DEVOTIONAL PRAYER FOR FEBRUARY
PRAYER TO END THE PANDEMIC
written by Pope Francis
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross, were united with Jesus’ suffering, and persevered in your faith. “Protectress of all people”, you know our needs, and we know that you will provide, so that, as at Cana in Galilee, joy and celebration may return after this time of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the will of the Father and to do what Jesus tells us. For he took upon himself our suffering, and burdened himself with our sorrows to bring us, through the cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.
Entrance Antiphon
The Lord became my protector. He brought me out to a place of freedom; he saved me because he delighted in me.
1st Reading (Sirach 27:4-7)
A reading from the book of Ecclesiasticus (Sirach).
In a shaken sieve the rubbish is left behind, so too the defects of a man appear in his talk. The kiln tests the work of the potter, the test of a man is in his conversation. The orchard where the tree grows is judged on the quality of its fruit, similarly a man’s words betray what he feels. Do not praise a man before he has spoken, since this is the test of men.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
2nd Reading (1 Cor 15:54-58)
A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.
When this perishable nature has put on imperishability, and when this mortal nature has put on immortality, then the words of scripture will come true: Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and sin gets is power from the Law. So let us thank God for giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Never give in then, my dear brothers, never admit defeat; keep on working at the Lord’s work always, knowing that, in the Lord, you cannot be labouring in vain.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Shine on the world like bright stars; you are offering it the word of life. Alleluia!
Gospel (Lk 6:39-45)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Jesus told a parable to his disciples. ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye. There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit; people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Communion Antiphon
I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me, sing psalms to the name of the Lord Most High.
Next Week’s Readings
Deut 26:4-10; Rom 10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13
Feasts of the Week
Wed, 2 Mar - ASH Wednesday
PARISH NEWS
UPDATED PARISH GUIDELINES
Following Government announcements, kindly note the following if attending Masses:
- No vaccination requirements or density limits.
- No registration via QR Code if attending Mass.
- Face masks are optional.
- Please sanitise prior to entering church.
Further information available from the archdiocese website
https://melbournecatholic.org/covid-19-guidelines.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE COVID MARSHALLS & VOLUNTEERS who worked so diligently during the past months to ensure that we followed all government regulations and kept everyone safe. We would not have managed without your valuable assistance.
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. |
| Mondays |
7:00pm to 8:30pm – Bible Study on zoom. Meeting ID: 919 8422 0776 Passcode: bible Contact Clive Gonsalves 0490814452 / Francis Thomas 0401787372 7:00pm to 8:30pm Alpha on Zoom. Contact Anita on 0411772320 for details. |
| Tuesdays | 7:00pm Online Zoom Rosary Meeting ID: 893 2042 1399 Passcode: rosary |
| Wednesdays |
7:00pm RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) on Zoom. 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 in Church. 1.30 pm to 4pm - Healing Mass on 1st Saturday of the month. Next Healing Mass on Saturday 5 March at 1.30 pm |
| Baptisms | 12 noon – Baptisms held 1st & 3rd Sundays. Baptism Preparation Meeting held on the 1st Monday of the month at 7:00pm. The next Baptism Prep Meeting will be on Monday 7 March at 7pm in the church. |
REMINDER TO PLEASE RETURN EASTER AVAILABILITY FORMS FOR READERS & COMMUNION MINISTERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!
CHILD SAFETY
At St. Peters, we are committed to the safety, well-being and dignity of all children, young people and vulnerable adults. We welcome families with children at all Masses and have a special children’s liturgy available at the 10:30am Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. To help us all to keep children safe, we remind parents and guardians to always accompany their children if they need to leave their seat during Mass. If you have any child safety concerns, please contact our Child Safeguarding Officer, Catherine Graham at the Parish office on (03) 9749 4300 or via email to Catherine.graham@cam.org.au
ENROLMENTS FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL SACRAMENTAL & RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMME (for Children attending non-Catholic schools) to be done as soon as possible on a Sunday from 9:15am to 11:00am at the School (follow the arrow signs). Baptism Certificates need to be sighted. Even if children attended last year, you still need to re-enrol. For more information, please ring Bernice on 9749 2812.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY
Volunteers needed urgently to help with Children’s Liturgy at the 10:30am mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. There is no experience required and all material will be provided. Commitment is only 7 – 8 sessions a year. Please contact the Parish office if you are interested.
ASH WEDNESDAY – 2ND MARCH 8:30AM AND 7:00PM MASSES
Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, which is a penitential season of prayer, self-denial and helping others. A reminder that Ash Wednesday is an obligatory day of fast and abstinence. Masses with the distribution of Ashes will be held at 8:30am and 7:00pm.
POPE CALLS FOR DAY OF PRAYER, FASTING FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE
Pope Francis has invited everyone to make March 2, Ash Wednesday a day of fasting for peace. He has encouraged us to devote ourselves intensely to prayer and fasting. May the Queen of Peace protect the world from the folly of war.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS-DURING LENT
Stations of the Cross will be held every Friday at 7:00pm followed by Mass. This will commence Friday 4th March.
LECTIO DIVINA
Lectio Divina is a technique of reading the Bible from a devotional perspective. You are invited to meditative reading, praying and contemplating the Word of God during Lent on Thursdays 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st March from 7:00pm to 8:00pm at St. Peters Church.
