Thought for the Week

THEME OF UNITY WEEK: ‘Has Christ been divided?’

Each year from Ascension to Pentecost all Christian Churches are united in prayer for Christian Unity. We recognize that the ‘scandal’ of division is far from the heart of Jesus; his desire is one Church, “Father may they be one, may they all be one in us.” [As the booklet cover indicates, some churches also celebrate Unity Week in January each year.]

This year the theme chosen by the National Council of Churches asks the question: “Is Christ divided?” Every day of the week different prayers and points for reflection are offered for the Church Unity intention.

The prayers and thoughts here are from the 8^th Day – Pentecost Sunday.

THEME: Together… we proclaim the gospel

Three points for reflection

1. Together we proclaim anew the good news prophesied in Isaiah, fulfilled in our Lord Jesus, preached by the Apostle Paul, and received by the Church. Facing honestly the differences we have and the labels of denomination we embrace, we must never lose sight of the common mandate we have in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Paul is sent “to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power” (1 Cor 1:17). The path to unity is to be found in the power of the cross.

3. The Gospel we proclaim is made tangible and relevant to us as we bear witness to the work of Jesus Christ in our own lives and the life of the Christian community.

Questions

• In what ways is the ‘gospel’ you have received bound up with its cultural and historical transmission?
• In what ways has that been both a vehicle and an obstacle to unity?
• What other ways are there of “handing on” the gospel?
• Think about/discuss the appropriateness of finding culturally relevant and contemporary presentations of the language, imagery and message of the gospel.
• How would our fuller unity in Christ make us better witnesses to the gospel we have received?

Prayer for the 2014 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

God of wholeness, we recognize, with sorrow, our divisions with each other and with you. As we seek to recover our unity in Christ we recognize the diversity of gifts, talents, understandings and expressions of faith that abound in the life of your churches.

May we see this diversity as an encouragement and inspiration as together we witness and minister to the needs of your world.

May your Spirit continually guide and lead us as we grow in grace with each other and with you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

(Full text of 2014 prayers and reflections for all 8 days, click here).

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All St Mary’s Parish ‘Contact’ details, click here.

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 Masses for 7^th Week of Easter Time Unity Week

Saturday 31^st May     

6.30pm Mass (Gordon Poidevin, B Guthrie)

Sunday 01^st June – Ascension Day

9.00am Mass (All parishioners)

Monday 2^nd June

9.00am Mass (Ricky Fisher, Judith Little)

Tuesday 3^rd June

9.00am Mass (Nancy O’Brien, Patricia Smith)

Wednesday 4^th June

9.00am Mass (Tom, Denis, Peter and Bernard Rourke)

11.00am Holy Communion to Homes

Thursday 5^th June              

11.40am Novena

12noon Mass (Marj Strachan, Giovanni Presti)

Friday 6^th June    

10.00am Anointing Mass-Karinya (All the sick)

11.00am Holy Communions to Homes

Saturday 7^th June

8.45am Rosary & Mass (John Ryan, John Hanrahan)

6.30pm Vigil (Ken Hughes, John Skehan)

Sunday 8^th June Pentecost

9.00am Mass (All parishioners)

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Roster 7^th– 8^th June 2014

Gifts:

6.30pm P Culhane J Heagney

9.00am CWL

Lectors

6.30pm M Schnelle P Nixon

9.00am E Christy B Christy

Special Ministers:

6.30pm D & A Norman

9.00am K Roberts P Lemmon

Altar: M Fitzgibbon

Welcomers:

6.30pm D Doyle

9.00am M Flynn

Altar Servers:

6.30pm Luke Heagney Sarah Knight

9.00am Hannah & Emily Tidd

Collection: (Tue 10^th) R Packer & I Brooks

 

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Remember in Prayer

Patricia Kelly, Brian Knight, Bede Guthrie, Margaret Elliott, Fr Sean Conroy, John Skehan, John Hanrahan, Nicole Collins

(For Honour Roll access to details of funeral booklets, click here.)

NOTICES: Meetings / Imp. Dates:

02 June 12pm Ministers Association at Chocolate Factory

05 June 6.30pm Watato Children’s Choir at Corowa Primary School – Free admission

06 June Fri. 7pm Church Unity Service at St Mary’s

11 June E-Conference 10am-3pm at St Mary’s School

14 June Serra Dinner for Vocations – Wagga

DETAILS 

Watato Children’s choir – represent 47.5 million children of Africa, orphaned/single parent as result of Africa’s HIV/AIDS & wars.

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Volunteers Wanted

Wrap with Love – ‘Blankets for cold humanity’

Volunteer to help join the hundreds of knitted squares into blankets. Every second Monday of during the month at 9.30am-12pm

In St Mary’s Parish Hall – Enjoy cuppa & chat **Contact: Carmel Moroney – 6033 5381

NEXT SEWING DAY: Mon 09^th June 9.30am

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SERRA FUND RAISING DINNER – WAGGA

Saturday 14^th June at Wagga RSL – $50 – Guest Speaker: Fr Andrew Grace

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New Resource for Catholic Women & ParishesThe Genius Project is a amazing new four-part DVD resource for Catholic women. Based upon St. John Paul II’s teaching on the vocation and dignity of women. Use it at home or form a small group in your parish. Find out more at: http://www.beingcatholic.com.au/genius-project/