Divine Mercy Sunday. 2 nd Sunday of Easter 2 nd / 3 rd April 2016 Vol. 34 No. 17. Second Sunday of Easter. God's Gift of Peace

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1 2 nd Sunday of Easter 2 nd / 3 rd April 2016 Vol. 34 No. 17 Second Sunday of Easter For most of those who celebrated Easter last Sunday, it is over and done with. Yet in the Church s liturgical calendar, today is the octave of Easter, and this entire week is considered as one day, a day so great that we need eight of them in which to begin to unpack its richness. During every Eucharistic liturgy in this octave the sung dismissal is, Go in the peace of Christ, alleluia, alleluia, to which the community responds, Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia. The Easter season extends to a two-month celebration that climaxes with Pentecost which moves us into the lifelong implications of the Easter-experience the ordinary time of our lives. God's Gift of Peace When was the last time you truly felt peaceful? Peace is more than a lack of conflict. A lull in action between two opponents only gives them a chance to regroup, to recharge for the next round. A void of violence does not lead to happiness. True peace, on the other hand, gives us happiness, since it is built on trust. The gospel tells us how Jesus gave his followers peace because they trusted him. In spite of scepticism, he offers us the same peace. Larry Broding Divine Mercy Sunday On the Second Sunday of Easter of the Jubilee Year 2000, at the Mass for the canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska, Pope John Paul II proclaimed to the world that from now on throughout the Church this Sunday will be called Divine Mercy Sunday. Pope John Paul had actively promoted the message of St. Faustina. In his 1980 encyclical on God s mercy, Rich in Mercy, he developed a scriptural and doctrinal basis for our faith in the mercy of God. By linking the revealed truth about God s mercy to one of the most solemn Sundays after Easter itself, he illumined the fact that the liturgy already proclaimed the divine mercy. The truth has been embedded for two millennia in the worship of the Church. Once again we see an illustration of the ancient saying, The law of faith is the law of prayer. Rev. Alfred McBride, O.Praem. Holy Rosary School 4 Year Old Kindergarten Enrolments 2018 Holy Rosary will be interviewing new families to the school in Term 2. For families who have a child at the school, no interview is required. If you have not enrolled your child or unsure whether an application has been completed, please contact Laurie Evans on

2 \ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John In the evening of that same day, 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. Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, We have seen the Lord, he answered, Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put by finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe. Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. Peace be with you, he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe. Thomas replied, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him: You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe. There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name. Congratulations Congratulations to Lexie Wilkinson on reaching another great milestone in her life on 6 th April. Lexie has been a wonderful contributor to this parish, singing and playing the organ at the 8am Mass for over 50 years (told to me by a reliable source thanks Brian.) Happy birthday Lexie, from Father Peter and all the Parishioners. Commentary on the Gospel The text for today can be sub-divided into four parts. In part one, Jesus appears to the fearfilled disciples and greets them with peace. Part two consists of Jesus commissioning the disciples and breathing out his Spirit upon them Part three relates the encounter between the risen Lord and the apostle Thomas, culminating in words that implicate us: Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe. The reading comes to a climax with the final summary of the gospel s purpose: that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name. The reading as a whole is a wonderful invitation to renew our faith in Jesus and to live in the peace and joy of his Spirit. Feast Days this Week The Annunciation of the Lord (Monday 4 th ) This feast originated in the East during the sixth century and gained universal observance in the West during the eighth century. It is a feast of the Lord, commemorating the announcement to the Virgin Mary of the Word made flesh, Mary s acceptance of God s will and the conception of Christ nine months before Christmas. Its observance close to Easter links the incarnation with the whole mystery of human redemption in Christ. St John Baptist de la Saille (Thursday 7 th ) Born at Rheims (France) in Died at Touen on this day in Ordained to the presbyterate in 1678 after seminary studies at Saint Sulpice in Paris. St John pioneered schools for poor boys and the working classes, the training of teachers, and the care of disturbed children. Despite much internal conflict and external opposition, he formed his companions into the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He is remembered for devoting his entire life and resources to education. For full colour images & other news go to the Parish website:

