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Copyright. Do not reproduce without permission. © Redemptorist Pastoral Publications, P O Box 341, Merrivale, 3291. Phone 082 667 3857. Fax 086 545 4381. Email: janet@rpp.org.za. Internet: www.rpp.org.za.

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SUNDAY MASSENTRANCE ANTIPHON:Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face.

FIRST READING: Exodus 22:21-27.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 18.

RESPONSE:I love you, Lord, my strength.

1. I love you, Lord, my strength; O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my saviour. ℟2. My God, my rock where I take refuge; my shield, my saving strength, my stronghold. I cry out, ‘Praised be the Lord!’ and see, I am saved from my foes. ℟3. The Lord lives, and blest be my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted. The Lord gives great victories to his king, and shows merciful love for his anointed. ℟SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:

Alleluia, alleluia! If a man loves me, he will keep my words, says the Lord, and my father will love him, and we will come to him. Alleluia.

GOSPEL: Matthew 22:34-40.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON:We will ring out our joy at your saving help, and exult in the name of our God.

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❈CH UR C H OF TH E WOR D

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A Divine Offi ce: Week II 25 October 2020

Reading, Studying and Praying the Bible 1Lectio Divina

St Dominic, detail from The Mocking of Christ fresco in Convento di San Marco, Florence by Fra Angelico

Our lives have been completely up-ended by Covid-19. Not being able to go to church and not sharing in Eucharist have only

served to heighten our sense of disruption. For this reason, Catholic Link has tried during the past weeks to introduce readers to the books of the Bible with the aim of falling back on that vital resource during these lean times. We want to end this series on Scripture with some suggestions on how to use the Bible, either privately or as families or groups.

Have you ever had a verse jump off a Bible page at you? Many people experience texts that somehow speak to them powerfully at a certain point in their lives. And rightly so. God’s word in the Bible is, as Hebrews says, “alive and active”. It penetrates to the core of our hearts.

St Benedict under-stood this well. As an aid to the experience, he devised a simple method of approaching the Bible, which he called Lectio Divina, or Divine Reading. The wonderful part of this method is that it encourages us to hear God’s word with the “ear of the heart” – at a deep level. Benedict suggests four steps, which we’ll fi rst reproduce in the original Latin because it is poetic: Lectio; Meditatio; Oratio; Contemplatio. Just add an “n” to each and they become English words. Today we use the more contemporary words of reading; refl ecting; praying; and (one that doesn’t change), contemplation.

Lectio is our reading of a passage. Whether

alone or in a group, read it through fi rst. Then more slowly, listening with the “ear of the heart” to any verse that pops out at you. Be open to how God wants to use these words to speak to

you personally. Pause a while in silence to let those words sink in.

Meditatio calls for refl ection on those words. It’s the part where you – or individuals in the group – start thinking about the relevance of these words at this juncture in life. Turn the words over in your mind. What message do they seem to bring you?

Oratio. Talk directly to God about what’s on your mind and how the words touched you. Tell God how you feel after hearing them: happy, challenged, confused, grateful … anything at all.

Contemplatio. This, in a sense, allows you to “digest” God’s message, letting it sink in, and then asking yourself what action or different attitude to life it calls for. How do those words apply to life and how is God

calling you to action in response to them? Think of Mary at the Annunciation. She pondered on the words of the angel, she asked herself what they could mean in her life. She then said: “Let it be done to me according to your Word.” Her example provides us with the perfect model of approaching the Word of God: Listen, question, ponder, action. What is “said” must now be “done”.

Saint John of the Cross loved the Lectio Divina and described it in this way: “Seek in reading and you will fi nd in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation.”

Live the Word T H E W E E K A H E A D

(KEY: SOLEMNITY; FEAST; Memorial; (Optional Memorial)A=Apostle

Mon 26 Oct Liturgy of the Day

Ephesians 4:32–5:8; Psalm 1; Luke 13:10-17"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths, or the turning inwards in prayer for fi ve short minutes." – Etty Hillesum

Sun 1 Nov ALL SAINTSRevelation 7:2-4.9-14; Psalm 24; Matthew 5:1-12Sainthood isn't for sissies. Rather it is for everyone who seeks to draw nearer to the Lord in love. Today we ask all who have gone before us to pray with and for us as we seek to answer the call to holiness.

