St Thomas Catholic Parish Drysdale in Drysdale, Victoria | Church of God

St Thomas Catholic Parish Drysdale

Locality: Drysdale, Victoria

Phone: +61 3 5251 2502

Address: Peninsula Dr 3222 Drysdale, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.stthomasparishdrysdale.org.au

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25.01.2022 A message from the Parish Child Safety Committee Our parish could not function without the help of the many volunteers who perform the tasks required so that we may all enjoy and participate in the sharing of the Mass and sacraments. Your St Thomas Parish Child Safe Committee is working to put in place policies and procedures to protect the children and young people within our parish community. The Working with Children Check is but one component of a comprehensive approach... to child safety. In acknowledging that children and young people often hold those who volunteer in high regard, there is a requirement for all volunteers to hold a Working with Children Check. Information for how to apply is found below. Working with Children Checks ensures we create a safe environment for children, young people and the vulnerable, and demonstrates our commitment to excluding persons who pose an obvious risk to children and young people. If you already hold a current Working with Children Check please bring this to the attention of your mass centre representative so that your card details and evidence are recorded as well as guidance regarding any further actions required to have you registered against St Thomas Parish. End Date: 30 October 2020. By which time we must have evidence of your application or card number. After this date only those holding evidence will be able to volunteer within our parish community. Working with Children Checks are free for volunteers. If you require assistance applying for your Working with Children Check contact your mass centre representative who will be able to assist you. We are there to assist you. Mass Centre Representatives: Drysdale Mary - Catherine - Leopold Mary - Portarlington Pam - St Leonards Kerry - FURTHER INFORMATION: WWCC website Apply for a Check: https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au///how-to-apply Details required on the application form: - St Thomas Parish Drysdale 43 Wyndham St Drysdale 3220 Ph 03 5251 2502 Thank you all for your loyalty to our Parish, your volunteering is appreciated.

24.01.2022 Today we celebrate the feast of St Faustina. Born in 1905, Helena Kowalska (as she was then known) came from a very poor, religious family in the countryside of... Poland. She joined the convent at 20 years of age and lived the humble life of a religious, praying and working in the kitchen and garden. St Faustina's greatest legacy was her diary, in which she wrote her conversations with Jesus, who visited her and entrusted her with an incredible mission: Today I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world (Diary, 1588) St Faustina's diary has since been translated into more than 30 languages and has become a source of hope and consolation for men and women across the world. As Pope John Paul II said at her canonisation: 'It was between the First and Second World Wars that Christ entrusted his message of mercy to her. Jesus told Sr Faustina: "Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustfully to divine mercy" (Diary, p. 132). It is not a new message but can be considered a gift of special enlightenment that helps us to relive the Gospel of Easter more intensely, to offer it as a ray of light to the men and women of our time.' Let us pray that through the intercession of St Faustina, the tender mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ may be poured out and heal our suffering world. And may each one of us say with confidence, 'Jesus, I trust in you!' St Faustina, pray for us!

24.01.2022 I don’t run. I like swimming; happy to go for a walk, or get on a bike for a ride. But I don’t run. My knees would be very unhappy with me if I did. This wasn’t... always the case. When I was young, I wasn’t too bad at marathons no speed about me, but I could steadily jog along for quite a distance. It might be something about the Comensoli physiology my brother does ‘tour de France’ length bike rides, and my niece runs those crazy 100km ultra marathons. Advent, this lovely season that draws us forward in hope towards the Lord’s nativity, is full of running imagery, or at least imagery of striving ahead, of moving forward, of going on. Advent is the goal-oriented season of grace. But it is particular in its orientation and imagery, beginning from God but inviting us in. Unlike the ancient Greek gods who lived their lives separated from earthly creatures, our God the God of the Incarnation is always going out to meet his creation. The one true creator God cannot but go out. Why? Because our God is love; and love is always about going out to the beloved. So, we heard in our first reading today, Oh, that you [Lord] would tear the heavens open and come down! God is always on the move towards us; He is the God who is running to us. This is nowhere more obvious than in God’s running from his divinity into our humanity. He is the Word who became flesh; the incarnational God; he is Jesus of Nazareth, born for us to run with us, and to lead us to the goal of our earthy marathon, our redemption. It is why we are to stay awake!, as Jesus encourages us to do in today’s Gospel. God’s running to us is our opportunity for hope. We know and believe that Jesus came forth from heaven so that we might share in his divinity, but none of us knows the manner in which he will run into our individual lives. We look to his Nativity, so that we can learn something of how we might strive forward, but Christ will always personally find us unexpectedly, when we least expect it, in moments of surprise. Indeed, our Lord is the God of surprises, so much so that he even surprised us by becoming one of us. Yet, in all of the Lord’s running towards us, there is also our running to Him and with Him. The marathon is ours to take up as well, for love yearns for a response in hope. Our God of love is calling out to us. This is our goal to run towards. As St Paul put it, You will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady. Jesus runs towards us in his Incarnation, precisely so that we might run out to meet him. Advent is our marathon, our ‘going out’ to meet Him who comes to be with us. This is no forced march we are made to take; it is an invitation to be a part of finding the goal of our humanity, the goal we were created to fulfil. So, this Advent, this new beginning from the year of pandemic, might we make our own the words of the prayer with which we began this season, confident that Jesus who is our life, our love, and our hope is already running out to meet us: Grant [to] your faithful, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ. : 'The Lord is My Light' by Moyers

