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
Paris Office Hours
Tuesday 9.00am - 3.00pm Thursday 9.00am - 3.00pm
Weekend Mass Times
Saturday Vigil 6.30pm Sunday 10am
Reconciliation
Saturday 10.30am - 11am
Weekday Mass Times
Wednesday 5th September - 6.00pm
Thursday 6th September - 10.30am
Friday 7th September - 9.30am School/Parish Mass, All Welcome.
On the Lighter Side
Two keys hang in a funeral director’s office One for the chapel organ; the other for the funeral car. Two small signs above the keys read "Hymn" and "Hearse
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Isabella Birch, Myom Dang, Seth Foyster, Aiden Garcia, Tyson Glover, Archer Hogan, Evie Huggard, Samuel Huggard, Tess Jakobs, Jobe Jakobs, Joseph La Gamba, Hannah Lawer, Jarrah Martin, Roxanne Manu, Siraya Sciuto, Mitchell Tenace, Josh Ulrich, Jack Williams, Noah Williams.
Please pray for these students who are participating in the Sacramental Program and will make their First Reconciliation on
Wednesday 5th September. At 7 pm. All Welcome
A Father’s Day Prayer.
Bless all the fathers in the world.
Father we ask that You guide them to be a good role models and loving to their children.
We also ask that You help them to be a father like You are. Give them grace and patience to handle situations in a loving way.
We give thanks for all fathers and father figures.
Bless and keep them in Your loving care. Amen
Amen.
Words of Pope Francis
Not infrequently, contrary to the promptings of the Spirit, the life of the Church can become a museum piece or the possession of a select few. This can occur when some groups of Christians give excessive importance to certain rules, customs or ways of acting. The Gospel then tends to be reduced and constricted, deprived of its simplicity, allure and savour… (continued next week)
Pope Francis, Gaudete Et Exsultate (2018) para 58.
Focus on the Gospel
The overarching theme of the readings for this Sunday is ‘words spoken in truth’. On one level, the laws are the words of the covenant. They are part of the contract that was drawn up between God and the people. They are words of truth, because they are the
reliable revelation of God and because they genuinely reflect
righteous living. The biblical covenant laws are truly humane.
Obedience to the words of the covenant leads to life and blessings, while disobedience results in the opposite.
Our religious customs always carry some profound religious
meaning, but we may not know or care what it is – and yet we
perform them. Do people know or care why we stand or sit or kneel during liturgy? Do people have a ‘church’ wedding because it is a religious event, or because ‘that's the way we have always done it”? Religious practices do not always flow from a deep religious
conviction. But once we realise our need for God, these practices
become genuine expressions of religious sentiment.
When the word of God has taken root in us, everything becomes a religious practice. This word can come to us through the teachings of our faith, through the example of good people around us, through the wonder and mystery of creation. When it does take hold of us, our inner eye is opened, our hearts are softened, and we turn
instinctively to God like a flower turns to the sun. When we are brought to birth in this way, covenant law becomes sacred, religious practices are cherished, and we are filled with the power that saves. © Dianne Bergant CSS.
St.Mary’s Feast Day
A mass to celebrate the
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and
our school feast day
will be celebrated in the Marian Centre on
Friday 7th September at 9.30 am.
All welcome to attend
Catholic Mothers of Young Children promo video
We wish to share with you a little promo video we put together about Catholic Mothers of Young Children Shepparton.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FFIpDI5x9Ew6Dk8K6634RzlIgmOP9xMg/view?usp=sharingF
Further enquiries to Katie Mills .
Catholic Mothers of Young Children Shepparton.
Child Protection Sunday
The Parish is taking part in “Child Protection Sunday” on the 9th September 2018. Informal discussions will take place to ask the children present at Liturgy how they understand the Child Safety Posters displayed in the church, what the posters are saying, that is, seek some feedback, in a way that is appropriate, informal, and the children are at ease in the presence of their Parents or Guardians.