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Divine Mercy Sunday 2023

DEVOTIONAL PRAYER FOR APRIL
Divine Mercy Prayer

You expired, O Jesus,
But the source of life gushed forth for souls
And an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world
O Fount of Life,
Unfathomable Divine Mercy,
Envelope the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus
As a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You.
Amen.

Entrance Antiphon
Like newborn infants, you must long for the pure, spiritual milk, that in him you may grow to salvation, alleluia.

1st Reading (Acts 2:42-47)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
The whole community remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. The many miracles and signs worked through the apostles made a deep impression on everyone. The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed. They went as a body to the Temple every day but met in their houses for the breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; they praised God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to their community those destined to be saved.
The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.

2nd Reading (1 Pet 1:3-9)
A reading from the first letter of St. Peter.
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which had been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.
The Word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me; happy those who have not seen me, but still believe! Alleluia!.

Gospel (Jn 20:19-31)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
In the evening of that same day, 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.’ Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him: ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’ There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.
The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon
Bring your hand and feel the place of the nails, and do not be unbelieving but believing, alleluia.

Next Week’s Readings
Acts 2:14, 22-33;   1 Pet 1:17-21; Lk 24:13-35

PARISH NEWS

WEEKLY PARISH DATES

SUNDAY
9:15am to 10:25am – Sunday School for children attending non-Catholic Schools (currently on school holidays).
10:30am Mass – Children’s Liturgy held 1st and 3rd Sundays.
After 5:00pm Mass – Youth Group for youth 12 to 17 years on 2nd and 4th Sundays.
6:00pm in Theatrette – Young Adults (SPYA) meet 1st and 3rd Sundays.
6:15pm in Community Centre - School of Discipleship commences 23rd April
MONDAY
7:00pm to 8:15pm - Bible Study sessions. Zoom. Meeting ID: 826 5359 2389 Passcode: Bible
Contact Clive 0490814452 or Francis 0401787372
TUESDAY
7:00pm - Online Zoom Rosary - Meeting ID: 893 5477 8556Passcode: rosary7:00pm
WEDNESDAY
7:00pm - Mass followed by Mother of Perpetual Succour Novena.
1ST FRIDAY
7:00pm to 8:15pm Mass & Adoration
SATURDAY
2:30pm to 4:00pm - St. Peter’s Charismatic Prayer Community Praise & Worship in Church.
1.30pm to 4:00pm - Healing Mass on 1st Saturday of the month. Next Healing Mass on Saturday 6th May 2023.
BAPTISM
12 noon – Baptisms held 1st & 3rd Sundays.
Baptism Preparation Meeting held on 1st Monday of the month at 7:00pm. Next Baptism Preparation Meeting Mon 1st May 2023 at 7:00pm in Church.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
2:00pm – Exposition, Adoration, Confession
2:45pm – Divine Mercy Chaplet
3:00pm – Mass by Aux. Bishop Martin Ashe
Please note that the Sunday 8:30am, 10:30am and 5:00pm Masses will be held as normal.

THANK YOU to Bishop Martin Ashe for celebrating Mass at our parish on Divine Mercy Sunday.

THANK YOU
Fr. Vincent and the Parish Pastoral Council would like to take this opportunity to thank the Liturgy Committee, Sacristans, Altar Servers, Choirs, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Ladies Auxiliary, Ushers and everyone who worked tirelessly at all the Holy Week services to ensure that everything went smoothly. Thank you to the St. Peter’s Young Adults for hosting the Good Friday night movie. May God bless you all.

PROJECT COMPASSION BOXES
A box has been placed outside the Sacristy for the return of Project Compassion boxes, or you can return them to Kamal or Fr. Vincent. Thank you.

TOUCH OF HEAVEN (ALAN AMES) HEALING MINISTRY
A unique faith filled experience of the healing power of Our Lord to be held in our church on Monday 24 April. Starts with Rosary at 6:30pm, Mass at 7:00pm followed by Alan Ames talk and healing Ministry. For more information, please see poster in hall.

ANZAC DAY REMEMBRANCE MASS - TUESDAY 25TH APRIL, 8:30AM
Please join us for this special Mass, which commemorates the sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand military personnel who died during the war. The Ode, the Last Post, a minutes silence, the Roust and the National Anthem will be included.

