3rd Sunday In Ordinary Time - Year B 20 & 21 January Vietnamese Community 25th Anniversary Sunday 4 March 2018

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1 Parish Priest: Fr Thanh Tran Parish Secretary Dominique Hockey Amelia Younane Parish Office Hours Tuesday - Friday 9am 3pm Baptisms Please contact the Parish Office. Weddings By appointment and after Preparation Children s Ministries Kathy Menzies stschpar@bigpond.net.au St Schols Community Centre info@stscholscc.org.au St Scholastica s Primary School Principal: Jenny Rohan principal@ssbennettswood.catholic.edu.au Outside School Hours Care Camp Australia St Scholastica s Kindergarten Director: Catherine Findlay st.scholasticas.kin@kindergarten.vic.gov.au Administrator: Katherine Presley stscholskinderadmin@bigpond.com 348 Burwood Highway, Bennettswood VIC 3125 ABN Phone: Fax: stschpar@bigpond.net.au Website: 3rd Sunday In Ordinary Time - Year B 20 & 21 January 2018 Altar Server Fun Day - Bowling with Father Vietnamese Community 25th Anniversary Sunday 4 March 2018 We invite you to join us for Mass of Thanksgiving at 11 am to help our Vietnamese Community celebrate their 25th Anniversary of being part of St Scholastica s Parish. Following Mass, a Vietnamese lunch will be served in the Community Centre. Tea, coffee and water provided. BYO Alcohol. No RSVP needed, everyone welcome! Thank you parishioners for the support you continue to give our Altar Servers. On the 2nd January we had our Annual Altar Server Fun Day for all the servers who had been Altar Serving for at least 12 months. Father Thanh and Kathy took us bowling and out for pizza. We split into three teams and played two games of bowling. The teams were divided up and had to create a special name. The oldest girls "Blessed Bowlers", the younger girls with Fr Thanh and Kathy "Secret 7" - we were all in size 7 bowling shoes, and the boys "Cheeseburgers". The first game was won by the Secret 7! Fr had 3 strikes and a bunch of spares and they were WAYYY ahead of everyone. The 2nd game Fr Thanh went with the older girl servers and Kathy stayed with the younger girl servers, and the boys stayed together. The boys were amazing - they all got strikes and spares and had the highest score out of all the games played! Congratulations to the Cheeseburgers for their team effort! The name "Blessed Bowlers" won the name for "Best Team Name", so in the end - everyone won something! We finished off with Pizza at Sofia's and some ice cream. There was lots of laughter and thanks to our parents for driving and always getting us to Mass. We look forward to bringing our new servers on our adventure next year! Many thanks and God Bless, the 2017 Altar Servers

2 WEEKLY CALENDAR 2018 Monday 22 January 08.00am Communion Service 07.30pm Vinnies - GA Tuesday 23 January 08.00am Mass followed by Exposition 07.30pm Prayer Group - McAndrew Room Wednesday 24 January 10.00am Exposition 10.30am Rosary 11.00am Mass followed by a cuppa GA 01.30pm Legion of Mary GA 07:10pm Novena Thursday 25 January 08:00am Mass 07.30pm RCIA session - GA 08.00pm Burwood discussion group Friday 26 January - Australia Day - Office Closed 09:00am Mass Saturday 27 January 09:00am Mass - followed by Confession 06:00pm Mass Sunday 28 January 09.00am Mass 11.00am Mass 05:30pm Mass Day Mass Time ROSTERS Readers 3rd Sunday of the Month 20/21 January 2018 Special Ministers Saturday 6.00 pm Dianne Smith Lindy Leigh Fred Hillas Franklin Rozario Sunday 9.00 am Sylvia Chuah Susan Jenkins Daniel Long Anna Gaetano Day am Ren Maliakal Quyen Truong April Lewis 5.30 pm Florianne Ravanne Anna Nguyen Mass Time ROSTERS Readers 4th Sunday of the Month 27/28 January 2018 Special Ministers Saturday 6.00 pm June O Bryan Barbara Schobben Judith Silvina Laurine Shane Sunday 9.00 am Denis O Gallagher Joy Guinane Roland Devaraj Anna Gaetano am April Lewis Pat Nitz Willard Lewis Anna Nguyen 5.30 pm Louise Willison Michael Chan Anna Nguyen Netty Solomon Remembering Our Community Anniversaries Giuse Nguyen Van Phuong, Giuse Nguyen Khac Trong, Angelo Giglio, Preethivaj Fernando, Teresa Nguyen Recently Deceased Noel Cupido, Joan Beckman, Dieter Staub, Leno O Donohue, Bernie Carney, Anne Bertilla, Fr Brian Murray, Thomas Corcoran, Therese Fernando, Frank Hillas St Scholastica s Parish Community offers sincere condolences to the Corcoran Family on the death of Thomas Corcoran. RIP Question: What was in the Gathering Room last week? Answer: Congratulations to Sheila Butler, a former longstanding parishioner, who is celebrating her 100th Birthday on Sunday 21st January. A truly remarkable milestone! The Level III Atrium for the eldest children who attend CGS (the 9-13 year olds). We explore typology works on Creation, The Fall, The Flood, Abraham, and Exodus. We look at God's plan for salvation and how He calls us to work with Him to build the Kingdom. We look at links between the Old and New Testaments and further works on the Holy Mass including the Preface, Propers, the History of the Liturgy of the Word, and this age child will write their 2nd Missal. The Level III Atrium has been kept in two large bookcases and 1 small cupboard since the renting of the East Campus. Over the past 2 years on a Tuesday, Kathy and Mathew set up the room in the morning and take it down after the Level III session with the children in the evening. Last week we had 6 women participate in Adult Formation to work with the children in the Level III Atrium. The course ran for 45 hours: Monday 8 January to Saturday 13 January. Thank you to all of our parishioners for your continuing support with volunteering, making materials, sewing, and especially the many prayers that are being said for this work and for the catechists, children, their families and for Fr Thanh. God Bless.

