Catholic Parish of Lindfield-Killara Diocese of Broken Bay Holy Family Parish Church, Lindfield Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church, Killara 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 1:00pm Funeral Mass (see p.15) Tuesday No Mass No Mass Wednesday No Mass ~ Thursday No Mass ~ Friday No Mass * No Mass ** Saturday 9:15am SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturdays 5:00 5:30pm (Lindfield) For 15 minutes after the 5:30pm Mass (Killara) * 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 TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 25 6-17 This week: Jer 20:10-13; Rom 5:12-15; Mt 10:26-33 Next week : 2 Kg 4:8-11, 14-16; Rom 6:3-4, 8-11; Mt 10:37-42 What I say in the dark proclaim from the rooftops...whoever disowns me in the presence of people I will disown This week s Gospel is about having the courage ( Do not be afraid are Jesus opening words) to admit that we re disciples of Jesus. Sometimes we have to do that by words, but even more often by the even more courageous act of letting people see that our faith means something to us, that it shapes us: - for instance by being seen as a person who prays - or by being seen as a person who loves and draws life from the Eucharist - or by being heard when we challenge injustices or prejudice or judgementalism We can disown Jesus in more subtle ways than by denying him outright which we re not likely to do. We can more easily do it by our inaction than our action. By our silence rather than our words. By not allowing our faith to be seen. And thereby by not allowing God s place in our hearts and our lives to be seen. 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: Maia Schulze Tsang Parish Priest s Secretary: Maia Schulze Tsang sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au 0416 141 508 sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au 0416 141 508 maia@lindfieldkillara.org.au maia@lindfieldkillara.org.au Parish Bookkeeper: Alison Williams alison@lindfieldkillara.org.au Parish Facilities Coordinator (volunteer):anthony Cassidy anthony@lindfieldkillara.org.au Youth Ministry Coordinator (volunteer) Jean Shatek youth@lindfieldkillara.org.au Parish Primary School: Holy Family School, 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 Lindfield 6:00pm Killara 5:30pm Sunday Lindfield 8:15am Killara 9:15am Lindfield 10:15am Lindfield 12:00noon Lindfield 6:00pm 24 June Fr Thomas Fr Colin 25 June Fr Thomas Fr Colin Fr Thomas Fr Thomas Manimala Fr Thomas 1 July Fr Thomas Fr Colin 2 July Fr Thomas Fr Colin Fr Thomas Fr Lucas Fr Thomas
3 RICHARD ROHR S MEDITATION: THE EVOLUTION OF THE TEMPLE The brilliant Anglican theologian, N. T. Wright, concludes that we have largely missed Paul s major theme. After Luther, many thought Paul s great idea was justification by faith (Protestants) versus works righteousness (Catholics). It makes a nice dualistic split, but Wright believes the great & supreme idea of Paul is that the new temple of God is the human person. In this insight, he offers us a superb example of thin-slicing the texts & finding the golden thread. Once you see it, you cannot not see it. The first stone temple of the Jewish people was built around 950BC. On the day of the dedication of Solomon s Temple, the Shekinah glory of YHWH (fire and cloud from heaven) descended & filled the Temple (1 Kg. 8:10-13), just as it had once filled the Tent of Meeting (Ex. 40:34-35). This became the assurance of the abiding & localised divine presence of YHWH for the Jewish people. This naturally made Solomon s Temple both the centre & centering place of the whole world, in Jewish thinking. When the Babylonians destroyed the Temple & took the Jews into exile (587 BC), it no doubt prompted a crisis of faith. The Temple was where God lived! People like Ezra and Nehemiah eventually convinced the people that they must go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple so God could be with them again. Yet Wright points out there is no account of the fire and glory of God ever descending on this rebuilt temple (515 BC). And this Second Temple is the only temple Jesus would have ever known and loved. The absence of visible Shekinah glory must have been a bit of an embarrassment and worry for the Jewish people. Wright says it could explain the growth of Pharisaism, a belief strong in Jesus time that if liturgical and moral laws were obeyed more perfectly absolute ritual, priesthood, and Sabbath purity then the Glory of God would return to the Temple. This is the common pattern in moralistic religion: our impurity supposedly keeps God away. They tried so hard, but the fire never descended. They must have wondered, Are we really God s favourite and chosen people? (This is a common question for all of us in early-stage religion.) Knowledge of this history now gives new and even more meaning to what we call the Pentecost event (Acts 2:1-13). On that day, the fire from heaven descended, not on a building, but on people! And all peoples not just Jews were baptized and received the Spirit (Acts 2:38-41). Paul understood this and spent much of his life drawing out the immense consequences. In that moment, Christianity began to see itself as a universal rather than a tribal or regional religion, which is why they very soon called themselves catholic (universal) as early as the year 108 AD. Paul loved to say, You are the Temple! (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 2:21-22), and of course this morphs into his entire doctrine of corporate humanity as the very Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-30). THIS WEEK S FINANCIAL UPDATE On this LAST Sunday in this Financial Year: our Second Collection is now $2,686 ($9191 last week) behind compared to the same point last year. our First Collection is now $1,325 ($7018 last week) behind compared to the same point last year. Thank you for your response please help us to close these final gaps by this Fri 30th. The First Collection (wooden bowls) provides for the priests of the parish as well as providing for retired and ill priests of the diocese. The Second Collection (wicker baskets) provides all the running costs of the parish.
