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“He has risen! He is not here.” (Mark 16)
A BLESSED AND HAPPY EASTER TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Image Credit- (to the left), Artwork by Rodney Anthony a Gold Coast - 2024
NEXT SUNDAY 7th April - (The Second Sunday of Easter) - IS DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY- SPECIAL PROGRAM - Adoration and Prayer and benediction, followed by an opportunity for the First Rite of Reconciliation. 2.15 pm- 3.30 pm - Sacred Heart Church 7/4/24 - All Welcome
PASTOR’S POST
Christ is Risen, as he said. Happy Easter!
The journey from Lent through Holy Week to Easter Sunday is complete. We now enter a wonderful time called the Easter season, where the mysteries and meaning of Jesus’ Resurrection and the beginnings of the ministry of Jesus’ disciples are more fully meditated upon. Jesus' message concerns service, self-sacrifice, forgiveness, unconditional love, inclusion, and LOVE. The empty tomb and the revelation of Jesus as risen are eternal statements of God’s complete faithfulness.
God is faithful, and God is with us through all things. God is with us in our joys and successes. God is with us in our failures and stumbling. God is with us through even the most unimaginable tragedy and suffering. And God will have the last word in our lives and our ongoing value. God will never abandon us, and God will indeed raise us to new life in many ways (during these earthly years) and ultimately raise us to eternal life with Christ in the next life. God is faithful to all his promises. God can and does make new beginnings in big and small ways in our daily lives, too.
May this Easter be a time of joy and thanksgiving. May it refresh us to go out into the world and back to our homes, workplaces, and social gatherings and fully live the message and meaning of Jesus’ gospel and God’s eternal faithfulness to us.
“I . . . have faith in the cross . . . as the revelation of the"way" or the "path " of transformation, as the revelation of the depth of God’s love for us, and as the proclamation of radical grace.” — (Marcus J. Borg, The Heart of Christianity)
“Every day, do something that won’t compute. Love the Lord. Love the world. . . . Be joyful as you have considered all the facts. (Wendell Berry)
Fr Paul
NEXT SUNDAY 7th April - (The Second Sunday of Easter) - IS DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY- SPECIAL PROGRAM - Adoration and Prayer and benediction, followed by an opportunity for the First Rite of Reconciliation. 2.15 pm- 3.30 pm - Sacred Heart Church 7/4/24 - All Welcome
No stranger to suffering
A message from John Hodgson CSsR, (Provincial of the Redemptorists of Oceania)
"Don't be alarmed," the angel said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him." Easter Vigil. (Easter Vigil Gospel)
It was the evening on the first Sunday of Lent, close to the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and at the conclusion of Mass, I offered parishioners an Anointing of the Sick. Afterwards I was asked to anoint an elderly parishioner who was ill at home.
Early next morning I found her small cottage. As I came into the yard, I was surprised by the array of flowers blooming prodigiously in garden beds and pots - geranium, marigold, zinnia, pansy, petunia. It was a canopy of colour, shimmering with life, flavour, scent and surprise. I imagined the ancient Hanging Gardens of Babylon looked something like this and I stood awhile in admiration before knocking.
The door was already open, and I ventured inside. Madge was sitting in the lounge, and to me, she was in pain, as she leaned to one side to avoid pressing her backbone into the chair.
“I’m sorry I can’t get up," she said politely and sincerely with a smile. "Next time I’ll greet you with a cuppa in the garden.”
I commented that I found her garden so mesmerising.
“The flowers speak to me," she said, “and whether I have a tough day or a good day, I wander out into the garden and my mood is lifted. It’s my sanctuary; my little place to talk with God.”
“What do you talk about?" I asked, already captivated by her openness.
“How good my life is, how wonderful my children and grandchildren are, how much I enjoy life despite missing my husband so much.” She laughed. “Bill passed away just a few months ago and left me with shingles on my back! That’s the reward you get for being married for 60 years!”
I stopped to soak in this engaging, intelligent and delightful woman carrying her shingles and her grief so tenderly. As I looked around, the lounge walls were filled with photographs of family including portraits of what I anticipated were Madge’s five children.
“Tell me about your children,” I asked.
“This one is Kevin, my firstborn. He had a rare disease from birth and passed away when he was only two. It was terrible being a young parent and feeling so helpless,” she said.
“I learned to garden at that time, and it taught me how to see life differently. I would plant seeds, take care of them, and wait until they flowered. They filled me with joy for weeks and then fell over with the frost. And I would start again and try different things. There’s a beautiful healing in the garden. It keeps reminding me to hope and the colours just sing with joy.”
My heart opened in empathy. “And your second child?” I asked.
“That’s Michael. He was engaged, and the wedding was all arranged, but for some reason, it didn’t happen and he went into a deep depression and took his own life. He was a gentle soul, and the rejection was just too much.”
I paused in admiration at this woman carrying her deep pain so firmly and somewhat courageously without bitterness.
Next was a photo of a young woman with a beautiful smile surrounded by children. “That’s Susan with her children,” Madge said. “She gave us our first grandchildren. Sadly, she married an alcoholic husband who murdered her in a fit of rage. Those poor children grew up without a mother.
My eyes and body collapsed with disbelief, amazement and awe as I struggled to take in what was being said. How can anyone carry so much pain with such dignity? Where is her tender strength coming from?
“My other two are Cathy and Jenny and they are the most wonderful daughters,” she said. "They can’t do enough for me. They’ve been through so much and we sit together in the garden and talk over a cuppa.
