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Friday 31 March 2023
SPCP newsletter: Sunday, April 2, 2023 - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Year A
SPCP - Sunday, April 2, 2023 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Year A
PDF version of this parish newsletter here:
You can also access an online copy of the newsletter *here*
“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26: 39)
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed.Stock Photo ID: 1074985160: PARMA, ITALY - APRIL 16, 2018: The fresco of Entry of Jesus in Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) in Duomo by Lattanzio Gambara (1567 - 1573). Important information - Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova
PASTOR’S POST -Palm or Pine?
When I was a kid Palm Sunday was that day in church that those big leafy fauna things were handed out and I always got it taken away from me for whacking my sister in the back of the head with them during Mass.
Actually it wasn't even a palm frond, but a small branch from the pine tree outside the church. I suppose the priest thought us country kids wouldn't know the difference. I did, but like most things religious at the time, I just accepted it. I remember trying to keep it pressed into my Sunday prayer book, hoping that God would notice how committed I was to following the rules, even if I didn't use the prayer book too often.
I suppose it was a lack of communication on my part for never expressing my confusion as to why we were doing what we were doing, I just figured someday someone would clue me in the way they did about Communion. No one ever really did, and eventually I stopped being so curious about it anyway. Perhaps it sounds a bit dysfunctional to you, but it was just one of those things that just was.
Time went on and eventually my curiosity piqued again, and so I did a little digging now that I was a little older. As it turned out I was a little embarrassed to find out that the palms we were given were a symbol of many important things, and all I could see in it was a new weapon in the perpetual whacking tournament I had going on with my beloved siblings.
Palm leaves and Palm trees are really quite important in both Jewish and Christian traditions. Depending on exact denomination, Palm leaves can mean good fortune, health, wealth, intelligence as well as blessings, and in some cases even represent Jesus himself.
In Christianity, Palm Sunday is always held the Sunday before Easter. The Christian calendar allows for Easter Sunday to fall on any given Sunday between March 15th and April 18th. Some denominations choose to hold a major feast that day, a celebration to commemorate Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, while others keep it simply so as not to take away from the greater feast the next week.
As he made his entrance, some stories relate that the people of Jerusalem welcomed and heralded him by throwing clothing, food, and Palm leaves at his feet. He was, of course, crucified a week later. The Sunday prior to Easter is earmarked as "Passion Sunday," although most people refer to it as Palm Sunday as it was referenced by the Roman Catholic Church.
Passion Sunday is meant to represent the beginning of a very holy week, one that was led by Jesus and one that culminated with his death and resurrection. His time in Jerusalem is well spent, for no matter where he was or what scrutiny he was under, Jesus was always at peace with what was asked of him and determined to touch the lives of those around him. That is why this day strongly connects to demonstrations and marches for world peace.
We cannot explore the meaning of Palm Sunday without digressing to the misinterpreted meaning of Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is not historically the beginning of Christianity. Christianity did become an actual denomination until several hundred years later. Jesus was in fact, a Jew and his followers were in fact, Jewish. For several hundred years after the death of Christ, the original "Christians" were an offset denomination of Judaism.
Unfortunately, despite historical facts, several hundred years after his death, Palm Sunday marked the beginning of anti-Semitism. The anti-Semites of the past, as well as the anti-Semites of the present, neglect to realise, understand, or give credence to the fact that it was the Roman authorities who were given the order and carried out the execution.
Palm Sunday is naturally celebrated differently by each denomination, but the basic meaning is universal. In reverence to Jesus' teachings and honorarium of his incredible life here on Earth, we gather with palm fronds, olive branches, fig branches, maybe even pine branches, or whatever basic flora we agree upon and celebrate the life that was lived just prior to the death.
On behalf of the small children who will receive their token symbol of Jesus' entry into the Holy City, thorough explanations about the meaning of what goes on in church can go a long way toward helping a child grow spiritually. It can be easy to assume that they are hearing the dynamics laid out for them in church, but often the speech used in religious ceremonies is too taxing for a child to listen to intently enough to understand. So when your daughter or son starts whacking someone on the head with this holy symbol, educating them will go much further than taking it away.
Fr Peter Dillon PP.
Here is the live-stream link to the funeral of parishioner Mr John Sattler
https://1.livestreaminggoldcoast.com.au/john-sattler/
{FIRST FRIDAY -EVENING ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IS CANCELLED DUE TO GOOD FRIDAY ON 7TH APRIL}
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER - 6th April-9th April 2023
Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow For All Future Generations.
