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PDF version of this parish newsletter here:
You can also access an online copy of the newsletter *here*
“I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1863708166 - Dwingelderveld, the Netherlands- November 29, 2020: a flock of sheep with shepherd on the Dwingelderveld. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Ronald Wilfred Jansen
PASTOR’S POST - Welcome Back to What?
One of our parish schools recently held a parent and teacher workshop on Engaging Parents in a Child’s Education, conducted by an internationally renowned Professor of Education and Child Studies at the University of Swansea, Wales, Janet Goodall. During a break in her presentation, I was able to ask her opinion on a major pastoral dilemma, not just in our parish but throughout the Archdiocese and beyond. How can we bring the parents of children recently baptised and those parents of school-age children back to the Church if, in fact, they were ever part of it? No doubt you have heard me sharing this issue many times in this newsletter and in homilies. It completely confuses me why people wish to have their children formally introduced to God through Baptism and then do very little to inform them about who God is and why do they think a relationship with God is so important in their lives.
What I do understand is that modern-day family life is pretty much full to the brim with school, social and sporting activities, not just for children but their parents as well. Work requirements and maintaining social connections occupy a significant amount of time, such that many people have convinced themselves, rightly or wrongly, that they are too busy to add regular participation in church, hence Sunday mass is not a high priority. Even if they are full of good intentions at the time of the baptism, before long other involvements take precedence, and then they just forget to add the regular practice of their faith to the list. Other stuff gets in the way.
Not that these parents don’t have a genuine desire to do something about assisting their children as they mature, but very often, they don’t feel sufficiently equipped to know what to say when tricky questions about God arise. For many, the more convenient option is to send the children off to a Catholic school, which seems better placed to deal with the ‘God Dilemma’, even though the schools make it very clear that they are happy to assist, not take sole responsibility. They are quick to remind the parents that they (the parents) are the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith and are not to be replaced by the school’s religious education programs. There is little point in learning about our faith at school and not having it reinforced at home.
Back to Professor Goodall, who promptly answered my question with a question. “What do you want them to come back to?” I wasn’t ready for that one. She suggested that it was highly likely that whatever we might have been offering by way of a communal faith experience at the parish might not be answering the questions or requirements of what families are seeking at this time. This begs the question of how we will find out what people need when we aren’t usually in the same place to ask those questions, i.e. Church. Where do we connect to have the conversation?
Leaving faith participation to those big occasions like Christmas and Easter doesn't really provide any real depth to a relationship with God. They may be large and engaging events, but clearly not significant enough for people to return the next week. Those of us who grew up with the understanding that we just went to Church because it was a requirement of our Baptismal promises might never have stopped to ask ourselves, does my faith really address the concerns of my secular life?
Sometimes I wish I was brave enough to ask our congregations:
“Does what we provide in our parish really address what you need to live a fruitful and satisfying life? Does the Eucharist make sense to you and give you enough sustenance for your life’s spiritual needs? How might we, as a parish, more effectively encourage greater participation from young families and the youth in general so that they don’t just leave the practice of their faith until they have more time or interest in addressing life’s big questions? Is God the answer to any of your present issues or concerns?”
It would require courage and skill (I’m not sure I possess much of either) to address these questions at the same time as trying to provide for the present parish practices. Are we ready to alter our direction at a time when priestly personnel is at a premium and life’s needs, questions, and answers are so complex? Meanwhile, it will probably be business as usual until some bright creative minds say, “Let’s take a risk and see if God can point us in the right direction”.
Fr Peter Dillon PP.
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
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Leonardo Torcaso, Diana Castro, Stephen O’Brien, Joseph Ah Lo, Sarina Losurdo, Anne Van Deurse, Tim Brown, 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, 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: Shane Vincent Hall, Rose Grima, Brian Mooney, Gregory Lemon, Albert Daly, Cecily Fury, Joyce Rosa Parisi, Douglas Glenn, Theresa Joseph Johannes, Lenette Mary Evans, Sr Patricia McGovern, Betty O’Connell, Jean Kitrell, Robyn Skein, Stephen Robert Bray, Peter Winks, Andre Helena, Paul Thomas Hawkins, Cornelis “Casey” Bayens, 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: Lucena (Lucy) Gabriel Liwag, Greg Perkins, Beverly Ann Gooding, Leonard Gravener, Una Mary Parkinson, Bryan James Telfer, Salvatore Aprile, Desma Quirk, Robert Finn, Clarice Edith East, Andrew Brown, Maria Del Carmen Olsen, Kevin Robert Ryan, (not to be confused by Kevin Joseph Ryan), Alberto Simonetti, Kevin Joseph William Ryan, (not to be confused with another Kevin Robert Ryan), Roxanne Kempen, Kath Ryan, Jeanette Margaret McCormack, Kevin McCormack, Brian James Ellsmore.
