FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A 1ST FEBRUARY 2026

First Reading: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

In your midst I will leave a humble and a lowly people.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 145:7-10. R. Mt 5:3

(R.) Happy the poor in spirit;

the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

It is the Lord who keeps faith forever,

who is just to those who are oppressed.

It is he who gives bread to the hungry,

the Lord, who sets prisoners free. (R.)

It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,

who raises up those who are bowed down,

the Lord, who protects the stranger

and upholds the widow and orphan. (R.)

It is the Lord who loves the just

but thwarts the path of the wicked.

The Lord will reign for ever,

Zion’s God, from age to age. (R.)

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

God has chosen what is weak by human reckoning.

Gospel Acclamaon: Mahew 5:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

Rejoice and be glad;

Your reward will be great in heaven.

Alleluia!

Gospel: Mahew 5:1-12

Happy are the poor in spirit.

REFLECTION by Michael Tate

The Beatudes … A Call to Acon

Jesus doesn’t start in a fantasy dream world of

perfecon. Jesus looks at the world as it oen is for many

people, perhaps for most people around the world: ‘the

poor in spirit’, ‘those who mourn’, ‘those who are gentle’,

‘those who hunger and thirst for jusce’.

Jesus astonishes the crowd by saying that such people are

‘Blessed’. How can this be? The answer lies in our Lord’s

emphasis on the new community he is establishing under

the reign of God: what he calls ‘the Kingdom of God’.

Those in such wretched circumstances will have things

set right, but only if followers of Jesus do everything

possible to li the poor out of the poverty which crushes

their spirit, do everything possible to comfort those who

mourn, do everything possible to make sure the gentle

share the earth’s resources, do everything possible to

sasfy the craving for jusce.

We could pause for a moment to pray the ‘Our Father’

pledging ourselves to help construct this new society

where the Beatudes can come true:

‘Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in

heaven.’

BLESSED ARE YOU.

The Beatudes are among the best known verses of the Gospel of Mahew. They oer an assurance of

God’s care for those who mourn or suer persecuon. They contain promises that God will bless the

merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers and those who work for jusce, Ulmately, all who put their

trust in God and do what is right will rejoice in God’s Kingdom.

