Both our Churches are fitted with a hearing induction loop. Please use the ‘T’ or other appropriate switch on your hearing aid. Please tell us if you experience any difficulty.

We acknowledge the Yalukit Willam Clan, the traditional owners and custodians of this land. We pay our respects to them.

May we walk gently here.

The CarmeliteParish of Port Melbourne and Middle Park

in the care of the Carmelites since 1882

in this issueParish News ........ 3&4 Morning Tea St Vincent de Paul September Men’s Dinner Sacrament of Confirmation Chanting GroupReflection On This Week’s Readings ... 5Our Liturgy ................ 6

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time 15th September 2019

My dear Parishioners,

THE GRACE OF OUR DIGNITYI know that we are blessed with many baptisms in our parish which may disconcert some and bring delight to others. Often we question why parents have their children baptised. Is it because they want to get into a Catholic school? Is it because someone in the family pressures them? Or do they want something new for their children? My guess is that there may be some truth in all these questions.

So what?

Every baptism is a wonderful opportunity to rejoice in the gift of new life and to live in hope that somewhere along the way, every child will discover the beauty and magic of a God who loves them beyond measure.

Sometimes when we get older we become jaded; just as our skin gets thinner so too can our hearts became a little calloused.

Those of us old enough to remember used to know a lot about grace. We called it “sanctifying” or “actual” and of course, we knew that if we didn’t die in a state of grace then, God forbid, there was an eternity of punishment.

This is where baptism comes in! Too often we think of grace as something we have to acquire; as something we have to get; as something we have to earn.

Well the good news is that we have it already!! We received it in baptism when we were graced with the absolute dignity of being named a daughter or son of God. I don’t think we really have to earn grace; my guess, and it’s only that, is we have to discover it. I think that grace is something that comes from within us as a remarkable gift of the God in whom we have been baptised. Grace is not something that is poured into us at the right moment. No, it emerges from what we have already received.

So what does this mean? Well, my guess is that everything in our lives is a moment of grace. We may not see it as such; we may find other names for it; it may be that life is bloody awful at times, but the fact is that we are vessels of great dignity.

our parish this week

we remember

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Churches St Joseph’s cnr Rouse & Stokes Streets Port Melbourne

Our Lady of Mount Carmel cnr Richardson & Wright Streets Middle Park

Sunday Masses 6.00pm (Sat) Mount Carmel 9.00am Saint Joseph’s 10.30am Mount Carmel

Reconciliation after 9.00am Mass Saturday

Carmelite Parish Office 274 Rouse Street Port Melbourne Vic 3207

Telephone 03 9681 9600

After Hours Emergency 0408 754 283

Email parish@sj-mc.org.au

Parish Website www.sj-mc.org.au

Carmelite Website www.carmelites.org.au

Office Hours 9am-4pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday(CLOSED WEDNESDAYS)

Parish Priest Fr Hugh Brown OCarm

Parish Secretary Anne Ierardo (Monday to Thursday)

Community Liaison Sr Geraldine Stapleton csb(Monday/Tuesday & Weekend Mass)

Pastoral Life Co-ordinator Michael Murray (Wednesday/ Thursday)

Finance Officer Shane Harrison (Tuesday - Friday)

Facilities Manager Ken Chaffer

Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School Bank Street South Melbourne Vic 3205

Telephone 03 9699 2928 Principal Simon Millar

Those who are ill or in need of prayer: Mat Anderson, John Bassett, Sarah Battersby, Karen Brown, Christine Bowen, Ciaran Byrne, Frank Cranage, Maureen Dickason, Gary Finn, Lyn Fleming, Lesley Gilbert, Gerald Gill, Richard Hayden, Ivy Hermence, Tony Hyde, Maria & Joseph Jelincic, Sandra MacDonald, John Madigan, Maura McKenna, Laura McGuinnes, Margaret McInnes, Betty Molnar, Jane Morris, Maria Loc Nguyen, Kate Nolan, Lorraine Partridge, Greg Pringle, John Pringle, Nick Quill, Noel Quinn, Rafal Rafalski, Paul Ryan, Katie Ryan, Teresa Sheehan, Sash Carti Somerset-Beauverie, May Spencer, Helen Stanley, Maree Stanway, Ivo Strauss, Jim Sullivan, Bridgid Toohey, Sr Barbara Walsh, Jonathon Will, Tami Yap, Helen York, Roma Zinger.

Those who have died recently: Michael Anderson, and Gerald O’Sullivan

Those who anniversaries occur at this time: Michael Carlin, Giovanni Lettieri, Pasquale Lettieri, and Carmelites, James De Laurier & Brian Pitman.

