Daily Meditation A man had two sons. (Matthew 21:28) It wasn’t an unusual beginning for a story. In Jesus’ time, rabbis often used stories with two sons who respond to their father—and by extension, to God—in two different ways. So, when Jesus told the chief priests and elders this parable, it didn’t seem so different. Here, a father tells his sons to go work in his vineyard and gets two different answers. But ironically, despite their different responses, each son teaches us something similar about the free will that God has given us. The first son, who immediately said no to his father but afterwards went to work, teaches us that it’s always possible to change our minds and hearts. This son’s “no” wasn’t the final answer for him; he thought better of his initial response and went on to do his father’s will. The second son, who immediately said yes but did not do what his father wanted, also teaches us that it’s always possible to change our minds and hearts. This son’s yes sounded like an obedient response to his father, but in the end, something made him change his mind and turn that “yes” to a “no.” Jesus’ parable tells us that changing your mind can work both ways. That’s the blessing of free will that Ezekiel also describes in today’s first reading. Imagine! God loves us so much that he gives us this freedom, even when it might mean—like that second son—that we turn away from him. But Ezekiel assures the Israelites of God’s promise: when someone turns from wickedness and toward the Lord, they will receive mercy (Ezekiel 18:27-28). And that can happen no matter how long ago we have turned away from the Lord. So, take heart! It’s never too late to use your free will as God intended. If there’s a way that you’ve turned from the Lord, be like the first son in Jesus’ parable and return to him with all your heart. “Father, I choose to do your will today.” Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Psalter II - Year A 1 st October 2023 ___ LITURGY OF THE WORD 1st Reading: EZEKIEL 18: 25-28 Responsorial Psalm REMEMBER YOUR MERCY, LORD. 2 nd Reading: PHILIPPIANS 2: 1-11 Gospel: MATTHEW 21: 28-32 ___ Next week’s reading Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Psalter III - Year A 1 st Reading: ISAIAH 5: 1-7 Respons. Psalm PSALM 79: 9. 12-16. 19-20 2 nd Reading: PHILIPPIANS 4: 6-9 Gospel: MATTHEW 21: 33-43 ___ DAILY MASS & ADORATION SCHEDULE Daily Mass 6.00 AM (Monday - Saturday) Individual Confession 10 AM - 11 AM (Monday - Friday) Holy Hour 8.00 PM (Thursday) Divine Mercy 3.00 PM (Friday) ___ WEEKEND MASSES & ADORATION SCHEDULE SATURDAYS Individual Confession 4.30 PM – 5.30 PM Novena Devotion 5.00 PM Mass 6.00 PM (EN) SUNDAYS Mass 7:00 AM ( CHI) 9.00 AM (EN) 11.00 AM (BM) www.shckk.org or www.facebook.com/shckk ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY 1 Oct 2023 (Sunday) Archbishop John Wong 13 th Anniversary Episcopal Ord. Let us pray for God’s choicest blessings on him. DEVOTION ON FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH DATE DEVOTION TO TIME & PLACE 4 Oct 23 (Wednesday) St. Joseph 7.30PM, * Chapel 6 Oct 23 (Friday) Sacred Heart of Jesus 7.30PM, * Chapel 7 Oct 23 (Saturday) Immaculate Heart of Mary 11.00AM, Chapel FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI – CLOSING OF THE SEASON OF CREATION Date: 3 rd October 2023 (Tuesday) Time: 7.30pm at Sacred Heart Cathedral All parishioners are invited. WORLD MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES – PARISH LEVEL CELEBRATION Date: 1 st October 2023 (Sunday) Time: After BM Mass at SHPC All parishioners are invited. FEAST OF ST. FAUSTINA WITH FELLOWSHIP Date: 5 th October 2023 (Thursday) Time: 7.30 PM at CMI, Bukit Padang Day 9 Novena to St. Faustina will be held on Wednesday, 4 th October 2023 at Room B1, SHPC at 10.00 AM. After the mass, there will be fellowship. All parishioners are invited. INNER HEALING & TRANSFORMATION SEMINAR (LJCCC) DATE TIME PLACE 5 Oct 23 (Thursday) 8.00 PM CMI 6 Oct 23 (Friday) 8.00 PM CMI 7 Oct 23 (Saturday) 8.00 PM CMI For registration, kindly call or text Lucia, 012-802 7255 or Walk-in registration. All are welcome. INFANT BAPTISM (MANDARIN) DATE TIME PROGRAM PLACE 12 Oct 2023 (Thursday) 7.30 PM Briefing Room F2 15 Oct 2023 (Sunday) 3.00 PM Infant Baptism SHC (Limited to 50 PAX only) Registration: 2 nd – 11 th October 2023 (Closes at 3:00 PM on 11 th October) during office hours. Participation in the briefing is COMPULSORY for both parents and Sponsor. (Registration will be cancelled if either the parents or the Godparent fails to attend the briefing.). RENEWAL AND HEALING SEMINAR 2023 (IN ENG & BM) Date: 13 th – 15 th October 2023 (Friday – Sunday) Venue: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu Speaker: Rev. Fr. Hans Jeharut, Ibu Esther Kandou, and Mike C Lolong Registration link: https://bit.ly/daftarseminarshc or scan PRIEST ON STUDY LEAVE: FRIAR GERALD TERENCE SAIMEL OFM Friar Gerald will be on a 5 months full-time study course with effect from October 2023. He will cease to do pastoral work in our Parish but will continue to assist to celebrate Mass on Sunday. MASS INTENTION FOR ALL SAINTS’ & ALL SOULS’ DAY Parishioners are advised to send in their request for prayers before Friday, 27 th October 2023 . You may drop the Mass Intention envelope into the collection box at the SHC Parish Office during office hours or send your intention online as follow: RTDKK SACRED HEART CHURCH Bank Account: Alliance Bank Berhad Account No.: 101960010186515 Kindly email us the bank-in slip with your intention to shparishoffice@gmail.com After the deadline, the Mass Intention received will be celebrated in the following weeks. PRE-MARRIAGE COURSE (BM) DATE TIME PLACE 19 Oct 23 (Thursday) 5.45 PM SHPC Room F7 20 Oct 23 (Friday) 7.00 PM SHPC Room F7 21 Oct 23 (Saturday) 8.00 AM SHPC Room F7 Fee: RM 50.00 per couple (Register during office hour) Deadline: 16 th October 2023 (Monday) PRE-MARRIAGE COURSE (MANDARIN) Date: 28 th & 29 th October 2023 (Registration on 28 Oct) Place: CAC Room S8 For more information, please visit www.shckk.org/marriage HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS Please contact Fr. Russell Lawrine 014-9512131, Fr. Terans Thadeus 013-8842493, SHC Parish Office 223618, 224741, 262068, Fr. Gilbert Marcus 016-8023946, Fr. Johnny Raju 012-8315543. 3RD COLLECTION IN AID OF CHURCH OF ST. PAUL BUILDING FUND Date: 30 th September & 1 st October 2023 SHC PARISH DONATIONS (23 RD & 24 TH SEPTEMBER 2023) Black RM 16, 391.00 Red RM 13, 377.05