WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY: Erik Erikson, who developed concepts around the stages of human development, wrote that the healthy child does not fear life and the healthy adult will not fear death. The Greeks wanted to see Jesus in Jerusalem. In reply to the request, Jesus speaks of a grain of wheat dying so that life is produced. He speaks of being troubled and lifted up. He speaks of his own death. Today pray in front of a crucifix. Hold it in your hand and look into Jesus’ eyes. Look at his body. Let yourself be drawn into his life and death. Pray that you will be able to follow him and serve him for the rest of your life.

First Reading:
Jeremiah 31: 31-34.

31 “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD.
33 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, `Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

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READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: For those who wish to view the readings for next week before coming to Mass.
John 12: 12-16.

CARITAS LENT APPEAL: The theme for this fifth week of lent is “Preparing for a life of service to others”. Caritas works with our school leaders to prepare students for a life of service and commitment to others. It does so by raising students’ awareness of injustice and forming them in Catholic social teaching.

CUP OF TEA: will be served next Sunday after Mass by the Parish Council.

ROSTERS: for April are now available. Please check to see if there is one for your family. Due to the large number of Sundays next month and also the Easter services, several people are having to serve several times. Apologies for this and also thank you.

MASS OF THE OILS: This Mass will be celebrated in Palmerston North on Tuesday 3rd April in the evening. Anyone wishing to attend please advise the Parish Office.

ARS NOVA CHOIR: The Passion of Our Lord. Sunday 1 April, 2pm at Taranaki Cathedral. Tickets from Joe Hignett.

AUBERT HOME OF COMPASSION, WHANGANUI:

The Sisters of Compassion have been forced to close their Whanganui Home, with immediate effect, owing to safety concerns in the event of an earthquake. As we all know, building codes in New Zealand are currently subject to strict scrutiny and the impact of such surveillance can be dramatic. The closure is a moment of deep sadness for us all: the residents and staff and their families, the Sisters, the people of Whanganui and the Diocese as a whole. Let us pray for peace and composure for the residents and staff, and let ask God, through the intercession of Suzanne Aubert, to continue to bless our communities with vocations to the Compassion Sisters whose humble and dedicated service is a source of encouragement for us all.

Bishop Charles.

NZ CATHOLIC: Headlines from the March 25–April 7 issue of NZ Catholic: Home of Compassion closes in Wanganui. Suicide rates lower in Catholic than in Protestant
nations. Joy Cowley’s Easter book launched. The miracle that made Australia’s first saint. On sale now.
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WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY: Turn off the lights tonight. Become aware of the darkness. Strike a match. Light a candle. Choose a short mantra or phrase eg Jesus light of the world or Jesus come. Pray in gratitude for what you have and who you are. Remember the candle you had at your Baptism where you become a priest, prophet and leader to carry the light of Christ to the world. Pray for the courage to live out this commitment and to be a light to the world.

First Reading:
2 Chronicles 36: 14 – 17, 19 – 23

14 All the leading priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.
15 The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place;
16 but they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words, and scoffing at his prophets, till the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, till there was no remedy.
17 Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chalde’ans, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged; he gave them all into his hand.
19 And they burned the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious vessels.
20 He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia,
21 to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfil seventy years.
22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
23 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, `The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up.’”

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

Ezekiel 37: 12-14.
Hebrews 5: 7-9 or Romans 8: 8-11
John 12: 20-33.

CARITAS LENT APPEAL: This week let us reflect the light of the world in supporting the work of Caritas Jerusalem. Donations will support community healthcare in the Holy Land. We were blessed to have Claudette Habesch, Director of Caritas Jerusalem give a public address in our cathedral on Sunday 4th March. Let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem and support their efforts for peace in the Holy Land.

COMMUNAL RITE OF RECONCILIATION: will be celebrated on Friday 23 March at 7.30pm at St Joseph’s Church.

MASS OF ANOINTING: will be celebrated on Tues 20th March at 2.30pm at St Joseph’s Church

MASS OF THE OILS: This Mass will be celebrated in Palmerston North on Tuesday 3rd April in the evening. Anyone wishing to attend please advise the Parish Office.

AUBERT HOME OF COMPASSION, WHANGANUI:

The Sisters of Compassion have been forced to close their Whanganui Home, with immediate effect, owing to safety concerns in the event of an earthquake. As we all know, building codes in New Zealand are currently subject to strict scrutiny and the impact of such surveillance can be dramatic. The closure is a moment of deep sadness for us all: the residents and staff and their families, the Sisters, the people of Whanganui and the Diocese as a whole. Let us pray for peace and composure for the residents and staff, and let ask God, through the intercession of Suzanne Aubert, to continue to bless our communities with vocations to the Compassion Sisters whose humble and dedicated service is a source of encouragement for us all. Bishop Charles.

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