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“Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you’” (John 20:19)
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Illustration ID: 1374632507 - The sixth of ten appearances from the Resurrection to the Ascension of Christ. Thomas's assurance. Doubting Thomas. Illustration- fresco in Byzantine style. Illustration Contributor: Julia Raketic
PASTOR’S POST - What Were You Thinking?
One of the most helpful suggestions I was given early in my seminary life, was to select a person from the scriptures and have an imaginary conversation with them, asking questions and trying to understand how and why they responded as they did when we read their stories in the scriptures.
In as much as the scriptures give us deep insights into the message of God to humanity through the ages, these insights sometimes pose more questions than they answer. I often wish we were given more details about what was happening at the time and what were some of these Biblical people actually thinking when they did and said some of the things we read about them. Perhaps it is a natural curiosity to fill in the gaps in detail as we try to discover motivations and influences on them at the time. I find it important to try to understand their personality and actions. To know them as people, not just ancient characters in a story.
If we can get a clearer picture of who they really were, we might be better able to identify how we might have responded in the same situation. Although there are many differences in how people lived in those ancient times, there is probably very little change in human nature. Our fears, hopes and attitudes have mostly stayed the same over the centuries, while certainly, our desire to know and understand the mind of God has always stayed strong.
One of the people I have had this imaginary conversation with was St. Joseph, Mary's gentle and accepting husband and adoptive father to Jesus.
So little is recorded about Joseph’s life, and there is no reference to him speaking in the scriptures, yet he has profoundly influenced many people's spiritual lives over the years. In my imaginary conversation, I wanted to know if he was really as accepting of the message of the angel who asked him to take Mary as his wife. How did he handle the suspicion and gossip of his local community? What was family life like as Jesus was growing to maturity? Was Jesus a troublesome child? Did you know what Jesus would become and what might happen to him when he began his public ministry?
Similarly, I was inquisitive about the motives and intentions of Judas, the Betrayer. How did he get on with the other disciples? Did he think he was doing the right thing when he betrayed Jesus? Did he believe that he could be forgiven even after the betrayal?
Mostly I am curious about my namesake, Peter. The brash, impetuous fisherman tried so hard to let Jesus know he was there for him in all circumstances but failed many times to live up to his spoken intentions. I wanted to know if he was resented by the other disciples for his pushy nature. Was he embarrassed with his “act before you think” approach, or did he simply adopt an “all or nothing” attitude when we could clearly see what Jesus was trying to say and do? Did he feel humbled by Jesus’ commission to be the leader of the community? Mostly I am curious about how he understood the Resurrection and what difference it made to the apostles personally. Did he understand that it would influence the way people understood life for thousands of years to come?
Obviously, I didn’t get definitive answers to these questions. Still, the process of asking led me to see the scriptural events from various perspectives, just like we should do these days with other people whose lives we see and sometimes judge from a distance.
It might be worthwhile for you to try these’ imaginary chats’ in your own prayer life. It could just open up a whole new way of understanding the scriptures and their impact on us.
Fr Peter Dillon PP.
First Rite Reconciliation resumes at Sacred Heart Church - Clear Island Waters from 4 pm Saturdays until about 4.30 pm every Saturday. Please note that this weekly reconciliation is only at Sacred Heart church.
SEVEN PRIORITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BRISBANE -
LAMPS ABLAZE: The Seven Apostolic Priorities of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane, from 2023 onwards. (Part one of a series of articles).
In recent weeks, Archbishop Mark has published a document entitled “Lamps Ablaze: Apostolic Priorities for the Archdiocese of Brisbane from 2023” which outlines seven priorities for the Archdiocese. Over the next seven weeks from the Second Sunday of Easter until Pentecost, a bulletin insert will introduce one of the seven themes. The first priority is: Teaching Prayer.
Priority 1 : Teaching Prayer
(Acts 2:42 – 42, Psalm 117, 1 Peter 1:3 – 9, John 20:19 - 31)
Introduction
We talk a lot about faith, but we don’t often talk about doubt. Is it ok to doubt? Have you ever been praying and wondered if God was even there? Our tradition is built on the foundation of faith: faith that God is present, faith that God does hear our prayers, faith that the Holy Spirit moves upon the bread and wine that they might become Christ’s body and blood, faith that in baptism we enter into Christ’s death and resurrection… If we don’t have the faith that God is present in our lives, in our prayers, and in our liturgies, then the whole ‘religion’ thing becomes very strange indeed.
So, what do we do with moments of doubt? Can Catholic faith handle doubt?
If you’ve had moments of doubt, you’re in good company – even the Apostles had moments of doubt, and in today’s gospel, we learn a few things from Thomas about dealing with doubt.
