Sunday, 11 February 2024
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Live the Liturgy
Inspiration of the Week
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean". Mk 1:40-41
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD.
It was pity that moved the heart of Jesus to heal the leper. He worked this miracle because the leper, in his faith, boldly asked him to. Have that same courage in approaching God with your needs. Have that same faith in His power to heal.
Gospel Meditation
Encouraging Deeper Understanding of Scripture
Recently I had a skin rash, and it was awful. (Please don't tell anyone.) I am embarrassed to admit that I didn't handle it well. Complaining, whining, begging for sympathy, and crying were my responses to the merciless itching and burning. In the aftermath, a silver lining emerged. I feel a new heartfelt sympathy for all those vexed with chronic skin problems. If you've ever had a seemingly unending skin problem, you know how that sympathy flows up from deep inside.
This gut-level compassion is something like what the Gospel describes in Jesus when the sore-covered leper says, "If you will it, you can make me clean." At this, just before the healing, Jesus was "moved with compassion". The Greek word used here is strong and earthy, closer to "his bowels and guts trembled with the deepest emotions of sadness, pity, and love." In Jesus, God heals our infirmities not from a divine distance but by learning what it feels like to be us. He acquires first-hand experience of what it costs us to be afflicted and still be faithful to God. He sympathizes with the burning, itching, and blistering of human existence in the deepest, first-hand way. To discover that is to touch Jesus' heart.
What in your life, right now, is breaking out like diseased skin? What is getting worse the more you try to soothe it? Perhaps only you feel it. Or maybe it's exposed to all. A bad habit, broken relationship, loneliness, fear of failure, self-hatred? Name it, and then find a way to bring it confidently to Jesus who will fee/ what we are feeling, and thereby heal us.
- Father John Muir
© LP1 2024
Questions of the Week
Invite Parishioners to Reflect and Respond to Scripture
First Reading
We hear how ancient Israel was concerned about purity laws and the spread of disease, such as leprosy.
How do you support people in your life who are suffering from disease or isolation?
Second Reading
Paul encouraged the Corinthians to be selfless and kind to each other as a practical way of living out their faith. Is there a friend or co-worker who could benefit from your generosity toward them?
Is there a friend or co-worker who could benefit from your generosity toward them?
Gospel Reading
The healed leper disobeyed Jesus' command to remain silent and as a result, Jesus had to stay outside towns and in "deserted places."
How do you deal with people in your life who disappoint or frustrate you?
Sharing the Word of God
with our children
Prayer
God, you have the power to heal. Help me to trust you, even when I'm sick.
Mission for the Week
Visit the sick. Make a card. Take a treat to share. Give them something to read. Pray for them before you leave. You will brighten their day.
Sharing the Gospel
It is not fun to be sick. You miss your friends at school. You can't go outside to play. On top of being bored and lonely, you don't feel well at all. The man with leprosy in today's Gospel was sick a long, long time. He was really bored, lonely, and feeling awful. There was no medicine for leprosy. Jesus was the only one who could help him.
Here’s what's happening in February
Sunday, 11 February: Introduce new Youth Minister to the community
9.00 am Mass | Taupō
Monday, 12 February: Tim Tam Connect | Book Club
10.00 am Mass | Cafe (then every three weeks)
Tuesday, 13 February: Tuesday Community Lunch starts
1.00 pm | Taupō (then weekly during school term)
Tuesday, 13 February: Youth Groups start
6.00 pm – 7.00pm (Years 7 & 8) | 7.00 pm – 7.30pm (dinner) | 7.30 pm – 8.45pm (Years 9 & 13) | Taupō (then weekly during school term)
Tuesday, 13 February: Parish Leadership Team (PLT)
6.30 pm | 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month (during school term)
Wednesday, 14 February: Depth Charge Connect
10.00 am | Dennis and Catherine Hancock’s place (then weekly during school term)
Wednesday, 14 February: Ash Wednesday | Lent begins
Masses
9.15am | School Mass | Taupō
12noon | Tūrangi
Wednesday, 14 February: Foundations
6.00 pm | Cafe (then weekly during Lent)
Wednesday, 14 February: RCIA Rite of Acceptance
6pm | Taupō
Thursday, 15 February: Endurance Connect | Men’s Group
7.00 pm | Cafe (then weekly during school term)
Friday, 16 February: Stations of the Cross
Fridays in Lent, 6.45pm (February – March):
16 Feb | 23 Feb (see schedule below)
Friday, 16 February: Women’s Group Pieta Lenten Study
7.30pm: Church
Saturday, 17 February: Lenten Pilgrimage
8am – 1pm | Tyburn Monastery
8am Depart St Patrick’s Church
9.15am Arrive Tyburn Monastery | morning tea
10.15am Presentation by Fr Aidan
10.45am Free time to wander & wonder
11.15am Stations of the Cross
12noon Shared Lunch
1pm Depart Tyburn
Sunday, 18 February: RCIA Rite of Election
9am Mass | Taupō
Tuesday, 20 February: Welcome Evening
Welcoming new members to the parish: 7pm | Cafe
Sunday, 25 February: Seek (Baptism Course)
Welcoming new members to the parish: 7pm | Cafe
Tuesday, 27 February: Parish Leadership Team (PLT)
6.30 pm | 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month (during school term)
Thursday, 29 February: Parish Finance Council (PFC)
7pm | last Thursday of the month
Congratulations to the new
Catholic Character Leaders 2024
Jerome Oh | Jack Carol | Chris Hancock | Patrick Hancock | Katie McKay | Nyla Soliva
Well done leaders!
