HOLY SPIRIT PARISH Worshipping Communities of St Clair, Erskine Park and parts of Kemps Creek 29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, Yr A 18 October 2020 1st Reading Isaiah 45:1.4-6 I am the Lord, there is no other. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 96.1+3, 4-5, 7-8, 9+10ac (R.7b) Give the Lord glory and honour. 2nd Reading 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 Paul greets the Thessalonians. Gospel Acclamation Verse See Philippians 2.15-16 Alleluia, alleluia! Shine on the world like bright stars; you are offering it the word of life. Alleluia! Gospel Matthew 22:15-21 Render to Caesar what is Caesar's. VOICE FROM THE PEWS Money and God: how do they relate? We to help them discover what the real LITURGY TIMES need money to take care of our temporal necessities of life are. Saturday needs—things like housing, food, Help your children come up with a Reconciliation, 5-5:45pm clothes, electricity. It occurred to me list of what they think they need. Have Vigil Mass, 6pm that the more we advance them pare the list down until they have technologically as a society, the more what they consider are absolute Sunday Mass, 8am, 9.30am and 6pm expensive it is to raise a family. I necessities. Remind your children that Youth Mass, 2nd & 4th Sun, 6pm remember looking at the back-to-school they are a part of God’s family, and some ads last September and marveling at the of their brothers and sisters do not even Monday and Wednesday cost of the bare necessities for today’s have food or shelter. Mass, 7am students. Perhaps that’s the Find a particular agency or cause to (except on Public Holidays which relationship of money to God—we need support. Occasionally, when we are changes to 9.05am) money for the necessities, and we need tempted to buy something we don’t Tuesday, Thursday and Friday God to help us figure out just what those absolutely need, we give the money Mass, 9.05am necessities are. instead to “our family cause.” Encourage Anointing Mass, 1st Fri, 9.05am There is so much out there to spend children to give away a comparable item money on. Things we want, but could they already own for every new toy they 1st Friday Night Devotion Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, really do without. Every year there are receive. Consider doing the same for 7.30pm new products or updated versions of every new article of clothing you buy. older products to entice our youngsters. Children’s Liturgy Part of being a responsible Christian Sat 6pm and Sun 9.30am parent is teaching your children to learn Judith Dunlap. nd th 2 & 4 Sun of the month to live without, to share what they have, © 2018. Pastoral Center. All rights reserved. (during school term) and give from their bounty. We do this Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, The Holy Spirit Parish pays respect to the Darug People, Anointing of the Sick the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather to celebrate our faith and worship God. by appointment We acknowledge with respect the elders past and present. HOLY SPIRIT PARISH | 29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, Yr A 18 October 2020 PASTORAL CARE FOR THE HOMEBOUND Our clergy and pastoral care ministers bring the sacraments of Eucharist, reconciliation, and anointing of the sick to members who are unable to participate because of illness or We are a welcoming parish. aging. For more information and to arrange receiving the sacraments, contact Parish Office at 9670 8222 or Whatever your present status in the Catholic Church, whatever your [email protected]. current family or marital situation, PRAYERS FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY whatever your past or present religious affiliation, whatever your SICK personal history, age, background, Andrew Boulos, Louis Tham, Emilia Rose Moya, Linda Allen, Giulia Caruana, race or color, sexual orientation, Joseph Caruana, Rosie Casha, Joel Dizon, Angela Cook, Bella Tassone, Babylyn whatever your self-esteem... you are Mendiones, Jamie Bertumen, Rhoda Bertumen, John Tauro, John Cassar, Romeo invited, welcomed, accepted, loved Jader, Fr Paul Cardona, Lucia Lopez, Connie Limjap, Benjamin Fornelosa, and respected by the Catholic Roselle Fornelosa, Amari Krishma Lagrosas Escubio, and all who tested positive Community of Holy Spirit. from Coronavirus. If you are not an active member RECENTLY DECEASED: of this Community, consider sharing Rosario Faraon Fajardo, Josette Sultana, Nenette Bustos, Norbert Mascarenhas, in what we have to offer. We serve Alice Maltman, Oscar Halum, Alfonso Pajarillo, and all who died from the Community through outreach, Coronavirus. education, social activities, sacramental preparation, youth and DEATH ANNIVERSARIES: comfort to the sick and mourning. Walter Murphy, Terence & Olga Littlewood, Margaret & Henry Emmanuel, George Pinto, Maggie Peters, Violet John, Patricio Ceballos, Barbara Middleton, In addition to our spiritual and Clarefina