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15th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
12 July 2020
Readings
This Sunday:
Is. 55: 10-11 : Ps. 65 : Rom. 8:18-23 : Mathew 13:1-23
Next Sunday:
Wis 12:13,16-19 : Psalm 86 : Rom. 8:26-27 : Matthew 13:24-43
This week in the parish....
| Mon 13 | 7.30pm | Meditation Group, St John’s Mtg Room |
| Tues 14 | 6.30pm | St Francis’ Prayer Group (venue changes). Tel. Barbara - 424 1130 |
| Wed 15 | 1.00pm | Indoor Bowls, Hall |
| | 5.30pm | Meditation, St Francis |
| | 7.15pm | Prayer Group, Hall |
| Thurs 16 | 4.00pm | Meditation, St John’s |
| | 7.00pm | PPC Meeting, St John’s |
| Sat 18 | 2.00pm | Josephite Companions’ Meeting, Hall |
| Sun 19 | 9.30am | Celebratory morning tea, St Francis |
| | 3.00pm | Secular Franciscans’ Meeting, Hall |
Deacon Murray is on leave this week.
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REFLECTION
Our Gospel reading for today gives us so much to think about. And, we see that we need to go beyond the thinking part, and put it all into practice. We see that Jesus was sowing seed as He was teaching us about the Kingdom of God. The seed needs to find really good soil to produce fruit. For all who are keen gardeners, you know that you have to check the plants on a regular basis, so that you get a great crop. So, listening to the Gospel today, what am I needing to do for the Word of God to fall on good soil and produce a great harvest? Jesus enters our lives so that our joy may be complete. To be joyful is to be in possession of a treasure.
Jesus possesses God’s love and offers that love to each one of us. So, each day we need to open our hearts to God for that seed of Love to really take root and blossom. What fruits are we expecting to receive?
Check the Letter of Paul to the Galatians 5:22 where we read about the “fruits of the Spirit” – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self Control. Here we see the potential of having an enormous garden that needs daily care and attention. Jesus teaches us what we need to know and do so that these Fruits of the Spirit blossom in every person as we answer His call to be holy and live each day with God’s love.
Let us spend time this week unwrapping these Gifts and sharing them with Family and Friends, and so ‘grow’ our Church Community with love and care.
Keeping you all in my prayer. God Bless, Emile.
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Happy Birthday to:
Fr Peter Gray -17 July
Anne Murphy - 16 July
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All invited to a celebratory morning tea ...
At St Francis Church next Sunday 19 July after 8.30am Mass to celebrate the following:
Fr Peter Gray’s 63rd anniversary and Fr Ron’s 59th Anniversary of Ordination to Priesthood (21 July & 9 July);
Fr Peter’s birthday (17 July);
Deacon Murray’s 9th Anniversary and Deacon Greg’s 5th Anniversary of Ordination to the Diaconate (14 July & 2 Aug).
Please join in the celebration.
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Please Pray For ....
We pray for all the sick in our community.
We pray for the recently deceased including Socorro Nacario, Colleen Lafferty, Margaret Walker, Margaret Darlington and Dallas Toye and for those whose anniversaries occur around this time including Jenny Morgan.
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Today is Sea Sunday ...
When the Church prays for all those who live and work at sea. Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea), is the official maritime welfare agency of the Catholic Church.
It provides practical and spiritual support to seafarers visiting our ports. As it is dependent on voluntary donations, please consider giving an online donation to AoSNZ Auckland, bank a/c 01-0297-0024651-00.
In the ‘Payees/Particulars’ box please write: your initials(optional) and Donation Aos.
Email name & address
for tax-rebate receipt to: evashorayi@gmail.com; quote your initials and date of donation.
For more information about its work and volunteering, visit www.aos.org.nz.
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Safeguarding Workshop:
All parishioners who are interested in learning more about Safeguarding and how it will be implemented in our parish are invited to attend a presentation on Monday 20 July at either 2pm or 7pm in the parish hall.
Please see poster in foyer for details. RSVP to Nicola on
021 86 86 36 or nztimms@me.com
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We urgently need your help:
Projectionists are needed for all Masses. It is easy, but training is provided and if you are going to be at Mass anyway, why not?
Everything is set up, you just have to click the mouse! Anybody – young, elderly or somewhere in the middle – can do this; rosters are prepared quarterly and if we have enough, the commitment would be once a month or less.
Please contact Chantal on 022 681 7579 or email: chantal@ekko.co.nz
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Special Collection next weekend for Caring Sunday
Funds will be used by the Bishop’s Catholic Caring Foundation to assist vulnerable children, at risk youth, older people living in isolation, victims of domestic violence, refugees, homeless and all living in extreme hardship.
