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Congratulations to Tara-Tilly and Rachel who have both completed their training to become Extraordinary Ministers of Communion. The training included two modules - Introduction to Liturgy Ministry and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
Alpha Youth
Imagine a space where young people can have open and honest faith conversations without the pressure of having all the answers. Welcome to Alpha youth. This is a new lunchtime initiative here at OLSH that unpacks the real questions young people have. Join us on Thursday 23 July in M.1.11 for session 1.
We will be providing snacks, but bring your lunch and come for a chat. Our first topic will be, "Is there more to life than this?" Alpha will run every two weeks after this first session. Keep an eye out on the screens around the school and on Ametur for more details.
Find out more here.
This week's Gospel
Mt 10: 37-42
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Anyone who does not accept his cross is not worthy of me. Anyone who welcomes you, welcomes me.
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.
‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man because he is a holy man will have a holy man’s reward.
‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
HOW SHOULD I LIVE AND ACT?
If Jesus were to meet you (and he does constantly!) and you were to ask him, ‘How should I act and live my life?’, the answer would come into today’s Gospel. It continues Jesus’ teaching concerned with disciples (us!) on mission. As our church deepens its practice of synodality, the instructions Jesus offers are meant for all: our focus is to be on Jesus. Our relationship with him guides every other relationship and commitment. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the Twelve, the symbolic leadership group of disciples who spearhead the Jesus missionary movement, ‘Anyone who prefers ….[fill in the blanks] … is not worthy of me.’ His words are not a rejection of one’s relationships or family ties but the preference in all relationships is to be guided by our abiding commitment and friendship with Jesus.
The second collection of sayings in today’s Gospel concerns hospitality. Those who welcome others, members of the Jesus household, and act in holiness or speak prophetically are also welcoming the presence of Jesus. This spirit of openness and receptivity continues into the last part of today’s Gospel. Offering a welcoming drink to ‘one of these little ones’—those regarded as social nobodies without prestige or status—and discerned, surprisingly, as disciples, as members of Jesus’ community of believers, will be eternally rewarded: ‘..they will most certainly not lose their reward.’
Today’s Gospel is not about earning rewards, though. It is about how to live, with a firm commitment to Jesus and welcoming all, especially the ‘little ones’ and identifying as disciples the most unlikely.
Gospel reading from The Jerusalem Bible, Copyright © 1966 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd. and Gospel Reflection, © St Pauls Publications 2025, are published with permission of St Paul's Publications. Strathfield NSW. All rights reserved.
We received these photos from the OLSH Sisters in Papua New Guinea and Holy Family in South Africa to let us know that our Lenten Appeal funds are now supporting the running of an orphanage and families who are living in squatter communities. These funds will help to make a difference for both communities, assisting with food, clothing and access to education, and we thank our OLSH community for their continuing generosity.
We received these photos from the OLSH Sisters in Papua New Guinea and Holy Family in South Africa to let us know that our Lenten Appeal funds are now supporting the running of an orphanage and families who are living in squatter communities. These funds will help to make a difference for both communities, assisting with food, clothing and access to education, and we thank our OLSH community for their continuing generosity.
We received these photos from the OLSH Sisters in Papua New Guinea and Holy Family in South Africa to let us know that our Lenten Appeal funds are now supporting the running of an orphanage and families who are living in squatter communities. These funds will help to make a difference for both communities, assisting with food, clothing and access to education, and we thank our OLSH community for their continuing generosity.
We received these photos from the OLSH Sisters in Papua New Guinea and Holy Family in South Africa to let us know that our Lenten Appeal funds are now supporting the running of an orphanage and families who are living in squatter communities. These funds will help to make a difference for both communities, assisting with food, clothing and access to education, and we thank our OLSH community for their continuing generosity.
