Easter Edition

Newsletter

We live in the shadows of the

cross, with Christ the Morning

Star whose light is our life, our

hope and resurrection!

Jesus Lord, I’m enjoying Easter. I need Easter!

I need to hear about alleluias, and rejoicing, and being glad.

I need to visit the empty tomb with the Marys and Salome,

To hear your angel say: “He is not here; he is risen.”

And I need to race back with them to tell the disciples the astonishing news.

I need to meet you in the cemetery garden,

And to hear you say my name.

I need to be in the upper room to receive your gift of peace.

And I need to be offered again the gift of your Holy Spirit.

Easter renews my faith and gives me courage.

It helps me to keep on believing that you are with me.

It restores my faith in life because of its alleluias and rejoicing.

It gives me hope that someday

I’ll be raised up by my Father, as you were raised up.

I really need all these gifts. Thanks Lord for making Easter possible.

I’m so glad it’s here!

It is easy to miss Jesus on the road to Emmaus,

but if you pay attention he speaks to you

through strangers and confirms it with his word.

Who has been speaking to you on your

road? Did you stop to listen or did you just pass

them by?

PARISH LEADERSHIP TEAM REPORT

On the 1st of March the Parish Leadership Team (PLT) met to discuss a number of things including

the membership of the group. As a result of this discussion expressions of interest in joining the PLT

were sought from among families attending the Parish schools. Subsequently and after

conversations with Fr Barry, Mr John Rudd, former Deputy Principal of Holy Eucharist School in St

Albans and current Head of Middle School at Aitkin College has volunteered to join the PLT. We

welcome John to the group and look forward to his contributions to the life of our Parish.

The meeting opened with a prayer led by Gerard Broadfoot entitled ‘Compassion in the Year of

Mercy’. Later in the meeting there was a general discussion about how the Parish could engage in

The Year of Mercy and Fr Barry explained that to begin with the Parish would use the

Pope’s Year of Mercy Prayer once a month and Gerard suggested the use of a song ‘Hymn for the

Jubilee Year of Mercy’ by Marty Haugen. The school principals also reported that the schools are

conducting activities etc to raise awareness of the Year of Mercy among the students and their

families and that the Social Justice teams from MOG, STA and Our Lady’s Sunshine were having a

day together at MOG 2nd of March.

Recently the current Parish Bulletin Reflection Roster has been completed the PLT discussed the

possibility of recruiting extra contributors. If anyone is interested you can contact Fr Barry.

We also discussed some changes to Parish Liturgy Planning.

We are currently investigating signage for the Parish and a discussion was had about possible

designs and Robert Macklin shared some designs that were considered when selecting the new St

Theresa’s School signs and the signwriting company that the school used has been invited to contact

Fr Barry for further discussions.

We discussed the Sth Sudan project and ways that we can continue to support the two trainee

nurses.

Our major concern at the moment concerns our Outreach programs. We are concerned about

finding out about Parishioners and community members who may need our help but of whom we

are unaware. This particularly applies to the sick and the elderly. If you know of anyone in this

situation please let Fr Barry know. We are also keen to hear from Parishioners who might be able

to volunteer to visit those in need.

Don’t forget that there is the March for Justice for Refugees. You are all welcome to join in.

The PLT will next meet on Tuesday 12th April at 7 p.m.

The leadership team wishing you and your family a safe and Holy Easter break.

CRUCIFIED

JESUS

VIGIL

RISEN

CROWN

FORGIVENESS

RESURRECT

TOMB

CROSS

EASTER

REMEMBER

THORNS

PARISH CARAVAN

NEEDING A HOLIDAY? Our

parish has a lovely caravan in a

lovely caravan park just across

from the beach at Safety Beach

near Dromana on the

Mornington Peninsula. All

parishioners and their families

and school families are

welcome to use it. To make a

booking come to the

Presbytery or call the Parish

Office on 9311 3091. The cost is

$50 a night (Negotiable if that

is difficult for you.) Presently

the caravan is available

anytime from now till Sunday

3rd April, and from Saturday 9th

April till Sunday 10th July.

Mother of God School

2016 has seen a significant growth in enrolments at

MOGS, we will start Term 2 with 109 beautiful

students. I believe this is the largest enrolment in

more than 25 years. We celebrated getting over

the century with a hard fought cricket match, the

inaugural MOGS Big Bash, between the adults and

the kids and in true Aussie style both teams made

Over a century. We also celebrated another wonderful tradition last week when Sister Macrina

and Mother Lucia, from the Convent of St Basil, worked with the children in creating beautiful

Ukranian Easter Eggs, Pysanka. The Makahon family, who has had four generations associated

with MOGS arranged the program, a wonderful way to start our Easter celebrations. We are

thankful for everything we have achieved together this term.

Parish Notices Page WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING You are invited on board the trip of a lifetime. Irish singer Maria Forde will be taking 20

guests around Ireland for two glorious weeks in September. If you have ever wanted to see Ireland’s beautiful countryside,

experience the Irish humour firsthand and listen to beautiful Irish music then this is your tour. We will visit Northern Ireland

and Southern Ireland, stay in wonderful accommodation and travel in a luxury coach. Some of the places we visit are

Kylemore Abbey, the seaside village of Dingle, Glenstal Abbey, Dublin, Galway, Westport, Cork, Newgrange and many more

destinations. Tour dates are September 16th to October 1st 2016.

Places are limited to 20 maximum so please call Chris at Emerald Travel on 03 96709696 for an itinerary or

visit www.mariaforde.com Welcome Aboard!

PROJECT COMPASSION Many thanks to all who have already returned their Project Compassion boxes or envelopes. If you still have yours please get them back to us at your earliest convenience. Through Project Compassion we support needy people in many parts of the world in their heroic efforts to make life better for themselves, their families and their communities.

EVENING PRAYER GROUP Thursdays, 7.00pm at Queen of Heaven. All welcome.

CLEANERS Saturday 2nd April (MG) B Labbad (StT) M Alexander (QH) R Xuereb, T Farrugia

THANKSGIVING Weekly TG Pledge: $1620 Last Week’s Giving: $1429 Presbytery Collection: $577

COUNTERS 3rd April Team 2: M Azzopardi, E Correya, M Poulter

READINGS Today Next Week Acts 10:34:37-43 Acts 5:12-16 Psalm 118:1-2,16-17,22-23 Psalm 118:2-4,22-24,25-27 Colossians 3:1-4 Revelations 1:9-11a,12-13, 17-19 John 20:1-18 John 20:19-31

MASS TIMES ST THERESA’S Drummartin St, Albion 9.00am Friday 10.30am Sunday MOTHER OF GOD Blanche St, Ardeer 9.00am Monday (Polish) 10.00am Wednesday (Pol) 9.00am Thursday 6.00pm Friday (Polish) 6.00pm Saturday 10.30am Sunday (Polish) QUEEN OF HEAVEN Holt St, Ardeer 9.00am Wednesday 9.00am Sunday 4.30pm Sunday (Syro-Malabar)