Parish Information

Meals, in the third Gospel, were favored places for teachable moments, and today’s Gospel represents a most poignant one. During a dinner at the home of Simon, a Pharisee, Jesus taught a parable about two debtors, which served to interpret the entire episode within which it was told. The lesson of the narrative, parable and context was to teach, first, that all human beings are sinners in need of forgiveness and salvation. More obvious were the woman’s sins, since her failings seem to have been known to all. But Simon, too, for all his supposed righteousness, was a sinner. Whereas Simon may have thought himself superior to the woman, he was just as needful of forgiveness as she.

Jesus’ lesson also affirmed that he was the source and the means of God’s forgiveness. While the woman extended every act of hospitality to Jesus, thereby welcoming that forgiveness, Simon did not. Not only did he fail to welcome Jesus and the forgiveness made available to him in Jesus, but he also questioned Jesus’ prophetic insights.

Aware of this, Jesus engaged Simon in a sort of Socratic interrogation that led the Pharisee to admit that the debtor who owed more, and was forgiven that debt, loved his forgiver more. But that brings us to a centuries-old ambiguity; the text (v. 47) seems to say that the woman was forgiven because of her great love — as if her love precipitated God’s forgiveness. On the contrary, the woman’s ability to love and to love so greatly was due to the fact that she had been forgiven. Hoti in Greek should be understood in its causal sense, which does not indicate the reason why a fact is so, but the means by which it is known to be so. The New English Bible avoids this ambiguity by translating verse 47: “I tell you, her great love proves that her many sins have been forgiven; where little has been forgiven, little love is shown.”

Jesus’ pronouncement, “Your sins are forgiven; your faith has been your salvation” (v. 48) confirms what has occurred — that through God’s initiative enacted in Jesus, the woman was forgiven or justified, and she appropriated God’s gifts by faith. We cannot know for certain, but we can hope that Simon and all those who relied solely on the law for justification eventually appreciated and appropriated the gifts that God was holding out to them in Jesus.

In the final verses of this Gospel (8:1-3), Luke has placed further emphasis on Jesus’ special predilection for those who understood their need for justification and for the disadvantaged members of society. Those who had been healed by him, women, and the poor all had a special place with him and the kingdom he had come to establish. Because of Jesus, the law that had raised objections to such people and placed barriers against them was no longer operative. Through Jesus, God would welcome all who would believe to the eternal messianic banquet in heaven.

Who do you say I am?

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 Office

Parish Secretary: Mrs Kath Gore

Thursday: 9.00am – 3.00pm

69 Callandoon Street or

PO Box 45, Goondiwindi 4390

NEW PARISH PHONE NUMBER: 4671 5087

Father Michael’s house Phone: 4671 1091

stmarysgdi@bigpond.com

Next game: Monday, 13th June, 2016

Parish Luncheon

18th July, 11.30 am in Parish Centre. All welcome! Please invite a friend. All enquiries to Jane Blomley. Ph 46754132 or mobile 0401 042 041.

This month sees the end of the current roster for ministries. On the table near the front door

you will find a sheet for changing any current ministry. If you DO NOT wish to change, then

please do not fill out a form and your name will remain on the roster, as before. If you have

not been on the roster before, please consider how you may be able to contribute to the life

of our parish community. Thank you.

Anyone wishing to purchase the old

presbytery stumps please provide your

tender price to Father Michael via email

stmarysgdi@bigpond.com

Closing Date: 01/08/16

Glenn and Sue Roff enjoying our farewell gift to them, of a trip

to the Bunya Mountains. They pass on their appreciation!

Thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

You will find envelopes on the back table to give. Simply place on the collection plate

Let us pray for all those clergy whose anniversaries occur during this month:

Rev Fr Joseph McKey (01/06/82) Rev Fr Kevin Noble (04/06/10)

Rev Fr Charles Casey (10/06/30) Rev Fr Thomas Sweeney (13/06/95)

Rev Fr John Sinnott (17/06/89) Rev Fr Thomas McCormack (25/06/68)

Lord, be merciful to your servants, the Bishops and Priests of this Diocese, welcome them

into the company of your Saints, in the Kingdom of light and peace. We ask this

through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Weekday and Weekend Masses

Monday….5.30pm and Friday…12.15pm

11th/12 June, 2016 SUNDAY EVENING: Goondiwindi 6.00pm

18th/19th June, 2016 SUNDAY MORNING: Goondiwindi 9.00am

25th/26th June, 2016 SATURDAY EVENING: Goondiwindi 6.00pm SUNDAY MORNING: Goondiwindi 8.00am

Children’s Mass 10.00am in the Parish Centre. 2nd/3rd July, 2016

SATURDAY EVENING: Goondiwindi 6.00pm

SUNDAY MORNING: Daymar 8.00am and Weengallon 10.00am.

GROUNDS ROSTER

JUNE: ALAN & MARK WELSH

JULY: TO BE ADVISED

THANK-YOU FOR YOUR Contributions: 06/06/16

ENVELOPES $455.00 LOOSE $84.00

If you would like to include the name of someone in these lists, please check with the person or family concerned and then phone Kath on 4671 5087 (Thursday 9am to 3pm).

