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“Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” (John 4:15)
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed.Stock Photo ID: 1074985223 - BOLOGNA, ITALY - APRIL 18, 2018:The icon of Jesus and Samaritans at the Well scene in church Chiesa di San Pietro by Giancarlo Pellegrini. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova
Stella Maris Catholic Church at Broadbeach has now re-opened for Masses, after the interior ceiling was replaced. The Saturday mass for 5 pm and Sunday at 7 am will be on this weekend and onwards. Thanks to everyone for your patience and understanding.
PASTOR’S POST - The Chaos of our Thoughts.
Trying to follow my own advice to others this Lent, I am determined to make sure that my daily prayer is placed at the beginning of the day rather than the end. So many distractions get in the way. While it can be helpful to reflect on what has happened in the day, like missed opportunities and minor successes, mostly the mind is hazy, and the spirit is dozy. Generally, I find my spiritual strength is spent, and rest seems so alluring. The result is that while I’m sure God has heard what I was trying to say, the return message from God is not so clear. Since Lent is such a significant time for reflection, I decided to revisit something I muse on every Lent. It still seems relevant.
While you might assume that as a priest for over forty years that prayer would get easier and more focused, I have found that prayer is not always an easy and comfortable conversation with God, and depends a lot on my ability to concentrate, my environment and whatever issues are crowding my life at the time. Am I any less prayerful if I can’t find the words to express what I want to communicate? Can God extract the essence from the chaos of my thoughts? Just as any verbal encounter is dependent on the who, when and where we are involved at the time. The same factors influence what I will call “the quality of prayer”.
Often it’s not just that the words won’t come, but also the intention and focus can be blurry. Too many thoughts are going around in that tiny head. What image of God am I speaking to? Am I open to hearing what God might say in response, am I crowding my prayer with too many issues, and am I just going through the motions out of guilt or habit? While the rote prayers of our youth may be comforting and casual, they sometimes feel as though they are words from a childhood poem, rattled off without feeling or intent. We can assume if the words we are saying or the reason for praying is not clear to us, then God might have a similar issue working it out.
The concept of praying is not an activity exclusive to those who are members of a church, nor is it an academic activity. Prayer is not a magic spell requiring certain words to produce a specific outcome. It is, first and foremost, a relationship with God. How you understand God, communicate with God and come to know God is something only you can answer. Even communal prayer requires an individual connection to God. Some might respond by saying that prayer deepens their relationship with God, while others find it comforting to enter into a quiet space where they reflect and communicate with God. Others might enter into prayer to discern if they really believe in God at all. Some people are simply searching. They may be looking for meaning and clarity in their life. They know that life is made up of physical and spiritual dimensions. They recognise within themselves a desire or hunger for something that touches their spirit, their heart if you will. So while their physical needs might be met, they are aware that their hearts are not satisfied.
In human dialogue, we usually get a sense of whether or not both parties are contributing to the conversation. That is, each person speaks, and each person listens. How does this work with God? Well, to a certain extent, prayer begins with the hope that God is listening, that God knows your thoughts, and that God is ready to be in conversation with you. Just like going to a gym and exercising, many people find it easy to begin a regular pattern of prayer only to find out that they get bored with the repetitiveness or just find that it is not making the sort of difference they were expecting.
Other people aren’t really sure where to begin. Like regular exercise, regular prayer will make a difference if we allow ourselves to get a bit creative, accept a bit of coaching when necessary and start small and realistically. Perhaps varying the time and type of prayer we are used to and don’t just fill the time up with words. Sometimes our eyes and ears can pray more sincerely than our voice. Above all, do not rush, but allow God to get a word in every so often. I sometimes wonder if God is saying, “I hear your words, but I don’t feel the heart that is saying them”.
Fr Peter Dillon PP.
PARISH BINGO, With Morning Tea and Lunch
Our Bingo Morning will be this Thursday, 16th of March, 10 am-2 pm. Admission is $20.00, which includes 1 Bingo Card, Raffle Tickets, Door Prizes, Morning Tea and Lunch.
We welcome new parishioners as well as our current parishioners who have not been to this function. Please ring Maxine Sela at 0421051193 or Wendy Webb at 0412237832 if you are coming.
