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“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1210022299 - PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - OCTOBER 13, 2018: The fresco of Ascension of Jesus in side apse of church kostel Svatého Václava by S. G. Rudl (1900). Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova
PASTOR’S POST - Uneasy Lies the Head.
I am yet to meet anyone who did not watch all, or some, of the Coronation ceremony of King Charles and Queen Camila. Some people actually sacrificed watching a winning game by the Redcliffe Dolphins and the final of Lego Masters just to see this once-in-a-generation event. I am yet to decide if I am a monarchist or a republican since I don’t completely understand either form of rule. Still, I can certainly say I like to see a grand event, and there is no denying the Westminster Abbey ceremony was grand in all senses of the word. Big music, big crowds, big security, big rituals and certainly big crowns (apparently, the King’s crown weighed 2.5 kilos – a hefty hat by any standards).
It would be too easy to be critical of the cost, the pomp, and the high-level liturgical symbolism just to formalise something that was already in place, but my hope is that viewers really listened to what was being said and what commitment Charles was actually making in this ceremony. I cannot help but remember the line from Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part II, “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”, meaning that large amounts of power or authority carry with them stress, worry and self-doubt. I used to envy members of the royal family who never had to wait in line at the supermarket or drive around looking for a park at crowded sporting events. I would imagine what shopping would be like when certain stores would open up just for me after hours, and theatres and art galleries would lure me to openings and offer me the best seat in the house.
I now feel quite shallow that I thought these things were important, while I forgot all the restrictions, expectations and close scrutiny that goes with the accident of birth for a member of the royal family.
When their every public moment is photographed, and every speech is analysed by the media, desperate for slip-ups that will make for salacious headlines. Having to be guarded about every comment and being studied by the public, who are so ready to accuse and criticise, in the hope that we will think they are just us, even though we really don’t want them to be as flawed as we believe we are. The Prince Harry and Megan debacle is a classic example.
I thought the coronation ceremony was a profound acknowledgement by those who gathered in the Abbey that as powerful as we can make a fellow human being, whatever status we assume or are given comes from the creator of human life. Charles acknowledged this on several occasions during the event and the anointing ritual, where he was stripped of all his kingly regalia, symbolising that God commissioned him as a servant to the people in his charge. His inclusion of other faith leaders in significant parts of the ceremony spoke loudly, to me at least, of not just tolerance but an embracing of the different paths we travel to get to the same destination. I felt the presence of God as being significantly present in what could have been turned into a secular event.
Of course, we are yet to see how humble this servant remains and how devoted to the commission by God. Still, King Charles now has millions of people ( I don’t like the word ‘subjects’, which seems so contrary to this new understanding of royal authority) who have witnessed his desire to serve rather than be served and will no doubt hold him to his intentions. How long Australia will remain as part of the Commonwealth community that he oversees is yet to unfold. Still, for the present, he is our King, and as such, deserves support and encouragement to do all he has promised and to be a reminder that God works through all people who choose to accept God’s guidance.
Fr Peter Dillon PP
Parish Volunteers needed to walk the journey!
Catechists - Sponsors - Support
Ring the Parish Office 56717388 to volunteer - thank you!
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: Anne Weatherburn, John Fisher, Delores Barrett (in Sydney), 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, 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: Mary O’Grady, Joe McDonagh, Madge Taheny, Catherine Mary Jill Bolger, Des Fox, John Marchmont, Robert Wasniowski, Bastiaantje (Jeanne) Monisse, Denise Welsh, Clement Tong, Debbie Pinard, Andy Kudus, Leo Anderson, Grant Steele, David Trebilco, Shane Vincent Hall, Rose Grima, Brian Mooney, Gregory Lemon, Albert Daly, Cecily Fury, Joyce Rosa Parisi, Douglas Glenn, Andrija Kudus, Kathleen Jeffords, Betty O’Connell.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: Arthur and Deran Swift, Theresia Johannes, Pauline Restall, Margaret Bell Boyle, Leonor Corazon, Brian Nolan, Maria Lucia Zervos, Irmgard (Joan) Graz, Judith Anne O'Connor, Clarita Lopez, Distony Lunandi, Mansour Soueidan, David John Falvey, Douglas Pierce Bates, Jack Arthur Hurley, John Zervos, Ronald Stanley Perry, Donald Hope Atkinson, Andreas Gandjar Lunandi, June Valeen Deane, Helen Dunn, Gerald Thomas O'Halloran, Keith Cumner, Vittorio Lanci, Basilo Micale, Mellie Modral, Sr Ursula Gabbett, Kevin Martin Murphy, Lucena Gabriel Liwag, Patricia Margaret Mary Levick, Fay Ardron, Adam Alfred McGuffie, Maurice John Hayes, Patricia Dorothy Helen Geor, June Therese Lewis, Dr Elaine Lillian Kluver.