24.01.2022 This week's episode of Ready, Set Pray! is the perfect way to begin the Season of Advent as a family. Looking at how we can prepare our hearts to welcome Jesus ...at Christmas time (and each and every day), the 15-minute video includes today's Gospel, questions for discussion and reflection, opportunities for prayer, music and a fun activity for kids. Watch it here: bit.ly/ReadySetPray See more

23.01.2022 What a great joy to see this unifying message of hope and love being proclaimed by our parishes in readiness for the Season of Advent beginning this Sunday! T...o share this message with your own neighbourhood, family and friends, download signs for your front door/window and wallpapers for your devices at: www.melbournecatholic.org/advent See more

21.01.2022 Acknowledgements from tonight's vigil mass (1st Sunday of Advent Year B) "Ready the Way" Text: Based on Isaiah 40:3, 4a. Text and music 2004, Curtis Stephan. Published by Spirit & Song, a division of OCP. All rights reserved. "City of God" Text: Based on Isaiah 9; 40:1-9; 1 John 1. Text and music 1981, OCP. All rights reserved. Contributors: Dan Schutte. Responsorial Psalm: Music2020 Michael Herry. Text 1963, 1993, The Grail, England. All rights reserved. The English... translation of Psalm Response from Lectionary for Mass, 1969,1981,1997,ICEL. All rights reserved. Published by Willow Publishing Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. "Prepare Ye" Contributors: Jim Strathdee Tune: 1979 Desert Flower Music/Jim and Jean Strathdee Text: 1979 Desert Flower Music/Jim and Jean Strathdee. "Song of the Pilgrim" Text: 2000 Michael Herry. Administered by Willow Publishing Pty Ltd, PO Box 1061 Dee Why NSW 2099. "Holy Holy, We Proclaim Your Death, Great Amen, Lamb of God" Mass of St Francis: Tune: 2013, Paul Taylor. Published by Willow Publishing Pty Ltd, PO Box 1061 Dee Why NSW 2099. All rights reserved. Text: Excerpts from the English translation of Lectionary for Mass 1969, 1981, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL); Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. "Eye Has Not Seen" Contributors: Marty Haugen. Tune: 1982, GIA Publications, Inc. Text: 1982, GIA Publications, Inc. "Strong and Constant" Contributors: Frank Andersen Tune: 1979, Chevalier Music. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Postlude: "O Come O Come Emmanual" Text: LM with refrain; Latin, 9th cent.; verses 1, 3-6 para. in Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Cologne, 1710; tr. by John M. Neale, 1818-1866; verses 2, 7 tr. fr. The Hymnal 1940, alt. Music: Chant, Mode I; Processionale, French, 15th cent.; adapt. by Thomas Helmore, 1811-1890; arr. 2013, Spirit & Song, a division of OCP. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license # A-640552. See more

21.01.2022 A message from Muriel (Parish Sacramental Program Co-ordinator) 2021 Sacrament programs for Parish children not attending a catholic school. Preparation for first Eucharist will begin on Wednesday 3rd March 4 - 5 pm, in St Thomas Church. ... The sacrament will be held on Sunday 9th May 9.00am. Preparation for Reconciliation will begin on Wednesday 19th May. The sacrament will be held on Wednesday 21st July. Confirmation preparation will begin on 1st September with Confirmation being held on 22nd October. Enrollments are now open. Please contact myself by email [email protected] if you would like to participate in any of the programs or have any questions. Thankyou and kind regards Muriel