Every day, more than 200 million children miss out on school, around 690 million people go hungry, and 2.2 billion people cannot access clean drinking water. In recent years, COVID-19 has also devastated vulnerable communities already living in poverty, with the health and economic impacts reverberating for years to come.
It’s through the generous support of people like you that we can continue to help lift vulnerable communities out of poverty – support that is needed now more than ever.
Thank you for your continued support for Project Compassion – past, present and future. Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow For All Future Generations.
It is only once in every three years that we publicly share together Matthew’s full account of the arrest, trial and death of Jesus. Today is that day. Matthew’s passion is rich in every sense of the word. It is the longest account of what Jesus endured, and it also has the most diverse cast of characters. Only Matthew devotes time not only to the tragic fate of Judas, who was filled with remorse, but even to the thirty pieces of silver that were used to buy a cemetery for foreigners called the Field of Blood. Only Matthew tells us about the dream of Pilate’s wife, which leads her to send a message to her husband that he should have nothing to do with Jesus. Matthew’s Gospel features several dreams. Joseph is told in a dream to take Mary as his wife, to flee with his family to Egypt and later to return from Egypt. Dreams are one of the many links between Matthew’s Gospel and the Hebrew scriptures.
This is by no means to say that Matthew’s Gospel is merely an exciting piece of literature. It is only to suggest that, in Holy Week, Matthew’s Passion is a beautiful encounter to enter slowly as we spend time with the Lord, allowing the mystery of the cross to deepen within us. One commitment we might make is to take a section each day this week and stay with it for ten minutes.
Monday: Mt 26: 14-35
Tuesday: Mt 26: 36-56
Wednesday: Mt 26: 57-75
Thursday: Mt 27: 1-26
Friday: Mt 27: 27-56
Saturday: Mt 27: 57-66
The trial and death of Jesus remind us of the tragedy of injustice that continues to this day in so many places around the world. Throughout Lent, Caritas Australia, through Project Compassion, has attempted to draw our attention to many vital global issues. We have been invited to take up the cross and follow Jesus in our own time. We can pray, with Jesus, ‘Let it be as you, not I, would have it.’
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION: We pray that the mystery of the death of Jesus will deepen within our hearts. May we be ready to take up the cross in our time, especially as we support those who experience injustice worldwide.
You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes and envelopes from your parish by visiting https://www.caritas.org.au/
by calling 1800 024 413.
SACRED HEART CUPPA AFTER 9 am Mass Sundays -
We are asking for more people to help with a roster. More people could allow a roster of looking after the cuppa once every two months. Mary Ann Boehme and her friends will coordinate the roster, training and communication and check that each week is covered.
Please contact the office so we can put you in touch with Mary Ann and the team. Our Hospitality team.
Becoming Catholic! A Journey of Faith
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
Catechumens – Andre De Melo, Nikki Miruzzi, and Seda Karauzumcu, seek Baptism
Candidates – Georgia Bull, Maria Torres Reyes, and Paula Littlechild are seeking Full Communion with the Catholic Church.
We invite all Parishioners 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.
You are most welcome to join us.
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
A VOCATION VIEW:
Today's world is so filled with suffering, injustice, anger, depression, and loneliness that it cries for people waving palm branches of hope and resurrection, proclaiming new life.
To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION -
We begin this Holy Week by reading the Lord’s Passion from the Gospel of Matthew. It is fitting that we Christian stewards focus our minds and hearts intensely this week on the steps of our Brother and Savior as He laid down His very life for us.
Before we do so, let us first take a moment to examine the seemingly small acts of stewardship by some who encountered Jesus during this most eventful week.
One occurred when Jesus instructed the disciples about the room where they would celebrate the Passover. Jesus said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, “the teacher says… “In your house, I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.” We do not know this man’s name, but we do know that he agreed to this request — he shared the material gift of his home and the gift of hospitality so that Jesus had a place to celebrate the Passover. Little did he know that because of his good stewardship, his own home would be the site of the institution of the Eucharist!
There was also Simon the Cyrenian who offered the gift of his physical strength, helping the Lord to carry His Cross. The privilege of privileges!
Consider, too, the actions of Joseph of Arimathea — he generously shared a material gift of the tomb that was his, and he gave the gift of service to our Lord by giving Him a proper burial.
Then there were the “two Marys” who gave Jesus the gift of their time. Keeping watch in a tender vigil after His death, they “remained sitting there, facing the tomb.”
These were simple acts of good stewardship, yet God used them in mighty ways. God invites each of us, too, to cooperate with Him in small ways by sharing our time, talents and material gifts. Small gifts can become mighty deeds when placed in God’s service.
