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WEEKEND’S READINGS — 26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A

Next Week’s Readings: 27th Sunday in OT —Yr A

IS 5: 1-7; Phil 4:6-9; Mt 21:33-43

FOLLOWING THE MISSAL Preface VII Sunday in Ordinary Time,

Eucharistic Prayer II

death on a cross.

But God raised him high

and gave him the name

which is above all other names

so that all beings

in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld,

should bend the knee at the name of Jesus

and that every tongue should acclaim

Jesus Christ as Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel Acclamation Jn 10:27

Alleluia, alleluia!

My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord;

I know them, and they follow me.

Alleluia!

Gospel Mt 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, ‘What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, “My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not go,” but afterwards thought better of it and went. The man then went and said the same thing to the second who answered, “Certainly, sir,” but did not go. Which of the two did the father’s will?’ ‘The first’ they said. Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.’

First Reading Ez 18:25-28

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘You object, “What the Lord does is unjust.” Listen, you House of Israel: is what I do unjust? Is it not what you do that is unjust? When the upright man renounces his integrity to commit sin and dies because of this, he dies because of the evil that he himself has committed. When the sinner renounces sin to become law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live. He has chosen to re-nounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die.’

Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:4-9. R. v.6

(R.) Remember your mercies, O Lord.

1. Lord, make me know your ways.

Lord, teach me your paths.

Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:

for you are God my saviour. (R.)

2. Remember your mercy, Lord,

and the love you have shown from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth.

In your love remember me,

because of your goodness, O Lord. (R.)

3. The Lord is good and upright.

He shows the path to those who stray,

he guides the humble in the right path;

he teaches his way to the poor. (R.)

Second Reading Phil 2:1-11

If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a com-mon purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing which would make me completely happy. There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, so that no-body thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people’s interests instead. In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus:

His state was divine,

yet he did not cling

to his equality with God

but emptied himself

to assume the condition of a slave,

and became as men are;

and being as all men are,

he was humbler yet,

even to accepting death, 1st OCTOBER

Catholic Parish of the Nambucca Valley Corpus Christi, Bowraville St Patrick’s, Macksville Our Lady Star of the Sea, Nambucca Heads Christ the King, Taylor’s Arm

Administrator: Fr Shelwin Fernandez

Parish Secretary: Mrs Angela Argent

Parish Office: Postal Address: PO Box 38, Macksville 2447 Street Address: 78 Wallace Street, Macksville Telephone: 6568 1107 Fax: 6568 3671 Email: nvparish@lismore.catholic.org.au Urgent Matters: 0481 277 532

Office Hours Monday & Tuesday 8.30am to 2.30 pm Thursday 8.30am to 3.30 pm Nambucca Presbytery:

Telephone: 6568 6642 Parish Schools:

St Patrick’s Primary School—Macksville 32 Macksville Heights Drive, Macksville Phone: 02 6568 1397

St Mary’s Primary School —Bowraville Carbin Street, Bowraville Phone: 02 65647369

26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME —YEAR A 1ST OCTOBER 2017

Welcome everyone! Especially to the new members of our parish and to our visitors from near and far.

Grace to Change The agony of seeing innocent people killed in the worst of circumstances such as a war can be too much to bear. It is difficult to erase from one's mind the sight of injured chil-dren crying in their parents’ arms as they flee bombs and guns.

When Syrians, including children, were gassed earlier this year, one correspondent wrote: "When did we stop wanting to do good? When did dialogue give way to false flags and aggression? When did war and weapons take over our budget and our souls? When did we give up on loving the world and instead want to bomb and drone-strike the world into compliance with our interests?"

In today’s liturgy, the psalmist beseeches God to forgive our sins, to show us the way and lead us in what is right. Ezekiel proclaims that when sinners turn away from their sins and do what is right and good, they shall live. Paul in his Letter to the Philippians urges Jesus' followers to be of one mind and one love with Christ who humbled himself, even to death on a cross. “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others,” Paul writes.

Matthew’s gospel (21:28-32) also focuses on doing what is right. In the parable of the Two Sons, one son says he won’t help his father in the vineyard but later changes his mind and does what his father has asked, while the second son initially says he will help his father, only to disobey him later. It is the son who does his father’s will who does what is right.

Jesus underlines the importance of repentance for our sins and faith in God when he says, “Truly I tell you, the tax col-lectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax col-lectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.”

Repentance for our sins is vital. We are all sinners. But God’s patience and mercy knows no bounds, and for-giveness is at hand for those who acknowledge their wrongdoing and make amends. Not so, however, for those who oppress others, or ignore the suffering of others, and don't believe they need repentance or forgiveness. Are we humbly repentant in the face of our human weakness? Are we fully open to God's grace to change us? Do we oppress or neglect people, and how can we make amends?

As Christians, we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ who is raised to God's right hand. We can de-pend on Jesus. Let us pray together, open our hearts to him, accept the grace to change, and help one another to do what is right and good. - Bet Green © Redemptorists

Month of Prayer and Fasting for Marriage and Families

1st Sunday Prayer

Heavenly Father, grant that our families

may be places of communion and prayer,

authentic schools of the Gospel and small

domestic Churches. Make us ever more

mindful of the sacredness and beauty of

the family in God’s plan.

