DEVOTIONAL PRAYER FOR MAY
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
The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world and that which contains all things understands what is said, alleluia.
1st Reading (Acts 2:1-11)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
2nd Reading (1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13)
A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit. There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia!
Gospel (Jn 20:19-23)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to St. John
In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ After saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Communion Antiphon
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke of the marvels of God, alleluia.
Next week’s Readings
Ex 34:4-6,8-9; 2 Cor 13:11-13; Jn 3:16-18
Feasts of the week
Monday, 1 June - The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
Wednesday, 3 June - Charles Lwanga & companions
Friday, 5 June - St. Boniface - Fri, 5 June
PARISH NEWS
PENTECOST SUNDAY
(A reflection by Fr. Vincent John, CMI)
Today, we celebrate Pentecost Sunday. The word ‘Pentecost’ comes from the Greek word “pentecostes” which means “fiftieth.” This feast commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the official inauguration of the Church. It takes its name from the fact that it comes nearly fifty days after Easter. With the Old Testament background, Israelites celebrated Pentecost on the first day after seven Sabbaths following the Passover. It was known as the Feast of Weeks (Lev. 23) and also the Feast of Harvest (Ex. 23:16). Pentecost has been observed in the Church since the days of the Apostles, as they received the Holy Spirit on that day, and started witnessing to Christ without fear. On Pentecost day, before receiving the Holy Spirit, we see the Apostles hiding behind closed doors because of their fear of the Jews. However, once they received the Holy Spirit, they were filled with power, courage, the gift of tongues and they began to make bold proclamations. These are all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Today’s three readings make reference to the arrival and the works of the Holy Spirit. Our First Reading from Acts 2:1-11 affirms the arrival of the Holy Spirit. The Second Reading from 1Cor 12:3-7, 12- 13 speaks of baptism in the Holy Spirit as it says, “In one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” In the Gospel, Jesus sends His disciples to proclaim the Word of God. Tongues of fire along with speaking in diverse tongues were the signs of the empowerment of the Church. As Jesus promised, with the power and strength of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to make possible, things that are impossible. This is what happened on the first Pentecost, and it is what is happening even today everywhere the Holy Spirit is at work. We can see conversions of the hearts taking place in unimaginable persons and situations; big spiritual centres and charities are run without any bank deposit; religious TV channels are run without any commercial ads or deposits; in individuals and communities, peace and comforts are found in a miraculous way; new avenues of a bright future are found or opened after spending a few minutes before God. There are many, many such examples of the works of the Holy Spirit in and around us.
From the very day of Pentecost, the Church has celebrated and administered holy Baptism. On several occasions Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit, (Lk 12:12; Jn 3:5-8; 7:37-39]. Filled with the Holy Spirit the Apostles began to proclaim “the mighty works of God,” and Peter declared this outpouring of the Spirit to be the sign of the messianic age. Those who believed in the Apostolic preaching and were baptized, received the gift of the Holy Spirit in their turn.”
Every year, this celebration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost is an invitation to us to have the same encounter. It is the Holy Spirit who makes it possible for us to live lives of sacrificial love, holiness and service, in a world that God still loves – a world into which He still sends His Son, through the Body of Christ, the Church – of which we are all members. And like Pentecost, even today, the Spirit is being poured over all receiving lands, individually and collectively. To remain always overflowing in gladness like the early Christian Church, we need to be one in Spirit, as worshiping, loving and sharing individuals and communities.
May God Bless you all.
UPDATED GUIDELINES
Following new Guidelines our Parish will operate as follows:
- Church will be open with a LIMIT OF 20 PEOPLE permitted to attend each service. Masses will be as per information on the first page.
- Bookings for Mass are to be done online via Trybooking.com using the following link https://www.trybooking.com/BJUAL (link will change every week).
- Bookings open on Friday, 6:00pm for bookings for Masses from Tuesday 2nd June until Monday 8th
- For Masses from Tuesday to Thursday, bookings close at 3:00pm on the day prior to Mass.
- For weekend and Monday Masses, bookings close at 3:00pm on Friday prior to the weekend.
- Bookings that have been made over the phone or email with the Parish Office for next week will be valid. You do not have to re-book.
- Please only book weekend Masses once every 2 weekends. The parish office will monitor bookings to ensure all parishioners get an equal opportunity to attend weekend Masses.
Please observe the following:
- If you are unwell on your allocated day, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS.
- No children under 5 years old.
- 1.5m distance from other people must be observed at all times.
- We request everyone to remain in their allocated seats during the duration of their stay in Church
- Church will be open 15 minutes prior to start of Mass.
