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“When he, the Spirit of truth, comes,
he will guide you into all the truth.” John 16:13.
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed.Stock Photo ID: 2191218559 - BERN, SWITZERLAND - JUNY 27, 2022: The fresco of Pentecost in the church Dreifaltigkeitskirche by August Müller (1923). Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova
PASTOR’S POST -
Happy Pentecost is the solemnity that concludes the Easter season and celebrates the birthday of the Church when the Holy Spirit descended with power upon the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled.”
The Jewish holiday, Shavuot, the Feast of "Weeks," occurs seven weeks after Passover. It is also known as Pentecost, the "fiftieth day" (after Passover). In addition to being a harvest celebration, it commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai.
Therefore, the timing and events of the Christian Pentecost have great significance. When the disciples gathered in the upper room, "a noise like a strong driving wind . . . filled the entire house," just as "the whole mountain shook violently" (Exodus 19:18) when the Israelites gathered at Sinai. At both Pentecosts, covenants are made, and they both celebrate harvests: the food of daily bread and the bringing together of many peoples in the presence of God.
"At Pentecost . . . . like the limbs of a single body, the separated members of the human race would be restored to unity by being joined to Christ, their common head, and welded into the oneness of a holy body by the fire of love." – (Saint Augustine of Hippo. 354-430)
In one sense, we all speak different languages. Even when we are all speaking English, the slightest change in tone or inflection can send out a message that will be received differently by many different hearers. In all our relationships at home, at work, at school or within the community, we try to make ourselves understood, but it is always very possible that someone will take something we've said in a negative way. At those times, it's best to listen. The art of communication requires both giving and receiving reverently. Giving of ourselves and receiving others is also the key to establishing peace. Let us offer one another a sign of peace today by listening as well as speaking with those around us.
Fr Paul
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.
ORDINATION OF DEACON BRADLEY DAVIES AND MICHAEL MY VAN TRAN
Deacon Bradley Davies, a pastoral year student here in 2021, will be ordained a priest at St Stephen's Cathedral in just a few weeks.
Only limited numbers.
Deacon Bradley Graeme Davies & Deacon Michael My Van Tran (Michael also had an Advent pastoral placement here in the parish a few years back), will be ordained to the Priesthood by Archbishop Mark Coleridge at Saint Stephen's Cathedral on Friday, 7th June 2024, at 7 pm. The parish is booking a bus so that twenty people can attend. If you would like to book the bus, please contact us at the office as soon as possible—only limited numbers. Email: surfers@bne.catholic.net.au (attention Fr Paul).
SVDP Winter Appeal 2024
The St Vincent de Paul Society Surfers Paradise conference continues to pursue good works to support locals in need. On the weekend of 8 and 9 June 2024, Vincentians will be conducting an annual winter appeal to help support those locals in need of extra help. The generosity of the parish does not go unnoticed in our local community. In the last 12 months, local Vincentians have made 484 visits and assisted 973 people directly and indirectly. We have provided financial assistance of $50,741 and in-kind assistance (furniture, Christmas hampers, food and Vinnie's gift cards for clothing etc) of $13,848. We are seeing an increase in those facing homelessness due to the high cost of living and the housing crisis. With your ongoing support, we can continue to provide comfort and tangible assistance to help people get back on their feet. Local Vincentians offer help in many forms, including food, clothing, blankets and furniture. Your generous donation will help us continue these good works. A donation of as little as $10 can make a difference to the good works of the Surfers Paradise conference.
For more details on the conference's activities, please contact Conference President Wendy Webb at wendy.webb@svdpqld.org.au or 0412 237 832 on mobile.
FIRST SATURDAY MASS AND BENEDICTION
First Saturday Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters. 9 am (tomorrow) Saturday - 1st June 2024. Followed by adoration and Benediction. {This is a votive Mass for the Blessed Virgin Mary}.
Anointing Mass – Mass of Healing FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH (February-November Inclusive)
4th June 2024. 10 am 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 this First Friday, 7th June 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
Brisbane Archdiocese is just over three months out from
SYNOD24: I Am Making All Things New.