Sat 31 Oct Liturgy of the DayPhilippians 1:18-26; Psalm 42; Luke 14:1.7-11It is our thirst to fi nd God that calls, sustains and en-ergises us throughout life. Desire less the excitement of the material world and yearn for union with God, which comes only through aloneness with God.

Fri 30 Oct Liturgy of the DayPhilippians 1:1-11; Psalm 111; Luke 14:1-6How do we become aware of God's presence? We need to desire it, and we need to be patient. It takes time to grow, and it does grow when we come to God often in silent, persistent and hopeful prayer.

Thu 29 Oct Liturgy of the Day Ephesians 6:10-20; Psalm 144; Luke 13:31-35Especially when things seem to be against you, al-ways focus on the truth that God is for you. Nothing can take Gods' love away from you. It is, however, essential that you practice believing this.

Wed 28 Oct SS SIMON & JUDE, AEphesians 2:19-22; Psalm 19; Luke 6:12-19The Apostles that Jesus chose were far from per-fect. Yet their weaknesses were transformed by the grace of God through their encounter with Jesus. The same is possible for us too, if we allow it.

Tue 27 Oct Liturgy of the Day

Ephesians 5:21-33; Psalm 128; Luke 13:18-21The smallest amount of yeast expands dough and feeds the hungry. From Christ, we learn how to be signs of hope, how to give life to those in need by giving ourselves.

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Order from our website www.rpp.org.za or email orders@rpp.org.za. Enquiries: 082 667 3857.Order from our website www.rpp.org.za or email

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In Cry of Wonder, Gerard W Hughes encourages readers to explore their own human experience, the unique doorway opening each of us out into the mystery of our present existence. In our time, such attention to mystery is considered counter-cultural and subversive of law and order. The truth of this observation becomes very clear to us if we give attention to our own felt reactions to the events of our lives. The purpose of this book is to focus our attention on this inner conflict, because it can reveal to us a vision of the transformation into which we are all now being invited in all that we are experiencing in every moment of our existence.

Date Intentions

Saturday 24th

17h30 18h00

30th Sunday of the Year Rosary & Prayer

John McCulloch

Sunday 25th

09h00 18h00

30th Sunday of the Year Rosary & Prayer

Missa pro Populo

Monday 26th

08h00 18h00

Mass of the Day Rosary & Prayer

Mona Niemandt RIP

Tuesday 27th 08h00 18h00

Mass of the Day Prayer & Rosary

In Thanksgiving

Wednesday 28th 08h00 18h00

Ss Simon & Jude Prayer & Rosary

Colleen Lusardi RIP

Thursday 29th 08h00 18h00

Mass of the Day Prayer & Rosary

In Thanksgiving for Prayers Answered

Friday 30th 08h00 18h00

Mass of the Day Prayer & Rosary

In Thanksgiving

CONFESSION BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Birthdays and Anniversaries this week * Birthday ∞ Marriages † In Remembrance

Saturday 24th *Luz Arias De Morales ∞Earl & Lizelle Woldson ∞Nigel & Delia-Ann Allsopp †Irene Eintracht

Sunday 25th *Elinor Hansen *Neil Harding *Luca Lonardi

Monday 26th *Maria Kruse *Charles Lagan *Jade Walsh †Kathleen Rawlins

Tuesday 27th *Brenda Gibbs *Karen Quercia*Elaine Urry ∞Peter & Jennie Underwood †Anil Varma

Wednesday 28th †Ian Danford †Neta Jones

Thursday 29th *Verity Bester *Elizabeth Shelly ∞Egidio & Deolinda Gouveia †Nicholas De Fey

Friday 30th *Alix Petersen *Tadhg Dewar *Juliet Morris *Nicky Allen ∞Mark & Ann Ryan †Tess Burke (nee Leahy)

Prayer Intentions: For all in need of our prayers and their families: Leslie Wolf, Frances Le Roux, Jenny Blumenthal, Mauro Saporetti, William De Villiers, Elaine Urry, Margaret Savage, Allen Galvin, Andrew J Spiers, Cecco Giovannini, Deolinda & Egidio Gouveia.