And there is no greater motivation to embrace this stewardship way of life than to turn our attention in the week ahead to the details of the Passion that our Lord undertook out of love of us. Consider just a few right now, but spend some time this week on your own or with your family, pondering what Jesus has done for each one of us personally:
“Jesus took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and… said, “Take and eat; this is my body” — for you!
“Then he took a cup, gave thanks…saying ‘Drink from it… for this is my blood of the covenant which will be shed on behalf of many’” — and for you!
He agonised in the garden over the sins of all humanity, taking them on Himself — for you.
“They spat in His face and struck Him, while some slapped Him” — He allowed it for you.
His dear friend Peter, denied, Him: “I do not know the man” — and Jesus endured this for you.
They bound Him, led Him away — for you.
He stood before the crowd, His own people, as they shouted, “Crucify Him!” — for you.
They mocked Him, stripped Him, whipped Him, nailed His hands and feet to the Cross — for you.
Finally, when there was literally nothing left to give, “He gave up His spirit” — for you.
Are we not compelled, as Christian stewards, to live now for Him, to give ourselves generously, in big ways and small — to Him Who has given us all that we have and are, Who has given His very Self?
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: Tim Brown, John O’Hanlon, 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.
RECENTLY DECEASED: Lin Dean, Patricia Bartlett, Mary Curran, Mary Nicholl, Noni Twidale, Beverley Anne (“Kate”) Sheehy, Mary Ann Groenewaldt, John Sattler, Paul Fitzgerald, Elsden Smith, Bernardo Cass Nopra, Anna Szeremeta, Elizabeth Mary McKinstry, Millicent Dawn Shaw, Helen Bruce, Peter Allsop, Frank Murray, Patricia Maxine O’Donoghue, Bernardo Cas Nopre (Canada), Virginia Attard, Marjorie Doyle, Beverley Dreier, Millicent Monteiro, Cecily Culligan, Nicholas Eamon Ashworth, “Pat” Sullivan, Graciela del Carmen Chapman, Betty McKinstry, Anna Szeremeta, Alan Hague, Marie Kuljanic, Graham Stafford, Derek Carpenter, Peter Evert, Cheryl Hamwood, Donna Maria Cross, John Monahan.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: Miriam Zarb, Bozidar Ovcaric, Andrea Helena, Wayne Parsons, David Anthony Evans, Cecilia Teresa White, Pope Saint John Paul II, Annette Bryant, Beau Abraham Massey, Betty Lorraine Egan, Olimpia Percuoco, Jocelyn Cassels, Darko Janzekovic, Graham Paul Whitehead Smith, Therese Mary Clift, Ramon (Baby) Solatan, Fr Romo Servatius Subhaga Svd, Cynthia Maud Brennan, Justin Paul Fitzgerald, Thomas (Tommy) Raudonikis, Mendoza, Nympha Reponia, Susan Ruth O'Gorman, Earl Briertey.
And also: Mary Cooper, Vizma Mudite Barrett, Joyce Hunt, Peter Schreck, Margaret Kelly, Giuseppa Mauceri, Josephine Desira, Jessie Veronica (Veronica) Dolan, Ted Wales, Catherine Mitchell (Tompson), John Donelly Shiels, Peter Wayne Borg, Helma Martina Anna van Camp, Ben Thomas Hamlett,
Iris Scharenguivel, Byron Schreiber, Pamela Barry (Pam) Braithwaite, Franciska Knap, Glen Anthony (Tony) McLeod, Malcolm Thompson, Barry Edwards, Rufina Lim, Alfred John Serafim Zerafa, Brian Anthony Fawell, Ricardo Joseph Herft, Gerald Peter Henderson, Patricia Brigid Flanagan, Connie Devlin, Marie Therese Haney, Alexander Redler, Anthony Robert Meehan, Lynn Maree Blond, Mary Briffa, Fay Margaret Frances Lincoln, Paul Avery.
LITURGY NEWS MAGAZINE - free copy here:
The Autumn edition of the Liturgy News magazine is now available for free. Please click here - https://drive.google.com/file/
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH - The Holiest of Weeks!
Holy Week begins. It’s in the description of Jesus’ last week—immediately ahead of his death and Resurrection—that all four gospels resemble each other the most. The church’s liturgical celebration of Holy Week, however, was a late development. Originally, Christians had only a single Pascha liturgy to observe Jesus’ suffering, death, and Resurrection. Specific Holy Week liturgies for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday grew from individual shrines in Jerusalem, where each event occurred. Thanks to a detailed travel journal written in 383 by a remarkable woman pilgrim to the Holy Land named Egeria, these liturgies began to take shape. As Holy Week begins, let’s honour not only the women at the empty tomb but the woman who helped define Holy Week.
