WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY: God of All. God is Immanent and Transcendent, Personal and Divine. God is within every person. Yet God is not ours exclusively because we belong to a certain church or faith community. We have many images of God yet God is the ineffable One; the One who is beyond all knowing. Meister Eckhart, a 13th century mystic, reminds us that “God does not ask anything else of you except that you let yourself go and let God be God in you.”

First Reading:
Isaiah 56: 1, 6 – 7

1 Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.
6 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, every one who keeps the sabbath, and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant —
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

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ST PIUS X SCHOOL: On Friday 19th August the school will be celebrating the Feast of St Pius X. Mass will be at 9am in the Church. Parishioners are very welcome to attend and to visit the school after the Mass.

NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC: Some headlines from the August 14-27 issue of NZ Catholic: : Bogus bishop scam thwarted…… Maori text of missal close to final approval. ….Priest polishes his French for the Rugby World Cup….. Web users rate priests’ performance on the job. On sale now

PREPARATION FOR FIRST COMMUNION: begins on Wed 24 August at 6.55pm in St Joseph’s Church Hall. Meetings will be on the following three Wednesdays, celebrating First Communion on Sunday 18 September.

JOSEPHITE RETREAT CENTRE: Holding it all together: Celebrating all stages of Faith with Joy Cowley:   Sunday 21 August 10am – 3pm. Transcendence is always inclusive, never about rejection. As we move to a wider place of growth, we carry all the other stages within us and thank God for what we have learned.  $20. 14 Hillside Tce, Whanganui. www.ssj.org.nz ph 06 345 5047

ORDINATION OF BISHOP CHARLES DRENNAN—DVD: The Parish has a copy of this DVD. If you would like to borrow it contact the Parish Office.

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE: General Meeting on Thurs 18 August in the supper room after 12.05 Mass at St Joseph’s. Bring your lunch.

WYD PILGRIMS: This week Dylan has walked part of the El Camino pilgrim road of St James, been to Lourdes and is now in Ponferrada, Spain where he will spend the weekend as part of a Parish Community. Ashleigh has started her pilgrimage and is now in Paris. They will both join up on Monday in Madrid. Please pray for them on their journey and know that at 6am (our time) daily, they will all be praying too. “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path” Ps 119

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION: Holy Day of Obligation. Monday 15th August. Mass will be celebrated at St Philomena’s at 9am and at St Joseph’s at 8am and 5.30pm

RUGBY WORLD CUP HOSTING OPPORTUNITIES: Engage Family Hosting Programme has been working with Rugby NZ to offer a programme of safe home hosting for team member’s families, close friends or support people who wish to come to NZ during the tournament. For more information and registration go to www.engagenz.org/hosting.html
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CUP OF TEA: will be served today after Mass by the Parish Council.

ST PIUS X: Pupils and teachers will be celebrating the Feast of Sr Mary McKillop on Mon 8th (tomorrow). There will be Mass at 9am in the Church. All parishioners are very welcome to attend.
On Fri 19th August the school will be celebrating the Feast of St Pius X. Mass will be at 9am in the Church. Parishioners are very welcome to attend and to visit the school after the Mass.

NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC: Some headlines from the July 31-August 13 issue of NZ Catholic: : :  Prudes and libertines have much in common….  Catholic Enquiry Centre art competition winners announced…..  John Key and Phil Goff share their views on family and moral questions……  Irish politicians want to scrap  the secrecy of the confessional….. On sale now

ANOINTING MASS: will be celebrated on Wed 10 August at 2.30pm at St Joseph’s Church.

PREPARATION FOR FIRST COMMUNION: begins on Wed 24 August at 6.55pm in St Joseph’s Church Hall. Meetings will be on the following three Wednesdays, celebrating First Communion on Sunday 18 September.

LECTIO DIVINA: is a centuries old form of prayer which can be used by anyone. Our Bishops have provided a leaflet on how to use Lectio Divina. A copy is attached to this liturgy sheet. It is also available online at www.catholic.org.nz click on ‘reflection’.

JOSEPHITE RETREAT CENTRE: The following course is coming up:
Holding it all together: Celebrating all stages of Faith with Joy Cowley:   Sunday 21 August 10am – 3pm. Transcendence is always inclusive, never about rejection. As we move to a wider place of growth, we carry all the other stages within us and thank God for what we have learned.  $20.
Josephite Retreat Centre, 14 Hillside Tce, Whanganui. www.ssj.org.nz ph 06 345 5047

ORDINATION OF BISHOP CHARLES DRENNAN—DVD: The Parish has a copy of this DVD. If you would like to borrow it contact the Parish Office.

CONFIRMATION 2011: The Confirmation follow-up session due to be held today Sunday 7 August will now be held on Sunday 4 September.
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