PDF version of this parish newsletter here:
You can also access an online copy of the newsletter *here*
“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed.Stock Photo ID: 1289923126 - View of Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Temptation or Qarantal in the Judean Desert above Jericho city, Palestine, Israel. This place is known as the hill where Jesus was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:8) - Photo Contributor: Alexander Gatsenko
Stations of the Cross each Friday of Lent at 6pm at Sacred Heart Church, 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters. Every Friday of Lent. (Not Good Friday eve)
IMPORTANT NOTICE - Stella Maris Catholic Church at Broadbeach will be closed for essential work on the ceiling from now until the 10th of March 2023. There will be no masses at the Stella (Broadbeach) church during that time period. Our apologies for the inconvenience, but the whole church will need to be closed as extensive scaffolding needs to be set up throughout the building. This is an important logistical project to fix the ceiling.
PASTOR’S POST - You’re Not a Fraud.
Imposter syndrome. Apparently, it’s an actual condition, although I had never heard of it before, but a recent magazine article indicated that up to 90% of people experience imposter syndrome at some time in their life. When I discovered that it involves ‘the unfounded feelings of self-doubt and incompetence’ it started to make sense. Over time and left unaddressed, it can fuel anxiety, depression and guilt, and we all know how debilitating those issues can be.
The article, which also referred to the syndrome as “perceived fraudulence”, indicated a higher incidence in graduate students and top executives with a higher incidence in women. However, I can now recognise indications in male colleagues and, if I’m being honest, myself on certain occasions. It has a lot to do with how we think the world perceives us and how we interpret the messages and signs we receive from those around us.
Many years ago, I read a book by Eugene Kennedy with the confronting title: “If You Really Knew Me, Would You Still Like Me?” It was incredibly challenging for those of us in our adolescent years who imagined that if we had any sinful thoughts or immoral desires, then we were the only ones in the world who had those thoughts. This book was liberating as it urged us to name our secret concerns, firstly to ourselves and then later, to someone we deeply trusted, perhaps then to discover that we weren’t unique in our apprehensions and ultimately make a closer connection between who we believed ourselves to be and how others might see us. It was such an epiphany experience and a necessary experience for a teenager, as I was at the time.
Kennedy’s point was that most of us don’t really love or accept ourselves enough first to let others know who we might perceive ourselves to be. Letting go gradually of self-doubt was the door to accepting ourselves as an ‘authentic person’ if only in our own eyes, if not that of others.
The article spoke about four types of people whose internal beliefs do not always match their external presentation of themselves.
The ‘perfectionist’ is someone who sets unrealistic goals and then feels ashamed or inadequate when they can’t achieve those goals. They even try to avoid attempting new activities, believing that if they can’t do them perfectly the first time, then they would rather not try.
Then there is the ‘natural genius’ who believes that if something doesn’t come quickly to you or you fail to succeed on your first try, then you are a complete failure. The ‘rugged individualist’ believes they should be able to achieve everything without outside help. Needing to ask for help means admitting your inadequacies and showing yourself to be a failure, while the ‘expert’ believes they should have all the answers and then consider themselves to be a failure when they can’t answer a question or encounter some knowledge that they had previously missed.
I have to admit I’ve spent a bit of honest time owning up to a little part of each characteristic, and I imagine no one is ever free of feelings of inadequacy, but when it stops you from achieving even a part of your goals or paralyses your desire to contribute to the lives of others, then we need to start making some concrete changes.
The need for perfect conditions is a waste of time, as is expecting success at all times, and it's okay to permit yourself to make mistakes as long as you are not repeating the same mistakes. Taking some minor risks with a project and reaching out for assistance might actually achieve some surprising outcomes. Finding someone with whom we can be completely honest and not feel like a patient and not being judged is a real and rare treasure. Nothing to lose and everything to gain. Fr Peter Dillon PP.
ADVANCE NOTICE FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER - 6th April-9th April, 2023
LAXMI'S STORY, NEPAL
16-year-old Laxmi lives in one of the most remote communities in Nepal, which experiences high levels of poverty.
Laxmi’s chance at a better life was through education, supported by her parents. Sadly, when she was ten years old, her father passed away, and Laxmi stopped going
to school.
Before her father’s passing, Laxmi joined a child's club at her school that was run with the support of Caritas Nepal through the Nepal Livelihoods and Resilience Program. Child's clubs support students in developing their speaking, writing and leadership skills through extracurricular activities.
Thanks to the support of her child's club, Laxmi was encouraged to resume her education. She became an active member of her child's club, where she developed the skills and confidence to become a leader, advocating for clean water taps at her school.
“If I don't get to study, then I'll experience hardship. I'll have to struggle like a mother. If I don't get to study, then I'll not know,” Laxmi said.
Laxmi is now excelling in her studies and working towards her dream of becoming a civil engineer.
She has become a mentor to other girls in her village, encouraging them to stand up for their rights and create lasting change For All Future Generations.
REFLECTION
Nelson Mandela said that education was the most powerful weapon we could use to change the world. There are plenty of people who would agree with him. One of them is Oprah Winfrey, who said that education was the way to move mountains, build bridges and change the world.
