Homily by Fr. Richard Leonard.

A conservative Protestant Church in a sleepy fishing village had to find a new minister. Over the protests of Jimmy, the senior Elder, a woman was hired as the new Pastor.

After the Reverend Gayle had been there a few weeks, Tom, a member of the congregation, offered to take her out fishing. Jimmy reluctantly agreed to allow them to use his boat for the day’s outing, but insisted that he lead the expedition.

The trio got into the boat and motored out on the lake. When they got ready to fish, they realised that all their tackle had been left on the dock. Tom concluded that they would just have to go back and get it. Reverend Gayle said that wouldn't be necessary, and she got out of the boat and started walking across the water toward the dock.

Jimmy, who refused to be impressed by Gayle’s miraculous abilities observed, ‘See I told you we never should have hired that woman. She can't even swim.’

The hit animation film Shrek was praised by critics for many things but most especially for the clever way it quoted from several other much-loved animation films. When writers do this it’s called ‘intertextuality’, where one text uses another text to tell the story. Some of the references in Shrek were obvious; others took a little longer to reveal themselves. Some were used in a new way that turned the original story upside down. Whether any of us got all or none of the references didn’t affect the enjoyment we derived from the film, it only added to what was already a great tale.

The story of Jesus walking on the water is in a similar vein to Shrek. In eleven verses Matthew quotes several other stories in the Old Testament, uses them in his own way and re-interprets all of them in reference to Jesus. It might be lost on some of us who just enjoy the power of the story, but none of this intertextuality would have been lost on Matthew’s first hearers.

Poor old Job found God in the midst of a storm, and winds and waves are a usual Old Testament shorthand for the perils of life. The image of the boat was an early symbol for the Church and Matthew has all Jesus’ disciples in it. Jesus hovering over the waters has echoes of the action of the Spirit in the first account of creation in Genesis. Even Jesus restoring calm to the sea follows on from what the Prophet Jonah had done before. For the keen student there is much more besides.

Matthew’s account is magnificent on its own terms, but with these details we can see he is also interested in a theological message. Jesus, the Son of God and Lord of creation, remains faithful to the disciples, no matter how treacherous the seas or how great their fear. He has come to them so that they may be saved and recreated as the Church who recognises that he is the fulfilment of creation, the one whom Israel has been longing to see and embrace.

And what does all this mean for us?

We are inheritors of Matthew’s faith. We’re here because we believe that Jesus is the Son of God who has saved us from ourselves and from destruction. But it also means that in every storm that threatens our lifeboat Jesus comes to call us to faith, to catch us when we think we’re drowning, to accompany us back to safety and to bring calm to the troubled seas of our life.

Aren’t we lucky Jesus never learnt to swim?

Fancy a game of Indoor Bowls or Cards? Come along to the Parish Centre at 9.30am on the 21st August. New faces very welcome to this

social morning.

The next

St. Mary’s Luncheon will be held on the 27th October

(pre Melbourne Cup), commencing at 11.30am

in the Parish Centre. Come and enjoy some fellowship with friends.

All Welcome.

St Vincent De Paul Meeting Monday, 14th August at 5.00pm

at the Vinnies Store. Parish Finance Committee

Monday, 4th September at 5.30pm in the Parish Centre.

It’s on again.... This year’s Church Challenge between the

Anglicans and ourselves will take place on

Sunday, 17th

September at 5.00pm. Please

bring a plate to share for dinner and BYO

drinks. Come along and have a fun evening of Indoor

Bowls, Cards or Mah Jong.

Thank you to all those who helped out on Friendship Day.

It began with a Mass with 12 from Kaloma and the children had a wonderful time.

Don’t forget to grab a CATHOLIC LEADER

MASS TIMES Tuesday (15/08)…Feast of THE ASSUMPTION

11.00am Kaloma Adoration 4.30pm-5.30pm followed by Mass

Wednesday (16/08)…….Rosary at 5.10pm and Mass 5.30pm Friday (18/08)…………………12.15pm

12th/13th August, 2017

SUNDAY EVENING: 6.00pm Goondiwindi

19th/20th August, 2017 SUNDAY MORNING: 9.00am Goondiwindi

26th/27th August, 2017

SATURDAY NIGHT: 6.00pm Goondiwindi SUNDAY MORNING: 8.00am Goondiwindi and

9.30am Family Mass in Parish Centre.