And Also: Tony Ghusn, Rosslyn Jessie Wallis, Stan Ryan, Yvonne Holt, Ernest Foy, Peter Hunniford, Mary Thompson, Arthur Lloyd, Joseph Frank Robinson, (Son of Connie), Balthazar (“Balt) van der Meer, Bernadette Mary Bennett, Joan Street, Vincent Hodge Snr, Paul John Brennan, Michael Joseph Foy, Joan Maher, Salma El Jouni, Kevin Thomas Malone, Leo Barry Pearman, Giovanni Pascquale Marmina, Lyndon Fitzgibbon, Michelle Renee Kay (aged 8).
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES
Holy Communion gifts available now.
COLOURED SAINTS MEDALS
Available at a discounted price, now only $1.00 each. Plenty to choose from.
Miraculous enamel blue, St Joseph, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Infant of Prague, St Therese, St Michael, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mary Mackillop, Divine Mercy, Communion, Holy Spirit, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St Rita, Feruzzi, Mother Teresa, Padre Pio, Medjugorje, Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa) Pope John Paul.
FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament this First Friday, 5th May, from 7 pm to 8.30 pm at Sacred Heart Church. All welcome. Enquiries; Helen 0421935678. "Could you not watch with Me one hour" Mt 26:40
FIRST SATURDAY MASS AND BENEDICTION
First Saturday Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters. 9 am Sixth of May.
Followed by adoration and Benediction.
ITALIAN LANGUAGE CLASS
BIBLE STUDY
The Bible Study/Prayer Group every Friday evening from 5-6 pm at
St Vincent’s Church - 40 Hamilton Avenue Surfers Paradise. Plenty of parking is available.
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
Brisbane City Pops Orchestra, joined by local School choirs. Guardian Angels Church, Southport. Sunday 23 July 2023 at 2.00 pm. 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-
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-
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 -
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.
MARIAN VALLEY PILGRIMAGE
Please come and join us at the Marian Valley for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on 13.05.2023. 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 return. You can secure your seat with a contact name and contact phone number with Xavier Solomon at 0404 843 260, Madeleine on 0405 252 367 or 5529 1573. All are welcome.
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.
PALMS MISSION-
Mission: Transform Lives - theirs...and yours
Communities in Africa, Asia or the Pacific are seeking Australians from a variety of professions and trades to share their skills and knowledge with those who have few other chances for training.
Build enduring global relationships while assisting sustainable, self-reliant community development.
Explore 35 positions by scanning the QR code below. On our website, you can also see news, including stories from those currently supported in Timor-Leste, Samoa, American Samoa and Thailand.
Please enquire further about potential assignments for you or someone you know:
RING: 02 9560 5333 or 0422 472 567. WEB: www.palms.org.au
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 three of a series).
The Fourth Sunday of Easter
Priority: Bringing Cultural Communities to the Centre
In the first reading, we hear St Peter preaching at Pentecost. Just a few verses prior, Luke provides us with an account of the infilling of the Holy Spirit that enabled the apostles to preach the Gospel in different languages so that all who were present could hear the Gospel in their language. Luke’s account highlights the fact that the Gospel is for everyone in every country and culture. All are welcomed and called to encounter Jesus, the good shepherd. This Pentecost event situates the third of Archbishop Mark’s Apostolic Priorities: Bringing the Cultural Communities to the Centre.
Archbishop Mark writes:
“The face of the Church around the world is changing as the centre of gravity shifts from places like Europe and North America (and Australia) to Africa, Asia and Latin America…
Certainly, in the Archdiocese, the presence of people who have come from overseas – from Vietnam, the Philippines, the Pacific islands, India, Sri Lanka, Latin America, and Africa – is growing stronger…
These large and growing communities have gifts for the whole Church, and increasingly the centre of gravity in the Church here is moving in their direction. Therefore, they have to be brought more to
centre-stage in the life and mission of the Archdiocese since much of the spiritual energy in the Church here is found among them. This again will involve significant cultural change for the whole Church in this part of the world.”