20.01.2022 A message from the Parish Child Safety Committee: Working With Children Check (WWCC) Update: 1/11/20: From November 1st, all parishioners who are volunteering at mass for any of the ministries, will require a Working With Children Check. ... 30 October 2020. After this date only those holding or having evidence of applying for a WWCC will be able to volunteer within our parish community. Working with Children Checks are free for volunteers. If you require assistance applying for your Working with Children Check contact your mass centre representative who will be able to assist you. Mass Centre Representatives: Drysdale Mary Vrahnas - 0414 837 321 Catherine Moug - 0400 199 059 Leopold Mary Exton - 0417 503 687 Portarlington Pam Scott - 0417 338 043 St Leonards Kerry Micallef - 0409 844 226 FURTHER INFORMATION: WWCC website Apply for a Check: https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/.../how-to... Details required on the application form: - St Thomas Parish Drysdale 43 Wyndham St Drysdale 3220 Ph 03 5251 2502 Thank you all for your loyalty to our Parish, your volunteering is appreciated. Thankyou and kind regards Child Safety Committee

20.01.2022 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A Feast Day St Francis of Assisi Monthly Family Mass Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license # A-640552.

19.01.2022 My name is Simeon Anthony. I am a deacon in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. I am the second of four children with one older sister and two younger sisters. I was ...born and raised in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma). Most of my family live in my homeland. The question I am often asked is how did you come to realize you had a priestly vocation? It all started with the formative influences of my life. For example, my grandparents and parents transmitted a strong Catholic faith which now is anchored in my heart. Through a small community of family, we prayed the Rosary before our home altar. As a boy, I loved to lead the prayers, and sing Marian hymns as I joined in the Mass and prayer in my local church. These are the foundations of my faith. The second major influence was the life of parish priests and nuns who so generously served others. Through this I started to wonder if God was also calling me to care, love and serve His people. There was a particular moment that had a profound influence on my life. It was the day of my uncle’s ordination to the priesthood. On this day, I felt something which I cannot express in words. I was eleven years old and from that time, I prayed after every Sunday-Mass for God to reveal His will to me. Responding to His call and in order to discern more deeply my vocation, I entered the seminary in Myanmar. While I was studying philosophy there, I was invited to serve the Church in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Divine providence is a mystery to me, but I simply followed the direction where I felt Christ was leading me. Aware of my strengths, weaknesses, talents, and limitations, while all the time, knowing the love of God has for me. I believe He is asking me to share this love with his people as his priest. I am particularly grateful for the welcome and acceptance I received from the people of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the local Myanmar community. Please pray with me for all seminarians around the world so that we may be able to live up to the challenges of this world for the service of God’s people now and into the future. I hope the priestly ordination of this year may be an inspiration for others. Christ is all and in all (Colossians 3:11). Please pledge a prayer for Rev. Simeon Anthony at www.pledgetopray.com.au ORDINATION MASS: Saturday, 10:30AM 5 December 2020 St Patrick’s Cathedral

19.01.2022 1st Sunday of Advent Year B Vigil Livestream Mass Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license # A-640552.

19.01.2022 Today we celebrate the first Sunday of the Season of Advent. Advent is a time of joyful waiting and preparation for the great feast of Christmas the birth of ...our Lord Jesus Christ. Throughout Advent we will be hearing from the Prophet Isaiah, as we do in today's first reading. After the psalms, the Book of Isaiah is the second most cited Jewish book in the New Testament. It announces the good news of the Messiah and as Fr Trevor Tibbertsma reflects, it is often viewed as the fifth book of the gospels after Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Perhaps this is because it looks ahead, and reminds us that the good news of Jesus Christ is not yet complete. Not all people have received the good news yet and some Christians have even fallen asleep to the good news. In today's gospel, Jesus says to his disciples: ‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come.' During this year of COVID-19 and in these times of heightened stress and despair, some of us may have even grown gone cold in our faith and fallen asleep in our spiritual life. Let us pray that this time of Advent be a time of awakening: an awakening to the hope and grace in our lives, and a time to allow Jesus to enter and warm our hearts once more. And perhaps the final clue as to Isaiah's significance lies in the words from the prophet himself: 'Here I am, Lord'. May we make these words our own as we begin this beautiful Season of Advent. Join us for today's 11am Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral on free-to-air TV C31 (channel 44 on digital TV) or via www.youtube.com/archmelb. To listen Fr Trevor's full reflection on today's readings and for other Advent resources please visit: www.melbournecatholic.org/advent

