Next Weekend’s Readings—21st Sunday in Ordinary Time-Year B: Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18 Eph 5:21-32 Jn 6:60-69

BLESSING ON OUR SPECIAL MINISTERS OF COMMUNION: May our Dear Lord guard you and bless you as you bring His Eucharist and our love to our brothers and sisters who are unable to be with us today at Mass. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

This week’s Sanctuary Lamp burns for: Michele Meagher, Bro Geoff Seaman & Kit Farrelly If you wish to dedicate the Sanctuary Lamp for a

week, please put the details and $10 in an envelope and place it in the collection basket.

Parish Priest: Fr Wayne Davis Secretary: Rossana Terpolilli Address: 2 College Road Claremont WA 6010

Telephone: 9384 0598 Email: claremont@perthcatholic.org.au Web: www.claremontparish.com.au Office Hours: Tue/Wed/Fri: 9.15am-2.45pm

Safeguarding Officers—Contact Nos: Mr Ralph Goodman: 0419 740 443 Ms Janet Payton: 0438 212 053

MASS TIMES THIS WEEK: Saturday Vigil: 5.30pm Kids’ Mass Sunday: 7.30am, 9.30am, 6.30pm Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat: 9.00am Mass Wed: 12.30pm Mass RECONCILIATION: Sat: 8.15-8.45am

PARISH BULLETIN

20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)

18-19 AUGUST 2018

“What do you think God is asking of us in Australia at this time?”

SATURDAY, 18 AUGUST, 5.30PM KIDS’ MASS—SAUSAGE SIZZLE: The St Thomas’ School Year 1s will be involved in the Liturgy for the 5.30pm Kids’ Mass this Saturday. After the Mass, please come and join the

children and their parents as they host a Sausage Sizzle for the parish and school community. It would be wonderful to see you all there. Fr Wayne

6.30PM SUNDAY, 19 AUGUST—AFRICAN CHOIR MASS AND SUPPER: Please join the African Choir for a Light Supper in the Parish Centre after the 6.30pm Mass this Sunday, 19 August. Come along and meet up with some fellow parishioners in a social setting. See you there.

CLAREMONT WA

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVIE-ROSE RADALJ, a student in Year 3 from St Thomas’ School, for her award winning painting: “Our Desert of Wonders” which was entered into the 2018 Angelico School Art Awards’ Exhibition. She was awarded 2nd Place in the Years 3—6, 3 Dimensional Section. You can see her painting at the Forrest Centre in Perth until 24 August. Well done Evie-Rose! From all of us

We wish Kylie Forth all the best as she heads to Scotland to

skipper the Australian Team at the 2018 World Blind Match Racing Championships. Kylie is a member of our parish family and is well known to the 7.30am Mass goers. Good luck Kylie. We are very proud of you. Bring home the Gold!

WELCOME TO NEW PARISHIONERS: We take

this opportunity to welcome all new parish members. We hope that you find St Thomas the Apostle a friendly parish community. Please join us after the 7.30am and 9.30am Masses for a ‘cuppa’ in the

parish centre. Say hello to Father, meet some new/old friends, sit down and have a chat. Please become part of the family of St

Thomas the Apostle. See you there!

THOMAS CARE: If you are in need of emergency assistance,

with no family to help you, please contact Sharon on 0400

453 311; Trish on 0434 570 403 or Rossana during office

hours on 9384 0598.

Dear Parishioners, Thank you for all your kind generosity in the past. Our pantry is currently bare and we desperately need to stock it with the following groceries: tinned meals, baked beans, cereal, tea, coffee, biscuits, tinned fruit, tinned fish, pasta sauce. These groceries will be distributed to singles and families. As always, our deepest thanks for your ongoing support. The Vinnies Team

Are you in the St Thomas Planned Giving Programme? Would you like to join? If so, you will be helping the Parish Finance Committee plan for the Parish’s future ongoing costs. If you would like to support us in this way, please phone Rossana at the parish office on 9384 0598 during office hours on Tue, Wed or Fri. Thank you for your support for your parish.

THE ROSARY is recited each Wednesday at 12.00noon in St Thomas’ Church. Why not show your devotion to Mary by coming along and praying the Rosary with your fellow parishioners.

THE WEDNESDAY LUNCH CLUB meets every Wednesday in the Parish Centre after the 12.30pm Mass. You are cordially invited to join this friendly group. All welcome. Good food, great companionship. Come along and have some fun. See you there!

Bread of Life 3: Food That Changes You… The early Christians scared some Romans. It came from scary rumours that Christians “ate flesh and drank blood.” It should be scary – because you can’t keep going to Communion regularly without being challenged to change. And change can be scary. John wrote this week’s Gospel to show early Christians the importance of the Eucharist. He wanted to show that God loves us so much, God wants to physically connect with us. By reflecting on the Gospel and sharing Christ’s body and blood at Eucharist, we develop a real physical intimacy with God. The person who takes Communion “remain in me and I in you,” Jesus says. That’s the gift. But that’s also the scary part – because Jesus can change us. Intimacy, real friendship, changes us. Intimate friends become part of us. We take on some of their interests. We hang out in some of their sports. We start to see the world through their eyes. Friendship also shows itself physically through handshakes, hugs – even friendly punches. All this happens through Mass. The Gospels ask us to take on God’s interests (forgiveness and peace) and to hang out where Jesus hung out (with the forgotten). We physically connect with the Lord in Communion, but also during the sign of peace and our greetings with friends and neighbours. The more we go to Mass with open eyes and ears, the more our own eyes and ears will change the rest of the week. Our eyes will see the work God needs done, and our ears will hear the cries that break God’s heart. Are you ready for that?