Stations of the Cross each Friday of Lent at 6 pm at Sacred Heart Church, 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters. Every Friday of Lent. (Not Good Friday eve)
ADVANCE NOTICE FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER - 6th April-9th April 2023
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
80th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Diane Coorey
Congratulations!
A wonderful morning
PRISCILLA'S STORY
Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow For All Future Generations.
Priscilla lives in the Hwange district in Zimbabwe with her husband, Charles, and their two grandsons. Climate change continues to bring unprecedented challenges for people living in the most vulnerable and remote communities in Zimbabwe.
With the support of Caritas Hwange, Priscilla learnt conservation farming skills to grow drought-resistant crops to support her family during the current food crisis. Priscilla was able to produce a bumper harvest in her first year of practising conservation farming. Priscilla used the funds from her harvest to start poultry farming, which enabled her to sell eggs to pay for her grandchildren’s school fees, books and stationery. Poultry farming provides a safety net for Priscilla and her family during times of hardship, like the current drought.
While the situation in Zimbabwe and across eastern Africa remains dire, the work of Caritas Hwange means that Priscilla can learn the skills she needs to build resilience and support her family during this current food crisis.
Every summer seems to get a little longer and a little hotter. We have all become conscious of issues
surrounding water. Either there seems to be too much, as during last year’s summer floods or when the sea levels rise in the Pacific. Other times, there seems to be too little water as when the rivers in our country run low or members of God’s family
around the world experience drought. Caritas Australia, through Project Compassion, has been responding to the dire needs of places such as Ethiopia and Somalia where a cruel drought, compounded by a shortage of grain from Ukraine, has led to dire consequences.
Today’s readings may well cause us to reflect on the current state of God’s creation. In the book of Exodus, we hear that people are complaining to Moses because they are dying of thirst. In the Gospel, Jesus meets a woman in a Samaritan town. She has come to draw water from the well in the hottest part of the day. In both cases, access to water is precarious. Yet God responds not only to a thirst for water but to a deeper thirst as well. Moses’ people are thirsty for direction, leadership and hope. The woman in John’s Gospel has a thirst for love and acceptance which, Jesus tells her, will come from within if she can accept him and his message of life.
As the story unfolds, we learn of her loneliness and see her reconnecting with her community.
This week, Caritas Australia shares with us an account of its response to a water shortage in Zimbabwe. Thanks to our support for Project Compassion, Caritas Australia is involved in providing access to water in many places. It seems such a basic thing. One we mostly take for granted. But once a community has access to water, it grows in every possible way. People have more time for health care and education. People find the energy to build their future. This week’s scripture readings have a strong sense of a hope-filled future. May we, too, in our time, be sources of hope 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.
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
We pray that all people will have just access to the necessities of life, especially water. May we, in our support for Project Compassion this Lent, do all we can to become a source of hope for those who thirst.
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.
SACRED HEART CUPPA AFTER 9 am Mass Sundays
Carmen and Joseph (Joe) Grima (pictured) have, for many years, helped with hospitality by organising the cup of tea after the 9 am Sunday Mass. Carmen and Joe have made the difficult decision to retire from this beautiful ministry, and we thank them warmly for their generosity, energy and hospitality in this ministry of welcome and unity. Thanks be to the Lord for the beautiful gift their ministry has brought to so many. We will be continuing this ministry, and we are asking for more people to help with a roster. More people could allow a roster of looking after the cupper 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.
SVDP, THANKS AND AN UPDATE FOR THE NEWSLETTER REGARDING OUR CHRISTMAS APPEAL.
Through the generosity of the Parish, both by sharing time, talents and treasure, we were able to raise $13,070.55 to fund the good works of the conference. This helped us to spread Christmas cheer and spirits in the form of food hampers and vouchers to some 76 households, of which 40 were families with children.
Further, 14 Vincentians were ably assisted by eight volunteers from the parish to coordinate, pack, sort and deliver all of these hampers.
A special thanks to Maxine and Pat Sela, who go above and beyond to ensure that all of the many elements of this work at Christmas come together seamlessly.