SYNOD24 is about discerning action plans to help the Archdiocese implement the areas of focus (Decrees) from the Plenary Council. A brief explanation of each area of focus (Decree) can be found here: https://aobsynod2024.com/plenary-council-resources/
SYNOD24 will be held on two days in September and two days in October, where approximately 150 people representing the diversity of the Archdiocese will discuss, debate and vote on the proposed practical and measurable action plans. Synod Members must attend all four days. More information on SYNOD24 can be found here: https://aobsynod2024.com/what-is-synod24/
Plenary Council Decree 7 requires all dioceses and eparchies to have a synod by the end of 2025. SYNOD24 is our response to this requirement. You can download all Plenary Council Decrees here: https://aobsynod2024.com/plenary-council-resources/
SYNOD24 honours the significant level of broad consultation, listening and discerning that has taken place over the course of the Plenary Council journey (since 2018) and is the next step of this process. Consultations over March, April and May have been focused on voices that had not been heard previously, voices of those on the margins, experts and experienced practitioners. This is to ensure the action plans are practical and measurable, reflect the needs of our Archdiocese, and truly reflect the responses submitted throughout the Plenary Council process. To remind yourself of the Plenary Council journey since 2018, head here: https://aobsynod2024.com/what-is-synod24/
For all other information regarding SYNOD24, head to www.aobsynod2024.com
For SYNOD24: I Am Making All Things New,.
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit's creativity will lead us to renewed participation in the life and ministry of the Church; and that the Holy Spirit will fill the hearts of all the faithful, inspiring us to walk together in the hope, joy, and the mission of the Risen Christ. Lord, hear us.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
Thank you, and Welcome to the Elect and Candidates who completed the journey of enquiry and faith this Easter 2024.
Kelly Friend, Cory Schumacher, Willem Peters, Satoshi Tetsuo, were Baptised, Confirmed and received First Holy Communion.
Wendy Tetsuo was received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church through Confirmation and First Holy Communion, and
Diana Vargas and Julian Rivers were Confirmed.
We invite all Parishioners to pray for them this Easter as they come to know Jesus more deeply and join us each week to celebrate the Mass in full Communion.
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 in the table below.
MASS TIMES: SURFERS PARADISE MASS TIMES
“TAP `N” GO CASHLESS DONATIONS -
AVAILABLE AT THE ENTRANCES OF THREE CHURCHES - tap once to donate $10, tap again (when it has reset) for another $10, and so on.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK:
Please also pray for the following who are ill. (Alphabetical)
Phil Bawden, Nellie Bellinger, Braganza Family, Kevin Brennan, Tim Brown, Margaret Buckingham, Camara Family, Diana Castro, Princess Catherine of Wales, Cecily Cellinan, King Charles III, Nadia Che, Doug Chester, Jo Clark, Leslie Clarke, Ellanie Conzalez, Tina Conidi, Margaret & George Cook, Alfonso Covino, Shirley Croft, Geraldine Daniels, Nia Falekakala, John Fisher, Rosie May Fisher, Sally Gage, Lorraine Gallagher, Rachel Gooden, Maurice Goss, Fred Grioli, Jacob Haddad, Jenny Haines, Dion Herft, Lena Hiscock, Louise Holmes, Kim Ingram, Andrew Janiec, Aloraca Jenkin, Brian Johnson, Pat Jones, Leona Kelly, Marianne Kennedy, Ross Keys, 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, Michael “Tiger” McCormick, Andrew McPherson, Phil McWilliam, Fabiola Menzs, Joan Miau, Joanne Mooney, Maryann Moore, Hugh Morand, Michael & Lesley Murtagh, Joanna Muthu, Lynn Nunan, Denis Mullins, Stephen O’Brien, Peter O’Brien, Tim O’Connor, Natalie O’Reilly, Letty O’Sullivan, Carmela Parente, Joanne Parkes, Kay Pitman, David Plows, Rachel Raines, Gus Reeves, Patricia Roberts, Rogelio Rodriguez, Bob Rogers, Cris Roselo, 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, Des Walsh, Billy Webb, Lois Wood.
RECENTLY DECEASED: (Chronological - Most recent first):
Frank Cassidy, John William Worner (WA), Kylie Ann Giacomantonio, Richard Michael Chester, Val Adami, Carole Stapleton, Leonila Tuason, Fr Marty Larsen, Teresa Balague, Maureen Armstrong, Alan Taylor, John O’Hanlon, Phyllis Byrne, Graham William Gibbons, and Minnie Ware.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: (Alphabetical)
Norma Jean Ancrum, Fay Ardron, Donald Hope Atkinson, Douglas Pierce Bates, Margaret Bell Boyle, Fr Michael Carew, Daniel Clancy, Leonor Corazon, Keith Cumner, June Valeen Deane, Helen Dunn, David John Falvey, Sr Ursula Gabbett, Irmgard (Joan) Graz, Jack Arthur Hurley, Vittorio Lanci, Patricia Margaret Mary Levick, Clarita Lopez, Distony Lunandi, Andreas Gandjar Lunandi, Basilo Micale, Mellie Modral, Kevin Martin Murphy, Brian Nolan, Judith Anne O'Connor, Gerald Thomas O'Halloran, Ronald Stanley Perry, Geoffrey John Rapp, Mansour Soueidan, Maria Lucia Zervos, John Zervos.