Introducing Archbishop Mark’s Apostolic Priorities
In recent weeks, Archbishop Mark has published a document entitled “Lamps Ablaze: Apostolic Priorities for the Archdiocese of Brisbane from 2023” which outlines seven priorities for us all to consider. Over the next seven weeks concluding with Pentecost, clergy around the Archdiocese have been encouraged to preach on these apostolic priorities with reference to the readings for each Sunday. The first of these priorities is teaching prayer.
Archbishop Mark writes,
“We must first find our way into a new and deeper experience of prayer not just as
one of many elements in a busy life but as a way of life for all the baptised. Often we urge people to pray but don’t really teach them how to pray in a way that moves beyond the prayers of childhood and youth. Now is the time to teach ways of prayer which are mature and all-embracing.”
Our guide to entering in to a new and deeper experience of prayer in today’s gospel is an unlikely suspect: ‘doubting’ Thomas. At the heart of prayer is an honest and authentic communication with God. It is in this honest and authentic engagement that Thomas has much to teach us. Thomas provides us with three insights into authentic engagement with God and the faithful.
1. Be Honest with God and others.
The first thing we learn from Thomas is to be open and honest about our doubts. Thomas doesn’t simply bury his doubts under the carpet and maintain a façade of faithfulness. He is honest about his disbelief and categorically states, “Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.”
Thomas teaches us to be authentic about where we’re really at. If we’re struggling with doubt, talk about it with God and with the community of believers. Deep relationship and real trust can only be built on a foundation of honesty. This means that sometimes prayer begins with, “God, I don’t know if I believe, help me with my unbelief!”
2. Stay with the Community of faith, even if you’re struggling!
The second thing we learn from Thomas is that he stays with the community of believers even though he has doubts. He doesn’t leave, even though in that moment, he doesn’t believe everything that the other disciples believe. In the same way, we might be wrestling with doubt, we might be struggling to pray, but that’s ok, just stay with the community of believers!
Notice how the disciples respond to Thomas’ doubt; they continue to welcome and include him in their company. It is because of their inclusion of him despite his doubt, that he’s still with the community eight days later when Jesus appears.
So, if you’re wrestling with doubt, we want you to know that you are welcome amongst us. Stay with us, allow us to walk with you, and let’s wait together for the moment in which Jesus appears.
3. God meets us where we’re at – not where we pretend to be!
Notice how Jesus responds to Thomas when he first sees him. Jesus knows of Thomas’ doubts, but he doesn’t push Thomas away or stand him down, rather he responds to Thomas’ doubt by saying, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe."
Here we learn something about prayer. Thomas had shared his doubts with the other disciples, but when Jesus walked into the room, Thomas just listens. His response indicates that his doubts are no more, he has seen the risen Christ and exclaims, “My Lord and my God!”
It is in listening to Jesus that Thomas’ faith is restored. In the same way, when our focus is on ourselves, on our experiences, on our doubt, we are merely listening to the ruminations of our own mind and heart. It’s when we turn our attention away from ourselves and on to our Lord that our doubts begin to decrease, and our faith begins to increase.
Jesus concludes his encounter with Thomas by saying, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." These words are typically understood as a chastisement of Thomas’ doubt. Remember however that all the other disciples had already seen the risen
Christ. So, in some respects it’s a challenge to all the disciples who were present, but an encouragement to all the faithful in the centuries to come. The risen Christ has ascended into heaven, he’s sent us his Spirit, and invites us to believe in him, even though we haven’t seen him.
Conclusion: Thomas teaches us about prayer and about doubt. Firstly, we can be honest with God and with others about how we’re going with our faith! Real relationship, real trust, begins with truth telling. We can be honest with God. Secondly, when we’re struggling with our faith and struggling with our prayer, we, like Thomas, should stay connected to the community of faith, and we should always welcome those who are struggling with their faith. Finally, God meets us where we’re at. Just as Jesus responded to Thomas’ doubts, so Jesus can respond to ours if we can look to Jesus. In these Easter weeks, let us ask our Lord to help us find our way into a new and deeper experience of prayer, which is a new and deeper experience of the risen Christ. Amen.
