WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY:  Being told the truth about ourselves often hurts.  A parable is a kind way of telling the truth about life.  The story draws us in, makes us think and respond to the truth.  Today we might be thinking about God’s favour and if it is possible for us to lose God’s favour, (not his love.)  The wicked servants greatly sinned.  All sin is a great offence to God.  Does our pride and ingratitude allow us to think our little sins do not hurt others and God?

First Reading:
Isaiah 5: 1 – 7

1     Let me sing for my beloved a love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.
2     He digged it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.
3     And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, between me and my vineyard.
4     What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?
5     And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.
6     I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
7     For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry!

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CUP OF TEA:  will be served after Mass today by the Morris Family Group.

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.

NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC:  Some headlines from the September 25-October 8  issue of NZ Catholic: :  Papatoetoe priest off to parish in Tokelau….. Christ’s mercy was a turning point for former atheist……. St Peter’s students pick up awards at Government House….. Religious writing winners share $1200.  On sale now

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

READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK:  For those who wish to view the readings before coming to Mass.      lsaiah  25:  6-10    Philippians 4:  12-14, 19-20  Matthew 22:  1-14.

SCHOOL NEWS:   Jennifer Mallon has worked at St Pius X for 17 years and is leaving us at the end of this term.  We would like to recognise the huge contribution Jennifer has made to our school over these years.  We are planning a shared lunch with our School and Parish Community on the last day of term, Friday 7th October, at 1pm.  We invite you come along and share this occasion with us and celebrate the contribution she has made.  Please bring a plate to share.

School Production:  We have our School Production this week.  It is called “Rock and Roll Idol”.  We are holding it in the Church and if you would like a ticket, they are on sale from the School Office at $5 for adults (preschoolers and school children are free).
Show times:  Wednesday 5th October: 1pm and 6.30pm and Thursday 6th October: 6.30pm.  Come along and let our children entertain you with song and dance.

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011:  There will be a presentation by all the New Plymouth Interns on their trip to World Youth Day in Madrid.  It will be held at St Joseph’s Hall on Sunday 9th October at 7pm.  All are welcome.  Come and hear about their experiences.

NEW MASS MUSIC SEMINARS:  The diocese is running a seminar for musicians and singers to learn two of the Masses recommended by the National Liturgy Office as settings for the new Missal translation.  This will also include new settings for Christmas.

It will be held on Sat 5th Nov in St Joseph’s Church Hawera.  All are welcome.  Please RSVP to Mark Richards.  mrichards@pndiocese.org.nz   A shared finger lunch

CARITAS AOTEAROA NZ:  The latest issue of Caritas Update is now available.  Copies are in the church porch.
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WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY: Today an extraordinary parable but with a simple message. Our Faith is a gift. We receive it through grace. We don’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. If someone gives me a generous gift, do I have any right to question what gifts that person might also give to others? Is that any business of mine? It’s enough for me to know that the Lord loves me so much that he has given me the gift of faith. I shall be eternally grateful.

First Reading:
Ezekiel 18: 25-28.

25 “Yet you say, `The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die for it; for the iniquity which he has committed he shall die.
27 Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he shall save his life.
28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

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MORRIS FAMILY GROUP: Today Sunday 25th Sept. Lunch at the O’Donnell’s at 12.30. $5 per person.

DOMBROSKI FAMILY GROUP: Lunch at Sunworld Restaurant today at 12.30

CUP OF TEA: will be served after Mass next Sunday by the Morris Family Group.

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.

NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC: Some headlines from the September 25-October 8 issue of NZ Catholic: : Papatoetoe priest off to parish in Tokelau….. Christ’s mercy was a turning point for former atheist……. St Peter’s students pick up awards at Government House….. Religious writing winners share $1200. On sale now

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

THE PHILOMENA: latest edition is available after Mass today.

READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: For those who wish to view the readings before coming to Mass.
lsaiah 5: 1-7
Philippians 4: 6-9
Matthew 21: 33-43.

SCHOOL NEWS: Jennifer Mallon has worked at St Pius X for 17 years and is leaving us at the end of this term.  We would like to recognise the huge contribution Jennifer has made to our school over these years.  We are planning a shared lunch with our School and Parish Community on the last day of term, Friday 7th October, at 1pm.  We invite you come along and share this occasion with us and celebrate the contribution she has made.  Please bring a plate to share.

KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS WRITING COMPETITION: Thank you to all who entered the 2011 Knights of the Southern Cross religious writing competition on the topic of Social Justice. A competition report detailing the winners and comments can be viewed on http://tawacatholic.org.nz/knights . Congratulations to one of these winners, Ashleigh Fromont who won one of the two prizes in the Under 18 years category. Her winning essay is in today’s Philomena.

NEW MASS MUSIC SEMINARS: The diocese is running a seminar for musicians and singers to learn two of the Masses recommended by the National Liturgy Office as settings for the new Missal translation. This will also include new settings for Christmas.

It will be held on Sat 5th Nov in St Joseph’s Church Hawera. All are welcome. Please RSVP to Mark Richards. mrichards@pndiocese.org.nz A shared finger lunch
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