4 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CHANGES TO SCHOOL FUNDING -THE REAL, NOT THE FAKE, NEWS - I. For the facts about the issue please visit our website (www.lindfieldkillara.org.au) and click on the highlight box titled School Funding. Please take the time to read all the material there for the facts. II. As the bulletin went to print the legislation was before the Senate and was expected to pass. The long-term consequences for systemic Catholic education are daunting. We should not be fooled by the 12 month postponement of its impact on Catholic Schools a good way to defuse the groundswell of resistance, with the same net effect looming on the horizon. Fr Colin On the homepage of our website there is a hotlink box (pictured) taking you background information on the issues involved, along with links to other articles/sites clarifying these matters. Please take time to explore this part of our website (www.lindfieldkillara.org.au). All the material will remain on our website and new relevant material will be added whenever it becomes available. We need to convey one clear message to the government: WE WILL REMEMBER! WEEKDAY MASS THIS WEEK This week the clergy of the diocese are required to attend the (mandatory) Clergy Conference. For that reason there will be no Masses between Tuesday and Friday (inclusive). During that time however a supply priest has been made available to celebrate weekday Masses at Our Lady of Dolours at Chatswood. In the event of an urgent sick call or the need to organise a funeral please contact Fr Colin or Fr Thomas as usual via their direct numbers on page 2 of the bulletin.
5 Youth News GAMES NIGHT GAMES NIGHT GAMES NIGHT It s TRIVIA at Games night, TONIGHT after 6 pm Mass in Shirley Wallace Centre. Bring a plate to share! All welcome in years 7-12. Lots of fun things planned for BLAST (Years 4-6) next term. Our first gathering will be on 6 August. Stay tuned. PARISH YOUNG ADULTS GROUP - the next gathering takes place next Sunday 25th June immediately following the 6pm Mass in the lounge in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre on the first floor of Lindfield church a relaxed gathering over a meal with discussion. Are you aged 16 29? Pope Francis wants to hear your opinion Pope Francis has arranged that the next assembly of the Synod of Bishops will take place in 2018 and its focus is on Young People. In typical Pope Francis style he wants to consult young people themselves so that their views may be fed into the Synod process. So, if you're aged 16 29 go to www.catholic.org.au/youthsurvey and ensure that your views contribute to this gathering of the Pope and the bishops of the world. The survey needs to completed by 2nd July.
6 The Commissioning of Our Bells Work is now progressing well and the bells should be ringing reasonably soon. While we could probably aim for the commissioning in early August I will be on holidays then and we have First Communion in early September. We are therefore aiming to have Bishop Peter here for the commissioning and first ringing of the bells on Sunday 24th September at the 6pm Mass, followed by a parish supper. We will confirm this in next week s bulletin. Above: The bells are now hanging in the tower (though they re upside down!). Full details about the bells can be found on the parish website by clicking on the hotlink box on the homepage. CASUAL PAID POSITION IN THE SACRAMENTAL TEAM Our Sacramental Team of Sue-Anne and Maia is looking to share some of their paid hours with a third person who could help with the supervising of the weekend sessions and helping with the weekend celebrations - approximately 3 times a term for a couple of hours. If you are interested in this paid position please contact Fr Colin (colin@lindfieldkillara.org.au; 9416 7195) by Friday 30th June. KILLARA CARPARK UPDATE Following our receiving of diocesan approval to pursue negotiations with Group Homes Australia re the lease of the Killara carpark our committee began working with an external firm of solicitors (as required by the diocese) to prepare a draft lease. This task was recently completed and the draft sent to GHA who have now indicated that they are happy with the draft. The Killara Development Committee will now have a final meeting to review and hopefully endorse the lease prior to sending it to the diocese for their review, and hopefully, approval.
