THE CATHOLIC PARISH OF IVANHOE
St Bernadette’s Church, 89 Bond St, Ivanhoe West
Mary Immaculate Church, 4 Waverley Ave, Ivanhoe
Mother of God Church, 56 Wilfred Rd, Ivanhoe East
No. 18 4 – 5 May 2013
6th SUNDAY OF EASTER: YEAR C
THE WORD
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Proclaim a joyful sound and let it be heard; proclaim to the ends of the earth: The Lord has freed his people, alleluia.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: O God, let all the nations praise you!
V. 1. O God, be gracious and bless us and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth and all nations learn your saving help. R.
V. 2. Let the nations be glad and exult for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples, you guide the nations on ear. R.
V. 3. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
May God still give us his blessing till the ends of the earth revere him. R.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! All who love me will keep my words, and my Father will love them and we will come to them. Alleluia!
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL: As we wait for the Spirit we pray: Lord hear our prayer
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: If you love me, keep my commandments, says the Lord, and I will ask the Father and he will send you another Paraclete, to abide with you for ever, alleluia.
PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY:
We remember all in need of prayer at this time including Carla Righetto, Glenn Evans, Alexandra Stockdale, Peter Dunbar, Nora Brown, Danka Saric, Mike McGuire, Sheila Ryan, Mary Bezzina, Kerry McGuire, Phillip Reed and Bev Horne. We remember all who provide care and support for those in need.
We remember Bishop Joe O’Connell who died recently. We also remember Jim Lane and Onorina Renzella whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they rest in peace.
Reflection from the desk of Fr Thang:
Early in the week, I went to visit Fr John Cunningham who has just been moved to High Care St Bernadette’s in North Sunshine. We had a good chat and listened to some instrumental music. Please keep him, and other close friends who are anxious about John’s situation, in your prayers.
Coincidentally, I spent about 8 years in North Sunshine when I first came to Australia in 1990. Memories came back when I drove pass by the house where I grew up with my cousins: going to Mass on Sunday at the Community Centre on Cooke Ave, catching bus number 408 to schools, library and university. I am very grateful for these memories and to my auntie’s family who helped me to become who I am now.
During the week I was fascinated by a conversation between Jane Hutcheon and Hugh McKay on ABC One Plus One. Hugh is apsychologist,social researcher andwriter. He is a regular columnist inThe Ageand appears regularly as a commentator on radio and television. He impressed me on two things. First, he paid tribute to his primary teacher, Ms King who was an embodiment of a good life. This is because she treated others the ways she would like to be treated, insisted that all in her class had to behave with courtesy and discipline. Ms King took others seriously. My first primary teacher happened to be my father. After the Fall of South Vietnam on 30th April 1975, he could not resume his college teaching but was asked to teach the communist officials at nights for their supplementary education, and primary teaching. He was a good teacher. Please pray and support the school teachers at our three schools. They are very important to our children in early years of their life.
Second, Hugh was trying to say that we should strive for wholeness rather than happiness. Experiences of sadness, failure, success, brokenness are part of our humanity.
“I actually attack the concept of happiness. The idea that - I don’t mind people being happy - but the idea that everything we do is part of the pursuit of happiness seems to me a really dangerous idea and has led to a contemporary disease in Western society, which is fear of sadness. It’s a really odd thing that we’re now seeing people saying “write down 3 things that made you happy today before you go to sleep”, and “cheer up” and “happiness is our birthright” and so on. We’re kind of teaching our kids that happiness is the default position - it’s rubbish. Wholeness is what we ought to be striving for and part of that is sadness, disappointment, frustration, failure; all of those things which make us who we are. Happiness and victory and fulfilment are nice little things that also happen to us, but they don’t teach us much. Everyone says we grow through pain and then as soon as they experience pain they say “Quick! Move on! Cheer up!” I’d like just for a year to have a moratorium on the word “happiness” and to replace it with the word “wholeness”. Ask yourself “is this contributing to my wholeness?” and if you’re having a bad day, it is.” (http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/478028-i-actually-attack-the-concept-of-happiness-the-idea-that)
In today’s gospel, Jesus gives his precious gift of peace to the disciples. Interestingly, the first proclamation by the Angels when Jesus was born and Jesus’ first word after he was risen from the dead was about peace: Peace to people of goodwill, peace be with you. The peace of Jesus does not mean that there will be never be disagreements, disputes or absence of trouble and hardship. The peace which the world offers us is the peace of escape, the peace which comes from the avoidance of trouble and from refusing to face reality. The peace which Jesus offers us is the peace of conquest. No experience of life can ever take it from us and no sorrow, no danger, no suffering can ever make it less. In the light of the first reading we see that disputes and arguments have been resolved in such a way that peace was finally restored.