Youth Group is Back!
Starting Tuesday, 13 February | 6pm
A huge welcome to our new Youth Minister, Tina Malietoa-Brown who will be running our youth programme this year!
Tina has a contagious enthusiasm for youth and for Jesus -
a perfect combination to support and grow our young people.
Youth Group is a time and space for our young people to connect with each other and explore faith in a fun and supportive environment.
Sessions are led by our youth ministers and will include food, games, a short video or talk, and discussion time.
Here’s what some of the youth from last year had to say....
"This place is so cool. I'll give it five stars on yelp"
"Everyone is awesome - Including the leaders!"
CongratulationS to Thiam & April Ramos on the baptism on the baptism of their daughter Cassie.
“May the Light of Christ always shine in Cassie’s life
and the life of her family.”
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
For the last twelve months four people in the parish have been learning about the Church and what it means to be Catholic.
LENT IS A SPECIAL TIME for them as they journey towards Easter.
At the Easter Vigil they will be welcomed into the Church through baptism & the Holy Spirit. They will profess with us the Faith of the Church. Then, they will join us at the Altar of the Lord, so be nourished with the Body and Blood of Christ.
The Rite of Acceptance
On Wednesday, 14 February, they will celebrate the Rite of Acceptance which begins with these words …
God gives light to everyone who comes into this world; though unseen, he reveals himself through the works of his hand, so that all people may learn to give thanks to their Creator.
You have followed God's light and the way of the Gospel now lies open before you. Set your feet firmly on that path and acknowledge the living God, who truly speaks to everyone. Walk in the light of Christ and learn to trust in his wisdom. Commit your lives daily to his care, so that you may come to believe in him with all your heart.
This is the way of faith along which Christ will lead you in love toward eternal life. Are you prepared to begin this journey today under the guidance of Christ?
ASH WEDNESDAY
Lent begins
14 February 2024
Masses: 9.15am | Taupō
12noon | Tūrangi
LENTEN PRACTICES
DIVINE MERCY
Fridays & Sundays during Lent 3pm | Taupō
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Fridays during Lent | 6.45pm | Taupō
Booklet will be printed and available each Friday.
16 Feb: Filipino community
23 Feb: Tokelau community
1 Mar: Indian community
8 Mar: Pākeha community
15 Mar: Māori community
22 Mar: School community
WOMEN’S GROUP
PIETÀ LENTEN PROGRAMME
Fridays during Lent | Starts 16 February 2024, 7.30pm |
Taupō
LENTEN PILGRIMAGE
Saturday, 17 February 2024 8am – 1pm
Tyburn Monastery
CONFESSIONS
During Lent come and celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Confession | Penance
Pope Francis calls for a
Year of Prayer
2024
After the year devoted to reflecting on the documents and studying the fruits of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Francis has proposed that 2024 should be marked as a YEAR DEDICATED TO PRAYER.
In preparation for the Jubilee (2024), dioceses are invited to promote initiatives to remind people of the centrality of both individual prayer and community prayer.
One idea might be for “pilgrimages of prayer” to be organised at a diocesan level – these would be effectively courses or ‘schools of prayer’ with monthly or weekly meetings, presided over by the local bishops, but open to the entire People of God.
In addition, to help mark this year more fruitfully, the Dicastery for Evangelisation will publish a series of “Notes on Prayer”, with material taken from the many forms of prayer to be found in the rich Catholic tradition.
Watch this space for more information.
Sunday Mass Schedule
Vigil Mass: Saturdays, 5pm | Tūrangi
Sunday Mass: Sunday, 9am | Taupō
Weekday Mass Schedule
Monday: 7pm | Taupō
Tuesday: 9am | Taupō
Wednesday: 12noon | Tūrangi
Thursday: 9am | Taupō
Friday: 12noon | Taupō
Saturday: 9am | Taupō
Public Holidays: 9am | Taupō
Confessions | Reconciliation | Penance
Wednesday: After Mass | Tūrangi
Saturday: 9.30am | Taupō
Adoration
Monday – Saturday: 30 minutes before Mass | Taupō
Regular Events
Prayer for Life
1st Sunday of the month | after Mass | Cafe
Tim Tam Connect | Book Club
Monday every three weeks | 10am | Cafe
Healers’ Connect | Care for the Sick & Housebound
2nd Tuesday of the month | after 9am Mass | Cafe
Community Lunch
Tuesdays during the school term | 1pm | Cafe
Depth Charge Connect
Wednesdays during the school term | 10am | Dennis & Catherine Hancock’s place
Rosary
Wednesdays 11.30am, Tūrangi | 7pm, Taupō
Purl Connect
Thursdays | 1.00 pm | Lesley Mac’s place
SVDP
2nd Thursday of the month | 5.30pm | Cafe
Endurance Connect
Thursdays during the school term | 7pm | Cafe
Anointing of the Sick Mass
2nd Friday of the month | 12noon | Taupō
SVDP Lunch
2nd Friday of the month | after Mass | Cafe
Divine Mercy
Fridays & Sundays | 3pm | Taupō
Praise & Worship
3rd Friday of the month (except during Lent) | 6pm | Taupō
Film Evening
1st Friday of the month (except during Lent) | 6pm | Taupō