`Catholic Parish of Lindfield-Killara Diocese of Broken Bay Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church, Killara Holy Family Parish Church, Lindfield LINDFIELD: KILLARA: MASS TIMES: Saturday 6:00pm Saturday Vigil: 5:30pm Sunday: 8:15am Sunday: 9:15am 10:15am 12:00 (Chinese Community Mass) 6:00pm (for both our communities) Weekdays: Monday 9:15am 7:30am Tuesday 12:15pm 7:30am Wednesday 9:15am ~ Thursday 9:15am (School Mass) ~ Friday 9:15am ** 7:30am *** Saturday 9:15am ~ ** NO 9:15 Mass at Lindfield nor 7:30am Mass at Killara on the 2nd Friday of each month *** Healing Mass for whole parish at Killara at 10am each 2nd Friday of each month FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 5 2-17 This week: Is 58:7-10; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16 Next week : Sir 15:15-20; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Mt 5:17-37 Jesus calls us to be light for the world. But a gentle light, an inviting light: a light that beckons, rather than the searching, scrutinising, burning light of a lighthouse. We lead by example, not by pushing; we lead by inviting, not coercing. We are to be a light like the light of dawn described in the first reading, a gentle light, not the scorching heat and light of the noonday sun. Fr Colin
2 Parish Staff and Contact Information We are the one parish of Lindfield-Killara containing our two distinct but collaborating and cooperating communities centred on our two churches at Killara and Lindfield. Holy Family Church: cnr Pacific Hwy and Highfield Rd, Lindfield Immaculate Heart of Mary Church: cnr Fiddens Wharf Rd and Charles St, Killara Parish Priest: Fr Colin Blayney colin@lindfieldkillara.org.au 9416 7195 Assistant Priest: Fr Thomas Alackakunnel VC thomas@lindfieldkillara.org.au 0421 406 162 Apart from the case of emergency please restrict the use of the above numbers to between 9:30am and 5:00pm. For office or routine enquiries please contact the Parish Office during office hours. PARISH OFFICE: Parish Secretary: Philita Marundan: philita@lindfieldkillara.org.au Address: Level 1, 2 Highfield Road (cnr Pacific Hwy) Lindfield NSW 2070 (Postal: PO Box 22, Lindfield NSW 2070) Ph: 9416 3702 Fax: 9416 3913 Email: parish@lindfieldkillara.org.au Parish Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30am-1:00pm and 1:30pm-4:00pm Catechist Coordinator (Primary Schools): Sue-Anne Sherwood Sacramental Programme Coordinator: Sue-Anne Sherwood Assistant Sacramental Programme Coordinator: Position Vacant Parish Bookkeeper: Alison Williams Parish Facilities Coordinator (voluntary): Anthony Cassidy sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au 0416 141 508 sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au 0416 141 508 Parish Primary School: Holy Family School 2-4 Highfield Rd, Lindfield 2070 Ph: 9416 7200 Fax: 9416 9342 Principal: Mr Lou Dogao Email: info@holyfamily.nsw.edu.au School Website: www.hfldbb.catholic.edu.au/ Parish Website: www.lindfieldkillara.org.au Saturday 4 Feb 11 Feb Lindfield 6:00pm Fr Colin Blayney Fr Colin Blayney Killara 5:30pm Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Sunday 5 Feb 12 Feb Lindfield 8:15am Fr Colin Blayney Fr Colin Blayney Killara 9:15am Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Lindfield 10:15am Fr Colin Blayney Fr Colin Blayney Lindfield 12:00noon Fr Lucas Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Lindfield 6:00pm Fr Colin Blayney Fr Thomas Alackakunnel
3 RICHARD ROHR S MEDITATION: AT HOME IN MYSTERY Discernment (1 Corinthians 12:10), rightly understood, is not choosing between a total good and a total evil. Authentic wisdom is found at a much more subtle and nondualistic level. It is choosing between two partial goods. If you hold both sides seriously, within this space you can grow morally and begin to understand what really matters. That is the space in which you can go deep and learn mystery which is endlessly knowable. The source of spiritual wisdom is to hold questions and contradictions patiently, much more than to find quick certitudes, to rush to closure or judgment, as the ego and dualistic mind want to