Dear friends,
We have arrived at the end of Holy Week and our eyes should hopefully open to what God through Jesus has done. The miracles of his ministry are now plain to see – “the deaf hear, the blind see and the lame walk.” We are invited into a new relationship from loss and seeming defeat to the rise of hope and joy!
We can now admit “it is not what we do but what God can do to and through us.” This is what we take forward to ‘go out and be for others’. To see, that in and through our compassion, forgiveness and faith in Jesus we can all begin anew.
To each of you let us be ‘Prophets of Hope’ – and Happy Easter!
Have a good week – God go with you
Paul
Scripture reflection: Easter Sunday Year C, 20 April 2025
The Lord is truly risen, alleluia
O God, who on this day, through your Only Begotten Son, have conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity, grant, we pray, that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit, rise up in the light of life.
LECTIONARY READINGS
First Reading: Acts 10:34, 37-43
Responsorial psalm: Ps 117(118):1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Second reading: Colossians 3:1-4 / 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Gospel: John 20:1-9
Link to readings – click here
Easter Sunday: the greatest feast of our liturgical year! May our readings fill us with hope and deep joy, whatever our circumstances may be. In our Gospel we see Mary Magdalene, running to tell the disciples about the empty tomb. Peter and the beloved disciple discover this for themselves and slowly come to believe that Jesus is risen.
Psalm 117 (118), which we will meet several times in the Easter season, is a joyful song of praise to the Lord who has triumphed over suffering and death. The First Reading, from the Acts, shows how Peter has grown in his faith. He is spreading the Good News and gives his personal witness to the Resurrection of Jesus to Gentiles as well as Jews.
Both alternatives offered for the Second Reading challenge us to live out the reality and the consequences of the Resurrection for us—we have been brought back to true life with Christ.
As Pilgrims of Hope, this Jubilee year encourages us to acknowledge that we need to pause, to give time to rest and worship. May the Easter season lead us to put aside some time for quiet each day, or maybe enable someone else to do so. We can place our trust in God who rested on the seventh day.
16th April 2024. – Message from The Passionist Provincial
Dear Brothers and Members of the Passionist Family,
From all the staff at our Province Office, Marrickville. – our best wishes for a meaningful Celebration of the Triduum and Easter. The festival of Easter brings us to the heart of the Passionist Charism and the celebration of our principal message to the world – namely, that the Passion of Jesus is the most overwhelming sign of God’s love for us.
I wish each Local Community, each of our parish communities, apostolic centres, Companions, Family Group leaders and members, Retreat Teams and ministry groups a peace-filled and renewing me over these coming days. Our leading liturgies, celebrating sacraments, celebrating devotions like the Stations of the Cross, hosting groups, sharing meals and joining so many of the people of God in this most significant time, I am sure all will enjoy the quieter days that follow Easter. For those students taking a brief break from studies and to all our brothers in nursing care or resting after the busyness of the days of celebration, I hope it is an enjoyable respite.
A fuller newsletter will be published next week. Communities are invited to send some photos of celebrations in your local area.
Denis Travers, C.P., Provincial
Reflection Songs:
Good Friday: ‘We are the People of the Cross’ video link is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DksMpQTHMV0
Easter: Living Hope –
Click on this link: https://youtu.be/rc5wtRjgaI8?si=eVboAUYTXzAQV8JJ
A couple of reflections that may be of assistance in preparing for Easter
Way of the Cross 2
Former YTU president and lecturer, Fr Tony Kelly and former YTU lecturer Fr John Hill, both of whom are theologians and members of the Redemptorist Congregation, offer a reflection using aboriginal imagery and music, to modernise our reflection on the ‘stations’ of the cross. The reflection is 22 minutes long and can be viewed on YouTube at this address:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBQQFAc00Zg
‘The Seven Last Words’
This reflection including the imagery and music was created by Sr Brigid CP and illustrated with music added by Sr Karen CP. Both are based in Melbourne.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07nSsA5gtFw
Formation: As stated in the last newsletter as part of this Jubilee Year Paul will be offering to visit parishes and or regions to conduct a mini formation using two talks and discussion/sharing opportunities – one on ‘Belonging’ and the “On Being Church – Why community matters?”. If you or your community or region would like a presentation please let Paul know and dates that would suit you.
At this stage East Coast Bays 29th April Hawkes Bay are looking at May 10th. Mt Maunganui and Whakatane 26th & 27th July and Ashburton August 3rd Christchurch August 10th for Formation
Reflections of the PFG meetings:
- While we have some green shoots we are also experiencing the ageing effects of PFG’s and the lack of new blood so to speak. Illnesses and sickness have meant that we have lost PFG members and the result is grief and loss.
- There are questions of how to engage with the other cultures that now dominate the pews of our churches. We have to find ways of understanding their faith and culture without expecting them to follow ours.
- Many have started the year slowly but are organising their planning for the year. This is critical for us to function.
- We would do well to move to having ‘connections’ within our group rather than worrying about the next function. Involve people through passing on our contact lists and each week find someone you haven’t spoken to and give then a call. This is a positive process for those house bound
- Many have been isolated and just plodding along but there was a sense that we need to promote and move out to engage with our faith communities.
- There is enthusiasm for ‘relaunching PFG’s in parishes and the need to invite and speak to all about PFG;s and be welcoming.
- There is energy to engage with PP’s and Pastoral Councils to support promotion and relaunches of PFG’s.
- In his role Paul wishes to seek to find ways to support, enthuse and encourage support and growth but it is something we all have to work on and with. Our call is to be family and through care, hope, faith and love for one another we can and will be the difference in sustaining and creating community.
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
Please remember in your thoughts and prayer:
- Please remember Maggi Gribble whose brother Peter died on Tuesday April 1st. Maggi is now is the last of her seven siblings. Remember her family ad Charlie.
- Please keep Linda Darbyshire and family in your prayer.
- Please remember Jocelyn Bryant, Kev and family in your prayer.
- Robyn Burns (Hill;) –.. Our thoughts and prayer are with Robyn as she recovers slowly. We also remember, her husband Andrew and their children
- Remember Rencha who is dealing with cancer.
- Please remember Sean and Ann Mulcahy who are both battling major health issues
- Lease keep Di Buckley in your prayer she is recovering from a stroke
- Christine Geoghegan daughter Kate and extended families
- Pat Smith RIP and keep in prayer Maureen and family; Remember Rod Carson and remember Pat and family; Maureen and Graeme Matthews;; Adrian van de Pas and her son Robert ; Graeme and Margaret Armstrong
- Jenny Epplett, Preston, Kate and family ;
- Please remember Paul Davenport and his wife Jill;
- Clair and Ray Hague;
- Terry Nelson’s family;. Brian and Eleanor McFlynn ; Bryan Davidson;
- Tim Bartell’s son Sam and family ; Richard and Sue Gibbs;
- Charlie and Maggi and their daughter and her partner in prayer.
- Keep in mind all those who are struggling with various aspects of mental health;; Keep people in Gaza and Israel in your prayer along with the people of the people of Ukraine: Keep in prayer the people of Sudan and Syria.
- Martin and Sally van der Wetering; Phil and Anne Drew;
- 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 pray for Dot and Neill Wilson (Invercargill)
.
- Your own intentions
We pray the Jubilee Prayer for ourselves and our world.
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
Humour:
- Why did the belt get arrested? It held up a pair of pants.
- How do bees get to school? On the school buzz.
- What do you call a teenager that refuses to grow up? Constantine.
- What do horses do when it’s time for bed? Hit the hay.
- Where do fingers grow? On palm trees.
- What did one eye say to the other? Between us, something smells.
We are a “Family for All”