Morena / Good morning,
The readings this week provide a focus on home. Home is a beautiful place and should be where I am accepted as I am, warts and all. It is where I grow to understand the movement of love, hope and forgiveness.
If we look around for many people ‘home’ is a place of terror, violence and fear. It’s a place they want to get away from; a place where they feel deprived and left out in the cold literally. Many come from a home where they have been violated, torn from loved ones and left with emotional and psychological trauma.
We inherently know that this is contrary to what family and home should be. We can feel powerless or frightened to enter this arena of uncertainty . Yet, the promise of our faith is that God is with us – even though it feels like he has left the room. The reality we face in the human condition is that we are just like others; imperfect, we falter, we make mistakes and bad choices, we also make amends, forgive and apologise and start again. The whole array of the human condition relies on how we are loved and when we are loved; how we respond to it.
Life can be and is tough. It is in our friendships and relationships where we can connect with others and be supported, be encouraged and not feel so alone. Passionist Family Groups are a way to forge a path into the lives of others and be a beacon of warmth, love, hope and forgiveness. It is a response to our fellow brothers and sisters that we are in fact that – we can be more by being more. As Oscar Romero stated, ”Ask not to have more but to be more”. Below is a text from Pope Leo XIV from my friend John Butchard that was in the St Hellier’s Parish Newsletter last Sunday. He is going to continue the legacy of Francis and we will be challenged.
“Just what the Church and the world needs. A true disciple of
Christ, a shepherd who has the smell of the sheep on him
Quote from Pope Leo XIV follows:
Brothers, sisters
I speak to you, especially to those who no
Longer believe., no longer hope, no longer pray,
because they think God has left.
To those who are fed up with scandals, with
misused power, with the silence of a
Church that sometimes seems more like a
palace than a home.
I, too, was angry with God.
I, too, saw good people die, children suffer,
grandparents cry without medicine.
And yes. there were days when I prayed and
only felt an echo.
But, then I discovered something
God doesn’t shout. God whispers.
And sometimes He whispers from the mud,
From pain, from a grandmother who
feeds you without having anything.
I don’t come to offer you perfect faith.
I come to tell you that faith is a walk with
stones, puddles, and unexpected hugs.
I’m not asking you to believe in everything.
I’m asking you not to close the door.
Give a chance to the God who waits for you
without judgment.
I’m just a priest who saw God in the smile of
a woman who lost her son….
and yet she cooked for others
That changed me. So, if you’re broken,
if you don’t believe, if you’re tired of the lies.
come anyway. With your anger, your doubt,
your dirty backpack.
No one here will ask you for a VIP card.
Because this Church, as long as I breathe,
will be a home for the homeless, and
a rest for the weary.
God doesn’t need soldiers.
He needs brothers.
And you, yes, you. are one of them.’
Have a good week – God go with you,
Paul
Scripture reflection for Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C, 25 May.
Spiritual reflection: God will make his home with each of us
Grant, almighty God, that we may celebrate with heartfelt devotion these days of joy, which we keep in honour of the risen Lord, and that what we relive in remembrance we may always hold to in what we do.
LECTIONARY READINGS
First reading: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
Responsorial psalm: Ps 66(67):2-3, 5-6, 8
Second reading: Apocalypse 21:10-14, 22-23
Gospel: John 14:23-29
Link to readings – click here
This last Sunday, before Ascension and Pentecost, we see Jesus’s earthly ministry come to a gradual conclusion. Jesus is about to return to the Father, but his final words contain a promise (Gospel): through his Spirit of power, courage and knowledge (he will always remain with his disciples. Jesus is ensuring that his ministry will continue.
In the First Reading we see that the same disciples do not make any decisions without consulting the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who keeps them (and us today) faithful to Christ’s word. In the Second Reading, John speaks of being carried away in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit of consolation, strength and wisdom is essential for everything. When we, too, know and feel this lifegiving presence of Christ’s Spirit in our hearts, we can repeat the words of the Psalmist who praises God in all and for all.
Through the grace of this same Spirit, we are Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee year. Let’s rest in that grace this week, as the Spirit makes her home in us, and through whom we receive light, blessing and wisdom to be of service to others.
Formation: As stated in the last newsletter as part of this Jubilee Year Paul will be offering to visit parishes and or regions to conduct a mini formation using two talks and discussion/sharing opportunities – one on ‘Belonging’ and the “On Being Church – Why community matters?”. If you or your community or region would like a presentation please let Paul know and dates that would suit you.
At this stage East Coast Bays 29th April Hawkes Bay are looking at May 10th. Mt Maunganui and Whakatane now in late Sep-or Oct; Cambridge August 4th?, Hamilton August 3 and Paeroa August 2? Ashburton August 9th Christchurch August 10th for Formation
Safeguarding: “Working Together for a Safe Church”
Any complaints should be directed through the National Office of Professional Standards (NOPS) or report directly to the New Zealand Police or Oranga Tamariki.
Phone: 03 365 1993 or 0800 114 622
Email: prof.standards@nzcbc.org.nz
www.safeguarding.catholic.org.nz
Reminder: 5 Aims and Goals
- share & celebrate life & faith
- support one another (especially in need)
- reaching out to & include others
- build community/extended family
- show and give example to children
Please remember in your thoughts and prayer:
- Please remember Pauline Prendergast after the death of her husband Michael. Our thoughts are with the family and Pauline
- Remember the Bartells family
- Please keep Linda Darbyshire and family in your prayer.
- Please remember Jocelyn Bryant, Kev and family in your prayer.
- Robyn Burns (Hill;) Please keep Tim Bartells in your prayer.
- Remember Rencha who is dealing with cancer.
- Please remember Sean and Ann Mulcahy who are both battling major health issues
- Pease keep Di Buckley in your prayer
- Christine Geoghegan daughter Kate and extended families
- Pat Smith RIP and keep in prayer Maureen and family; Remember Pat Carson; Graeme Matthews; Adrian van de Pas and her son Robert ; Graeme and Margaret Armstrong
- Jenny Epplett, Preston, Kate and family ;
- Please remember Paul Davenport and his wife Jill;
- Clair and Ray Hague; Terry Nelson’s family;. Brian and Eleanor McFlynn ; Bryan Davidson;
- Tim Bartell’s son Sam and family ; Richard and Sue Gibbs; Martin and Sally van der Wetering; Phil and Anne Drew .
- Keep in mind all those who are struggling with various aspects of mental health;; Keep people in Gaza and Israel in your prayer along with the people of the people of Ukraine: Keep in prayer the people of Sudan and Syria.
- Please pray for Dot and Neill Wilson (Invercargill)
.
- Your own intentions
We pray the Jubilee Prayer for ourselves and our world.
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
Humour:
- I told my mom I’d call her later, but she said she prefers “Mom.”
- Why did the spider go to school? He wanted to be a web designer.
- What do you call a fly without wings? A walk.
- Two fish are in a tank. One turns to the other and says, “Any idea how to drive this thing?”
- I don’t tell dad jokes that often. But when I do, he laughs.
- Why does a chicken coop only have two doors? Because if it had four it would be a sedan.
- What did the pirate say on his birthday? “Aye, matey!”