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The words of the Risen Jesus “Peace be with you” occur twice in the short reading from John’s Gospel. This is often the greeting of the Risen Lord and speaks to us across the ages and in this time of COVID -19. The early church faced great difficulties and challenges as they navigated a changing world and society. During this time, we have all had to adapt to new circumstances and different ways of praying and being community.

I have been moved by the extraordinary contribution and innovations that have emerged during these testing times, the ways of being family, working, social interaction, praying, celebrating the Sacraments, teaching and learning, gathering over the internet for work or pleasure. The resounding comments from people when they are able to come and pray in the Church is how much they have missed being in the Church and the community that gathers to pray. Some, very prudently, have not ventured out yet and are being very careful because of health concerns and vulnerabilities.

Pentecost is about the empowering of the early Church to be a witness of God’s love in the world and the very different form that takes within different cultures and times. You cannot chain up the Spirit as we have seen in the last few months - even in adversity the Spirit is at work in good hearts inspiring individuals and communities to reach out in love towards those most in need.

The disciples know it is Jesus because they see his glorified wounds; then he empowers them with the Spirit which is about forgiveness and truth. Sometimes the challenges and wounds left in our hearts and lives mark us and identify us, but they can be sometimes what inspires us, and we are stronger because of what we have endured or experienced. Through his wounds we and the whole world is healed. May the Lord help us to recognise our spiritual gifts and enable us to use those gifts to serve the Lord and our community.

Yours in the Lord Jesus Christ,

Fr. Michael McLean, Parish Priest

‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

Jn 20:22-23

Responsorial Psalm Ps 103:1. 24. 29-31. 34. R. v.30

(R.) Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. or (R.) Alleluia. 1. Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are, How many are your works, O Lord! The earth is full of your riches (R.) 2. You take back your spirit, they die, returning to the dust from which they came. You send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth. (R.) 3. May the glory of the Lord last for ever! May the Lord rejoice in his works! May my thoughts be pleasing to him. I find my joy in the Lord. (R.)

Second Reading 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, making one body.

No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.

Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.

Gospel Jn 20:19-23

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John. As the Father sent me, so I send you: Receive the Holy Spirit.

In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ After saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven: for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’

Entrance Antiphon Wis 1:7 The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world and that which contains all things understands what is said, alleluia. or Rm 5: 5; cf. 8:11

The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit of God dwelling within us, alleluia.

Gloria Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

First Reading Acts 2:1-11

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak different languages.

When Pentecost day came round, the apostles had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’

Gospel Acclamation Mt 28:19. 20

Alleluia, alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia!

Sequence: Holy Spirit, Lord of light, From the clear celestial height Thy pure beaming radiance give.

Come, thou Father of the poor, Come with treasures which endure; Come, thou light of all that live!

Thou, of all consolers best, Thou, the soul’s delightful guest, Dost refreshing peace bestow;

Thou in toil art comfort sweet; Pleasant coolness in the heat; Solace in the midst of woe.

Sequence: (cont) Light immortal, light divine, Visit thou these hearts of thine, And our inmost being fill:

If thou take thy grace away, Nothing pure in man will stay; All his good is turned to ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour thy dew; Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill;

Guide the steps that go astray.

Sequence: (cont) Thou, on us who evermore Thee confess and thee adore, With thy sevenfold gifts descend:

Give us comfort when we die; Give us life with thee on high; Give us joys that never end.

Offertory Antiphon Ps 67:29 - 30 Confirm, O God, what you have wrought in us; from your temple, which is in Jerusalem, kings shall offer presents to you. Alleluia.

Preface The mystery of Pentecost. It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For, bringing your Paschal Mystery to completion, you bestowed the Holy Spirit today on those you made your adopted children by uniting them to your Only Begotten Son. This same Spirit, as the Church came to birth, opened to all peoples the knowledge of God and brought together the many languages of the earth in profession of the one faith. Therefore, overcome with paschal joy, every land, every people exults in your praise and even the heavenly Powers, with the angelic hosts, sing together the unending hymn of your glory, as they acclaim:

Communion Antiphon Acts 2:4,11 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke of the marvels of God, alleluia.

Conclude: Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory Be Our Lady Help of Christians Patroness of Australia Pray for us St Mark & St Mary of the Cross Mackillop Pray for us

The 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.

Prayer of the Faithful Leader: My sisters and brothers, let us pray to God, who is the source of life and light, for our needs and for those of the world.

Reader: We pray for the Earth, our common home. May the Spirit of creation stir up in us a fierce love for the world placed in our care. (pause). In the Spirit we pray: All: Christ who is risen from the dead, have mercy on us.