18.01.2022 The readings for this final Sunday of Ordinary Time capture something of how we are called to share in the 'master's happiness'. Jesus tells his disciples the p...arable of talents, in which three servants are entrusted with property from their master. To the first servant the master gives five 'talents', to the second he gives three, and to the third he gives one. The first two servants invest the talents entrusted to them, and in doing so, increase their master's 'profit'. The third servant, however, buries his share, reaping no reward. When the master later returns, he is pleased at his investment in the first two servants, and for their good works he offers them more. The third servant, however, merely returns the talent to his master unused and unprofitable even judging his master as he does so. In turn, the master admonishes the servant and banishes him to the darkness. This parable, and today's other readings, remind us that we are not bystanders in this life of faith. By virtue of our baptism, we are called to be workers in the vineyard of the Lord his stewards here on earth. Our faith impels us to use all the gifts we have been entrusted with to plant the seeds of the Gospel wherever we are and however we can. St Paul writes that we know not the Day of the Lord, and nor should we; our task is to be good stewards in the here and now. Then, and only then, will we be like the 'fruitful vine' worthy of a share in our master's happiness. Join us for 11am Mass today at St Patrick's Cathedral. You can participate via TV on C31 (digital channel 44) or online on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/archmelb.

17.01.2022 St Thomas Parish Bulletin this week

16.01.2022 This Advent and Christmas Seasons, all across our Archdiocese, parishes will unite to share a simple message of love and hope after the long dark winter of lock...down in our state. To propose Jesus as the answer and way forward during this tumultuous time around our globe. To show our city that we are open and ready to welcome them into our communities. To download matching mobile or desktop wallpaper visit: www.melbournecatholic.org/advent

16.01.2022 A message from the Parish Safeguarding Committee The commitment by all to the care, safety and well-being of children, young people and the vulnerable is fundamental to our Parish life as well as inherent to the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the dignity of each human person at the heart of the Gospel. THANK YOU... It is now an opportunity to thank all those tireless members of our community who for years gave of their time freely and have now decided to allow others to continue the work. 30 October has passed and as communications, along with direct contact by the mass centre representatives, have previously indicated all volunteers in our parish must hold or show evidence of actively working towards a Working With Children Check or Police Check to continue in their role. Committee Update. The committee’s work focuses on developing policies and practices in order for us to be compliant with both Government and Archdiocese of Melbourne requirements around protecting children, young people and the vulnerable of our parish community. As a Christian community that cares for our young, all volunteers within the parish are asked to accept their responsibility to understand the important and specific details around their individual role and to collectively ensure that the well-being and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all that we do. Kind regards Parish Safeguarding Committee

15.01.2022 A message from Brendan and Robert (Parish FB page co-editors) Hello Everyone, hope you are well and enjoying being back at mass in person! It has been lovely to see you all and all going well in the coming weeks, hopefully we will be able to have more people back at mass. Just a quick update on a few matters:... Congregational Singing at mass: The DHHS has issued a direction that there is NO congregational singing during an indoor mass, our musicians will still continue to lead the music ministry during the mass, in line with the DHHS conditions that are required, however we kindly ask all those present to refrain from singing please. Thankyou for your understanding. Envelopes are still available for masses for the Holy Souls during November. These can be placed on the collection plates which are located near the church entry doors at all our mass centres. The bulletin has resumed this week, copies are available at each of the mass centres, and here on our Facebook page. If you would like to put a name forward to pray for those who are not well, please email our parish secretary Karenne,([email protected]) The Annual St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal will be held on the weekend of 29th and 30th November and 6th and 7th December. Thankyou. Columban Calendars are also on sale from this weekend, they are $10 and will make a lovely Christmas present for a special friend or family member. Portarlington Carnival: There is a meeting later in this month as, to how many volunteers will be needed for each night. More information soon. Christmas masses: The Parish Liturgy team will be meeting with Fr James in the next two weeks to finalise our Advent and Christmas mass schedule, this will be communicated in due course. Please note, due to Covid distancing requirements of 1 person per 4m2, there will be limited numbers for Christmas masses, so if you are keen to come along to Christmas mass, it would be advisable to book early. To book for mass, please contact the below mass centre booking reps. We are experiencing strong demand with booking at the moment, so we kindly ask for your patience and understanding if we are not able to accommodate your first request. Lumen Christi: Sunday mass: Phyllis Wednesday mass: Carolyn St Philip and St James: Alain St Patricks: Pam S St Thomas: Mary W Kind regards Brendan and Robert

15.01.2022 Today is the feast day of St Thérèse of Lisieux, Carmelite nun and Doctor of the Church. As a young child in France, Thérèse wanted to perform heroic deeds and ...upon entering the convent she initially hoped to do some missionary service overseas. She soon realised though that those lofty dreams had to be part of her real goal: to do the will of Jesus. An otherwise 'unremarkable' convent life might have been lost to the world if not for Thérèse's autobiography (Story of a Soul), which revealed her simple steps on the road to sanctity. Thérèse understood clearly that the most important gift of all was charity openness, forgiveness, love centred on the person of Jesus Christ. She wrote, Charity gave me the key to my vocation. My vocation is love! I will be love. ... The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least of actions for love. May we be inspired by the little flower, St Thérèse of Lisieux, who understood from an early age that each of us is called to sainthood. And through the intercession of St Thérèse, may our suffering world be filled with charity and our hearts set ablaze with the love of Christ. St Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us!

