Another attempt to trap Jesus is contained in the Gospel this Sunday. Opinions and arguments about which was the greatest commandment were common among the Pharisees and questions about it were frequently asked of rabbis. Clearly, those who asked this question of Jesus were trying to disconcert or ‘wrong foot’ Jesus in an attempt to discredit him with his reply.
Pope Francis has called Friday 27 October a day of fasting, prayer and penance.
"Dear brothers and sisters, our thoughts turn to Palestine and Israel. The number of victims is rising and the situation in Gaza is desperate.
What is on display in this story from Matthew’s Gospel is not Jesus’ clever reply, but the image of God he presents.
Pope Francis has published an Apostolic Exhortation building on his 2015 encyclical. We’re not reacting enough, he says, we’re close to breaking point. He criticises climate change deniers, saying that the human origin of global warming is now beyond doubt. And he describes how care for our common home flows from the Christian faith.
“’Praise God’ is the title of this letter. For when human beings claim to take God’s place, they become their own worst enemies.”
“Let Justice and Peace Flow” is the theme of this year’s Season of Creation, inspired by the words of the prophet Amos: “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (5:24). The ecumenical phase begins on 1 September with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and concludes on 4 October with the feast of Saint Francis.
On the 9 days before the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (16 July), we pray for the following intentions for all those in need throughout the world. The novena can be prayed at any time of the year for these intentions or for your own asking Our Lady of Mount Carmel to intercede and pray with us. The prayers and intentions can be downloaded pdf here.
The parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wentworthville, have been blessed with Carmelite friars since they were appointed by Cardinal Gilroy to care for the parish in 1956.
Today, without even knowing it, the parishioners find they are living the Carmelite charisms of contemplation, community and service.
On 14 June Brs Frangelino Ximenes, Julião Dos Santos, David Soares, Estevão De Deus Gomes and Francisco Xavier Martins will make their profession of Solemn Vows (life-long commitment) in the Carmelites. The Profession Mass will be held in our community at Hera with Fr Bruce Clark (Prior Provincial) presiding.
We are less than 70 days away from World Youth Day, the largest gathering of Catholic young people. “Mary arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39) is the theme. This year’s celebration will be held in Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal from August 1-6, 2023.
The 15th of May marks the first anniversary of the canonisation of our brother Titus Brandsma, canonised along with nine other holy men and holy women, by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square in 2022. The memory of that celebration and the days that surrounded it still live in the minds and hearts of thousands of people all around the world. It was particularly moving for all of us who had the blessing of being in Rome when the event was taking place.
