Liturgy

PARISH LIFE

If there are parents who have, for various reasons, been unable to enrol their daughter or son in their parish sacramental program, or would like further information, please contact

Mary-Anne Lumley by email or via the Office.

© Artwork: Tony Kiely, Emmaus Productions

Sacramental Diary

Our local parishes have supplied the following diary information, which is on the College website. However we appreciate that the College has a wide catchment area. For further information:

- Your Parish Priest or Administrator

- Drop down box at http://www.perthcatholic.org.au/

- College website http://www.johnxxiii.edu.au/view/parent-resources/parish

- Mary-Anne Lumley - lumley.mary-anne@johnxxiii.edu.au

NEDLANDS: HOLY ROSARY

Confirmation

September 20-21: Some of our Year 6 students are preparing to celebrate the sacrament.

Reconciliation

October 25: Some of our Year 3 students are preparing to celebrate the sacrament.

SUBIACO: ST JOSEPH'S

Reconciliation

Some of our Year 3 students will be celebrating the sacrament in the coming weeks.

Eucharist

September 20-21: Some of our Year 4 students are preparing to celebrate the sacrament.

THIS SUNDAY'S GOSPEL (Matthew 18:15-20)

"If your brother or sister listens to you, you will have won that person back."

Fr Richard Leonard's homily on this Sunday's gospel is printed here, with kind permission. Fr Richard Leonard SJ is the author of Preaching to the Converted, Paulist Press, New York, 2006

When couples who are going to be married in the Church come to see me for the first time I get them to fill out a brief questionnaire. The last two questions on the form ask:

'What do you like best about your partner?'

'What do you like best about yourself?'

The first question usually presents no problems, although it can hold a few surprises and sometimes a playful punch if the right answer is not forthcoming!

The second question seems to present all sorts of difficulties, especially for prospective grooms. Some of us find it hard to name the God-given qualities we value most in our character. Some couples try to pass it off, 'That's for others to say' or, 'I don't want to blow my own trumpet.' Others try to dismiss the question as being new age or trendy.

But the question does, in fact, cut to the heart of both today's second reading and Gospel. 'You must love your neighbour as you love yourself.' We cannot say in the same breath, 'I hate myself, but I am a good Christian.' For St Paul, love of self was not indulgent, but the cornerstone of our mission to love as Jesus loves us. Paul knew the difference between self-love and self-adoration. Our love of God is expressed in the healthy and appropriate esteem we have for ourselves. Put another way, we cannot love anyone else if we don't love ourselves. If we have poor self-esteem then often we need others to fill up this gap in our self-love. Most relationships cannot sustain such a demand.

The Church has to take some responsibility for this state of affairs. We used to be taught that mortification and self-denial were good Christian virtues, and indeed they can be. When properly understood they are never opportunities for self-hatred. The sanest spiritual writers in our tradition saw these virtues as paths of closeness with God and service of our neighbour.

One such writer was St Ignatius Loyola who in the Spiritual Exercises saw that it was precisely as sinners that God loves us. He saw that one of the greatest gifts the Lord can give us is when we see our sinfulness for what it is, but are not overwhelmed by it, and that we experience the power of God's love for us who calls us to walk as children of the light.

Jesus in today's Gospel attends to this destructive side of our human nature. Jesus teaches us that those who do not love their neighbour as they should are to be treated with dignity and respect and offered every opportunity to seek forgiveness until it is clear they can no longer be a part of the Christian family.

The challenge and hallmark of the Christian life is the way in which we live out God's love and forgiveness. And, although the Christian community should be the last group to exclude anyone, even we have to have our boundaries. Sometimes this involves holding others to account for what they say and do, especially if they claim to be a follower of Christ. The love and forgiveness of God does not mean that 'anything goes'. It is a love that calls for constant conversion. We can witness to it only to the degree that we have experienced it, from God, from others, and in the way we love and forgive ourselves.

And we know when these qualities are taking deep root in us because answering a question like, 'What do you really like about yourself?' is a piece of cake! ©

COMMUNITY MASS

Our College community celebrates Eucharist together each Friday morning in term time. It is a short, joyful Mass and all parents, students, staff and friends are welcome.

Next Friday - 12th our Year 12s will lead the celebration.

Time - 8:00am start; 8:30 finish.

Venue - Chapel