“When the grandchildren were young, they would play around with the soil and plant seeds and take care of their own flower bed. That’s my garden of joy, my garden of hope and inspiration. It’s where I am so at peace. I think I’ve passed that gift on to my family! They have special flower beds in their own yard too.”
As I offered her Holy Communion and an Anointing of the Sick, it was I who had received communion and been lovingly anointed by Madge. She was no stranger to suffering, but neither was she a prisoner to it and in the desert of grief she cultivated hope. She was entitled to harbour bitterness over all she lost: instead she nurtured gratitude for what she had. In the soil of emptiness, she planted abundance, and in the blossoming flowers, she heard the angel’s voice promising new beginnings.
I walked outside into her Easter Garden, released by hope, graced with awe and filled with joy. Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia.
John Hodgson CSsR (please visit www.Majellan.media)
Image: Shutterstock Licensed - Stock Illustration ID: 611893226 - Easter resurrection - empty tomb in a rock in the garden. Abstract artistic religious illustration in oil painting style. Illustration Contributor - Thoom.
GOOD FRIDAY COLLECTION - HOLY PLACES APPEAL
Thanks to everyone who donated to the annual collection for the church's support in the Holy Land will occur on Good Friday, March 29th. This collection promotes the missionary work of the Church in the Holy Land by providing welfare assistance to local Christians in areas such as health, education, employment, housing, parishes and orphanages. It is also used to maintain over 70 churches and shrines associated with the life of Jesus.
Due to the ongoing war, the Church and people of the Holy Land still struggle with reduced income due to fewer pilgrims and lower church attendance worldwide.
In 2023, Australian Catholics were once again extremely generous, and we were able to send nearly $1.4 million to the Holy Land [$1.4 million (2022), $1,126,098 (2021), $406,023 (2020), and $1.3 million (2019)].
The Holy Land mission will continue to face challenges financially and spiritually. So, we again ask Catholics worldwide to be as generous as possible with their financial and spiritual support.
Please remember the Christians of the Holy Land on Good Friday. Thank you.
The Commissariat transfers the Collection to the Holy Land in the latter half of the year (or earlier if requested). The annual statement is closed in mid-December, and late receipts from dioceses or parishes are credited to the collection for the following year.
Papal Decrees direct that the entire Holy Land (Good Friday) Collection is to be used for the Holy Land and divided between the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and the Latin Patriarchate (35%) and the Custody of the Holy Land (65%). The Responsibilities of the Custody of the Holy Land are: Biblical Shrines, Schools, Parishes, 'Casa Nova' Guest Houses, Other religious centres, Orphanages and refuges, and Charitable programmes. Donate today to the Commissariat of the Holy Land in Australia and make a difference in the Holy Land. Donations to the Commissariat are received at 47 Victoria Street, Waverley NSW 2024 and acknowledged.
However, donations are not tax deductible. CALL TEL: +61 2 9369 9300
PROJECT COMPASSION FOR LENT -
(No reconciliations scheduled on Holy Saturday or Easter Weekend.)
To tune in to The Weekend Mass (the sound podcast), please regularly visit the link below to listen to the Mass (including the sermon) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish. Please see this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - (It is updated at intervals just before the following Sunday or Feastday - https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Also found at - https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
Thank you and Welcome to the Elect and Candidates who complete the journey of enquiry and faith this Easter 2024.
Catechumens – Kelly Friend, Cory Schumacher, Jacinta Andrews and her daughter Evie, Satoshi Tetsuo, seek Baptism.
Candidates – Wendy Tetsuo is seeking Full Communion with the Catholic Church through Confirmation and First Holy Communion, and
- Selina Moncrieff will be Confirmed and receive First Holy Communion
- Diana Vargas and Julian Rivers will be Confirmed.
We invite all Parishioners to pray for our Elect and Candidates this Easter as they come to know Jesus more deeply and join us each week to celebrate the Mass.
We ask for many blessings on all who journey in faith and offer our support and prayers for you and your families during this time.
On Monday, 26th February, the Sacramental Team emailed all families with children enrolled in Preparation for First Holy Communion 2024. If you have not received your email, please email Cathy Anderson andersoncm@bne.catholic.net.au.
To begin or continue the faith journey with your child, please use the information provided in the table below.
MASS TIMES: SURFERS PARADISE MASS TIMES
FAREWELL AND THANK YOU TO OUR CHURCH CAFE CONVENOR
We said farewell to Emma who has, for many years now, been the convenor of Coffee Culture at Sacred Heart Church. On behalf of the whole parish we thanked Emma for her wonderful care, her hospitality and smile, and for wonderful coffees, teas and delicious snacks. The Cafe is a wonderful venue for catching up. Our new convenor will be Chris Wilson. We welcome Chris and look forward to his hospitality in the cafe. God bless.
RELIGIOUS MUSIC - LOCAL ARTIST- MARGARET HATZIS
Music album - “A Girl of Love” was written for children and I am proud to announce its release on all streaming platforms. It features students from Star of the Sea singing the school song Margaret, retired Assistant Principal for Religious Education at St Vincents, wrote for them along with a few others. We thought you might like to hear the finished product. They were amazing! https://music.youtube.com/channel/UClFTmjA4_Bmf44XCj8a7oQw
Here are two of Margaret’s Lyric videos of songs on the album found on her YouTube channel @WMGMusic24. - One for Holy Week- Mary's journey to the Cross - I Will Walk With You
And another for St Patrick's Day - Trinity Song
NEW ARTWORK DONATED
Located at the back of the Sacrament Chapel.
