WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY:  A week before this Mt Tabor experience, Jesus had told Peter, James and John that he was going to be put to death.  Now he gives them a taste of why he would endure such suffering.  Through his transfiguration Jesus wants to give them (and us) a glimpse of our won future, where we hope to live with him in glory,  Through our Lenten repentance and self-denial, putting to death our human selfishness, we too need to have our eyes lifted to our heavenly future.

First Reading:
Genesis 12: 1-4.

1     Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
2     And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
3     I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.”
4     So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

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WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY:  Some of modern society’s biggest downfalls are self-gratification, the pursuit of power, desire for self-glory, the love of money.  Adam and Eve gave into similar temptations, disobeyed God, bringing sin and death into our world.  Only God, in the person of Jesus, could bring about the restoration of our loving relationship with god.  Jesus took upon himself the death and judgement we deserved.  Where Adam caved in, Jesus withstood the devil’s temptations, not just for himself, but so that we could share in his victory over Satan.

First Reading:
Genesis 2: 7-9, 3: 1-7.

7     then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
8     And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9     And out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
1     Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, `You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?”
2     And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden;
3     but God said, `You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
4     But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die.
5     For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6     So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate.
7     Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.

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WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY: Jesus the carpenter knows all about building houses. Only the house with solid foundations can withstand the storm. Jesus asks that I listen to his word, to what his Church teaches. He challenges me to act upon that word. I hear, I do, I obey. To fail in this would be a catastrophe ( like the house on the sand). Loving obedience to Jesus is the only sure foundation for my life. Lord you are my rock, my stronghold. Lead me and guide me.

First Reading:
Deuteronomy 11: 18, 26 – 28, 32

18 “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
26 “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse:
27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day,
28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods which you have not known.
32 you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the ordinances which I set before you this day.

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ASH WEDNESDAY: March 9 is Ash Wednesday. Mass at St Philomena’s at 9am and St Joseph’s at 8am and 12.05pm. An ecumenical service will be held at the Taranaki Cathedral at 7.30pm

CUP OF TEA: Today after Mass and also a sausage sizzle.

DOVE CATHOLIC FELLOWHIP FOR WOMEN: is having a Training & Equipping Day – Equipping Women for a Deeper Prayer Life (First steps to Intercession) on 12th March at Hawera, St Joseph’s Parish 10am-3.30pm. Presenters: Jane O’Connell and Sue Gallery.  Registration $20.00.

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 16, 23, 30 March and 6, 13 April. At St Joseph’s Church from 7-9pm. Contact Cushla Low ph 759 8258 for more information

CHILDREN’S DAY: is celebrated today. The theme for 2011 is “love and affection”. The NZ Bishops fully support the community’s focus on children on this designated day. They would like to see a focus on promoting a culture of life in which every child, born and unborn, is cherished and loved within a caring family and community environment.

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 time for us to pray, fast and share with others who are not as fortunate as ourselves. The appeal begins next Sunday. Lenten packs are attached to the newsletter. There is an envelope for each week in Lent. If you prefer to make one total donation there are special envelopes available for that. Ask at the parish office.

CATHOLIC OVERSEAS VOLUNTEERS: For the list of vacancies for overseas volunteer work please see the poster on the notice board.

FR JIM RICKARD—JUBILEE: Fr Jim celebrates 60years as a priest on Thursday 10th March. An opportunity to celebrate will be on Sunday 13th at 10.30am Mass at the Bell Block Centre
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