24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME -

YEAR A

17 September 2017

Sacred Heart

Catholic Parish

PARISH CHURCHES Church of the Sacred Heart

Murwillumbah Street, Murwillumbah

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour

River Street, South Murwillumbah

St. Brigid’s Church Broadway, Burringbar

St. Columba’s Church Convent Lane, Uki

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PARISH STAFF

Parish Priest

Fr. Anthony Lemon

Parish Manager

Mary-Ann Thackray

Parish Secretary

Beth Gorton

Pastoral Associate

Barbara Grant —————————————————

PARISH OFFICE

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 3.00pm Phone: 02 6672 1118

Website: www.shpmurwillumbah.com.au

Email: shpmbah@norex.com.au

Mail: PO Box 45 Street: Queensland Road,

Murwillumbah NSW 2484

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PARISH SCHOOLS

Mt. St. Patrick College

Murwillumbah Street, Murwillumbah

Ph: 02 6672 2340 mspcmbah@lism.catholic.edu.au

Principal: Mr. Paul Clohesy

Mt. St. Patrick Primary School

Mooball Street, Murwillumbah

Ph: 02 6672 1821

murp@lism.catholic.edu.au Principal: Mr. Brendan Ryan

St. Joseph’s Primary School

Greville Street, South Murwillumbah

Ph: 02 6672 1867

smurp@lism.catholic.edu.au

Principal: Mr. Jason Clarke

Heartache and healing

Mark is a university lecturer. Claire is a doctor. They’ve been married for 20 years and have three beautiful daughters. The family seems happy, hard working and striving to manage all the pressures of family life and commitments. Yet beneath the surface, there is pain and distrust.

Claire found out Mark had been having an affair with a woman for two years. She was first alerted that things were not quite right when a family friend showed her some Facebook photos. Claire made some inquiries which revealed further suspicions. Eventually one of Mark’s university colleagues, who had been at school with Claire, confirmed her suspicions.

Claire confronted Mark. He had nowhere to run and hide. Mark was forced to confess his infidelity and to reveal all the shameful details of his two years of lies and deception. Mark, the devoted husband, father, family man, and academic, was now exposed as a cheat, liar and adulterer. He begged for forgiveness and asked for a second chance.

Claire told me that it was all too much. She escaped for a couple of days to be by herself. She needed to think. She needed time to reflect on everything that had happened. In the space of an afternoon she felt that “her heart had been ripped out, thrown across the road and run over by a truck!” Claire was riding a wave of emotions: shock, anger, disbelief, revenge, disgust, hatred, self-blame, embarrassment, and hopelessness.

Claire sought the advice of family and friends. All of them told her to leave Mark. “Dump him!” “He’s not worth it.” “He doesn’t care about you or the girls.” “Divorce him and take him for every cent!”

But Claire was uneasy and described a ‘stirring’ within, calling her to something greater. While she didn’t know how or if she could do it, it was a call to forgive. In the face of what seemed like insurmountable obstacles, she felt she had to try.

That decision was nearly one year ago. It has been a very tough journey for Claire and Mark; and it continues to be. For Claire, it is especially hard. She is really struggling to ‘trust’. Despite what often seems like ‘three steps forward and two steps back’ Claire is committed to a journey of forgiveness, reconciliation and healing.

Jesus is challenging us to put no limits on our readiness to forgive (v22) and illustrates it with the parable of the unforgiving servant (vs23-34).

Forgiveness is never easy. It doesn’t mean forgetting or condoning but without forgiveness our lives are governed by hatred and revenge. Not to forgive is to condemn ourselves and others to captivity and to feed more violence and hatred into the human race. The only way out of this negative cycle is through the grace of forgiveness which sets us free.

David J. Hore CSsR © Redemptorists 2017

Reprinted from the Sunday Majellan with permission

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL MARY MACKILLOP

CONFERENCE meets each Wednesday

at Parish Meeting Centre. New members welcome.

“Come Grow With Us”.

Phone: Marie Donaghy 6672 2933

ROSARY STATUE Philomena Zambelli

COUNTERS:

17 Sept: G & K Bewes

24 Sept: P & R Marr

01 Oct: M & M Cooper

08 Oct: P & L McMahon

15 Oct: U O’Grady & B Brodbeck

22 Oct: C & J Anderson

29 Oct: T & P Zambelli

05 Nov: J Morgan & L Green

25th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME

- Year A

23/24 September

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah

6.00pm Saturday

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah 8.00am Sunday

Acolyte J Reynolds T Zambelli

Altar Servers R & H Skelly N Trembath

D, J, R & S Buchanan

Readers B Nolan R

N Sherrah R M Reynolds P/F

B Gorton (C) R P Callaghan R K Malone P/F

Ministers of Communion

U O’Grady (C) R Daley, K Mumford

ME Mumford, C Wightley

J Morgan (C) M Roberts, P McMahon P Sharp, MA Thackray

Hospitality —————— S Lemon & ————

Procession of Gifts —————— F & B McGrouther

Children’s Liturgy No Children’s Liturgy No Children’s Liturgy

The Sacred Heart Church

‘Prayer Chapel’ is open for

private prayer on weekdays.