Title: Wilpena Mass, the Flinders Ranges, South Australia, 2007.
Brian Mooney was an accomplished Irish-Australian artist and musician with over 60 years experience in the fine arts. He spoke of the painting:
"Easter Sunday, I was making my way through Wilpena and through a clearing noticed a congregation of people. Upon closer inspection I had stumbled across a late afternoon Easter mass. The priest wore clean white vestments and cloths and dusty worn boots. A kangaroo and its Joey, ‘local’ to the area also sat curiously watching the mass. The whole spectacle seemed quite surreal."
The painting was done in Egg Tempera, a long-lasting medium common in the classical in the European Medieval and Early renaissance period up to 1500. For example, most surviving panel paintings attributed to Michelangelo are done in egg tempera.
“TAP `N” GO CASHLESS DONATIONS -
AVAILABLE AT THE ENTRANCES OF THREE CHURCHES - tap once to donate $10, tap again (when it has re-set) for another $10, and so on.
Special note of thanks from Joan Miau.
Thank you to all the loving parishioners of their prayers and concern for me. I am deeply touched by their love and care. To you my most heartfelt thanks for your prayers. Sincerely in the Lord, Joan Miau.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: (Alphabetical)
Jack Barretto, Phil Bawden, Nellie Bellinger, Braganza Family, Kevin Brennan, Tim Brown, Margaret Buckingham, Camara Family, Diana Castro, Cecily Cellinan, King Charles III, Nadia Che, Doug Chester, Jo Clark, Leslie Clarke, Tina Conidi, Margaret & George Cook, Alfonso Covino, Shirley Croft, Geraldine Daniels, Nia Falekakala, John Fisher, Rosie May Fisher, Sally Gage, Lorraine Gallagher, Rachel Gooden, Fred Grioli, Jacob Haddad, Jenny Haines, Dion Herft, Lena Hiscock, Louise Holmes, Kim Ingram, Anna Janiek, Brian Johnson, Pat Jones, Leona Kelly, Marianne Kennedy, Kath Kiely, Betu Kim, Jan Kristenson, Krystal, Bob Lahey, Diane & Steve Land, Sue Langham, Patrick Joven de Leon, Nathan Lepp, Joseph Ah Lo, Sarina Losurdo, John Nathaniel Maher, Maria Manuela, Andrew McPherson, Phil McWilliam, Fabiola Menzs, Joanne Mooney, Maryann Moore, Hugh Morand, Michael & Lesley Murtagh, Joanna Muthu, Lynn Nunan, Denis Mullins, Stephen O’Brien, Peter O’Brien, Pat O’Hanlon, Natalie O’Reilly, Letty O’Sullivan, Joanne Parkes, Kay Pitman, Rachel Raines, Gus Reeves, Patricia Roberts, Rogelio Rodriguez, Bob Rogers, Felipe S Cataquiz (Senior), Thor Skjaerbaek, Kathy Stevens, Brenda Stewart, Jim Stewart, Rose Stewart, Betty Taylor, John Thomas, Baby Samuel Timothy, Leonardo Torcaso, Denise Tracey, Rick Murphy (USA), Karen Vestergard, Billy Webb, Lois Wood.
RECENTLY DECEASED: (Chronological - Most recent first):
Alan Taylor, John O’Hanlon, Alicia Celayh Jaureui, Phyllis Byrne, John Anthony Osbourne, Frank Alaba, Nola and John McDermott, Lionel Murphy, Rose Mary Booth-Crane, Noel Payne OAM, Graham William Gibbons, Teresa Teo, Laura (“Lara”) Aprile, Michael Francis Dooley, Louise Antoinette Levi, Erzsebet Rigo, Minnie Ware.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: (Alphabetical)
Paul Avery, Fr Peter Bacinskas, Fr Michael Barry, Lynn Maree Blond, Cynthia Maud Brennan, Annette Bryant, Jocelyn Cassels, Therese Mary Clift, Fr Patrick Costello, Fr William Daley, Betty Lorraine Egan, David Anthony Evans, Mons Henry FitzGerald, Justin Paul Fitzgerald, Fr Jim Hynes, Darko Janzekovic, Pope Saint (II) John-Paul, Fay Margaret Frances Lincoln, Beau Abraham Massey, Anthony Robert Meehan, Fr Gerard Nichol, Wayne Parsons, Olimpia Percuoco, Fr James Slyney, Graham Paul Whitehead Smith, Ramon (Baby) Solatan, Fr (SVD) Romo Servatius Subhaga, Cecilia Teresa White, Miriam Zarb.
And Also: (Alphabetical):
Vizma Mudite Barrett, Patricia Mary Bartlett, Peter Wayne Borg, Fr Patrick Brady, Pamela Barry (Pam) Braithwaite, John Lawrence (Brewy) Brew, Carmelo Camilleri, Helma Martina Anna van Camp, Desmond Robert Castle, Mary Cooper, Linley Gordon Dean, Josephine Desira, Connie Devlin, Jessie Veronica (Veronica) Dolan, Barry Edwards, Brian Anthony Fawell, Patricia Brigid Flanagan, Ben Thomas Hamlett, Marie Therese Haney, Gerald Peter Henderson, Ricardo Joseph Herft, Joyce Hunt, Fr William Kenny, Franciska Knap, Rufina Lim, Ignatius Mathews, Giuseppa Mauceri, Glen Anthony (Tony) McLeod, Catherine Mitchell, Murray Mortaruolo, Fr John Nee, Peter John O’Neill, Eileen Sarah Rainsbury, Angela Raiti, Alexander Redler, Iris Scharenguivel, Byron Schreiber, Hans Schroeder, Beverley Anne “Kate” Sheehy, John Donelly Shiels, Malcolm Thompson, Pietro Ulliana, Ted Wales, Peter Winks, Alfred John Serafim Zerafa.
