Reflection by Fr. Richard Leonard SJ.

There are people inside and outside the Church who think that Christ did not give the Church a mandate to speak about political matters. They regularly quote the Gospel we have just heard to support their case. But if one knows and understands the context and meaning within which this text was written it provides no ammunition for those who want the Church to stay indoors, reflect on things ‘spiritual’, preach the eternal verities, and sing hymns more ancient than modern.

In Jesus’ day, we know that some people thought he was a Zealot. Zealots were a well-organised group who agitated for the end of the Roman occupation of Israel. One of the things Zealots did was withhold paying the Roman taxes. We can see why some people thought Jesus may have been a Zealot. He took the part of the poor, the sick, women and those who lived on the fringes of society. He attacked the religious authorities of his day and certainly stirred up trouble in many places he went. On the other hand he rejected violence, taught his followers to pray for their enemies and to return good for evil. Jesus showed us that the justice and equality God longs to see in the world comes from a community which is converted by love, not by weapons, fear or revenge. Jesus was no Zealot.

Rather than undermine civil authority, however, Jesus, in this passage, supports it. But he does more. ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s’ is followed by ‘And give to God, what is God's’, which encompasses all the Caesars of this world, all civil authorities and states. The sense that we as the People of God can split off our obligations to the Gospel from the State is as false as it’s dangerous.

We only have to think of some of the darkest chapters last century to see what happens when good, church-going people, like us, do not put their Sunday devotion in touch with their Monday politics. Evil can reign.

Christian leaders, who are charged to proclaim and defend the Gospel, are obliged to use whatever forum necessary to declare that God’s personal love encompasses everyone and everything under heaven. As the prophet Isaiah reminds us today, God calls each one of us by name.

At times we may not agree with our religious leaders; we may think them ill informed; we may even think they have overstepped the mark. If this is the case we should tell them, enable them to consider other perspectives and to broaden the basis upon which they make their judgments. But we should never be seduced by those who want the Church sidelined from the mainstream of the debates that shape the way we live, the values we share, the laws we draft and the priorities we draw up for our human community.

If the Church shows disinterest in any of this, it is untrue to the very things for which Jesus lived, died and was raised from the dead. By all means we should give to Caesar all that Caesar is justly entitled to have for the sake of the common good. A higher allegiance, however, goes to God, who will call all Caesars to account for what they have done and what they failed to do. And we might be asked to explain how we let them get away with it in the first place.

As a community that values the gifts of all who participate in our parish, I extend an invitation to all to join in thanking

those who help with ministries each weekend. Please come along to a thanksgiving Mass at 5.30pm followed by a BBQ on the 27th November. BYO salad and drinks. Please come along

a take a moment to be thankful and enjoy a social parish evening together.

Fancy a game of Indoor Bowls or Cards? Come along to the Parish Centre at 9.30am on the 23rd October. New faces very welcome to this social

morning.

Jane Blomley is looking for some volunteers to help with this Friday’s luncheon. If you can help

please call her on 0401 042 041

The next St. Mary’s Luncheon will be held on the 27th October

(pre Melbourne Cup), commencing at 11.30am

in the Parish Centre. Come and enjoy some fellowship with friends.

All Welcome.

St Vincent De Paul Meeting St. Vinnies Shop, 30th October, at 5.00pm

Parish Finance Committee Monday, 23rd October at 5.30pm

in the Parish Centre.

DON’T FORGET THE GOLF DAY!! 19/11/17 Nominations now open for a three ball

Ambrose competition, with great prizes. Please nominate at the Pro Shop. If you are not a golfer, please come out in the afternoon

to relax and enjoy the free BBQ!! A great opportunity for a gathering of School and

Parish.

The Goondiwindi Pastoral Care team and church ministers invite you to a memorial service and tree planting to honour the lives of our loved ones who have died since August last year. This annual ceremony will take

place at the Goondiwindi Cemetery on Monday, 13th November at 5.30pm. Please bring a chair, if you are able.

