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.

HAPPY EASTER

Fr Paul, together with the Parish staff, wish all our parishioners a Safe, Happy and Holy Easter.

THANK YOU

To all those who have helped in any way with the Palm Sunday and Easter Liturgies, from making crosses, sourcing palms, setting up the stadium, assisting with ministries, singing, playing music or volunteering in any capacity. We truly appreciate your willingness to help. Extra special thanks to Trevor Shields for our beautifully hand-painted 2025 Paschal Candle.

A MESSAGE FROM FR PAUL

To my faithful parishioners of St Michael’s, Berwick, it has been a blessing serving as your Parish Administrator, so with great delight I have the wonderful fortune of telling you that I have been granted permission to continue doing so till the end of the year. I have witnessed tremendous growth in this parish and with more certainty of my position I will be able to bring in more initiatives such as starting a youth group and will take much pleasure in collaborating with you. I look forward to this ongoing journey to building the Kingdom of God in our community and working with you in our mission as God’s people. May the Spirit of Christ’s Resurrection be with you this Easter Season and the joy of Christ fill your hearts. Yours in Christ, Father Paul Zaher.

REINTRODUCING THE PRECIOUS BLOOD

As of Holy Thursday, the Sale Diocese will distribute the Blood (not wine) from the chalice. Offering both the Body and Blood of Christ will continue thereon at all weekend Masses. Please note that in regard to child safety it will be the parents’ responsibility to prevent their children from receiving the Precious Blood if that is their decision. Furthermore, we would like to remind you that it is also the parents’ responsibility to ensure the children who haven’t yet received their First Communion, from taking the Body and Blood of Christ. The general norm for someone who is not receiving the Blessed Sacrament is to indicate this to the minister by placing their arms crossed with hands on opposite shoulders.

THANK YOU

Caritas Australia would like to express our heartfelt thanks for your incredible support of Project Compassion this Lent. If you still have your Project Compassion box or donation envelope at home, please return them next week at Mass.

Your generosity is helping to empower the world’s most vulnerable communities, enabling them to overcome challenges and lift themselves out of poverty.

FAIRTRADE

Keep in mind all year around when buying chocolate, tea and coffee to look for the Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance logos, this is one way to help stop the slavery. Look for these logos and know that farmers receive fair prices that covers workers’ wages.

TO HELP CATHOLICS CELEBRATE THE JUBILEE YEAR

A website has been launched by the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry. Please visit pilgrimsofhope.catholic.org.au

STAY UPDATED ON DIOCESAN EVENTS

By visiting the Diocesan Events Page. Itis a great resource to find details on upcoming celebrations, gatherings, and important dates. Visit: cdsale.org.au/events

THE POPE’S APRIL PRAYER INTENTION

Let us pray that the technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crisis of our times.

MARCH BLOOD BANK DONATIONS

In the Papal Bull for the Year of Hope, Pope Francis wrote that “Signs of hope should also be shown to the sick, at home or in hospital.” St Michael’s did this by making three donations during March bringing the annual total to 5. Through its blood donation team, St Michael’s has given life to up 15 sick people and Hope to an estimated 75 people this year. Here we can see how small, simple actions build up to provide great amounts of hope.

MARIAN MOVEMENT FOR PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS AND LAY MEMBERS RETREAT

Will be held at the St Clement’s (Redemptorist) Retreat Centre at Galong NSW from August 18-22. The retreat is open to all Priests, Religious and Lay Members. Further information see flyer.

CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

Engaging Your Faith online presentations from $25.00 per session. Further information and to register Click here

ST AGATHA'S JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Welcomes all to join with them if you are celebrating your 25th or 50th Wedding Anniversary this year on Saturday 31st May at 11.00am Mass for a special blessing. Please contact the parish office with your details on 03 5996 1985 or email parishoffice@stagathas.org.au The Parish is hosting quite a few events during May, see flyer.

BILLINGS LIFE

Has moved to Mont Albert and provide face to face consultations by appointment on Mondays and Thursdays. More information: 9802 2022 or billings.life

JOURNEYING WITH MARY

May is the month of Mary who has a special place in the hearts of the faithful. It is therefore fitting that we pay special attention to her and to her role in the history of salvation. Join others from around the diocese in a special ‘Zoom’ gathering, on May 7, as we celebrate Mary’s significance through Art, Music, Song, Private Reflection, Scripture and Prayer. Led by Jane Mitchell and Mike Hansen. To register click here

THE ART OF THE ASK

Overcome the fear of inviting and step out with bold faith by learning practical strategies that make invitation second nature. Join Michael Harvey, founder of Back to Church Sunday, for a powerful online event, on May 8, that will equip you to break through fear and embrace a culture of invitation. Drawing from decades of experience, Michael will challenge us to rethink evangelization and rediscover the simple, transformational act of inviting. Register click here

YEAR OF JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Jubilee of Workers on May 25 at St Mary’s Cowes.
Jubilee of Families & Grandparents on May 31 at St Agatha’s Cranbourne.
Jubilee of Lay Ministers and Leaders: All Lay Ministers and Leaders, in the Diocese of Sale, are invited by the communities of St John’s, Trafalgar, and St Jarlath’s, Yarragon, to St John’s on Sunday June 15 from 2.30pm. ‘Cuppa and conversation to follow’.
Further details for all celebrations to come.

REFLECTION - Nick Brodie

The joy of Easter, Pope Francis reminds us, is a call ‘to experience the risen Christ and to share the experience with others.’ Like the women finding the tomb empty and telling the disciples, or Peter running to the tomb when he heard the news, we are called to respond to the message with action! We are meant to become bearers and sharers of hope: He is Risen!

As the Pope suggests, sometimes this means that we have ‘to roll away the stone from the tomb where we may have enclosed the Lord.’ We need to be open to being changed.

‘A Christianity that seeks the Lord among the ruins of the past and encloses him in the tomb of habit’, the Pope declares emphatically, ‘is a Christianity without Easter.’ Every year, therefore, we should take up anew this opportunity to follow our Lord with joyful hope. Each Easter is an opportunity to proclaim Christ Risen in our own time and place.

‘Let us make Jesus,’ the Pope says, ‘rise again from all those tombs in which we have sealed him.’ Let us embrace this Easter opportunity for ‘encountering him today as the living God who desires to change us and to change our world.’ Let us proclaim the Resurrection by what we do next.