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 and speedily 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 go 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. Please help us service the region effectively and help prevent delays in response by calling the nearest parish.
Robina Hospital - Burleigh Heads Parish. 5576 6466
Pindara Hospital - Surfers Paradise Parish. 56717388
John Flynn Hospital - Coolangatta-Tugun Parish. 5598 2165
University & Gold Coast Private Hosp.- Southport Parish. 5510 2222
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER MASS AND SERVICE SCHEDULE
Our Easter timetable is as follows:
HOLY SATURDAY: (March 30th 2024)
5 pm Full Vigil Mass with Baptism of Adults (longer ceremony). Sacred Heart Church 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters, QLD 4226.
5 pm Vigil Mass, Stella Maris Church, 254 Hedges Ave, Broadbeach,
5 pm Vigil Mass, St Vincent’s Church. 40 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise
7:30 pm Hispanic Mass at St Vincent’s Church. 40 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise
EASTER SUNDAY: (March 31st 2024)
7 am Mass Stella Maris Church, 254 Hedges Avenue, Broadbeach, QLD 4218.
8 am and 10 am Mass, St Vincent’s Church, 40 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise 4217.
5:30 pm Hispanic Mass, St Vincent’s Church, 40 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise. 4217
9 am and 6 pm Mass, Sacred Heart Church, 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters, QLD 4226.
MARKETS ON FAIRWAY (THE MARKETS ON FAIRWAY ARE SUSPENDED FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS DUE TO WORK ON THE ATRIUM SITE)
From Grace R. grace.flowers.art@hotmail.com
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES
Easter greeting cards and 50th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination cards available
Divine Mercy statues in stock at both Sacred Heart and St Vincent’s churches
ST. VINCENT’S LOST AND FOUND
Daily Mass Book and New Testament handed in to the Vestry.
Surfers Paradise St Vincent de Paul Conference - Invitation
Our conference meets on 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the hospitality centre at Sacred Heart Church.
Our members/vincentians assist companions who have rung our call centre for assistance with food, clothing, rent etc. We are currently experiencing an increase in calls due to rent increases, cost of food, risk of homelessness. If you are interested in becoming a member please call Wendy Webb on 0412 237 832 or email: wendy.webb@svdpqld.org.au
SACRED HEART ROSARY PRAYER GROUP
Please join us to pray the Divine Mercy and Rosary each day at 8:15 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church before 9 a.m. Mass, Monday through Friday, including First Saturdays.
ANOINTING MASS – MASS OF HEALING
FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH (February-November Inclusive)
10 am the Second of April 2024. Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Followed by morning tea. Please let others know who would love to come along.
FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament First Friday, 5th April 2024, at Sacred Heart Church from 7 pm to 8.30 pm. All welcome. Enquiries: Helen 0421935678. "Could you not watch one hour with Me" Mt 26:4
FIRST SATURDAY MASS AND BENEDICTION
First Saturday Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters. 9 am Saturday 6th April 2024. Followed by adoration and Benediction.
MARIAN VALLEY - DIVINE MERCY
Please come and join us at the Marian Valley Church for the Divine Mercy Sunday on the 07.04.2024 and on the 13.04.2024 Our Lady of Fatima's Feast. The bus will be picking up Sharp at 8.15 am at the Sacred Heart Church Clear Island Waters. The Cost for the bus fare $25.00 return. You can secure your seat with contact name and contact phone number with Xavier Solomon 0404 843 260, Madeleine on 0405 252 367 or 5529 1573, All are welcome.
ART AND CRAFT GROUP -
The Group meets in the Parish Hospitality Centre on Wednesdays from 9 am to 12 noon. Activities include
Art (watercolour, oils, acrylics, pen and ink drawing, etc.)
Various kinds of Craftwork (Knitting, Embroidery, Crocheting, Card making, Sewing, etc.)
Making Rosary Beads (later sent to the missions)
And any other activities that individuals may have an interest in or you can bring in your ideas
A very relaxing and social environment - meet new friends! You 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.
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 a.m. Learn to relax yet gain greater flexibility, inner strength, body awareness and concentration 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 a.m. to prepare adequately for class). For more information, call Ruth on 0421338110.
OUR LADY’S STATUE -
Praying the Rosary - Our Lady’s Statue in the Parish -
Details of the Statue of Our Lady are going around the Parish.
If you want her in your home and say the Rosary,
Please contact Maxine or Pat on 0412 519 404.
Our Lady’s Statue details for the next several weeks are
XXXXXXXXXX
Please phone Maxine Sela on 0421 051 193 if you want the Statue.
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.
BIBLE STUDY/PRAYER GROUP - ST VINCENT’S CHURCH, SURFERS PARADISE.
The Bible Study Prayer Group resumes Thursday (4th April) 5-6 pm at St Vincent’s Church, 40 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise. Come along and read/study Break Open the Word once a week on a Thursday evening from 5 to 6 pm. For further enquiries, Ashley at 0409840693.