Today’s readings certainly suggest the value of reading. The story from the Book of Genesis comes from pre-history. It has often been misunderstood to suggest that sin entered the world through one woman. This is not true. On the contrary, the readings tell us that the world is good. When humans try to overstretch their boundaries, trouble follows, and the experience of beauty and harmony is threatened. We need to choose our teachers. Are we going to listen to God or the serpent? In our modern world, the serpent takes many forms. There are many threats to the harmony of the human race and the beauty of our natural environment.
Likewise, today’s story of the temptations in the wilderness from Matthew’s Gospel shows us that some lessons are difficult. Jesus actually teaches the devil. He tells the evil one that God is in charge. Jesus has to decide which voices he will follow.
He has to learn that some ideas may not be as good as they sound. All the kingdoms of the world, Jesus learns, are no substitute for an honest and life-giving relationship with God.
Each week during Lent, Caritas Australia asks us to think about a special story. The story focuses on someone who has benefitted from your generosity through Project Compassion. This week, we hear about 16-year-old Laxmi who lives in a remote part of Nepal. Your help has enabled her to overcome family hardship to pursue her education. She was tempted to give up on school. But Project Compassion enabled her to follow a more positive direction and to realise what she could achieve for her community by becoming an engineer. The evil spirit will always get us to focus on what we don’t have. The spirit of light will show us what is truly possible.
LENTEN PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
We pray for all involved in the ministry of education. Like Jesus, may they be clear, courageous and strong as they pass values of compassion and justice to future generations. Our support for Project Compassion continues to make education more widely available. Amen.
With your support, Caritas Australia has been able to support communities across the globe in tackling poverty, food security, education, water and sanitation and disaster risk reduction. Project Compassion 2023 reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come.
Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow For All Future Generations.
You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes and envelopes available from your parish by visiting https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion, or by calling 1800 024 413.
Help communities affected by Syria and Türkiye earthquakes.
Our partner Caritas Syria and other Caritas agencies on the ground are coordinating with local authorities and other organisations to see how they can best assist. Your generous support can help provide emergency relief to help families recover and rebuild from the disaster.
DONATE NOW- Syria and Türkiye earthquakes
STATIONS OF THE CROSS - FRIDAYS OF LENT
We will be celebrating the Stations of the Cross each Friday of Lent at 6 pm at
Sacred Heart Church, 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters,
24th February 2023,
3rd March 2023
10th March 2023
17th March 2023
24th March 2023
31st March 2023
COME and JOIN US
IF you would like to facilitate this for the Fridays in Lent OR even if you would be willing to facilitate on one of the Fridays above please contact the Parish Office on 07 5671 7388 as we would be most grateful for your assistance.
Becoming Catholic! A Journey of Faith
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
Catechumens – Andre De Melo, Nikki Miruzzi, and Seda Karauzumcu, are seeking Baptism
Candidates – Georgia Bull, Maria Torres Reyes, and Paula Littlechild are seeking Full Communion with the Catholic Church.
We will celebrate together this weekend at Sacred Heart. The Catechumens and Candidates have been invited this weekend to lunch with the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo, Pope Francis’ ambassador to Australia, Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Brisbane Diocese, and the Priests across the South Coast Deanery. What a wonderful opportunity and privilege this will be for our candidates and for the Archbishops as well to meet up with those who are journeying to Baptism and Reception into our Church this Easter.
We invite all Parishioners of our Parish to pray for our Catechumens and Candidates during this journey to Easter as they come to know Jesus more deeply in their lives and to join us each week in celebrating the Mass.
URGENTLY STILL NEEDED: If there is anyone who feels a calling to become a support or sponsor for one of our catechumens or candidates, we would love to have you join us on Saturday afternoons at 2.30 pm in the Parish Hospitality Centre, 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters or ring the Parish Office to let them know of your intention 5671 7388. You will be most welcome.
We ask for many blessings on all who journey in faith and offer our support and prayers for you and your families during this time.
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 learning more about their Catholic faith as an adult, please contact Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, Clear Island Waters Q 4226. Phone: 5671 7388 surfers@bne.catholic.net.au
FANS and DOORS in OUR CHURCHES
DURING CHURCH SERVICES - FANS IN THE CHURCH DURING the HOT WEATHER ARE TO BE LEFT ON PLEASE AND DOORS TO BE LEFT OPEN PLEASE 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
PSALM 51 - Ps 50:3-6, 12-14, 17 (JB)
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion, blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.
My offences truly I know them; my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done.
A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence, nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
Give me again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervour, sustain me.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.
A VOCATION VIEW:
Lent is a season of renewal, of spiritual growth. These forty penitential days invite us to strive for our true calling. To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION - PRUNING TIME
“It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.’” Matthew 4:10
Tempted between the riches and power of this world and service to God, Jesus chose service to His Father. If we wish to follow Jesus truly, we, too, must decide to turn away from worldly power and riches and put God at the centre of our lives. Lent is our time to prune ourselves of earthly things and develop and nurture heavenly things. Lent is a time to repent and let go of the other “gods” we have put before God.
