DEVOTIONAL PRAYER FOR AUGUST
Prayer for Peace
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury – pardon.
Where there is doubt – faith.
Where there is despair – hope.
Where there is darkness – light.
Where there is sadness – joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than be comforted.
To understand rather than to be understood.
To love than to be loved.
For it is by giving that one receives, by forgiving that one is forgiven, and by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
Amen
Entrance Antiphon
Turn your ear, O Lord, and answer me; save the servant who trusts in you, my God. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long.
1st Reading (Josh 24:1-2, 15-18)
A reading from the prophet Joshua.
Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem; then he called the elders, leaders, judges and scribes of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. Then Joshua said to all the people, ‘If you will not serve the Lord, choose today whom you wish to serve, whether the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are now living. As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord.’ The people answered, ‘We have no intention of deserting the Lord our God and serving other gods. Was it not the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors out of the land of Egypt, the house of slavery, who worked those great wonders before our eyes and preserved us all along the way we travelled and among all the peoples through whom we journeyed. We too will serve The Lord, for he is our God’.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
2nd Reading (Eph 5:21-32)
A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians.
Give way to one another in obedience to Christ. Wives should regard their husbands as they regard the Lord, since as Christ is head of the Church and saves the whole body, so is a husband the head of his wife; and as the Church submits to Christ, so should wives to their husbands, in everything. Husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her in water with a form of words, so that when he took her to himself she would be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and faultless. In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies; for a man to love his wife is for him to love himself. A man never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is the way Christ treats the Church, because it is his body – and we are its living parts. For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one body. This mystery has many implications; but I am saying it applies to Christ and the Church.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Your words Lord are spirit and life: you have the words of everlasting life. Alleluia!
Gospel (Jn 6:60-69)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to St. John.
After hearing his doctrine many of the followers of Jesus said, ‘This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?’ Jesus was aware that his followers were complaining about it and said, ‘Does this upset you? What if you should see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before? ‘It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. ‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the outset those who did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. He went on, ‘This is why I told you that no one could come to me unless the Father allows him.’ After this, many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him. Then Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Communion Antiphon
The earth is replete with the fruits of your work, O Lord; you bring forth bread from the earth and wine to cheer the heart.
Next Week’s Readings
Deut 4:1-2, 6-8; James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27; Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Feasts of the Week
Tue, 24 Aug - St. Bartholomew
Fri, 27 Aug - St. Monica
Sat, 28 Aug - St. Augustine
PARISH NEWS
WEEKLY PARISH DATES
| Sundays |
9:15am to 10:25am – Sunday School for children attending non-Catholic Schools. 10:30am Mass – Children’s Liturgy held 2nd and 4th Sundays. 6:00pm to 8:00pm – Youth Group (12 - 18 years) in the Community Centre. 6:15pm – Young Adults (18 - 29 years) in the Theatrette every week. 6:15pm – School of Discipleship in St. Peter’s Church Hall. |
| Mondays |
7:00pm to 9:00pm – Bible Study (St. Peters & St. James) online on zoom. Meeting ID: 919 8422 0776 Passcode: bible. Contact Clive Gonsalves 0490814452 / Francis Thomas 0401787372 |
| Tuesdays | 7:00pm Online Zoom Rosary Meeting ID: 967 7002 9670 Passcode: rosary |
| Wednesdays |
7:00pm RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) in the Theatrette. 7:00pm Mass followed by Mother of Perpetual Succour Novena. |
| 1st Fridays | 7:00pm to 8:15pm Mass & Adoration |
| Saturdays | 2:30pm to 4:00pm – St. Peter’s Charismatic Prayer Community Praise & Worship held on zoom Meeting ID: 839 7212 5288 Passcode: KNK1.30 pm to 4pm - Healing Mass on 1st Saturday of the month |
| Baptisms | 12 noon – Baptisms held 1st & 3rd Sundays. Baptism Preparation Meeting held on the 1st Monday of the month at 7:00pm in Church. |
UPDATED PARISH GUIDELINES
As per Victorian Government guidelines, our church is now closed due to an extended Melbourne lockdown until at least 11:59pm, Thursday 2 September. Parish facilities, such as the Community Centre, Theatrette, Meeting room, etc, are not available during the lockdown period. The Parish Office is closed, however staff will be working from home from Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. To keep yourself updated with Parish news, visit the Parish website at http://stpeterapostlemission.org.au or parish Facebook page at https://m.facebook.com/stpetershoppers/
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS FROM OUR CHURCH
Our church is live streaming daily and Weekend Masses during the lockdown through our Facebook Page link https://m.facebook.com/stpetershoppers/ and on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSEEdWXn-cbXNHoRUAl_V5Q
Masses are Monday to Friday 8:30am, Saturday & Sunday 9:00am.