And Also: (Alphabetical):
Benjamin Gary Bayes, Robert Brian Butler, John Joseph Chappell, Lilian Elizabeth Cheetham, Patricia Connaghan, Nancy Denaro, John Egan, Desmond Douglas Fox, Hans Gerhard Gringel, Ross Patrick Hickey, Thomas Hirst, Anthony George Howard, Deris Howell, Janina Kraus, Lucena Gabriel Liwag, John McGrath, Fr Carmello Micallef, Fr Michael Murphy, Angel Dee Nipperess, Fr John O'Connell, Daphne Gabriel Paice, Jean Georges Rabbath, John Rawlings, Karen Ann Tansey.
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
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
Available for sale are an assortment of holy picture key rings - Divine Mercy, Holy Family, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Lady of Medjugorje and Anthony.
These are a deleted line from our suppliers and are available at only $2.00 each, until sold out, no further stocks will be available. Normal retail price would be in excess of $7.00
We still have a small selection of gifts for First Holy Communion.
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.
FIRST SATURDAY MASS AND BENEDICTION
First Saturday Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters. 9 am (tomorrow) Saturday - 1/6/24. Followed by adoration and Benediction. {This is a votive Mass for the Blessed Virgin Mary}.
Anointing Mass – Mass of Healing FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH (February-November Inclusive)
4/6/24 at 10 am 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 this First Friday, 7/6/24, 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
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
20/05/2024 Glarry & Rudi Camera Southport
27/05/2024 Lilly Leongue & Family Varsity Lakes
03/06/2024 Lilly Leongue & Family Varsity Lakes
10/06/2024 Michelle Burda - Merrimac
17/06/2024 Michelle Burda - Merrimac
26/06/2024 Suzanne Joseph & Family - Robina
01/07/2024 Suzanne Joseph & Family - Robina
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 meets every Thursday 5-6 pm at St Vincent’s Church,
40 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise. Come along and read/study Break Open the Word
weekly 5 pm to 6 pm. For further enquiries, contact 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.
MARIAN VALLEY PILGRIMAGE
Please join us at the Marian Valley Church for the Lady of Fatima Feast on 25.05.2024, Shrine of Marian Valley. 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 is $25.00 return. You can secure your seat with a contact name and phone number with Xavier Solomon 0404 843 260, Madeleine at 0405 252 367 or 5529 1573, All are welcome.
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.
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.
Cathedral 150th anniversary
My uncle Fr Clem Hodge reflects on St Stephen’s Cathedral. (Fr Paul)
Fr Clem looks back on his 80 years with St Stephen’s Cathedral as sesquicentenary approaches
byJOE HIGGINS 10 May 2024Reading Time: 4 mins
Catholic Leader - Brisbane
Happy day: Fr Clem Hodge's (second from front right) 1947 confirmation class.
FR Clem Hodge remembers the trenches dug in the St Stephen’s Cathedral grounds when he started at St Stephen’s School in June 1942.
“The Second World War was at our door,” he said.
But even with the war looming, young Clem still made many fond memories in those early years at St Stephen’s.
He did his schooling there from 1942 to 1950 when he left for St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace.
Many people stood out in his memory in those eight formative years, he said.
Most of all was Mercy Sister Gabriel Mary Bourke.
She taught at the school and worked as a sacristan at the cathedral for 40 years, from the 1920s to 1965 when St Stephen’s School closed.
Ordination: Archbishop James Duhig ordains Fr Clem Hodge in 1961 with future-Archbishop John Bathersby serving on the left. Archbishop Bathersby was ordained a priest in Stanthorpe the next day.
He says her witness of a holy life had a strong impact on his vocation to the priesthood.
He remembers she once told him when he was 17 years old, “You don’t have to be a priest just because I think you’re going to be”.
“She was a great lady, Sr Gabriel Mary,” he said.