In the Psalm, second reading, and Gospel, we hear a reference to the metaphor of a shepherd and the sheep. Today we consider first the reality of life without the good shepherd, secondly how the good shepherd works to bring cultural communities to the centre, and finally, what it is the responsibility of the sheep – us!
1. The Anti-Psalm: life without the Shepherd?
Psalm 22 (23) is a well-known psalm, but let’s consider these words if there was no shepherd. This is a kind of anti-psalm:
There is no shepherd, I shall want.
No one makes me lie down in green pastures;
or leads me beside still waters;
No one restores my soul
or leads me on the right path.
As I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear evil; for I am alone;
no rod and no staff can comfort me.
There is no one to prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
no one to anoint my head with oil;
my cup is empty.
Goodness and mercy cannot follow me
all the days of my life, as I shall dwell alone my whole life.
Without a shepherd, we are lost, we are alone, and we are scattered. This is why the Gospel is such good news. Against this backdrop of loneliness, separation and darkness, we find we are not alone or separated, for the light of the world is with us; he is our Shepherd.
2. The Shepherd and the Gate.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus refers to the shepherd and the sheep but identifies himself as the gate. “I am the gate. Anyone who enters through me will be safe: he will go freely in and out and be sure to find pasture.” It is in passing through the gate, Jesus, that we are united in Christ and with each other. To quote St Paul, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Jesus draws all of humanity to himself. It is from the cultural and racial inclusivity of Jesus that we learn to engage with every tribe and nation, following the example of the good shepherd in welcoming all people and doing what we can to ensure that the Gospel is accessible to all.
Pope Francis reminds us of our need to encounter the one who is the gate. He writes, “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think this invitation is not meant for him or her since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord” (EG 3).
Jesus, the gate and the good shepherd draws each of us into a relationship with him and each other.
3. The Sheep
Jesus explains that “the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” Here, our challenge as sheep is to recognise the voice of Jesus and to help others recognise his voice. If we cannot recognise his voice, we are sheep without a shepherd, we are alone, and we are lost. At times we can have moments of darkness, moments when we cannot hear the voice of the shepherd. It is in these moments we are encouraged to pray – to bleat like lost sheep – to ask Jesus to help us hear his voice so that we might follow him. Do you recognise the voice of Jesus?
Conclusion
It is the good Shepherd, Jesus, who makes it possible for people of every tribe and tongue to be united. In this light, cultural diversity is not accidental to the Christian community; it is instead essential!
Without the good shepherd, we find ourselves in darkness, division and loneliness. A world without a shepherd is a dark place. But with the good shepherd, we are drawn into a relationship with God so that we might “have life and have it abundantly."
Our challenge as sheep is to be attentive to the voice of the Shepherd. As we consider how we might more intentionally bring the cultural communities to the centre, let us ask ourselves, what is the voice of the shepherd saying to us today?
“LAMPS ABLAZE” - TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL DOCUMENT - PLEASE VISIT THIS LINK: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oVNiTRAhQn_5aTDZ9mo2dDh9bGeqxewL/view
Becoming Catholic! A Journey of Faith
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FULLY INITIATED CATHOLICS - FROM THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF
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
A VOCATION VIEW: (World Day of Prayer for Vocations)
This is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. "The harvest is great, but the labourers are few. Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more labourers into the Harvest."
To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION -
Today’s readings on this fourth Sunday of Easter offer us a glimpse into the heart of our loving Savior. He is the Good Shepherd and we can confidently place our trust in Him as we live the stewardship way of life.
In both the first and second readings, we find Peter embracing his role as leader of the newborn Church. In our first reading from Acts, he exhorts the crowd, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” We then read that the ones who accepted his message were baptised that day. Peter simply proposed the Good News to them and then left them free to accept or reject the call to repentance and belief in Christ, which is ultimately a call from God.
We can find many parallels in this passage to the call to a stewardship way of life. We, too, are free to accept or reject God’s call to discipleship. We can keep our time, talents and treasure for ourselves purely to serve our own interests. We are free to make that choice.