- Doors will be shut 5 minutes prior to start of Mass.
- Parishioners must leave church immediately after Mass.
- No collections will be taken, however baskets have been provided at the entrance for anyone wishing to place their donations/thanksgiving envelopes/prayer requests and to return their Project Compassion boxes.
- Holy Water Bottles can be collected, (1 per family) after Mass.
- Communion will only be under the one species and in the hand only.
- Bulletins will be available but must be taken home, not left in church.
- Hand sanitiser will be provided at the entry doors. All necessary cleaning precautions are being undertaken.
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS AT 10:30AM THIS SUNDAY, 31ST MAY
Due to the limited number of people allowed to attend Mass, thanks to a member of our Young Adults Group, the 10:30am Mass from our church will be live streamed this Sunday through our Facebook Page link https://m.facebook.com/stpetershoppers/
THANKSGIVING CONTRIBUTIONS
If you would like to continue your contributions to support the parish, the following options are available:
- Drop off your Thanksgiving envelope and Project Compassion Boxes at the Parish office during office hours Monday to Friday 9:00am to 3:30pm.
- 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 (eg.TG123 - Tom Smith) - To change 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.
- Parishioners can also now make payments online if you wish to do so, either by going to the link
Online Thanksgiving Payments CDF Pay OR
by going to the link on our website (under the Support your Parish tab)
You can make quick and easy recurring thanksgiving payments or can choose a one-time donation. Please add your Thanksgiving Envelope number if you have one. You also have the option to choose which collection you would like the offering to go to, i.e. first collection (Parish) or second collection (Presbytery).
Thank you to all our parishioners who have responded and dropped off your envelopes and Project Compassion Boxes to the parish office and also for your online contributions. Fr. Vincent and Dcn. Charles thank you for your continued generous support to the parish.
ZOOM INVITATION TO COMBINED ST. PETERS & ST. JAMES BIBLE STUDY MINISTRY
Every week on a Monday from 7:00pm to 8:00pm.
To join Meeting use below link & Meeting ID
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9689427525?pwd=akpXUHFPQTJRazRxZVZaOVVhZlM4QT09
Meeting ID: 9689427525 Password: 2Vp4ef
ZOOM INVITATION TO PARISHIONERS FROM ST PETER'S CHARISMATIC PRAYER COMMUNITY - KNK
Saturdays at 3:00pm – Divine Mercy & Praise & Worship
Sundays at 7:00pm – Rosary & Praise & Worship
To join Meeting use below link & Meeting ID both days:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7414862105?pwd=NlVwaXUyS3hVSlFzZ0pNOG1MT29Ldz09
Meeting ID: 741 486 2105 Password: 023368
NEW APPOINTMENT
Congratulations to Bishop Mark Edwards OMI on his new appointment as Bishop of the Diocese of Wagga Wagga. We wish Bishop Mark Edwards all God’s blessings in his new appointment and take this opportunity to thank him for so tirelessly giving of his time to our parish during the past 6 years.
May God shower his blessings on you Bishop Mark Edwards.
From Fr. Vincent John CMI and all the parishioners of St. Peter Apostle Mission Parish in Hoppers Crossing.
RECENTLY DECEASED
We pray for Julie Seymon, María Nelsy Hincapié de Gómez, Arlene Burns, Desmond Fitzgerald, Harriet Calvert, Sergia Ortiz, Rebecca Tacata and all who have passed away recently.
DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
We pray for James & Thomas Prathapasinghe, Boris Burns, Mary D’Souza, Odelia Simangan, Edgardo Salvador, Tony & Alcina Rodrigues, Santan Fernandes and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
We pray for Elaine Dalton, Gary Spotswood, Sean Donaldson, Kath Meddings, Lucy Ballan, Irene Jones, Thais Long, Jean Cameron, Gordon Newman, Sam Caruana, Therese Mary, Zandi Falzon, Denis Webber, Lourdes Sequeira, Mary D'cruz, Monique Hoaster, Alphonsus De Roza, Aiden Leonard, Elvira de Torres, Wilfredo Villareal, Julia Rego, Keely Welsford, Rolando Navarro, Avis Fernandes, Francis Goonting, Fr Jolly Alavelil CMI, Anne Deluca, Andie Osmond, Hellen Bonnici, Filippo Sciglitano, Helen Hanford, Anthony Hanford, James Barwick, Gerry Akein, Helga Jacob, Carmelina Costanzo, Bryan Dalton, Pat Borcich, Rodney Rosario, Antony, Alki Christopoulos, Bill Fairney, and all who are ill in our Parish.