HOLY WEEK AND EASTER LITURGIES

LENTEN RECONCILIATION: March 26
7.00pm

HOLY THURSDAY: April 2
7.30pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper

GOOD FRIDAY: April 3
Stations of the Cross: 10.00am St Michael’s School Stadium
Passion Service: 3.00pm St Michael’s School Stadium

HOLY SATURDAY: April 4
Easter Vigil: 7.30pm

EASTER SUNDAY:April 5 - Mass:
7.30am
9.00am
10.30am
6.00pm

Project Compassion Sunday

Life was hard for Manaini and her children living in rural Fiji. With support from FRIEND, Caritas Australia’s partner, she learnt food processing, gardening skills, how to improve nutrition and create new income opportunities to support her children’s education.

You can support Project Compassion through the donation boxes or envelopes.

Sponsor the Parish Staff who are taking up the challenge to walk daily on click here to find out more

HEALING AND ANOINTING MASS

Thursday March 19 at 10.30am, followed by light refreshments in the Parish Support Centre. Please invite those suffering in body, mind and spirit, the elderly, those who are housebound and their carers.

GOOD NEWS

Notices required by 10.00am, Thursday. Thank you.

CUPPA AFTER 10.30AM MASS

In the St Michael’s School Stadium. Everyone welcome.

ST MICHAEL’S YOUTH GROUP

We would like to invite teenagers and young adults to be part of our Youth Group. Youth leaders will be talking during Masses. If you interested in being involved, please see one of our leaders in the foyer after Mass.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS DURING LENT

Tuesdays after 9.30am Mass and Fridays at 7.15pm.

PALM SUNDAY / EASTER ROSTERS

If you would like to help with any of the ministries, please add your name to the rosters in the foyer.

PALM SUNDAY GREENERY:

We require cut pieces of palms/olives/other suitable greenery for blessing on Palm Sunday. If you are able to help please bring them in a box, already pre-cut, so as parishioners can collect them before Mass. We will need them by Friday March 27. Please let the Parish Support Centre know if you are able to help.

ALTAR OF REPOSE

We are seeking donations of white flowers and assistance in setting up. Please place in the buckets in the church on Wednesday April 1. If you are unable to purchase flowers, but would like to contribute towards them, please hand it to the priest, or drop into the Parish Support Centre.

GOOD FRIDAY

We are looking for young adults and youth from Year 7 and above to join our annual animated depiction of the Stations of the Cross at 10.00am. If you are interested, please contact the Parish Support Centre. Practice times to be advised.

GOOD FRIDAY READERS

We are looking for young parishioners (Grade 4 and above) to Read, Commentate and Altar Serve during the Passion. Please contact the Parish Support Centre. Practice times to be advised.

ALTAR SERVER TRAINING

Will be held March 19 and 23 at 4.30pm. There will be more dates closer to Easter.

We are still in need for more Altar Servers on Sunday Masses at 7.30am and 6.00pm. Training will be provided. See times above.

AGEING AND AWAKENING-LIFE’S SURPRISING GIFTS

Growing old is a unique experience, one we share with many others in society today. It is a time of life that both challenges and benefits us, a time that invites us to grow personally as we manage changes such as retirement, having more time and fewer demands, and experiencing physical and psychological limits. The ageing process is enriched if we take stock of our lives and take charge of how we might live now and into the future. Three two-hour sessions invite participants in their 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s to explore the many aspects of growing older in today’s Australia. St. Patrick’s Parish, Pakenham, 10.00am-12.30 pm, Tuesday April 14 ,21, and 28. Register: Parish Centre 59417315 or parishoffice@stpatrickspakenham.com.au For more information, see the flyer in the church foyer

AN INVITATION TO CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

Do you feel overwhelmed by the demands of a busy world? Join facilitator Chris Roga at the Heart of Life: Centre for Formation & Spirituality for a day dedicated to the "prayer of the heart". Date: Saturday March 21, Cost: $90.00. Register at: Visit the Heart of Life website. See flyer.

ST FRANCIS XAVIER OPEN DAY

Will be held at both the Berwick and Officer Campuses on Saturday, March 21 between 10.00am - 2.00pm. Register your interest at: stf.vic.edu.au

POPE'S PRAYER INTENTION FOR MARCH

Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.

FAMILY ENRICHMENT AUSTRALIA

Invites you to join our Pre-Adolescence Course, designed to equip you with practical tools and fresh confidence for this important stage. See flyer for more details. click here for more details We look forward to journeying with you. When families thrive, communities flourish.

LENTEN CHARISMATIC RETREAT

"Return to Me with All Your Heart" – Joel 2:12 Will be held at St Agatha’s, Cranbourne on March 26, 6.30pm-9.00pm with Fr Francis Otobo. All are welcome. See flyer.

REFLECTION - Greg Sunter

The question asked by the disciples at the opening of this event is an interesting one. They ask, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?’ In Jewish culture at the time, any physical affliction was deemed to be punishment from God for sinful behaviour. As the man had been born blind, the suspicion falls on his parents as having committed such a terrible offence against God that their son is born blind. Jesus immediately rejects this interpretation of the man’s affliction. Physical and mental illnesses or disabilities are in no way punishment from God.

Although the man’s physical sight is restored by Jesus simply enough, his journey from darkness into light is a more complicated affair. He faces disbelief, ridicule and even abuse from the Jewish authorities as they try to discredit Jesus and diminish the impact of the miracle. In fact, their treatment of the man is what drives him along the road from recipient of an act of mercy to a confirmed believer. Furthermore, the Jewish authorities, despite their physical capacity for sight, are shown to be the ones who are truly blind and trapped in darkness because they deny the light that is before their very eyes.

Historical Context – Light of the World
The events of today’s gospel passage occur within an extended passage of the gospel of John in which Jesus attends Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. A feature of the feast was the illumination of the Temple. Pilgrims would cover the Temple with lights and torches so that it shone out over the entire city. It was during this feast that Jesus declared himself to be the Light of the World and, a few verses later, healed the blind man and brought light into his world.

Living the Gospel – Lenten Light The story of the man born blind is a perfect choice for the Lenten season. During this season we are invited once again to open our eyes to Jesus; to step out of darkness and into the light; to look towards the future with hope and not despair. When we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at the Easter vigil, we celebrate the coming of the Light of the World into our lives. This annual call to turn away from darkness and walk in the light is a powerful and poetic call to focus our lives on the way of Jesus.

Gospel Focus– None so blind There’s a very old saying that has its roots in the Bible but is not a direct quote from the Bible: ‘There are none so blind as those who will not see.’ It would be a fitting summary of today’s passage for there are two movements between darkness and light that are evident in the story. Firstly, there is the blind man who can see. He can see physically but can also see the truth of who Jesus is. Secondly, there are the Jewish authorities who have physical sight but are completely blind to the truth of Jesus.