Both our Churches are fitted with a hearing induction loop. Please use the ‘T’ or other appropriate switch on your hearing aid. Please tell us if you experience any difficulty.

We acknowledge the Yalukit Willam Clan, the traditional owners and custodians of this land. We pay our respects to them.

May we walk gently here.

The CarmeliteParish of Port Melbourne and Middle Park

in the care of the Carmelites since 1882

4th Sunday in Lent 31 March 2019

in this issueParish News ...... ...3 &4

First ReconciliationPalm Sunday Walk “Walk for Refugees”Lenten ReconcilationDivine MercyStations of the CrossMiddle Park Support GroupBASP CollectionSt Vincent de PaulOur Lady of Garabandal

Parish Lenten Calendar..5Project Compassion ........6Lent & Easter Timetable..7Reflection on this Week’s Readings .....8Our Liturgy ................ 9

OPEN FORUMMONDAY 8 APRIL 2019

O’CONNOR/PILKINGTON ROOMS A7 7:00PM “IT’S NOT EASY BEING A CATHOLIC?”

A number of parishioners have expressed their justifiable dismay at the recent events surrounding the Church, especially here in Melbourne. The findings of the Victorian Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Royal Commission into Sexual Abuse by Institutions and the recent findings against George Pell, a former Archbishop of Melbourne, have made being a Catholic today challenging, dispiriting, confusing, gut wrenching and almost every negative feeling we can name.

At the behest of both individual parishioners and the Parish Advisory Group, a decision has been made to host an Open Forum for any of our parishioners who feel the need to express how they are feeling and to provide an opportunity for listening and dialoguing with each other.

The Forum is not intended for grandstanding or a definitive verdict on all matters Catholic. It is an opportunity for respectful exchange of views and feelings, without judgement, and in a safe environment.

Two questions will be posed:1. How am I feeling in the light of the recent events?2. Where can we go as parishioners of this community?

The Forum will be facilitated by Kevin Meese, who besides being our Saturday evening organist, is the State Director of Catholic Missions for Victorian and Tasmania. Kevin is an experienced facilitator of open discussion and listening forums.

The evening will commence simply with tea and coffee at 7:00pm on Monday, 8 April and will finish at 9:00pm. Everybody is welcome.

Because of the Forum, the Community Reconciliation originally scheduled for that day at OLMC will be held on Tuesday 9 April at OLMC at 7:00pm.

On a personal note, a special thank you to those who raised the issue and a very big thank you to all of you who continue to support our community here at St Joseph’s and Mount Carmel.

our parish this weekMonday 1 April9.00am Mass, both churches

Tuesday 2 April9.00am Mass, both churches

Wednesday 3 April - Parish Office Closed9.00am Mass, St Joseph’s9.00am Morning Prayer, Mt Carmel7.00pm Sacrament of First Reconciliation, Mt Carmel

Thursday 4 April9.00am Mass, both churches10.00am Christian Meditation Program, Malone Room7.00pm Meditation, Malone Room.

Friday 5 April8.30am Stations of the Cross, Mt Carmel9.00am Mass, both churches9.30am Lectio Divina, Mt Carmel

Saturday 6 April9.00am Mass, both churches6.00pm Vigil Mass, Mt Carmel

Sunday 7 April - 5th Sunday of Lent 9.00am Mass, St Joseph’s10.30am Mass, Mt Carmel (with Baptisms) 3.00pm Divine Mercy Chaplet

we remember

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Churches St Joseph’s cnr Rouse & Stokes Streets Port Melbourne

Our Lady of Mount Carmel cnr Richardson & Wright Streets Middle Park

Sunday Masses 6.00pm (Sat) Mount Carmel 9.00am Saint Joseph’s 10.30am Mount Carmel

Reconciliation after 9.00am Mass Saturday

Carmelite Parish Office 274 Rouse Street Port Melbourne Vic 3207

Telephone 03 9681 9600

After Hours Emergency 0408 754 283

Email parish@sj-mc.org.au

Parish Website www.sj-mc.org.au

Carmelite Website www.carmelites.org.au

Office Hours 9am-4pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday(CLOSED WEDNESDAYS)