do. The ego wants to know it is right. It wants to stand on its own self-created solid ground not the mysterious solid ground of the abyss. This is why so much religion remains immature and is a hiding place for many control freaks instead of people trained in giving up control to a Loving Presence. A mature spiritual director will teach you how to negotiate the darkness, how to wait it out, how to hold on, how to live in liminal or threshold space. The dualistic mind just doesn t know how to do that. The dualistic mind cannot deal with paradox, but the nondual mind can. In fact, it almost relishes and revels in mystery. Nondual consciousness is at home inside of the abyss. I invite you to offer a simple, full-hearted Yes to the moment as it is, into the whole field, the full horizon of God and future. Choose every now in its wholeness. Whenever you choose or allow or surrender to the now, you can hold it in its entirety the good and bad, the satisfying and unsatisfying, both what fulfils and what disappoints you. Saying yes to paradox positions you in a place that is bigger than your pain, bigger than your own thoughts. Here the Divine Friendship holds you. This is nondual consciousness. PARISH FINANCE COMMITTEE newly refurbished hall at Killara. meets this Tuesday 7th February at 7:30pm in the Now that the hall is refurbished our various committees will alternate their meetings between our Lindfield and Killara venues, reflecting that we are one parish embracing two worshipping communities. SCHOOL MASS The 9:15am Mass at Lindfield this Thursday 9th February will be a School Mass to celebrate the beginning of the 2017 scholastic year. A MESSAGE TO OUR PERIODIC AND DIRECT DEBIT CONTRIBUTORS: HAS YOUR CREDIT CARD S NUMBER OR EXPIRY DATE CHANGED? If so the Parish Office has probably sent you a form to update the details for us. It would be very much appreciated if you could return that form in the next week since we cannot receive your promised contribution until we have the updated details. Thank you
4 WHAT IS FUSION? We are a safe place for teens to socialise with each other on a Friday night, learning about their faith in a relevant, fun way. We share a meal together, play some games and talk about the things that matter to them. Our first meeting for 2017 will be on Friday 10th February in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre above the Lindfield church. New members ALWAYS welcome. If you are in year 7 or 8 we meet from 5.30 to 7.30 pm. Students in years 9-12 meet from 7 pm to 9 pm. Future Meeting Dates for your diary: Friday 24th February Friday 10 March Friday 24th March Sunday 2 April (6-9pm) : Our last meeting of the term will be on a Sunday with Mass together at 6 pm and a games/trivia night (with dinner of course!) following Mass until 9 pm. PARENTS In last week s bulletin we talked about the 5 reasons why your child should attend youth group: 1. Teenagers need role models and mentors. 2. Teenagers need community. 3. Teenagers need mission: a sense of purpose. 4. Teenagers need to learn about their faith from each other. 5. Teenagers need a safe place to confess & confide about the troubles in their lives. This week we explore reason #2: Teenagers need community In an age of bullying, gossip, slander and hatefulness (which can destroy a teenager's self-identity), young people need other young people who can lift them up, encourage them and challenge them in all the right ways. Youth group brings together teens, forming a safe community to talk about life s challenges and see the benefits of their faith through service and commitment. PARISH YOUNG ADULTS GROUP The first gathering for the year takes place TODAY Sunday 5th February immediately following the 6pm Mass and will be held in the lounge in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre on the first floor of Lindfield church. All young adults welcome a relaxed and informal time (including dinner). All young adults welcome. Gatherings generally take place every alternate Sunday night the full schedule of dates can be found on the parish website under Groups and Ministries Young Adults.