The schoolchildren were deeply involved in the spiritual life of the parish too, he said.
He still remembers going to the 1.10pm Rosary and Benediction every day.
He made his first confession and received First Holy Communion in 1944, was confirmed in 1947, was ordained and celebrated his first Mass in 1961 all at St Stephen’s Cathedral and all with Archbishop James Duhig.
His ministry took him back to the cathedral many times, taking up an appointment in 1965 and again in 1972.
In the 1990s, he became cathedral administrator, where his nephew Fr Paul Kelly was ordained in 1997.
Even after retiring in 2005, he returned many times to help out with sacraments.
He said the 150th anniversary of St Stephen’s Cathedral “is about a building but more about the people who frequented it and still do”.
“Over the 150 years, the thousands of people, some known, but most unknown, are the story in history and more importantly before God,” he said.
Those lesser-known staff and volunteers, he said, “were the powerhouse supporting the daily life of the cathedral”.
Of the many names that came to mind, he remembered organist Kitty Slack, whose story appears on page 24 of the May edition of The Catholic Leader, the housekeeper for breakfasts Mary Murphy and Bill Watson, who was an engineer on Sydney Harbour Bridge and who dedicated himself full time to Aquinas Library, St Vincent de Paul Society and he helped organise collections at the cathedral.
Fr Hodge said there was a story about Mr Watson, who was searching the pews for someone to help with taking around the collection plate.
He almost handed it to a man, but at the last second thought something was off about him, and decided against it.
The man turned out to be a judge on the United States Supreme Court.
While there were many great occasions at the cathedral over the years, St Stephen’s always retained its charm as a parish church and a sanctuary of devotion.
Fr Hodge said it had always been an “oasis of prayer”.
He said there were strong devotions there like Eucharistic Adoration and a long history as a centre for the Sacrament of Penance in Brisbane.
“Over the years, I think about all the graces and consolations and gifts that people received from God that came through the cathedral and in the cathedral,” he said.
“There’s so many stories of joy,” he said.
Fr Hodge still keeps in touch with a member of his class at St Stephen’s School and said he was proud to take part in a school reunion last year as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations.
YEAR OF PRAYER - RESOURCE
The Sequence of Pentecost
Holy Spirit, Lord of Light,
From the clear celestial height
Thy pure beaming radiance give.
Come, thou Father of the poor,
Come with treasures that endure
Come, thou light of all that live!
Thou, of all consolers best,
Thou, the soul's delightful guest,
Dost refreshing peace bestow
Thou in toil art comfort sweet
Pleasant coolness in the heat
Solace in the midst of woe.
Light immortal, light divine,
Visit thou these hearts of thine,
And our inmost being fill:
If thou take thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay
All his good is turned to ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew
On our dryness, pour thy dew
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will
Melt the frozen, warm the chill
Guide the steps that go astray.
Thou, on us who evermore
Thee confess, and thee adore,
With thy sevenfold gifts descend:
Give us comfort when we die
Give us life with thee on high
Give us joys that never end.
++++++
Alleluia, alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia!
https://evangelisationbrisbane.org.au/year-of-prayer/
A VOCATION VIEW:
Peter and the Apostles preach with a power and conviction that can only be attributed to the Spirit dwelling among them. Is God calling you to speak for Him in our day and age? (Acts 2:1-11). Be guided by the Holy Spirit because with the Spirit comes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness, and self-control. With God’s help, come forward to proclaim to those searching for meaning in life. As the Spirit is our life, let the Spirit direct us.
To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP -
“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” - 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
All of us are blessed, regardless of our own individual circumstances. God has given each of us many gifts. How we use those gifts is our gift back to God. For God’s plan to work, each must do what we are called to do. Guess what? We are not all called to do the same thing! For God’s plan to work, you have to do what God is calling you to do, and I have to do what God is calling me to do.
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 OF THE WEEK
Lumen Gentium \‘lü-mÉ™n ËŒ’jen-tsÄ“-É™m\
Latin for "Light of the Nations," a reference to Christ in the first words of Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. One of 16 documents produced by the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), it clarifies the mission, identity, and self-understanding of the church as both mystery and community.