MEDITATION PRAYER GROUP
The meditation group meets in the Morris prayer room on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. It would very much like to welcome new members. Please phone Pam Egtberts at 0493742670.
PRAYER GROUP - SPANISH SPEAKER
Jesus de la Misericordia. Invites you to participate every 2nd Saturday of the month from 11 am to 2 pm. Place: Hospitality Room. Sacred Heart Church. “We praise, We praise, We grow spiritually from the Word of the Lord.” For more information, please ring Grace: 0410 006 484.
Archdiocesan Centre for Catholic Formation - Module Three: Being Sacramental
The Archdiocesan Centre for Catholic Formation invites people to participate in the third unit offering.
This module, Being Sacramental, will explore with participants what living in a sacramental world means. It will address the broader notion of sacramentality, the importance of signs and symbols in the liturgy and the character of each of the Church's seven sacraments. The module will also focus on the participant's approach to the sacraments, recognising that our relationship with God fundamentally influences how we experience the sacraments. Participants will develop their ability to listen to the voice of God in and through the sacraments, seeing more clearly the grace received in each rite and moving closer to full, active, and conscious participation in the liturgy.
I am asking Parish Priests and Chaplains to promote this formation opportunity in their parish or community and personally to invite people to register. Enclosed are a number of brochures you might provide to those you invite to attend. More information can be found at www.catholicformation.au.
(Brochure can be accessed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XQ21axAypwcmomoZJuGlSX9wAPtkm12l/view?usp=sharing).
The module will run for ten consecutive Mondays, commencing on Monday, 15 April, at Holy Spirit Seminary, and the chief presenter will be Deacon Peter Pellicaan.
For those who live beyond the Brisbane region, there is an option to register as a regional hub where you can gather locally and participate via an online link. If you are interested in hosting a regional hub, contact Evangelisation Brisbane.
May this offering lead to a more profound knowledge and love of the sacraments in the minds and hearts of our people.
As always in the Lord,
+ The Most Reverend Mark Coleridge
Archbishop of Brisbane
++++++++++++++++++++
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) or vulnerable adults. The organisation is fully committed to child safety and has zero tolerance for abusing children or vulnerable adults.
YEAR OF PRAYER - RESOURCE
Litany of Humility
(Lord, Allow us to pray this prayer with our whole heart and will)
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire to be esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled ...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honoured...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised ...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted ...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved ...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated ...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated ...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten ...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed ...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged ...Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected ...Deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I. Deliver me, Jesus.
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. Deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be esteemed more than I. Deliver me, Jesus.
That, in the world's opinion, others may increase, and I may decrease ...Grant, me, Jesus.
That others may be chosen, and I set aside ....Grant, me, Jesus.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ....Grant, me, Jesus.
That others may be preferred to me in everything....Grant, me, Jesus.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should… .Grant, me, Jesus.
A VOCATION VIEW:
Christ has become our Paschal Sacrifice. Your ultimate purpose, to live and to breathe, is the eternal Jesus. Go forth to announce to the world – Christ, our hope, has risen, Alleluia!
To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP -
“Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” - COLOSSIANS 3:2
On this day, we thank God for His Son, Jesus, who died, rose and opened the gates of heaven for us. We celebrate and sing “Alleluia.” Let’s try to keep the joy of this Easter season in our hearts throughout the year! Pray daily and listen for how God calls us to use our gifts to fulfil His salvation plan joyfully.
The vision of Stewardship applies to every aspect of life, inviting everyone to be thankful, generous, and accountable for what they have been given.
Take Five For Faith -
Word for the Week:
Octave [“oKk-t(i)v”]
From the Latin for "eighth," a group of eight; in music, the eighth note; in the liturgical year, an eight-day celebration of the highest-ranking feasts, or solemnities, of Christmas and Easter. The Octave of Easter is followed by the Easter season, which lasts 50 days and ends with the feast of Pentecost.
CONTEXT
During the eight days that make up the Octave of Easter, the liturgy never ceases to remind us of the great mystery of the Resurrection of Christ! —Hozana.org
Each day of the Easter octave is treated like a repeat of Easter Sunday, with all the feasting and liturgical trimmings. —Brother Conor McDonough, O.P.
The eighth Sunday of Easter, or Pentecost Sunday, concludes what has been called the great octave of eight Easter weeks. —Richard McBrien
WHY IT MATTERS
Some feasts are so central to our Christian faith that a single day of celebration isn't adequate. The Incarnation of Jesus and his Resurrection are crucial to the story of our salvation. Both declare that, body and spirit together, humanity is significant to God and worthy of redemption in Christ. The Christmas and Easter octaves give us time to ponder the greatest mysteries and joys of our faith.
From The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia: During an octave, the feast being observed takes precedence over any other feast that may occur.
RELATED WORDS
Solemnity | Pentecost | Resurrection | Nativity
Why is Easter Season so long?
The Easter Season is determined by the eight weeks it takes to get from the Resurrection to Pentecost. In Lent, we embrace penitential practices in anticipation of Jesus’ Resurrection. What happens next is nothing less than the birth of the church. Easter itself is an octave, or eight-day feast. In liturgical practice, the Octave of Easter is like a week of Easters as we light the Paschal candle, sing the Gloria, and continue to contemplate the wonder that death has a door. Jesus passed through it, and so will we. Is a week too long to ponder this?
