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ICCH Bulletin of May 28, 2023
May 28, 2023 Pentecost Sunday Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Acts 2:1-11 | 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 | Jn 20:19-23 ####Runaways Blessed And Missioned Resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, plus mission: Luke spreads these events across fifty days in Luke-Acts, but the Fourth Gospel concentrates them into the scenario of a single day. This is one of the places that frustrates the historical literalists who insist on finding answers to the question...
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ICCH Bulletin of May 21, 2023
May 21, 2023 Seventh Sunday of Easter Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Acts 1:12-14 | 1 Pt 4:13-16 | Jn 17:1-11a Several things are going on in the readings for this next to the last Sunday of the Easter Season. (Next Sunday we celebrate Pentecost and then return to Ordinary Time for the next six months.) Each of these moments in the readings can be very fruitful for us. In the Acts of the Apostles,...
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ICCH Bulletin of May 7, 2023
May 7, 2023 Fifth Sunday of Easter Welcome Father Bernward Today’s Readings: Acts 6:1-7 | 1 Pt 2:4-9 | Jn 14:1-12 […In this Sunday’s Gospel,] Christ is explaining the very deepest meaning of Christianity. “There are many rooms in my Father’s house,” Jesus says. “I will come back and take you there. You know the way to where I am going.” Thomas asks rather naturally, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how...
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ICCH Bulletin of April 23, 2023
April 23, 2023 Third Sunday of Easter Welcome Father Bernward Today’s Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33 | 1 Pt 1:17-21 | Lk 24:13-35 ####”Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” Ah, discipleship. It is such a central component of the Christian life. The Gospel reading this Sunday about the Risen Christ and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus often takes...
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ICCH Bulletin of March 5, 2023
March 5, 2023 Second Sunday of Lent Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Gn 12:1-4a | 2 Tm 1:8b-10 | Mt 17:1-9 In this gospel we see two great signs of the Transfiguration that “predict” Easter. The first and fundamental, is that of the divine voice: “This is my beloved Son.” In the gospel this voice resounds with the same words in three scenes well arranged to constitute almost a narrative thread within the earthly existence...
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ICCH Bulletin of February 26, 2023
February 26, 2023 First Sunday of Lent Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7 | Rom 5:12-19 | Mt 4:1-11 For the first Sunday of Lent the reflection practically has to be on the theme of sin. This is not simply because we began the penitential season of Lent this past Wednesday as we received our ashes, but because the scripture readings demand it. The first reading today is from the Book of Genesis...
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ICCH Bulletin of February 12, 2023
February 12, 2023 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Daniel Today’s Readings: Sir 15:15-20 | 1 Cor 2:6-10 | Mt 5:17-37 Today’s scripture readings engage us in a reflection on the nature of sin and law, and they begin with a biblical author for whom the Torah and its commandments were life-defining. We hear from this author, Jesus ben-Sira, on Sundays at least twice each year. His advice is sometimes quite specific, for instance,...
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ICCH Bulletin of January 29, 2023
January 29, 2023 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Zep 2:3; 3:12-13 | 1 Cor 1:26-31 | Mt 5:1-12a When we, as priests, meet with a family who have lost a loved one to choose the readings for the Funeral Mass, sometimes the family will choose today’s gospel reading. What is it that draws people to this gospel reading as they plan the Funeral Mass of a loved one? I suspect...
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ICCH Bulletin of January 22, 2023
January 22, 2023 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Brandt Today’s Readings: Is 8:23—9:3 | 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17 | Mt 4:12-23 or 4:12-17 Today’s Gospel Reading tells us about the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. The Evangelist tells us that after John the Baptist had been imprisoned by Herod Antipas, and as spoken by the prophets, Jesus withdrew “to Galilee” and began His own proclamation. The motive for Jesus making this move...
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ICCH Bulletin of January 8, 2023
January 8, 2023 Baptism of the Lord Welcome Father Daniel Today’s Readings: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 | Acts 10:34-38 | Mt 3:13-17 Today we celebrate the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ in the river Jordan by John the Baptist. The baptism of Jesus ushered him into his earthly ministry. Our focus is on the effects of Christian baptism as it was in the case of Jesus. According to today’s gospel, ‘As soon as Jesus was...
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ICCH Bulletin of April 9, 2023
April 9, 2023 The Resurrection of the Lord Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43 | 1 Cor 5:6b-8 | Jn 20:1-9 On Good Friday, there was no Eucharist - simply a communion service, with the Body of Christ from the Holy Thursday Eucharist. On Holy Saturday, there is no liturgy at all. The liturgy this evening is the vigil - the preparation for and entry into the celebration of Our Lord’s Resurrection. It...
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ICCH Bulletin of April 2, 2023
April 2, 2023 Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Is 50:4-7 | Phil 2:6-11 | Mt 26:14-27:66 Writing a reflection for Palm Sunday is intimidating because the Scriptures are so rich and complete that reflection could (and should) go on for hours, days or even weeks. In fact, the Church generally gives us the content of these texts in smaller bites throughout the year just so we can begin to...
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ICCH Bulletin of March 19, 2023
March 19, 2023 Fourth Sunday of Lent Welcome Father Daniel Today’s Readings: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a | Eph 5:8-14 | Jn 9:1-41 When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”...