CONTEXT
Many theologians see Lumen Gentium . . . as the centerpiece of the council. It is in this document that the Catholic Church articulates its own identity. —Dennis M. Doyle, The Church Emerging from Vatican II
Lumen Gentium teaches us that we are all called to holiness . . . in the very different ways we live our Christian life. —Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
WHY IT MATTERS
Lumen Gentium made Vatican II truly the “council of the Church about the Church," as theologian Hermann Pottmeyer notes. Lumen Gentium reinstated a vital truth, obscured by the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, that the church, and all its members, exists for the sake of the world and not to defend itself from the world.
From Lumen Gentium: Christ made the laity his witnesses and gave them understanding of the faith. It remains for each to cooperate in the external spread and dynamic growth of the Kingdom of Christ in the world. Therefore, let the laity devotedly strive to acquire a more profound grasp of revealed truth, and insistently beg of God the gift of wisdom (35).
RELATED WORDS
Dogma | Magisterium | “Gaudium et spes”
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
How many feast days does Mary have?
At present, the Roman calendar commemorates 15 Mary days. Marian feasts accumulated through the centuries. They began to surface after the Council of Ephesus (431) bestowed the title "God-bearer" (Theotokos) on the mother of Jesus.
Four Marian celebrations are solemnities, the highest commemoration of the liturgical year: Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1), Annunciation (March 25), Assumption (Aug. 15), and Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8). Three are feasts: Presentation of the Lord (Feb. 2), Visitation (May 31), and Birth of Mary (Sept. 8). Four are memorials, a simpler remembrance: Queenship of Mary (Aug. 22), Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept. 15), Our Lady of the Rosary (Oct. 7), and Presentation of Mary (Nov. 21). Four are optional memorials: Our Lady of Lourdes (Feb. 11), Immaculate Heart of Mary (second Saturday after Pentecost), Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (July 16), and Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica (Aug. 5). The U.S. Bishops celebrate a 16th memorial for Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12).
—Alice Camille, from Questions Catholics Ask:
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
MEMORIAL OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH (MAY 20)
Mary by any other name
To Argentinians, she’s Our Lady of Lujan. To Cubans, Our Lady of Charity. She’s Our Lady of the Assumption in India and Our Lady of High Grace in the Dominican Republic. In the Americas, we turn to Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Immaculate Conception. Entire countries and countless religious orders rely on her favor and protection.
Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 or Acts 1:12-14; John 19:25-34. “Woman, behold, your son.”
FAITH IN ACTION
While her names are many and her patronage broad, consider Mary’s most ancient and important title of all: Theotokos, “God-bearer.” How will you follow Mary’s example to bring God into the world today?
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
Mary, Mother of the Church. Memorial.
It is celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost, considered the Church's birthday. It commemorates Mary's motherhood of the Church rather than Mary as Mother of God (January 1). Ancient roots in Catholic tradition date back to Augustine, Leo, and Great. Pope Francis inscribed it into the General Roman Calendar in 2018.
"And Mary said, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.' And the angel departed from her."- Luke 1:38
"His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do [it]."- John 2:5
"And Mary said, 'My soul glorifies the Lord.'"- Luke 1:46-55
"O sinner, be not discouraged but have recourse to Mary in all your necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity."- Saint Basil the Great
"If you invoke the Blessed Virgin when you are tempted, she will come at once to your help, and Satan will leave you."- Saint John Vianney
"If you ever feel distressed during your day, call upon our Lady, just say this simple prayer: 'Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.' I must admit, this prayer has never failed me."- Blessed Mother Teresa
"Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence."- Saint Francis de Sales
"The Son of God became man for our salvation but only in Mary and through Mary."- Saint Louis Marie de Montfort
St Christopher Magallanes, Priest, and companions, Martyrs. 21 May
Born in 1869. Died on 25 May 1927 at Colotitlan (Mexico). Parish priest, Christobal Magallanes, founder of a clandestine seminary at Totatiche, is commemorated with 21 other diocesan priests and three laymen. Martyred in Mexico, mostly in 1926-1928, during a fierce religious persecution that outlawed the celebration of the sacraments. They are remembered for their courageous faith, for forgiving their executioners, and for their final cry, Viva Christo Rey!
His last words are recorded as, “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.” Father AgustÃn Caloca Cortés, Father Magallanes' assistant, was arrested on the same day as Father Magallanes and imprisoned with him.
“We live for God, and for Him we die!” (Father AgustÃn Caloca Cortés).