5 DATES FOR SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMMES IN 2017 A letter giving all the details and dates for our Sacramental Preparation Programmes for First Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion in 2017 is now available as follows: on the parish website (www.lindfieldkillara.org.au) under Sacraments Children s Sacraments. from the foyers of both our churches Did you know?... that if you would like to look ahead to the coming Sunday s Scripture readings to prayerfully reflect upon them you can always find them on our parish website under Sacraments Scripture Readings for the Coming Sunday. Did you also know?... that on the website under News and Events News/Articles of Interest you ll find regularly updated links to short articles on various contemporary topics and world issues from a faith perspective. PARISH PLAYGROUP Characters Playgroup every Wednesday from 10:30am till noon (during school terms) in our new Shirley Wallace Parish Centre on the first floor of Holy Family church. Please register via Trybooking: www.trybooking.com/jykw HELPERS NEEDED FOR PLAYGROUP Please contact Sue-Anne Sherwood for details: sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au OUR MONTHLY HEALING MASS RETURNS TO KILLARA CHURCH Our monthly Healing Mass (including the celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick) will take place as usual on the 2nd Friday of the month (THIS Friday 10th February) at 10am in our church at Killara (no Mass at Lindfield that day). Mass will be followed by morning tea in the newly renovated hall at Killara. If you or someone you know would like to attend but is unable to get there or needs assistance in travelling please ring Fran Grant who will be happy to organise transport: 9880 7679.
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7 USA CATHOLIC BISHOPS REAFFIRM CATHOLIC POSITION IN RESPONSE TO LAST WEEK S PRESIDENTIAL ORDER ON IMMIGRATION Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago: "This weekend proved to be a dark moment in US history. The executive order to turn away refugees and to close our nation to those, particularly Muslims, fleeing violence, oppression and persecution is contrary to both Catholic and American values. "Have we not repeated the disastrous decisions of those in the past who turned away other people fleeing violence, leaving certain ethnicities and religions marginalised and excluded? We Catholics know that history well, for, like others, we have been on the other side of such decisions. Their design and implementation have been rushed, chaotic, cruel and oblivious to the realities that will produce enduring security for the United States." Bishop Robert W. McElroy of San Diego said the executive action was "the introduction into law of campaign sloganeering rooted in xenophobia and religious prejudice. Its devastating consequences are already apparent for those suffering most in our world, for our standing among nations, and for the imperative of rebuilding unity within our country rather than tearing us further apart. "This week the Statue of Liberty lowered its torch in a presidential action which repudiates our national heritage and ignores the reality that Our Lord and the Holy Family were themselves Middle Eastern refugees fleeing government oppression. We cannot and will not stand silent." Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin, Texas, chair of the US Bishops Committee on Migration: "We strongly disagree with the Executive Order's halting refugee admissions. We believe that now more than ever, welcoming newcomers and refugees is an act of love and hope. We will continue to engage the new administration, as we have all administrations for the duration of the current refugee program, now almost forty years. We will work vigorously to ensure that refugees are humanely welcomed in collaboration with Catholic Charities without sacrificing our security or our core values as Americans, and to ensure that families may be reunified with their loved ones. "The United States has long provided leadership in resettling refugees. We believe in assisting all those who are vulnerable and fleeing persecution, regardless of their religion. This includes Christians, as well as Yazidis and Shia Muslims from Syria, Rohingyas from Burma, and other religious minorities. However, we need to protect all our brothers and sisters of all faiths, including Muslims, who have lost family, home, and country. They are children of God and are entitled to be treated with human dignity. We believe that by helping to resettle the most vulnerable, we are living out our Christian faith as Jesus has challenged us to do."