At every Eucharist, the Presider repeats the words of the Good Lord to Apostles and to us: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you. When we offer each other at the sign of peace by shaking hands or bow, are we inviting Christ’s peace to dwell in us? What do we intend to offer to our brothers and sisters? May we offer and share with each other and those we encounter after the Eucharist Jesus’ gift of peace.
HAPPENINGS ACROSS THE PARISH
Saturday 4 May after Mass Parish Gathering for Fr Thang St Bernadette’s Church
Monday 6 May Confirmation Retreat Day Schools & Parish Amberley Centre, L. Plenty
Monday 6 May 7.30pm Baptism Preparation Session Parish Office
Tuesday 7 May 9.15am Mass & MOG School Grades P, JG & JW Mother of God Church
Tuesday 7 May 7.30pm Confirmation Choir Practice Mary Immaculate Church
Wednesday 8 May 9.15am Mass & MI School 5/6M & 5/6SL Mary Immaculate Church
Wednesday 8 May 7.00pm Confirmation Class 3 Mary Immaculate Hall
Wednesday 8 May 8.00pm Ivanhoe Churches Together Baptist Church, Ivanhoe
Friday 10 May 9.15am Mass & St B School Grade 3/4G St Bernadette’s Church
Saturday 11 May 10.00am Reconciliation Mother of God Church
A Reason To Celebrate!!:
We congratulate Fr Thang on the significant occasion of his 40th birthday. We wish him well and thank him for the many ways in which he has contributed to parish life both as our Parish Priest and leader, as well as being a significant fellow companion as part of our respective faith journeys and life within the parish.
Archdiocesan Mass Census for the month of May 2013:
For the weekends: 4-5, 11-12, 18-19 & 25-26 May all present (including children and babies) at Mass in each parish church will be counted as part of the Archdiocesan Mass Census 2013.
Census sheets are available in each church for use by counters for this purpose. Completed census sheets need to be returned to the Parish Office on Monday 27th May. Thank you for your assistance.
Congratulations: Congratulations to Ruth Villani who has just been awarded with a Bachelor of Theology on Thursday night at St Paul's Cathedral. We are very grateful to Ruth's dedication and various ministries in our Parish. We also thank her family on this joyful occasion. - Fr Thang
Confirmation Choir: A reminder that many voices are needed to fill our massive Cathedral!! And every voice makes a difference. We’ll be singing some familiar hymns and a few new ones. The latter need to be learned and the old ones, given new life so please come to as many of the practices as you can. Singing practices are on first three Tuesdays of May: 7th, 14th and 21st May, 7.30pm at Mary Immaculate Church. Confirmation will be on Sunday, 26th May at 2.30pm in St Patrick’s Cathedral.
For any information, contact Merle on 9497 1691, or email:
Confirmation posters: Enrolment posters are displayed in each church so that we can remember Confirmation candidates and their families in our prayers as the children prepare for Confirmation on Sunday 26th May. Parishioners are invited to write their names on the posters as those praying these children at this time. After Confirmation, the enrolment posters will be returned to the children as a memento of their Rite of Enrolment.
Nurturing the Gifts of Parish Lay Leadership this Pentecost:
A Conversation with Sherry Anne Weddell Wednesday 15 May 7:30pm – 9.00pm
Parish lay leaders and interested parishioners are invited to listen to Sherry Anne Weddell as she shares how we can discern our individual gifts and charisms that make each of us essential to the Church’s mission.
