WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY:  Lazarus was bound with strips of cloth as was the tradition for burial.  Jesus said, “unbind him and let him go”.  We are all bound to things, people, actions, thoughts, and attitudes.  Which cause a part of our being to wither and die, to be entombed.  Reflect on one part of your life where you are unnecessarily bound.  Imagine Jesus saying these words to you, “Loosen that which binds you and let it go”.

First Reading:
Ezekiel 37: 12-14.

12     Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel.
13     And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people.
14     And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it, says the LORD.”

Read the rest of this entry

ROSTERS:  for April are now available.  Please check to see if there is one for your family.  Thank you.

LENT 2011:  In response to the Lenten imperative to ‘change your heart’, the communities of the North Taranaki Pastoral area are invited to participate in a series of Social Justice Forum to run throughout Lent.  These forum are a reflective journeying through Taranaki history and how that history informs Maori/Pakeha relationships, in the light of Catholic Social teaching.  Each week a different topic will be unpacked, discussed and reflected on.  We have been blessed with guest speakers of considerable mana in their field.  The invitation to participate is extended to all. You are both welcome and wished for.  Dates:  Wed 13 April.  At St Joseph’s Church from
7-9pm.  Contact Cushla Low ph 759 8258 for more information

CARITAS LENT APPEAL:  Welcome to this 5th Sunday of Lent.  This week we focus on the rebuilding of homes and lives in Samoa following the Pacific Tsunami in September 2009. In emergencies, Caritas supports immediate relief and longer term rebuilding. They also provide counselling to survivors

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

COMMUNAL RITE OF RECONCILIATION:  will be celebrated in St Joseph’s Church on Friday 15 April at 7pm.

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.

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.
Read the rest of this entry

WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY:  In a story by Leo Tolstoy, three questions are asked.  When is the best time to do things?  Who is the most important one?  What is the right thing to do?  The answers are reflected in Jesus’ encounter with Bartimaeus.  There is only one ‘best’ time and that is right now.  The most important one is the one you are with.  The right thing is to do good for the one standing by you.  Let’s follow Jesus’ example.

First Reading:
1 Samuel 16: 1, 6-7, 10-13.

1     The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”
6     When they came, he looked on Eli’ab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him.”
7     But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
10     And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”
11     And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he comes here.”
12     And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”
13     Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Read the rest of this entry

CUP OF TEA:  after Mass today, served by the Parish Council.

ROSTERS:  for April are now available.  Please check to see if there is one for your family.  Thank you.

LENT 2011:  In response to the Lenten imperative to ‘change your heart’, the communities of the North Taranaki Pastoral area are invited to participate in a series of Social Justice Forum to run throughout Lent.  These forum are a reflective journeying through Taranaki history and how that history informs Maori/Pakeha relationships, in the light of Catholic Social teaching.  Each week a different topic will be unpacked, discussed and reflected on.  We have been blessed with guest speakers of considerable mana in their field.  The invitation to participate is extended to all. You are both welcome and wished for.  Dates:  Wed  6 &13 April.  At St Joseph’s Church from
7-9pm.  Contact Cushla Low ph 759 8258 for more information

CARITAS LENT APPEAL:  Welcome to this 4th Sunday of Lent.  Caritas in schools provides primary and secondary schools with programmes that shed more light on Catholic social teaching based on Gospel values of faith, hope and love.  This support includes face-to-face visits, encounters with international partners and electronic and paper resources.

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

LENTEN DISCUSSION GROUP: Parishioners are invited to join a Thursday Lenten discussion group based on the previous Sunday’s readings.  April 7 &14.  Copies of each Sunday’s readings will be provided.
Afternoon session:  1.30pm to 2.30pm in the School library at the rear of St Philomena’s .    For further information or enquires phone Ian McGill 75-33 513, or Syd Wells 758 7319

Evening session: 7.30 – 8.30pm  School staff room. For details phone Mrs Betty Carter  752 2778

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.
Read the rest of this entry