15.01.2022 Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. The angels are considered God's messengers, protecting and guiding us daily, while ceaselessly contemp...lating the face of God and glorifying him. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 60) It is a reflection of the God's love for each of us that we are accompanied by an angel. As St Basil the Great once wrote, "Beside each believer stands an angel as a protector and shepherd leading him to life." As children, many of us were taught to pray daily to our guardian angel. As night falls over our city and another week comes to a close, may each of us remember to say these words tonight: 'Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.'

14.01.2022 A message from Brendan and Robert (Parish FB Coeditors) Hello everyone, trust you are well and safe. All the best to the students and teachers that return to school this week for face to face learning. Hope you have enjoyed a nice break and ready for the new term!... As Fr James mentioned on the livestream mass today, no word has come through yet when we are able to resume public masses. The Archdiocese is continuing to have discussions with the Vic State Govt Health teams regarding this, and any updates, we will let you know. For any enquiries regarding baptisms or 1st rite Reconciliation, please contact Fr James the presbytery for more information. The Most Holy Rosary will be prayed each day during the month of October. Please contact our monthly rosary coordinator Mila if you would like to join Facebook Room for the rosary. If you have someone special that you would like Fr James to mention and pray for on the livestream mass, you are welcome to contact Fr James, or us through the page and we can arrange for this. For those of you who would like to make am electronic direct debit donation to the sacrificial program (the green and red envelopes) or to St Vincent De Paul, please contact our parish secretary on 52 512502 on Thursday's and Fridays between 9am and 2pm for the details. (Due to privacy laws, we are not able to publish direct debit information on our page) As well, Parishioners are welcome to drop off food and monetary donations for St Vincent De Paul on Sunday's from 10am at Lumen Christi Leopold. Thankyou and kind regards Brendan and Robert

13.01.2022 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A Feast Day St Francis of Assisi Monthly Family Mass Please join us for livestream mass at 10:30am...Continue reading

12.01.2022 Today we celebrate the feast of St Francis of Assisi. Francis came from a rich family and as a young man enjoyed high living and romantic chivalry. Jesus' invit...ation of love and peace came alive for Francis when he encountered a poor man living with leprosy, and he soon renounced his life of comfort for one lived in solidarity with the poor. During a time of prayer under the San Damiano Cross, with Jesus' arms outstretched, Francis heard the Lord's cry to go out and rebuild his church a mission he would dedicate his life to. Francis' witness to the gospel is a reminder that any life of faith must begin with a conversion of the heart. Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical, Laudato si’ (On Care for our Common Home), opens with the St Francis' words: ‘Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs.’ It is a prayer of gratitude but also an invitation to protect this earthand all its inhabitantswhich our Creator has so lovingly gifted us with. St Francis of Assisi, pray for us!

11.01.2022 The joy was palpable at St Therese’s in Torquay this morning as they began Advent with the celebration of their first Sunday Mass since March. Praise God that we can worship together in our parish communities once again as we start a new year in our Church calendar!

11.01.2022 A message from the Parish Liturgy Team. Hello everyone, the "Season of Creation" as proclaimed by Pope Francis concludes this coming Sunday, the Feast Day for St Francis of Assisi. If you would like to know more about the "Season of Creation" please follow this link. Kind regards... Robert (Parish Liturgy Team Convenor) https://seasonofcreation.org/about/

10.01.2022 Hello Everyone, Happy Sunday, If you have arrived at our page at 10:30am today, (Sunday 29th November) and waiting for mass, please note, the livestream mass was broadcast as a vigil mass yesterday evening. Please scroll down to view the mass, it is available to view here on our page. Please note, livestream mass will return to its normal time of 10:30am next Sunday 6th December for our monthly family mass.

