunan, Elaine Casonati, Kim Parkes, Cecily Cellinan, Kevin Brennan, Margaret Cusack, Fabiola Menzs. And all suffering from Covid-19 and its effects.
RECENTLY DECEASED: Teresa Duffy (Co. Sligo, Ireland), Enzo Palmieri, Pamela Elane Shelton, Sylvia Sciberras, Manuel Dos Santos, John Mandile, William Fouad Gazal, Noreen Jessie Patterson, Dell Bloomfield, Lionel Duggan, William Patrick, Konrad Dziurdziak, Baby Luciana Alvarez Rivera, Constable Matthew Arnold, Constable Rachel McCrow, Alan Dare, Brian Quinlan, Maureen Jobling, Dao Jensen, Del Lange, Eleanor Wilson, Felix Grech, Maria Magdalena Bizzotto, C. L. Kennedy, Helen Margaret White, Dorothy Whiteman, Donald Greenwood, Paul Broughton, Jan Falk, Bernece Brown, David Joshua Maher, Michael Thomas Fitzgerald, Fr Dennis Riley, Julio Enrique Astorga, Dr Michael Tracey, Joseph Horvatt, Ian Richard Kentley, Angela Hawes, Michelle Thomas, Aniela Halina Hedditch, Precious Bautista, Marco Mazic, John Bastable, Jameal Tooma, Clare Hammond, Anthony Hendry, Pauline Dolan, Ray Burton.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: Margaret Cooper, Enid Cox, Kent Moray, Harold Alexander, Leonie Jackson, Ignatius Ngati, Jim Zadcko, Brendan David Fitzhardinge Berkeley, Margaret Paterson, Garth Stanley Rippin, Thomas Stephen Carney, Ronald John Grigalius, Brian Miller, Antonio Falcone, Rafael Toda, Thomas Lloyd Muggleton, Helena Lema, Martin Voldosola, Joan Denise Hegerty, Christine Lucy Harding, Stanley James Jackson, Michael Samuel, Joseph Nicholas (Joe) Friedman, Alfredo Boluso, David John Newlands, Rita Conway, Terry Conway, Rebecca Duazo, Deris Eunice Howell, Joan Cumner, Joe Borg, Josephine Lenaghan, Nell McLeod, Grazyna Palac, Raymond Cezerẽ (Ray) Hoareau, Wally Bereth, Del O’Neill, Martin James (Jim) Kerlin, William Rankin Birmingham, Ted Llewellen, Margaret Mary Byrnes, Margaret (Peg) Byrnes.
And also: Remo Bos, Charmaine Jannette Leafe, Walter Leslie Davis, Doris Angela Pace-Balzan, Veronica Frances (Frances) Dawson, Sergio Di Pietro, James Woodhouse, Rosalia Archetto Feo, Carol Ann Newman, Fr Norman Ronald Birch, Margaret Mary Kelly, Veronica Junette Smith, Rex Joseph McShane, Colin Meneely, Russell Albury, John Gordon, Nicole Simmons, Violet Mary Nickson, Terry Conway, Elvira Fantinelli, Christine Carberry, Melinda Craig, Carmen Callus, Jeanette Louise Vial, Joseph Johannes Em van Deurse, Shirley Mary Selby, Anna Snelleksz, Trevor David Simes, Edmund O’Brien, Lionel Ernest Cunynghame, Geraldine Coyne.
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH - Tend your inner lamp.
Why do we take so many pictures of sunsets and sunrises? Why fill our homes with chandeliers, lamps, and candles? To the eye, light is incredibly attractive. It illuminates all that surrounds it, offering us not simply its own glow but redeeming the whole environment swallowed by darkness and delivering it back to us. People who carry an inner light are similar. We're attracted to their aura, but even more so to how clear and bright reality appears when we're in their company. Saints attract others with their light long before the church bestows them with the customary halo. Let your light shine! “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6). SIGN UP FOR "TAKE FIVE" DAILY ww.takefiveforfaith.com/subscribe.
MASK WEARING:
The risk of Flu and Covid virus is still present. There are quite a few vulnerable people in our community, so please consider using masks and hand sanitiser and reasonable social distancing where possible is still highly prudent. If you feel unwell, please stay home until you feel better. The requirement to attend masses, even Holy Days of obligation, remains suspended.
No formal times for reconciliation are scheduled to ensure minimum crowd density. Venial sin is remitted by Eucharist, as also are acts of personal penance and contrition. Reconciliation is available by prior appointment - avoiding peak holiday times and Solemnities.
