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The Catholic Community of North Harbour
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| PASTOR'S DESK
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In September, it’s hard to imagine Easter. Yet, September is the month when the RCIA team ask you, “Is there someone who could be baptised at Easter 2009 if only they had been invited to consider the Catholic faith?”
Are there husbands married to Catholic wives or people of no faith who are seeking Good News? Do you think Jesus has Good News that will enhance lives? Do you believe that the community of the Catholic people, attempting to live the Gospel, has something to offer that will enrich those seeking more from life? Then you may be the one to issue an invitation to a seeker to attend the RCIA Enquiry Session, 7.00 pm Sunday 21st September!
This week (9th Sept) we mark the feast of St Kieran, the patron of one of the parish churches. This is the 40th year of that church. The week of its opening the “Catholic Weekly” reported, “The new church of St Kieran at Manly Vale is one of the latest in Sydney to incorporate features which comply with the recent norms on liturgical reform. Under the guidance of the parish priest, Fr DK O’Shea osa, and with cardinal Gilroy’s approval, the architects, Kevin J Curin and Partners, were encouraged to plan the sanctuary and seating so that the congregation would realise the full significance of offering the Mass with the priest.” You can read more of this article on this page.
This week (11th Sept) we celebrate the feast of the Augustinian St Nicolas of Tolentine. The lot of the poor in the late thirteenth century was particularly trying: plagues, distressing need and ceaseless civil wars. It was to these people that the newly formed Order of St Augustine responded. The Augustinian friars were the Church’s response to the urban life that had developed in Europe. Nicholas of Tolentine was outstanding in his efforts to meet “the signs of the times.”
This weekend Bishop David comes to us to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on 170 children. The Second Vatican Council asked that confirmation be revised so that the intimate connection of this sacrament with the whole of Christian initiation might stand out more clearly. Confirmation thus understood is a completion of the baptism one received in infancy. Consequently, the same godparents and the use of the baptismal name are encouraged in the celebration of confirmation, and baptismal promises are renewed immediately before reception of the sacrament. The anointing with chrism and the words “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” form a modest ritual moment in the larger journey of conversion, the work of a lifetime.
The month of Ramadan has begun for our Muslim brothers and sisters. It lasts from new moon to new moon. It requires Muslims to fast each day from sunrise to sunset, fasting even from drinking water. It is a month of special consciousness of their Muslim identity and their Muslim community, of fasting together and joyfully breaking the fast each evening in the family or in a larger assembly. Members of our social justice group have been invited to a Muslim home to share the evening meal one night during Ramadan. Some of our parishioners are attending one of the following opportunities to increase knowledge of both Christianity and Islam:
* Public Forum by The Catenian Association and Australian Catholic University
Thursday, 11th September, 2008 – 7pm to 8.30pm at the College Hall, St. Mary’s Cathedral College, 2 St. Mary’s Road, Sydney. The Forum is free and light refreshments will be provided. To register, please email your name and number attending to iace@acu.edu.au by 8th September.
* Abraham Conference – Walking Together Our Faiths & Reconciliation
Sunday, 19th October, 2008 – 11am to 3.30pm at Webster Theatre, University of Sydney, City Road, Camperdown. Cost $20 (Includes lunch and afternoon tea). To register, please email registrations@affinity.org.au or phone 9702-0789.
Fr Peter
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| Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
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GOSPEL SYMBOLS AND IMAGE
two agree to ask harden not your hearts debt of mutual love
This Gospel emphasises the worth of each member of the community; we are all interconnected and we are all responwsible for others. Love and the desire for reconciliation should govern our responses, not the desire to humiliate or chastise.
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did you know
¨ In the ancient world, the testimony of two witnesses was needed for any charge to be upheld in a civil or religious court. We see many examples of this practice in the gospels, eg: Jn 9:18.
¨ Formal exclusion from the Church is called excommunication. Today it is rarely used but over history, many people, even saints, have been excommunicated. Galileo was excommunicated during the Renaissance for his views on science. This excommunication was recently rescinded. Even Australia's own Blessed Mary MacKillop was once excommunicated!