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ICCH Bulletin of March 12, 2023
March 12, 2023 Third Sunday of Lent Welcome Father Chinedu Today’s Readings: Ex 17:3-7 | Rom 5:1-2, 5-8 | Jn 4:5-42 ####Cravings The readings for Sunday speak of a key desire within us, a longing, a craving. The best symbol for this desire is the thirst for water. […] You can fast from food for but not from water. In the Gospel Jesus uses a water as a symbol to the Samaritan woman about slaking...
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ICCH Bulletin of February 19, 2023
February 19, 2023 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Lv 19:1-2, 17-18 | 1 Cor 3:16-23 | Mt 5:38-48 ####Homily by Pope Francis in Bari (Feb. 2020) Jesus quotes the ancient law: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Mt 5:38; Ex 21:24). We know what that law meant: when someone takes something from you, you are to take the same thing from him. This law of...
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ICCH Bulletin of February 5, 2023
February 5, 2023 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Is 58:7-10 | 1 Cor 2:1-5 | Mt 5:13-16 ####Following Jesus In the Gospels of the last four Sundays we have been following the story of Jesus’ early career. He went to be baptized. Then he moved to Capernaum from Galilee when John the Baptist was killed, and there he chose his apostles (who somehow knew him as the one to follow)....
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ICCH Bulletin of January 15, 2023
January 15, 2023 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Is 49:3, 5-6 | 1 Cor 1:1-3 | Jn 1:29-34 ####Ordinary Time It has always befuddled me that a season of the liturgical year should be called “Ordinary Time”. It comes from the Latin “Tempus per annum, or time through the year”. These numbered Sundays between the liturgical seasons: Christmas and Lent, and Easter and Advent. Still, for those of us in...
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ICCH Bulletin of December 18, 2022
December 18, 2022 Fourth Sunday of Advent Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Is 7:10-14 | Rom 1:1-7 | Mt 1:18-24 “She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Mt 1:21) ####Joseph’s Dream The message of Christmas is so simple and powerful — the eternal Word of God becomes our kind of flesh — that we can easily slide unthinkingly over some of...
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ICCH Bulletin of December 11, 2022
December 11, 2022 Third Sunday of Advent Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Is 35:1-6a, 10 | Jas 5:7-10 | Mt 11:2-11 “Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, «Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?»” John the Baptist had been put in jail by Herod: he did not tolerate John the Baptist’s constant reproaches...
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ICCH Bulletin of November 20, 2022
November 20, 2022 The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: 2 Sm 5:1-3 | Col 1:12-20 | Lk 23:35-43 The feast of Christ the King has a long history in various countries of Europe but only came to its current prominence throughout the universal Church in 1925, when Pope Pius XI established the feast as a counter-witness to the collapse of royal families across Europe in...
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ICCH Bulletin of November 13, 2022
November 13, 2022 Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Mal 3:19-20a | 2 Thes 3:7-12 | Lk 21:5-19 In November, not only the Germans visit the graves of their relatives. The Celts commemorated the dead in the transition from autumn to winter. With Halloween on the eve of November 1st, their customs return to the mainland. In this period of transition to winter, before nature seems to die, according to the...
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ICCH Bulletin of October 30, 2022
October 30, 2022 Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Wis 11:22-12:2 | 2 Thes 1:11-2:2 | Lk 19:1-10 In the Gospel, we have another example of Jesus’ interests in the conversion of sinners. During the time of Jesus, Jericho was a beautiful town and important trade centre. It was the last stop for Pilgrims from the East before they started their final steep climb to Jerusalem. It was a rich and...
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ICCH Bulletin of November 27, 2022
November 27, 2022 First Sunday of Advent Welcome Father Eckhard Today’s Readings: Is 2:1-5 | Rom 13:11-14 | Mt 24:37-44 Advent blessings to all of you! Everything reminds us Advent is here […] We need the festive, hopeful tones, the feel-good movies, and the cookies; if we are honest, it has been a foggy, gloomy kind of year. Yet, even if we must “escape” into the folly, let us pray with our Church this season....
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ICCH Bulletin of October 23, 2022
October 23, 2022 Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Vicar Johann Today’s Readings: 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14 | 2 Thes 2:16-3:5 | Lk 20:27-38 Love After Death I have been with a fair number of people in the midst of their dying. Each time the event has seemed miraculous. Someone I had known and spoken with, and loved, someone whose every movement came from a mysterious source of life within them–burning bright as a candle...
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ICCH Bulletin of October 23, 2022
October 23, 2022 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18 | 2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18 | Lk 18:9-14 Psalm response: The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Both our first reading today and our Gospel reading clearly indicate that God looks past the heroic and successful, those who think that they are the beautiful people, to pour his love on the underdogs, the unsuccessful, the disposable people. At...
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ICCH Bulletin of October 16, 2022
October 16, 2022 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Ex 17:8-13 | 2 Tm 3:14-4:2 | Lk 18:1-8 In today’s Gospel, we have a parable about a judge and a poor widow who is seeking justice. The point of the parable is to teach an important lesson about the necessity of perseverance in prayer. Luke in the Gospel tells us not to be discouraged if we do not receive an immediate...
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ICCH Bulletin of October 9, 2022
October 9, 2022 Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: 2 Kgs 5:14-17 | 2 Tm 2:8-13 | Lk 17:11-19 ###“Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Luke 17:17-18 These words were spoken by Jesus after He healed ten lepers and only one of them, a foreigner, returned to Jesus to thank Him. Ten were healed physically...
