26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 29th September 2013 ...

67-77 Exford Road, Melton South 3338 . P .O. Box 2152

Ph: 9747 9692, Fax: 9746 0422 Email: [email protected]

Parish Homepage: stanthonysmeltonsouth.wordpress.com (includes Padua News)

Office Hours: Wed & Fri. 8.30am—4.30pm Friday 8.30 - 4.00pm

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 29th September 2013

Let us pray for God’s forgiveness and for the happiness it brings

St. Anthony’s Parish Primary School Wilson Road, Melton South 3338 Phone: 9743 1401 School Secretary: Mrs. Marthese Pace Email: [email protected] Website: www.sameltonsth.catholic.edu.au

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 145

Leader: PRAISE THE LORD, MY SOUL!

All: PRAISE THE LORD, MY SOUL! IT IS THE LORD WHO KEEPS FAITH FOR EVER, WHO IS JUST TO THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED. IT IS HE WHO GIVES BREAD TO THE HUNGRY, THE LORD, WHO SETS PRISONERS FREE. IT IS THE LORD WHO GIVES SIGHT TO THE BLIND, WHO RAISES UP THOSE WHO ARE BOWED DOWN. IT IS THE LORD WHO LOVES THE JUST, THE LORD, WHO PROTECTS THE STRANGER. HE UPHOLDS THE WIDOW AND ORPHAN BUT THWARTS THE PATH OF THE WICKED. THE LORD WILL REIGN FOR EVER, ZION’S GOD, FROM AGE TO AGE.

ALL: PRAISE THE LORD, MY SOUL!

Gospel Acclamation: ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA! JESUS CHRIST WAS RICH BUT HE BECAME POOR, TO MAKE YOU RICH OUT OF HIS POVERTY. ALLELUIA!

MASS & DEVOTION TIMES THIS WEEK

Tuesday morning: NO MORNING MASS Tuesday evening: 6.30pm Wednesday morning: 9.15am Thursday morning: 9.15am Friday morning: 9.15am 1st Friday Devotions 8.00pm

1st Saturday Mass 9.15am Saturday Vigil Mass 5.30pm

Sunday 8.30am & 10.30am

INDIVIDUAL RECONCILIATION Saturday 4.45pm

BAPTISM Baptism Preparation Meeting: 6.30-8.00pm in the Church Thursday 24th October for Baptisms 3rd & 17th November See details on Parish Homepage as listed above and download forms. Fill them out and bring them to the Baptism Preparation Meeting for your chosen date along with a copy of your child’s Birth Certificate. Both parents are required to attend these meetings. Contact Father Fabian or the Parish Office if you have any

questions. Phone 9747 9692.

Adult Preparation for the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation through the R.C.I.A. Program. See Father Fabian or the Parish Office for information.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

Sue Alexander 9743 7281 Godwin Barton 9747 9493 Stephen Fernandes 9743 5331 Natalie Howard 0410 478 046 Mila Little 9743 7783 Rose Ma’ae 0431 386 473 Marthese Mercieca 0421 378 691 Maria Micallef 9746 9685

Brad Tellis 0422 087 343 Carmen Vella 9743 4378 Ex-Officio: Fr Fabian Smith P.P., & Damien Schuster

Parish Priest: Fr Fabian Antony Smith Parish Secretary: Mrs. Lesley Morffew

St. Anthony’s School Principal: Mr. Damien Schuster

THIS WEEK’S HYMNS

Book 1, No. 71

Book 1, No. 166

Book 1, No. 185

Book 1, No. 55

Book 2, No. 106

Catholic Regional College - Melton (Years 7-12) Principal: Mr Mark Sheahan Contact: 9743 6522 Catholic Regional College - Sydenham (Years 11- 12) Principal: Mr Brendan Watson Contact: 9361 0000

COMMISSIONING CEREMONIES This weekend during all masses we will be Commissioning Reader, Special Ministers and Parish Pastoral Council members. There will also be a cuppa after mass. All are welcome.

