1

“The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest”

12 July 2020 15TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, Year A ISSUE 152

Readings: Isaiah 55:10-11, Romans 8:18-23, Matthew 13:1-23

2

THE FRUITFUL WORD

Today’s Gospel is the parable of the Sower and the Seed, along

with our Lord’s interpretation of his own words, according to the

evangelist St Matthew. In that interpretation, Jesus makes it plain

that the subject of the parable is the ‘Word of the Kingdom’. What

is that ‘Word’? With the riches of the entire New Testament and

the tradition of the Church at our disposal, how are we to

understand this term which gives the parable its key?

My answer comes via a series of steps. To begin with: in

Christianity, ‘the Word’ has become a way of referring to the

biblical message generally. That’s not so surprising, since many

passages of the Old Testament started out life as oracles –

moments of inspiration when a word from the Lord came to the

mind of a prophet such as Isaiah or Jeremiah. More important for

us, precisely as Christians, however, are the books of the New

Testament. For us, the Old Testament is authoritative insofar as it

is bound up with the New and comes to fulfillment in it. And, as in

today’s Gospel, the New Testament tells us of the original message

of Jesus: how it was delivered and to whom, and how the first

hearers responded. ‘The Word’ here will be, then, the message

Jesus preached about his Father and the Father’s plan for the

world, during his public ministry in the towns and villages of

Judaea and Galilee.

But what the Word of God in the New Testament has to tell us

about the Word that Jesus preached is not the whole of what the

Scriptures have to say about the Christ. The apostolic

proclamation carries a wider message about the significance of his

Passion and Death, his Resurrection and Ascension and the

coming of the Holy Spirit – topics which go well beyond our Lord’s

words and actions during the ministry (though, of course, they

3

also come out of those words and actions). On the basis of these

great events, the apostolic Word includes the claim that, in Jesus

Christ, God himself has become incarnate in his own creation, to

reconcile us to him, and raise us up to share his own divine life. To

that apostolic Word we commit ourselves, mind and heart, when

we confess our faith in saying or singing the Creed.

And because Jesus, the Father’s only Son, is himself this

reconciling and redemptive initiative of God, he too – so it turns

out – can be called ‘the Word’, as St John does in the Prologue of

his Gospel and his Letters. In his own person Jesus Christ is the

communication of God – he is the Word of God in person. What he

not only said and did but actually is – his personal reality, as the

crucified and glorified Lord – continues to be available in the

Church where he remains present through his Spirit, who, as he

promised, would not only ‘remind’ disciples of all he had said to

them but also lead them into ‘all the truth’. This means that the

Church is the Church of the Word, or, better still, the Church is the

Church of the Word and of the Spirit. With the help of the Spirit it

is her task gradually to unfold the riches of the Word, and to make

those riches available to us in doctrine and the Liturgy, in

catechisms and in sacred art, and in the lives of her saints.

By immersing ourselves as deeply as possible into all that, we let

the Word of the Kingdom bear fruit in our lives, for time and for

eternity. Just like the parable implies. And this is what all true

spirituality is about. Spirituality is the response of man to the

divine Word – the Word revealed in Scripture, embodied in Jesus

Christ and made accessible to us, for our profit, in all the ways the

Church of God knows how.

Aidan Nichols O.P.

https://www.english.op.org/torch/the-fruitful-word

4

OUR LADY OF THE BAYS PARISH

CHURCH USE AND MASSES DURING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS:

Dear Parishioners, the announcement from the Government on level 1 Covid-19 restrictions effectively frees us to return to regular mass times, familiar liturgical practices and ministry rosters. The New Zealand Bishops have also given directives considering the Government’s announcement. To this end, and to allow ourselves a period of adjustment as we get back to familiar routines and closer personal contact, the following is applicable.

Procedures at Mass during level one: • Communion under one kind only to be received on the hand. • Sign of Peace - by spoken word, or a gesture such as bowing, or by a

pause for silent prayer for peace. At this stage people should not feel obliged to shake hands.

