Catholic Parish of Puhoi and Warkworth

Holy Name Church		SS. Peter & Paul Church Opened August 10th, 1881
	Site updated for: 5th April 2020 - Passion / Palm Sunday
Warkworth 6 Alnwick Street, Warkworth Church Location Map		Puhoi Main Road, Puhoi Church Location Map

Dear Parishioners and Friends...

During this challenging time, I am reminded of the First Sunday of Lent, several weeks ago, which took us to a familiar place - Jesus in the desert confronting Satan and his temptations. We did not imagine we would ever enter the desert ourselves. Lent would be "enough!" Yet, here we are and here is Jesus. A desert is a strange place. It can be quite beautiful to experience and then suddenly become physically hostile and unbearable with heat or cold. It can take your breath away and it can take you away in the rising and setting of the sun. No wonder temptations feel stronger there. The certainty of the strange place bears no certainty at all, save that the creation of it belongs to God.

Patience through prayer; not easy, just necessary. With this in mind, we might use this time to pray more deeply. Surely our patience has been tested...tempted. No doubt we already miss the presence of others and long for togetherness. From within, we may already have someone to blame for this and have vowed that we can "do better" once we come out on the other side of this experience. "Just give us the chance, God!"

Jesus knows all about "social distancing”. How many of the miracles, involving recovery from illness were brought about in a setting that was "isolated?" Jesus healed and he kept others (including most of his disciples) healthy. Jesus knows about time alone - solitude not loneliness. He goes off on his own - to a deserted place or up a high mountain - to pray. He found something there and seemed to come back more determined than ever to open the minds and hard hearts of a stiff-necked group of people. Deserted places are not a lot of fun and it takes a lot of energy and effort to climb a high mountain, let alone climbing down. Jesus shows us the benefit of the sacrifice and effort in making that sacrifice.

How much daily bread do you and I really need? Jesus taught us to pray for our "daily" bread and inspired 5,000 to feed others as he fed them loaves and fishes. Fasting makes room for something more in our lives. Fasting makes us think about what we truly need, even though we may want it all. Tested...tempted. We are praying for you. Please know that we are praying for you every day, as we always have been. Praying together as a community creates overwhelming joy in our lives, but that joy has been lessened, not extinguished, for the moment.

Parish Contributions

For those parishioners who donate to the parish via the envelope system or by cash during the collection time at Mass, you may wish to continue to contribute to the parish via internet banking.

The parish bank account number is 02-0100-0120990-018.

Please ensure that you provide the following details with each payment:

1. Your initials and name
2. If you normally pay via the envelope system then please quote your envelope number
3. The word “collection”

For all other parishioners who donate by envelope or cash and who do not have access to internet banking, then please hold your collection money each week and the parish will collect it as soon as possible after this crisis has abated.

The Lord remains with us always. Let us pray for each other to deepen our gratitude for that presence in our spiritual communion each day.

Sts. Peter and Paul, pray for us!
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Brian Lange

Presbytery / Office:

14 Percy Street, Warkworth 0910
        Phone : 09 425 8545