parish weekly newsletter

The parish website is updated regularly at www.olv.co.nz

The 'newsletter' button on the website will take you to the weekly parish newsletter.

offline

I was unexpectedly offline this week and was not able to upload the blog. I realised how dependant I / we have become on this technology. My apologies to those who follow the blog regularly.

I will update again tomorrow.

Jesus is risen indeed. Alleluia

Each day now for two Easter weeks, we have recalled the post-resurrection encounters between Jesus and his followers.  Many of the accounts begin in the same way; by reporting that the apostles, and the other disciples of Jesus, seem to be getting back to the dull routines of their (pre-Jesus) lives.

In today's gospel we meet two disciples walking together away from the dramatic Jerusalem events “that have taken place there in these days.” The are unaware of the meaning of the resurrection.

Even when “Jesus himself drew near and walked with them” they “did not realize that he was with them.”  "Their eyes were prevented from recognising him". 

In these days we have (like the disciples) participated in the Holy Week and Easter journey of Jesus. We have recalled his passion, his death, and his resurrection. Now two weeks have passed and we are once again occupied fully with the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of our own lives.

In participating in the powerful liturgies of these days, have we simply recalled an historical event? Have we reduced the reality of God-with-us to the life of a good teacher who gives nothing more than moral mores and laws for life?

If we find ourselves in this situation we are not alone. Perhaps the most common and tragic heresy of people of faith throughout the centuries, is to see Jesus simply as a good ‘life-coach’ who offers eternal rewards to those who jump through the right hoops.

It is likely that these two disciples of Jesus, walking the road to Emmaus, were trying to find some meaning in the Holy Week and Easter journey of Jesus. The scripture tells us that as they walked ‘they were conversing and debating about all the things that had occurred.”  But the reading goes on to add that this conversation was not bringing them joy since “they looked downcast.”

Then, after they welcome Jesus to their home, he celebrates Eucharist with them. In that event “their eyes were opened” and they realize that Jesus is with them anew. In that event everything changes. Now they have encountered the risen Jesus. Their lives are changed forever.

We see an example of one such changed life when Peter boldly stands with the eleven and “raises his voice”  to announce the good news to the people of Jerusalem. As I hear this, something in me wants to caution Peter. “Be careful” I want to say to him. “They will get you too. Go gently Peter!”

But something has happened to Peter. He is now much too fired-up to go gently. He has no fear. He has only love for his Saviour. Only weeks earlier he was the one who denied knowing the Lord. Now he is fearless in the service of his Lord. His preaching is public and passionate. Something dramatic has happened to Peter. Jesus is now no longer simply his personal friend. For Peter Jesus is now not just a potential political leader or business partner. Peter now recognises the risen Jesus to be his Saviour.

As Pope Benedict writes in his new book Jesus of Nazareth Part II:

“…for the disciples the Resurrection was just as real as the Cross. It presupposes that they were simply overwhelmed by the reality, that, after their initial hesitation and astonishment, they could no longer ignore that reality. It is truly he. He is alive; he has spoken to us; he has allowed us to touch him, even if he no longer belongs to the realm of the tangible in the normal way.

“The paradox was indescribable. He was quite different, no mere resuscitated corpse, but one living anew and forever in the power of God. And yet at the same time, while no longer belonging to our world, he was truly present there, he himself. It was an utterly unique experience, which burst open the normal boundaries of experience and yet for the disciples was quite beyond doubt.”   p.246

An eternal reality has transformed Peter’s present existence. He is a new man.

“Now it must be acknowledged that if in Jesus' Resurrection we are dealing simply with the miracle of a resuscitated corpse, it would ultimately be of no concern to us. For it would be no more important than the resuscitation of a clinically dead person through the art of doctors. For the world as such and for our human existence, nothing would have changed. The miracle of a resuscitated corpse would indicate that Jesus' Resurrection was equivalent to the raising of the son of the widow of Nain (Lk 17:11-17), the daughter of Jairus (Mk 5:22-24, 35-43 and parallel passages), and Lazarus (Jn 11:1-44). After a more or less short period, these individuals returned to their former lives, and then at a later point they died definitively.