8 THE PRAYERS AND RESPONSES OF MASS GLORIA: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. INVITATION TO PRAYER LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST: Celebrant: Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours.. May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise & glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church. SANCTUS: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION: Celebrant: Behold the Lamb of God All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION:
THE PSALM PS 111:4-9 The Lord is a light in the darkness for the upright: God is generous, merciful and just. The good take pity and lend, they conduct their affairs with honour. The just will never waver: they will be remembered for ever. They have no fear of evil news; with a firm heart they trust in the Lord. With steadfast hearts they will not fear; open-handed, they give to the poor; their justice stands firm for ever. Their heads will be raised in glory. At Masses at which the Psalm is sung the response is: A light rises in the darkness for the upright. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION : Alleluia, alleluia! I am the light of the world, says the Lord; the man who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia! RESPONSES TO THE PSALM FOR WEEKDAY MASS: Mon : May the Lord be glad in his works. Tues: O Lord our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth! Wed: Bless the Lord, my soul! Thurs : Happy are those who fear the Lord. Fri: Happy are those who sins are forgiven. Sat: In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. 9 CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK: THE APOSTLES CREED I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, (all bow at the following words in bold): who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen Monday: Memoria of Ss Paul Miki and his companions, martyrs of Japan. Friday: Memoria of St Scholastica (sister of St Benedict). Being a catechist is a calling, an invitation from God, an honour!!!!! We have 3 places waiting for special people to fill: Lindfield Yr 4, Tues, 10.30-11am Beaumont Rd Yr 3 & Yr 4, Tues 11.30-12pm Classes begin 14 February. Please contact Sue-Anne at sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au
10 Our Parish SCRIPTURE STUDY GROUP now resumes for the year and meets as usual on the second Wednesday of each month (therefore the next meeting is THIS Wednesday 8th February from 10am 11am. The venue is the Library in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre. We are working through John s Gospel and so it would be helpful to have read John chp. 6 for the coming meeting. All welcome. Fr Colin 'A CONVERSATION WITH PRAYER ON THE DIACONATE FOR WOMEN' All women and men who are interested in supporting the Diaconate for Women in the Catholic Church are invited to attend 'A Conversation with Prayer on The Diaconate for Women' at St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Parish, Warnervale. This evening is an event held to support Pope Francis and those engaged in the current Commission into the Study of The Diaconate for Women. By attending this event we will be uniting in global solidarity and prayer with Pope Francis and others who are seeking to respond to the call of the Holy Spirit for the world today. Date: 16 February Time: 7pm-8:30pm, Place: St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Church, 91 Sparks Rd, Warnervale. Further information or if you would like to RSVP (not compulsory) contact: kay.taylor@dbb.catholic.edu.au 2017 PARISH RETREATS AT TARRAWARRA ABBEY ~ WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU ~ This year s retreats will be as follows (Easter Sunday is 16th April): Wednesday 19th Apr. Tues. morning 25th April (falls in school holidays) Wednesday 26th Apr. Tues. morning 2nd May (falls outside school holidays) If you are interested in taking part in one of these retreats or just finding out more about what s involved please contact Fr Colin by Monday 6th February. RENOVATIONS & BUILDING MAINTENANCE CHRIS IACONO Parishioner All work large and small Lic 89879c Fully Insured 50 years experience Mobile : 0412 256 616 Phone : 9416 36 98 chris.iacono@bigpond.com Comfort Inn North Shore Family owned and professionally operated motel with on-site restaurant Address: 1 Gatacre Avenue, Lane Cove Phone: 02 9427 0266 Email: res@cins.com.au Website: www.cins.com.au
