29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Oct 20, 2019, #563

HOLY MASSES Sunday: Vigil 6.30pm, 7.00am, 10.30am, 6.30pm

Monday – Friday: 6.30am

Saturday & Holidays: 7am

Confessions: before and after Masses if possible and by appointment

Baptisms: Third Sunday after 10.30am Mass

Divine Mercy devotions: every Friday 6.30pm

St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church

National Shrine of Divine Mercy

Monday: 8 – 11 Tuesday: 7 – 11, 2 – 5 Wednesday: 7 – 11 Thursday: 8 – 12, 3 – 5 Friday: 7 – 11

Priests are available during office hours or by appointment

Office is closed: on bank holidays & weekends, and sometimes we may be out of the office (Please call before coming)

St. Dominic’s Church Maxwell Main Road, Christ Church

BB15042, Barbados W.I. Tel/Fax: +1 (246) 428 7677

e-mail: stdominicbb@gmail.com www. stdominicbarbados.com

Our Sunday Bulletin

The Parish is served by Polish Pallottines: Fr. Andy Nyga SAC – Parish Priest Fr. Michael Siennicki – Asst Parish Priest & Deacon Rev. Stephen Foster

Sunday Gospel Matthew 28: 16-20

The parable of the unjust judge

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.”’

And the Lord said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’

THE POWER OF PERSISTENCE

The parable of the Dishonest Judge deals with a widow who by persistently going to a judge forces him to pronounce judgement in her favour though the judge initially shows no interest in her. The parable is an example of arguments a minori ad maius. If a dishonest judge would yield to the persistence and prayer of a widow, how much more would the upright God and Father of all do to those who cry to him day and night! If the helpless widow’s persistent prayer accomplishes so much with a dishonest judge, how much more will the persistent prayer of the Christians do! Faith is that which inspires persistent prayer. Probably the woman is too poor to pay any money to the judge as an incentive and so perseverance is her only weapon. The judge who does not honour the laws of God and man is forced by her persistence to yield to this widow. This being the case we draw the conclusion that God will uphold his people when they cry to him. The parable is essentially an encouragement to continue in prayer without losing heart right through the difficult times of waiting before the Son of Man comes.

When we reflect on this parable two ideas prop up. First, the character of God, who is not like the uncaring, unrighteous judge, but who is merciful, patient and eager to assist his people, and second, the necessity of staying alert and ready for God’s vindication and judgement. www.sundayliturgy.com

Today is World Mission Sunday and a second collection will be taken in all parishes to support the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies in sharing the Gospel. Our Diocese does not only give – we too have benefited from funds donated to the Pontifical Mission Societies………. Once again we thank you for your generosity.

Oct 20 - 26 Sunday: Vigil 6.30 pm: Wendy Hoyos - RIP Sun 7.00 am: Eli Brooker Sun 10.30 am: for Parishioners & Visitors Sun 6.30 pm: Ana Maria Foster Gill - RIP

Mon 6.30 am: Pearl Evelyn - RIP Tue 6.30 am: Clairvair & Maria Squires - Anniversary Wed 6.30 am: Brian Bourne - Birthday Thu 6.30 am: David O’Connor - Birthday Fri 6.30 am: Simone Pasmore Sat 7.00 am: Joanne Evelyn - Birthday

MASS INTENTIONS

ST. JOHN PAUL 11 - Feast Day – October 22 Oh, St. John Paul, from the window of heaven, grant us your blessing! Bless the church that you loved and served and guided, courageously leading it along the paths of the world in order to bring Jesus to everyone and everyone to Jesus. Bless the young, who were your great passion. Help them dream again, help them look up high again to find the light that illuminates the paths of life here on earth. May you bless families, bless each family! You warned of Satan's assault against this precious and indispensable divine spark that God lit on earth. St. John Paul, with your prayer, may you protect the family and every life that blossoms from the family. Pray for the whole world, which is still marked by tensions, wars and injustice. You tackled war by invoking dialogue and planting the seeds of love: pray for us so that we may be tireless sowers of peace. Oh St. John Paul, from heaven's window, where we see you next to Mary, send God's blessing down upon us all. Amen.

Our prayers: PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. "O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life." Amen.

Prayer for vocations Heavenly Father raise up holy vocations to the priesthood, to keep the faith alive and guard the memory of your Son Jesus, through the preaching of His word and the celebration of His Sacraments. May Your Church sustain seminarians and priests in their vocations so that they may faithfully fulfil their mission at the service of the Gospel.

Our Ministries: Altar Servers Catechists Choir – practice Friday 7pm Care Ministry: Breakfast team Hampers team Wednesday lunch Decorators and flower arrangers Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist Liturgical group Men’s group Prison Ministry Readers Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) Youth group

If you would like to join our ministries call our office for more details

ADVENT STARTS on December 1st……… There will be a limited number of Jesse Tree kits on sale for those interested in having their own at home to decorate each day during Advent. The funds raised will go towards the purchase of flowers and decorations for Christmas. Order yours early! Call Jacinta Bradshaw: 426-0606 or 230-9535

What is The Jesse Tree ? The Jesse tree helps us connect the custom of decorating Christmas trees to the events leading to Jesus’ birth. The Jesse tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot shall come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” Jesse was the father of King David. We adorn a Jesse tree with illustrated ornaments that represent the people, prophesies, and events leading up to the birth of Jesus. The ornaments of the Jesse tree tell the story of God in the Old Testament, connecting the Advent season with the faithfulness of God across four thousand years of history.

St. Dominic’s Prayer/Memorial Garden We encourage you to visit our prayer garden and the Memorial wall. The wall is slowly being filled. If you would like to purchase one of the plaques, contact the office.

Magnificat – Saturday 9 November

10 am – 12.30

At Living Water Community, St. David’s

Tickets: $25.00

Available from: Jacinta Bradshaw or Pam Brooker