Sunday, 5 May 2024
6th SUNDAY OF EASTER
You did not choose me: no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; and then the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name. What I command you is to love one another.’
Gospel of John 15: 1-2
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD.
The tradition of dedicating the month of May to Mary, came about in the 13th century.
The link between Mary and the month of May became popular among the members of the Jesuit Order — by 1700 it had a firm hold among their students at the Roman College and a short time later it was publicly celebrated in the Gesu Church in Rome. From there it spread to the rest of the Church.
Each week in May, we will highlight one of the many titles of Mary.
Mary, Mother of the Church
The title of Mother of the Church has been bestowed on the Blessed Virgin Mary because she gave birth to Christ, the Head of the Church, and became Mother of the redeemed before her Son gave up his spirit on the Cross. Pope Saint Paul VI solemnly confirmed the same title in an address given to the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council on November 21, 1964 and established that "by this sweetest of names the whole Christian people should henceforth give still greater honour to the Mother of God."
LIVE THE LITURGY
Inspiration of the Week
Christ's love for us is radical - it changed the whole world. It will not be easy to love as Christ loved, but this is the mission for which we have been chosen by God. So let us love one another. Let’s change the world.
GOSPEL MEDITATION
Encourage Deeper Understanding of Scripture
Once a man came to the Vatican and asked to see Pope John Paul Il, claiming that they had been friends in Poland. When told of the man, the Pope said, "He is mistaken about our friendship. I don't recall ever having suffered with him." As it turned out, the man had never known the Pope. Now, I'm not sure if the story is totally factual. But doesn't the juxtaposition of suffering with friendship sound exactly like JPII? He understood that the deepest and most lasting friendships are forged in the fires of shared suffering. No suffering, no friendship. Amazing.
This week we hear Jesus say to the apostles and to us, "You are my friends if you do what I command you" (John 15:14). In Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, God entered the world of human suffering and transformed it into an avenue of friendship with Himself. Following His command - to love, to lay down our lives for others - will always entail suffering. But this suffering only deepens our friendship with Him. His suffering is ours; ours is His. We have become friends of God.
This week, how might you share your suffering with the Risen Jesus? How might he be sharing his suffering with you, in the lives of those around you? Be attentive to that, and you'll find that you are indeed a friend of God, because you've suffered together a great deal.
Fr John Muir
Click on the image to hear Bishop Barron’s homily: Hints of the Holy Spirit.
Friends, we’re getting very close to Pentecost, the great feast of the descent of the Spirit. And on this Sixth Sunday of Easter, the Church gives us three readings that are hinting at the Holy Spirit — a kind of foretaste of that descent.
LIVE THE LITURGY
Inspiration of the Week
Christ's love for us is radical - it changed the whole world. It will not be easy to love as Christ loved, but this is the mission for which we have been chosen by God. So let us love one another. Let’s change the world.
PARISH NEWS & EVENTS
Here’s what's happening this week
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: PACT | Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance, Confession)
After 9am Mass
Sunday, 5 May: SVDP Soup Drive 2024
Looking for ice cream containers
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 – 8.00pm (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 | Mothers’ Day
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Sunday, 12 May: Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Alpha | Wednesdays | 7pm | Cafe
ANNIVERSARIES OF DEATH OF PARISHIONERS WHO DIED DURING THIS WEEK IN MAY
DIOCESAN NEWS & EVENTS
Monsignor Leonard Danvers and Monsignor Joe Stack are both celebrating 50 years of priesthood this year.
Monsignor Joe will be having parish celebration on:
Date: Saturday , 11 May 2024
Where: St Patrick’s Church, 625 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu
Time: 5.00pm Mass followed by refreshments in the parish hall.
Monsignor Leonard will be having parish celebration on:
Date: Sunday , 12 May 2024
Where: St Peter’s Church, 21 Anzac Street, Cambridge
Time: 4.00pm Mass followed by drinks and nibbles in the parish hall.
The diocesan celebration for both priests will be held on:
Date: 14 May 2024
Where: Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 494 Grey Street, Hamilton
Time: 12.00pm
The parish will be arranging transport to the Hamilton event. If you would like to attend, there is a sign up form in the church foyer. Seats are limited. First in, first served.
Ministers for Sunday, 5 May
Taupō & Tūrangi
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
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
By appointment: Ring 07 378 7440 OR see Msgr Trevor in person
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)