“LAMPS ABLAZE” - TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL DOCUMENT - PLEASE VISIT THIS LINK: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oVNiTRAhQn_5aTDZ9mo2dDh9bGeqxewL/view
TO VISIT OR REVISIT THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE LITURGIES OF THE SACRED TRIDUUM (HOLY THURSDAY, GOOD FRIDAY AND HOLY SATURDAY NIGHT AND EASTER SUNDAY), PLEASE VISIT THESE PODCASTS LITURGY PRODUCED ESPECIALLY HERE IN SURFERS PARISH:
(These podcasts of the liturgies are from the same missal and lectionary as used here in the parish, and are specially produced. They are different from the liturgies attended over Holy Week and Easter)
Mass and homily for Holy Thursday, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-holy-thursday-night-mass-abc-master/s-QJU8bClkkMf
Good Friday Stations of the Cross- by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/good-friday-morning-stations-of-the-cross-2023/s-vh0A9byS7TW
Readings, prayers, and reflections for Good Friday 3 PM Passion - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/good-friday-3pm-passion-of-our-lord-2023/s-AhmEEo0QZoR
HOLY SATURDAY NIGHT – VIGIL OF EASTER. (FULL NINE TRADITIONAL READINGS WITH PSALMS) Year A - SATURDAY, April 8, 2023, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/fhl-holy-saturday-night-vigil-full-easter-vigil-a-2023/s-ZmIfZMyFvsW
EASTER SUNDAY MORNING (SHORTER) MASS PODCAST: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/fhl-easter-sunday-morning-w-johns-gospel-master-copy-2023/s-0eXz0fU9Glh
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GOOD FRIDAY STATIONS OF THE CROSS SACRED HEART CHURCH
‘The Folly of God’ inspired by the paintings of Sieger Koder
This year, once again, our Stations were a very powerful witness to the faith of the Parish Community. Our thanks go out to all those who participated in whatever way - Jesus, Mary, Veronica, Simon, soldiers, readers, sound, women of Jerusalem - the readings were particularly poignant and relevant to our times and were clearly heard by all who accompanied Jesus on his way to the Cross. Some of the photos that were taken we have shared below
Caritas Australia: Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow For All Future Generations.
Happy Easter from all at Caritas Australia!
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.
Thank you for supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion 2023 Lenten appeal.
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.
Becoming Catholic! A Journey of Faith
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FULLY INITIATED CATHOLICS - FROM THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion – Andre De Melo, Nikki Miruzzi, and Seda Karauzumcu
Received fully into the Catholic church through Confirmation and Holy Communion – Georgia Bull, Confirmation and Holy Communion - Paula Littlechild and Maria Torres Reyes
We invite all Parishioners to continue to pray for our new Catholics as they commence their journey of faith now as fully welcomed members of the Church. May they strive to deepen their relationship with Christ.
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
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:
It is only through people like you that others will be able to say: "We have seen the Lord." With the resurrection to empower you and with Jesus to lure you, you too can inspire others who have not seen to believe. To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION -
The Christian steward approaches life with an “Easter vision” grounded in gratitude for and confidence in the salvation our Lord has won for us through His death and Resurrection. Today’s readings on this Divine Mercy Sunday teach us how this approach plays out in daily life and remind us that we can have complete trust in the mercy of God to lead us, step by step, to heaven.
Our first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, describes this beautiful way of life as it was practised by the first Christians. “They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” And, “They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favour with all the people.” This is a snapshot of the very first community of Christian stewards living out their daily life — embracing prayer (the breaking of the bread), formation (the teaching of the apostles), hospitality (the communal life and fellowship through joyful meals together) and mutual service. What an inspiration to us modern-day stewards!
The Easter season is not the time to let up in the practice of our faith now that Lent is behind us. Rather, it is a time to live our faith with deeper joy and gratitude as we bask in the celebration of our Lord’s victory over sin and death for us. St. Peter summarizes this Easter outlook eloquently in our second reading. Our daily lives should be a reflection of this attitude: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is… kept in heaven for you.” St. Peter acknowledges that life can be difficult however, saying that “In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials.”
Certainly, it is challenging to live for heaven when the things of the earth — job stress, family crisis, health troubles, political strife — loom large on the horizon. We can find ourselves becoming cynical like the Apostle, Thomas, in our Gospel passage today — until he had an encounter with the merciful Savior. We all recall the famous line from Thomas who was not present with the other Apostles during Jesus’ first appearance after the Resurrection. Beaten down by the events of the last several days, Thomas refuses to believe that the others had indeed “seen the Lord” as they claimed.
Thomas stubbornly declares he would not believe their story about the Lord unless he placed his finger into the nailmarks and his hand into His side. Yet, these doubts did not repel our Lord. They actually drew Him to Thomas in an extraordinary way. Our merciful Lord saw that beneath the hubris in Thomas’ statement were pain and disappointment. Our Lord is mercy itself. And so He did not condemn Thomas, but calmed his doubts and fears, and allowed Thomas actually to touch those Sacred Wounds.
What amazing grace.
When we are tempted to give in to doubts about the faith, for whatever reason, all we need to do is seek the Lord — in prayer, in the sacraments, through the encouragement of our Christian communities — and just as He did for Thomas, our Lord will mercifully restore our Easter vision and fill us with His joy and peace.
The vision of Stewardship speaks in every aspect of life, inviting everyone to be thankful, generous and accountable for what each has been given.