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: Jenny Haines, Annie Scicluna, Paul Thomas Hawkins, Lois Wood, Phil McWilliam, Coralie Brennan, Kim Ingram, Karen Vestergard, John Thomas, Pat Jones, Felipe S Cataquiz Sr, Margaret Buckingham, Nathan Lepp, Betty O’Connell, Margaret & George Cook, 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, Sally Gage, Jean Di Benedetto, Sebastian Condon, Maria Manuela, Rogelio Rodriguez, Gus Reeves, Patrick Joven de Leon, Baby Samuel Timothy, Maria Yuna, Maria Teresa Gutierrez, Margaret Haerse, Jo Clark, Kay Pitman, Michael Murtagh, Leslie Clarke, Lena Hiscock, Shirley Montford, Beryl Dorfield, Joanne Mooney, Patricia Roberts, Tom Ross, Joanne Parkes, Jack Barretto, Doug Chester, Kathy Stevens, Nellie Bellinger, Leslie Clarke, Kristy Peat, Anna Janiek, Andrew McPherson, Louise Holmes, Fred Grioli, Lynn Nunan, Kim Parkes, Cecily Cellinan, Kevin Brennan, Margaret Cusack, Fabiola Menzs. And all suffering from Covid-19 and its effects.
RECENTLY DECEASED: Virginia Attard, Marjorie Doyle, Beverley Dreier, Millicent Monteiro, Cecily Culligan, Nicholas Eamon Ashworth, Marie Patricia “Pat” Sullivan, Graciela del Carmen Chapman, Alan Hague, Marie Kuljanic, Graham Stafford, Derek Carpenter, Peter Evert, Cheryl Hamwood, Donna Maria Cross, John Monahan, Dan Ziebarth, Yvonne Sheekey, Patrick O’Connell, Joseph Conti, Sr. Regina (Rita) Keyes, Elaine Casonati, Bernadette Hennessey, Maurice Stout, Baby Georgia Roberts-Farr, Teresa Duffy, Enzo Palmieri, Sylvia Sciberras, Manuel Dos Santos, John Mandile, Dell Bloomfield, Lionel Duggan, William Patrick, Konrad Dziurdziak, Brian Quinlan, Maureen Jobling, Dao Jensen.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: Percy and Clair Monteiro, Barbara Joan Degiovanni, John Arba, Richard Michael Trad, Peggy Doreen Norris, Kaylene Ellen Swan, John Norris Rohrs, Patricia (Pat) Moore, Ivy Gladys Yow, Doreen Hewitt, Kenneth Mason, William John (Bill) Kelly, William Chard, George Schreiber, John Anthony Woodruff, Wilhelmina Elizabeth Carter, Leisa Holman (née Mullins), Romano Del Bianco, Paul Bleakley, Margaret Mary Miller, Michael Anthony Geoghegan, Michael Maloney. And also:
Norm Mullins, Victoria Saxon, Pat Anderson, Joan Frances Hurley, Barclay Hodge, Jeanette (Jenny) Avery, Carmel Elizabeth Bright, Milan Piglich, Bernie Tathem, Peter Cotton, Mary Schreiber, Andre Bellony, Allan Thomas Vaughan, Jerzy Wieczorek, Jabour Haddad, Maria Eidejus, Raymond Gardiner, Milan Piglich, Bobby Joseph Casperz, Veronica Bond, Thomas James Michael (Mike) Farrell, Brian Peter Pinard, George Ferguson Shaw, Hans Wagner, Theodore Cocks, Gregory London, Mary Ng Siew Kuen, Neil Bloxsidge, Jordan Barker, Valerie Mary Elshaw, Stanislaw Zbigniew Zielinski, Michael Robertson, Dorothy de Launey, Giuseppe Nardi, Joy Whitbread, Bill Hignett.
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH - GUARDIAN ANGELS
Have you thought much about your guardian angel since you prayed at bedtime when you were a kid? If not, maybe it’s time to catch up with the one that’s been assigned to help you. The Greek word “Angelos” means “messenger,” and since angels “always behold the face” of God in heaven (Matthew 18:10), they’re well-positioned to intercede for you. Appreciate the watchful care that surrounds you and protects you from spiritual and perhaps physical dangers. Their constant attention indicates how precious you are to God and how active God wishes to be in your life.
“He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you.” (Psalm 91:11). 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 proper social distancing where possible. This 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.
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 (for Children in Year 3 or greater)
Within the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Confirmation is the second sacrament that children are invited to receive. Confirmation completes Baptism. The celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation for the Surfers Paradise Parish will be on the evening of October 20, 2023.
Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation includes two compulsory meetings:
1. Parent Meeting – Either Tuesday, July 11 at 5:30 pm Or Wednesday, July 12 at 5:30 pm in Sacred Heart Church (Children are not required at this meeting but are welcome to attend if this assists with childminding.) 2. Final Meeting and Practice - Either Monday, October 9 at 5:30 pm Or Tuesday, October 10 at 5:30 pm in Sacred Heart Church (Child/ren and one adult are required to attend.)
For the celebration of Confirmation in 2023, parents of baptised children in Year 3 or older are invited to enrol their children in the continuing Sacramental Journey (that is: 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 (Please complete 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 (in the blue box). Next, complete the orange and red forms and click Submit. You will receive an automated email indicating that your form has been received. In Term 2, 2023, you will receive an email from our 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 (for Children in Year 4 or greater)
The celebration of First Holy Communion will be on 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.
