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Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Why look among the dead for someone who is alive?

He is not here; he is risen. (Lk 24:5)

These words, spoken by the angels to the women who visited the tomb on that first day of the week, are words which have echoed throughout the ages and brought hope to many people who live in some form of darkness.  

Luke tells us that the women noted where Jesus was laid to rest after his crucifixion and death.  They made their way to the tomb on the morrow of the Passover feast.   They carried the herbs and the ointments for a respectful farewell, an action that would have helped them deal with their grief and mourning. 

For them, as for many others, that week was a very emotional one.  They saw Jesus enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, fulfilling the prophesy of Zachariah: “your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey” (Zach 9:9).

They may not have been present for the Passover meal, Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, but surely, they would have been told what happened during that night.  Jesus washed their feet!  He said the blessing upon the bread and wine, proclaiming them to be his body and blood, and instructed them to do this in remembrance of me (Lk 22:19,20)

We can only imagine what they went through as they heard about how he was arrested, and brought before the High Priests, Herod and Pontius Pilate.   They would have been there as he was condemned to death, tortured and crucified.  How could such a turn of events happen?   He, the gentlest of human beings, who gave healing and life to so many, is now dead!  They would have felt the whole world come crashing down on them.  The only thing they could do was anoint him and mourn.

So they came to the tomb.  But the stone was rolled away!  Their hearts must have sunk even lower.  And then they heard the angels’ words:  HE IS RISEN!

Even in our lowest of moments, when the world around us is in darkness, we may celebrate the victory of life over death.  May the joy of the Resurrection lead us forward with hope.  Happy Easter!    

God Bless you

Fr Silvio

The Alpha series provides an opportunity for individuals to explore their faith in a different way.  It reinforces the power of God’s unconditional mercy and love and by sharing their journey with others, participants have the opportunity to deepen their faith and love for Jesus.

We are planning to run another Adult APHA course this year in our Parish and are looking to start the series on Tuesday the 29^th April.  At this stage we are looking at holding the sessions on Tuesday evenings and the series goes for about 11 weeks.  It will once again be face to face. 

Please email Amanda at brownieab75@gmail.com or call her on 0438 514 304 to participate.

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

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

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 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!

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. 

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!!

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