Saint Mary of the Cross (MacKillop) (Solemnity in Australia) - August 8, 2022
Readings for Saint Mary of the Cross (MacKillop) (Solemnity in Australia)
FIRST READING: 1 Kings 17: 8-16
Psalm 62: 1-8. "My soul clings to you; your right-hand holds me fast."
SECOND READING: Colossians 3: 12-17
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Mt 27: 55). Alleluia, Alleluia. Many women were there by the cross, watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus and looked after him, Alleluia.
GOSPEL: Matthew 6: 25-34
Image Credit: Image Credit: Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, - Paint and Tapestry Artwork (c.2009-10) by Mr. Terence Michael (Terry) Lynch, (d. 12/1/2014). (And the Maryborough Parish ladies- Tapestry located in Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Maryborough, Queensland, where Saint Mary visited and set up a convent and school.
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for Saint Mary of the Cross (MacKillop) (Solemnity in Australia) - August 8, 2022 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-315-solemnity-of-mary-of-the-cross-mackillop-australia-and-new-zealand-2021
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* (Prologue: Fr Paul Kelly)
As Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop once wrote:
"Remember we are all but travellers here."
In Australia(solemnity) and New Zealand (feast Day) . . St Mary of the Cross, Mary of the Cross is a national Patron and also Patron of the Brisbane Archdiocese here).
Mary Helen Mackillop, was born in Melbourne (Australia) on 15th January 1842. And entered eternal life in Sydney on this day (8th August) in 1909. Mary took the religious name "Mary of the Cross." Mary responded to the isolation of colonial families by pioneering a new form of religious life to provide education for their children. She and her sisters shared the life of the poor and the itinerant, offering special care to destitute women and children. Remembered for her eagerness to discover God's will in all things, for her charity in the face of lies, and for her abiding trust in God's providence. [ having been born in Melbourne, I am sure Saint Mary Mackillop will be interceding for us here in Australia, and the whole world as it continues to work towards recovery from the great trials being caused by the ongoing covid-pandemic).
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Homily – Feast of Mary McKillop 2022
When he came to Australia to beatify Mary MacKillop, Pope
John Paul spoke of Mary as embodying "all that is best in your nation
and in its people …" He spoke of Australians as being marked by:
· a genuine openness to others;
· a generous hospitality to strangers and to the needy;
· a strong sense of justice to those unfairly treated;
· a rich kindness and compassion for the suffering; and
· an ability and willingness to persevere in the face of adversity.
He expressed the hope that Mary Mackillop's example would inspire
Australians to take pride in their Christian heritage and to work for a
better society for all.
During this time of reflecting on the canonization of Mary and its meaning for
us, I find myself asking: Are we really that people, that nation who
holds such hospitality and openness, such generosity and perseverance,
such justice and compassion as our deepest values? For better or worse
Australia has seen many changes in these past 20 years:
Are we still that people of whom John Paul spoke – hospitable to
strangers and generous to those in adversity?
Twenty years ago our INDIGENOUS PEOPLE could have held on to
the hope that with the Bringing Them Home Report, Sorry Days
and Bridge Walks some sort of attitude change was taking place
among us. What do they think now that political disinterest and
the opposition has just about ground the Reconciliation movement
to a halt? Now that opinion has been tamed to the point that
public conversation and discourse have been silenced? It isn't so
easy to recognise ourselves as that person who in John Paul's
words, "Do justice to those unfairly treated".
Twenty years ago, political leaders and concerned Australians
actually talked about NARROWING THE GAP between the very
rich and the very poor. Today not even a Vincent de Paul report
exposing shoddy statistics and showing that the tax reforms of the
last budget widen rather than narrow the gap – not even this can
get the conversation restarted. It is an unfortunate example for a
people who persevere in the face of adversity.
And what of the ASYLUM SEEKERS who, twenty years ago, may
have believed that they had the right to flee oppressive regimes,
war and torture? Asylum seekers who, twenty years ago, may have
believed that we would uphold the UN Charter on Human Rights?