NEWS FROM THE WORSHIP QUADRANT NEXT WEEK 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C 5th & 6th October

Readers Special Ministers 5.30 Pat Fernandez Lorraine Tellis, Doris/George Bonello, Rita Harinos and Eddie Massa. 8.30 Michael Higgins Dolores Turcsan, Denise Van Rooyen and Carmen Vella. 10.30 Karina Dunne Josephine German and Ann Tennakoon.

Next Week’s Readings: Hab 1:2-3, 2:2-4; 2Tim 1:6-8, 13-14; Gospel: Lk 17:5-10

MASS COORDINATORS / COMMENTATORS 5.30pm - Alina Tsakonas and Dolores Turcsan.

5th & 6th October 8.30am - Marie Wytkamp and Lina Calleja. 10.30am - Natalie Howard and Josephine German.

PIETY STALL VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS WEEKEND: 28th & 29th September

5.30: Liza Fernandes 8.30am Josephine Xuereb 10.30am:Kim Barton PIETY STALL VOLUNTEERS FOR NEXT WEEKEND 5th & 6th October

5.30: Lorraine Tellis 8.30am Judy Johnson 10.30am:Rosa Smit

CLEANING ROSTER : Friday 4th October: Sue Alexander, Doris Bonello and Rosabella Tuala.

NEWS FROM THE FAITH FORMATION QUADRANT

Meditation NO MEDITATION THIS WEEK. Divine Mercy 1st Sunday of the month at 3.00pm . Fatima Statue Alfred & Louise Abela 9747 1260

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT - A Seminar to Rekindle Faith in the Power of the Holy Spirit At St. Monica’s Parish Centre, Mount Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds. Thursdays 7.45 - 9.15pm Songs of Praise & Worship, Teaching and Prayer.

3rd October New Life in God’s Spirit: Fr Vic Farrugia

10th October Growth & Community: Mr Russell Mogg

17th October Thanksgiving Healing Mass

Enquiries: Adrian Commadeur 9337 2051 or 0403 512 936 [email protected]

STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH ASYLUM SEEKERS Thursday 3 October, 10:30am - 12pm Good Shepherd Australia and New Zealand invites you to our special event Stand in Solidarity with Asylum Seekers with Sister Brigid Arthur as special speaker. Sr Brigid a Brigidine Sister and Asylum Seeker Advocate will talk about current issues facing asylum seekers in the community. Cost: By donation. All proceeds will go to The Brigidine Asylum Seeker project Where: Good Shepherd Chapel, St Heliers Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067 Contact: Roberto 9270 9742

BESTSELLING AMERICAN AUTHOR CHRIS LOWNEY. HEROIC LEADERS: WHO THEY ARE AND HOW THEY LIVE Tuesday 8 October, 6pm Chris Lowney, formerly a Jesuit seminarian, was appointed as a Managing Director of J.P. Morgan & Co while still in his thir-ties and worked in New York, Tokyo, Singapore and London until leaving the firm in 2001. In print and discussion he effective-ly merges astute business and spiritual wisdom. In his one hour presentation Chris will provide the necessary tools for making long-term life changes that can guide us to a more authentic, purposeful and deeply meaningful life. Talk at 6pm followed by Q&A and refreshments at 7pm. Cost: Free Where: Australian Catholic University, Mercy Lecture Theatre, Young St, Fitzroy

THIS WEEKEND IS CUPPA WEEKEND! Please feel free to stay after any of the weekend masses

or a friendly cuppa with your fellow parishioners. ALL WELCOME

MOVIE NIGHT

THIS WEEKEND, WE WILL ALSO BE CONDUCTING OUR MOVIE NIGHT AS PART OF THE

YEAR OF FAITH.IT WILL BE IN THE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM AND WILL START AT 5.30PM

THE MOVIE IS A FEATURE ON St FRANCIS OF ASSISI. “BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON” Rated PG

Congratulations to all those couples who re-

newed their vows this weekend

as part of the Anniversary Mass

Ceremony within the

5.30pm Vigil Mass

NEWS FROM THE PASTORAL CARE QUADRANT

We pray for the recently deceased: Father Victor (Vic) Crennan PE We pray for the death anniversary at this time of: Joseph Aquilina, Archiebald Arandez, Michael Azzopardi, Leslie Butler,

Angelo Borg, Emmanuel Caruana, Phillip Debrincat, Christopher John Doyle, Madeline Giordmaina, Darren Grech, Colleen O’Meara, Joseph Saliba, Dominic Ariel Santa Maria and Charlie Zammit.

