Sunday, 21 April 2024
4th Sunday of Easter | Good Shepherd Sunday
And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock, and one shepherd …
Gospel of John 10: 16-17
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD.
Click on the image to hear Bishop Barron’s homily: Three Qualities of a Good Shepherd.
LIVE THE LITURGY
Inspiration of the Week
Jesus the Good Shepherd knows that real love is an action, not an idea. His sacrifice is the proof of his love for his flock. Let us remember to love one another as the Good Shepherd loves us: not just in words but in actions, in choices, in deeds.
Meet Nhat Long Cao. He is the only seminarian for the Diocese of Hamilton. Originally from Vietnam, Nhat is in his first year formation at Holy Cross Seminary, Auckland. Please pray for him and all the students and staff.
Seminary Appeal 2024
Good Shepherd Sunday
Pray for Vocations
Today the Church throughout the world prays for vocations. Will you make a special effort to ask the Lord for vocations to the priesthood and religious life? Pray for the priests who have ministered to you throughout your life, both living and dead. Encourage your children, grandchildren, or other young people to consider a vocation as a priest or religious brother or sister. Pray a rosary for more young men and women in our diocese to respond to God’s call. Make a donation towards the Seminary Appeal to support the formation of men into the priesthood.
Teach Your Children to Use GPS
Find a time today to have a conversation with your children, asking, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
After a few moments of discussion, ask, “Who do you think God wants you to be when you grow up?”
Emphasise to your children that God has a specific plan in mind for them, and that following God’s plan is the surest way to happiness.
Every life decision—which college to attend, whom to date, which job to pursue, whether to enter seminary, whom to marry—should be undertaken only after praying for God’s guidance.
In other words, encourage kids to navigate life using GPS - God’s Positioning System.
POPE FRANCIS
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
LORD of the Harvest,
BLESS young people with the gift of courage to respond to your call.
Open their hearts to great ideals, to great things.
INSPIRE all of your disciples to mutual love and giving—
for vocations blossom in the
good soil of faithful people.
INSTIL those in religious life, parish
ministries, and families with the confidence
and grace to invite others to embrace
the bold and noble path of a life
consecrated to you.
UNITE us to Jesus through prayer and sacrament,
so that we may cooperate
with you in building your reign of mercy
and truth, of justice and peace.
Here’s what's happening in April
TAX RECEIPTS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THOSE WHO HAVE EMAIL ADDRESSES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A HARD COPY PLEASE CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE. THANK Y
Sunday, 21 April: 4th Sunday of Easter | Good Shepherd Sunday
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Sunday, 21 April: PACT Information Session
After Mass, Taupō | Youth Den
Tuesday, 23 April: NO Tuesday Community Lunch
School holidays
Tuesday, 23 April: No Youth Groups
School holidays
Wednesday, 24 April: No Depth Charge Connect
School holidays
Thursday, 25 April: ANZAC DAY | Public Holiday
9am Mass, Taupō
Thursday, 25 April: NO Endurance Connect | Men’s Group
School holidays
Thursday, 25 April: PFC
7pm
Sunday, 28 April: 4th Sunday of Easter
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Alpha starting on Wednesday, 1 May, 7pm
Ministers for Sunday, 21 April
Taupō & Tūrangi
Gospel Meditation
Encouraging Deeper Understanding of Scripture
Recently I was with my little dog Libby at a retreat centre in the Arizona desert. I sat in a chair near a ravine filled with shrubs. Unbeknownst to me, Libby wandered down there and disappeared. Suddenly an animal's wild shriek erupted from the area. Without thinking, I bolted down into the ravine fully expecting to see coyotes, javelinas, or rattlesnakes. I didn't care. I desperately wanted to get Libby out of there, without any self-regard. Before I could face whatever danger lay hidden, my dog blissfully trotted out from an entirely different area, utterly unaware that I had (quite heroically) just placed my life on the line.
When the adrenaline wore off, I thought to myself: how far would I have been willing to go to save her? I don't know. But I do know, if I had literally died, my friends and family would have certainly thought me insane for dying for a dog. No offense, Libby.
How passionately Jesus wants us to know him and his willingness to die for us! This week he says, "I know my own and my own know me," and "I lay down my life for the sheep." Here we encounter an insanely excessive love for us. Christianity is a relationship and not simply a religion or ethical code. In Jesus God rescues and saves us. He laid down his life for you and me and he has taken it up again. So often we are like Libby — blissfully ignorant of the reality of both our spiritual danger and his saving love. This Easter season, the risen Jesus calls us to be more conscious than ever before about his love. He never ceases to lay down his life for us.
- Father John Muir
© LP1 2024
Questions of the Week
Invite Parishioners to Reflect and Respond to Scripture
First Reading
Peter bore witness to the Sanhedrin that it was the crucified and risen Jesus who healed the crippled man and through whom we are saved.
Have you ever told someone else about your faith in Jesus Christ?
Second Reading
John tells us that as believers we are destined one day to be like the resurrected and glorified Jesus.
How do you think we can best prepare for such a future?
Gospel Reading
As the "Good Shepherd," Jesus speaks of the power given to him by the Father to lay down his life for his sheep.
What could you do this week for the benefit of another?
Kid’s Corner
Prayer
God, help me to always follow Jesus, my good shepherd..
Mission for the Week
Learn as much as you can about Jesus, so you can follow him. Read a Bible story with your family every night before bed..
Sharing the Gospel
Without a good shepherd to lead them, sheep would get lost. Without a good shepherd to protect them, sheep would get hurt. A good shepherd would even die, just to keep his sheep safe. Jesus is your good shepherd, and you are his precious little lamb. When you get lost, Jesus comes to find you. When you are in danger, Jesus comes to comfort you. Listen to the voice of Jesus. Spend time reading the Bible every day. He wants to lead you to life with God. He wants to protect you from sin. Jesus gave up his life just to save you. Jesus is your good shepherd..
INTERNATIONAL NEWS & EVENTS
Year of Prayer 2024
Ahead of the 2025 Jubilee, Pope Francis has inaugurated a Year of Prayer.
More information to follow.
Click the image above to go to the Jubilee Year website.
DIOCESAN NEWS & EVENTS
Diocesan Family Weekend
Family weekend will be held 19 - 21 April 2023, central to Hamilton.
Accommodation is at Narrows Camp.
The theme for this year is based around the domestic church - what can we be doing in our homes.
Our guest speakers are Carrie and Luke McCormack, who have a passion for the domestic Church. They are members of the Emmanuel Community, Brisbane. Luke and Carrie are graduates from Encounter School of Ministry and are teachers at the Encounter School of Ministry Brisbane Campus.
Come & See
SAVE THESE DATES! - Online booking will be available soon
All being held in the Hamilton area
Set Free April 22 - 24
Heaven Come 25 - 27
Retreats
Tyburn Monastery, Ngakuru &
Cluny Retreat Centre, Tauranga
PARISH SCHEDULE
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
