vol. 9 issue 30 the parish bulletin - meadowbank€¦ · once jesus was in a certain place praying,...
TRANSCRIPT
Entrance Antiphon:Cf. Ps 67: 6-7, 36God is in his holy place, Godwho unites those who dwell inhis house; he himself givesmight and strength to hispeople.
1st Reading:.Genesis 18:20-32Abraham negotiates with the Lord
Responsorial Psalm:Psalm 137(138):1-3,6-8Lord, on the day Icalled for help, youanswered me.
2nd Reading:Colossians 2:12-14Christ has brought you to life withhim and forgiven us all our sins
Gospel Acclamation:Rom 8:15bcAlleluia, alleluia!You have received the Spiritwhich makes us God’s children,and in that Spirit we call Godour Father. Alleluia!
Gospel:Luke 11:1-13Ask, and it will be given to you;
Communion Antiphon:Ps 102: 2Bless the Lord, O my soul,and never forget all his benefits.
27 / 28 July 2019St Michael’s Church - Meadowbank
Vol. 9 Issue 30
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GospelOnce Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when
he had finished one of his disciples said, ‘Lord,teach us to pray, just as John taught his
disciples.’ He said to them, ‘Say this whenyou pray: ‘“Father, may your name be heldholy, your kingdom come; give us each dayour daily bread, and forgive us our sins, forwe ourselves forgive each one who is in debt
to us. And do not put us to the test.”’ He alsosaid to them: ‘Suppose one of you has a friend
and goes to him in the middle of the night to say,“My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of
mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offerhim”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. Thedoor is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to giveit you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’ssake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all hewants. So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you willfind; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks alwaysreceives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will alwayshave the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son astone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or handhim a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how togive your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Fathergive the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’
The Parish Bulletin
Luke 11:1-13
www.stmichaelsmeadowbank.org.au
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr C/1
Reflection by Fr Emmanuel SeoBulletin Reflection 2019.07.28. Year C1.
Week 17. Ordinary Time.
“And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites… In your prayers do notbabble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they willmake themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what youneed before you ask him.” (Mt 6:5, 7-9) This is the parallel in Matthew’sGospel to Luke’s account of the Lord’s Prayer.
So what is prayer? Simply put, it is communication between the human andthe Divine. It is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requestingof good things from God. However, anyone who has ever prayed might findthis to be more complex than it sounds. Not that it should ever tempt us tostop. As with everything in life, practice can only make it better, so we mustgo on praying. But while every care should be taken not to be scrupulous,perhaps it would be helpful to clarify some basic principles to pray moreappropriately.
The Parish BulletinAcknowledgement of the land
We acknowledge the traditional ownersand custodians of this land, theWallumattagal clan, part of the Dharugpeople of the Eoira nation. We walkgently on the land, sharing it with themas we now work and live on it.
Parish DirectoryParish Administrator: Fr Emmanuel SeoEmail: [email protected] address &contact number:45 Maxim St, Meadowbank, NSW 2114Phone: 9809-3536Email:[email protected] hours: Tuesday - Friday 9:00am-4:30pmSecretaries: Lou Temprosa (Tue-Wed) Marilyn Vallejo (Thu-Fri)Sacramental Coordinators:Marisa Squadrito & Liz [email protected] Editor: Meynardo TalisayonParish Bulletin email address:[email protected] submit requests for publication by12 noon Wednesday.Acolytes: Arthur LeeReaders & Special Ministers ofCommunion:Sue Metzmacher(Weekdays & Special Roster)Felicity Donnelly (Vigils & Sundays)Music MinistryCoordinators for 6pm Saturday Masses:1st Saturday - Richard Borges (FamilyMass)2nd Saturday - David Foong3rd Saturday - Prescilla Luzon4th Saturday - Aneela PereiraMusic Ministry - Sunday Masses:1st & 3rd SUN 8am - Maree Twomey2nd SUN 8am – Muntia Gouw2nd SUN 10 am – Peter & Jenchris1st & 5th SUN 10am – Mary Towers3rd SUN 10am – David Foong4th SUN 10am – Muntia GouwChildren’s Liturgy - Cindy FrancisOther Ministry LeadersUshers/Collectors - Michael WixtedAltar Society - Marie BennettLiturgy Committee - Sue MetzmacherFinance Committee - Stephen ToppleSt Vincent de Paul Society - Jim LemckeCatechists - Judith OrrockParish Safeguarding Support Officer -Lou TemprosaSt Michael’s Primary SchoolSchool Principal - Mr Brian Story53 Maxim St, Meadowbank, NSW 2114Phone: 9808 2658 Fax: 9807 2330Email:[email protected]
Welcome to St Michael’s Church -Meadowbank! A warm welcome to all attendees &visitors to our church! May you find our parish communitya place where your faith life will be nourished and you willtake up the invitation to share your special gifts and talents.Your prayers, presence, talents & skills are most welcome.
