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Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord 2020

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DEVOTIONAL PRAYER FOR APRIL

CORONAVIRUS PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, you travelled through towns and villages curing every disease and illness. At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.

Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care. Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbours from helping one another. Heal us from our pride, which made us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.

Lord Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.

Be with families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace. Be with doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace. Be with leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.

Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Lord Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace. Lord Jesus Christ, heal us.

Entrance Antiphon
Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are you, who have come in your abundant mercy!

1st Reading (Is 50:4-7)
The Lord has given me a disciple’s tongue. So that I may know how to reply to the wearied he provides me with speech. Each morning he wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord has opened my ear. For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard; I did not cover my face against insult and spittle. The Lord comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults. So, too, I set my face like flint; I know I shall not be shamed.
The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

2nd Reading (Phil 2:6-11)
His state was divine, yet Christ Jesus 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 Acclamation
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory! Christ became obedient for us even to death, dying on the cross. Therefore God raised him on high and gave him a name above all other names.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!

Gospel (Mt 26:14-27:66)
Due to the length of the Gospel, we are unable to offer a printed version this week. Instead we provide a Reflection.

Palm Sunday 2020

With the celebration of Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday, we enter into the Holy Week. During this Holy Week we commemorate and relive Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. Not only that, our commemoration must include our own dying and rising in Him, which results in our healing, reconciliation and redemption.

Jesus laid down His life for the salvation of the human race, cooperating with the Will of the Heavenly Father. Just as Jesus did, we too must lay down our lives freely, by actively participating in the Holy Week liturgies, reading the Bible and praying. In doing so, we are allowing Jesus to forgive us our sins and the sins of others, and to transform us more completely into the image and likeness of God.

The Passion Story shows how Jesus responded to what was done to him. He absorbed all the violence, transformed it and returned it as love and forgiveness. This was the victory of love over all the powers of destruction. There was nothing but love in him. Even when they nailed his hands and feet, he was loving. It helps us to think about this when we are going through hard times, particularly with the pandemic Covid-19. But if our love of God and neighbour is deep and strong, we will be able to freely accept these sufferings as a way of sharing in Christ’s love. We will also be able to reach out to others with love and diminish their sufferings. We will be able to see in those who suffer due to the coronavirus, the suffering face of Christ.

Jesus’ passion taught us that victory comes through suffering. Passion was not the last word in the life of Christ. It was only the first word of the Holy Week which will reach its climax on Easter Sunday.

So too, however depressing these days may seem, they are not the last word in our life. Rather, they are only the prelude to triumphs we have yet to experience in this life, and they point to the ultimate victory which will be ours in the next life. Palm Sunday should solidify our hope.

Palms should be signs that we are willing to march with Jesus, not only in moments of triumph and glory, but also in times of trial, suffering and agony. For the passion and resurrection of Jesus prove that life will prevail over death; that when death has done even its worst, life will still be victorious.

May the merciful Lord strengthen your hope and keep you safe always. During this uncertain time please be assured of my prayers for all of you my parishioners.
Father Vincent John CMI.

Communion Antiphon
Father, if this chalice cannot pass without my drinking it, your will be done.

Next Week's Readings
Acts 10:34,37-43;   Col 3:1-4;   Jn 20:1-9

 

PARISH NEWS

A reminder that DAYLIGHT SAVINGS ends this Sunday, 5th April. Please remember to turn your clocks BACK 1 hour the night before.

HOW TO MAKE AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
Make the Sign of the Cross
If possible, read the Mass Readings
Recite the Prayer of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot, at this moment, receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

HOLY WEEK @ HOME
In these current weeks when churches are closed, the Archdiocese of Melbourne is working on creating resources for our Catholic community journeying through Holy Week @ Home.

Holy Week @ Home: Palm Sunday – a one page resource with spiritual and practical suggestions for how to enter into Palm Sunday in a domestic church setting (families with small children, young adults and adults). Please go to the Melbourne Archdiocese website and click on
http://www.cam.org.au/Guidance-for-Parishes-COVID-19
 and under Helpful resources select Liturgy of the word at home (Palm Sunday).

