Sunday, 18 February 2024
1st Sunday of Lent
Live the Liturgy
Inspiration of the Week
In the desert, Jesus endured forty days of hardship and temptation. But he did not endure it alone: "the angels ministered to him," the Gospel tells us. Remember that you do not face Lent alone. God is beside you in your journey to the desert.
Gospel Meditation
Encouraging Deeper Understanding of Scripture
When I feel down, I sometimes watch the famous "Double Rainbow" video on YouTube to feel better. It's hilarious. A young man camping in Yosemite Park sees two rainbows stretching across the sky. He bursts into a kind of ecstasy. "Double rainbow, all the way! Oh my God!" he announces. Then he starts to weep. He cries out, "What does it mean?" Beneath the humour of his glorious overreaction is the deep intuition we all have, I think, when we see the colourful bow in the sky. This Sunday, God sends a rainbow to Noah, and to us. What does it mean?
Long before YouTube had the double rainbow, Dante's medieval poem The Divine Comedy featured one in his image of paradise. Seeing two rainbows, he muses that one is born of the other. The bow is God's promise of peace. For Dante it's even more: nature's encrypted image of the Trinitarian God. One visible rainbow (God the Son) is begotten of another usually invisible one (God the Father) united by invisible light between them (God the Spirit). Like invisible light, Trinitarian glory surrounds us in every moment - but Jesus has made it visible in his glorious body.
Lenten challenge: This might seem silly, but this Lent I invite you to find a rainbow and meditate on it. You might have to make one yourself, like this current desert-dweller will. Gaze on it. See there a natural gift from the Creator, saying to you, "Here I am! I will love and protect you, surrounding you in My glory." This Lent let's embrace that with confidence, rain, or shine.
- Father John Muir
© LP1 2024
Questions of the Week
Invite Parishioners to Reflect and Respond to Scripture
First Reading
God used a rainbow as a sign of his covenant with Noah and all living creatures to never again flood the earth.
Are there some additional signs in your life of God's love for us?
Second Reading
Peter taught that baptism serves as an appeal or pledge to God for a clear conscience.
What leads you to an examination of conscience?
Gospel Reading
After a brief report of Jesus' temptation by Satan in the desert, we hear the first words of Jesus at the launch of his public ministry in Galilee: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
As we begin the Lenten journey, what are some temptations you plan to face this Lent?
Sharing the Word of God
with our children
Prayer
God, help me to stay close to you so that I am ready for my tests.
Mission for the Week
Memorise Proverbs 1:3, "You will learn what is right and honest and fair." Practice writing it and saying it every day, until you know this verse by heart.
Sharing the Gospel
In today's Gospel, Jesus spent forty days in the desert. Jesus stayed close to God, and he followed God's directions every day of his life. When Satan came to test Jesus he was ready. Jesus passed every test beautifully. He said "No" to temptation. When you write spelling words over and over, it is easier to remember them. If you are learning a new language, it helps to make flash cards to practice with. Once you memorise all your words, taking the test is pretty easy. The more you read the Bible and do what God asks in his word, the easier it will be for you to pass Satan's tests, too.
Here’s what's happening in February
Tuesday, 20 February: Tuesday Community Lunch
1.00 pm | Taupō (then weekly during school term)
Tuesday, 20 February: Youth Groups
6.00 pm – 7.00pm (Years 7 & 8) | 7.00 pm – 7.30pm (dinner) | 7.30 pm – 8.45pm (Years 9 & 13) | Taupō (weekly during school term)
Tuesday, 20 February: Welcome Evening
Welcoming new members to the parish: 7pm | Faith Formation Centre
Wednesday, 21 February: Depth Charge Connect
10.00 am | Dennis and Catherine Hancock’s place (weekly during school term)
Wednesday, 21 February: Foundations
6.00 pm | Cafe (then weekly during Lent)
Thursday, 22 February: Endurance Connect | Men’s Group
7.00 pm | Cafe (then weekly during school term)
Friday, 23 February: Stations of the Cross
Fridays in Lent, 6.45pm (February – March):
Tokelau community
Friday, 23 February: Women’s Group Pietà Lenten Study
7.30pm: Church
Sunday, 25 February: Seek (Baptism Course)
Welcoming new members to the parish: After Mass | Faith Formation Centre
Tuesday, 27 February: Parish Leadership Team (PLT)
6.30 pm | 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month (during school term) | Cafe
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!
Ash Wednesday 2024
Lent 2024 began in Taupō with the parish and school gathering for Ash Wednesday.
Our new Catholic Character Leaders played an integral role in being the ministers of the distribution of the ashes.
Mrs Hanford's new entrance class helped Monsignor Trevor to deliver the homily message: Turn back to God! Be faithful to the Gospel.
Congratulations to Amos & Aleisha Clark on the baptism on the baptism of their son, Harrison.
“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 Election
On Sunday, 18 February, they will celebrate the Rite of Election which begins with these words …
Dear parishioners, these catechumens have asked to be initiated into the sacramental life of the Church this Easter. Those who know them have judged them to be sincere in their desire. During the period of their preparation they have listened to the word of Christ and endeavoured to follow his commands; they have shared the company of their Christian brothers and sisters and joined with them in prayer.
And so I announce to all of you here that our community has decided to call them to the sacraments. Therefore, I ask their godparents to state their opinion once again, so that all of you may hear.
He addresses the godparents:
As God is your witness, do you consider these candidates worthy to be admitted to the sacraments of Christian initiation?
Godparents:
WE DO.
On Ash Wednesday, our RCIA candidates gathered with Monsignor Trevor and their sponsors to celebrate the rite of Acceptance. A central part of the Rite is the Signing of the Senses where the sponsors trace the Sign of the Cross over the head, eyes, ears, lips, heart and hands of their candidates.
Because of prior commitments two of the candidates could not be present.
The last two photos are of Suzy Aislabie and Luke Holder – two of the four candidates.
Have you been considering baptism for your child or infant? Now is your chance for 2024. Our awesome SEEK programme starts on Sunday 25 February.
SEEK is a fun and interactive 5 week adventure for parents and their children as they explore faith and journey towards baptism. We can’t wait to have you join us for the adventure.
LENTEN PRACTICES 2024
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
CONFESSIONS
During Lent come and celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Confession | Penance
LENTEN APPEAL 2024
The Time Is Now
Lenten Envelopes are available in the church foyers
DYNAMIC CATHOLIC
One Hopeful Truth
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 2025, 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.
Jubilee 2025
Click on the image below for further 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
2nd Monday of the month | 10am | Cafe
Youth Groups
6.00 pm – 7.00pm (Years 7 & 8) | 7.00 pm – 7.30pm (dinner) | 7.30 pm – 8.45pm (Years 9 & 13) | Taupō
(weekly during school term)
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