And Also: Sr Mary Teresa (Swee Lian CHIA) ocd (Christchurch, NZ), Dorothy Fox, Patricia Bridge, Veronica Scarcella, John McGrath, Daphne Gabriel Paice, John Rawlings, Janina Kraus, Hans Gerhard Gringel, John Egan, Robert Brian Butler, John Joseph Chappell, Lilian Elizabeth Cheetham, Nancy Denaro, Ross Patrick Hickey, Benjamin Gary Bayes, Thomas Hirst, Angel Dee Nipperess, Karen Ann Tansey, Deris Howell, Jean Georges Rabbath, Patricia Connaghan.
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES
Holy Communion gifts are still available in our shops.
The May edition of the Catholic Leader available in the churches
Counting the days to World Youth Day in Lisbon
Pope Francis urges all Catholics to examine their conscience each day
Recipe of the month - St Joseph the Worker Lamb Stew
Number of Catholics falling but flock is more diversified
The Contemplative Women’s Group
“Sinking into the Feminine Divine” is an initiative of Burleigh Heads Catholic Parish, open to all women who may be interested in exploring contemplative experiences with other interested women. We meet informally and in quietude on the 4th Saturday of each month in Mary Mother of Mercy Church, 3 Sunlight Drive, Burleigh Waters, from 1.30pm – 3.30pm. We gather with a simple prayer and ritual, brief input, and then enter into around 45 minutes of silent contemplation and reflection. Resources are supplied. We then round off our time with a very simple supplied afternoon tea, sharing story as people choose to, and closing prayer. In this month of May, we will be walking with Julian of Norwich. Saturday 27th May, 1.30-3.30pm. Come join us as we walk the contemplative journey together.
For information please contact Sue Thomas sue@suethomas.net.au
Catholic Mission is Hiring- applications close 31/5/23
Catholic Mission - Donor Relations Officers (full-time, based in Brisbane and supporting dioceses in QLD.
Applications close on Wednesday 31 May 2023.
For more information regarding the role, pls visit our website below.
https://www.catholicmission.org.au/jobs-at-catholic-mission
HISPANIC (LATINO AMERICAN) COMMUNITY
Are happy to announce that Mass will now be celebrated every Sunday evening, 5:30pm at St Vincent’s Catholic Church, 40 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise. Our celebrant is Fr. Syrilus Madin. The Gold Coast contact: Juan Arrieta 0406 705 349
SPCL - MORNING TEA FOR CANCER
Surfers Paradise Catholic Ladies invite you to join them in a morning tea to raise funds for Cancer on Saturday the 20th of May 2023 from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm. Venue – “Hospitality Centre” Ticket $30 per person. Tables of 8 are available.
Please make this a Parish Contribution to Cancer. Phone Maxine Sela at 0421051193, or Wendy Webb at 0412237832 to book your tickets by the 12th of May.
BIBLE STUDY
The Bible Study/Prayer Group at St Vincent’s Church - 40 Hamilton Avenue Surfers Paradise.
on a Friday evening is in abeyance until October. Further 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-
22/5/2023 Nardine & Eyline Merrimac
29/5/2023 Nardine & Eyline Merrimac
5/6/2023 Rachael & Kermal Broadbeach
12/6/2023 Rachael & Kermal Broadbeach
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, please arrive by 10.30 am to prepare adequately for class). For more information, call Ruth on 0421338110.
MARIAN VALLEY PILGRIMAGE:
Please join us at the Marian Valley for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on 13.06.2023. The bus will pick 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 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.