St Michael’s Church - Meadowbank
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First of all, who are we praying to? All our prayers, including those direct-ed to the saints, are ultimately offered to the Holy Trinity. For withoutGod, all our praises and petitions become meaningless. Therefore, noprayer is ever wilfully offered to oneself, for then it would essentially be avacuous monologue. Yet, when it comes to judging the quality of ourprayer, this principle can easily be overlooked. Often our biggest mistakeis to use feelings or the outcome as our standard of judgment. It is true attimes we do feel good about praying. The words seem to flow smoothly aswe delight in some form of spiritual bliss. By no means are we to resentthis, since God’s consolation can come in various ways. However, itwould be rather shallow to judge the quality of prayer by feelings. For ifits value should depend on our emotions, what are we to do if we continueto feel low despite praying? Stop praying? Certainly not what the Lorddid.
We may recall what Jesus did at the Garden of Gethsemane prior to hisPassion and Death. Was he not praying despite his inexplicable agony? Infact, can we not recognise its immense importance, precisely because itwas more difficult to pray? Again, try picking up a Bible and randomlychoose a Psalm to read. Even before you get to the next page, you arehighly likely to discover a cry of lamentation, or a desperate plea of some-one undergoing the pain of abandonment. But aren’t these Psalms some ofthe most beautiful prayers we encounter in the Scriptures? The reason israther simple – we are not praying to ourselves, but to God. So if we lookat prayer from the recipient’s perspective (i.e. God’s) wouldn’t our prayersbe more valuable when we are struggling to pray? This is because perse-vering in prayer requires us to overcome every palpable inclination to stopan arduous exercise. In other words, as we wilfully counter the dictates ofnature, what ultimately remains is the supernatural, which necessitates agreater faith. As proof, we need to seek no further than the example of thesaints, especially those who experienced the ‘dark night of the soul’, suchas St. Theresa of Calcutta. Who would have imagined this holy nun couldever struggle to pray? But she did, and yet she still persevered. Likewise,we can all learn from such examples, and pray even more fervently intimes of trouble.
“Lord, teach us to pray” the disciples asked Jesus. And he taught us theperfect prayer, which has become the model for all prayers. Let us there-fore place our heart in every word, as we recite it. For as St. Therese ofLisieux said, “[Prayer is] a surge of the heart, it is a simple look turnedtoward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trialand joy.”
Reflection Continued
Download/Sync Parish Calendar - view and download fromthe Parish Website. It is updated on a daily basis. If you use a google calendar, youcan easily add the calendar to your calendar by pressing the + button on thehomepage: www.stmichaelsmeadowbank.org.au
Vol 9 Issue 30 27 / 28 July 2019
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Collections Update from 21 JulyThank you for the generosity of all parishioners.1st Collection (assists clergy): $9512nd Collection (parish costs): $1,877DIRECT TRANSFER GIVINGPlease consider using a direct recurring automatic transfer forSunday offerings. It is a safe, secure process that each person caneasily setup via their own online banking to give to the parish ona weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.Parish First Collection Details: BSB: 062 784; AccountNumber: 04292002; Account Name: St Michael’s PastoralRevenueParish Second Collection Details: BSB: 062 784; AccountNumber: 04295003; Account Name: St Michael’s ChurchPlease use your envelope number (if you have one) as areference for the transaction.CREDIT CARD GIVINGPlease contact the Parish Office to setup giving via credit cards.