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH 17 - 24 SEPTEMBER

CHURCH CLEANING SANCTUARY & ALTAR Sacred Heart Church: 17 & 24 September: K Mumford & J Morgan

OLPS Church, Sth M’bah September: K Ryder

Sunday 24th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - Year A

8:30am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

No 10.00am Mass today

Tuesday 4.15pm - 5.15pm Adoration - Sacred Heart

5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

6:00pm Rosary - Sacred Heart Church

Wednesday 4.15pm - 5.15pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church

5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

Thursday 9:00am Legion of Mary - Parish Administration Centre

10.30am Mt St Patrick College Year 12 Graduation Mass - Sacred Heart

5.30pm Finance Council Meeting

Friday 10:00am Communion - M’bah Nursing Home - K Mumford

10:00am Communion - Heritage Lodge - J Reynolds

12.15pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

2.45pm - 3.45pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church

Saturday No 9am Rosary in Sacred Heart Church today (see note page 4)

3.30pm Wedding: Lexie Prokopuk & Connor O’Brien - St Columba’s, Uki

6:00pm Vigil Mass - Sacred Heart Church

Sunday 25th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - Year A SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY

8:00am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

9.00am Cake Stall (see note page 3)

10.00am Mass - Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Sth Murwillumbah

PARISH “CUPPA” Sunday 8th October

with all Family Group Leaders

Readings next week: 25th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - Year A Is 55:6-9; Phil 1:20-24, 27; Mt 20:1-16

RECENTLY DECEASED: Jim Ratcliff, Pat Smith, Terry Reed,

Bob Richardson, Eileen McEniery, Patricia Whippy, Caterina Grippo, Pat Everson.

ANNIVERSARIES: Les Green, Michael Dusi,

Jane O’Farrell, Bernard O’Farrell, Lenore Roberts.

NOTICE BOARD

CALENDAR

~ SEPTEMBER ~ 27 St. Vincent de Paul

~ OCTOBER ~

Month of the Holy Rosary

01 26TH SUNDAY IN ORD. TIME - YR A 10am Mass - St. Columba’s, Uki 02 Parish Office Closed 06 10am Mass - M’bah Nursing Home 07 Wedding - Sacred Heart Church 08 27TH SUNDAY IN ORD. TIME - YR A 9am - Cuppa in the Hall 9.15am - Baptisms 10am Mass - OLPS, Sth M’bah 10 Baptism Preparation Meeting 11 9am Mass - Greenhills Lodge 12 Compassionate Friends 13 10am Mass - Heritage Lodge 13 Public Square Rosary - Budd Park 15 28TH SUNDAY IN ORD. TIME - YR A 10am Mass - St Brigid’s, Burringbar 16 HSC commences 19 Finance Council Meeting 21 Wedding: Sacred Heart Church 22 29TH SUNDAY IN ORD. TIME - YR A 10am Mass - OLPS, Sth M’bah 12noon - Baptism 29 30TH SUNDAY IN ORD. TIME - YR A NO 10am Mass - 5th Sunday

PLEASE PRAY FOR: SACRAMENTS

RECONCILIATION - Sacred Heart: Saturday : 5.30pm - 5.50pm

Sunday: 7.30am - 7.50am

BAPTISMS: Sacred Heart Church - 12.00pm

2nd and 4th Sundays of each month

(At least four weeks notice required)

Baptism Preparation Evening:

7.00pm Parish Administration Centre

on 2nd Tuesday of each month.

Next Evening - Tuesday 10th October

CATHOLIC PAPERS - $2 each

Catholic Leader: Floods, earthquakes, and storms cause global devastation

Catholic Weekly:

Marchers rally for ‘NO’ vote

MEALS ON WHEELS - ROSTER 1 18 - 22 September

Mon: B & M Donaghy,

P Dow & U O’Grady Tues: N & V Boughton,

J & M Reynolds

Wed: M Twohill & L Johnson, B & J Albury

Fri: P Ryder, D Haumu;

B Ryder, A Wilson

PLANNED GIVING

Planned Giving contributions may be made by electronic funds transfer. If you would like to make contributions by EFT, bank

A/C details are:

BSB 062 580 A/C No. 0090 4506

A/C name: Catholic Church, Murwillumbah

Please include your planned giving envelope number as your

reference.

