15 APRIL 2012

 

2^nd SUNDAY OF EASTER

 

COMMUNISM VS. CATHOLICISM

 

Yes they do have many common points.  Today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles spells out one.  “No one claimed for their own use what they had, as everything they owned was held in common”.  This motivation encouraged the birth of many religious groupings in the Church and it flourishes still in religious orders and societies.  It is more difficult in such large bodies as parishes.  But wait.  It does!  During Lent we have generously contributed to Caritas.  52 weeks of the year the Society of St Vincent de Paul continues to reach out to those in need.  The Catholic community sacrifices much time and finance to enable children and young people to receive a good education in the faith.  Countless acts of kindness are performed each day throughout our parishes.  Yes there is some good communist activity going on in the Church.  But the radical difference is that Christ is the focus of all our activity.  All we do is done through him, in him and with him.  It is in the power of the risen Christ that we are connected to one another.  We are Easter People.  Alleluia!

 

HAWKE’S BAY PASTORAL AREA FORUM

The first Forum for this year will be held next Saturday 21 April between 10-1 concluding with a light lunch. Our new Bishop Charles Drennan will be attending.  It will be hosted by Sacred Heart Parish and the venue is the St Joseph’s School Hall, Eastbourne Street Hastings (behind the Church). The Forum is for ALL members of our HB Faith Communities so please go if you can.  Agenda items will be welcome and need to be received by 16 April. email : davidandelaine @ xtra.co.nz

 

Readers/Lectors: A refresher/training session for ALL in this ministry (both Sunday and weekday readers please) will be held this Thursday 19 April at 5.30pm in the Church. Please put this date on your calendar and make sure you attend.

 

CHURCH CLEANING ROSTER will soon be typed.  We are in need of more helpers.  If a few more people put their name forward it would mean everyone gets their turn once every six months.   Your turn would take approximately one hour.  Please contact the Parish Office if you can help.

 

Side-by-Side Mentoring. Is anyone interested in this new ministry? This is a programme that the Diocese have offered and are hoping to start in our Parish. There are some pamphlets at the rear of the Church giving more details. Training will be provided and paid for. We’d need to know as soon as possible if you are interested. Please contact the Parish Office.

 

CARITAS LENT APPEAL

Although our 2012 Lenten Appeal has concluded, if you forgot and didn’t get the chance to contribute, envelopes can still be handed in this Sunday for us to forward to Caritas. Thank you once again to all those who generously supported our Lenten Appeal.

 

 

 

Fr Joel’s Leaving Mass:    On Sunday 22nd April @ 9.30am at St Joseph’s, Waipukurau  Fr Joel will be celebrating his final Mass in New Zealand.  We also have Bishop Charles sharing this very special occasion with us.  After Mass there will be a shared morning tea in the Parish Hall.  All welcome.

Fr Paul Kerridge will be going to Central Hawke’s Bay from 23 April.  We wish Fr Paul all God’s Blessings and thank him for all he has done for us.

 

THIRD ORDER OF MARY MEETING  3pm Sunday 15 April in the Chapel.  All welcome. 

 

ANZAC DAY:   Our Wednesday morning Mass on 25 April will be held at the earlier time of 8.30am to give people time to attend the ANZAC morning services.

 

 

NEWSLETTER DELIVERIES: 

Wanted someone to deliver the Parish Newsletters in the following area – Tait Drive (part), Spriggs Cres (part), Harris St and Ryan Cres (total 16).  Please phone Colleen 844 8797 or Sylvia 844 8795 if you can help.

 

MARIAN MOVEMENT OF PRIESTS - Visit to New Zealand by Fr Donal McIIraith SSC.  10am to 2pm Tuesday 24 April at St Mary’s Church, 69 Ruahine Street, Palmerston North.   Format: Mass, Cenacle, Lunch, Talk, Afternoon Tea.  Please bring a plate for shared lunch.  Contact:  Colleen Allison 06 345 4325.