Or, we can embrace the call to discipleship through the stewardship way of life. If we do so, we will find a path to freedom from “this corrupt generation”, just as those first disciples found in the early days of the Church.
Our second reading, again featuring St. Peter, offers further motivation for embracing this way of life. Peter reminds us that Christ “bore our sins in his body upon the cross.” And that “by his wounds, you have been healed. For [we] had gone astray like sheep but… have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of [our] souls.” Such an incredibly poignant description of the love our Savior has for us and the kind of relationship He desires to have with us — as shepherd and guardian of our souls.
This endearing image of Jesus as a shepherd, and His personal love for each one of us, is expanded in our Gospel passage from John through the words of Jesus Himself. Here we read Jesus’ description of Himself as the “Good Shepherd.” He says of Himself, “The sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognise his voice.”
This aspect of our Lord’s tender and personal love for each one of us is yet another reason to embrace the stewardship way of life. In the offering of our time, talent and treasure to Him, we can express our gratitude to Him for the incomprehensible love He has for us.
Embracing the stewardship way of life certainly requires trust on our part. But Christ has proven Himself worthy of our trust. He “bore our sins in His body.” He calls Himself our shepherd, and He offers Himself as the guardian of our souls. He has withheld nothing of Himself and His goodness from us. He would never ask anything of us that would bring us harm.
On the contrary, our Lord did not come to take from us but to give to us. Again, we read His own words from the Gospel passage, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
This Easter season, let us resolve to freely give all of ourselves and our lives gratefully to Him.
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/
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
ADORATION OF THE SACRAMENT - SHALOM MEDIA
Fr Paul leads another eucharistic reflection - here is a replay of a Holy Thursday themed reflection from Fr. Paul, for shalom media.
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH - Follow the leader
When we were kids, playing “follow the leader” was easy. One child was designated as the pattern to imitate, and we just did whatever they did. In these days of crisis, it can seem harder to tell who the designated leader is. Is it the president or the pope, the pastor or the medical expert? Do we do what our parents advised, or listen to the recommendations of trusted friends? What do we do when media experts disagree? If we call ourselves Christians, then Christ is the ultimate authority for our values and criteria. Make a verse of scripture your daily companion.
SIGN UP FOR "TAKE FIVE" DAILY ww.takefiveforfaith.com/subscribe.
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.
There are two compulsory meetings: 1. Parent Meeting – was held on either Monday, March 27 at 5:30 pm or Tuesday, March 28 at 5:30 pm in Sacred Heart Church (Children were not required at this meeting but were welcome to attend if it assisted parents 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.)
The At Home Preparation Program for First Communion Program is due to be completed and returned to Cathy Anderson by May 4th.
To join the Preparation for First Communion Group in 2024: Parents of children in Year 4 or greater who have been baptised and confirmed in parishes other than Surfers Paradise 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 Term 1 2024, parents will 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 practise 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.
Parents of primary school age children will be asked to attend three preparation meetings (at least one parent and their child/ren) prior to booking a Baptism date via our online system.
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 packed with lots of beautiful themes, It is often known as “Good Shepherd” Sunday, due to the wonderful image of the shepherd that flows through the psalm and the Gospel, and the other readings, Because of the theme of the shepherd, it is also traditionally the weekend we particularly pray for vocations to the priesthood, that the Lord will raise up shepherd after his own heart, to guide and lead his beloved people,
Jesus is our Good shepherd and he walks along with us along our whole life journey, He knows us by name, he leads us by safe paths, He cares about what happens to us, He is always interested to hear us tell him of our hopes, our fears, our disappointments and our failures, and he is there to reassure us and give us strength and to affirm to us that if we keep trusting in him, the love of God has the final word in our life, and that final word is the promise that we are beloved sons and daughters of God, forever ,
The gospel speaks of the image of the Sheepfold: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep, Christ’s offering of his whole self and even his life (down to the very last drop of his blood) is remembered by us at each and every Eucharist, In our Liturgy we constantly speak of this mysterious thing called the “Paschal Mystery”, which is actually about the mystery of Jesus (who is the spotless Paschal lamb,- the Passover lamb-, who was sacrificed so that we might be saved), Through Jesus’ life, teaching, ministry, and his suffering, death and Resurrection we are saved. In every Eucharistic prayer,(actually, throughout every Mass), this Paschal Mystery is recalled and remembered,
Christ warns us about false shepherds….. and …….I have to smile at a rather amusing, but all-too-true old Latin proverb that goes something like this:
“It is the role of a good shepherd to shear their flock, not to fleece them!!” (Latin proverb, adapted).
