Freedom to choose God has suffered at the hands of both the “God owners” and

the “God deniers”. The former turned God into an idol, a projection of human fears and infantile desires. The latter, not unreasonably, said such a God does not exist. Many of the rest said, well it doesn’t really matter either way, since we are far too busy making ends meet and getting on with life to be concerned with issues of theology.

These caricatures of belief, unbelief and unknowingness are not altogether fanciful as they also raise the issue of what the real God of the Hebrew-Christian Scriptures must be like. For the writer of Wisdom, Israel’s God is the only true God who cares for everything, is never unjust, and is endlessly forgiving of the repentant sinner. Moreover, we are told, such a God models the way of human virtue, a way at odds with values of an aggressive world.

St Paul in Romans tells us “God knows everything in our hearts” and that, despite our weakness, we can communicate with this God through the gift of the Spirit who prays for us. Such a God is both infinitely beyond human experience, power and knowledge and yet more intimate to us than we are to ourselves. God is Life.

In Matthew, Jesus teaches the crowds with parables of the ‘kingdom of heaven’. The kingdom is compared to a man sewing wheat in the field, or a mustard seed growing into a tree, or the yeast a woman uses to make bread. Who, then, is the God of Jesus masked behind these parables?

First, such a God is present and active in the ordinary, every-day things of life – depicted in the title of Arundhati Roy’s novel, ‘The God of Small Things’. Second, this God, like the kingdom of heaven and gift of the Spirit, is “already present within you” (Lk 17:21; Rom 8:9). Third, God is not just another being among beings, let alone a human construct, but the very source of everything that is – for “in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

It is also true that God fully respects our freedom to choose between good and evil: human choices and actions have consequences. This is why Jesus explains the parable of the wheat and darnel in terms of future judgment. Nonetheless, we should not live our lives in fear of judgment since “love casts out fear” (I Jn 14:18). Rather, let us place our faith, hope and love in God who both understands our weakness and yet knows and loves us with boundless patience and infinite mercy.

What must God be like? God is neither a big daddy figure in the sky nor a vindictive judge. The real God is in the heights of the universe, as in the hidden depths of our own selves, calling us into personal relationship and righteous action in the name of the kingdom.

Gerard Hall SM © Redemptorists 2017 Reprinted from the Sunday Majellan with permission

16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME -

YEAR A

23 July 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

—————————————————

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

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 Ken & Margaret Mumford

COUNTERS:

23 July: G & K Bewes

30 July: U O’Grady & B Brodbeck

06 Aug: P & R Marr

13 Aug: M & M Cooper

20 Aug: C & J Anderson

27 Aug: T & P Zambelli

03 Sept: P & L McMahon

10 Sept: J Morgan & L Green

17th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME

Year A

29/30 July

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah

6.00pm Saturday

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah 8.00am Sunday

Acolyte P Egan P Marr

Altar Servers R & H Skelly N Trembath

D, J, R, & S Buchanan

Readers M Reynolds (C) R

L Dusi R B Brodbeck P/F

MA Thackray (C) R P Callaghan R F Wright P/F

Ministers of Communion

R Anderson (C) R Nihill, K Mumford

C Wightley, MA McShane

M & M Cooper (C) I & B Dusi B Nolan

Hospitality ——————- N Feltham & M Zambelli

Procession of Gifts L Haigh & partner F & B McGrouther

Children’s Liturgy M Mackney V Hughes

The Sacred Heart Church

‘Prayer Chapel’ is open for

private prayer on weekdays.

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH 23 - 30 JULY

CHURCH CLEANING SANCTUARY & ALTAR Sacred Heart Church:

23 July: K Mumford, J Morgan

30 July: M Twohill, L Johnson

OLPS Church, Sth M’bah

July: K Ryder

Sunday 16th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - Year A

8:00 am Mass - Sacred Heart Church 10:00 am Mass - Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, South Murwillumbah

12 noon Baptisms - Sacred Heart Church Tuesday 9.45am Mass - State Schools Children - Sacred Heart Church

4.15pm - 5.15pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church 5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

6:00 pm Rosary - Sacred Heart Church

Wednesday STS. JOACHIM & ANNE 11.00am Funeral prayers - Sacred Heart Church - Lance Sinclair

4.15pm - 5.15pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church 5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

6:30 pm Alpha - Parish Hall

Thursday 8:30 am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

9:00 am Legion of Mary - Parish Administration Centre 5.30pm Finance Council Meeting

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

10:00 am Communion - Heritage Lodge - J Reynolds 12:15 pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

2:45 pm - 3:45 pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church today

Saturday 9:00 am Rosary - Sacred Heart Church 6:00 pm Vigil Mass - Sacred Heart Church

Sunday 17th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - Year A

8:00 am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

No 10am Mass in Parish today (5th Sunday)

PARISH “CUPPA” Sunday 13th August

to meet Bishop Gregory

Readings next week: 17th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME-A 1 Kg 3:5, 7-12; Rom 8:28-30; Mt 13:44-52

RECENTLY DECEASED: Lance Sinclair, Helen Bray, Jack Callaghan, Eileen McMahon, Jan Stoddart, Ron Foster, Mary Green.

ANNIVERSARIES: Bill Johnson, Eva Sterling, Grace Johnson.

