Our Gospel Challenge this week is to: Speak nicely to others.

In yesterday’s gospel we heard about the woman of Samaria who was engaged in a very truthful encounter with Jesus. The Jews despised the Samaritans as having no claim on their God. This nameless woman, an outcast from her own community, chose to visit the well at a time to avoid those who judged her harshly. It’s important to acknowledge how radical this encounter was. Jesus reaches out to her as he did to other outcasts demonstrating that all people are valuable to God. In this way we too are called to be radical, to uphold the dignity of all people. The exchange was so profound, bringing about a change of heart for the Samaritan woman. She then became a witness for Jesus, influencing those around her.

This week our Project Compassion story is of Barry, an indigenous Australian man who through a Caritas Australia supported program, Red Dust Healing, was able to confront destructive patterns in his life. Red Dust Healing is an indigenous led program in which participants learn culturally appropriate tools to empower them to overcome rejection, discrimination, grief, addiction, abuse and other challenges. For Barry, it changed his life and helped him to recognise his hurt and anger stemmed primarily from rejection and grief. It provided a safe space to talk and connect with others who’ve supported each other in their healing journey. The program has also helped Barry connect back with his culture, language and stories. Just as the Samaritan woman went on to share her revelation with others, Barry also shares the richness of his experience. His community is striving forward, facing the challenges of intergenerational trauma, oppression and colonisation together. How can we manifest the radical love of Christ in order to break down barriers of injustice?

Let’s Go Further, Together! lent.caritas.org.au

Reconciliation

This Thursday evening, 19 March, the following students will be celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation/Penance for the first time: Alana, Lexie, Mason, Madison, Lucas, Ellie, Lachlan, Bartek, Joseph, Milla, Chase, Oliver, Gabi and Jarrod. We congratulate them and hope they find it to be a peaceful, joyful and loving experience.

People sometimes ask: Isn't it enough to say sorry to God in my heart? The Catholic approach to Reconciliation/Penance is deeply community-orientated; we are after all, part of the Body of Christ.

Penance comes from a Greek word that means to change direction. It is the sacrament that helps us acknowledge the frailty and limits of our humanity. By honestly owning, naming and expressing sorrow for where we have failed, we can experience forgiveness which in turn, deepens our capacity to love.

The Sacrament of Penance then allows us to start afresh and re-invigorates our baptismal commitment to be 'other Christs' in the world.

Important Dates to Remember

March

Thursday 19 First Reconciliation Ceremonies, 6:30pm & 7:30pm

Friday 20 Harmony Day

Saturday 21 First Eucharist Commitment Ceremony & Mass Book Presentation, 6:00pm Mass

Sunday 22 First Eucharist Commitment Ceremony & Mass Book Presentation, 9:45am Mass

Tuesday 31 Parish penitential Celebration, 7:00pm

Easter Timetable 2020

MARCH

Tuesday 31 Parish Lenten Penitential Celebration - March 31 - 7.00pm

APRIL

Holy Thursday 9 Mass of the Lord’s Supper followed by quiet prayer - 7.30pm

Good Friday 10 Commemoration of the Passion - 3pm

Holy Saturday 11 Easter Vigil - 7.30pm (please note no 6pm Mass)Easter Sunday - April 12 Easter Sunday 12 St John's Church, Mitcham: Dawn Mass 6.00am, 8.30am and 10.30am

St James' Community Centre, Vermont: 9.30am Mass

Dawn Mass will be Followed by light refreshments in the Church Narthex - All Welcome!

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