Reader: We pray for Christian communities around the world. May Mary, mother of the church, be for all believers a model of life laid open to the Spirit of God. (pause) In the Spirit we pray: All: Christ who is risen from the dead, have mercy on us.

Reader: We pray for a new spirit of reconciliation in our land. May Mabo Day call us afresh to own our past and work for a future in which all have their fair share. (pause) In the Spirit we pray: All: Christ who is risen from the dead, have mercy on us. Reader: We pray for those entrusted with leading the Australian Plenary Council. May the wisdom and strength of the Holy Spirit be with them in this process. (pause) In the Spirit we pray: All: Christ who is risen from the dead, have mercy on us. Reader: We pray for all who have lost jobs and livelihoods in the arts, entertainment and tourism industries. May their hardship be eased by appreciative community support. (pause) In the Spirit we pray: All: Christ who is risen from the dead, have mercy on us.

Reader: We pray for students and teachers at every level of the education system. May they manage the resumption of work with wisdom, confidence and enthusiasms. (pause) In the Spirit we pray: All: Christ who is risen from the dead, have mercy on us.

Reader: We pray that the dead inherit the promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus, especially our recently deceased and those anniversaries listed in this bulletin. (pause) In the Spirit we pray: All: Christ who is risen from the dead, have mercy on us.

Leader: God of all creation, you promised to be with us always and never to abandon those created in your love. Your Holy Spirit illumines our lives and warms our hearts so that all may praise and thank you. We ask that you grant our prayers on this great festival day through Christ our Lord. All: Amen!

Regina Coeli in Latin V. Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia.

R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia. V. Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia. R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia. R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia

Oremus. Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu

Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus; ut per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae

capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen

The Regina Coeli (Queen of Heaven) in English V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia. V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia. R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of

your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech you, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we

may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The scriptural quotations are taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Co Inc, and used by permission of the

publishers. The English translation of the Psalm Responses, the Alleluia and Gospel Verses, and the Lenten Gospel Acclamations, and the Titles, Summaries, and Conclusion of the Readings, from the Lectionary for

Mass © 1997, 1981, 1968, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. The prayers are from the English Translation of the Roman Missal © 2010 International Committee on

English in the Liturgy Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved.

In October 2020, the Catholic Church in Australia will gather for the first Plenary Council to be held since the second Vatican Council. In 2018, the entire People of God in Australia began preparing for this historic moment by listening to God, by listening to one another’s stories of faith.

The two assemblies for the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia will now take place in October 2021 and April 2022, following the disruption of the original schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference last week decided to postpone the opening assembly by 12 months, with it now to be held in October 2021. Adelaide remains the venue for the first assembly. The second assembly will be in Sydney in April 2022.

“Mindful of the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, it was felt that delaying the first assembly by a full year would provide some certainty that travel and social distancing guidelines will have been lifted for the assembly,” said Plenary Council President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.

“Just as importantly, we believe that period of time will allow for an adequate period of preparation for the delegates and the Catholic community.

“The postponement was an unfortunate speed bump on the Church’s path to the Plenary Council assemblies, but we are committed to using this extra time wisely.”

Plenary Council facilitator Lana Turvey-Collins said the continuing preparation for the Council will take on some new characteristics, shaped by the experience of the pandemic.

“A program of webinars, podcasts and other multimedia projects will be rolled out in the latter half of 2020 to help the People of God explore and share about how they respond to the Spirit and live out their own call to mission – as individuals and collectively,” she said.

“The material will be both formative and dialogical to help parishes, families, workplaces and other Catholic communities and organisations consider the unique contribution they make to the life and mission of the Church.”

The next step on that journey will come next week at Pentecost, when the papers prepared by the Discernment and Writing Groups will be released.

Each group was tasked with writing a document on one of the six national themes for discernment, which emerged from the voices of more than 220,000 people who participated in the Council’s Listening and Dialogue phase. The papers draw upon Scripture, magisterial and papal teaching, Catholic tradition and relevant practices from beyond the Church, as well as responses received during the Listening and Discernment phase.

“These papers are the fruits of communal discernment and provide a major focus for our continued prayer and reflection. They represent another significant step in our national discernment process as we move towards the working document, or Instrumentum Laboris, for the Council assemblies and the Council agenda,” Archbishop Costelloe said. “We sincerely thank the chairs and members of the Discernment and Writing Groups for their contribution and we ask all the faithful to continue to pray for the Church in Australia as we travel through the pandemic and towards

October 2021.” For more details visit https://plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/

Plenary Council assemblies set for 2021 and 2022

Source © COPYRIGHT AUSTRALIAN CATHOLICS 2019

At a cost to the Parish of $14,960.00, during the last two weeks the Church has replaced the roofing over the east and west porches and confessionals due to the rain and wind damage caused in the

February 2020 storms. There is still urgent major works to be done on the replacement of the main slate roof (western side) at this time the Parish is making an application for a loan which will enable funds to become available. If

you have any funds, comments or enquiries speak to Fr Michael or contact the Parish office as more details will follow.

