Salt of the earth In today's gospel, Jesus commands us to let our light shine. The

first and second readings illuminate just what this ‘light’ is and

the Psalm celebrates the freedom and power of life and to live without fear of darkness. In Isaiah, the story is about practical

charity, providing material help and relieving the burden of the

needy in close proximity and those who live further away.

Paul, writing to the Christian community in Corinth, describes

this as being one with the crucified Christ, a way of life that defies logical argument. This radical call is a great challenge for

all of us. Yet, it is significant for Christians today, including here

in Australia. Urgent cries for help compel us to respond with compassion. There are suffering Indigenous communities,

refugees in off-shore detention centres and immigrants

experiencing alienation who are all worthy of our attention and

assistance.

Some might say, “These are complex issues that need careful discernment, so it best be left to politicians and others to make

these difficult decisions.” And leaving it to the experts may well

avert 'compassion fatigue?'

Scripture warnings, such as Matthew 7:6 (pearls before swine)

advise prudence. These views have merit, and we can indeed help those in need, perhaps by who we vote for and making financial

contributions to charitable organisations. Another way to connect

with those who suffer is to pray for them, either communally at

Sunday Mass or by personal meditation. Such deeds keep us at a ‘respectable’ distance from the mess created by others; yet, Jesus’

cross, as Paul notes, is the complete opposite of respectable.

But does Jesus require more of us? There may be a message in

the salt image Christ provided at a time when it was used for

more than just seasoning. These days we take our fridges for granted. However, back in the fifties when I was a child, the ice

vendor would bring blocks of ice wrapped in 'gunny' sacks which

my parents bought for our ice-chest. But long before mass-produced ice-blocks, Jesus' mother, Mary, and the local traders

would preserve food with salt and also use it to clean wounds.

Is the first step for us as individuals then to examine our hearts

and weigh up our response to the needs of those around us,

especially the poor and destitute, and look at how we can improve our lives? We need to ask ourselves whether we are engaged,

listening and actively responding to those desperate cries for help.

How can we be more like that "salt of the earth" that vitalises and

heals?

To find ways to unite with the crucified Christ therefore is to

remain relevant; to be visibly ‘light for the world’ and

demonstrably ‘salt of the earth.’

Bet Green © Redemptorists 2017

Reprinted from the Sunday Majellan with permission

5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME -

YEAR A

5th February 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

—————————————————

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

Kevin & Jan Weaver

COUNTERS:

05 Feb: D Gillespie & C Kerr

12 Feb: U O’Grady & B Brodbeck

19 Feb: T & P Zambelli

26 Feb: J Morgan & L Green

05 Mar: G & K Bewes

12 Mar: P & R Marr

19 Mar: P & L McMahon

26 Mar: M & M Cooper

02 Apr: C & J Anderson

6TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME -

Year A

11/12 January

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah

6.00pm Saturday

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah 8.00am Sunday

Acolyte P Egan P Hyde

Altar Servers K McCarthy (C),

E McCarthy, L Grant ——————

Readers C Anderson (C) P/F

M Mumford R B Brodbeck R

L Green (C) R M Roberts R

C Wightley P/F

Ministers of Communion

R Daley (C) K Mumford, MA McShane

R Anderson, T Cooper

J Schiller (C) P Sharp, B Gorton,

J Morgan, T Zambelli

Hospitality ———————- M Traves & S Lemon

Procession of Gifts R & L Nihill F & B McGrouther

Children’s Liturgy M Mackney P Zambelli

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

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH 6 - 12 FEBRUARY

CHURCH CLEANING SANCTUARY & ALTAR

Sacred Heart Church: 5 Feb: K Mumford, J Morgan 12 Feb: M Twohill, P Smith, H Gooley & L Johnson

OLPS Church, Sth M’bah February: K Ryder & T Godwin

Monday 9.00am Rosary & Prayers - Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church

Tuesday 4.15pm - 5.15pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church

5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

6.00pm Rosary - Sacred Heart Church

Wednesday 9.00am Mass - Greenhills Lodge

12.10pm St. Joseph’s Opening School Mass - OLPS, Sth M’bah

4.15pm - 5.15pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church

5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

(Special intention - repose of the soul of Tony Clarke)

Thursday 8.30am Mass - Sacred Heart Church 9.15am Legion of Mary - Sth M’bah Meeting Room

Friday 9.30am Mt St Patrick Primary Opening School Mass - Sacred Heart

10.00am Communion Service - M’bah Nursing Home - C Dennis

10.00am Mass - Heritage Lodge

2.45pm - 3.45pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church

Saturday 9.00am Rosary - Sacred Heart Church

6.00pm Vigil Mass - Sacred Heart Church

Sunday 5th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - Year A

8.00am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

9.00am Parish Morning Tea - Hall 10.00am Mass - Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Sth M’bah

12 noon Baptisms

Readings for next week:

6th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME-Yr A Sirach 15:15-20; 1 Cor 2:6-10;

Mt 5:17-37

FAMILY GROUP “CUPPA” ROSTER

Sunday 12th February

hosted by all Family Group leaders

RECENTLY DECEASED: Beryl Worthington, James Tate, Sebastiana Russo, Clare Pidcock, Kevin Scanlon.

ANNIVERSARIES: Fr. James O’Rourke, Winnie Boan, Patrick Grant.

