Saying “Yes” to radiating the Joy of the Gospel!
Dear Parishioners,
Our chosen theme for Feast Week, which is only four weeks away, is “Mary…radiating the joy of the Gospel. As I men-tioned last week, our Liturgy Sub-committee derived the theme from Pope Francis’s recent Apostolic Exhortation The Joy of the Gospel. Each week, to help us enter into Feast Week with the joy of the Gospel, I will reflect upon our theme with you in light of the beautiful concluding prayer to Mary at the end of the Exhortation.
The first paragraph of the prayer asks Mary to help us to say our own “yes”, modelled on her “yes”, which was in response to the urgent call to her from God through the angel.
Her “yes” was in response to a pressing call because it was for the coming of the Son of God through her into the world for the salvation of all mankind. We too, in preparing to celebrate her feast and the feast of our parish in the joy of the Gospel, must be ready to say a “yes” that is not just from our lips but from the depths of our hearts.
And to say “Yes” we must ask Jesus in prayer for what He calls us too in Feast Week and in the life of our Parish and her Mission. We then must be ready like Mary to listen to HiS Word to us and with the help of her prayers and be ready to re-spond and commit to this Word.
In doing this, everything we do in preparation for Feast Week, throughout all the Faith, Community and fundraising Events, will radiate the Joy of the Gospel. As the joy of the Good News led the shepherds and the Wise Men to the Saviour of the world, the joy that will radiate from us will lead others who encounter us to discover that same Saviour present and work-ing in our Parish Community and will flow into their lives.
Therefore, I really encourage everyone to prepare to say “YES” to taking an active role in participating in Feast Week, espe-cially in a faith event that you may not have participated in previously, such as a Bible Discussion Evening or the Candlelight Procession or Adoration. You can also volunteer two hours in one fundraising activities like the Saj bread baking or in setting and packing up for one or more of the festive events. Being a volunteer and a participant brings its own reward and joy and you only have to look on the faces of so many who do volunteer to know that this is so true.
A wonderful example of preparing to radiate the joy of the Gospel in Feast Week is the spiritual morning tea put on by la-dies and gentlemen of our parish Sodality of the Immaculate Conception and our parish Seniors’ Committee. They ar-ranged the spiritual morning tea to grow closer to each other and pray for each other and the parish calling on the inter-cession of our Blessed Mother. I felt very blessed to walk in on this beautiful gathering by chance and experience the joy of the Gospel radiating from all present and share in some morning tea with them. With them let us say “YES” to living and radiating the joy of the Gospel in the example of Mary as we pray together:
Mary, Virgin and Mother, you who, moved by the Holy Spirit, welcomed the word of life in the depths of your humble faith: as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One, help us to say our own “yes” to the urgent call, as pressing as ever, to proclaim the good news of Jesus. Amen. Alleluia!
Monsignor Shora Maree
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Mary…Radiating the Joy of the Gospel
Dear Parishioners,
Feast Week 2014 Theme:
We are only a month out from our Parish Feast Week of the Assumption of Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary. At our Volunteers and Pastoral Council Meeting on Tuesday night which was very well attended Fr Tony announced to all the Coordinators and volunteers the Theme for Feast Week proposed by the Spiritual/Liturgy Sub-Committee namely, “Mary….Radiating the Joy of the Gospel.” Fr Tony explained that the Sub Committee derived the theme from Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation - The Joy of the Gospel.
The proposed theme was well received and it was agreed it’s meaning will be the foundation for all we do in preparing and celebrating Feast Week 2014. The theme calls us, like Mary, to make Christ our Lord and the Gospel the centre of our lives so that from all we do, like Mary, we can let the Joy of the Gospel radiate and lift us always to touch others and lead them to Christ and share in his mission.
As well the theme will be incorporated in all the celebrations and put on the Pro-gram and website.
All the events of Feast Week are to strengthen our faith in the Joy of the Gospel and build up a joy-filled community and help us raise funds to support the Mission of the Parish and the building projects, including a new and first Permanent Presbytery (residence) for the Priests serving the Parish
How to help and participate:
If you wish to share in radiating the Joy of the Gospel in Feast Week inspired by the example and strengthened by the prayers of Mary our Mother, you can:
- Plan and Commit to Prayerfully and Joyfully attend all the Celebrations of Feast Week with your family
- You can offer your time and energy to volunteer to help set up different Faith and Community events especially with the Saj Bread Baking and BBQ. The success of the festivities of Feast week relies heavily upon the generous support of hardworking volunteers who will be needed on the following days and times:
- Wed 13th Aug 9am -5pm, Thurs 14th Aug 8am -11pm (Hrissi and Feast Night)
- Sat 16th Aug 9am -11pm, Sun 17th Aug 7am-4pm, Mon 18th Aug 7am-4pm, (Saj Baking and setup)
- Fri 22nd Aug 8am-5pm, Sat 23rd Aug 9am-12am (BBQ set-up, Rides and General Volunteer Work)
- Sun 24th August 8am-3pm. (Family Day BBQ & Rides, Volunteer Work)
If you can plan to be available over any of these days and hours, please call our Vol-unteers Coordinator Anthony Yacoub 0405 717 163 or Click here to register your help.
- With Your Work organisation or Company you can be a Gold, Silver or Bronze Sponsor. You can see the Parish Website or contact me re further details.
- Support the fundraising through purchasing raffle tickets and making donations in the weeks ahead.
May the Joy of the Gospel, through the Prayers of our Blessed Mother, radiate through all of us this Feast Week and always.
Monsignor Shora Maree
Our Children must see Jesus in us
At Friday Nights talk for Parents Mr Andrew Mullins the guest speaker told a story of a fellow teacher who was dying of cancer. The night be-fore he passed away Andrew went to visit him in hospital and he shared how he sat up for the last time and spoke to him saying that “our Students must see Jesus in us.” Andrew said he has never forgotten these words. He shared that this must be true for parents as well as teachers. At home our Children need and must see Jesus in us.
I would add that “our Children must see Jesus in us” the Priests, the Sisters, and their fellow parishioners who worship and serve in the Parish Family in all that we say and do. From the way we park to the way we prepare and participate in the Mass and all the Community Events.
Last Sunday, through the commitment of Parents, the dedication of the volunteer Teachers, Mrs Eva Charbel, Sonia Baltasar, Cindy El Sabbagh, Theresa Azzi, Marie Han-na, Rachel Kizana, and Mr Dory Zaouk, and the guidance of their Chaplain Fr Tony Sarkis, 73 of our Children were led to see and experience Jesus in the Sacrament of Holy Communion and to receive him with their Parents and family. We pray through the most wonderful power of this Sacrament and the Sacrament of Confession that we as a parish, with the parents, can lead the Children to see Jesus in us and in them every day.
I would also like to acknowledge one of the volunteer teachers who could not be with the team of teachers this year due to ill health, namely Mrs Antoinette Draybi. We know how disappointed she would have been not being able to help out this year and we missed her being with us. We pray for her ongoing recovery to be able to re-join the Volunteer teachers next year and to show the next group of Children, Jesus, through their Love and Commitment in preparing them for First Confession and Holy Communion.
Our Feast Week is a time when our Parish is very specially called to be renewed and celebrate the call to let Jesus be seen in all that we do as we honour the Feast of His Mother’s Assumption. Our Parish Feast Week will be celebrated from Wed 13 August- Sunday 24 August. If you would like to help in any way you can attend the Open Meeting with the Pastoral Council Members on Tues 8 July 8pm in the Centre Level 2 or call Fr Raphael 0401 627 777.
On this Feast Weekend of the Apostles Peter and Paul, we pray the School holidays will be a Joy-filled, Jesus-filled and family and parish community-time and like St’s Peter and Paul we let our Children see Jesus in us.
