DEVOTIONAL PRAYER FOR SEPTEMBER
CORONAVIRUS PRAYER
God our Father, we come to You in our need, to ask Your protection against the COVID-19 that has disturbed and even claimed lives.
We pray that You guide the people tasked to find cures for this disease and to stem its transmission.
Protect the medical experts that they may minister to the sick with competence and compassion.
We pray for those afflicted. May they be restored to health soon.
Protect those who care for them.
Grant eternal rest to those who have died.
Give us the grace in this trying time to work for the good of all and to help those in need.
We implore You to stop the spread of this virus and to save us from our fears.
Grant all these through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
We fly to Your protection, oh Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petition in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, Oh glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
Our Lady, health of the sick, pray for us.
St. Peter Apostle, pray for us.
Entrance Antiphon
All that you have done to us, O Lord, you have done with true judgment, for we have sinned against you and not obeyed your commandments. But give glory to your name and deal with us according to the bounty of your mercy.
1st Reading (Ezek 18:25-28)
A reading from the prophet Ezekiel.
The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘You object, “What the Lord does is unjust.” Listen, you House of Israel: is what I do unjust? Is it not what you do that is unjust? When the upright man renounces his integrity to commit sin and dies because of this, he dies because of the evil that he himself has committed. When the sinner renounces sin to become law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live. He has chosen to renounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die.’
The Word of the Lord.
2nd Reading (Phil 2:1-11)
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Philippians.
If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing which would make me completely happy. There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, so that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people’s interests instead. In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus: His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel (Mt 21:28-32)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people, ‘What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, “My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not go,” but afterwards thought better of it and went. The man then went and said the same thing to the second who answered, “Certainly, sir,” but did not go. Which of the two did the father’s will?’ ‘The first’ they said. Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Communion Antiphon
Remember your word to your servant, O Lord, by which you have given me hope. This is my comfort when I am brought low.
Next Week’s Readings
Is 5:1-7; Phil 4:6-9; Mt 21:33-43
Feasts of the Week
Tue, 29 Sep - Sts. Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Archangels
Wed, 30 Sep - St. Jerome
Thu, 1 Oct - St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Fri, 2 Oct - The Holy Guardian Angels
PARISH NEWS
THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS
(Reflection by Dcn. Charles English)
Our Lord Jesus is in the Temple and the chief priests and elders came along to ask Him questions and Jesus, in order to get a message across to them, began to tell a parable about two sons. The parable at first seems simple, straightforward and quite innocuous. It is far from that. Given the context in which it was spoken and the people to whom it was aimed, it is nothing short of explosive.
A father asked his two sons to go and work in his vineyard. One of the sons said that he would not go, and then thought better of it and went off to work in his father’s vineyard. The other son said to his father ‘Certainly, sir’, but did not go to work in the vineyard. Then Jesus asks the people gathered there in the Temple listening to Him, ‘Which of the two did the father’s will?’ and the people answered ‘the first’. It was the son that the father asked first, that had second thoughts and in the end obeyed his father’s command. This son must have realised just how good his father was and just how selfish and self-centred he was. This son also saw that his father, far from writing him off as he deserved, still loved him very much.
Now the other son who had said to his father that he would go and work in the vineyard and then did not go, really did not love and regard his father as much as he thought he did. This son was selfish, proud and complacent. He was the first-born after all. He was the heir. Everything was guaranteed, so why should he have to work? What were his waster of a brother and the servants there for?
Now here comes the crunch. Listen to Jesus’ words and how He is applying them, remembering that He was addressing the chief priests and elders of the people, who despised tax collectors and sinners. Jesus is really saying to the hierarchy of the Temple that they are like the elder son. The chief priests and elders boast about their obedience to God’s commandments but their love is illusory. They are not pleasing to God. But the people that they despise, tax collectors and sinners, they are like the younger son who have thought twice about their lives and have repented and obey God and His commandments.
We are dealing then, in this parable, not with two individuals but with two sets of people. Christ was not really praising either set. Both sets were imperfect, but he was saying that one of them was better than the other. The ideal son, of course, would be a son who immediately carried out his father’s orders. There are some people who will promise anything. At the initial stage of a project they are loud in their protestations of willingness and loyalty. But when it comes to the actual doing stage they fade away. Then there are others that initially are reluctant to promise anything. Yet often these are exactly the people who come up trumps, provided that we know how to appeal to them.
The meaning of Jesus’ parable is crystal clear. The Jewish people were the Chosen people of God and said that they would obey God but they didn’t. The tax collectors and sinners were those who said they would not obey God, but then thought better of it and repented and did obey Him.
This parable teaches us that promises can never take the place of performance, and fine words can never be a substitute for fine deeds. We should try and see what Jesus is saying to us through this parable. Part of us says ‘Yes’ to God with our words; and part of us says ‘No’ to God with our deeds.
We must constantly examine our conscience. We must try to turn our promises into fulfilment, to turn our words into deeds. We must see ourselves in need of continual conversion. Everyday we can turn one of yesterday’s ‘no’s’ into one of today’s ‘yeses’.
Dear Lord Jesus, please grant us the grace, strength and commitment that the faith we proclaim with our words may be borne out by our deeds.
LIVE STREAMING OF DAILY MASS FROM OUR CHURCH
Masses are Monday to Friday 8:30am, Saturday 9:00am and Sunday 10:30am.
Our church is live streaming daily Mass
Via Facebook Page https://m.facebook.com/stpetershoppers/
Via Zoom. ZOOM link https://zoom.us/j/93990476817 Meeting ID: 9399 047 6817.