Source: https://www.catholicsteward.com/2020/04/17/stewardship-reflection-on-lectionary-readings-april-19-2020/
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Lenette Evans, Sarina Losurdo, Anne Van Deurse, Tim Brown, John O’Hanlon, Jenny Haines, Annie Scicluna, Lois Wood, Phil McWilliam, Coralie Brennan, Kim Ingram, Karen Vestergard, John Thomas, Pat Jones, Felipe S Cataquiz Sr, Margaret Buckingham, Nathan Lepp, 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: Betty O’Connell, Robyn Skein, Stephen Robert Bray, Peter Winks, Andre Helena, Paul Thomas Hawkins, Lin Dean, Patricia Bartlett, Mary Curran, Mary Nicholl, Noni Twidale, 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, 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, Derek Carpenter, Peter Evert, Cheryl Hamwood, Donna Maria Cross, John Monahan.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: Francesco Posa, Josephine Shaw, Barbara Claire (Barbie) White, Catherine Smyth, Ramsis Nessim Boctor, Olive Yvonne Matthews, Dorothy and Ray Mullen, Leslie Hewitt, Nicholas Leo (Nic) Angelucci, John Kinne, John Purcell, Ronald Turner, Patricia Dooley, Walter Schaer, Barbara Robertson, Matthew Stoyakovich, Daniel Xavier Farrugia, Gino Cappellazzo, Kathleen Gabriel, Christine Cardoza, Dorelle Elizabeth Muller, Alan John (Mick) Burcham, Margaret Elizabeth Boulton, Charles Gerard Debnam, Brendan Ian Howes, Gregory Jackson, Karl Ernest Horner, Nicholas Braid.
And Also: Earl Brierty, John Richard Morgan, Brian Raymond Lloyd, Kaye Diane Blake, Ray Hutchinson, Noelene Sisam, Tibor & Vera Enrody, Annunziata Posa, Jaiden Glen Brooks, John (Jakes) Rennie, Errol John Maguire, Norma Weise, Helen Wood, Claire Irene Keefe, Antony Di Giorgio, Judith Wisemantel, Gregory Kelly, Raymond Alexander (Ray) Gardiner, Shane Mcloughlan, Wilhelm Ciszewski, Kath McMonagle, Victor Boctor, Leonard Gregory Toner, Rosanne Cruz Bridge.
LITURGY NEWS MAGAZINE - free copy here:
The Autumn edition of the Liturgy News magazine is now available for free. Please click the link below: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GIkna2Ov-or9BCGGCu29wtGrqNjJXmNR/view?usp=drivesdk
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH - Mercy seasons justice
Mercy is described as a double blessing in Shakespeare's famous "quality of mercy" speech delivered in The Merchant of Venice. Mercy blesses the giver as well as the receiver. We're blessed by being merciful since God promises to be generous to us in the same measure we use with others. Withholding compassion punishes both the denier and the denied. Saint Gertrude the Great expresses gratitude to God for how divine mercy "has led me through the many obstacles I have placed in the way of your love." Love better by loving with compassion. “Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ ” John 20:19-31.
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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 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 to practice 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 (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.
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 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 -
This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday, where we recall the absolute mercy and love that Jesus has for all humanity.
Speaking of God’s divine mercy. God’s mercy is more profound than any human mercy or compassion could imagine. We cannot downplay the significance of how different Jesus’ reunion with his disciples is after he rose from the dead, from how the expectations of the world might be… After all, Jesus had been betrayed and abandoned by most of his followers and almost all of his disciples. Only a few loyal women stayed with him through it all… his chosen disciples mostly scattered in fear. The one Jesus chose to be the rock on which he would build his church denied him three times. Now he is risen and he returns to meet them… would not one expect (if this were merely an earthly drama), that there would be revenge, retribution, or at least an extended session of guilt trips and finger pointing… But no…. there is not a hint of judgement in our Lord’s return…. He does not even punish Thomas for his doubt and his demands before he would believe the news that Our Lord had indeed risen.
Christ meets Thomas where he is. And shows Thomas what he needed to be assured… he shows him his hands and side… That is mercy. That is compassion. It is also service and love. These are God’s ways, which are so very different from many of the ways of the world….
In the Easter narratives…. “The risen Jesus is encountered by different disciples in different situations and ways….
• Mary Magdalene recognised the risen Jesus only when he called her by name.
• The two disciples travelling along the road towards Emmaus did not realise WHO this stranger was who walked along with them…. until they saw him break bread ….. and then they realised that their hearts had already been burning with fervour as they had walked along the road….. but they had not recognised the signs of Christ’s presence …. But the disciples would get better and better at recognising Christ in the Eucharist… and in the word of God and in the stranger… and in the burning energy of God’s good news…
• And then again today; some people do not recognise Jesus until they touch the wounds of the suffering one…..
May we continue to recognise Christ’s presence whenever we touch the woundedness of those around us and offer support and strength….
