Fr Richard’s Weekly Message on Corpus Christi – Sunday 11 June 2023
Friday 9th June 2023
My dear people,
Following the very sad news received on 27th March that Fr John Tollan, our parish’s first Parish Priest, died, we will be celebrating a Memorial Mass for the repose of his soul at 7pm on Friday 23rd June 2023 here at the church. Bishop Martin Ashe, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, will be the Principal Celebrant. Mass will be followed by a reception at the CRC Cafeteria where we will have an opportunity to remember Fr John. Please indicate on the sheet in the gathering space whether you will be attending the Memorial Mass for our planning purposes. I also ask if you could bring a plate, preferably something sweet and no hot food.
A reminder that we are organising a team of parishioners to help with the St Vinnies soup van. This is being started with the view to doing some outreach from our parish. This would also be a good way to bring parishioners together as we help with the preparation and distribution of food to those in need. There are details in the bulletin. I warmly invite you to consider helping with this important ministry.
This Sunday, 11th June, the Church will celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. In our parish this year, we will celebrate Corpus Christi with two events. The first is 24 hours of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, to start immediately after the 9:30am Mass tomorrow 10th June and concluding at 8am on Sunday 11th June. You are invited to spend some time with our Lord during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The second event is a Eucharistic Procession to follow immediately after the 12pm Mass. The road taken for the procession will be College Street, The Parade, Lake Street, Caroline Springs Boulevard, and coming back via College Street. I hope to see many of you at the two events to celebrate Corpus Christi in our parish.
Next week, I will be away from the parish from Monday afternoon until Friday afternoon. I am going to the Annual Melbourne Clergy Conference to be held at the RACV Cape Schanck Resort. The topic to be discussed this year is the liturgy. May I kindly ask you to pray for the priests working in the archdiocese who will be at this conference next week, that this event be a time of increased knowledge while also a time of fellowship. Fr David Cartwright will celebrate the weekday Masses and hear confessions on Tuesday as well as look after Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction on Tuesday. Owing to my absence, there will be no weekly message next week.
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