Parish Bulletin
PARISH NEWS
HUGE LOVING HUG
Perhaps the most famous of Jesus’ parables, this Sunday’s gospel is often titled “The Prodigal Son” but more correctly should be the “Amazingly loving Father” (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32). Though at our worst we can relate to the dissolute younger son and the resentful older son, the character who blows us away is that forgiving father. What is happening there? Often, parents instinctively get it. We remember those anxious, exasperating times when a child of any age goes missing (literally or figuratively) and is found. There is a moment when nothing matters except relationship. We just envelop them in a huge loving hug. For our Creator, that moment is always.
Jesus doesn’t tell this story for amusement. This is his core business. This is why he is incarnate amongst us. To make known to us this unfathomable, loving embrace of the Father. That’s what the Kingdom of God is about.
Pope Francis holds that “you cannot change the way God is in love with you, that his love flows all around you, and through you, and in you, and as you. We do not need to become more loving to make God love us more. It is because God first loves us that we become loving in response”. (Evangelii Gaudium 44) It is not because we pray more, become more religious and celebrate more sacraments that God looks at us with greater love; nor is it because we go to confession that our sins are forgiven. Every single grace, every blessing of total love and forgiveness bestowed on us, no matter what efforts we make to earn it, deserve it, merit it, always and only spring from the unconditional divine love that created us in the first place. Our Father has loved from the beginning. (Daniel O’Leary, An Astonishing Secret p211) Do we respond lovingly by hugging the Father and all his creation in return?
Deacon Mark Kelly
RECONCILIATION
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated on the following nights,
Wednesday, 23rd March at 7pm at St Ita’s Church, Drouin, and;
Thursday, 24th of March at 7pm at St Joseph’s Church, Warragul
This is in preparation for our First Communion candidates receiving the Eucharist this coming weekend. All are welcome to join us on these nights.
Please keep these children and their families in your prayers.
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FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONOur celebrations for First Holy Communion will be at the following Masses. Saturday, 26th March 7:00pm St Joseph’s Church Warragul Sunday, 27th March 9:00am St Joseph’s Church Warragul Sunday, 27th March 10:30am St Ita’s Church Drouin Sunday, 3rd April 10:30am St Ita’s Church Drouin This is such an exciting time for our candidates and their families, we ask you to please keep these families in your prayers as they continue their journey of faith together. May they find Jesus’ peace and love in their hearts and homes, and may they grow in their love for the Eucharist. |
Sacrament Enquiries: Mrs Therese Meggetto
Mobile: 0439 306 642 Email: Warragul.sacraments@cdsale.org.au