The common interpretation of this scene of St Thomas doubting … is that he doubts that Jesus had been raised from the dead. ……..But if we look at this incident very carefully, it could be argued that, in fact, it is not Jesus whom Thomas doubts, but rather, Thomas is expressing doubt in his fellow disciples. In fact, when Jesus appears to them seven days later, Thomas has the opportunity to share in the experience of the Risen Lord and, like the others, immediately confesses Easter faith.
So, this passage can also be saying….. do not be tempted to doubt the proclamation of the Disciples…. This is the church's constant message throughout its two thousand and more years of history,… that Jesus is truly risen…. Even if we have not seen it for ourselves and touched the very wounds of the risen Christ, … we trust in the testimony of those apostles who did see him and who did touch his hand and side and took broken bread from his hands…. and whose words are written in scripture so that we now share in their message and believe, and also share fully in the life of the risen Lord, that Jesus offers us to us all….
The first reading gives a picture of the early Christian church community as it grows in numbers and strength, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The apostles are doing what Jesus did. Jesus is working in and through them. The first reading mentions that they all met by common agreement, and it illustrates in the first reading some ways in which this Christian community was a powerful source of Christ’s healing to those in need.
We need the community…. And we need that important gathering together to unite our hearts and minds to that of Christ and his gospel…. We know implicitly that coming together as the Body of Christ, the church is never an added extra… there is no such thing as a solo Christian… even when we work individually….we are united in a common bond with Christ and one another. The community of disciples, the church, ensures that we are always one in Christ…. And not merely walking to the beat of our own drum………… nor making up our faith as we go.
In a world where individualism is strong and a deeply valued quality….. the idea of being united and focusing on unity (in Christ) whilst at the same time not denying the value of unity in diversity is a careful balancing act, not to be taken lightly…
Jesus wants us to be ONE IN HIM….. he wants to unite us in the communion of his loving relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus wants us to be united in his belief and experience as the Risen Son of God… who invites us to share in his life and participate in his Kingdom forever.
We pray for the grace to be people of unity and healing…. who constantly act and work in ways that build up unity, and protect against fragmentation…..
We pray for the ability to see and act in ways that put the needs of others up there with our needs….. so that we might see the whole picture of our participation in one big family….. and not just a lifelong ‘solo act’.
Thomas, in the gospel, is so inspiring…. he doubted….but he did not leave…. he was still with the disciples the next week….. he struggled…..but the others did not reject him……. and Jesus strengthened him in his struggle and doubts……….. at times in life… we will have doubts and fears…… Jesus shows us all that we are right to trust in his promises, even when we do not always experience the confirmation of the truth of these promises with our own eyes, hands and ears…… Thomas is a gift to us in another way. He shows us that the apostles were not gullible or foolish. What they experienced in the Risen Jesus was the experience of sensible people, just like you and me. Thinking people, who do not easily swallow everything they are told. Still, nevertheless, they truly did experience Jesus risen body and soul, and this is what they have steadfastly passed on to all future generations. This is the testimony of sensible, deep-thinking people who know what they mean and mean what they say.
Today we know that Our Lord is certainly worth trusting in, and all his promises are true….. we can thank Thomas for Jesus confirming that for all future generations…. including us here and now….
References: Fr Paul W. Kelly; A BOOK OF GRACE-FILLED DAYS. BY Alice Camille; Richard J. Leonard; MONASTERY OF CHRIST IN THE DESERT. ABBOT’S HOMILY
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 2125590809. Painting. Jesus Christ and Saint Thomas.- Catholic church. Togo. 06-30-2014 -Important information -Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor: godongphoto
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
APRIL 21: St Anselm of Canterbury (1033/34—April 21, 1109). St Anselm, bishop and doctor of the Church. The Father of Scholasticism.
On the 21st of April, we remember the man who is called, among other things, the father of scholastic theology, a method of studying God’s revelation that Thomas Aquinas would later perfect. During his long years as a monk, Anselm wrote treatises leading to a rebirth of philosophy and theology in Western Europe.
[Not all of his contributions are regarded positively. His extensive treatise on how we are redeemed by Christ’s passion - he titled the treatise ‘Cur Deus Homo” - is blamed for the still widespread explanations of the Atonement that are referred to as the ‘pound-of-flesh’ theories.]
After serving well as Abbot of a Benedictine monastery, Anselm was, though now quite old, elected Archbishop of Canterbury in 1093. As such, he had to take the lead in curbing the king’s rapacious desire to dominate the Church in England. He also began the movement to abolish slavery in England.
“Remove grace, and you have nothing to be saved. Remove free will, and you have nothing that could be saved.”
“God does not delay to hear our prayers because He has no mind to give; but that, by enlarging our desires, He may give us the most.”