SEVEN PRIORITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BRISBANE -
LAMPS ABLAZE: The Seven Apostolic Priorities of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane, from 2023 onwards. (Part six of a series).
The Ascension of the Lord
Priority: Implementing Integral Ecology
(Acts 1:1 - 11, Psalm 46:2 – 3, 6 - 9, Eph 1:17 - 23, John 14:15-21)
Consider for a moment the following question: why does the Church exist? We might rephrase the question and ask, what is the Church’s mission? On this Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, the Gospel reading provides us with an answer. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus says, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations.” What is the Church’s mission? To make disciples of Jesus. Recent Popes have continued to remind us of this central mission. Pope Paul VI said that the Church “exists in order to evangelize” (EN 14), and Pope Francis wrote that “in all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to evangelise” (EG 28). If the Church exists to make disciples, we must consider what is a disciple and how we make disciples. This is interconnected with the sixth apostolic priority: Implementing Integral Ecology.
Archbishop Mark writes:
Natural and human ecology interact in mysterious and unmistakable ways. To interfere with one is to interfere with the other; to promote the good of one is to promote the good of the other. Fratelli Tutti (a recent Papal Encyclical) focuses more on human ecology in speaking of the radical interconnectedness of all human beings at a moment when alienation and polarisation are making disconnectedness seem the norm. The Church is called in such a moment to be a sign of contradiction, speaking in a way that rises above politics and economics so that a genuinely biblical and Christian voice can be heard.
1. What is a Disciple? The first and second readings provide us with insights into what it means to be a disciple. In the first reading, we see that the disciples had a personal relationship with Jesus. They didn’t just know him, they also followed him and allowed him to transform their lives. This is a challenge to all of us. Do we have a personal relationship with Jesus? Do we follow Jesus? Do we allow Jesus to transform our lives?
In this same reading, Jesus promises a baptism with the Holy Spirit, a prophecy fulfilled at Pentecost. To be a disciple is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This happens for each of us firstly in baptism, but then in confirmation, the sacrament which “perpetuates the grace of Pentecost” (Pope Paul VI) and empowers us for our mission. Beyond this, St Paul reminds us to “be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Eph 5:18-19).
The second reading provides further insight into the work of the Spirit which enables us to see God, ourselves and the earth with a new vision. With hearts enlightened by the Spirit we are able to see the immeasurable greatness of God, the wonder and dignity of every person as being made in the image of God, and the beauty and majesty of the earth, which shouts of the glory of God. Hearts enlightened by the Spirit “realise that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (Laudato Si, 49). It is the encounter with Jesus that inspires the love of God, each other and creation.
2. So how can we make more disciples?
The Australian census data indicates that the fastest growing ‘religion’ in our Country is that cohort of people who identify as having ‘no religion’. Given the decline of Christianity in the West, making disciples can be somewhat of a challenge! To help us see the way forward, it can be helpful to consider an analogy from nature.
What is the fruit of an apple tree? Typically we think of apples as the fruit of an apple tree, but if we think a little deeper, we find that it’s not only apples but apple trees that are the fruit of apple trees! If it were merely apples that were the fruit of apple trees, we’d only have ever had one apple tree and a very small number of apples! It is the fact that apple trees multiply that provides a multitude of apples. And here lies the wisdom of the apple tree…
What is the fruit of a disciple? We might immediately think of the fruits of the Spirit, various good works, and charitable acts, but the fruit of the disciple is more disciples. When Jesus called his disciples, he said he’d make them fishers of people. In the Gospel today, he calls his disciples to go and do just that – to make disciples! Each of us, all the baptised, are called and commissioned to make more disciples. This means sharing the joy of our encounter with Jesus with others. It means introducing others to Jesus and encouraging others to allow Jesus to begin to transform their lives. Making disciples means walking in the empowerment of the Spirit received in confirmation to courageously share our faith, hope and love with others. This is not about proselytising. Jesus never coerced anyone to follow him. It is instead an invitation to others that begins with sharing the joy found in the enlightened heart that can see the immeasurable greatness of God, the wonder of God’s image upon every human person, and the fingerprints of God on all of creation.