10.01.2022 Acknowledgements from today's mass (27th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A) Acknowledgements from today’s mass: Prayer of St Francis Dedicated to Mrs. Frances Tracy. Text and music 1967, OCP. All rights reserved. Contributors: Sebastian Temple. Our God is Here 2001, Chris Muglia. Published by Spirit & Song, a division of OCP. All rights reserved. Responsorial Psalm: Music 2019 Michael Herry. Text 1963, 1993, The Grail, England. All rights reserved. The English tran...slation of Psalm Response from Lectionary for Mass, 1969,1981,1997, ICEL All rights reserved. Published by Willow Publishing Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. Celtic Alleluia 1985, Fintan O'Carroll and Christopher Walker. Published by OCP. All rights reserved. Given For You Contributors: Michael Mangan. Tune: 2001, Litmus Productions Text: 2001, Litmus Productions. Holy Holy, When We Eat This Bread, Great Amen, Lamb of God Mass of St Francis: Tune: 2013, Paul Taylor. Published by Willow Publishing Pty Ltd, PO Box 1061 Dee Why NSW 2099. All rights reserved. Text: Excerpts from the English translation of Lectionary for Mass 1969, 1981, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL); Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Do This In Memory of Me Text: Based on John 6. Text and music 2007, Chris Muglia. Published by Spirit & Song, a division of OCP. All rights reserved. Lead Me, Lord Text: Based on Matthew 5:3-12; 7:7, 13; John 14:6. Text and music 1987, John D. Becker. Published by OCP. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license # A-640552. See more

10.01.2022 Daylight Savings 2020. Hello everyone, We don't want anyone to miss livestream mass tomorrow, so don't forget, daylight savings begins here in Victoria at 2am tomorrow morning, so clocks will need to go FORWARD one hour at 2am (or maybe a few hours before!!!!)... Livestream mass team: don't forget to put your clocks forward one hour!!!!!

10.01.2022 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A Live-stream mass 4th World Day of the Poor Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license # A-640552.

09.01.2022 Friends, especially in Melbourne, I ask for your prayers for our retired Auxiliary Bishop, Peter Elliott, who is fighting for his life after suffering a heart episode yesterday. May the tender Lord hold him close, may our Blessed Mother accompany him.

08.01.2022 Acknowledgements from today's mass: "Lose Yourself in Me" 1975, Carey Landry and OCP. All rights reserved. "If God Is For Us" Text: Based on Romans 8. Text and music 1975, John B. Foley, SJ, and OCP. All rights reserved. Responsorial Psalm: Music 2018 Michael Herry. Text 1963, 1993, The Grail, England. All rights reserved. The English translation of Psalm Response from Lectionary for Mass, 1969,1981,1997, ICEL All rights reserved. Published by Willow Publishing Pty... Ltd. All rights reserved. "Celtic Alleluia" Music 1985, 1996, Fintan O'Carroll and Christopher Walker. Published by OCP. All rights reserved. "Isaiah 49" Text based on Is 49:15. Text and music 1975, Carey Landry and OCP. All rights reserved. "Holy Holy, When We Eat This Bread, Great Amen, Lamb of God" Mass of St Francis Tune: 2013, Paul Taylor. Published by Willow Publishing Pty Ltd, PO Box 1061 Dee Why NSW 2099. All rights reserved. Text: Excerpts from the English translation of Lectionary for Mass 1969, 1981, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL); Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. "On Eagle's Wings" Text: Based on Psalm 91. Text and music 1979, OCP. All rights reserved. Contributors: Michael Joncas. "Bring Forth the Kingdom" 1986, GIA Publications, Inc. Contributors: Marty Haugen. Postlude: Tune: 'Trumpet Voluntary' by John Travers from Old English Music for Manuals, Book 5 Edited by C.H. Trevor (c) Oxford University Press 1971. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license # A-640552. See more

07.01.2022 Sisters and Brothers in Christ, on this Feast of St Francis of Assisi, that passionate and poetic missionary of the Gospel, I urge you to read the Holy Father’s... awaited encyclical, Fratelli Tutti on Fraternity and Social Friendship. The Holy Father speaks to us as ‘fellow travelers... children of the same earth ... brothers and sisters all.’ Our own St Mary of the Cross also spoke to our shared pilgrimage as being ‘but travelers here..’. We are not on this path alone, but together as humanity, accompanied by the One who through His great sacrifice, calls us to live always with love, mercy and compassion for all. Read the words of our Holy Father, and then return to it with time and space to draw more deeply into the riches within! Read the encyclical here: bit.ly/ReadFratelliTutti

