CCCCatholic ink inkinkinkL Easter FeastsAscension of the Lord Year C Divine Office: Week III 2 June 2019

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SUNDAY MASSENTRANCE ANTIPHON:Men of Galilee, why gaze in wonder at the heavens? This Jesus whom you saw ascending into heaven will return as you saw him go, alleluia.FIRST READING: Acts 1:1-11.RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 47.RESPONSE:God has gone up with shouts of joy. The Lord goes up with trumpet blast.1. All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, The great king over all the earth. ℟2. God goes up with shouts of joy. The Lord goes up with trumpet blast. Sing praise for God; sing praise! Sing praise to our king; sing praise! ℟3. God is king of all the earth. Sing praise with all your skill. God reigns over the nations. God sits upon his holy throne. ℟SECOND READING: Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23.GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:Alleluia, alleluia. Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, to the close of the age. Alleluia.GOSPEL: Luke 24:46-53.COMMUNION ANTIPHON:Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, alleluia.

Ascension

A painting of the Ascension at the Ubisi Monastery in Georgia, USA

AFTER his resurrection from the dead Jesus showed himself physically to his disciples, both individually as well as collectively, talking with them and even sharing breakfast with them (John 21:12). Yet recall what he said to Mary Magdalene: “Do not cling to me for I have not yet ascended to the Father” (John 20 :17). Th is means that, by his ascension, Jesus wants to take us beyond visible physical characteristics so as to enter into a more p r o f o u n d w a y o f relating to him. Not that Jesus , hav ing ascended , i s now automatically disembodied. His is still “some-body”! He is still “friend” (John 15:15) and “Lord” (John 13:13) to whom we can relate. But now his body is glorious, transfigured by its nearness to the Father, at God’s “right hand”.

It is amazing to think that, by his ascension Christ takes our humanity into heaven, into the realm of life in God. He remains the incarnate Son of God having assumed our human f lesh into himself but bearing it now into the glory of heaven. So even after his glorious ascension we can relate to Jesus as a fellow human being who understands us from the inside and draws us upward, beyond our imagined human limitations into heavenly intimacy, literally.

The “ f lesh” of Jesus, now transformed by ascension, becomes transformative in its turn. This is pure grace for us. It allows us to look beyond the clouds towards our true identity and destiny yet keep our feet on the ground as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Yes, life can be tough and there are

moments when it seems to have no meaning. The Book of Ecclesiastes says that “all is vanity and chasing of the wind.” It is tempting to settle for a negative attitude to life. But the Ascension

invites us beyond the vagueness and vanity of life into the fullness of life in Christ in whom a new and reconciled humanity comes into being.

Nonetheless , the ascension of Christ implies his invisibility, whatever our artistic depictions and other imaginative represent-ations may say to the

contrar y. He has passed beyond our

sight. True, he promises to be present where two or three are gathered in his name. He assures us that he is really present wherever the Eucharist is celebrated. He himself speaks to us wherever his word is proclaimed in the scriptures. But our experience of this abiding and invisible presence can only be by faith. “Blessed are those who have not seen yet believe” (John 20:29). Jesus’ ascent to the Father inspires in us the patience and hope we need in waiting for the return of Christ. The earliest recorded Christian prayer is, “Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus!” (1 Corinthians 16:22; Revelations 22:20).

Faith does not wait in vain. Faith in the ascended One awaits the f inal revelation of Jesus. This is the meaning of hope. Christians are people who live by hope. But hope is not passive. Acts of Christian charity and service, of justice and peace, of kindness and compassion, are hope in action. As my old granny used to say, “There’ll be no criticizing in heaven so you might as well start practicing now!”

Live the Word T H E W E E K A H E A D

(KEY: SOLEMNITY; FEAST; Memorial; (Optional Memorial)M=Martyr; B=Bishop;

Mon 3 Jun St Charles Lwanga & comps., MsActs 19:1-8; Psalm 68; John 16:29-33Promising him that they would let him go if he re-nounced his faith, Charles Lwanga refused saying, “You are burning me, but it is as if you are pouring water over my body. Repent and become a Christian like me.”

Sun 9 Jun PENTECOSTActs 2:1-11; Psalm 104; John 14:15-16.23-26When you strip it of everything else, Pentecost stands for power and life. That's what came into the church when the Holy Spirit came down on the day of Pentecost. – David Wilkerson

Sat 8 Jun Liturgy of the DayActs 28:16-20.30-31; Psalm 11; John 21:20-25Paul used his prison time for prayer and conversation about faith and trust in God. His body was confined by bars or walls but not his spirit. Lord, wherever we are, help us find hope in tomorrow.

Fri 7 Jun Liturgy of the DayActs 25:13-21; Psalm 103; John 21:15-19In prayerful reflection, replace Peter in today’s gospel story with yourself. How do you respond to Jesus’ question “do you love me”? What commitment are you prepared to make to Jesus?

Thu 6 Jun (St Norbert, B)Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Psalm 16; John 17:20-26"O Priest! Take care lest what was said to Christ on the cross be said to you: He saved others, himself he cannot save!" – St Norbert, on the day of his ordina-tion to the priesthood.

Wed 5 Jun St Boniface, BMActs 20:28-38; Psalm 68; John 17:11-19The Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship, but to keep her on her course – St Boniface.

Tue 4 Jun Liturgy of the DayActs 20:17-27; Psalm 68; John 17:1-11While some paths are better than others, whatever path we may discern for ourselves in life, God is with us in all of them. Be joyful that God is with you wherever you are.

