PARISH NEWS
THANK YOU AND FAREWELL FROM FR. PIUS
My dear Parishioners,
As I write this letter to you, I am filled with mixed emotions. My heart is filled with Praise and Thanks to our God for having given me the opportunity to be your
parish priest and for the treasured memories that I have been blessed with
these past seven years with you all. I am filled with gratitude and thank our Archbishop Denis Hart for making it possible for me to minister in Australia from Feb 2010. I am very thankful to His Grace for entrusting the care of this parish to me and appointing me parish priest in January 2011. Each one of you has played a great part in graciously accepting the cultural differences and helping me serve you. Together we have achieved many things in our parish, have grown in our journey of faith and have glorified God at all times.
Your love of the Lord, generosity and trust gave me the encouragement and great delight to serve God by serving you. We grew day by day as a faith filled community with various devotions and ministries in our church, becoming a very vibrant and loving parish community. You have alI been generous with your giving in our Stewardship program, helping us to pay up the parish debts and purchase an asset for our parish to ensure safe financial standings for maintaining the church. It is this generosity of your time and talents and untiring support that has helped me in the past seven years to be able to accomplish various projects in our parish:
- Provide heating and cooling so that all of us, especially the elderly and young children are able to worship in a comfortable atmosphere without having to worry about the wintry or hot conditions outside.
- Refurbish the church and change the lighting to improve the aesthetics of the sanctuary as well as to make it more energy efficient thereby cutting down power costs.
- Road signs to church and school.
- Followed up with the council to repair the footpath adjacent to the church.
- Install projectors on both sides of the church to enable visibility of what is projected to all, no matter where you are seated.
- Works carried out to improve the sound system.
- Refurbishment of the toilets in the Hall.
- Three television screens have been installed in the Hall so that families gathered there for Mass, especially on feast days when there is a huge crowd, are able to see the Altar in the two screens that are on either side. The screen in the middle allows them to view the prayers, lyrics, etc. that are projected.
- The current project to refurbish the Foyer and Church and Adoration Chapel is pending the approval of the Archbishop. On receipt of the approval, work will commence under the leadership of the new parish priest. This is being funded from parish funds and does not require a loan - your faithful giving and the wisdom of the Parish Finance Team has made all this possible without going into debt. We are in a very healthy financial status, Praise God!
- We have also carried out repairs and maintenance to the Presbytery.
While these projects keep the structure of our parish in good health, the spirituality of our parish, which is most dear to me, has been in excellent health, I should say, because of your ardent desire to serve God and readiness to say yes to me whenever any liturgical events had to be introduced or accomplished. Each of you offer your services in the various ministries, be it in the preparation and decoration of the altar, making sure the purifiers and other linen used for Mass is laundered and clean, welcoming, singing in the choir, reading at Mass, helping with communion at Mass, taking communion to the sick and house bound, altar serving, organising and helping in the collections, setting up for Mass or adoration, money counting on the weekends, banking, volunteering in the parish office, cleaning, gardening, maintenance, the list goes on and on....Your wholehearted and cheerful service has enriched our spiritual journey. It has helped me fulfil my desire as a priest to be able to lead you all on a fervent faith journey, learning to love Jesus above all and to love each other like the Lord himself.
My prayer for you all my wonderful parishioners and for myself is that, wherever the Lord takes us, may we continue this journey of faith and draw nearer to Christ each day. Moreover, I thank you for showing your love, care and concern for me and considering me as one of your dear family members. While I am sad to take leave, I thank God for giving me this huge treasure of knowing you all and experiencing God's love through each one of you. St Peters will always have a treasured place in my heart. May God continue to bless you and your families abundantly with every blessing so that you will continue your good works and honour our Triune God in the years to come. I am sure you will welcome your new Parish Priest Fr Vincent John with the same love and care and pray that you will all continue to be a loving family.
With Christ's love and abundant blessings,
Fr Pius.
FR. PIUS
A collection for Fr. Pius will be taken up during all masses this weekend. For those who are not here and would still like to contribute, please place your contribution in an envelope marked "Fr. Pius" on any of the weekends prior to 7/8 October and drop it into the collection bag. There will be a farewell Mass for Fr. Pius on 8 Oct at 10:30am. We ask parishioners to kindly bring a plate of food to share after Mass when we will present Fr. Pius with our gift of gratitude.
Please note that Fr. Pius is away until 29 September. There will be Communion Service on weekday mornings. Fr Manoj will celebrate the 7:00pm Mass on Wednesday and Fr. Peter Carrucan is celebrating all Masses this weekend.