Parish Priest Fr Hugh Brown OCarm

Parish Secretary Anne Ierardo (Monday to Thursday)

Community Liaison Sr Geraldine Stapleton csb(Monday/Tuesday & Weekend Mass)

Pastoral Life Co-ordinator Michael Murray (Wednesday/ Thursday)

Finance Officer Shane Harrison (Tuesday - Friday)

Facilities Manager Ken Chaffer

Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School Bank Street South Melbourne Vic 3205

Telephone 03 9699 2928 Principal Simon Millar

Those who are ill or in need of prayer: John Bassett, Karen Brown, Maureen Dickason, Richard Grant, Ivy Hermence, Tony Hyde, Maria & Joseph Jelincic, Kath Kehoe, Betty Molnar, Maria Loc Nguyen, Greg Pringle, John Pringle, Rafal Rafalski, Sash Carti Somerset-Beauverie, May Spencer, Helen Stanley, Ivo Strauss, Jim Sullivan, Bridgid Toohey, Sr Barbara Walsh, Jonathon Will, Tami Yap, Helen York, Roma Zinger.

Those who have died recently: Constance Reed

Those who anniversaries occur at this time: Donald MacLellan, and Carmelites, Alphonsus Kindelan, Aloysius Farnsworth Joseph Butler, Michael Camilleri and Bernard Shah

ministers

for your generosity last SundaySt Joseph’s Carmelite and Parish Offering $ 1,447.00Our Lady of Mt Carmel Carmelite and Parish Offering $926.00

thank you

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6/7 April5th Sunday of Lent

6.00pm Mount CarmelCommentator: Angela Cox

Reader: Pat Mount

Eucharistic Ministers: Kathy Mount, Janine Brodie, Kelly McEnhill

Communion to the Sick: N/A

9.00am St Joseph’sCommentator: Brian Harrison

Reader: Elisabeth Northam

Eucharistic Ministers: Pablo & Danielle Craievich, Frances Correa

Counters: Ron and Sandra Cassano

Childrens’ Liturgy: N/A

10.30am Mount CarmelCommentator: John Molnar

Reader: Sally Diserio

Eucharistic Ministers: Michael Murray, Sally Diserio, John Molnar

Childrens’ Liturgy: N/A

Hospitality: N/A

in our parish

Stations of the CrossOur Lady of Mount Carmel Church

8.30am Fridays of LentStations of the Cross will be held

each Friday in Lent at 8.30am. All are welcome.

Divine Mercy Chaplet3.00pm Sunday 7 April 2019

Our Lady of Mount Carmel ChurchBenediction, Adoration before Blessed Sacrament,

rosary and hymns. All Welcome.

Palm Sunday “Walk For Justice For Refugees”On Palm Sunday (14th April) please join the Melbourne Catholic community in prayer and reflection for those seeking asylum and a short workshop before together joining the 'Walk for Justice for Refugees'.

This prayer and reflection will be held at:Cardinal Knox Centre

Cathedral Room383 Albert St, East Melbourne

(Enter via the Lansdowne St Car Park).

Light refreshments from 12.30pm and the prayer and reflection to begin at 1pm. We will join the Walk for Justice for Refugees at 2pm at the State Library of Victoria.

We invite you to RSVP to justice@cam.org.au for catering

Celebration of the Sacrament of First Reconciliation

On Wednesday 3 April our Reconciliation candidates will celebrate their First Reconciliation at OLMC at 7:00pm. Please pray for them as they take this important step in their lives. My thanks to Fr Matthew for assisting with the evening.

Parish Lenten ReconcilationDue to Parish Forum we will hold our

Lenten Reconcilation on at 7.00pm Tuesday 9 April at Our Lady of Mount Carmel

and 7.00pm Thursday 11 April at St Joseph’s

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Carmelite Centre Program BookingsT: 9690 5430 (leave message if unattended) or registration@thecarmelitecentremelbourne.org

via website: www.thecarmelitecentremelbourne.org

The Carmelite Centre is a joint venture of the Carmelites of Australia and East Timor and our Parish of Port Melbourne/Middle Park.