A TIME TO BELIEVE (by B J Morbitzer) To believe is to know that every day is a new beginning.

Is to trust that miracles happen, and dreams really do come true.

To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds, to know the wonder of a stardust sky

and the wisdom of the man in the moon. To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart,

the innocence of a child's eyes and the beauty of an aging hand,

for it is through their teachings we learn to love. To believe is to find the strength and courage that lies within us

when it's time to pick up the pieces and begin again. To believe is to know we are not alone,

that life is a gift and this is our time to cherish it. To believe is to know that wonderful surprises

are just waiting to happen, and all our hopes and dreams are within reach.

If only we believe.

KIDS’ PRAYERS...

Dear God, my Mum tells me that you have a reason for everything on Earth, I guess broccoli is one of your mysteries. Dear God, please make my parents understand that if I don’t eat salad, I do better at school Dear God, can you get me a Smartphone…Santa must have forgot. Dear God, when will my sister stop being annoying, I’m down to my last patience. Dear God, please don’t let it rain on Saturday, the first ball I hit will be for you. Dear God, I hope my dog is with you in Heaven, please take care of him…sorry if he chews on your sandals.

St Thomas' Primary School... 3 Year Old Pre-Kindergarten—Year 6. Innovative, academic, compassionate and inclusive education. Places available in all year groups. Call today to arrange a private tour and discuss your individual educational needs and discover the St Thomas' difference. Phone: 9286 9500; https://stthomas.wa.edu.au/

New Parishioners, and those not so new who wish to update their census details: Please put your name and address in the space below and drop into the collection basket or email to the office. Thanks! Name_______________________________________________Email_________________________________ Residential Address_________________________________________ No of People in household__________

PS: If you would like to join the St Thomas’ Parish Planned Giving Programme and give your financial support to maintaining the parish buildings and grounds, please tick this box and Rossana Terpolilli, the Parish Secretary, will organise for a set of planned giving envelopes to be issued to you.

Did you know our Parish School is now on Facebook... You can go and check the site out and see all the wonderful things the children are doing at school and what are the upcoming events planned. It’s a wonderful site with lots to see and read.

TUSCAN CREAMY CHICKEN CASSEROLE... Ingredients: 1kg boneless skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 cup heavy cream ½ cup chicken stock 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ½ cup Parmesan cheese 1 cup spinach, chopped ½ cup sun dried tomatoes Method: In a large skillet add olive oil and cook the chicken on medium high heat for 3-5 minutes on each side or until brown on each side and cooked until no longer pink in centre. Remove chicken and set aside on a plate. Add the heavy cream, chicken stock, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. Whisk over medium high heat until it starts to thicken. Add the spinach and sundried tomatoes and let it simmer until the spinach starts to wilt. Add the chicken back to the pan and serve over pasta if desired. NB: If so desired. you can replace the spinach with Tuscan Kale [Cavalo Nero] or with broccolini chopped finely. I sometimes use rabbit instead of chicken, and you might be able to use some white fish fillets or prawns.

We offer our condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Brother Geoff Seaman who passed away this week. Brother Geoff worked tirelessly for the poor and needy. He will be greatly missed by his

family and those he cared for. May he and all the faithful departed rest in peace.

GLORIA…. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

THIS WEEKEND’S SCRIPTURE READINGS… First Reading: A reading from the book of Proverbs Wisdom has built herself a house, she has erected her seven pillars, she has slaughtered her beasts, prepared her wine, she has laid her table. She has despatched her maidservants and proclaimed from the city’s heights: ‘Who is ignorant? Let him step this way.’ To the fool she says, ‘Come and eat my bread, drink the wine I have prepared! Leave your folly and you will live, walk in the ways of perception.’ The Word of the Lord. Responsorial Psalm: (R.) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. 1. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad. (R.) 2. Revere the Lord, you his saints. They lack nothing, those who revere him. Strong lions suffer want and go hungry but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing. (R.) 3. Come children, and hear me that I may teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is he who longs for life and many days, to enjoy his prosperity? (R.) 4. Then keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn aside from evil and do good; seek and strive after peace. (R.) Second Reading: A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians Be very careful about the sort of lives you lead, like intelligent and not like senseless people. This may be a wicked age, but your lives should redeem it. And do not be thoughtless but recognise what is the will of the Lord. Do not drug yourselves with wine, this is simply dissipation; be filled with the Spirit. Sing the words and tunes of the psalms and hymns when you are together, and go on singing and chanting to the Lord in your hearts, so that always and everywhere you are giving thanks to God who is our Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of the Lord. Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! All who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me and I in them, says the Lord. Alleluia! Gospel: A reading from the holy Gospel according to John Jesus said to the crowd: ‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.’ Then the Jews started arguing with one another: ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ they said. Jesus replied: ‘I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him. As I, who am sent by the living Father, myself draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will draw life from me. This is the bread come down from heaven; not like the bread our ancestors ate: they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.’ The Gospel of the Lord.

APOSTLES’ CREED…. I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.