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 Headlines from the latest
issue of NZ Catholic:
- Bishop Basil Meeking laid to rest.
- Principal joins coalition against legalising cannabis.
- Theological college considers new Auckland home.
- This planet, our home, after Covid-19
www.nzcatholic.org.nzNZ Catholic Newspaper - $4.00
Get yours at the back of the church
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Dove Fellowship for Women ...
will meet on Wednesday 15 July, 7.30pm at St Thomas More Catholic Church, Glenfield.
Barbara Hines will speak on “Helmet of Salvation”. Come, meet and fellowship with other women from the North Shore.
Tel. Sylvia, 021 088 22990.
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St John's Working Bee:
A huge "thank you" to everyone who helped at the working bee last Saturday. It was a tremendous effort by all who came along, to achieve what we did, and we look forward to seeing the fruits of our work come summer.
God bless you all.
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Happy 59th Anniversary
To Peter and Janice Segedin (8 July)
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Lift needed:
A retired couple who live in Shaddon Place, Stanmore Bay would appreciate a lift to the 5.30pm or 10.15am Mass.
Please contact Des, 428 0228 if you can offer transport.
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Liturgy Conference 2020:
An invitation is extended to all parishioners in the Auckland Diocese to attend the Liturgy Conference 1-3 October at Baradene College, Auckland.
Worshipping under Southern Skies - Weaving together Liturgy and Life.
It will be a great opportunity to grow in faith.
Please visit the website www.wuss.org.nz
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Wool:
If anyone has spare wool (including 8 ply) to donate to the knitting group for the poor,
please leave it in a bag in either church foyer.
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MERCY SPRITUALITY CENTRE:
104 The Drive, Epsom, (09) 638-6238.
- THE EUCHARIST IN THE NEW TESTAMENT with Br KIERAN FENN fms. Thur 23 Jul, 10.30am-12.30pm. Koha/Donation. Br Kieran Fenn will lead us through the four Gospels focussing on the meaning and message of the Eucharist.
- THE PRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT IN THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN with KATHLEEN RUSHTON rsm. Sat 25 Jul, 10am-3pm $45. BYO lunch. In the Gospel according to John, we shall explore the presence of the Holy Spirit empowering the disciples back then and abiding with us now. In this session, we will explore ways in which we can continue Jesus’ work in today’s world.
- INTERFAITH EVENT: Feeling a Divine Presence In the Light of Different Faiths. Wed 29 Jul, 7-9pm. Koha/Donation. With Members of the Auckland Interfaith Council from the Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, Muslim, Baha’i and Christian Faith. This is an event for participants who have open hearts and open minds and want to interact with participants of other faiths.
Contact us if you would like a booklet for full information or if you wish to book:
info@mercyspiritualitycentre.org.nz or
www.mercyspiritualitycentre.org.nz
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Josephite Companions Aotearoa ....
Are meeting on Saturday 18 July at 2pm in St John's Hall followed by afternoon tea.
All welcome. If you are interested in exploring the charism of St Mary MacKillop this may interest you.
Further details from Catherine Birt, 09 424 0134.
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Serving Spoons :
Our next free community lunch will be in the St John’s Hall on Monday 26 July at 12.30pm. Anyone who may benefit from a delicious meal and some friendly company is most welcome.
We are urgently seeking people who are great cooks to assist with cooking the meals, people to help with prepping the food, host tables and help with other tasks. Please have a look at these tasks on the list in the foyer and consider volunteering on a rostered basis.
Any donations from parishioners to cover the cost of the meals are welcomed. Please place this in an envelopes marked “Serving Spoons” and add it to the usual Sunday
collection.
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Christian Meditation Retreat
17-19 July (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon) at the St Francis Retreat House in Hillsborough. The theme is Exploring & Returning and includes periods of silence and meditative prayer. Retreat leader Rev'd Rosie Dell will lead six sessions and there will be time for quiet activities and inner reflection. The cost is $250.
For more information visit www.christianmeditationnz.org.nz or contact organiser Vincent Maire on vincentmaire12@gmail.com.
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Cuppa
Please stay for a cuppa after 10.15am Mass today.
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TODAY'S GIGGLE
Stating the Obvious
One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf.
He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish. About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family.
"You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to the fisherman, "you should be working rather than lying on the beach!"
The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?"
"Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer.
"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling.
The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!"
"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again.
The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said.
"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman.
The businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!"
Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?"
The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing right now?"
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