Address: 214 Richardson Street, Middle Park Vic 3206 (Mel Ref 2K C10) T: (03) 9690 5430 Website: www.thecarmelitecentremelbourne.org

The Carmelite LibraryThe Carmelite Library, located in the Carmelite Hall next to the Church, is open on

Tuesdays from 12.00 to 8.00pm and Wednesday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. t: (03) 9682 8553e: librarian@carmelitelibrary.org website: www.carmelitelibrary.org

In Our Parish

Our conference meets next Tuesday evening, 2 April at 7.30pm in St. Joseph’s Hall Port Melbourne. All welcome. If you would like to enquire about helping

in our rewarding work please join us on Tuesday evening or call Joan Cusack on 0478224624 or Pat Mount on 0418380549.

Our Lady of Garabandal On Monday 1st April 2019 at 2pm there will be a presentation at the home of Richard and Beverley Grant (56 Armstrong St, Middle Park, Ph 96997628) about the alleged public appearances of Our Lady of Garabandal in Spain during the years 1961 to 1966 regarding the times we live in.

Leaving Collection This Weekend - BASP (Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project)

We will hold a leaving collection this weekend for the BASP. Funds raised will go towards the cost of Myki Cards.

Middle Park Support GroupWe are currently looking for some more donations of goods to help keep our support group operating. We are running low on a few staple items. If you are able to donate any of the following items that would be appreciated. We are in need of: Tinned Vegetables, Tinned Fruit, Tinned Soup, Peanut Butter, Bottled Tomato Pasta Sauce, Long-Life Milk, Muesli Bars,

Tuna and Toilet Paper. Toiletries, shampoos, toothpaste etc. are also great. So when you next are at the supermarket if you could pop a couple of extra items for the food cupboard in your basket that would be most appreciated.

Items can be left at church during mass times or brought to the Support Group in the O’Connor Pilkington Rooms on Wednesdays between 9.30 and 11.00am. Thank you for your support. Jackie Tidey

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www.thecarmelitecentremelbourne.org info@thecarmelitecentremelbourne.org +61 3 9690 5430

facilitating spiritual journeys

Parish Lenten Program 2019

Anytime by appointment

Carmelite Retreat Weekend Friday 12 - Sunday 14 April Silence in the Carmelite Traditionwith Fr Matthew McPhee OCarmat Santa Casa, Queenscliff.

Christian Meditation 10.00am every Thursday with Kathryn Pilein the Malone Room.

Lectio Divina9.30am every Fridaywith Fr David Hofman OCarmin the Lady Chapel, OLMC.(Not on Good Friday)

Mornings Evenings

WeekendsDay of Prayer10am-3pm Saturday 30 March Wisdom for the Lenten Journeywith Fr Peter Martin in the OCP Rooms.

Lenten Refl ection7.00 Tuesday 26 FebruaryReading Luke’s Gospelwith Br Matthew Tonini OCarmin the OCP Rooms.

Meditation7.00pm every Thursday with Peter Thomasin the Malone Room.(Not on Holy Thursday)

Carmelite Conversations10.30am Wednesday 3 AprilThe Martyrs of Compiègnewith Emily Frazerin the Carmelite Library.

Library Lecture7.00pm Tuesday 12 March Spirituality in Religious Educationwith Rina Madden in the OCP Rooms.

You are invited to use some or all of these opportunities during Lent and make space and time to support your faith journey.

Please check the various fl yers in the churches for more information about each of these offerings or contact the Carmelite Centre (details below) with any queries.

Spiritual Direction‘Life Conversations’ to support you on your spiritual journey.Contact the Carmelite Centre to discuss the options available.

Carmelite Conversations10.30am Wednesday 6 MarchFive Carmelite Saintswith Damien Peilein the Carmelite Library.

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Project Compassion: Week 3: AustrAliA

Your donation will support programs around the world that provide vulnerable people with the skills and opportunities they need. Project Compassion money boxes and envelopes are available for collection from the Church foyer. The money boxes are an excellent way to introduce your children to Project Compassion.

Twenty-one year-old Michaela is helping to build a social enterprise for people with chronic illnesses at The Purple House in Alice Springs. Featured in Project Compassion 2014, the First Australian-run Wellbeing Project, uses its profits to connect and care for dialysis patients who are far from home.