APPEAL FOR UKRAINE
In Ukraine. Find out more at: https://www.caritas.org.au/donate/ukraine-appeal/
Sacrament of 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 their 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 Surfers Paradise 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 - 20 October 2023
The celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation for the Surfers Paradise Parish will be on the evening of 20 October 2023.
Within the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Confirmation is the second sacrament that children are invited to receive. Confirmation completes Baptism.
For the celebration of Confirmation in 2023, parents of children in Year 3 or older are invited to enrol their children in the continuing Sacramental Journey (Confirmation, then Eucharist and lastly, Reconciliation). The Sacramental Journey in our parish involves preparation and celebration for children and their parents. It requires a small number of meetings and the completion of an At Home Preparation Program led by the parents and supported by the Parish Sacramental Team.
The enrolment form (one for each child) is available at our website www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au.
Once on the website, use the drop-down menu under Sacraments, then click on Confirmation; scroll down the page to the Children’s Sacramental Program Application Form. Next, please complete the orange and red form and click Submit. You will receive an automated email indicating that your form has been received. In Term 3, 2023, you will receive an email from the Sacramental Coordinator, Cathy Anderson, providing further details regarding the required meetings and documentation.
Please continue regularly checking the parish newsletter for Confirmation updates and further information.
Sacrament of EUCHARIST - First HOLY COMMUNION - Either May 28 at 11:00 am or June 4 at 11:00 am, 2023
Eucharist is the sacrament that completes the process of Sacramental Initiation. The Sacrament of Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. Through this sacrament, the child can fully participate in the Eucharist (also known as the mass) by receiving Holy Communion.
First Holy Communion for those who were confirmed in Surfers Paradise Parish in 2022... Children in Year 4 or greater who received the Sacrament of Confirmation in Surfers Paradise Parish in 2022 are automatically included in preparation for their First Holy Communion in 2023. During Term 1, 2023, parents of these children will receive an email inviting them and their child to participate in the Preparation for First Holy Communion. In the next month, you will receive an email from our Sacramental Coordinator, Cathy Anderson, andersoncm@bne.catholic.net.au This will contain information including dates for meetings relating to the preparation.
First Holy Communion for those new to our parish in 2023...
Parents of children in Year 4 or greater who have been baptised and confirmed elsewhere are invited to enrol their children in the continuing Sacramental Journey (Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy Communion and Reconciliation) with Surfers Paradise Parish. The enrolment form is available at our website www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au. Once on the website, use the drop-down menu under Sacraments to click on First Holy Communion; scroll down the page to the Children’s Sacramental Program Application Form. Next, please complete the orange and red form and click Submit. You will receive an automated email indicating that your form has been received. In the next month, you will receive an email from our Sacramental Coordinator, Cathy Anderson, andersoncm@bne.catholic.net.au providing further details regarding meetings and documentation concerning the At Home Preparation Program.
Please continue checking the parish newsletter regularly for First Holy Communion updates and further information, or contact our Sacramental Coordinator at andersoncm@bne.catholic.net.au
Sacrament of PENANCE - RECONCILIATION November 9 at 5:30 pm, 2023
Penance is a sacrament of forgiveness and celebrates God’s love and mercy towards us. It is about acknowledging and naming those times when we know we have done wrong and then making peace and restoring the relationships with those who have been affected by our poor choices. The Sacrament of Penance is celebrated through the Rites of Reconciliation.
In Term 3, parents of children who have completed their Sacraments of Initiation with Surfers Paradise Parish will receive an email invitation to participate in the At Home Preparation Program for Reconciliation.
For those whose children who received the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) in other parishes and who wish their child to prepare for the Sacrament of Penance in Surfers Paradise Parish,
the enrolment form is available at our website www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au
Please continue to regularly check the parish newsletter for Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) updates and further information.
THIS WEEKEND’S GOSPEL -
The Church Calendar year returns to Ordinary Time. This season takes up over half of the year, and it is when there are no major seasons, such as Christmas and Easter, or their preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. This is when the Kingdom of God quietly and slowly but surely grows in life's ordinary and everyday moments and events. Since the "ordinary" takes up a big part of our year, it is important to appreciate the subtlety of this time. Whilst there might not be many dramatic and exceptional tones to this season, it is nevertheless crucial. Except for the occasional feast Day, Saints day, or memorial, the Church uses this time to quietly and progressively work its way through the flow of the readings assigned for the year. So, we get time to slow down, stop and breathe and deepen our appreciation of God's word and values in everyday life. This is a time for hidden treasures to be uncovered ... treasures kept in ordinary clay jars... to use a biblical image...
