THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

Transcription

1 Since October 30, Christ the KING Kampala UG PARISH PRIEST Msgr. Gerard Kalumba ASSISTING PRIESTS Msgr. Joseph Mugambe Rev. Fr. John Bosco Ssembatya Rev. Fr. Richard Arthur Muwonge LEAD CATECHIST Evaristo Mary Baguma CHAIRPERSON LAITY Rogers Semakula Sunday, 13th May 2018 And of what should we be afraid? Our captain on this battlefield is Christ Jesus. We have discovered what we have to do. Christ has bound our enemies for us and weakened them that they cannot overcome us unless we so choose to let them. So we must fight courageously and mark ourselves with the sign of the most Holy Cross.. -- St Catherine of Siena THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD =52 nd World Communication Day 2018 = SECRETARY LAITY John Baptist Ssemitego PARISH EXEC. SECRETARY Mrs. Euphemia Kiwuwa SUNDAY MASSES 07.00am: Luganda 08.00am: English 09.00am: Luganda 10.00am: English 11.00am: English 12.00pm: English 05.00pm: English (Charismatic) SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Monday - Friday 07.45am (after 7.00am Mass) 12.15pm (before 01.00pm Mass) 01.45pm (after 1.00pm Mass) Saturday 07.45am (after 7.00am Mass) 05.15pm (before 06.00pm Mass) First Saturday of the Month (dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary) Additional Mass: 09.00am FIRST READING: Acts 1:1-11; As they were looking on, He was lifted up. A reading from the Acts of the Apostles In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom He had chosen. To them He presented Himself alive after His passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the Kingdom of God. And while staying with them He charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to DAILY MASSES: Monday to Friday: 06.30am; 07.00am; 01.00pm Saturday: 07.00am; 06.00pm (for Sunday)

2 wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, you heard from Me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. So when they had come together, they asked Him, LORD, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? He said to them, It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. And when He had said this, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven. The Word of the LORD. RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Ps. 47:2-3, 6-9 (R. 6); R. God has gone up with shouts of joy. The LORD goes up with trumpet blasts. Or: Alleluia. All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy! For the LORD, the most High, is awesome, the Great King over all the earth. R. God goes up with shouts of joy. The LORD goes up with trumpet blasts. SECOND READING: Ephesians 4:1-13; To the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians. *Brethren: I therefore, a prisoner for the LORD, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one LORD, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace 2 Remember, Rejoice, Renew Sing praise for God, sing praise! Sing praise to our King, sing praise! R. God is the King of all the earth; sing praise with all your skill. God reigns over the nations; God sits upon His Holy Throne. R. was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ s gift.* Therefore it is said, When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. (In saying, He ascended, what does it mean, but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He Who descended is He Who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) *Marks the short version

3 *And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipment of the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we ALLELUIA: Matthew 28:19a, 20b V. Alleluia, R. Alleluia Go and make disciples of all nations, says the LORD; I am with you always, to the close of the age. R. Alleluia GOSPEL: Mark 16:15-20; He was taken up into Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. A reading from the Holy Gospel According to Mark At that time: [Jesus appearing to the eleven,] said to them, Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.* The Word of the LORD. will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. So then the LORD Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into Heaven, and sat down at the Right Hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the LORD worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen. The Gospel of the LORD. Remember, Rejoice, Renew 3

4 When Christ ascends into Heaven, His physical and earthly presence is now celebrated in Msgr. Gerard Kalumba Sacraments. The Believers who make up what we know as the Church continue to enjoy the presence of the Risen LORD in the Sacraments of initiation: (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist), the Sacraments of Healing: (Penance or Reconciliation and Anointing of the sick) and Sacraments of Service: (Ordination and Marriage). As the Church celebrates these Sacraments, it becomes the first visible sign of the presence of the Risen LORD in world. When believers are celebrating the life of Christ in the Sacraments, they are the first visible sign of the Risen LORD and hence they become the first SACRAMENT. So the Church is the Sacrament (Visible sign) of Christ. Our First Reading today clearly points to this reality of the Church: That Christ Himself prepared His Church by what He did and taught; O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commandments through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom He had chosen. 4 Remember, Rejoice, Renew THE PARISH PRIEST S REFLECTION Acts 1: 1-11 Ephesians 4:1-13 Mark 16: THEME: THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD INAUGURATES THE CELEBRATION OF CHRIST S PRESENCE IN FORM OF SACRAMENTS. Here the writer of Acts of Apostles is referring to the Gospel of St. Luke as the First Book he had written for the believers (those who loved God). So when Christ commissions His Apostles or His Church, He says, you shall receive POWER when the HOLY SPIRIT has come upon you; and YOU SHALL BE MY WITNESSES in JERUSALEM and in JUDEA and SAMARIA and to the END OF THE EARTH. So the Church is clearly pointed out as the visible presence of the Risen LORD in the world. After He commissioned them as His visible presence to the world, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. He commissioned those He had taught and had experienced His miracles. What the First Reading underlines is re-emphasized by our Gospel Reading of today: When Jesus appeared to the Eleven Apostles, He said to them, GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE WHOLE CREATION, HE WHO BELIEVES AND IS BAPTISED WILL BE SAVED. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Church founded on the Apostolic Tradition is the continuation of the visible presence of Christ in the world. It is the visible sign and so the Sacrament. The Ascension of Christ, therefore, is not a farewell to Christ, but the celebration of His presence in the Church and in the Sacraments. In the Name of Christ, the Church casts out demons (like Christ did), the Church speaks in all tongues and it miraculously overcomes challenging encounters: They will pick up snakes, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. So the