HOLY REDEEMER PARISH

Parish Priest: Fr. Anthony Padua CSsR e-mail: parishpriest@holyredeemer.co.za

Tel: 021 71 222 10 or 712 1181 Secretary: parish@holyredeemer.co.za

www.holyredeemer.co.za - Naquita.hendricks@gmail.com

Weekly diary 1st/2nd June 2019 Pg 849 Mass Intentions

1st Saturday 6pm

Ascension of the Lord

Birthday blessings for Dennis Farelo

2nd Sunday 7am 9am 11am 6pm

Leon Fernandez RIP Yvonne Franks RIP Parishioners Mortuary List

3rd Monday 6.15am 8.30am

91st Birthday of

Redemptorist Community Fr. Ralph De Hahn

4th Tuesday 6.15am 8.30am

Sr. Julia OP RIP Antonio Gorgulho RIP

5th Wed 6.15am 8.30am

Redemptorists RIP Shiela de la Cruz RIP

6th Thursday 6.15am 8.30am

50th Wedding Anniv

Benefactors of Redemptorist Carole & Cass Muller

7th Friday 6.15am 8.30am

Sr Alphonsus Padua RIP Barry & Val’s Intentions

8th Saturday 8.30am 6pm

Vivian & Leonard Craig RIP Special Intention

9th Sunday 7am 9am 11am 6pm

PENTECOST the birth of the Church!

Parishioners Irene & Clifford da Silva RIP Basil G Van Schalkwyk RIP Mortuary List

Please pray our sick: Helga Boyles, Pam Cable, Gloriana Cloete,

Dulcie Da Silva, Mavis Da Silva, Wilf de Hahn, Matthew Ford,

Caryn Gortan, Peter Hansen, Dale Heynes, Dawn Heynes, Russell

Heynes, Kerry Heideman, George Hitchman, Marcel Le Breton,

Gerald Louw, Fr. Lunny, Dennis Michaels, Di Owens, Monty

Pasqualie, Ernest Peskin, Wynand Rinkwest, Sybil Robbins, Elaine

Roodt, Jean Rother, Marion Samuels, Anthony Scott, Elizabeth

Scott, Jane September, Lionel September and Margie

Wilhelm, Bertha Hendricks, Linda Moses, Keith Gomez, Meg

Vincentini, Trevor de Beer, Carol-Ann Scholtz, Silvia Peters, Tracy

van Wyk, Priscilla Hickey, Fr. Duncan Blackie.

What is happening in our parish?

Monday 3rd : Finance meeting in the boardroom at 7pm.

Tuesday 4th : Care and Craft after 8.30 Mass in Centre.

RCIA: begins at 7pm in the Edna Cottle Room

Charismatic Praise and Worship at 7.30pm in room 1

Wednesday 5th: Alpha meeting at 7pmin Edna Cottle Room.

Thursday 6TH h: Novena at 7.30pm

Badminton in the Parish Centre.

Saturday 8th: Legion of Mary 9.15am. •

Baptism instruction: 1pm – 4.30pm. Please download application

form from our site or collect one from the parish and return it

before 8th.

The repository will be in the porch before and after all the Masses on 1st/2nd June. Please support us!

FUTURE MEETINGS/ETC

Seniors meeting on Thursday 6th June in the Parish

Centre.

Happy to donate? Use snapscan to make a donation.

mailto:parish@holyredeemer.co.za

Time, Talent and Treasure Corner

Highlighting opportunities for Parishioners to contribute to their Church and

Parish with time, talent or treasure.

Planned Giving Renewals and Census – coming your way.

Its time to refresh our Parish community database. Parish Council would like to

combine our Planned Giving renewals in May/June with a census update of

families, full names, email addresses and contact details. Watch bulletin!

The Taize conference - Pilgrimage planning update:

Sheila Duchenne and Sarah Lee Pimentel will coordinate our parish participation in helping support the Taizé pilgrims travelling to Cape Town in September. Please consider hosting 2 or more Pilgrims for 25-29 September. (Sleeping space, breakfast and transport to our parish). Watch the bulletin for info. Google Taizé or download Taizé music to experience the wonderful relaxing yet powerful form of Praise and Worship.

LAUDATO SI’ Care for our Common Home - The planet In line with Pope Francis guidance and focus on Our Common Home , our parish PPC is delighted to advise that Toni Zill, Sarah-Leigh Pimentel and Carol Cornell have offered to form a working group to help us as a Parish community understand how we as a parish and as individuals can change habits to help create a more sustainable Planet - Whether it is recycling our waste or resisting single use plastics, there are many small things we can do which collectively can ‘Make a Difference’. Anette Milner is offering her services for family or individual counselling. Please contact her at 021 – 715 8177 or 083 7100 598.

Maintenance request for help

• We need to replace the spotlights on the crucifix in the church. This requires a high access ladder and safety focus.

• We also need to repaint and repair the St Gerard’s Chapel walls after a major roof leak, since repaired.

• Building repairs (plaster and arch support) are needed for the Atrium and Church.

Anyone with the experience and equipment to do this please contact the Parish office - 021 7122210

Application forms:

We are asking parents whose children are receiving the Holy

Sacraments of Baptism, 1st Confession, First Holy Communion

and Confirmation, to please download an application form from

our site and return the completed form to the office for our

records. If you are unable to download, then please get one at

the office. This form will also help us to see if you are registered

in the parish. If you are not registered, please make sure that you

register before returning the form.

RCIA

We are beginning our new group of RCIA for those adults who

would like to be baptised into our Church, received and

Confirmed as Catholics. The RCIA is also open to Catholics who

would like to deepen the knowledge of their faith.

This program will begin with a Q n A section in which all those

questions that we find difficult to answer will be looked at.

The first section will be addressed by Fr. Anthony and later the

Catechists will continue with the formation. We begin Tuesday

4th June at 7pm in the Edna Cottle Room.