Sunday, 22 August 9:00am Mass will also be available on YouTube, link https://youtu.be/SZmtt8p9L6c
THANKSGIVING PROGRAM
Thanksgiving envelopes and letters for the new financial year that have not been collected from the Church will be distributed by volunteers directly to your home. If you have not received your envelopes or letters and for those parishioners who are not part of the thanksgiving program and would like to join, please contact the parish office.
ST PETER’S YOUNG ADULTS SPYA (ages 18-29) will be having their session on zoom this coming Sunday 22nd August at 6:15pm, join in and escape the lockdown blues. They will have games and prayer and some awesome chats – bring along food with you and join in the zoom party! Call the parish office or message SPYA on Facebook at facebook.com/SPYoungadults for the zoom details! See you there!
AUSTRALIA PRAYS: A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
On Sunday 22 August, Catholic parishes are invited to unite in prayer with Christians all across Australia to pray for our local, national and global communities experiencing great need and distress caused by COVID-19. As well as the opportunities for parishes to take part in prayer, there will also be an online gathering with prayer and reflection offered at various times throughout the day. Find out more at http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org.au/LordHaveMercy/
CARITAS AUSTRALIA EMERGENCY RESPONSE APPEAL FOR HAITI
Haiti has been devastated by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Over 1,400 people have died, and thousands more left injured. Homes, churches and schools have been damaged in the quake, and reports indicate that more than 30,000 families have been left homeless. The country also continues to grapple with COVID-19, poverty, and ongoing political instability and violence. There is immediate and urgent need for food, water, shelter, hygiene kits and first aid on the ground. To provide support, you can donate to Caritas Australia’s Emergency Response Appeal at www.caritas.org.au or by calling 1800 024 413 toll free.
POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER: A CHURCH THAT EVANGELISES
In his prayer intention video for August, Pope Francis invites us to join him in praying for a Church ‘that goes out to meet others ... and that transforms all its structures for the evangelisation of today’s world.’ This is also the dream of the ‘Take the Way of the Gospel’ journey as we begin to re-imagine our local Church as Mission communities that are open to change and renewal. The Pope’s prayer intention provides a timely reminder to invite the Holy Spirit into our own local discernment throughout the months ahead. https://youtu.be/eG7ceTF7is8
INFORMATION SESSION FOR THE PERMANENT DIACONATE
As a result of Victoria’s lockdown and current restrictions, the information session planned for 14 August has been postponed to Saturday, 4 September at 10:00am at the Catholic Theological College (CTC), East Melbourne. For further information contact Deacon Kevin Pattison at Kevin.Pattison@cam.org.au For more information: Watch Melbourne’s Deacons https://youtu.be/q2RhNDbtTS0.
Watch Pope Francis’ 2020 Prayer Intention for Deacons at https://youtu.be/NuG99HD1LaY. Read More [Brochure] available at https://www.cam1.org.au/permanent-diaconate. Contact: Office of the Permanent Diaconate (Phone) 03 9412 3357 (Email) diaconate@cam.org.au.
