THEME: God gives us time to grow – no early weeding out!

There were people in Our Lord’s time who wanted Him to separate the bad from the good as well. Among them were people who claimed the moral high ground, the Pharisees whose name means “the separated ones.”

Even John the Baptist expected Jesus to separate the cream from the skim. He said (Mt 3:12) “He will gather his wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.”

Our Lord didn’t do that. He had all sorts of people around him: the learned, the ignorant, the good-living, the bad-living, tax-collectors, prostitutes, the lot. What is he doing? they said. Why doesn’t he weed them out?

A GARDENER’S CAUTION

As any gardener knows, the weeds must be left until the seedling can be clearly recognised. Even then, removing the weeds may pose an even greater threat. It might sever the seedling’s root system. Often the weed brings the seedling away with it.

‘WEEDING’ HUMANS IS EVIL – RWANDA

In the case of human beings it is an even more risky business. “Weeding-out” has no history of success, but that doesn’t seem to curb people’s passion for it.

Exactly twenty years, ago in April 1994, Rwandan Hutu tribesmen tried to ‘weed out’ all Tutsis from Rwanda. In just 100 days, 1 million people were massacred – 20% of the total population. This is racism in its extreme – where one group murders another. The result: murders and atrocities on both sides and a sharply divided nation in serious need of reconciliation.

JESUS DID NOT

Strange isn’t it that Christ never weeded out Judas? The church did not always show her master’s tolerance. Galileo could testify to that. The parable of the weeds is starkly simple and yet widely ignored.

To the question “Do you want us to go and weed it out?” the answer of Jesus is a categorical “No.”

And the reason is self-evident: Only God has eyes sufficiently discerning and fingers sufficiently gentle for this job. Weeding out is God’s prerogative. Life would be so much better for everybody, if we would just leave it to him.

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CATHOLIC MISSION SUNDAY APPEAL

Rebuilding Rwanda through Reconciliation

FR EMMANUEL FROM RWANDA

Inspirational Rwandan genocide survivor and priest, Father Emmanuel Nsengiyumva, recently completed the first leg of his nationwide tour of fourteen Australian Catholic dioceses in fifty days—deeply touching the hearts and minds of hundreds of people in Sydney, Broken Bay, Parramatta and Wollongong.

Fr Emmanuel told of the remarkable healing process that is taking place in Rwanda, two decades after the spate of systematic mass killings erupted across his homeland, carried out by those he describes as “genocide machines”. [1 Million murdered and massacred in 100 days – 20% of Rwanda’s total population.]

WITNESS OF ATROCITIES

He also described his deep wounds from losing two of his brothers, and witnessing so many atrocities during the genocide, but how he was able to heal through the love of God and now dedicates his life to helping others to do the same.

The thirty-eight year old parish priest is positive about his purpose in sharing such a heartbreaking, poignant and captivating story: “I’ve come to share with Australians my sorrows that are shared with my country and my church; but I am also here to share with Australians our hope for a brighter future through healing, forgiveness and reconciliation.”

HOPE AND FAITH IN RWANDA’S FUTURE

Catholic Mission Diocesan Director for the Sydney Archdiocese and Broken Bay and Parramatta dioceses, Ms Kathryn Endicott, says Fr Emmanuel exhibits a rare and inspiring attitude: “The first thing people have noticed is how warm and engaging he is,” says Ms Endicott. “The most incredible thing about Fr Emmanuel is the extreme hope and faith he has in Rwanda. Those who meet him cannot help but want to invest in the work he and the Catholic Church are doing for the future of his country.”

HEALING AND RECONCILIATION CONTINUE

Many Rwandans have now healed thanks to the practical, spiritual and emotional support of the Church, including healing and reconciliation classes and counselling. Incredible as this is, some vital steps still need to be taken. “The two churches in my parish have become official memorials of the genocide,” Fr Emmanuel explains. “We lost our place of worship and we desperately want to complete the construction and help bring new life to my community.”