After Easter, Jesus continues to appear, teaching them more about God’s kingdom for 40 days, a sacred number symbolizing completeness. Then Jesus returns to his Father in the Ascension. The disciples devote themselves to prayer from that hour until Pentecost, when the Spirit comes and the church is launched into prime time. What should we be doing from Easter through Pentecost? Imitating the disciples: celebrating, contemplating, learning, and praying to prepare for the mission ahead.
—Alice Camille, from Questions Catholics Ask: http://tinyurl.com/QCA-easter-octave
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
SOLEMNITY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD (EASTER SUNDAY) (MARCH 31)
Wide-eyed wonder
"When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory."
Today you witness something that opens your eyes to the power and glory of God’s love in a way no other event could. Jesus raised from the dead? How is it possible? Only through the love of God, which makes all things possible. Spend this glorious day in fascination at the miracle you are witnessing.
Readings: Mass of Easter Day: Acts 10:34a, 37-43: Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9
FAITH IN ACTION
Continue to keep your eyes and heart open, and you will see that God never tires of loving you and raising you up. What a miracle!
THIS WEEKEND’S GOSPEL -
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed.
GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND
Homily: Easter Sunday of the Resurrection.Year B- Sunday, 31 March 2024
A spiritual writer once said, and put it so beautifully for us who have been keeping vigil in meditation and prayer… right up until this wonderful night:
He writes….…
“One of the powerful things that Easter says to us today is this: You can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there. You can nail the truth to a cross, or wrap it in winding sheets; and shut it in a tomb, but it will rise again!” (Clarence W. Hall).
Tonight we celebrate the fact that Christ has risen! He, who IS the way, the truth and the Life, could not possibly be held in death’s grasp. He broke free and he promised us eternal life too.
God has the final say over the tensions and tragedies of life, and it is good news. God says “yes” to the goodness of creation and “Yes” to each one of us. It was right to remain faithful. Our hope in his promises is fulfilled.
EASTER IS ABOUT FAMILY – first and foremost – we are all one family of God… God loves us and cares about us… and is faithful to us forever…… and desires with all his heart that we love others with his heart too…Easter is also about our own individual families….. (sharing time for family, or if we are not able to be with them this easter, certainly giving thanks for the gift of them in our lives…)…..and giving thanks to God for the many ways God brings us to fullness of life…
We give thanks for our FAMILY, our friends….and for so many graces and blessings we have received in life… to nurture us and give us strength and joy……
Easter is the perfect time for celebrating Baptisms and welcoming people into our church communion……. We give thanks for those who will be baptized and received into the church this season. God’s gentle grace has led them here… and their decision is a great source of renewal and thanksgiving for the whole community.
Easter is not only about the promise of everlasting life in heaven. There are so many ways in which Jesus’ rising from the dead is a sign of God’s constant work to “bring us out of the entombment” that we can experience in our lives. This is also about the real promise that “God can and does” want us to be “fully alive,” and renewed in spirit and mind, and brought to life again from so many things that can sap the life out of us, weigh us down and imprison us whether it be fear, guilt, pain, illness, doubt, grief, or countless other equally painful struggles.
Anyone who has ever gone through a “dark night of the soul” in their life, (and that is each of us at one time or another), and has come through the other end and now finds themselves in a renewed place, raised up again, (never imagining that they would be in this new space) but here they are!! With the help of God’s grace, (shown by the helping hands of family, friends, colleagues, and so many other ways). Anyone who has gone through this can testify… Christ really IS at work bringing us to new life (in so many ways) and (Tonight/today) we give thanks for this, and pray for those who continue to hope and trust in God’s faithfulness. God’s love and care for us will never fail. God effects resurrection IN our lives, in ways beyond our expectations, beyond our presumptions or in ways different from the literal limits of our requests. Often, we only recognize a ‘resurrection moment in our lives’ with a kind of ‘dawning realization’ - like Mary Magdalene: thinking that someone had hidden the body of our Lord, searching and praying that she might find where they had hidden his body, and not at first realizing that her prayers had been answered in this man she initially mistakes for a gardener, (but no, it is the Lord himself).
May the Lord of the resurrection bless you and renew you with fullness of life – here and now (and forever).
Today we arise with Christ-
Lord, this -- new day dawns…!!” [1]
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
The following Feast days are not celebrated on these dates as the Easter Octave overrides them. Nevertheless, their words inspire us)
St Francis of Paola, Hermit - 02 April - (Feast overridden by Easter)
Born at Paola (Italy) in 1416. Died at Tours (France) on this day in 1507. Became a hermit while still a youth. Others were quickly attracted to his way of life and came to be renowned for their charity and austerity as well as for their commitment to Franciscan ideals. Francis lived to see them recognised as the Order of Minims. Remembered as a spiritual counsellor of kings and for his political peacemaking.
May our Lord Jesus Christ, who repays most generously, reward your labour. You must flee from evil, and drive away dangers. We and all our brothers, although unworthy, pray constantly to God the Father and to his Son Jesus Christ, as well as to Mary the Virgin Mother, to be with you as you seek the salvation of your souls and your bodies.Brothers, I most strongly urge you to work for the salvation of your souls with prudence and diligence. Death is certain, and life is short and vanishes like smoke. Therefore you must fix your minds on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, who so burned with love for us that he came down from heaven to redeem us. For our sakes, he suffered all the agonies of body and mind and did not shrink from any torment. He gave us a perfect example of patience and love. For our part, we too must be patient when things go against us.
