REFLECTION by Dianne Bergant CSS

REFLECTION by Dianne Bergant CSS
The goodness of God is seen in the extravagant generosity with which God gives gifts.
This is described in the psalm in the boundlessness and universal scope of God’s
generosity. Like the rain that falls on the entire landscape, the blessings of God are
showered on all. These blessings are true gifts. They have not been earned, nor can
they be repaid. God’s openness is also seen in the reading from the Letter to the
Hebrews and in the gospel. All are invited to approach the heavenly city; the heavenly
banquet will be open to the poor and to those who have no way of repaying.
Only the humble can receive the gifts of God. Only those who can admit their neediness
are open enough to realise that God’s blessings are gifts freely given, not compensation
for a job well done. Without a humble spirit we are unable to receive gifts as gifts. This
is either because we are too proud or we do not know how to receive with the open
hearts of children, who never think that they must return in kind. This is the kind of
humility recommended by Ecclesiasticus. This is the kind of humility possessed by the
disadvantaged pictured in the gospel.
As we have received from the bounty of God, so we are called to give to others. Only
those who have received with a humble spirit can give with the generosity of God, for
they know that they do not deserve God’s goodness and they do not require anything in
return.
st
On the 1 September we celebrate the Feast Day of the Patron
of our Diocese – Our Lady of the Southern Cross. Below is the
opening prayer for the Mass inviting us to pray for our Diocese:
God of all peoples,
you inspire us by the courage of our pioneers
and enrich us by the ancient wisdom
of the Indigenous people who first inhabited this land.
Through the intercession of Mary of the Southern Cross
may the people of this Diocese
and all who live within our shores
be gathered together to form one people
working together for your kingdom, in harmony and peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with
you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
I invite you to pray this prayer during this week.
During this year of Mercy we are invited to participate in a “gentle
revolution” through our tender and meaningful actions founded on our
relationship with a forgiving God.
Mercy Action # 52
Live as if Jesus is your brother and friend.
At the end of July, we welcomed Sophie Grace Luck into the St Mary’s Parish family. Sophie is the daughter of Matthew & Phillipa and she
is the little sister of Max.
Bless this precious child oh Lord.
Next Parish Council Meeting will be
held on Thursday, 15th September,
at 3.30pm in the Parish House.
On the table at the front of the church there are a couple of
copies of the “Outback Priests” published in 2004 reflecting
on the lives of 25 priests of our Diocese. If you would like to
take a copy to read, please do, but please return it for anyone
else who may like to have a read. Thank you.
If you would like to purchase your own copy please contact
Gabrielle at the Diocesan Archives on 4632 7484.
The cost is approx. $20.
Next game:
Monday, September 12th,
at 9.30am
in the Parish Centre
Thank you for
all your
prayers and
support for my
family and
myself as we
farewell Mum.
God Bless,
Father
Michael.
Currently the St Vincent De Paul Society is not
assisting Goondiwindi and district with welfare
assistance due to the lack of a committee or
conference to oversee this area of need. You are
invited to an information morning tea on the
1st September at the
St. Vincent De Paul meeting room, located at the
shop, to look further at this area. Mr Michael
Bathersby, as acting Regional Manager will be
attending to provide insight
and to answer any questions.
Please give this some serious thought.
Weekday and Weekend Masses
No Masses or Services during this week.