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ICCH Bulletin of October 2, 2022
October 2, 2022 Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Johann Today’s Readings: Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4 | 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14 | Lk 17:5-10 Like unpacking an old trunk, we need to unpack today’s Gospel and take out the hidden treasures within it and then appreciate them. We are dealing here with the reality of faith, the substance of things not immediately obvious. It takes a bit of courage to do that because we are...
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ICCH Bulletin of September 25, 2022
September 25, 2022 Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Johann Today’s Readings: Am 6:1a, 4-7 | 1 Tm 6:11-16 | Lk 16:19-31 The parable in the Gospel of today generally termed as the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus was directed towards the Pharisees. This parable contains the all-important parabolic dynamic of reversal. It begins with the state on earth of the rich person and the poor man and at the end, the...
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ICCH Bulletin of September 18, 2022
September 18, 2022 Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Bieger SJ Today’s Readings: Am 8:4-7 | 1 Tm 2:1-8 | Lk 16:1-13 ###The Unjust Steward The parable long known as “The Unjust Steward” may be the most puzzling of all the stories of Jesus. Since it appears to present an immoral person as a model, the story has been used by Christianity’s enemies to denigrate Jesus as teacher. But there is a way of...
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ICCH Bulletin of September 11, 2022
September 11, 2022 Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Ex 32:7-11, 13-14 | 1 Tm 1:12-17 | Lk 15:1-32 In this Gospel passage of today Luke has put together three parables all stressing the dynamic of lost and found. The point the evangelist is making in each case is the generous willingness God demonstrates in accepting back the repentant sinner. In the first parable, the repentant sinner is symbolized in the...
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ICCH Bulletin of September 4, 2022
September 4, 2022 Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Wis 9:13-18b | Phmn 9-10, 12-17 | Lk 14:25-33 ####From a sermon by Pope St. Gregory the Great(*) on the Gospel of Luke 37:2,3,5 May we ask how it is that the Lord commands us to hate our parents and our biological relatives, when He gives us the commandment to love even our enemies? Paul speaks: “Husbands, love your wives as Christ...
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ICCH Bulletin of August 28, 2022
August 28, 2022 Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 | Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a | Lk 14:1, 7-14 „For one day in your halls is better than a thousand others.“ - Men desire a thousand days, a long life. But they should rather despise that and long for the one day that knows no morning and no evening, the one day, the eternal day, to which the previous...
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ICCH Bulletin of August 21, 2022
August 21, 2022 Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Is 66:18-21 | Heb 12:5-7, 11-13 | Lk 13:22-30 ####From the commentary of the holy bishop John Chrysostom on the Gospel of Matthew 26:4-8 Christ helps us by speaking of the kingdom of God in all his miracles and seeking to win all to it. He threatens some that they will be excluded from the kingdom of God, but he threatens only...
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ICCH Bulletin of August 7, 2022
August 7, 2022 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Wis 18:6-9 | Heb 11:1-2, 8-19 | Lk 12:32-48 […] Being a Christian also has to do with a change of view. Christians have the same life to live as everyone else, the same happiness, the same hardship. But everything that comes into being, that passes away, that is lived and suffered, still has something ahead of it. Everything we do and...
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ICCH Bulletin of July 24, 2022
July 24, 2022 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Gn 18:20-32 | Col 2:12-14 | Lk 11:1-13 One day the disciples saw Jesus praying. When he had finished, one of them asked him: Lord, teach us to pray. Jesus follows this request and entrusts the disciples with five petitions - five petitions that could not be more unexpected. Who would think of talking to God like that? When you pray, say:...
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ICCH Bulletin of July 17, 2022
July 17, 2022 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Gn 18:1-10a | Col 1:24-28 | Lk 10:38-42 According to our sacred doctrine, there are two forms of life, the active and the contemplative. The active form of life is prior to the contemplative form, because one arrives at contemplation from good work. But the contemplative form of life beckons a higher reward than the active one. The active life labours by...
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ICCH Bulletin of July 10, 2022
July 10, 2022 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Dt 30:10-14 | Col 1:15-20 | Lk 10:25-37 Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Lk 10) We have heard the parable of the man who came from Jerusalem and went down to Jericho. He fell among the robbers...
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ICCH Bulletin of July 3, 2022
July 3, 2022 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Matthew Today’s Readings: Is 66:10-14c | Gal 6:14-18 | Lk 10:1-12, 17-20 Sometimes our Lord and Saviour admonishes us with words, sometimes also with deeds. For his deeds are also instructions. By he does something without words, he reveals to us what we are to do. Look, he sends the disciples two by two to preach, because there are two commandments of love: love of...
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ICCH Bulletin of June 26, 2022
June 26, 2022 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: 1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21 | Gal 5:1, 13-18 | Lk 9:51-62 Toward Jerusalem Jesus is fierce in Sunday’s Gospel. He is on the march and will not be turned back. Sometimes the readings startle us. He “rebukes” the disciples. He shouts “let the dead bury the dead” to a man who wants to bury his father and then follow Jesus. Jesus is...