Holy Week @ Home: Easter Triduum – a one page resource with spiritual and practical suggestions for how to journey into the Easter Triduum in a domestic church setting (families with small children, young adults and adults). This link will be available in the bulletin next Thursday.

HOW DO WE CELEBRATE PALM SUNDAY DURING THIS TIME OF PANDEMIC
Here is a simple tip that would help despite the social distancing, to be connected as we enter into the Holiest of Weeks.

Put any green branch or leaves on the door of your house to celebrate Palm Sunday. Palms or greenery are a symbol of life and hope.

We may be physically isolated, but not separated. We are united as members of the Body of Christ. We are the Church. Yes we are!!

LOCAL HOLY WEEK SERVICES
As our churches are shut, on Friday March 27 and Sunday March 29, prior to the introduction of Stage 3 restrictions, our own Fr. Vincent, Fr. Jude (St. James) and Fr. Albert (St. Andrews) parishes, united in prayer to pre-record at Thomas Carr College chapel, the Holy Thursday, Good Friday Liturgy and Easter Vigil Liturgy. This was done to help our parishioners celebrate the Holy Week services in your homes with your families.

Links to the services will be published on our website www.stpeterapostlemission.org.au and facebook page as follows:

Holy Thursday
Will be available from 5:00pm on Thursday, 9 April 2020

Stations of the Cross
– will be available from 8:00am on Good Friday, 10 April 2020

Good Friday Liturgy
Will be available from 2:00pm on Good Friday, 10 April 2020

Easter Vigil
Will be available from 5:00pm on Saturday 11 April 2020

We invite our parishioners to share in all the above services.

PARISH GUIDELINES

  • Our church is now closed as per Government regulations. Please note that the Sunday Obligation will not apply during this time of suspension.
  • To receive current information, you can update us with your email address by emailing the parish office at hopperscrossing@cam.org.au.
  • Thanksgiving Contributions
    As there are no regular masses being held, we have been approached by some parishioners regarding their weekly contributions. If you would like to continue your contributions to support the parish, the following options are available:

    1. You can drop off your Thanksgiving envelope at the Parish office during office hours Monday to Friday 9:00am to 3:30pm.
    2. Thanksgiving donations can be made directly to our Church Bank Account. Details as follows:
      Account name: St Peter Apostle Parish Church Account      BSB: 083-347 Account No: 637286747
      Please use your Thanksgiving Envelope number and your name for reference purposes. (Example: TG 123-Tom Smith).
    3. If you would like to amend your Thanksgiving from Envelopes to Credit Card/Debit Card, please call or email the parish office and we will send you a form to make this change.

Fr Vincent and Dcn Charles thank you for your continued support to the parish.

RECENTLY DECEASED
We pray for Godwin Arandez, Vilma Golaw, Mathilda Lariche, Fr Xavier Pullankavil CMI, Sr Philomena Goveas and all who have passed away recently.

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
We pray for Philip Jones, Alex De Borja, Edgar Bersabe, Cita Esmaquel, Elena dela Cruz, Antonio Grisancich and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
We pray for Leo Linehan, Gary Spotswood, Sean Donaldson, Kath Meddings, Lucy Ballan, Irene Jones, Thais Long, Jean Cameron, Gordon Newman, Francine Foster, Sam Caruana, Therese Mary, Zandi Falzon, Robel Rosales, Rey Medina, Denis Webber, Lourdes Sequeira, Mary D'cruz, Leo Mellewa, Pat Heffernan, Andrea Clayburn, Yvonne Clayton, Monique Hoaster, Alphonsus De Roza, Aiden Leonard, Elvira de Torres, Melville Pereira, Wilfredo Villareal, Julia Rego, Keely Welsford, Rolando Navarro, Eileen Lewis, Jean Skinner, Avis Fernandes, Gaudelia Javier, Lina Enriquez, Felix Bephage, Francis Goonting, Fr Jolly Alavelil CMI, Jose Golaw, Gely Co and all who are ill in our Parish.

RIP GODWIN JOSEPH ARANDEZ
Our parishioner Godwin passed away on 29 March 2020.  We pray for the repose of Godwin's soul. May he Rest in Peace.  We also remember in our prayers Godwin's wife Hazel and all his family, and pray that God will bring them comfort during this sad time.

,Godwin Arandez