Notice Board

Week beginning: Sunday, 28th of November 2021

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From The Heart Of Your Loving Shepherd

My dear wonderful Parish, 'Family' and community of St. Luke's,

Greetings of Peace and Joy as we step into the beautiful season of ADVENT 2021 in preparing our hearts and homes to celebrate the Solemn Incarnation of Christ on the Anniversary of HIS birth, THE CHRISTMAS!!

May I seek your help for our Community's service of SLOSH (St. Luke's Outside School Hours)?

I am not going to have a ‘trivia’ on your knowledge about all the greatness of our Community and it's services here! But however, I feel that some of you are not aware that SLOSH, the acronym of which is St. Luke's outside School Hours care, which is a great venture of love and service pioneered by some of the great visionaries of our community! It's a great Educational Ministry and service that we are rendering also to our neighbourhood, particularly to the state school of Regency Park!

I need a BEST and Committed CO-ORDINATOR for the continual service and ministry at SLOSH in the coming 2022. I need your helping hand in this venture!! I am sure I can rely on you? Please call me on my mobile number: 0470 086 094, or please E mail me : Joseph.amal@cam.org.au. You will find below the details for your knowledge to help me ASAP please? Thanks.

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL HOURS CARE COORDINATOR POSITION

St Luke’s Outside School Hours Care Program (SLOSH) is looking to employ a qualified Program Coordinator for the before and after school care, and the school holiday program. This is a full-time position. Your honesty, commitment and dedication are the most important qualifications. Any previous experience will also be an added qualification. The successful applicant will be required to start asap, December 2021 or January 2022

Position Objective:

To work cooperatively and professionally as a Coordinator of a team, which will provide a high quality program for the children. To promote excellent relationships with staff, parents and the Parish Priest, to ensure that the business continues to grow in a caring environment, upholding the quality and good name of the SLOSH program.

SLOSH Job Description

Your Loving Shepherd Servant,

Fr. Joseph AMAL SDB., Parish Priest

Prayer of Consecration to St Joseph

O great St. Joseph, whom God has made the Head of the Holy Family, accept me, I beseech you, though utterly unworthy, to be a member of your “Holy House.” Present me to your Immaculate Spouse; ask her also to adopt me as her child. With her, pray that I may constantly think of Jesus, and serve him faithfully to the end of my life. O Terror of Demons, increase in me virtue, protect me from the evil one, and help me not to offend God in any way.

O my Spiritual Father, I hereby consecrate myself to you. In faithful imitation of Jesus and Mary, I place myself and all my concerns under your care and protection. To you, after Jesus and Mary, I consecrate my body and soul, with all their faculties, my spiritual growth, my home, and all my affairs and undertakings.
Amen.

An Opportunity For Your Youth To Reflect On The Covid-19 Pandemic

For Australian Catholics this is a timely reminder of the economic and social challenges of the Pandemic; and of the need to act.

Catholic organisations around Australia have been responding in various ways to the crisis which has laid bare old injustices and unmet needs. For Catholics, the challenges of the Pandemic go beyond the delivery of education, health and welfare services.

Earlier in June 2021 the Australian Young Christian Students (YCS) in Melbourne published a Pandemic Enquiry aimed at this very task.

The Pandemic Enquiry is entitled Shaping our Post-Pandemic World, An Enquiry for Secondary Students. It comprises five sessions, which explore “How the Covid-19 Pandemic has affected me, my country and our world; why it should concern me; and what I might be able to do about its consequences”.

The social effects of the Pandemic may last for years. The Pandemic will be a major reality, if not the overarching reality, in the lives of students for some time yet. It will particularly affect students; in their studies and in its impact on their hopes and plans for their future lives.

The Pandemic Enquiry is designed for use in classrooms and parishes (in RE classes and in parish youth groups) and not just for YCS groups.