At the end of last month, Layla May

Marion Smith was baptised into the St

Mary’s church family. She is the

daughter of Justin & Sarah. May God

walk with this family through life’s

journey,

GROUNDS ROSTER

OCTOBER: THOMPSON FAMILY

NOVEMBER: ALAN AND MARK WELSH

& TERRY RYAN

VOLUNTEERS

MASS TIMES Wednesday (25/10) …....Rosary at 5.10pm…….. Mass 5.30pm

Thursday (26/10).. St Mary’s Adoration 5.00pm – 6.00pm Friday (27/10) No Mass or service.

21/22nd October, 2017

SATURDAY EVENING: NO MASS DUE TO MOONLIGHT CARNIVAL SUNDAY MORNING: 8.00am Goondiwindi

No Family Mass at 9.30am SUNDAY EVENING MASS: 6.00pm Goondiwindi

28th/29th October, 2017

SUNDAY MORNING: 9.00am Goondiwindi

4th/5th November, 2017 NOTE CHANGE OF MASS TIME SUNDAY EVENING: 6.00pm Goondiwindi

No Mass at Weengallon or Daymar.

11th/12th November, 2017 SUNDAY EVENING: 6.00pm Goondiwindi

18th/19 November, 2017 SUNDAY MORNING: 9.00am (followed by Golf Day!)

WE PRAY FOR Those who have entered your kingdom: including,

Muriel “Sis” Plain (Len Cleal’s sister), Robert Miller, Elaine Symes, June

Corish, Ted Heironymus, Gloria Glasser, Therese Sullivan, Helen

Farrell, Fr. Merv Ziesing, Joan Lawson, Thea McNaulty, Kevin “Skeet”

McMaster, David Hollis, Frank Lawless (Stasia’s son), Pauline Pollock,

Monica Peters (Kath Gore’s Aunt), John Clancy, Margaret Cook, Marie

Dutton, Patricia MacBeth (Lismore), Kevin Heironymus, Patricia Manton,

Helen Zeller, Richard Everingham, Rosemary Keehn, Jim Coleman, Tim

Murphy, Margaret Piedl, Margaret Murphy, Glen Manton, Father Tom

Sheeran, Veronica Rayner, Grant Carrigan, Isabel Coleman.

For all whose anniversary is at this time: including including Vera

Benson, Tim Thompson, Colin “Leo” Lowe, Darrell “Darby” Lowe,

Anthony “Tony” Carrigan, Leonie Choice, Tony Lloyd, Mark Batchelor,

Raymond McKenna, Teresa Butler, Anna Van Kuijck, Nancy Thurecht,

Peter Ints, Keith & Myrtle Cook, Maria Magoffin, Chris Finlayson, Shirley

Byrne, David Hiles, Mona O’Brien, Ziggy Schmidt, Terence Collins, Alma

Rigney, William “Des” Whittle, Joseph Fraser, Olive Thompson, Noel

McGovern, Jill Field, Frank Holland, Trish Taylor, Madeline Cubby,

Noela McDonald, Barbara Bardsley, Mary Cannon, Rita Johnson, Frank

Smith,

For those who are ill: including John Abbot, Peter Gore, Angus

Rigney, Steve Aspinall, Jan Jan Charles, Tom Turvey, Bill Dyer, Trish

Dyer, Brian Freeney, Pat & Teresa Mullins, Deanna Dawson, Anne

Hunt, Kevin Lawless, Ray Mackie, Peter Keehn, Joan Fleming, Frank

Brosnan, Gloria Bale, David Croft, Tim Bourke, Joe Cowmeadow,

Shirley Schluter, Stasia Lawless, Paul Lloyd, Mavis Gordon, Jean

Ramada, Stella McGovern, Jean Sizer, Francis Lloyd, Madonna

Nicoletti, Kathy McDonald, Steph Adamson, Bailey Brennan, Pauline

Robinson, Win Skinner, Sonya Horrigan, Helen Paige, John Toohey,

Marie Cook, Phillip Carney, Shirley Riley, and Joseph Hord; also those

ill at home, in hospital and for those in Kaloma.

