-
Cathol
ic in
kL
EA
STE
R V
IRTU
ES
4th
Sund
ay
of E
ast
er
Ye
ar A
D
ivin
e O
ffi c
e: W
ee
k IV
3
Ma
y 20
20
Virt
ue o
f Hop
e
Emm
aus
by
Jan
et B
roo
ks-
Ger
loff
, 199
2 B
ened
icti
ne
Ko
rnel
imü
nst
er, A
ach
en
❈❈
If ever
there
’s a
vir
tue a
ssoci
ate
d w
ith
East
er,
it
is h
ope.
Para
doxi
cally
, one o
f th
e Eas
ter
stories
sugges
ts that
this
virtu
e beg
ins
in i
ts o
pposi
te –
in u
tter
des
pai
r an
d
deso
lati
on.
Consi
der
the
two
dis
ciple
s on
the
road
to E
mm
aus,
thei
r hopes
dash
ed h
avin
g
wit
ness
ed t
he d
eath
of
Jesu
s. N
ot
know
ing
that
Jes
us
was
the
very
str
an
ger
they w
ere
ta
lkin
g t
o,
they t
ell
him
that
he
had
bee
n
cruci
fied a
nd k
ille
d,
an
d ad
d:
“Ou
r ow
n
hope
had
bee
n t
hat
he
would
be t
he o
ne t
o
redee
m I
srael
…”
Note
“h
ad b
een”.
The s
tranger
then
giv
es
them
a l
ess
on
from
S
crip
ture
th
at
the
Christ
had
to s
uff
er
and s
o e
nte
r his
glo
ry.
Consi
der
that
the
fi rs
t st
ep t
ow
ards
hope
is n
ot
to d
eny
the
real
ity
of
suff
eri
ng a
nd d
eath
. Fo
llow
ers
of
Jesu
s ar
e not
exem
pt
from
suff
erin
g.
Ow
nin
g i
t is
th
e b
egin
nin
g o
f re
cove
ring h
ope.
It i
s not
as
though w
e a
re w
atc
hin
g,
in t
he c
om
fort
of
our
hom
es,
a TV r
epla
y of
the
hig
hlig
hts
once
our
team
has
won. W
e ar
e not
wat
chin
g.
We
are
the
team
! And t
he
gam
e is
not
ove
r ye
t. T
he
follo
wer
s of
Chri
st a
re n
ot
pass
ive
spec
tato
rs,
rem
ove
d f
rom
the
ambig
uitie
s of
his
tory
. D
isci
ple
s st
ill c
onfr
ont
the
man
y fa
ces
of
des
pai
r – i
n o
urs
elve
s an
d o
ther
s. T
her
e ca
n b
e no d
enyi
ng t
he
shee
r pow
er o
f ev
il in
th
e w
orl
d i
n w
hic
h w
e l
ive.
Fals
e o
ptim
ism
re
pre
sses
the
truth
, th
at’s
why
optim
ism
is n
ot
anoth
er w
ord
for
hope.
Hope
is a
virtu
e, c
ultiv
ated
in b
roke
n h
eart
s by t
he a
bid
ing a
nd l
ovin
g p
rese
nce
of
the
Holy
Spirit. It
is t
he
sam
e Spirit t
hat
bre
athed
div
ine
life
into
the
form
less
em
pty
void
at
the
beg
innin
g o
f Cre
ation;
the
sam
e Spir
it t
hat
bre
athed
new
life
into
the
dea
d b
ody
of J
esus.
H
ope
pro
vides
the
assu
rance
that
our
world
is m
ovi
ng i
n C
hrist
and i
n t
he
pow
er o
f his
Spirit in
to a
God
-giv
en
futu
re, n
ot a
man
-mad
e fu
ture
. G
od h
as m
ade
tim
e fo
r th
e w
hol
e of
hum
an h
isto
ry.
God
even
allo
ws
for
hum
an
free
dom
losi
ng a
sen
se
of
dir
ect
ion.