Conclusion
Today, our Lord calls each of us to go on mission, but let us first consider our own journey as a disciple of Jesus. Have we personally encountered Jesus, and have we allowed Jesus the freedom to move in our hearts and transform our lives? Are we walking in the grace of our baptism and the empowerment of the Spirit received in confirmation? Let us first ask Jesus to lead us again, guide us, and help us on our journey as his disciple.
Secondly, let us consider the mission Jesus has given to us to make disciples of others. Who has God placed in your life whom you could share your faith with? Who might you begin to pray for? Who might you invite back to Mass?
Finally, in light of implementing integral ecology, let us pray that as we help others encounter Jesus, the Spirit would enlighten hearts to see the interconnectedness of all of creation in order that conversion to Christ also leads to an ecological conversion that transforms hearts and minds toward a greater love of God, each other and creation.
“LAMPS ABLAZE” - TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL DOCUMENT - PLEASE VISIT THIS LINK: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oVNiTRAhQn_5aTDZ9mo2dDh9bGeqxewL/view
A VOCATION VIEW:
Through His death, resurrection and ascension, Christ showed us the path to eternal life. Know that the Lord is with you always, through your struggles and triumphs, and that he will hear your prayers.
To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP - “I am praying for them…”JOHN 17:9
Prayer is the foundation of our Faith and Stewardship. Prayer is always the first best option in any situation - not just our last resort. Pray for friends and family, especially those who don’t treat you very well. Pray to give praise, thank, and ask God for help. Pray to see what God wants you to do with the gifts He has given you. Teach others how to pray. It has been said that teaching someone how to pray is the best gift you can give someone.
The vision of Stewardship speaks in every aspect of life, inviting everyone to be thankful, generous and accountable for what each has been given.
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH - Consume media with care
He couldn't have foreseen the technological advances the 21st century would bring. Yet in 1967, Pope Saint Paul VI appreciated the need for a World Communications Day. He established the Sunday before Pentecost as an annual reflection on the opportunities and challenges of presenting the gospel message to a global society. The press, movies, radio, and television all commanded great attention in his generation. The internet and cell phones exponentially increase the range today. What are we saying and absorbing through all these media? Be a discerning steward of words and images. "The words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them." (John 17:6-12). SIGN UP FOR "TAKE FIVE" DAILY ww.takefiveforfaith.com/subscribe.
THIS WEEKEND’S GOSPEL - MISSION AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
The disciples receive their mission in Galilee, a marginalised region, close to the pagan world and, as a result, an area viewed with contempt by the practising Jews of Judea where Jerusalem is located. The proclamation of the gospel starts from an insignificant and despised land. This is not just a matter of geography; it is highly significant. It serves as an example. For us today, Galilee is the world of the poor and the marginalised. This is our starting place to proclaim the gospel to everyone without exception. We will do that with the conviction that the Lord will always be with us (Mt 28:20).-
“The Ascension of Christ is his liberation from all restrictions of time and space. It does not represent his removal from earth, but his constant presence everywhere on earth.” (William Temple).[i] That is, Christ is now present and active in the world in a new and even more effective way-- freed from the limitations of being merely in a particular place at a particular time only. (ii)
There is a cartoon that I found (below):
I feel that this cartoon really sums up the heart of God’s invitation to us all; an invitation for us to participate fully in his life and in his love.(*) I remember a similar cartoon from the Charles Shultz series, The Peanuts Gang” (from many years ago)… I think it was Linus and Lucy sitting on a hill looking at the sunset… and Lucy asks. “Why did God allow people to be hungry and poor? Why doesn’t he do something about it?” To which Linus replies.. “he DID do something about it. He asked US to go and help them, and we didn't" !!!
And similarly, this story: … “A woman saw a little girl in the street playing in the midst of filthy rubbish. The child was poorly dressed and ill-nourished. The woman became angry and said to God: "Why do you let things like that happen in the world you created? Why don't you do something about it?"
- To this question, God replied gently but firmly: "I did do something about it; I created you."
That story invites me to ask myself: How seriously do I take Jesus' command to transform our world into the kind of place God created it to be?”[iii]
In this gospel we have heard today….. it is Galilee which is the main setting of Jesus' preaching, a subtle touch seeking to emphasise the identity between the historical Jesus and the risen Christ. The encounter is very simple. There are no dramatic elements to make this moment spectacular. It is our Lord and master, continuing to teach and instruct.[iv] (The message of Christ and his gospel is spectacular enough in itself).