As a Purple House trainee, Michaela completed a Certificate IV in business management. She was also recently promoted from administration trainee to permanent employee, working onThe Wellbeing Project.

The young Alywarr woman cares for patients as they receive dialysis and helps them to feel at home and remain hopeful during treatment. Patients in turn pass on traditional knowledge to Michaela.

The program is run by the Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation, with support from Caritas Australia. First Australians are twice as likely to experience chronic kidney disease, and four times more likely to die from it than other Australians*.

With the help of staff like Michaela, the Aboriginal-controlled service gives patients the opportunity to stay connected with their culture. They do this through traditional healing practices and income-generating activities, such as making bush balms and soaps.

Profits are invested back into supporting patients receiving remote care and help to get people on dialysis back on country.

In addition to completing her studies, Michaela has obtained a driver’s licence, and is building her leadership skills running workshops solo.

“Hope means having something to look forward to,” Michaela says. “I enjoy building relationships with the patients and learning from them. If we keep our culture alive we can feel strong”.

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Community Reconciliation Tuesday 9 April, 7:00pm: Mt Carmel Thursday 11 April, 7:00pm: St Joseph’s

Palm/Passion Sunday 13/14 April 6:00pm: Vigil Mass at Mount Carmel 9:00am: Mass at St Joseph’s 10:30am: Mass at Mount Carmel

Holy Thursday 18 April 9:00am: Morning Prayer – Both Churches 7:30pm: Mass of the Lord’s Supper at Mount Carmel

Good Friday 19 April 10:00am: Morning Prayer – Both Churches 3:00pm: Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion – Both Churches

Holy Saturday 20 April 10:00am: Morning Prayer – Both Churches 7:30pm: Easter Vigil at Mount Carmel

Easter Sunday 21 April 9:00am: Easter Mass at St Joseph’s 10:30am: Easter Mass at Mount Carmel

Port Melbourne/Middle Park Parish

Lent and Easter Timetable 2019

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REfLECTIONS ON THIS WEEK’S READINGS

continued on page 16

The parable of the prodigal son is one of those stories which we all know in detail. We find ourselves taking sides or identifying with one or other of the characters. If we are honest, we can probably admit that at different times we are any one of the four characters in the story.

We are immediately attracted by the personal qualities of the father: he is a peace-maker, very keen to normalise the family relationships as quickly as possible; he has no thoughts of revenge; he doesn’t worry about what the neighbours will think or say about his younger son; he doesn’t say a word about his rights; he does not call the young man to give an account of his behaviour.

Moreover, he is quick to change the subject to prevent an emotional outburst from the elder brother. He is clearly physically affectionate, and he has excellent judgement about the right time and circumstance for a party.

By contrast, the elder brother’s focus is on recriminations. He has tallied up in his mind a detailed list of past rights and wrongs, merits and claims. His arithmetic is faultless. He is good at throwing a tantrum.

How could these three men belong to the same family. But look again! In the three main characters, the parable brings together the struggles and desires of all of us. We know what lust feels like, there are times when we are generous, forgiving and kind-hearted, we know we can be calculating and protective of our own rights.

However, the climax of the story leaves us in no doubt that it is the elder brother in all of us that is, in fact, the greatest obstacle to bringing about reconciliation in our world.

Whoever shaped this story did it with consummate skill. It is loaded with ironic parallels and contrasts. Not only are we individually anyone of the four characters but indeed these four characteristics are at play, or better, at war, all around us.

Some people live their lives like the younger son. It’s all about ME! It’s about what I can get out of life and to hell with everyone else. This boy is the huge and obscene profits of Banks and Telcos and Arms-Production. I want it all and I want it now and I have no care about the impact it has on anyone else, or on the environment. Individualism is rife; selfishness dominates; profits alone matter.

In contrast, the elder son, whose conduct has been ruled by righteousness, takes himself into self-imposed emotional exile. People like the elder brother are totally lacking in compassion; they live their lives building divisions and boundaries and are prepared to turn to violence if they perceive that their own rights have been transgressed.