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ICCH Bulletin of June 19, 2022
June 19, 2022 Feast of Corpus Christi Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Gn 14:18-20 | 1 Cor 11:23-26 | Lk 9:11b-17 Catholic Christians celebrate Corpus Christi today. Some people find the feast a little suspicious (especially in northern latitudes) and pass it over. Perhaps they suspect that relics of denominational acts of profiling might haunt the celebration or that the whole thing is too sensual for them: the procession, the Eucharistic blessing and all that....
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ICCH Bulletin of June 12, 2022
June 12, 2022 The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Prv 8:22-31 | Rom 5:1-5 | Jn 16:12-15 We Christians begin every prayer and every service in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And in the Creed, we confess God’s Trinity. Do we know what we are saying when we speak like this? What do we believe when we confess like this? God only knows...
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ICCH Bulletin of June 5, 2022
June 5, 2022 Pentecost Sunday Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Acts 2:1-11 | 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 | Jn 20:19-23 Pentecost means fiftieth day. It was the second of three great Jewish Feasts. For the Jews, it was a day of gratitude. It was a day of thanksgiving for the completion of the harvest. However, on this day a great transformation took place in the small group of disciples. They were persons perplexed, scared, dumbfounded,...
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ICCH Bulletin of May 29, 2022
May 29, 2022 Seventh Sunday of Easter Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Acts 7:55-60 | Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 | Jn 17:20-26 Just a week before the Pentecost the theme of unity reechoes in today’s gospel reading of the highly priestly prayer of our Lord: ” Holy Father, I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one” In this...
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ICCH Bulletin of May 22, 2022
May 22, 2022 Sixth Sunday of Easter Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 | Rev 21:10-14, 22-23 | Jn 14:23-29 For seven times seven days we celebrate what happened at the Easter Vigil. We need this long time not least to reflect on the diverse, often disparate Easter stories in the Bible. And their polyphony is no wonder. For if what is confessed in the original formulas of the Christian creed and what...
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ICCH Bulletin of May 1, 2022
May 1, 2022 Third Sunday of Easter Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41 | Rev 5:11-14 | Jn 21:1-19 […] There are many stories about the search for the treasure of life. And they all say: Whoever wants to win this treasure must set out, engage in the unknown, in adventure. And at the same time, he must never be deceived into thinking that something he has found is already this treasure. Even...
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ICCH Bulletin of April 24, 2022
April 24, 2022 Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Acts 5:12-16 | Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 | Jn 20:19-31 These days we celebrate Easter - the resurrection of Jesus. Resurrection is the greatest miracle we Christians know. […] This is precisely the way God has always done and continues to do miracles: not by intervening from above, but by transforming from within the one who needs the miracle and...
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ICCH Bulletin of April 17, 2022
April 17, 2022 Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43 | Col 3:1-4 | Jn 20:1-9 Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven, exult, let Angel ministers of God exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our mighty King’s triumph! Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all corners of the earth be glad,...
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ICCH Bulletin of April 10, 2022
April 10, 2022 Palm Sunday Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Is 50:4-7 | Phil 2:6-11 | Lk 22:14—23:56 “Let us go together to meet Christ on the Mount of Olives. Today he returns from Bethany and proceeds of his own free will toward his holy and blessed passion, to consummate the mystery of our salvation. He who came down from heaven to raise us from the depths of sin, to raise us with himself, we...
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ICCH Bulletin of April 3, 2022
April 3, 2022 Fifth Sunday of Lent Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Is 43:16-21 | Phil 3:8-14 | Jn 8:1-11 The first reading is from the Prophet Isaiah and this section begins with a brief recollection of all the great things the Lord had done for the Israelites, but it quickly moves to the present and we are told; “See, I am doing something new!” The reading goes on to describe how the beautiful and...
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ICCH Bulletin of March 27, 2022
March 27, 2022 Fourth Sunday of Lent Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Jos 5:9a, 10-12 | 2 Cor 5:17-21 | Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 Coming to his senses he thought, “How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I...
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ICCH Bulletin of March 20, 2022
March 20, 2022 Third Sunday of Lent Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15 | 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12 | Lk 13:1-9 Th[e] conversion to being set on fire by God’s concern for his people is also at the heart of the Gospel. To prepare the ground for understanding the parable of the barren fig tree, Luke reports how Jesus reacts to the news of a particularly cruel bloodbath by the Roman governor in...
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ICCH Bulletin of March 6, 2022
March 6, 2022 First Sunday of Lent Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Dt 26:4-10 | Rom 10:8-13 | Lk 4:1-13 Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1–2a What a painful experience for Jesus. If you really think about this, it can be difficult to understand…at least at first. Jesus, the Son of...
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ICCH Bulletin of February 27, 2022
February 27, 2022 Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Sir 27:4-7 | 1 Cor 15:54-58 | Lk 6:39-45 [Jesus Sirach] is a wisdom teacher. He stands on the shoulders of the bodily experiences of his ancestors and their testimonies. King Solomon is the most famous among them. Generations before him wrote down what they experienced and suffered in their dealings with their kind, with our kind. How they became wise from...
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ICCH Bulletin of February 20, 2022
February 20, 2022 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 | 1 Cor 15:45-49 | Lk 6:27-38 This gospel just heard brings us to the crucial point to our life as christians. All that Jesus says hits us a blow over our head. We all know and make, needless to say, almost day by day, the experience, the hurtful experience that violence, egoism and revenge rule...