Parish Diary

Tuesday 3RD OCTOBER

5:30 pm Mass, Macksville Reconciliation after Mass

Wednesday 4TH OCTOBER

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

9:00 am Rosary, Bowraville

9:30 am Mass, Bowraville

Thursday 5TH OCTOBER

9:30 am Mass + Benediction, Macksville

Friday 6TH OCTOBER

9:00 am Mass + Benediction, Nambucca Heads

Saturday 7TH OCTOBER

5:30 pm Reconciliation, Nambucca 6:00 pm Mass, Nambucca Heads

Sunday 8TH OCTOBER

8:00 am Mass, Macksville 10:00 am Mass, Taylors Arm

FUTURE DATES OCTOBER— Month for Holy Rosary

* No Aged Care Facility Masses in October

* Fr. Stefan is happy to do the reconciliation before or after the Mass. Just let him know.

NOVEMBER:

1st - All Saints Day Masses: Bowraville Cemetery, 9:30AM

Nambucca Head Cemetery, 5:30PM

2nd - All Souls Day Mass: Macksville Cemetery, 5:30PM

HOW TO PACK A SHOEBOX

The shoebox you pack will very likely be the first gift the child has

ever received. One more box = one more child reached with

the unconditional love of God.

GRAB A SHOEBOX

A few boxes are available at the Parish office or you may grab one at Care N Ware at Nambucca Plaza or grab any average-size shoebox and cover the box and lid separately with brightly col-oured paper.

CHOOSE BOY OR GIRL

Will you fill your shoebox with gifts for a girl or for a boy?

And what age? 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14

SHOEBOX LABELS & DONATIONS.

The best way to pay the $10 is online at www.operationchristmaschild.org.au and then

you are emailed a new label to attach to your shoebox so that you can Follow-Your-Box and find out where it

ends up!

FILL EACH SHOEBOX WITH SIMPLE GIFTS Include something from each of the 6 categories.

Something to wear, Something to play with, Some-thing for school, Something to love, Something special

Something for personal hygiene PRAY FOR THE CHILD

Pray for the child who will receive your shoebox gift. Include a personal note of encouragement and a pho-

to. DROP YOUR SHOEBOX OFF

Shoebox collection month is October. You ,ay drop your boxes before on or before 8th of October at the

NAMBUCCA HEADS ANGLICAN CHURCH OP SHOP FASHION PARADE

Where: Nambucca Heads Uniting Church Hall

When: Saturday, 14th October

Time: 9:30AM

Entry fee : $6.00 + Delicious Morning Tea

NO MASS...

WE PRAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY...

Lord we ask healing for those who are sick. We thank you for those who have recovered. We pray for all who have died and those whose anniversaries occur at this time.

** Mass intention envelopes are located at the back of the church **

SICK: Robyn Ryan, Paul Gan, Jenny Guff, Pam Halls, Michael Rusden, Stephen McCudden, Jim Rogers, Dean Buchanan, David Coleman, Judy Finnelley, Lor-raine Cook, John Brown, Peter Murphy, Marie Dalton, Bill Steller, Al McCabe, Steven Carroll, Baby Lucy Clark

ANNIVERSARY: Michael Schuppe, Karen Francis (Schuppe), John Plant, Jim Gosson, Muriel Metz, Den-ise Hart, Phil Tarlinton, Jeffery Schneider, Max Free-man, Tom & Teresa Grant, Aileen MacLennan, Bede Clarke, Colin Laverty, Fr. James Reilly, Fr. Vincent Doyle, Ted Fuller, Jack Keaton, Frieda Keaton

RECENTLY DECEASED: Noeline Stanford, Patrick Laverty, Nance Maloney, Phil Layland, Jim Hovenden, John Poynten, Pat Argue, Sheila Turner, Paul Lawson, Rose Holland

If you wish us to visit any family members who are in hospital or infirm, please notify the office so the Pastoral Care team or Father can arrange a visit and or administer the sacrament for the sick.

Ministry Roster — 7th & 8th October 2017

Nambucca Heads 6:00 PM

Macksville 8:00 AM

Taylors Arm

10:00 AM

Commentator S Dwarte N Allan H Spear

Reader W Bolton I Allan J Desmond

Extra-ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

L Jennings, J Ryan, M Dwarte

I Allan, E Allan, B Gosswell

Procession of Gifts C Black, L Atkins L Burgess, S Burgess

Greeters/Hospitality Betty, Melina E & M Allan Courtney, Jack & Brooke Desmond

Altar Servers M Smith R Gleeson, E Costa, A Thompson

Sacristan C Hong S Nebauer

Counters B & R Mc Fadyen

Church Caring Volunteers please H Forrester

CUPPA AND CATCH -UP ( NEXT SUNDAY ) AT MACKSVILLE AFTER THE 8AM MASS

Come along and join us after mass. Enjoy a cuppa with friends and meet new acquaintances! You’re welcome to bring a plate to share. Gold coin donation.

To all the busy working bees who vol-unteered last Wednesday in sprucing up the Parish Conference Centre before they begin the repainting job!

On another hand, a big thanks for your support for the recent

annual collection of Father’s Day .

We have raised a total amount of $574.15! Your generosity will go a long way in helping our sick and retired priests in the Diocese.

SOCIAL JUSTICE STATEMENT— FREE COPY!

Don’t forget to grab a free copy of the magazine at the back of the church. This year, the Australian Bishops’ Social Justice Statement is titled: ‘Everyone’s Busi-ness: Developing an inclusive and sustainable econo-my’. The Statement calls for an economy that is founded on justice and offers dignity and inclusion to every person. For further details about the Social Justice Statement, visit the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council website www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au) or call (02) 8306 3499.

The entire parish community would like to wish Father Shelwin a restful and safe holiday! In his absence, Father Cesar Barte (weekend masses) and Fr. Stefan Matuszek (weekday masses) will look after the parish’s liturgical celebrations.