Weekly Bulletin

“Strive to enter by the narrow door”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is asked, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” But as is often the case, Jesus doesn’t answer the question directly. Instead, He turns the question back to the listeners, challenging them — and us — to examine our own lives: “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” 

This is a call not to complacency, but to commitment. To be a Christian is more than claiming the name — it is a way of living, a continual striving to follow Jesus' example in concrete, often costly ways. Jesus makes it clear that familiarity with Him — hearing His words, eating and drinking in His presence — is not enough if our hearts and lives don’t reflect what He taught. "I do not know where you come from," He says to some. That’s a sobering response for anyone who assumes that a label or loose association is enough.

This is where the Gospel intersects with our reality. Many people today are disillusioned with religion, often pointing to hypocrisy — the gap between what is professed and what is lived. While no one can live like Jesus perfectly all the time, we are still called to strive toward it. Our credibility as Christians depends not on our perfection but on our sincerity: our willingness to admit our faults, to seek forgiveness, to keep going, and above all, to love as He loved.

Jesus is not trying to exclude; rather, He is inviting us to a deeper integrity. The “narrow door” is not a gate for a select few, but a call to every heart to walk with humility, truth, and love. It is about letting go of pretence and entering fully into the life of discipleship. Those who are last — overlooked, broken, honest — will be first. And those who rely on status or surface religion may find themselves left outside.

So today we are reminded: to call ourselves Christian is to strive to be Christ-like — not in name only, but in action, in compassion, and in the daily choice to follow Him, even through narrow and difficult paths.

That is where true life is found.

Based on: Living the Gospel – Consequences by Greg Sunter 

 May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved……….forever!  
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The ills of our time (le mal modern) could not be more serious; they are worsening day by day; we cannot probe deeply into them without being shocked. The situation can be linked to three causes:

Contempt of all authority, especially of the most sacred authority in the world, that of the holy catholic Church that speaks in the name of God.

Abandonment of prayer, of public worship, of the sacraments, in short of all religious practices that are part of God’s plan. 

Ignorance of revealed truth that alone can enlighten humanity, keep it aware of its duties and put a halt to the moral depravity that is threatening the very survival of human society.

Jules Chevalier msc Le Société, p.7ƒ., Bourges, Pigelet 1872. 
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In the end, the Sacred Heart is the unifying principle of all reality, since “Christ is the Heart of the world, and the paschal mystery of his death and resurrection is the centre of history, which, because of him, is a history of salvation”. All creatures “are moving forward with us and through us towards a common point of arrival, which is God, in that transcendent fullness where the risen Christ embraces and illumines all things”. In the presence of the heart of Christ, I once more ask the Lord to have mercy on this suffering world in which he chose to dwell as one of us. May he pour out the treasures of his light and love, so that our world, which presses forward despite wars, socio-economic disparities and uses of technology that threaten our humanity, may regain the most important and necessary thing of all: its heart.

Pope Francis. Dilexit Nos: He Loved us, #31 On the Human and Divine love of the Heart of Jesus Christ
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For Mutual coexistence: Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious, or ideological reasons. 
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Thank you for your very generous response to this year’s Winter Appeal. We received over $9,500 in cash and card donations. This will make a significant difference in the lives of many struggling families in our local community. Thanks also for your donations of non-perishable food items and toiletries. Our companions love receiving a bag of groceries when we visit.

Do you enjoy reading and sharing ideas with others? We’re exploring the idea of
re-starting a Sunday Afternoon Book Club a relaxed gathering for conversation, reflection, and friendship over a cuppa.

The details (books, times, and format) will be shaped by those who are interested.

If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, please let us know!
Contact: Kirsty at kippax.finance@cg.org.au

Gethsemane Thursday

Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament 
 4 September 7:30 – 8:30pm


First Friday Mass

5 September 2025

Mass of the Sacred Heart
The heart is the centre of our being, and the seat of our emotions and love.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
symbolizes his great love for humanity.
Jesus initiated this devotion out of his great love for us.

 

Pins & Needles 
  Third Monday of the Month
15 September 7:15pm
Parish Library

 

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS 

Connecting with people living alone 

3rd Sunday gathering
21 September at 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Parish Library

2nd Tuesday of the month Coffee Group 
9 September at 2:00pm
Ichi Café at Kippax Contact: Barbara Mawson 6254 7989 

 

LIBRARY NEWS: 

By remembering your faith community in your Will, you contribute to the spiritual legacy that has enriched your life. Your bequest ensures the continuation of the traditions, teachings, and support that have shaped your journey.