PARISH NEWS
We welcome you back to the parish FR. BARRY TOBIN and thank you for celebrating the 6:00pm Mass this Saturday, 9th March, with our parish community.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR OUR PARISH
| Sundays |
6:15 to 8:15pm HSI School of Discipleship in Community Centre Youth Group meet in the Hall after 5pm Mass Young Adults (18 -29 years) meet in Theatrette from 6:00pm |
| Baptisms | 1st & 3rd Sundays at 12 noon |
| 1st Fridays | 7:00pm to 10:00pm starting with Mass |
| Healing Mass | 1st Saturday of the month, 1:30pm to 4:30pm – NEXT HEALING MASS ON APRIL 6TH, 1:30pm – 4:30pm |
| 3rd Sunday | 5:00pm Youth Mass |
| Wednesdays | 7:30pm Mother of Perpetual Succour Novena after 7:00pm Mass |
STATIONS OF THE CROSS will be held every Friday during Lent commencing at 7:00pm in the Church and followed by Mass. Stations of the Cross on 15 March will be led by the Bible Study Ministry.
WAY OF THE CROSS LENTEN PILGRIMAGE TO TA PINU
Come and join us in our yearly Lenten pilgrimage at Ta Pinu to pray and reflect on Jesus’ passion and death. Saturday, 16th March, 15 Flanagans Drive, Merrimu. Stations of the Cross at 10:30am, followed by Mass and shared fellowship. More information from Sherwin on 0466 408 004 or email the parish office at stpeters@westnet.com.au.
ROSTERS for Lectors, Ministers for Communion, Piety Store and Communion to the Sick available for collection from the hall.
YOUNG ADULTS
Thank you to all of you who attended our Movie Night on Saturday March 2nd. The movie was much enjoyed by all. Your Gold Coin donations and purchases of snacks, BBQ and drinks netted $270 which will be used to fund our ongoing activities, meetings, trips, etc. Sincere thanks to the Parish and all the Volunteers for your ongoing support
MOTHER OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR NOVENA Every Wednesday at 7.30 pm (after 7pm mass) consisting of traditional prayers, scripture reading, brief homily, Eucharistic Adoration and some of our favourite hymns. Come and join us for the Novena. Novena Books for personal use are available at the sacristy or after the Novena on Wednesday for $5.
SACRAMENTAL & RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAMME
If your children attend a non-Catholic School and you wish for them to prepare to receive Sacraments or general instruction, come and see us. Classes each Sunday from 9:15am to 10:25am. Please bring a copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate. Enquiries to Bernice on 9749 2812.
LENTEN RETREAT
Our parish will have a Lenten retreat this year on March 14,21,28 and April 4 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm, conducted by Deacons Royden & Charles. These will consist of teachings, short films, music, reflections on key parables from the Gospel of Luke to increase our faith and build a stronger relationship with Jesus during this Lenten Period. There will also be Eucharistic Adoration, solemn prayer and confessions. On March 14th we will reflect on the Parable of The Prodigal Son.
YOUTH MASS
Next Sunday (March 17) the 5:00pm mass will be the Youth Mass. All youth are invited to attend. There will be a special blessing given by Fr. Vincent for all the youth. Parents encourage your children to attend this mass where they can meet other youth of the parish and stay over for fellowship after the mass. Please bring a plate of sweets or savouries to share. If you’d like to participate or assist or donate please call the Young Adults Number 0470 445 684
IMPORTANT LENTEN INFORMATION
The Lenten season has a twofold character:
- It recalls baptism or prepares for it.
- It stresses a penitential spirit
By these means especially, Lent readies the faithful for celebrating the paschal mystery after a period of closer attention to the Word of God, and more ardent prayer. In the liturgy itself and in the liturgy-centred instructions, these baptismal and penitential themes should be more pronounced. Hence:
- Wider use is to be made of baptismal features proper to the Lenten liturgy …
- The same approach holds for the penitential elements…
During Lent, penance should not be only internal and individual but also external and social … In any event, let the paschal fast be kept sacred. It should be observed everywhere on Good Friday and, where possible prolonged throughout Holy Saturday, so that the joys of the Sunday of the resurrection may be visited on uplifted and responsive spirits.