Their self-righteousness has frozen them and robbed them of any sense of celebration and joy. They have no compassion and are more likely to see the other as an enemy rather than a source of friendship. They are people who hate, and their hatred can lead them to extreme violence and retribution.

And then there’s the father. Life seems at first to have slipped away from him; not just his son but half his work force has left and made life very difficult for him. He reminds us of those who in face of a decaying Church structure and many daily examples of a world depleted of moral values, remains prayerfully faithful to their call.

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OUR LITURGY

processional hymn shelter Me, O GOd

Penitential Rite

Celebrant: We have been called by God to be the Church, the Body of Christ in this world. We are not a building,but a people, gathered and grounded in the Word of God, the love of Christ, and the unity of the Holy Spirit.

Celebrant: We were darkness once,All: but now we are light in Christ.

Celebrant: We no longer need the darkness, O God, for now we live in the light of your truth:All: so that all may plainly see that what we do is done in you.

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Joshua 5:9-12 The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I have taken the shame of Egypt away from you.’

The Israelites pitched their camp at Gilgal and kept the Passover there on the fourteenth day of the month, at evening in the plain of Jericho. On the morrow of the Passover they tasted the produce of that country, unleavened bread and roasted ears of corn, that same day. From that time, from their first eating of the produce of that country, the manna stopped falling. And having manna no longer, the Israelites fed from that year onwards on what the land of Canaan yielded.

Celebrant: Lord Jesus Christ, you shatter the darkness of our blindness, and light a new path for us in mercy and compassion.All: You are the Light of the World!

Celebrant: Out of darkness, dust and ash:

All: you raise a people of clear vision and new sight.

Celebrant: Holy Spirit come!All: Surround us with your love, so that we may come home to you with all our hearts.

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Responsorial psalm Psalm 34: tAste And see

I will bless the Lord, at all times,his praise ever in my mouth.Glory in the Lord for ever, and the lowly will hear and be glad.

Glory in the Lord with me, let us together extol his name.I sought the Lord, he answered meand delivered me from all my fears.

Look to him that you might be radiant with joy,and your faces free from all shame.The Lord hears the suffering souls,and saves them from all distress.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 For anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here. It is all God’s work. It was God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the work of handing on his reconciliation. In other words, God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself, not holding men’s faults against them, and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. So we are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the sinless one into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God.

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gospel acclamation

gospel

Luke 15:1-3. 11-32 The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:

‘A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, “Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.” So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

‘When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.” So he left the place and went back to his father.

‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.

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APOSTLES CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried;he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Cel: The Lord be with you. All: And with your Spirit.Cel: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord.Cel: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. All: It is right and just.

The Celebrant prays the preface at the end of which all sing:

‘Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. “Your brother has come” replied the servant “and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound.” He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father, “Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women – you kill the calf we had been fattening.”

‘The father said, “My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it is only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”’

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HOLY, HOLY

Memorial Acclamation

Lamb OF GOD

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Communion HYMN On eAGle’s WinGs

Cel: Behold the Lamb of God. Behold him who takes away the sins of the World. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

All: Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

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continued from page 8

Recessional hymn tree Of life

The CaTholiC Parish of PorT Melbourne and Middle Park is CoMMiTTed To Providing a safe and nurTuring CulTure

for all Children and young PeoPle in our Parish.

Light of life beyond conceiving, Mighty Spirit of our Lord;Give new strength to our believing, Give us faith to live your word.

Give us eyes to see you clearly, Make us children of your light;Give us hearts to live more nearly As your gospel shining bright.

These are the people who heroically and lovingly care for their difficult children or their difficult parents; who care greatly about the injustices perpetrated by governments and individuals or the Church and train themselves in patience, compassion and forgiveness and will not entertain hatred, revenge or destructive criticism in their house and will not allow them to sit at their table.

The younger brother returns to his home [who he really is!] because there is nowhere else to go. He cannot go on being this false person.

The older brother estranged from his home [who he really is!] because of his inflexible and self-righteousness attitude. He has all the answers. He will not enter into dialogue with the other.

The father? Well, he is the only one who wanted to have a party!

Reflection by Paul Gurr, Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation Commission Team