Sunday, 28 April 2024
5th Sunday of Easter
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit and everyone that does, he prunes so that it bears more fruit."
Gospel of John 15: 1-2
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD.
Click on the image to hear Bishop Barron’s homily: It’s Time for some Pruning.
Friends, the Lord Jesus Christ is not a teacher from a distant age, not someone from long ago we remember fondly, not a moral exemplar; rather, he is a field of force. We don’t just listen to him or imitate him; we live in him. Our Gospel for this Fifth Sunday of Easter gives us one of the most beautiful and powerful images for this truth: Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. But there is a dark side to this wonderful organic imagery: the Father is the vine grower, and he is going to prune away all that is in us that is preventing the life of Christ from manifesting itself.
LIVE THE LITURGY
Inspiration of the Week
Every Christian is a vine awaiting the loving attention of our gardener to prune and perfect us, to remove the parts of ourselves that are dead so that the fruitful parts burst forth with life. Trust the wisdom of the gardener. He alone can make us bloom.
Here’s what's happening in April
Sunday, 28 April: 4th Sunday of Easter
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Sunday, 28 April: Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Tuesday, 30 April: Tuesday Community Lunch
1pm | Cafe
Tuesday, 30 April: Tuesday Community Lunch
6.30 pm – 8.45pm (Years 9 & 13) | Taupō (weekly during school term)
Tuesday, 30 April: Parish Leadership Team (PLT)
6.30pm | Faith Development Centre
Here’s what's happening in May
Wednesday, 1 May: Depth Charge Connect
10am | Dennis and Catherine Hancock’s place (weekly during school term)
Wednesday, 1 May: Ave Connect | Rosary
11.30am | Church | Tūrangi
7pm | Church | Taupō
Wednesday, 1 May: Alpha
7pm | Cafe & Faith Formation Centre
Thursday, 2 May: Purl Connect
1pm | Lesley McIntosh’s place
Thursday, 2 May: PFC
7pm | Office
Thursday, 2 May: Endurance Connect | Men’s Group
7pm | Cafe (then weekly during school term)
Friday, 3 May: Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Friday, 3 May: Movie Night | Taupō
6.30pm | Taupō
Sunday, 5 May: 6th Sunday of Easter
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Sunday, 5 May: Prayer for Life
After 9am Mass
Sunday, 5 May: Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Monday, 6 May: Monday Cafe
After 7pm Mass | Taupō
Tuesday, 7 May: Tuesday Community Lunch
1pm | Taupō (then weekly during school term)
Tuesday, 7 May: Youth Groups
6.30 pm – 8.45pm (Years 9 & 13) | Taupō (weekly during school term)
Tuesday, 9 April: Parish Leadership Team (PLT)
6.30pm | Faith Development Centre
Wednesday, 8 May: Depth Charge Connect
10am | Dennis and Catherine Hancock’s place (weekly during school term)
Wednesday, 8 May: Ave Connect | Rosary
11.30am | Church | Tūrangi
7pm | Church | Taupō
Wednesday, 8 May: Anointing Mass
12noon | Tūrangi
Wednesday, 8 May: Alpha
7pm | Cafe & Faith Formation Centre
Thursday, 9 May: Purl Connect
1pm | Lesley McIntosh’s place
Thursday, 9 May: Endurance Connect | Men’s Group
7pm | Cafe (then weekly during school term)
Thursday, 9 May: SVDP
5.30 pm | Cafe
Friday, 10 May: Anointing Mass
12noon | Taupō
Friday, 10 May: SVDP lunch
After Mass | Taupō
Friday, 10 May: Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Sunday, 12 May: Ascension of the Lord
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Sunday, 12 May: Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Monday, 13 May: Tim Tam Connect | Book Club
10.00 am | Cafe (then 2nd/3rd Monday of the month during school term)
Tuesday, 14 May: Healers’ Connect
9.30 am | Taupō
Tuesday, 14 May: 50th Jubilee of Priesthood | Msgr Leonard Danvers & Msgr Joe Stack
12noon | Cathedral
Tuesday, 14 May: Tuesday Community Lunch
1pm | Taupō (then weekly during school term)
Tuesday, 14 May: Youth Groups
6.30 pm – 8.45pm (Years 9 & 13) | Taupō (weekly during school term)
Tuesday, 14 May: PLT
6.30pm | Faith Development Centre
Wednesday, 15 May: Depth Charge Connect
10am | Dennis and Catherine Hancock’s place (weekly during school term)
Wednesday, 15 May: Ave Connect | Rosary
11.30am | Church | Tūrangi
7pm | Church | Taupō
Wednesday, 15 May: Alpha
7pm | Cafe & Faith Formation Centre
Thursday, 16 May: Purl Connect
1pm | Lesley McIntosh’s place
Thursday, 16 May: Endurance Connect | Men’s Group
7pm | Cafe (then weekly during school term)
Friday, 17 May: Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Friday, 17 May: Praise & Worship
6pm | Taupō
Sunday, 19 May: Pentecost Sunday
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Sunday, 19 May: Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Tuesday, 21 May: Tuesday Community Lunch
1pm | Taupō (then weekly during school term)
Tuesday, 21 May: Youth Groups
6.30 pm – 8.45pm (Years 9 & 13) | Taupō (weekly during school term)
Wednesday, 22 May: Depth Charge Connect
10am | Dennis and Catherine Hancock’s place (weekly during school term)
Wednesday, 22 May: Ave Connect | Rosary
11.30am | Church | Tūrangi
7pm | Church | Taupō
Wednesday, 22 May: Alpha
7pm | Cafe & Faith Formation Centre
Thursday, 23 May: Purl Connect
1pm | Lesley McIntosh’s place
Thursday, 23 May: Endurance Connect | Men’s Group
7pm | Cafe (then weekly during school term)
Friday, 24 May: Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Sunday, 26 May: Most Holy Trinity
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Sunday, 26 May: Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Tuesday, 28 May: Tuesday Community Lunch
1pm | Taupō (then weekly during school term)
Tuesday, 28 May: Youth Groups
6.30 pm – 8.45pm (Years 9 & 13) | Taupō (weekly during school term)
Wednesday, 29 May: Depth Charge Connect
10am | Dennis and Catherine Hancock’s place (weekly during school term)
Wednesday, 29 May: Ave Connect | Rosary
11.30am | Church | Tūrangi
7pm | Church | Taupō
Wednesday, 29 May: Alpha
7pm | Cafe & Faith Formation Centre
Thursday, 30 May: Purl Connect
1pm | Lesley McIntosh’s place
Thursday, 30 May: Endurance Connect | Men’s Group
7pm | Cafe (then weekly during school term)
Alpha starting on Wednesday, 1 May, 7pm
Ministers for Sunday, 28 April
Taupō & Tūrangi
Gospel Meditation
Encouraging Deeper Understanding of Scripture
My friend and fellow pastor, Father Paul, noticed unsightly, overgrown trees near his parish church. He asked the maintenance crew to cut back the growth, which they happily did, telling him the trees would be much healthier and even fuller after a good pruning. A few days later, Father Paul received a letter from an irate man in the neighbourhood who wrote, "Jesus would never prune trees like that. He loves trees, unlike you."