SUGGESTIONS/FEEDBACK PPC
The Parish Pastoral Council welcome your suggestions or feedback if you have any parish concerns. Please contact them via email to: hopperscrossing@cam.org.au (subject line PPC) or via mail delivered to the Parish Office for the attention of Catherine Graham (PPC Chairperson).

CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUGGESTION BOX
We welcome suggestions from children or prayer petitions placed in the Red Suggestion Box located on the right-hand side of the side chapel.

ASSISTANCE NEEDED
The Parish is looking for a qualified person, preferably someone local, to repair and polish the church pews. Please contact the parish office on 9749 4300 if you are interested.

SCHOOL OF DISCIPLESHIP – 2023
The 2023 session of the School of Discipleship will commence from Sunday 23 April at 6:15 pm at St Peter’s Community Centre. This is a faith outreach program aimed to teach members more about our Catholic faith with three purposes – to learn it, live it and share it. The school has been successfully running for the last 7 consecutive years in Hoppers Crossing and members have testified to growing both spiritually and personally. All are welcome to join. Enquiries please call Anita Dsouza on 0411 772 320 or pick up a brochure from the Church Hall. There are limited seats. Please register by scanning the QR code or use the link at https://bit.ly/3EFg96N.

MOTHERS DAY STALL
The Young Adults will be holding a stall with unique Catholic gifts for Mother's Day, in the church hall after all weekend masses from 22 April to 14 May. All profits will support the World Youth Day pilgrims. 

ALTAR SOCIETY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
A small band of volunteers every week ensure that Brass is always gleaming, Holy Water fonts are sparkling and have fresh water, Altar Linen is clean and pressed. We are seeking some more assistance -- Would you like to Help? It takes approx. 1-1/2 to 2 hrs, about every 8/10 weeks on a roster system. If you would like to help or know more about this service, please ring Bernice on 9749 2812, or leave your name and phone number at the parish office and you will be contacted.

CARDINAL PELL LUNCHEON & LECTURE
Aid to the Church in Need is launching an annual George Cardinal Pell Luncheon & Lecture with the inaugural event to take place in Melbourne CBD on Sunday 21st May. The keynote speaker will be Mr David Pell, brother of the late Cardinal. For information and to register, please visit www.trybooking.com/CGUDA.

RECENTLY DECEASED
We pray for Linda Capinig, Melissa Davis, Lolita Fernando, Chris Campione, P K George, Manuel Sia, Fr. John Tollan, Fr. Salvatore Dimattina, Cecilin Fernando, Melvin Ramshaw, Jean Skinner, Lourdes Labrador, Paustin Sebastiampillai and all who have died in disasters all over the world.  

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
We pray for Chris Hart, Maurice Dalton Snr., William Shanks, Anna Marie Medel, Leonor Dela-Pena, Paul Thomas, Lorna Anderson, Dominic Rammohan, Agnes Thoi, Joseph Mau, Apolonia Garcia and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
We pray for Sean Donaldson, Helen Kelly, Gordon Newman, Thais Long, Vincent Margaret, Franklin Quintanilla, Jean Cameron, Vivienne Gantar, Magda Symons, Lindsay Coates, Violet Lawrence, Tae Yoon Jim, Jeffrey Dalton, Maureen Wilson, Sandra Farrelly, Joaquin Romero, Annette O’Brien, Cecilia Lazum Htu Bu, Alster Firth, Gayle Ryan, Robert Martinez, Nina Costa, Johnny Gregory, Draga Ve Kic, Dale D’Souza, Jean Barry, Nhuong Nguyen, Christie Raj, Emma Baker, Charles Ilagan and all who are ill in our Parish.

ROSTERS

Counters – 23 Apr 23

John Allen / Jules & Neeta Pereira

Roster for Readers – 22/23 Apr 23

  6:00pm David Roga
  8:30am KSC Reader
10:30am Lionel D’Cruz
  5:00pm Sherwin SImangan

Extraordinary Ministers of Communion – 22/23 Apr 23

  6:00pm G. Surrao / J. Roga / J. Tramontana / B. Steinhauer
  8:30am KSC Minister / K English / R Johnson / P Fitzgerald
10:30am L Ortega / S Delos Reyes / G Schembri / D Dalton
  5:00pm Romayne A. / I. SImangan / G. Siccita / S. D’Souza

Music Ministry – 22/23 Apr 23

  6:00pm St. Cecilia
  8:30am St. Philomena
10:30am Domini Chorum
  5:00pm KNK