Safeguarding: Keeping Our Communities SafeWe understand how difficult it can be for people who haveexperienced abuse to make a complaint. We have developeda Listening to You card, which is available in all ourparishes to provide guidance for those wishing to make acomplaint. We want to support you in this process and wecan provide access to counselling and support services ifneeded. For more information please see the attachedposters that we ask Parish Priests to print and display in aprominent area within parishes. For assistance, pleasecontact [email protected] or visitwww.sydneycatholic.org/safeguarding-and-child-protection/
Catholic Works Fund August Appeal 2019The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney will be holding aCWF Parish Appeal, next weekend 3rd and 4th August2019, and the Development and Fundraising Officeturns to you for your continued support in facilitatingthis appeal. Your assistance helps raise funds for manyof our important works across the Archdiocese of Syd-ney, including providing family counselling, sharing thegospel to youth, forming our seminarians, outreach toAboriginal communities and support for our Catholicdeaf community. The agencies which provide the aboveservices includes CatholicCare, the Confraternity ofChristian Doctrine, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, ourseminaries and the Ephpheta Centre.
Is your family impacted by alcohol, drugs orgambling? Connect with counsellors if you’re an individualor family member who is concerned about someone else’s useof alcohol, drugs or gambling, or if you’re concerned aboutyour own gambling. Call CCareline on 13 18 19 .
Envelopes for New Financial Yearare ready for collection at the rear of the Church. Pleasecomplete the Parish Giver Update Form in the packs.
WEEKLY OFFERING ENVELOPE FROM1 JULY 2019 Many thanks for your long andcontinued support of the Weekly Offering envelopes forSt Michael’s Parish Meadowbank. Contributions from1 July 2019 will be allocated as follows:●30% Tax deductible to Charitable Works Fund Trust●70% Non Tax deductible to St Michael’s ParishMeadowbank
Tribunal of the Catholic Church Outreaching to all of thosewho have experienced a marriage breakdown and question the validityof their first marriage as understood by the Church. Inquiries: 93078300 or email: [email protected] Friday Mass on 2nd August at 7:00pm. Fellowship at 7:30pm.Parish Morning Tea on 4th August at 11am. Bring a plate to share.
TAX RECEIPTS for FY2019 are now ready forcollection at the back of the church.
The Fourth Australian Catholic Youth Festival(ACYF) will take place at the Perth Convention and ExhibitionCentre from 8-10th December 2019. ACYF provides young peoplewith opportunities to deepen their relationship with Jesus, be em-powered to be disciples in the world today and encounter and cele-brate the vitality of the Church in Australia. Sydney CatholicYouth (SCY) is excited to be organising the official Archdioceseof Sydney package for parishes and young adults this year. TheSCY pilgrimage to ACYF will enable young people from theArchdiocese of Sydney to participate in Australia’s largest nationalgathering for young Catholics. The SCY pilgrimage to ACYF isopen to young adults aged between 18 to 30, 2019 school leavers,as well as parish groups accompanied by a parish group leader.Harvest Journeys is the official tour provider for the Sydney Cath-olic Youth pilgrimage to ACYF. More information can be foundhere; http://www.sydneycatholicyouth.org/acyf2019/
Chorister for a Day St Mary's Cathedral invites boysaged between 6 and 8 to be a 'Chorister for a day' on Saturday21st September. Meet the Choristers, find out about Choristerlife and perform with the Choristers.To register your son orfor more information, please contact our Music Administratorat [email protected] or by phoning (02) 92200481. There are only 40 places available!
Ignite Conference is one of Australia's most power-ful Catholic youth and family conferences. For the firsttime ever this October 3-6, Ignite Conference will be heldin Sydney. The conference draws together a network ofhigh schoolers, young adults, ministry leaders, families,teachers, priests and religious from around the country,sending them out with a passion for mission and authenticfaith in Jesus.Students from all Sydney Catholic Schoolsare offered a 50% discount and special packages for fami-lies are available as well. For more information,visit www.sydneycatholicyouth.org/ignite19/ orcontact the team at Sydney Catholic Youth on (02) 93078152 or [email protected]
Centacare provides meaningful work for people living with anintellectual disability. They provide services to businesses across Syd-ney including packaging, assembly, security shredding, gardening,cleaning and logistics. Call CCareline on 13 18 19 to find out more.Pulse Pro-Life Pulse is a pro-life training weekend held on August 23rd
to 25th for young adults, being co-hosted by Sydney Catholic Youth andLifeChoice Australia. Over the weekend you will learn everything fromabortion apologetics, to pregnancy counselling basics and media training.This is your chance to educate yourself to be a voice for our unborn brothersand sisters! For more information and register see the link below:https://lifechoice.org.au/pulse/ or call the team on (02) 9307 8152.
