Parish Bulletin
St Mary’s Parish Prayer
God our Father, as we thank you for the blessings, we ask you to bless this Parish of yours, so that we may love you more.
Encircle our families with your loving care.
Help parents to be good examples to their
children and our youth to grow in strength as good Christians.
To the sick grant health, to the aged bring serenity and to those in sorrow, joy.
May we grow stronger in faith and may
our love for one another become deeper
in our daily living.
We make this through the intercession of our Mother Mary. Amen
UPDATED- Parish Office Hours
Tuesday and Thursday, 9.00am to 4.00pm. You are welcome to call Brenda directly on 0466 830 682 if the parish number 5825 2034 is unattended.
Bulletin notices are welcome and can be phoned to 5825 2034 or emailed to the office
Updated - Mass Times
Weekend Mass
Sat Vigil 6.30pm
Sunday 10.00am
Reconciliation
10.3am to 11.00am - Saturday
Weekday Mass Times
Wednesday 3rd MArch 6pm
Thursday 4th March 6pm
Friday 5th March 10am
NEW - Report of Finance Meetings
Planned Giving –This has been very pleasing since the resumption of mass with envelope givers making a conscious effort to do
catch-up and loose collection givers being
very generous.
Bingo—is back and numbers are very encouraging with around 70—80 players each week.
Quotes - The Committee have accepted quotes for painting of the parish office and 3 walls of the interior of the church. Work will begin sometime after Easter and the church will be closed for 5 days during the process.
Lectern - The lectern has been removed and is currently in Shepparton undergoing a facelift. The new work will reflect the beauty of the altar table and enhance the sanctuary.
Parish Letter Box—was recently vandalised. It has been moved to a more appropriate position and the top section is being repaired.
PLEASE NOTE - Masks are required to be worn again indoors, including our churches.
NEW - Looking at The Readings
Life has its ups and downs. This was true, literally and figuratively for Peter, James and John in the gospel to today. The climbed a high mountain and while on the mountaintop had the experience of their lives. They saw Christ in his glory accompanied with two great figures from the past and most influential in their faith tradition: Moses and Elijah. Peter, James and John wanted to stay there. They are the same three that accompanied Christ into the Garden Gethsemane. They witnessed his glory and his agony. They had to continue the journey with Christ by going down to the valley and the plain and going back to the lows of ordinary life, work, criticism and hardship.
We need highs and lows. We cannot always be high, just as we cannot always be low. In our Christian faith we have feasts and fasts, dry times and rich times in prayer, great community gatherings and quiet and sometimes lonely periods. The challenge is to find and listen to God in all these times and situations, especially the grey and ordinary times. There are times of testing as with Abraham in the first reading and times of delight with Christ by our side and who rescues us.
NEW - Quote of the Week
The great reason for the transfiguration was to remove the scandal of the cross from the hearts of his disciples and to prevent the humiliation of his voluntary suffering from disturbing the faith of those who had witnessed the surpassing glory that lay concealed. … The whole body of Christ was to understand the kind of transformation that it would receive as his gift. the members of that body were to look forward to a share in that glory which first blazed out in Christ their head. Homily of St Leo the Great
NEW - Pope Francis: World Day of Prayer for the Sick
Jesus’ words, “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28) point to the mysterious path of grace that is revealed to the simple and gives new strength to those who are weary and tired. These words of Christ express the solidarity of the Son of Man with all those who are hurt and afflicted. How many people suffer in both body and soul! Jesus urges everyone to draw near to him – “Come to me!” – and he promises them comfort and repose. “When Jesus says this, he has before him the people who are marginalised by the burden of the law and the oppressive social system... Jesus’ words always give hope!” Pope’s Message 2020 para. 1
COMMUNION TO THE SICK
As Covid recedes, St. Mary’s Special Ministers are preparing to resume visitations to those parishioners who are physically unable to attend our
weekend masses.
If you require a visit from a Special Minister, or know someone who would benefit from a visit, please contact
Leo Pye on 0418 252877
NEW - On the Lighter Side
What animals on Noah’s ark had the highest intellect?
Giraffes
On Noah’s ark cows produced milk. What did the ducks give?
Quakers
After the flood Noah told the animals to go forth and multiply. But the snakes objected. They said they were adders
New - Liturgical Jottings -
Lent III
Last Year Lent was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. After the Third Sunday of Lent, all churches were closed to the general public. This year we hope to participate in all the Lenten activities: Masses, Lenten prayer/reflection groups, sacramental celebration of Reconciliation and RCIA, Palm Sunday, Chrism Mass, Holy week ceremonies and the full Easter celebrations.
This year, however, we do have some pleasant interruptions to the Lenten discipline: Laetare Sunday (14 March) and the great feasts of St Patrick (17 March), St Joseph (19 March) and Annunciation of the Lord (25 March). The restrictions on flowers, music and fasting are relaxed so that we may celebrate these days fittingly.
2021 Diocese of Sandhurst
NEW - Second Sunday of Lent
Margret, 39, is a teacher at a vocational school for deaf
students in the Solomon Islands. She was born deaf, so she knows the challenges it poses to education and employment.
The school faced water shortages that often left staff and students without safe water for drinking, cooking, washing and growing vegetables.
Then Tropical Cyclone Harold damaged the school and its vegetable garden as the threat of COVID-19 loomed. With Caritas Australia’s support, the school installed water tanks, provided cyclone-proof building materials, and helped to implement COVID-19 prevention measures.
Margret’s school now has enough water for its students and the capacity to cater for more, and is now planning to boost food security through increased agricultural production.
Please donate to Project Compassion 2021 and help people living with disabilities in the Solomon Islands.
NEW - Caritas
The work of Caritas Australia is a light in dark places and your generosity illuminates hope for those in dire
circumstances.
Your commitment to marginalised people has been a direct response to the Christian call to ‘act justly, love mercifully, and walk humbly with God.’
UPDATED - MASS with MONS PETER
These masses are being videod and uploaded to YouTube and the parish website late Saturday afternoon
https://www.stmarysmooroopna.com
and go to - Mass Schedule,
- This week
Live Services From Sandhurst With Bishop Shane
12.10pm every weekday and 10.00am Sundays
OTHER OPTIONS FOR YOU AT HOME -
DAILY TV MASS Livestream from the National Catholic Broadcasting Council of Canada: https://dailytvmass.com/ and
Facebook: ‘Daily TV Mass’
Bulletin Advertising
The Parish are currently calling for businesses that are interested in advertising in the Parish Bulletin and the School newsletters. We have 2 vacancies available.
If you are interested in discussing this, please contact Brenda at the Parish on 5825 2034 or The school Office on 5825 2858
Parish Sponsors