The Christian denominations each May collect data on the numbers of Australians who take part in Sunday worship. Our collectors will be counting us at each of the May Masses.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE HOLY ROSARY
In honour of Our Lady of all Nations for the Holy Church and Priests, the Rosary will be prayed on Friday 31 May at St Anne’s Church, after 9.15am Mass.
ALL WELCOME TO INAUGURATION OF THE SHRINE OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
All welcome to the inauguration of the shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Ta’ Pinu Marian Centre, 15 Flanagans Dr, Bacchus Marsh on Sunday 26 may at 3.00pm.
WORKING BEE
A working bee will be held at St Anne’s Church on next Saturday 1 June from 9am to Noon.
Please bring tools and energy to keep our Parish looking beautiful.
ARCHBISHOP DENIS HART AT THE VICTORIAN PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, appeared before the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into child abuse for over three hours on Monday 20 May. He renewed his apology on behalf of the Church for “an horrific episode in our history, the effects of which are still keenly felt today”, and explained how the Church had changed since the 1990s. For further information on the Church’s response to the Inquiry or to download a summary of the Archbishop’s statement visit www.facingthetruth.org.au. On this website you will also find:
- videos on Towards Healing and Melbourne Response, the Church’s processes for dealing with allegations of sexual abuse
- copies of statements made by those appearing before the Inquiry
- new fact sheets and frequently asked questions.
Printed copies of the Archbishops statements given last Monday are available at our Welcome Desk. Cardinal Pell of Sydney will appear tomorrow, 27 May.
Editor: I strongly recommend reading all the “right of reply” documents, particularly those from the Independant Commissioner, Melbourne Response. Click here.
HOLY HOUR ON THE FEAST OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST-2 JUNE
Next Sunday, Pope Francis will lead a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration in Rome. All parishes in the world are invited to arrange a similar Holy Hour as a special moment of prayer for the needs of our Church. Our Holy Hour of silent adoration will be on Sunday 2nd June from 2.30pm to 3.30pm in St Anne’s Church.
CATHOLICCARE’S GALA BALL
The Gala Ball will be held at the Plaza Ballroom on Thursday 30 May and is the major fund raiser for Alcohol & Other Drug Family Services.
The funds raised go toward funding alcohol & other drug family counsellors in the Western Region of Melbourne.
The program is focused on restoring the wellbeing and relationships of those affected by problematic alcohol and other drug use.
Contact 9287 555 for further information.
8 WEEK STUDY COURSE
Wednesday evenings starting 5 June to 24 July. Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy.
Enquiries Fiona 0407 879 991 or www.cam.org.au/lifemarriagefamily.
Blessed John Paul II “Theology of the Body”. Why is marriage between man and woman? Why can’t priests marry? I just want to be happy…is it possible? Some of the topics discussed at the course.
Registrations close 29 May.
$40 per person.
Info on St Anne’s Noticeboard and welcome desk.
10 YEAR WINTER CELEBRATION
You are invited to join the celebration at a fundraising event. Thursday 13 June 5-8pm, Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre, 362 Albert St, East Melbourne.
Please rsvp for catering purposes to Gina Bradley at 02 8912 2716 or gina.bradley@soso.org.au.
Because of your continued support Ethica Accessories is celebrating 10 years of providing opportunity for Peruvian women to earn a fair income.
Your purchase helps support the workshops.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MORNING TEA
Federal Member for Calwell Maria Vamvakinou and Breast Screen Victoria invite you to a free breast health Information session on Thursday 13 June from 10.30am to noon at Maria Vamvakinou’s Office, 6/1100 Pascoe Vale Rd, Broadmeadows.
FEAST OF THE VISITATION
The Maltese Gharb Club of Melbourne invites you to celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Elizabeth on Sunday 2 June at St Bernadette’s Catholic Community Centre, Cooke Ave, North Sunshine. Mass at 2.30pm celebrated by Mons Benedict Camilleri followed by a function in the foyer.
EARLY MASS DEPARTURES
Our Mass has four essential parts: Introductory Rites, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist and Concluding Rites of Blessing and Dismissal. With First Communion Masses, it would be respectful and excellent role modelling to our children if all parishioners were to remain to the end of all Masses. The only time Mass should be left early is in the event of an emergency, otherwise the final blessing and dismissal are missed– these to are important parts of the Mass.
……. Liturgy Team
APPLICATION TO INCREASE POKER MACHINES IN SUNBURY
Sunbury United Sporting Club in Mitchells Lane has applied to the Victorian Commission for Gambling to increase by 85% the number of poker machines at their club.
Sunbury residents may comment on this application in writing. Please visit www.vcglr.vic.gov.au or 1300 182 457 for contact details. Comments close on 29 May.
Your submission may be helped by material from the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce whose members include Archbishop Philip Wilson Chair of Australian Catholic Bishops and the CEO of St Vincent de Paul and Catholic Social Services.
THE EMMAUS CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP
The Emmaus Charismatic Prayer Group will meet at St Anne’s Church on Thursdays at 10.00am.
All welcome, including children.
Further info or transport please contact Elaine & Lambert van der Weerden on 9744 4029.