The twenty-five saints we honour today died at the hands of the Mexican government during a time of anti-Catholic turmoil. One died in 1915, and the remaining twenty-four were killed between 1926 and 1928. Of the three laymen and the twenty-two diocesan priests, two were hanged in the public square, and the rest were shot to death, most by firing squad without a trial. Each priest’s only crime was secretly ministering to the people’s needs. The three laymen were members of a Catholic action group that opposed the oppression of the Church and encouraged fellow Catholics to remain strong in their faith.
After Spanish Franciscans brought the faith to Mexico in the 1500s, the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe aided efforts to share the Gospel. By the turn of the nineteenth century, some political rulers resented the Church’s influence and sought to eradicate it, beginning with a new Mexican constitution in 1857. The government confiscated Church property, and the state and Church began to separate. After a period of relative peace, a new Mexican president began enforcing anti-Catholic laws in 1926. He eliminated the Catholic education of youth, expelled all foreign priests, banned celibacy and religious vows, and confiscated all remaining Church property. The devastation was immense. At the beginning of the century, 4,500 mostly foreign-born priests served in Mexico. By 1934, only 334 state-licensed native priests remained for approximately fifteen million Catholics.
Today’s memorial mentions one martyr by the name of Saint Christopher Magallanes. Cristobal Magallanes Jara was born in Totatiche, Jalisco, Mexico, to devout parents who were farmers. As a child, Christopher worked the land and tended the sheep. In 1888, Christopher entered the seminary at nineteen and was ordained a priest eleven years later. He began his ministry as a teacher in Guadalajara but soon became a parish priest in his hometown, serving for over twenty years.
Father Magallanes served his parishioners’ spiritual needs and evangelised the indigenous people. He also founded schools and opened a carpentry shop to employ the locals and build the town’s infrastructure. In 1915, after the government closed the seminary in Guadalajara, Father Christopher operated a secret seminary for seventeen seminarians in his own home.
Though Father Magallanes did not support armed rebellion, he was arrested for supporting the Christeros, peasants who opposed the government’s anti-Catholic oppression. Four days after his arrest, on May 21, 1927, he was shot to death without receiving a trial. His last words are recorded as, “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.”
Father AgustÃn Caloca Cortés, Father Magallanes’ assistant, was arrested on the same day as Father Magallanes and imprisoned with him. Since Father Cortés was only twenty-nine years old, the officers offered to set him free. He refused unless Father Magallanes was set free, which the guards refused to do. Father Cortés’ last words were, “For God we lived, and for Him we die.”
Saint Christopher Magallanes and Companions, you valued the Catholic faith over your own lives. Please pray that I will have your courage so that I can give witness to my love of God, even to the shedding of my blood. Saint Christopher Magallanes and Companions, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
St Rita of Cascia, Religious. 22 May. Optional Memorial
Born in 1381 at Rocca Porena (Italy). Died on this day in 1457 at Cascia. Obedient to the will of elderly parents, she accepted an abusive husband and remained faithful for eighteen years until his violent death. When her two sons died soon after, she became an Augustinian nun. Remembered for her life of penance and her suffering in union with Christ crucified.
“There is nothing impossible to God.”
“Most Holy Sacred Heart of Jesus, help my heart to preserve in all that is holy.”
“Let me, my Jesus, share in Thy suffering, at least one of Thy thorns.”
Poem inscribed on her casket: “Blessed by God, you were a light in darkness through your steadfast courage when you had to suffer such agony upon your cross. You turned aside from this vale of tears to seek wholeness for your hidden wounds in the great passion of Christ. . . . You were not content with less than perfect healing, and so endured the thorn for fifteen years before you entered into the joy of your Lord.
love God above all this. His goodness being infinite and his beauty without comparison, you should always keep before your mind the great love he has for you as Father, Spouse, and Master.
Our Lady, Help of Christians, Patron of Australia. 24 May. Solemnity.
The Virgin Mary has often been invoked in times of religious strife under the title of Help of Christians. In thanksgiving for the release of Pope Pius VII from captivity in 1814, the feast was established the following year on the anniversary of his restoration. The first Australian provincial synod held in Sydney in 1844 placed the Church in Australia under Mary's patronage invoked by the title Help of Christians. The solemn feast is an occasion to seek Mary's help and protection for our Church and nation.
St Bede the Venerable, Priest and Doctor of the Church
25 May. Optional Memorial.
Born at Wearmouth (England) in 673. Died at Jarrow on this day in 735. A monk, historian of the early English Church, and master of the Scriptures and the Church Fathers' teachings. Known for his scholarly writings. Venerated as the "light of the Church" in the period called the Dark Ages and as a forerunner of the eighth and ninth-century Renaissance of the Western Church.