Put aside hatred and hostility. See to it that you refrain from harsh words. But if you speak them, do not be ashamed to apply the remedy from the same lips that inflicted the wounds. In this way you will show each other mercy and not keep alive the memories of past wrongs. Remembering grievances works great damage. It is accompanied by anger, fosters sin, and brings a hatred for justice. It is a rusty arrow spreading poison in the soul. It destroys virtue and is a cancer in the mind. It thwarts prayer and mangles the petitions we make to God. It drives out love and is a nail driven into the soul, an evil that never sleeps, a sin that never fades away, a kind of daily death.
Be lovers of peace, the most precious treasure that anyone can desire. You are already aware that our sins drive God to anger,"so you must repent of them, that God in his mercy may spare you. What men conceal is open to God. Turn to him with a sincere heart. Live in such a way that you bring upon yourselves the blessing of God, and that the peace of God our Father may be with you always." [A reading from the letters of St Francis of Paola, Hermit (Letter AD 1486)]
St Isidore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church - 04 April (Feast overridden by Easter)
Born about 560 in Seville (Spain). Died there in 636. Archbishop of Seville for thirty-six years who laboured successfully to bring the Visigoths from Arianism to orthodox belief, who presided over several councils significant for Church life in Spain, and who codified the distinctive liturgy of the Spanish Church, which is preserved to this day. Remembered for his prolific writings and as an influential educator, and noted too for the pastoral care of his diocese.
If a man wants to always be in God's company, he must pray and read regularly. When we pray, we talk to God; when we read, God talks to us.
Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin, all hope consists in confession; in confession there is a chance for mercy.
Nothing exists without music, for the universe itself is said to have been framed by a kind of harmony of sounds, and the heaven itself revolves under the tone of that harmony.
All spiritual growth comes from reading and reflection. By reading, we learn what we did not know; by reflection, we retain what we have learned. The conscientious reader will be more concerned about carrying out what he has read than merely acquiring knowledge of it. In reading we aim at knowing, but we must put into practice what we have learned in our course of study.
Prayer purifies us, reading instructs us. Both are good when both are possible. Otherwise, prayer is better than reading.
The more you devote yourself to study of the sacred utterances, the richer will be your understanding of them, just as the more the soil is tilled, the richer the harvest.
War with vices, but peace with individuals.
Teaching unsupported by grace may enter our ears, but it never reaches the heart. When God's grace does touch our innermost minds to bring understanding, then his word, which is received by the ear, can sink deep into the heart.
We, as Catholics are not permitted to believe anything of our own will, nor to choose what someone has believed of his. We have God's apostles as authorities, who did not themselves of their own wills choose anything of what they wanted to believe, but faithfully transmitted to the nations, the teachings of Christ.
The suffering of adversity does not degrade you but exalts you. Human tribulation teaches you; it does not destroy you. The more we are afflicted in this world, the greater is our assurance for the next. The more we sorrow in the present, ..the greater will be our joy in the future.
Letters are signs of things, symbols of words, whose power is so great that without a voice they speak to us the words of the absent; for they introduce words by the eye, not by the ear. ["An Encyclopedist of the Dark Ages: Isidore of Seville", by Ernest Brehaut New York: B. Franklin, 1964].
Baptism is not the work of man but of Christ, and this sacrament is so holy that it would not be defiled, even if the minister were a murderer.
Mary means enlightener, because She brought forth the Light of the world. In the Syriac tongue, Mary signifies Lady.
In the active life all the vices are first of all to be removed by the practice of good works, so that in the contemplative life a man may, with now purified mental gaze, pass on to the contemplation of the Divine Light.
Men, Contemplative Life, Light
It is agreed that all sound which is the material of music is of three sorts. First is harmonica, which consists of vocal music; second is organica, which is formed from the breath; third is rhythmica, which receives its numbers from the beat of the fingers. For sound is produced either by the voice, coming through the throat; or by the breath, coming through the trumpet or tibia, for example; or by touch, as in the case of the cithara or anything else that gives a tuneful sound on being struck.
Tolle numerum omnibus rebus et omnia pereunt.Take from all things their number and all shall perish.
Number is divided into even and odd. Even number is divided into the following: evenly even, evenly uneven, and unevenly uneven. Odd number is divided into the following: prime and incomposite, composite, and a third intermediate class (mediocris) which in a certain way is prime and incomposite but in another way secondary and composite.
The name of medicine is thought to have been given from 'moderation', modus, that is, from a due proportion, which advises that things be done not to excess, but 'little by little', paulatim. For nature is pained by surfeit but rejoices in moderation. Whence also those who take drugs and antidotes constantly, or to the point of saturation, are sorely vexed, for every immoderation brings not health but danger.
St Vincent Ferrer, Priest - 05 April - (Feast overridden by Easter)
Born in Valencia (Spain) in 1350, he died at Vannes (France) on this day in 1419. A Dominican friar who quickly distinguished himself in converting many to Christ, he is remembered chiefly for preaching repentance on his missions throughout France, Spain, and Italy and also for his influence in ending the schism between the Avignon and Roman papal claimants.If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask him simply to fill you with charity, the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire.
Let devotion accompany your studies: consult God, the giver of all science and ask Him with humility to make you understand what you read and learn. Interrupt your application by short prayers: never begin or end your studies but by prayer. learning is a gift of the Father of Lights; do not, therefore, consider it a fruit of your own intellect or industry.
Whatever you do, think not of yourself, but of God.
Regard yourself as more vile and miserable in the sight of God because of your faults than any sinner whatever, no matter what his sins. . . and consider closely that any grace or inclination to good or desire of virtue you may have, is not of yourself but of the sole mercy of Christ.
