Parish Priest:

Fr Thanh Tran

Thanh.Tran@cam.org.au

Parish Secretary Dominique Hockey Amelia Younane

Parish Office Hours Tuesday - Friday 9am—3pm

Baptisms Please contact the Parish Office.

Weddings By appointment and after Preparation

Children’s Ministries Kathy Menzies stschpar@bigpond.net.au

St Schols Community Centre 03 9808 1006

info@stscholscc.org.au www.stscholscc.org.au

St Scholastica’s Primary

School Principal: Jenny Rohan 9808 7279 principal@ssbennettswood.catholic.edu.au

Outside School Hours Care

Camp Australia 1300 105 343

St Scholastica’s Kindergarten 9808 9724

Director: Catherine Findlay st.scholasticas.kin@kindergarten.vic.gov.au

Administrator:

Katherine Presley stscholskinderadmin@bigpond.com

348 Burwood Highway,

Bennettswood VIC 3125

ABN 95 499 516 268

Phone: 9808 1006

Fax: 9888 7573

Email: stschpar@bigpond.net.au

Website: www.stscholasticaparish.com.au

St Scholastica’s Parish Stewardship Campaign 2018 – Thank You!

The Stewardship Campaign has challenged us all as parishioners to reflect on our commitment to St Scholastica’s Parish. Throughout this time, you have been encouraged to reflect on what we have achieved as a Parish and why and how we need your support.

The campaign concludes this weekend and we ask that you return your Pledge Cards - Time/Talent and Thanksgiving - on the plates of the first collections at any mass.

No offering is ever too small and all offerings no matter what they may be, are greatly appreciated. We sincerely thank you for coming on this journey over the past month and reflecting on and renewing your commitment to our parish.

How to Complete the Tear Off Section of the Stewardship Flyer

1. ALL Parishioners, new and existing, please complete the Time & Talent Commitment card.

2. New Parishioners wishing to contribute to the Thanksgiving campaign, please complete the pledge card.

3. Existing contributors with NO changes please DO NOT complete pledge card.

4. Existing contributors with ANY changes please complete pledge card.

Parish Outing to Enchanted Adventure Garden/ Arthurs’s Seat

Date: Friday 9th November Time: 9am to 3pm

Where: *Enchanted Adventure Garden, Arthur’s Seat - with up to 10 different activities/areas to explore. *Arthur’s Seat Eagle - Arthur’s Seat Chair lift Cost: $30 seniors / $40 adults (non concession) This includes the bus and entrance fees to the gardens. If you choose to ride the chair lift this will be an additional cost to be paid on the day. Lunch: Nearby Restaurant at your own cost or you can bring your own lunch. RSVP: Please register on the sheet in the Gathering Area and payment must

The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

27th & 28th October 2018

WEEKLY CALENDAR 2018

Monday 29 October 08.00am Communion Service

07.30pm NO Vinnies Meeting

Tuesday 30 October 08.00am Mass 07.30pm Prayer Group - McAndrew Room

Wednesday 31 October 10.00am Exposition 10.30am Rosary 11.00am Mass followed by a cuppa GA 01.00pm Legion of Mary GA

07.10pm Novena

Thursday 1 November - Solemnity 08.00am Mass

07.00pm Mass - All Saints and All Souls

08.00pm Burwood Discussion Group

Friday 2 November 08:00am NO Mass - 1st Friday

10:00am Exposition 11:00am 1st Friday Mass - All Souls

Saturday 3 November 09.00am Mass/Rosary/Confession

05.30pm Mass

Sunday 4 November 09.00am Mass

11.00am Mass 12.15pm Vietnamese Mass

Remembering Our Community

Sick

Stuart Bell, Maurita Carlisle, Derek Chesworth, Frank Rishworth, Herta Fischer, Dorothy McDonald

Anniversaries

Sister Emilian, Barry Hahn, Dominico Brancatisano, Teresa and Domenico Gaetano, Rosa and Angela Paladino, John Cooper, Maria Emilio Scalzo, Maria and Peter Kasprzyk, Dr John Fennell Recently Deceased Anna Maria Nguyen Thi Ngo, Zena Gonsalves

Melbourne Cup Seniors Lunch

Date: Tuesday 6th November Time: Community Centre Where: 12 noon RSVP: Friday 2nd November

Come and enjoy a lovely food, good company and the fun of the Melbourne Cup with your fellow parishioners. Everyone welcome! There will be a special prize for the Best Hat on the day! You can find the menu on the Church exit doors.