th
th
27 /28 August, 2016
SATURDAY NIGHT: Goondiwindi 6:00pm
SUNDAY MORNING: Goondiwindi 8.00am
3rd/4th September, 2016
SATURDAY NIGHT: Goondiwindi 6:00pm
SUNDAY MORNING: Daymar 8:00am; Weengallon 10:00am
10th/11th September, 2016
SUNDAY EVENING: Goondiwindi 6.00pm
17th/18th September, 2016
Celebration of Confirmation with Bishop Robert
will be SATURDAY at 6.00pm (not Mass)
SUNDAY MORNING: Mass with Bishop Robert
Goondiwindi 9.00am
WE PRAY FOR Those who have entered your kingdom: including
Mona O’Brien, Norm Hilderson, Chris Finlayson, Maria Magoffin, Mel
McGuire, Alma Betts, Darren Benecke, Robert Picking, Len Collins, Vince
Mullins, Mary Terry, Roy Ash, Boyd Wise, Paxie de Ronde, Beryl Pearce,
Mick Maloney, Will Jakins, Hannah Turvey, Kevin Suhr, Matt Croke, Paul
Heynen, Guy Langhans (Talwood), Danielle Brennan, Father Brian
O’Dwyer, Margaret Beasley (Roma), Albert Knight, Sam Maiore (Roma),
John Walmsley (St. George), Paul Zacka, Lyn Sutton, Thelva O’Shea,
Darryl Hennessy, Bub Porter, Darrel Littlewood, Heather Glasser, Nancy
Thurecht (Talwood), Anna Van Kuijck, Ray McKenna, Florence “Margy”
Pavlicevich, Teresa Butler, Mark Batchelor, Ramon O’Neill, Frank Holland,
Noel McGovern, Winston Thorne, Jill Welsh Field, Natalie MacPherson,
Erin Laverty, Norah O’Brien, Father John (Jack) Clancy, Father Jeff Scully,
Marion O’Leary, Matthew Palmen.
For all whose anniversary is at this time: including Frank Smith, Ziggy
Schmidt, Terence Collins, Alma Rigney, William “Des” Whittle, Joseph
Fraser, Olive Thompson, Noel McGovern, Jill Field, Frank Holland,
Trish Taylor, Madeline Cubby, Noela McDonald, Barbara Bardsley,
Mary Cannon, Rita Johnson, Edward Holcombe, Kevin O’Brien, Beryl
O’Keefe, John Webber, Robert “Bob” McCall, Sarah “Dot” Drew, Constance
Butler, Norman Montgomery, Gay Brydon, Clarence Manton, Kathleen
Kyte, Jason Webster, Kathleen Nolan, Gordon “Matey” Cairns, Dolly Cubis,
Jamie Smith, Norman Harpur, Peter Lloyd.
For those who are ill: including Tara Watts, Rosemary Lawson, Bill Dyer,
Brian Freeney, Deanna Dawson, Kevin Lawless, Audrey Albeck, Ray
Mackie (Michael Heynen’s father in law), Peter Keehn, Joan Fleming, Frank
Brosnan, Gloria Bale, David Croft, Tim Bourke, Joe Cowmeadow, Shirley
Schluter, Stasia Lawless, Paul Lloyd (son of Basil and Marie), Mavis
Gordon, Jean Ramada, Stella McGovern, Trish Dyer, Jean Sizer, Francis
Lloyd (Basil’s brother), Madonna Nicoletti, Kathy McDonald, Steph
Adamson, Bailey Brennan, Pauline Robinson, Win Skinner, Sonya
Horrigan, Helen Paige, John Toohey, Marie Cook, Phillip Carney, Shirley
Riley, Therese Sullivan and Joseph Hord. Also those ill at home, in
hospital and for those in Kaloma.
If you would
tofor
include
the name
someone
in these lists,
please
check
the person
Let uslike
pray
all those
clergyofwhose
anniversaries
occur
during
thiswith
month:
or family concerned and then phone Kath on 4671 5087 (Thursday 9am to 3pm).
