Reflection

  The Palm Sunday gospel from Luke radiates the darkness found in the human soul. A much-loved friend (Jesus) is betrayed for money (Judas) and forsaken out of fear (Peter). The authorities, both religious and secular, collude in the murder of an innocent man because it suits their political machinations. Jesus is deserted by his friends who fall asleep in the garden and feels abandoned by God. His followers (the multitude) trail behind at a distance, some weep, but they feel powerless to intervene. Lies, anger, jealousy, cowardice, fear, dominate Luke’s account of Jesus’ death.

There are two “characters” in the Palm Sunday gospel that I invite you to reflect on over the coming week. The first is the mob. Never in human history has the mob been bigger, louder, or more callous than it is today on social media. The incessant cry of “crucify, crucify,” rings out globally with the consequences ranging from rising anxiety, to schoolyard bullying to ethnic genocide. From the anonymity of the internet, we can mock and condemn, and in so doing unwittingly play into the hands of the kinds of power blocs, political, social, economic, and even religious, that condemned Jesus in his time.

The other character is Simon of Cyrene - he is us; we are him. When we help a stranger who has collapsed at our feet in the supermarket, assist an elderly neighbour in their garden, devote months to visiting a relative who is in care, (that grumpy uncle we have never felt close to), we become Simon of Cyrene. And we must never forget that Simon was compelled to carry the cross. So, however reluctantly we may take up another person’s cross, we need to remind ourselves of Jesus’ words, “Just as you did it to one of the least of these you did it to me.” (Mt 24:40)

Vincent Maire Parishioner, spiritual director, Auckland Coordinator of the NZ Community for Christian Meditation

Holy Week and Easter Schedule

Holy Thursday – 17 April:
Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7.30pm, St Francis’ Church, followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until 9.30pm.

Good Friday – 18 April:
Stations of the Cross, 10.00am, St Francis’ Church
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, 3.00pm, St John’s Church

Holy Saturday – 19 April:
Easter Vigil Mass, 8.00pm, St John’s Church

Easter Sunday – 20 April:
Mass, 8.30am, St Francis’ Church
Mass, 10.30am, St John’s Church

Easter Mass Times.pdf

We pray for:

We pray for all those who are sick or recovering from surgery.
We pray for the recently deceased including Michael Hickey and Djuanne Walker.
We pray too for those whose anniversaries occur around this time.

The Divine Mercy prayer group ....

Meets today Sunday 13 April, 3pm-4pm at St John’s.
There will be:- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, The 3 0’clock prayer, The chaplet of Divine mercy, Meditation on the passion of Our Lord, followed by a cup of tea.
Please bring a plate.

Special Collections:

• Holy Thursday - for Hestia Rodney Women’s Refuge
• Good Friday - for Holy Places.
  Funds go towards the upkeep of sacred sites in the Holy Land.

Stations of the Cross during Lent:  

Fridays - 7.00pm at St John’s
and
Sundays - 4.00pm at St Francis’

Donation Tax Receipts ....

Were emailed on 8 April to parishioners who confirmed their correct email address with the parish office.
If your receipt doesn’t appear in your inbox please check your spam mail. All other receipts were mailed out.
Thank you for your generous contributions to our parish.

Serving Spoons:

Thank you to those generous parishioners who donated $1300 in February and $1425 in March to Serving Spoons. These were distributed in $50 Pak‘nSave vouchers to people identified as ‘high need’ in the community, enabling them to purchase fresh vegetables, fruit and protein for improved nutrition and health.
Donations may be made to A/C Name: St John’s Orewa/St Francis Manly Hibiscus Coast
A/C Number: 02-0108-0708545-00
using your surname, Serving Spoons and donation as the reference.

CATHNEWS NEW ZEALAND 

Blessed Carlo Acutis, soon to be the first millennial saint!!

A saint of OUR times!!
How old was he when he died?
Why is he becoming a saint?
Find all this out and more from a youth presentation and help him celebrate his canonisation with pizza, on Sunday 27 April ……..
more details to follow.

Practice for all Ministers for the Easter Vigil Mass ...

Will take place on Holy Saturday, 19 April, 11am at St John’s church.

Jubilee Year Youth Pilgrimage to Rome, Medjugorje and Assisi ...

28 July to 12 August. 
For more information, please contact Jana - 021 817 7837 or Fr. James Walsh - 022 091 9320.

Easter Egg Hunt!

All children are invited to the Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday at St Francis Church after 8.30am Mass,
organised by the Pilgrim Queen Family Group.
Special thanks to those Parishioners who donated funds for this event.

Reminder:

Please help to make our church cleaners’ job easier by taking your newsletter with you when you leave the church.
Thank you.

Stay connected!

We encourage you all to join our Hibiscus Coast Parish Facebook Group.

To help your reflection on the Sunday Gospels

Go to The Center for Liturgy Sunday Web Site
http://liturgy.slu.edu/

Sacramental Programme 2025:

Enrolments have now closed and regrettably no further enrolments will be accepted. Candidates will be presented to the parish at the 10.30am Mass on Sunday 4 May.
Please pray for them that they may grow in their understanding of the Sacraments and love of Jesus.
Parents are reminded of the parent-only meeting on Monday 28 April, 7pm in St John’s Hall.

Sacrament of Reconciliation ...

Offered at St John’s on Wednesday 16 April, 5.30pm-6.30pm.

Food collection for Love Soup:

Thank you for your regular donations of tinned foods & non-perishable food items which are delivered each week to Love Soup to include in their food hampers.
Many local families in need benefit from your generosity.

Annual Good Friday Stations of the Cross:

Join us for the 17th Procession through Auckland CBD.
Each year, hundreds of people from across Auckland come together in a powerful public witness of faith. Gather at 9am, Friday 18th at Albert Park Rotunda.
Procession concludes at 11am at St Patrick's Cathedral. 

Congratulations and happy 90th Birthday to Norma McGrath on 15 April.

Her birthday request is that all pray this prayer:
God our heavenly Father,
you made the world in all its beauty.
You created us to love you and love one another.
We dream of an end to wars, we dream of peace, we dream of an end to hatred, to cruelty and division.
We dream of a golden age of respect for one another, and for your creation. Hosanna, Glory & Praise to the son of David.
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Amen.

Please note the contact details of our new priests:   

Parish Priest: Fr Chris Denham 021 932 366 / frchris@hibiscuscoastparish.org.nz

Assistant Priest: Fr James Mulligan 021 145 4693 / father.james.mulligan@hibiscuscoastparish.org.nz

Catholic Enquiry Centre:

Visit their website to explore Catholicism, find out about our faith, order booklets or to make a donation: 
https:/www.catholicdiscovery.nz/  

Usual MASS TIMES

GET YOUR NEWSLETTER EMAILED
During the lockdowns our weekly newsletter was still being produced.
Please pass the message on to others that if they would like the newsletter sent to them directly, to visit the parish website www.hbcparish.org.nz and
CLICK HERE

TELEPHONE PRAYER CHAIN
Is anyone sick?
Call upon the church community to pray for you (James5:14).
Please telephone any of the parishioners listed below.
We would love to pray for your intentions in our daily prayers.

Norma McGrath (Coordinator); 424-8460
Maureen Nancarrow; 426 7921
Janet Dimbleby; 427 5850
Raewyn Taylor; 424 1414
Maree Lochead; 428 4648