Sadly, the world has witnessed plenty of examples of bad leaders, who were motivated not for the good of others, but their own ambitions and ego.
Jesus gives an example of himself as a good shepherd, the perfect leader. He puts his people first, he knows them personally, and he is not in it for himself, and he literally “gives of himself completely” for our sakes. What a superb example and model for leadership/,/, Christ uses the image of the ‘shepherd BEING the gate, ---- (there would not be a timber gate, but rather.. the shepherd themselves, would lie across the opening of the sheepfold and their body would act as a human gate, Nothing could pass by without disturbing the shepherd, who would risk life and limb to protect his sheep. The true leader puts themselves on the line. The good shepherd literally puts their body on the line, for those they care for. ,
It is interesting that the gospel today, says “the sheep know their master’s voice and will not follow a stranger,” Who would follow a stranger? but here is the modern problem,,, with our modern, secular world, and with the internet, and so many different types of media and communication, advertising, and so many competing values in the world, all telling us, ‘pick me, pick me,” I am GOOD for you, you need this, we are being bombarded with competing and contrasting values , and many different shepherds, We are constantly assailed with voices claiming to be our friends, to be the voice of our master, and offering easy solutions to complex problems…… sometimes telling us what we want to hear rather than what the gospel calls us to……… and so, we are tempted to follow those voices out into the wilderness.
We need to be alert to the fact that we need to really discern and to distinguish the voice of our lord, from the voice of false shepherds. It is not easy, but more necessary than ever.
We too need to reflect on the values of Jesus in the gospels, and the tradition and teachings of the church to help us recognize the true voice of the good shepherd,
At times it can be very difficult to recognise the voice of Jesus, as there are many who claim to speak in his name, A useful guide is to look at people’s actions and priorities, We can listen to those whose lives reveal the qualities of Jesus - love, compassion, justice, self-sacrifice, - Surely, they are reflecting the good shepherd in our midst? - The big test of authenticity is likely to be this: The real shepherd is not acting to “feather their own nest,” but acts in the best interest of the other, willing to give up things for others, not take advantage, not for their own gain or for their own pride, That is a dead giveaway for the fake shepherds,…… for, in them, it is self-satisfaction, self-justification, promotion of their own self-image and interests, There is almost always something in it for them at a very clear point, and something at the expense of others, of the community.
The gospel invites us to think of how we as a society discern leaders for civic and roles…. Perhaps it would be better if we put up a “help wanted” sign that each of us responds to, “Help Wanted: Shepherds – dangerous occupation, No personal gain, concern only for others, humble recompense, willing to sacrifice everything for others, willing to risk their lives,”
….Sounds a rather daunting job description!! I wonder how many takers we would get if this were the application advertisement for people in all kinds of leadership roles.
Thanks are to God, Jesus is our role model, and with Christ, (the Good shepherd’s), example, mercy, teaching and grace, servant-leadership can bear good fruit.
References: Fr Paul W. Kelly; some thoughts are taken from “Celebrating the Gospels,” by Gaynell Cronin, also Preaching the Word resource; and commentary in St Paul’s Sunday missal intro. Also, the picture of a shepherd as the “human gate,” is from: https://thepreachersword.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/door-of-sheep.jpg
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1074985220 - BOLOGNA, ITALY - APRIL 18, 2018: The icon of Christ as the Good Shepherd in church Chiesa di San Pietro by Giancarlo Pellegrini. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova
To listen to the Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Also found at - https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk
APRIL 30 - m - Saint Pius V, pope St Pius V
◆ He wore his hair shirt, rested practically never, strolled shoeless in parades to the diverse houses of worship and was dependably a model of earnest commitment asking nothing from anybody that he was reluctant to do himself.
◆ It is said that day by day he washed the feet of the poor who came to him looking for help.
He visited medical clinics to comfort the diminishing and was dedicated to the necessities of the poor for an incredible duration.
