First Reading:
Genesis 9: 8 – 15

8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him,
9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your descendants after you,
10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.
11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:
13 I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,
15 I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

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WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY: I marvel at the extraordinary faith of the paralytic’s friends as they lowered him through the roof in front of Jesus. What was more important? The man’s spiritual health came first. Jesus forgave his sins. Then Jesus demonstrated his divine power by curing the paralytic. Jesus, Forgiver-Healer, is in our midst today. There was need for forgiveness and healing in Jesus time, just as much as it is needed in our time, for you and me.

First Reading:
Isaiah 43: 18 – 19, 21 – 22, 24 – 25

18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
21 the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.
22 “Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel!
24 You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins, you have wearied me with your iniquities.
25 “I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

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READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: For those who wish to view the readings for next week before coming to Mass.

Isaiah 43: 18-19, 21-22, 24-25.
2 Corinthians 1: 18-22.
Mark 2: 1-12.

NEXT SUNDAY 26th FEBRUARY: There will be no Mass at St Philomena’s next Sunday the 26th February.

WAREHOUSE STOCKTAKE: Friday night is now full but we still need many more volunteers to help out with the Warehouse stocktake fundraiser on the other nights. The dates of the stocktake are nightly from 22nd to 26th of February and we need about 10 people on each of the first two nights and 40 people on each night after that. We start at 8pm and go all night (usually ‘til around 3am). All funds raised will go towards sending our youth to World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro next year.  Contact Colin Fromont fromont@infogen.net.nz or 757-9953 for more information or to put your name down.

ASH WEDNESDAY: On 22nd Feb at 7.30pm we will join with the Anglican and Catholic parishes of New Plymouth area at St Joseph’s Church for the Ecumenical celebration of the distribution of ashes.

ST PHILOMENA’S PICNIC: The parish BBQ picnic will be held on Sunday 4th March after Mass in the school grounds. Please bring your own salads, refreshments and seating. Sausages, Meat Patties, plates etc supplied. EVERYONE VERY WELCOME

ST PIUS X GALA: We’d love to see you all at our Gala Day from 12-3pm on Sunday 26th February.  We guarantee there will lots of fun to be had! We are after BOOKS for our used book stall.  If you have any books you no longer want and are happy to donate them to our Gala we would really appreciate it.  You can drop them off to school anytime during the coming week.  Thank you very much and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

CARITAS LENT APPEAL: During Lent, Caritas-the Catholic agency for justice, peace and development-invites you to participate in the Caritas Lent Appeal. It is a time to pray, fast and share with others who are not as fortunate as ourselves. Caritas is an official agency of the NZ Bishops Conference, established by the Bishops as a Catholic response to poverty and injustice in the world. Caritas addresses the causes of poverty, advocates against injustice and responds to disasters. The Caritas Lent Appeal begins next Sunday. Lenten packs are attached to your newsletter. There is an envelope for each week in Lent. If you prefer to make one total donation there are special envelopes available. Ask at the Parish Office.
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WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY: The leper asked Jesus: ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ The leper had no right in law to speak to anyone. He was banished outside the camp. But Jesus meets the demands of human need with great compassion. He stretched out his hand and touched him. To Jesus the leper was not unclean, just a desperate human being. Jesus said: “Be made clean.” The leper was healed. Jesus warned the man not to tell anyone what had happened. But the cured man told everyone. I am cleansed by Christ in Baptism. I with to spread his word faithfully.

First Reading:
Leviticus 13: 1-2, 44-46.

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
2 “When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests,
44 he is a leprous man, he is unclean; the priest must pronounce him unclean; his disease is on his head.
45 “The leper who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry, `Unclean, unclean.’
46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean; he shall dwell alone in a habitation outside the camp.

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