The Christmas Appeal and the generosity of our wonderful parish enable our conference to continue good works throughout the year. We are increasingly faced with local families and households who are struggling with the cost of living and providing basic necessities - financial assistance goes a long way to helping those in our community get back on their feet when unexpected events unfold.
Should any parishioner like further information about the good works of the conference, please contact President Craig McMahon (craig.mcmahon@svdpqld.org.au) or Treasurer Adrian Biermann (adrian.biermann@svdpqld.org.au.
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.
Rite of Election at St Stephen’s Cathedral with Archbishop Mark Coleridge
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.
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:
Only the Lord can give true living water, the fullness of life. Our body cannot survive without water; our spirit cannot survive without living water. Now is the time to renew our lives in the waters and Spirit of Baptism.
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
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.”John 4:13
Jesus reminds us that material things, even something as basic as water, can never satisfy us over the long run. When we build our lives around material possessions, we will always want more, and no amount will satisfy our desire. True joy and peace only come when we follow Jesus - when we become more “God-centered” and less “self-centred.”
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: 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. And all suffering from Covid-19 and its effects.
RECENTLY DECEASED: Frank Murray, Patricia Maxine O’Donoghue, Bernardo Cas Nopre (Canada), 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.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: Scoria Hart, Veronica Bond, Judith Alexander, Dulcie Lovinski, Iris Scharenguivel, Francesco Lacopo, Norma Claire Quinlan, Giorgia Teresa Micallef-Vinall, Rosina Grguric, Yvonne Helen Mitchell, Jeannette Giblin, Peter Butler, Kath Browning, Arkley Debnam, Barry Geary, Mario Di Martino, Marija Vaculik, Mary Madonna Hodge, Giovanni Scalcione, Racquel Leisa Carruthers, Maurice James McNamara, John Delich, Margaret Eileen Young, Virgil Klaassen, Ferdinand Paul Kiely, Maureen Kennedy, Rae Maree Colahan, Maria Gafa, John Gardner, Vincent Letizia.
And also: June Hilda Curtis, Kenneth Curtis, Peter Casey, Jose Tobias Molina, Elizabeth (Betty) O'Hagan, Raymond Fredricks, Joseph Caruana, Brenda Scantlebury, Romano Del Bianco, Pamela Margaret Rawlings, Monique Mary Felsman, Malcolm Leslie (Mal) Flannery, Austin Smith, Francis Vernon Maunder, Benjamin Anthony Kyle, Kathleen Jackson, Kathryn Matthews, Kazimierz Tadeusz Ważny, Shirley May Heath, Valerie Lorraine Meldrum, Bernadette Marie Douwes, Josephine Nosti, Mary Theresa Ford, Gerald Francis (Gerry) O’Reilly, Ronald Patrick (Ron) Chapman, Dawn Milgate.
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH - Truth be told,
Pontius Pilate famously asked Jesus, “What is truth?” Pilate didn’t stick around for the answer (which in itself says a lot). Still, if he had, he might have heard something like the definition the Catechism of the Catholic Church provides: “Truth as uprightness in human action and speech is called truthfulness, sincerity, or candour. Truth or truthfulness is the virtue which consists of showing oneself true in deeds and truthful in words, and guarding against duplicity, dissimulation, and hypocrisy.” Now we understand what it means to imitate Christ in all things.
"God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth." (John 4:5-42).
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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 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 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.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 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.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 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.au
Sacrament of PENANCE - 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.au
Please continue to regularly check the parish newsletter for Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) updates and further information.
THIS WEEKEND’S GOSPEL -
As our Lenten journey continues, We have the wonderful incident of Our Lord meeting and speaking with the Samaritan Woman at the well. This extraordinary encounter and discussion bring home to us that Jesus came to bring about unity through the salvation of the entire people of Israel, not just the tribe of Judah, but the whole of Israel. Including the Samaritan people and, in fact, people of every tribe, nationality or tongue. Our Lord's sensitivity and care, and concern for all people shine through brightly in this meeting.
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We are very familiar with this delightful meeting of Christ with the Samaritan woman at the well. Even so, we must always remain open to the many layers and deeper truths that can always be plumbed from God's living word and approach this incident with minds and hearts open to being further nourished.