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ICCH Bulletin of February 13, 2022
February 13, 2022 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Jer 17:5-8 | 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20 | Lk 6:17, 20-26 ###”Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.” […] For the most part, beatitudes were an ancient formula that encouraged people to do good. For instance, in our Responsorial Psalm we read, “Blessed is the one who does not take the wicked for his guide, nor...
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ICCH Bulletin of February 6, 2022
February 6, 2022 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Is 6:1-2a, 3-8 | 1 Cor 15:1-11 | Lk 5:1-11 How do we respond when God asks us to do a seemingly impossible task? We can learn a lesson from the Old Testament and Gospel readings for today. Isaiah has a vision of the Lord in which the angels cry out “Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts! All the earth is...
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ICCH Bulletin of January 30, 2022
January 30, 2022 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Jer 1:4-5, 17-19 | 1 Cor 12:31—13:13 | Lk 4:21-30 Contemplating the scriptural readings of today we are able to perceive how God manifests His Divine love in a very personal way. Through the incarnation in Jesus Christ, God came to dwell among us. What great love God has for us, that He set aside His divinity, took human form upon Himself,...
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ICCH Bulletin of January 23, 2022
January 23, 2022 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 | 1 Cor 12:12-30 | Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21 Nehemiah 8 describes the transformation process that God repeatedly calls us to our whole life long. On their return from exile in Babylon, the people find the Jerusalem temple in ruins, the city in disrepair. They are not welcomed by those residing there. Ezra, a priest-scribe, brought the law to...
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ICCH Bulletin of January 16, 2022
January 16, 2022 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Is 62:1-5 | 1 Cor 12:4-11 | Jn 2:1-11 Although the Church’s annual cycle of worship began with Advent, some six weeks ago, today’s readings re-launch the Church into the “ordinary time” of the year following our celebration of the Advent and Christmas seasons. They do so on a note of joyful missionary zeal: the first reading from Isaiah conveys a sense...
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ICCH Bulletin of January 9, 2022
January 9, 2022 The Baptism of the Lord Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or Is 40:1-5, 9-11 | Acts 10:34-38 or Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7 | Lk 3:15-16, 21-22 We have just celebrated at Christmas the arrival of Jesus, the incarnate Son of God. The incarnation of Jesus implies that he had to learn everything as we do, without being able to spare himself any process of growth. He learned to walk hand...
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ICCH Bulletin of December 25, 2021
December 25, 2021 Our bulletin for Christmas Time Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Is 52:7-10 | Heb 1:1-6 | Jn 1:1-18 The scripture readings assigned for the Mass of Christmas day emphasize an attitude of child-like wonder at all that is taking place. In the text from the prophet Isaiah, the city of Jerusalem, once ruined and barren at the hands of foreign invaders, begins to rise from the rubble. Isaiah describes exiled Hebrews, once...
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ICCH Bulletin of December 19, 2021
December 19, 2021 Fourth Sunday of Advent Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Mi 5:1-4a | Heb 10:5-10 | Lk 1:39-45 (…) After spending two Sundays of Advent in the company of John the Baptist, we are now on the brink of Christmas and our focus, rightly, moves to Mary, chosen to be and humbly accepting the honour, the task, the worry, the loneliness of becoming the Mother of God. “Becoming the Mother of God.” –...
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ICCH Bulletin of December 12, 2021
December 12, 2021 Third Sunday of Advent Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Zep 3:14-18a | Phil 4:4-7 | Lk 3:10-18 Christmas is a time for gift giving, and the Advent Season is our time to prepare for Christmas. On Christmas we celebrate the greatest gift that has ever been given, Jesus. God gives himself to us out of love for our salvation. What better gift than the gift of eternal life. All we need do...
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ICCH Bulletin of December 5, 2021
December 5, 2021 Second Sunday of Advent Welcome Father Martin Today’s Readings: Bar 5:1-9 | Phil 1:4-6, 8-11 | Lk 3:1-6 ###Prepare the Way Now begins the second week of the Church’s world-wide retreat in preparation for Christmas. It is Advent, the quiet time, the great contrast with our culture’s wild consumer-bonanza. It lets you and me examine just how open we are to the birth of Christ in our souls. No mistake about it,...
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ICCH Bulletin of November 21, 2021
November 21, 2021 Solemnity of Christ the King Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Dn 7:13-14 | Rv 1:5-8 | Jn 18:33b-37 ###That Was Then, This Is Now In the Gospel Reading, Christ is being held by Pilate, who holds him in his power. In the next part of the story, as we know, Christ is on the cross: poor, dishonored, in pain, and dying. Christ’s willingness to accept these afflictions sets the standard for all...
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ICCH Bulletin of November 14, 2021
November 14, 2021 Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Dn 12:1-3 | Heb 10:11-14, 18 | Mk 13:24-32 This Sunday is the last ordinary Sunday of Ordinary Time. Next weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King which marks the end of the Church year. As we near the end of the Church year the readings have us focus on the end of the world. These are readings that can...
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ICCH Bulletin of November 7, 2021
November 7, 2021 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: 1 Kgs 17:10-16 | Heb 9:24-28 | Mk 12:38-44 ###“The poor widow has put in more than all.” Mark 12:38-44 […] Today’s Gospel calls us, not to worry or fear walking with Jesus or meeting him in our Church this Sunday, but simply to ponder our actions and our motivations. We need not make judgements, or be overly critical, or hard on...
