St Bernadette's Parish - Sunshine North

This weeks message from Fr Silvio

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

 

Today’s Liturgy of the Word brings us the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  It is also known as the Parable of the Merciful Father, or the Parable of the Lost Sons. For truly, both sons were lost, and the merciful father needed to reach out to both of them with compassion, forgiveness, and love.

We may see ourselves in the younger son who wanted to go his own way with no regard for his father’s wishes and pain.  It was only when the going was tough that he remembered the servants at his father’s house. That memory really shook him, and he acknowledged his grave mistake. He was remorseful, and resolved to return to the father, begging him to accepted him as a servant.  He did not believe his father would reinstate him as his son.

Yes, his father did reinstate him.  Not grudgingly, but with great joy.  He embraced him, and got the servants to clothe him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet, and kill the fattened calf.  He knew his son was suffering, and his love could only be expressed by his heartfelt forgiveness and hospitality.  At no point did he mention his own pain. 

The older son was a dutiful son and had remained loyal to the father all along.  He was angered by his brother’s behaviour, and he could not bring himself to forgive him, let alone celebrate his return.  How could his father show such unconditional love when he did not feel he was the recipient of his such love.   Here again, the father reached out to him in a loving manner and invited him to love his brother and rejoice at his return from death to life.

Lent is a time to reflect and rejoice in the unconditional love of the Father.  It is also an opportunity to open our hearts to those who make mistakes, and who may be responsible for their own misfortune. 

This Friday we will be celebrating Mercy Night.  As we continue to journey through Lent, we are invited to come to our compassionate Father and receive his forgiveness, and to extend our love and forgiveness towards others.

God bless you

Fr Silvio

 

Lenten Mission

Tuesday 8th to Friday 11th April 2025

7:00pm – 8:00pm

Led by Fr Noel Bianco MSSP

At St. Bernadette Parish Church, Sunshine North

Lent grants us the opportunity to stop, pray and reflect upon some realities of life that have a bearing upon our faith journey.   

The Lenten Mission Talks will focus on Prayer, the Jubilee Year and its significance, and Mary at the foot of the cross.

After the talk, there will be time for silent prayer and Eucharistic Benediction (finishing at 8:00pm).

Save the dates and time. 

 

Prayer and reflection during Lent this year

Each Friday evening at 7.00pm during Lent, beginning on the 7th of March, we will be offering you a prayer or reflection opportunity. These gatherings are a chance to pause, reflect, and deepen your spiritual journey during this sacred season. Whether you're looking for a quiet moment of prayer, a guided reflection, or simply a space to connect with others in faith, we invite you to join us. We encourage you to bring your heart, mind, and spirit as we come together in community to prepare for Easter. Each session, except for the Movie Night will take place in our Parish Church.

4th April – Mercy Night – a night of prayer and reconciliation (A Jubilee initiative)

11th April –Lenten Mission Mary at the foot of the Cross (in English)

Formation Course - The Mass

 

During October/November a Formation Course on the Mass, based on Bishop Robert Barron’s talks, was held at the Parish with the participation of 30 parishioners.  Here are a few comments and reflections...

“Bishop Barron's formation on the liturgy offers a profound opportunity to grow together as a community, deepening our collective understanding of the sacred mysteries of the Mass. By exploring the rich symbolism and significance of its parts, we come to appreciate the beauty and transformative power of the Eucharistic celebration. This shared journey not only fosters unity but also inspires us to embrace continuous learning, recognising that our faith is enriched by ongoing discovery. Such formation equips us to be more effective in our mission of evangelisation, as we are empowered to share the profound truth, grace, and joy of the liturgy with the world. In this communal endeavour, we find renewal and strength, united in our calling to be witnesses of Christ’s love.”  (Maria Vella)

“I found the course to be quite enlightening.  It gave me a deeper and more thorough understanding of the ritual and the relevant purposes of each of the segments of mass.

“While the videos (of the talks) were quite informative, I got a lot of satisfaction out of the group discussions, where people were able to discuss the topical questions and listen to people's various thoughts on the matters.

“The networking and socialising with the various parishioners before and after the session started and finished was also extremely rewarding.” (Michael Vella)

Many thanks to the course participants, Amanda, and Brendan (School Principal) for their contribution to this formation course.  Looking forward to more next year.

Fr Silvio

    

 

Testimony: Advent Retreat Day

Saturday, 23rd November – “The Light Shines in the Darkness” (John 1:5)

The Lord works in wonderful ways to give us Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. On this blessed day, around 24 of us gathered to pray and prepare  ourselves for Advent. It was truly a special time as we awaited the coming of our Lord.

The retreat offered a serene and peaceful environment, allowing us to find stillness and listen to Him. In the quiet moments, the words of Psalm 46:10 resonated deeply within us: “Be still and know that I am God.”

This time of retreat and reflection was a precious opportunity to deepen our faith and draw closer to God. As we lit candles and shared in prayer, the light symbolized the hope and promise that shines even in the darkest of times.

We left the retreat with hearts full of gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to embrace the Advent season with anticipation and reverence. This time together was not only a testament to the power of prayer and reflection but also a       reminder of the ever-present light of God's love in our lives.

Audrey

      

"Be part of HIS mission" - Prelature of Santiago Apostol of Huancane'

Click on the links below to know more about the Prelature of "Santiago Apostol of Huancane'" in the South of PERU.  Thanks for being a part of their mission with prayers and support.

Be part of God's mission.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1385380002084851

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0pjTEcYGys&t=63s

Paulist Seminarians

Paulist Missionary Seminarians Tran Dai Linh and Ngo Quang Luan are in Australia for a year of practical placement at St. Bernadette and St James (Hoppers Crossing).  While welcoming Brs Linh and Luan, we promise them our prayers.  May this year be a fruitful one for them, as they continue to walk on the missionary pathway.            

Welcome Brothers Linh and Luan!

Pentecost Retreat 18th May

Piety Stall

                                                        

Our Parish Piety Stall is now open with the help of these lovely people and a few more.  We have been blessed with wonderful Volunteers who will do their best to open the piety stall before and after every mass on Saturday 6.30pm, Sunday 8.30am, 11.00am and 7.00pm.

If you haven’t stopped to look for a while, please check out the new items, as we do try to add different things from time to time. 

Thank you for your on-going support. 

Scripture Reflection

Our Scripture reflection sessions continue every Thurday at 7pm and it is a great way to connect with Parishioners during our lockdowns.  It has been great to see some new faces over the past few weeks.   These sessions are held using the ZOOM video platform so you do not need to leave the comfort of your own home to attend.

If you would like to attend these sessions, send Amanda an email to brownieab75@gmail.com  and she will send you the ZOOM link weekly.

We would love to see many more faces at our meetings!!

 

MASS TIMES

Normal Mass times:

Saturday 6.30pm and 8.00pm Neo-Catechumenal (Pioneers Hall)

Sunday 8.30am; 9.45am (Polish); 11.00am; 12.30pm (Vietnamese) and 7.00pm                                                                                                               

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9.15am

Wednesday Evening 7.00pm

 

Giờ Thánh Lễ bình thường:

Thứ Bảy 6:30pm

Chủ nhật 8:30am; 9:45am (tiếng Ba Lan); 11:00am; 7:00pm

KHÔNG CÓ THÁNH LỄ Ở TRUNG TÂM CỘNG ĐỒNG TẠI COOKE AVE

Thánh lễ tiếng Việt: Mỗi Chúa Nhật thứ nhất và thứ ba hàng tháng lúc 12:30pm

Thứ Ba và Thứ Năm 9:15am

 

 

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