I suspect that the neighbor was not familiar with this week's Gospel in which Jesus says of his Father, "He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit" (John 15:2) | don't mean to pick too much on that fellow. He was perhaps ignorant of arboriculture. But l'd wager his main confusion was the pruning and removing quality of God's love. That confusion afflicts us all to some degree, doesn't it? It is just so darn easy to react negatively when God cuts something out of our lives and assume it's not his work at all. In the moment, all we see is the loss, and not the loving desire for future flourishing.
The cross is the great pruning of Christ's body. Jesus' rising is the brand-new growth. It is God's promise to us that all the painful pruning in life is leading us somewhere beautiful. What has been cut back or out in your life? A friend, an opportunity, a sense of certainty, a job, health, a relationship? This week, offer those dry branches to the one who lovingly prunes us in order to make our lives burst with verdant growth.
- Father John Muir
© LP1 2024
Questions of the Week
Invite Parishioners to Reflect and Respond to Scripture
First Reading
The disciples were unwilling to trust that Saul (Paul) was a true believer until Barnabas offered support for Saul. How easily do you trust people you don't know well?
How easily do you trust people you don’t know ?
Second Reading
John speaks of the importance of knowing in your heart that you believe in Jesus and truly love others.
How does anyone e know what is in your heart?
Gospel Reading
Using the metaphor of a vine and branches, Jesus speaks of the importance of staying connected to him and the Father.
When do you feel close to Jesus?
Kid’s Corner
Prayer
God, help me to stay connected to Jesus.
Mission for the Week
Read Galatians 5:22-23 with your family. Write down the nine different kinds of fruit that will grow from your faith, when you stay connected to Jesus.
Sharing the Gospel
Put a brand new light bulb in a lamp. Turn the lamp on. It shines brightly. Now, unplug the lamp. The lamp goes dark. It might be a nice lamp. It might have a new light bulb. Yet, without being plugged in to electricity, the lamp cannot shine. In today's Gospel, Jesus is the vine and you are a branch. As long as you are attached to Jesus, your faith can grow fruit like love, kindness and gentleness. If you break away from Jesus, your faith will die, and you will not grow any fruit. Stay plugged in to Jesus, so you can shine. Stay connected to Jesus, so your faith can grow fruit.
DIOCESAN NEWS & EVENTS
Monsignor Leonard Danvers and Monsignor Joe Stack are both celebrating 50 years of priesthood this year.
The 14th of May will see the priests of the diocese come together for an annual celebration of priesthood. This Mass will be held at the Cathedral with Bishop Richard presiding.
All are welcome to join, there will be light refreshments on site following.
Date: 14 May 2024
Where: Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 494 Grey Street, Hamilton
Time: 12.00pm
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.
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
On appointment
Adoration
Monday – Saturday: 30 minutes before Mass | Taupō
Regular Events
Anointing of the Sick Mass
2nd Wednesday of the month | 12noon | Tūrangi
2nd Friday of the month | 12noon | Taupō
Ave Connect | Rosary
Wednesdays 11.30am, Tūrangi | 7pm, Taupō
Community Lunch
Tuesdays | 1pm | Cafe
(weekly during school term)
Depth Charge Connect
Wednesdays | 10am | Dennis & Catherine Hancock’s place
(weekly during school term)
Divine Mercy
Fridays & Sundays | 3pm | Taupō
Endurance Connect
Thursdays | 7pm | Cafe
(weekly during school term)
Healers’ Connect | Care for the Sick & Housebound
2nd Tuesday of the month | after 9am Mass | Cafe
Movie Night
1st Friday of the month | 6pm | Taupō
(except during Lent)
Praise & Worship
3rd Friday of the month (except during Lent) | 6pm | Taupō
Prayer for Life
1st Sunday of the month | after Mass | Cafe
Purl Connect
Thursdays | 1.00 pm | Lesley Mac’s place
SVDP
2nd Thursday of the month | 5.30pm | Cafe
SVDP Lunch
2nd Friday 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)