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ICCH Bulletin of October 31, 2021
October 31, 2021 Thirthy-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Dt 6:2-6 | Heb 7:23-28 | Mk 12:28b-34 In the Gospel for this weekend we hear about an encounter that Jesus had with a Scribe. At the time of Jesus Scribes were Pharisees who had a particular interest and expertise in the law, and were sometimes referred to as lawyers in the Gospels. Often when we hear of a Scribe approaching Jesus...
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ICCH Bulletin of October 24, 2021
October 24, 2021 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Jer 31:7-9 | Heb 5:1-6 | Mk 10:46-52 In today’s reading from Jeremiah we hear wonderful news; the prophet announces that the blind and the lame will be healed and will join the joyful throng of Israelites as they are redeemed from their exile in Babylon and return home to the promised land: “I will gather them from the ends of the...
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ICCH Bulletin of October 17, 2021
October 17, 2021 Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Is 53:10-11 | Heb 4:14-16 | Mk 10:35-45 This Gospel has ambition, jealousy and the paradox of Christian leadership. James and John approach Jesus and seemed very determined to be given the two highest places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom. One might even wonder what led them to ask for such a thing. Maybe it was their mother who prompted them to...
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ICCH Bulletin of October 10, 2021
October 10, 2021 Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Wis 7:7-11 | Heb 4:12-13 | Mk 10:17-30 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. (Gospel) DIFFICULT CHOICE OR DISAPPOINTING ENCOUNTER? The Gospel speaks of the unexpected encounter of Jesus with a young man who seems to be preoccupied by an ultimate goal:...
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ICCH Bulletin of October 3, 2021
October 3, 2021 Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Gn 2:18-24 | Heb 2:9-11 | Mk 10:2-16 Today we continue to read from the Gospel according to Mark. For the past three Sundays, we have been hearing Mark’s reports of conversations between Jesus and his disciples. Recall that in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus uses these private moments to teach his disciples in greater detail about the Kingdom of God. Beginning with today’s...
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ICCH Bulletin of September 26, 2021
September 26, 2021 Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Nm 11:25-29 | Jas 5:1-6 | Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 ###Glimpses of God’s Goodness Our Gospel for today is certainly challenging! It has two sections. The first focuses on who can do the works of grace in the name of Jesus. It opens with John notifying Jesus that someone who was apparently not a follower of Jesus was driving out demons. An...
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ICCH Bulletin of September 19, 2021
September 19, 2021 Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Wis 2:12, 17-20 | Jas 3:16–4:3 | Mk 9:30-37 The scene in the Gospel is an easy one to picture. Jesus and his disciples are walking through Galilee and most likely Jesus is up front leading the way like a good shepherd leading his flock. He’s telling them the harsh reality of what is going to happen; he’s going to be killed...
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ICCH Bulletin of September 12, 2021
September 12, 2021 Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Is 50:5-9 | Jas 2:14-18 | Mk 8:27-35 Today’s Sunday scripture readings open with a passage from the prophet Isaiah, in which the prophet speaks of his fidelity to the Lord even in very difficult times, and of the way in which the Lord provided refuge for him in this time of testing. We read, “I gave my back to those who...
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ICCH Bulletin of September 5, 2021
September 5, 2021 Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Is 35:4-7a | Jas 2:1-5 | Mk 7:31-37 “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” Mark 7:34b These are powerful words. Why are they powerful? They are powerful because they are more than words. They are words that actually accomplish what they say. These words are spoken by Jesus after the deaf man is brought to Him with the request for healing. By saying...
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ICCH Bulletin of August 22, 2021
August 22, 2021 Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b | Eph 5:21-32 | Jn 6:60-69 ###Jesus the Word of Life Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. Today we continue the conversation that Jesus is having with the people about his claim to be the Bread of Life that has come down from heaven. As the conversation continues, so too does the conflict...
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ICCH Bulletin of August 15, 2021
August 15, 2021 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity) Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Rev 11:19; 12:1-6, 10 | 1 Cor 15:20-27 | Lk 1:39-56 Today the Church the world over rejoices on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, reverently commemorating the moment when “the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”...
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ICCH Bulletin of August 8, 2021
August 8, 2021 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: 1 Kgs 19:4-8 | Eph 4:30-5:2 | John 6:41-51 ###Here is Food for You The background: Elijah had just come from a dangerous showdown with 450 prophets of a god called Baal, in the land ruled by Jezebel. The God of Israel had easily won this encounter, but Elijah had gone ahead and done great violence against the surviving prophets anyway. Queen...
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ICCH Bulletin of August 1, 2021
August 1, 2021 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Exod 16:2-4, 12-15 | Eph 4:17, 20-24 | John 6:24-35 In the reflection on the eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time we saw that while the “bread of life” is found above all in the Eucharist, our hunger for the Lord can and should be satisfied in other ways as well, chief among them the study of the word of God as recorded...
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ICCH Bulletin of July 25, 2021
July 25, 2021 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: 2 Kgs 4:42-44 | Eph 4:1-6 | Jn 6:1-15 The Feeding of the 5000 is the only miracle reported by all four evangelists, and each of them have their own take. Luke, for example, provides the location of the event as being at Bethsaida. Whilst Matthew, for his part, relays the interesting detail about the miracle taking place in the context of...