AUSTRALIA-WIDE APPEALS

Fr Emmanuel’s next stops are Armidale and Tamworth, before taking in Brisbane, Cairns and Lismore. He will then head south to Melbourne, stopping by in Ballarat before moving on to Adelaide and Perth.

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC MISSION HELP

Catholic Mission’s ‘Heal the broken-hearted’ campaign highlights the work of the Catholic Church in Rwanda in helping the people to heal, forgive and unite, twenty years after the genocide. The appeal, featuring in parishes around Australia in the coming months, will raise funds to support the vital work of the Catholic Church in Rwanda, including the building of a new church in Fr Emmanuel’s parish of Nyamata.

READ MORE, SEE MORE ON DVD

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Masses 16^th Week Ordinary Time

Saturday 19^th July    

6.30pm Mass (John Kelly, John Hanrahan)

Sunday 20^th July  

9.00am Mass (All St Mary’s parishioners)

10.45am Mass at Coreen

Monday 21^st July St Lawrence of Brindisi

No Mass

Tuesday 22^nd July St Mary Magdalene

No Mass – Annual Clergy Conference at Wagga

Wednesday 23^rd July St Bridget of Sweden  

No Mass – Annual Clergy Conference at Wagga

11.00am Holy Communion to Homes

Thursday 24^th July St Sharbel Mahklouf                    

11.40am Novena

12 Noon Mass (Len Forrest, Pat Freeman)

Friday 25^th July St James Apostle      

9.00am Mass (Andrew Bush, John Buggy, Pat Kelly)

11.00am Holy Communions to Homes

Saturday 26^th July

8.45am Rosary & Mass (Frank Densten, M. Peck, K & J Keane, H. Percival)

6.30pm Vigil (Jim Hanrahan, James Carter)

Sunday 27^th July

9.00am Mass (All St Mary’s parishioners)

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NOTICES: Meetings / Imp. Dates:

22-23 July Annual Clergy Conference Wagga

26 July (Sat) Liturgical Music Workshop –

Kooringal Church, Wagga

29^th Aug. CARE Fundraising event

20^th Sept. Women’ Spirituality Day. Wagga.

Volunteers Wanted: Wrap with Love

9.30-12 noon every 2^nd Monday.

In St Mary’s Parish Hall – Enjoy cuppa & chat

Contact: Carmel Moroney – 6033 5381

NEXT SEWING DAY: Mon 21^st July 9.30am

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Remember in Prayer

Bishop John Jobst SAC, Braedon Hensel, Mgr John White, Jace Whyte, Noreen Rourke, Jack Fowles, Margaret Hayhoe, Sr Clare Sheedy RSM, Max Sykes, Patricia Kelly, Brian Knight, Bede Guthrie, Margaret Elliott, John Skehan, John Hanrahan, Nicole Collins

Access Funeral Booklets of St Mary’s recently deceased at:

http://stmaryscorowa.org/honour-roll/

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Roster 26^th -27^th July 2014

Gifts: 

6.30pm O’Halloran family

9.00am CWL

Lectors:

6.30pm S Knight, Jan Lowden

9.00am M Milthorpe, P Lemmon

Special Ministers:

6.30pm T Drum, C Salmon

9.00am K Flower, K King

Altar: M Macqueen

Welcomers:

6.30pm D & E Clohessy

9.00am T Moroney

Altar Servers:

6.30pm Max Blockley, Sarah Knight

9.00am Bree Willett-Linsell, James Tilders

Collection: Matt Drum

Counters: R Packer, I Brooks

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New Resource for Catholic Women & Parishes

The Genius Project is an 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:www.beingcatholic.com.au/genius-project/

CATHOLIC RADIO – SUNDAYS AT 11.00am and 5.00pm

Tune in to 98.5 Albury Wodonga THE LIGHT Christian radio. The broadcast each week is presented by the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong in association with many experts on Catholic life and its challenges. It includes music and a variety of talks and presentations encouraging and challenging us to live Christian life more fully. Click here: http://www.thelight.org.au

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