Mandar, William Fernandez, Angelina Xavier, Natividad Dimla, outreach organisations, perhaps Dominic Cao Thuy, Wayne Rose, Sofia Delatado, Diosdado Deloatado. you have an interest in joining one of our many liturgical ministries as: Names submitted to Parish for the sick list will show for 4 weeks at a time. Minister of Holy Communion, LAST WEEK’S COLLECTIONS & PLANNED GIVING PROGRAMME Lector, Welcomer, Choir, etc. Persons are formally registered If you are a new parishioner to Holy Spirit or an existing one and you would by filling out a form that is then like to participate in the Planned Giving Program, forms are available for entered into the parish data system completion in the foyer of the Church. Please complete your details and email (information supplied remains it to [email protected] or hand it to any of our priests. For confidential). These forms are your convenience we have the option of Direct Debit and/or Envelope available from the parish office or in contribution. the church foyer. LAST WEEK’S COLLECTIONS 1ST COLLECTION For the care of our Augustinian clergy $ 444.05 MISSION STATEMENT 2ND COLLECTION Loose plate $ 274.40 The Mission of the People of God at For the administration & Planned Giving Envelopes Collected $ 778.00 Holy Spirit Parish is to witness to and maintenance costs of the to proclaim the word of God, and to parish Planned Giving Direct Debit & Credit Card $ 2,220.62 nd pray and celebrate the Liturgy in word Total 2 Collection $ 3,273.02 Weekly Parish’s Running Costs $ 4,216.31 and sacraments so that we may be of service to others and form a SHORTFALL $ 943.29 community of "one mind and one SPECIAL COLLECTION Marian Fiesta Fundraising (from 19 Sept) $ 2,860.00 heart on the way to God." (St THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL JUSTICE DIARY: Augustine) Sun 18 Oct: World Mission Sunday FROM POPE FRANCIS: Mon 19 Oct: Sinking of refugee boat SIEV X Let us sing as we go. May our Tue 20 Oct: World Statistics Day Sat 24 Oct: United Nations Day; World struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of Development Information our hope. Day; 1945, Establishment of (On the Care of Our Common Home) the United Nations; Beginning of Disarmament Week 2 Worshipping communities of St Clair, Erskine Park and parts of Kemps Creek HOLY SPIRIT PARISH | 29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, Yr A 18 October 2020 LIVE THE LITURGY Inspiration for the Week In the time of Jesus, a Roman coin bore the image of Caesar and it was precisely this coin that was returned to the emperor in the form of tax. What bears God’s image? Scripture tells us that human beings are made in the likeness and image of God. In truth, however, all of creation, even the entire universe, is fashioned in the image of God! Everything radiates Divine Presence and the spark and essence of God’s very life exists in all things. God breathes the life of Himself into all things. If we have to give back to civil authorities what speaks to them, then what do we give back to God? While the answer is simple, the implications are profound. We are asked to give back to God our very selves! Ultimately, all creation is in the process of returning to God and is on a journey of finding its final truth and essence in Him. As we continue that journey, all we have, all we are, all we see, and all we are responsible for must be offered back to Him. God is the beginning and the end of all things. Do our lives reflect this Divine allegiance? QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK First Reading: Cyrus was king of the mighty Persian Empire (559-529 BC) while Israel was exiled in Babylon. The prophet Isaiah revealed God would use Cyrus to free Israel from captivity. What lesson do you think THE SUNDAY FLOCK Israel was supposed to learn from this revelation? Second Reading: In his opening remarks in First Thessalonians, Paul speaks of the power and conviction with which he preached the gospel to them. How do you show the conviction of your faith? Gospel Reading: The religious leaders in Jerusalem were unable to trap Jesus with a seemingly trick question. How do you respond to non- believers who try to challenge or trick you in matters of your beliefs? BAPTISMS Parents wishing to have their child baptized are asked to contact the Parish Office prior to attending a preparation evening. Next Baptism Preparation Evening is ARIA LAN BANDA on Tue 27 October, (Daughter of Joan Manuel & Kathy) 7.30pm, Pioneers Rm. LEON PAUL VELLA Presenter is Michael (Son of Daniel & Jennifer) Zammit. Under the Pastoral Care of the Augustinians 3 Under the HOLY SPIRIT PARISH | 29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, Yr A 18 October 2020 PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES COMMENCING 24 JULY With the announcement of new restrictions th commencing last Friday 24 July, we are allowed to have 100 people in the church at any one time, excluding the clergy and those involved in the liturgy.