Sunday, 25 January 2026
3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Questions for the Week:
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 8:23-9:3
Isaiah prophesies a future reversal of fortune for the people living in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. Have you ever received an unexpected gift or blessing?
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-13,17
Paul urges the Corinthians to be united in mind and purpose, and to avoid rivalries. How do you react to conflicts at home or at work?
GOSPEL: MATTHEW 4:12-23
Matthew tells us that Jesus began his public ministry by calling disciples, healing the sick and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven. Have you ever felt a “call to action” to live out your faith?
©LPi
A Word from Fr Danny:
In 2019 Pope Francis designated this Sunday as Word of God Sunday. He did so on the 1600th anniversary of the death of the great biblical scholar and saint, St Jerome, reminding the Church that love for Christ cannot be separated from love for the Scriptures.
In the document establishing this celebration, Pope Francis called it Word of God Sunday, yet throughout the text he repeatedly referred to the “word of God”. This is deliberate. He draws our attention to an important distinction within our faith. The written word of God is Sacred Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit and entrusted to the Church. But the Word of God, in its fullest sense, is not a book. It is a person. St John tells us that the eternal Word is the Son of God himself, who became flesh and dwelt among us.
Word of God Sunday therefore invites us to deepen our relationship with Scripture so that we may deepen our relationship with Christ. In the Gospel today, we can think of the Scriptures as the new nets which Peter, Andrew, James and John were called to cast. Through the word they proclaimed, people were drawn not to the Apostles, but to Christ.
- Fr Danny
PARISH NEWS & EVENTS
Here’s what's happening
Sunday, 25 January: 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Sacrament of Penance
8.30am | Chapel | Taupō
Divine Mercy
3pm | Chapel | Taupō
Monday, 26 January
Mass
7pm | Church | Taupō
Tuesday, 27 January
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Wednesday, 28 January
Ave Connect | Rosary
11.30am | Church | Tūrangi
Mass | Tūrangi
12pm | Church | Tūrangi
Fair-Weather Gardeners
12pm - 3pm | Taupō
Ave Connect | Rosary
7pm | Chapel | Taupō
Thursday, 29 January
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Friday, 30 January
Mass
12pm | Church | Taupō
Divine Mercy
3pm | Chapel | Taupō
Holy Hour | Adoration, Confession & Benediction
6.30pm | Church | Taupō
Saturday, 31 January
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Sacrament of Penance
9.30am | Taupō
Vigil Mass
5pm | Church | Tūrangi
Sunday, 1 February: 4th 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 | Chapel | Taupō
Parish Movie Night | The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
6.30pm | Cafe | Taupō
Monday, 2 February
Tim Tam Connect | Book Club
10am | Cafe | Taupō
Mass
7pm | Church | Taupō
Tuesday, 3 February
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Community Lunch
1pm | Cafe | Taupō
Youth Group
6pm-7.15pm (Year 7&8) | Taupō (Weekly during school term)
6.30pm-8pm (Year 9-13) ALPHA YOUTH | Taupō (Weekly during school term)
Wednesday, 4 February
Ave Connect | Rosary
11.30am | Church | Tūrangi
Mass | Tūrangi
12pm | Church | Tūrangi
Fair-Weather Gardeners
12pm - 3pm | Taupō
Mahjong Connect
1pm | Cafe | Taupō
Ave Connect | Rosary
7pm | Chapel | Taupō
Thursday, 5 February
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Purl Connect | Knitting Group
1pm | Cafe | Taupō
Endurance Connect | Men’s Group
7pm | Cafe | Taupō
Friday, 6 February
Mass
12pm | Church | Taupō
Divine Mercy
3pm | Chapel | Taupō
Holy Hour | Adoration, Confession & Benediction
6.30pm | Church | Taupō
Saturday, 7 February
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Sacrament of Penance
9.30am | Taupō
Ministers for Sunday, 25 January
3rd 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…
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce follows a recently retired, ordinary man who leaves his stagnant life in Devon to walk 600 miles to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Upon learning his former colleague, Queenie, is dying, Harold impulsively decides to walk to her hospice, believing his journey will keep her alive, sparking a journey of self-discovery, grief, and emotional reconciliation.
RETREATS
Pilgrimage of Mercy | Women’s Retreat
Date/Time - Fri 29 May - Sun 31 May 5:00pm - 12:00pm
Being led by Grace to the River of Mercy
Come as you are; weary, wondering, or wide open. Journey with us into a sacred space of rest, reflection, and renewal.
Guided by Sr. Kat Stone (MGL Australia) and Retreat leader and coach Jen (Aust. Cert in leadership in Ministry), this Spirit-led retreat is an invitation to step away from the noise of life and walk gently toward the stillness of divine mercy.
Through prayer, silence, sacred conversation, and moments of still waters, you’ll be led – not by striving – but by grace, into the tender current of God’s healing presence.
This is a pilgrimage for the heart – a return to the mercy that was never withheld, only forgotten. You don’t need to earn it. You simply need to follow and allow God to minister to you.
Retreats
Tyburn Monastery, Ngakuru &
Cluny Retreat Centre, Tauranga
DIOCESAN NEWS & EVENTS
INTERNATIONAL NEWS & EVENTS
Click the image above to go to the Jubilee Year website.