PONDERING GRIEF (Reflection event via ZOOM), Saturday 4 September 2021, 10am-3.30pm. Facilitated by qualified Counsellor/ Supervisor/ Educator Linda Espie, this event provides the opportunity to reflect on and honour our inner life of change and transition. With creativity, space and gentle guiding support, this workshop will offer a sacred place for the breadth of human experiencing and spirit to guide individual exploration. Limited to 10 participants. Cost $60. Bookings and payment via Trybooking at https://www.trybooking.com/BTQNX For more information, contact Heart of Life Centre for Spiritual & Pastoral Formation, email secretary@heartoflife.melbourne or tel (03) 9890 1101.
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
An opportunity to spend a weekend improving your communication. This experience gives you the tools to keep your passion alive in a gentle, nurturing environment, away from pressures and distractions of daily living. The weekend offered is based around Catholic values but couples of all faiths are welcome. 2 options: An on-line/virtual weekend 10 -12 Sep 2021 or a non–residential weekend 16 - 17 Oct 2021 in west Gippsland. For Info/Bookings phone Mercy & James 0409 183 676, email vicbookings@wwme.org.au Website wwme.org.au
RECENTLY DECEASED
We pray for Tony Perry, Joseph Vu, Michael Fogarty, Helen Nones, Erlinda Caparas, Aji Kurian, Luca Lauretta, Bob Cathie, Pratibha Divakar, Kurt Rodrigues, Anna Riley, George Perry, Theresa Nam, Babu Kuriakose, Minerva Guinto, Joe Medalle, Eddie Gauci, Giovanni Martello, Fr. Raphael Klein, Tony Hankins, Mavis Roze, Henry Lewis, Ella MacKinnon, Chinnamma Kora, all who have died due to COVID-19 and all who have passed away recently.
DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
We pray for Bill Fairney, Gwenda McDonald, Margaret Nazareth, Ken Skinner, Martin John Lopez, Helen Pereira Paul, Manuel Zamora and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
We pray for Dcn. Charles English, Gary Spotswood, Sean Donaldson, Kath Meddings, Jean Cameron, Wilfredo Villareal, Steven & Helen Smith, Shirley Linehan, Jack Davies, Albert Wankhar, Dale D’Souza, Melissa Bear, Lynn Worsley, Henry Lewis, Nicoletta Carinci, Maria Kiloumis, Brian & Helen Kelly, Bill Thomas, Haeday Riaca, Mayenne Gomez, Lisa Tagala, Josiah Salesa, Gordon Newman, Trish Musarra, Ann Gee Lee, Valerie Coates, Ian Cameron, Sylvia Aldersea, Alfred Spiteri, Doris Weselmann, Frank O’Brien, Jean Norman, Silvia Scrofani, Kevin McLoughlin, Baby Lilio, Thais Long, Giuseppe Cini, Vincent Margaret and all who are ill in our Parish.
ROSTERS
Counters – 29 Aug 2021
| Bill Coghlan / Paul Mulquiney / Bernard Cassin |
Readers – 28/29 Aug 2021
| 6:00pm | Davy Fernandez |
| 8:30am | Michelle Nelthropp |
| 10:30am | Lynn Aranha |
| 5:00pm | Joan Ocampo |
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion – 28/29 Aug 2021
| 6:00pm | G. Surrao / J. Tramontana / S. D’Silva / G. Aldcroft |
| 8:30am | Karen F./ Romayne A. / A. Vesty / E. Stowers |
| 10:30am | D. Dalton / A. Koek / Florence A. / R. Hibbert |
| 5:00pm | C. Skinner / G. Siccita / E. Angeles / Volunteer |
Music Ministry – 28/29 Aug 2021
| 6:00pm | St. Cecilia |
| 8:30am | St. Philomena’s Choir |
| 10:30am | Filiorum Dei |
| 5:00pm | Youth Band |