PARISH PRAYER

St Michael the Archangel,
patron of our parish, be with us as we strive
to be faithful to our Baptismal call,
to love God and our neighbours.
Spread your protective wings over us
and our entire parish.
Protect us from fear, lies and everything
that prevents us from experiencing
God’s love for us in all its fullness.
Help us to always choose what is
good, right, and true and nurture within us
the courage, love, and respect
we need to face our fears
and to protect all of God’s creation. Amen.

Safeguarding

Our Motto and Vision is ‘Sharing God’s Love’. We are determined to share this love among all people. As Catholics it is our duty to care, love and nurture everyone.

At St Michael’s we foster the wellbeing and safety of all children and adults at risk. Since we take the safety of our young and vulnerable parishioners seriously, we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to abuse. All our parishioners have the right to feel safe and welcomed at St Michael’s Parish. Any concerns, please contact the Safeguarding Officer on 9707 1355 or secretary@stmichaelsparish.org.au

DIOCESAN CONSULTATION

Consultation Phase 2 gatherings, looking to the future, will be held in the Parish Centre Oct 15 & 19 at 10.30am and Oct 15 & 23 at 7.00pm. Join us beforehand for a cuppa and a chat. These sessions are a look to our future and what you would like our Parish and Diocese to look like. Sign up sheets are in the foyer or call the Parish Support Centre to register.

We want to thank all who contributed to the first round. The Phase one report can be found at: https://www.cdsale.org.au/assembly24-25

COME AND SEE

Bishop Greg has called for the young men of our Parishes of the Diocese to come to St Thomas the Apostle Parish, 5 Fiorelli Blvd, Cranbourne East on Sunday, October 27, 3.00pm-4.30pm particularly those who sense a call from God to life as a priest, or simply want to come and enquire. It is an opportunity to meet and greet those living the life, to pray with them and have all your questions answered. See flyer.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it" Matthew 13:45

CUPPA AFTER MASS

After 9.00am mass in the St Michael’s School Stadium. All welcome.

MASS PARTS

Will be sung, except at 7.30am mass, so please wait. Thank you.

SCHOOL GROUND PARKING

Will be open for the 9.00am and 10.30am Masses only as they are not being used at the 6.00pm Masses. You are encouraged to take advantage of this area to avoid parking illegally or annoying the neighbours.

LOST PROPERTY BOX

Is overflowing so please check if anything belongs to you as all items will be donated shortly.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTER & VACUUMING ROSTERS

Will be prepared shortly. If you would like to join this ministry or your availability has changed, contact Geraldine at the Parish Support Centre. Thank you.

GOD’S WORD

$22.00

COLUMBAN CALENDAR

$10.00

ADVENT DAILY REFLECTION ‘THE LIGHT’

$5.00 All books are available at the Parish Support Centre or Piety Stall.

MONTH OF THE ROSARY

Is celebrated in October. Please bring rosaries that you would like to donate to other parishioners and leave them on the table provided in the foyer.

Feel free to bring broken rosary beads as well and we will endeavour to find someone able to fix them and create a new rosary. Thank you.

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY MEDITATIONS ON DOMESTIC HARMONY

Booklet is available in the foyer. If you miss out and would like a copy, please contact the Parish Support Centre.

BLESSING OF THE GRAVES

November 2 at 11.00am. Mass will be at the cemetery weather permitting.

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY

Is celebrated on October 20 and invites Catholics worldwide to support the Church’s mission work. Pope Francis has chosen the theme, “Go and invite everyone to the banquet,” urging us to fulfill the Great Commission by sharing Christ’s message globally. A collection will be taken up next weekend.

ROSARY FOR PEACE

Will now begin 15 minutes earlier at 1:45pm in the church on a Monday.

POPES PRAYER INTENTION FOR OCTOBER

We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLICS

Is available for collection in the foyer.

VICTORY IN CHRIST - THE RISEN LORD COMMUNITY

• October 15 St Thomas the Apostle Church, Cranbourne East at 7.30pm
• October 16 St Michaels Church, Berwick at 7.30pm. (Program in Sinhala)
• October 17 Sacred Heart Church, St Albans at 7.30pm.
• October 18, 7.30pm to 9.30pm & Saturday October 19, 1.30pm to 7.00pm,
St Scholastica's Primary School Hall-348 Burwood Highway, Burwood.

ST ANDREW’S UNITING CHURCH

Fete will be held on October 19, 9.00am-2.00pm. See flyer.

ST JOHN OF GOD FREE MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOPS

To be held at the Langmore Centre during October, which is Mental Health Month. Everyone is welcome to join but bookings are essential. Topics: Menopause and Mental Health Wednesday October 16, 6.00pm-7.30pm, Caring for the Carer Wednesday October 23, 10.00-11.30am, New Parent Mental Health Monday October 28, 10.00am-11.30am. More information and to book

UPCOMING CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE EVENTS – OCTOBER

Engaging Your Faith. A series of short online presentations on a range of topic in scripture, church and theology, pastoral ministry and spiritual life. For more information visit: ctc.edu.au/news-and-events/engaging-your-faith/ Knox Public Lecture. This free annual public lecture commemorates the life and ministry of the College founder, James Robert Knox, Fifth Archbishop of Melbourne. Information CTC Seminar Saints Cyril and Methodius: The Encounter of Faith and Culture – History and Paradigm. Presented by Dr Birute Arendarcikas RSM. Free online and face-to-face seminar on Friday 11 October at 1.00pm.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS COURSE

Will be in two parts, Wednesday October 16 via Zoom and Saturday October 19 at Our Lady's Hall, Nicholson Street East Brunswick where a practical session will be given in each of the gifts. Registration is essential, you will not receive the link unless you have registered. A collection will be taken up on the Saturday to cover expenses. Register via email to centre@ccr.org.au, or call 03 9486 6544. See flyer.

MAGI PILGRIMAGES

Is offering a 16-day Pilgrimage of Hope, 22.04.2025 to 07.05.2025. This pilgrimage features Fatima, Valladolid, Lourdes, Nice, Turin, Padua, Assisi, Rotondo, and Rome for an all-inclusive early bird price of $8990 plus tips. The fare includes Return Economy Airfares, Local Transfers, Premium Hotels, all breakfast and dinners, Catholic priest and English speaking professional guides. For enquiries & bookings, call 03 8839 6615 or 1300 721 561 or email pilgrimage@magiholidays.com.au

REFLECTION – Dianne Bergant CSA

This Sunday's readings confront us with the need to make choices in life, choices for God. They also remind us that no significant choice is without its price. However, if we make the right choice, we are assured that we will be richly rewarded.

We all want to be happy in life. We just don't always know which doors to open, and how far to enter them. We need wisdom for that. The more options that are open to us, the more difficult it is to choose, but choose we must. To choose one option is to relinquish the others. The young man in the gospel wanted eternal life. Surely there is nothing more worthy than that. However, the price he was asked to pay was more than he had expected, and he went away saddened. To choose is to face the consequences of the word of God, and sometimes this is as sharp as a two-edged sword.

One of the mysteries of faith is the incomprehensible generosity of God. We choose wisdom instead of all of the good things of the world, and we receive these good things along with wisdom itself. We are asked to relinquish all of the things that we value, and we get them back a hundredfold. We are invited to take a step into the unknown. We are told that we will not fall. However, we are never sure of this until we take the step and discover that we have not fallen. God demands so much, but gives so much more.