Please pray for the Sick: Reg Marslen, Erlinda E. Cortez, Frank Consiglio, Victor Dimech, Therese Hall,

Albert Nicholls, Vicki & Bill Vassallo, Alex Venasilao, Gloria Cruz, Ian Nowak, Michael Saunders, Anna Persiano, Patricia Coulson and all those who have requested our prayers.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL Minutes of Monthly Parish Council Meeting dated 1st August 2013 are posted at the back of the church and copies are also

available on the Noticeboard for Parishioners.

The next Parish Pastoral Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 3rd October 2013. Any queries or suggestions, please

speak to any of the Council members.

NEWS FROM THE SERVICE / COMMUNITY QUADRANT

ST. ANTHONY’S PARISH BINGO St. Anthony’s conduct Bingo every Tuesday MR. JACKPOT: $2 per ticket. evening in Padua Hall. Jackpot Prizes: $2000, $10,000 & $30,000. Doors open 6.30pm, Eyes down at 7.30pm. Come along and support your parish Cost: $10 for 40 games and have a good time!

LAZARUS AT OUR GATE: SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY

We celebrate Social Justice this weekend. This year’s Social Justice Statement is titled: ‘Lazarus at our Gate: A critical moment in the fight against world poverty’. The Statement urges all Australians to focus on our obligation to help the world’s poorest and to work to combat poverty wherever it is found. Although progress has been made over the past dec-ade in the fight against extreme poverty, one billion people still live on less than $1.25 per day, and 20 per cent of the world’s poor live in countries near Australia. For further details about the Social Justice Statement, visit the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council website (www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au) or call (02) 8306 3499.

St Anthony`s Annual Dinner Dance:- Saturday 12th October

Tickets on Sale till this weekend 29th September only.

Cost is $25.00 per head. Cost includes buffet dinner including dessert.

Tea and coffee provided. BYO drinks.

Music by Lester and Floyd.

Ages 16 years and over.

Come, enjoy and bring a friend.

READING CINEMA TICKETS. Are you going to the cinema to see a movie soon? If you are, you can take some of the coupons available from the Mass Co-ordinators and give it to the cinema when you purchase tickets. 1 coupon per paid ticket. For every 10 of these coupons that you hand in to the cinema, we get a free ticket that we can put towards raffles conducted by us or prizes at one of our functions. It’s a win/win situation you enjoy your movie and the Parish enjoys the benefit of you going. Many thanks

FROM THE PARISH OFFICE COLLECTIONS: Presbytery Offering: Thanksgiving: (includes Direct Debit & Credit Cards) 22/9/2013 $ 528.00 $ 2104.30

The Sacred Scriptures have revealed the proper names

of only three Angels, all of whom belong to the Choir of

the Archangels. The names are well known to us all,

namely: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

The Archangel Michael Michael‟s name comes from the Hebrew Mikha’el,

meaning, „Who is like God?‟ His name is a battle cry;

both shield and weapon in the struggle, and an eternal

trophy of victory. As the proper name of one of the great Archangels,

the word Michael appears for the first time in the book

of the Prophet Daniel, where he is called: “Michael,

one of the chief princes,” and again: “At that time shall

Michael rise up, the great prince, who stands for the

children of thy people.” The title Archangel is given only to St Michael, even

though sacred tradition and the liturgy attribute the

same title to St Gabriel and St Raphael. According to

German writer Gustav Oehler: “This name, Michael —

„Who is like God?‟ — of the prince of the Angels does

not imply merely a humble acknowledgment on the

part of the angel, but it is rather an actual assertion

concerning the angel himself. The name thus

expresses the irresistibility of him to whom God gives

the power to execute His behests.” St Michael has always been the warrior angel,

fighting first Satan and his demons at the beginning,

then, in the course of time, all the enemies of God‟s

own people. He is “the great prince, who stands for the

children of thy people”. As of old, so today, St Michael

is the great defender of the Church on earth. Some of the older parishioners may remember the

invocation of St Michael in the prayers after the old

Mass: “St Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be

our safeguard against the wickedness and the snares of

the Devil; may God restrain him, we humbly pray. And

do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of

God, cast down Satan and the all the evil spirits who

wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.” As long as God‟s children are exposed to the

attacks of Satan in this world, St Michael‟s battle cry:

„Who is like God?‟ will continue to shatter the forces of

evil, and his powerful intervention in the struggle in

behalf of the children of God will never cease.