In addition to completing the At Home Preparation Program for First Communion, there are two compulsory meetings: 1. Parent Meeting – Either Monday, March 27 at 5:30 pm Or Tuesday, March 28 at 5:30 pm in Sacred Heart Church (Children are not required at this meeting but are welcome to attend if this assists with childminding.) 2. Final Meeting and Practice – Either Monday, May 22nd at 5:30 pm Or Tuesday, May 23rd at 5:30 pm (Child/ren and one adult are required to attend.)
First Holy Communion for those who were confirmed in Surfers Paradise Parish in 2022. These children are welcome to join our 2023 group. To ensure that each of these children is included in the group for Preparation for First Holy Communion in 2023, we ask that parents email their interest, as soon as possible, to our Children’s Sacramental Coordinator, Cathy Anderson at andersoncm@bne.catholic.net.au
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 (in the blue box). 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 couple of weeks, you will also receive an email from our Sacramental Coordinator, Cathy Anderson, andersoncm@bne.catholic.net.au, providing further details regarding meetings and documentation concerning our At Home Preparation Program.
We ask that all families continue checking the parish newsletter regularly for First Holy Communion updates and further information. The Surfers Paradise Parish newsletter is available at our website www.surfersparadiseparish.com.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 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 -
Our Lenten journey has well and truly begun. It is a wonderful time of extra prayer, reflection and penance - to re-focus our sights on Christ and his gospel. this weekend we hear of the temptation of Our Lord in the desert.
I had always seen this time as a preparation for Christ's public ministry - and in a sense, that is perfectly true. But it's more than that. It turns out that this is his first and definitive battle (and victory) in God's war against the derailing effects of temptation (to ignore the Father's will in a distorted and self-justified attempt to follow our own will). This has wracked the human condition since the beginning. In the desert, Christ strikes the first blow against humanity's alienation from God. This is faith, hope and love.
Our Lord wastes no time going straight to work of achieving his Heavenly Father's mission. Jesus is God-made-human, the new Adam. And he quickly sets about reversing the failures to the temptation that has been around since the beginnings of humanity and which we still face today.
Although Jesus is God, he is also completely human like us, so in his humanity, he faces temptation and defeats it.
We can see these forty days in the desert as a massive battle between the forces of God's Kingdom and the forces of evil. Our Lord shows us how to take on temptation and not succumb to its distortion of the truth.
Our Lord uses prayer, fasting and intense focus on the will of the Father to cut through the lies of the evil one.
We notice, too, that Satan turns up to assail him near the end of his forty days. Our Lord would have been tired, extremely hungry and at his physical and emotional weakest. and this is when Satan begins his cowardly attacks. It's good to keep in mind - we are often attacked by temptation when we are at our lowest and most vulnerable. The powers and values that oppose the kingdom of heaven do not fight fair, but we must be prepared.
What is also fascinating is that God turns even an evil temptation by the enemy as a means to strengthen and reinforce the steely resolve of his faithful ones. Jesus was tried and passed through the trial with flying colours. where Adam and his ancestors failed, Jesus succeeded and schooled us on how to deal with temptation ourselves.
We learn that temptation is deceitful. It often comes in the form of taking a good thing and luring us to use a good motive or a good thing for a bad or excessive reason.
1 Corinthians 10:13 New International Version (NIV). God never lets us face more than we can handle and gives us help to escape its clutches.
There are two areas of temptation:
temptations to people in leadership positions
and
personal temptation.
First, satan appeals to Our Lord as a leader. The temptation to show, to prove and to be 'relevant' to an audience. Tempted to be popular and spectacular. The temptation to use "power" over others.
And see how Jesus counters it:
"temptation to be relevant" and prove oneself is countered by prayer and discernment of The Father's will.
The temptation to be spectacular - to convince. v. obedience and humility.
The temptation to power v. vulnerability. Trust in God's providence and grace is sufficient.
Temptations in our personal needs and actions to meet our physical needs. Not trusting that our true needs will be given to us without recourse to the extreme and the controlling.
Confirm/test God's will and love. presume on it. when we have already been shown God's love and care in so many ways. Our Lord knew he had been very powerfully affirmed and commissioned; to test that or to ask for more confirmation would have been mere self-indulgence.
Pride and power. The Devil wants to trick us into thinking that God has abandoned us and that we can handle temptation on our own.
But, Our Lord shows us that the real question we need to focus upon is: "Is this what God the Father wants for me? Can I do this thing and truly love God and delight in God…." ?? Is this choice putting God as the source and destination of our delight and our goals?
It's very telling that after this fierce tussle in the wilderness - Christ commands satan to be off, and he goes. Jesus has succeeded in fending off the prideful and misleading lies of the tempter, and afterwards, we are told Angels come to tend to him and give him what he needs.
There is more than a sense that his army came to support him in this first of many victories and give him what he needs, which he KNEW would be provided by his Father and not from rash acts of wilfulness, force or pride.
References: Fr Paul W. Kelly; From Wilkins, M. (2004). Matthew: NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan. E-edition. November 2014. Around p 153-164.