What do they think now after years of detention, after the
ongoing exposure of human rights denied, wrongful deportation
and the incarceration of mothers and their children? In John
Paul's words we are supposed to be a people with a strong sense
of justice for those unjustly treated.
Twenty years ago the reality of terrorism had not yet
dawned on us here in this land. In just a few years we seem to have been willing to alienate our own responsibility in favour of powerful leaders of our
own and other nations; It may not be long before we allow ourselves to become so
threatened by our brothers and sisters that we begin to see
each other as potential enemies against whom we require
protection. It seems that we have lost our confidence in the values we
held as basic to who we are, and pride in our Christian
heritage has turned into defensiveness and suspicion against
those of other faiths.
Today's Gospel, however, puts before us a very different vision of
how life might be. "Do not worry about your life", Jesus says "Is not
life more than food and the body more than clothing?"
Is not life more than the mindless gathering of possessions, the undue
desire to be surrounded by all that the heart desires, whether we need it or not? More than the hapless use of the earth's resources to ensure our own comfort and security – as if it were not there to be shared among all, both rich and poor and our children of generations yet to come? More than protecting ourselves, our property and our lifestyles at the expense of those who have nothing? More than appropriating the riches of another's land, of another's culture and story as if we had it by right of
domination? more than the creation of unequal power structures and the
submission of those less powerful?
Today's gospel puts before us the question:
Can we not be satisfied with what is basic to our human need so
that there may be life with dignity for all – in which all our
brothers and sisters are invited and able to participate?
Can we not trust in the good ness of a God who names himself in
today's gospel as Father – and names us as daughters and sons – a
God whose loving Providence will supply all our needs?
And the answer which the gospel gives:
Life IS about more than what we are to eat, what we are to drink,
what we are to wear. "Seek FIRST", Jesus says, "the KINGDOM OF
GOD and GOD'S JUSTICE WHERE do we seek this KINGDOM and its JUSTICE? Matthew's gospel, from which we read today, is at pains to assure us that it is
already among us; we need only stay awake and be attentive. Given the
experience in our country over the past ten years we may want to claim
that this Kingdom of God and its justice is very difficult to recognise!
But have not our eyes been opened and our ears unstopped by God's
gift to us – in the person of Mary MacKillop, and in the lives of all who
share her spirit?
We know her story and we recognise in it the depths of her love for God and humanity, expressed in her life of service, especially of the powerless, the needy and those on the margins; we hear the all-pervading certainty that what she was doing was God's work, and her unfailing trust was that God would provide. We are heartened and encouraged by the very humanness of her seeking the Kingdom and its justice, of her failures and the weight of her burdens at times, of her courage and determination that whatever the opposition God's will would be done in her.+++++
References:
Homily – Fr Peter Dillon
Prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly
Image Credit: Image Credit: Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, - Paint and Tapestry Artwork (c.2009-10) by Mr. Terence Michael (Terry) Lynch, (8/5/1932-12/1/2014). (And the Maryborough Parish ladies- Tapestry located in Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Maryborough, Queensland, where Saint Mary visited and set up a convent and school.
Saint Mary of the Cross (MacKillop) (Solemnity in Australia) August 8, 2022
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Hi}} welcome everyone, we gather - Praise, Worship of God
My brothers and sisters, trusting in Gods mercy and love let us call to mind our sins.
Lord jesus, you are god who gives generously to all. Lord, have mercy
You are our sure helper in time of need. Christ, have mercy.
You are are loving and faithful to your people to the end of time. Lord, have mercy
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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Psalm 62: 1-8. "My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast."
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Mt 27: 55). Alleluia, Alleluia. Many women were there by the cross, watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus and looked after him, Alleluia.
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PREFACE: Preface I or II of saints
Various Occasions 1
(theme variation: 1 )
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{Many thanks for participating in this time of praise, worship and reflection upon our God's infinite love.}
Go forth, the Mass is ended.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
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Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.
Editing equipment:- NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor
[ Production - KER - 2022]
May God bless and keep you.
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