WE PRAY FOR Those who have entered your kingdom: including Paxie de Ronde, Beryl Pearce, Mick Maloney, Will Jakins, Hannah Turvey, Kevin Suhr, Matt Croke, Paul Heynen, Guy Langhans (Talwood), Danielle Brennan, Father Brian O’Dwyer, Margaret Beasley (Roma), Albert Knight, Sam Maiore (Roma), John Walmsley (St. George), Paul Zacka, Lyn Sutton, Thelva O’Shea, Darryl Hennessy, Bub Porter, Darrel Littlewood, Heather Glasser, Nancy Thurecht (Talwood), Anna Van Kuijck, Ray McKenna, Florence “Margy” Pavlicevich, Teresa Butler, Mark Batchelor, Ramon O’Neill, Frank Holland, Noel McGovern, Winston Thorne, Jill Welsh Field, Natalie MacPherson, Erin Laverty, Norah O’Brien, Father John (Jack) Clancy, Father Jeff Scully, Marion O’Leary, Matthew Palmen. For all whose anniversary is at this time: including Francis ‘John’ Coade, Kevin Turvey, Valerie McCosker, John Crawley, Valerie Jennings, Robert ‘Bob’ McCall, Michael Brennan, Jim Nolan, Helen Taylor, Sue Bendall, Bob Telford, Vince Mawn, Charles McCosker, Anthony Miller, Bryson McGuire, June Galvin, Clara Sutherland, Colin McIlveen, Nora Heynen, Kay Coleman, Norman Jennings, Catherine Lloyd, Donald Pfingst. For those who are ill: including Jordan Pollard, Brian Freeney, Deanna Dawson, Kevin Lawless, Audrey Albeck, Ray Mackie (Michael Heynen’s father in law), Peter Keehn, Joan Fleming, Mona O’Brien, Frank Brosnan, Gloria Bale, David Croft, Tim Bourke, Joe Cowmeadow, Shirley Schluter, Stasia Lawless, Paul Lloyd (son of Basil and Marie), Mavis Gordon, Jean Ramada, Alma Betts, Stella McGovern, Trish Dyer, Jean Sizer, Francis Lloyd (Basil’s brother), Madonna Nicoletti, Kathy McDonald, Steph Adamson, Bailey Brennan, Pauline Robinson, Win Skinner, Sonya Horrigan, Helen Paige, John Toohey, Marie Cook, Phillip Carney, Shirley Riley, Therese Sullivan and Joseph Hord. Also those ill at home, in hospital and for those in Kaloma.

WELCOMERS AT DOOR

JENNIFER MAKIM & DAWN LLOYD (12/06)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (19/06)

MARGARET & TERRY RYAN (25/06)

WELCOMER AT MICROPHONE

ROSE KEEHN (12/06)

ROBYN LINDORES (19/06)

VOLUNTEER NEEDED (25/06)

1ST READER/PSALM

MICHAEL NOLAN (12/06)

MARY BURCHELL (19/06)

CAROL ORMES (25/06)

2ND READING/ALLELUIA

VOLUNTEER NEEDED (12/06)

MARIA MAGOFFIN (19/06)

PHIL ORMES (25/06)

EUCHARIST MINISTERS

CARMEL SCHAUMBURG, SUE MCGOVERN &

CAROL ORMES (12/06)

VOLUNTEER, MARY COLLINS &

ST MARY’S STAFF (19/06)

BRIAN COOK, YVONNE ISAAK &

CLAIRE CHARLES (25/06)

DATA PROJECTOR

LEEANN WELSH (12/06)

ST MARY’S STAFF (19/06)

LEEANN WELSH (25/06)

MONEY COUNTERS

TERESA HEYNEN & BELL FAMILY (12/06)

KERRY O’CONNOR & CLAIRE CHARLES

(19/06)

TERRY & MARGARET RYAN (25/06)

———————

During this year of Mercy we are invited to participate in a “gentle revolution” through our tender and meaningful actions founded on our

relationship with a forgiving God. One of the articles I read had 56 ways we can make our actions more merciful, so each week I thought I

would share one with you: Mercy Action # 27

Stand up for something you believe in.

11TH

SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

12TH

JUNE, 2016

Introduction

Brothers and sisters, we hear again in today’s readings that God’s mercy is abundant and

endless. Perfection is not required of us. In fact, self-righteous legalism and judgmentalism buy us nothing. What matters is faith and repentance. No

sin is too great for God’s mercy. Not only is this incredibly hopeful for each of us. It’s also

important — and challenging — to remember because we are all called to show mercy to

others.

First Reading 2 Samuel 12:7-10

David repents his sinfulness and is forgiven.

Responsorial Psalm Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

Second Reading

Galatians 2:16, 19-21 We are justified by faith in Christ, not by law.

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!

God first loved us and sent his Son to take away our sins

ALLELUIA!

Gospel

Luke 7:36-8.3 Jesus forgives the woman who washes his

feet with her tears.

Prayers of the Faithful

For the church: that we may remember that we are in need of both giving and

receiving mercy … we pray,

For those who are arrogant and unwilling to admit error or faults,

especially those in positions of high visibility or responsibility … we pray,

For the humane treatment of prisoners;

and for the abolition of the use of isolation in prisons and the death

penalty … we pray,

For those who advocate only harsh punishment or revenge for sinners or

offenders … we pray,

For the ability to repent and ask forgiveness of those we have offended —

as individuals, as institutions, and as a nation … we pray

For the needy, the sick and the dying in

this community; and for those who have died......... … we pray,

As we approach the end of the financial year, we ask you to please consider your level of

planned giving contribution to the Parish. If you wish to join the Planned Giving Programme,

please provide your details to Mary Collins on 46712288 or email them to

stmarysgdi@bigpond.com Envelopes will be available at the end of June.