Now that Ordinary time has well and truly begun, it is wonderful that the Scriptures speak of "Commissioning" and "sending." From the outset of any new season, it is also good to recall clearly just WHO we are following and why. Including what it is about him that is so important. To be clear about our Lord and master and his values and mission so that we can join in fully and with clear sight.
Like Isaiah, we too have been formed by God, called to be a light to ALL nations, not just a few…. We are also called to be open, particularly to OPEN OUR EARS, to God's word, values, and ways of seeing and thinking… (which are often refreshingly different from our own ways). We are commissioned to Keep God's word by NURTURING IT deep in our hearts and cherishing and savouring it…. And also, to unstop our lips and use them to speak of God's goodness….
Meanwhile, in the gospel, John testifies that this is Jesus, the son of God, who is the sacrificial and spotless lamb who would take away the sins of all the world… The one on whom the spirit rests…. This is also the meaning our discipleship testifies to in word and action.
"All who have been baptised in Christ—share that same Holy Spirit and are called to undertake the same mission—being a light to others, serving others, giving of ourselves in love, compassion and generosity, and to be instruments of God's mercy and kindness and justice." (1)
In today's Gospel, three names describe Jesus. (3)
Firstly, he is called the "Lamb of God," / /"a symbol of strength in vulnerability... The Lamb of God (John 1:29) "takes away" the sinful condition of the world. Twenty-one centuries down the track, there is still violence, hunger, and exploitation on a massive scale. The work of the one strong enough to risk vulnerability so that others may have life, the work of God's Lamb, is never done." (2)
Secondly, Our Lord is called "the one on whom the Spirit descends and remains," Utterly filled with the Spirit and capable of giving this Spirit to others, he has the power and the desire to heal, to forgive, to help in practical ways, to work for justice and to show God's love to all. (3)
Thirdly, he is called the "Son of God" (or the Chosen One). …..
We can reflect at great length and deeply upon these "names and descriptions" of Jesus. As Our Lord asks Peter in another part of the Gospels, "But you. Who do you say I am?" So it is also essential to reflect upon how we name Jesus. Who is Jesus to us? What qualities of Our Lord particularly move us and inspire us? The image we choose at this time will reflect our growing understanding of the one we have pledged ourselves to follow as disciples." (3)
Such images include, but do not exhaust the list, including…. Divine Mercy, Sacred Heart, Immeasurable and Inexhaustible Compassion, Unconditional love, Complete and Infinite Love, Suffering Servant, Utter Obedience, True Peace….Self-forgetting Rescuer; The "Perfection of Kindness and Justice Embracing." Restorer of Original Innocence. Perfect Empathy, and so much more…
References: Fr Paul W. Kelly; (1) Fr Greg Friedman with the "Sunday Soundbite" for St. Anthony Messenger Press, on the Web at FranciscanRadio.org. Post by Christopher Heffron: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/2nd-sunday-in-ordinary-time/; (2) Sr Veronica Lawson RSM. https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/_uploads/ppage/files/Pastoral%20Ministry%20Office/19%20Jan%202020%20Reflection%20on%20the%20Gospel.pdf; (3) Sr Patricia Stevenson RSJ. Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Second Week Ordinary Time A. https://www.sosj.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/2ndWeekOrdinaryTime-YearA.pdf.
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 727445005 - LONDON, GREAT BRITAIN - SEPTEMBER 14, 2017: The "Ecce Agnus Dei" (St. John the Baptist shows to Christ as Redeemer) on stained glass in church St. Michael Cornhill by Clayton and Bell from 19. Cent. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova
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
Also found at - https://tinyurl.
St Anthony of Egypt - Anthony the Great
A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, "You are mad; you are not like us."
To say that God turns away from the sinful is like saying that the sun hides from the blind.
The fruits of the earth are not brought to perfection immediately, but by time, rain and care; similarly, the fruits of men ripen through ascetic practice, study, time, perseverance, self-control and patience.
The person who abides in solitude and quiet is delivered from fighting three battles: hearing, speech, and sight. Then there remains one battle to fight the battle of the heart.
I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world, and I said, groaning, "What can get through from such snares?" Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Humility.
When you lie down on your bed to sleep, remember with thanksgiving the blessings and the providence of God.
Whoever you may be, always have God before your eyes; whatever you do, do it according to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures; in whatever place you live, do not easily leave it. Keep these three precepts, and you will be saved.