NEW BOOKS IN THE PARISH LIBRARY 7 The Parish Library is located on the first floor of Holy Family Church in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre. To borrow a book simply write your name and the date plus the name of the book in the Borrowers Book provided. Please cross your name out when you return the book (one month loans please maximum of 2 books at a time). Introduction to the New Testament by Fr Raymond Brown Raymond Brown, the great Catholic Scripture Scholar of the 20th century and introduction to the world of the New Testament, to Scripture studies, as well as an introduction to each book of the New Testament. First Sight: The Experience of Faith by Fr Laurence Freeman osb Benedictine monk and leader of the World Christian Meditation Network reflects on the need for faith in order to be fully human. Morning Homilies by Pope Francis Pope Francis short but powerful homilies each day in the chapel of his home (St Martha s Hostel in the Vatican grounds) have become a hallmark of his papacy. Creation, Power and Truth by Bishop Tom Wright Former Anglican bishop of Durham and renowned Scripture scholar, Tom Wright offers a compelling read for all who want to hear, speak and live the Gospel of Christ in a world of cultural confusion. PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES FOR YEAR 2016-2017 New sets of planned giving envelopes are now available in both churches.
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:
9 THE PSALM PS 68:8-10. 14. 17. 33-35 It is for you that I suffer taunts, that shame covers my face, that I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons. I burn with zeal for your house and taunts against you fall on me. This is my prayer to you, my prayer for your favour. In your great love, answer me, O God, with your help that never fails: Lord, answer, for your love is kind; in your compassion, turn towards me. The poor when they see it will be glad and God-seeking hearts will revive; for the Lord listens to the needy and does not spurn his servants in their chains. Let the heavens and the earth give God praise, the sea and all its living creatures. At Masses at which the Psalm is sung the response is: Lord, in your great love, answer me. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of Truth will bear witness to me, says the Lord, and you also will be my witnesses. Alleluia! RESPONSES TO THE PSALM FOR WEEKDAY MASS : Mon: Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Tues: The just will live in the presence of the Lord. Wed: The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. Thur: The Lord set me free from all my fears. Fri: See how the Lord blesses those who fear him. Sat: The Lord has remembered his mercy. CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK TWELFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Wed.: Memoria of St Irenaeus Thurs.: Solemnity of Ss Peter and Paul. THE NICENE CREED I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, (all bow at the following words in bold): and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father & the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen
10 Happiness Acquiring Life s Most Important Skill Part 6 (continuing the series summarising the book Happiness A Guide To Developing Life s Most Important Skill by Buddhist monk and psychologist Matthieu Ricard. Ricard then moves on to consider several mental toxins states of mind and courses of action that poison our spirit and make happiness impossible. His suggestion is that when these arise we need to deal with them with the techniques outlined in the previous section. The key toxins that he identifies are desire, hatred and envy. Desire. While desire is a natural and motivating force in our lives it can assume forms that cripple our human freedom rather than fuelling our deepest aspirations. When our desire becomes egocentric all about satisfying my litany of wants and needs then we enter an endless an vicious (and unsatisfiable) circle. Our desire becomes a toxin and an impediment to happiness when it becomes a craving, an obsession or a clinging attachment. Love, in such cases, really ends up being selflove: the other person is there to make us feel good. The goal, however, for a person who wants to cultivate inner freedom is altruistic love loving others for who they are, with a concern for the other s happiness. In other words, instead of wanting to possess the other person we want their happiness and fulfillment. A love for another person which teeters on being an attachment or an obsession is in the end no love for them at all it is simply a form of self-love: and one that has only the ability to bring us unhappiness. Happiness therefore is intimately bound up with the cultivation within us of a nonclinging, non-needy, altruistic love; by recognising the futility, indeed the toxicity, of clinging, needy love; by working at developing our inner freedom which is an essential ingredient