The Transfiguration of The Lord

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1 The Transfiguration of the Lord 5 th / 6 th August 2017 Vol. 35 No. 35 The Transfiguration of The Lord In the years when the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord falls on a Sunday, we are blessed to hear the story of the wonderfully mysterious event twice. This is so because the gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent is always that of Jesus transfiguration. In each case the account is taken from the evangelist whose Year it is, whether Matthew, Mark or Luke. The readings for the feast itself are the same each year except for this gospel variation. The story of the transfiguration offers much to reflect on. While it invites us to contemplate the glory of god manifest in Jesus, it also challenges us to be true disciples of the Son of Man. To follow Jesus is to seek the will of God in persistent prayer, to dare surrender to the Holy One, and then to come down the mountain of glory and continue on the way of the cross. There s also much food for thought in the coincidence of the feast with the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on 6 August The blast that was Brighter than a thousand suns immediately killed 80,000 people and led to the slower deaths of perhaps another 75,000. Could there be two more different bursts of light than Jesus transfiguration and that devastating nuclear explosion? Gift for Father Peter If you would like to contribute to a holiday fund as a farewell/birthday gift for Father Peter, please place it in an envelope and hand it to me. Kaye Shervington Fr Anthony Walsh OP, the Provincial of the Dominican Order, announced at the Masses on the weekend that Fr Peter would be taking up the position of Parish Priest at St Dominic s Parish in Melbourne on September 1 st He apologised for the short notice but said there were no other options available to him. Fr Peter Hoang OP will be taking over as Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish. On a brighter note Father Peter will celebrate his 60 th birthday on 16 th August. A booking has been made for dinner at the Herdsman Hotel on Wednesday 16 th. Please let Kaye know by Monday 13 th if you would like to celebrate this special day with Fr Peter. You are also invited to attend a morning tea after the 10am Mass on Sunday 20 th August to farewell Fr Peter. Please bring a plate to share.

2 A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. Lord, he said, it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him. When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. Stand up, he said do not be afraid. And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus. As they came down from the fountain Jesus gave them this order, Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead. Commentary on the Gospel The story of the transfiguration is one of the richest in the gospel. It has links to some of the great figures and events of the Jewish tradition, especially Moses and Elijah and all they signified. It echoes the accounts of God revealing himself on holy mountains and in natural phenomena such as thunder and lighting and storm. It connects with the foundational story of the exodus when the Israelites dwelt in tents and were led by cloud and fire. Yet for all the allusions to people and events in the Old Testament and the gospels, the story of the transfiguration is suffused with mystery. To mine its riches, we need to enter into it with imagination rather than acritical scientific mindset. It invites prolonged meditation to grasp what is being revealed about Jesus and our discipleship of him. In the end the challenge is to come down from the mountain with Jesus and continue to journey with him to Jerusalem. This weekend we welcome Madeline Jun Yi Hwang into our faith community. St Thomas More College (STMC) at The University of Western Australia (UWA) Open Day Sunday 13 th August Live On-Campus at WA s only, and Australia s largest, Catholic university residential college. You can live at STMC irrespective of which university you are attending in 2018! St Thomas More College (Tommy More) promotes a caring and respectful community where students feel supported while undertaking their university studies in Perth. Students from all over Australia and the world live at Tommy More. Academic support as well as a range of opportunities to enhance the development of young adults as leaders in the community is provided. Go to for more information. Alternatively, you can make enquiries directly at the College on Interested students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Healing Mass 7 th September 10.00am (Our Lady of the Rosary Church) We hope winter has been kind for you all. Come to the next Healing Mass to praise God for your gift of health and for those who care for you. Be the ones who are invited who turn up for the celebration and in the right gear! Agape Prayer Group will sing with us and Rosary Care will serve the Morning Tea. For transport assistance phone Christine on Change of Parish address If you need to contact Kaye at the parish office, her new address is: doubleview@perthcatholic.org.au