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ICCH Bulletin of July 18, 2021
July 18, 2021 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Jer 23:1-6 | Eph 2:13-18 | Mk 6:30-34 Sometimes an idea or concept from the scripture readings comes across very clearly in the Lectionary, and that is certainly the case this Sunday. The image of a shepherd runs through the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah, the responsorial Psalm, and the Gospel as well. The shepherd is probably one of the most...
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ICCH Bulletin of July 11, 2021
July 11, 2021 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Am 7:12-15 | Eph 1:3-14 | Mk 6:7-13 Today’s Gospel reading gives us a sense of the urgency which Jesus had for the mission he had been given. And we see Jesus passing on that urgency and passion to his disciples. He sent them out, by twos, giving them the authority of being his disciples and telling them they need take nothing...
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ICCH Bulletin of July 4, 2021
July 4, 2021 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Ezek 2:2-5 | 2 Cor 12:7-10 | Mk 6:1-6 Today the prophet Ezekiel makes an appearance in our Sunday readings; he is among the most colorful characters in the Old Testament. Since we do not get to hear anywhere near the whole of his preaching in the Lectionary, we should read his prophecy carefully on our own. Aside from the fascinating and...
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ICCH Bulletin of June 27, 2021
June 27, 2021 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24 | 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15 | Mk 5:21-43 ###Touching Jesus She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Mark 5:28 Here is an example of one who comes to Jesus with great faith. It’s a fascinating story, in that we are given the gift of being able to know her thoughts. This woman had...
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ICCH Bulletin of June 20, 2021
June 20, 2021 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Jb 38:1, 8-11 | 2 Cor 5:14-17 | Mk 4:35-41 ####At Sea with Jesus The storm-tossed situation of the boatload of disciples fits well with what we know of Galilean patterns of severe weather and first-century Palestinian fishing boats. The Sea of Galilee sits cupped in a bowl of mountainous highlands. The contrast between the warmth of the sun- heated water and...
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ICCH Bulletin of June 13, 2021
June 13, 2021 Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Ezek 17:22-24 | 2 Cor 5:6-10 | Mk 4:26-34 Jesus teaches the meaning of the reign or kingdom of God by way of two parables. In the first comparison, the reign of God is like seeds that a man plants in the soil. It is not the man, however, but the soil that makes the seeds sprout and grow in a way...
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ICCH Bulletin of June 6, 2021
June 6, 2021 Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Gn 3:9–15 | 2 Cor Corinthians 4:13—5:1 | Mk 3:20–35 The Book of Genesis, from which is taken the first reading today, sets forth the experience of sin that began our later experiences of sin. Sin is contagious is so many ways. So often we blame sin on others instead of accepting our own responsibilities. The author of this passage from Genesis...
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ICCH Bulletin of May 30, 2021
May 30, 2021 Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Dt 4:32-34, 39-40 | Rom 8:14-17 | Mt 28:16-20 ###Go Make Disciples of All Nations The Season of Easter ended last Sunday when we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost. Today is Trinity Sunday. As we continue to move forward with an easing of lockdown and social restrictions, today is the day to praise and acknowledge the love and power of the...
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ICCH Bulletin of May 16, 2021
May 16, 2021 Seventh Sunday of Easter Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26 | 1 Jn 4:11-16 | Jn 17:11b-19 Gospel Summary This passage is part of the high-priestly prayer of Jesus that John uses as the climax of the Last Supper Discourse. Its beauty of poetic expression and depth of meaning cannot be captured in a prosaic summary. A summary at most serves as a focus for study in preparation for...
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ICCH Bulletin of May 9, 2021
May 9, 2021 Sixth Sunday of Easter !! NO MASS AT CHURCH TODAY !! Today’s Readings: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 | 1 Jn 4:7-10 | Jn 15:9-17 Today’s readings include a dizzying celebration of Jesus and his love and friendship for us. The first line of the gospel is from Jesus: I love you. The final words tell us how to follow him: Love one another, something repeated in the epistle from 1 John. In...
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ICCH Bulletin of May 2, 2021
May 2, 2021 Fifth Sunday of Easter Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Acts 9:26-31 | 1 John 3:18-24 | John 15:1-8 «I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you.» The Lord Jesus...
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ICCH Bulletin of April 18, 2021
April 18, 2021 Third Sunday of Easter Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 | 1 John 2:1-5 | Lk 24:35-48 Introduction: The common theme of today’s readings is the challenge to adjust our lives to the living presence of the risen Lord as we grow daily more aware of the presence of His Holy Spirit within us and surrounding us. This awareness should strengthen our hope in His promises, bring us to true...
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ICCH Bulletin of April 11, 2021
April 11, 2021 Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Acts 4:32-35 | 1 John 5:1-6 | John 20:19-31 Introduction: The readings for this Sunday are about God’s mercy, the necessity for trusting Faith, and our need for the forgiveness of our sins. The opening prayer addresses the Father as “God of everlasting Mercy.” In the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 118), we repeat several times, “His mercy endures forever!” God...
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ICCH Bulletin of April 25, 2021
April 25, 2021 Fourth Sunday of Easter Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Acts 4:8-12 | 1 Jn 3:1-2 | Jn 10:11-18 ###Call and Response For many, if not all of us who live in tower blocks or housing estates, the chances of meeting a shepherd or seeing a flock of sheep are very rare! The language and image that Jesus offers us today in the gospel can seem a bit strange to us and may...