Sherry brings an understanding of how discerning your call can change your life, and how discerning your call can spread the Gospel and change the world. Sherry is Founder and Co-Director of the Siena Institute, a globally-recognised organisation that specialises in equipping lay Catholics with a better understanding of God’s will in their lives. Programme includes input, discussion and supper afterwards.
Cost: Free Where: Mother of God Primary School, Marian Centre, 66 Wilfred Rd, Ivanhoe East
RSVP: Monday 13 May Contact: Parish Office 9499 1515 or 9926 5761;
Outreach Social Afternoon: On Wednesday, May 15 we will have our monthly lunch / games day in the foyer of MOG Church. We are making these changes to accommodate a Diocesan function planned for the evening of May 15.
- Sue 94991584, Helen, 9499 7793 and Eileen 9499 7120
Mother's Day Morning Tea – Mother of God School: All mothers are invited to our special Mother’s Day morning tea to be held after Mass at 10:00am in the Marian Centre, Mother of God School. Significant people such as grandmother’s and aunties are also invited) Our Prep students are hosting their first School Mass and will focus especially on the gifts of mother’s during Mass. After Mass we invite all Mums including our Parish Mums to join us for a special morning tea in the Marian Centre.
Christian Meditation - “Cultivating the Contemplative Family”- Sunday 26 May, 10am - 4pm:
‘Amberley’, 7 Amberley Way, Lower Plenty Join us for a Family experience of Christian Meditation – a way of prayer for families with children. A donation of $10 per family is suggested for the day.
BYO picnic lunch. Tea and coffee provided. RSVP 12 May.
Information: – Mobile 0408 470 114 www.christianmeditationaustralia.org
Day of Reflection at Carmelite Monastery: Parishioners are invited to attend a day of reflection on Friday 24th May from 10.00am – 3.15pm at the Carmelite Monastery, 94 Stevenson St Kew.
Spiritual Director: Fr Francis Merlino OFM. Enquiries: Donna 9850 2549 or Margaret 9853 1107
Make a Difference Today: Great news! Online memberships are now available for the Catholic Women’s League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga. There is even a membership option for women who are too busy to attend meetings, but would still like to support the vital work of the League. The Catholic Women's League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga was founded in 1916 by a visionary group of young women who sought to change the world through prayer and action. Their founding President, Dr Sr Mary Glowrey JMJ, was declared a Servant of God in March 2013. More information or to join: www.cwlvicww.org
Great Moments From Opera: On Saturday 25th May, 2013, Heidelberg Choral Society, in conjunction with Box Hill Chorale, will perform opera choruses in concert. Under the direction of Heidelberg’s conductor Peter Bandy, and Box Hill’s Andrew Wailes, the combined choirs and Opera Festival Orchestra will present a selection of opera’s most stirring and uplifting choruses with music by some of the world’s greatest composers of opera, including Bizet, Mozart, Verdi, Leoncavallo, Mascagni, Purcell, Puccini and Wagner.
A highlight of the concert will be performances of best-known arias, sung by renowned soloists Alexandra Flood (soprano), Lotte Betts Dean (mezzo soprano), Nathan Lay (bass baritone) and Michael Lapina (tenor).
When: Saturday 25th May, 2013. Matinee: 2.30pm Evening: 7.30pm
Where: Ivanhoe Girls Grammar Performing Arts Centre, Cnr Noel St & Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe
Tickets: $38 adult or $30 conc. $26 full time students and group bookings (10 or more).
Bookings: 9489 0806 or 9458 1727 or online: www.hcs.asn.au
Chaplaincy Sunday Appeal 2013 – Sunday 19 May:
Chaplains – Companions of Hope “We are with people at their most vulnerable time”- Catholic Chaplain
Every day in our Archdiocese, Chaplains visit hospital wards, walk through prisons and visit young people in detention. They are also present with those affected by mental illness and HIV/Aids, as well as supporting men and women working at sea. Catholic Chaplains are tangible signs of God’s presence. They are the face of hope at times of greatest need, a healing presence, a kind and gentle ear. On Sunday May 20, you are invited to donate to this important work in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, via the Chaplaincy Sunday Appeal in your local parish. Donations will go towards supporting Chaplains who work with: