When I was a student I lived for a time in Paris. I remember lots of things but one recollection in particular stands out; the people who lived on the streets. One older woman lived in a recess on the corner of a very old building, only metres from my front door. All she possessed were the rags she was wearing and a lot of odds and ends she’d collected from the streets. She once told me she was from Russia.

At night, over an open fire in a metal barrel, she would cook what she had scraped together during the day. Both of us had broken French but with a lot of gesturing, between us we communicated well enough.

Whenever I read in the gospel the story of the widow’s offering I think of this woman. Maybe she was a widow herself. Regardless, she was as they say, one of “les mise rables”(poor, wretched, dispossessed). How did I see this woman? Usually I saw her as someone to avoid: she always wanted to talk and she always needed something – food, money, moral support and friendship. More than that she frightened me, as her suffering went far beyond any assistance I could provide. And many times I walked on the other side of the street to avoid her.

How does God see this woman? Maybe today’s gospel reading gives us some insight into this. Jesus observes people donating money in the temple. There were some very large sums. Then one of les misérables arrives: she gives everything she has, which turns out to be basically nothing! Jesus sees the truth of the matter. What he sees here is love.

The poor widow gives from her heart; what she gives in truth is a ridiculously extravagant amount. What will her donation do in the world? Probably not much but that is up to God. What matters is her love: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux says that we must love God without limit because only limitless love is appropriate for the infinitely good. And when we love God this way, Saint Bernard says, we always love more: loving God without limit becomes limitless love for those whom God loves.

Sometimes I would summons enough courage to talk to the old woman to give her a few coins or to buy her a sandwich. I know that these were tiny breakthroughs of eternal truth into our world. But the truth is that any restraint we place on love – out of fear, timidity, selfishness or laziness – is unfaithful to the nature of love itself. Love lasts forever; when everything else fades away love will remain (See 1 Corinthians 13:8-13).

Learn the lesson therefore of the widow’s offering: God loves you; you are free now to love without measure.

Chris Hackett © Redemptorists 2015

Reprinted from the Sunday Majellan with permission

A limitless love

32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR B - 8th November 2015 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

—————————————————

PARISH STAFF:

Parish Priest: Fr. Anthony Lemon

Parish Manager:

Mary-Ann Thackray

Parish Secretary

Beth Gorton

—————————————————

PARISH OFFICE:

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

Fax: 02 6672 5938 Website: www.shpmurwillumbah.com.au

Email: shpmbah@norex.com.au

Mail: PO Box 45 Street: Cnr Murwillumbah Street &

Queensland Road,

Murwillumbah NSW 2484 —————————————————

PARISH SCHOOLS:

Mt. St. Patrick College

Murwillumbah Street, Murwillumbah

Ph: 02 6672 2480

mspcmbah@lism.catholic.edu.au

Mt. St. Patrick Primary School

Mooball Street, Murwillumbah Ph: 02 6672 1821

murp@lism.catholic.edu.au

St. Joseph’s Primary School

Greville Street, South Murwillumbah

Ph: 02 6672 1867

smurp@lism.catholic.edu.au

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL MARY MACKILLOP CONFERENCE

meets 1.15pm each Wednesday at Parish Meeting Centre. New members welcome. “Come Grow With Us”.

Phone: Brian Donaghy 6672 2933

AGED CARE MASS & COMMUNION ROSTER

10.00am - 13 November

M’bah Nursing Home: C Dennis

Heritage Lodge: Fr Anthony

LEGION OF MARY MEETING Every Thursday: 10.00am

South Murwillumbah Meeting Room

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Sacred Heart Church

Monday No Adoration today

Tuesday 4.15pm - 5.15pm

Wednesday 4.15pm - 5.15pm

Friday 2.45pm - 3.45pm

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church

Thursday Following 9.15am Mass

Sacred Heart Church Tues - 6.00pm & Sat - 9.00am

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour

1st Monday each month - 9am

ROSARY STATUES John & Margaret Reynolds

Evelyn & John Cook

RO

SA

RY

CHURCH CLEANING. Sacred Heart Church:

8 & 15 November:

R & C McDonald, N Feltham

OLPS Church, Sth M’bah November:

D Banner & J Alexander

RECENTLY DECEASED: Maurice Ellem, Matthew Byrne. ANNIVERSARIES: Danny Armour, Edward Smith, Richard Leape, Carmel Hennessy, Charlie Roberts.

