The reading from the Gospel of Luke presents Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem. We know that his entry into that city will lead to a crisis. His genuine followers will be sharply divided from those who reject him. In this atmosphere of tension and expectation someone asks Jesus, “Sir, is it true that only a few are to be saved?” This is a question that has always troubled Christians.

For many centuries some pastors and theologians taught that only a small number would be saved and would get to heaven. In our more accommodating age, people are inclined to think that in some way or other, everyone will be saved at least in the end. Origen, an important theologian of the early Church, held the view that everyone would be saved; his views were not accepted by the Church. In more recent times, a noteworthy theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar, said that while there certainly is a hell; we may believe that no one is there.

Jesus does not go into such speculation. For him the decisions that people make here and now are important. Now is the time to make up our minds for or against him. He uses an image that we can well understand; a crowd trying to enter a narrow gate. People are willing to wait all night outside a sports arena so as to get a seat for a grand-final. They want to be there when the gates open so they will have the first places in the queue. Often people will struggle and even force their way to get ahead. They want to get in before the gates close.

Jesus evokes this image. The doors to salvation are now open, but we should not wait too long. The door will close and those who have delayed will be left outside. Once it is closed, it will do no good to stand outside banging on the door. If the gates are already shut, you will not be let in because you claim to have always been a supporter of your particular team.

In the same way, we will not obtain an entrance ticket to heaven by insisting that we have always been a Catholic! Others may come from far and wide, from the east and the west and from the north and the south and be allowed in before us. God’s hospitality is wide and generous; but God will not force us to enter his kingdom. God holds the gate open for us. But God will not wait forever for us to make up our minds.

Sometimes God may give us a wake-up call. Sometimes this may come through an accident or illness that compels us to take stock of what we are doing with our lives. This is the “discipline” of which the author writes in the letter to the second reading.

Brian Johnstone, CSsR © Redemptorists 2016

Reprinted from the Sunday Majellan with permission

21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME -

YR C

21 August 2016

Sacred Heart

Catholic Parish

PARISH CHURCHES Church of the Sacred Heart

Murwillumbah Street, Murwillumbah

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour

River Street, South Murwillumbah

St. Brigid’s Church Broadway, Burringbar

St. Columba’s Church Convent Lane, Uki

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PARISH STAFF

Parish Priest

Fr. Anthony Lemon

Parish Manager

Mary-Ann Thackray

Parish Secretary

Beth Gorton

Pastoral Associate

Barbara Grant —————————————————

PARISH OFFICE

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 3.00pm Phone: 02 6672 1118

Website: www.shpmurwillumbah.com.au

Email: shpmbah@norex.com.au

Mail: PO Box 45 Street: Queensland Road,

Murwillumbah NSW 2484

—————————————————

PARISH SCHOOLS

Mt. St. Patrick College

Murwillumbah Street, Murwillumbah

Ph: 02 6672 2340 mspcmbah@lism.catholic.edu.au

Principal: Mr. Paul Clohesy

Mt. St. Patrick Primary School

Mooball Street, Murwillumbah

Ph: 02 6672 1821

murp@lism.catholic.edu.au Principal: Mr. Brendan Ryan

St. Joseph’s Primary School

Greville Street, South Murwillumbah

Ph: 02 6672 1867

smurp@lism.catholic.edu.au

Principal: Mr. Jason Clarke

The Way, the Truth & the Life

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL MARY MACKILLOP

CONFERENCE meets each Wednesday

at Parish Meeting Centre. New members welcome. “Come Grow With Us”.

