OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH

NEWSLETTER

17th

Sunday in Ordinary Time 28 July 2019

On not punishing the innocent

The picture of Abraham pleading with God to save Sodom and Gomorrah is a fascinating one. The idea that comes across is that God will not punish a multitude of wicked people if it means punishing a handful of just people at the same time. Even though there is no resolution, the implication is that if there was even one just person in the city, God would spare it.

Today, we go to the opposite extreme. We are quite willing to punish a multitude of innocent people as long as a few guilty ones get punished as well. To take a few examples.

It happens in war. When governments are fighting guerrillas, they may think nothing of wiping out a whole village of men, women and children, provided they could get rid of a few guerrillas at the same time. It happened in Vietnam, in Argentina (during their so called ‘dirty war’) and in many other countries. These innocent people are referred to as ‘collateral damage’. It should be pointed out that guerrillas don’t hesitate to use the same tactics-think of the suicide bombers.

It happens in school. The teacher leaves the classroom for a minute. When the teacher returns, a chair has been broken. No matter how the teacher pleads or threatens, the culprit won’t own up and the others will not give a name. So the teacher punishes the whole class.

It happens at home. Something gets spilt when mother has her back turned. Nobody owns up and all the children are punished.

It tends to be our first resort and we regard it as eminently wise and just. But is it? Is it fair to punish ninety-nine innocent people so as to ensure that one guilty person gets punished? Of course not. It is unjust. It is terrible to be punished for something you did not do. It leaves you with a bitter feeling that can last a lifetime.

Though attractive, it is not a Christian solution, or even a humane one. God never resorts to it. This is what the reading from Genesis is telling us. Jesus taught us the same lesson in the parable of the sower and the weeds. The sower will not pull up a bunch of weeds in case he might uproot even one stalk of wheat while doing so.

The most important issue of our times is how to overcome evil without doing further evil in the process. Evil has to be restricted. But we have to do so in such a way that we do not do more evil in the process. Evil cannot be overcome by evil. It can only be overcome by good.

New Sunday & Holy Day Liturgies

Last week’s collection:

House–1,360.00, Parish 2,244.00

Peters Pence Collection—498.40

Thank you for your generosity.

PARISH NOTICES

Mini market this Sunday after both the morning Masses.

Youth sausage sizzle Sunday 4 August after both the morning Masses.

RCIA Information Evening. On Monday 5 August at 7 pm. This is for those who would like to become Catholic. This is also for those adults who are only baptized and would like to return to the Catholic faith through a full initiation with Confirmation and Eucharist. Classes will commence soon.

Parish AGM on Sunday August 25 after the 10.30 am Mass. All parishioners are invited.

Trivia Nite on Saturday 31 August after the 5 pm Mass. All parishioners are invited.

OTHER NOTICES

CARING SUNDAY. This Sunday is the Caring Sunday Appeal for Bishop Pat ’s Catholic Caring Foundation. The Foundation cares for families and communities in need throughout the diocese. Your gift will support families in need of a safe place to live, emergency housing, counselling, nutritious food, youth support, and special needs of our elderly, victims of domestic violence, parenting programmes for struggling families and so much more. If you would like to support the work of the Foundation through a gift, please take home our newsletter or visit our website www.caringfoundation.org.nz

Birthday Celebrations of our Blessed Mother Mary through Novena, Rosary and Mass in

Honour of our Blessed Mother of Good Health, Vailankanni daily from 29th August to 8th September 2019 at 6.30pm.

We invite all families and friends to come to St Mary’s Parish

Avondale and join the pilgrimage. Bishop Patrick Dunn, Bishop

Denis Browne and also Priests from different Parishes will celebrate Holy Mass each

evening. For more details please call Cynthia on 813 2101 or

Helen 834 7798.

The next meeting of Joshua Catholic Men's' Fellow-ship North Shore will be on Wed 31 July at 7.30pm at St Josephs Centre, Takapuna. At the meeting Patrick Hallis (a Joshua member) will do a presentation on the scripture reference - 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths'. ~Proverbs 3:5-6 . Fellowship over a cuppa will follow.

Mercy Spirituality Centre @ 104 The Drive, Epsom. Ph. 638 6238 or info@mercyspiritualitycentre.org.nz or www.mercyspiritualitycentre.org.nz.

MUFFIN MEETING: Touching the Holy – Pilgrimage with MARY BARKER. Thurs 8 Aug, 10.30am-12.30pm. $15 incl. morning tea. Mary is using art to show the journey of a pilgrim and what a pilgrimage actually involves.

EVENING TALK: Ecology – The importance of actioning gratitude with BRIDGET CRISP rsm. Tuesday 13 Aug, 7-9pm. $15. This session will explore the grace and grati-tude given to us by the planet, and our common response given in return. It will also in-clude some strategies to help you explore giving gratitude and grace to creation, while at the same time strengthening your own receiving of grace. Registration essential.