◆ You are the salt of the earth! You are the light of the world! See to it that the people are
edified by your example, by the purity of your lives, by the moderation of your conduct, and
the brilliance of your holiness! God does not ask of you mere ordinary virtue. He demands
downright perfection!
◆ In union with the perfect confidence and hope that the Holy and Blessed Virgin placed in Thee, do I hope O Lord.
◆ I know very well that I am dealing with men, not with angels.
MAY 2 - M - Saint Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the Church.
◆ “The Self-revealing of the Word is in every dimension - above, in creation; below, in the
Incarnation; in the depth, in Hades; in the breadth, throughout the world. All things have
been filled with the knowledge of God.”
◆ “God became human so that humans might become divine.”
◆ “Christians, instead of arming themselves with swords, extend their hands in prayer.”
◆ “Even on the cross He did not hide from sight; rather, He made all creation witness to the presence of its Maker.”
◆ “You cannot put straight in others what is warped in yourself.”
◆ “Jesus that I know as my Redeemer cannot be less than God”
◆ “For God is good - or rather, of all goodness, He is the Fountainhead.”
◆ “In ancient times before the divine sojourn of the Saviour took place, even the saint’s death was terrible; all wept for the dead as though they perished. But now that the Saviour has raised His body, death is no longer terrible; for all who believe in Christ trample on it as if it were nothing and choose rather die than deny their faith in Christ. And that devil that once maliciously exulted in death, now that its pains were loosened, remained the only one truly dead.”
◆ “The Lord did not come to make a display. He came to heal and teach suffering men. For one who wanted to make a display, the thing would have been just to appear and dazzle the
beholders. But for Him Who came to heal and to teach the way was not merely to dwell
here, but to put Himself at the disposal of those who needed Him, and to be manifested
according to as they could bear it, not vitiating the value of the Divine appearing by exceeding their capacity to receive it.”
◆ “For the Lord touched all parts of creation, and freed and undeceived them all from every
deceit.”
◆ “For no part of Creation is left void of him: he has filled all things everywhere...”
◆ “Let us remember the poor, and not forget kindness to strangers; above all, let us love God with all our soul, and might, and strength, and our neighbour as ourselves.”
◆ “While [the Arians], like men sprung from a dunghill, truly "spoke from the earth" [Jn. 3:31], the bishops [of Nicea], not having invented their phrases for themselves, but having testimony from their Fathers, wrote as they did. For ancient bishops, of the great Rome and our city [i.e., Alexandria, Egypt, where Athanasius was bishop], some 130 years ago, wrote and censured those who said that the Son was a creature and not consubstantial with the Father.”
➔ St Philip and St James (Apostles)
◆ Philip and James were both apostles, and both served Christ faithfully during the very early days of the Church.
◆ Philip seems to have been an enthusiastic person. He was the one who brought his friend Nathanael to Jesus, insisting to Nathanael that he had found the person about whom Moses had written. Some years later it was Philip who made arrangements, with the help of Andrew, to have a group of Greek Gentiles brought to Jesus. Philip the apostle is not to be with the deacon Philip of Acts 8, who preached in Samaria and baptised the
Ethiopian, although some writers say that they are the same person. Philip also had a
practical, down-to-earth mind. He was the apostle who commented that it would take a
considerable amount of money to feed a crowd of more than 5,000 hungry men, women, and children. It was Philip who asked to see the Father when Jesus spoke about him at the Last Supper.
◆ James was the son of Alphaeus and seems to have been born in Caesarea. He is mentioned frequently in the New Testament than Philip is. Sometimes James is called the Less, which might be a hint that he was a short person or else that he was younger than the other apostle named James.
◆ After Jesus’ death, James continued to preach the Gospel and is believed to have become the first bishop of Jerusalem. Assuming that James and the first bishop of Jerusalem are one and the same person, then he met his death as a martyr in that city about the year a.d. 62.
Tradition identifies James as the author of the epistle associated with his name.
(https://www.crisismagazine.com/opinion/five-saints-to-enrich-your-easter-season)
POPE FRANCIS: A Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis. Fourth Sunday of Easter.