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 148333646 - VIENNA - JULY 27: Fresco of Temptation of Jesus scene in side nave of Altlerchenfelder church from 19. cent. on July 27, 2013, in Vienna. 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.com/FHLpwk
“EMBER DAYS”
Friday 3rd of March is known in the Catholic Church as an “Ember Day.
Embers days – what are they? The origin of this word does not come from the English word ‘ember,’ as in a glowing coal. Rather, it is likely to have originated from the old English word “ymbryne” meaning a recurring period. So “ember” is where we get the meaning of the word “septEMBER” and “novEMBER” and “DecEMBER” indicating a period of time.
Those familiar with the Extraordinary Form of the Mass will perhaps be more acquainted with the concept, but the liturgical calendar for the Novus Ordo has them, too (at least in Australia). What is their purpose, and should we make a conscious effort to adopt them again?
History and meaning
The history of Ember Days is, admittedly, a bit obscure, and they are a peculiar feature of the Roman Church.
In its more ancient form, the Church had four Ember Weeks throughout the year, corresponding with the beginning of each season. The Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of such weeks (the Ember Days) would be days of fasting, abstinence and prayer (following the same guidelines we do for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday). The purpose of them was to give thanks to God for the gifts of His creation and request assistance in using them well.
According to the old Catholic Encyclopedia, originally, they came into practice as part of the Church’s sanctification of pagan practices. Religious festivals were a key feature of ancient paganism, and there were four times a year that festivals of sacrifice would be celebrated, imploring the favour of Roman deities on the seeding and harvest of their crops. The Church, the encyclopaedia states,
has always tried to sanctify any practices which could be utilised for good purpose.’
Thus, Ember Days were born, times when the seasons could be consecrated to the one true God.
It seems as though they came into practice in the first three centuries of the Church, although Pope Leo the Great (mid-fifth century) was of the opinion that they were apostolic in their origins.
An additional meaning became attached to them when Pope Gelasius (late-fifth century) allowed priestly ordinations to happen on Ember Days. This was fitting since, historically, ordinations have been preceded by days of prayer and fasting (Acts 13:3).
Ember etymology
Obviously, the term “ember” in this context does not refer to anything fire-related. There are two possible linguistic origins of the word. It may originate from the old Anglo-Saxon word ymbren, which refers to a circle or revolution. Alternatively, it might be a corruption of the Latin phrase quatuor tempora, which means “four times”.
Modern usage:
Before the introduction of the 1966 Missal, Ember Days were prescribed and mandatory. Since 1966, they are no longer considered obligatory, but they are (theoretically) encouraged. The 1969 General Norms for the Liturgical Year and Calendar states that it is up to the discretion of local bishops’ conferences to decide when and how many there would be:
In order to adapt the rogation and ember days to various regions and the different needs of the people, the conferences of bishops should arrange the time and plan for their celebration. Consequently, the competent authorities should lay down norms, given local conditions, on extending such celebrations over one or several days and repeating them during the year. (§46)
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) decided that there would be two Ember Days, both on the first Fridays of Autumn and Spring.
Are they worth observing?
Absolutely. The human connection to and dependence on the earth is one of the most basic features of our existence. The offering of the “first fruits” from the soil was an important aspect of ancient Jewish ritual, too (Deuteronomy 26:4-10).
Unless you have grown up farming, most people today (at least in the West) are quite disconnected from the feeling of dependency on creation, especially in these days of food being readily available at the mere touch of our phones. Ember Days harken back to a more rural time.
Observing Ember Days is a great way of acknowledging the abundance we often take for granted, thanking God for it, and consciously striving to live virtuously instead of simply as consumers.
Pope Francis has encouraged us to take up a new asceticism, where we ‘replace consumption with sacrifice, greed with generosity, wastefulness with a spirit of sharing’ (LS §9). Observing Ember Days once again is a powerful way of doing that. Since they have the added connection to priestly ordinations, observing them and offering prayer and fasting for the priests and seminarians of our local dioceses is another good reason to take them up again.
Source: https://melbournecatholic.org/news/what-are-ember-days and https://www.liturgybrisbane.net.au/resources/liturgy-lines/ember-days/
A book for your nightstand, next to your Bible
Grigor Narekatsi, born near the turn of the first millennium, was an Armenian mystical and lyrical poet, monk, and theologian. He has the distinction of being venerated as a saint in the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches and was declared a doctor of the church by Pope Francis in 2015. The prayer book of Gregory of Narek is a fixture in Armenian religious homes, second only to the Bible, and is considered a masterpiece of Christian spiritual literature. It has been translated into 30 languages, including English. Given the rave reviews, consider this writer-saint for your next read!
“Come, you who my Father blesses. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 25:31-46
United in prayer. Pope Benedict XVI, may he rest in peace, wrote beautifully on prayer and the Our Father: “In praying our heart is opened. Not only do we enter into communion with God but actually with all the children of God because we are one body. When we address the Father in our inner room in silence and recollection, we are never alone. Those who speak to God are not alone. We are within the great prayer of the Church; we are part of a great symphony that the Christian community in all the parts of the earth and all epochs raise to God.” Pray the Our Father slowly and consciously today, with everyone.