“Spare me through your mercy, do not punish me through your justice.”
“I believe so that I may understand.”
“For I do not seek to understand to believe, but I believe to understand. I believe this: unless I believe, I will not understand.”
“It is impossible to save one's soul without devotion to Mary and without her protection.”
“God was conceived of a most-pure Virgin ... it was fitting that the virgin should be radiant with a purity so great that a greater purity cannot be conceived.”
“O supreme and unapproachable light! O whole and blessed truth, how far art thou from me, who am so near to thee! How far art thou has been removed from my vision, though I am so near to thine! Everywhere thou art wholly present, and I see thee not. I move in thee, and in thee, I have my being, and I cannot come to thee. Thou art within me, and about me, and I feel thee not.”
“God is that the greater than which cannot be conceived.”
“A Prayer of Anselm: My God, I pray that I may know and love you and rejoice in you. And if I may not do so fully in this life, let me go steadily on to the day when I come to that fullness . . . Let me receive That which you promised through your truth, that my joy may be full.”
“I have written the little work that follows . . . in the role of one who strives to raise his mind to the contemplation of God and one who seeks to understand what he believes.”
“A single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after death.”
“God often works more by the life of the illiterate seeking the things that are God's, than by the ability of the learned seeking the things that are their own.”
(https://www.crisismagazine.com/opinion/five-saints-to-enrich-your-easter-season)
POPE FRANCIS: Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis. Divine Mercy Sunday. Second Sunday of Easter
Today the risen Lord appears to the disciples. To those who had abandoned him, he offers his mercy and shows his wounds. The words he speaks to them are punctuated with a greeting that we hear three times in the Gospel: “Peace be with you!” (Jn 20:19.21.26). Peace be with you! These are the words of the risen Jesus as he encounters every human weakness and error. Let us reflect on the three times Jesus says those words. We will discover three aspects of God’s mercy towards us in them. Those words give joy, grant forgiveness, and offer comfort in every difficulty.
First, God’s mercy gives joy, a special joy, knowing that we have been freely forgiven. When, on the evening of Easter, the disciples see Jesus and hear him say for the first time, “Peace be with you”, they rejoice (v. 20). They were locked behind closed doors out of fear; but they were also closed in on themselves, burdened by a sense of failure. They were disciples who had abandoned their Master; they had run away at the moment of his arrest. Peter even denied him three times, and one of their number – one among them! – had betrayed him. They had good reason to feel not only afraid but useless; they had failed. In the past, certainly, they had made courageous choices. They had followed the Master with enthusiasm, commitment and generosity. Yet in the end, everything had happened so fast. Fear prevailed, and they committed the great sin: they left Jesus alone at his most tragic hour. Before Easter, they thought they were destined for greatness; they argued about who would be the greatest among them… Now they have hit rock bottom.
In this climate, they hear for the first time, “Peace be with you!” The disciples ought to have felt shame, yet they rejoice. Why? Because seeing his face and hearing his greeting turned their attention away from themselves and towards Jesus. As the Gospel tells us, “the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (v. 20). They were distracted from themselves and their failures and attracted by his gaze, that brimmed not with severity but with mercy. Christ did not reproach them for their actions, but showed them his usual kindness. And this revives them, fills their hearts with the peace they had lost and makes them new persons, purified by the forgiveness that is utterly unmerited.
That is the joy Jesus brings. It is the joy that we, too, feel whenever we experience His forgiveness. We ourselves know what those disciples were feeling on Easter, because of our own lapses, sins and failures. At such times, we may think that nothing can be done. Yet that is precisely when the Lord does everything. He gives us his peace, through a good Confession, through the words of someone who draws near to us, through an interior consolation of the Spirit, or through some unexpected and surprising event… In many ways, God shows that he wants to make us feel the embrace of his mercy, the joy born of receiving “pardon and peace”. The joy God gives is indeed born of forgiveness. It bestows peace. It is a joy that raises us up without humiliating us. It is as if the Lord does not understand what is happening. Brothers and sisters, let us think of all those times when we received the pardon and peace of Jesus. Each of us has received them; each of us has had that experience. It is good for us to remember those moments. Let us put the memory of God’s warm embrace before the memory of our own mistakes and failings. In this way, we will grow in joy. Nothing will ever be the same for anyone who has experienced God’s joy! It is a joy that transforms us.