Regard as free not those whose status makes them outwardly free but those who are free in their character and conduct. We should not call men truly free when wicked and dissolute since they are slaves to worldly passions. Freedom and happiness of the soul consist in genuine purity and detachment from transitory things.
When Abba Anthony thought about the depths of the judgments of God, he asked, 'Lord, how is it that some die when they are young, while others drag on to extreme old age? Why are there those who are poor and those who are rich? Why do wicked men prosper, and why are the just in need?' He heard a voice answering him, 'Antony, keep your attention on yourself; these things are according to the judgment of God, and it is not to your advantage to know anything about them.'
Our life and our death are with our neighbour. If we gain our brother, we have gained God, but if we scandalise our brother, we have sinned against Christ.
. . . you should know that there is present with you the angel whom God has appointed for each man. This angel, who is sleepless and cannot be deceived, is always present with you; he sees all things and is not hindered by darkness. You should know, too, that with him is God.
This is the great work of a man: always to take the blame for his own sins before God and to expect temptation to his last breath.
Intelligent people do not need to listen to much talk but should attend only to the profitable and be guided by God's will.
One should not say that it is impossible to reach a virtuous life, but one should say that it is not easy. Nor do those who have reached it find it easy to maintain.
God's Providence controls the universe. It is present everywhere. Providence is the sovereign WORD of God, imprinting form on the unformed materiality of the world, making and fashioning all things. The matter could not have acquired an articulated structure were it not for the directing power of the Logos who is the Image, Intellect, Wisdom, and Providence of God.
St Fabian
“It is said that Fabian, after the death of Anteros, came from the country along with others and stayed at Rome, where he came to the office most miraculously, thanks to the divine and heavenly grace. When the brethren were all assembled to appoint him who should succeed to the episcopate, and many notable and distinguished persons were in the thoughts of many, Fabian, who was there, came into nobody’s mind. But all of a sudden, they relate, a dove flew down from above and settled on his head as a clear imitation of the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove upon the Saviour; whereupon the whole people, as if moved by one divine inspiration, with all eagerness and with one soul cried out “worthy,” and without more ado took him and placed him on the episcopal throne.” (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, VI: xxix)
St Sebastian,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” St Sebastian, Martyr (Died C 288) (Last words addressed to his executioners)
©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
POPE FRANCIS: (From Amoris Laetitia)
POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION AMORIS LÆTITIA OF THE HOLY FATHER, FRANCIS
(19 March, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, in the year 2016).
43. Virginity is a form of love. As a sign, it speaks of the need for complete devotion to the cause of the Gospel. (159)
44. Celibacy can risk becoming a comfortable single life that provides the freedom to be independent, to move from one residence, work or option to another, to spend money as one sees fit and to spend time with others as one wants. In such cases, the witness of married people becomes especially eloquent. (162)
45. Longer life spans now mean those close and exclusive relationships must last for four, five or even six decades; consequently, the initial decision has to be frequently renewed. (163)
46. Large families are a joy for the Church. They are an expression of the fruitfulness of love. At the same time, Saint John Paul II rightly explained that responsible parenthood does not mean "unlimited procreation or lack of awareness of what is involved in rearing children, but rather the empowerment of couples to use their inviolable liberty wisely and responsibly, taking into account social and demographic realities, as well as their own situation and legitimate desires. (167)
47. Every child has a right to receive love from a mother and a father; both are necessary for a child's integral and harmonious development. (172)
48. Certainly, "a society without mothers would be dehumanised, for mothers are always witnesses to tenderness, dedication and moral strength, even in the worst times. Without mothers, not only would there be no new faithful, but the faith itself would lose a good part of its simple and profound warmth... Dear mothers: thank you! Thank you for what you are in your family and for what you give to the Church and the world". (174)
49. God sets the father in the family so that by the gifts of his masculinity, he can be "close to his wife and share everything, joy and sorrow, hope and hardship." Some fathers feel they are useless or unnecessary. Still, the fact is that "children need to find a father waiting for them when they return home with their problems. They may try hard not to admit it, not to show it, but they need it." (177)
50. Adoption is a very generous way to become a parent. I encourage those who cannot have children to expand their marital love to embrace those who lack a proper family situation. (179)
51. First, let us think of our parents. We are all sons and daughters. And this always brings us back to the fact that we did not give ourselves life but received it. The great gift of life is the first gift that we receive. (188) and parents, single mothers left to raise Children, and persons with disabilities needing particular support
52. The larger family should provide love and support to teenage mothers and children without parents; single mothers left to raise children, persons with disabilities needing particular affection and closeness, young people struggling with addiction, the unmarried, separated or widowed who are alone, and the elderly and infirm who lack the support of their children. It should also embrace “even those who have made a shipwreck of their lives.” (197)
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1376940776 - Vatican City, Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. Important information- Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Riccardo De Luca - Update
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES
Various saints medals available. If there is a particular saint medal you require, please ask at the shops and we will make enquires. At this time, St Jude medals are not available; we are waiting for the next shipment to arrive from Italy.
