Reflection by Fr. Richard Leonard SJ.
There are people inside and outside the Church who think that
Christ did not give the Church a mandate to speak about political
matters. They regularly quote the Gospel we have just heard to
support their case. But if one knows and understands the context
and meaning within which this text was written it provides no
ammunition for those who want the Church to stay indoors, reflect
on things ‘spiritual’, preach the eternal verities, and sing hymns
more ancient than modern.
In Jesus’ day, we know that some people thought he was a Zealot.
Zealots were a well-organised group who agitated for the end of the
Roman occupation of Israel. One of the things Zealots did was
withhold paying the Roman taxes. We can see why some people thought
Jesus may have been a Zealot. He took the part of the poor, the
sick, women and those who lived on the fringes of society. He
attacked the religious authorities of his day and certainly stirred
up trouble in many places he went. On the other hand he rejected
violence, taught his followers to pray for their enemies and to
return good for evil. Jesus showed us that the justice and equality
God longs to see in the world comes from a community which is
converted by love, not by weapons, fear or revenge. Jesus was no
Zealot.
Rather than undermine civil authority, however, Jesus, in this
passage, supports it. But he does more. ‘Give to Caesar what is
Caesar’s’ is followed by ‘And give to God, what is God's’, which
encompasses all the Caesars of this world, all civil authorities
and states. The sense that we as the People of God can split off
our obligations to the Gospel from the State is as false as it’s
dangerous.
We only have to think of some of the darkest chapters last
century to see what happens when good, church-going people, like
us, do not put their Sunday devotion in touch with their Monday
politics. Evil can reign.
Christian leaders, who are charged to proclaim and defend the
Gospel, are obliged to use whatever forum necessary to declare that
God’s personal love encompasses everyone and everything under
heaven. As the prophet Isaiah reminds us today, God calls each one
of us by name.
At times we may not agree with our religious leaders; we may
think them ill informed; we may even think they have overstepped
the mark. If this is the case we should tell them, enable them to
consider other perspectives and to broaden the basis upon which
they make their judgments. But we should never be seduced by those
who want the Church sidelined from the mainstream of the debates
that shape the way we live, the values we share, the laws we draft
and the priorities we draw up for our human community.
If the Church shows disinterest in any of this, it is untrue to
the very things for which Jesus lived, died and was raised from the
dead. By all means we should give to Caesar all that Caesar is
justly entitled to have for the sake of the common good. A higher
allegiance, however, goes to God, who will call all Caesars to
account for what they have done and what they failed to do. And we
might be asked to explain how we let them get away with it in the
first place.
As a community that values the gifts of all who participate in
our parish, I extend an invitation to all to join in thanking
those who help with ministries each weekend. Please come along
to a thanksgiving Mass at 5.30pm followed by a BBQ on the 27th
November. BYO salad and drinks. Please come along
a take a moment to be thankful and enjoy a social parish evening
together.
Fancy a game of Indoor Bowls or Cards? Come along to the Parish
Centre at 9.30am on the 23rd October. New faces very welcome to
this social
morning.
Jane Blomley is looking for some volunteers to help with this
Friday’s luncheon. If you can help
please call her on 0401 042 041
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 St. Vinnies Shop, 30th October, at
5.00pm
Parish Finance Committee Monday, 23rd October at 5.30pm
in the Parish Centre.
DON’T FORGET THE GOLF DAY!! 19/11/17 Nominations now open for a
three ball
Ambrose competition, with great prizes. Please nominate at the
Pro Shop. If you are not a golfer, please come out in the
afternoon
to relax and enjoy the free BBQ!! A great opportunity for a
gathering of School and
Parish.
The Goondiwindi Pastoral Care team and church ministers invite
you to a memorial service and tree planting to honour the lives of
our loved ones who have died since August last year. This annual
ceremony will take
place at the Goondiwindi Cemetery on Monday, 13th November at
5.30pm. Please bring a chair, if you are able.
At the end of last month, Layla May
Marion Smith was baptised into the St
Mary’s church family. She is the
daughter of Justin & Sarah. May God
walk with this family through life’s
journey,
GROUNDS ROSTER
OCTOBER: THOMPSON FAMILY
NOVEMBER: ALAN AND MARK WELSH
& TERRY RYAN
VOLUNTEERS
MASS TIMES Wednesday (25/10) …....Rosary at 5.10pm…….. Mass
5.30pm
Thursday (26/10).. St Mary’s Adoration 5.00pm – 6.00pm Friday
(27/10) No Mass or service.
21/22nd October, 2017
SATURDAY EVENING: NO MASS DUE TO MOONLIGHT CARNIVAL SUNDAY
MORNING: 8.00am Goondiwindi
No Family Mass at 9.30am SUNDAY EVENING MASS: 6.00pm
Goondiwindi
28th/29th October, 2017
SUNDAY MORNING: 9.00am Goondiwindi
4th/5th November, 2017 NOTE CHANGE OF MASS TIME SUNDAY EVENING:
6.00pm Goondiwindi
No Mass at Weengallon or Daymar.
11th/12th November, 2017 SUNDAY EVENING: 6.00pm Goondiwindi
18th/19 November, 2017 SUNDAY MORNING: 9.00am (followed by Golf
Day!)