5 Mission of Christ the Mission that He started in Galilee and Judea is continued in the Church and it makes Him present all the time especially in the Sacraments. So we can conclude with the words of St. Paul in the Second Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians: Brethren: I therefore, a prisoner for the LORD, beg you to WALK in a manner WORTHY of the CALLING to which you have been called with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of PEACE. There is one BODY and one SPIRIT, just as you were CALLED to the one HOPE that belongs to your call, ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD and FATHER OF US ALL, who is ABOVE ALL, AND THROUGH ALL AND IN ALL. LIVE GENUINE CHRISTIAN LIVES. So as we celebrate Ascension, we celebrate the Great Mission of the APOSTOLIC CHURCH. To live Christ s life in the world. MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT CONFIRM THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES. Msgr. Gerard Kalumba Christ the King Parish, Kampala THE FEAST OF THE UGANDA MARTYRS IS ROUND THE CORNER The Twebaze Mapeera Concert will take place at Pope Paul Hotel on 20/5/2018, 1.00pm to 6.00pm with choirs from Kampala and Masaka. Tickets are sold at Christ the King Bookshop at 15,000 and 60,000 (includes dinner) For further correspondence contact Remember, Rejoice, Renew 5

6 6 Remember, Rejoice, Renew

7 PAULINE BOOK & MEDIA CENTRE The new Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis (On the Call to Holiness in Today s World) A guide to Christianity for the 21st Century: The latest new Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE was released by the Vatican on 9th April, which, this year marked the transferred Solemnity of the Annunciation The publication of the New Document by the Holy Father is now available at only 11,000/-. Place your order while stocks last or find Copies at Pauline s Book & Media Centre Opp. King Fhad Plaza - Kampala Road. Tel: Remember, Rejoice, Renew 7

8 WEEKDAY READINGS Monday 14th May 2018 St. Matthias, Apostles (Mass of the Feast): First Reading: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 113:1b-8 (R. see 8); Gospel: John 15:9-17. Tuesday 15th May 2018 Easter Weekday: First Reading: Acts 20:17-27; Responsorial Psalm: Ps 68:10-11, (R. see 33a); Gospel: John 17:1-11a. Wednesday 16th May 2018 Easter Weekday: First Reading: Acts 20:28-38; Responsorial Psalm: Ps 68:33-36b (R. cf. 33a); Gospel: John 17:11b-19. Thursday 17th May 2018 Easter Weekday: First Reading: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 16:1-2, 5, 7-11 (R. 1); Gospel: John 17: Friday 18th May 2018 Easter Weekday: or St. John 1, Pope and martyr (optional memorial): First Reading: Acts 25:13b-21; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 103:1-2, 11-12, (R. 19a); Gospel: John 21: Saturday 19th May 2018 Easter Weekday: First Reading: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 11:4, 53 and 7 (R. 7b); Gospel: John 21: Sunday 20th May 2018 SAINTS AND READING OF THE WEEK Vigil Mass of Pentecost First Reading: Genesis 11:1-9 (or Exodus 19:3-8a,16-20b; or Ezekiel 37:1-14; or Joel 2:28-32); Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 104:1-2, 24, 35, (R. cf.30); Second Reading: Roman 8:22-27; Gospel: John 7: PENTECOST SUNDAY (Solemnity): First Reading: Acts 2:1-11; Responsorial Psalm: Ps 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34 (R. cf. 30); Second Reading: Galatians 5:16-25; Gospel: John 15:26-27; 16: Other Masses are not permitted, not even funeral Masses As from Monday 21st the recitation on the Angelus (The angel of the LORD...) resumes. Christ the King Parish, Kampala Tel: Plot 3 Colville Street, P. O. Box 2551, Kampala - Uganda info@christthekingkampala.org