Monday, November 30, 2020

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Advent - the season of the Wake-Up call!

Just a few thoughts

·         We can see Advent as the hopeful preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
More importantly for us it is probably the renewal, the refreshing, the maturing of our faith journey accompanied by Jesus in the coming year. There is nothing static about such a journey!

·         The prophet cries out to God, “Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways?
What do you think the answer might be to that question?

Reflection

ü  Prayers of the people: The power of hope

ü  Living Space

ü  Staying AwakeFr Ron Rolheiser

The Signs Of The Times

Ø  Statement for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - Bishop Vincent Long 

The Parish Choir members are saying ‘Hello’

¯ Wait for the Lord 

¯ Wake, O Wake, And Sleep No Longer

Bits & Pieces

v 1986: Meeting of Pope John Paul II with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Alice Springs

 

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Be on Watch and Pray always

Reflection

Living Space

An Invitation To Maturity – Weeping Over JerusalemFr Ron Rolheiser

One God of the Earth - Fr Richard Rohr

Just a few thoughts

Ø  What can you expect if you get a call from a COVID contact tracer?

Ø  How much exercise do you do per week?
Are you meeting the WHO [World Health Organisation]  guidelines?
Have you slipped into unhealthy habits this year that you need to change?
According to the guidelines, older adults should do at least 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week or at least 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity per week.
My analysis is that I must get moving and stop eating and drinking [apart from water] between simple healthy meals.

The Parish Choir members are saying ‘Hello’

¯ Thanksgiving Day, annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. This piece of musicwas chosen as part of the celebration and so is this one.

Bits & Pieces

v  1998: Award of the first Sydney Peace Prize to Muhammad Yunus

v  1932 - The 'Dog on the Tuckerbox' statue at Gundagai is unveiled.

v  1882 - Elder Park Rotunda

 

Friday, November 27, 2020

The Kingdom is present wherever the values of the Gospel are being lived.

 

Just a few thoughts

·         This graphic has got me puzzled! Isn’t this a conflict in terms? Can anyone of you give me any clues how to interpret/understand this statement?

Reflection

ü  Living Space

ü  Recovering Our Original Unity - Fr Richard Rohr

The Signs Of The Times

Ø  McCarrick report is one small step to dismantling clerical culture

The Parish Choir members are saying ‘Hello’

¯ In Every Age

¯ L'enfance du Christ - L'Adieu des bergers à la sainte famille

Bits & Pieces

1880 - Sir Ralph Freeman, designer of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, is born

1895 - Alfred Nobel draws up his last will and testament, pledging his enormous wealth toward the betterment of humanity.

1906 - Colonel William Light


Thursday, November 26, 2020

Stand Up And Lift Up Your Heads

Just a few thoughts

·         We love Caritas for the great work it does around the world.
We also admire Oxfam. We received an email from them highlighting the way that Australian clothing retailers exploit the women of Bangladesh. I can’t link you to my email but learn more here

Reflection

ü  Living Space

ü  Contemplative Responsibility  -  Fr Richard Rohr

The Signs Of The Times

Ø  Media matters for the good of the Church

The Parish Choir members are saying ‘Hello’

¯ Come, O Come Emmanuel

¯ Pange Lingua Gloriosi

Bits & Pieces

1838 - A second trial finds some of the perpetrators of the Myall Creek massacre of Aborigines guilty.

Josephine’s humour………..



Wednesday, November 25, 2020

The Challenges of Our Faith

Just a few thoughts

v  International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

v  Focus on women’s safety

Reflection

ü  Living Space

ü  Good News

The Signs Of The Times

Ø  Women don’t need be priests to be Church leaders: Pope

Ø  Church: Profit-driven culture leads to exploitation

The Parish Choir members are saying ‘Hello’

¯ Emmanuel

¯ Wait for the Lord 

¯ African Gospel Medley

Bits & Pieces

1844 - Karl Benz, German engineer and inventor of the petrol-driven automobile, is born.