• Holy water fonts should remain empty. • Singing is permissible.

Basic Hygiene advice: We are still in level 1 and there continues to remain a risk of infection being passed on. Advice from the government and the New Zealand Bishops during level 1 focuses on maintaining basic hygiene measures which include: • Good hand hygiene – use an alcohol-based sanitiser and rub hands

together if soap and water is unavailable. • Cough, and sneeze etiquette – cough or sneeze into your elbow or

cover your mouth and nose with tissues.

5

• Avoid touching your face. • Clean surfaces regularly. • Ensure that all parish buildings are kept clean and regularly

disinfected. Above all else, please stay home if you are sick, and contact your doctor if you have flu like symptoms. Anyone who is unwell or has flu-like symptoms should remain home and pray with the community from home by reflecting on the Scriptures of the day. God Bless, Fr. Seph

Engaged Encounter is a weekend experience for couples intending to be married.

Remaining weekends for 2020 are 18 & 19 July and 14 & 15 November. Venue is Otari Parish presbytery, 301 Karori Road, Karori, Wellington. Registrations close 2 weeks before.

For more details go to the website http://www.cee-wellington.co.nz/ Phone Kate and Simon Olson. 04 801 6192 or email simonolsen@gmail.com

6

ST VINCENT DE PAUL MOTUEKA We are grateful to the Fifeshire Foundation who have given us a trailer to help with the wood deliveries. It will have a sign showing their logo etc as well as our badge. Kevin O’Gorman thanks Michael Orchiston for use of his trailer meantime and acting as Driver, and Bill Wood for his work splitting wood. 8 loads have been delivered so far. We are now

again staffing Community House on Tuesdays and Thursdays, giving out food vouchers . Donations of non-perishable food and other household items can be put in our new basket at Church. We always welcome new members and volunteers. Please come to our AGM which is at 3 pm on 4th August at St. Peter Chanel Church.

PRAYER CHAIN Your prayers are requested by Erin McKay for her twin brother Ian (Australia) with serious health issues.

TAIZE HOUR Welcome back to TAIZE HOUR on Tuesday 14th July at 7.30pm in the St Francis of Assisi Chapel, Songer Street. Come along for a quiet time of song, verse and meditation in candlelight in our warm chapel. Contact Diane Renwick 5473356.

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION GROUP RICHMOND We are meeting again on Mondays at 7.30pm in the Hall. You are very welcome. Queries Karen 027 2457800 or Marie 027 8658032.

HELP NEEDED FOR ZOOM PRESENTATIONS I'm currently looking for someone to help me set up presentation slides for Zoom meetings and other basic applications, helping others in my self-employed business; preferably MAC friendly. Any help at your earliest convenience would be much appreciated! Please phone Tracey 0274871107 or 5448069 Many thanks in anticipation.

ACCOMMODATION PLEASE I am a mature professional woman who works part-time in the Health sector. In a few weeks I will be looking for accommodation in Nelson, Stoke, or Richmond. I would prefer a one bedroom cottage or a Granny flat, yet I will consider whatever is offered to me. My clean cat Viva Voce needs to be part of the plan. Gabrielle 0211126804.

7

WELCOM Online version is available Here

NZ CATHOLIC The July 12-25 issue of NZ Catholic is out now. Some headlines are: Church doesn’t require Jesus to be blonde and blue-eyed. New home for babies and mothers. Christchurch parish outreach training planned. Caritas opposes West Bank plans. The next issue of NZ Catholic will be published on July 26. Selected pages from this paper in digital form will be sent to parishes next week.