Roster: 3 / 4 August 2019
The Parish Bulletin St Michael’s Church - Meadowbank
Prayer to St Michael theArchangel. Saint Michael the Archangel,defend us in the day of battle. Be oursafeguard against the wickedness and snaresof the devil. May God rebuke him, wehumbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of theheavenly host, by the power of God, cast into
hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through theworld seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
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Liturgy for this week (29 July - 4 Aug 2019)
Sacraments:Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:15pm-4.45pm (AEST)Devotions:Mass for Catechists: Every 1st Tuesday at 8:15amPrayer for Priests: Every 1st Saturday at 8:45amFirst Friday Sacred Heart Devotion: 1st Friday Mass at 7pmMorning Prayer: Every Sunday at 7:35amRosary: 8:50am on weekdays before the Mass (except Friday)Holy Hour and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (withReconciliation)8:15am-9:15am every Friday & Saturday (with Benediction)Divine Mercy Novena & Chaplet - Wednesdays after AM Mass
Time Acolyte ReadersExtraordinaryMinisters of HolyCommunion
5:00PMVigil Jim Lemcke First Vigil
Youth Readers
1 Prescilla Luzon2 Rita D’Mello3 Robyn Meehan4 Sue Metzmacher5 Sunitha Victor6 Aurita Borges
8:00AM Stephen Topple Chris TwomeyGemma Evesson
Nora GardnerNorman Fairbairn
10:00AM John Fillion Jeremy BillingsKathleen Ryan
1 Connie Buttigieg2 Danima Grace3 Darryle Fernandes4 Devonna Gonsalves5 Felicity Donnelly6 Felissa Tan
Are you new to the Parish?Welcome. It is great to have you here. Please make ourparish your home. Feel welcome to share experiences andministries from your previous parish with our community.Please complete a parish registration & census form at theoffice. Consider volunteering and joining the parishplanned giving.
Consider becoming a CatechistRing Judith Orrock on 98742825 if you are interested.You will be trained in conducting a class, what to teachand provided all teaching materials to make you asuccessful catechist.
Weekday Services this week:9:15am - Monday: Communion Service9.15am - Weekday Mass: Tuesday to SaturdayWeekend Masses:5:00pm - Saturday Vigil Mass (AEST)8:00am & 10:00am - Sunday Masses(10am with Children’s Liturgy during School Term)
Parish Weekly Mass Offerings Tuesday 30th July 9:15am
Recently Deceased: Lo Hiu YanWednesday 31st July 9:15am
Recently Deceased: Wu Hang YanThursday 1st August 9:15am
Recently Deceased: Augustine AranjoFriday 2nd August 9:15am
Mass of Remembrance for Jose VallejoSaturday 3rd August 9:15am
Mass of Remembrance for Philomena GabrielNote: Only One Mass Offering is Permitted Per Day
Church Cleaning, Altar Linen & FlowersWe have a great team of helpers who arrange flowers,clean and vacuum the church on a weekly basis.We always need more help. Contact Marie Bennett on0447 830 551 to volunteer.Flowers cost about $100 per week. Please considerdonating to the Altar Society. Donation boxes are at thechurch doors or can be made through the Parish Office.Church Cleaners Roster for AugustRobin Meehan, Christina Dutturi, Cherise Cavalleri,Moussa & Rose El BayehLINEN: Joan D’SouzaEND OF MONTH: Maureen RichardsonVACUUM: Leony Hamot & Malou Laguador
SAINTS OF THE WEEKMon 29 Saint MarthaTue 30 Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop, DoctorWed 31 Saint Ignatius Loyola, PriestThu 1 Saint Alphonsus Mary de' Liguori, Bishop, DoctorFri 2 Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop Saint Peter Julian Eymard
St Michael’s Church,Meadowbank Please follow us online
Piety Stall is open on the 1st & 3rd weekends of themonth. We will be open again on Saturday 3rd & Sunday.
Bereaved Parents GroupEvery first Monday of the Month at the Banksia Room, Dooleys Cath-olic Club 11 Church Street, Lidcombe 10am - 12 noon. A space foryour grief and a chance to connect with other bereaved parents. Morn-ing tea is provided Facilitated by the Bereavement Care Team Pleasecontact Patricia 0438 263 036 or Sigrid on 0412 811 206.Bereavement Support Reflection Mornings. ThirdWednesday of Every Month 10.00am – 1.00pm. For family andfriends who grieve and their companions. Understanding andmanaging life’s changes in Loss, Grief & Bereavement. Morning teaprovided. For further information please contact BereavementSupport Ph: (02) 9646 6908 /[email protected]