WWW.MUDGEE.CATHOLIC.ORG.AU

Catholic Parishes of Mudgee, Gulgong and Kandos

GULGONG ROSTER

8th Feb 15th Feb

Commentator J. Thatcher C. Gaudry

Reader M. McGregor P. Leoa

Sacristan C. Holland TBA

Leader J. Thatcher

MUDGEE ROSTER

Saturday 7th / Sunday 8th February

Commentator C. Furney A. McLean

First Reader I. Byrne R. Disher

Second Reader P. Cannon E. de Vries

EMOC G. Hennessy M. Gilbert

Altar Server Help Needed Help Needed

Welcomer K. Isbester A. Blavevic

Oertory G. English Children’s Liturgy

Sacristan I. Browne L. Browne

Counter Mon. 2nd Feb L. Nicholson

Saturday 14th / Sunday 15th February

Commentator A. McLean G. Myles

First Reader SMCS Leaders SMCS Leaders

Second Reader SMCS Leaders SMCS Leaders

EMOC L. Nicholson P. O’Brien

Altar Server Help Needed Help Needed

Welcomer Help Needed M. Dunnachie

Oertory P. Fitzpatrick Children’s Liturgy

Sacristan L. Nicholson L. Browne

Counter Mon. 9th Feb K. O’Brien

Bells Mon - E. Goodlet

Tue - Help Needed

Wed - J. Cooper

Thu - I. Browne

Fri/Sat -

I. Browne

Sun—

Help Needed

DAY BY DAY

Mon 2/2 The Presentaon of the Lord

World Day of Prayer for the Consecrated Life

10.00am Parish Oce opens

5.30pm Parish Council Meeng

Tue 3/2 4th Week in Ordinary Time

9.30am Mass —Mudgee

10.30am SMCS Primary Welcome Liturgy

6.00pm Alpha Program—Mudgee

Wed 4/2 4th Week in Ordinary Time

9.30am St Marys Cra Group

9.45am SMCS Secondary Welcome Mass

5.20pm Reconciliaon—Mudgee

5.45pm Mass — Mudgee

Thu 5/2 St Agatha - Memorial

9.30am Mass - Mudgee

10.00am Bapsm Preparaon

12noon Funeral—Macquarie Valley Funerals Chapel—

Anna Zagas

5.30pm SMCS Yr 11 Leadership Mass and Badge

Ceremony—SMCS Secondary Hall

Fri 6/2 St Paul Miki and companions—Memorial

10.30am Mass—Opal Nursing Home

11.30am Exposion of the Blessed Sacrament

12noon Angelus & Rosary

12.30pm Mass - Mudgee

Sat 7/2 4th Week in Ordinary Time

11.00am Bapsm

5.20pm Reconciliaon

6.00pm Mass - Mudgee

Sun 8/2 FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

8.30am Rosary - Mudgee

9.00am Mass - Mudgee

10.30am Mass- Gulgong

11.00am Mass—Kandos

SACRAMENTS 2026

Registraons are now open for the

2026 Sacramental Programmes:

First Reconciliaon

First Holy Communion

Conrmaon

To register, please visit the Parish website and

select Sacraments from the menu or use the QR code.

ALPHA

TUESDAY, 6PM, IN THE ST MARY’S PARISH CENTRE

To register: Call the Parish Oce on 6372-2122

How can you help with Alpha?

• Catering: Suppling meals for Alpha. Call the Parish oce

if you can help.

• Prayer: praying for those who are part of the Alpha

journey.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTION

JANUARY 2026

For prayer with the Word of God

Let us pray that praying with the Word of

God be nourishment for our lives and a

source of hope in our communies,

helping us to build a more fraternal and

missionary Church.

WWW.MUDGEE.CATHOLIC.ORG.AU

If you have any Safeguarding concerns, please contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Ocer on (02) 6334 6440 or

email safeguarding@cdob.org.au

PARISH NEWS

Gulgong

The Catholic Women's Group will be holding their rst

meeng for 2026 on Tuesday, 3rd February at 2pm in the

Convent. All Welcome.

The AGM will be on Tuesday, 3rd March at 2pm in the

Convent.

Kandos

The Prayer Group at St Malachy’s Rylstone will resume on

Monday, 2nd February. The Prayer Group will meet

weekly.

SRE catechists and helpers are needed in our local public

schools on every Friday. We will support you and

training will be provided. For more informaon, please

contact Jackie at 0411-612-180 or register your interest at

hps://standards.bathurst.catholic.org.au/

Mudgee

Due to the restoraon work underway on the stained glass

windows and surrounds in St Mary’s, the church will be

closed unl further noce from Monday to Friday each

week. The church is a worksite on weekdays and only

authorised personnel are able to enter.

Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Masses will be in the

church.

Funerals will be arranged on a case-by-case basis, in

consultaon with the contractors.

Restoraon update

The stained glass windows at both eastern and western

ends have been taken out and transported to Rick Allen’s

Heritage Decorave Glass studio in Moss Vale for repair.

The sandstone surrounding the windows is signicantly

deteriorated. Work on restoraon of the sandstone will

begin next week and may take some me.

MASSES AND PRAYERS REQUESTED

For the recently deceased especially:

Anna Zagas

We remember the anniversaries of:

Evelyn Gawthorne, Tracy Donelly, Patricia Prowse,

Nola Price, Barry Filer, Michael Sgroi, Llewellyn Davies,

Ron Sullivan, Mary Jenkins, John Hemsley.

For the deceased:

Michael Michaelides, Moira Hennessy.

For the Sick, Special Intenons and Thanksgiving:

Danielle Pace, David Russell, Connie Vasallo, Bey Clark,

Tony Spina, Lynne Daly and all those in our Nursing

Homes.

Due to privacy legislaon, names of the sick can only be

put on the bullen with permission of the immediate

family.

Introducon to the Internaonal Eucharisc Congress

2028

“Eucharist28”

What Is the Internaonal Eucharisc Congress?

• A global gathering of the Catholic Church

• Focused on one centre: the Eucharist

• Celebrates and deepens faith in:

 The Mass

 The Real Presence of Jesus

 Eucharisc adoraon

• Involves clergy, religious, and lay people

How Did It Begin?

• Began in France in the late 1800s

• Inspired by a laywoman, Emilie

Tamisier

• Guided by St Peter Julian Eymard,

known as the “Apostle of the

Eucharist”

• First Congress held in Lille, France,

in 1881

It is important to note that this great

movement began with a layperson’s

love for the Eucharist.

The First Congress

• Took place during Pope Leo XIII’s

poncate

• Theme: “The Eucharist saves the world”

• A public witness to faith in Jesus’

presence in the Eucharist

From the very beginning, the Church

proclaimed that the Eucharist is not private

devoon, but life for the world.

Becoming Truly Internaonal

• Under Pope Pius XI, Congresses began to be held:

 On Dierent connents

 In many cultures

Prayers for the Sick: We pray for those in our community seeking

healing. In accordance with Australian Privacy Law, names are

included here with the express permission of the individual or

their family. Please note that our bulletin is also published on the

Parish Website and may be accessed globally.

WWW.MUDGEE.CATHOLIC.ORG.AU

Catholic Parishes of Mudgee, Gulgong and Kandos

Parish Priest

Fr Paul Devi VG

Postal Address

Po Box 14, Mudgee NSW 2850

Our Catholic Schools

St Mahews Catholic School Mudgee

pp.mudgee@cdob.org.au

Parish Deacon

Rev Charles Applin

Phone: 02 6372 2122

Email: oce.mudgee@cdob.org.au

Website: www.mudgee.catholic.org.au

Phone: 02 6372 1742

Principal: Mrs Angela Myles

Website: www.stmasmudgee.catholic.edu.au

Parish Secretaries

Krise Newman

Krista O’Brien

Parish Oce Hours

Mon 10.00am—4.00pm

Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri 9.00am—4.00pm

Closed for lunch 1.00pm—2.00pm

All Hallows Catholic School Gulgong

Phone: 02 6374 1582

Principal: Mr Badley Toole

Website: www.allhallowsgulgong.catholic.au

Readings for next Sunday: FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 Ps 145:7-10. R. Mt 5:3 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Mahew 5:1-12

Congratulaons:

Australia Day Awards

Cizen of the Year - Carol Morrissey

Carol Morrissey is recognised for more than 50 years of

dedicated volunteer service to the Kandos and Rylstone

communies. Over ve decades, Carol has generously given

her me to schools, sporng clubs, churches, community

groups, and major local events, oen in leadership roles and

always with quiet

commitment. From

running the Rylstone

Dawn Service for 20 years

to volunteering with

Meals on Wheels, St

Vincent de Paul, schools,

hospitals and community

fundraisers, Carol’s hand

has always been up when

help was needed.

Congratulaons Carol.

Community Service Award (Wellington): Fr Carl Mackander:

Fr Carl has spent the last 10 years devoted to the community.

He has been available to be called upon, above and beyond

his role, has spent many hours of his own me vising people

at home, in the hospital and at Maranatha house. Over this

me, he has gained much love and respect by the community.

Fr Carl rered last year and is now living in the Mudgee

community. Congratulaons Fr Carl.

Project Compassion Donation

Envelopes:

How do I use them?

This Lent, like we did in 2025, there is a single Project

Compassion donation envelope – rather than the six

weekly envelopes used in previous years. This

change was made to reduce waste and support our

shared commitment to caring for our common home.

You can still give weekly by taking several envelopes

at once or simply make your offering when you're

ready. Thank you for Uniting Against Poverty with us

this Lent.