Peace be with you! The Lord says these words a second time and adds, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (v. 22). He then gives the disciples the Holy Spirit to make them agents of reconciliation: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them” (v. 23). Not only do the disciples receive mercy; they become dispensers of the mercy that they themselves received. They receive this power not on account of their merits or studies but as a pure gift of grace, based, however on their experience of having been themselves forgiven. I am now speaking to you, missionaries of mercy: if you do not feel forgiven, do not carry out your service as a missionary of mercy until you feel that forgiveness. The mercy that we have received enables us to dispense a great deal of mercy and forgiveness. Today and every day, in the Church, forgiveness must be received in this same way, through the humble goodness of a merciful confessor who sees himself not as the holder of some power but as a channel of mercy, who pours out upon others the forgiveness that he himself first received. From this arises the ability to forgive everything because God always forgives everything. We are the ones who tire of asking for forgiveness, but he always forgives. You must be channels of that forgiveness through your own experience of being forgiven. There is no need to torment the faithful when they come to Confession. It is necessary to understand their situation, to listen, to forgive and to offer good counsel so that they can move forward. God forgives everything, and we must not close that door to people.
“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them”. These words stand at the origin of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but not only. Jesus has made the entire Church a community that dispenses mercy, a sign and instrument of reconciliation for all humanity. In baptism, brothers and sisters received the gift of the Holy Spirit to be a man or woman of reconciliation. Whenever we experience the joy of being set free from the burden of our sins and failings, whenever we know firsthand what it means to be reborn after a situation that appeared hopeless, we feel the need to share with those around us the bread of mercy. Let us feel called to this. And let us ask ourselves: at home, in my family, at work, in my community, do I foster fellowship? Am I a weaver of reconciliation? Do I commit myself to defuse conflict, to bring forgiveness in place of hatred, and peace in place of resentment? Do I avoid hurting others by not gossiping? Jesus wants us to be his witnesses before the world with those words: Peace be with you!
Peace be with you! The Lord says these words a third time when, eight days later, he appears to the disciples and strengthens the flagging faith of Thomas. Thomas wants to see and touch. The Lord is not offended by Thomas’s disbelief but comes to his aid: “Put your finger here and see my hands” (v. 27). These are not words of defiance but of mercy. Jesus understands Thomas’s difficulty. He does not treat Thomas harshly, and the apostle is deeply moved by this kindness. From a disbeliever, he becomes a believer, and makes the simplest and finest confession of faith: “My Lord and my God!” (v. 28). These are beautiful words. We can make them our own and repeat them throughout the day, especially when, like Thomas, we experience doubts and difficulties.
For the story of Thomas is, in fact, the story of every believer. There are times of difficulty when life seems to belie faith, moments of crisis when we need to touch and see. Like Thomas, it is precisely in those moments that we rediscover the heart of Christ, the Lord’s mercy. In those situations, Jesus does not approach us in triumph and with overwhelming proof. He does not perform earth-shattering miracles but instead offers us heartwarming signs of his mercy. He comforts us as he did in today’s Gospel: he offers us his wounds. We must not forget this fact. In response to our sins, the Lord is always present, offering us his wounds. In our ministry as confessors, we must let the people see that in the midst of their sins, the Lord offers his wounds to them. The wounds of the Lord are stronger than sin.
Jesus makes us see the wounds of our brothers and sisters. In the midst of our own crises and our difficulties, divine mercy often makes us aware of the sufferings of our neighbour. We think that we are experiencing unbearable pain and situations of suffering, and we suddenly discover that others around us are silently enduring even worse things. If we care for the wounds of our neighbour and pour upon them the balm of mercy, we find being reborn within us a hope that comforts us in our weariness. Let us ask ourselves whether, of late we have helped someone suffering in mind or body; whether we have brought peace to someone suffering physically or spiritually; whether we have spent some time simply listening, being present, or bringing comfort to another person. For whenever we do these things, we encounter Jesus. From the eyes of all those who are weighed down by the trials of life, he looks out at us with mercy and says: Peace be with you! In this regard, I think of Our Lady’s presence with the Apostles. I also recall that we commemorate her as Mother of the Church on the day following Pentecost and as Mother of Mercy on the Monday following Divine Mercy Sunday. May she help us move forward in our ministry.
Source : Text courtesy of the Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 2022
Image: Licensed SHutterstock image - Stock Photo ID: 2279830433 - Pope Francis presided over the Via Crucis at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, on Good Friday, April 15th, 2022. Important information - Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Salma Bashir Motiwala
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES
Our Catholic Queensland newspaper THE CATHOLIC LEADER has just released issue number 5664. This monthly edition for April is available now. $4.
COLOURED SAINTS MEDALS available for two weekends discounted heavily, were $2.00 each, now only $1.00 each. Plenty to choose from, obtain yours today, before they sell out.
BIBLE STUDY
The Bible Study/Prayer Group resumes this 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
DATE CLAIMER:
Brisbane City Pops Orchestra, joined by local School choirs. Guardian Angels Church, Southport. Sunday 23 July 2023 at 2.00pm. Please save the date
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-
17/4/2022 Juliette & Abdul Speir - Mudgeeraba
24/4/2023 Rose & Joseph Pindo
1/5/2023 Rose & Joseph Pindo
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- Sacred Heart Bridge Club
Our Bridge Club Meets at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church , Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters,
Tel Cheryl on 07 5538 8821 Mob 0417772 701
Learn to play Bridge at “Our Friendly Club” Established 21 years.