3 RCIA Sponsors and Godparents - Help Needed As the RCIA program is progressing we are now looking for Sponsors and Godparents for some of the catechumens. They will be baptised at the Easter Vigil Mass in 2018 and require a sponsor for this special event. If you are able to provide spiritual guidance to our candidates through being their sponsor please see Father Tran or contact the Parish Office. Vinnies - Volunteers Required Do you have an hour or two available, are you interested in helping people in the local area? Consider joining the local St Vincent de Paul Society. Roles you may be interested include running the Piety Stall after 11.00am Mass, minute taking and / or making visits to people with another member. If this sounds like you, you are welcome to contact Cathie on or come to a meeting on Monday night at 7.30pm in the Gathering Area and see if it is the right fit for you. Baptism at St Scholastica s It is a requirement of the parish that a Baptism information night must be attended prior to having your child baptised. Contact the parish office on to make a booking into one of the monthly sessions. Next session: Wednesday 7th February 2018 at 8pm in the gathering area. Please note: Baptisms are now held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month at St Scholastica s. Please call the parish office to confirm dates and times. St Scholastica s Sacramental Preparation Program For 2018 Are you attending a public school? Do you want to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation/1st Eucharist or Confirmation in 2018? St Scholastica s Parish is offering a sacramental program to prepare children who attend public schools to receive the following sacraments. Each program runs for 10 weeks. Registration Forms & Class Schedule are now available from the Parish Office or alternatively contact Sheena Devadass via sheena.devadass@gmail.com Registration forms must be return to the Parish Office by WEDNESDAY, 28 February Classes will be held on SUNDAYS from am (Reconciliation and 1 st Eucharist) and am (Confirmation) Sacramental Preparation Program - Volunteers Need The Sacramental Preparation Program (a Program designed to prepare the children from the parish not attending Catholic Schools to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, 1st Eucharist or Confirmation ) is in dire need of volunteers. We have 5 members and requires 2 more. This will help in ensuring each member only commit to no more than 10 hours of volunteering per year. Each member will be provided with a well structured lesson plan and activities for each Sacrament. Should you require more information or be willing to assist with this program, kindly contact the Parish Office. Volunteers DO NOT necessarily have the time, they have the heart by E. Andrew Piety Stall Items! Come to the Piety stall in the Gathering Area after Mass for a range of items which include: The 2018 Columban Art Calendar is now available for $9.00. Daily Missals are now available for $18.00 Stewardship Corner January 21, rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. - Mark 1:17 Jesus call to Follow me is a call to all Christians! The call is in the here and now, in our present circumstances, not when we think we are ready or have everything in order. Good stewardship of our God - given gifts means that things aren t always going to go according to our schedule and that God has a much better plan in store for each of us. Current Vacancies - Archdiocese of Melbourne Retail Assistant, St Patrick's Cathedral Shop - East Melbourne Parish Secretary, St Mary's Star of the Sea, Sorrento Pastoral Associate, Christ the Light Parish for the communities of Mernda, Whittlesea & Kinglake Domestic Support, St Gerard's Parish, Dandenong North Parish Secretary, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Eltham Domestic Support, St Peter's parish, Clayton Service Delivery Analyst, East Melbourne Further details can be found on the Archdiocese website at:

