Morena – Good morning,
I have found some solace in the gospel this Sunday – a gospel that once again has mentioned those who are mystified by the words of Jesus…things like “I am the bread come down from heaven”, “to have seen me is to see the father”, “no one comes to the Father except through me” and we could go on and on.
Like a lot of aspects of ‘religion’ we want to control life and God; although, we do not admit to that! Understandably, people want structures and preferably structures that lead them to be closer to God. They go to mass, receive the sacraments and see this as what is expected of them. A read of the gospels will alter this belief if one owns it. As Jesus said, “ I do not want sacrifice, I want mercy”
So, a question for me and to myself is “What structures do I believe in and place my heart into?” My Passionist Family Group work has me travelling all over New Zealand where I meet with very good people who are generous, thoughtful, caring and concerned for others. I meet many who are disillusioned with the church and its conservative direction. They feel disillusioned; as it does not reflect what they see and believe from their reflection on the gospels and scripture.
There are those who for lots of reasons want to go back to days gone by and this points to some decisiveness, some direction, some concrete way of following Jesus. They want an outside authority – Jesus in his healing always asked what people wanted him to do- I’ll call it respect and responsibility. I trust and believe that they are trying their best to live out their belief. However, for me, I trip over what Jesus was saying to his disciples and to anyone who would listen. To have God as our centre – that means the social justice aspects of our faith cannot be minimalised. It challenges me to see every act should be about welcoming others, forgiving them, showing and demonstrating compassion and in all things building a faith that is entrenched in ‘service’.
Now, in all humility I find this the harder call as it means stopping , listening, connecting and accepting people where they are. It means for me to get over myself and stop blocking the ‘spirit’. It calls me to be not afraid and face both my fears and frustrations. These, I feel and see every day like many Parish and group coordinators of PFG’s. Many of these carry hurt and disappointment when people don’t acknowledge communication, who choose not to attend functions, people who have not been communicated with, people who choose to keep their group going but not mentor or support new ones. People who see new cultures in our midst but do not actively welcome them. They challenge me too! How do we incorporate them into parish life even when at times their outward faith is different.
I can understand from this viewpoint like in the gospel this Sunday why disciples left Jesus. We like the trappings of religion and sometimes more than what Jesus calls us to. Life is not easy and many across our country are struggling, frightened and then across the planet the story is worse. Everywhere, we see people disconnecting and the result is showing more isolation, loneliness, and insulation. We have something in Passionist Family Groups that I believe is an antidote to this; this is connecting, meeting people where they are, serving through our compassion, empathy and understanding. Adopting a listening attitude and seeing with eyes that Jesus has – seeing peoples loss; their pain; and in and through a word or a gesture of kindness, we can make all things new. We can give people a reason to live.
This approach to others gives is the real meaning of Eucharist – from the word ‘Berekah’ which means thanksgiving, or praise for the wonderful works of God.!! This ‘gratitude’ leads us, nurtures us, encourages us to be a beacon for others to give hope and bring to life the attitude of Jesus. That pain and suffering of life becomes a way for us to more deeply live in the mind and heart of Jesus. To God be the greater glory and as we go we bring others along thoug our warmth, humour, care, concern and willingness to be there. As I often quote, Oscar Romero: “ask not to have more but to be more”
You will get a break from me over the next six weeks. I am travelling OS with Clare and undertaking five weeks in the US and Ireland. Hooray!! I am happy to say that Bernadette Lyon-Manning, Shelley and Graham Ward and Kerry and John Kleinsman will each take up the role of sending out the newsletter and reflection. I know they will do great job and they have a full license to do things differently. It opens up a path to change and we’ll just have to see where it leads.
NB: Can I please get some feedback on the Aims and Goals. See below in this newsletter.
Have a good week – God go with you
Nga Mihi,
Paul
Scripture reflection: The Lord is close to the broken hearted
Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 25 August 2024.
O God, who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found.
LECTIONARY READINGS
First reading: Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18
Responsorial psalm: Ps 33(34):2-3, 16-23
Second reading: Ephesians 5:21-32
Gospel: John 6:60-69
Link to readings – click here
This Sunday, the readings invite us to consider honestly the depth of our love for the Lord. The same challenging questions once put to the Israelites by Joshua, and later to the disciples by Jesus, are being asked of us today. Today’s Gospel depicts a moment of crisis for Jesus’s followers. Some, who have already said yes to him, are now finding it difficult to accept what he is claiming. Jesus wonders aloud how they will respond to what is to come.
In the First Reading the people of Israel, too, are offered a clear choice: do they want to serve God, or desert God? They respond by declaring: ‘we have no intention of deserting the Lord our God.’ In the mystery of spousal choice, submission and loving service, the Second Reading offers us an allegory for the Church’s relationship to Christ. The Psalm shows what this service looks, feels, and tastes like. It is in the form of the goodness of the Lord, who chooses to be close to us, especially in our distress.
This week, let’s trust in the closeness of the Lord, who offers us freedom whilst freely choosing us; the Lord who is good, and who always works for our goodness.
SHARE YOUR PFG STORY:
If you and your Passionist Family Group have a story either past or present to share, then, can I encourage you to do so. I think these stories encourage and advise new and old members to see how these PFG’s illustrate how a Family Group has been an intrinsic part of our lives.
Let’s hear from our Aotearoa groups. Sharing some of your Passionist Family Group stories.
Please email Paul Traynor paulus663@gmail.com – let your words tell us your stories.