God i
s pati
en
t. H
ope as
a vi
rtue
confo
rms
itse
lf
to G
od’s
pat
ience
. It
is
const
antly
refa
shio
ned
as
“the a
ssura
nce
of
thin
gs
hoped
for,
the
convi
ctio
n o
f thin
gs
not
se
en”
(Heb
rew
s 11:1
).H
op
e
co
me
s
as
gif
t fr
om
o
uts
ide
the h
um
an
syste
m
alto
get
her
. The
Spir
it
wh
o
rais
es
Jesu
s fr
om
the
tom
b i
s not
thre
aten
ed b
y th
e fo
rces
of
tim
e an
d d
eath
. The
dea
th o
f Je
sus
rem
inds
us
that
life
is n
ot
an a
bso
lute
. And t
he r
esu
rrect
ion o
f Je
sus
rem
inds
us
that
dea
th is
not
an a
bso
lute
. The
only
abso
lute
is
the
“Lord
and g
iver
of
life”
, w
hose
love
conquer
s hat
e, w
hose
goodnes
s co
nquer
s ev
il, w
hose
light co
nquer
s dar
knes
s.
Wher
e des
pai
r is
cen
tred
on t
he
fear
of dea
th,
hope
is c
entr
ed o
n G
od’s
wis
h for ab
undan
t lif
e fo
r al
l. J
ohn t
he
Eva
ngel
ist:
“We
hav
e se
en a
nd d
ecla
re to
you the
eter
nal
lif
e th
at w
as w
ith the
Fath
er a
nd w
as r
evea
led
to u
s. W
e dec
lare
to y
ou w
hat
we
hav
e se
en
and h
eard
so
that
you
may
hav
e fe
llow
ship
with
us”
(1 J
ohn 1
:1-3
).Fe
llow
ship
, in
dee
d. O
nce
the
two d
espai
ring
Em
mau
s dis
ciple
s had
see
n J
esus
aliv
e, t
hey
ru
shed
bac
k to
shar
e th
eir
new
s in
fel
low
ship
w
ith a
ll t
he o
ther
dis
ciple
s. H
ope i
s lo
ve
rest
ore
d.
Hope
is f
ello
wsh
ip in C
hrist
!
Co
pyr
igh
t. D
o n
ot
rep
rod
uc
e w
itho
ut
pe
rmiss
ion
. © R
ed
em
pto
rist
Past
ora
l Pu
blic
atio
ns,
P O
Bo
x 34
1, M
err
iva
le, 3
291.
Ph
on
e 0
87 8
08 2
369.
Fa
x 08
6 54
5 43
81. E
ma
il: ja
ne
t@rp
p.o
rg.z
a. I
nte
rne
t: w
ww
.rpp
.org
.za
. Prin
ted
by
Paa
rl M
ed
ia.
Re
de
mp
toris
tP
ub
lica
tio
ns
Sou
thA
fric
aSUN
DA
Y M
ASS
ENTR
AN
CE
AN
TIPH
ON
:Th
e m
erc
iful l
ove
of t
he
Lo
rd fi
lls t
he
ea
rth
; by
the
w
ord
of t
he
Lo
rd th
e h
ea
ven
s we
re m
ad
e, a
llelu
ia.
FIRS
T RE
AD
ING
: Ac
ts 2
:36
-41.
RESP
ON
SORI
AL
PSA
LM: P
salm
23.
RESP
ON
SE:
The
Lo
rd is
my
she
ph
erd
; th
ere
is n
oth
ing
I sh
all w
ant
.
1. T
he
Lo
rd is
my
she
ph
erd
;
the
re is
no
thin
g I
sha
ll w
an
t.
Fre
sh a
nd
gre
en
are
th
e p
ast
ure
s
wh
ere
he
giv
es
me
rep
ose
.
Ne
ar r
est
ful w
ate
rs h
e le
ad
s m
e;
h
e re
vive
s m
y so
ul. ℟
2. H
e g
uid
es
me
alo
ng
th
e r
igh
t p
ath
,
for t
he
sa
ke o
f his
na
me
.
Tho
ug
h I
sho
uld
wa
lk in
th
e v
alle
y o
f th
e s
ha
do
w o
f de
ath
,
no
evi
l wo
uld
I fe
ar,
for y
ou
are
with
me
.
You
r cro
ok
and
yo
ur s
taff
will
giv
e m
e c
om
fort
. ℟3.
Yo
u h
ave
pre
pa
red
a t
ab
le b
efo
re m
e
in t
he
sig
ht
of m
y fo
es.
M
y h
ea
d y
ou
ha
ve a
no
inte
d w
ith o
il;
my
cu
p is
ove
rfl o
win
g. ℟
4. S
ure
ly g
oo
dn
ess
an
d m
erc
y sh
all
follo
w m
e
all
the
da
ys o
f my
life
.
In t
he
Lo
rd’s
ow
n h
ou
se s
ha
ll I d
we
ll
for l
en
gth
of d
ays
un
en
din
g. ℟
SEC
ON
D R
EAD
ING
: 1 P
ete
r 2:2
0-2
5.