GREAT NEWS ABOUT OUR HALL AT KILLARA 11 The renovation of the hall is now complete. The first two events to christen the hall will be the morning tea following our first Healing Mass of the year this Friday 10th February (which therefore now returns to Killara as its venue) and the first meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council for the year on Tuesday 14th February. Amongst other things the hall is now air-conditioned and so will be a comfortable gathering space in both hot and cold weather. Regrettably we had no offers to cover the cost of new chairs for the hall. A reminder of our Masses for February: OUR MONTHLY CHILDREN S MASSES * on the first Sunday of the month (today, Sunday 5th February) at the 9:15am Mass at Killara * on the second Sunday of the month (next Sunday 12th February) at the 10:15am Mass at Lindfield. WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP AS A CATECHIST FOR OUR STATE SCHOOLS: Because a few of our Catechists have found full time work, we are looking for a few more Catechists. Please contact Sue-Anne (sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au). Making our two churches beautiful for the celebration of the liturgy - - providing/arranging flowers for the altar KILLARA: Each week, Killara Church has numerous generous volunteers who arrange flowers and clean the candles. We need more helpers to continue this tradition. No special skills or training is needed. Also, you may be able provide flowers on one or two rostered Sundays per year from your own garden. Or you may be able to donate the cost of the flowers for a given week. If you can help in any of these ways please email or ring Mary Hor (marymhor@gmail.com or 0414 394 338). LINDFIELD: would you be able to provide flowers on one or two rostered Sundays per year from your own garden. Or could you donate the cost of the flowers for a given week Or would you be willing to be on a roster to arrange the donated flowers If you can help in any of these ways please email Betty Harris (betty@honeypotmarketing.com.au)
12 Getting into the Mind and Heart of Pope Francis: Those who today always look for disciplinarian solutions, those who long for an exaggerated doctrinal 'security,' those who stubbornly try to recover a past that no longer exists - they have a static and inward-directed view of things. In this way, faith becomes an ideology among other ideologies. It is true that going out on to the street implies the risk of accidents happening, as they would to any ordinary man or woman. But if the Church stays wrapped up in itself, it will age. And if I had to choose between a wounded Church that goes out on to the streets and a sick, withdrawn Church, I would definitely choose the first one. We need to avoid the spiritual sickness of a Church that is wrapped up in its own world: when a Church becomes like this, it grows sick. If one has the answers to all the questions - that is the proof that God is not with him. It means that he is a false prophet using religion for himself. The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt. You must leave room for the Lord, not for our certainties; we must be humble. I have a dogmatic certainty: God is in every person's life. God is in everyone's life. Even if the life of a person has been a disaster, even if it is destroyed by vices, drugs or anything else - God is in this person's life. You can-you must-try to seek God in every human life. Perhaps I can say I am a bit astute, that I can adapt to circumstances, but it s also true that I m a bit naive. Yes, but the best summary, the one that comes more from the inside & I feel most true is this: I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon. The thing the Church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds & to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the Church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol & about the level of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else. Heal the wounds...and you have to start from the ground up. I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security Nevertheless men & women are sacrificed to the idols of profit & consumption: it is the culture of waste. If a computer breaks it is a tragedy, but poverty, the needs & dramas of so many people end up being considered normal. If on a winter's night, here on the Via Ottaviano for example someone dies, that is not news. If there are children in so many parts of the world who have nothing to eat, that is not news, it seems normal. It cannot be so! And yet these things enter into normality: that some homeless people should freeze to death on the street this doesn t make news. On the contrary, when the stock market drops 10 points in some cities, it constitutes a tragedy. Someone who dies is not news, but lowering income by 10 points is a tragedy! In this way people are thrown aside as if they were trash.