The disciples receive their mission in Galilee, a marginalised region close to the pagan world and, as a result, an area viewed with contempt by the practising Jews of Judea, where Jerusalem is located. The proclamation of the gospel starts from an insignificant and despised land. This is not just a matter of geography; it is highly significant. It serves as an example. For us today, Galilee is the world of the poor and the marginalised. This is our starting place to proclaim the gospel to everyone without exception. We will do that with the conviction that the Lord will always be with us (Mt 28:20).[v]
REFERENCES: Fr Paul W. Kelly; [i] VISION – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR A. BY MARK LINK S.J. P.154; [ii] Cartoon by the late Joel Kauffmann: https://anabaptistworld.org/tag/pontius-puddle/ ; [iii] VISION – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR A. BY MARK LINK S.J. P.154; [iv] SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ. p.107; [v] SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.p. 108
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 148013489 - VIENNA - JULY 27: Fresco of Ascension of the Lord in the nave of Altlerchenfelder church from 19. cent. on July 27, 2013, in Vienna. -Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova
To listen to the Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Also found at - https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk
St Bernadine of Siena
“Whenever the divine favour chooses someone to receive a special grace or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfil the task at hand.”
“The name of Jesus is, in fact, the great foundation of the faith that turns people into children of God. The Catholic Faith, indeed, consists in the news of Jesus Christ, as the light of the soul, gate of life and foundation of eternal salvation.”
“The Name of Jesus is the glory of preachers because the shining splendour of that Name causes His word to be proclaimed and heard. And how do you think such an immense, sudden and dazzling light of faith came into the world if not because Jesus was preached? Was it not through this Name's brilliance and sweet savour that God called us into His marvellous light?”
“The last degree of love is when He gave Himself to us to be our Food; because He gave Himself to be united with us in every way.”
“Let Mary never be far from your lips and from your heart. Following her, you will never lose your way. Praying to her, you will never sink into despair. Contemplating her, you will never go wrong.”
St Christopher Magallanes & Companions
Mexican Martyr. ““I am innocent and die innocent. I absolve with all my heart those who seek my death and ask God that my blood bring peace to a divided Mexico.” The priests absolved each other, spoke some few words of comfort, and then were shot to death by a firing squad of fellow Mexicans in soldiers’ uniforms. Father Caloca’s last words were: “For God we lived, and for Him we died.”
Our Lady Help of Christians
(from quotes by Saint John Bosco, on Our Lady Help of Christians). "[Referring to the many favours Mary, Help of Christians granted to people]
“... I am not aware that anyone prayed in vain. Spiritual and temporal favours, more or less extraordinary, always resulted from praying to our most merciful Mother, the mighty Help of Christians."
"It is Our Lady’s own wish that we call upon Her as ‘Mary, Help of Christians’."
O Mary, powerful Virgin, Thou art the mighty and glorious protector of the Church; Thou art the marvellous ‘Help of Christians’; Thou art terrible as an army in battle array; Thou alone hast destroyed every heresy in the whole world. In the midst of our struggles, our anguish, and our distress, defend us from the power of the enemy and at the hour of death, receive our souls into Paradise. Amen." "[A prayer written by Don Bosco in honour of Mary, Help of Christians]
"Our Lady wishes us now to honour Her, especially under the title of ‘Help of Christians’. In these evil days, we need Her help."
"Our Lady, Help of Christians, will be the Foundress and perpetual Protectress of all our works."
"We owe many great debts of gratitude to Mary, Help of Christians. What we are and what we have done, we owe to Her."
"If we could but lift a veil and show you the graces that have been granted to those dedicated to Her, we could intone a magnificent hymn in honour of the mighty Virgin, Help of Christians! [1884]"
Bede the Venerable
“He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbour.”
“Unfurl the sails, and let God steer us where He will.”
“The ultimate mystery of being, the ultimate Truth, is Love. This is the essential structure of reality. When Dante spoke of the 'love which moves the sun and the other stars, he was not using a metaphor but was describing the nature of reality. There is in Being an infinite desire to give itself in love, and this gift of Self in love is forever answered by a return of love....and so the rhythm of the universe is created.”
