Parish News

St Bernard's Parish

Contact Information

Parish Priest Fr Leo De Marzi                                 60 Sheffield Street, East Coburg, VIC 3058

                                                                                            Phone: 9386 1214 Fax: 9386 1495

                                                                                            Email: coburgeast@cam.org.au

Mass Times:                                                                  Monday-Friday 9.30am

                                                                                            Saturday 8.30am 7.00pm (English)

                                                                                            Sunday 9.00am Italian 10.30am (English)

Social Services Sunday, 20th September - a time to reflect and give thanks

On 20th September 2020, we mark Social Services Sunday within the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.  On this day we are invited to give thanks and pray for all who stand with and provide support to those who are marginalised and vulnerable within our communities. We recognise with deep gratitude, those working within Catholic Social Services Victoria's 45 member organisations, the 7,000 staff and 17,000 volunteers, who together, serve more than 200,000 people in need each year.  We also give thanks for all in our parishes, who are so often at the forefront of providing practical support and care to those in need within their local communities, and beyond.  We call to mind the 2020/21 Social Justice Statement brought out recently by the Australian Catholic bishops, To Live Life to the Full: Mental Health in Australia Today, and so draw your attention to a recent event hosted by CSSV, Counselling and Therapeutic Support in a Time of COVID, which provided an opportunity to become more familiar with mental health services, and how to practically reach out for or point to assistance.  Parishioners will find the resources in this article helpful.

Prayer for Courage and Compassion

Compassionate God,

Your unconditional love for all 

inspires our hearts and empowers our actions

for those who are most vulnerable.

May we boldly and humbly serve one another

and be steadfast in our work for justice for all people.

Keep our hearts open to the joys and the hopes of our world, 

and our ears ready to hear your call

to truth, justice and reconciliation.

Let us continue to draw inspiration and strength

from those, like St Mary MacKillop, 

on whose shoulders we stand.

We gathers in Jesus' name

to be nourished and to move forward together

in hope and joy.

Amen

This prayer was the 2020 National Catholic Social Services Conference prayer held in February 2020 in Melbourne.  The Conference was convened by Catholic Social Services Victoria and Catholic Social Services Australia.