The Pandemic Enquiry is free and can also be downloaded from the YCS website, which includes a promotion by Archbishop Mark Coleridge; https://www.aycs.org.au/pandemic-enquiry

For further enquires please contact Lys Crowe, Project Officer, Melbourne YCS,

Need For Volunteers
We are in urgent need of volunteers to:
  1. visit and bring Holy Communion to the sick and elderly in the nursing homes.
  2. clean the Parish Centre on a fortnightly basis.
  3. set up the Altar and arrange flowers.

Please see father or let the parish office know if you are able to help.

Thank you.

Stewardship Corner

"..they fell down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh..."

Matthew 2:11

Faith is a gift from God.

Notice the order of events in the Magi's visit.

First, they knelt before Jesus and prayed to Him. Then they presented Him with their gifts.

We, too, must take time to pray before we present our gifts to the Lord. We never know what God may be asking us to share!

Happy Families Pray Together

"The family that recites the Rosary together reproduces something of the atmosphere of the household of Nazareth: its members place Jesus at the centre, they share his joys and sorrows, they place their needs and their plans in his hands, they draw from him the hope and the strength to go on."

- John Paul II, Apostolic Letter on the Rosary of the Virgin Mary

View Rosary Prayer Card
Individual Confession vs. "General Absolution"
The Church hasn't banned the Third Rite which, by the way, consists in the general absolution of a large number of people at once without individual confession.

The rite was first introduced during World War I to allow priests to absolve a large number of soldiers before they went into battle when it would have been impossible to hear all the confessions individually. At the time of the World War II the conditions were extended to other circumstances of imminent danger of death, and finally in 1972 they came to include situations such as those in mission territories where, if the priest did not absolve a large number of people at once, they would have to go for a long time without the grace of the sacraments through no fault of their own.

The norms on what has come to be called "general absolution" were incorporated into the 1983 Code of Canon Law in Canons 961-963 and into the Catechism of the Catholic Church in paragraphs 1483-1484 (cf. J. Flader, Question Time 1, Connor Court 2012, q. 80).

Up until some 15 years ago the Third Rite was used in many parishes in Australia. Significant numbers of people took advantage of it, partly because they were helped by the readings from Scripture, prayers and often a homily, and because many others were attending as well, emphasising the communal, ecclesial aspect of the sacrament. And since there was no need to confess their sins individually to the priest, they found it much easier than going to individual confession.

Why did it suddenly stop? Perhaps the more apposite question would be why it began in the first place. It is clear that the conditions required for its use simply do not exist in Australia, particularly the condition that if the priest did not absolve a large number of penitents collectively they would have to go for a long period of time without the grace of the sacraments through no fault of their own. While the number of priests has diminished somewhat, we are still well served with priests and parishes so that the sacrament of Reconciliation is readily available all over this country.

By the late 1990s the use of general absolution was fairly widespread, especially in some dioceses. During their five-yearly ad limina visit to Rome in 1998, the Australian bishops discussed this matter, along with others, with Pope [St.] John Paul and Vatican officials. At the end of their visit a long Statement of Conclusions was signed by representatives of the Australian bishops and of the Roman Curia. Among other matters, it encouraged the use of individual confession and, with respect to general absolution, said: "Unfortunately, communal celeb­rations have not infrequently occasioned an illegitimate use of general absolution. This illegitimate use, like other abuses in the administration of the sacrament of Penance, is to be eliminated. The bishops will exercise renewed vigilance on these matters for the future, aware that departures from the authentic tradition do great wrong to the Church and to individual Catholics" (n. 45).

Naturally, while general absolution is not to be used in this country, it still remains an option in countries where the conditions for its use exist.

Those who do take regular advantage of individual confession know how much good it does them. Apart from receiving forgiveness of their sins, they have an opportunity to do a thorough examination of conscience, to tell their sins personally to God through the priest and to receive helpful spiritual direction and encouragement. With the abundant grace the sacrament gives them, they begin their spiritual struggle anew each time, with their soul free from sin and filled with hope.

