Opening our eyes “Hear this, foolish people, you have eyes but do not see,”

said the Prophet Jeremiah (5:21). Or as more popularly expressed: “There are none so blind as those that cannot see!” In neither case is it a question of physical blindness, but the blindness that lacks insight, and perhaps the courage, to see reality for what it truly is.

This is the spiritual blindness of those who do not see the presence of God in creation, nor the hand of God at work in human history and in their own lives. This is a blindness which we all share whenever we give into despair or cynicism, thinking that God has deserted our world.

In today’s gospel, Jesus provokes a new way of seeing through the healing of the blind man. First, Jesus makes it clear, against accepted belief of the day, that physical disability has nothing whatsoever to do with guilt. Secondly, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Jesus’ ministry is not limited to physical healing. Rather, he seeks to cure people’s more devastating spiritual blindness. For this reason, he confronts the narrow-minded Pharisees.

A major part of the story tells of the blind man’s healing through various stages beginning with his physical cure and then his growth to full spiritual vision. He simply describes his healer as “a man called Jesus.” Next, he recognises Jesus as “a man from God” and a “prophet.” Finally, he gains fullness of insight and worships Jesus as “Lord.” This gradual awakening to the true identity of Jesus is the path of Christian faith. It is the path of Christian discipleship.

At the heart of Christian faith is the belief that Jesus reveals the fullness of God. The question we need to ask is why God has chosen us to be Christian when there are millions of others, often better people than us, who do not receive this revelation? There is something of an answer to this in the first reading from the Book of Samuel. When it is time to choose a king for the people, Samuel suggests one or other of Jesse’s older sons. The Lord replies that “God does not see as man sees” and chooses David, Jesse’s youngest, a poor shepherd boy nobody thinks has much talent, to be king.

Our challenge is to learn to see as God sees or, in Christian understanding, to see through the eyes of Jesus. For most of us, this is a life-long process of gradual awakening. May we, like the blind man in the Gospel story, learn that Jesus is truly ‘Lord’ and ‘God’ who invites us to be his disciples through celebration of the Eucharist and sacraments, by serving Christ in the poor and in loving our neighbour. May our eyes be opened to experience the divine presence in our lives and throughout all God’s creation.

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

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT - YEAR A

26th March 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

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 Margaret Traves

COUNTERS:

26 Mar: M & M Cooper

02 Apr: C & J Anderson

09 Apr: D Gillespie & C Kerr

16 Apr: Office Staff

23 Apr: Office Staff

30 Apr: T & P Zambelli

07 May: P & L McMahon

14 May: J Morgan & L Green

21 May: G & K Bewes

28 May: U O’Grady & B Brodbeck

04 June: P & R Marr

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT - Year A

1/2 April

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah

6.00pm Saturday

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah 8.00am Sunday

Acolyte J Reynolds P Hyde

Altar Servers tba tba

Readers YOUTH K Ryder (C) P/F P Callaghan R MA Thackray R

Ministers of Communion

R Daley (C) L Hosking, M Reynolds

M Macartney, M Mumford

P & R Marr (C) P & T Zambelli

J Morgan

Hospitality YOUTH N Feltham & M Zambelli

Procession of Gifts YOUTH F & B McGrouther

Children’s Liturgy S Jansson T Jandura

The Sacred Heart Church ‘Prayer Chapel’ is open for

private prayer on weekdays.

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH 26 MARCH - 2 APRIL

CHURCH CLEANING SANCTUARY & ALTAR Sacred Heart Church: 26 March & 2 April: K Mumford, J Morgan

OLPS Church, Sth M’bah March: T Jandura April: MA Thackray

Sunday FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT - Year A 8.00am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

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

12 noon Baptisms

Monday Meals on Wheels - Roster 2 (see roster page 3)

Tuesday 5.15pm - 5.45pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church today 5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

6.00pm Rosary - Sacred Heart Church

Wednesday 5.15pm - 5.45pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church today

5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church 7.00pm Choir Practice - Sacred Heart Church

Thursday 8.30am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

9.15am Legion of Mary - Sth M’bah Meeting Room

Friday 10.00am Communion Service - M’bah Nursing Home - K Mumford 10.00am Communion Service - Heritage Lodge - B Brodbeck

12.15pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

12.45pm Stations of the Cross - led by Legion of Mary 2.45pm - 3.45pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church

7.00pm - 8.00pm Adoration & Reconciliation - Sacred Heart Church

Saturday 9.00am Rosary - Sacred Heart Church 6.00pm Vigil Mass - YOUTH - Sacred Heart Church

Sunday FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT - Year A (Daylight Saving finishes) 8.00am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

10.00am Mass - St. Columba’s Church, Uki

Readings for next week:

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT - Yr A

Ezek 37:12-14; Rom 8:8-11;

Jn 11:1-45

FAMILY GROUP “CUPPA” ROSTER

Sunday 9th April hosted by Wright/McInnes Family Group

RECENTLY DECEASED: Jillian Budden, Trevor Phillips (Yamba), Irene Clapham, Eileen McMahon, Patricia Doble.

ANNIVERSARIES: Michael Grennan.

NOTICE BOARD

CALENDAR

Choir Practice for Easter Ceremonies

Choir practice - Sacred Heart Church - 6pm - Thursday this week.