Phone: Marie Donaghy 6672 2933

ROSARY STATUES Ken & Margaret Mumford

Alison Pomeroy

COUNTERS:

21 Aug: G & K Bewes

28 Aug: P & R Marr

04 Sept: M & M Cooper

11 Sept: C & J Anderson

18 Sept: D Gillespie & C Kerr

25 Sept: T & P Zambelli

02 Oct: J Morgan & L Green

ROSTERS

22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME -

Year C

27/28 August

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah

6.00pm Saturday

Sacred Heart Murwillumbah 8.30am Sunday

Acolyte P Egan P Marr

Altar Servers H & E Sherrah (C),

K & E McCarthy —————-

Readers C Anderson (C) P/F K & M Mumford R

C Wightley (C) P/F B Brooks R M Roberts R

Ministers of Communion

R Daley (C) S Kirk, D Macartney

D & B Guinea

B Gorton (C) P Hyde, L Green T & P Zambelli

Hospitality —————— M Traves & S Lemon

Procession of Gifts —————— F & B McGrouther

Children’s Liturgy M Mackney K Anderson

FAMILY GROUP “CUPPA” ROSTER

Sunday 11th September 2016

hosted by Sharp Family Group

22ND – 28TH AUGUST Monday The QUEENSHIP of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Tuesday 4.15pm - 5.15pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church

5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

6.00pm Rosary - Sacred Heart Church

Wednesday 4.15pm - 5.15pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church

5.30pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

Thursday 8.30am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

9.00am Legion of Mary - Sth M’bah Meeting Room

Friday 10.00am Communion Service - M’bah Nursing Home - K Mumford

10.00am Communion Service - Heritage Lodge - J Reynolds

12.15pm Mass - Sacred Heart Church

2.45pm - 3.45pm Adoration - Sacred Heart Church

Saturday 9.00am Rosary - Sacred Heart Church

6.00pm Vigil Mass - Sacred Heart Church

Sunday 22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR C 8.30am Mass - Sacred Heart Church

12 noon Baptisms

The Sacred Heart Church ‘Prayer Chapel’ is open for private prayer on weekdays.

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

CHURCH CLEANING.

Sacred Heart Church:

21 August: M Twohill, P Smith, H Gooley, J Morgan, L Johnson 28 August: R & C McDonald, N Feltham

OLPS Church, Sth M’bah

August: T Jandura & partner

Readings for next week:

22nd SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - Yr C Sirach 3:17-20, 28-29; Heb 12:18-19, 22-24; Lk 14:1, 7-14

RECENTLY DECEASED: Steve Spence (Kingscliff), Helen Coulton, Joan Morris, Suzanne Keegan, Thelma Milward, Bill Johnson, Colleen Stephenson, Ann Murphy.

ANNIVERSARIES: Dominic Guinea, Teresa Palmer.

NOTICE BOARD

~ AUGUST ~ 29/2Sept Meals on Wheels - Roster 2

30 Christmas Carnival Meeting

~ SEPTEMBER ~ 02 10am Mass - M’bah Nursing Home

04 23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YR C

No 10am Mass

05 Rosary & Prayers - OLPS, Sth M’bah

08 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

08 Compassionate Friends

09 10am Mass - Heritage Lodge

11 24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YR C

CHILD PROTECTION SUNDAY

No 10am Mass

CALENDAR

PLEASE PRAY FOR: SACRAMENTS

RECONCILIATION:

Sacred Heart: Saturday : 5.30pm - 5.50pm

Sunday: 7.30am - 7.50am

BAPTISM: Sacred Heart Church - 12.00pm

2nd and 4th Sundays of each month

(At least four weeks notice required)

Baptism Preparation Meeting:

7.00pm Parish Administration Centre

on 2nd Tuesday of each month.

Next Meeting - Tues 13th September

CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL MEETING

Tuesday 30th August in the

Parish Administration

Centre at 4.30pm.

All Stall holders and

interested persons are invited to attend this important

meeting.

ST. MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP Many wonderful saints share the month of August for their feast days, but it is hard to pass up an opportunity to celebrate our own Australian St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

Sr. Monica Cavanagh RSJ, the congregation leader of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, has said that by all accounts the foundress of the order was “purely human”, warm, and faithful. “Mary believed that every encounter was an opportunity to see the face of God”. One of her most-well known sayings is,

“Never see a need without doing something about it”. MM (1871)

The ongoing legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph still focuses primarily on education, even though a variety of ministries throughout Australia and beyond occupy the Sisters and their associates. Some of these include assisting migrants and refugees, fighting human trafficking and slavery, and promoting stewardship of the earth.