13 Address: 319 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, NSW 2060 164 King Street, Newton 6 Pitt Street Parramatta Phone: 9519-5344/99545255 FAX: 95194310 W: www.wnbull.com.au E: wnbull@wnbull.com.au Member of Australian Funeral Directors Association Lindfield Dental Practice Dr Peter Chung DDS, MDS, PhD Clinical Assoc Professor Open: Mon-Sat P: 9416 5000 Suite 1, 345 Pacific Highway (Scholastic Bldg) Next to Lindfield Medical Practice PHYSIOFIT Lindfield Parishioner PHYSIOTHERAPISTS: KERRY WESTON (Bogard) THERESA GUDE Hands on treatment Exercise prescription Exercise classes We are located at 7/345 Pacific Highway, Lindfield 2070 (Scholastic Building) Ph: 9416 3155 Mob: 0417 456 294 Email: kerry@physiofitlindfield.com.au Advertisement Space Available Henry & Gloria Cheung Parishioners Serving the Australian Construction Industry for 30 years UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS 326 Pacific Hway, Lindfield NSW 2070 Tel no. 94165335 Fax no. 94161538 E:sales@universalinstruments.com.au HOW WILL YOU KEEP THIS LENT? The Season of Lent is an annual invitation to renewal in discipleship and strengthening of the Christian community. Please be part of a Lenten study group to reflect on the Gospel and the challenges of Lent together. The Lenten groups would begin in the week starting Sunday 5th March. Please detach and return to the Parish Office. Name(s): Phone: Email: I would like to be part of a Lenten group I would be willing to host a weekly Lenten group in my home I would be willing to lead a Lenten group I prefer a daytime group I prefer an evening group I am happy with either an evening or a daytime group
常年期第五主日 5/2/2017 讀經一 ( 你將光芒四射, 有如黎 明 ) 恭讀依撒意亞先知書 58:6-10 上主這樣說 : 我所中意的 齋戒, 豈不是要人解除不義的鎖 鏈, 廢除軛上的繩索, 使受壓迫 者獲得自由 ; 折斷所有的軛嗎? 豈不是要人將食糧分給飢餓的人 ; 收容無地容身的窮人, 到自己 的屋裡 ; 見到赤身露體的人, 給 他衣服 ; 不要避開你的骨肉嗎? 如果這樣, 你將光芒四射, 有如黎明 ; 你的傷口將會迅速 復原 ; 你的救援要走在你前面 上主的光榮要作你的後盾 那時, 你如呼喊, 上主必 要俯允 ; 你若哀求, 他必回答 : 我在這裡! 你如果從你當中消除欺壓, 及指手畫腳的行為和虛偽的言 談 ; 你如果把你的食糧, 施捨給 飢餓的人, 滿足貧窮者的心靈 ; 那麼, 你的光明要在黑暗中升起, 你的黑夜將成為白晝 上主的話 ( 默想片刻 ) 14 CHINESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 領 : 義人必永受紀念 噩耗不會 使他驚慌, 因為他仰賴上主, 必心志堅強, 總不動搖 答 領 : 他心志堅強, 無懼無憂 他 散財賙濟貧苦的人, 他的仁 義必萬世流芳 他昂首闊步, 受人敬仰 答 讀經二 ( 保祿只宣講那被釘在十 字架上的耶穌基督 ) 恭讀聖保祿宗徒致格林多人前書 2:1-5 弟兄姊妹們 : 就是我從前到你們那裡時, 也沒有用高超的言論或智慧, 給 你們宣講天主的奧義, 因為我曾 決定, 在你們當中, 不用知道別 的, 只知道耶穌基督, 就是那被 釘在十字架上的耶穌基督 而且, 當我到你們那裡的時 候, 又軟弱, 又恐懼, 又戰兢不 安 ; 並且我的言論和我的宣講, 並不在於智慧動聽的言詞, 而是 在於聖神和他德能的表現, 為使 你們的信德, 不是憑人的智慧, 而是憑天主的德能 福音 ( 基督徒是世界的光 ) 恭讀聖瑪竇福音 5:13-16 : 那時候, 耶穌對門徒說 你們是地上的鹽, 鹽 若失了味, 可用什麼使它再 鹹呢? 它再毫無用途, 只好 拋在外邊, 任人踐踏罷了 你們是世界的光 ; 建 在山上的城, 是不能隱藏的 人點燈, 並不是放在斗底 下, 而是放在燈台上, 照耀 屋中所有的人 照樣, 你們 的光, 也當在人前照耀, 好 使他們看見你們的善行, 光 榮你們在天之父 上主的話 ( 講道後默 想片刻 ) 華人天主教會北區中心 主日彌撒 12 時 牧職修女司徒金美修女 聯絡 0419-426899 中心聯絡 Gloria Cheung 聯絡 0416-118089 www.ccc-inc.org.au E :contact@ccc-inc.org.au 答唱詠詠 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 答 : 上主富於仁愛, 慈悲而又公道, 像光明在黑暗中向義人照耀 ( 詠 112:4) 領 : 上主富於仁愛, 慈悲而又公道, 像光明在黑暗中向義人照耀 樂善好施的人, 必蒙賜福 ; 他以正義處理事務 答 上主的話 ( 默想片刻 ) 福音前歡呼領 : 亞肋路亞 眾 : 亞肋路亞 領 : 主說 : 我是世界的光; 跟隨我的, 決不在黑暗中行走, 必有生命之光 ( 若 8:12) 眾 : 亞肋路亞 Sunday School 12:00 Noon Parish Meeting Room 午餐 29/1/2017 恢復提供 2 月 5 日星期日舉行午餐歡送會歡送. Sr. Anne, 歡迎各教友參加
15 (continued from page 16 ) : We see the same message, consistent and repeated, in the social doctrine of the Catholic Church. From Pope Leo XIII s Rerum Novarum in 1891 to Pope Francis recent Evangelii Gaudium, we hear the same refrain: While we have a moral right to own private property, that right is not absolute and is mitigated by a number of things, namely, we only have a right to surplus when everyone else has the necessities for life. Hence, we must always be looking towards the poor in terms of dealing with our surplus. Moreover, Catholic social doctrine tells us too that the earth was given by God for everyone and that truth too limits how we define what is really ours as a possession. Properly speaking, we are stewards of our possessions rather than owners of them. Implicit in all of this, of course, is the implication that we can be moral and healthy only when we view private ownership in a larger picture that includes the poor. We need, always, to be giving some of our possessions away in order to be healthy. The poor do need us, but we also need them. They are, as Jesus puts it so clearly when he tells us we will be judged by how we gave to the poor, our passports to heaven. And they are also our passports to health. Our health depends upon sharing our riches. Fr Ron Rolheiser omi (from the Centre for Liturgy, University of St Louis) CORRECTION AND APOLOGIES Apologies that the contact information for Chris Iacono Renovations and Building Maintenance in one our bulletin advertisements last