“While the Coliseum stands, Rome shall stand; when the Coliseum falls, Rome shall fall; when Rome falls, the world shall fall.”
“I was no longer the centre of my life and therefore I could see God in everything.”
“Christ is the Morning Star, who, when the night of this world is past, gives to his saints the promise of the light of life, and opens everlasting day.”
“No man taketh away sins (which the law, though holy, just and good, could not take away), but He in whom there is no sin.”
“I have devoted my energies to the study of the scriptures, observing monastic discipline, and singing the daily services in church; study, teaching, and writing have always been my delight.”
“The inspiration came suddenly again to surrender to the Mother. It was quite unexpected: And so somehow, I made a surrender to the Mother. Then I had an experience of overwhelming love. Waves of love sort of flowed into me.”
“I think the Mother is gradually revealing itself to me and taking over. But it is not the Mother alone. It is the Mother and the Father, the male and the female, sort of gradually having their marriage.”
“All the ways of this world are as fickle and unstable as a sudden storm at sea.”
“I am my own secretary; I dictate, I compose, I copy all myself.”
“And I pray thee, loving Jesus, that as Thou has graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of Thy knowledge, so Thou wouldst mercifully grant me to attain one day to Thee, the fountain of all wisdom and to appear forever before Thy face.”
Gregory VII
It is the custom of the Roman Church which I unworthily serve with the help of God, to tolerate some things, to turn a blind eye to some, following the spirit of discretion rather than the rigid letter of the law.
I have loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore I die in exile.
(Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/pope-gregory-vii-quotes)
St Mary Magdelene de’ Pazzi
Trials are nothing else but the forge that purifies the soul of all its imperfections.
You will be consoled according to the greatness of your sorrow and affliction; the greater the suffering, the greater will be the reward.
O Sisters, if we would only comprehend the fact that while the Eucharistic Species remain within us, Jesus is there and working in us inseparably with the Father and the Holy Spirit and therefore the whole Holy Trinity is there.
I do not desire to die soon, because in Heaven there is no suffering. I desire to live a long time because I yearn to suffer much for the love of my Spouse.
Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that if he wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you strength.
A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one.
The best way to prepare for death is to spend every day of life as though it were the last.
Do not grieve over the temptations you suffer. When the Lord intends to bestow a particular virtue on us, He often permits us first to be tempted by the opposite vice. Therefore, look upon every temptation as an invitation to grow in a particular virtue and a promise by God that you will be successful if only you stand fast.
There is nothing the devil fears so much, or so much tries to hinder, as prayer.
First, let a little love find entrance into their hearts, and the rest will follow.
We are not saints yet, but we, too, should beware. Uprightness and virtue do have their rewards, in self-respect and in respect from others, and it is easy to find ourselves aiming for the result rather than the cause. Let us aim for joy, rather than respectability. Let us make fools of ourselves from time to time, and thus see ourselves, for a moment, as the all-wise God sees us.
The cross is the gift God gives to his friends.
To preserve our cheerfulness amid sicknesses and troubles is a sign of a right and good spirit.
He who wishes for anything but Christ does not know what he wishes; he who asks for anything but Christ does not know what he is asking; he who works, and not for Christ, does not know what he is doing.
The Lord grants in a moment what we may have been unable to obtain in dozens of years.
My Jesus, if you uphold me, I shall not fall.
The best remedy for dryness of spirit is to picture ourselves as beggars in the presence of God and the Saints, and like a beggar, to go first to one saint. To another, to ask spiritual alms of them with the same earnestness as a poor fellow in the streets would ask an alms of us.
Humility is the safeguard of chastity. In the matter of purity, there is no greater danger than not fearing the danger. For my part, when I find a man secure in himself and without fear, I give him up for lost. I am less alarmed for one who is tempted and who resists by avoiding the occasions than for one who is not tempted and is not careful to avoid occasions. When a person puts himself in an occasion, saying, I shall not fall, it is an almost infallible sign that he will fall, and with great injury to his soul.
Christian joy is a gift of God flowing from a good conscience.
He who is unable to spend a long time together in prayer should often lift up his mind to God through short prayers.
