MESSAGE ON 4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YR C)
Friday 6th May 2022
My dear people,
Those of you who were able to attend the Parish Feast Day Dinner last Saturday no doubt will remember it as a wonderful night. I was certainly delighted by the turn out, the food and the ways in which the Social Committee kept us entertained throughout the night. It was a wonderful way to bring the parish together and celebrate the bonds of friendship and fellowship which unite us. We are in the process of creating a “Galleries” section on our website and will put all the photos there. In the meantime, they are available on our Facebook Page.
This Sunday is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. We are all invited to pray for vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. You and I know the importance of priests for us believers, especially when it comes to sacraments. St Paul tells us that priests are set apart by God for ministry at the altar. It belongs to all of us to pray and encourage vocations to the Priesthood. Let us in particular continue to pray for priests also, that we will have the strength and courage to be priests after the heart of Jesus. We are very fortunate to have a seminarian, Kanishka Biyanwila, a sixth year seminarian at Corpus Christi College, who will be with us this weekend to share his vocation story with us. May I please ask you to make Kanishka welcome among us.
This Sunday is also Mother’s Day. This is a wonderful opportunity given to all of us to honour our mothers. It is a day to also thank God for the blessings that he gives us through them. Mothers are often the first teachers of their children in many aspects of life and that also includes in matters of faith. While we thank God for what our mothers have done and do for us, Mother’s Day is also the opportunity to pray for them so that they will continue to be blessed with all that they require for their lives to be full of happiness. We also take this opportunity to pray for the repose of the souls of all the deceased mothers of our community as we remember fondly all that they did and were for us. A very Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers.
Next Saturday, there will be a parish retreat in the parish. The “Divine Exchange” Retreat promises to be a day filled with great talks and praise and worship. Starting with Holy Mass, it will certainly be centred on Jesus Christ as we get this wonderful opportunity to come together and spend time to increase our knowledge and love of Jesus. I hope to see many of you there!
There is also, for me, this month and next month, the excitement of meeting the families who live in our parish and who want their children to attend CRC Caroline Springs in 2024. It is a golden opportunity for me to learn more about these families and what is going on in their lives. This is the time they start realising that their children are fast growing up and soon will make the transition from primary school to secondary school. What a blessing and privilege!
We continue turning to our patron saint, and we ask for her intercession.
St Catherine of Siena, Pray for us.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Fr Richard Rosse PP