Thank you to everyone who supports the Planned Giving Programme. New contributors are always welcome. Contact

the Parish Office on 6672 1118 for more information.

PUBLIC SQUARE ROSARY

FRIDAY 13TH OCTOBER AFTER 12.15PM MASS

BUDD PARK

To celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Fatima & The Miracle of the Sun, the Legion of Mary will be leading the Public Square Rosary in Budd Park, after 12.15pm Mass in Sacred Heart Church, on Friday 13th October. This will be followed by a barbeque lunch.

ALL WELCOME!!

Murwillumbah Catholic Women’s

Cake Stall Sunday 24th September after 8am Mass selling cakes and other goodies.

Proceeds to local charities.

ST JOHN’S PARISH, MULLUMBIMBY CENTENARY

SATURDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 10am Centenary Mass, Lunch and Historical Display 9am-4pm.

For details contact: Parish Office: 6684 2106 or email: mullumbimby@lismore.catholic.org.au

INVEST WITH PEACE OF MIND www.dif.org.au Phone 1800 802 516 Paying 2.15%

Agents: Egan Simpson Solicitors: 15 Prince Street, Murwillumbah.

24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - A

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: (Ps: 102) R. The Lord is kind and merciful; slow to anger

and rich in compassion.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, Alleluia! I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you. Alleluia!

CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL & NATIVITY TABLEAU

SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2017 (Yes, that’s 10 weeks)

We are seeking a volunteer to Co-ordinate the Mini Cent

Auction. What does this involve?

Request & collect donations for prizes

Supervise the stall at the Carnival - selling &

recording tickets, drawing prizes, contacting winners

and distributing prizes.

You would need to have a team of 3+ people. If you are

interested in this role, please contact the Parish Office

6672 1118.

Congratulations to Year 12 students from Mt St Patrick College

who graduate this Thursday 21 September.

Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare for their final exams and complete their schooling.

Diocesan Young Adult Retreat

‘OASIS’ Who: Young adults aged 18-35

When: Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd October

Where: Invercauld House, Goonellabah

Parish Contact: Billie Lansky - bilansky@lism.catholic.edu.au Registration forms available in the Church or the Parish Office.

REFLECTION...

I don’t like the phrase: ‘Forgive and forget’.

Remembering can be an important part of healing. Forgiving is about giving up the desire ‘to get even’,

making sure that the ‘punishment fits the crime’. It is that sort of forgiveness which we dare to ask of God for ourselves. But here's the catch: it is that sort of forgiveness which we must practise towards others.

When we don’t, we are like the principal debtor in Jesus’ story. In harshly dealing with a minor debtor, he refused

to share his king’s quality of forgiveness. If we don’t pass on this aspect of God’s life to others, then we are warned that we will end up in a hellish situation unable

to share in the fullness of Divine life.

It is easy to talk ‘Big Picture’ forgiveness. It is much

harder within the family or circle of acquaintances. It seems impossible to simply will it. But we have to ask for the grace to do it.

We could pause for a moment to pray: ‘Our Father who art in Heaven . . . forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.’

© Fr Michael Tate

WELCOME HOME, FR. ANTHONY

We welcome home Fr. Anthony this week from his holiday. We hope you have had a wonderful holiday and that you have returned refreshed and renewed.

WE THANK FR. JOHN DARBYSHIRE for ministering to

our parish during Fr. Anthony’s absence. We hope you have enjoyed your time with us - and we look forward to seeing you again.

WE ALSO THANK FR. JOHN FITZ-WALTER for

celebrating Mass for us during Fr. Anthony’s holidays.

PRAYER SPONSORS FOR MSPC HSC STUDENTS

Mt St Patrick College is once again asking for Prayer Sponsors for Year 12 students during their Higher School Certificate exams.

The HSC exams will be held from Monday 16 October to Tuesday 7 November.

If you are interested in being a Prayer Sponsor for a Year 12 student from Mt St Patrick College, please take a student name card from the back of the Church and write your name and the student’s name on the sheet provided.

Thank you for your prayers.

PLEASE NOTE: Mass times next Sunday 24th Sept will return to:

8.00am - Sacred Heart Church

10.00am - Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church, South Murwillumbah

BATTLE RECHARGE CYCLE CRITERIUM Saturday 23 September

ROAD CLOSURES:

Murwillumbah Street/Mooball Street/Queensland

Road will be Closed from 7am until 5pm.

Therefore there will be NO Access to Sacred Heart

Church until 5pm for the Vigil Mass at 6pm.