WELCOMERS AT DOOR

FAY PFINGST & PAULINE CORCORAN (21/10)

DOREEN IRELAND & SHAN PURCELL (29/10)

ROS PHILLIPS & TRISH WELSH (04/11)

WELCOMER AT MICROPHONE

GRAHAM MCGOVERN (21/10)

ST MARY’S SCHOOL (29/10)

ANNE WEBSTER (04/11)

1ST

READER/PSALM

VOLUNTEER NEEDED (21/10)

VOLUNTEER NEEDED (29/10)

GRAHAM MCGOVERN (04/11)

2ND

READING/ALLELUIA

MARY BURCHELL (21/10)

ANNE WEBSTER (29/10)

YVONNE ISAAK (04/11)

EUCHARIST MINISTERS

CARMEL GEESON, DAWN CLANCY &

CAMILLE KELLOWAY (21/10)

MICK CLANCY, ROS PHILLIPS &

MARY BURCHELL (29/10)

ST MARY’S SCHOOL X2 &

CARMEL SCHAUMBURG (04/11)

DATA PROJECTOR

CARMEL SCHAUMBURG (21/10)

LEEANN WELSH (29/10)

ROS PHILLIPS (04/11)

MONEY COUNTERS

KERRY O’CONNOR & CLAIRE CHARLES (21/10)

TERRY & MARGARET RYAN (29/10)

DENISE MCCORMACK & JENNIFER LAWLESS

(04/11)

Thank-you for your contributions:

16/10/17

Envelopes: $285.00 Loose:$265.80

Parish Bank A/C Details

A/C Name: ADF St Mary’s Parish

Goondiwindi

BSB: 064-786

A/C Number: 518826001

If paying by direct deposit, please use your

initials/surname as the reference

THANK-YOU FOR YOUR Contributions: 2

ENVELOPES $324.00 LOOSE $165.00

29TH

SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

22ND

OCTOBER, 2017

Introduction

Today’s readings continue our reflection on who God is and what God expects of us. In

the Judeo-Christian tradition, this understanding gradually evolved among

alternate views. We face similar challenges today. How does our faith relate to other

important commitments we have, such as law, politics, etc. And who is this God in whom we believe? Jesus confronted these questions, and his answer is unambiguous and risky.

How do we answer the questions in our own lives?

First Reading

Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 “There is no God besides me”

Responsorial Psalm

Give the Lord glory and honour

Second Reading Thessalonians 1:1-5

Paul greets the Thessalonians in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

ALLELLUIA! ALLELLUIA!

Shine on the world like bright stars; you are offering it the word of life.

ALLELUIA!

Gospel Matthew 22:15-21

Give to God what belongs to God.

Prayers of the Faithful

For the whole church, that we may respond to the challenge given to us by

Christ … we pray,

For leaders who do not use their gifts for the prosperous future of the whole

human community … we pray,

For those who do not appreciate or trust the gifts they have been given

… we pray,

For all in this community who need help or encouragement, especially the sick or lonely, the discouraged or depressed …

we pray,

For all in this community who are in special need of love and compassion, especially the sick, the dying and the

grieving…we pray,

Let us pray together:

Generous God, you are the giver of all that we have. Give us the vision,

courage and strength to use our gifts to benefit others. At this time, and in this place, we pray that we may be

people of light. We humbly ask this in

Jesus’ name. Amen

Parish Priest: Fr. Michael O’Brien Phone: 0422 308 955 or 4671 1091 St Mary’s School: Mr Brett Pollard Ph: 4671 1730 Care for the Aged Co-ordinator: Mrs Jane Blomley Ph: 4675 4132 Parish Safeguarding Rep: Carmel Schaumberg 0419 786 738

Father Michael’s house Phone: 4671 1091 stmarysgdi@bigpond.com 69 Callandoon Street or PO Box 45, Goondiwindi 4390

Parish Secretary:

Mrs Kath Gore

Friday:

9.30am – 3.00pm

PARISH INFORMATION