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5 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 20th & 21st January 2018 Entrance Antiphon O sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. In his presence are majesty and splendour, strength and honour in his holy place. First Reading: Jonah 3: A reading from the prophet Jonah The Ninevites renounced their evil ways. The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: 'Up!' he said 'Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.' Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day's journey. He preached in these words, 'Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.' And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least. God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour. And God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened. Remember your mercy, Lord, and the love you have shown from of old. In your love remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord. R. The Lord is good and upright. He shows the path to those who stray, he guides the humble in the right path; he teaches his way to the poor. R. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians The world as we know it is passing away. Brothers: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away. Gospel: Mark 1:14-20 A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark Repent, and believe the Good News. After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. 'The time has come' he said 'and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.' As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake - for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.' And at once they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets, he called them at once, and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm: Ps 24:4-9 R. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Lord, make me know your ways. Lord, teach me your paths. Make me walk in your truth, and teach me: for you are God my saviour. R. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Gospel Acclamation: Mark 1:15 Alleluia, alleluia! The kingdom of God is near: believe the Good News! Alleluia! Communion Antiphon Look toward the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. Readings: 4th Sunday In Ordinary Time Year B First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

6 Scripture Commentary for 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Today we begin the sequence of readings from Mark s Gospel, the proper Gospel of Year B. Appropriately, the Gospel for the day, Mark 1:14-20, offers a summary statement of the inaugural preaching of Jesus (1:14-15) and his call of the first four disciples (1:16-20). Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee after John the Baptist has been arrested. The epoch of John s witness has come to a close: he has preached and he has been delivered up, a harbinger of the fate that will also await Jesus as the cost of proclaiming the Gospel. The Gospel of God that Jesus begins to proclaim is essentially a message of freedom. It takes (Second) Isaiah s good news ( gospel ) of freedom for Israel exiled in Babylon (Isa 40:9; 41:7; 42:7-8; 61:1) and applies this to the liberation associated with the onset of the Kingdom or Rule of God. Instead of captivity in Babylon, what is presupposed in Jesus proclamation of the Kingdom is the sense that human beings currently labour under the opposing rule of Satan, manifest in multiple captivities of body and spirit. Jesus comes as the Son of God, empowered by the Spirit (1:10), to wrest human beings from captivity to the demonic and reclaim them for God s rule, that is, for the original and abiding intent of the Creator for human life. From the start, then, Mark s Gospel portrays Jesus as locked in a mighty conflict with the demonic, best understood as referring to controlling forces of various kinds all that stunts human lives, alienating them from life-giving relationship with God and their own true humanity. On the individual level we can think, not only of sin as such, but also of various kinds of addictions; on the social level, we can think of systems of exploitation and oppression, economic and political. Jesus is the Stronger one (1:7), who has come to bind Satan (3:27), and break his grip upon human life in all these ways. To benefit from this liberation what is required on the human side is repentance and faith. Repentance (Greek: metanoia [= change of heart]) is not simply repentance for sin but an openness to a whole new vision of God and God s action in the world, something that will radically shake prevailing expectations. Faith is then the conviction that, in the teaching and activity of Jesus, the liberating power of the Kingdom is truly present and effective. Faith is the essential channel through which this power takes hold of human lives. Its absence can cause blockage (as will be the case when Jesus visits his home town, Nazareth [Mark 6:1-6]). Hence the summons to believe the good news (v 15). Following the summary of Jesus inaugural preaching, the gospel goes on to describe his calling of disciples to assist him in his mission. The double call involving two sets of brothers enables us to discern a common pattern: Jesus sees and calls, they leave and follow. In fishers of fish Jesus sees a capacity for a new kind of fishing. He calls them to cease being fishers of fish and become, through following him, fishers of people sharers, in other words, in his mission of reclaiming human lives for the life-giving rule of God. As is always the case when people are called by God in the Scriptures, before they can follow the call they must leave significant aspects of their former life behind. Here the disciples immediately leave their old livelihood (nets, boats, hired men) and their family (father). They will find a new boat the Church and new family the band of disciples gathered around Jesus, who he will induct into the intimacy of his familial relationship with God. Hearing the call of Jesus today may not, as in the case of those four disciples, involve leaving one s present occupation. But it may so deepen the way one lives that occupation as to transform it into a true catching of fish for the Kingdom. The Gospel is aptly foreshadowed in the First Reading (Jonah 3:1-5, 10) by the call of the prophet Jonah and his summons to the people of Nineveh to repent in view of a threatened punishment by God a punishment which their repentance averts. The Second Reading (1 Corinthians 7:29-31) stands rather apart from all this. Congregations today will be shocked to hear Paul counsel, Those who have wives should live as though they had none! His advice reflects the intense expectation of the end of the world in the early Church. A glance at the wider context shows that he is not counselling the abandonment of marriage or engagement with the business of the world but a refusal to be absorbed in such realities, since the only lasting reality is that of the coming Reign of God. Brendan Byrne SJ