2nd/3rd September, 2017 SATURDAY EVENING: 6.00pm Goondiwindi

SUNDAY MORNING: 8.00am Daymar & 10.00am W’gallon

9th/10th September, 2017 SUNDAY EVENING: 6.00pm Goondiwindi

GROUNDS ROSTER

AUGUST: DAN & LISA GALL

SEPTEMBER: GRAHAM MCGOVERN

& TERRY RYAN

THANK-YOU FOR YOUR Contributions: 06/08/17

ENVELOPES $460.00 LOOSE $158.70

VOLUNTEERS

WE PRAY FOR Those who have entered your kingdom: including, Kevin “Skeet” McMaster, David Hollis, Frank Lawless (Stasia’s son), Pauline Pollock, Monica Peters (Kath Gore’s Aunt), John Clancy, Margaret Cook, Marie Dutton, Patricia MacBeth (Lismore), Kevin Heironymus, Patricia Manton, Helen Zeller, Richard Everingham, Rosemary Keehn, Jim Coleman, Tim Murphy, Margaret Piedl, Margaret Murphy, Glen Manton, Father Tom Sheeran, Veronica Rayner, Grant Carrigan, Isabel Coleman. For all whose anniversary is at this time: including Joan “Mary” Terry, Len Collins, Vincent Mullins, Darren Benecke, Beryl O’Keefe, John Webber, Robert “Bob” McCall, Sarah “Dot” Drew, Constance Butler, Norman Montgomery, Robert Picking, Gay Brydon, Clarence Manton, Kathleen Kyte, Jason Webster, Kathleen Nolan, Gordon “Matey” Cairns, Dolly Cubis, Jamie Smith, Norman Harpur, Peter Lloyd, Kevin O’Brien, Edward Holcombe, Francis ‘John’ Coade, Kevin Turvey, Valerie McCosker, John Crawley, Valerie Jennings, Michael Brennan, Jim Nolan, Helen Taylor, Sue Bendall, Bob Telford, Vince Mawn. For those who are ill: including Angus Rigney, Steve Aspinall, Jan Jan Charles, Tom Turvey, Bill Dyer, Trish Dyer, Brian Freeney, Pat & Teresa Mullins, Deanna Dawson, Anne Hunt, Kevin Lawless, Ray Mackie, Peter Keehn, Joan Fleming, Frank Brosnan, Gloria Bale, David Croft, Tim Bourke, Joe Cowmeadow, Shirley Schluter, Stasia Lawless, Paul Lloyd, Mavis Gordon, Jean Ramada, Stella McGovern, Jean Sizer, Francis Lloyd, Madonna Nicoletti, Kathy McDonald, Steph Adamson, Bailey Brennan, Pauline Robinson, Win Skinner, Sonya Horrigan, Helen Paige, John Toohey, Marie Cook, Phillip Carney, Shirley Riley, Therese Sullivan and Joseph Hord; also those ill at home, in hospital and for those in Kaloma.

WELCOMERS AT DOOR

ROS & JO PHILLIPS (13/08)

PAULINE CORCORAN & FAY PFINGST (20/08)

ANNE WEBSTER & SHIRLEY WHITTLE (26/08)

WELCOMER AT MICROPHONE

YVONNE ISAAK (13/08)

CLAIRE CHARLES (20/08)

ROS PHILLIPS (26/08)

1ST

READER/PSALM

CAMILLE KELLOWAY (13/08)

PAT THOMPSON (20/08)

CARMEL SCHAUMBURG (26/08)

2ND

READING/ALLELUIA

CLAIRE CHARLES (13/08)

MARY COLLINS (20/08)

ROBYN LINDORES (26/08)

EUCHARIST MINISTERS

BRETT POLLARD, BRIAN COOK &

MARY COLLINS (13/08)

CAMILLE KELLOWAY, MICK CLANCY &

CLAIRE CHARLES (20/08)

BRIAN COOK, YVONNE ISAAK &

MARY BURCHELL (26/08)

DATA PROJECTOR

CARMEL SCHAUMBURG (13/08)

LEEANN WELSH (20/08)

MARY COLLINS (26/08)

MONEY COUNTERS

DENISE MCCORMACK & JENNIFER LAWLESS

(13/08)

MARY COLLINS & ROS PHILLIPS (20/08)

TERESA HEYNEN & BELL FAMILY (26/08)

Add 1766 if you haven’t or 1767 if you have.

19TH

SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

13TH

AUGUST, 2017

Introduction

Today’s readings remind us that God speaks to us and beckons us in so many

unexpected and surprising ways. Some of us may respond better to an almost

indistinguishable whisper, while others need a wake-up call that requires great

courage on our part — like Peter’s call to walk on water. Hearing, seeing, giving our full assent to what we experience, may not

be easy. But the message has been consistent throughout history: God

continues to invite us.

First Reading

1 Kings 19:9, 11-13 God is revealed in the tiny, whispering

sound.

Responsorial Psalm Lord, show us your mercy and love,

and grant us your salvation.

Second Reading Romans 9:1-5

Paul affirms God’s love for the Jews.

ALLELLUIA! ALLELLUIA! I hope in the Lord, I trust in his word

ALLELLUIA!

Gospel Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus calls Peter to walk on the water.

Prayers of the Faithful

For the whole church: that we may be a community ever open to God’s call

... we pray,

For those who feel unworthy or doubt God’s love for them ... we pray,

For those who feel betrayed by others: by family or institutions, by government or the

church ... we pray,

For those who continue to advocate for peace, despite setbacks ... we pray,

For the patience and courage to respond

to God’s call especially in times of doubt ... we pray,

For the openness to help others when they

are afraid or doubtful ... we pray,

For all in this community who are sick, dying, grieving or in any kind of need ... we

pray,

For those who may know God only through the love and ministry of this

community ... we pray,

For whom we are called to serve in this community, especially the sick, the dying

and all who are suffering in any way … we pray,

Parish Priest: Fr. Michael O’Brien

Phone: 0422 308 955 or 4671 1091 St Mary’s School: Mr Brett Pollard Ph: 4671 1730 Care for the Aged Co-ordinator: Mrs Jane Blomley Ph: 4675 4132

Parish Office Phone: 4671 5087

Father Michael’s house Phone: 4671 1091 stmarysgdi@bigpond.com 69 Callandoon Street or PO Box 45, Goondiwindi 4390

Parish Secretary: Mrs Kath Gore Friday: 9.30am – 3.00pm

Parish Information