In the Gospel for this Sunday (cf. Jn 10:1-10), known as “Good Shepherd Sunday”, Jesus presents to us two images that complete each other. The image of the shepherd and the image of the door of the sheepfold. The flock, which is all of us, has a sheepfold as its home, which serves as a refuge, where the sheep live and rest after the toils of the journey. And the sheepfold has an enclosure with a door, where there is a gatekeeper. Different people approach the flock: there is one who enters the enclosure by the door and one who “climbs in by another way” (cf. v. 1). The first is the shepherd, the second a stranger who does not love the sheep and wants to enter for other reasons. Jesus identifies with the first and shows a familiar relationship with the sheep, expressed by his voice, by which he calls them and which they recognize and follow (cf. v. 3). He calls them, to lead them out to grassy pastures where they find good food.
The second image by which Jesus presents himself is that of the “door of the sheep” (v. 7). In fact, he says: “I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved” (v. 9); that is, they “will have life and will have it abundantly” (v. 10). Christ, the Good Shepherd, became the door of mankind’s salvation because he offered his life for his sheep.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd and door of the sheep, is a leader whose authority is expressed in service, a leader who, in order to command, gives his life and does not ask others to sacrifice theirs. One can trust in a leader like this, as the sheep who heed their shepherd’s voice because they know that with him one goes to good and abundant pastures. A signal, a call suffices, and they follow; they obey; they begin to walk, guided by the voice of the One whom they feel as a friendly presence, strong and mild at once, who calls, protects, consoles and soothes.
This is how Christ is for us. There is a dimension of the Christian experience, that perhaps we leave somewhat in the shadows: the spiritual and affective dimension. Feeling connected to the Lord by a special bond, as sheep to their shepherd. At times we rationalize faith too much and we run the risk of losing the perception of the timbre of that voice, of the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd, which motivates and fascinates. This is what happened to the two disciples of Emmaus, whose hearts burned as the Risen One spoke along the way. It is the wondrous experience of feeling loved by Jesus. Ask yourselves the question: “Do I feel loved by Jesus? Do I feel loved by Jesus?”. To him we are never strangers, but friends and brothers. Yet it is not always easy to discern the Good Shepherd’s voice. Be careful. There is always the risk of being distracted by the din of so many other voices. Today we are invited not to let ourselves be distracted by the false wisdom of this world, but to follow Jesus, the Risen One, as the one sure guide who gives meaning to our life.
On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations — in particular for priestly vocations, so that the Lord may send us good pastors — let us invoke the Virgin Mary: May she accompany the 10 new priests whom I have just ordained.
I asked four of them from the Diocese of Rome to come forward and join me in giving the blessing. May Our Lady offer her help in support of those who are called by Him, that they may be ready and generous in following his voice.
The Evangelist John presents us, on this Fourth Sunday of the Easter Season, with the image of Jesus the Good Shepherd. In contemplating this page of the Gospel, we can understand the kind of relationship that Jesus had with his disciples: a relationship based on tenderness, love, mutual knowledge and the promise of an immeasurable gift: “I came”, Jesus said, “that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). This relationship is the model for relations between Christians and for human relationships.
Today, too, as in the time of Jesus, many put themselves forward as “shepherds” of our lives; but only the Risen One is the true Shepherd, who gives us life in abundance. I invite everyone to place their trust in the Lord who guides us. But he not only guides us: he accompanies us, he walks with us. Let us listen to his Word with minds and hearts opened, to nourish our faith, enlighten our conscience and follow the teaching of the Gospel.
On this Sunday let us pray for the Shepherds of the Church, for all Bishops, including the Bishop of Rome, for all priests, for everyone! We pray especially for the new priests of the Diocese of Rome, whom I ordained a short while ago in St Peter’s Basilica. A greeting to these 13 priests! May the Lord help us pastors always to be faithful to the Master and wise and enlightened guides of the People of God, entrusted to us. I also ask you to please help us: help us to be good shepherds. Once I read something very beautiful on how the People of God help the bishops and priests to be good shepherds. It is a writing of St Caesarius of Arles, a Father of the first centuries of the Church. He explained how the People of God must help the pastor, and he gave this example: when a calf is hungry it goes to the cow, its mother, to get milk. The cow, however, does not give it right away: it seems that she withholds it. And what does the calf do? It knocks with its nose at the cow’s udder, so that the milk will come. It is a beautiful image! “So also you must be with your pastors”, this saint said: always knock at their door, at their hearts, that they may give you the milk of doctrine, the milk of grace and the milk of guidance.