St Joseph’s Levin Passionist Mid-Winter Christmas:
We decided it was time to hold a combined family group event in our parish which turned out to be a resounding success. Our organising committee of 3 couples did an amazing job securing a free venue, setting up the beautifully decorated tables, organising a menu and offering mulled wine on arrival. It was a shared buffet lunch with each attendee choosing from a list of dishes to bring. Our Parish Priest was so impressed with all the food he included a mention of it in his homily about feeding the five thousand the following week!
It wasn’t all about eating and we were entertained between courses by a hilarious game of Pass the Parcel and a Christmas Quiz.
It was a great way to have an affordable afternoon of fellowship and fun and it looks like it’s now going to be an annual event – although it seems we’ll need a bigger venue due to demand.
Blessings
Tony and Leonie Strawbridge – Parish Coordinator
These simple and true stories of the spirit and down to earthiness of Passionist Family Groups. Our Motto – “A Family for All”.
Review of our Passionist Family Groups Aims and Goals
Our Australian PFG counterparts have proposed to review our PFG Aims and Goals and invited us to consider joining with them in a review which I thought would be a positive initiative if for no other reason to enlighten our PFG’s that our measure of how we are and how we are going in our groups should be measured through and with these PFG Aims and Goals.
Tina Minichilli, National Coordinator for Australia spoke recently with her National Team and Passionist Advisor Brian Traynor, about the exercise of reviewing the current Aims & Goals of the Movement. They spoke about the consultation process and the wider family. Below are the PFGM Aims & Goals.
“We discussed that as the Aims & Goals are important we would like to open the feedback to the wider group, such as Parish Coordinators, Key Family Group leaders and people that you identify as key people that can assist with this dialogue in your area/location etc……..
Can I ask that you contact your key people requesting their assistance/ help/ opinion on their thoughts of the Aims & Goals please?
The key objectives from conversations I have been involved with Family Group members is that the aims & goals were very valid years ago but we think they need to be updated.
- Are they still valid
- Are the Aims & Goals representative of our ministry?
- Do they need rewording?
I know you will have your own questions and there are other questions to ask, I am sure.”
AIMS & GOALS PFGM – The original aims and goals
To live and love like the early Christians (see how they love one another)
To share our Christian values
To give example to and involve our children in Christian sharing
To build and promote community in the parish
To support one another in times of need and celebration
Thank you all for your support and understanding – look forward to some feedback.
Send feedback to Paul Traynor paulus663@gmail.com by August 28th, 2024
Reminder: 5 Aims and Goals
- share & celebrate life & faith
- support one another (especially in need)
- reaching out to & include others
- build community/extended family
- show and give example to children
Pease remember in your thoughts and prayer:
- Please Jenny Epplett, Preston and family after the death of her brother which was very sudden. Also, other family loss and daughter who is in need of support.
- Please keep Jocelyn Bryant who recently told that her cancer had moved from stable to progressive. She began 3 weeks of radiation therapy also remember her husband Kevin and family, in your thoughts and prayer
- Please remember Paul Davenport and his wife Jill who is under the grip of dementia. Tough times.
- Remember Leanne Hintz daughter of Clair and Ray Hague who died recently from Levin and all the family
- Robyn Burns (Hill) she is now home and the next part of recuperation begins. She has a long recovery time. She continues making good progress.
- Please remember Terry Nelson’s family in your prayers. Terry died last week.
- Please keep Brian McFlynn in our prayers who is undergoing cancer treatment. Also, his wife Eleanor and their family in your prayers..
- Please keep Paul and Linda Darbyshire in your thoughts and prayer amid new challenges they face. They are in need of prayerful support.
- Please keep in your prayer Tim Bartell’s son, Sam who is currently in hospital. Prayerful support for Sue and Tom and mum Sue.
- Please keep Christine Geoghegan and family in your thoughts and prayer.
- Please keep Richard Gibbs in your prayer he continues to slowly improve. Remember his wife Sue who has just been a pillar over the past 3 years.
- Please keep Robert van de Pas in your prayers Also Adriana his mother who is supporting him.
- Please remember Preston and Jenny Epplett’s daughter she has just completed her course of chemotherapy
- Please keep Debbi Davidson’s husband Bryan in your prayer
- Please keep Charlie and Maggi in your thoughts and prayer as they support their daughter and her partner
- Keep in mind all those who are struggling with various aspects of mental health.
- Please remember Martin van der Wetering in your prayers as his health still is causing him grief and discomfort.
- Please remember Phil Drew a former Passionist along with his wife Anne and family
- Please keep in your prayers those who continue to deal with the after effects of droughts on the horn of Africa. Also weather effects on other countries across the planet
- Please keep Bob Buckley in your prayers-
- Keep in prayer the people of Ukraine
- Keep people in Gaza and Israel in your prayer – these acts from both sides have had a horrible effect on the innocent as always.
- Please pray for Dot and Neill Wilson (Invercargill) – their son-in-law Mark married to Dot’s daughter Anita has been diagnosed with aggressive brain tumour, Please keep in mind their daughter Bailey and son Taylor.
- Remember Pat and Rod Carson
- Your own intentions
Humour:
For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
The conclusion seems to be that you should eat and drink what you like. Apparently it is speaking English that kills you.
- Why shouldn’t you play tennis in the jungle? Too many cheetahs.
- What does a sports fan have in common with an angry chicken? A foul mouth.
- Why couldn’t the baby score in basketball? He was always dribbling.
- “I’m afraid for the calendar. Its days are numbered.”
- “My wife said I should do lunges to stay in shape. That would be a big step forward.”
- “Singing in the shower is fun until you get soap in your mouth. Then it’s a soap opera.”
- “What do a tick and the Eiffel Tower have in common?” “They’re both Paris sites.”
- “What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie?” “Sofishticated.”
- “How do you follow Will Smith in the snow?” “You follow the fresh prints.”