GO
SPEL
AC
CLA
MA
TIO
N:
Alle
luia
, alle
luia
! I a
m th
e g
oo
d s
he
ph
erd
, sa
ys th
e
Lord
; I k
no
w m
y o
wn,
and
my
ow
n kn
ow
me
. Alle
luia
.
GO
SPEL
: Jo
hn
10:
1-10
.
CO
MM
UN
ION
AN
TIPH
ON
:Th
e G
oo
d S
he
ph
erd
ha
s rise
n, w
ho
laid
do
wn
his
life
fo
r his
she
ep
, an
d w
illin
gly
die
d fo
r his
fl oc
k, a
llelu
ia.
Books from Redemptorist Pastoral Publications
To o
rder
em
ail o
rder
s@rp
p.or
g.za
or
visi
t ou
r w
ebsi
te w
ww
.rpp
.org
.za.
R40
plu
s d
eliv
ery
Live
the
Wor
d T
HE
W
EE
K
AH
EA
D
(KEY
: SO
LEM
NIT
Y; F
EAST
; Me
mo
rial;
(Op
tion
al M
em
oria
l)
Mo
n 4
Ma
y Li
turg
y o
f th
e D
ay
Ac
ts 1
1:1-
18; P
salm
42;
Jo
hn
10:
11-1
8
Pra
yer c
an
ha
pp
en
at a
ny
time
an
d a
ny
pla
ce
... w
e
ca
n b
e su
rpris
ed
by
the
una
ntic
ipa
ted
sens
e o
f Go
d's
ne
arn
ess
. Le
t us l
iste
n c
lose
ly in
eve
ry p
art
of o
ur l
ive
s.
The
Sp
irit o
f Lo
ve w
aits
to re
ac
h a
nd
tea
ch
us
the
re.
Sun
10 M
ay
5TH
SUN
DA
Y O
F EA
STER
Ac
ts 6
:1-7
; Psa
lm 3
3; J
oh
n 1
4:1-
12N
oth
ing
sta
nd
s in
the
wa
y o
f Go
d's
me
rcy
an
d lo
ve
exc
ep
t o
ur
ow
n s
tub
bo
rnn
ess
. Rig
ht
in f
ron
t o
f o
ur
eye
s, li
ke e
very
sun
rise
, Go
d is
ma
kin
g a
ll th
ing
s ne
w.
Bre
ath
e in
me
, oh
Go
d, a
sp
irit
of
ho
pe
.
Sat 9
Ma
y
Litu
rgy
of t
he
Da
yA
cts
13:
44
-52;
Psa
lm 9
8; J
oh
n 1
4:7-
14
As
ba
ptiz
ed
Ca
tho
lics
we
all
ha
ve t
he
job
of g
ivin
g
a v
oic
e t
o t
he
Ch
urc
h a
nd
to
ou
r fa
ith in
Go
d. W
e
are
Go
d’s
vo
ice
– a
nd
ha
nd
s an
d fe
et –
in th
e w
orld
. It
is a
ta
ll o
rde
r – a
re w
e u
p t
o it
?
Fri 8
Ma
y
Litu
rgy
of t
he
Da
yA
cts
13:
26-3
3; P
salm
2; J
oh
n 1
4:1-
6
De
ep
do
wn
with
in o
urs
elv
es,
Je
sus
says
we
are
to
b
e u
ntr
ou
ble
d, r
eg
ard
less
of t
he
ad
vers
e e
lem
en
ts
aro
un
d u
s. O
ur
he
art
s c
an
be
se
cu
rely
in
sula
ted
w
ithin
th
e p
rote
ctiv
e w
alls
of o
ur f
aith
in G
od
.
Thu
7 M
ay
Litu
rgy
of t
he
Da
y
Ac
ts 1
3:13
-25;
Psa
lm 8
9; J
oh
n 1
3:16
-20
To p
ass
on
the
faith
to th
e n
ext
ge
nera
tion
we
ne
ed
to
pa
ss o
n m
ore
tha
n ju
st ro
te p
raye
rs a
nd B
ible
sto
ries.
We
ne
ed
to g
ive
the
m o
ur st
orie
s, w
hy fa
ith is
aliv
e in
us,
and
to
giv
e th
em
rea
sons
to se
ek
and
fi nd
Go
d o
n th
eir o
wn.