St Gregory VII, Pope. 25 May. Optional Memorial
Born about 1020 in Tuscany (Italy). Died in exile at Salerno on this day in 1085. Served in important positions under several popes and briefly as a monk of Cluny. Elected pope in 1073 and campaigned strenuously for the Roman Church's reform and its freedom from civil powers. Remembered for his devotion to the Church in Rome and the reform of clerical and monastic life and of Church organisation.
St Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, Virgin. 25 May. Optional Memorial
Born in Florence (Italy) in 1566. Died there on this day in 1607. A Carmelite mystic and visionary. Remembered for her hidden life of prayer and for her spiritual and physical suffering, borne for the Church and its renewal.
THE POPE:
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Pope Saint Pius X (Reigned from 1903-1914) - Stock Photo ID: 2157172349 - Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: godongphoto
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Pope Francis lauds Pius X, a sainted yet controversial predecessor. In the preface to his new book on St. Pius X, Francis praises a pope whose image as a kindly, simple priest and liturgical reformer was overshadowed by his opposition to modernism.
April 19, 2024 at 12:00 PM GMT+2, updated April 19, 2024 at 01:29 PM GMT+2
Pope Francis has expressed deep admiration for his early 20th-century predecessor, Saint Pius X, in a new book on the man whose pontificate (1903-1914) unfolded during a troubled period for the Church and Europe.
"I love Pius X very much, I've always loved him," says Francis in the preface of Omaggio a Pio X (Homage to Pius X), a newly published work by Mgr Lucio Bonora, an Italian priest who has worked many years in the Vatican Secretariat of State.
Francis calls Pius X "the pope of catechesis," saying he was attentive to the most humble and tormented by the rise of nationalism in Europe and the build-up to World War I.
"How close I feel to him at this tragic moment in the world today," Francis writes.
A simple man
The late Italian pope is often remembered as a pontiff hostile to the materialistic developments of his time. Yet Francis believes that "Pius X is not confined to past eras of history or monopolised by particular groups... he belongs to the Church of today, to the people of the Church."
Further reading: Is this a golden age of Vatican diplomacy?
Giuseppe Sarto (the future pope's baptismal name) was born into a family of modest means on June 2, 1835, in the town of Riese near Venice. Eager to become a priest, he entered the seminary at the age of 15, thanks to the financial help from the pastor of his parish. Ordained to the presbyterate in 1858, he served as a parish priest until 1884, when Pope Leo XIII appointed him bishop of Mantua. Roughly nine years later, in June 1893, the pope chose Sarto to be Patriarch of Venice and made him a cardinal. When Leo died, the 68-year-old Cardinal Sarto was elected pope and took the name Pius X. The date was August 4, 1903.
A heartbreaking pontificate
Pius X was an unusual pope in that he had no experience of Vatican diplomacy and no university training... He was a man of prayer who experienced his pontificate as heartbreak at a time marked by the rise of anti-clericalism. Concerned about the liturgical piety of the Catholic laity, he encouraged Gregorian chant, the psalter in the liturgy, and the daily reception of holy communion. He also issued a decree allowing children to take communion from the age of 7, the age of reason, when First Communion came much later.
However, Pius X was intransigent in the face of what he called "modernism", particularly when France adopted the 1905 law separating Church and State. He criticised materialism, scientism, and scepticism during his time. Many biblical scholars and theologians were formally condemned during Pius X's pontificate.
Very concerned by the preparations for the war that began in 1910, Pope Pius was shaken when the Great War broke out in early August 1914. Stricken with bronchitis, he died on August 20 of that same year. Pope Francis called him the "first victim of the war". Similarly, La Croix said this about the late pope in an article after his death: "He died a victim of the war that he had tried in vain to avert by his discreet steps, and whose sudden outbreak struck him to the heart."
Pius X was canonised on May 29, 1954 - the first pope to be declared a saint in 242 years. The previous one was Pius V. Pope from 1566-1572, he was canonized in 1712.
Shutterstock licensed Stock Photo ID: 2284623171 - Vatican City - 12 23 2022: Tomb of Pope Pius X in the Chapel of the Annunciation—St Peter's Basilica. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Torruzzlo
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Commitment To Child Safety and Vulnerable-Adult Safety
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 yearly epiphany. On the door or the lintel will be this symbol:
This means 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.”
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