Monday 16 September9.00am Mass, both churches

Tuesday 17 September9.00am Mass, Mt Carmel9.00am Morning Prayer, St Joseph’s

Wednesday 18 September - Parish Office Closed9.00am Mass, St Joseph’s9.00am Morning Prayer, Mt Carmel

Thursday 19 September 9.00am Mass, both churches7.00pm Meditation, Malone Room

Friday 20 September9.00am Mass, both churches9.30am Lectio Divina, The Lady Chapel, Mt Carmel

Saturday 21 September9.00am Mass, both churches6.00pm Vigil Mass, Mt Carmel

Sunday 22 September - 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time9.00am Mass, St Joseph’s10.30am Mass, Mt Carmel

ministers

for your generosity last Sunday

St Joseph’s Carmelite and Parish Offering $ 945.00Our Lady of Mt Carmel Carmelite and Parish Offering $ 1,331.00

thank you

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21/22 September25th Sunday in Ordinary Time6.00pm Mount CarmelCommentator: Angela Cox

Reader: Irene Hayes

Eucharistic Ministers: Abramo Ierardo, Damien Peile, Angela Cox

Communion to the Sick: N/A

9.00am St Joseph’sCommentator: Brian Harrison

Readers: William Kininmonth

Eucharistic Ministers: Kelly McEnhill, Cathy Garbellini

Counters: Ron and Sandra Cassano

Childrens’ Liturgy: N/A

10.30am Mount CarmelCommentator: Peter Thomas

Readers: Norman Maguire

Eucharistic Ministers: Michael Murray, Sally Diserio, Denis Churkovich

Childrens’ Liturgy: N/A

Hospitality: Denis Churkovich

in our parishSometimes we tarnish that vessel pretty badly; sometimes others hurt it so badly that it gets all out of shape. BUT, if we scratch beyond the tarnish and even the brokenness we can find something magnificent.

The Christian life is a matter of making our dignity shine more brightly. You know, we are called to be a light for the world and salt for the earth. Sometimes our light burns brightly and sometimes it just flickers tentatively; sometimes our saltiness is strong and sometimes it is insipid. In the final analysis, we are wonderfully made and we know that God doesn’t make junk!

Every child that is brought into the world and our community is a reminder that we too have been graced. Our quest is to shine.

The future of Morning Tea after 10.30am Mass at OLMC

We are in desperate need of additional volunteers to look after morning tea following the 10.30am Mass at Mount Carmel. This ministry of Hospitality is one way of continuing the hospitality offered to us at the Eucharistic table. If you are able to assist or would like further information please contact the Parish Office. The new ministry roster will begin in October and unfortunately we will need to suspend morning tea if we can’t find additional volunteers from October onwards. Thank you for considering this important ministry.

Our conference meets next Tuesday evening, 17th September at 7.30pm in the Parish Office Rooms. All welcome. If you would like to enquire about helping in our rewarding work please join us on Tuesday evening or call Joan Cusack on 0478224624 or Pat Mount on 0418380549.

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our parish news

Chanting – Rejoicing in the Spirit with Susan Frykberg Saturdays 11am-Midday, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

Join us in chanting old and new Christian chants. No musical ability required nor any prior experience in chanting.

Saturday 21, 28 September & 5 October 11.00 am – Midday. At Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Middle Park.

Led by Susan Frykberg who is well versed in composing and teaching a range of Christian chants. No need to book – just come along.

Carmelite Centre Program BookingsT: 9690 5430 (leave message if unattended) or registration@thecarmelitecentremelbourne.org

via website: www.thecarmelitecentremelbourne.org

The Carmelite Centre is a joint venture of the Carmelites of Australia and East Timor and our Parish of Port Melbourne/Middle Park.

Address: 214 Richardson Street, Middle Park Vic 3206 (Mel Ref 2K C10) T: (03) 9690 5430 Website: www.thecarmelitecentremelbourne.org

The Carmelite LibraryThe Carmelite Library, located in the Carmelite Hall next to the Church, is open on

Tuesdays from 12.00 to 8.00pm and Wednesday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. t: (03) 9682 8553e: librarian@carmelitelibrary.org website: www.carmelitelibrary.org

September 2019 Parish Men's Dinner6.45pm Wednesday 25 September 2018,

at O'Connor-Pilkington Rooms, OLMC.Speaker: Assoc. Prof. John Lack -

"Some 'mythconceptions' about Australia and the Great War"

RSVP: John Molloy - 9699 2031 Cost: $35

Sacrament of Confirmation - 2019An enrolment form can be obtained from both churches, the Parish Office, or the Parish website: www.sj-mc.org.au.

This program involves activities at home, during the Saturday afternoon sessions in the O’Connor/Pilkington Rooms and in Church during the Saturday evening mass at 6.00pm.

At least one parent must attend the Parent Information Session at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 16 October in the O’Connor Pilkington Rooms, so that their family will know how to accompany their child during their preparation for the Sacrament.

Please return your enrolment form by Thursday, 10 October 2019. The Confirmation Program commences on Saturday, 19 October. The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated at a special 7.00pm Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on Friday, 22 November, 2019. For further information, please contact the Parish Office on 9681 9600 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday during business hours.

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Reflection on this week’s readingsA bishop in a rural diocese was explaining to the confirmation class how he was the shepherd of the flock. Given that many of the children came from large sheep farms he decided to draw on today’s Gospel as an analogy for his pastoral leadership. ‘I care for all of you like the Good Shepherd,’ he said. The students seemed consoled. Warming up, the bishop continued, ‘For instance, what would your fathers do if he lost one of his sheep?’ The class was silent. The bishop asked again. The students were confused. The bishop got personal, ‘Michael what would your Dad do?’ ‘Seeing we’ve 42,000 of them, bishop, he’d let the stupid blighter go!’