MINISTRY OF INSPIRATION PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH CHRIS HARRIS, CEO OF THE HOLOCAUST CENTRE OF NZ

Being an Upstander: Looking to the Past for Answers for the Future Saturday, August 1st - Waimea College 6-8pm As a Holocaust educator and historian, Chris Harris strongly believes in human rights education, advocacy and the relevance of the enduring lessons and messages from the Holocaust for modern society. Chris will speak on the significance of Holocaust resistors who stood up for the human rights of others, as well

as how and why their acts offer us solutions to our modern-day human rights challenges. Chris Harris' 'Being an Upstander' presentation is a timely and meaningful subject during this moment in our history. The event is free, however, a KOHA is appreciated. Register for event here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/being-an-upstander-looking-to-the-past-foranswers-for-the-present-tickets-111392520026

8

Things you can do to help save all of creation

Are you still decluttering? Well the Menzshed will take

tools and timber to use for community projects.

9

Motueka SVdP members delivered the woods to the ones in need in our community.

10

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

August/September 2020

“The next step on our faith journey”.

We invite you to consider this unique opportunity to continue your faith journey in

a warm and supportive parish environment. If you don’t feel ready to take this

step, you can still come along to learn more, meet people, and share ideas with

others along the way.

With the move to Level 1 we are delighted to now be in a position to get

underway with the Sacramental Programme for 2020. At ‘Our Lady of Perpetual

Help, Richmond, we would like to begin by offering preparation for the

Sacrament of Confirmation, beginning early in Term 3. This will be a 6-week

Parish-based programme to prepare for this very special sacrament alongside

children from other schools and parishes in our area.

WHEN: Six Sunday sessions from the 2nd Aug till the 6th Sep (6weeks)

TIME: 9.30am - 11.00am

WHERE: ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church’, 35 William Street, Richmond

WHAT: Instruction and Fellowship in preparation for the Sacrament of

Confirmation

What does it mean to be confirmed?

Confirmation is the sacrament by which, following on from Baptism, we affirm

our Christian belief and invite the Holy Spirit to continue to strengthen and

guide us in our lives. Essentially we are continuing to say “Yes” to God as we

take this special step in our faith journey. In doing so, we are strengthening and

deepening our relationship with God.

For any further information or questions please do not hesitate to contact

Markelle Ward: markelleward@cloud.garincollege.ac.nz

11

Our Lady of the Bays parish

MASS TIMES

Sunday Mass

MOTUEKA Saturday vigil 5.00pm, Sunday 9.30am

RICHMOND Sunday 9.30am

WAKEFIELD Sunday 8.00am

WAIMEA W 5.00pm Saturday vigil (on 4th Saturday of the month)

TAKAKA Sunday 4.00pm (in winter)

Weekdays Mass

MOTUEKA Tuesday and Thursday 9.30am

RICHMOND Tuesday 11.30am, Wednesday and Friday 9.30am

WAKEFIELD Thursday 9.30am

12

Cardinal’s reflections

I n a recent survey Stella Maris (known in

New Zealand as the Apostleship of the Sea)

found that among seafarers COVID-19 had

brought great anxiety about their financial

situation, many had been stranded in foreign

ports or on board ships for long periods of

times, in some countries when they do get

home they are treated as pariahs who might have Covid, and

there are mental health issues developing from the anxiety of

long periods at sea and worry about families. There are

apostleship of the Sea chaplains in Auckland, Tauranga, Napier,

Wellington and Lyttleton and they have been using every

means possible to support seafarers on ships visiting our ports,

including virtual support when seafarers are banned from

going ashore. Please remember these essential but often out of

sight workers on ships around the world.

13

PASTORAL TEAM

Fr Seph Pijfers (Parish Priest)

03 544 8987 / Seph.pijfers@parish.org.nz

Fr Andrew Kim (Assistant Priest)

0221 022 011 / andlekis@hotmail.com

PARISH OFFICE

Parish Office Hours: 9.00am to Noon, Monday to Friday

Postal Address: 35 William Street, Richmond 7020

Phone: (Hall Bookings):

Richmond: 03 544 8987 / Motueka: 03 528 8899

Email: office.admin@parish.org.nz

Website: www.ourladyofthebays.org

OLOB NEWSLETTER

ourlady.newsletter@gmail.com

Deadline Thursday night 5pm