"This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…..” Matthew 6:7-15
1st March - Get on board for justice
The First of March marks the 98th death anniversary of Homer Plessy, the man who attempted to end segregation in the U.S.A., with his legendary ride on a whites-only streetcar in New Orleans in 1892. His efforts were unsuccessful, and the following seven decades of U.S. jurisprudence included segregation as a bedrock feature. Plessy, however, is much less heralded for the fact that he was a man of faith, an African -American Catholic whose famous ride was organised by an interracial activist group known as the Comité des Citoyens (Citizens’ Committee). Their holy disobedience was one of the first Catholic-led efforts against the developing hierarchy of racism in the formerly French and Spanish regions of the Deep South. May the courage of Plessy and his allies be of use to us today as we continue the march toward justice.
3rd March - Store up treasure in heaven. Saint Katharine Drexel was born in Philadelphia in 1858 to a wealthy family. The Drexels had a reputation for generosity, reportedly opening their home several days a week to feed and care for people in need. They also made time every day to pray together. During a trip to Europe as a young woman, Katharine was able to have an audience with Pope Leo XIII. She asked the Holy Father to send missionaries to Wyoming. He answered, “Why don’t you go?” Not long after, Katharine stunned society by leaving behind her privileged life to dedicate herself to religious life. She worked to improve living conditions and educational opportunities for African Americans and Native Americans. She left a legacy far greater than her family fortune.
©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).
What we are speaking of is a process of accompaniment and discernment that "guides the faithful to an awareness of their situation before God. Conversation with the priest in the internal forum contributes to the formation of a correct judgement on what hinders the possibility of fuller participation in the life of the Church and on what steps can foster it and make it grow. Given this, discernment can never prescind from the Gospel demands of truth and charity, as proposed by the Church. (300)
87. These attitudes are essential for avoiding the grave danger of misunderstandings, such as the notion that any priest can quickly grant "exceptions," or that some people can obtain sacramental privileges in exchange for favours. (300}
Individual conscience needs to be better incorporated into the Church's praxis in certain situations which do not objectively embody our understanding of marriage. Naturally, every effort should be made to encourage the development of an enlightened conscience. Yet conscience can do more than recognise that a given situation does not correspond objectively to the overall demands of the Gospel. It can also recognise with sincerity and honesty what, for now, is the most generous response which can be given to God and come to see with a certain moral security that it is what God himself is asking amid the concrete complexity of one's limits, while yet not fully the objective ideal. (303)
For this reason, a pastor cannot feel that it is enough simply to apply moral laws to those living in "irregular" situations as if they were stones to throw at people's lives. {305}
By thinking that everything is black and white, we sometimes close off the way of grace and of growth. Let us remember that "a small step, amid great human limitations, can be more pleasing to God than a life which appears outwardly in order, but moves through the day without confronting great difficulties". (305}
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 2259281295 -A sign made by children with the image of Pope Francis is seen, in Cali, Colombia, during a Mass for the Pope's visit to Colombia. Important information- Editorial Use Only.
Photo Contributor: Salma Bashir Motiwala
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES
The shops are open before and after all Masses at both Sacred Heart and St Vincent’s Churches.
BIBLE STUDY
The Bible Study/Prayer Group continues each Friday evening from 5-6pm at St Vincent’s Church
40 Hamilton Avenue Surfers Paradise. Studying “Break Open the Word” helps you to remember the readings for the upcoming Sunday Mass and, of course, enjoy fellowship with other members of the Parish. Enquires to Ashley 0409 840 693
ADORATION NOTICE
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament this First Friday 3rd March at Sacred Heart Church from 7pm to 8.30 pm. All welcome. Enquiries: Helen 0421935678.
"Could you not watch one hour with Me?" Mt 26:40
FIRST SATURDAY MASS AND BENEDICTION
First Saturday Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters. 9am the 4th of March.
Followed by adoration and Benediction.
OUR LADY’S STATUE
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 four weeks is
27/2/2023 Helen & Thor Skjaerback - Merrimac
6/3/2023 Helen & Thor Skjaerback - Merrimac
MARIAN VALLEY
Please come and join us at the Marian Valley Church for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on the 13.03.2023. The bus will be picking up at 8.15 am at the Sacred Heart Church Clear Island Waters. The Cost for the bus fare $25.00 return. You can secure your seat with contact name and contact phone number with Xavier Solomon 0404 843 260, Madeleine on 0405 252 367 or 5529 1573,. All are welcome.
ART AND CRAFT GROUP -
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-
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” - It 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 -
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
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.
The Lenten Programme - TRIUMPH - from the Wollongong NSW diocese, will be run by the Sacred Heart Meditation group on Tuesdays in Lent from 10 am - 12md commencing Tuesday 22nd February. If you are interested in attending or for any enquiries, please ring Pam Egtberts 0428 090 703.
YOGA AT THE PARISH HOSPITALITY CENTRE
Join us for our social 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.
HELP SYRIA. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has launched an emergency appeal for the people in northern Syria desperate for help following the devastating earthquakes. ACN is begging for funds to support their long-time local project partners on the ground in Syria. To read more about what ACN is
doing and to make an offering, please visit www.aidtochurch.org/syriaearthquake or scan the QR code.