And I ask you, please, bother the pastors, disturb the pastors, all of us pastors, so that we might give you the milk of grace, doctrine and guidance. Bother them! Think of that beautiful image of the little calf, how it bothers its mother so that she might give it something to eat.
In imitation of Jesus, every pastor “will sometimes go before his people, pointing the way and keeping their hope vibrant. At other times, he will simply be in their midst with his unassuming and merciful presence. At yet other times, he will have to walk after them, helping those who lag behind” (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, n. 31). May all pastors be so! But you must bother your pastors so that they may provide the guidance of doctrine and grace.
This Sunday is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. In this year’s Message I recalled that “every vocation, even within the variety of paths, always requires an exodus from oneself in order to centre one’s life on Christ and on his Gospel” (n. 2). Therefore, the call to follow Jesus is both exciting and challenging. In order that it may be realized, it is always necessary to enter into deep friendship with the Lord in order to live from Him and for Him.
Let us pray that also, in these times, many young people may hear the voice of the Lord, which is always in danger of being suffocated by the clamour of other voices. Let us pray for young people: perhaps there is someone here in the Square who hears the voice of the Lord calling him to the priesthood; let us pray for him, if he is here, and for all young people who are being called. I asked four of them from the Diocese of Rome to come forward and join me in giving the blessing. May Our Lady offer her help in support of those who are called by Him, that they may be ready and generous in following his voice.
Source : Text courtesy of the Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 206282446 - Pope's speech to the young. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Famed01
SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF POPE FRANCIS’ GROUNDBREAKING LETTER - LAUDATO SI’ - An excerpt from the Pope’s groundbreaking Encyclical.
V. CIVIC AND POLITICAL LOVE
228. Care for nature is part of a lifestyle which includes the capacity for living together and communion. Jesus reminded us that we have God as our common Father and that this makes us brothers and sisters. Fraternal love can only be gratuitous; it can never be a means of repaying others for what they have done or will do for us. That is why it is possible to love our enemies. This same gratuitousness inspires us to love and accept the wind, the sun and the clouds, even though we cannot control them. In this sense, we can speak of a “universal fraternity”.
229. We must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world, and that being good and decent are worth it. We have had enough of immorality and the mockery of ethics, goodness, faith and honesty. It is time to acknowledge that light-hearted superficiality has done us no good. When the foundations of social life are corroded, what ensues are battles over conflicting interests, new forms of violence and brutality, and obstacles to the growth of a genuine culture of care for the environment.
230. Saint Therese of Lisieux invites us to practise the little way of love, not to miss out on a kind word, a smile or any small gesture which sows peace and friendship. An integral ecology is also made up of simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness. In the end, a world of exacerbated consumption is at the same time a world which mistreats life in all its forms.
231. Love, overflowing with small gestures of mutual care, is also civic and political, and it makes itself felt in every action that seeks to build a better world. Love for society and commitment to the common good are outstanding expressions of a charity which affects not only relationships between individuals but also “macro-relationships, social, economic and political ones”.[156] That is why the Church set before the world the ideal of a “civilization of love”.[157] Social love is the key to authentic development: “In order to make society more human, more worthy of the human person, love in social life – political, economic and cultural – must be given renewed value, becoming the constant and highest norm for all activity”.[158] In this framework, along with the importance of little everyday gestures, social love moves us to devise larger strategies to halt environmental degradation and to encourage a “culture of care” which permeates all of society. When we feel that God is calling us to intervene with others in these social dynamics, we should realize that this too is part of our spirituality, which is an exercise of charity and, as such, matures and sanctifies us.
232. Not everyone is called to engage directly in political life. Society is also enriched by a countless array of organizations which work to promote the common good and to defend the environment, whether natural or urban. Some, for example, show concern for a public place (a building, a fountain, an abandoned monument, a landscape, a square), and strive to protect, restore, improve or beautify it as something belonging to everyone. Around these community actions, relationships develop or are recovered and a new social fabric emerges. Thus, a community can break out of the indifference induced by consumerism. These actions cultivate a shared identity, with a story which can be remembered and handed on. In this way, the world, and the quality of life of the poorest, are cared for, with a sense of solidarity which is at the same time aware that we live in a common home which God has entrusted to us. These community actions, when they express self-giving love, can also become intense spiritual experiences.
(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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