First Reading (Wisdom 7:7-11). This passage, presented as a speech of Solomon, is a hymn in praise of wisdom. Wisdom teaches us how to live rightly, and enables us to use the things of this world in a way that will help us achieve the end for which God put us on earth. Wisdom, therefore, should be prized even more than gold. This is the link with the Gospel.

Second Reading (Hebrews 4:12-13). This reading makes use of a cluster of images and metaphors to describe the vital force of God’s word. The word discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The qualities of the word of God are such that there is no escape from its authority.

1. A One-day Men's Retreat will be held on Saturday 19 October (8am-4pm), directed by Bishop Steve Lowe. The retreat will be  titled "He Emptied Himself" (Philippians 2:7) and held at St Thomas More Church, 336 Wairau Rd, Glenfield, Auckland. 
   This will be a special day of formation, prayer, worship, fellowship, and will end with Mass celebrated by Bishop Steve. Bring a packed lunch or buy from the local shops. Suggested Koha of $20 to cover costs. All men are welcome. Use the QR code to register, or contact Greg Sullivan (021) 437747

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

• - Monday & Thursday from 8.00 a.m., finishing 15 minutes before the start of Mass.
• - Friday after the morning Mass & Benediction
• - Saturday after the morning Mass
• - Saturday afternoon from 5.00 p.m. until 5.30 p.m.
• - Sunday by appointment after 2.00 p.m.

Apparently the following was voted unanimously by some office staff as the phone menu for a school:

"Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting the right staff member, please listen to all your options before making a selection:

To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1.

To make excuses for why your child did not do his home work - Press 2.

To complain about what we do - Press 3.

To cuss out staff members - Press 4.

To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5.

If you want us to raise your child - Press 6.

If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone - Press 7.

To request another teacher for the third time this year - Press 8.

To complain about bus transportation - Press 9.

To complain about school lunches - Press 0.

If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable/responsible for his/her own behaviour, class work, homework, and that it's not the teacher's fault for your children's lack of effort, hang up and have a nice day!"

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Here are a few funny insurance claims people supposedly have made:

* "Coming home I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don't have."

* "The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intention."

* "I thought my window was down, but I found it was up when I put my head through it."

* "The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him."

* "I had been shopping for plants all day and was on my way home. As I reached an intersection a hedge sprang up, obscuring my vision and I did not see the other car."

* "An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car and vanished."

* "I was unable to stop in time, and my car crashed into the other vehicle. The driver and passengers then left immediately for a vacation with injuries."

* "When I could not avoid a collision, I stepped on the gas and crashed into the other car."

* "I had been driving for forty years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident."

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CASH IS BEST

This is why I keep telling the younger generation to stop avoiding cash !!! ……
Why should we pay cash everywhere with banknotes instead of a card ?

I have a £50 banknote in my pocket. Going to a restaurant and paying for dinner with it.
The restaurant owner then uses the note to pay for the laundry.
The laundry owner then uses the note to pay the barber.
The barber will then use the note to pay for shopping.
After an unlimited number of payments, it will still remain a £50 value,
which has fulfilled its purpose to everyone who used it for payment
and the bank has jumped dry from every cash payment transaction made.

BUT

IF I go to a restaurant and pay digitally via Card,
- the bank fees for my payment transaction charged to the seller are 3%, so around £1.50
( and so will be the fee of £1.50 for each further payment transaction )
- for the owner re laundry or
- payments of the owner of the laundry shop,
- or payments to the barber etc .....

Therefore, after 30 transactions, the initial £50 will exist at only £5,
and the remaining £45 has become the property of the bank …
thanks to all of the digital transactions and fees!

Use it or lose it folks …
Once it’s gone we won’t get it back!