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| QUESTION OF THE WEEK
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Twenty Third Ordinary (Year A)
Jesus said, 'If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone.' (Matthew 18:15)
Adult : What have you been able to overcome because others patiently loved you?
Young People : How can you find help from Jesus when you need strength to confront someone who hurts you?
Children : How can you help another person do the right thing?
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| THE FOCUS
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Loosen Those Bonds
I was in a conversation one day with a young teenager as she poured out her anger about a friend at school.
‘Have you talked with him?’ I asked. ‘He won’t listen to me if I try,’ she responded. And she just stayed angry and hurt.
Too many (young) people sit in pain and anger after an argument – or after they hear that someone has publicly dissed them. That pain and that anger bind us. They eat up our energy, keep us from focusing on school or work, and make us toss and turn at night.
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus offers a recipe for freedom – confront the person who hurt you.
The early Christians sinned against one another in many ways. Matthew included this teaching from Jesus, possibly as advice for them. First, talk about your conflict one on one. If that doesn’t help, find an objective person who might help you work things out. If that doesn’t work, you might have to end the relationship.
You can use that advice too. When people hurt you, face them and express your feelings without attacking or insulting them. Sometimes people don’t even know they’ve done something hurtful until you confront them. If the people who hurt you won’t listen, look for someone who’s objective, maybe a good friend, to help mediate. Sometimes that can help.
Unfortunately, sometimes you’ll come across stubborn people who just can’t admit they’re wrong. Rather than continue letting them hurt you, move on to other friendships. You deserve better.
This week resolve to face conflicts head on. As Jesus says, you’ll not only free yourself but you’ll probably be helping the person who hurt you.
Paul Skippen
Family & Youth Ministry Coordinator
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| Continuing the quote about church of St Kieran in Pastor's Desk
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“NEW CHURCH HAD TO BE SQUARE: …… The site on Condamine Street was somewhat restricted and being virtually square in shape it dictated that if the church was to accommodate 650 people it also should be square.
AVOIDED: A square building 92 ft x 92 ft incorporated all the varied requirements.
The normal approach of placing the altar in the centre of one wall and the main entrance in the centre of the opposite wall was avoided because the emphasis would not be sufficient for the altar and seating arrangement. Apart from being rather unimaginative it would not provide that close relationship between the sanctuary and the People of God which the liturgy demands. For this reason, the main aisle was placed on the diagonal with the entrance in the north-west corner and the sanctuary in the south-west corner. This arrangement made it possible for every member of the congregation to focus the maximum attention on the sanctuary and be no further than 13 seats from it.
The radiating aisles at floor level and the junctions of the walls and ceilings all emphasise the importance of the sanctuary and particularly of the Altar of Sacrifice.
This altar is in light coloured sandstone on an oval-shaped predella covered with scarlet carpet and is significant in its simplicity.
Unlike the majority of churches, the Blessed Sacrament is not reserved in a tabernacle positioned on the Altar of Sacrifice or against the reredos immediately behind but is mounted on a side altar so positioned that, while it is an extension of the main sanctuary, it becomes a Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament.
Attention is drawn to it by the beaten-silver tabernacle and by a large stained-glass window by Stephen Moor depicting the Resurrection. The “Resurrection Window” is in fact the culmination of a series of 12 stained-glass windows by the same artist depicting the story of man’s salvation.
Other unusual features are the absence of altar rails and the position of the raised platform on which the chair rests for the presiding priest.
The Catholic Weekly, August 29, 1968-19
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“It is useless to admit that people have a right to the necessities of life, unless we also do all in our power to supply them with means sufficient for their livelihood.”
Pope John XXIII, Pacem in Terris, #32
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| ST AUGUSTINE
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Accordingly, when Christian receives Christian, the members serve one another; and the Head rejoices and considers given to himself what was bestowed on his member. On our journey, we must live where Christ is in need. He is needy in his followers, for he himself hasno needs.
-- Sermon 236,3
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