COUNTERS:

08 Nov: T & P Zambelli

15 Nov: J Morgan & L Green

22 Nov: P & R Marr

29 Nov: U O’Grady, B Brodbeck

06 Dec: M & M Cooper

13 Dec: G & K Bewes

20 Dec: D Gillespie & C Kerr

03 Jan 2016: C & J Anderson

10 Jan: P & L McMahon

The Sacred Heart Church ‘Prayer Chapel’ is open for private prayer

on weekdays.

33rd SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME

- Year B 14/15 November

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah

6.00pm Saturday

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah 8.00am Sunday

Acolyte —————- P Hyde

Altar Servers A Mumford (C) M & T Mumford

T Cooper (C) C Cooper

Readers M Mumford (C) R

B Nolan R U O’Grady P/F

K Ryder (C) P/F A Simpson R P Callaghan R

Ministers of Communion

M Reynolds (C) L Dusi, K Mumford

P & J Egan

L Green (C) J Schiller, M Roberts

M Chiesa, P Marr

Hospitality B Cook & D Haumu J Morgan & J Fuller

Procession of Gifts R & L Nihill Zambelli family

Children’s Liturgy S Jansson L Dowling

FAMILY GROUP “CUPPA” ROSTER Sunday 8th November hosted by

Anderson Family Group

WEEKDAY MASS TIMES: 09-13 NOVEMBER Tuesday 5.30pm Sacred Heart Church

Wednesday 9.00am Greenhills Lodge

5.30pm Sacred Heart Church

Thursday 9.15am OLPS, South Murwillumbah

Friday 10.00am Heritage Lodge

12.15pm Sacred Heart

WEEKEND MASS TIMES: 14/15 NOVEMBER Vigil 6.00pm Sacred Heart Church

Sunday 8.00am Sacred Heart Church 10.00am St. Brigid’s, Burringbar

RECONCILIATION: 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 November

MASS TIMES SACRAMENTS

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Friday 9am - 3pm

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

—NOVEMBER—

Month of the Holy Souls

SUNDAY: 8 November

32nd SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - Yr B

8.00am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

9.00am Parish Cuppa in Hall

10.00am Mass - OLPS, Sth M’bah

12 noon Baptisms

MONDAY: 9 November

TUESDAY: 10 November 5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church. 6.00pm Rosary - Sacred Heart Church - this week for deceased relatives & friends of M’bah parishioners. 7.00pm Baptism Preparation Meeting

WEDNESDAY: 11 November 9.00am Mass - Greenhills Lodge 5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

THURSDAY: 12 November 9.15am Mass - OLPS, South M’bah

10.30am Compassionate Friends Meeting

FRIDAY: 13 November 10.00am Mass - Heritage Lodge

10.00am CWL meeting - AGM (see note)

12.15pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

SATURDAY: 14 November Diocesan Pastoral Council

2.00pm Wedding: St Brigid’s, Burringbar

Nicholas Butturini and Tegan Morgan

6.00pm Vigil Mass - Sacred Heart

SUNDAY: 15 November

33rd SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - Yr B

Diocesan Pastoral Council

8.00am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

10.00am Mass - St Brigid’s, Burringbar

NOTICE BOARD

CALENDAR

THE WEEK AHEAD

~ NOVEMBER ~

16-19 Clergy Conference

19 Finance Council meeting

21 Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

22 OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE - YR B

10.00am Mass: OLPS Sth M’bah

23/27 Meals on Wheels - Roster 2

28 CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL and NATIVITY TABLEAU - from 5.30pm

5.00pm - Vigil Mass

29 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT - YR C No 10.00am Mass (fifth Sunday)

November Apostleship of Prayer leaflets are available this weekend.

There’s only 3 weeks to this important parish event. Ask yourself what you can make, or contribute, to the stocking

of stalls, to make this year a really great success! The Parish Raffle is underway - if you would like a book of

tickets, pick up a book after Mass (on table at Church entrance) or contact the Parish Office. All tickets, sold or unsold, must be returned to the Parish or School offices by Friday 27th November.

Marie from the Sweet Stall would appreciate donations towards cost and/or ingredients, and homemade sweets (these can be delivered on Carnival Day).

Trish from the Bottle Stall would like filled ($2+) bottles, and/or empty bottles or jars. These can be left at the Parish Office or phone 66779041.

If you’re Spring Cleaning, think of the White Elephant (no

electrical goods), the Book Stall…

CWL News… The next meeting of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) will be held on Friday 13th November. Please note the change of date. This is the A.G.M. and will be the last meeting for 2015.

Chillingham Voices & Murwillumbah Philharmonic Choir present

The Armed Man: a Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins &

Missa Kenya by Paul Basler.