Mission Work: Change their lives ... and yours.
Communities in Africa, Asia or the Pacific are seeking Australians from a variety of professions and trades to share their skills with those who have less opportunity to develop their talents.
· You will re-ignite your professional passion as you share skills with colleagues abroad;
· You will strengthen individuals and organisational processes and procedures so that generations of people will have growth opportunities long after you return home.
· You will Learn. It is a life-changing opportunity to work with and live amongst some of the most appreciative and resilient people you will ever meet.
· You will be Supported. Since 1961, Palms Australia has supported qualified and experienced Catholics motivated to undertake this Mission.
Explore 35 positions by scanning the QR code below. On our website, you can also see news, including stories from those currently supported in Timor-Leste, Samoa, American Samoa and Thailand.
RING: 02 9560 5333 or 0422 472 567. WEB: www.palms.org.au
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.
CHAPTER FIVE: LINES OF APPROACH AND ACTION
163. So far, I have attempted to take stock of our present situation, pointing to the cracks in the planet that we inhabit as well as to the profoundly human causes of environmental degradation. Although the contemplation of this reality in itself has already shown the need for a change of direction and other courses of action, now we shall try to outline the major paths of dialogue which can help us escape the spiral of self-destruction that currently engulfs us.
I. DIALOGUE ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
164. Beginning in the middle of the last century and overcoming many difficulties, there has been a growing conviction that our planet is a homeland and that humanity is one people living in a common home. An interdependent world not only makes us more conscious of the negative effects of certain lifestyles and models of production and consumption which affect us all; more importantly, it motivates us to ensure that solutions are proposed from a global perspective and not simply to defend the interests of a few countries. Interdependence obliges us to think of one world with a common plan. Yet the same ingenuity which has brought about enormous technological progress has so far proved incapable of finding effective ways of dealing with grave environmental and social problems worldwide. A global consensus is essential for confronting the deeper problems, which unilateral actions on the part of individual countries cannot resolve. Such a consensus could lead, for example, to planning sustainable and diversified agriculture, developing renewable and less polluting forms of energy, encouraging more efficient use of energy, promoting better management of marine and forest resources, and ensuring universal access to drinking water.
165. We know that technology based on the use of highly polluting fossil fuels – especially coal, but also oil and, to a lesser degree, gas – needs to be progressively replaced without delay. Until greater progress is made in developing widely accessible sources of renewable energy, it is legitimate to choose the less harmful alternative or to find short-term solutions. But the international community has still not reached adequate agreements about the responsibility for paying the costs of this energy transition. In recent decades, environmental issues have given rise to considerable public debate and have elicited a variety of committed and generous civic responses. Politics and business have been slow to react in a way commensurate with the urgency of the challenges facing our world. Although the post-industrial period may well be remembered as one of the most irresponsible in history, nonetheless, there is reason to hope that humanity at the dawn of the twenty-first century will be remembered for having generously shouldered its grave responsibilities.
166. Worldwide, the ecological movement has made significant advances, thanks also to the efforts of many organisations of civil society. It is impossible here to mention them all or to review the history of their contributions. But thanks to their efforts, environmental questions have increasingly found a place on public agendas and encouraged more far-sighted approaches. This notwithstanding, recent World Summits on the environment have not lived up to expectations because, due to a lack of political will, they were unable to reach truly meaningful and effective global agreements on the environment.
167. The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro is worth mentioning. It proclaimed that “human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development”.[126] Echoing the 1972 Stockholm Declaration, it enshrined international cooperation to care for the ecosystem of the entire earth, the obligation of those who cause pollution to assume its costs, and the duty to assess the environmental impact of given projects and works. It set the goal of limiting greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere to reverse the trend of global warming. It also drew up an agenda with an action plan and a convention on biodiversity and stated principles regarding forests. Although the summit was a real step forward and prophetic for its time, its accords have been poorly implemented due to the lack of suitable mechanisms for oversight, periodic review and penalties in cases of non-compliance. The principles which it proclaimed still await an efficient and flexible means of practical implementation.
168. Among positive experiences in this regard, we might mention, for example, the Basel Convention on hazardous wastes, with its system of reporting, standards and controls. There is also the binding Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, which includes on-site visits for verifying effective compliance. Thanks to the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer and its implementation through the Montreal Protocol and amendments, the problem of the layer’s thinning seems to have entered a phase of resolution.
169. As far as the protection of biodiversity and issues related to desertification are concerned, progress has been far less significant. With regard to climate change, the advances have been regrettably few. Reducing greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility, above all on the part of those countries which are more powerful and pollute the most. The Conference of the United Nations on Sustainable Development, “Rio+20” (Rio de Janeiro 2012), issued a wide-ranging but ineffectual outcome document. International negotiations cannot make significant progress due to positions taken by countries that place their national interests above the global common good. Those who will have to suffer the consequences of what we are trying to hide will not forget this failure of conscience and responsibility. Even as this Encyclical was being prepared, the debate was intensifying. We, believers, cannot fail to ask God for a positive outcome to the present discussions so that future generations will not have to suffer the effects of our ill-advised delays.