week was incorrect. The correct details can be found in the bulletin advertisement today. GIFT CARD FOUND Gift Card was found on the internal driveway between the church and the school at Lindfield. Please contact the parish office for more information. MISSING ALB The alb (white Server s vestment) belonging to Bill Larkin is missing from Lindfield sacristy. The alb is marked with Bill s name. Could you check any alb that you might have and if you ve inadvertently taken Bill s alb by mistake could you contact the Parish Office. Lord, in Jesus your Son, you restored to us the gift of everlasting life. Grant that life to: Please pray for Joan Clark, mother of Cathryn Cronin of our parish, who died recently. The Funeral Mass for Joan was celebrated at Wahroonga Parish last Tuesday. And for: George Joseph Blayney. Please pray for those who are sick : Please pray for Fr Paul Cahill, former Parish Priest at Killara, who is now in palliative care. If you would like to visit Fr Paul please contact Selva Saverimuttu on 0418 618 258 for details. Paddy Nolan, Ray Grannall, Cyril Ferriere, Br Braden, Brian Couper, Geraldine Haydock, Kieran Norton, Sean Maguire, Pakie Maguire, Naneth Bernado, Marjorie Simpkins, Michael Swan.
16 REFLECTING ON THIS SUNDAY S SCRIPTURES.. Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. OUR NEED TO SHARE OUR RICHES WITH THE POOR We need to give away some of our own possessions in order to be healthy. Wealth that is hoarded always corrupts those who possess it. Any gift that is not shared turns sour. If we are not generous with our gifts we will be bitterly envied and will eventually turn bitter and envious ourselves. These are all axioms with the same warning, we can only be healthy if we are giving away some of our riches to others. Among other things, this should remind us that we need to give to the poor, not simply because they need it, though they do, but because unless we give to the poor we cannot be healthy ourselves. When we give to the poor both charity and justice are served, but some healthy self-interest is served as well, namely, we cannot be healthy or happy unless we share our riches, of every kind, with the poor. That truth is written inside human experience and inside every authentic ethical and faith tradition. For example: We know from experience that when we give of ourselves to others we experience a certain joy in our lives, just as when we selfishly hoard or protect what is ours we grow anxious and paranoid. Native American cultures have forever enshrined this in their concept of Potlatch, namely, their belief that, while everyone has a right to private property, there are real limits to how much someone may own. Once our wealth reaches a certain point we need to begin to give some of it away not because others need it but because our own health and happiness will begin to deteriorate if we hoard all of those possessions for ourselves. Jewish spirituality shares the same idea: Again and again in the Jewish scriptures, we see that when a religious leader or prophet tells the Jewish community that they are the chosen people, a nation specially blessed, that affirmation comes with the admonition that this blessing is not for them alone, but that, through them, all the nations of the earth might be blessed. In Jewish spirituality, blessing is always intended to flow through the person receiving it so as to enrich others. Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic spiritualities, each in their own way, also affirms this, namely that it is only in giving away some of our gifts that we ourselves can remain healthy. Jesus and the Gospels, of course, teach this repeatedly and without compromise: For instance, the Gospel of Luke, a Gospel within which Jesus warns us that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, nevertheless praises the rich who are generous, condemning only the rich who are stingy. For Luke, generosity is the key to health and heaven. In the Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus reveals what will be great test for the final judgment, his single set of criteria have entirely to do with how we gave to the poor: did you feed the hungry? Give drink to the thirsty? Cloth the naked? Finally, even more strongly, in the story of the widow who gives her last two pennies away, Jesus challenges us to not only give of our surplus to the poor, but to also give away some of what we need to live on. The Gospels, and the rest of the Christian scriptures, strongly challenge us to give to the poor not because they need our charity, though they do, but because our giving to them is the only way we can stay healthy. (continued on page 15 )