First Eucharist

 We continue to pray for the students preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist. 

Upcoming events:

Presentation Masses - 26 August at 6:00pm and 27 August at 9:30am, Holy Trinity Church, Curtin.

First Eucharist Retreat - 8 September, Holy Trinity Primary School, Curtin

Sacrament of First Eucharist - 16 and 17 September, Holy Trinity Church, Curtin

The Assumption of Mary

It was a special occasion to join with the parish in prayer to celebrate the Assumption of Mary. Thank you to Fr John, the Youth Ministry team and the school choir with Miss Gill for leading us in a joy and faith filled mass.

 Sunday Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

Woman, you have great faith.

Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter

This week’s gospel provides a fascinating illustration of Jesus’ response to those in need. Jesus has travelled to the area of Tyre and Sidon – part of modern day Lebanon. He was physically removing himself from the place of his very active ministry and taking a break. When the Canaanite woman approaches Jesus and his disciples, she is an interruption; a nuisance. Jesus is very abrupt with her. He tells her simply that his ministry is to the house of Israel – the Jews – and is not for her. But the woman is persistent and again asks Jesus to help her. Jesus is even more abrupt and tells her that it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs. Through this use of metaphor, Jesus refers to the children of Israel (the Jews) and to the gentiles and pagans – sometimes referred to as ‘dogs’ to reflect their lowly status in the eyes of the Jewish tradition. Still the woman persists and turns Jesus’ metaphor back on him, saying that even the dogs get to eat the scraps that fall from the table.

The woman’s persistence and faith pay off. Jesus is moved by her faith and through that faith heals the woman’s daughter. Despite his initial abruptness and reluctance, Jesus responds with compassion to the woman’s request. It is as though she needed to demonstrate that she was really serious and that she did in fact believe that Jesus could make a difference in her life and the life of her daughter. This is an important story in Matthew’s gospel. This gospel was written predominantly for Jewish Christians but this story reveals that the ministry of Jesus and the reign of God is open to anyone who believes.

Blessings for the week ahead,

Veronica Hall

Religious Education Coordinator