THE YEAR OF GRACE IN TODAYS READINGS
Reflection on the Gospel-Pentecost Sunday Year C
Veronica Lawson RSM
(Acts 2:1-11; John 20:19-23)
Pentecost Sunday is often called the birthday of the Church. For the ancient Israelites, Pentecost (meaning ‘fiftieth’) was a harvest festival celebrated fifty days after the harvesting of the first sheaf. When the Jerusalem temple was built, this harvest festival was transformed into a pilgrimage feast to celebrate the covenant that Israel had made with God on Mt Sinai. The Jews of the first century, including Christian Jews, celebrated the great pilgrimage feast of Pentecost. Several decades after the death of Jesus, the early Christians reflected on their origins and chose this feast to mark the birth of God’s new covenant with God’s people.
In today’s first reading (Acts 2:1-11), Luke tells the new Pentecost story in symbolic language that evokes the story of Moses and the people of Israel receiving God’s Law on Mt. Sinai. Just as God’s presence to Israel was marked by earthquake and thunder and fire, so God’s Spirit enveloping the people of the new covenant appears in a mighty rush of wind and tongues of fire. Luke’s account also evokes early rabbinic teaching that the voice of God on Sinai divided into seventy tongues and all the nations received the Law in their own tongues. In other words, the dispersion and division created by the hubris of those who built the Tower of Babel is symbolically reversed in this pouring out of God’s Spirit.
For the content of the new covenant, we turn to the gospel reading from John 20:19-23. The risen Christ appears to the disciples who are huddled behind locked doors. He offers the simple greeting: “Peace be with you,” the greeting we offer each other at every Eucharistic celebration. He sends them on a mission of peace in continuity with his own God-inspired mission. He breathes on them the gift of the Holy Spirit and tells them that God will forgive those whom they forgive, and will ‘retain’ or ‘seize hold of’ the transgressions of those whose sins or transgressions they ‘retain’.
To seize hold of evil-doing is to expose it and deal with it. Sometimes it is best to forgive and simply allow everyone to move on. In other situations, amnesty only exacerbates the problems. Much of the enduring conflict in our world derives from the inability of ordinary people and of leaders to know how to deal with transgression. The Holy Spirit is the unique source of our power to forgive, of our power to refrain from vengeance, and of our capacity to deal with or ‘seize hold of’ the sins of the perpetrators of violence and abuse in our Church and in our world.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
The readings for this Pentecost Sunday abound with stewardship messages and imagery. In a brief deliberation it is impossible to mention all, let alone expound upon them. Nevertheless, the second reading from 1 Corinthians includes two phrases that absolutely capture the quintessence of stewardship.
St. Paul asserts: “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit.” This is tantamount to the oft-quoted declaration, “Everything we are and everything we have comes from God.” All of the readings on Pentecost emphasize the Holy Spirit — also known as Holy Ghost, Paraclete, Advocate, Counselor, Comforter, and Helper — and how this Spirit pervades our lives and imbues us with all that is holy.
St. Paul adds: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” Benefit to whom? Certainly, it is a benefit to us as individuals, so that we can use those gifts to help God and assist others. That is stewardship — using the gifts we have received to build the Kingdom of God and to serve and comfort others.
Our challenge is to identify those gifts; channel those gifts in ways they can be shared; and, develop those gifts so they enrich all of those around us.
Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
ARCHBISHOP HART TO APPEAR BEFORE INQUIRY
Archbishop Hart will appear before the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into child abuse on Monday, 20 May. He will acknowledge and apologise for the terrible blight of child sex abuse by priests and other Church representatives that largely occurred over a 30 year period from 1960 to 1990. Go to www.facingthetruth.com.au for statements, videos, frequently asked questions, fact sheets and a full copy of the Church’s submission to the Inquiry, Facing the Truth. Please subscribe on the homepage for updates.
SALESIAN COLLEGE COUNCIL
The Council met last Thursday evening for nearly three hours. After the two school captains reported on events at the College over the last two months, the council was facilitated by the architect who is preparing a master plan for the next twenty years. It was a very stimulating session with plenty of input and some banter from Council members. The College has its highest enrolment ever this year. After 232 places for 2014 were offered, there is still a waiting list for next year in Year 7. Mark Brockhus, Principal of Salesian College will attend the next meeting of our Parish Education Board.
CATHOLICCARE’S GALA BALL
CATHOLICCARE’S GALA BALL will be held at the Plaza Ballroom on Thursday 30 May and is the major fund raiser for Alcohol & Other Drug Family Services.
The funds raised go toward funding alcohol & other drug family counsellors in the Western Region of Melbourne.
The program is focused on restoring the wellbeing and relationships of those affected by problematic alcohol and other drug use.
Contact 9287 555 for further information.
READER’S OF GOD’S WORD
The Word of God is like water to the thirsty soul. Therefore, the quality of the reader’s proclamation determines whether our service will help or hinder the assembly in its listening and faith response to God’s word. Tuesday 28 May and Tuesday 4 June 7.30pm-9.30pm at Cardinal Knox Centre, 383 Albert Rd, East Melbourne. Contact 9926 5761 for more info.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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