“The New Testament testimonies leave us in no doubt that what happened in the “Resurrection of the Son of Man” was utterly different. Jesus’ Resurrection was about breaking out into an entirely new form of life, into a life that is no longer subject to the law of dying and becoming, but lies beyond it – a life that opens up a new dimension of human existence. 

Jesus of Nazareth Part II

Pope Benedict XVI Pp243-244

What does this all mean for us two thousand years later. Most of all we realize that Jesus himself is drawing near and walking alongside us. We are not alone. A new dimension of human existence is open before us. When we open ourselves to this gift we are, as Peter was, transformed. We become fearless in the service of Him who is loving us.

This means that we too will face opposition as we stand for justice in the face of evil. Christians will feel great discomfort among those who rejoice at the death of Osama bin Laden. We feel this since the new dimension of human existence cannot be achieved by violence and revenge, especially when it is wrongly called justice.

And so, along with the disciples of Jesus over two thousand troubled and tired years of Christian history, we gather every Sunday at his altar , that we might receive him again in the breaking of the bread.     

The Disciples Peter & John running to the tomb on the morning of the resurrection

Eugene Burnand

John Paul II, William & Kate

Many people I know watched and enjoyed the royal wedding. A number of people I know even had royal wedding parties. However I know a number of Catholics who did not celebrate the beatification of John Paul. Their reasons; they said that John Paul held on to antiquated ideas and did not help the church to move forward.

So why is it that these same people party with the prince and his bride? I have no difficulty with the monarchy, but I am surprised that intelligent people ignore issues in the monarchy that they cannot cope with in the Church.

A couple of obvious examples: 

• if William had been born a female he would not be the second in line to the throne. 
• If Catherine Middleton were Catholic, William would have had to renounce his right of succession to marry her.

What do you think?

Cathedral Update

The fact sheet and photos were received today providing an update of the post-earthquake situation with our Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch Post-Earthquake Stabilisation Fact sheet, 5 May 2011

The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, one of the most significant buildings of its type in the Southern Hemisphere, suffered significant damage in the earthquakes that have struck Christchurch since September last year, particularly the magnitude 6.3 earthquake of February 22.

Situation

The Cathedral is currently in a precarious state, and the main dome and the north tower could potentially collapse further should a sizeable aftershock occur. These sections of the Cathedral are therefore a falling hazard, and until stabilised will continue to prevent the adjacent Cathedral College from reopening.

Observed damage

Engineers, suspended from a crane in baskets, have been able to look inside the cathedral. Their brief observations to date include:

Dome & rear of building

The supporting structure of the dome has sustained considerable damage. Indications are that the main columns supporting the dome have settled, and this along with the vertical and horizontal movements during the earthquakes has contributed to the failure of the north arch and the near failure of the south arch. The east end of the building is severely damaged with the entire east wall behind the dome in danger of toppling towards the school. From what we have observed this area is in a very fragile state and would only require a moderate event for this part of the structure to suffer a major structural failure and total collapse.

Main Body

Good news we hope. The main structure appears to be in reasonable shape. This will require confirmation once access can be gained and a more detailed structural investigation undertaken. Columns, ceiling and structure appear intact however the big pipe organ at the back seems to have suffered considerable damage.

Front Towers

Damage to the two towers is evident from the street. What remains of the south tower (right hand side looking from the street) is now reasonably stable with only loose blocks to be removed, although it has suffered quite a bit of damage. The north tower is showing signs that the same failure as has already happened to the south tower could occur. A large section of the front face of the north tower has split away leaving it in a very unstable position. At present this area is undergoing more analysis to determine the best way forward.

Assessment

A full assessment of the damage to the Cathedral is not possible until the building is made safe for entry. Parts of the two front towers and main dome need to be dismantled for this to occur.

