16 November 33 Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Matthew 25:14-30

16 November 2014
33 Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Matthew 25:14-30
Vol 29
No 46
rd
Dear Parishioners and Visitors
Little children are great at showing their feelings when
receiving presents. Expressions of wonder, joy, surprise and
contentment come readily to their faces. When Jesus says we
adults have to become like little children, it is at least partly to
do with that simplicity we find in healthy children.
God gives us gifts. Scripture makes it fairly clear that he enjoys
that, even more than we enjoy giving to our family and closest
friends. But as we get older we can be tempted to ask why we
are given things, or what we will have to do as a result of the
gift, or even whether we would have preferred not to receive it.
God gives us human life, and then a share in his own life as God
in baptism, and then much more as well, not because he wants
anything in return. Rather, God wants to empower us to work
with him as partner to achieve our greatest possible fulfilment
and happiness as human beings.
That is why we are at Mass today, to receive from God, in the
Scriptures and the Eucharist, further empowerment to live our
life to the full. Do you remember Pope Francis saying something
like he would prefer a Church which was dusty and a bit dirty
than one which was spotlessly clean but never did anything?
The third servant in today’s gospel hid the money his master
gave him so that he could return it in full. He achieved nothing.
The other two servants used the money given to them and made
a profit. They were praised. Should the story prompt us to ask,
what are we as a parish community meant to be doing with all
that has been given to us?
Father Tom
PARISH HAPPENINGS
LOOKING AHEAD
Tuesday 18 November
-7pm Legion of Mary
Wednesday 19 November
- Wednesday Friendly Club 9-12
Thursday 20 November
-5.45pm San Sisto Graduation Mass
-Sunday 23 November
-Feast of Christ the King
We pray for those who are sick: Rex Bowen, Anthony
Chrismas, John Clarke, Vilma Ghouse, Mary King,
Georgina Moore, Phil & Win Spillane, Janice Tickner, Fr
Joseph Truong, Emma Winks and Lena Wilson.
We pray for loved ones who have died recently.
Rena Vallely, Heather Goodwin, Walter Patrick and
Marin Sardelic.
Anniversaries: Let us remember in prayer William
Charles (Bill) Ryan, Brian Riley, Mark Roff, Giovanni &
Rosa Di Gregorio, Giovanna & Antonio Marinucci and
all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
Month of the Holy Souls
November Mass envelopes are available at the
church entrance which you can use to have a Mass
offered for your deceased. Please place on plate
at Mass or return to the parish office.
Sacramental Program
Congratulations to children who joyfully celebrated
First Reconciliation this week. We finish the week
with the opportunity to celebrate as a whole group
with a sausage sizzle and cake after the 5.30pm
Mass today.
Kellie Corbett
Fundraiser Luncheon
The Italian Community are holding their annual
fund-raising luncheon for St Vincent de Paul on
Sunday 23 November at the L’Abruzzo Club, 150
Fursden Road, Carina. Lunch is at 12 noon and
tickets are just $35 per head for this popular event.
To book, contact Maria Coco on 33985836.
Babysitter available over school holidays.
17yo student finishing Yr 12 and hoping to study
nursing/midwifery is available for babysitting from
1 December. Loves all kids and ADORES babies
and toddlers. Has car and drivers licence. $15 per
hour. Please call Ally on mob 0437 728 723
Seeking Fete Stall Convenor
St Martin’s School has invited the parish to
convene the jams/preserves stall (and have the
benefit of the profit) at their annual Sunday Funday
(fete) in May 2015.
This seems a simple
undertaking but requires a person/team to take
charge of the task. If you would like to assist in this
endeavour, please contact the parish office.
Dominican Laity
A profession for Lay Dominicans in this parish
occurred last Friday 7 November, the feast day for
all Dominican Saints. It is a while since the parish
witnessed such an event, and this small but active
group would warmly welcome any enquiries to Fr
Joe Wilson, and invite any others to join them in
embracing the disciplines of the Laity. These
include: reading Morning & Evening Divine Office
daily, receiving the Sacraments regularly and an
interest in spreading the Word of God. Fr Joe
Wilson OP presented this joy-filled group with their
Lay Dominican Crosses.
Joanne DeWolfe:
Permanent Profession
Louise Simento & Paul Bertini: 3 Year Profession
Phil Martin & Sylvia Kelly: 1 Year Profession
Social Justice and G20
‘We cannot understand the Good News of Jesus
Christ, the gospel of dignity and fraternity, of justice
and peace without being aware of real poverty; we
cannot turn our backs on the scandal of exclusion
or blindly hope that it will take care of itself (Pope
Francis - Evangelii Gaudium, S54).