Philip Neri
We must sometimes bear with little defects in others, as we have, against our will, to bear with natural defects in ourselves. If we wish to keep peace with our neighbour, we should never remind anyone of his natural defects.
The greatness of our love of God must be tested by the desire we have of suffering for His love.
We must often remember what Christ said, that not he who begins, but he that perseveres to the end, shall be saved.
My children, if you desire perseverance, be devout to our Blessed Lady.
Let us be humble and keep ourselves down: - Obedience! Humility! Detachment!
The great thing is to become Saints.
Where there is no great mortification, there is no great sanctity.
"If a man finds it very hard to forgive injuries, let him look at a Crucifix, and think that Christ shed all His Blood for him, and not only forgave His enemies, but even prayed to His Heavenly Father to forgive them also. Let him remember that when he says the Pater Noster, every day, instead of asking pardon for his sins, he is calling down vengeance on himself."
There is nothing more dangerous in the spiritual life than to wish to rule ourselves after our own way of thinking.
“God, in His promises to hear our prayers, is desirous to bestow Himself upon us; if you find anything better than Him, ask it, but if you ask anything beneath Him, you put an affront upon Him and hurt yourself, by preferring to Him, a creature which He created.
Pray in the spirit and sentiment of love, in which the royal prophet said to Him, ‘Thou, O Lord, are my portion.’ Let others choose to themselves, portions among creatures, for my part, You are my portion, You alone I have chosen for my whole inheritance.”
St Augustine of Canterbury (Died c 605) “The Apostle to the English”
You alone I have chosen for my whole inheritance.
“Ask God to lead you by Faith, Only God, seek only Him.”
“God alone!”
POPE FRANCIS:
At the Regina Coeli prayer in the Apostolic Library, Pope Francis reflected on the missionary mandate Jesus gave His disciples during their final meeting(Mt 28:16-20).
Jesus invests all who follow Him with the mission to all peoples, said the Pope.
“The contents of the mission entrusted to the Apostles are these: to proclaim, baptise, and teach how to walk the path traced out by the Master, that is, the Gospel.”“The contents of the mission entrusted to the Apostles are these: to proclaim, baptise, and teach how to walk the path traced out by the Master, that is, the Gospel.”
Courageous witnesses:
Pope Francis said the message of salvation requires Christians to be witnesses “to explain why we believe.”
He added that we will surely feel inadequate when faced with such a daunting task, as the Apostles undoubtedly felt before us.
But “we must not be discouraged, remembering the words Jesus addressed to them before ascending to Heaven: ‘I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ ”, the Pope said.
Constant, consoling presence:
Jesus thus promising to remain with us always, in the constant and consoling presence of the Holy Spirit.
“That Spirit, sent by Christ and the Father, works the remission of sins and sanctifies all those who are repentant and open themselves with confidence to His gift.”
Pope Francis said Jesus’s presence among us as the Risen One is revealed: “in the Word, in the Sacraments, and in the constant and interior action of the Holy Spirit.”
“The Feast of the Ascension,” he noted, “tells us that Jesus, although He ascended to Heaven to dwell gloriously at the right hand of the Father, is still and is always among us: this is the source of our strength, our perseverance and our joy.”
Gentleness and courage
In conclusion, the Pope asked the Virgin Mary to accompany our journey with her maternal protection.
“From her, may we learn the gentleness and courage to be witnesses in the world of the Risen Lord.”
Image Credit- Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Vector ID: 2285846983 - Pope Francis AND the Catholic Church and the mercy of God. Vector Contributor: doom.ko
SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF POPE FRANCIS’ GROUNDBREAKING LETTER - LAUDATO SI’ - An excerpt from the Pope’s groundbreaking Encyclical.
(final section)
VIII. QUEEN OF ALL CREATION
241. Mary, the Mother who cared for Jesus, now cares with maternal affection and pain for this wounded world. Just as her pierced heart mourned the death of Jesus, so now she grieves for the sufferings of the crucified poor and for the creatures of this world laid waste by human power. Completely transfigured, she now lives with Jesus, and all creatures sing of her fairness. She is the Woman, “clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev 12:1). Carried up into heaven, she is the Mother and Queen of all creation. In her glorified body, together with the Risen Christ, part of creation has reached the fullness of its beauty. She treasures the entire life of Jesus in her heart (cf. Lk 2:19,51), and now understands the meaning of all things. Hence, we can ask her to enable us to look at this world with eyes of wisdom.