The Archangel Gabriel The name Gabriel seems to be composed of the

Hebrew words gebher: man, and ‘el: God, meaning,

therefore, „Man of God‟, or „Strength of God‟. Practically all the missions and manifestations of

this Archangel are closely connected with the coming

of the Messiah. The most accurate prophecy regarding

the time of the coming of Christ was made by St

Gabriel through the prophet Daniel. Immediately before the coming of Christ we meet

the Archangel Gabriel in the temple of Jerusalem,

announcing to Zachary the birth of a son, John the

Baptist, the precursor of Christ: “I am Gabriel, who

stand before God, and am sent to speak to thee, and

to bring thee these good tidings.” The greatest and by far the most joyful message

ever committed to an angel from the beginning of

time, was the one brought by the Archangel Gabriel to

the Virgin Mary, announcing to her the Incarnation of

the Word of God and the birth of Christ, the Saviour of

mankind. It is the first time that a prince of the court

of heaven greets an earthly child of God, a young

woman, with a deference and respect a prince would

show to his Queen. Heavenly wisdom, tact, adroitness are evident in

Gabriel‟s conversation with Mary: “The angel being come

in said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.”

Gabriel must overcome Mary's reaction of surprise at

both his appearance and especially at his “manner of

salutation”. He has to prepare and dispose her pure

virginal mind to the idea of maternity, and obtain her

consent to become the mother of the Son of God. Gabriel

nobly fulfills this task: “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast

found grace with God.” He calls her by her own name in

order to inspire confidence. It seems probable that Gabriel was the angel who

brought “good tidings of great joy” to the shepherds

“keeping night watches over their flock” the night that

Christ was born in Bethlehem. Gabriel was probably also the angel who “appeared in

sleep to Joseph”, first in Bethlehem when he warned him,

saying: "Arise, and take the child and his mother, and flee

into Egypt, and be there until I shall tell you. For it will

come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy

him.” After the death of Herod, the angel appeared to

Joseph again in Egypt to tell him to bring the child and his

mother back into the land of Israel. Gabriel, the „Strength of God‟. must have been the

Angel mentioned by St Luke in his narrative of Christ‟s

Agony in the Garden: “And there appeared to him an

Angel from heaven, strengthening him.” And it was fitting

that the angel who had witnessed the Saviour‟s agony

should also be the first to announce to the world the

Saviour‟s Resurrection, his triumph over sin and death on

Easter morning: “An angel of the Lord descended from

heaven, and coming rolled back the stone, and sat upon

it. And his countenance was as lightning, and his raiment

as snow.”

The Archangel Raphael Raphael, from the Hebrew rapha’: to heal, and ‘el: God,

means „God heals‟, or the „Divine healer‟. The history of Tobias, father and son, contains the

grandest angelophany of the whole Bible. St Raphael reveals himself as a divine healer not only

of physical infirmities, the blindness of old Tobias, but

also of spiritual afflictions and diabolical vexations, as in

the case of Sara, young Tobias‟ wife. Had not the

Archangel resorted to an assumed human form and

personality, it might not have been possible for him to

consort in such a familiar way with men, for several

consecutive weeks, because of the instinctive fear that

man experiences in the presence of celestial beings. Raphael, the Divine Healer, seems to have been at

work at Jerusalem in the days of our Lord, in the pool

called Bethsaida by the Sheepgate. In the five porticoes

surrounding that pool was a multitude of sick people,

waiting for the action of the angel upon the water of the

pool, an action that cured immediately any person who

first descended into the pool: “An angel of the Lord used

to come down at certain times into the pool and the

water was moved. And he that went down first into the

pool after the motion of the water, was cured of whatever

infirmity he had.”

Feast Day September 29—Ss Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels

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