“Caiaphas did not say this on his own. Instead, as high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.” (John 11:51-52).
O my people!” (Ezekiel 37:13). SIGN UP FOR "TAKE FIVE" DAILY ww.takefiveforfaith.com/
MASK WEARING:
The risk of colds, flu, and Covid virus remains. There are many 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 EUCHARIST - First HOLY COMMUNION (for Children in Year 4 or greater)
The celebration of First Holy Communion will be 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. The child can fully participate in the Eucharist (also known as the mass) through this sacrament 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.
We ask that all families check 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.
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 on our Surfers Paradise Parish website: www.surfersparadiseparish.com.
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 children are invited to receive. Confirmation completes Baptism. The Sacrament of Confirmation for the Surfers Paradise Parish will be celebrated 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.
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.
CHILDREN’S Sacrament of PENANCE - FIRST RECONCILIATION - November 9 at 5:30 pm, 2023
Penance is a sacrament of forgiveness. It 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.
Please continue to regularly check the parish newsletter for Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) updates and further information.
THIS WEEKEND’S GOSPEL - THE FACE OF CHRIST RECOGNISED IN THE FACES OF THE SUFFERING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY
It is timely on this Passion Sunday, to recall Pope Francis' words from a previous Palm Sunday Mass. The pope invited us all to contemplate the face of Jesus "not only in paintings, or photographs, or even in video depictions" but "in the faces of many of our brothers and sisters . . . who are suffering." "Jesus is in them, in each of them, and with a disfigured face, with a broken voice, He asks to be looked at, to be recognized, to be loved,"
"We have no other Lord but him: Jesus, the humble King of justice, mercy and peace", said the Pope.
Our gentle Pope said that "Passion/Palm Sunday,":- "can be said to be bittersweet. It is joyful and sorrowful at the same time. We celebrate the Lord's entrance into Jerusalem to the cries of his disciples who acclaim him as King. It recounts the enthusiasm of the disciples who acclaim the Master with cries of joy, and we can picture in our minds the excitement of the children and young people of the city who joined in the excitement.
Yet, on this exact same day, we also solemnly proclaim the Gospel account of his Passion and death. Jesus, who accepts the hosannas of the crowd, knows full well that these cries of welcome will soon be followed by cries of: "Crucify him!"
Even as Our Lord fulfils the Scriptures by entering into the holy city in this way, he is in no way some kind of misguided peddler of illusions, no new-age prophet, no imposter. Rather, he is the King and Messiah who comes in the humble role of a servant - who obeys his Father in Heaven utterly and goes willingly to his passion. -, He suffers all the pain of humanity.
In this sad contrast (from joy and acclamation – to sorrow, suffering and condemnation), our hearts experience in some small way, what Jesus himself must have felt in his own heart that day, as he rejoiced with his friends and also wept over Jerusalem.
So as we joyfully acclaim our King, let us also think of the sufferings that he will have to endure in this coming (Holy) week. Let us think of the slanders and insults, the snares and betrayals, the abandonment to an unjust judgment, the blows, the lashes and the crown of thorns… And lastly, the way of the cross leading to the crucifixion.
He had spoken clearly of this to his disciples: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Mt 16:24). Jesus never promised honour and success. (pk - well, not in an earthly sense, that is!). This weekend’s gospel and the readings over Holy Week make this abundantly clear.
He had always warned his friends that this was to be his path and that the final victory would be achieved through passion and the cross. All this holds true for us too. Let us ask for the grace to follow Jesus faithfully, not in words but in deeds. Let us also ask for the patience to carry our own cross, not to refuse it or set it aside, but rather, in looking to him, to take it up and to carry it daily.
Christ is present in our many brothers and sisters who today endure sufferings like his own: they suffer from slave labour, from family tragedies, natural disasters, from diseases… They suffer from wars and terrorism, and from interests that are armed and ready to strike. Women and men who are cheated, violated in their dignity, discarded…(and we can add in 2020 0 present in all suffering in any way from the many and varied effects of this terrible pandemic)…… Jesus is in them, in each of them, and, with marred features and broken voice, he asks to be looked in the eye, to be acknowledged, to be loved. (Our Lord always stood by those who were most disadvantaged, most isolated – he stood with them and promised to be with them in the joys and sorrows of life.. and he made a practical difference in people's lives.. he calls us to ensure we always strive to do the same – to be faithful, lovingly of service, and filled with practical, compassionate love).