There are so many wonderful elements in this scene. We know that even the disciples are described as surprised to see Jesus talking with this woman. It is often assumed that this is because he is speaking with a woman. Still, actually, it is not so unusual that an exhausted and parched traveller might ask for some water from anyone they come across. The biggest surprise was that he was speaking to a Samaritan. And the most astounding thing for this lady is that he seemed to be asking her to share her water container, as he had none. It was well known that Samaritans and Jews did not associate and certainly didn't share eating or drinking implements, for they thought of each other as heretics. Despite this, they believed many of the same things, and their practices were not so different. They differed massively in where the proper place for worship was, with Jews saying God's temple; and the Samaritans, Mount Gerizim.
Despite this, they had the same spiritual ancestors and were all descended from the different tribes of the originally united Israel (combining Judah and Israel, the latter which included Samaria).
Over the centuries, many assumptions about the woman at the well have been made about the woman that are not necessarily borne out by the text. We are fortunate that as we collect more and more perspectives from the Jewish cultural practices and beliefs of the time, a richer window opens to us. For example, it has been often assumed that the woman was at the well in the heat of the day to avoid her fellow Samaritans with the thought that she may have been a woman held in low esteem in the village. But there is nothing to suggest that this is summertime. It could be the middle of winter. Also, the hottest part of the day would not be midday but 3 pm.
In any case, there are heaps of reasons a person might be avoiding their fellow townsfolk other than sin, including illness, sorrow, depression, and tragedy. She may have withdrawn from others due to what seems like a tragic series of events that had befallen her and her family. We know that the lady had been married several times, but again it is unfairly assumed that she was morally poor or a public sinner. Her husbands may all have died through tragedy. (Perhaps like the awful incident in the Book of Tobit where a woman's newly we husbands - all seven husbands in a row- each died on their wedding night – in that famous biblical scene, the people felt pity for her, and some thought she might be cursed, but they did not cast her out, but the woman in that scene felt shame and distress). Or this Samaritan woman's husbands may have divorced her, with no-fault attributed to herself, as only men could divorce women without any particular reason.
Jesus points out that she is not married, as the man she lives with is not her husband, but again, this man could be a relative or a son. He could well be simply pointing out that with no husband, she was in that culture and time-dependent on the charity of distant relatives. This lady may have been depressed and downcast, having suffered so much personal tragedy in her life... The people might have felt that God was not blessing her, and had abandoned her because of all that had happened in her life. Our Lord's gentle words can be taken to say, "I know all that you have been through. I know what has happened to you. God's Kingdom is for you too." This would be very fitting of one who came to heal and to reach out to those bowed down.
If the lady were truly an outcast, she would not be so readily believed by the townsfolk when she told them she had met the messiah. Why believe the word of a woman of ill repute? We are told they believe her and go to see themselves and then believe no longer because of what she said but because of meeting him. Astoundingly, we are also told something often missed. HE stays with the Samaritans for three days. He eats with them, stays in their shelter and talks with them. This is amazing.
The other clue is at the start... It says.. the well is the one Jacob built... the bones of the prophet Joseph are buried here. They are heirs, like the Jews, to the promise of Jacob and Joseph and the forefathers. In a deep theological discussion with the woman at the well, our Lord promises that he is the living water from heaven... and he also offers her and the Samaritans this. He indeed says salvation is from the Jews, but he is the Messiah, who comes to reunite the divided kingdom -- And it is the reunited Jews (from Judah and Samaria), he is preaching and bringing back into the fold. When Our Lord tells the woman about herself, she feels welcomed and understood. He is filled with compassion for her suffering. Is he comparing her to the experiences of Joseph, whose suffering at the hands of his brothers and his being sold into slavery in Egypt eventually led to the salvation of his family and his people? Was Our Lord assuring the lady that her suffering and pain over all these years would be healed by his ministry and inclusion? Through her inexplicable suffering, the Lord, the water of life, was giving not only her but her whole township new and eternal life... and reunion with the one Kingdom of Israel.