Please pray for our sick parishioners:

Violet Furtado, Christopher Hennings, Patsy Nun

Toon, Pat Wojcik, Iluminada Dorado, Eileen

Hunter, Claire Geddes, Pat Devereaux, Yvonne

Sommers, Gail Ware, Maryanne Pasina, Mary

Holmes, Kanesi Masae, Ethan Peter Lelo,

Rosalen Ahearn, Celestina Gardiner, Saulius

David Balsys, Kalameli Tauta, Joan Unkovich,

Melesete Va’asili, Lloyd Ball, Pauline Caffell, Tony

O’Brien, Louisa Baptist, Christine Roberts Whit-

combe, Robert Shearman, Siufaga Maileoi Lilii,

John Paul Lemusu, Leota Mike Kaisa, Aloysius

Thoman and Lee Dunn.

DURING THIS WEEK

SUNDAY—Masses 9 am, 10.30 am & 5 pm

MONDAY—Mass with Morning Prayer 8 am.

Tuesday & THURSDAY-Mass-6 pm, Angelus

before Mass.

WEDNESDAY-Masses 9 am & 6.30 pm.

Rosary and Perpetual Succor Novena before

6.30 pm Mass.

Friday –Masses 10.00 am & 6 pm

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament-Friday from

9 am

Divine Mercy Chaplet M/W/F after the morning

Masses

Saturday—Masses 9 am & 5 pm. Marian

Devotions after 9 am Mass. Rosary during

Devotions

Confession-Wednesday from 6.00 to 6.30

pm and Saturday after morning Mass or by

appointment.

Junior Legion Meeting after 10.30 am Mass Sun-

day.

Senior Legion of Mary Meeting, Wednesday 7 pm

Liturgy Meeting, Thursday at 6.30 pm

Mary Mother of Grace Presidium, Legion

meeting, Friday 7.00 pm

READINGS THIS WEEK

Mon: 29 July: 1 John 4:7-16

John 11:19-27

Tues: 30 July: Exodus 33:7-11, 34:5-9, 28

Matthew 13:36-43

Wed: 31 July : Exodus 34:29-35

Matthew 13:44-46

Thurs: 1 August: Exodus 40:16-21,34-38

Matthew 13:47-53

Fri : 2 August : Lev 23:1, 4-11,15-16,27,34

-37

Matthew 13:54-58

Sat: 3 August: Lev 25:1,8-17

Matthew 14:1-12

Sun: 4 August: 18th Sunday in Ord Time

Eccl 1:2, 2:21-23

Col 3:1-5, 9-11

Luke 12:13-21

Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of Deacon Martin Wu – Saturday 10 August at 11.30 am at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. All are invited.

Auckland Interfaith Council presents The Imam and the Pastor 27 August 7.30-9.00pm, Hillsborough Room, Fickling Center, 546 Mount Albert Rd, free.

PRO LIFE FACTS: Last Tuesday, a petition opposing taking abortion out of the Crimes Act, signed by 13,000 Kiwis was presented to pro-life Members of Parliament. For more pro-life infor-mation please visit www.voiceforlife.org.nz.

Priests contacts:

Parish Priest: Fr Paul Helsham OFM Cap

Email:paulhelsham@gmail.com

Asst Parish Priest : Fr Boniface Kujur OFM Cap

Email:bonikujur1969@gmail.com

Deacon: Robert Mitchell

Email:robertmitchell1410@gmail.com

OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC

CHURCH

7 Glendale Rd, Glen Eden

Tel: 818 6325, Office hours 9.30 am to

1.30 pm

E-mail: ourladyoflourdes@xtra.co.nz.

Website:www.glenedencatholic.org.nz

ROSTER OF DUTIES FOR 3 & 4 AUGUST 2019

5 pm

Saturday

9 am

Sunday

10.30 am

Sunday

5 pm

Sunday

Announcers Anne Cairney Kevin Davis Gerry Smith

Ministers of

Communion

Barbara Lynch,

Joyce Fonseca,

Sandra Almeida,

Karl Flaxman

Hendriks, Aldrin

D’Silva, Chris &

Nerissa Navarro

Ana Tonga, Epi

Poasa, Mesepa

Tatu, Joy Argano,

Sebastian & Maria

Richards, Elma

Soulje

Theresa Chan,

Tyralina Johans-

son, Lina Mitch-

ell, Zion and

Herman Tauata

Ministers of

the Word

Yvette Asthana

Minetta

Mendonza

Malia Tonga

Patrick Katoa

Mati Maka

Elisha Dourado

Altar Servers Abigail, Antacia,

Tyler, Kris

Valentino, Semisi,

Poiva, Isaac

Marcus, Lagi,

Sylvester,

Vanessa

Monique, Joshua

Organists M Abrogena Dominic

Braganza

Music Group Evelyn Pereira

Projectionists Abrogena family Jerome Herrera MG member

Offertory Whyburd Family Fruean Family Salvador family

Children’s

Liturgy

Charly van der

Salm

Maddie Gates Christina Gomes

Cleaning-Legion of Mary members, Prayer of the Faithful-Lyn Smith, Flowers-Margaret

Newcombe, Linen for August—Margaret Newcombe.