From a church newsletter:- Next Thursday there will be try-outs for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

 

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

"The liturgical year is coming to an end. Live each day to the full and make it productive for ourselves and others."

The only remaining part of the Temple of Jerusalem – The Wailing Wall

Just a few thoughts

·         The actual temple itself has been replaced by one of the Holy Land’s most iconic buildings -  the Dome of the Rock. Built in 691 AD, the Dome of the Rock is Islam’s third holiest site. Muslims believe that the stone called the Foundation Stone by the Jews is the same stone from which Muhammad ascended into Heaven accompanied by the Angel Gabriel.

·         Saints from Vietnam - Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions

Reflection

ü  Living Space

ü  Joy and Sadness: A Lesson from Merton’s Hermitage  -  Fr Richard Rohr

The Parish Choir members are saying ‘Hello’

¯ "O Emmanuel"

¯ Wait For The Lord - Taize

Bits & Pieces

1642 - Dutch explorer Abel Tasman discovers Tasmania, naming it Van Diemen's Land.

1964 - Passage of National Service Act by Australian Parliament

Monday, November 23, 2020

The gift is acceptable according to what one has.

Just a few thoughts

·         Did you receive an email from the parish last week about the Mass times for last Sunday?

At Mass yesterday I discovered that lots of people did not receive that email.  Checking back I realised that only about 40 people received it.  Unfortunately there way no way to book a seat at a particular Mass.

·         9:30 Mass only started a couple of minutes late. That was pretty good considering that people were very patiently waiting in queues outside while thundery rain was threatening.

·         The Gospel story of the poor widow asks us to contemplate on 2 points of view – [1] the extraordinary generosity of the widow and the great pressure of the Temple customs to demand extravagant donations. [2] the teaching of Jesus that the most important people are the poor, the sick, the isolated, etc. and our obligation to care for each other. The song selection follows that theme.

Reflection

ü  Living Space

ü  Prayers of the people: Works of mercy

The Signs Of The Times

Ø  We are called to be ‘Neighbours without Borders’ – From The Good Oil

The Parish Choir members are saying ‘Hello’

¯ Go Make A Difference

¯ The Cry of the Poor

¯ Siyahamba – We are walking in the light of God

Bits & Pieces

v 1923 - Australia's first public wireless broadcast begins.

v 1986 - Migration Museum

 

Sunday, November 22, 2020

The Feast of The Good Shepherd, of The Servant Leader.

Just a few thoughts

·         As I have grown older I have been less and less enthused by the tenor of this feast of Christ The King.

·         I understand that Christ the King Sunday was first introduced 1925.
After World War I the politicians of the world were telling Christians that they should and must compartmentalize their religion and give their highest allegiance to the government.

So, as a response, Christ the King Sunday was introduced, reminding the Church worldwide that there is only one true king,

·         When my family became Australian citizens the procedure required us to deny loyalty to our native monarch and declare loyalty to the monarch of Great Britain in order to qualify as Australians!

·         Chris was not a “king of this world”! He said so.

My Reflection

Ø  “I am the good shepherd… And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.”

History records plenty of examples of leaders whose interests were focused on themselves at the expense and exploitation of the people they served — often those who were weak, young, and vulnerable.

The false leadership of self-serving shepherds creates a space where only the fittest survive and only the richest thrive.

Servant leadership of self-giving shepherds creates a society based on justice and love. Such leadership comes from God, through the life of Jesus Christ, who is both the good shepherd and the sacrificial lamb.

What Kind Of Leadership Do We Serve?

Do we truly know our Shepherd’s voice?
Do we live in a place where exploitation of the weak is permissible, negligence towards the poor is acceptable, and apathy towards the stranger and the sick is normalized?