A few copies of the Christmas edition of the Catholic Leader are still available.
Praying the Rosary - Our Lady’s Statue in the Parish -OUR LADY’S STATUE
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 four weeks is:
9/1/2023 Erwin & Kathryn Jera - Chevron Island
16/1/2023 Eileen and Julian Camara - Nerang
23/1/2023 Eileen and Julian Camara - Nerang
30/1/2023 Blanche Braganza & Family - Benowa
6/2/2023 Blanche Braganza & Family - Benowa
ART AND CRAFT GROUP - (Resumes on 18 January 2023).
The Group meets in the Parish Hospitality Centre on Wednesdays from 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.
THE SACRED HEART BRIDGE CLUB- (Resumes on 21 January 2023)
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”
Is Easy to learn the format. No previous card-playing experience is necessary. All are welcome.
For more information and to enrol, please phone: Cheryl at 5538 8821 or Mob at 0417 772 701.
EXERCISE CLASS - LOW IMPACT - FOR HEART HEALTH -
(Resumes on 24 January 2023)
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.
MEDITATION PRAYER GROUP (Resumes 7 February 2023)
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 at 0428090703.
GOLD COAST PARISHES — 24 hours Adoration - Southport
Tuesday 1 pm to Wednesday 1 pm every week at Guardian Angels Church 99 Scarborough Street, Southport. Parking onsite, the church is secured from 6 pm to 8 am. We are joining the effort to have Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Archdiocese of Brisbane. To make this a success we need two people per hour. Please indicate your availability for a one-hour commitment. email brisbane.adoration@gmail.com - We will be in touch in mid-October to confirm your exact time and other details. We expect to start our Adoration cycle on the first Tuesday in November 2022.
YOGA AT THE PARISH HOSPITALITY CENTRE
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 well-being. 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.
ITALIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES FOR ADULTS
GOLD COAST DANTE ALIGHIERI SOCIETY
2/18 FAIRWAY DRIVE, CLEAR ISLAND WATERS
ENROLMENTS in ROOMS 4.30 - 6 P.M. TUESDAY 17 JANUARY.
CLASSES FOR ALL LEVELS COMMENCE END OF JANUARY.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL RITA ON 55270797
OR GIOVANNA ON 55395528.
SURVEY INTO ARCHDIOCESE WEBSITE…….
The Archdiocese would appreciate your feedback by completing this short survey about how you access Catholic content. Your answers to the survey will help the Archdiocese do a better job of connecting you with the content you would like to see more of. Please click the link to complete the survey http://bit.ly/3VHEkcl
https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/careers/
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 abusing children or vulnerable adults.
SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF POPE FRANCIS’ GROUNDBREAKING LETTER - LAUDATO SI’ - An excerpt from the Pope’s groundbreaking Encyclical.
New biological technologies
130. In the philosophical and theological vision of the human being and of creation that I have presented, it is clear that the human person, endowed with reason and knowledge, is not an external factor to be excluded. While human intervention on plants and animals is permissible concerning the necessities of human life, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that experimentation on animals is morally acceptable only “if it remains within reasonable limits [and] contributes to caring for or saving human lives”.[106] The Catechism firmly states that human power has limits and that “it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly”.[107] All such use and experimentation “requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation”.[108]
131. Here I would recall the balanced position of Saint John Paul II, who stressed the benefits of scientific and technological progress as evidence of “the nobility of the human vocation to participate responsibly in God’s creative action” while also noting that “we cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention to the consequences of such interference in other areas”.[109] He made it clear that the Church values the benefits which result “from the study and applications of molecular biology, supplemented by other disciplines such as genetics, and its technological application in agriculture and industry”.[110] But he also pointed out that this should not lead to “indiscriminate genetic manipulation”[111], which ignores the negative effects of such interventions. Human creativity cannot be suppressed. If an artist cannot be stopped from using his or her creativity, neither should those who possess particular gifts for the advancement of science and technology to be prevented from using their God-given talents for the service of others. We constantly need to rethink the goals, effects, overall context and ethical limits of this human activity, which is a form of power involving considerable risks.