The Jesus who was mistreated, and assaulted and cruelly put to death as if he was some kind of terrible criminal, is not some other Jesus from the one who was triumphantly welcomed into Jerusalem as king and messiah. It is indeed the same Jesus who entered Jerusalem amid the waving of palm branches. It is the same Jesus who was nailed to the cross and died between two criminals. (this is one and the same person. This is the fullness of the revelation of God with us). He was no less the King of the universe and God the son in both of these contrasting scenarios. We have no other Lord but him: Jesus, the humble King of suffering, self-emptying love, obedience to the Father’s will, just and merciful, peaceful and - all the while praying for and achieving our salvation.
References: Pope Francis. Homily. Palm Sunday, 2017. https://zenit.org/articles/
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1369111313 - Palm leaf on red background.Palm sunday and easter day concept. Photo Contributor: MIA Studio
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-
Also found at - https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk
Saint AMBROSE, commentating on the Washing of the Feet at Holy Thursday.
“And now, let the feet of our minds. be stretched out. The Lord Jesus wills also, to wash our feet, For He says, not to Peter alone but to each of the faithful: If I wash not your feet you will have no part with Me. [ John 13: 8 ]”
From a sermon by Saint Andrew of Crete, bishop
Oratio 9 in ramos palmarum: PG 97, 990-994)
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the King of Israel
Let us go together to meet Christ on the Mount of Olives. Today he returns from Bethany and proceeds of his own free will toward his holy and blessed passion, to consummate the mystery of our salvation. He who came down from heaven to raise us from the depths of sin, to raise us with himself, we are told in Scripture, above every sovereignty, authority and power, and every other name that can be named, now comes of his own free will to make his journey to Jerusalem. He comes without pomp or ostentation. As the psalmist says: He will not dispute or raise his voice to make it heard in the streets. He will be meek and humble, and he will make his entry in simplicity.
Let us run to accompany him as he hastens toward his passion, and imitate those who met him then, not by covering his path with garments, olive branches or palms, but by doing all we can to prostrate ourselves before him by being humble and by trying to live as he would wish. Then we shall be able to receive the Word at his coming, and God, whom no limits can contain, will be within us.
In his humility Christ entered the dark regions of our fallen world and he is glad that he became so humble for our sake, glad that he came and lived among us and shared in our nature to raise us up again to himself. And even though we are told that he has now ascended above the highest heavens - the proof, surely, of his power and godhead - his love for man will never rest until he has raised our earthbound nature from glory to glory, and made it one with his own in heaven.
So let us spread before his feet, not garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, but ourselves, clothed in his grace, or rather, clothed completely in him. We who have been baptised into Christ must ourselves be the garments that we spread before him. Now that the crimson stains of our sins have been washed away in the saving waters of baptism and we have become white as pure wool let us present the conqueror of death, not with mere branches of palms but with the real rewards of his victory. Let our souls take the place of the welcoming branches as we join today in the children's holy song: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.
From a homily by Melito of Sardis, bishop
(Nn. 65-71: SC 123, 95-101)
The Lamb that was slain has delivered us from death and given us life
There was much proclaimed by the prophets about the mystery of the Passover: that mystery is Christ, and to him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
For the sake of suffering humanity he came down from heaven to earth, clothed himself in that humanity in the Virgin's womb, and was born a man. Having then a body capable of suffering, he took the pain of fallen man upon himself; he triumphed over the diseases of soul and body that were its cause, and by his Spirit, which was incapable of dying, he dealt man's destroyer, death, a fatal blow.
He was led forth like a lamb; he was slaughtered like a sheep. He ransomed us from our servitude to the world, as he had ransomed Israel from the hand of Egypt; he freed us from our slavery to the devil, as he had freed Israel from the hand of Pharaoh. He sealed our souls with his own Spirit, and the members of our body with his own blood.
He is the One who covered death with shame and cast the devil into mourning, as Moses cast Pharaoh into mourning . He is the One that smote sin and robbed iniquity of offspring, as Moses robbed the Egyptians of their offspring. He is the One who brought us out of slavery into freedom, out of darkness into light, out of death into life, out of tyranny into an eternal kingdom; who made us a new priesthood, a people chosen to be his own for ever. He is the Passover that is our salvation.
It is he who endured every kind of suffering in all those who foreshadowed him. In Abel he was slain, in Isaac bound, in Jacob exiled, in Joseph sold, in Moses exposed to die. He was sacrificed in the Passover lamb, persecuted in David, dishonored in the prophets.