Please note that for catering purposes it is essential to RSVP’s by Friday 2nd November on the list in the Gathering Area or by calling the Parish office on 9808 1006. If you do RSVP and are unable to attend please let the Parish Office know.

St Vincent D Paul Society - Monthly Food Drive

The monthly food collection for the less fortunate in our parish will take place at all masses next weekend - 3rd and 4th November. Tinned food (eg; soups, spaghetti, beans, pasta sauces etc.), dry packet food as well as breakfast cereals and long-life milk are all very welcome. Rice is also much appreciated. Thank you.

Children’s Liturgy - 2nd Sunday of the Month The Children’s Liturgy is held on the 2nd Sunday of each month at the 9am Mass. The next Children’s Liturgy is: Sunday 11th November - 9am Mass. As the Children’s Liturgy commences with Father giving the children a special blessing at the beginning of Mass, we ask that all children attending are punctual so they don’t miss this important part. We look forward to welcoming all children to our next Children’s Liturgy.

Fr Larry Farewell As most know, Fr Larry Nemer will be relocating to Sydney at the end of the year. While he will still be with us over the next two months saying masses, we would like to invite all parishioners to a morning tea on Wednesday 28th November, after the 11am Mass, to say a proper farewell and thank you. This will be held in the Gathering Area. If anyone would like to contribute to a gift for Fr Larry, please contact the Parish Office.

Year 12 Exams

Year 12 Exams begin this week. Please remember all Year

ROSTERS

Day Mass Time

1st Sunday of the Month 3/4 November 2018

Readers Special Ministers

Saturday 5.30 pm Paul Borg Mary Ann Borg Christine Wates Dzung Le

Sunday 9.00 am Neil Solomon Rosa Coniglio Margaret Scully Myrna Beven

11.00 am Laurine Shane April Lewis Anna Marie Ziino Stuart Bell

5.30 pm Arden Nelson Marcia Nelson Arden Nelson Netty Solomon

ROSTERS

Day Mass Time

4th Sunday of the Month 27/28 October 2018

Readers Special Ministers

Saturday 5.30 pm Judith Silvina Barbara Schobben Judith Silvina Laurine Shane

Sunday 9.00 am Denis O’Gallagher Joy Guinane Roland Devaraj Anna Gaetano

11.00 am April Lewis Albert Johnson Willard Lewis Anna Nguyen

5.30 pm Louise Willison Michael Chan Anna Nguyen Netty Solomon

URGENTLY NEEDED - VOLUNTEERS

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is faith formation for children, that has been serving our parish families, altar servers, school, kinder and the wider community since 2004. Our parishioners have always been so generous with this ministry that helps children ages 3-12 years old come to know the love of our Good Shepherd and build their own personal relationship with Jesus.

Now we are asking for assistance again, but this time with the giving of your self, in the gift of time. We have lost several volunteers recently and we are in desperate need of volunteers on a Tuesday after school from 4pm-5:30pm or on a Saturday morning from 9:45-11:45am.

As a volunteer, you would be working with a trained catechist. Sometimes you might be asked by a child to light a candle for prayer or to help a child put on an apron or read a parable from one of the Atrium books.

Age is no barrier - whether you are a high school student wanting to build up your resume (volunteering looks great on scholarship applications) or you are working or even retired - we would love to hear from you. Our youngest volunteer is 15 years old and our oldest volunteer turns 79 this November! Your only requirement is a Working with Children Check (we can help you register if you don't have one).

