OUR LITURGY

READING Acts 2: 42-47

We hear the classic description of the first Christian

community. It was a community of faith, of prayer, of

worship, of loving service to the world. It is still an

ideal for our community too.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 117

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is

everlasting.

READING 1 Peter 1: 3-9

The beginning of St Peter’s first epistle is in the form of

the Jewish blessing style, just like we now use over the

preparation of the bread and wine. It shows how Peter

and the early Christians remained faithful to the

prayers.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION John 20:29

Alleluia, Alleluia!

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen

me; happy those who have not seen me, but still

believe!

Alleluia!

GOSPEL John 20: 19-31

In John’s Gospel Jesus appears and commissions the

apostles as well as promising his Spirit and the power

to forgive sin. Thomas struggled at first to understand

but could finally acknowledge Jesus as Lord and God.

REFLECTION

The Gospels tell us that Jesus appeared to the disciples

on several occasions after they discovered that his tomb

was empty. Part of the mystery of Jesus’ Resurrection is

that he appeared to his disciples not as a spirit but in

bodily form. The bodily form was not one that the

disciples recognised though. In John’s Gospel, Mary of

Magdala does not recognise that the figure standing

before her is Jesus until he speaks to her. In Luke’s

Gospel the disciples who meet Jesus on the road to

Emmaus do not recognise him until he breaks bread with

them. The resurrected Jesus had a physical presence, but

the disciples couldn’t recognise Jesus unless he allowed

them to. His resurrected body, nonetheless, showed the

marks of his crucifixion.

From readings such as today’s Gospel, we also see that

in his resurrected body, Jesus seems to be free of physical

constraints. He appears to the disciples despite the fact

that the doors were locked.

Jesus greets his disciples with the gift of peace and the

gift of the Holy Spirit. In doing so, Jesus commissions his

disciples to continue the work that he has begun: “As the

Father has sent me, so I send you.” During the meeting,

Jesus also shows the integral connection between

forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The story of Thomas illustrates our Christian experience

today: We are called to believe without seeing. In fact,

all Christians after the first witnesses have been called to

believe without seeing. Thomas’s doubt is hardly

surprising; the news of Jesus’ appearance was incredible

to the disciples who had seen him crucified and buried.

Thomas’ human nature compelled him to want hard

evidence that the Jesus who appeared to the disciples

after his death was indeed the same Jesus who had been

crucified. Thomas is given the opportunity to act on that

desire. He is our witness that Jesus is really risen.

“Love is shown by little things,

by attention to small daily signs

which make us feel at home.

Faith grows when it is lived and

shaped by love. That is why

our families, our homes, are

true domestic churches.”

- Pope Francis

St John the Baptist Catholic Church

Plympton Parish

2nd Sunday of Easter

19th April 2020

PLEASE PRAY FOR

Recently Deceased:

Maria Caruana, Mary Hackett, Estrella Alvarez, Veronica Joan

Moriarty, Anne Healy.

May they rest in peace!

Anniversaries:

Lilly Allan, Salvatore Gorgone, Robert Boylen, all the souls of

purgatory and the forgotten souls.

The Sick:

Antonietta Caruana, Fr Chris Warnlock, Angelica Mendoza,

Tamia Zegarra, Jeremy Sia, Anne Chiu, Betsabeth & Sebastian

Trujillo, Ignacio Pomar, Linda Smith, Chrisanthi Panayotakis,

Paz Jayme, Mercedes Li, Maria Alban, Johanna Coad, Miriam

Aranda, Reynaldo Melchor Cruz, Emily Elgueta, Rob, Natalia

Memije Sabio, Andrew Koh, Judy Cahill, Kieffer, Paul

Mbvoma, Kevin Clarke, Fr John Chambers and all sick

children.

We also pray for the sick in our parish,

in nursing homes, hospitals and the housebound.

Together in Prayer:

Calling Christians to Prayer

In Adelaide and across South Australia

In response to the unfolding situation of this COVID-19

pandemic, fear and anxiety are arising within the

community. There is a sense of powerlessness as rapidly

changing measures are implemented, requiring adaptations

in routine, engagement and the ability to work, producing

social isolation in many instances. In the uncertainty of

difficult times ahead, the presence of unconditional love

and kindness, and the strength of the whole people of

God, offer a space where concerns can be acknowledged

and expressed, care for others can be offered and hope can

be shared.

Replace anxiety, dislocation and sense of powerlessness,

with:

• a sense of community

• loving concern for each other

• Christians coming together

• positive action and hope in this area

Together in Prayer

• Every Friday 8am

• Pray together as the whole people of God

o The Lord’s Prayer

The Parish Office is CLOSED for face to face communication.

If you:

Have a urgent pastoral need, please ring the doorbell 9am – 2pm weekdays. If the office is unattended, please ring 8293 6600 and leave a message or ring 0427 241 574 for emergencies only.

If you would like to make an appointment with the Priest please ring 8293 6600 or leave a message if phone is unattended.

ANY correspondence can be deposited through the letter slit at the Parish door . Please check our website www.parish.stjohnplympton.com for updates and our facebook page ‘Plympton Catholic Parish’

Thank you for your understanding.

KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS NEWSPAPER COL-

LECTION

On the First Sunday of each month the Knights will still be

collecting your newspapers from St John the Baptist

Church.

Please leave your papers on the Eastern side of the Church

near the seat. Social distancing will be observed at all

times.

The Sunday dates for collection are SUNDAY MAY

3RD

, SUNDAY JUNE 7TH

, SUNDAY JULY 5TH

, SUNDAY

AUGUST 2ND

, SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6TH

. We will advise

further dates, as we will be guided by Government Guide-

lines. Thanking everyone for their continued support.

Darryl Smitheram and Simon O’Neill. Plympton/

Edwardstown Knights of the Southern Cross.

Through Project Compassion, we are reminded that there

are many of our brothers and sisters around the world who

are continually suffering the hardships of poverty. This year’s

theme is ‘Global Community—Go Further Together’. It asks

us to act in solidarity with our global family. Donations can

be made online at https://lent.caritas.org.au/donate/

FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR MAY AND JUNE ISSUES OF

THE SOUTHERN CROSS With churches closed and Masses suspended due to the

coronavirus pandemic, The Southern Cross has found a

creative solution to continue to spread the good news to the

Catholic community – and it’s free!

To subscribe for the free issues go to https://

thesoutherncross.org.au/delivered-to-your-door/

YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCE ONLINE

The Catholic Office for Youth and Young Adults is compiling

resources for youth and young adult ministry in these

extraordinary times. To view these resources visit http://

www.cathyouthadelaide.org.au/resources1

PARISH INFORMATION

PARISH ADMINISTRATOR - Fr Denis Ssemuju

8293 6600

DEACON Paul Crowe

8293 6600 (Tues, Thurs & Friday)

PASTORAL ASSOCIATE - Mary-Anne Quinn

8293 6600

PASTORAL ASSOCIATE - Heran Jayasuriya

8293 6600

PARISH OFFICE

Open Monday - Friday - 9.00am - 2.00pm

Parish Secretary - Helen Konieczny

342 Anzac Highway, Plympton SA 5038

Phone 8293 6600 Fax 8293 8992

Email: plymptonparish@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au

Website: parish.stjohnplympton.com

Postal Address: PO Box 90 Plympton SA 5038

Parish Pastoral Council Chairperson - TBA

Child Safety Officer - Helen Konieczny - 8293 6600

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL - 8293 6280

Principal -Todd Murfitt

Co-Principal - Bernadette Lacey

Deputy Principal - Joanne Livingstone

APRIM - Angela DeNadai

Hearing assistance available. Please ask for a receiver.

COMMUNION FOR COELIACS

Please see Priest before Mass to arrange a

gluten free Host.

TOILETS ARE LOCATED IN THE FRONT FOYER

Baby change table available for use in toilet area.

www.facebook.com/PlymptonCatholic Parish

LIVE STREAMING OF MASSES FROM ST FRANCIS

XAVIER’S CATHEDRAL

The Archdiocese will be live streaming Masses Monday to

Saturday at 12noon and every Sunday at 10am. Filmed

live from St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, the services can be

watched live via this website, our Facebook page

or YouTube channel. The Mass can also be watched on de-

mand.

Daily Mass celebrated by Bishop Greg O'Kelly SJ in Port Pirie

can be found at www.pp.catholic.org.au

Other Mass Resources

Sunday Mass is screened on Channel 10 at 6am every

Sunday morning.

