First Reading:
Acts 2: 42 – 47

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common;
45 and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

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First Reading:
Acts 10: 34, 37 – 43

34 And Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality,
37 the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;
40 but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest;
41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
43 To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

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WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY:  Sr Wendy Beckett says, “life contains inevitable partings and inescapable pain.  We are alive in proportion to our response to love, and our pain at parting is in proportion to the extent of that love”.  Parting is a big part of Jesus’ life.  Leaving his birth place, his family, his home, this mortal life.  Every departure was painful and was a response to love.  How do I respond to the partings in my life?

First Reading:
Isaiah 50: 4-7.

4     The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary. Morning by morning he wakens, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
5     The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward.
6     I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7     For the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;

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GOOD FRIDAY ROSTER:

Greeters;  B Vickers & N O’Sullivan
Passion Readers;  K Whaley & T Davies
Eucharistic Ministers;  I McGill & F Murcott

STATIONS OF THE CROSS:  Stations will be prayed at St Joseph’s church on Fridays during Lent at 5.30pm.

THE PHILOMENA:  Contributions for the next edition of The Philomena are now welcome.  Please sent any articles, photos, reports, comments etc to the Editor, Diane Kawana by April 30.  Ph 7534956 or email dkawana@xtra.co.nz      Thank you

MASS OF THE OILS:  Tues 19 April.  This will be held at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Palmerston North at 7pm.  During this Mass our priests re-affirm their commitment to priestly ministry and representatives from throughout the diocese collect the holy oils blessed by the Bishop for use during the coming year.  A light meal will be available from 5.30 in the Parish Lounge for those travelling and a cuppa will be served following Mass.  There will be a massed Diocesan Choir and if you would like to be part of this a form is available from our parish office.  If you would like to attend Mass please phone the Parish Office

VOTIVE CANDLE STAND:  Thanks to all who contributed to the Votive Candle Fund.  The Appeal Fund stands as:  Donations Received:  $1570,  Burkett Trust:  $1500 and Offerings Received (to 1/4/11):  $145.  Making a total of $3215.  The Candle Stand cost $5980.  Thanks to Paul Spurdle and McGregor Electrical for the design and installation and to all who have made donations.  If you still wish to contribute, envelopes are available at the back of the church.

HOLY WEEK:

Holy Thursday:  St Joseph’s 7.30pm
Good Friday:     St Philomena’s  3pm
Holy Saturday:  Easter Vigil.  St Joseph’s 7.30pm

This Liturgy begins with the Service of Light, then the Liturgy of Word, Rites of Baptism and Confirmation and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, which means it will take over an hour, commencing at 7.30pm.  Please bring warm clothing, individual candles and holders (a plastic coke bottle cut in half is a good holder) and a plate of food for the Celebration Supper.  Refreshments will be provided by the Parish.

Eater Sunday:    St Philomena’s  11am
St Joseph’s   9am and 10.30am

PLANNED GIVING TAX RECEIPTS:  These will be available after the 20th April. Any enquiries to the Parish Office, Ph 753 4419.
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