Beginners Bridge lessons
Easy to learn format, no previous card playing experience necessary; classes commence 19th April 2023
All Welcome!! To enquire & enrol, please Call 5538 8821. Mob 0417 772 701
Learn to play Bridge at “Our Friendly Club” Established 20 years.
FREE LESSON. “INTRODUCTION TO BRIDGE” - Easy to learn format, no previous card playing experience necessary.
All are Welcome!! To enrol, please Call 5538 8821 - Mob 0417 772 701
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.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. ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION
216. The rich heritage of Christian spirituality, the fruit of twenty centuries of personal and communal experience, has a precious contribution to make to the renewal of humanity. Here, I would like to offer Christians a few suggestions for an ecological spirituality grounded in the convictions of our faith, since the teachings of the Gospel have direct consequences for our way of thinking, feeling and living. More than in ideas or concepts as such, I am interested in how such a spirituality can motivate us to a more passionate concern for the protection of our world. A commitment this lofty cannot be sustained by doctrine alone, without a spirituality capable of inspiring us, without an “interior impulse which encourages, motivates, nourishes and gives meaning to our individual and communal activity”.[151] Admittedly, Christians have not always appropriated and developed the spiritual treasures bestowed by God upon the Church, where the life of the spirit is not dissociated from the body or from nature or from worldly realities, but lived in and with them, in communion with all that surrounds us.
217. “The external deserts in the world are growing, because the internal deserts have become so vast”.[152] For this reason, the ecological crisis is also a summons to profound interior conversion. It must be said that some committed and prayerful Christians, with the excuse of realism and pragmatism, tend to ridicule expressions of concern for the environment. Others are passive; they choose not to change their habits and thus become inconsistent. So what they all need is an “ecological conversion”, whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in their relationship with the world around them. Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.
218. In calling to mind the figure of Saint Francis of Assisi, we come to realize that a healthy relationship with creation is one dimension of overall personal conversion, which entails the recognition of our errors, sins, faults and failures, and leads to heartfelt repentance and desire to change. The Australian bishops spoke of the importance of such conversion for achieving reconciliation with creation: “To achieve such reconciliation, we must examine our lives and acknowledge the ways in which we have harmed God’s creation through our actions and our failure to act. We need to experience a conversion, or change of heart”.[153]
219. Nevertheless, self-improvement on the part of individuals will not by itself remedy the extremely complex situation facing our world today. Isolated individuals can lose their ability and freedom to escape the utilitarian mindset, and end up prey to an unethical consumerism bereft of social or ecological awareness. Social problems must be addressed by community networks and not simply by the sum of individual good deeds. This task “will make such tremendous demands of man that he could never achieve it by individual initiative or even by the united effort of men bred in an individualistic way. The work of dominating the world calls for a union of skills and a unity of achievement that can only grow from quite a different attitude”.[154] The ecological conversion needed to bring about lasting change is also a community conversion.
220. This conversion calls for a number of attitudes which together foster a spirit of generous care, full of tenderness. First, it entails gratitude and gratuitousness, a recognition that the world is God’s loving gift, and that we are called quietly to imitate his generosity in self-sacrifice and good works: “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing… and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Mt 6:3-4). It also entails a loving awareness that we are not disconnected from the rest of creatures, but joined in a splendid universal communion. As believers, we do not look at the world from without but from within, conscious of the bonds with which the Father has linked us to all beings. By developing our individual, God-given capacities, an ecological conversion can inspire us to greater creativity and enthusiasm in resolving the world’s problems and in offering ourselves to God “as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable” (Rom 12:1). We do not understand our superiority as a reason for personal glory or irresponsible dominion, but rather as a different capacity which, in its turn, entails a serious responsibility stemming from our faith.
221. Various convictions of our faith, developed at the beginning of this Encyclical can help us to enrich the meaning of this conversion. These include the awareness that each creature reflects something of God and has a message to convey to us, and the security that Christ has taken unto himself this material world and now, risen, is intimately present to each being, surrounding it with his affection and penetrating it with his light. Then too, there is the recognition that God created the world, writing into it an order and a dynamism that human beings have no right to ignore. We read in the Gospel that Jesus says of the birds of the air that “not one of them is forgotten before God” (Lk 12:6). How then can we possibly mistreat them or cause them harm? I ask all Christians to recognize and to live fully this dimension of their conversion. May the power and the light of the grace we have received also be evident in our relationship to other creatures and to the world around us. In this way, we will help nurture that sublime fraternity with all creation which Saint Francis of Assisi so radiantly embodied.
(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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