132. This, then, is the correct framework for any reflection concerning human intervention in plants and animals, which at present includes genetic manipulation by biotechnology to exploit the potential in material reality. The respect owed by faith to reason calls for close attention to what the biological sciences, through research uninfluenced by economic interests, can teach us about biological structures, their possibilities and their mutations. Any legitimate intervention will act on nature only in order “to favour its development in its own line, that of creation, as intended by God”.[112]
133. It is difficult to make a general judgement about genetic modification (GM), whether vegetable or animal, medical or agricultural, since these vary greatly among themselves and call for specific considerations. The risks involved are not always due to the techniques used but rather to their improper or excessive application. Genetic mutations have often been, and continue to be, caused by nature itself. Nor are mutations caused by human intervention a modern phenomenon. The domestication of animals, the crossbreeding of species, and other older and universally accepted practices can be mentioned as examples. We need but recall that scientific developments in GM cereals began with the observation of natural bacteria which spontaneously modified plant genomes. In nature, however, this process is slow and cannot be compared to the pace induced by contemporary technological advances, even when the latter build upon several centuries of scientific progress.
134. Although no conclusive proof exists that GM cereals may be harmful to humans, in some regions, their use has brought about economic growth, which has helped to resolve problems; there remain several significant difficulties that should not be underestimated. In many places, after introducing these crops, productive land is concentrated in the hands of a few owners due to “the progressive disappearance of small producers, who, as a consequence of the loss of the exploited lands, are obliged to withdraw from direct production”.[113] The most vulnerable become temporary labourers, and many rural workers move to poverty-stricken urban areas. The expansion of these crops destroys the complex network of ecosystems, diminishing the diversity of production and affecting regional economies, now and in the future. In various countries, we see an expansion of oligopolies for producing cereals and other products needed for their cultivation. This dependency would be aggravated were the production of infertile seeds to be considered; the effect would be to force farmers to purchase them from larger producers.
135. Certainly, these issues require constant attention and concern for their ethical implications. A broad, responsible scientific and social debate must take place, one capable of considering all the available information and calling things by their name. It sometimes happens that complete information is not put on the table; a selection is made based on particular interests, be they politico-economic or ideological. This makes it difficult to reach a balanced and prudent judgement on different questions, which considers all the pertinent variables. Discussions are needed in which all those directly or indirectly affected (farmers, consumers, civil authorities, scientists, seed producers, people living near fumigated fields, and others) can make known their problems and concerns and have access to adequate and reliable information to make decisions for the common good, present and future. This is a complex environmental issue; it calls for a comprehensive approach that would require, at the very least, greater efforts to finance various lines of independent, interdisciplinary research capable of shedding new light on the problem.
136. On the other hand, it is troubling that when some ecological movements defend the integrity of the environment, rightly demanding that certain limits be imposed on scientific research, they sometimes fail to apply those same principles to human life. There is a tendency to justify transgressing all boundaries when experimentation is carried out on living human embryos. We forget that the inalienable worth of a human being transcends his or her degree of development. In the same way, when technology disregards the great ethical principles, it ends up considering any practice whatsoever as licit. As we have seen in this chapter, a technology severed from ethics will not easily be able to limit its own power.
LOOKING FORWARD: 2023-2025
The celebration of an ordinary Jubilee, (the next of which is 2025), entails years of preparation because of the demands involved in such an event. In these years of preparation, it is especially important to provide the particular Churches scattered throughout the world with tools that foster pastoral care that will most effectively convey the dynamic momentum necessary so that the Jubilee can be a truly ecclesial event that sustains faith and is a precursor for evangelisation.
Pope Francis has asked that these two years leading up to the Jubilee be focused on particular themes.
The year 2023 will be devoted to revisiting the fundamental topics of the four Constitutions so that the Church can breathe anew the profound and timely teaching produced by Vatican II, whose 60th anniversary will be celebrated on October 11th, 2023. For this reason, a series of user-friendly resources, written in an appealing language, are being produced to arouse curiosity in those who have no memory of the event and to help them enter into the essence of the Council to discover the innovative longing that enabled the Church to enter the third millennium of its history consciously.
https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/it/logo.html
https://www.exaudi.org/jubilee-2025/
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 our Indigenous people's memories, traditions, culture and hopes. We pay tribute to those who have contributed to the community's life in many ways. 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 …….
See overleaf…….
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