The Atrium, the prepared environment where we welcome the children each week (during the school term from Feb - Nov) is located in the lower level of the Hall. If you can help us in any way, please contact Kathy Menzies in the parish office on 9808 1006. Many thanks and God bless.

Baptism at St Scholastica’s

It is a requirement of the parish that a Baptism information night must be attended prior to having your child baptised. Contact the parish office on 9808 1006 to make a booking into one of the monthly sessions. Next session: Thursday 8th November 2018 at 7:30pm in the Gathering Area.

Melbourne Catholic Magazine The Melbourne Catholic magazine will NOT be available from the Piety Stall beginning in 2019. The reason for this is low sales resulting in financial loss to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The magazine, however, is available on subscription. No cost stamped addressed subscription envelopes are available from the Piety Stall on request. The cost for the eleven publications a year is $36.

Altar Servers

Families please remember to fill in your child’s availability to serve through November and December on the Google Document. Thank you.

Seniors Social Night Functions

We’d love to see you at our next Senior Singles Social Night Functions. The Seniors Single Social Nights are a regular occurrence each month. The October nights out will be held at Blackburn Hotel at 6:30pm. The dates for October are: Ladies Dinner - Tuesday 30th October.

Intercessory Prayers

We have an intercessory team who pray for specific prayer requests. Should any one on the parish like to do this, they can send requests directly to the parish office either via email

stschpar@bigpond.net.au or they may be written and given to the parish office staff who will pass them on to the intercessory team. Liturgical Formation Workshop

We are holding a Liturgical Formation Workshop on Monday 19th November from 7- 9 pm, in the Church and Hall. The Archbishop’s Office for Evangelisation will be with us to run the session. This workshop is for current and interested, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Readers of God’s Word. It is recommended that all those on the current roster attend for a refresher formation opportunity and we are encouraging anyone who is interested in becoming a special minister or reader to also attend. Please save the date in your diary now and there will be further information shortly.

Forest Hill Chase “Shop for Your School” Collect shopping points for St Scholastica’s Primary each time you shop at the Chase between October 2 – October 31, 2018. The schools with the most points will receive cash prizes and the participating schools will receive a gift card. Receipts (from any retailer at the shopping centre) can be registered at the Customer Service Desk at Forest Hill Chase or

The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

27th and 28th October 2018

Entrance Antiphon

Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face.

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-9

A reading from the prophet Jeremiah

I shall lead them back in mercy – both the blind and the lame.

The Lord says this: Shout with joy for Jacob! Hail the chief of nations! Proclaim! Praise! Shout: The Lord has saved his people, the remnant of Israel! See, I will bring them back from the land of the North and gather them from the far ends of earth; all of them: the blind and the lame, women with child, women in labour: a great company returning here. They had left in tears, I will comfort them as I lead them back; I will guide them to streams of water, by a smooth path where they will not stumble. For I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born son.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 125. R.

v.3

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

It seemed like a dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on our lips there were songs. R.

The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels the Lord worked for them!’ What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad. R.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage as streams in dry land. Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap. R.

They go out, they go out, full of tears, carrying seed for the sowing: they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves. R.

Second Reading: Hebrews 5:1-6

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews

You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek.

Every high priest has been taken out of mankind and is appointed to act for men in their relations with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins; and so he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or uncertain because he too lives in the limitations of weakness. That is why he has to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honour on himself, but each one is called by God, as Aaron was. Nor did Christ give himself the glory of becoming high priest, but he had it from the one who said to him: You are my son, today I have become your father, and in another text: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation:

Alleluia, alleluia! Our Saviour Jesus Christ has done away with death, and brought us life through his gospel.

Alleluia!

Gospel: Mark 10:46-52

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

Master, grant that I may see.