FR. VINCENT JOHN CMI
We warmly welcome into our St. Peter's community, Fr. Vincent John who will be our parish priest from the 11th October 2017 onwards. Fr. Vincent is currently parish priest at St. Agnes Parish in Highett.
ROSARY DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
To commemorate the Feast of Our Lady of The Rosary, during the month of October, the Rosary will be recited daily in the Church at the following times:
- Monday to Friday at 6:30pm
- Saturday, prior to the 9:15am Mass
- Sunday, after the 8.30am Mass
ALL WELCOME
MARCH FOR THE BABIES
On October 10, 2008, the Victorian Parliament passed the Abortion Law Reform Act, one of the most extreme abortion laws in the world. This law eliminated all legal protection for Victorian children until the moment of birth. On Saturday October 7 at 1:00pm, defenders of the unborn will march from Treasury Gardens to Parliament House to express our solidarity with the unborn and their mothers.
EXCITING NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL
On Monday 18th Sep St. Peter's students participated in the Wakakirri Award Ceremony at Hamer Hall. They competed in a heat against 7 other schools at the start of September. After the heat performance they won the Best Adapted Story, then got invited to perform at the Awards night. Following Monday night’s performance, they won the best adapted story in Victoria. The performance now goes on to be judged against the winners of other States in Australia and they have a chance to become National champions. Wakakirri is a competition where children are asked to present a story through drama and dance. This story is told in a seven minute presentation with a backing track and in full costume and makeup.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE SCHOOL
| 9 Oct | No School - CURRICULUM DAY |
| 10 Oct | Term 4 commences 8:45am |
BIBLE STUDY
Bible study continues Monday, 25 September at 7:00pm in the Community Centre. We are at Luke Ch. 18 v37. All are welcome. Enquiries to Royden on 0426 071 375.
ROSTERS FOR PIETY STORE ROSTERS, COMMUNION TO THE SICK, LECTORS & EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS for September, October and November are now available for collection in the Hall.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR PARISH
| Sundays | 6:15 - 8:15pm HSI School of Discipleship in Community Centre. |
| 18 - 29 Sep | Fr. Pius will be away. |
| 6 Oct | 7:00pm to 10:00pm First Friday Mass & Adoration |
| 7 Oct | 2:00 - 4:30pm Adoration & Healing Mass |
| 8 Oct | 10:30am Farewell Mass for Fr. Pius. Please bring a plate of food to share after Mass. |
| 11 Oct | Fr. Pius leaves and Fr. Vincent John arrives |
Come and see the new Catholic Musical MAGDALENE - A WANTON SAINT Oct 4 to 7 at 7:00pm daily and Matinee Saturday 1:00pm at Renaissance Theatre, 826 High St, Kew in the Kew High School. Ph. 8692 0360 or www.trybooking.com/QZMG. An Inspiring Musical about the Grace of God and the transformation of Mary Magdalene from a fallen woman to one of the Church's greatest saints.
RECENTLY DECEASED
We pray for Patricio Lee Capinig, John Robert Lopez, Rita Canale and John Tanti and all who passed away recently.
DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
We pray for Elena Tasso, John Henry and Thomas Ryan and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
We pray for Shirley & Leo Linehan, Angela O’Brien, Lydia (Aleida) Van Susteren, Peter McGlade, Gary Spotswood, Stan Walkden, Diane Cameron, Edith Street, Georgette Maalouf, Carmen Mifsud, Bob Meehan, Sean Donaldson, Barbara Grogan, Sr. Eileen Brown, Eugenie Rinaldi, Keith Gill, Imelda Rundell, Brian Jones, Ari Casanova, Carmen Sherri, Melissa Caroline, Carmen Agius, Josie Tabone, Jess Grech and all who are ill in our Parish.
ROSTERS
Money Counters - 1 Oct 17
| John Allen / Jules & Neeta Pereira |
Readers - 30 Sep/1 Oct 17
| 6:00pm | Davy Fernandes |
| 8:30am | Buxton Thomas |
| 10:30am | Venus Iuta |
| 5:00pm | Jeslin Shaji |
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion - 30 Sep/1 Oct 17
| 6:00pm | H. Durski / Praful A. / S. Martis / E. Mills |
| 8:30am | J. Thomas / K. Fernandes / C. Coelho / D. Hankins |
| 10:30am | S. Sipilliano / N&R Golaw / N. Costa |
| 5:00pm | J&D Etiennette / S. Joseph / Volunteer |
Music Ministry - 30 Sep/1 Oct 17
| 6:00pm | Footsteps |
| 8:30am | Shirley & Group |
| 10:30am | Samoan Choir |
| 5:00pm | FilOz |