Mass Intentions will continue as requested, except for Sundays, as Father Robert is required to offer this Mass pro Populo (for the people). If you wish to have Mass said for a special intention, please email the office with your request. You may EFT or Snapscan your donation and simply use reference: MASS INTENTION <your name> <preferred day>. Thank you.

HUNGER Is Real Fund

Initiated by our parish in this time of crisis to alleviate the very real and ongoing need in our surrounding areas. Please contribute by EFT into the Parish Account - details at the bottom of this page - reference: HUNGER. To all those who have made donations and continue to do so, a huge thank you for your amazing generosity.

Advent Candles

We are selling Advent candle packs to raise funds for the St Kizito School Uniform Drive which assists underprivileged families. Only R50 for a pack of 4 candles (3 purple and 1 rose), together with a leaflet on Advent candles to use at home. Help support this very worthy initiative by ordering your candle pack. Please phone/email the parish office and Eft payments to parish bank account (details below), ref. Kazito Candles.

COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

• Sadly a parishioner who attended a weekend Mass has tested positive for COVID-19, so the parish has been put on lockdown and there will be no public Masses until next Wednesday 28th Oct.

• Constantia Catholic on YouTube: All our Masses and services will be live-streamed. Please use this link to join: https://bit.ly/YouTubeConstantiaCatholic

• ZOOM: To join Father's Prayer meetings, use this link to join meeting on ZOOM: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/4358352419?pwd=MFR5MkdSWlQzTmR6ZGZxcThCYk9YUT09

• Please see our emailers and website for regular updates.

R. ROBERT AWAY 2 - 6 Nov & 9 - 13 Nov

Please that note during this time there will be no Mass. Father will be here for the weekends but during the two weeks above, there will be NO MASS (public or live stream).

30th Sunday of the Year A 24th/25th October 2020

4 Price Drive, P O Box 161, Constantia 7848 Office Phone: 021 794 5185 Gate: 082 433 4957 Email : materecl@constantiacatholic.co.za : parishpriest@constantiacatholic.co.za Website : www.constantiacatholic.co.za Parish Priest: Rev Fr Robert Bissell Deacon: Rev Dcn Michael Brooks Secretaries: Deborah Jordan / Vivien Cones Office Hours: Weekdays 08h30-13h00

Bank Details: Constantia Catholic Church | Standard Bank: Branch 025 309 | Current Account No 07 169 8965

Our mission is to be a welcoming and evangelising Catholic community, striving, with the grace of the Holy Spirit,

to know, love and serve God more, as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Our mission is to be a welcoming and evangelising Catholic community, striving, with the grace of the Holy Spirit,

to know, love and serve God more, as disciples of Jesus Christ.

THEOLOGY CLASS MARIANOLOGY

Thurs, 5 Nov at 7:00 pm via Zoom

Fr Zane Godwin will talk on Mariology looking at the Marian Dogmas. He is a specialist on the subject, teaching Mariology at the seminary. To register for this Zoom meeting, please see email sent last week.

Reflection: 30th Sunday of the Year

"Whoever fulfills the commandment to love has already fulfilled all of God's laws. All the rest is comment and explanation (famous Rabbi)." And we humans can love God only by loving other people, his children. The basis for their being lovable is that we're made in God's image. This is why Jesus joined the two commandments together. Richard

The Southern Cross

The Southern Cross, now in its new monthly magazine format and featuring more in-depth articles relating to all things Catholic, is available for only R30! Please find the October edition at the back of the church or call the parish office.

MORTUARY LIST 2021

In November, the month of Holy Souls, we will be preparing the new Mortuary list for 2021.

To add your loved ones to the list, please email their names to the parish office and EFT an appropriate donation, ref Mortuary List, to the parish account (bank details at bottom of page) as soon as possible and before the end of November. For those attending Mass, forms and envelopes are available at the back of the Church.

Thank You.

Living Faith

The arrival of Oct-Dec edition has been delayed. We will advise as soon as it becomes available.