Sometimes the power of the Gospel needs a little help to become inculturated! If the bishop had done his homework and asked Michael about 420 missing sheep he would’ve got the answer he was after!

The Exodus reading and the Gospel from Luke could not provide a greater contrast in the images of God they present. Thank goodness we are children of the new covenant, intimates of the Good Shepherd.

The Lord in Exodus, by contrast, is vengeful; his destructive anger only changes because of Moses’ intercession. The idea that God ‘gets us’ through disasters, illness, misfortune and hardship is, tragically, still potent in Christian faith. No matter how often the Church teaches us, for example, that HIV/AIDS has not been sent as a curse by God on gay men, or that non-Christians are not punished for their beliefs through war and famine or that God does not send small accidents and sicknesses because God knows we need a rest, we can find this erroneous thinking is alive and well. At its worst it drives people away from the Good Shepherd who knows each of us by name, who will go to ridiculous lengths and risk everything to go after us and welcome us home.

There is a huge difference between God permitting evil in the world and God perpetrating such acts. We do not believe that God, the summit and source of love, rains down evil upon the world. Whatever of the many and wonderfully varied images of God in the Old Testament, the Israelites had a developed belief in God’s vengeance. Jesus, however, spoke more of God’s justice and compassion.

And even as intimate and loving as the Good Shepherd metaphor is, Jesus is clear about our freedom to choose between life in Him and the path which draws us away. None of us is coerced into the flock. We are not God’s victims. We know and hear the voice of the one who loves us most and are drawn to him, and can make a return every time we stray.

May this Eucharist, then, enable us to let go of any residual belief that God is out to get us. May it sharpen our hearing to his call and help us to delight in his embrace. And may it embolden us to be good shepherds to those we love so that we might risk everything, in his name, to be foolishly loving and compassionate to all we claim as our own.

© Richard Leonard SJ

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OUR LITURGYProcessional Hymn: A Shepherd I’ll Be

Penitential Rite

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gloria

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Responsorial psalm Psalm 51: Be MercIful, O lOrd

Exodus 32:7-11. 13-14

The Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Go down now, because your people whom you brought out of Egypt have apostatised. They have been quick to leave the way I marked out for them; they have made themselves a calf of molten metal and have worshipped it and offered it sacrifice. “Here is your God, Israel,” they have cried, “who brought you up from the land of Egypt!” I can see how headstrong these people are! Leave me, now, my wrath shall blaze out against them and devour them; of you, however, I will make a great nation.’

But Moses pleaded with the Lord his God. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘why should your wrath blaze out against this people of yours whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with arm outstretched and mighty hand? Remember Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, your servants to whom by your own self you swore and made this promise: I will make your offspring as many as the stars of heaven, and all this land which I promised I will give to your descendants, and it shall be their heritage for ever.’ So the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, and who judged me faithful enough to call me into his service even though I used to be a blasphemer and did all I could to injure and discredit the faith. Mercy, however, was shown me, because until I became a believer I had been acting in ignorance; and the grace of our Lord filled me with faith and with the love that is in Christ Jesus. Here is a saying that you can rely on and nobody should doubt: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I myself am the greatest of them; and if mercy has been shown to me, it is because Jesus Christ meant to make me the greatest evidence of his inexhaustible patience for all the other people who would later have to trust in him to come to eternal life. To the eternal King, the undying, invisible and only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion blot out my offence.O wash me more and more from my guilt and my sorrow, and cleanse me from all of my sin.

My offenses truly I know them, and my sins are always before me;Against you alone have I sinned, O Lord, what is evil in your sight I have done.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, put your steadfast spirit in my soul,Cast me not away from your presence, O Lord, and take not your spirit from me.

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gospel

APOSTLES CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,Creator of heaven and earth,and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died and was buried;he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead;he ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

gospel acclamation

Luke 15:1-10

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:

‘What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” he would say “I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.

‘Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” she would say “I have found the drachma I lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’

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Cel: Behold the Lamb of God. Behold him who takes away the sins of the World. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

All: Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

mystery of faith

Lamb of God

holy holy

Cel: The Lord be with you. All: And with your Spirit.Cel: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord.Cel: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. All: It is right and just.The Celebrant prays the preface at the end of which all sing:

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Communion HYMN WIthOut SeeIng YOu

This is the day, that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in itThis is the day, that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in itThis is the day, that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in itThis is the day, that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it

Rejoice, rejoice This is the day, this is the day

This is the day, that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in itThis is the day, that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it

Recessional hymn thIS IS the dAY (9.00AM MASS OnlY)

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The CaTholiC Parish of PorT Melbourne and Middle Park is CoMMiTTed To Providing a safe and nurTuring CulTure

for all Children and young PeoPle in our Parish.

Recessional hymn the lOrd IS MY Shepherd (6.00pM & 10.30AM)