LENTEN PILGRAMAGE – TA PINU
Come and join us in our yearly Lenten pilgrimage at Ta Pinu to pray and reflect on Jesus’ passion and death. Saturday 12th March 2022 at Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu Shrine, 15 Flanagan Dr., Merrimu Vic 3340. Program starts at 10:30am with the 14 Stations of the Cross followed by Eucharistic Mass at 12:00pm. Fellowship BYO lunch at Merrimu Reservoir Bacchus Marsh.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK/HEALING MASS - TUESDAY 15TH MARCH, 11:00AM MASS
Everyone, especially the sick and elderly, are invited to attend our Anointing for Healing Mass on Tuesday 15th March at 11:00am. Following Mass, a light luncheon will be served in the hall. All welcome. Kindly note, that due to government regulations proof of vaccination will need to be shown if attending the luncheon. No proof required if attending the Mass only. Also, if you are aware of anyone who wishes to be anointed but is too ill to attend this Mass, kindly ask them to contact the Parish Office on (03) 97494300 and Father will visit them at home at a suitable time.
PROJECT COMPASSION SUNDAY – 26/27 FEBRUARY
Please take home a Project Compassion box and a set of donation envelopes to support Caritas Australia this Lenten season and help support vulnerable people around the world, now and For All Future Generations. With your support, Caritas Australia has supported vulnerable communities around the world to tackle poverty, food security, education, water, sanitation and disaster risk reduction to build a better future for all. You can also donate online by visiting lent.caritas.org.au Thank you. To hear inspiring stories and issues from around the world join in on ZOOM for one-hour weekly sessions over the 6 weeks of Lent. Register at lent.caritas.org.au
LENT 2022 WITH THE CATHOLIC GUY BRUCE DOWNES
Be inspired, Be refreshed, Be renewed! For 40 days you will receive a short, practical and inspiring video in your inbox every morning to help you make this Lenten journey more powerful and prayerful. This program is FREE and you can sign up here: https://BruceDownes.org/Lent22. Call 1300 734 880 for more information.
AAKASH BASHEER
Aakash Bashir, a 20 year old lay Catholic and former pupil of Don Bosco Technical Institute of Lahore, Pakistan became a martyr in his bid to prevent a suicide bomber from entering a packed church in 2015. Archbishop Sebastian Shah of Lahore made the Vatican’s announcement during the Mass on January 31, the feast day of St. Don Bosco. Aakash Bashir is the first person from Pakistan to be elevated to the rank of Servant of God. Aakash, who was standing at the entrance when the suicide bombers tried to enter the Church, was killed while blocking them. Aakash's last words were, "I will die, but I will not allow you to enter the Church." Bashir Emmanuel, Aakash's father, said it was a great honour for the Vatican to allow Aakash to be a Servant of God and added that his son represents the strength of the Christian faith in Pakistan.
RECENTLY DECEASED
We pray for Dcn. Charles English, Denis Boother, Darren Hughes, Pilar Simangan, Fr Thanh Ngoc Tran OP, Rose Anne Murphy, Jerry Clarke, Aubrey Roberts, Percy Fernandez, Alban D’Souza, Aloysia Dsa, Carlos Duran, Michael Mathew, Gerardo Monsalve, Dominic Rammohan, all who have died due to COVID-19 and all who have passed away.
DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
We pray for Norm Hegarty, Mona Mann, Rosario Rosas, Sujatha Ramathati, Gliceria Tacata, Rebecca Tacata, Roberto Lopez, Agatha Borg, Prince Fernando, Henry Lewis, Poshan Misquitta, Zacharias Fernandes, Derrick Gowe and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
We pray for Gary Spotswood, Sean Donaldson, Kath Meddings, Wilfredo Villareal, Brian & Helen Kelly, Gordon Newman, Steven & Helen Smith, Ann Gee Lee, Valerie Coates, Sylvia Aldersea, Thais Long, Vincent Margaret, Dale D’Souza, Franklin Quintanilla, Adrian McGill, Kevin Hynes, Jeffrey Dalton, Jean Cameron, Katherine Yin Ming Lee, Enid Gibb, Baby Sora, Arturo Bacani, Vivienne Gantar, Magda Symons, Bill Thomas, Pedro Lopez, Robert Martinez, Trevor D’Souza, Mavis D’Cruz, Malia Kautai, Monique Simonides, Margie Fernando, Walter Castelino, Yvonne Caruana and all who are ill in our Parish.
ROSTERS
Counters – 6 Mar 22
| K. Stuttard / E. Lewis / B. D’Souza / R. Hibbert |
Readers – 5/6 Mar 22
| 6:00pm | Sharon D’Silva |
| 8:30am | Lynn Aranha |
| 10:30am | Venus Iuta |
| 5:00pm | Giovanna Siccita |
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion – 5/6 Mar 22
| 6:00pm | S. Joseph / S. Martis / G. Aldcroft |
| 8:30am | K. Fernandes / C. D’Souza / M. Nelthropp |
| 10:30am | M&C Peters / E. Mills |
| 5:00pm | E. Angeles / C. Skinner / R. Albuquerque |
Music Ministry – 5/6 Mar 22
| 6:00pm | Eagles Wings |
| 8:30am | St. Philomena’s Choir |
| 10:30am | Volunteer |
| 5:00pm | FilOz |