3 Special Feast Day August 8 : St Mary of the Cross Mary Helen MacKillop was born in Melbourne in She took the religious name of Mary of the Cross. Together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, Mary founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on education for the poor, particularly in country areas. She and her sisters shared the life of the poor and the itinerant, offering special care to destitute women and children. She is remembered for her eagerness to discover God s will in all things, for her charity in the face of calumny, and for her abiding trust in God s providence. She died in Sydney on this day in She was named Australia s second patron in On 17 July 2008, Pope Benedict XVI prayed at her tomb during his visit to Sydney for World Youth Day On 19 December 2009, Pope Benedict XVI approved the Roman Catholic Church's recognition of a second miracle attributed to her intercession. She was canonised on 17 October 2010 during a public ceremony in St Peter's Square at the Vatican. She is the only Australian to be recognised by the Roman Catholic Church as a saint. For more information regarding Mary s life go to Sacramental Program First Eucharist: Commitment Masses: Saturday 19 th August at 6 pm or Sunday 20 th August at 10 am Parent/Student Workshop (in the library) Wednesday 23 rd August at 5 pm or 6.30pm Reflection Day (at the school): Friday 1 st September at 8.30am Eucharist Masses: Saturday 9 th September at 6.00pm or Sunday 10 th September at 10 am Reconciliation: Commitment Mass: Saturday 16 th September at 6 pm or Sunday 17 th at 10 am Parent/Student Workshop (in the library) Wednesday 11 th October at 5 pm or 6.30pm Reflection Day (at the school): Friday 13 th October at 8.30 am Reconciliation: Saturday 21 st October at 5 pm or Saturday 28 th October at 5 pm For further information contact Kaye Shervington on Rosary Care Short Term Assistance (Brochure available on notice board) Phone: Christine or Catherine Words of Wisdom The first to apologise is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest. For full colour images & other news go to the Parish website:

4 \ The Transfiguration of the Lord Entrance Antiphon In a resplendent cloud the Holy Spirit appeared. The Father s voice was heard: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him. First reading: Daniel 7:9-10, (His raiment was as white as snow.) Responsorial Psalm: The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.) Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-19 (We heard this voice from out of heaven.) Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! This is my Son, my beloved, in whom is all my delight: listen to him. Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52 (He sells everything he owns and buys the field.) Next Week 1 Kings 19:9, Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:22-33 Prayers for the sick Barbara Antonetti, Aiden Blechynden, Justin & Roslyn Boylan, Kerry Capelli, Kit Doran, Karel Ganadhi, Megan Garner, Judith Graham, Andrew Gray, Barbara Hickey, Terry Hopson, Barry Johnston, David Kenny, Yvonne Lebody, Rosemary Ledger, Joe Lenzo, Ray Marinko, Sophie Martin, Joan Meade, Norm Macaulay, Fr. Bernie Maxwell OP, Kathleen O Reilly, Shane O Sullivan, Henry Porter, Alice Ralph, Anthony Samy, Anne Tan, Julie-Anne Taylor, Liam Titterton, Di Watts, Jenny Zorich To Be Remembered Susan Connell, Ron Height, Sr Rosarii Keenan OP, Domenico Lombardo, Elivira Mantovani, Vee Moir, Connie Murphy, Rebecca Newman, Fr Sean O Neill, Helen Re, Valentina Rossi, Peter Ryan, Ray Symons, Jemima Taroreh, Adam Ward, Timothy Worthington May they rest in peace. What s On August 15: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mass at 9am & 7pm 16: Birthday Dinner for Fr Peter 19: First Eucharist Commitment Mass - 6pm 20: First Eucharist Commitment Mass -10am Fr Peter s Farewell Morning Tea 11am ROSTERS: The Transfiguration of the Lord 5 th / 6 th August 19 th Sunday in Ordinary Time 12 th / 13 h August Readers: Acolytes: EMHCs: Power Point: Music: Sonia Thomas Miranda & Steve Hickey Sr Myrtle & Colleen Harland Michael Gillooly Laurie Smith Pat Kirwan & John Mordini Libby Dimmer, Sue Walker, Tony Wong Peta Berry, Paul Slyth, Lina Vinci Cathy Bostock & Kaye Shervington Nicole Drinkwater Margaret Lobo Susanne Whyte Carmel Charlton Lexi Wilkinson Julie Prior Liz Crowe & Ray Teakle Damien Giumelli & Miriam Peachey Anne-Laure Gunson-Bouillet & Terese Johnston Brian Gotts Michael Gillooly Kevin Susai & Joseph Wong Libby Dimmer, Sue Walker Peta Berry, Cathy Bostock Joan Trew, Elizabeth Susai Sr Imelda Doris Zambonetti Simon Wong Andy Sambuaga Lexi Wilkinson Julie Prior Counters: [6] Maureen & Bob Walsh, Fred Symons [7] Terry Lark, Frank McCabe, Bob Stidwell Altar Society: [4] Fay Tranter, Angela Swain Joyce & Teresa Wong (11 August) [5] Valerie Rosser, Pauline Kirwan & Lina Vinci (18 August) Pilgrim Statue: Claire Lee Fay & Tom Tranter Children s Liturgy: Carli Monica

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