The most amazing part of this encounter is when Jesus says to her: "We worship in Jerusalem, and you on this mountain here..." (which sounds initially very inflexible and with no room to move for either "side")... but then he adds something that astounds and amazes everyone: "but there will come a time when we will worship not on this or that mountain, but will worship God in Spirit and Truth." That time has already come through Christ, who is the living temple from whom the waters of life flow to all. Christ, again finds ways of healing, reconnecting and unifying all people, not through compromise, but from a thoroughly liberating wider perspective and way of truth and life where all sides can move forward as God's people. Jesus' example shows us that the solution to division and disagreement is compassion, respect, listening, healing, and lovingly being open to the fullness of vision that doesn't stand on narrow refusal to have a meeting of heart and mind.
References: Fr Paul W. Kelly; The Samaritan Woman Reconsidered. Kindle Edition. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg (Author), Pinchas Shir (Editor), Ludmila Lizorkina (Editor). ISBN: 1713300362. December 1, 2019; Gutiérrez, G. and Dees, C. (1997). Sharing the Word through the liturgical year. 1st ed. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1630381168 - OHRID, MACEDONIA - MAY 04, 2019: Jesus and the Samaritan woman, fresco in the Church of Saint Paraskeva of the Balkans near Saint Naum Monastery, Ohrid in Macedonia - Important information - Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Zvonimir Atletic
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
St Patrick
◆ “I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me; God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me afar and anear, alone or in a multitude.”
◆ “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouths of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”
©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).
The Lord's presence dwells in real and concrete families, with their daily troubles and struggles, joys and hopes. Living in a family makes it hard for us to feign or lie; we cannot hide behind a mask. If that authenticity is inspired by love, then the Lord reigns there with his joy and his peace. The spirituality of family love comprises thousands of small but real gestures. In that variety of gifts and encounters which deepen communion, God has his dwelling place. This mutual concern "brings together the human and the divine,” for it is filled with the love of God. In the end, marital spirituality is a spirituality of the bond in which divine love dwells. (315)
Family prayer is a special way of expressing and strengthening this paschal faith. A few minutes can be found each day to come together before the living God, to tell him our worries, to ask for the needs of our family, to pray for someone experiencing difficulty, to ask for help in showing love, to give thanks for life and its blessings, and to ask Our Lady to protect us beneath her maternal mantle. With a few simple words, this moment of prayer can do immense good for our families. (318)
"Christian couples are, for each other, for their children and their relatives, co-operators of grace and witnesses of the faith". God calls them to bestow life and to care for life. For this reason, the family "has always been the nearest 'hospital’. (321)
It is a profound spiritual experience to contemplate our loved ones with God's eyes and see Christ in them. (323)
As this Exhortation has often noted, no family drops down from heaven perfectly formed; families constantly need to grow and mature to love. (325)
May we never lose heart because of our limitations or ever stop seeking that fullness of love and communion which God holds out before us. (325)
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1581315400 - Vatican City - DECEMBER 04, 2019: Pope Francis arrives at the Vatican for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square. Important information- Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: AM113
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES
The shops are open before and after all Masses at both the Sacred Heart and St Vincent’s Churches.
The March edition of the Catholic Leader is available in our churches now.
News this month -
Apostolic Nuncio casts his eye across the Brisbane Archdiocese
Bs Anthony Randazzo is the new President of the Federation of the Catholic Bishop’s Conferences of Oceania
The Seminary welcomes four new seminarians
PARISH BINGO, With Morning Tea and Lunch
Our Bingo Morning will be on Thursday 16th of March 10 am-2 pm. Admission is $20.00, which includes 1 Bingo Card, Raffle Tickets, Door Prizes, Morning tea and Lunch.
We Welcome New Parishioners as well as our current Parishioners who have not attended this function. Please ring Maxine Sela at 0421051193 or Wendy Webb at 0412237832 if you are coming.
BIBLE STUDY
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
13/3/2023 Maureen Alexan - Broadbeach
20/3/2023 Maureen Alexan - Broadbeach
27/3/2023 Joanne Ferguson - Molendinar
3/04/2023 Joanne Ferguson - Molendinar
MARIAN VALLEY
Please come and join us at the Marian Valley Church for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on 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 is $25.00 in return. You can secure your seat with a contact name and contact phone number with Xavier Solomon at 0404 843 260, Madeleine at 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 at 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.
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.