Work to be undertaken

Structural engineers and heritage specialists from Opus International Consultants are carrying out a controlled dismantling of these areas. The aims are:

.

To reduce the likelihood of further damage to the Cathedral in the event of a significant aftershock To protect the adjacent school buildings To make safe the Cathedral so that assessors can enter the building and carry out a full assessment

To ensure as much of the Cathedral building as possible is able to be retained and rebuilt should that be a viable option.

Deconstruction

This is time-consuming task. It involves: The recording of heritage features The careful removal of the dome structure down to the sill of the dome windows (and other parts of the building so that as much heritage fabric as possible can be preserved).

Timetable

Partial deconstruction of the north tower and the removal of the bells has already occurred. Removal of the main copper dome and stonework down to the sill of the dome windows, and subsequent stabilisation and weather proofing is expected to occur in stages from the end of May* (This date is approximate and could easily change.)

Expertise and equipment

Removal of the main dome will be completed using a 400-tonne crane - one of the largest mobile cranes in New Zealand. A professional stonemason will also have a key role in the deconstruction process.

Future decision

No decision on the future of the Cathedral will be possible until assessors have completed a full assessment of damage to the inside of the Cathedral and the relevant experts have had an opportunity to study the report and consider the ramifications of the findings.

Media contacts

John Durning 0274 373 286 (Catholic Diocese) 

Karen Wrigglesworth 027 453 0456 (Opus)

Divine Mercy (Easter II)

Today we complete the Octave of Easter. 


Last Sunday I reflected on the significance of Easter Sunday morning for the future worship of Christians. These disciples could have chosen Thursday evening (the time of the Last Supper), Friday afternoon at three (the moment of the death of the Lord), or Saturday (the Jewish sabbath) as their worship day.

Instead they chose Sunday. Christians were a new people who instead of worshipping at the end of the old creation (sabbath day of rest after the creation), worshipped now at the dawn of a new era. 


The resurrection of Jesus heralded a new beginning. A new day. A new creation.

The first Christians knew that the Easter Sunday morning rising of the sun was a cosmic sign of the rising of the Son of God from death. Sunday was now not only the first day of the new week, but the first day of the rest of their lives. 


The event of the resurrection of Jesus transforms not only every human life, but renews the whole of creation.

In his Easter Vigil homily last week the pope emphasised this point:

“The Jewish people were the people of the sabbath, the seventh day, the day on which God rested after the work of creation. Jesus has given us a new beginning, a new day: “As the day of the liturgical assembly, it is the day for encounter with God through Jesus Christ who as the Risen Lord encountered his followers on the first day, Sunday, after they had found the tomb empty. The structure of the week is overturned. No longer does it point towards the seventh day, as the time to participate in God’s rest. It sets out from the first day ans the day of encounter with the Risen Lord. This encounter happens afresh at every celebration of the Euchaarist, when the Lord enters anew into the midst of his disciples”

Today’s Gospel reading finds the disciples together “in the evening of that same day [the day of the resurrection], the first day of the week”. 

It is impossible to imagine the diverse and mixed emotions of this little gathering. We know they were fearful since “the doors were closed…for fear of the Jews”. But they would have had other reasons to be fearful as well. 

This group included Peter (the one who denied the Lord), the three who fell asleep when Jesus needed their company and prayer, and the whole group who ran for cover instead of remaining alongside their suffering Lord. 

Now the women had come from the tomb with the news that he was alive. 

Certainly this news was all they could have hoped for. But they would also have felt deep shame and guilt at their lack of fidelity. The return of Jesus would surely highlight their failures. And so in fear and embarrasment they gathered. The doors were closed. But despite this physical obstacle of the door, and their personal obstacles of sin, Jesus now stood among them.

Because of the triumph of God over death, there are now no insurmountable barriers to the presence and mercy of God.

The risen Jesus was now with them. 