Read The Catholic Weekly online www.catholicweekly.com.au

Keep them in Your Prayers

In your love and concern, please pray for the following sick members of our community: Rita Arcidiacono, Joan Shakeshaft, Rev Peter Maher, Judy Grace, Thu Hoang (Deacon John’s cousin), Fr. Emmanuel Seo, Fr Don Willoughby, Eileen O’Neill, Monsignor Bill Mullins, Patricia Ryan, Brian McCarthy, Meagan Ficarra, Brian & Ann Johnson, Sr. Carmel Clancy and Sr Claire Burgess & all St. Mark’s Parish community members unwell at this time.

Anniversaries & those we are remembering at this time: Casimiro Hman, Cosimo Sanzari, Margaret Micheletti, Margaret Green, Albert Mollica, Gigliola Térzi, Peter McGill, George Gomes, Mario Di Palma, Patricia Williams, Caterina Lorizio, Sr Joan Sexton, Palmira D’Ettorre, Larry O’Neill, Rebecca Ters, Oliver Murphy and Rira Pereira.

Recently Deceased: Henry Hess, Nunziata Di Losa, Alma Di Losa, Daniel Tirado, Mother Jacinta Musu, Franco Arcidiacono, Rosa Carnuccio, and Salvatore Catanzaro. We pray for those who have died and offer our prayers to their families.

St Mark’s Parish Office is open for emails & phone calls

t: 9181 1795

e :admin@stmarksdrummoyne.org.au w: www.stmarksdrummoyne.org.au

Introducing our new St Mark’s parishioners & congratulations to their parents.

Register to attend Mass at

- St Mark’s-

Register with the Parish office 9181 1795 M - F 9am - 3pm.

Registrations essential Weekdays: (1 - 5 June only) Monday - 9:30am Tuesday - 9:30am & 12.00pm Wednesday - 9:30am & 6.00pm Thursday - 9:30am & 12.00pm Friday - 9:30am Saturday - 11am Adoration & 12pm Mass

Weekend: (6 - 7 June) Saturday - Vigil - 5.30pm Sunday - 9:00am & (10:30am trial only) &

6:00pm (note changes to times)

Sunday Mass - on - demand from 6:00am on St Mark’s Parish YouTube Channel or view from our

Listen to Fr Michael’s May Message to the community on our You-Tube

Visit our website for Pray at Home details and more:

www.stmarksdrummoyne.org.au

Pray the Rosary with Fr Michael Join in on Zoom Sunday 10:30am. Join: https://zoom.us/j/6837379896?

pwd=VXcrWXU3alUybjFJYVFIM09zZExmdz09 Meeting ID: 683 - 737 - 9896 Password: 332047

Interviews for the Kindergarten 2021 intake took place before social isolation and are continuing now. If you know anyone

who is intending to join us at St Mark’s, would you please remind them to pick up an enrolment form from the office or download it from the schools website and return to the school. No child who is a Catholic will be denied a Catholic education

due to financial difficulties.

St Mark’s Mass times schedule will change.

Weekend Mass from June 6 / 7 as listed above.

Weekday Masses from 8 June Monday - 8.00am | Tuesday 9.30am | Wednesday 7.30am &

(6.00pm on trial) | Thursday 9.30am | Friday 8.00am | Saturday 11am Adoration & 12pm Mass.

Church Community Liaison’s

Our Parish is looking for people from the community to serve as Church Community Liaisons weekends and weekdays

to welcome and greet people to St Mark’s: The role requires: * Registration and checking off the list attendees at Mass. * Remind attendees on Social Distancing & physical distancing. * Practice good hand hygiene. * After Mass assist in Church sanitisation for following visits. * Training on requirements and procedures will be provided. * Materials to do the role will be provided. * Volunteers will need to have Parish safeguarding requirements. To volunteer see Fr Michael or contact the Parish office.

Gospel Reflection TThe feast of Pentecost celebrates the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples and energising them to set about their mission of continuing the ministry of Jesus. The gospel reading is one of the post-resurrection appearanc-es by Jesus when he breathed the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. The actual events of that first Pentecost are record-ed in the book of Acts and are recalled in this week’s first reading. The use of this post-resurrection gospel account is a reminder that Jesus had already imbued the disciples with the Spirit but, as so often throughout his ministry, they were a bit slow to catch on to the significance of what he had done. It seems that they needed a more tangible experi-ence to jolt them into action and Acts records the very physical experience of the Spirit entering their midst as a roar-ing wind before settling upon them as tongues of flame. Jesus had breathed the Spirit upon them but it took the roar-ing wind to make a real impression on the disciples. There are frequent references in the gospels to Jesus being ‘filled with the Spirit’. It is this Spirit with which he was filled that he breathed upon his disciples; it is that same Spirit that we receive sacramentally in Confirmation.