in inner happiness. And one path to this is by using the techniques in our meditation which were outlined in the previous section and applying them as the thought and the image of the desires that entrap us emerge in our mind. Hatred. Ricard identifies hatred as the most toxic of the mental poisons because when one person s hatred and violence is met with the same from us the cycle of resentment and suffering remains unbroken. Hatred of course is intimately bound up with other negative emotions such as aggression, resentment, bitterness, intolerance and slander. As Ricard points out, when we give in to hatred and anger we aren t necessarily harming our enemy but we re definitely harming ourselves. Once again our inner freedom is compromised and we become driven, rather than the drivers. In considering hatred we need, of course, not to consider only how we deal with our own hatred but also with how we deal with another person who is consumed with hatred otherwise when we look at those who are consumed with hatred and their actions we run the risk of then responding to them with (righteous!) hatred ourselves. Ricard once again challenges us to respond from a position of altruistic love (a response demanded both by his own Buddhist belief and by the Gospel): he suggests that we look on such a person as a sick patient rather than as an enemy, as someone who needs to be healed rather than to be punished. As he says, if an insane person were to attack a doctor the doctor would use all force necessary to bring the person under control but then they would treat them one does not expect a doctor to start beating up his patients. As he points out, we can feel revulsion at the deeds of a person consumed with hatred & sadness at what they have done without the need for a desire for revenge. That latter thought only brings violence to ourselves & perpetuates the cycle of violence. Ricard recounts an interview the Dalai Lama had with a monk who had been
11 imprisoned and tortured terribly for twenty-five years in Chinese labour camps. He asked the monk if he had ever been afraid. The monk answered: I was often afraid of hating my torturers, for in so doing I would have destroyed myself. He points out that even psychological studies have shown that nursing resentment against a wrongdoer, never forgiving and taking revenge do not restore peace of mind to victims or their families whereas forgiving in the sense of renouncing hatred for the wrong-doer has the best effect in restoring inner peace. Hatred, as he says, devastates our minds. Envy likewise is futile, bringing only unhappiness in its wake. It again finds its source in an over-exalted sense of our own self and its needs, and is contrary to the altruistic sense of love for all people which is a requisite for inner peace. (to be continued) RENOVATIONS & BUILDING MAINTENANCE Comfort Inn North Shore 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 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 Henry & Gloria Cheung 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 Parishioners Advertising Space Available Please contact Parish Office at 9416 3702 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 LIVING INDEPENDENTLY! Catholic Healthcare is a service provider of retirement living units, residential homes and Community in-home services. The in-home services provided by Catholic Community Services assist people to live at home longer, by providing the care they need through government- funded, home care support programs We can assist you to navigate the My Aged Care system to review your eligibility for government support. Services can provide personal care, in-home respite, social support, shopping, transport to medical appointments, domestic assistance, meals preparation and a range of health and wellness services that improve mobility & physical wellbeing, as well as pastoral care for spiritual & emotional wellbeing. Please see brochures placed at the back of the church for contact information and details of the services, or contact us directly on 1300 319011 or 1800 225474 and we will be happy to assist you. Thank you!
12 GOSPEL REFLECTIONS BY: BERYL CATES Who were these twelve faceless men to whom we owe so much and know so little? Men we honour with feast days and under their patronage have people, cities, cathedrals, churches, chapels, societies and educational centres named after them? We know nothing of their ages, prehistories and marital status, other than that Peter was married (cf. Matt 8:14) and probably most others with families. A few were fishermen, others possibly artisans and one an ex- Zealot underground fighter against the occupiers, two former disciples of John the Baptist (John 1:35-42) and not much else. All we know of their missionary work is what Luke wrote about Peter, James and John s in his first 12 chapters of Acts of the Apostles, the remainder he devoted to Paul who knew himself an apostle and Barnabas also (Rom1:1 1 Co 1:1 Acts 14:14). Twelve symbolising the scattered tribes of Israel. Who can name all twelve? All were Galileans from the northern province of Israel, except the sad Judas from Judaea. Galilee was a lush region, its people regarded by southern Judeans as yokels, rough, uneducated and recognised by their accent as Peter was when Jesus was arrested (Matt 26:73). Yet from a tiny hamlet in Galilee, with a population archaeologists estimate about 500, there emerged a layman with no influential friends, money or impressive background, who so expressed, manifested and exuded the light and love of God, a movement he began spread from the Mediterranean through the mighty Roman Empire and beyond, changing hearts and history, becoming the largest and most influential religion the world has known. Jesus of Nazareth who chose a disparate group of twelve men as an inner circle around him, supported by women who possibly travelled on mission with them (Luke 8:3). If this enterprise, this movement of there is of human origin it will break up of its own accord, but if it has in fact come from God you might find yourself fighting against God, warned respected Pharisee, Gamaliel, when Peter and John were before the Sanhedrin for preaching Jesus teachings (Acts 5:34 Acts 5:38). Daunting instructions were given the Twelve before their first mission: Take only what you are wearing, no money for shelter, food or emergencies. Break your sandal and, if not offered another, go barefooted. At a time of no motels, welcoming the stranger was a prime virtue, so food and hand-outs could be expected, but then, what culture is filled with only the virtuous? Jesus warned about inhospitality (Matt 10:140), and there were times probably when he and his followers slept under the stars with weary bodies and empty stomachs (Luke 9:58). The twelve returned elated (Luke 9:19). Their spiritual deficiencies empowered with Godgrace, they told Jesus of people healed, forgiven, exorcised and finding new meaning in life through what he revealed of God to them. How spiritually mature were those men when first sent to preach Jesus illumined insights of God and our relationship with God? Not well we would say, scripture depicting them as an all-too-human erring lot, bickering among themselves, spiritually abstruse and struggling towards spiritual awakening. Which smartly slams the lid on any quick excuse we might have about not qualified enough to respond to the Church s calling to evangelisation and any of the Church s spiritual or welfare works, adult education programmes, retreats, Bible Study meetings. Justice and Peace endeavours or social events. You need no special education to be a Christian; Christianity is an education in itself - C.S Lewis. (cont d on page 13):
(continued from page 12): 13 The Apostles played such dominant roles Christianity s nascence we can overlook the 72 men Jesus sent as his emissaries with almost identical instructions to those he gave his Apostles. The commissioning of the laity to vocation. We know nothing about these men sent on mission in a province of about 350,000, only about 100,000 being Jews, the remainder because of history, slaves and Gentiles. We re given no names, occupations, and who provided for their families while away. Their venture was a resounding success, the 72 returning to Jesus rejoicing, and then the gospel is silent about them. They are better recognised in the Eastern Church where they are called Apostles, have a feast day and, though names are dubious, individual commemorations through the liturgical year. Pope Francis is calling us to evangelisation, that means live Jesus Love of God and neighbour wherever we are. Most, to their eternal credit do even when it s a grimly demanding exercise, and it is heartening that at no other time has society been more involved in giving practical help to those needing help to survive. But are we now so devoted to serving God in love of neighbour we ve forgotten God? Attendances at Eucharistic worship are dwindling and if private devotions also, we could be facing an unwanted future. Accounts of depression, suicide, drug abuse and domestic violence are rising. Causes are complex but is there a correlation between many tragedies and God now an outsider in our culture? It is noted should a victim of incurable severe clinical depression suicide, theologians today say that person has not taken his/her life but is killed by the illness. But how many tragedies happen because inconsolable sufferers know nothing of the reality of an inner loving Divine Power to support them through their suffering, assuring them all is filled with meaning and for good? (cf. Matt 7:24). Only God can give another faith, but the parish s new evangelisation programme is for a renewal of our personal relationships with God, allowing us better help people lacking any meaning in life to open their hearts to the presence of the Divine within them, and all that means.