It is he who was made man of the Virgin, he who was hung on the tree; it is he who was buried in the earth, raised from the dead, and taken up to the heights of heaven. He is the mute lamb, the slain lamb born of Mary, the fair ewe. He was seized from the flock, dragged off to be slaughtered, sacrificed in the evening, and buried at night. On the tree no bone of his was broken; in the earth his body knew no decay. He is the One who rose from the dead, and who raised man from the depths of the tomb.
From the Catecheses by St. John Chrysostom , bishop
(Cat. 3, 13-19; SC 50, 174-177)
The power of Christ's blood
If we wish to understand the power of Christ’s blood, we should go back to the ancient account of its prefiguration in Egypt. Sacrifice a lamb without blemish, commanded Moses, and sprinkle its blood on your doors. If we were to ask him what he meant, and how the blood of an irrational beast could possibly save men endowed with reason, his answer would be that the saving power lies not in the blood itself but in the fact that it is a sign of the Lord’s blood. In those days, when the destroying angel saw the blood on the doors he did not dare to enter, so much less will the devil approach now when he sees, not that figurative blood on the doors, but the true blood on the lips of believers, the doors of the temple of Christ.
If you desire further proof of the power of this blood, remember where it came from, how it ran down from the cross, flowing from the Master’s side. The gospel records that when Christ was dead, but still hung on the cross, a soldier came and pierced his side with a lance and immediately there poured out water and blood. Now the water was a symbol of baptism and the blood of the holy eucharist. The soldier pierced the Lord’s side, he breached the wall of the sacred temple, and I have found the treasure and made it my own. So also with the lamb: the Jews sacrificed the victim and I have been saved by it.
There flowed from his side water and blood. Beloved, do not pass over this mystery without thought; it has yet another hidden meaning, which I will explain to you. I said that water and blood symbolises baptism and the holy eucharist. From these two sacraments the Church is born: from baptism, the cleansing water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit, and from the holy eucharist. Since the symbols of baptism and the eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. Moses gives a hint of this when he tells the story of the first man and makes him exclaim: Bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh! As God then took a rib from Adam`s side to fashion a woman, so Christ has given us blood and water from his side to fashion the Church. God took the rib when Adam was in a deep sleep, and in the same way, Christ gave us blood and water after his own death.
Do you understand, then, how Christ has united his bride to himself and what food he gives us all to eat? By one and the same food, we are both brought into being and nourished. As a woman nourishes her child with her own blood and milk, so does Christ unceasingly nourish with his own blood those to whom he himself has given life.
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POPE FRANCIS:
On Calvary, two ways of thinking collided. In the Gospel, the words of the crucified Jesus are in sharp contrast with the words of those who crucified him. The latter keep saying: “Save yourself”. The leaders of the people said: “Let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One” (Lk 23:35). The soldiers said the same thing: “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself” (v. 37). Finally, one of the criminals, echoing their words, said to him: “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself” (v. 39). Save yourself. Take care of yourself. Think of yourself. Not of others, but only of your own well-being, your own success, your own interests: your possessions, your power, your image. Save yourself. This is the constant refrain of the world that crucified the Lord. Let us think about it.
Against this self-centred mindset is God’s way of thinking. The mantra “save yourself” collides with the words of the Saviour who offers his self. Like his adversaries, Jesus speaks three times in today’s Gospel (cf. vv. 34.43.46). Yet he did not claim anything for himself; indeed, he did not even defend or justify himself. He prayed to the Father and offered mercy to the good thief. One of his words, in particular, marked the difference with regard to the mantra “save yourself”. He said: “Father, forgive them” (v. 34).
Let us reflect on the Lord’s words. When did he say them? At a very specific moment: while he was being crucified, as he felt the nails piercing his wrists and feet. Let us try to imagine the excruciating pain he suffered. At that moment, amid the most searing physical pain of his Passion, Christ asked forgiveness for those who were piercing him. At times like that, we would scream out and give vent to all our anger and suffering. But Jesus said: Father, forgive them.
Unlike the other martyrs about whom the Bible speaks (cf. 2 Mac 7:18-19), Jesus did not rebuke his executioners or threaten punishments in the name of God; rather, he prayed for the evildoers. Fastened to the gibbet of humiliation, his attitude of giving became that of forgiving.
Brothers and sisters, God does the same thing with us. When we cause suffering by our actions, God suffers yet has only one desire: to forgive us. In order to appreciate this, let us gaze upon the crucified Lord. It is from his painful wounds, from the streams of blood caused by the nails of our sinfulness that forgiveness gushes forth. Let us look to Jesus on the cross and realize that greater words were never spoken: Father, forgive. Let us look to Jesus on the cross and realize that we have never been looked upon with a more gentle and compassionate gaze. Let us look to Jesus on the cross and understand that we have never received a more loving embrace. Let us look to the crucified Lord and say: “Thank you, Jesus: you love me and always forgive me, even at those times when I find it hard to love and forgive myself”.
