All Saints

Four hundred and ninety nine years ago today, Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes were 'completed'. I am sure that there was no coincidence in the date: the feast of All Saints was a most appropriate day to dedicate this masterpiece of world art.

Michaelangelo's ceiling tells the story of our salvation history: the encounter of the ultimate plan of God, and human history. You will recognise many of the moments in this following clip:

And today we learn that the population of the world has reached 7 billion. 

So why has God created us all? What was God's plan and purpose in setting each of us on this earth to be participants in the history of salvation?

Those who remember their catechism have the answer: Q. Why did God make you?  A. "God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in heaven".

Take a moment to consider this sound answer. Note the two 'dimensions' of our eternal relationship with God. 

In our baptism we began this journey towards ultimate intimacy with God. This first stage of life continues until our death. In these earthly years we experience joy, hope, grief and anxiety. In every moment we are offered saving intimacy with God. The deepest desire of the human person is not to be free of grief and anxiety. Instead our deepest longing is 'to know, love and to serve God, and to be happy with him forever.'

And death is the moment of transition from the first 'dimension' of human existence, into the eternal realm.

The purpose of human life is not primarily to please and appease God. Rather our human purpose is found when we know our desire for God above all else. When we rest with this desire, especially in the midst of struggle and suffering, we experience God's presence and peace.

This life is the life of the saint. 

In today's feast we celebrate those who have followed this path on earth, and who now share the eternal fullness of God's life in the Communion of the Saints.

click here for

All Saints & All Souls interview / reflection "Sounds Catholic"

ismasschanging.org

There are some very creative people around. As we near the arrival of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal on the First Sunday of Advent this year (end of November), some great resources are appearing - especially in the USA where they have not yet received any of the changes. They will get the lot later in November.

You might appreciate some of the resources at this link - especially those created for young people.
http://www.ismasschanging.org




New Roman Missal for Middle School Youth - Word for Word by Life Teen from Life Teen on Vimeo.



New Roman Missal for Youth Ministers - Word for Word by Life Teen from Life Teen on Vimeo.






New Roman Missal for High School Teens - Word for Word by Life Teen from Life Teen on Vimeo.

Sacred Heart "Praise Be"

A number of people responded to the blog yesterday on the centenary of Sacred Heart basilica in Timaru. This morning Praise Be featured a number of hymns recorded in the basilica, along with some interesting historical comment about the building of the church.

Praise Be   Sunday 30 October 2011

All Saints & All Souls

This week we celebrate two great feasts: All Saints, and All Souls.

Below you will find the times for liturgies this week at Our Lady of Victories, Sockburn.

In preparation for the celebration of these feasts, and for the month of the Holy Souls, you might find it helpful to listen to this interview.  It was first broadcast on "Sounds Catholic."

Liturgy this week at Our Lady of Victories, Sockburn, Christchurch:

Monday 31 October

8.30am Rosary
9.00am Mass

followed by Adoration of Blessed Sacrament until... 

...10.00am Benediction
4.00pm Rosary

Tuesday 1 November ALL SAINTS

7.00am Mass
8.30am Rosary

9.00am Mass 
followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until...

...10.00am Benediction
4.00pm Rosary

7.00pm Mass

Wednesday 2 November ALL SOULS
8.30am Rosary

9.00am Mass (in Church not Mercy House)

followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until...

...10.00am Benediction
4.00pm Rosary

6.15pm - 6.45pm Reconciliation

7.00pm Mass

Thursday 3 November
8.30am Rosary

9.00am Mass  
followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until..

...10.00am Benediction
4.00pm Rosary

Friday 4 November
7.00am Mass
8.30amm Rosary

9.00am Mass
followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until...

...5.30pm Benediction
7.30pm Charismatic Mass

Saturday 5 November
9.00am Mass  

followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until..

...10.00am Benediction
9.30am - 10.00am Reconciliation
5.00pm - 5.45pm  Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
5.15pm - 5.30pm Reconciliation
6.00pm Sunday Vigil Mass


Sunday 6 November

9.00pm - 9.45pm  Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
9.15pm - 9.30pm Reconciliation
10.00am Mass
4.00pm - 4.45pm  Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
4.15pm - 4.30pm Reconciliation
5.00pm Mass

www.olv.co.nz

Cemetery Visits

Cemetery visits 

in preparation for the 

Feast of the All Souls

& to mark this month of the Holy Souls

Fr John will visit several local cemeteries to spend time with parishioners in prayer this week to mark the 

Feast of All Souls.  

He will lead a time of prayer, with blessing of individual graves, at the following cemeteries at these times and dates:

Sunday, 30 October

11.30am Waimairi Cemetery

12.00pm Avonhead Park Cemetery

12.30pm Yaldhurst Cemetery

1.00pm Shands Rd Cemetery

Sunday, 06 November

immediately following 8.30am Mass Darfield Cemetery

If you have loved ones buried in these places, 

or if you would like to walk this path of prayer with us, please meet at the above times & places

Sacred Heart Timaru 100 years

This weekend the parish of Sacred Heart Timaru celebrates the centenary of their parish church. This magnificent temple has housed the faith, prayer and worship of the Catholic community of Timaru for one hundred years.

The people of Timaru gave generously to build this church in the early years of last century. A doctoral student recently researched the building of the duomo in Milan, Italy. She titled her work: "They lived in hovels, and built Cathedrals." In the early twentieth century the Catholics of Timaru did not have a lot of money. But they made sure that God had a worthy dwelling place in their midst.

The builders, under the pastoral leadership of Dean Tubman, were guided by the artistic competence of the great NZ-born architect Francis Petre.

Yesterday I was in Sacred Heart for a funeral. While this was not my parish church, it was the church I prayed in often, both at Mass, and when I thought the day's exam could only be passed with the help of God.

My prayers were not always answered in the way that I had hoped. I now thank God for that! 

Yesterday, during the funeral, I was mindful of the thousands of people who have sought God in this sacred place. So many people have been baptised and buried, married and ordained here.

This weekend, hundreds of people, with priests and bishops, will gather to celebrate and to give thanks to God. Sacred Heart Church Timaru, reminds us of the importance of the Church as a sacred place. A beautiful building. A worthy temple. A church that serves to raise the mind and heart to God.

the lesser-known side door

St. Joseph's Altar

This Altar of Our Lady was the Altar for all week-day
Masses through my growing-up years.

signs of hope (post-earthquakes Christchurch)

The news of the morning for Christchurch was that the Cashel Mall will open tomorrow afternoon. This is a great sign of hope for our city. Once again there are signs of business and activity in the previously active central business district of our city.

Today also we heard of the work of Gerard Smyth whose documentary film about the earthquakes and the peoples response and recovery will reach the cinemas nationwide in November. The premier of the movie will also open the Palms Mall movie complex. Another sign of hope.

You can watch the trailer for the movie on youtube - link below.