NOTICE BOARD

CALENDAR

~ FEBRUARY ~ 14 Catechist Meeting - Parish Office

16 Finance Council Meeting

17 Mt St Patrick College Inaugural Mass

17 M’bah Catholic Women

19 7TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - A

10am Mass - St Brigid’s, Burringbar

20 Meals on Wheels - Roster 1

23 Solomon Island Information Night

26 8TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - A

10am Mass - OLPS, Sth M’bah

Baptisms

28 Parent Meeting - First Reconciliation &

Holy Communion - 6pm - Hall

~ MARCH ~ 01 ASH WEDNESDAY

9.30am Mass with MSPC-Sacred Heart

12.10pm Liturgy with St Joseph’s

12.15pm Liturgy with Mt St Patrick’s

5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart

03 10am Mass - M’bah Nursing Home

04 Vigil Mass - YOUTH

05 FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT - A

10am Mass - St Columba’s, Uki

08 Mass - Greenhills Lodge

CATHOLIC PAPERS -on sale in the Church today-

Catholic Leader: Sr Anne is honoured for life of service

on Tiwi Islands Catholic Weekly: Bumping in to God: the Summer School

experience

MAINTENANCE MATTERS: If you become aware of something that you think needs repair or maintenance in one of our church

properties, please contact Mary-Ann in the Parish Office 6672 1118.

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 14th February

CARNIVAL SURVEY!

We would like to hear from you!

With a change in venue for the 2016 Christmas Carnival and Nativity Tableau and to help us improve, we would appreciate your feedback and comments on the new venue and your overall satisfaction with the Christmas Carnival and Nativity Tableau.

Copies of the survey can be found on the table at the Church entrance. We ask you to complete and return it to the Parish Office. The survey will only take about 5 minutes to complete.

Thank you to the parishioners who have completed and returned the Christmas Carnival feedback form.

Waiting to hear from you…

EPISCOPAL ORDINATION OF BISHOP-ELECT HOMEMING OCD The Episcopal ordination of Fr. Gregory Homeming will take place in St. Carthage’s Cathedral on Wednesday 22 February at 7.00pm. Please keep Bishop Elect Gregory and our Diocese in your prayers.

Expressions of Interest are sought from qualified tradesmen who are interested in assisting with building repair and maintenance work in the Parish. If you are interested or know of someone who may be

interested in this work, please contact Mary-Ann in the Parish Office for more details on 66721118 or email shpmbah@norex.com.au.

We are also seeking the services of a reliable handyman, so if you know someone suitable, please contact Mary-Ann.

Rosary & Prayers for God’s Precious

Infants and the Unborn Child - Monday 6th February at 9.00am Our Lady of Perpetual

Succour Church, South Murwillumbah.

Pregnancy Help Line: 1300 139 313

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S GROUP NEWS… Murwillumbah Catholic Women’s Group will resume it

informal spiritual, social group on Friday 17th February

at the Parish Administration Centre at 10am.

The Group will meet for a ‘Cuppa and Chat’ and every alternate month we hope to have lunch at a venue of choice.

All ladies are welcome.

For further details phone Barbara 6672 3377

or Marion 6672 2501.

‘I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

the man who follows me will have the light of life.’

-John 8:12

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

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

5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YR A

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: (PS 111)

R: A light rises in the darkness for the upright.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, Alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; the

man who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia!

2017 Lenten Programme

‘Hope’ This year’s Lenten Programme is again published by the Diocese of Wollongong and designed as a six-week Lenten resource for small groups, staff reflections, families and individuals.

Six beautiful Gospel Reflections have been written by Mr Shane Dwyer (Director of the National Centre for Evangelisation for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference) and complimented by Sr Hilda Scott OSB’s (Vocations Director, Jamberoo Abbey) Spiritual Direction and Guided Christian Meditation.

‘Hope’ also features beautiful religious artworks from the Masters such as Duccio, Fra Angelico, El Greco and Vela zquez, with enlightening “Artwork Spotlight” reflections (for personal reading during the week) written by Fr Graham Schmitzer PP.

You are invited to join us for prayer and reflection during the weeks of Lent, which commences with Ash Wednesday on 1 March. The Lenten Programme will commence the week 27 Feb - 3 March.

Lenten books are available from the Parish Office. Cost $10.00. If you are unable to attend a Lenten group, books may be purchased for individual use.

Interested in visiting the Solomon Islands? Planning has started for a group trip to Honiara and

Tanagai in July 2017.

Numbers will be strictly limited, so if you are interested

in being part of this group, please talk to Maureen Reynolds or Mary-Ann Thackray.

Please call the Parish Office during business hours,

9am to 3 pm, to leave your contact details by Friday

10 February.

All travel costs – air fares, accommodation, meals, transport and excursions - are at the individual traveller’s expense. Travel insurance will also be required.

An information night is planned for Thursday 23

February at 6pm in Parish Administration Centre to

give more details of expected costs together with

proposed dates and a draft itinerary. (Please note:

change of meeting date)

2017 SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMME

FIRST RECONCILIATION:

Tuesday 4 April - 6pm

Parent Meeting & Registration for

First Reconciliation & Holy Communion

will be held Tuesday 28 February

at 6pm in the Parish Hall.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION:

Sunday 18 June - 8am

CONFIRMATION:

Saturday 12 August - 6pm

Ash Wednesday Mass & Liturgy Times:

1st March 2017 9.30am - Mass - Sacred Heart Church - Mt St Patrick College

12.10pm - Liturgy - Our Lady of Perpetual Succour - St Joseph’s Primary

12.15pm - Liturgy - Sacred Heart Church - Mt St Patrick Primary

5.30pm - Mass - Sacred Heart Church

Please, sign up today, to either host/lead a group,

or if you would like to join a group.

Websites for prayer & reflection

www.loyolapress.com (daily) www.sacredspace.ie (daily) www.prayasyoucan.com.au (weekly) www.therosary3.com - a reflective way to pray the Rosary