The G20 leaders meet in Brisbane this weekend to
address a number of issues relevant to the welfare
of men and women all over the world. The Church
is seeking a more inclusive economy and
governance for the common good. We pray that
G20 leaders will put the human-being back into the
heart of economics and politics, by welcoming the
participation of the poor, that overcoming poverty
can be overcome and the planet safeguarded.
Prayer for the G20
God of true economy,
You call us to share your loving dominion,
using the world’s resources for the good of all.
Grant wisdom to those who gather for the G20
conference,
strengthen the voices of the poor and of the planet,
and enable decisions that bring greater justice and
sustainable growth,
through Jesus Christ, the Word and Saviour of your
whole Creation, Amen.
Who are these Catholics we don’t often see on
Sunday?
From what I see and hear, the majority of
them are in their thirties and forties, they are
very computer literate, occasionally they are
aware that something is missing in their lives,
if they are to come to church they will need to
be members of small groups, not part of an
anonymous crowd. For many of them the
Church at present is just not relevant to their
If you are interested, or wish to nominate someone
else, please contact the Parish office by Friday, 21
November 2014.
Formation training will be
provided to those elected.
Wednesday Friendly Club
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, 19th
November, 2014. This will be our Christmas breakup so come along and enjoy some early festive fun.
This will be our last meeting for the year, as we will
not meet again until the third Wednesday in
February, 2015. Hope to see you all there.
lives, it is uninteresting, God is irrelevant.
Does it make sense to say that these people are
the ones we should be primarily thinking of as
we plan our Sunday Masses and other events
in our parish? Are we really meant to be like
the Good Shepherd and go looking for the lost
ones? If they did turn up would we speak to
them and make them welcome? It has been
suggested, wisely, I think, that if these fellow
Catholics are to be attracted back to Sunday
Mass with us, three factors are of primary
importance – the music we use, the Christian
message we hand on, and the ministers who
Our Lady of Graces says Farewell to…..
Fay Mollion, an original member of this parish,
together with husband of 60 years, Bob, who
would like to “thank all who have prayed for us and
helped us in any way. We have made valued lifelong friends & attended wonderful functions at Our
Lady of Graces.
Next Wednesday 19th Nov, we will reluctantly say
farewell as we are becoming residents of Stretton
Gardens, 209 Illaween St, Drewvale. The time has
come when we need to be cared for. Please call
in of you are ever over that way. We'd love to see
you.”
lead our liturgies. We cannot and do not want
to make them come. They have to be drawn by
what is on offer in our church, and that
applies in a special way to the young people.
We might say, we provide Masses every
Sunday. They can take it or leave it. But when
we read the Gospel we find a different attitude
on the part of Jesus.
Fr Tom
Parish Council
There will be a need for new members to join the
Parish Council early next year. To this end, we
would like you to give serious thought to either
joining the Council yourselves, or nominating
people you think would make a valuable
contribution to our Parish. This is an important
ministry and a chance to shape the future of our
Parish community.
It is not to be taken lightly and requires more than
just a desire to serve, but a serious commitment to
service, collaboration and cooperation with other
groups and ministries in ours and neighbouring
Parishes. Apart from a commitment to meeting as
a Council for an hour and a half each month, you
would also be expected to meet occasionally with
other ministry groups and assist with special
events such as Parish bbq's and other social
gatherings.
Lisa & Paul Nesbitt and family also leave us for
the Gold Coast shortly. Lisa’s gifts in technology
and training helped set up and train our data
projectionists. More recently Lisa has led a lively
Children’s Choir in the parish. We will miss the
support and presence of the whole Nesbitt family.
Secretary needed
The Parish Pastoral Council is also in need of
administrative assistance – someone to record and
publish the minutes for the group. If you are keen
to share skills in this area and can spare an
evening a month for the task, please contact Fr
Tom via the parish office.
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
The Catholic Leader: In this week’s issue:
• Iona College rector ‘in shock’ at being appointed a bishop
• Tributes flow for the late Dr Nicholas Tonti-Filippini
• Church agencies adapt for G20; others pray & participate
• ACU vice-chancellor on proposed university reforms
• Brisbane pro-lifer on Tas laws against abortion protests
• Feature on progress of Brisbane Oratory in Formation
Jeremy Stuparich on ‘debate’ about same-sex marriage
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