~ APRIL ~ 03 Rosary & Prayers

04 First Reconciliation Retreat Day

04 First Reconciliation - Sacred Heart

05 St Joseph’s Primary Holy Week Liturgy

12.10pm OLPS, Sth M’bah 05 II Rite of Reconciliation & First Reconciliation - St Anthony’s, Kingscliff 06 Mt St Patrick Primary - Stations of the Cross - 9.30am Sacred Heart Church 07 10am Mass - M’bah Nursing Home 07 Adoration & Reconciliation 7pm-8pm

09 PALM SUNDAY - YEAR A 7.45am Commemoration Jesus’ Entrance into Jerusalem - Sacred Park with the Anglican Community - procession to Sacred Heart Church for 8.00am Mass 10am Mass - OLPS, Sth M’bah Baptisms 10 Chrism Mass

11 Baptism Preparation Meeting THE SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUM 13 Holy Thursday 14 Good Friday 9.30am Practice for Good Friday Gospel readers 15 Holy Saturday 10am - Practice for Easter Vigil readers 16 Easter Sunday

23 SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER - YEAR A

(Divine Mercy 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 11th April

MEALS ON WHEELS - Roster 2

27 - 31 March Mon: G & K Bewes

Tues: K & C Kerr

Wed: M Traves & B Heanes; H & K Gooley

Fri: C Dennis & B McGrouther;

A & M Lever

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Sacred Heart Church 12.45pm Fridays during

Lent led by Legion of Mary (following 12.15pm Mass)

ADORATION &

RECONCILIATION will be held on Friday evenings

during Lent 7.00pm - 8.00pm

in the Sacred Heart Church

Friday: 31 March, 7 April

EASTER LITURGY ROSTERS The liturgy roster for Palm Sunday (Gospel readers) and the Easter ceremonies will be prepared this week.

Readers for the Gospel on Palm Sunday morning. People for all ministries for the Easter ceremonies.

Please add your name to the Roster sheet, if you would like to volunteer for any ministry.

PLEASE NOTE: Practice for Readers -

Palm Sunday Gospel readers -10am Saturday 8th April

Good Friday Gospel readers - 9.30am Friday 14th April

Easter Vigil & Sunday readers - 10am Saturday 15th April

The BEGINNING EXPERIENCE: A personal encounter weekend

for those grieving the loss of a spouse/partner through separation,

divorce or death will be held 5-7th October 2017 at “Arabella

Garden Inn Motel” in Wollongbar. For further details call Judy 6624

1549 or visit our website: www.belismore.org.au

Applications close on 15th April 2017.

The Bishop’s LENTEN TALKS The Bishop’s series of Lenten talks is available for viewing on the Lismore Diocese website. The talks is being streamed now and subsequent

Tuesday talks will be streamed in sequence. This is a great opportunity for parishioners to be able to listen to our Bishop’s Lenten reflections.

CHOCOLATE PASCHAL LAMBS Something special for Easter!

White and Milk Chocolate Paschal Lambs (Cadbury chocolate) - $8.00 each.

To order, phone Philomena Zambelli 6672 4635. By purchasing one of these little lambs, you are supporting the Michaelite Mission Priests in Papua New Guinea.

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

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

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT - Yr A

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: (Ps ) R: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I

shall want. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Praise and honour, Lord Jesus Christ. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Praise and honour, Lord Jesus Christ.

With limited support in Vietnam for the education and social inclusion of children with disabilities, young Nguyet lived an isolated life. Then, through a neighbour, her family became involved with a Caritas-Australia supported program offering her education, creative outlets and community interaction, and strengthening her parents’ skills and support networks. Now Nguyet’s mother has great hope for her future.

Please donate to Project Compassion 2017 and give children living with disabilities in Vietnam the opportunity for education and inclusion in their community.

You can donate through Parish boxes and envelopes,

by visiting www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or phoning 1800 024 413.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

HOLY WEEK CEREMONIES PASSION SUNDAY - 9 April

Saturday Vigil: 6.00pm - Sacred Heart Church

commencing with the blessing of palms.

Passion Sunday: 7.45am - Blessing of Palms in

Sacred Park with the Anglican Community, then procession to Sacred Heart Church

for 8.00am Mass.

TRIDUUM Holy Thursday - 13 April: 7.00pm - Sacred Heart Church

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

followed by Adoration.

Good Friday - 14 April: 3.00pm - Sacred Heart Church

Solemn Celebration Lord’s Passion

Easter Vigil - 15 April: 7.00pm - Easter Vigil - Sacred Heart Church

EASTER SUNDAY - 16 April 8.00am - Mass - Sacred Heart Church

THE SEASON OF LENT: Sacrament of Penance

Sacred Heart Church: Thursdays: 8.00am - 8.20am Fridays: 7.00pm - 8.00pm Saturdays: 5.30pm - 5.50pm Sundays: 7.30am - 7.50am

First Reconciliation

Murwillumbah - 6.00pm Tuesday 4th April

II Rite & First Reconciliation

Kingscliff - 6.00pm Wednesday 5th April

BAPTISMS: Please welcome

Layne Mary Emms & Sonny Charles Emms to our faith community.