NOTICE BOARD

CALENDAR

~ AUGUST ~ 04 10am Mass - M’bah Nursing Home 05 6pm Vigil - YOUTH Mass 06 TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD - YR A 10am Mass - St Columba’s, Uki 07 Rosary & Prayers - OLPS, Sth M’bah 08 ST MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP 08 Baptism Preparation Meeting 09 9am Mass - Greenhills Lodge 10 Compassionate Friends 11 Confirmation Retreat Day - Hall 11 10am Mass - Heritage Lodge 12 CONFIRMATION - 6pm Vigil Mass 13 19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR A 10am Mass - OLPS, Sth Murwillumbah 11am Baptisms - OLPS, Sth M’bah 14 Meals on Wheels - Roster 2 15 THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 17 Finance Council Meeting 20 20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR A 10am Mass - St Brigid’s, Burringbar 22 THE QUEENSHIP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 10am Mass - St Brigid’s, Burringbar

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 8th August

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

Confirmation Liturgy - 29/30 July, 5/6 August

Confirmation Retreat Day - Friday 11 August

CONFIRMATION

Saturday 12 August - 6pm Vigil Mass - Sacred Heart

Church followed by supper - Parish Hall

AVAILABLE IN THE CHURCH TODAY:

New Liturgy Rosters

Planned Giving Tax Receipts

Planned Giving envelopes

Please take yours home with you today!

‘Never ever doubt the value and importance of the life you are living!

Never ever doubt that you are loved by God in a most extraordinary way!

Never ever put a limit to the mercy of God!’

STATE SCHOOL CHILDREN’S MASS Tuesday 25th July - 9.45am

in Sacred Heart Church, followed by morning tea in the Hall.

All children who attend state schools, and their families, are welcome to attend.

BISHOP’S VISITATION

On the weekend 12/13 August, Bishop Gregory Homeming will be visiting our parish and be celebrating weekend Masses.

At the Saturday evening Vigil Mass, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated. This will be followed by a light supper in the Hall. All are welcome.

On Sunday morning after the 8am Mass, we will be having morning tea in the Hall. You are all invited to come and meet Bishop Gregory. (Please bring a plate to share).

CATHOLIC PAPERS Both Catholic Leader & Catholic Weekly on sale - $2 each

ALL WHO ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT Michael Joncas

Chorus: All who are led by the Spirit of Jesus, all those who walk in the footsteps of Christ,

all those who follow where Love will lead them

are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.

Last time: We who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,

we who will walk in the footsteps of Christ,

we who will follow where Love may lead us

are the sons and the daughters, the children of God. (Used with permission: WOL International Licence 1466E)

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

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

16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Yr A

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: (Ps: 85)

R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;

you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the

kingdom. Alleluia!

BAPTISMS: Please welcome

Tyrone Paxton Woods & Charlie Kiara-Page Woods

to our faith community.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL WINTER APPEAL is being held in our parish this weekend.

Dear parishioners

As Australian’s brace themselves for the colder months of the year, many people will turn to us to help them cover their energy bills, food and clothing. It is during this time that the Society will step in to help and emphasise the need for Australians to rethink disadvantage and homeless.

The concept for this year’s Winter Appeal is ‘together we can do heroic things’. Many of the people we assist are rebuilding their lives against the odds and yet they remain resolute in the face of adversity, to protect their families - doing heroic things under immense pressure. Four months ago our area experienced one of the worst floods in history with many people suffering, some who are still living in temporary accommodation whilst their homes are being repaired and others who are just living in their cars because they cannot find accommodation. Some businesses badly affected are struggling to get back on their feet, whilst others have given up and have shut their doors. There are many who are still fighting with Insurance Companies to help rebuild what they have lost and others who have lost everything. Please continue to keep these people in your prayers.

We live in a wonderful place and the generosity shown by people of the Tweed, particularly in the aftermath of the flood has been amazing with some $300,000 donated to Tweed Shire Council for Flood Relief and people digging deep to provide food and clothing.

This winter, your commitment to helping those experiencing disadvantage is still very much needed. Whatever you can do to help will be greatly appreciated, however small a donation. If you are unable to help financially would you please continue to keep Vinnies and the people we see in your prayers.

Vincent de Paul began by encouraging others to change their lives from within, as well as to reach out to the people around them who had material needs. In this way he highlighted that spirituality is the leaven in all our charitable works. It is through this realisation the he experienced his own personal conversion, dedicating himself totally to the spiritually and materially poor.

Marie Donaghy President/Mary MacKillop Conference

Donations can be made at the Church this weekend, or at Vinnies. Collection buckets will also be at all doors at each Parish Mass.

Thank You!

Generation: Grand Celebrating grandparents

Who can deny the irreplaceable role of grandparents in a child’s life?

Often blessed with more time than busy working parents, grandparents are the keepers of family history and the foundation of cherished family

traditions. They are the ones who know the funny and

embarrassing stories about mum and dad, and have the time to retell them to eager listeners. They can also provide an important support role

in passing on the faith. Welcome to Generation: Grand! Especially written for grandparents, we hope

you find among its pages wisdom, inspiration and beauty.

Marilyn & Francine (Editors)

Copies of this FREE booklet are in the

Church today. Please take a copy home with you.

WEDDING: Please pray for God’s blessing on

John Francis & Kimberley McCullagh who were married this weekend

in the Sacred Heart Church.