We
d 6
Ma
y Li
turg
y o
f th
e D
ay
Ac
ts 1
2:24
–13:
5; P
salm
67;
Jo
hn
12:
44
-50
Is it
ob
vio
us
to o
the
rs th
at I
am
de
dic
ate
d to
Ch
rist?
Is
it e
vid
en
t th
at C
hris
t sh
ap
es m
y id
en
tity,
my
be
ing
? O
r d
o I
fi ll m
y lif
e w
ith p
reo
cc
up
atio
ns
tha
t p
erm
it m
e t
o b
e fr
ag
me
nte
d in
ste
ad
of f
oc
use
d o
n G
od
?
Tue
5 M
ay
Litu
rgy
of t
he
Da
yA
cts
11:
19-2
6; P
salm
87;
Jo
hn
10:
22-
30
Love
is a
de
cisi
on
, a c
ho
ice
, a d
aily
pra
ctic
e –
no
t a
fee
ling
. So
me
time
s it
is re
ally
diff
icu
lt to
love
. Re
ac
h
ou
t to
so
me
on
e in
ne
ed
tod
ay,
allo
win
g th
e S
piri
t to
o
pe
n y
ou
r he
art
. Of c
ou
rse
, th
e fe
elin
gs
will
follo
w.
Thos
e w
ho p
ray
the
Perp
etua
l Nov
ena
in
hono
ur o
f Our
Mot
her
of P
erpe
tual
Hel
p w
ill
easil
y re
cogn
ise th
is fa
mili
ar, p
ocke
t-siz
ed
book
let,
so b
elov
ed o
f co
untle
ss th
ousa
nds o
f pe
ople
acr
oss t
he w
orld
.
-
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish Father Michael Foley, OMI
(Parish Priest)
C: 072 968 3394 Deacon Malcolm Wright H: 031 466 4524 Deacon
Carl Emmanuel C: 082 493 8668
Patrick Marescia (PPC Chairperson) Franklin Ferdinand (Finance
Chairperson)
Office Hours: CLOSED until further notice
P O Box 16004 Bluff 4036 Durban Tel: 031 467 0524 Fax: 031 467
3854
Email: [email protected] Website: www.stfrancisxavier.org.za
Guided by the Holy Spirit, we strive, as a Parish,
to grow into disciples of Jesus Christ, reaching out in Faith
into a wider Community.
Prayer Circle: Contact Jeannette Nicholson 031 467 7658 / 083
524 5619
SICK & HOSPITALISED PARISHIONERS:
Please inform Father Mike on 072 968 3394 of any parishioners in
danger of death and requiring Viaticum.
REPOSITORY IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: See notice on door
for contact numbers for items urgently required.
PLEASE PRAY FOR: The seriously sick: (see list of names on
outside notice board) and especially Dorothea Johns, Rita De Jager,
Anthony Norris, Brian Beard, Brian Fuller, Judy Willman, Scarlett
Wright and Patrick Marx. The Repose of the Souls of: Edna Kok
(Noeleen Buckley’s mother) Yvonne Sheila Logan (Desiree Manuel’s
mother) Riccardo Michael Logan (Desiree Manuel’s brother) Marilyn
Pieterse (Heather Joyce’s sister)
MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS: All Intentions booked will be
included in the daily Masses celebrated by Fr Mike Please join in
Spiritual Communion with the Church at these times, if you are able
to do so.
Sun 03 May 9.00am Victor Graham Smith R.I.P. [Ferdinand Family]
Calem Harold’s Birthday [Emmanuel Family] Ken & Nancy McCartie
R.I.P. [Geraldine] Patricia Arnulphy’s Special Intention Mon 04 May
7.00am All Parishioners Tue 05 May 7.00am Vimbai Gobo’s Birthday
[Frankson Family] Carl & Charmaine Emmanuel’s Wedding
Anniversary [Family] Barry & Betty Kirk-Fuller’s Wedding
Anniversary [Lilly] Wed 06 May 7.00am All Affected and Infected by
COVID-19 Virus Thu 07 May 7.00am Pravisha Sissing’s Birthday
[Family] Fri 08 May 7.00am Hoy Souls & Deceased Members of FOSS
[Gaë] Cyril Vere’s Birthday [Family] Sat 09 May 7.00am Ivan &
Quintin Plowman R.I.P. [Sheila] Paula Singh’s Birthday [Family] Sun
10 May 9.00am All Mother’s Special Intentions [Brianne Frankson]
Rosemary Johnson R.I.P. [Ludewick Family & Munsami Family]
FR MIKE’S WEEKLY HOMILY: Some years ago an international
magazine carried a story about an unusual girl named Laura Bell.