170. Some strategies for lowering pollutant gas emissions call for the internationalisation of environmental costs, which would risk imposing on countries with fewer resources burdensome commitments to reducing emissions comparable to those of the more industrialised countries. Imposing such measures penalises those countries most in need of development. A further injustice is perpetrated under the guise of protecting the environment. Here also, the poor end up paying the price. Furthermore, since the effects of climate change will be felt for a long time to come, even if stringent measures are taken now, some countries with scarce resources will require assistance in adapting to the effects already being produced, which affect their economies. In this context, there is a need for common and differentiated responsibilities. As the bishops of Bolivia have stated, “the countries which have benefited from a high degree of industrialisation, at the cost of enormous emissions of greenhouse gases, have a greater responsibility for providing a solution to the problems they have caused”.[127]
171. The strategy of buying and selling “carbon credits” can lead to a new form of speculation which would not help reduce the emission of polluting gases worldwide. This system seems to provide a quick and easy solution under the guise of a certain commitment to the environment, but in no way does it allow for the radical change which present circumstances require. Rather, it may simply become a ploy that permits maintaining the excessive consumption of some countries and sectors.
172. For poor countries, the priorities must be to eliminate extreme poverty and to promote the social development of their people. At the same time, they need to acknowledge the scandalous level of consumption in some privileged sectors of their population and combat corruption more effectively. They are likewise bound to develop less polluting forms of energy production, but to do so, they require the help of countries that have experienced great growth at the cost of the ongoing pollution of the planet. Taking advantage of abundant solar energy will require the establishment of mechanisms and subsidies which allow developing countries access to technology transfer, technical assistance and financial resources, but in a way that respects their concrete situations since “the compatibility of [infrastructures] with the context for which they have been designed is not always adequately assessed”.[128] The costs of this would be low compared to the risks of climate change. In any event, these are primarily ethical decisions rooted in solidarity between all peoples.
173. Enforceable international agreements are urgently needed since local authorities are not always capable of effective intervention. Relations between states must be respectful of each other’s sovereignty but must also lay down mutually agreed means of averting regional disasters, which would eventually affect everyone. Global regulatory norms are needed to impose obligations and prevent unacceptable actions, for example, when powerful companies or countries dump contaminated waste or offshore polluting industries in other countries.
174. Let us also mention the system of governance of the oceans. International and regional conventions do exist, but fragmentation and the lack of strict mechanisms of regulation, control and penalisation end up undermining these efforts. The growing problem of marine waste and the protection of the open seas represent particular challenges. What is needed, in effect, is an agreement on systems of governance for the whole range of so-called “global commons”.
175. The same mindset which stands in the way of making radical decisions to reverse the trend of global warming also stands in the way of achieving the goal of eliminating poverty. A more responsible overall approach is needed to deal with both problems: the reduction of pollution and the development of poorer countries and regions. The twenty-first century, while maintaining systems of governance inherited from the past, is witnessing a weakening of the power of nation-states, chiefly because the economic and financial sectors, being transnational, tends to prevail over the political. Given this situation, it is essential to devise stronger and more efficiently organised international institutions, with functionaries who are appointed fairly by agreement among national governments and empowered to impose sanctions. As Benedict XVI has affirmed in continuity with the social teaching of the Church: “To manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result; to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is an urgent need of a true world political authority, as my predecessor Blessed John XXIII indicated some years ago”.[129] Diplomacy also takes on new importance in the work of developing international strategies which can anticipate serious problems affecting us all.
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 …..
ULURU STATEMENT FROM THE HEART:
We, gathered at the 2017 National Constitutional Convention, coming from all points of the southern sky, make this statement from the heart:
Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tribes were the first sovereign Nations of the Australian continent and its adjacent islands, and possessed it under our own laws and customs. This our ancestors did, according to the reckoning of our culture, from the Creation, according to the common law from ‘time immemorial’, and according to science more than 60,000 years ago.
This sovereignty is a spiritual notion: the ancestral tie between the land, or ‘mother nature’, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who were born therefrom, remain attached thereto, and must one day return thither to be united with our ancestors. This link is the basis of the ownership of the soil, or better, of sovereignty. It has never been ceded or extinguished and co-exists with the sovereignty of the Crown.
How could it be otherwise? That peoples possessed a land for sixty millennia and this sacred link disappears from world history in merely the last two hundred years?
With substantive constitutional change and structural reform, we believe this ancient sovereignty can shine through as a fuller expression of Australia’s nationhood.
Proportionally, we are the most incarcerated people on the planet. We are not an innately criminal people. Our children are aliened from their families at unprecedented rates. This cannot be because we have no love for them. And our youth languish in detention in obscene numbers. They should be our hope for the future.
These dimensions of our crisis tell plainly the structural nature of our problem. This is the torment of our powerlessness.
We seek constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful place in our own country. When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish. They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country.
We call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution.
Makarrata is the culmination of our agenda: the coming together after a struggle. It captures our aspirations for a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia and a better future for our children based on justice and self-determination.
We seek a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations and truth-telling about our history.
In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard. We leave base camp and start our trek across this vast country. We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.
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