WE PRAY FOR Those who have entered your kingdom: including,
Muriel “Sis” Plain (Len Cleal’s sister), Robert Miller, Elaine
Symes, June
Corish, Ted Heironymus, Gloria Glasser, Therese Sullivan,
Helen
Farrell, Fr. Merv Ziesing, Joan Lawson, Thea McNaulty, 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 including
Vera
Benson, Tim Thompson, Colin “Leo” Lowe, Darrell “Darby”
Lowe,
Anthony “Tony” Carrigan, Leonie Choice, Tony Lloyd, Mark
Batchelor,
Raymond McKenna, Teresa Butler, Anna Van Kuijck, Nancy
Thurecht,
Peter Ints, Keith & Myrtle Cook, Maria Magoffin, Chris
Finlayson, Shirley
Byrne, David Hiles, Mona O’Brien, Ziggy Schmidt, Terence
Collins, Alma
Rigney, William “Des” Whittle, Joseph Fraser, Olive Thompson,
Noel
McGovern, Jill Field, Frank Holland, Trish Taylor, Madeline
Cubby,
Noela McDonald, Barbara Bardsley, Mary Cannon, Rita Johnson,
Frank
Smith,
For those who are ill: including John Abbot, Peter Gore,
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, and Joseph Hord; also
those
ill at home, in hospital and for those in Kaloma.
WELCOMERS AT DOOR
FAY PFINGST & PAULINE CORCORAN (21/10)
DOREEN IRELAND & SHAN PURCELL (29/10)
ROS PHILLIPS & TRISH WELSH (04/11)
WELCOMER AT MICROPHONE
GRAHAM MCGOVERN (21/10)
ST MARY’S SCHOOL (29/10)
ANNE WEBSTER (04/11)
1ST
READER/PSALM
VOLUNTEER NEEDED (21/10)
VOLUNTEER NEEDED (29/10)
GRAHAM MCGOVERN (04/11)
2ND
READING/ALLELUIA
MARY BURCHELL (21/10)
ANNE WEBSTER (29/10)
YVONNE ISAAK (04/11)
EUCHARIST MINISTERS
CARMEL GEESON, DAWN CLANCY &
CAMILLE KELLOWAY (21/10)
MICK CLANCY, ROS PHILLIPS &
MARY BURCHELL (29/10)
ST MARY’S SCHOOL X2 &
CARMEL SCHAUMBURG (04/11)
DATA PROJECTOR
CARMEL SCHAUMBURG (21/10)
LEEANN WELSH (29/10)
ROS PHILLIPS (04/11)
MONEY COUNTERS
KERRY O’CONNOR & CLAIRE CHARLES (21/10)
TERRY & MARGARET RYAN (29/10)
DENISE MCCORMACK & JENNIFER LAWLESS
(04/11)
Thank-you for your contributions:
16/10/17
Envelopes: $285.00 Loose:$265.80
Parish Bank A/C Details
A/C Name: ADF St Mary’s Parish
Goondiwindi
BSB: 064-786
A/C Number: 518826001
If paying by direct deposit, please use your
initials/surname as the reference
THANK-YOU FOR YOUR Contributions: 2
ENVELOPES $324.00 LOOSE $165.00
29TH
SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
22ND
OCTOBER, 2017
Introduction
Today’s readings continue our reflection on who God is and what
God expects of us. In
the Judeo-Christian tradition, this understanding gradually
evolved among
alternate views. We face similar challenges today. How does our
faith relate to other
important commitments we have, such as law, politics, etc. And
who is this God in whom we believe? Jesus confronted these
questions, and his answer is unambiguous and risky.
How do we answer the questions in our own lives?
First Reading
Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 “There is no God besides me”
Responsorial Psalm
Give the Lord glory and honour
Second Reading Thessalonians 1:1-5
Paul greets the Thessalonians in the name of the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit.
ALLELLUIA! ALLELLUIA!
Shine on the world like bright stars; you are offering it the
word of life.
ALLELUIA!
Gospel Matthew 22:15-21
Give to God what belongs to God.
Prayers of the Faithful
For the whole church, that we may respond to the challenge given
to us by
Christ … we pray,
For leaders who do not use their gifts for the prosperous future
of the whole
human community … we pray,
For those who do not appreciate or trust the gifts they have
been given
… we pray,
For all in this community who need help or encouragement,
especially the sick or lonely, the discouraged or depressed …
we pray,
For all in this community who are in special need of love and
compassion, especially the sick, the dying and the
grieving…we pray,
Let us pray together:
Generous God, you are the giver of all that we have. Give us the
vision,
courage and strength to use our gifts to benefit others. At this
time, and in this place, we pray that we may be
people of light. We humbly ask this in
Jesus’ name. Amen
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
Safeguarding Rep: Carmel Schaumberg 0419 786 738
Father Michael’s house Phone: 4671 1091 [email protected]
69 Callandoon Street or PO Box 45, Goondiwindi 4390
Parish Secretary:
Mrs Kath Gore
Friday:
9.30am – 3.00pm
PARISH INFORMATION