After graduating from college, she took a job as a sheep herder in
Wyoming.
For the next three years Laura was on call 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year, tending 2000 sheep. Once a week,
someone rode out to the distant hill country where she pastured her
sheep, to bring her food, mail, and whatever else she needed.
Laura’s job taught her a lot about herself... the long hours alone
gave her the time she needed to ponder her future, her doubts, her
dreams. They also gave her the time to clarify her values and to
set her goals. But Laura’s job did more than teach her a lot about
herself. It also taught her a lot about Jesus. The Bible uses the
image of a shepherd to describe Jesus. And now, Laura experienced
firsthand why the Bible uses that image. She learned firsthand what
the qualities of a good shepherd are. First of all, a good shepherd
is a totally committed person. A shepherd lives for the flock day
after day, week after week, and month after month. Shepherding
isn’t just another job, like working in an office or retail store.
Shepherding isn’t a job at all; it’s a way of life. You don’t
shepherd sheep because it’s a job to earn a living. You shepherd
sheep because it’s a job you love. When Jesus called himself a good
shepherd, he meant that he was committed to his flock 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. In other words, all of his
energies and concerns were for the flock entrusted to his care.
Every moment of his life was dedicated to it. This brings us to the
second quality a shepherd must have. Besides being deeply
committed, a shepherd must be a deeply caring person. A shepherd’s
satisfaction is tied up with the welfare of the flock. When the
flock is happy, the shepherd is happy. When the flock is in pain,
the shepherd is in pain. It was this kind of person that Jesus was
and is; gentle and caring about each member of his flock, about
each one of us. This brings us to a third quality a good shepherd
must have. Besides being committed and caring, a shepherd must be
courageous. There’s a story in the first book of Samuel about how a
young David volunteered to fight the Philistine giant, Goliath. The
king refused to let David do
it, saying: “you are only a youth while he has been a warrior
from his youth.” David responded, saying: “Your servant used to
tend his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or bear came to carry
off a sheep from the flock, I would go after it and attack it and
rescue the prey from its mouth … The Lord who delivered me from the
claws of the lion will also keep me safe from this ….Philistine (I
Sam 17:33-37). We all know how that story turned out. David
defeated Goliath. And so Laura Bell’s unusual job taught her a lot
not only about herself but also about Jesus. It taught her why the
Bible gave Jesus the title of the Good Shepherd. It was because he
had to a perfect degree the three qualities every shepherd must
have. He was committed, caring, and courageous. His sole concern
was the flock his Father had entrusted to him. It taught her why
Jesus is a model for all parents, all teachers, and others who have
people entrusted to their care. May this time of lockdown,
occasioned by the Coronavirus (Covid-19), teach us too, a lot about
ourselves, about Jesus and about how we can bear witness to him by
developing in ourselves the three qualities of a good shepherd.
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4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER ● YEAR A DIVINE OFFICE: WEEK IV ● 03 MAY
2020
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Psalm 33:5-6 6 The merciful love of the Lord
fills the earth, by the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
alleluia.
FIRST READING: Acts 2:14.36-47 14A Then Peter stood up with the
Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed:
36 “Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has
made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and
they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my
brothers?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of
you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is made to you and to your children and to
all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.”
40 He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting
them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three
thousand persons were added that day.
PSALM: Psalm 23 R. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in
green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my
soul. R He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though
I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with
me; your rod and your staff- they comfort me. R You prepare a table
before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with
oil; my cup overflows. R Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long. R
SECOND READING: 1 Peter 2:19-25 21 For to this you have been
called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an
example that you should follow in his footsteps.
22 He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his
mouth.
23 When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he
suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to
the one who judges justly.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that,
free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you
have been healed.
25 For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned
to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
ALLELUIA: John 10:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia. 14 I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL: John 10:1-10 10:1 Very truly, I tell you, anyone who
does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another
way is a thief and a bandit.
10:2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the
sheep. 10:3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep
hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
10:4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them,
and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 10:5 They
will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they
do not know the voice of strangers." 10:6 Jesus used this figure of
speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to
them. 10:7 So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I
am the gate for the sheep. 10:8 All who came before me are thieves
and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 10:9 I am the
gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go
out and find pasture. 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill
and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it
abundantly." COMMUNION ANTIPHON: John 10:11 6 The Good Shepherd has
risen, who laid down his life for his sheep, and willingly died for
his flock, alleluia.
