Sunday 14 July 2019: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Who is my neighbour?

In today's gospel reading, we hear again the parable of the Good Samaritan. A familiar story, but its lesson is just as telling today as it was when it was first told – in a world troubled by antagonisms in which religious differences play a big part. Jesus is instructing his disciples. He has not come to abolish the Law that was so important in the faith of old Israel, but to bring it to its fulfilment (Mt 5:17). He uses this exchange with an unfriendly lawyer to illustrate what this means. 'Love your neighbour as yourself', the Law said; this text, however, identified the 'neighbour' as a 'member of your race' (Lev 19:18). Other Old Testament texts, on the other hand, express a more generous and inclusive attitude to the stranger; hence the lawyer's question. Jesus turns the question around. The question he has been asked is self-centred: 'Who should I accept as a neighbour?' The parable takes up a far more generous question: 'How can I be a true neighbour?'...

Extract by John Thornhill sm - read more at The Emmaus Series | Image courtesy of pixabay.com

04 August 2019: Celebrating the Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Everyone is welcome to come and remember the life of one of the patron saints of the Parish community and the founder of the Society of Jesus (SJ) with a Eucharistic Celebration at St Ignatius' Church on Sunday 04 August at 9:30am. Morning tea will be served in the parish hall (behind the Church) after Mass.

We are all invited to bring something to share for this parish celebration. Refreshments for the morning tea may be delivered to the parish hall before Mass.