Sunday 8th November

2.30pm All Saints Anglican Church, Murwillumbah

Tickets: At the door 1 hour prior to concert.

Adults - $20 Concessional - $15 (Children under 12 free)

INFORM: The latest edition ‘The 5 Love Languages’ is available for you to take home today. How do we meet each other’s deep emotional need to

feel loved? In this edition we look into The 5 Love Languages by

renowned author Dr. Gary Chapman.

54th Annual Christmas Carnival & Nativity Tableau - from 5.30pm

Saturday 28 November

FAMILY GROUPS: All Family Group Leaders and members are invited to

Dinner with Fr. Peter McGrath and Mary & Reg Ingham. Fr. Peter is the founder of Family Groups

& Mary Ingham is the NSW director of Family Groups.

Thursday 12th November at 6.30pm at Alan’s Seafood & Asian For more information and bookings,

please phone Philomena Zambelli 6672 4635.

Compassionate Friends Support Meeting -

for those who have lost a child of any age, at any time.

10.30am Thursday 12 Nov Autumn Club in Tumbulgum

Road. Enq: Lorraine 6672 3219

INVEST WITH PEACE OF MIND www.dif.org.au Phone 1800 802 516 Paying 2.60% at Call!

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

Deposits accepted between 9am and 3pm. Monday to Friday

Readings for next week:

33rd SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - YR B 1 Dan 12:1-3; Heb 10:11-14, 18; Mk 13:24-32

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: (PS 145) R: Praise the Lord, my soul!

IF SUNG: R. Praise the Lord, my soul; O praise his holy

name.

1. It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,

who is just to those who are oppressed. It is he who gives bread to the hungry,

the Lord, who sets prisoners free. R.

2. It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,

who raises up those who are bowed down. It is the Lord who loves the just,

the Lord, who protects the stranger. R.

3. The Lord upholds the widow and orphan

but thwarts the path of the wicked.

The Lord will reign for ever,

Zion’s God, from age to age. R.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Happy the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven

is theirs! Alleluia!

CATHOLIC PAPERS -on sale in the Church today-

Catholic Leader & Catholic Weekly: $2.00 each

NOVEMBER - HOLY SOULS

November is a special time for praying for the dead.

During this month people traditionally request “November Masses” for deceased relatives & friends. Envelopes for these Masses are in the Planned Giving pack of envelopes or on the table at the Church entrance.

Prayers during November may also be requested for deceased relatives and friends by writing their names on the yellow cards (at the Church entrance) and pinning the card on the Church noticeboard.

In 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 we read “It is therefore a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the Dead.”

BAPTISMS: Please welcome

Abby Jade Thomson

& Hunter William Van Megchelen,

to our faith community.

Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter

We would normally hear or read the second half of this week’s gospel as a stand alone example of generosity and faith – often without the section that immediately precedes it. Whilst the actions of the widow are certainly worthy of comment, when we read it in the context of the condemnation that immediately precedes it, the widow’s offering is placed in a different light. Jesus condemns the scribes who parade their wealth and seek trappings of earthly power and glory: being recognised and greeted as they walk the streets; taking the front seats in synagogue; and expecting to be seated in the place of honour at banquets. Whilst parading their wealth and feasting at banquets, they are also swallowing up the property of widows – taking advantage of those in need. We often hear widows and orphans named in the scriptures as those in need. Widows and orphans (and strangers in the land) are marked out for special attention in the Torah. They are named as deserving of special care – the lost and broken of society. So despite holding a special place in Jewish Law and tradition, the widows are being taken advantage of by the scribes, who are taking over their property for their own gain. One of the duties of the scribes was to administer the proper payment of Temple taxes. The treasury referred to in the passage is the Temple treasury. Rather than a great act of generosity, we can now see the widow’s payment of Temple tax as a burdensome, heart-wrenching obligation to pay the very last coins she had to a corrupt, uncaring system. We usually read praise into Jesus’ comments about the widow’s offering, but it can also be read as moral outrage at the system that demands this woman pay all that she possesses to the Temple.

Living the Gospel – Hypocrisy

Throughout the gospels, what Jesus appears to abhor more than anything else is hypocrisy. His harshest condemnation of the scribes and the Pharisees is that they are hypocrites. In this passage, whilst Jesus hates the scribes’ parading around and claiming honour that is not their due, what really sees him condemn them is their mistreatment of widows ‘while making a show of lengthy prayers’. We cannot praise God in prayer while at the same time mistreating our neighbour. That is hypocrisy! Our actions are an extension of our prayer. We cannot celebrate the Eucharist on Sundays and fail to live it the rest of the week!