III. DIALOGUE AND TRANSPARENCY IN DECISION-MAKING
182. An assessment of the environmental impact of business ventures and projects demands transparent political processes involving a free exchange of views. On the other hand, the forms of corruption which conceal the actual environmental impact of a given project, in exchange for favours, usually produce specious agreements which fail to inform adequately and to allow for full debate.
183. Environmental impact assessment should not come after the drawing up of a business proposition or the proposal of a particular policy, plan or programme. It should be part of the process from the beginning and be carried out in a way that is interdisciplinary, transparent and free of all economic or political pressure. It should be linked to a study of working conditions and possible effects on people’s physical and mental health, on the local economy and public safety. Economic returns can thus be forecast more realistically, taking into account potential scenarios and the eventual need for further investment to correct possible undesired effects. A consensus should always be reached between the different stakeholders, who can offer a variety of approaches, solutions and alternatives. The local population should have a special place at the table; they are concerned about their own future and that of their children and can consider goals transcending immediate economic interest. We need to stop thinking in terms of “interventions” to save the environment in favour of policies developed and debated by all interested parties. The latter's participation also entails being fully informed about such projects and their different risks and possibilities; this includes not just preliminary decisions but also various follow-up activities and continued monitoring. Honesty and truth are needed in scientific and political discussions; these should not be limited to the issue of whether or not a particular project is permitted by law.
184. In the face of possible risks to the environment which may affect the common good now and in the future, decisions must be made “based on a comparison of the risks and benefits foreseen for the various possible alternatives”.[131] This is especially the case when a project may lead to greater use of natural resources, higher levels of emission or discharge, an increase of refuse, or significant changes to the landscape, the habitats of protected species or public spaces. Some projects, if insufficiently studied, can profoundly affect the quality of life of an area due to very different factors, such as unforeseen noise pollution, the shrinking of visual horizons, the loss of cultural values, or the effects of nuclear energy use. The culture of consumerism, which prioritises short-term gain and private interest, can make it easy to rubber-stamp authorisations or conceal information.
185. In any discussion about a proposed venture, several questions need to be asked to discern whether or not it will contribute to genuine integral development. What will it accomplish? Why? Where? When? How? For whom? What are the risks? What are the costs? Who will pay those costs, and how? In this discernment, some questions must have higher priority. For example, we know that water is a scarce and indispensable resource and a fundamental right that conditions the exercise of other human rights. This indisputable fact overrides any other assessment of the environmental impact on a region.
186. The Rio Declaration of 1992 states that “where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a pretext for postponing cost-effective measures”[132] which prevent environmental degradation. This precautionary principle makes it possible to protect those who are most vulnerable and whose ability to defend their interests and assemble incontrovertible evidence is limited. If objective information suggests that serious and irreversible damage may result, a project should be halted or modified, even in the absence of indisputable proof. Here the burden of proof is effectively reversed since, in such cases, objective and conclusive demonstrations will have to be brought forward to demonstrate that the proposed activity will not cause serious harm to the environment or those who inhabit it.
187. This does not mean being opposed to any technological innovations which can bring about an improvement in the quality of life. But it does mean that profit cannot be the sole criterion to be taken into account and that, when significant new information comes to light, a reassessment should be made with the involvement of all interested parties. The outcome may be a decision not to proceed with a given project, to modify it or to consider alternative proposals.
188. There are certain environmental issues where achieving a broad consensus is difficult. Here I would state once more that the Church does not presume to settle scientific questions or to replace politics. But I am concerned to encourage an honest and open debate so that particular interests or ideologies will not prejudice the common good.
Acknowledgement of Country - This is Kombumerri Country - The Traditional Custodians of this region.
We respectfully acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First People of this country. We pay our respects to the Kombumerri people, who are the traditional custodians of the land, waterways and seas upon which we live, work and socialise throughout this Catholic Parish of Surfers Paradise. We acknowledge Elders, past and present and emerging, as they hold our Indigenous people's memories, traditions, culture and hopes. We pay tribute to those who have contributed to the community's life in many ways. We affirm our commitment to justice, healing, and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
(see further: The Kombumerri People and https://kombumerritogetherproject.com/digital-resources/yugambeh-language/)
Commitment To Child Safety and Vulnerable-Adult Safety
……………..See overleaf …..
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