Pope [St.] John Paul II, in an address to priests at the beginning of Lent in 1981, said that "confession periodically renewed, the so-called confession 'of devotion', has always accompanied the ascent to holiness in the Church." And on 13 March, 1999, he told priests hearing confessions in the patriarchal basilicas of Rome: "It should not be forgotten that the so-called confession of devotion was the school which formed the great saints."

Would that more people made frequent use of this sacrament. Their growth in holiness through it would be a great blessing for themselves, for their families, for the Church and for the whole of society.

Fr John Flader
The Catholic Weekly, www.catholicweekly.com.au
12 May, 2013
Consecration of The House To The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Please speak to Fr. Joseph or the parish office to organize day and time.

Fr Joseph would like to congratulate everyone who had their house consecrated recently.

Consecration Of The Family

View / Download full flyer

Daily Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary

Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary,

I consecrate my entire self to the Most Holy Love of Your Two Hearts. I wish to make reparation for all the sins of the world, including my own. I offer these things for the love of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

I will keep my mind on beauty and turn my thoughts from evil things. I will hold my temper and bear the mistakes of others with love and a forgiving heart. I will admit when I am wrong and ask others to forgive me. I will not show off, but remain humble. I will offer up all my sufferings, sicknesses and hurts and seek God’s Will, not my own. I will show appreciation for the kindness and blessings that I receive, and thank God for all things. I will do everything in my life for love of God and I will love others as God has loved me.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the intercession of the Im-maculate Heart of Mary, receive the offering and consecration I now make of myself to You. Keep me faithful until death and bring me one day to the happy home in heaven. I desire to live forever with God the Father and the Most Holy Spirit and You my Lord Jesus, together with Your Most Immaculate Mother.

Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary,
please protect us.

Pope Tells Teens:
Happiness 'Is Not An App'
Happiness is not an app you can download on your mobile phone, Pope Francis told thousands of teenagers on Sunday at a mass to mark a weekend dedicated to youth.

"Freedom is not always about doing what you want. In fact it is the gift of being able to choose the right way," he said in a homily punctuated by regular bursts of applause from the crowd on a packed St Peter's Square.

"Your happiness has no price. It cannot be bought and sold: it is not an application you download on a mobile phone. Even the latest version cannot help you to grow and become free in love."

An estimated 70,000 teenagers were in Rome for a weekend of events to celebrate Francis's Jubilee year dedicated to the theme of mercy.

In a surprise move on Saturday, the 79-year-old pontiff heard confessions from 16 of them and a video message from him was broadcast at a rock and rap concert in the Stadio Olimpico.

One of the teenagers chosen to confess to the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics said she had been trembling as she approached the chair on which the pope was sitting in St Peter's Square.

"But as soon as I sat down I had the feeling of being next to a normal person rather than the pope. Francis is really one of us," Anna Taibi, 15, told La Repubblica newspaper.

The Sicilian teenager said she had been touched by Francis's tenderness as he listened to her confession.

"I expected him to give me a penance ... instead he absolved me and let me go."

The importance of mobile phones to contemporary teenagers was also reflected in Francis's message to the concert.

Clutching an iPhone, he told his audience that living without Jesus was like not having any signal. "Always be sure to go where there is a network: family, parish, school," he said.

www.businessinsider.com/afp-pope-tells-teens-happiness-not-an-app-2016-4?IR=T

Take the Way of the Gospel

The Archbishop has prepared a letter ‘Take the Way of the Gospel’ to be launched this weekend at Pentecost to further open up the conversations around re-imagining our local Church as Mission Communities.

Copies of the letter will be available from the table in the church foyer.

More information will also be available from the Archdiocesan website and the Melbourne Catholic website

View / Download 'Take the Way of the Gospel'

Lockdown light - Podcasts for Christian living

Resources for Christian living: Making the most of lockdown In this blog post, local Melbourne mum of six, Kate Moriarty, shares some fun and creative ideas to help families make the most of their time together in lockdown.
Find out more at www.bit.ly/ChristianLiving3

In this episode of The Word on Fire show, Bishop Robert Barron and Brandon Vogt discuss what helps children retain their faith into young adulthood.