3 oa 2016 Sacramental Program Caritas Australia would like to THANK YOU for supporting Project Compassion. If you still have your Project Compassion box or set of envelopes at home, please bring them back next week or visit to make your donation online. Thank you for supporting us this year as we celebrate 50 years of Project Compassion. You are helping to empower the world s poorest children, women and men with vital learning and renewed hope. phone: The internationally renowned Scripture scholar Rev. Prof. Francis J. Moloney, SDB will be presenting a lunchtime lecture here at the Newman Siena Centre on Friday, 20 th May. The lecture is entitled The Gospel of John in the Light of the Year of Mercy. The lecture will run from 12.15pm pm and there will be a Q&A session afterwards for those able to stay on. There is no cost, and it is bring-your-own lunch. If you aren t able to be physically present on the day you can join in electronically. Contact us for the details. It is absolutely necessary to register in advance as places are limited. All of the event details are on our website Simply click on Courses and Events and then scroll down until you see the event (and check out everything else that s on offer while you re at it!). You can register through our website, or by giving us a call on or by sending an to cfe@perthcatholic.org.au or by hiring a carrier pigeon. [Dr Michelle Jones, Director] Confirmation: Commitment Mass: April 30 th 6:00 pm or May 1 st 10:00 am Workshop: May 4 th 5 & 6:30 pm Retreat Day: May 13 th 8:30 am Sacrament: May 14 th 6:00 pm May 15 th 10:00 am Reconciliation: Retreat Day: June 24 th 8:30 am or Commitment Mass: July 23 rd 6:00 pm July 24 th 10:00 am Workshop: July 27 th 5 & 6:30 pm Sacrament: August 6 th 5:00 pm August 13 th 5:00 pm First Eucharist: Commitment Mass: August 27 th 6:00 pm or August 28 th 10:00 am Workshop: August 31 st 5 & 6:30 pm Retreat Day: Sept 2 nd 8:30 am Sacrament: Sept 10 th 6:00 pm Sept 11 th 10:00 am Candidates for First Eucharist and Confirmation must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before they can receive these Sacraments. Kids Corner Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist Archbishop Costelloe has advised us that all Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist must have applied for a Working With Children card by Thursday 7 th April. Please ring Kaye if you need any further information.

4 \ Second Sunday of Easter Entrance Antiphon Like newborn infants, you must long for the pure, spiritual milk, that in him you may grow to salvation, alleluia. First reading: Acts 5:12-16 (The numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily.) Responsorial Psalm: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. Second Reading: Revelation 1:9-13, (I was dead and now I am to live for ever and ever.) Gospel Acclamation: 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 (After eight days Jesus came in and stood among them.) Next Week Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19 Rosary Care Short Term Assistance (Brochure available on notice board) Phone: Doris or Catherine Parish Census If your contact details have changed or you are new to our parish, please complete a Parish Census form, which is available on the tables at all entrances and place in the second collection or hand into the office. Prayers for the sick Barbara Antonetti, Justin Boylan, Kerry Capelli, Kit Doran, Rebecca Fry, Andre Della Franca, Megan Garner, Barbara Hickey, David Kenny, Ross Malm, Norm & Elsie Macaulay, Joan Meade, Fr Aquinas McComb OP, Rebekah Norman, Ken Ryan, Anne Tan, Julie-Anne Taylor, Jeff Trew, Tracey Walker, Jenny Zorich Recently Deceased Pam Stampalia To Be Remembered Robert Byrne, Terry Fernando, Jo Frazier, Judith Frost, Br Patrick Hynes OP, Millie Kerrigan, Fr Bob Mutlow OP May they rest in peace ROSTERS: Readers: Acolytes: Eucharistic Ministers: Power Point: Music: 2 nd Sunday of Easter 2 nd / 3 rd April Grace & Sonia Thomas Miranda Hickey & Mike Berry Sr Myrtle & Susanne Whyte Laurie Smith Michael Gillooly & Brian Gotts Pat Kirwan & Kevin Susai Tony Wong, Teresa & Bern Willett Peta Berry, Anne Bucat, Paul Slyth Cathy Bostock, K.Shervington, Elizabeth Susai Nicole Drinkwater Anne Paul Simon Wong Carmel Charlton Lexi Wilkinson Julie Prior 3 rd Sunday of Easter 9 th / 10 th April Julia Morison & Maureen Byrne Damien Giumelli & Miriam Peachey Anne-Laure Gunson-Bouillet & Laurie Conroy Peter Gillett John Mordini & Laurie Smith Brian Gotts & Pat Kirwan Tony Wong, Teresa & Bern Willett Peta Berry, Anne Bucat, Paul Slyth Pat Cullinane, Glenda Gotts, John Hayes Sr Imelda Doris Zambonetti Simon Wong Andy Sambuaga Lexi Wilkinson Julie Prior Counters: Terry McNamara, Brian Arculus, John Kobelke Frank McCabe, Terry Lark, Fred Symons Altar Society: Helen Murray, Trish Burns, Julie Pior, Pat Cullinane (8 April) Fay Tranter, Joyce & Teresa Wong, Angela Swain (15 th April)

5 Words of Wisdom Faith is unseen but felt, faith is strength when we feel we have none, faith is hope when all seems lost." Catherine Pulsifer