Monday, July 6, 2020

‘Always was, always will be’.


Good morning Tranmere Community,

·         We are sad to hear that Sue will be retiring from her work in the parish office due to poor health.
We thank you Sue for your efforts and especially your support of the choir. We pray for your return to good health. Take care!
·         We have seen some online Masses celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday. Together in the Spirit was the theme. Wouldn’t it be good if we could express our participation and joy at our Mass by acknowledging our togetherness and solidarity with the First Nation communities in their faith journey.
Archbishop Patrick O'Regan quoted the profound statement by Pope John Paul II at Alice Springs

“You are part of Australia and Australia is part of you. And the Church herself in Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you have made your contribution to her life and until that contribution has been joyfully received by others.”
·         Randomly I came across an article from USA Catholic media about a parish with a predominantly African American congregation of some 1000 families - Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Norfolk, Virginia - known for its high-energy, gospel-choir-driven worship, rich history, welcoming culture and generous outreach to the poor who surround it.
They run a soup kitchen and grocery pantry. The backdrop of a global pandemic has been especially hard on them, followed by Floyd's death and the nationwide convulsions it has generated.
Attending Mass at St. Mary's is a sensory experience, a weave of often searingly beautiful music, and the clapping of hands, moving homilies and lively greetings of peace that occasionally can last for minutes.
"You get here and you see people who are intellectually engaged, emotionally engaged, physically engaged, spiritually engaged, this whole-person experience of grace and spirit," Fr Curran said. "And it does change you, just to be in this."
A visitor said - "Joyful — joyful is the word I think I would use."
Another said - In some churches, you go because you have, like, a sense of obligation. It's the Catholic thing to do. Here, I feel like it's something I want to do. I want to be here."
Jim Curran, St. Mary's pastor, has encouraged members of the St. Mary's community to speak out about Floyd's death. He began his livestreamed homily on Pentecost Sunday, days after Floyd's death, with the three words that have reverberated around the world:  "I can't breathe."
A member said - "Oh, my God — he just — he gave us hope."
Reflection

Pray.com.au


Latest edition of the Southern Cross is available.
There is an article “Always was, always will be”

The Parish Choir members are saying ‘Hello’.

Richard suggests this version of “You Raise Me Up”
Lord's Prayer - African Sanctus

Boredom busters

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