Prayer resources

Pray as you go App (Google Play or App Store)

or Website or Podcast,

Sacred Space website

Corona of Thorns - Podcast (via Spotify and Apple Podcast)

by Fr Peter Zwaans (Brooklyn Park/Richmond Parish)

Next Week’s Readings

3rd Sunday of Easter

First Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33

Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-21

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

Feast Days During the Week

Tuesday 28th April — St Peter Chanel

Wednesday 29th April — St Catherine of Siena

Saturday 2nd May— St Athanasius

Fear and Trepidation

It’s very appropriate at this time that we find ourselves to be just like the Apostles in the upper room,

feeling anxiety, fear, and trepidation. They were hiding, confined mostly indoors, because they were fearful

of what might happen to them as followers of Jesus. After all, until the announcement by the women of the

empty tomb and the appearances of Jesus to them, they thought that the Roman occupiers and the Jewish

leadership had won the day. As far as they were concerned their Lord and Master had gone the way of

every other human being after death – to the grave. They thought that the grave was where Jesus would

stay. And they feared that this was to be their outcome as well.

Many of us find ourselves with similar concerns today. We are, if not in an upper room, then certainly

locked away from our family and friends in fear of a deadly enemy, a virus; a virus to which we have no

immunity.

Yet there is hope. Just as the Apostles’ world was transformed after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus

and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, our world is changing for the better in many respects. Sure,

change is a difficult thing to manage, particularly radical changes like we are seeing in our society today. Yet

many of the changes can be se seen as quite positive, if we take the time to reflect.

As Br. Richard Hendrick OFM has written in a prayer he wrote recently:

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise

You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet

The sky is no longer thick with fumes

But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi

People are singing to each other

across the empty squares,

keeping their windows open

so that those who are alone

may hear the sounds of family around them.

The virus is forcing us to slow down. And it’s only in the process of slowing down that we can really start to

reflect on why we are here; what are we doing with our lives; indeed, what is our ultimate purpose and

destiny. It’s as if the virus is calling out to us all to just stop! To squash that frenetic desire to do the many

things that aren’t important and to concentrate on what is. This forced lockdown, as frustrating as it might

be, gives us the time to listen and be still. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on illness and healing and

what might be required of us that all might recover not just physically, but spiritually as well.

We might not yet know the full ramifications of the effects of this disease on our society. But the

resurrection of Jesus has taught us that this new creation that he has given to us is the working out of his

Heavenly Father’s divine plan of love and mercy. In ways that we might not yet see, the virus is part of that

plan.

Our current problems allow us the time and space to reflect on that more fully. So, let’s use the time well

and let’s also use the time to pray for all those who are sick and for all who have died without family and

friends beside them. Let’s also pray for all those who help the sick, both directly and indirectly. And may the

mercy and love of God be with you all at this challenging time.

Deacon Paul Crowe

April 2, 2020

COVID-19 PHONE COUNSELLING

NOW AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT

People struggling to cope with the chaos and fear surrounding COVID-19 can now access free phone counselling by appointment from Centacare Catholic Family Services.

In response to the health emergency, Centacare has increased capacity to provide telephone support for mental health concerns, family stress due to job loss, social isolation and other challenges arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

People do not need a mental health care plan to access the short-term support. Rather, they can phone Centacare direct and book an appointment for a telephone counselling consultation.

Specialist Clinician Elaine Reynolds said it was crucial people did not go it alone at a time when unprecedented social measures were keeping friends and families apart, exacerbating challenges for those already at risk.

``In extreme moments like this, the options for personal control are severely limited, so there are a lot of people feeling lost, powerless and anxious,’’ Elaine said.

``The worries and what-ifs surrounding COVID-19 are enormous, and the ramifications of this can be gut-wrenching for many people.’’

People can phone Centacare between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, to make a daytime or evening appointment. The telephone counselling service is inclusive, non-judgmental and unconditional.

``Centacare wishes to offer a connection to those who seek counselling, strategies, or ways of working through individual, family or relationship issues, without having to leave their home,’’ Deputy Director Pauline Connelly said.

``In isolation with families, what once may have been an irritant can become an aggravator, and what once was a disappointment can lead to confusion and disturbance in one’s thinking.

``Seeking help early at these times, through phone counselling, can offer relief and provide a pathway to a new normal.”

To book an appointment for COVID-19 telephone counselling, please phone Centacare on 8215 6700. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Rowe 0437 062 302.