Fr Christian - Parish Chaplain

HEAVEN, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE!

There was a story of  a priest who walked into a pub one evening and said to the first man he met; Do you want to go to heaven?” The man replied, “I do Father.” The priest said, “Then stand over there against the wall.” Then the priest asked a second man, “Do you want to go to heaven?” “Certainly, Father,” was the man’s reply. The priest said, “Then stand over there against the wall.” Then Father walked up to Jim and said, “Do you want to go to heaven?” Jim said; “No, I don’t Father.” The priest was surprised and said; “I can’t believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you don’t want to go to heaven?” Jim said, “Oh, when I die, yes. I thought you were rounding us up to go right now!”

Friends , it is really beautiful that around this week and next week, we are celebrating three beautiful feasts, first the Feast of Transfiguration of Our Lord on the 6th August, then the Solemnity of St. Mary of the Cross (MacKillop), Australia’s second National Patron Saint on 8th August and thirdly the Solemnity of Assumption of Mary on 15th August. One element that is very common to all these feasts is that they remind us of heaven, they show us how beautiful heaven is. Heaven is truly an awesome place, a home where we will go to after our life’s work and journey. It is a place of perfect joy, perfect peace and perfect happiness. It is a place where we will truly have and enjoy the fullness of life, life with God, life without end.   These feasts encourage us then to know that we too can get to heaven. We need to see our life on earth as a time of preparation, a time to genuinely and sincerely be friends with God in prayer, attending Mass on Sundays, going to the Sacraments regularly and in keeping the commandments of God and always following the right pathways of Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Ever generous God,

You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop

To live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ

and constant in bringing hope and encouragement

to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.

With confidence in your generous providence

and through the intercession of Saint Mary MacKillop

We ask that you grant our request.

We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit

so that we too, like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness.

Ever generous God hear our prayer.

We ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL.