Sunday, 7 September 2025
23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Questions for the Week:
FIRST READING: WISDOM 9:13-18
The author of Wisdom teaches us that our limited understanding can be overcome by the gift of wisdom from God’s Holy Spirit. Have you ever prayed for the gift of wisdom in discerning a difficult course of action?
SECOND READING: PHILEMON 9-10,12-17
Paul is asking Philemon to welcome back his runaway slave, Onesimus, as a brother in Christ. Who do you consult when making difficult life decisions?
GOSPEL: LUKE 14:25-33
Jesus challenges the crowds to weigh carefully the high cost of discipleship. What have you given up following Jesus?
©LPi
A Word from Fr Danny:
When Our Lord says today, ‘If anyone comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple,’ how are we to receive those words? Do we risk turning Christ into a politician by saying he is only speaking in hyperbole, that he merely means we should prefer being his disciple over our human relationships? Or is he speaking a truth that is ineffable—one that invites us to contemplate the mystery of Love within the Trinity? A love he longs for us to share, to receive in its fullness.
Indeed, the very next line is: ‘Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.’ It is at the Cross that radical renunciation and the infinite love of God—poured out through Christ’s human heart—meet in a victory that crushes evil, conquers death, and opens heaven, just as Christ’s side was opened for us.
- Fr Danny
Are you, or someone you know, curious about becoming Catholic? Come along on Wednesday at 7.30 to find out what the journey is like!
When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a web of conspiracies and intrigue that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.
PARISH NEWS & EVENTS
Here’s what's happening
Sunday, 7 September: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Sacrament of Penance
8.30am | Chapel | Taupō
Prayer for Life
After 9am Mass | Chapel | Taupō
Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Parish Movie Night | Conclave
6.30pm | Taupō
Monday, 8 September
Mass
7pm | Church | Taupō
Tuesday, 9 September
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Community Lunch
1pm | Cafe | Taupō
Youth Group
6pm-7.15pm (Year 7&8) | Taupō (Weekly during school term)
NO Senior Youth Group (Year 9-13) | Taupō (Resuming next term)
Wednesday, 10 September
Depth Charge Connect
10am | Hancock’s Place | Taupō
Ave Connect | Rosary
11.30am | Church | Tūrangi
Mass | Tūrangi
12pm | Church | Tūrangi
Fair-Weather Gardeners
12pm - 3pm | Taupō
Ave Connect | Rosary
7pm | Chapel | Taupō
Becoming Catholic? RCIA - Come and See
7.30pm | Chapel | Taupō
Thursday, 11 September
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Purl Connect | Knitting Group
1pm | MacIntosh’s Place | Taupō
Endurance Connect | Men’s Group
7pm | Cafe | Taupō
Friday, 12 September
Mass
12pm | Church | Taupō
Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Holy Hour | Adoration, Confession & Benediction
6.30pm | Church | Taupō
Saturday, 13 September
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Sacrament of Penance
9.30am | Taupō
Vigil Mass | 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
5pm | Church | Tūrangi
Sunday, 14 September: Exaltation of the Holy Cross
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Sacrament of Penance
8.30am | Chapel | Taupō
PACT | Confirmation Preparation
After 9am Mass | Chapel & Youth Den | Taupō
Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Monday, 15 September
Mass
7pm | Church | Taupō
Tuesday, 16 September
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Community Lunch
1pm | Cafe | Taupō
Youth Group
6pm-7.15pm (Year 7&8) | Taupō (Weekly during school term)
NO Senior Youth Group (Year 9-13) | Taupō (Resuming next term)
Wednesday, 17 September
Depth Charge Connect
10am | Hancock’s Place | Taupō
Ave Connect | Rosary
11.30am | Church | Tūrangi
Mass | Tūrangi
12pm | Church | Tūrangi
Fair-Weather Gardeners
12pm - 3pm | Taupō
Fr Simon Boquet | The Family as the Pillar of Society
6pm | Mass | Taupō
7pm | Presentation | Taupō
Thursday, 18 September
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Purl Connect | Knitting Group
1pm | MacIntosh’s Place | Taupō
Endurance Connect | Men’s Group
7pm | Cafe | Taupō
Fr Simon Boquet | How to Accompany the Vulnerable, Aged & Dying
6pm | Mass | Taupō
7pm | Presentation | Taupō
Friday, 19 September
Mass
12pm | Church | Taupō
Divine Mercy
3pm | Taupō
Holy Hour | Adoration, Confession & Benediction
6.30pm | Church | Taupō
Saturday, 20 September
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Sacrament of Penance
9.30am | Taupō
Ministers for Sunday, 7 September
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Taupō
Tūrangi
THIS WEEK….
Don’t our gardens look beautiful?! If you’re keen to lend a hand on a casual basis, to pull a few weeds, come along on a Wednesday anytime between 12noon and 3pm and join some of our gardening team.
COMING UP…
RETREATS
Retreats
Tyburn Monastery, Ngakuru &
Cluny Retreat Centre, Tauranga
Join us for this special time of FORMATION and ENCOUNTER at...
CALLED to LEAD - A weekend Retreat for All Men!
When : 7pm Fri 10 Oct to 3pm Sun 12 Oct Venue: Chosen Valley Christian Camp, Ararimu , Auckland
Retreat Director: Mike Lobo, Attending Priest: Fr Carl Telford SM, Keynote Speaker: Bill McElhinney
Praise and Worship: Jeffery Nathan and Peoples Worship Ministry
Cost: $175pp includes GREAT FOOD and Accomodation.
Follow the link below OR Scan the QR Code OR contact Mike Lobo (021) 2809285 or Jerome Hardy (027) 2334380
DIOCESAN NEWS & EVENTS
Our annual family camp weekend is set to kick off Friday 10 October early evening. Accommodation is being offered at Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park with most of our sessions being held onsite at St Marys, Seddon Street, Rotorua.
Discount codes are available to use thanks to generous donors. FULL will give you 100% off HALF will give you 50% off.
Our theme this year explores fostering and discerning vocations and gifts as part of family life - pilgrims of hope for the future! Price includes - planned activities; lunch, dinner, morning and afternoon tea on Saturday, morning tea and lunch on Sunday; Mothers wine and cheese night and Dads breakfast. Accomodation extra at heavily discounted rates.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS & EVENTS
Ahead of the 2025 Jubilee, Pope Francis has inaugurated a Year of Prayer.
Click the image to explore the Diocese of Hamilton Year of Prayer Resources
Click the image above to go to the Jubilee Year website.