For the weeks following the death of Jesus the disciples had lived in fear and confusion, not fully understanding what had happened and not really knowing what to do. When they realised that the Spirit Jesus had breathed upon them was really present and urging them to action they finally had the courage to begin the mission that Jesus had entrust-ed to them: to spread the Good News of Jesus and continue to realise his message in the world.

Historical Context – Pentecost The word Pentecost comes from the Greek for fiftieth day. Pentecost Sunday ends the season of Easter and comes as a Sabbath day after seven weeks of seven days. In Jewish tradition the 50th day after the Passover was celebrat-ed as a blessing of the harvest and rather than the unleavened bread of Passover it was celebrated by leavening the bread. It was for this reason that the disciples were gathered together when they experienced the Holy Spirit empow-ering them. In Christian tradition, Pentecost is celebrated as the arrival of the Spirit, promised by Jesus, that animated the disciples to spread the gospel of Jesus and gather believers to form what would eventually become the Church.

Have you thought? The Spirit We can sometimes regard Pentecost as the day the Holy Spirit came into the world. However, the Spirit had long been active in the world before this event. In fact, even the second verse of Genesis Chapter 1 tells us that the Spirit hovered over the waters. The Old Testament is filled with references in which ‘The Spirit of God came upon (him) with power’ and the Spirit was evident at Jesus’ baptism and throughout the gospels. Jesus is frequently described as be-ing ‘filled with the Spirit’. So, from the very beginning of creation the Spirit has moved in the world and continues to energise it today.

Living the Gospel – Come, Holy Spirit ‘Come, Holy Spirit’, or its Latin, ‘Vene Sancte Spiritus’, has become the basis of countless prayers and hymns over many hundreds of years. To this day, it remains a powerful invocation that can be used in prayer or meditation. Three simple words convey a wealth of meaning. The invitation for the Spirit to ‘Come’ indicates recognition of the need for the Spirit’s intervention and openness to accept the guidance that the Spirit brings. It is a powerful, simple prayer that can be used at the outset of any significant undertaking or whenever you find yourself in need of inspiration.

Questions for Adults What was different about Jesus breathing the Spirit on the disciples and the Pentecost experience? What was significant about the disciples being heard to speak in many different languages? Why might Pentecost sometimes be regarded as the birth of the Church? Have you ever had an experience of being aware of the Spirit’s presence/action? Where in your life could you use the guidance and strength of the Spirit?

Learning moments Write a prayer that begins, ‘Come, Holy Spirit… ’ that seeks the Spirit’s help or guidance in an aspect of your life or your community. © Greg Sunter

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney is an official sponsor of this virtual free pilgrimage. The pilgrimage is aimed at helping Catholics nurture their faith in the lead up to Pentecost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each Wednesday and Sunday, formative videos will be released for registered participants to engage online. Each set of videos will reflect on the Sunday

readings of that week with a particular focus on the role of the Holy Spirit in our Church and world.

To register, simply go to www.pentecostpilgrimage.com

A message from the Archdiocese of Sydney: Child sexual abuse is a crime. The appropriate people to deal with a crime are the police. If you, or anyone you know have been abused, please contact the police. Alternatively, you can contact the Safeguarding and Ministerial Integrity Office at (02) 9390 5810 safeguardingenquiries@sydneycatholic.org. You may also want to speak to your Parish Priest who will be able to provide support and guidance. The Archdiocese has a legal obligation to report crimes to the police.

© Creative Ministry Resources Pty Ltd

Fill in the blanks with a word from below. 1. Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem and soon God will send them the _____________________. He will give you the power to speak bravely about me and all that I have taught you.

2. As the disciples watched, a cloud hid Jesus and he was taken up into _____________.

3. While they were in a house in Jerusalem, they heard noise like a great________ blowing through the room, but the air was still.

4. Then fiery ____________flickered around their heads, but did not burn them.

5. They knew this was the sign that God had sent his power to them. Now they could speak ______________ to all people.

6. The disciples rushed out into the streets of Jerusalem and told everyone they met about ____________ and the wonderful things he had done.

7. They spoke in many different languages they had never learned so that everyone could ________________ them.

8. The disciples told the people many things and they should be ______________in the name of Jesus.

9. The disciples told them that they should be ____________ for the bad things they had done.

10. The disciples said to _____________ that Jesus died for you and that God will always help you and be with you.