Parishioners can now dial in via mobile phone or landline to participate in our daily Masses on ZOOM.
Landline – Dial 0011 618 6119 3900
Mobile – Dial +618 6119 3900
Once you connect you will be requested to put in the meeting ID: 9399 047 6817##.
PARISH OFFICE
The Parish Office is closed, however staff will be working from home on Tuesday/Thursday/Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. You can still contact us on the office phone 9749 4300 or send in your enquiries/prayer requests by email to stpeters@westnet.com.au or hopperscrossing@cam.org.au
TO KEEP YOURSELF UPDATED WITH PARISH NEWS
Parish website at http://stpeterapostlemission.org.au
Facebook at https://m.facebook.com/stpetershoppers/
Weekly Bulletin – kindly send your email address to stpeters@westnet.com.au to have a copy of our bulletin emailed to you every Friday.
ONLINE CHILDREN’S LITURGY
St Peters Young Adults are holding Online Children’s Liturgy for children aged 5 – 8 years. The next session will be held on Sunday 4th October 2020 from 11:30am to 12:30pm. The sessions are held fortnightly. Children pray together, read and listen to the Gospel and are supported to grow in their faith through sharing and activities. We welcome you and your family to take part! Parents are required to register their children before attending. To enrol your child in this program, please email the Parish office at hopperscrossing@cam.or.au or call on 9749 4300 (Tues/Thursday/Friday 9:00am – 3:30pm) and we will send you an enrolment form to register your child, which is to be completed and returned. Our parish ensures that child e-safety is maintained as we follow the child safety guidelines recommended by the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a program for anyone interested in becoming a Catholic and receiving the Sacraments. Meetings are held on Wednesdays at 7:00pm on Zoom. Meeting ID 937 5345 2162. Passcode: 624286. If you or anyone you know is interested, you are welcome to join. Please contact Francis Thomas on 0401 787 372 or francispthomas@hotmail.com or Evelyn Stowers on 0499 416 158.
ZOOM LINKS TO WEEKLY SERVICES
St. Anthony’s Novena
Every Tuesday at 7:00pm, followed by Rosary
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82338237597?pwd=dlZyKzFCOERFNDBDMCs5cDBkUnFOdz09
Meeting ID: 823 3823 7597, Password: 524250
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Novena
Every Wednesday at 7:00pm, followed by Rosary
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83632685197?pwd=RWRxQWJ1TXpoZHlLRTRIUVp0Nk0zdz09
Meeting ID: 836 3268 5197. No Password.
St. Peter's Charismatic Prayer Community KNK
Every Saturday at 3:00pm – Divine Mercy & Praise & Worship
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7414862105?pwd=NlVwaXUyS3hVSlFzZ0pNOG1MT29Ldz09
Meeting ID: 741 486 2105, Password: 023368
Bible Study Ministry
Every Monday from 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Focus on Gospel of John, Chapter 13, Group Quiz on John Ch. 1-3.
Please note new Meeting link and information below
ttps://zoom.us/j/91984220776?pwd=M1RzcWMwbWk0Tm43MEZ6cEZnditldz09
Meeting ID: 91984220776 Password: 899140
MESSAGE FROM ARCHBISHOP PETER COMENSOLI
Please use the following link to listen to Archbishop Peter’s message this week https://youtu.be/4PQOWE1br_k
MARCH FOR THE BABIES 2020 LIVE STREAMED SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10TH AT 1:00PM
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Annual March for the Babies 2020 will be a Live Streamed event @ 1:00pm on Saturday, October 10th. Join in online at www.mftb.online for Victoria’s largest pro-life event in defence of unborn children and their mothers. Featured speakers, powerful testimonies, music and opportunities to promote the “culture of life”.
WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS & REFUGEES SUNDAY, 27TH SEPTEMBER
This Sunday 27th September, the Catholic Church across the world marks the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. In his message for this year's World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis encourages us to embrace all those who are experiencing situations of precariousness, abandonment, marginalisation and rejection as a result of COVID-19. This year’s theme for the Holy Father’s Message for 2020 World Day of Migrant and Refugee is: “Forced like Jesus Christ to flee”. This pastoral care of the Church towards Migrants and Refugees focused on the following aspects as named by Pope Francis: welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating migrants and refugees to enrich our local communities.
RECENTLY DECEASED
We pray for Brian Holmes, Nicolas Caruana, Martina Serrao, Silvia Braganca Silveira, Arokianathan Alphons, Bernard Saldanha, Enid Isaaks, Julieta Cabigao, Amanda Munsod, Reynaldo Esclares, France Rioux, Noemi Medel-Villareal, Gracias Manganelli, Mary Vella, K.M. Joseph, Marina Pagdanganan, Jane Burnnard, all who have died due to COVID-19 and all who have passed away recently.
DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
We pray for Maria Lodenia DeTorres, Alice Billings, Jose Austria Sr, Carmen Mifsud, Christian Galea and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
We pray for Gary Spotswood, Sean Donaldson, Kath Meddings, Irene Jones, Jean Cameron, Gordon Newman, Denis Webber, Monique Hoaster, Wilfredo Villareal, Rolando Navarro, Francis Goonting, Anne Deluca, Hellen Bonnici, Filippo Sciglitano, Anthony Hanford, James Barwick, Gerry Akein, Carmelina Costanzo, Alki Christopoulos, Charlotte Mary, Frank Forbes, Teresita Grisancich, Wilma Pimenta, Kathy Smith, Paul Burton, Honerine Rosario, Aloysius Silva, Shirley Poppen, Norma Medina, Florine Fernandes, Christine Hall, Esther Uwase and all who are ill in our Parish.