St. Mary MacKillop's legacy has gone well and truly beyond its humble beginnings in Penola, SA. Sisters today are actively working in Australia, New Zealand, East Timor, Ireland, Peru and Brazil.

All their work, their intention is the same; to meet the needs of the poorest and most neglected, and to reveal the merciful heart of God. The Sisters also encourage and work with many people, including volunteers, young people, and members of the Josephite Associate movement who, though not consecrated religious, have embraced the spirit of St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

Please keep the Sisters of St Joseph in your prayers as they continue the legacy of St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.

All parishioners, family and friends are invited

to join us for Father’s Day Breakfast

to celebrate our fathers and grandfathers.

Everyone is most welcome to join together for bacon & egg muffins and a cuppa

after 8:30 am Mass on Sunday 4 September 2016

Tweed Shire Council

FATHER’S DAY

MEMORIAL SERVICE 11am Friday 2nd Sept

Tweed Valley Cemetery

Light refreshments provided.

Pamphlets available in church, or phone 6670 2435, or visit:

www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/

Cemeteries

COMMUNION If you are unable to walk to/or have difficulty walking up the aisle for communion at Sunday Mass, please: stand, or raise your hand and S it at end of the pew, or in the chairs, and an Extra-Ordinary Minister of Communion will come to you.

INVEST WITH PEACE OF MIND www.dif.org.au Phone 1800 802 516 Paying 2.35% at Call!

Agents: Egan Simpson Solicitors: 15 Prince Street, Murwillumbah.

Deposits accepted between 9am and 3pm. Monday to Friday

CATHOLIC PAPERS on sale in the Church today

Catholic Leader: Bishop-elect Anthony Randazzo thanked for his

dedication Catholic Weekly: Nauru files of ‘grave concern’ to Catholic Migrant

& Refugee Office

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: (PS 116) R: Go out to all the world; and tell the Good

News.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, Alleluia!

I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the

Lord; no one comes to the Father, except

through me. Alleluia!

CHANGES TO

WEEKEND MASS TIMES Sunday:

28th August and

4th & 11th September

in Sacred Heart Church

8.30am Mass (not 8am)

NO 10am Mass

This weekend we welcome Fr. John Darbyshire to our parish. Fr. John is taking care of our parish over the next four weeks while Fr. Anthony is on annual leave.

PARKING FOR SUNDAY MASS

Please DO NOT PARK in front of the Tweed Valley

Uniting Church, in Byangum Rd, during the Sunday

morning 8.30am Mass, as this time clashes with

their Sunday morning service.

CATHOLIC PAPERS -on sale in the Church today-

Catholic Leader: ??150 years of Josephite dedication Gangster to God’s servant Catholic Weekly: Mother Teresa canonisation schedule

revealed

DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF POPE FRANCIS’S EXTRAORDINARY YEAR OF MERCY …

We are now in the home stretch of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, which will end on the Feast of Christ the King, 20 November 2016.

The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy is seen by the Church as a period for remission of sins and universal pardon focussing particularly on God’s forgiveness and mercy.

Since the Jubilee years first began over 700 years ago, there has been a special grace (Plenary Indulgence) attached to pilgrims who make their way through the doors of one of the four main basilicas in Rome. This year Pope Francis threw the doors wide open when he announced that this Indulgence would be available not only in Rome but in every cathedral across the world, as well as shrines and churches designated by local bishops.

The notion of pilgrimage sits deep within the Catholic heart. It is the embodiment of life’s journey towards God.

Our Parish is offering two opportunities to make your pilgrimage to a “Holy Door” in October.

1. Marian Valley, Canungra – Sunday 9 October 2016

2. St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore – Monday 10 October 2016

If you have never completed a pilgrimage before, making the small journey to one (or both) of these destinations, is a great way to start.

Coaches will be leaving from the Queensland Road Bus Bay to take interested Parishioners, family and friends as well as our Solomon Island visitors to both destinations.

Limited seats are available on the coaches, so BOOK NOW if you would like to attend one or both of these pilgrimage events.

Please write your name on the list at the back of the Sacred Heart Church or call the Parish Office on 6672 1118 during business hours (9 am to 3 pm) to reserve your seat on the coach.