The Parish Choir members are saying ‘Hello’

¯ The Lord's my shepherd

¯ The Servant Song

¯ What Do You Want Of Me O Lord

                                         


                                                





Saturday, November 21, 2020

Community Spirit……Together We Are Strong!

Just a few thoughts

·         My apologies for overlooking the fact that yesterday was White Ribbon Day.  Men and boys are encouraged to wear white ribbons as a symbol of their opposition to violence against women. They are particularly encouraged to wear these during White Ribbon week which starts on November 25 which is the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Both actions and words needed to tackle domestic violence

·         How sad and embarrassing it was that our defence against the C-Virus was undermined by a lack of truth. What relief that we have a strong sense of community so that we can move on and keep doing our best for the good of all.  ---  Truth Sets Us Free!

·         So our parish church will be open for 100 people per Mass at 8:30am or 9:30am. Do we need to book?

Reflection

Ø  The Story of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Ø  The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Ø  The Kingdom’s “Common Sense  -  Fr Richard Rohr

The Signs Of The Times

v  Vinnies Christmas Hampers Appeal. Please do not forget this important appeal and make sure that when our parish church reopens you will be ready to make your donation.

The Parish Choir members are saying ‘Hello’

Here is a selection of hymns about Mary

¯ Immaculate Mary

¯ Ave Maria - Schubert

¯ Salve Regina

¯ Ave Maria Angelus Domini -  Franz Biebl

¯ And finally as a bit of fun and admiration  - Bobby McFerrin - Ave Maria



Friday, November 20, 2020

The Cleansing Of The Temple

“There were many synagogues but there was only one Temple. To imagine the impact, we would have to think of someone entering the Vatican, overthrowing the tables of those who sold medals and holy pictures and statuettes, and going on to smash up the computers in the Vatican bank. What would happen?”

Just a few thoughts

·         That Temple was levelled by the Romans in the year 70 AD. Only the Wailing Wall remains!
Spiritually we are the temples where God dwells!  Is cleansing needed?

·         1959 - The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in history.
Yet here we are reflecting on the horrendous abuse of children after this day in 1959!
Now we discover that Pope John Paul II, who was declared a saint, has been found to ignore knowledge about a bishop/cardinal who was an abuser.

·         Vinnies launches 2020 Christmas Appeal
While our parish churches are closed it is not possible to donate items for our Vinnies Christmas Hampers Appeal. Please do not forget this important appeal and make sure that when our parish church reopens you will be ready to make your donation.

Reflection

ü  The Reign of God as Community  -  Fr Richard Rohr

ü  Can The Ground Cry Out?  -  Fr Ron Rolheiser

The Parish Choir members are saying ‘Hello’

On Sunday we celebrate the feast of Christ The King [or King of the Universe]
I have always felt rather bemused by that name…… I picture him as a servant of the people, as a shepherd of a flock, as a social justice activist.

¯ The Servant King

¯ Shepherd of my soul

¯ Streets Of The City

 

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Stay Home!

Just a few thoughts

Churches are to close effective from midnight on Tuesday 18 November.

Yesterday the total active cases of C-Virus infection reached 35
Please remain calm. South Australia will pause, and people will need to remain at home for the next 6 days.
Stay in contact with friends and family by phone or internet.
Say Hello and RUOK to people who are living alone.
COVID response updates

Reflection

ü  The Kingdom as Consciousness - - Fr Richard Rohr

ü  Pope Francis - Even a smile that we can share with the poor is a source of love. An outstretched hand can always be enriched by the smile of those who quietly and unassumingly offer to help, inspired only by the joy of living as one of Christ’s disciples.

The Signs Of The Times

Ø  Humble, Healing & Merciful?  -  Columban Fr Warren Kinne

Ø  Francis Cartoon

The Parish Choir members are saying ‘Hello’

¯ Let us stand - Hans Christian Jochimsen

¯ You Raise Me Up

¯ Shelter Me - Michael Joncas

Bits & Pieces

1901 - Electric Power