242. At her side in the Holy Family of Nazareth stands the figure of Saint Joseph. Through his work and generous presence, he cared for and defended Mary and Jesus, delivering them from the violence of the unjust by bringing them to Egypt. The Gospel presents Joseph as a just man, hard-working and strong. But he also shows great tenderness, which is not a mark of the weak but of those who are genuinely strong, fully aware of reality and ready to love and serve in humility. That is why he was proclaimed custodian of the universal Church. He, too, can teach us how to show care; he can inspire us to work with generosity and tenderness in protecting this world that God has entrusted to us.
IX. BEYOND THE SUN
243. At the end, we will find ourselves face to face with the infinite beauty of God (cf. 1 Cor 13:12), and be able to read with admiration and happiness the mystery of the universe, which with us will share in unending plenitude. Even now, we are journeying towards the sabbath of eternity, the new Jerusalem, towards our common home in heaven. Jesus says: “I make all things new” (Rev 21:5). Eternal life will be a shared experience of awe, in which each creature, resplendently transfigured, will take its rightful place and have something to give those poor men and women who will have been liberated once and for all.
244. In the meantime, we come together to take charge of this home which has been entrusted to us, knowing that all the good which exists here will be taken up into the heavenly feast. In union with all creatures, we journey through this land seeking God, for “if the world has a beginning and if it has been created, we must enquire who gave it this beginning, and who was its Creator”.[172] Let us sing as we go. May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.
245. God, who calls us to generous commitment and to give him our all, offers us the light and the strength needed to continue on our way. In the heart of this world, the Lord of life, who loves us so much, is always present. He does not abandon us, and he does not leave us alone, for he has united himself definitively to our earth, and his love constantly impels us to find new ways forward. Praise be to him!
246. At the conclusion of this lengthy reflection which has been both joyful and troubling, I propose that we offer two prayers. First, we can share with all who believe in a God who is the all-powerful Creator, while in the other we Christians ask for inspiration to take up the commitment to creation set before us by the Gospel of Jesus.
A prayer for our earth
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, and to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.
A Christian prayer in union with creation
Father, we praise you with all your creatures. They came forth from your all-powerful hand; they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love. Praise be to you!
Son of God, Jesus, through you, all things were made. You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother, you became part of this earth, and you gazed upon this world with human eyes. Today you are alive in every creature in your risen glory. Praise be to you!
Holy Spirit, by your light you guide this world towards the Father’s love and accompany creation as it groans in travail. You also dwell in our hearts and you inspire us to do what is good. Praise be to you!
Triune Lord, you are the wondrous community of infinite love, teach us to contemplate you in the beauty of the universe, for all things speak of you. Awaken our praise and thankfulness for every being that you have made. Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined to everything that is.
God of love, show us our place in this world as channels of your love for all the creatures of this earth, for not one of them is forgotten in your sight. Enlighten those who possess power and money so that they may avoid the sin of indifference, that they may love the common good, advance the weak, and care for this world in which we live. The poor and the earth are crying out. O Lord, seize us with your power and light, help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming of your Kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty. Praise be to you! Amen.
Given in Rome at Saint Peter’s on 24 May, the Solemnity of Pentecost, in the year 2015, the third of my Pontificate.
Franciscus (Pope Francis I)
Commitment To Child Safety and Vulnerable-Adult Safety
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Acknowledgement of Country - This is Kombumerri Country - The Traditional Custodians of this region.
We respectfully acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First People of this country. We pay our respects to the Kombumerri people, who are the traditional custodians of the land, waterways and seas upon which we live, work and socialise throughout this Catholic Parish of Surfers Paradise. We acknowledge Elders, past and present and emerging, as they hold our Indigenous people's memories, traditions, culture and hopes. We pay tribute to those who have contributed to the community's life in many ways. We affirm our commitment to justice, healing, and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. (see further: The Kombumerri People and https://kombumerritogetherproject.com/digital-resources/yugambeh-language/)
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