Jesus spoke. His word broke through their doors of shame and guilt. His words melted the armour of sin surrounding their hearts. The one they had abandoned said to them: “peace be with you”.  And then, as if they might have missed the mercy and love in his greeting, he said to them again “peace be with you”.

This divine greeting healed their sin. Their guilt and embarrassment, their shame, was now transformed into joy by the healing power of His presence and His greeting.

And this is the reason Christians continue to gather on ‘the first day’ of every week. The New Zealand bishop’s wrote to us some years ago on the centrality of Sunday worship. They entitled their letter” The First Day.

Every time we gather to celebrate the Mass we gather in shame and guilt. We are sinners. At the start of every Mass we 'acknowledge our sins'. We do not do this to make ourselves feel bad, to 'beat ourselves up' or to undermine our self-esteem. Instead our purpose in acknowledging our sins is that we might prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries: yes we are sinners, but God's love and mercy is more powerful than any sin! 

True personal self-esteem is never a human achievement. The esteem we seek is always God's gift. I am not lovable because I do loving things, or act and speak in certain attractive ways. I am lovable simply because God loves me. This awareness is the ultimate experience of mercy. This is real love. This is true freedom.

In the Jubilee year 2000, Pope John Paul initiated this Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, as Divine Mercy Sunday. In his homily on that first Divine Mercy Sunday, as he canonised a Polish nun Faustina Kowalska as a saint of the Church, he proclaimed:

"It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church will be called "Divine Mercy Sunday". In the various readings, the liturgy seems to indicate the path of mercy which, while re-establishing the relationship of each person with God, also creates new relations of fraternal solidarity among human beings."

Helen Kowalska was born in Poland in 1905. She died  as Sister Faustina in 1938. In 1931 she was living as a religious in the convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Cracow, Poland. In February of that year she had a powerful and very real experience of Jesus calling her to spread the word of his overwhelming mercy for every human person. In response to this experience she painted a picture of a gentle Jesus reaching out in love to all who carry the burden of sin.

During the pontificate of fellow Pole, Pope John Paul II, the life of this quiet nun and her mission was made known by the Pope to the world. The first words of John Paul to the world, immediately after his election as pope were "do not be afraid". Fear exists in any person who is not experiencing the mercy of God in the moment. It is significant that today, Divine Mercy Sunday 2011, Pope Benedict will name John Paul as "Blessed". This beatification marks the most significant step towards Pope John Paul being named as a saint of the Church. 

Some Catholics responded to news of the life of Sister Faustina and her response to God with scepticism. Others embraced fully her message and spread word of  her image of the merciful Jesus and her trust in him.

It is easy to be sceptical about an individual’s experience of Jesus. Perhaps this is because we do not trust our own personal experience of the power of God made known to us. Maybe we feel as though such personal experience of Jesus no longer happens?

I would suggest that anyone who speaks about the love and mercy of Jesus is on sound ground. This message is as necessary today as ever. If we are honest with ourselves we are very aware of our own sin and need for God’s forgiveness. 

St Faustina wrote beautifully of the mercy of God as a fountain of love gushing over all who acknowledge their frailty and need for God. This fountain of forgiveness cleanses all who turn back to God.

This is the Easter life of Baptism. In the waters of baptism, and in the sacraments of the Church where these waters continue to flow, God continues to deliver us from all that entombs us.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation celebrated regularly gives us a most personal experience of the mercy of God. It may be that you have not celebrated this sacrament for many years. This is not a problem for God. 

Simply turn up at any church at the advertised times and tell the priest that you have not been to confession for many years. Your being there is enough. The priest will guide you.

Pope John Paul II    Homily, Second Sunday Easter 2000

Pope Benecict XVI on Divine Mercy

retreat

I am on Retreat for a week beginning tomorrow (Monday). Please keep me in your prayer. 

I will pray every day at Mass for 'the readers of the blog'.

Easter Blessings

John

He is risen indeed - Alleluia! Alleluia!