Parish News

Happy Birthday Father Liem

Best wishes to Fr Liem Duong who celebrated his Birthday last Friday.

Sacrament of Confirmation Candidates

Please keep the 37 Confirmation candidates in your prayers during their final preparations. The Sacrament of Confirmation will be held on Friday 13th June and we look forward to welcoming Bishop Tony Percy to St Martha’s Parish. A wide variety of gifts are available to purchase from the Piety Stall in the Church Foyer starting from $2.00. Please see the Warden after Mass to view the collection.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal

Thank you for your generosity and supporting the St Vincent de Paul winter appeal last weekend. Envelopes are still available in the Church Foyer.

Holy Father's Appeal

The next parish appeal will be the annual Holy Father’s Appeal held across the weekend 28th & 29th June. This appeal, also known as Peter’s Pence, is a gesture of solidarity with the universal Church to support the works of the Holy Father Pope Francis.

End of Financial Year Process

The last banking for the 2024/2025 financial year will be at 9.00am on Monday 23rd June.

Any donations received after this date will go into the next financial year.

Planned Giving Envelopes

New sets of 2025/26 Planned Giving Envelopes are now available for collection in the Church Foyer. We encourage all Parishioners to join the giving system by either Weekly Envelope or Monthly Credit Card as this is the main income of the parish, by means of which we run everyday expenses, funds projects and plan for the future. Tax deductibility is 30%. If you would like to join, please complete the slip below or completed a form in the Church Foyer which can be returned via any collection plate or directly to the parish office.

Background on the Gospel Reading (Loyola Press)

The season of Easter concludes with today's celebration, the feast of Pentecost. On Pentecost we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem; this event marks the beginning of the Church. 

The story of Pentecost is found in the Acts of the Apostles, today's first reading. The account in today's Gospel, taken from the Gospel of John, also recounts how Jesus gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples. 

There is no need to try to reconcile these two accounts to each other. It is enough to know that, after his death, Jesus fulfilled his promise to send to his disciples a helper, an advocate, who would enable them to be his witnesses throughout the world. We previously heard today's Gospel on the second Sunday of Easter. 

At that time, we also heard the passage that follows, which describes Jesus' appearance to Thomas. In that context, we were led to reflect on belief and unbelief. In the context of the feast of Pentecost, this reading reminds us about the integral connection between the gifts of peace and forgiveness and the action of the Holy Spirit. Jesus greets his disciples with the gift of peace. Jesus then commissions his disciples to continue the work that he has begun, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” As he breathes the Holy Spirit upon them, Jesus sends his disciples to continue his work of reconciliation through the forgiveness of sins.

This Gospel reminds us that the Church is called to be a reconciling presence in the world. This reconciling presence of Christ is celebrated in the Church's sacramental life. In the Sacrament of Baptism, we are washed clean from sin and become a new creation in Christ. In the Sacrament of Penance, the Church celebrates the mercy of God in forgiving sins. This reconciling presence is also to be a way of life for Christians. In situations of conflict, we are to be agents of peace and harmony among people.

Family Connection

Pentecost is sometimes called the birthday of the Church. The Gospel for Pentecost reminds us that the Church begins with the command to forgive. Within the family, the domestic Church, we learn how to forgive and we learn to accept forgiveness. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit that enables us to do both. 

Today is a fitting time to share a family celebration of reconciliation. As you gather together as a family, sit quietly for a few minutes, inviting all to reflect upon their need to forgive and to receive forgiveness. 

If there is a situation or issue within the family that needs attention, spend some time reflecting upon the concern and how your family might address it. Read together today's Gospel, John 20:19-23. Talk together about how Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us in the work of forgiveness and to bring us peace. Pray together today's psalm, or the Prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking that the Holy Spirit help your family. Share with one another the sign of peace.