MESSAGE ON THE 3RD SUNDAY OF LENT (YR B)
Friday 1st March 2024
My dear people,
I am pleased to announce that we have completed the count of the survey for the change in Mass times with a very pleasing 785 respondents. The option chosen by most people is Option 2 – 61% with 39% choosing Option 1. This means that the Mass times on Sunday morning will be 8:30am, 10:30am and 12:30pm. This will take effect from Sunday 7th April. Ann is also looking into the additional comments provided on some of the survey cards. Again, I would like to sincerely thank all of you for the wonderful way in which you participated in the survey. There will be many conversations between the Ministry Coordinators and members of ministries involved in the celebration of Mass and me over the next few weeks as we prepare for the change. Please know that I am available for any questions you may have.
We will celebrate our parish Feast Day this year on Saturday 27th April from 7pm in the CRC Hall. This parish event will be hosted by our Maltese parishioners for all of us and will be a fundraiser shedding some light on Maltese culture. As is the case with our International Food Day when we invite everyone to come and share part of their culture, we are inviting our Maltese parishioners to showcase their culture for us. It is my intention to have more similar cultural events in our parish throughout the year.
As the joyful Season of Lent has started, the following are some ways in which you can add to your prayer life. We will pray the Stations of the Cross together every Friday during Lent at 10am (immediately following the 9:30am Mass), and at 7pm. During the Season of Lent, there will also be Bible Study on Tuesdays at 7:30pm in the meeting rooms. You will also find our Holy Week and Easter Timetable for 2024 in this weekend’s bulletin and in the gathering space. It will also soon be published on our website.
I thank you for your prayers for our parish planning day held last Saturday. We had a truly wonderful day. We started with prayer and got straight into our discussions reflecting firstly on our journey of missionary renewal so far followed by where our future focus needs to be. Ann will share with us details of the planning day next week, as well as prepare a summary of our discussions for the month of February.
We are fortunate again this week to welcome Fr David Cartwright to celebrate the 10:30am and 12pm Masses on Sunday. My younger brother is turning 40 and has organised a family lunch in the Yarra Valley to celebrate this special occasion. As such, I will need to be on the road by 11:15am.
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