PARISH PRAYER

St Michael the Archangel,
patron of our parish, be with us as we strive
to be faithful to our Baptismal call,
to love God and our neighbours.
Spread your protective wings over us
and our entire parish.
Protect us from fear, lies and everything
that prevents us from experiencing
God’s love for us in all its fullness.
Help us to always choose what is
good, right, and true and nurture within us
the courage, love, and respect
we need to face our fears
and to protect all of God’s creation. Amen.

WHAT IS MYSTAGOGIA?

Mystagogia, is an old Greek term that means ‘teaching/ learning/ interpreting the mystery of God working in our lives.’

What does Mystagogia mean for our former R.C.I.A (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) candidates, who have now completed their Sacraments of Initiation? This means that they can now journey together with all the baptised, discovering God and building up their relationships with God and His people.

What does Mystagogia means for the rest of us? As Baptised Catholics, it is our duty to further our relationship and understanding of the mysteries and the love of God, as well as helping others along the way, in particular, by assisting those newly baptised.

What is the time period of Mystagogia? Although Mystagogia is the period from our baptism till the day we leave this Earth, we focus on the Easter period (from Easter Sunday to Pentecost), as the new members embrace what it means to be with us, and part of this great faith.

MYSTAGOGIA MASS

Bishop Greg Bennet will celebrate this Mass at St Thomas the Apostle church, Clyde North on May 11 at 6.00pm. A fitting conclusion to the formal journey of RCIA each year. This year’s RCIA participants, sponsors, families, team members and parishioners are invited. Please bring a plate to share.

TRANSPORT TO MASS NEEDED

For a parishioner who lives in Harkaway and usually attends 10.30am Mass, flexible re time if necessary. If you can help, please contact the Parish Support Centre.

MIGRANT MASS

St Michael’s will host this wonderful occasion for all our different cultures to come together and celebrate the diversity of our Diocese. On Sunday September 29 at 3.00pm at St Michael’s Church, celebrated by Bishop Greg Bennet, Fr Jeff, Fr Paul and priests and deacons from our Diocese, followed by a sit-down function in the Stadium. If you would like to join in organising the event and showcase your country, please call the Parish Support Centre. We would like to have as many countries as possible represented: in food preparation, reading in your native language, cultural dancing and singing and general help on the day. There will be a sub-committee with a few meetings in the coming months (dates to be advised) to organise the running of the day. Thank you.

JUNIOR LEGION

Welcomes any new members. Aimed at children from 6 to12 years, held on Saturday’s at 4.30pm, in the Parish Support Centre. Prayer, Catechesis, and activities.

EUCHARISTIC & VACUUMING ROSTERS

Will be prepared shortly to begin in June. If you would like to assist with either ministry or your availability has changed, contact Geraldine at the Parish Support Centre. Thank you.

REVELATIONS BIBLE STUDIES

‘The Kingdom Yet to Come’ by Jeff Cavins and Thomas Smith begins on May 3 with 10 Sessions. More info: gennysilvapulle@hotmail.com or Brian D‘Oliveira mobile 0422 386 310.

MEMORIAL WALL

Is located on the external wall of the Church behind the Tabernacle. If you would like to order plaque forms are available in the foyer or contact the Parish Support Centre.

THE PARISH POOR BOX - A BOON FOR LOCAL FAMILIES IN NEED

Is located next to the piety stall and provides a chance for ALL parishioners to support local families in need. Donations received are used by our parish. St Vincent de Paul Conference to provide important items for family members food from our pantry, petrol and food vouchers, assistance with power bills, school uniforms etc. PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY!!

POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER INTENTION FOR MAY 2024

That seminarians, men and women religious, will grow in their vocational journey through human, pastoral, spiritual, and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses of the Gospel.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

When Jesus says, “love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:9-17) there is no room for violence of any form. Yet many in our communities experience the pain of physical violence, control, and manipulation. Feigning ignorance, or enabling such violence is clearly wrong and cowardly. We pray that we and our community may always stand with victims and survivors of domestic violence. For information: cdsale.org.au/sal

JOURNEYING WITH MARY

Diocesan Day of Devotion to Mary on May 11 at Our Lady Help of Christians, 9.15am-2.00pm.

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA

May 12, Adoration, Prayers, Procession, Mass, St Mary’s East Malvern. Beginning at 1.30pm. See flyer.

PARENTS PRAYER GROUP

At Rivercrest on a Tuesday morning at 8.45am in the Reflections Café. Further info: andria.vanotterloo@rivercrest.vic.edu.au or Cheryl.lees@rivercrest.vic.edu.au All welcome.

ST VINCENTS SOUP VAN

Are you keen to volunteer to make a significant impact in our local community? St Vinnies Soup Van services the communities of Berwick, Narre Warren, Hampton Park, and Cranbourne by providing nutritious meals and compassion to those in need. We are currently recruiting volunteers to assist in either preparing and cooking meals and/or distributing meals and pantry items at our regular distribution stops. We operate out of the kitchen at St Francis Xavier College in Beaconsfield, distributing meals on Sunday and Thursday evenings and a pantry run fortnightly on Tuesdays. There is no greater reward than seeing the immense difference you can make to the lives of others who are in dire need, as witnessed on each and every soup van run. Please collect a pamphlet from the church foyer or email Jo: berwick.sv.pres@svdp-vic.org.au

CARITAS AUSTRALIA’S SUDAN CRISIS APPEAL

Following the outbreak of conflict in Sudan a year ago, 25 million people - including 14 million children - now need humanitarian assistance and support. Damage to infrastructure has impacted access to food, water, healthcare services, and even banking. Sudan now teeters on the edge of a famine. The Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference has raised concerns “the international community has forgotten the Sudan crisis” and called on the Caritas network across the world to “engage their respective governments, donors, and the wider international community to urgently pick up and advocate for the needed resources to avert the looming famine.” Donate online caritas.org.au/sudan or 1800 024 413

ENGAGING YOUR FAITH

Nine stand-alone online seminar sessions on a range of themes will be presented by members of CTC lecturing staff during May. These sessions are an ideal opportunity to explore the possibilities offered at CTC for personal, theological, and spiritual development. Cost: $25 per session - General audience. More information Click here

REFLECTION

– Dianne Bergant CSA

The boundlessness of God’s love is seen in the fact that God loved us even before we were deserving of God’s love. In fact, it was God’s love that made us able both to receive and to give love in return. Love is of God; love is God. Divine love is constant and trustworthy. How easily we can think this thought or speak these words, yet how difficult, even impossible, it is to comprehend what it means. We can only really recognise love in its many concrete manifestations. Love is patient, kind and forbearing; it believes, it hopes, it endures. The love of God breaks down the barriers between Gentile and Jew, between slave and free, between the poor and the prosperous, between women and men, between the healthy and the ailing, between young and old.

Embraced by such love we are gradually transformed. We begin to recognise God’s love in places we never suspected it would be found. We discover that what we once judged unclean may merely be an unfamiliar openness to God’s truth. We discover that our own insistence on legitimate religious practice may really be spiritual elitism. Our eyes are opened to ways we have tried to confine God’s love to the conventional boundaries we ourselves have set. As we are drawn into God’s love, we eagerly embrace the commandments that help us to live righteous lives. To the extent that we love as universally as God does, we will know that we live in God and that God lives in us.