A vain question deserves nothing but silence. So learn to be silent for a time; you will edify your brethren and silence will teach you to speak when the hour is come.
Do you desire to study to your advantage? Let devotion accompany all your studies, and study less to make yourself learned than to become a saint. Consult God more than your books, and ask him, with humility, to make you understand what you read. Study fatigues and drains the mind and heart. Go from time to time to refresh them at the feet of Jesus Christ under his cross. Some moments of repose in his sacred wounds give fresh vigor and new lights. Interrupt your application by short, but fervent and ejaculatory prayers: never begin or end your study but by prayer. Science is a gift of the Father of lights; do not therefore consider it as barely the work of your own mind or industry."
(https://thecatholicreader.blogspot.com/2013/06/st-vincent-ferrer-quotes.html#:~:text=Regard%20yourself%20as%20more%20vile,the%20sole%20mercy%20of%20Christ.)
“Once humility is acquired, charity will come to life like a burning flame devouring the corruption of vice and filling the heart so full, that there is no place for vanity.”…
POPE FRANCIS:
(special - interrupts synod summary)
POPE FRANCIS: Doctor of the Church St. Alphonsus Liguori is a ‘model of missionary outreach’
Pope Francis has highlighted St. Alphonsus Liguori as a model of moral teaching, particularly the formation of well-formed consciences.
A few years ago, the pope issued a letter marking the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX’s proclamation of Liguori as a Doctor of the Church on March 23, 1871. The letter reflected on the example the 18th-century saint provides for evangelisation today. (This year, we celebrate the 153rd anniversary of this declaration.)
“Following the example of St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori, who revived moral theology, it is desirable and therefore necessary to accompany, shepherd, and support those most deprived of spiritual aid on the path to redemption,” Pope Francis wrote on the March 23 anniversary.
“The radicalism of the Gospel should not be set against man's weakness. It is always necessary to find the way that does not create distance, but brings hearts closer to God, just as Alphonsus did with his spiritual and moral teaching.”
St. Alphonsus Liguori is the patron saint of confessors and moralists. In 1732, he founded the Redemptorist religious order near Naples.
Born in 1696, he practised civil law for eight years before becoming a priest. He went on to write extensively on moral theology and devotional writings on the Blessed Sacrament and the Virgin Mary.
Among prayers composed by Liguori is an Act of Spiritual Communion, which Pope Francis has recommended people to pray when coronavirus lockdowns prevent them from being able to attend Mass.
In his letter, the pope also quoted Liguori’s “Ascetical Works,” in which the saint wrote, "The paradise of God ... is the heart of man.”
“The formation of consciences for good seems to be an indispensable goal for every Christian. Giving space to consciences—a place where the voice of God resounds—so that they can carry out their personal discernment in the concreteness of life is a formative task to which we must remain faithful,” the pope said.
Pope Francis described Liguori as a “model of missionary outreach for the entire Church,” who shows how to “bring consciences closer to the welcoming face of the Father”.
“Like St. Alphonsus, we are called to go out to meet the people as an apostolic community that follows the Redeemer among the abandoned. This reaching out to those without spiritual help helps to overcome individualistic ethics and to promote a moral maturity capable of choosing the true good,” he said.
“By forming responsible and merciful consciences, we will have a mature Church capable of constructively responding to social frailties, given the kingdom of heaven.”
The pope said that Liguori “offered constructive responses to the challenges of the society of his time, through popular evangelisation, indicating a style of moral theology capable of holding together the need for the Gospel and human frailties.”
“Moral theology must not be afraid to welcome the cry of the least of the earth and to make it its own. The dignity of the frail is a moral duty that cannot be evaded or delegated. It is necessary to witness that law always means solidarity,” Pope Francis said.
“I invite you, as St. Alphonsus did, to go out to meet our society's fragile brothers and sisters. This involves the development of a moral theological reflection and pastoral action, capable of committing oneself to the common good. It is rooted in the proclamation of the kerygma, which has a decisive word in defence of life, towards creation and brotherhood.”
(source: By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Mar 23, 2021 / 01:00 pm MT (CNA) - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-doctor-of-the-church-st-alphonsus-liguori-is-model-of-missionary-outreach )
(image:ID: 321973571, Rome, Italy - August 17, 2015: Detail of exterior the Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori (Italian: Chiesa di Sant'Alfonso di Liguori all'Esquilino), A, By Aleksandr Stepanov)
[The usual summary of the Synod will return next week
Source: https://www.synod.va/en/synodal-process/the-universal-phase/documents.htm]
Commitment To Child Safety and Vulnerable-Adult Safety
……………..See overleaf …..
St Kevin’s Catholic School, Community business directory: https://www.sk.qld.edu.au/Pages/Rainbow-Connection.aspx
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, 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/)
** The significance of the ancient Catholic Blessing Symbol. “20 C+M+B 24”
An ancient medieval practice that developed in the Catholic Church was to bless one’s home with blessed chalk at the epiphany each year. On the door or the lintel will be this symbol:
Meaning that 2000 years ago, after Christ’s birth, Wise Men visited and gave homage to the Lord and were welcomed into the hospitality of the Holy Family’s abode. We dedicate the present year of this century, ‘24, to the protection of the Lord. May the Lord bless this abode.
The letters C+M+B represent Caspar, Bathasar and Melchior; the three Wise Men. CMB is also the initials of the Latin phrase “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” - “May Christ Bless this dwelling-place.”