 

                                    VOICE FOR LIFE -  AGM

7pm Monday 30 April in St Mary’s Parish Centre.  Come

and support the local pro-life

group and hear Richard Dawson speak about “Veronica’s Place”  All welcome

 

SUNDAY MORNING TEA ROSTER  Volunteers are needed to take a turn at making the ‘cuppa’ after the 9am Mass on Sundays.  If you are happy to help please put your name beside a date on the clip board at the rear of the church.

STAY AND HAVE A ‘CUPPA’ AFTER THE 9AM MASS ON SUNDAY

 

                       

This Week’s Readings: 2^ND SUNDAY OF EASTER Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 5:1-6, John 20:19-31      Year B

 

 

WANTED:   Old cabinets / benches / cupboards required for storage. Please contact the Catholic Youth Office on (06) 8443 834

 

ST VINCENT DE PAUL OP SHOP Dickens St need a few more people to help on a regular basis at varying times during the week. For more details contact Arthur at StVdP Shop 835-9854.

 

DOVE CATHOLIC FELLOWSHIP FOR WOMEN-HAWKE’S BAY: All women are invited to our next meeting on Saturday 21 April at 2pm in St Mary’s Parish Centre. Our Vision for this year is Empowering women with the gifts of The Holy Spirit. Our Speaker is Mr Andre Geelen and he will be teaching on the gift of Tongues. Remember the Blessing Table.  For enquiries please phone Colleen (06) 8448797.

 

 

Please support Family Life International’s pro family, pro life pregnancy centre by ordering a copy of Fr Linus Clovis’ new book, “A Biblical Search for the Church Christ Founded” with Foreword by Cardinal Arinze. Apologetics book which uses Scripture to explain the Catholic Faith biblically. Excellent for new Catholics, teenagers and anyone wanting to increase their knowledge of the biblical roots of our Catholic faith. Order yours for $35 incl p & p. (Disc for multiple copies) Email fli.shop@xtra.co.nz www.fli.org.nz or phone 09 629 0820.

 

RECOGNIZING A STROKE  Doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. Ask the individual to SMILE.
2. Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

3    Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today).

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 111 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

 

PRAYER BOX:  If you would like a personal prayer or intention offered please write it out and place it in the box beside the library.  All intentions will then be included duringMass.  The Prayer Box will be emptied at the end of each month

Headlines from the April 8 - 21 issue of NZ Catholic: High-risk buildings face uncertain future in Wellington archdiocese. Seminar for teachers aims to boost their faith. Famous Paraparaumu statue gets a facelift. Soup kitchen legend wins a Local Heroes Award. 

 

 

BEQUESTS – Occasionally we are notified by a lawyer that a parishioner wishes to leave a bequest to our Parish.  Such donations have been left to the Parish Priest and Pastoral Council to use wisely for the benefit of our faith community.  Have you ever thought of this when you make or adjust your will?

 

BOOKS!!   BOOKS!!   BOOKS!!

Our Parish Library has an amazing collection of books that can offer you help, information and understanding on a huge range of topics, plus there are all the biographies and fantastic stories of our Catholic heritage.  Next time you’re in the church, check out our library – you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the variety of books we have.  Don’t forget to follow the instructions if you are borrowing a book.   If you have overdue library books please return them as soon as possible so others can read them.  Thank you to those people who have donated books.

 

CHRISTIAN LOVELINK’S “BUFFET BONANZA” Fundraising Luncheon.  12 noon Monday 16 April at RSA Club Restaurant Napier.  Tickets available from; Harold Manning 845 0054 or Christian Lovelink 843 9803.

 

REMINDER  New parishioners please make yourselves known at our Parish Office, or fill out the ‘new parishioners form’ to be found on the outside wall of the church so that we can give you a warm welcome to our Parish Family

 

Food for Thought:    Where would you like to be seated in eternity – Smoking or Non-smoking?