常年期第十二主日 25/6/2017 讀經一 ( 他從惡人手中, 救出了窮苦 人的性命 ) 恭讀耶肋米亞先知書 20:10-13 耶肋米亞說 : 我聽到了許多人私 相耳語 : 驚慌四起! 你們揭發, 我 們就必對他提出控訴 甚至我的一 切友好, 都在偵察我的破綻 : 也許 他會中計, 那我們必能制勝他, 向他 報復 但是, 與我同在的上主, 好像一 位孔武有力的戰士, 為此, 迫害我的 人, 只有失敗, 決不能制勝 ; 由於謀 事不成, 必蒙受極大的恥辱, 永不可 磨滅的羞辱 萬軍的上主啊! 你考驗義人, 洞 察人的肝膽肺腑 ; 我既然向你訴說了 我的案情, 願你使我見到 : 你對他們 的報復 你們應歌頌上主, 讚揚上主, 因 為他從惡人手中, 救出了窮苦人的性 命 上主的話 ( 默想片刻 ) 答唱詠詠 69:8-10, 14,17, 33-35 答 : 天主, 求你按你豐厚的慈 愛, 應允我 ( 詠 69:14) 領 : 我為了你, 已飽受欺凌 ; 羞愧已 經籠罩了我的面容 連我的兄 弟, 都以我為外賓 ; 我母親的兒 子, 都拿我當客人 我對你殿宇 所懷的熱忱, 把我耗盡, 並且那 侮辱你者的辱罵, 都落於我身 答 領 : 上主, 在這困厄的時日, 我只有 求救於你 天主, 求你按你豐厚 的慈愛, 應允我 ; 求你以你信實 的救援, 俯聽我 上主, 求你照 你的和藹慈愛, 俯允我 ; 求你按 你深厚的仁慈, 眷顧我 答 領 : 卑微的人, 你們要觀看, 並要喜 形於色 尋求天主的人, 14 CHINESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 你們的心, 必要興奮, 因為上 主常常俯聽貧苦的人 ; 他決不 會輕視他的俘虜 願上天下 地, 都歌頌讚美他 ; 海洋和一 切水族, 都稱揚他! 答 讀經二 ( 恩寵決不是過犯所能相比 的 ) 恭讀聖保祿宗徒致羅馬人書 5:12-15 弟兄姊妹們 : 就如罪惡藉著一人, 進入了世 界, 死亡藉著罪惡, 也進入了世 界 ; 這樣, 死亡就殃及了眾人, 因 為眾人都犯了罪 沒有法律之前, 罪惡已經在世 界上, 雖然因為沒有法律, 罪惡本 應不算為罪惡 但從亞當起, 直到 梅瑟, 死亡卻作了王, 連那些沒有 像亞當一樣, 違法犯罪的人, 也屬 它權下 ; 這亞當原是那未來亞當的 預像 但恩寵決不是過犯所能相比 的, 因為, 如果因一人的過犯, 大 眾都死了, 那麼, 天主的恩寵, 及 那因耶穌基督一人的恩寵, 所施與 的恩惠, 更要豐富地洋溢到大眾身 上 上主的話 ( 默想片刻 ) 福音前歡呼 領 / 眾 : 亞肋路亞 領 : 主說 : 真理之神, 必要為我作 證, 並且你們也要作證 ( 若 15:26,27) 眾 : 亞肋路亞 福音 ( 你們不要害怕那殺害肉身 的 ) 恭讀聖瑪竇福音 10:26-33 那時候, 耶穌對宗徒說 : 你 們不要害怕他們, 因為沒有遮掩的 事, 將來不被揭露的 ; 也沒有隱藏 的事, 將來不被知道 的 我在暗中給你們所說的, 你們要在光天化日之下, 的 我在 暗中給你們所說的, 你們要在光天 化日之下, 報告出來 ; 你們由耳語所聽到的, 要在屋 頂上, 張揚出去 你們不要害怕那殺害肉 身, 而不能殺害靈魂的 ; 但更 要害怕, 能使靈魂和肉身, 都 陷於地獄的那位 兩隻麻雀, 不是賣一個 銅錢嗎? 但沒有你們天父的許 可, 牠們中, 連一隻也不會掉 在地上 就是你們的頭髮, 天 父也都一一數過 所以, 你們 不要害怕 ; 你們比許多麻雀, 還貴重呢! 凡在人面前, 承認我 的, 我在我天上的父面前, 也 必承認他 ; 但誰如果在人面 前, 否認我, 我在我天上的父 面前, 也必否認他 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, 彌撒後午餐., 餐費 $5.00 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 主日學 Sunday School, Parish meeting room Fr. Francis Ching, Companions of the Cross 程明聰神父雪梨之旅 6/7-16/7 Theme 主題 : 1) Amoris Laetitia. 教宗方濟各 愛的喜樂 勸諭 2) Evangelization in a community 團體內的福傳 3) The messages of Fatima, being the 100 anniversary of Mary's apparition 花地瑪的訊息 花地瑪聖母顯現 100 週年 16/7 星期日北區 12 noon: 粤語 主日彌撒 2:00pm 講座
15 (continued from page 16): someone, indeed, not even our own sin. We are unconditionally loved and held by the source of life itself and nothing can change that. Nothing can change God s unconditional love for us. That s the meta-narrative we need in order to keep perspective during the ups and downs of our lives. We are like actors in a play. The ending of the story has already been written and it is a happy one. We know that we will triumph in the end, just as we know that we will have some rocky scenes before that ending. If we keep that in mind, we can more patiently bear the seeming death-dealing tragedies that befall us. We are being held unconditionally by the source of life itself, God. If that is true, and it is, then we have an assurance of life, wholeness, and happiness beyond the loss of youth, the loss of health, the loss of reputation, the betrayal of friends, the suicide of a loved one, and even beyond our own sin and betrayals. In the end, as Julian of Norwich says, all will be well, and all will be well, and every manner of being will be well. And we need this assurance. We live with constant anxiety because we sense that our health, security, and relationships are fragile, that our peace can easily disappear. We live too with regrets about our own sins and betrayals. And we live with more than a little uneasiness about broken relationships and loved ones broken by bitterness or suicide. Our peace is fragile and anxious. We need to more deeply appropriate Jesus farewell gift to us: I leave you a peace that no one can take from you: Know that you are loved and held unconditionally. Fr Ron Rolheiser omi, from the website of the Centre for Liturgy, University of St Louis 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 Lord, in Jesus your Son, you restored to us the gift of