As Jesus left Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and to say, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.’ And many of them scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted all the louder, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him here.’ So they called the blind man. ‘Courage,’ they said ‘get up; he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus. Then Jesus spoke, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Rabbuni,’ the blind man said to him ‘Master, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has saved you.’ And immediately his sight returned and he followed him along the road.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Readings for 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B - 4th November 2018

First Reading: Deuteronomy 6:2-6

Second Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

Scripture Commentary for The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Today’s Gospel, the healing of the blind beggar Bartimaeus, Mark 10:46-52, is the last episode on Jesus’ long journey to Jerusalem. That journey had begun with the curing of a blind person at Bethsaida in Galilee (8:22-26). It concludes with this cure of a person similarly afflicted, as Jesus is leaving Jericho, the last town before Jerusalem. In this way, the cure of blindness ‘frames’ the journey at its beginning and end. The arrangement suggests an intention on the part of the Evangelist to make the physical blindness of the two men Jesus heals a symbol of the spiritual blindness of the disciples, which, as we have noted again and again, is the chief focus of Jesus’ activity on the journey to Jerusalem. The instant cure of Bartimaeus and his readiness to ‘follow (Jesus) along the way’ contrasts sharply with the reluctance of the disciples to come to terms with what awaits Jesus in Jerusalem (suffering and death) and their dragging their heels in the matter of following him there (10:32).

The first cure, in 8:22-26, was unusual in that the man recovered his sight in two stages: at first he saw only indistinctly; then, following further ministration from Jesus, he saw clearly. Taken symbolically, the two-stage cure reflects the situation of the disciples. They now know that Jesus is the Messiah (8:29) and so in this sense have partial ‘sight’. But right to the end of the gospel, despite frequent warnings, they fail to comprehend that Jesus’ messianic ministry will involve giving up his life as a ransom for many (10:45). They will have to go back to Galilee (16:7) and make the journey of understanding again and again before they can ‘see clearly’. In a sense the Gospel of Mark is designed to help believers make this journey over and over, until Jesus’ suffering and the sufferings of their own lives become part of a deeper understanding of the mystery of the divine entry into the world’s pain and suffering in the person of Jesus. What happens to Bartimaeus highlights by contrast just how far the disciples have to travel on this wider journey of understanding. Presumably he is sitting at the gate of the city, a good place to beg for alms. Sensing that a large crowd is passing through the gate and learning that at its centre is the miracle-worker from Nazareth, he begins to make a great commotion, calling upon Jesus for help.

Like so many other desperate people in the Gospel, Bartimaeus has to surmount a barrier in his attempt to get access to Jesus. The crowd, including presumably Jesus’ disciples, try to silence him and shoo him away. The discouragement only makes him cry out all the louder, until at last Jesus, becoming aware of him, stops and asks that he be brought over.

The Gospel account highlights the energy of the man’s response: flinging off his cloak, jumping up and going to Jesus. Physically he has nothing – now not even his cloak. What he does have is an acute sense of his own need and a deep reserve of faith, which has driven him to break through the barrier so vigorously to get access to Jesus.

Jesus’ question, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ and Bartimaeus’ response, ‘Master, that I may see again’, may seem redundant; the man’s need is obvious. But the request that he voices is one that all who would be disciples of Jesus have to make over and over again throughout their lives – not in the sense of physical sight but in the sense of capacity to really follow Jesus with understanding of what his mission is truly about. In this area all lack a capacity to ‘see’ which only divine power can remedy.

And just as Bartimaeus, his sight restored, ‘followed (Jesus) upon the way’, so we will follow him ‘along the way’ of our own lives only if we know our need for a ‘sight’ that he alone can give. Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, becomes then, at this climactic stage of Jesus’ journey, a model of discipleship and faith.

The First Reading, from Jeremiah 31:7-9, speaks exultantly of homecoming that will reverse the bitterness of Exile. In later times the wonders foretold in such text were related to the hopes for the messianic era, which the healing miracles of Jesus, such as that described in the Gospel, fulfil. In line, too, with the attractive divine statement at the end, Jesus taught his disciples to address God – as he himself did – as ‘Father’.

The Second Reading, from Hebrews 5:1-6, continues the sense of Jesus as High Priest. Because he is human, he can truly sympathise with human weakness. Because of his divine status and appointment, he is uniquely placed to bring our needs efficaciously before God.

© Brendan Byrne SJ