Getting to know your Bible: Science and the Bible: Are they opposed?

Getting Started: In this video, Bishop Robert Barron firmly debunks the common claim that science and religion are diametrically opposed.
Watch at www.bit.ly/BibleGettingStarted5a and for further resources visit www.reasonfaithscience.com

Going Deeper: This video skilfully explores a Catholic understanding of the Book of Genesis’ account of creation through a tapestry of voices. View here www.bit.ly/BibleGoingDeeper5

Getting to know your Bible:

Getting Started: This video by Bible Snap brings you the Old Testament in 8 minutes, with a comprehensive overview of where the books and people fit in the timeline of history.
Watch at www.bit.ly/BibleGettingStarted3

Going Deeper: Exodus is one of the key books of the Old Testament. Hear about the pivotal events in Exodus from a range of other Christian Biblical scholars and theological experts in this 10-minute video.
View here www.bit.ly/BibleGoingDeeper3

Parents of the Saints - How Did They Do It?

In this podcast, Jason Evert speaks with Patrick O’Hearn about his new book ‘Parents of the Saints: The Hidden Heroes Behind Our Favourite Saints’, offering key insights into the families of popular saints. Listen at
www.bit.ly/ChristianLiving4

Getting to know your Bible: Praying with Scripture

Getting Started: In this short video, Fr James Martin SJ introduces us Lectio Divina–a way of praying with the Bible that helps us listen to God. Watch at
www.bit.ly/BibleGettingStarted4

Going Deeper: Pray as You Go is an online prayer tool that provides a guided contemplation of each day’s Gospel passage. Set aside 10-15 minutes, find a comfy space and visit
www.bit.ly/BibleGoingDeeper4

Catholic Church urges action to care for the earth, the poor

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has made an historic commitment to work towards a more sustainable Church in its annual statement promoting social justice.

In the Social Justice Statement 2021-22 launched today, Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, the bishops commit to a seven-year journey towards seven Laudato Si’ Goals.

‘We are facing an ecological crisis and Pope Francis wants the whole Church globally to act with a greater sense of urgency,’ said Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, chair of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service.

‘In Australia, passionate individuals, religious institutes, schools and organisations have been working on ecological issues for a long time. I want to affirm and thank them all, and to urge the whole Catholic community to join them.’

Bishop Long pointed out that ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been caring for country from time immemorial. The rest of us need to listen, and to learn how we can walk together to care for the whole of creation – in-cluding one another.’

For full article: https:// melbournecatholic.org/news/catholic-church-urges-action-to-care-for-the-earth-the-poor

To listen to Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor Podcasts, go to: https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/2021/08/05/cry-of-the-earth-cry-of-the-poor-podcasts/

Help for Marriages Under Stress

The coronavirus pandemic and lockdown may have caused stress to many marriages. Restore hope for your relationship’s future.

Visit: www.smartloving.org/breakthrough.

Serra International

Serra International - Prayer for Vocations

"Heavenly Father, help us respond to and live out our mission in the Church. Help all your people to know their vocation in life, and assist them to prepare for it.

For your greater glory, and for the service of your people, call many to be Priests and Religious. Give those whom you call the grace to respond generously and to persevere faithfully. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen."

For information about Serra or Vocations:

www.scanzspac.org

View / Download Prayer Card (296kB)

Altar Servers
Presently the parish has few altar servers.

Their service and prayerful presence enhances the liturgical celebration.

Fr. Joseph is calling for more children to take up this ministry.

What It Means To Be An Altar Server (Video)

Take Mary Home

As we noticed that our lady statue (Take Mary Home) has been on the bench every couple of weeks in a month. With great thoughts and inputs from various members in the leadership team, considering the weight of the original statue as it is quite heavy to be carried, we would like to make it much easier for our parishioners to take an alternative statue (Our Lady of Fatima) which is much lighter to carry and it also comes in a box where the statue could be handled more safely. We are happy to leave both the statues on the bench behind the divine mercy image. Make yourself comfortable to put your name in the book with your contact details, the tone of the mass which you are planning to take and also which statue as well based on your convenience. I hope and pray that the above arrangement would help the parishioners to take the statue every week so that Our Lady visits every family in our community to intercede for our families and community.

Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.

Rosy Paul

Come Lord Jesus

The prophet Isaiah implored God to tear the heavens open and come down to save the people.

Living our faith means developing a personal relationship with Jesus. So, just like any friendship with another person, there is give and take, each side listening to the other and helping each other out.

God, however, did not come among us in such a dramatic way but in the humble form of Jesus of Nazareth.

God continues to enter our lives in unexpected ways. If we are watchful for the presence of Christ in each day, we will recognise him when he comes in glory.

We Need Your Help
We would like to hear from tradies, handymen and technicians in our community who would like to be included in our directory.

We may have odd jobs around the Church and would very much appreciate your help.

Please contact the parish office or get in touch with Fr Joseph.

Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Readers & Counters

Our parish would like to invite parishioners to become Readers and Extraordinary Ministers for our Masses. These roles are a small but significant way to quietly participate in our parish community and your contribution would be greatly appreciated.

If you are able to assist, please contact Daphne Cheah (9720-3956) or the Parish Office (9801-8411).

Thank you to all who contribute their time and talent in this way.

To Love To The End: Who will make your choices?
is a Melbourne Archdiocese initiative to focus on an area of bioethics where we can positively contribute to building up a civilization of life and love.

The theme, "To Love to the End", deals with issues about dying and caring for our loved ones, the meaning and purpose of suffering and our duty as Christians to show love to every human being to the end.

Please collect a copy of the informative brochure and prayer card on this theme from the tables at the church entrances or you can view/download the brochure and card below.

View Respect Life Prayer Card (359 kB)

Overcoming Despair With Hope
Through Respect Life Sunday the church aims to equip Catholics to better love those around us by providing vital information about the dangers of the new abortion drug, RU486.

Pope Francis provided a beautiful example of how we reach out to women facing an unplanned pregnancy recently, when he took the time to listen to a story of a 35 year old Roman woman, then telephoned her to offer a listening ear, hope, encouragement and practical support for when the baby was born.

Read more when you pick up your copy of the green Respect Life brochure in the foyer, or

Rome Report

Address by Pope Francis before praying the Sunday Angelus, 24 August 2014

Dear brothers and sisters,

This Sunday's Gospel (Mt. 16, 13-20) is the famous passage, which is central in St. Matthew's account. Simon, in the name of the Twelve, professes his faith in Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus calls Simon "blessed" for this faith, recognizing in him a special gift from the Father, and he says to him: "You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church."

Let us pause for a moment on this point, on the fact that Jesus attributes this new name to Simon: "Peter", who in Jesus' language is pronounced "Kefa", a word that means "rock". In the Bible, this name, this word "rock" is referred to God. Jesus attributes it to Simon not for his quality or for his human merits, but for his genuine and firm faith, which comes from above.

Jesus feels a great joy in His heart, because He recognizes in Simon the hand of the Father, the action of the Holy Spirit. He recognizes that God the Father has given to Simon a "trustworthy" faith, in which He, Jesus, can build his Church, that is, His community. That is, all of us, all of us. Jesus has in mind to give life to "His" Church, a people no longer founded on ancestry but rather on faith, namely a relationship with Himself, a relationship of love and of trust. Our relationship with Jesus builds the Church. And so to start his Church, Jesus needs to find in the disciples a solid faith, "trustworthy." It is this that He must verify at this point of His journey. And that is why He asks the question.

The Lord has in mind the image of constructing, the image of the community as an edifice. That is why, when he hears Simon’s sincere profession of faith, he calls him "rock", the intention of building his Church upon this faith is manifested.

Tweet Others As You Wish To Be Tweeted
Tweet others as you would wish to be tweeted is a scripture based guide to social media for the Church.

It takes the command from Luke's Gospel to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and applies it to social media.

Further information: https:www.catholic.org.au/world-communications-day2015/

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