everlasting life. Grant that life to: Please pray for Alan Betts of our parish who died last Sunday. The Funeral Mass for Alan will be celebrated this Monday 26th June at 1pm in Holy Family Church at Lindfield. Recently deceased: Alexander Hugo Kalnocky, John Armstrong, Alison Lawson Vera Magure, Frank Jones, Roxene Shannon, Br Felix Donahue, Vic Aguas. Anniversaries: Eileen Wade, Greg Wade. Also for: James Kevin Flynn, Thomas Wade, John & Betty Coombe, Benoit Zanchetta, Michael Miall. Please pray for those who are sick : Eileen Lyons, Fr Franciscus Choi, Ken Kan, Paddy Nolan, Gizelle Tan, Basilisa Choi, Cyril Ferriere, Br Braden, Brian Couper, Kieran Norton, Sean Maguire, Pakie Maguire, Naneth Bernado, Marjorie Simpkins, Michael Swan.
16 REFLECTING ON THIS SUNDAY S SCRIPTURES.. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. (Gospel) A META-NARRATIVE OF CONSOLATION Several years ago, I was at a symposium at which we were discussing the struggle that many young people have today with their faith. One of the participants, a young French Canadian Oblate, offered this perspective: I work with university students as a chaplain. They have a zest for life and an energy and colour that I can only envy. But inside of all this zest and energy, I notice that they lack hope because they don t have a meta-narrative. They don t have a big story, a big vision, that can give them perspective beyond the ups and downs of their everyday lives. When their health, relationships, and lives are going well, they feel happy and full of hope; but the reverse is also true. When things aren t going well the bottom falls out of their world. They don t have anything to give them a vision beyond the present moment. In essence, what he is describing might be called the peace that this world can give us. In his farewell discourse, Jesus contrasts two kinds of peace: a peace that he leaves us and a peace that the world can give us. What is the difference? The peace that the world can give to us is not a negative or a bad peace. It is real and it is good, but it is fragile and inadequate. It is fragile because it can easily be taken away from us. Peace, as we experience it ordinarily in our lives, is generally predicated on feeling healthy, loved, and secure. But all of these are fragile. They can change radically with one visit to the doctor, with an unexpected dizzy spell, with sudden chest pains, with the loss of a job, with the rupture of a relationship, with the suicide of a loved one, or with multiple kinds of betrayal that can blindside us. We try mightily to take measures to guarantee health, security, and the trustworthiness of our relationships, but we live with a lot of anxiety, knowing these are always fragile. We live inside an anxious peace. As well, the peace we experience in our ordinary lives never comes to us without a shadow. As Henri Nouwen puts it, there is a quality of sadness that pervades all the moments of our life so that even in our most happy moments there is something missing. In every satisfaction there is an awareness of limitation. In every success there is fear of jealousy. In every friendship there is distance. In every embrace there is loneliness. In this life there is not such a thing as a clear-cut, pure joy. Every bit of life is touched by a bit of death. The world can give us peace, except it never does this perfectly. What Jesus offers is a peace that is not fragile, that is already beyond fear and anxiety, that does not depend upon feeling healthy, secure, and loved in this world. What is this peace? At the last supper and as he was dying, Jesus offered us his gift of peace. And what is this? It is the absolute assurance the we are connected to the source of life in such a way that nothing, absolutely nothing, can ever sever not bad health, not betrayal by (continued on page 15 )