There, as he was being crucified, at the height of his pain, Jesus himself obeyed the most demanding of his commandments: that we love our enemies. Let us think about someone who, in our own lives, injured, offended or disappointed us; someone who made us angry, who did not understand us or who set a bad example. How often we spend time looking back on those who have wronged us! How often we think back and lick the wounds that other people, life itself and history have inflicted on us. Today, Jesus teaches us not to remain there, but to react, to break the vicious circle of evil and sorrow. To react to the nails in our lives with love, to the buffets of hatred with the embrace of forgiveness. As disciples of Jesus, do we follow the Master or do we follow our own desire to strike back? This is a question we have to ask ourselves. Do we follow the Master or not?
If we want to test whether we truly belong to Christ, let us look at how we behave toward those who have hurt us. The Lord asks us to respond not as we feel, or as everyone else does, but in the way he acts toward us. He asks us to break out of the mindset that says: “I will love you if you love me; I will be your friend if you are my friend; I will help you if you help me”. Rather, we are to show compassion and mercy to everyone, for God sees a son or a daughter in each person. He does not separate us into good and bad, friends and enemies. We are the ones who do this, and we make God suffer. For him, all of us are his beloved children, children whom he desires to embrace and forgive. Just as in the parable of the wedding feast, where the father of the groom sends his servants into the streets and says: “Invite everybody: white, black, good and bad, everybody, the healthy, the sick, everybody…” (cf. Mt 22:9-10). The love of Jesus is for everyone; everyone has the same privilege: that of being loved and forgiven.
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. According to the Gospel, Jesus “kept saying” this (cf. v. 34). He did not say it once for all as he was being nailed to the cross; instead, he spent all his time on the cross with these words on his lips and in his heart. God never tires of forgiving. We need to understand this, not just in our minds, but also in our hearts. God never tires of forgiving. We are the ones who get tired of asking forgiveness. But he never tires of forgiving. He does not put up with us for a while and then change his mind, as we are tempted to do. Jesus – so the Gospel of Luke teaches us – came into the world to bring us forgiveness for our sins (cf. Lk 1:77). In the end, he gave us a clear command: to proclaim forgiveness of sins to everyone in his name (cf. Lk 24:47). Let us never grow tired of proclaiming God’s forgiveness: we priests, of administering it; all Christians, of receiving it and bearing witness to it. Let us never grow tired when it comes to God’s forgiveness.
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Let us observe one more thing. Jesus not only asked that they be forgiven, but also mentioned the reason why: for they know not what they do. How could that be? Those who crucified him had premeditated his killing, organized his arrest and trials, and now they were standing on Calvary to witness his death. Yet Christ justifies those violent men by saying: they know not. That is how Jesus acts in our regard: he makes himself our advocate. He does not set himself against us, but for us and against our sins. His words make us think: for they know not. It is the ignorance of the heart, which all of us have as sinners.
When we resort to violence, we show that we no longer know anything about God, who is our Father, or even about others, who are our brothers and sisters. We lose sight of why we are in the world and even end up committing senseless acts of cruelty. We see this in the folly of war, where Christ is crucified yet another time. Christ is once more nailed to the Cross in mothers who mourn the unjust death of husbands and sons. He is crucified in refugees who flee from bombs with children in their arms. He is crucified in the elderly left alone to die; in young people deprived of a future; in soldiers sent to kill their brothers and sisters. Christ is being crucified there, today.
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Many people heard these extraordinary words, but only one person responded to them. He was a criminal, crucified next to Jesus. We can imagine that the mercy of Christ stirred up in him one last hope and led him to speak these words: “Jesus, remember me” (Lk 23:42). As if to say: “Everyone else has forgotten me, yet you keep thinking of those who crucify you. With you, then, there is also a place for me”. The good thief accepted God as his life was ending, and in this way, his life began anew. In the hell of this world, he saw heaven opening up: “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (v. 43). This is the marvel of God’s forgiveness, which turned the last request of a man condemned to death into the first canonization of history.
Brothers and sisters, in the course of this week, let us cling to the certainty that God can forgive every sin. He forgives everyone. He can bridge every distance, and turn all mourning into dancing (cf. Ps 30:12). The certainty that with Jesus there is always a place for everyone. That with Christ things are never over. That with him, it is never too late. With God, we can always come back to life. Take courage! Let us journey toward Easter with his forgiveness. For Christ constantly intercedes for us before the Father (cf. Heb 7:25). Gazing upon our violent and tormented world, he never tires of repeating: Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Let us now do the same, in silence, in our hearts, and repeat: Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1057882748 - Vatican- Cardinals during mass on Palm Sunday - Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Formats: Photo Contributor: Jan Blasko
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES
New stock has arrived this week - statues, assortment of birthday and Baptism cards, holy cards and rosaries.
FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION AT SACRED HEART CHURCH
CANCELLED DUE TO GOOD FRIDAY ON 7TH APRIL
BIBLE STUDY
{THE BIBLE STUDY/PRAYER GROUP AT ST. VINCENT’S CHURCH
CANCELLED DUE TO GOOD FRIDAY ON 7TH APRIL}. The Bible Study/Prayer Group continues each Friday evening from 5-6 pm 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
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:
3/04/2023 Joanne Ferguson - Molendinar
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.
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.
https://brisbanecatholic.org.
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 SIX -ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION AND SPIRITUALITY
202. Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change. We lack an awareness of our common origin, of our mutual belonging, and of a future to be shared with everyone. This basic awareness would enable the development of new convictions, attitudes and forms of life. A great cultural, spiritual and educational challenge stands before us, and it will demand that we set out on the long path of renewal.
I. TOWARDS A NEW LIFESTYLE
203. Since the market tends to promote extreme consumerism in an effort to sell its products, people can easily get caught up in a whirlwind of needless buying and spending. Compulsive consumerism is one example of how the techno-economic paradigm affects individuals. Romano Guardini had already foreseen this: “The gadgets and technics forced upon him by the patterns of machine production and of abstract planning mass man accepts quite simply; they are the forms of life itself. To either a greater or lesser degree mass man is convinced that his conformity is both reasonable and just”.[144] This paradigm leads people to believe that they are free as long as they have the supposed freedom to consume. But those really free are the minority who wield economic and financial power. Amid this confusion, postmodern humanity has not yet achieved a new self-awareness capable of offering guidance and direction, and this lack of identity is a source of anxiety. We have too many means and only a few insubstantial ends.
204. The current global situation engenders a feeling of instability and uncertainty, which in turn becomes “a seedbed for collective selfishness”.[145] When people become self-centred and self-enclosed, their greed increases. The emptier a person’s heart is, the more he or she needs things to buy, own and consume. It becomes almost impossible to accept the limits imposed by reality. In this horizon, a genuine sense of the common good also disappears. As these attitudes become more widespread, social norms are respected only to the extent that they do not clash with personal needs. So our concern cannot be limited merely to the threat of extreme weather events, but must also extend to the catastrophic consequences of social unrest. Obsession with a consumerist lifestyle, above all when few people are capable of maintaining it, can only lead to violence and mutual destruction.
205. Yet all is not lost. Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start, despite their mental and social conditioning. We are able to take an honest look at ourselves, to acknowledge our deep dissatisfaction, and to embark on new paths to authentic freedom. No system can completely suppress our openness to what is good, true and beautiful, or our God-given ability to respond to his grace at work deep in our hearts. I appeal to everyone throughout the world not to forget this dignity which is ours. No one has the right to take it from us.
206. A change in lifestyle could bring healthy pressure to bear on those who wield political, economic and social power. This is what consumer movements accomplish by boycotting certain products. They prove successful in changing the way businesses operate, forcing them to consider their environmental footprint and their patterns of production. When social pressure affects their earnings, businesses clearly have to find ways to produce differently. This shows us the great need for a sense of social responsibility on the part of consumers. “Purchasing is always a moral – and not simply economic – act”.[146] Today, in a word, “the issue of environmental degradation challenges us to examine our lifestyle”.[147]
207. The Earth Charter asked us to leave behind a period of self-destruction and make a new start, but we have not as yet developed a universal awareness needed to achieve this. Here, I would echo that courageous challenge: “As never before in history, common destiny beckons us to seek a new beginning… Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life”.[148]
208. We are always capable of going out of ourselves towards the other. Unless we do this, other creatures will not be recognized for their true worth; we are unconcerned about caring for things for the sake of others; we fail to set limits on ourselves in order to avoid the suffering of others or the deterioration of our surroundings. Disinterested concern for others, and the rejection of every form of self-centeredness and self-absorption, are essential if we truly wish to care for our brothers and sisters and for the natural environment. These attitudes also attune us to the moral imperative of assessing the impact of our every action and personal decision on the world around us. If we can overcome individualism, we will truly be able to develop a different lifestyle and bring about significant changes in society.
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://
Commitment To Child Safety and Vulnerable-Adult Safety
……………..See overleaf …..