Rev Fr Mark Cosgrove (07/08/47)
Rev Fr John Ryan (09/08/01)
Rev Fr Patrick Kelly (10/08/86)
Rev Fr Charles McDonald (24/08/70)
Rev Msgr Patrick Doyle (27/08/00)
Rev Fr Bryan Nolan (28/08/68)
Rev Msgr Stanley Skehan (29/08/00)
Lord, be merciful to your servants, the Bishops and Priests of this Diocese, welcome them into the company of your
Saints, in the Kingdom of light and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
VOLUNTEERS
WELCOMERS AT DOOR
ANN W EBSTER & JOAN COWMEADOW
(27/08)
SHIRLEY W HITTLE & CLAIRE CHARLES
(03/09)
TRISH W ELSH & PAM MORRIS (11/09)
WELCOMER AT MICROPHONE
CAROL ORMES (27/08)
ST MARY’S SCHOOL (03/09)
PHIL ORMES (11/09)
1ST READER/PSALM
CARMEL SCHAUMBURG (27/08)
GRAHAM MCGOVERN (03/09)
BRETT POLLARD (11/09)
2ND READING/ALLELUIA
ROBYN LINDORES (27/08)
JOE HANNA (03/09)
ROSE KEEHN (11/09)
EUCHARIST MINISTERS
BRIAN COOK, YVONNE ISAAK &
CLAIRE CHARLES (27/08)
CARMEL GEESON, DAWN LLOYD &
DAWN CLANCY (03/09)
MICK CLANCY, ROS PHILLIPS &
MARY BURCHELL (11/09)
DATA PROJECTOR
MARY COLLINS (27/08)
ROS PHILLIPS (03/09)
CAROL ORMES (11/09)
MONEY COUNTERS
DENISE MCCORMACK & JENNIFER LAWLESS
(27/08)
TERESA HEYNEN & BELL FAMILY (03/09)
KERRY O’CONNOR & CLAIRE CHARLES
(11/09)
GROUNDS ROSTER
AUGUST: PHIL & CAROL ORMES
SEPTEMBER: ALAN & MARK W ELSH
THANK-YOU FOR YOUR
Contributions: 21/08/16
ENVELOPES
LOOSE
$417.00
$270.00
22ND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
28TH AUGUST, 2016
Introduction
Today’s readings focus on humility and instruct us
to attend to those who are most needy. After all
these centuries, they seem especially relevant
now. How to conduct ourselves when we live in a
culture that promotes success, power, selfaggrandizement at every level? Awareness —
both of self and others — is essential. Jesus calls
us to forego our own wants, pay attention to those
in need and expect no reward in return. That
sounds easier than it is, which is why we’re still
talking about it.
First Reading
Ecclesiasticus 3:17-20, 28-29
Wise advice on humility.
Responsorial Psalm
God, in your goodness, you have made a
home for the poor.
Second Reading
Hebrews 12:12:18-24
The glory of living in the new covenant with
Christ.
ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!
Take my yoke upon you; learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart.
ALLELUIA!
Gospel
Luke 14:1, 7-14
A banquet parable on living humbly and
serving the most needy.
Prayers of the Faithful
For the church: that it may show us
how to be humble servants … we pray,
For those who struggle with humility,
who fear that it will be disempowering
… we pray,
For those who live — for whatever
reason — in debasing, dehumanizing
circumstances … we pray,
For the ability to demonstrate humility
as a viable national position … we
pray,
For the wisdom to know when to be
humble and when to resist bullying …
we pray,
For individuals, groups and
organizations serving those most in
need especially our local St. Vincent
De Paul Society … we pray,
For the suffering, the sick and the
dying in this community; and for those
who have died, especially those we
hold in our hearts today ……
we pray,
Parish Information
Parish Priest:
Fr. Michael O’Brien
Phone: 0422 308 955 or 4671 1091
St Mary’s School:
Mr Brett Pollard Ph: 4671 1730
Care for the Aged Co-ordinator:
Mrs Jane Blomley Ph: 4675 4132
Parish Office
Parish Secretary: Mrs Kath Gore
Thursday: 9.00am – 3.00pm
69 Callandoon Street or
PO Box 45, Goondiwindi 4390
NEW PARISH PHONE NUMBER: 4671 5087
Father Michael’s house Phone: 4671 1091
stmarysgdi@bigpond.com