05.01.2022 As a young lad growing up in the 1970s, I found the idea that God had a Kingdom quite puzzling. In those days, I could only imagine two possibilities of what th...is Kingdom could be like: either it was like the fantasy medieval kingdoms of fiction or the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Did God’s kingship mean He was somehow a sovereign ruler of some heavenly territory like Queen Elizabeth, or did he rule a kingdom with knights and dames, and chivalry and quests? Of course, such childhood ideas might get us to the starting gates of what God’s Kingdom is all about, but they are hardly where we need to go in our understanding. But what is God’s Kingdom, such that Jesus would present it as that which his disciples were to receive and work in with fruitfulness? It might be helpful to firstly put aside some wrong understandings of God’s Kingdom. It is not a place as such, or a territory that can be identified on some map. God’s Kingdom is not a ‘thing’ which can be pointed to. When we say ‘Thy Kingdom come’ in the Lord’s Prayer, we are not praying for something like a political party to win an election. Our questioning about God’s Kingdom should not be so much ‘what’ it is, but ‘who,’ and ‘for whom’. As our Catechism puts it, the Kingdom of God means Jesus Christ himself, whom we desire to come into our lives, and whose life we wish manifested in ours. (CCC.2816) In this sense we can better speak of God’s kingdom as his reigning or ruling in our lives. When we say, ‘Thy kingdom come’ we also say ‘Thy will be done’. In other words, it is the very presence of God with us, manifested in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, that matters. The kingdom we seek is not a place but a person; it is our participation in the life of God, in the Body of Christ. To pick up and run with the image from Jesus’ parable, we will do well to remember that he would say later on: ‘I am the vine, and you are the branches.’ There is fruit to be produced from this kingdom-vine, onto which we were grafted at our baptism. But what is that fruit? What is it that this Godly reign seeks to produce? St Paul (as always!) offers us a good answer. They are the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) Imagine one of our political parties putting these up as their policy platform to govern our nation! Yet, also imagine if these were indeed the measures by which all our political parties were operating from in guiding our pathway out of COVID. God’s kingdom is not some ‘pie in the sky’ dream; it is real, and it is to be worked for now so that the good of everyone is attended to in our political, economic, social, cultural and religious structures. This is why Paul would say to the Philippians in today’s second reading: Fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise Then the God of peace will be with you. God’s Kingdom is both ‘to come’ and ‘here and now.’ So, we would all do well to make our own the words of Jesus, spoken to those willing to hear. There is no use saying: look, here it is. Look, there. For the kingdom of God is among you, He is with you.

05.01.2022 A message from Mila (Monthly Rosary Coordinator) Hello everyone on this first day of October. The Most Holy Rosary will be prayed each day during October, starting at 5pm today, and 5pm each day through to and including October 31.... Where possible, the Most Holy Rosary livestream will be shared across to the Parish Facebook page. Please join the Most Holy Rosary at 5pm through my facebook page. If anyone requires my contact details, please message the parish facebook page. Thankyou and kind regards Mila

05.01.2022 In this week's message to the community, Archbishop Peter A Comensoli invites us to read Pope Francis' new encyclical or teaching entitled, "Fratelli tutti: On ...Fraternity and Social Friendship". The encyclical was released yesterday on the feast of St Francis of Assisi. Archbishop Comensoli says Pope Francis offers this social doctrine of the Church to all people of goodwillfaith or no faithand illustrates how religion can be of service to all of humanity. See more

05.01.2022 A message from Brendan and Robert (Parish FB page co-editors) Hello Everyone... Just a quick reminder the livestream mass will be broadcast this evening, Saturday 28th Nov at 6pm, please note change of day and time! The mass will be available to view on our FB page on Sunday for those of you who regularly watch at this time. We have also had a few enquires regarding booking for masses. With the changes announced by the Vic Govt this week, we are now allowed to increase our numbers allowed to be present for mass. We are still requiring bookings to be made as we are required to have a system in place to ensure we do not breach restrictions for the total amount of people in our churches as measured by the 1 person per 4m2. We Thankyou for your patience and understanding Kind regards Brendan and Robert

04.01.2022 You did not choose me, but I chose you (John 15:16). I truly believe that Our Lord has called each one of us to do something remarkable for Him with our live...s. My name is James Baptist. I was born and bred in Melbourne, growing up in Bentleigh along with my greatest allymy big sister. From a young age I was able to witness true faith in action by the great examples of my wonderful Mum, and my Nana and Papa. I loved attending Mass, altar serving for my Irish parish priest and learning about my Catholic faith, although I never considered the priesthood at that time. However, there were a few ‘sign posts’ along the way, such as some holy nuns saying that they were praying for me to be a priest! My own beloved Papa also thought that I ‘might have a vocation’ from a young age, although he never mentioned it to me until after I had felt the call myself, so as to allow it to come from God alone. But this call would not become clear until the time of World Youth Day in Sydney, 2008. I was blessed to attend and was inspired by witnessing the universal Church, as well as the amazing priests and seminarians who were present, many of whom are now good friends. From that point onward I have never doubted God’s call, which grew stronger as I prayed and spent time asking Him to show me His Divine Will. I am humbled at the thought of that to which God has called me. The road has been very challenging at times, but Our Lord and His Blessed Mother have always been by my side. The words of Pope St. John Paul the Great spoken to young people come to mind: Remember: Christ is calling you; the Church needs you; the Pope believes in you and he expects great things of you! Please continue to pray for holy vocations, especially to the Priesthood, that Our Lord will raise up many to be the saints and superheroes of His Church. Please pledge a prayer for Rev. James Baptist at www.pledgetopray.com.au ORDINATION MASS: Saturday, 10:30AM 5 December 2020 St Patrick’s Cathedral