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ICCH Bulletin of April 4, 2021
April 4, 2021 Easter Sunday Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43 | Col 3:1-4 | Jn 20:1-9 […] “…early in the morning, while it was still dark…” Easter begins in the half-light, in the midst of fear, bewilderment, pain, and a profound loss of certainty. The certainty of the Creeds we proclaim will come later. On that Easter morn in the beginning what faint glow of hope was present in the midst of...
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ICCH Bulletin of March 28, 2021
March 28, 2021 Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Is 50:4-7 | Phil 2:6-11 | Mk 14:1–15:47 Today we begin the celebration of Holy Week. For many of us, this is known as Palm Sunday. But if we came here to Church only because of the palms, we are terribly mistaken. This celebration is not about the palms. This is all about the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, the...
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ICCH Bulletin of March 21, 2021
March 21, 2021 Fifth Sunday of Lent Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Jer 31:31-34 | Heb 5:7-9 | John 12:20-33 The Gospel of today begins with the desire of the Greeks who were among those who had come to Jerusalem to worship at the feast to meet Jesus. These perhaps were not the Greek-speaking Jews but were gentiles. So they went to Philip, one of the disciples of Jesus, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee,...
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ICCH Bulletin of March 14, 2021
March 14, 2021 Fourth Sunday of Lent Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: 2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23 | Eph 2:4-10 | Jn 3:14-21 Jesus is lifted up for all to see In Jewish history Moses is a key figure. He led the people from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. Before they reached the Promised Land they had to pass through the desert and this was not always an easy experience for them!...
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ICCH Bulletin of March 7, 2021
March 7, 2021 Third Sunday of Lent Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Exod 20:1-17 | 1 Cor 1:22-25 | John 2:13-25 This Lent the First Readings from the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures present various covenants between God and his people. We reflect on them during Lent to help us have a greater understanding of the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus which we celebrate at Easter. Two weeks ago we had the covenant...
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ICCH Bulletin of February 21, 2021
February 21, 2021 First Sunday of Lent Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Gn 9:8-15 | 1 Pet 3:18-22 | Mk 1:12-15 Part of Lent is deepening our awareness that we people who have a Covenant with the Living God. We are not just people who believe in God. We are a people sought out by God, a people formed by God and a people with a special love relationship with God. Only when we are...
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ICCH Bulletin of February 14, 2021
February 14, 2021 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Lv 13:1-2, 44-46 | 1 Cor 10:31-11:1 | Mk 1:40-45 ###Only Say the Word, and My Soul Shall Be Healed In the Gospel Reading, Jesus reaches out to touch a leper; and, by touching him heals him. Leprosy is a disease worth fearing. It disfigures and disables a person. The ancient world thought it could be transmitted by touch. For the sake...
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ICCH Bulletin of February 7, 2021
February 7, 2021 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Job 7:1-4, 6-7 | 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23 | Mk 1:29-39 Today we continue to read from Mark’s Gospel, learning more about the ministry of Jesus. Jesus cured Simon’s mother-in-law, and she immediately began to serve Jesus and his disciples. Jesus also cured many others who were brought to him, healing their illnesses and driving out demons. As we will see throughout...
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ICCH Bulletin of January 31, 2021
January 31, 2021 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: Dt 18:15-20 | 1 Cor 7:32-35 | Mk 1:21-28 “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” […] Our psalm says, “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” which invites us to consider two questions – That question of “If” – what does it take to hear God’s voice today? And how do you make sure you...
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ICCH Bulletin of January 24, 2021
January 24, 2021 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Jonah 3:1-5, 10 | 1 Cor 7:29-31 | Mk 1:14-20 Unless one attends daily mass today is the only time a Catholic will hear a passage from the book of Jonah, one of the so-called twelve “minor prophets” of the Old Testament. These prophets are not “minor” in the importance of their message but rather in the brevity of their works: while...
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ICCH Bulletin of January 17, 2021
January 17, 2021 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome Father Mathew Today’s Readings: 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19 | 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20 | Jn 1:35-42 ###Who’s calling? In the First Reading, Samuel, who was still young, was waked up by hearing his name called in the night. He thought that the person calling him was Eli, the old priest whom Samuel served. But Samuel was wrong in thinking this. It was the Lord calling. God...
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ICCH Bulletin of January 10, 2021
January 10, 2021 The Baptism of the Lord (Feast) Welcome Father Cyril Today’s Readings: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 | Acts 10:34-38 | Mk 1:7-11 The Christmas season ends today with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The beginning and end of the season have much in common. On Christmas, we celebrate God becoming one of us, taking upon himself a human nature. On the Feast of the Baptism, we celebrate the public proclamation that...
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Our program for the seasons of Advent and Christmas
You are invited to join us at ICCH in worship and more at the following times: December 3 Sunday Mass, followed by Social Gathering December 10 Sunday Mass December 17 Sunday Mass December 24 Mass of the 4th Sunday of Advent (no Christmas Vigil in English) December 25 Christmas Mass December 31 Sunday Mass (Holy Family) January 1 Mass on the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God January 6 Mass on the Epiphany January 7...