PROJECT COMPASSION BOXES are located in the foyer. Please collect one after Mass. Thank you.
LETTER FROM BISHOP MARK EDWARDS
Dear Fr Vincent and members of St Peter’s Parish.
Over the last week I have been in St Peter’s and have enjoyed being a part of its life. I visited the primary school, talked with the Parish Pastoral Council and the Finance Committee, and met with Fr Vincent, visited some of the sick of the parish, met with the Sunday School children, the youth group and the young adults group, celebrated two weekday Masses and the four of the Sunday Masses. I found an active parish with a vibrant devotional and faith life, a strong sense of community and a healthy desire to pass the faith on to others. The primary school is doing much good in the community and is an important part of the parish. It is a powerful way in which the parish reaches out to the next generation and to the wider community. The teachers are dedicated, caring and devoted and show empathy and compassion. It is important that all of us take responsibility for the life of our community and I encourage the school and wider parish to continue to offer opportunities for the families in the school to become even more involved. Building community in our area is important. Let us continue to invite those who receive to give back. During my visitation, Fr Vincent asked for suggestions about how the parish could be even better. It would be inappropriate for me to make particular concrete suggestions after only a week in the parish. I propose that the parish undertake a strategic plan which identifies two, or at the most three, areas in which you discern that God is calling you to become even better and set two, three or four goals that will stretch the community in each of these areas and that you commit to these. I want to thank Fr Vincent for his pastoral care, thoughtfulness and community building. He is warm, compassionate, committed, generous, hard-working, constant, cheerful, and faith-filled. I thank him for who he is and what he is doing for the community of St Peter’s. I also thank the parishioners I met and teachers for their love for the Church, the parish and their commitment to its well-being. I enjoyed my visit very much and look forward to future visits.
Bishop Mark Edwards
TWEET FROM POPE FRANCIS
The Lenten journey begins today, Ash Wednesday. I invite each of you to live this time in an authentic spirit of penance and conversion, like a return to the Father, who awaits us all with open arms.
RECENTLY DECEASED
We pray for Paolo Siccita, Melencio Paul Pastrana and all who have passed away recently.
DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
We pray for Vincent D'Souza, Victor Pereira, Palmira D'Cruz, Constantino Dela-Pena, George Mancion, Josephine Catania, Lucy Zanatta, Rev. Fr. Ave Maria D’Sa, Tupai Nanai, Melissa & Caroline Bear, Carmen Madeloso, Alex D'Souza and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
We pray for Leo Linehan, Gary Spotswood, Sean Donaldson, Edith Street, Bob Meehan, Liam Parr, Lucy Ballan, Irene Jones, Thais Long, Sr. Eileen Jones, Virginia Jewers, Robert Hart, Vincent Jones, Angela O’Brian, Kath Meddings, Patrick Thornby, Patrick Clark, Lewis Zammit, Nofoao Thomas, Vonnie Pritchard, Shelton, Melvin Ramshaw, Maria Barruto, Lee Andrew Tesaluna, Rosa Carullo, Jeffrey Grech, Martha Rodrigues, Jeffrey Trach, Barbara Brown and all who are ill in our Parish.
ROSTERS
Money Counters – 17 March 19
| L. Vasquez / T. Grisancich, L. De La Cruz |
Readers – 16/17 March 19
| 6:00pm | Angela Francis |
| 8:30am | Grace Sharman |
| 10:30am | Sunil Vaz |
| 5:00pm | YOUTH MASS |
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion - 16/17 March 19
| 6:00pm | F. Thomas / N. Golaw / H. Durski / A. Vesty |
| 8:30am | Karen F. / K. English / R. Johnson / J. Phan Lai |
| 10:30am | S. Delos Reyos / V. Firman / C. Morcom / VOL |
| 5:00pm | YOUTH MASS |
Music Ministry - 16/17 March 19
| 6:00pm | Mater Dolorosa |
| 8:30am | Shirley & Group |
| 10:30am | FilOz |
| 5:00pm | YOUTH MASS |