02.01.2022 As Archbishop, I receive on a fairly regular basis reports from various works, ministries, organisations and agencies of Church life. Often enough, the larger o...rganisations provide multi-page annual reports. But small reports also come across my desk, ones that might come to me as a brief email, just ‘bringing me up to speed’ on what’s been happening. One such report came to me during the week from a community called L’Arche. It was a short email three paragraphs in total from the volunteer leader of the community in Australia, which said very little by way of ‘achievements and challenges’ yet spoke humbly of the life of the community. It was the kind of report that moves the heart. For those who have not heard of L’Arche (French for ‘Ark’), it is an international federation of small communities where people with and without an intellectual disability share life together in a home. L’Arche seeks to create communities where people live a simple life of work, care, prayer and celebration. L’Arche is a living sign of reconciliation, hope and peace; a presence of God’s love among us. There are a number of L’Arche homes in Australia, including one here in Melbourne. In L’Arche communities, those who are disabled are called the core members. It is the gifts of the core members that are placed at the heart of each community. These are not the gifts we usually celebrate: gifts of skill, or talent, or ability, or prowess. Rather, the gifts of the core members are ones of presence, simplicity, trust, gentleness, smallness. These are the gifts which characterise those whom Jesus identified as the blessed in the Beatitudes. We might be inclined to think of the talents that Jesus spoke of in today’s parable in terms of a prestigious list of gifts, like authority, skill, professionalism, entrepreneurialism, and so on. There is nothing wrong with striving for excellence in our lives, using the natural talents we have. But this list would not fit well with the way of Jesus. His way was the way of smallness, humility, gentleness, compassion, sacrifice, service, closeness, tenderness. Such talents are notably signs of weakness and vulnerability in our world where success is measured in material procession and personal status. Yet, to invest in these ‘weak’ talents was, for our Lord, an investment in the true signs of growth. These are the talents which can allow us each to grow in inner confidence and freedom from violence; they are the graces which open us up to enjoy life with others, rather than learning how to climb over others. Jesus calls us to a different way the way of simplicity, the way of the heart. This is the path that will allow us to recognise the grace of God in the very ordinary features of our own lives. We don’t need to achieve greatness to be great in God’s eyes. Instead, God waits for us to discover the unforced rhythms of grace already present in each of us, and invites us to then make these present in other people’s lives. While our strengths might lead us to be productive, it is our graced weaknesses that will lead us to fruitfulness. L’Arche is a place where the disabled are always given a standing ovation, for their talents of simplicity and smallness are such precious gifts to those who are open to experiencing them. May all of us learn to discover the small gifts of grace present in every person, that witness to the presence of God among us.

01.01.2022 A message from the Parish Safeguarding Committee Update 29/11/20 Our commitment as a community to the safety of the children, young people and the vulnerable as well as the safety of all people is drawn from, and inherent to, the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the dignity of each human person at the heart of the Gospel. ... Complying with and living out our commitment to protecting our young people, will require new expectations of us all. Therefore, I wish to outline some of the requirements that we will all need to commit to and respect. As a Christian community that cares for our young and vulnerable, all volunteers in our parish are asked to accept their individual responsibility to understand the important and specific details around their role and to collectively ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children, young people and the vulnerable is at the forefront of all that we do. All volunteers will be required to: Hold a Working with Children Check Read and sign the Code of Conduct Declaration, to be available through your mass centre representative in December 2020 Undertake a short Safeguarding Training Session in early 2021 I am sure that all volunteers will accept and work towards this commitment in a positive manner. Resources are currently being worked on to meet the Child Safety requirements. Policies supporting the Children, Young People and the vulnerable are now available: Parish Statement of Commitment Summary is on display in each mass centre with the full version held in each of the sacristies Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy is available in the sacristy of mass centres as well as on the parish website. Thankyou for your understanding St Thomas Parish Safeguarding Committee.